This Day Has Been Just Perfect

“We will never find our way out of here!” Cadance cried before slumping down on the crystallite floor.

“We will. I just have to figure out how!” Twilight reassured the distraught princess.

We need to hurry! My brother-- Twilight thought, shivering at the thought of... of her feeding off of her BBBFF.

Another thing was her friends. Would they even look for her after the way she acted? Twilight suspected that by the time they started getting anxious about her welfare, it would be too late.

“We have to find a way out, and fast. If not, Shining Armor and Equestria are... are...” Cadance stuttered, unable to finish her sentence.

“I know, I know. I am just having a hard time. It’s strange though. I can usually come up with plans faster than this. It just doesn’t comprehend.” Twilight admitted, lowering her head in an ashamed manner Her azure bangs hid her eyes as her mind raced for a solution.

The pink alicorn and the lavender unicorn ran through the tunnels, dodging the odd crystal pillar. After what felt like an eternity in the reflective labyrinth, Twilight began to wonder, What if we can’t find our way out?

“We are gathered here today to witness the bond of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor...” Princess Celestia began the ceremony.

Everyone was watching in amazement. The two lovers standing beside each other ready to face their new life. But they don’t see the malicious grin hidden beneath her lovestruck mask. As if she were hiding ambition beneath the translucent wedding veil. Just as nopony noticed her true intentions, they didn’t notice the faint emerald aura emanating from the alabaster groom’s normally blue eyes.

“Cadance” could see it in her mind. Her plan taking action, not a pony that can stop her, the authentic Cadence and Twilight trapped forever beneath the palace floors.

Hmm, I might want to drain them later. Or convert. They would be suitable nursemaids. She thought.

“Cadence” mused as Princess Celestia continued on with the ceremony. Even if they searched high and low for an exit, they won’t find one. There is no exit, not anymore. When she sent Cadence to the depths, she sealed off the exits, forever dooming her to wander aimlessly underground. All in all, the Queen’s plan had been smoothly and she might say, perfectly, executed thus far. Just a few more measly minutes...

What am I going to do? Twilight thought with concern. What if I can’t find a way out of here?

Cadance must have sensed Twilight’s concern and unease, for she stopped in her tracks and turned around and said, “You’re worried we won’t escape, right?”

Twilight wanted to reassure the princess but she couldn’t lie, either. In return, she concluded to say, “I shouldn’t lie, so all I can say is I’m worried. If we can’t find a way out of here we might die of starvation or something. I guess I’m also worried that my friends won’t come look for me.”

“Well, I bet they would. If they are true friends they will get over their anger and come and try to find you. We should rest we have ran a long distance. The less energy we use the less food storage we will use.” Cadence calmly said.

“How are you so calm?” Twilight asked. “You can die too, right? I mean by starvation, dehydration, and stuff like that,” she shrank away as Cadence sighed. “I’m sorry, that was too personal.”

“No no, it’s fine that you asked.” Cadence waved her unnecessary apology away with a weary hoof. “Yes, I can die. But I don’t have enough energy to go much further. We need to conserve and rest. At least for a bit. There is something I have yet, to tell you. I believe it is because I forgot about it until now.” Cadence said sadly, forlornly glancing at the filly she foalsat so many years ago.

“What is it?” Twilight asked, forgetting her worries and fears for a moment.

“When she had first sent me in here, I thought I heard her say something. But it sounded more like an incantation.” Cadence said not in the utmost concern.

“I thought with spells you didn’t have to say anything. You just had to think it and then do it.” Twilight said, scrunching her muzzle oh so adorably.

“That’s usually true but, on higher ranked spells some you do. I did hear her clearly say is, the   Flutter Pony word for ‘Labyrinth’” Cadence said with extreme concern planted on her face.

“WHAT?!” Twilight screeched. “Then how in Tartarus are we going to get out of here?” Twilight clamped her hooves on either side of her head and began to rock back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, before stopping. “How do you know the language of the Flutter Ponies?” she asked, now suspicious of this bedraggled version of her foalsitter.

“I honestly don’t know, but wait! Just listen for a second.” Cadence said and Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but closed it soundlessly as she picked up what Cadence heard.

A very faint voice was to be heard.

“I now pronounce you mare and colt!” Princess Celestia concluded with gusto. Thousands upon thousands of cheers were heard after the Solar Matriarch finished the ceremony.

Without a word, Cadence covered her face with her hooves and released a gut wrenching howl that only spoke of one of two things. One: someone very deeply cared for just died. Two: a copious amount of pain in any way shape or form.

In a way, it was both.

But the jovial cheers above were short lived. Soon they were taken over by screams of terror.

The pair walked out onto terrace high above the throngs of cheering equines and kissed to the throbbing BOOM! of a multihued Sonic Rainboom. But as Shining Armor’s green eyes faded still, the bride’s internal grin only widened.

So with that, she made her true appearance. In a swirling explosion of jade fire, her coat was returning to it’s original ebony black, her wings returned to it’s natural insect-like wings, holes in her hooves and horn, her mane a dark seaweed color with holes as well.

Everypony screamed and scattered like roaches when a light turns on. The pandemonium made the Queen laugh. Her army with breakthrough Shining Armor’s shield any moment now, then Equestria and all it’s love will be hers.

“Do not fret, my subjects! I am only here on one occasion but soon enough, I will be here often enough to call it my home! I am called Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings.” Queen Chrysalis introduced herself. Everypony stopped and turned toward her with horrified expressions on their faces.

“Join us and become part of my swarm. Or,” she paused.  “You can have every last drop of love drained from your body. Your choice. Either way, you will still become one of us. A Changeling. Especially when I become the ruler of Equestria.” Chrysalis said arrogantly. “Now that the Captain of the Royal Guard is my husband."

“No, you won’t,” Princess Celestia said. “You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell, but now you’ve so foolishly revealed your true self,” Celestia charged at Queen Chrysalis. “I can protect my subjects from you.”

And with that Princess Celestia flew into the air and attacked the queen with a yellow light that seemed more like a laser. The queen fought back. Queen Chrysalis shot a green light that also seemed like a laser attack. Queen Chrysalis was struggling. She was very close to losing the battle but as it seemed that Celestia had won the match, Queen Chrysalis push forward. Before Celestia knew it she had lost and had been knocked out.

Everypony in the room rushed the Princess’s side. The only one who looked up was Rainbow Dash.

“Wait, so Twilight was right about you being evil or at least not the real Cadence?” Rainbow Dash asked, with determination and anger blatant on her cyan face. But inside, she was still trying to process everything that had just happened.

“Why, yes, Rainbow Dash. She was. But don’t worry about apologizing because she has already left.” Queen Chrysalis explained sarcastically.

“Where did you send her?” Rainbow Dash said, now furious.

Where could she have sent my friend? Why didn’t I believe her? She never lies! Rainbow Dash thought to herself.

“I don’t know where she is. Rumor has it she was heartbroken and left Canterlot.” Queen Chrysalis lied.

This will be easy. Get them in the wrong direction and Twilight Sparkle and Princess Cadance will be stuck down there forever! the queen thought.

“Y’all know what she’s talking about?” Applejack said.

Everypony in the room shook their heads but Princess Celestia, who was still knocked out cold.

Apparently they had forgotten everything after her little act.

“Ah... poor, poor Twilight Sparkle, rejected by her brother, her mentor, and her FRIENDS!” Queen Chrysalis drew out “friends” so it would register in their pathetic little minds.

“Oh...” the mane six breathed in unison.

Princess Celestia awoke and started her way to try to stand. “You must be lying! Even though we rejected her, she wouldn’t run away and grovel. She would try her best to deal with it. I know her well, almost as well as her own mother, and I know no matter what, she would run unless she had no choice.”

Queen Chrysalis noted that this friendship and maternal love was absolutely divine. Almost as scrumptious as love. She took the fallen Princess’s argument into consideration.She could use this later to break the already injured Princess’s will and perhaps, with time, welcome her to the swarm.

“What if she thought she had no choice. After all, it was you as well who rejected her. Her role model, teacher, and her second mother rejected her,” Chrysalis sneered. “Pathetic on your account, Princess.”

This shocked Celestia. She had never been so thrown off her game before. Also, never felt as guilty.

“Come on! We have to find her! She is probably in Ponyville. We need to apologize.” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She was right and they all knew that.

“Go on, try to find her.” Chrysalis said with a toothy grin. “Just as I planned...”

“We will!” Rainbow exclaimed.