Chapter 7: A Change of Plans

As I made my way down the main halls of the castle I heard something behind me, coming from behind the doors I had just closed. It sounded like a scream, and then followed by laughter. My head nearly exploded in thought.

"TWILIGHT!" I shouted to myself as I ran back to the main hall.

I shot the doors open with a burst of energy, almost breaking them down. As I ran into the room I was greeted with nothing, the whole room was empty, Twilight was nowhere to be found. My hands were burning with fire, ready to strike at the first thing that appeared.

"Twilight where are you?" I yelled, "Twilight!"

"Why don't you find out." said a familiar voice.

I turned around and let a fireball aimed at the voice of Princess Cadence. She blasted it away with a barrier and just smugly laughed.

"Goodbye human, too bad you can't make it to the wedding," she laughed.

I sprinted towards her, rage taking over, my body almost an inferno. She simply smiled as I was engulfed inside of a green dome, slowly sucking me into the ground.

  I woke up after what seemed like hours, but it had only been a few minutes I could tell as my hands still were on fire. I looked around me, trying to see where I had been taken, only to find myself in a system of caves of some sort. I let out a scream of pure anger, at myself for letting this happen, and for leaving Twilight alone. I blasted the cave around me with fireball after fireball, attempting to release the pent up rage.

"Evan? Evan!" a very familiar voice said behind me.

I turned to see Twilight standing behind me, her eyes wide in surprise.

"Twi! You're okay!" I said as I ran up to her and grabbed her into a hug.

"Where are we?" she asked a bit scared.

"You're in the caves below Canterlot." said a voice, suddenly Cadence's face was everywhere on the cave wall, "Where greedy ponies use to live to find crystals, now it's your prison," she laughed, "Now you two won't be able to interfere with my plans."

My blood had started to boil again, but Twilight started up this time.

"Plans for what!" she snapped.

The alicorn looked at us in feint surprise and answered, "Well my plans for your brother of course."

Twilight's eyes filled with anger at that point.

"Don't you dare do anything to my brother you monster!" she shouted.

Cadence's face was overwhelmed with confidence.

"Only way to stop me is for you too catch me!" she taunted us.

Twilight's horn powered up and she blasted the crystal that the Alicorn's face was on, only having it ricochet back at us.

"Krife Twi! Be careful," I said to her.

But she didn't listen, she kept blasting at where ever Cadence's face popped up. Twilight then shot at an image of her laughing, the tough cave rock seemed to fissure, but not break, and the faces stopped coming. We sat there in silence, thinking about what to do next, when suddenly an orange light emitted from the cracks. The light grew bright before spreading across the wall into the shape of a doorway and vaporized the rock. Twi and I started to investigate where the light came from, but instead we saw a figure beyond the new found hole, and it was Princess Cadence.

Twilight was already moving before I could react, Cadence tried to scoot away.

"No! Wait!" she shouted.

But Twilight had already tackled her, the quivering princess beneath her. As Cadence was shaking she looked up and saw Twilight, and her eyes grew wide.

"Twilight! It's me Cadence, the other one was a fake!" she attempted to plea.

I was making my way over, hands lit, but also wondering where and what could have created that light, neither me or Twilight did it and the Princess seemed shocked also.

"Yeah right," Twilight said, "Good excuse!"

But as she said that Cadence slipped from under and started singing a child's rhyme, "Sunshine sunshine, lady bugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake."

I stopped in my tracks, hands going out, as Twilight shouted in joy and hugged the princess.

"It really is you!" she exclaimed.

After a few moments the Alicorn explained what had happened to her, how she got sent her like us and what the fake Princess was. She then looked up to me and smiled.

"And you must be Evan, I've heard a lot of amazing things about you my human friend. I'm glad you could be here," she said, all of it genuine.

I just nodded my head and thanked her, still wondering about the cave wall bursting.

"Well, now it's time we get out of here. We have a wedding to save," Twilight said.

I nodded in agreement and our little group made our way, trying to find an exit.

*******************

"Has anypony seen Evan or Twilight at all? Been a few hours since Twi's little outburst." Applejack said to the group.

"I'd imagine they would have left. Both were rather upset, Twilight of course we all know, and Evan's outburst at Rainbow Dash," Rarity added.

Dash's eye's lowered in guilt.

"I didn't mean to insult him! It just...came out really bad," she said.

"Maybe he's just watching the girls! Oooh ooh! What if he took the girls to get ice cream!" Pinkie added.

Applejack shook her head in annoyance.

"No..I talked to Apple Bloom a few minutes ago. Said neither her 'nor Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo seen him since," she said nervously.

"Well where ever he is, he is most likely trying to calm Twilight down. So let us just get ready for the wedding alright? It starts soon," Rarity commanded.

The group shook their heads in agreement and started to prepare for the false wedding.

***********************

As I followed Twilight and Cadence through the caves I felt uneasy, like someone was watching us the entire time, yet nothing has come of it. I pushed the feeling out as we came upon a large center chamber with a huge stone in the middle. We stopped as we heard something above us, it sounded like..music.

"It's the wedding progression!" Cadence cried out, "We'll never make it in time!"

The only thought in my head was that I needed to get the girls out, before whatever was supposed to happen, happened.

"Well how are we going to get out of here!" I almost shouted.

Twilight looked around the chamber and then smiled, she pointed a hoof up to a bright shining hole, it was an opening.

"Well how are we going to get up there? Cadence could hardly support my weight when she took off the mine cart!" I said.

Twilight simply concentrated and teleported us to the exit.

"Ah, I guess that's how," I chuckled.

At that point three figures stood in the exit and walked towards us.

"You're not going anywhere," they said, almost without emotion.

As they got closer I recognized all three, it was the original bridesmaids, Lyra, Minuette and Twinkleshine and I could tell they had been hypnotized.

"Oh Goddess be damned! What are we supposed to do? These are our friends!" I yelled, almost to myself.

The Princess walked up and waved a bouquet of flowers around, catching the trio's eyes, and tossed it off in the distance and they followed.

"How did that even work?" I said astounded, but then ran off with the others as they raced towards the castle.

The three of us raced through the castle, bent on making it in time. We could hear Celestia say the final vows, her voice echoing through the empty halls. Twilight sped up reaching the main doors and burst through.

"STOP!" she yelled.

I could here the audience gasp in surprise as I came up behind her, and then saw the faces of my friends, some in shock and some in slight disappointment. I ignored them and made my way to the fillies.

"Why does your sister have to ruin my wedding! Augh!" the fake Cadence pretended to cry.

"Because it's not your wedding, it's mine!" the real Princess shouted from behind.

Even more gasps erupted this time, and the faces on my friends and Celestia dropped.

"She's a Changeling!" the real Cadence shouted, "And she imprisoned us in the caves below the castle!"

This drew laughter from the fake Alicorn as a whirlwind of green magic enveloped her, and as it subsided what stood there took me by surprise. It looked like a pony, but it was insectoid in form, with chitinous wings and armor. The Queen of the Changelings had revealed herself to everyone in attendance, things were about to get ugly.

I shoved past every pony in my way.

"I have to get the girls out now," was my only thought, it was my mission.

I looked over and saw Applejack staring at me, her face full of confusion.

"A.J. I need to get the girls, we'll make our way back to my room and then I'll come back okay?" I said to her.

She nodded, her face now defiant. I finally reached the trio of fillies, they were huddling with each other and shaking.

"Girls! C'mon let's go now," I said.

They looked up and smiled, almost about to scream. I hushed them quickly, we needed to get out unseen while Twilight and Cadence distracted the changeling. We had barely made it to the doors when Celestia had confronted the Queen, beams of magic erupted from each others horn. Celestia seemed to have the upper hand, but then suddenly the Queen had a burst of energy, sending Princess Celestia to the ground. I turned to the girls now urgent.

"Okay girls, follow me and run," I said, and we sped out of the chamber, only into chaos.

______________________

As the fillies and I ran outside I took a look around, everything seemed okay, until I glanced towards the sky. Thousands of the black dots I had seen before now covered the barrier. I could hear them smashing against the dome, trying to break in.

"Krifing goddess," was all I was able to say as they smashed the force field as one, shattering it completely.

"C'mon girls RUN!" I shouted, the girls now screaming in terror.

As we ran I saw the changelings drop from the sky like bombs, crashing into anything they hit, and then they started attacking. Guards charged out of the barracks, the Pegasi took to the sky, the Unicorns blasting enemies with powerful burst of magic, and the Earth pony guards waging a war on the ground. I wasn't paying attention as a changeling landed right in front of us, it got up hissing ready to attack. It never got the chance as I struck it with a magic fueled punch, knocking it clear out in its impact hole. But more blasted in from the sky, it seemed like it was never ending. We were near the corner of two buildings, solid on both sides, as an idea struck.

"Girls stand in that corner now," I ordered and the girls complied.

"Talon Plakath," I chanted, and a force field formed over the fillies.

"Evan what are you doing!" Scootaloo cried out.

I could see her still shaking, but her defiance showed as well.

"I'm supposed to watch you three, keep you safe. And they have to come through me to even get within ten feet of you," I said as a whole dozen changelings crashed in front of me.

They charged out of the holes, only met with fireballs and beams of energy, I felt the anger ripple though me, feeding my magic. I grabbed one in mid air as it tried to fly by me, and slammed in hard into the ground, cracking the solid concrete. I wasn't going to fail this time, I had to protect the ones I loved.

***********************

As Twilight and the group was dragged back after unsuccessfully attempting to get the Elements of Harmony, they were thrown into the wedding chamber to see the Queen laughing.

"Yes this is turning out very well I must say, very well. It seems your little plan has failed, and mine has just begun," she said as she faced the group, "Now go. Feed!" she commanded the other changelings.

They flew out of the room, laughing and hissing.

"We will stop you!" Twilight shouted confidently.

The Changeling merely chuckled.

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

As Twilight went silent she moved back over to the balcony.

"Exactly. Although your human friend seems to be causing a slight issue," she said.

Twilight, Applejack and the others looked down to see plumes of fire and cyan beams of energy erupt from the battle that raged below.

"No! You will not lay a hoof on him!" Twilight shouted, now furious.

"Ooh, it seems we have another strong source of love! I can almost taste it," she chuckled.

Twilight now backed up.

"No, wait!" she tried to plea.

But the Queen ignored it as she turned to more of her soldiers.

"Why don't you go...break the humans heart," she laughed maniacally as one of her soldiers changed form into Twilight and the rest followed him out.

Twilight felt her heart sink as they ran out of the room.

*********************

My body was nearly spent, the changeling soldiers just kept coming and I kept blasting them away. The guards around me weren't fairing any better, most had been captured or knocked out, a few others seemed to not move at all. There was finally a break in the flood of soldiers and I took the time to rest and calm the girls.

"Evan, are you okay? You look hurt," Scootaloo said.

She had stopped shaking the moment she knew I was fighting, her confidence beaming.

"Yeah Scoot..I'm fine. Just need a quick rest, how are you guys?" I asked the three.

"We're scared! We need to get out of here Evan!" Sweetie Belle spoke up that time.

"Yeah I know, but we can't leave until I know you three will be sa-" I stopped mid-sentence a I noticed someone behind me.

I turned quickly only to see my best friend standing there.

"Twilight! What are you doing out here? Are you okay?" I asked her.

She just stared at me and nodded.

"Twi? You okay?" I asked again and came closer.

The smile across her face became an evil grin as she suddenly kicked me square in the chest.

"Oof! Tw-Twi!" I tried to say but she kicked me again, sending me to the ground.

I grabbed her with magic and threw her away from me.

"Twi what is wrong with you! Its me, its Evan!" I shouted at her.

She stood back up, evil grin still on her face.

"I know," she said and sprinted full speed at me.

Twilight hit me full force and I yelled out in pain, her horn stabbed me in the stomach as I looked down in shock.

"Twi...why?" I said, the pain brutal.

But it wasn't Twilight in front of me anymore, it was a changeling laughing in my face. The insectoid shot a bolt of energy at me, hitting me in the chest, and I fell to the ground panting. The changeling then turned its gaze to the fillies as they cried out in terror.

"Evan! Help us!" Scootaloo cried out, her words seemed to spark something inside of me, adrenaline and rage poured through me yet again.

I jumped up and grabbed the soldier by the throat, shocking the creature into submission as another group landed in front of me. They crept their way to me, but I hardly paid attention as I looked the one who stabbed me in the eyes.

"You will not hurt them," I uttered, then I let out a scream, "ZARATH KINKAS!" and lightning bolts erupted from my hands.

The changeling I held was the first to be sent electrocuted away, his friends barely had time to cry out as the bolts of plasma hit them, sending the back a few feet, unconscious or worse. At that same moment there was a bright light from the balcony of the main castle chamber, it almost blinded me so I looked away. I felt my powers draining and I quickly un-shielded the girls and staggered back against a wall.

"Evan! Evan!" Scootaloo was yelling my name.

"Hey Scoot, I'm okay. Don't worry, your big bro is fine," I said trying to calm her.

That's all I remember as my body passed out from exhaustion.

_______________________________

I woke up about a few hours later in a hospital bed, thanking the Goddess herself it wasn't the same one in Ponyville. I saw Twilight next to me, along with Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash.

"Hey guys...getting pretty tired of hospitals," I laughed as I sat up.

All three turned in excitement and all three attacked me with a hug.

"Evan! We were so worried, the stab wound nearly killed you. If it had been not even an inch closer it would've cut off a massive artery," Twilight said concerned.

"Well it didn't Twi, and I'm fine," I said as I gave her a reassuring smile, "So how was the wedding guys?"

Scootaloo bounced on me, taking care to avoid my stomach.

"It hasn't started yet duh," she chuckled.

I roughed her hair up with my hand and she giggled.

"Yeah we couldn't have it without you there dude," Dash said.

She also gave me a regretful sigh.

"And I need to apolo-" Dash started.

"No you don't Dash. It's fine, just forget about it okay?" I said.

She smiled and nodded, compliant.

"Well, I guess it's time for a real wedding then?" I said and stood up, "Hope Rarity has my tux ready."

Scootaloo looked down at the floor and trotted a hoof in nervousness.

"Umm..Evan, after the wedding and everything is over..I need to talk to you and Twilight. It's really important." she said.

I looked over at Twilight who looked concerned.

"Uh, yeah Scoot of course," I said

The wedding had played out nicely, considering all that had happened. I saw Scootaloo bouncing down the aisle in her flower girl dress and gave her a thumbs up, which reassured her that she looked cool. The after party was also nice, but I didn't stay long for that. Instead I took a trip to the guard barracks, trying to let some souls be at peace with what happened today. As I reached my destination I saw one guard that I had seen at the castle, who was constantly with the same guard, I guessed they were good friends but I didn't see him around. As I walked past him I saw something in front of him, a tombstone with a helmet laying next to it. I heard the guard crying and trying to speak past heavy breaths.

"Thanks..thanks for having my back buddy. Thank you," I heard him say.

My heart felt heavy, how many people lost friends and family today? How many ponies are just like me right now?

My head was running with thoughts but was interrupted by a shout.

"Evan! I have Scootaloo, she really needs to talk to us," Twilight said, filly in tow.

"Hey Scoot, so whats up? Why were you all worried?" I asked her.

She looked up at us, her big eyes were nervous and confused.

"Well..after you passed out, the changelings tried to get your body... they all started falling down though, kinda like a ghost was beating them up, but one of the changelings shot a bolt of magic and hit the thing, and it was a thing, it looked like you... then when Cadence and Shining Armor used the bolt of magic he stopped, looked at us and disappeared...he was wearing a scary dark mask," she said, letting me soak it in.

I was stunned, as was Twilight. Another human in Equestria?

"What do you mean disappeared Scootaloo?" I asked sharply.

"Well he turned invisible I guess," she said.

"What color was his magic?" Twilight asked.

"It was a bright orange," the filly answered.

I turned to Twilight.

"The caves, that magic in the caves. Whoever this is has been following me Twi," I said urgently.

"Well if he's invisible I can track him, I have magic that can detect heat signatures," she said proudly.

I paused for a moment, feeling something almost as if my instinct.

"Twi...use it on that cliff hanging right there," I whispered.

She looked at me confused but gave in as I gave her a sharp look. Her horn glowed to life and sent a wave of energy that passed through the air. As it reached the cliff there was a noise, and then the heat signature of a fully grown human appeared in front of our eyes.