Author's Note

Ah, you've made to the final chapter of Fireflower's fanfic that goes beyond the typical oneshots made from before, a Mature one no less on the grounds this chapter deals with heavy subject matters proven to be unsuitable for those ––– you know what? Fk it; you've made it this far so there's no use in me repeating what I'd said before in the regarding the stuff I had y'all read since December.

That being said, I want to say thanks again for putting up with my story this year, especially if you been reading the prequels as well since years ago: I honestly wished that I could have done this sooner, let alone finish it; of course, this chapter was the hardest because I was expecting to keep it short like the others but the length was too much for me to ignore considering its potential.

One last thing before I sign off, I want to let y'all know since I've gone back to writing Derpy again, I had to rely on some media for some inspiration, especially since this will be about what she'd to go through but don't fret: it'll all be over soon enough, seeing that we all happen to like her as she were; besides, this ending will be very special and with good reason no less, like before but comforting.

Drop

Now, it would seem that one part of the world had its very atmosphere already applying some direct pressure upon itself with warmth and wonder. At the very least, the spacious skies had objectively held up its golden sun, unperturbed as well as without clouds of either size or shape whatsoever. The oxygen all throughout, crisp and cool enough to commute many different aromas from all walks of life, had each of them varied in two factors. Even so were many flowers had slowly sprouted from the brilliant green, instantaneously bearing witness to ever rushing waters roaring from its falls. A calm gentle breeze was surfing onward and sliding about throughout the stony roads and dusty trails already cut across the vast hillside landscape. Nesting nearby the rocks and water was but a civilization currently defined in such an intricate manner, bearing more colors and shapes than earth. Density notwithstanding, it was only a matter of perspective to find an utter abundance of such people in finite but numerous typed demographics.

Out of the many buildings in this rather quiet place, there was one which had stood out amongst others: an enormous castle nearby the heart of its city remaining in the premises’ cold distance. It’d stood up as high as a skyscraper yet its acreage was wider, predominantly white like snow alongside some starry violet accents and stripy yellowy spires adorned with its hot pink flags. The castle was opening to a fault, its doors and windows bereft of obstructions save for just one: it was a goldenrod illustration of rather nearby occupation of the sun and moon so abstract as is. A pair of staircases were also found to be providing an entrance from the ground level plainly, buttery with a red carpet as the white pillars stood by with railings to provide support in advance. Some fine flowers were found from the valley around this place, decorating the otherwise stony lonesome castle as it were with generally red petals and lavender textiles in few separate chains.

Inside, the rays of sunlight rained down through the looking glass of its windowsills were many people resided in, geometrically equilateral for much spacial optimization as it were no less. Much of the interiors were dyed a deep blue yet were too solid as an old snake to surf around, especially considering the fact they were held in place by a dozen pillars no cheaper than strong. Aside from a glassy chandelier of a golden shell, there were torches of lit candlestick hanging halfway off the ground yet further away from the purple nosegays and the blank banners anyway. Gathering about was an enormous yet unequal checkerboard flooring were its inhabitants stood, divided into quarters as they were split in two by a longer red carpet etched on the middlemost. Ending the pathway from the outside world beyond the tall doors was an archway cloaked in more flowers diverse in color and species alike within their small patch of the brilliant green.

Standing on the edge of the stairs as prophets would’ve said were but two people both alike in fair dignity at first glance no less: the only commonalities between themselves were bright skins, cold eyes, long hair, and a rather serviceable smile on their visages; of course, they had some rather significant differences, something in which their entire audience can relate to instantly. Already at the middle of it all was a woman with a multicolored set of hair painted in purple, pink, aquamarine, and green too: her own eyes were like the amethysts being worn right within her goldenrod jewelry shining bright like the sun within the sky; a white dress clothed its owners, bereft of color in comparison to the integumentary system but otherwise elegantly all the while. Onto her left was a man with sapphires matching his tresses and sash, standing underneath her height by mere inches alone as is: he was clothed in a ruby red tunic with golden cufflinks and silver buttons as well as a pair of white pants alongside black boots; though his sclera was jaded, he was happy, much like every face he was looking at currently at this moment in time as such.

Speaking of which, there was a blond couple bunched up inside the crowd all dressed up with no place to go now that they’re all in: both of their faces here was also sharing the same emotions as the two above the small stairwell nearby themselves on the leftmost; as such, their fashion was more than enough to make them feel a part of the moment in time and place appropriately herein. One of them was also a male just like the man in red, except he was dressed in all–black completely with an orange ascot: his hair was much shorter than the latter and especially the woman in white, not to mention thinner as far as they’re concerned; in addition, both eyes were green like an emerald splash, precious enough to treasure the occasion bore witness all the same. Another was female, clothed in deeply soulful quicksilver with a singular dress covering much of the body as it matched her shoes: not only was her hair solid in color, it’d also reach past the neckline, albeit shorter compared to her much regal counterpart as is; however, her eyes were misaligned, despite looking in the same direction as the rest of the massive audience in question.

“Canterlot… what am I doing here: I’m supposed to be in Ponyville, not here; how is this even possible?!” the blonde in silver cerebrated as her goldeneyes looked around side–to–side from where the woman in white had stood by to the doors on the opposite end of the red carpet all the same.

Whatever train of thought had developed within the squinting bystander was met with confusion and delay as a full set of brass horns sounded out, belonging to a duodecet next to the doorway; afterwards, they were opened up, a trio of brightly skinned girls entering the moving picture, walking freely as they scattered hot pink petals from their handbaskets across the surface area. Aside from the blonde hair the elder in silver had shared alongside her nearby correspondent, they were all dressed in light pink with deep purple accents as far as the onlookers could see; also, they’d worn a crown of flowers around their heads, alternating into a pattern of purple and white while static all the same, a luxury that was lacking in the trail they were making no less. Despite their shared affiliations, even the squinting eyewitness herself can tell their differences: the first of them, also with goldeneyes, had a purple flower over her chest matching the ribbons; the next had eyes of faded amethysts, wearing a red feather against the white scheme altogether; the last was most resembling, a plum bowtie with a white flower and pink ribbons all the while.

Trailing after the maidenly trio was a tall woman now setting foot onto the flower flung fabric as she’d also entered betwixt the observant crowd afore themselves. Much like the regal onlooker, she, too, wore some multicolored tresses in her head, albeit in curls of purple, pink, and gold held in place by a veil of blue and white. Not only that, the tall entrant was also brightly skinned, also bearing some orbs of amethysts as well even though they were full of color in a different shade too. The textiles worn were but the epitome of elegant fashion as is, a flowing white dress with some goldenrod accentuation and jewelries made up of various metals. Shown in front of their owner was a bouquet of flowers within the tighten grip, each of them all varying in shapes, shading, and species alike in a series of doilies.

The tall entrant walked about as a series of strings and keys were being grinded up and pressed down respectively into a lofty tune overhead. Each step that was taken by the flowery follower had brought her closer to the archway, greeted by a couple of friendly faces from all walks. Despite the bewilderment the blonde in silver she was in, the tall entrant was at ease, sharing the same emotions as the rest of the very crowd.

It wasn’t long until the youth themselves had made their way to the end, joining at the hip with another trio much older no less: the only commonality between the latter group was a single pearl diadem bearing a trio of jaded flowers worn around long hair; as such, there were so many differences to take note, something which the squinting eyewitness could also see plainly as day. The first woman was brightly skinned like the blondes from earlier, albeit with integuments of an ivory coast far across an ocean: her hot pink hair curled grandly past the neckline as it’d touched the fuchsia dress with a cobalt accent matching her own shoes; additionally, there was a light yellow flower over her chest which can be seen by its owner’s electric light orchestra of blues. Similarly, the next happened to have a bright integumentary system as well except it was slightly darker but otherwise clear as is: unlike the primordial, her tresses were minty and spiky with a white midpoint, touching a golden dress wrapped by a scarlet sash; as much as both eyes had matched much of the attire, their owner’s slippers are in the same color as the prior accessory. Finally, was yet another woman, this time fifty shades darker than anyone inside and out could bother to care about all the same: even though her hair was short and spiky as well, it was blue like her eyes and dress in general, despite having some bright spots; adding to this was a cerise undercarriage matching her footwear and a violet adorning a set of hot pink ribbons already.

Soon enough, the flowery follower had made it to the very end, standing on the opposite side of the arch to face her counterpart; then, the woman in white began to speak in a matronly soprano, “friends, Equestrians, countrypeople, I thank and welcome you all the same to this event at hand. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of Providence, to witness the joining together of both Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor in the sacred covenant of marriage, commended to be honorable among all peers and therefore isn’t by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, and solemnly. Matrimony is not just a social occasion with a spiritual touch thrown in, but a service of devotion from start to finish, in which vows are made, prayers are offered, and blessings are given; as such, who among you supports this couple in their marriage…?”

“I do…!” a nearby voice was heard, belonging to another woman, albeit darker than the one in blue, standing near the man in red: like the latter and two other peers, the latter wore a similar attire, this time ripe rose red with hot pink accents and a star over chest; amethysts were found as well, “growing up in Canterlot, I had nothing but the highest hopes and dreams he’d be married. To many like–minded women such as Rarity herself, it’s nothing more than the highest of honors attainable, an ultimate statement of legitimacy which had meant untold success; sadly, it pains me that she’ll not be able to experience such joys in particular, much like the rest of the friends I’d made back at Ponyville: even now, I feel guilty knowing the circumstances of their downfall. Even without that, I’ve heard nothing more than excerpts from people whose had watched their marriages end in divorce and, worst of all, death of either party; even though we never talk about them for one reason or another, let alone the preludes to either outcome, I was more than able to embrace the love and happiness from their joy, especially knowing who they are since my youth. The fact that I’m standing here today brings nothing but tears to my eyes knowing that I’ve yet to experience the sensation of having a special significant other of choice to share such a lifetime with him: even the fears of living and dying alone have done nothing more than to remind me of how precious our lives are by and large, even in Equestria no less. As Celestia is my witness, I shall congratulate them on their future journey together as both husband and wife: although that so much time has passed since I’d last seen either one of them, I know that Rarity and our friends would’ve cherished this moment together nonetheless; even now, I can’t help myself but to think what life would’ve been for us all without the war itself.”

“Shining Armor, if it’s your intent to marry Mi Amore Cadenza, please responded with ‘I do’; Shining Armor, do you take Mi Amore Cadenza to be your wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for as long as you both shall live…?” the regal announcer asked as the titular twosome moved towards each other onstage.

The man in red had said simply no less, “I do…”

“Mi Amore Cadenza, if it’s your intent to marry Shining Armor, please responded with ‘I do’…” the woman in white begged the question similar to one from not long ago, “Mi Amore Cadenza, do you take Shining Armor to be your wedded husband, to live together in holy matrimony, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto hum, for as long as you both shall live…?”

“I do…” the eponymous bride had replied in kind.

Soon, the regal announcer had spoken confidently, “the ceremony of marriage is the first and oldest ceremony in the world, celebrated in its humble beginnings in the prescene of Providence as a gift given to comfort the sorrows and magnify life’s joy. Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor, in all of life, rare is the moment that is filled with more hope, joy, and expectation than this sacred moment: by this divine design, this moment will never be repeated, but rather be cherished as long as you both shall live; up until now, I had but the highest hopes your potential both as individuals as well as a couple would be fully realized. A good marriage is remembering to say ‘I love you’ on a regular basis, never going to sleep angry but standing together, leaning on each other’s strength and support, having the capacity to forgive and forget, providing an atmosphere in which each of you can grow, and finding room for the Elements of Harmony – loyalty, humor, generosity, honesty, kindness, and magic itself. It is not only marrying the right partner but rather being the right partner: you will have this kind of marriage if you continue to recognize Providence as the source of your romance, love, and affection for these things are gifts to you; build your home on this spiritual foundation. Today, as you say your vows to one another, you are also committing that you’ll follow through on these solemn promises: so much preparation has gone into making this moment a special occasion for you two and your guests; these next few minutes are more important than anything else that will happen today. These are the moments that you will look back and remember when you have children, arguments, and the moment of living your first house together; don’t ever forget the words you say this day for they will sustain your marriage through all of life’s ups and downs.”

“Princess Celestia’s words are so comforting: even in the face of uncertainty, she still has the tact to ordain this wedding anyway…” the blonde in silver ruminated complicatedly, turning to face her correspondent only briefly before looking at the youth again, “still, I’m troubled: not only is my skin started to crawl, I have this feeling that something’s about to go wrong; why is that…?”

“ACK…!” a cough was suppressed distantly.

Anyways, the aforementioned announcer still addressed the audience up in front of the two, “to all those who have joined us to witness this special commitment by Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor, you play an important role in the lives of this couple: your attendance here shows that you care for them and are supporting this marriage as well as the future of Equestria. I would ask that your support of this marriage not end on this day, but that you continue to support the union that they commit to: it is often easy for us to undermine the value of the marriage commitment by say simple things like ‘you don’t deserve this, you really should think about divorce’ or even taking sides in an argument. Guard the words that you say, in jest and in counsel to the couple; commit today, as friends and family, to uphold this marriage to the best of your ability and never do anything to harm it whatsoever. Shining Armor, as captain of the guard, you are also ordained as the leader of your home, with a unique personality and talents that add to this marriage: when Mi Amore Cadenza was asked why he’d chose to marry you, she says that you make her feel sweet, getting along with others, and are a hard worker. She’d said that she appreciates that you respect her opinions, yet she can trust you to make good decisions for your family: at this moment, your love for your bride is apparent, I challenge you to grow in that love as you grow old together in life; put her needs above your own and lead selflessly as you’d done putting the needs of civilians and troopers alike at utmost as captain. Mi Amore Cadenza, as is apparently today, your groom finds you beautiful: when asked why he’d chose you to be his wife, Shining Armor’s first response was ‘her smile’; in our conversation together, it became apparent that without you around, then the future would refuse to change. Shining Armor values your charisma and that you are supportive of him as a person and the things that he enjoys doing: there are going to be times when the seeds of doubt threaten to grow within you; remember that this man before you trusts you so grow in your trust for him. The two of you have an opportunity today to start your own family: you complement each other – where one is weak, the other is strong and should either of you fall, the other can be helped put back together up and running; these vows that you are about to commit are just words, but they cement forever your commitment to one another. Please join hands and face one another…”

“Okay…” Shining Armor said in a rough yet steady tenor nevertheless, heeding the woman in white’s words alongside Mi Amore Cadenza as well, “I, Shining Armor, take you, Mi Amore Cadenza, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish until death do us part…”

“I, Mi Amore Cadenza, take you, Shining Armor, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish until death do us part…” the tall bride responded in turn to her groom in red with a tender soprano of a higher octave than the likes of Princess Celestia straightaway no less.

Sure enough, both people took out some small rings as the woman in white had said, “Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza have chosen to present rings to each other as a token of their promise: they are a visible sign of an inward bond which unites two hearts in endless love; Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza, from this day forward, the two of you shall be one. Do you, Shining Armor, give this ring to Mi Amore Cadenza as a token of your love for her…?”

“Yes…” the titular listener had answered instantaneously, “I do…”

“Mi Amore Cadenza, will you wear this ring as evidence of your love for Shining Armor?” Princess Celestia asked the eponymous woman.

The tall bride had replied in kind, “yes, I will…”

“Shining Armor, please place the ring on Mi Amore Cadenza’s finger, hold it there, and repeat after me: ‘I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you’…” the woman in white commanded; the groom in red heeded about as he were, “do you, Mi Amore Cadenza, give this ring to Shining Armor as a token of your love for him?”

“I do…” the aforementioned counterpart responded, now feeling a ring encrusted with five different jewels around her finger.

Princess Celestia turned back to Shining Armor and inquired, “Shining Armor, will you wear this ring as evidence of your love for Mi Amore Cadenza…?”

“I will…” the groom in red said, outstretching his hand towards his tall bride gently without touching either female already in close range, “thank you…”

“Mi Amore Cadenza, please place the ring on Shining Armor’s finger, hold it there, and repeat after me: ‘I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and with all that I am and all that I have, I honor you’…” Princess Celestia spoke immediately to the titular woman, the latter of them now doing the same for the titular tenant directly upfront for the former to bear witness straightaway.

The squinting onlooker couldn’t help herself but to cry, her matching goldeneyes currently being supersaturated with achromatic fluids as her own sights were being blurred; nevertheless, she persisted in remaining focused onto the very couple adjacent to the likes of her, thinking of the imminent celebrations overall, “so this is it, a dream come true for them and them alone as is…”

“Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza have pledged their love for each other, expressing their commitment before Providence and this gathering of friends and loved ones…” the woman in white announced to the applause of an amicable audience afore them, “they’ve given themselves completely to each other and declared it publicity by the giving and receiving of rings. Acting in by virtue of the authority invested in me under the laws and ordinances within the nation of Equestria, I now pronounce you husband and wife; Shining Armor, you may now kiss the bride…”

At long last, both parties in attendance surrendered themselves to each other, embracing one another in their company as both sets of hands made contact with their targets’ backs instantly. Their cold eyes, which had been underlined by their blushing visage, were closed off as they’d finally touched each other on the lips, their mutual love had currently radiated about to no end. Even though many had cheered them both on, they couldn’t resist having the world around themselves slowing down to their collectively treasured heartbeat in synchronized swimming. Irregardless of the many people already bearing witness to the newlyweds’ osculation with ease, they’d felt as if they were the only people on this world that had mattered to one another at large.

Suddenly, without so much as any kind of warning whatsoever, but somehow as if on schedule, the blonde in silver had felt her body becoming drenched in sweat despite being high and dry; not only that, the air around herself started growing heavy in both density and quality as she’d smelled something acrid and smoky invading both of her nostrils in the meantime all the same.

In any case, it was time for the tall bride to speak freely, “to the people of Equestria, I’d like to thank you all for making this special day of mine come to fruition: I appreciate the love and affection this event has given me with the efforts of my husband’s family by and large; of course, aside from you all subjects, I didn’t come alone as you and Celestia had been led to believe…”

“Huh, what exactly did she mean ‘I didn’t come alone’: who is Mi Amore Cadenza talking about; why did she say that…?” the squinting onlooker asked as the eponymous speaker’s orbs were starting to glow a toxic jade, deeper than the latter’s husband, “better yet, why is his wife’s eyes changing colors all of the sudden…?”

“It’s amazing that even after all that had been happening recently, you people haven’t realized it: the war is far from over and with their cooperation, all of your places are to belong to us today; as a matter of fact, Equestria is now officially a part of the Changeling hive from here on out…!” the tall bride laughed derisively as everyone else was chattering about all the same in confusion.

The blonde in silver watched as Mi Amore Cadenza was engulfed by an emerald splashed aura of toxicity, enveloped into the sparkling fire and electricity far too soon. The otherwise well–kept tricolored tresses the tall bride had worn were now a darkly translucent teal dyeing all the diaphanous strands for the squinting bystander to see. The blonde in silver also noted how Mi Amore Cadenza’s skin even darkened, more so than any a bridesmaids with intestinal accents of aquamarine glycosaminoglycan. Two amethysts worn by the tall bride had become the emeralds from afore, splashing round with such accompanying precision as she’d stared out at the bemused crowd. To make matters worse, the floral veil and white dress combo was no more as well as Mi Amore Cadenza’s identity, left out and about in the altogether in front of them. The tall bride her audience had bore witness to ceased to be chaste and modest, curvaceously bearing a dense bosom, petite navel, and wide hips without a care at all.

Out of many in attendance, the squinting bystander shield her eyes as one burning question amongst other was now etched into her mind alongside the rest of audience, “who is she: what is she; where is the real Mi Amore Cadenza – what has she done to her…‽”

“Ah, that’s much better; it’s such a shame, though since the fact no one has ever dared to notice what had happened, not even her…” the jaded impostor mewed softly as she and her adjacent shadow had towered over her nearby eyewitnesses in question as it is, “anyways, my subjects call me Chrysalis the Changeling Queen, not that squib of a sex bomb you called a princess…! Needless to say, it’s up to me to find food for them and Equestria has more love than any place I’ve ever encountered in our lives: my fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of since birth; ever since I took her place, I’ve been feeding off Shining Armor’s love for her, day and night up until this special day! Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell; even now, my minions are chipping away at it and thanks to your precious Princess Celestia, Shining Armor is now my lawfully wedded husband, under my total control and currently unable to perform his duties as Captain of the Royal Guard. Soon my changeling army will breakthrough: first, we take Canterlot and then, all of Equestria…!”

“No, you won’t…” said the aforementioned princess whom was standing opposite of her dark counterpart with a stern gaze as he was caught in the middle, “you may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self, I can protect my subjects from you!”

After butting heads, the woman in white jumped up high into the air before stopping in place, her tiara now radiating with its glow: before long, a beam of solid gold light emerged from there as it’d taken aim at Chrysalis herself without any hesitation whatsoever; likewise, a jaded stream emerged from the latter before making contact with the former’s almost instantaneously at once. Initially, it’d seemed that the two were evenly matched in a display of power and strength as far as the others were all concerned; however, the black queen had been putting in far more effort into repelling her white opponent’s preemptive strike no matter what: this alone brought a shock to the latter, overwhelming enough to send the jewelry flying away from its owner whom fallen. Mostly everyone, except Shining Armor, was at a loss of words after what had quickly transpired between the two woman upfront: despite everything, Princess Celestia was down on the floor, her head laying on the side to the leftmost and further away no less; the blonde in silver was one of those individuals who couldn’t believe what had just happened, despite having a pair of eyes.

“Ah, Shining Armor’s love for Cadance is even stronger than I thought: consuming it has made me even more powerful than Celestia…!” Chrysalis gasped intensely as the woman in red had scurried over to the woman in white’s side rather immediately with fear in their amethyst orbs no less.

Although Princess Celestia was injured, she’d wasted no time in speaking to the bridesmaid all the same, “the elements of harmony, you must get to them and use their power to defeat the queen…”

“How can I: there’s no way I can do this on my own; failing that, where can I find the others if they can’t be available too…?” the woman in red whimpered about as she’d knelt closer to her regal correspondent with tears in the former’s eyes all the while, “they’re either too damaged and/or distant to be of much help even if they’d wanted to use them alongside me no less…”

“Don’t worry about it, Twilight: I trust you to find someone who can help you with them like your friends have before; after all, you’re my faithful student and I don’t want to see you fail and end up like me on the floor so go now while you still can…” Princess Celestia hacked out freely as the titular tenant had then stood to her feet and ran out of the door reluctantly nevertheless.

Everyone else, including the squinting bystander, was too stunned to move as the woman in red fled, all except for the black queen whom had laughed wickedly, “you can run, but you can’t hide…!”

Before anyone else had time to react, the ground underneath their feet started to shake to and fro, catching almost everyone off–guard: this alone was more than enough to have them following after Twilight anyways after what had transpired between the taller women; however, they’d found themselves with a whole bunch shadowy beings high above themselves upon exit no less. Even though the tremors had stopped, trouble was still beginning as the blackened lifeforms were falling into their general path: their crowns were glowing green as acid as they’d crashed head first around the screaming crowd fleeing from the castle they were in; despite causing craters big enough to fit, the former rose to the chance of chasing after their chosen targets as is. Not only that, whatever strength in numbers the occupants had initially was already supplanted by the additional reinforcements: even some of the individuals within that crowd had started to transform already, shedding their own facade almost instantaneously; as a result, people like the blonde in silver were finding themselves severely outnumbered in a matter of seconds already.

“Ow…!” cried the squinting bystander whom fell near one of the craters made by the invaders in question whom ganged up on her, “please don’t…”

“Shut up, bitch…” the shadowy creature had hissed, kicking the blonde in silver square on her face as she was supine now already.

The squinting victim grew a shiner where her left eye was as she’d yelped quietly, “no, no, no…”

“Shut up, bitch: say another word and you’ll be sorry; do you understand…?” the same invader from earlier snarled as he was dangerously closer to the supine blonde, joined by several others, “let’s just do this: ready, fucking go already; you’re up…”

It didn’t take much for any of the shadowy lifeforms to rip open their squinting victim’s silver dress without any resistance: underneath it all were a snow–white set of a brassiere and knickers still clinging onto their owner as she was becoming nervous; nevertheless, it wasn’t enough for them whatsoever to have her dishabille forced out on display in broad daylight alongside others. Even worse, what little armor had remained of the timid blonde was stripped away in an instant, leaving her only with slippers; as such, the cooling morning air had become first responders to the sudden impact made against her bust and plications already: the invaders around had simply licked their lips with lust intoxicating them as their prey’s escape route was completely blocked.

“NGH…!” grunted the squinting resistor as both of her arms were being held in place by her attackers all the while, tears hot and ready to escape their host before being pulled down to the solid earth directly underneath the bared body, flesh pressed against the surface area by the rogue squadron collectively no less.

The lonely blonde couldn’t help herself but to look upon the faces of her invaders as she’d felt something narrowed and solidified: although she couldn’t look down, the friction made against her denuded integuments wasn’t giving her any comfort all the same; even worse, the rough and tumble sensation was making her eyes widen moreso than she’d ever done before in her lifetime.

The squinting resistor shut her eyelids away in lieu of seeing her attackers drooling about freely, embracing the dark as it were: in her mind, she’d wanted a friend more than ever, old or new, and the void was sorely lacking in them from what can be seen; however, a booming voice had echoed into the opened atmosphere, similar to the regal defender but more deeper, “ENOUGH!”

Almost instantaneously, the shadowy invaders had spontaneously combusted, rays of light now emerging from her own dark body as they’d screamed about. Their flesh began to singe quickly as the bright flames started to consume them straightaway while leaving the nude blonde and her own peers unharmed. Even though that the squinting eyewitness was closer to the ground directly, only her attackers were already disintegrating hereon all the same nevertheless.

When the assaulting belligerent changelings disappeared in masses of photons and fire, the heart inside the lone blonde beat against her chest as she already looked upward at the very source.
It wasn’t even long at all until the squinting onlooker was quickly accompanied by yet another feminine figure, this time descending from above almost immediately to the former’s relief as is. The new visitor bore a complexion rivaling the likes of half the past bridesmaids, a balance betwixt them of red and blue attire so to speak of as they were already free of such irregularities. Glimmering about in the cold distance was but a pair of cyan irises glowing about alongside with the rest of their owner’s eyes, capturing the lone blonde to remain firmly calm at attention now. The floating female’s elongated hair had flowed to and fro as well, sparkling about as each and every single tress were a bluish tint with both lighter and darker hues alike coexisting in peace. Aside from the small obsidian tiara matching a widely white crescent necklace, the new visitor had donned a long shimmering dress colored in pink and a pair of some achromatic slippers too.

“Princess Luna… thank you…” the squinting eyewitness had gasped as she was currently in awe of such a presence yet barely able to move again like she’d done, “please tell me… what is going on…”

“Perhaps thou hast already discovered an answer to thy own question, fairest Derpy; after all, thou weren’t the first people to have dreamt of such an event like this: Twilight had a similar dream recently but unlike her, the truth had yet to be revealed to the likes of her all the same…” the eponymous elder sighed as she’d now stood onto the ground gently at once so to speak of.

It was at this moment in time as the aforementioned blonde stood up to gather the remains of her clothes and cover herself before speaking softly, “I didn’t know that she had such a dream like this either: out here in Canterlot on what should’ve been the greatest moment in the history of Equestria as we know it; still, it wasn’t what had happened in real life for that matter no less. It’s been at least seven years and I’m still feeling guilty about what had transpired ever since I’d lost Sparkler; even now, all I could think about is how I could barely muster up the strength to look her in the eye and acknowledge my firstborn: whenever I look into those eyes of her, all it reminds me of is what had happened since my father had died. None of my friends even know about this because people aren’t fond of those types anymore than the past had tolerated them; Flutter Doo and her mother were the only reasons why Sparkler lived and died as she did ever since the day she was born: I was in so much pain in my youth I couldn’t even remember what happened next, especially considering how young I was. I’d been picked on throughout my youth because of those eyes and so was my father, my real father: he had the condition too later on in his life and he’d still cared for mommy and me all the same, at least until I’d turned eleven; weeks after my birthday, he’d gotten himself electrocuted by a joy buzzer that had to be recalled! No amount of money in the world could ever bring him back to life, let alone fix those eyes of his or mine for that matter no less: he’d tried to give me a better future when I was young so I wouldn’t have to go off the beaten path as father had and I’m still here; now, I worry about what kind of future Sparkler would’ve had if I wasn’t so ashamed of myself for being so weak as him. Speaking of which, I’d recalled how Ponet was confused as to how I had her at a young age, especially since they weren’t alike: maybe he’d figured out what had came about, even though none of my sisters had ever even said anything about it at all nonetheless; after all, a man like him seems to be far more aware of what goes on in this day and age, even when he’s in the dark. Now, he’s in the hole because of me, crying my guts out because I didn’t get to tell him the truth about my firstborn daughter then: Agar had him locked up in prison because he thought that he was a part of Plato’s Cavern of all things, even in spite of evidence; my kids miss him so much, especially Dinky, my pride and joy – she keeps having nightmares because of what she’d seen!”

“Ah, yes, Plato’s Cavern: a secret brothel for depravities of the worst kind no less; Applejack was there as well years ago…” the regal figure sighed as the squinting mother had dressed herself back into the tattered clothes slowly but surely all the same, “her sister was found there, having gone nearly blind from a horrific sight of her peer suffering from the worst of demises…”

“Your Highness, what could be worse than being raped perimortem in front of your own sibling; forgive me but surely you don’t believe that it’s still a favorable outcome compared to this, don’t you…‽” Derpy wept as she’d struggled to face Luna after looking upon the others frozen in place but otherwise left alone to the roar of time.

Soon, the sky above the two woman became dark and full of stars as the eldest of them said, “not at all, fairest Derpy: if anything, then what had happened before, during, and after the ill–fated wedding was irrefutable proof of how precious life is; even now, I still mourn the loss my sister and I had shared when our niece was killed on her own special day and front of her love’s kin. Twilight was also looking forward to her brother, Shining Armor, being married off to Cadance for the sake of the people also; even though that her escapades in your hometown have all ended in failure, she’d still held out hope for its people nonetheless: the friends she’d made as well as the neighbors you had lived with also were amongst the many invited to the wedding back then. Considering the troubles they’d endured beforehand as well as the concerns for their neighbors, she’d hoped you’d all be safe; of course, the space for attendants was limited within the castle and not everyone was ready, willing, and/or able to leave: as a matter of fact, none of her friends were even available to accept such an invitation, even from a familiar face from their past as is. Ironically, Twilight was in the middle of saving her classmate Fluttershy from a grave injustice prior yet met with a horrid fate: the former residence of Golden Oaks Library fell victim to an arson attack, leaving her to the point of near death all the same; but, she did not die and now has been living with the scars of her past ever since that fateful day, including that of her home too. Of course, these series of unfortunate events have haunted her most of all the past seven years, especially considering her friends: Applejack and Rarity remain the same hospital as thee whilst Pinkie, Rainbow, and Fluttershy have left in search of betterment; even though they’re doing better than how they were treated in the past, Twilight still holds herself responsible for them. Either way, all that it’d done lately was make her even more than willing to mend and defend the relationships left behind at home: her family has grown closer together, not only because of her plights, but also due to Shining Armor’s predicament especially; also, her five neighbors have been able to forgive her all the same, despite the lack of involvement in their tragedies anyway.”

“Twilight tried to save us yet again and we were still in danger because of these changelings; have they planned on using her…?” the squinting blonde had asked Luna hesitantly, the former lukewarm with confusion and wet with worry within for the latter, “she was starting to become like family to my husband and kids; for crying out loud, she’d started to remind me of Sparkler! And yet, we’d shared the same losses together in the wedding: she’d lost her would–be sister–in–law and I a firstborn daughter whom I’d failed as a mother before I’d reached adulthood no less; how could I be so selfish…‽”

“It’s not thine fault that she’d been born in the vestry to someone so foul and depraved nor is it hers: even thy mother, troubled as she is, understood the troubled origins as the rest of her kin; still, thou feel responsible for her demise because of how it reflected the circumstances herein…” the corporeal princess replied, also shedding a tear in the process.

Derpy nodded off without restraint, looking at the ground underneath their feet with a sniffled, “what could I not feel: how was I supposed to tell her she’d been conceived in sin with a condition like mine inherited from father; better yet, what can tell the rest knowing how she’d perished because of me…?”

“Perhaps, this may as well be the end of an era as we know it: between Cadance’s demise and the changeling invasion, Equestria will never be the same as we came to know and care about…” Luna still declared to the younger mother nevertheless, a chill running past the latter’s spine, “Twilight Sparkle came to knew about this as a result of this long line of tragedies by and large. The real question is wilt thou continue to suffer in silence as many others including the love of thine life, Ponet, or carry onward and live for the sake of your children, living and dead through the survivors’ lives and her memories in particular…? The truth of the matter is our nephew Blueblood and cousin Léon are too inexperienced to understand the weight of the world; as a matter of fact, the latter is still unaware of the politics going on in and out of the capital compared to the former so to speak: the plight of your kind within as well as beyond fair Ponyville is not only more than that, but far–reaching than ever. Cadance, may she rest in peace, was also of common blood like you yet had powers that made her loved by all her caretakers: her nature alone was enough to reverse the evil inflicted against the ones whom loved her by Prismia at a young age no less; as a result, she’d been welcomed into the family by my sister Celestia to be raised as a princess, at least up until that wedding.”

“All the more reason why we’re nothing alike: at the very least, I’m relieved that she’d been able to save the day for the sake of her home and family; how can I ever even compete with Cadance knowing what had happened to me and realizing what I’d done with my life, with and without her…?” Derpy sniffled intensely all the same.

A brief sigh had escaped from the corporeal princess afore being backed up with words no less, “thou canst not, but it doesn’t mean that thou art useless as thou hadst been led to believe because of thine disabilities; even before thine generation, there hast been individuals from all walks of life in and out of Equestria whom had rose to greatness in spite of their infirmities. Even when confronted with certainty of death and/or destruction staring back into the eyes, they’d never bent or broken as is: their pursuit for justice and happiness, alongside with their willingness to uphold the virtues of friendship and family, guided them; as a result, they’d been remembered in life by their peers and kin for their sacrifices even after such as significant loss.”

“My family… are they still going to be okay…?” the young mother wept, currently looking away from Luna as the former clutched the abdomen, “even they have to know I’m still sorry for all this; after all, they deserve parents stronger than all this, not dented iron: even my father, rest in peace would’ve been better off living long enough to see my husband and kids all the same…!”

“Perhaps, she has an answer for it…” the corporeal princess said, as a familiar face appeared before them almost in an instant: it was a little girl reminiscent of the ones whose hands had scattered petals across the very same carpet right down to the details; however, the newcomer’s attire was different, consisting of green pajamas with blue and yellow silhouettes of stegosaurs.

Derpy couldn’t resist moving towards the lonely youth, even with the memories of the latter’s counterpart appearing as well as the former’s assault fresh in mind inside and out, with a gasp, “Dinky, is that you…?”

“Mommy, is that you: what happened to you; why are you like this…?” the titular teenager had asked the squinting mother reluctantly as the former was still standing in place nonetheless, “did these changelings do this to you like they’d done years ago…? I’m so sorry about what happened to you: I didn’t know they’d done all of it like what had been done to Sparkler recently; I miss her so much and so does daddy yet none of us could do a thing about it at all. She didn’t deserve to be treated like a plaything, especially when had been killing her right in front of me: all she ever did was try to protect me and now all I can even think about is how they took advantage of her like they were changelings no less; even worse, I’ve been having nightmares because of that day. Sparkler was there in most of my dreams, violated and mistreated as if her feelings didn’t even matter to her at all, not even ours: she’d worn a red collar around her neck but nothing else except for some chains and the like as if she were but some kind of a slave; even more people were there like Bon–Bon and Fluttershy wearing nothing but collars around their neck and I–––”

“Shh, shh, shh… it’s okay, mommy’s here; I’ve been having nightmares myself and you were there too: I’d just relived that horrid wedding we had attended years ago but you’re safe here with Princess Luna and me – nobody else’s here to hurt any of us, at least not with her around…” Derpy interrupted the youth with little warning, locked into an embrace at an eye level no less.

The eponymous royal then jumped back into the fray, the firmament cycling from dark to light, “indeed and the fact that she’d suffered isn’t the only reason why I’m here now: Equestria has been met with a long list of tragedies and terrors the likes of which I’d yet to see since my return; even now, the corruption has even been found taking root into out militaries as well as in public. Now that I’d came back, I’ve begun to remember my obligations to the Crown and Country since the Elements had chosen them: for too long, I’d been imprisoned by the persona you’d all come to recognize as Nightmare Moon born from mine jealousy; although the next generation has freed me, the guilt alone has been insurmountable, especially learning how much has changed. Today, the threat alone has grown considerable enough to be no longer constrained to the conscious world including here: the dreams many have watched turn into nightmares are a symptom of a larger problem now encroaching Equestria altogether; not only that, the rot in this homeland has also adversely affected the Bearers to the point of being in near death’s brink as is. Even though that the sextet themselves are still being treated better than they were before, they’re still in dire need as well: the repercussions as they are have already influenced most of them to depart from Ponyville in search of greener pastures now; the remainders, Applejack and Rarity, are still left behind due to their attempts to commit the crime I was guilty of attempting. Generally speaking, the troubles of the war were nonetheless undeserved, especially considering the perfidious nature of a few; as a matter of fact, my sister would’ve rather these serialized tales of unfortunate events hadst never come to pass as it wert: bone–grinding, blood–curdling, sweat–inducing horrors art not fitting for any kind of civilization to survive in this day and age as it is. Realizing how much the whole world has changed now made me realize how much I’d deprived myself of my connections also: in days of auld lang syne, the adversities we’d faced in both the Old and New World wert but on par with the likes of windigos; now, it’s just individuals like, and unlike, thine kind threatening the safety and security of societies by and large all the same. At the very least, your generations’ collective suffering have made my sister wary of any threats, external and otherwise, no less; the loss of her niece Cadance has served as the main catalyst for such a change to take root in Equestria and not just for her: the destruction of Cloudsdale has also served as a black eye the likes of which our nation’s Wonderbolts will yet to recover from. Thankfully, despite the wounds inflicted by the forces of evildoers altogether, our subjects still have the power to resist them: as costly as the victory was, the benefits were longstanding enough to inspire the survivors to uphold the virtues and ideals; even now, the light and warmth brought forth by friendship and family still stands as it does to this day, long and short no less. Element Bearers, such as Twilight herself, are still breathing in the now, despite the damages inflicted against themselves as is: even in the small amount tenure, they’d done more in over one season alone total than my sister and I had done together in more; now, we have a responsibility to ensure that their health is to be restored completely, physiologically and psychologically here. So, tell me, Derpy Hooves, what saith thee now: in spite of everything which had came to pass, dost thou honestly believe to be weak as you’d been convinced to believe by others and thyself; art thou planning surrender to the forces of negativity and evil or continue on with the struggle on the side of positivity and good like thou, thine kith, and kin hast done like before anyway…?”

“Well, when you put it in a way, the least I can do is still keep going; I still have so much more to live for and so do they also…” the squinting mother had answered the corporeal princess, taking a stand keenly once more with feelings of confidence and force, “for too long, I’ve been letting what had been done to me keep myself from becoming a good wife and a wise mother. Up until I’d met Ponet, I’d never considered the possibility of being more than the sum of my parts and parcels I’d carried with: all that I could think about is how much I’d missed my father as well as feared the one who dared to take his place without a care; now, all that my brain is concerned about are all the memories I could’ve made with Sparkler as she had with my Dinky. The fact that she’d arrived here in my time of need shouldn’t have surprised me after all that we’d been thru together lately; besides, if it weren’t for Princess Celestia here, who would’ve dared to know what could’ve happened to the rest of us too: if anything, then what happened as she’d almost described would’ve been a grim reality, devoid of any and all morals and modesty. I should’ve been grateful that I didn’t lose the rest of my family thanks to her, despite the pain and suffering we’d all endured: barring the war, I’ve been able to communicate with the others and strengthen my old bonds between friends and family too; additionally, I’ve been graced with the opportunity to make new friends as well, including the new Bearers of Harmony themselves. Although things have changed between the lot of us, one of the only constants we do still happen to share is how we miss her so: Sparkler should’ve been my pride and joy when Ponet and I had been married for over a decade, especially when it meant much; even now, I must shoulder the burden of that loss and regret more than any of them can because I’m their mother especially. Seeing that everybody, especially Dinky, still chooses to look up to and sympathize with them, I can still see that it’s not over; even though we’re poorer than ever, especially without Sparkler herself, we have a legacy to leave behind for our sake too: it’d be a miracle that we’ve been able to survive and thrive in this world in spite of everything so the least we can do is keep going…”

“Hmm, no despair; how interesting…” Luna spoke.

Derpy said to the corporeal princess, “thanks anyway, your highness…”

“Think nothing of it, Derpy: this troubled world has plenty of people that need help the most in remembering life’s worth…” Luna replied as her form had begun to dissipate slowly right before the very blondes’ eyes almost suddenly so to speak of, “your daughter is amongst those people, much like her kith and kin as we speak no less…”

“Understood…” the aforementioned mother said as it was Dinky’s turn to join the corporeal princess all the same so to speak of; sure enough, the former was left alone to her devices, standing out and about in the frozen city as the stars and sun switched places interchangeably: not much else could be said about it all the same as a sense of relief took ahold of the very body.

The squinting blonde sat back down onto the ground as the morning air brushed up against her clothes and skin underneath them.