Twilight’s mind slowly began to wake up, thoughts jumbled together. Last thing she remembered was standing out on the balcony… and then nothing.
”Twilight!”
She remembered going into the rehearsal, and remembered being angry for some reason. Though she couldn’t remember why.
”Twilight!”
Wait, it was coming back to her! She was mad because Cadence was acting so differently, and no one noticed. And… and her friends left her.
”Twilight!”
Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open.

”Gah!”
Twilight shot up, gasping for air.
”Twilight! Oh thank the creator you’re alright!”
Turning her head towards the familiar voice, she was met with a welcome sight. Her friend and soon to be brother in law, Thorax, was kneeling next to her.
”Thorax? What are you doing here? More importantly, where is here?”
”Thats not important right now. What is important is finding Cadence and getting out of here!”
As Twilight heard the name of her former friend, she scoffed.
”Why bother? She’s turned into a real huge jerk ever since this wedding thing.”
”That Wasn’t Cadence.”

”What do you mean? Of course that was Cadence!”
”Twilight, other than her personality, did you notice anything different about her?”
”… Well now that you mention it, I when saw her cast a spell on Shining, her magic was green. What does that-“
”Okay, now what color did I tell you my people’s magic was?”
”Green.“
Suddenly, the pieces came together in her mind. The sudden reschedule, the change in personality, the threat: this was all apart of a plan.
”So Cadence was replaced?”
”Yes. And now, we need to find her.”
Suddenly, Twilight stood up, a look of determination in her eyes.
”Well then let’s not waste anymore time.”

As the sun rose on a new day, the final preparations for the wedding were underway. And as ponies rushed about to put the finishing touches together, Spike, exhausted, returned from a late night patrol he did of the shield’s perimeter. Landing on the balcony of his room, he opened the door, and got ready to snuggle up to his fiancé. But as he crawled into his bed, he discovered that Thorax was not there. Eyes shooting open and filled with a renewed vigor, he took off, quickly flying to his sister’s room, to see if she saw him. But as he got there, he was met with the same scene. As realization hit him, his blood began to boil. The bitch had managed to take them, and hide them Celestia knows where. But he wouldn’t let this slide. Oh no, there would be retribution.

Thorax and Twilight searched the caves underneath the castle, looking for any sign of the real Cadence. For hours, they looked, hoping for some sort of sign. As they began to give up hope, Twilight’s ears perked up.
”Did you hear that?”
”I didn’t hear anything. What did it sound like?”
”It sounded like… crying. C’mon, follow me!”
As Twilight ran towards the sound, Thorax followed, hoping that they had finally found her. And as they turned a corner, there lied the princess. Battered and bruised, and looking malnourished, but alive.
”CADENCE!”
”T-Twilight?”

As the wedding ceremony began, the five bridesmaids sat down at the front, ready for their part. Though despite this happy occasion, a few of them couldn’t help but feel guilt.
”Girls, do ya think we went to hard on Twi?”
Feel bad, AJ she tried to cancel the wedding! All because she thought the princess was evil.”
”I don’t know, Twilight and Spike knew Cadence for years. They both seemed to think something was up.”
”Well by that logic Darling, wouldn’t the princess have noticed? She raised Cadenza after all.”
”I dunno. What if Celly also got wrapped up in the wedding, and didn’t notice her niece go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs? Besides, the look on Twilights face… remembering it makes my smile turn upside down.”
”Well let’s talk about this later. It’s starting!”

”Come on, we have to get out of here!”
”Wait up a moment Thorax! Cadence isn’t in the best condition right now. Besides, how do you know how to get out?”
Thorax looked back, before slowing down a bit.
”I… I don’t know. This just… smells like the right way.”
Twilight cocked her head, confused.
”Smells? What, did you lay down a pheromone trail down or something?”
”No, I couldn’t have. Only the queen was able to lay down pheromone trails.”
”Well I doubt she would have done it, seeing as if anyone could sense it they could use it to escape.”

They continued on, until finally making it to the exit. As they were about to celebrate, they noticed them: the three former bridesmaids.
”What do we do?”
Thorax looked to the three guards, gears turning in his mind. They wouldn’t be able to sneak past them… unless. As Thorax realized what he had to do, he looked to the injured Cadence, and to Twilight.
”I’ll distract them. You guys go stop the wedding.”
”Thorax no!”
But before the words even left her mouth, he had hopped out and grabbed their attention, before running off. Twilight cursed to herself, wishing they’d have found another way. As she picked up Cadence and began to escape the caves with her, she looked back, and whispered.
”Stay safe Thorax.”

As “Cadenza” walked up to the dais, Celestia looked upon her beloved “niece”, and not noticing the glazed over look in Shining Armor’s eyes. Clearing her throat, she opened the book in front of her, and began to read aloud.
”Mare’s and Gentlecolts-“
*SLAM*
”WHERE ARE THEY?!”
Suddenly, the door had slammed open, as Spike, eyes practically aflame with rage, bursted in. Around him, decorations begin to melt, and ponies begin to sweat.
As many of the guests gasp and faint at the raging dragon among them, Celestia, perturbed at the interruption, looks him in the eyes.
”Spike, what is the meaning of-“
”WHERE ARE MY SISTER AND MY FIANCÉ YOU BITCH?!”

As Spike stomps further into the room, Twilight’s friends watch on in shock and horror. The only time they had ever seen Spike so mad was whenever he thought someone he cared about was hurt. As he grew closer to the dais, paper streamers caught fire, as Celestia began to fume.
”Don’t you dare call me-“
”Not you.”
Celestia’s anger evaporated, and was replaced by confusion. Spike walked closer, raising his hand and pointing to the bride to be.
”Her.”
At this, Cadence just scoffed, before rolling her eyes.
”Dont know, don’t care right now. Now, can we continue?”
”Not until you tell me where they are you shapeshifting piece of shit.”
Cadence’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks, and sweat began to may her fur.
”W-What do you mean?”
”Don’t play dumb. The sudden personality change, the green magic, and the SONG ROUTINE YOU HAD LAST NIGHT!”
As he came closer to her, she cursed to herself. She shouldn’t have been so obvious. Ah well, time to do this the old fashioned way.

As Spike walks closer to the podium, Princess Celestia moves to intervene. To her surprise, she’s just pushed out of the way. She turns around to confront him, but is too late. Spike grabs Cadence by the throat, lifting her into the air.
”I’ll ask one last time, you fuck. Where. Are. They.”
But instead of answering, she just begins to laugh.
”Oh you poor fool. You’ll never see them again.”
Asher voice shifts, green flames overtake her, revealing her true self. As the flames die down, the now revealed queen Chrysalis continues to laugh.
”I win!”
Suddenly, her hand shoots forward, as green fire envelopes it once more, morphing it into a sharp blade. The blade pierces into Spike’s stomach, causing him to drop her. As she falls to the floor, she lands on her feet before charging towards the wounded drake, arm posed to strike again. But as she reaches him, he catches her arm, before throwing her over his shoulder and into the ground, cracking the marble.
”Finally. A challenge.”

As the Changeling queen and the resplendent phoenix battle, Celestia and Twilight’s five friends watch on in shock.
”Twilight… was right?”
”But that means…”
”We were so focused on the wedding, we abandoned our friend.”
”Ah shoulda known she was tell in’ the truth.”
”We’re the party poopers, not her.”
”I am sorry for failing you, my faithful student.”
As the girls and the princess realize their mistake, guilt begins to fill their hearts. But then, the guilt begins to be replaced. And what replaced that guilt? Determination. The determination to fix their mistakes, and make up to their friend. And so, they begin to plan.

Twilight and Cadence weave through the halls, attempting to get to the ballroom in time. But as they grow closer, they know they are too late. They can hear the sounds of combat, ringing through the castle. But they have to keep going. They cannot stop for a moment. Finally, they make it to the ballroom doors, and what greets them horrifies them. Most of the guests have already fled, with those remaining either having fainted or too frightened to move. The rest of the main 6 and Princess Celestia were towards the front, taking cover behind some overturned benches. And Spike was locked in combat with the Changeling Queen. Blow for blow, he was keeping up with her as best he could, but with a major wound hampering him, he likely wouldn’t fair much longer. As they stare in shock at the scene, Cadence noticed Shininng Armor. Standing completely still, with eyes glazed over, it was obvious he was being mind controlled. But to the starving princess, this didn’t matter. As she see’s her love again for the first time in who knows how long, her heart takes initiative.
”SHINING!”
However, he still does not move. But the shout does not go unnoticed. Spike, hearing Cadences voice, momentarily loses his focus, and Chrysalis takes full advantage of this. Once more, she shifts her hand, this time into a jagged axe, and swings down hard into Spike’s shoulder.

The bridesmaids were still hot on Thorax’s tail, as he ran through the castle. Nothing he did seemed to shake them, and he was starting to grow tired. Desperate, he racked his brain for ideas as he ran, hoping to think of something to lose them. And as he ran into the throne room, an epiphany finally came to him. He quickly threw off his cloak and threw it behind him, tripping up the bridesmaids, before unfurling his insectile wings. He quickly jumped into the air, beating his wings and gaining enough alititude to grab onto a nearby chandelier. As the bride’s maids finally untangle themselves, they realize their target is gone. They quickly searched the throne room, thankfully not looking up, before giving up and presumably returning to the caves. As they finally leave, Thorax lets out a sigh of relief, before jumping down. Now it was time to head to the ballroom, and see if Cadence and Twilight were able to succeed.

As the axe embedded itself within his shoulder, cleaving through flesh and bone, Spike looked on in pain. Dropping to his knees, Spike breathed heavily, doing his best to numb the pain. He couldn’t give up, he couldn’t let her win. He attempted to stand back up, but the changeling queen just laughed, before ripping her axe out, and transforming it back into her hand.
”Ah ah ah!”
As Spike further collapsed, vision swimming from the pain, he could hear Twilight shout out his name. Looking to where he heard the voice, he saw his sister, tears running down her cheeks.
”Run!”
Spike attempted to get back up, but was stopped as Queen chrysalis stepped on his back.
”To think, I thought you would be a problem.”

As she laughed again, Celestia had had enough. This Changeling had killed hundreds of her friends before, and she would not let her harm another one.
”That is enough Chrysalis!”
As Chrysalis heard Celestia speak, she turned her neck to look at the solar diarch, an ominous grin decorating her face.
”Oh? And what makes you think you can stop me?”
”You’d do well to not underestimate me, tyrant.”
Before chrysalis could respond, a blast of golden light emanated from Celestia’s horn, blasting Chrysalis in the chest. Chrysalis flew back, landing hard into the ground, before quickly recovering.
”Well then, time to cement my future rule. By killing you!”

Chrysalis shot an unbroken beam of green light towards Celestia, which she immediately reciprocated. As the beams met, Celestia’s beam began to quickly overtake the queens, much to her shock. As the frightened queen began to panic, she remembered: she still had Shining Armor and his love. Grinning, she siphoned more love from the poor brainwashed Stallion, she increased the power of her beam, and began to push Celestia back. Surprised by the sudden shift, Celestia poured more power into her beam, and began to retake the lead. Until Chrysalis began to siphon even more love, and turned the tides in her favor again. Celestia was worried. She couldn’t let this monster win, but if she put too much power into the fight, she could hurt a lot of innocent bystanders. Carefully, she increased her power once again, but to her horror, Chrysalis continued to gain on her. She attempted to put more power into the beam, but it was too late. The beam made contact with Celestia’s horn, and the solar princess was sent flying back, smashing through the wall.

Thorax continues towards the ballroom, before stopping. The closer he gets, the stronger the strange pressure in his head gets. He tries to ignore either, but its persistence causes him discomfort like he has never felt before. Thorax stops to catch his breath, hoping that a small break may help the pressure dissipate. But as he leans against a nearby wall, another wall suddenly explodes, and something’s lands next to him. Shaking off the surprise, he leans down to see what landed near him, only to gasp in horror: it was Princess Celestia, unconscious. Thinking quickly, he drags her from the rubble, and leans her up against a nearby wall. He lays a nearby rug over her to keep her warm, before rushing towards the ballroom. Whatever is happening, was bad, and he needed to help stop it.

The main six state at the hole in the wall, shock and terror on their faces. How did she beat Celestia? Chrysalis cackles, joyed at her success.
”HAHAHAHA, NOT EVEN CELESTIA CAN BEAT ME!” The love Shining Armor has for Cadence is so potent, you must be proud. Now there is just one thing left for me to do. Shining?”
Shining armor shuffles over, as if he was dead.
”Yes my queen?”
”Be a dear and take down the shield, would you?”
”Yes, my queen.”
As the shield falls, a giant black cloud began to descend upon Canterlot, as Chrysalis picks up her fallen foe.
”Now, time to get rid of this problem.”
She shifts her hand into a blade once more, and prepares to drive it into Spike’s heart.
”SPIKE!!”

Thorax looks on in horror. His mother, Queen Chrysalis, had not only beaten Celestia, she had beaten Spike. And she was about to finish him off. He rushed forwards, sprinting past the Main six before jumping towards his Fiancé.
”SPIKE!!”
Just before Chrysalis plunges the knife into Spike’s heart, Thorax manages to grab him, knocking then both out of harms way.
”Wha-?”
Confused, the Changeling queen looks around, before her eyes land upon the prone form of Spike, and some one she never thought she would see again.
”So you really have survived after all this time. If you weren’t such a disappointing failure, I’d have been impressed.”

Thorax, standing in between his wounded Fiancé and his mother, glared at her, hate in his eyes.
”I won’t let you hurt him anymore.”
”Hah, why, because you ‘LoVe HiM?’ Please, you’re a Changeling. We cannot love. We only feed off of it.”
”That’s not true! He means everything to me. When I hold him, I feel a warmth I could never imagine. He brings me happiness and fulfillment that no other could. I would fight the world for him, and I would die for him! “
Smirking, she grabs Thorax by the neck, and begins to lift.
”Aw, how sweet. Guess what? You are about to die for him!”
And with that, she thrusts the knife deep into his heart.

After twisting the knife a bit, Chrysalis pulls it out, covered in green blood. She drop him to the floor, before turning her attention to the six mares behind her. Twilight, Tera’s streaming down her face, ignited her horn, as her eyes begin to glow.
”You bitch! I’m going to-“
Before she could even finish, Chrysalis backhands her across the room, slamming her into a wall.
”I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again! I. Have. Won!”
As Thorax lay on the floor, slowly dying, he looks to his fiancé, tears in his eyes.
”S-Spike…”
thorax begins to slowly crawl towards him, as Spike looks back, eyes filled with pain and sorrow.
”T-Thorax… no…”
Thorax continued to crawl towards hims, eyes slowly dimming.
”S-Spike… I”
Spike, tears streaming down his face, begins to crawl towards Thorax.
”Please, Thorax. Don’t go. I need you.”
Thorax finally reaches Spike, eyes almost dark.
”I…love…you…”
With his final breath, Thorax hugs Spike and his eyes devoid of life. Spike wails, feeling a pain he never felt before. Holding his lovers body close, he whispers into his ear, one last time.
”I love you.”
Spike kisses his Thorax, one final time. And as their lips make contact, the world goes white.

Chrysalis stands over Twilight, triumph on her face. She won, and no one could stop her now! Equestria was hers for the taking! But before she could gloat to the downed mare, a flash of light from behind her grabbed her attention. She quickly turned around, and beheld a sight that filled her with fear.
”I-Impossible…”
In the middle of the ballroom, a giant, glowing orb hung over, before slowly descending. As it landed, it began to dissipate, revealing that within, stood something she thought she had been rid of. For within the ball, was a Royal Changeling. And not just any royal Changeling, her son.

As his vision clears of spots, Spike looked on in awe. Where once his lost liver lay, stood a changeling, rivaling even Celestia in magnificence. He stood a head taller than most ponies, with brilliant lime green chitin. His eyes were a brilliant as amethysts, and his wings were like a monarch’s. He had two mandibles, positioned by his mouth, and his horn was long and slender. His shoulders were adorned with red paldron like shells, and his abdomen was covered in dark green segmented plates. Spike was awestruck, but what struck out to him most was the ring on his horn. The wedding ring Spike gave to-
”T-Thorax?”

Chrysalis was fuming. Not only did her worthless son survive, but he somehow ascended to a Royal! She began to charge, only to be stopped as his horn lit up green. As Chrysalis sat paralyzed, Thorax slowly walked towards her.
”despite everything you have done to me mother, I must thank you.”
As the words left his mouth, Applejack and the other girls gasped. This… thing was the mother that had caused so much pain to Thorax?!
”If it were not for you, I would have never met Spike. I would have never known what it felt like to be loved, and to love. I would have never been happy. ”
As he grew closer to Chrysalis, she began to fear for her life. How was he so powerful?! But as she looked at Spike, she realized: they really did love each other. And a love shared is always more potent than one forced, or one sided.

Thorax finally makes it to Chrysalis, and looks her dead in the eye.
”But despite all I owe you, you still have much to answer for. You will pay for your crimes. Not just for Equestria, but for all that you have mistreated.”
He reaches out, lightly caressing Chrysalis’s cheek.
”Deep down, I still care for you mother, As I am your son. But I will never forgive you. For all you did to me.”

Thorax turns around, looking to the sky. He notices the descending cloud of Changelings, much to Chrysalis’s delight.
”Yes, my children! Rend him limb from limb!”
But as the first few fly I r through the window and land, they look on in confusion, much to her anger.
”NOW!”
Finally, one of the braver ones steps forward, only to collapse onto the ground, writhing in pain. Seeing this, the other Changelings back off, not willing to risk their brother’s fate. Chrysalis, now angry, realizes what’s happening. With two royals of the Same blood are too close, their combined hive mind would fry any Changelings that get too close.
”Fine! I’ll just have to do it myself!”
Suddenly, Chrysalis breaks free from Thorax’s magic, lunging at him with teeth barred. But suddenly, a wave of live magic washes over everyone, and sends the queen and her Changelings flying, and knocking poor Fluttershy over. Thorax, unaffected and confused, turned around towards the source of the love magic, and smiles. It seems that Princess Cadence was able to use the distraction to free Shining.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Thorax turns to Spike, a concerned look on his face.
”Spi-“
Before he could even finish, Spike had launched himself at Thorax, wrapping him in a one armed hug. As tears streamed down his face, he looked to his love.
”Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
Thorax, now crying himself, smiled, and returned the hug.
”I could ask the same of you Spike. Now let’s get you to a hospital, that shoulder looks painful.”
Spike laughs, and the two fly out towards the nearest hospital.

As Spike and Thorax leave, Twilight looks on, smile on her face. She had almost lost them, but thanks to the power of love, times two, they survived. But as she watched them fly off, her smile morphed into a frown. Her brother’s may have made it through, but her friendship… As Twilight began to ruminate, she felt a hand tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Princess Celestia, now recovered, looking at her, sorrow in her eyes.
”My faithful student. How wrong I was. You were right, something was up with Cadence, but so blinded by the wedding was I that I did not heed your warnings, and almost lost you. And now, I have a lot to think about. Please forgive me, Twilight.”

Before Twilight could answer, however, the other girls began to surround her.
”We messed up big time Twi. And we’re sorry.”
”We shoulda listened to you.”
”You knew her for your entire life, and were able to see what was wrong.”
”But like Celestia, we too were blinded by the wedding, darling.”
”We feel like real party poopers. Could you ever forgive us?”
After their apology, Twilight stayed silent. Thinking they had their answer, they hung their heads low, and began to walk away.
”Wait!”
Quickly turning around, they were met with Twilight rushing up to them, before throwing her arms open, Realizing what was happening, the others reciprocated, and the friends, and teacher, embraced.
”I forgive you. And please forgive me for handling the situation so badly. I don’t ever want to lose you girls again!”
Eyes began to water, as the groups sobbed and embraced, with their friendship stronger than ever.

Shining Armor sat on a bench, and rubbed the back of his head. Who knew mind control gave such a wicked headache afterwards? Suddenly, his fiancé walked up next to him, before plopping herself down next to him.
”You know what Shiny?”
Shining cocked his head, intrigued as to what his beloved had to say.
”What is it, Cady?”
”After this, I think we should do what Spike and Thorax are doing. A small, private wedding.”
Shining laughed, cringing a bit as his head throbbed, before turning to Cadence.
”Y’know, I think I’m gonna have to agree with you on that!”

As the sun began to set, everyone sat together within the Castle’s dining hall. Laughter filled the air, as tales were told, jokes were shared, and songs were sung. After all, a victory deserved to be celebrated! Suddenly, the doors slammed open, throwing everyone into high alert. Twilight lit her horn, Spike lifted his good arm, bearing his claws and teeth, and Pinkie Was pointing a weird staff at the door. But as Princess Luna walked in, her eyes widened.
”What did we miss?”
Realizing their mistake, they all shared a laugh, before telling the princess a story. As they ended the tale, she pouted a bit, before muttering under her breath.
”This is what we get for going to griffonstone for trade deals.”

Author's Note

The final chapter, other than the epilogue! Hope you guys enjoyed the twists and turns. Please leave a comment if I made any mistakes, or if you have any suggestions!