Twilight sat in the kitchen, levitating a checklist as AJ prepared the catering for the wedding.

"Cake, check. Ice sculpture, check. Best darn bite-size apple fritter you ever tasted-" AJ checked the list, as she stuffed an apple in Twilight's mouth.

"mmm, check." Twilight checked, as she tasted the apple fritter.

"I just can't wait for the wedding! I've never been to one of these before. Aren't you excited Twilight?" Spike asked Twilight.

"I don't know Spike, it's just that Cadance acted so........... Different back there..........." Twilight speculated.

"Different how? You've known her for years, what was she like?" Spike asked.

"I know she was always happy to see me, and I know she was always vibrant with personality! It seemed to me like she was............ Trying not to draw attention to herself, but why would-" Twilight was suddenly interrupted by the doors opening.

"Hiya princess!" Applejack greeted as she walked in.

"Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." Cadance requested in an over exaggerated regal tone, almost as if she was subtly mocking her own name.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at Cadance's request.............

"Hiya Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! You've come to check out what's on the menu for your big day?" AJ asked the princess.

"Why yes, I have." Cadance answered in a forced delighted tone. As she walked towards the food, she subtly looked around the room as Twilight stared at her suspicious of her behavior.

"Mmm, delicious. You've really outdone yourself Applejack. I think I'll take a few to go." Cadance requested.

"Why it means so much coming from you princess! You enjoy the food, and try not to spoil yourself!" AJ told Cadance, as she lifted the bag and walked out the room.

"Was it necessary to congratulate her by name?............." Twilight eyed Cadance suspiciously, as she headed out to oversee the dresses.

Later...................

"I'm telling you Rarity, there's just something off about the way Cadance is behaving." Twilight told her friend.

"Why it's her wedding day darling! It's normal to feel nervous on such a day." Rarity assured Twilight.

"Yes, but she wasn't just nervous! She wasn't herself! 'please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.'" Twilight mimicked Cadance's mockery of her own name from earlier.

"Ya rang?" Cadance overheard her name being mentioned,

"Your highness! Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion." Rarity greeted the bride.

"Yes yes yes of course, how are the dresses?" Cadance asked.

"Well, I've been working on it ever since I was given the assignment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results." Rarity beamed with positivity over the princesses approval.

"I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer train." Cadance stated.

"Oh yes, of course." Rarity took notes of her request.

"And those should be a different color." Cadance glanced at the other dresses.

"I think they're lovely!" One bridesmaid stated.

"Me too!"

"I love them!"

Cadance merely coughed a bit, causing the bridesmaids to look at each other confused.

"Make them a different color, please." Cadance politely asked, as she left with the bridesmaids to inspect the reception.

"At least she knows her manners........." Twilight speculated, as she left to check the reception as well.

Later................

"Ok, we've been over the games," Pinkie went over the activities as Cadance watched, she went over and rolled a dice on the board as she gave Cadance a smile.

"The dances," Pinkie activated the music and danced like a chicken.

"Oh! I think this reception is gonna be perfect! Don't you?" Pinkie asked the bride.

"Absolutely! Never change Pinkie Pie." Cadance told the party pony, as she left with a slight grin on her face.

"Thank you!" Pinkie thanked, as Twilight watched from behind a pillar, eyeing Cadance closely..........

Later.................

"Bet I can guess what you're all thinking. Cadance is the weirdest bride to be, ever." Twilight told her friends, as they all looked at her with doubtful stares.

"Twilight, a lot is going on at the moment. I'm sure that any unusual behavior is a result of nerves." Rarity assured Twilight.

"But Rarity, it's not just that she's feeling nervous, it's like she's a completely different pony! She barely acknowledged me, she mocked her own name for some reason, she coughed when the bridesmaids complimented the dresses, and she seems to have a thing for talking to you by name, even though she's never interacted with you before! Doesn't that seem a bit odd?" Twilight asked her friends.

"Well of course she mentioned our names! She may never interacted but she does know them, she's just being polite." Pinkie excused.

"She's probably just trying to relax Twi, It's her wedding and they need to protect Canterlot from Discord. It's probably just a distraction." Applejack assured Twilight.

"I don't know.......... It just seems wrong to me............ Very wrong............" Twilight lamented, as she left the table to confront Shining Armor about his bride.

Author's Note

Cadance's magic aura is blue while eating the fritters.