The Days in the Cavern

Chapters

Prologue: The Capture
Caves of Crystal
The Escape
The Battle
The Wedding

Prologue: The Capture

I wasn't exactly expecting anything to be wrong.

Shining Armor had gone to bed and I was still awake, unable to sleep. My aunt Celestia had offered to help with my wedding plans, and I'd accepted, but that didn't mean I wasn't stressed. I'd snapped at the seamstress taking my measurements for a dress and still felt kind of bad about it. I was only marrying the best stallion in the world...I shouldn't be freaking out so much.

But the truth is that everything was going perfectly. Celestia had found a wedding party, since I didn't have any friends in Canterlot after living for several years with distant relatives in Saddle Arabia. There had been a threat against Canterlot made from an unknown source, so Shining had been occupied with his constant protection of Canterlot, and he'd been getting terrible migraines, leaving the planning part of the wedding to me and my aunts. But other than the nervousness caused by the threat, everything was going just fine.

So I wasn't expecting anything that night when I was taken, or it might not have happened at all.

A servant came up to me that night and told me my Aunt Luna needed to see me right away. I naturally followed, I didn't suspect anything wrong with my Aunt wanting to talk to me about my wedding. Luna had already told me that she would not be in Canterlot for the actual ceremony, she was flying to the other major Equestrian cities to see if their mayors had received any threats similar to Canterlot's and her duties as Guardian of the Night prevented her from doing that at any point other than during my wedding. But my Aunt was concerned about me over stressing myself and there was nothing unusual about her trying to get me to go to bed.

It wasn't until I realized we weren't headed to Luna's chambers at all that I noticed something was wrong, and by then it was too late. The servant changed into an insect thing that trapped me with a green slime. It then changed back into the servant and bowed as another, taller insect thing came around the corner.

"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, how lovely to finally meet you in person," the thing said. I shivered as her, this one was definitely female, washed over me. "It's a shame we Changelings won't have time to get to know you better, we have a wedding to crash and a world to take over."

A wedding to crash? Oh no she did not.
"I don't know who you are or what you want with me, but you're not going to touch my wedding!"

"Oh my dear princess, it's not going to be your wedding!" she said.
Then, before my eyes, she transformed into...me.
"It's going to be mine!"

A glowing green light surrounded me as I struggled to escape the slime, and her...my...evil laughter echoed around me as I sank through the floor. The last thing I remember before darkness surrounded me was shouting Shining Armor's name and hearing her cackle back.

Caves of Crystal

Darkness. All that surrounded me was darkness. I had no idea where I am, and honestly didn't know what had happened to me.

Something...someone...has taken my place and plans to take over my wedding in an attempt to take over Equestria

I wasn't sure what my wedding had to do with taking over Equestria. I did know that I wasn't going to let this Changeling creature ruin my special day.

Oh. Maybe a little light would at least tell me where I was. I sent the smallest amount of light to my horn that I could. I could run out of magic if I was trapped here too long.
The first thing I saw was more light. Reflecting off every surface around me. I was surrounded by crystal.

I'd never seen anything like it. I'd seen a lot of the world. After my biggest foalsitting job in Canterlot ended, my parents insisted on sending me traveling. I'd seen parts of Saddle Arabia, stayed with a dragon clan for a week, lived with the griffons in an attempt to foster true peace between them and Ponykind, and seen much of Equestria and the surrounding lands, but I had never seen anything like this. My reflection followed me where ever I went, light bounced off of every surface. And the worst part. I had no idea where I was or how to get out. All I saw were perfectly reflective crystals. I began to panic.

I shot a magic beam at the crystal directly in front of me. It shot back. I jumped out of the way, and ducked, as my magic bounced off the crystals, then disappeared. Whoever my captor was was brilliant. These caves were impossible to navigate. There was nothing for me to do but sit and wait. I could go insane in here.

And that's when she did it. She began putting me through the worst torture of my life.

"Aww, poor little princess. Lonely?" called a voice. My voice. Only horrible and cruel.

"Where are you?" I shouted. "Where am I?"

"Why you're in the Canterlot Caves, I would have thought a little princess would know all about them," she taunted.

I stumbled. The Canterlot Caves? But...

"The Canterlot Caves are a myth...a...a story!" I said.

"Oh no, my dearest, they're very real. Once home to unicorns who wanted to claim the gems found inside...and now, you're new home!" she said, cackling.

"Who are you and what do you want from me?" I asked.

"Who I am is unimportant. It's what I am that fuels me now," she said, and that's when her...my...face appeared in all the crystals around me, her eyes glowing a malicious green, smiling a terrible smile.
"I am a Changeling, and not just any Changeling. I'm queen of the Changelings, pray tell my little educated princess, do you know what a Changeling is?"

"I know they can take the form of anypony and that they get power from..." I trailed off, I think my eyes must have widened because she grinned wider.
"Love, my sweet little Mi Amore. We take the form of somepony, you love...and feed of your love for them. Equestria is just filled with love and happiness, and you, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, are the very incarnation of love itself. Between you and your idiot fiance, I am going to get quite a feast...and get quite powerful in the process. Powerful enough perhaps to take over Equestria, my Changeling army fed for millenia! And I get the best deal of all. Taking your form has given me access to the best love feast any Changeling could imagine! You and Shining Armor are so very in love aren't you?"

"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HIM?"

She cackled at me. "Why, nothing you wouldn't do, my love song. In fact..." the scene changed before me. I was watching Shining Armor sleep. "You can watch everything I do to him."

She cackled and her face faded until the only thing I saw was Shining Armor, sleeping in his bedroom, creases above his brow from his hard day of maintaining his magical shield. My poor Shining Armor...the threat had made it past him and had not only managed to get past his defenses...but also had taken the form of me...the pony he loved. I fell to the floor. She had hit me where it hurt the most. My heart. As I broke down into tears, I heard her laughter echoing around me.

I must have fallen asleep. My magic horn light had gone out, and it was dark again. I magicked a little bit of light into my horn, then transferred it to a small crystal, so I'd have something to keep me company. It was dark in here. Really dark. Which meant she wasn't showing me what she was doing. It didn't take long after I woke up to see though.

Shining was on duty, I could see that much.He always looked a little goofy in his guard uniform, but I loved it all the same. I touched the crystal in front of me, treasuring a small moment, one that I knew was getting ready to be shattered.
Sure enough, she came into the room as soon as Shining sent the guards to their posts. His only captain duties were assignments right now, his energy was entirely focused on Canterlot's shield.

"Hey, hun," he said to her. I had to remind myself that he thought she was me.

"Hello, Shining Armor, I wanted to talk to you about that uniform your planning on wearing to the wedding," she said to him, sounding so unlike me that I silently begged Shining to notice. But apparently my outburst the other day provided just the excuse she needed...the stressed bride excuse.
"Aww, hun, you're so stressed out, you shouldn't have to worry about that, let me take care of some of the small stuff."

"It's ridiculous."

"What? But that suit belonged to my favorite uncle!"

I glared. I loved that uniform as much as Shining did. I knew his uncle when I was a teenager, and cried along with Shining and Twilight at his funeral.

She hesitated for a moment. Good.

"I know, but I don't want you wearing it at my wedding," she said.

"Cadence, are you feeling ok? You're not acting like yourself..."

Good, he was noticing.

"Of course, I'm fine...but you look tired...here, let me help your migraine..."

She cast a spell on him, the same way I did when I healed his migraines, but instead of a calm blue, her green magic seeped into his eyes, causing them to go off in different directions, and his face grew blank.

"NO!" I shouted.

"You will listen to everything I say, and never question my motives," the fake me said.

"I will listen to everything you say and never question your motives," Shining Armor repeated blankly.

"Good," she said, and released the spell. "That was a test run, forget who I am and I'll have to do it again."

She walked off and Shining woke up from the spell.

"Huh? Cadence? What?" Shining said, appearing not to remember what had happened.

He shrugged and the scene disappeared. She couldn't fool him truly...but she could cast a spell and make him obey her if he didn't fall for it. Everyone else would buy the stressed bride excuse, my aunts had both witnessed my snapping at the seamstress, and the rest of the castle didn't know me well.

I was doomed, and Shining was going to fall with me...and it was all my fault.

***

I think I've been down here for at least a day. I'm hungry, though fortunately there's a small spring down here. My mane is beginning to get tangled and matted.

I can't keep enduring this.

She's shown me her possessing Shining and even fooling him without magic at least three more times. Whenever he starts suspecting something she casts a spell, and his eyes grow unfocused and he forgets he ever disagreed with her. It's so hard to watch my beloved Shining Armor being fooled by someone who's nothing like me. I know he knows me better than anyone, which is why she needs the spells. But I also know he's distracted...and her excuses of healing him seem to work. No one has even noticed that "I" am acting strange. It kills me a little and has also made me realize: I have to escape.

I'm still strong enough to get out of here, I think. I've been saving my magic, trying to avoid doing anything too difficult, since I have no idea how long I could be down here. It's hard, I'm getting hungry, and though I could conjure food if need be, it would knock my reserves down a lot, so I won't do that unless I can't escape.

I look for a weakness in the crystal with my hooves, I can't find one, and I know my magic isn't forceful enough to break through. I check for cracks. There's a few, and I crack them with my magic, only to leave more impenetrable crystal in my way. More unbreakable crystal behind another crack, another, even the spring seems to come from even lower underground. I drop to the ground. It's no use. I can't get out on my own, no matter how much I want to. My magic is strong, but it's not physically powerful. My magic is usually emotional or defensive, never offensive, I've always relied on...other skills...for that.

Another image...I can't bear to see what she's going to do to Shining, how she plans on fooling him. I know she won't do anything...physical...Shining barely has time for a kiss on the cheek.

"Princess Cadence, may I have a word with you?" a familiar regal female voice says. Celestia.

"Of course aunt, I'm just going to see my fiance," she says innocently. I shudder. She sounds like me, yet unlike me at the same time. Like a cheap imitation of me.

"Some of the servants have expressed...concern...about your behavior," I hear Celestia say. My ears perk up. I pray this is the time she's discovered. "If you need any help with the wedding plans at all, you merely need to ask me or Luna to assist you. We know how much is expected out of a Royal wedding, and how hard it must be not to have Shining Armor's assistance."

"I'm alright Aunt just a little...stressed out I guess," she says. Celestia nods and my heart sinks. They're buying it. They're totally buying it. That one outburst has totally ruined me.

"Remember, merely come to us and we shall assist. I have...sent for some help, I believe you'll find the ponies I've sent for more than competent at the jobs I've requested they do. They're...friends of a sort."

She actually snorted. I don't think Celestia heard before she said, "Thank you aunt, I really appreciate it."

Celestia nodded and left. She then entered the next room where Shining was arguing with the mail pony.

"I'm sorry Captain, it's the Princess's orders. No mail is to be taken out of Canterlot unless it's delivered via baby dragon."

"I don't have a baby dragon. I'm willing to pay you for your trouble. I have to get a letter to my sister. I'm getting married in less than a week. I need her to know. Celestia will send for her, I'm certain, but I want her to hear it from me. I'll take 100 percent of fall if you get caught!"

"I'm sorry Captain, there is nothing I can do."

"Dear? Is this a bad time?" she asked. As if she cared.

"What? Oh Cadence, it's you! It's never a bad time to spend time with you, you know that," I heard my Shining say to someone who wasn't me.

"Of course. It's about the wedding. I heard my Aunt was planning on sending for extra help with the planning. Do you know who she might be sending for? I can't risk...I mean...I'd like to know ahead of time, and she wouldn't say."

"Sending for? Oh...it's...probably..." Shining Armor hesitated. "A student of hers and her friends, just run of the mill ponies."

He didn't say it was Twilight. He...was nervous about "me" knowing? Or did he want to surprise "me" with a visit from my favorite pony to foalsit for?

"Uh-huh. Not anyone special to the princess then? Some who might...get in the way?"

"Of course not, the Princess would never ruin our wedding," Shining said. He was nervous. I guess "my" bad mood had been noticed. I felt a sliver of hope.

She put a hoof around him and pulled him into an embrace. I shook with rage. I hadn't seen her touch him at all...this was too much.

"I know I've been kind of mean the past couple of days, but it's just because I'm worried about making our special day the most perfect day ever," she said. Then she kissed him. He kissed her back. While his eyes were closed, she glanced directly at me as her eyes glowed green. Then the view turned off.

I shouted. I don't know what I shouted, I just know that I did. I shouted and threw broken pieces of crystal and screamed. I think I shouted Shining Armor's name at some point. I cried. I tried my damn best to break out of my beautiful prison. But I was trapped. The view reappeared. They were no longer kissing but she hadn't cast a spell on him and she had to know that would break something in me. I watched her walk away and I watched Shining Armor watch her leave, the goofy smile he reserved for me on his face. My Shining Armor...

Then I remembered something...
Celestia was sending for help planning the wedding. She was sending for someone that Shining Armor was worried about telling bad mood Cadence about. That meant she was sending for Twilight Sparkle. My favorite sitting charge, Shining's little sister...and the only other pony in the world that could possibly see through her disguise. I had the smallest sliver of hope return. Please Twilight. Don't let her fool you.
***
Day 4

I'd managed to figure out how long I'd been in here by how many days were left until the wedding according to the scenes I was being shown. Four days. No food. I was weaker than I've ever been, even when I was captured by Saddli bandits and held hostage...luckily I kicked their flanks...

Here...here I had no flanks to kick, no magic to cast that would get me out of here. I was about to give in to conjuring food at this point. Otherwise I'd starve. I wasn't going to get out of here anytime soon. I was shown another scene.

Fake Amore Fakedenza was heading to the battlements of the castle to talk to Shining Armor again. She was talking to Luna at the moment.

"We...I have heard that thou...you hast not been in the best of moods," my aunt was saying. She was still adjusting to modern speech. It was easier with me than with anyone but Celestia. As her niece...and as a relative that wasn't
Blueblood...I was the closest to her rank of anyone else in the castle and it was far easier for her to practice speaking normally with me.
"I'M just stressed, aunt. It's been hard planning a wedding all by myself. Especially since it's not that far from now and I don't even have a dress,"

I flinched at her emphasis on the I'm. Luna was trying really, really hard to speak normally. Luna ignored it or didn't notice. She appeared as exhausted as Shining. Oh right. Luna was commander in chief of the Royal Military, and a threat against Canterlot was going to keep her more than busy.

"Well, th...you did snap at the royal seamstress...as a fellow princess we...I...know how stressful dealing with others can be...but th...you...can't expect a dress if you snap at the help. Fortunately, ou...my...sister has sent for a group of ponies, and one of them is an accomplished seamstress and fashion designer known for her brilliant designs. I am certain that she shall be exactly what you need!" Luna said.

"Yes...I could use the help..." she mumbled. She ignored Luna's wave good bye...and that's when she arrived on the battlements.

"Your marrying Cadence! Your marrying Cadence!" I heard a familiar voice chanting as she walked in on a the scene. Twilight.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?" she snarked as she walked in on Twilight Sparkle's chant.

"Cadence!" Twilight exclaimed, and bounced in front of the pony she thought was me. "Sunshine, Sunshine," she began.
"Ladybugs awake," we said together. "Clap your hooves and do a little shake..."

My eyes filled with tears again. I was going to dehydrate myself and this rate, even with the spring behind me.

"What are you doing?" she asked. I nearly lost it. That little rhyme was something special Twilight and I had made up together. And now...Twilight was going to think I'd forgotten her.

Twilight frowned, but it quickly turned into a smile

"Cadence it's me! Twilight!" she said, optimism still on her face.

But it's not me, Twilight...

"Uh huh..." she said, and brushed past my favorite charge.

Twilight's fading smile nearly broke what was left of my already broken heart.

"I have to get back to my station," Shining said, his foreleg around the very much fake me. "But Cadence will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going."

There was no way that was going to end well.

"I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you," my Shining, his foreleg still around the fake me, said to Twilight. Her look seemed to agree...at least until...

"Right dear?"

"Absolutely," she said, and her face betrayed her truly evil nature.

Twilight's face dropped, clearly confused.

"Well, let's get to it," Shining said, and the scene before me faded on her walking away with my fiance.

I couldn't bring myself to do anything more than sit there. I was dry of tears. But I knew Twilight was confused. There was no way she'd believe that she was me, or if she did...she'd know something was up. That rhyme was the key...I'd have to remember that.

It was that same day I watched as the fake me fooled all of Twilight's friends while somehow still being horrendously cruel.
She tore down the country pony Applejack's delicious looking baked goods, throwing them in the trash, trashed the fashion forward unicorn, Rarity's, beautiful wedding dress, the very pink, excitable earth pony's reception party, a party I so wanted to go to... Pinkie Pie...I was meeting all of Twilight's friends through what felt like a movie...and worst of all was when she yelled at the wonderful bird choir the timid yellow pegasus, Fluttershy, had put together.

"You call that a wedding march?" she snapped. "It sounds horribly flat and desperately needs tuning."
The pegasus squeaked. She was the kind the foalsitter in me wanted to take care of.

"Oh my, your highness, I mean...I'm so very super duper sorry."

"Oh I'm soooo sorry," fake me imitated cruelly. I glared, though I knew she couldn't see me.

"I'm...Mr. Jay here is so very flat...I can fix it...I just...um..." the timid pegasus cowered under "my" glare.

"Then FIX it Klutzershy," she snapped. Fluttershy just nodded as "I" stalked away.

I watched as she closed the door behind her. The scene faded.

Was she being so cruel to other ponies just to punish me? Did she want them to hate me if I ever came back? None of them seemed to notice anything wrong.

Or was I crueler than I thought I was?

I thought back. Had I snapped at anyone other than the seamstress? I didn't remember doing so. I didn't remember ever being cruel to anyone. Shining and I had gotten into a couple small, insignificant spats, but all couples argued. They were always stupid, and usually when one of us was exhausted from our duties. I got annoyed with Luna sometimes, but never enough to snap at her, she was my superior after all..I could never remember ever being cruel...but...

There had to be some reason ponies weren't noticing "my" bad attitude. One outburst couldn't possibly be enough to change ponies' perceptions of me...could it?

Ponies in Canterlot didn't know me very well. Celestia and Luna had known me as a foal and as a teen, but I'd spent my late teens and the first part of my young adulthood, until the last year, when I came back to be with my Shining Armor, traveling.

It wasn't that far-fetched that they'd buy her act. I was a bride after all, and brides were notorious for being difficult.

"The princess is getting married..." I heard a snippet of a conversation between Twilight and her friends...

Twilight didn't buy it. She loved her brother, she'd never realized the two of us were dating...I hadn't wanted her to know...I was afraid she'd hate me...silly teenage fear. I should have told her...I knew that now. But...it was too late...

The scene returned.

"I think you're making a big..." Twilight's voice said

I heard her clear her throat.

"Sweetie..." Shining Armor stammered. I hated hearing him use pet names to refer to her...she wasn't me...even if she looked like me.

Twilight muttered something, but she must of not been able to hear it.

"Could I speak to you for a moment...dear?" she walked off, her nose in the air. She clearly thought I had to act like a princess. A b...not very nice...princess.

Shining nudged Twilight, said something, and followed.

"I thought I told you to listen to everything I say!" she said.
"Wait, but..." Shining said
"Would you just listen?"
"I don't think you're being fair..."
"I thought I made it perfectly clear I didn't want you to wear that!"

The suit again? Was it just what she used to test him? Or did she know it had meaning for me too?

"This, was my favorite uncle's," Shining explained again.
"And...?"
"And I think I should wear it!"
"Are you disagreeing with me?"
"I guess I am!" Shining said. Then he winced. One of his migraines again. Oh no.
"Oh dear, are you getting another one of your headaches?"

He fell to the floor, the headache clearly taking more out of him than they had previously. This wasn't an ordinary migraine.
She pushed him to the floor with her green magic. His eyes went out of focus. He staggered back to his feet.

"Feeling better?" she asked, her voice filled with a fake sweetness that barely passed for real.

"Mmmhmmm" he nodded weakly, his eyes still filled with a green light and out of focus.

"Good," she murmured.

The scene before me faded...and I saw nothing else for the rest of the night...

***
Day 5

I woke up weakly. Conjured food, finally, though it nearly killed my magic. This was supposed to be the day of my wedding rehearsal. And she was making me watch it.

Celestia went through the motions...for some reason, my bridesmaids had been replaced with Twilight's friends. Not that I minded. I rather liked them from what I saw...but I remembered that they weren't mine. They were hers. "And then Cadence will enter..."

She entered the scene. Everything was fine until Shining Armor turned to his side to collect the mock rings...and Twilight wasn't there.

I saw her scowl.

Twilight busted in...and made a speech.

She wouldn't stand next to "me". She wasn't going to let her brother ruin his life. She wasn't going to stand for it. Because "I" was evil. About how "I" was horrible to her friends, had done something to "my" bridesmaids and had put a spell on Shining Armor.

And that's when she managed to actually have some acting skills.

She burst into tears.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she asked. And ran out of the chapel.

"Because you're EVIL!" Twilight said smugly. I facehoofed. She really did not handle that well.

She ran out crying. Twilight teleported after her.
"EVIL!"

I rolled my eyes...had she come in and calmly explained why she thought "I" was evil...

But instead she'd ruined her chance and helping the real me. Great.
But...
Fake me stayed. As soon as Twilight and crew were out of sight, she retraced her steps and hid behind the chapel doors.

Shining Armor berated Twilight for hurting me. Her friends...they agreed with him. I hurt for Twilight.
But nothing hurt worse than my aunt expressing her disappointment. I couldn't see Twilight's face...but I knew that must have hurt her. Even as a filly Twilight had loved nothing more than pleasing her mentor and feared nothing more than disappointing her.

I heard Twilight break into tears and sing to herself, and then fake me re-entered the room. She put a hoof around Twilight...

"I'm sorry..." Twilight said.

Her eyes flashed.

"You will be."

Twilight and I panicked together as green flames surrounded my former charge...just as they had me...she sank into the floor...like I did.

Fake me had just made a mistake...she'd sent Twilight to me. Together...there was hope.

The Escape

Day 5 continued...

I heard nothing for hours.

I was scared she'd done something to Twilight. I kept trying to reassure myself that my former charge was ok, but the more hours past the more scared I grew.

It must have been morning...the morning of what was supposed to be my wedding day.

Day 6
I still had not heard a peep from Twilight. Then...

"H-hello?"

Twilight.

"Is anyone there?"

My poor Twilight. I didn't dare answer her for fear she'd think I was her.

On cue, she began to laugh. I hid my head beneath my hooves. I couldn't do it. Couldn't take anymore of her taunting, even if it was directed at Twilight.

"Wh...where am I?" Twilight asked.

"The caves beneath Canterlot," she answered, just as she had me. "Once home to greedy unicorns who wished to claim the gems that could be found inside."

I couldn't see her, but I knew her...my...face occupied every facet of the caves.

"And now..." she began, still taunting Twilight, "Your prison!"

That seemed to be a last straw for Twilight. I could understand. She had a knack for frightening dramatics.

"Help, HELP!" Twilight screamed, I heard galloping hooves, she must be trying to run away from the frightening visage of somepony she thought was her old beloved foalsitter.

She cackled. "It's no use, no one can hear you, and no one will ever think to look for you either."

I knew that feeling too well.

"Most ponies have forgotten that these caves even exist, which is why they're the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans," the fake me explained, then laughed maniacally.

Ok, now she was monologing. And least with me she had the decency to shut up when she locked me up.

"Plans?" Twilight asked desperately. "What plans?"

"The plans I have for your brother of course!" she said.

I flinched. I couldn't help it. It wasn't just Twilight's brother she was talking about...it was my Shining Armor.

Twilight clearly felt the same as I did.

"Don't you dare do anything to my brother, you...you MONSTER!"

"Only way to stop me is to catch me!" she teased.

I didn't like to swear, but she was far too much of a bitch for me to label her anything else.

Her maniacal laughter filled the room. I still couldn't see any of what was going on, but I heard it all.

"Over here!" she taunted.

I didn't know what she hoped to gain by teasing Twilight this way. But then, I didn't know what she hoped to achieve by torturing me with visions of her fooling everypony.

More laughter, and a shot of what had to be Twilight's magic. I heard the magic bounce off the crystals like mine had.

"Heh. Nope!" she taunted again. "Over here!" her voice taunted, echoing , clearly baiting Twilight into...something. I had no idea what.

More laughter and shots of magic. I heard crystals breaking, magic bouncing off the walls. Then...it headed right for me...

I flinched as Twilight's magic broke the crystal in front of me. One I'd been beating on for the last six days.

I opened my eyes. Twilight stood in front of me, angry, her horn glowing with a magical rage. She charged. Crap.

"NO! WAIT!" I shouted hoping she'd listen to reason and not kill me. I was too weak to fight her in this state, and Twilight's magic had enough sheer power that I'd never want to fight her.
"Please, don't hurt me," I begged. I felt myself shaking and hated myself for it. "Twilight, it's me!"
She looked at me skeptically.
"Please, you have to believe me," I pleaded. "I've been imprisoned like you! The Cadence who brought you down here was an impostor."

She still didn't buy it. Oh. That's what she wanted. She wanted Twilight to finish the real me off...
"Likely story!" Twilight accused, glaring at me viciously.
I remembered the first meeting Twilight had with the fake me...how she hadn't known our...special rhyme.

"Sunshine, sunshine," I began, starting the dance. "Ladybugs, awake."
Twilight sat, stunned. "Clap your hooves," I clapped her hooves, "and do a little shake" she finished with me.

I turned around and grinned at her. She remembered me.
Twilight's face grew from confused to the most joyful grin I've ever seen.

"You remember me!" she exclaimed as she threw herself on me in a hug. We embraced. It was the first contact I'd had with a pony in six days. My heart swelled as I hugged one of my few true friends. "Of course I do," I said. "How could I forget the filly I loved to sit for the most?"
I just sat there, embracing Twilight.

Then SHE ruined the moment with her laughter.

And that's when I saw it.

Twilight had done enough damage to the caves that I saw I tiny speck of light in the distance. A speck of light that could only come from the outside.

And that's when I remembered that the wedding was today.

"We have to get out of here!" Twilight said, reading my mind. I just nodded and let Twilight take the lead. I was weaker than I've ever been, and could only do so much.

I'm coming Shining Armor...

"We have to stop her!" Twilight exclaimed.

If there's one thing Twilight and I have in common that will always bind us together it's our love for her brother.

I ran ahead. Weak or not, I had a wedding to get to. Twilight galloped behind me.

We ran through the caves, twists and turns nearly getting us lost at more than one moment. We didn't speak. We were racing against time and speaking would only tire us out.

This day was supposed to be my day. I've dreamed of the perfect wedding since I was small. I was going to be celebrating with cake, and my friends. But... I heard music in the distance not wedding bells, or the wedding march, just a choir of birds warming up.
My wedding bells...will they ring for me at all?

I followed Twilight, trying not to lose hope.

Shining Armor...

She was in my chambers. Preparing for my wedding. Wearing what was supposed to be my dress. Planning on eating my cake, speaking my vows.

I fell. Twilight looked at me concerned.

"This day was going to be perfect..." I murmured. Twilight put a hoof around me, and looked around. We were lost again.
I saw the light again, and struggled to my feet, and beckoned Twilight to keep going.

We ran around the corner, another one that looked exactly like the last.

"We must escape, Twilight. It could be too late...can we find a way to save the day?"

She nodded, trying her best to be confident for me, I was growing desperate.

She was in my rooms, wearing my dress, preparing for my wedding

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't losing hope, fearing I might lose him," I rambled. Twilight listened, not saying a word, just letting me panic. In a way it was good, I saw a cart in the distance and began to run for it.

"I know all she wants is to use him for her own ends...she doesn't want to cherish, love, and care for him..." we got to the cart and I ran for it. It was covered in boulders. Twilight stopped, a panicked look on her face. But I wasn't letting her get Shining.
I threw myself on the rocks and tried desperately to push the cart lose. It was rusted, old, and stuck fast. My eyes filled with the last of the tears I had.

"I know she doesn't care for him at all...but I oh so love you, Shining Armor, all of my thoughts you've consumed," I was truly just thinking out loud at this point, six days in a cavern will break anypony.

Twilight seemed to find this display of affection touching though. I felt magic surround me, the rocks fell away and I landed in the cart. The much less drained Twilight pushed the cart, with me in it, and managed to break it lose.

"Oh Shining Armor, I'm coming, I'll be there very soon!" I shouted, for the first time in six days truly gleeful, if still a little panicking. I was on my way to him.

The cart spiraled down, down, down, quickly, almost like a roller coaster, Twilight hanging off the back. We hit a dead end, over a pit, I spread my wings, begging I'd be strong enough to not only fly but carry Twilight as well. Gravity put her on my back, and we flew toward the ledge just above us.

I heard fanfare. The wedding procession was starting. My panic escalated.

Shewas walking down the aisle to my Shining Armor...

"We won't make it to the wedding, Shining Armor...he'll end up marrying a fake..."

I collapsed, covering my face. Oh we're going to be too late...

Shining Armor will be...

Her voice sounded in my head.

"Mine. All MINE!"

Her laughter faded into the recesses of my own mind.

***

I could hear the wedding music. We were so close. Twilight and I searched around the cave. We had to be just below the chapel. I could hear Celestia, using my goddess-awful full name that she liked so much. My panic and fear escalated again.

"Oh...we're never going to save him!"

"We will, we just have to find..." Twilight began.

We both saw it. The light we'd been following the whole time, on a ledge just above us.

"There!" Twilight exclaimed.

I spread my wings, about to fly, but Twilight was having none of it. She teleported us both up to the ledge. I closed my wings just before we arrived.

And then...

"You're not going anywhere..." droned three nearly identical voices.

Just in front of me, three seemingly ordinary ponies, dressed in bridesmaids dresses, their eyes glowing green, like hers.

They advanced on us, both of us backing up dangerously close to the ledge.

"Cadence! What'll we do?" Twilight panicked. Seemed she was out of ideas.

Um...ah ha! They may be possessed or Changelings, but all bridesmaids came to a wedding for one major detail."

I conjured a bouquet. The watched it intently. I waggled it in front of them, then tossed it out of their reach.

"I want it!" they all shouted, as they chased after it.

"Perfect!" Twilight said.

"Thanks," I muttered, a little embarrassed that she'd gotten me out of here. Of course, I'd always known she was more than a "regular old unicorn."

"Let's get back to the wedding, and hope Shining Armor's ridiculously long vows buy us enough time to stop her!" Twilight said.

I nodded vigorously. I didn't mention that my own vows were just as "ridiculously long", though I doubted she was using my vows.

We exchanged a smile then we raced toward the light, and came out in the ground floor of the castle. No one was there, likely they were all at the wedding...though there should be guards here...something was off.

Both of us said nothing, following the sounds of vows and Celestia's voice.

"Princess Cadence and Shining Armor," we heard.

Twilight and I exchanged a glance.

"It is my great pleasure to pronounce you..."

Twilight sprinted ahead, shouting "STOP!!!!!!!"

I heard gasps from the crowd and sped up. Twilight was going to need back up here soon.

"Ugg...why does she have to be so possessive of her brother?" she grumbled, falling out of character.

I grinned. There was no way they were going to believe she was the real me with that slip up.

"I mean, why does she have to ruin my special day?" she sobbed. By my auntie's mane, she was a bad actress...

I strode through the door.

"Because it's not your special day," I said. Everypony in the crowd turned to look at me.

"It's mine."

The Battle

"WHAT?" the fake me said. "But how did you escape my bridesmaids?"

She wasn't even trying anymore. Twilight and I exchanged a mischievous smirk.

"It was easy," I said. "Whenever the real bride throws a bouquet, the bridesmaids tend to chase after it."

"Hmm. Clever." She said. "But you're still too late!"

"Ah...ah don't understand," the orange one...Applejack, said. "How can there be two of 'em?"

"She's a Changeling!" I explained. "She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them!"

I didn't notice her eyes change color and her horn glow, until green fire had surrounded her. Now that I was here no point in maintaining her disguise.

She'd gone for a more dramatic transformation this time, as opposed to when I was captured. A green blast shot up from where she was standing near the alter, the ponies around it had to shield their eyes. Everypony except Twilight, me, and the unusually still Shining Armor, gasped as her wings bent and broke from my form to her true, insect-like form. Her legs turned from my pink to a sickly black filled with holes, she grew taller, her horn grew black and misshapen, and her eyes took on their true green-blue color. She grew fangs, and smiled evilly, her mane turned from my tri-color pink, purple and blonde to teal, it was also filled with strange holes. Over all, she looked alien to all the ponies in the room.

Her wings fluttered like an insect and she began to cackle. I grew nervous again.

"Right you are, princess, and as queen of the Changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects," she gestured dramatically and then began to walk toward me. "Equestria has more love than any place I've ever encountered! My fellow Changelings will be able to devour so much of it, that we will gain more power than we have ever dreamed of!"

At this she got right in my face. I stood my ground. I was done with letting her intimidate me.

"They'll never get the chance!" I said. "Shining Armor's protection spell will keep them from ever even reaching us!"

She might have gotten in, but her army would be stopped.

She chuckled again. "Oh, I doubt that...isn't that right, dear?"

Her horn glowed, and...so did Shining Armor's eyes. He nodded.

Oh no.

That was it. I was done with her playing with Shining Armor.

I charged.

"Uh uh huh," she taunted. "Don't want to go back to the caves now, do you?" Her horn glowed.

I was trapped. I stopped and backed up. I'd have to settle for glare for now. Twilight crept up next to me.

"Ever since I took your place, I've been feeding off Shining Armor's love for you," she began again. More monologing?
"Every moment he grows weaker and so does his spell. Even now my minions are chipping away at it."

We heard a small crack. I looked up. I could see through the stained glass the Changeling minions breaking away at the shield. My heart sank.

She laughed evilly again. "He may not be my husband, but he is under MY total control now!"

I gasped. This is what she'd been torturing me with for six days.

"And I'm sorry to say, unable to perform his duties as Captain of the Royal GUARD!" she hissed.

I couldn't take this anymore. Totally under her control?

"Not my Shining Armor!" I gasped.

"Soon, my Changeling Army will break through! First, we take Canterlot, and then ALL OF EQUESTRIA!"

She rose into the air at that, a cruel smile on her face.

"No."

My aunt spoke from behind her.

"You won't."

Celestia. Oh thank you aunt. I shall be forever in your debt if you stop her.

"You may have made it impossible for Shining Armor to perform his spell, but now that you have so foolishly revealed your true self," Celestia lunged for the Changeling Queen, their horns locking.

"I can protect my subjects," Celestia launched into the air. It was a rare sight to see my aunt on the offensive.

"From YOU!" Celestia shot a beam of light at the Queen.

She shot back with a green bolt of light, the met in the air, each fighting for dominance. The Queen squealed in pain and I prayed Celestia would triumph.

Then, Celestia lost the advantage, the Queen's bolt of power shooting through Celestia's magic. A look of shock appeared on my Aunt's face as the Queen struck her down.

Celestia's tiara flew off of her, and she fell to the floor, her horn burned. The entire room gasped. Their leader had been beaten in front of all of them.

"PRINCESS CELSTIA!" Twilight shouted, admittedly predictably. She ran for her mentor, her friends quickly followed.

The Queen stared for a moment. Then she smiled and spoke to me.

"AH!" she exclaimed. "Shining Armor's love for you is even stronger than I thought! Consuming it has made me even more powerful than CELESTIA!"

She flew up into the air, triumphant. I could think of nothing to say. My Shining Armor...

"The elements of harmony..." I heard my aunt say weakly to Twilight. "You must get to them...and use their power to defeat the Queen!"

Twilight and her friends nodded and raced out of the Chapel. They threw off their bridesmaid gowns, which the white unicorn tried to gather up. They shouted for her to follow. She did, embarrassed. I magicked her lovely gowns into a neat pile, so they wouldn't be ruined when she came back with her element.
Go Twilight, go. I silently urged.

The Queen taunted them as they ran out of the room.

"You can run, but you can't hide!"

It was then that the Changeling army broke through. They swarmed into the room, capturing Celestia in a pod, tying up guests.

I tried to sneak up to the alter, to try to do something about poor Shining Armor.

"Uh-uh, my little princess, don't think I've forgotten about you," the queen said, and magicked me onto the altar, then trapped my feet in some horrible green slime.

I growled. I wasn't going to go down that easily.

My horn glowed, but I'd forgotten about all the conjuring spells I'd done. Any offensive magic I had left would leave me dry. The best I could do right now was cast a love spell on the queen and that would probably make her stronger...

"What's the matter, princess? Out of juice?"

I glared.

"You won't get away with this! Twilight and her friends will..."

And that's when Twilight and her friends were led in by a group of Changelings...

Oh no...we...no, we couldn't be doomed...somepony would do something...I had to do something. I glanced at the hypnotized Shining Armor. My eyes welled.

"You were saying?" the queen asked smugly. "You do realize the reception's been canceled don't you?"

Ugg. Her taunts were just beginning to get unbearable...

"GO!" she commanded. "FEED!"

Her Changelings began to swarm Canterlot, taking on the helpless ponies in the street.

I blocked the queen out after that, trying desperately to break my bonds, even when she got in my face again. I didn't dare use magic, I was virtually out.

I heard Twilight's friends apologize to her, which prompted the queen to brag some more about how she fooled everypony.

"This day has been just perfect, the kind of day of which I've dreamed since I was small. Everypony I'll soon control, every stallion, mare and foal. Who says a girl can't really have it all?" the queen sang mockingly, laughing as she observed her victory.

This had to be my chance. I frantically tried to break my bonds.

Fortunately Twilight saw it too. She crawled on her belly towards me.

"Quick, go to him while you still have a chance!" she urged. She zapped my bonds with her magic. I looked at her gratefully, and ran where I had wanted to go this whole time...for the past six days, I'll I'd wanted was my Shining Armor.

I looked at his hypnotized eyes, unable to recognize me, my eyes welled again as I caressed his face. I let myself cry as I threw myself on him, embracing him, desperately hoping this wouldn't be the last time I held him.

My magic does things on it's own sometimes. Especially when it comes to romance and love, since my talent is love. When I'd fallen in love the first time, my magic had caused my horn to light up, making it way too obvious that something was going on. This time, it sparked, as if my low reserves were making it sputter. A heart popped out of my horn and floated down to Shining Armor, landing on his face, I felt him wake up.

I jumped back. Shining Armor shook his head. "Wha...huh? Wha...is the wedding over?"
I beamed. He was out of her control. My Shining was back.

She had to ruin it again...

"It's ALL over!" the queen announced, landing in front of Twilight and her friends.

Twilight looked like she was brainstorming desperately. It hit her.

"Your spell!" she told Shining Armor, "Perform your spell!"

My hoof rested on Shining's chest, I wasn't letting him go ever again. She cackled in front of us. I glared. I was beyond done with her.

"What good will that do?" she asked. "My Changelings already roam free!"

"No!" Shining said. There had to be something I could do to help. He strained to perform his shield spell.

"My power is useless now..." he said sadly. "I don't have the strength to repel them."

Strength...she took his strength by taking his love...my strength WAS love...

"My love will give you strength!" I said, and threw myself on him again.

The Queen said something else cruel and taunting. But I didn't hear. I was in my Shining's hooves again, and I wasn't giving up. Together...we could do anything.

Shining glared at her...then looked at me.

He focused his spell. I placed my horn on his. It sparked, the spark connecting our horns, then...our horns truly connected. A glowing light began to surround us starting with our horns, a soft wind spiraled down around us, we both opened our closed eyes, equally shocked. How I knew Shining was shocked I'll never be able to explain. Something about the magic around us connected us in a way that we'd never been connected before. Our shock faded to relief as we realized...we'd never be separated. I looked into his eyes the same time he looked into mine. His tender look and goofy smile made me remember why I'd fallen for him in the first place. As I remembered, we closed our eyes, and we rose off the ground, the magic around us growing stronger, and stronger, until it burst from both of us, at least as powerful as the elements of harmony, I felt like my body expanded with my love, growing and growing until light burst forth from both of us and our bodies joined in a heart shaped catalyst. I didn't physically crash into the Queen, but I felt my...our...love crash into her, then into the changelings, washing over the ponies, while blasting the Changelings out of Canterlot, out of Equestria. I didn't hear her scream, though Twilight told me later she shouted. All I remember was feeling like Shining Armor and I were one pony. One being of pure and true love.

We sank back to the ground looking into each other's eyes. We touched the ground. I smiled. He smiled. And we embraced, for the first time in six days not in grave danger. Twilight ran to help my Aunt, Shining mumbled that the love magic thingy had fixed my mane, in typical Shining Armor fashion. I elbowed him, then embraced him again. I couldn't bear to let him go, not for a little while anyway...

The Wedding

The next couple of days passed in a blur of preparations and getting to know Twilight's friends.

Applejack was the first I got to know, as she showcased her delicious fritters and treats.

"Here ya go Princess," she said presenting a tray of hors d'oeuvres. I took a bite of one. It had to be the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. I helped myself to a second. Applejack chuckled.

"Like 'em, huh Princess?" she asked, grinning.

"Mmmhmmm," I agreed my mouth still too full of delicious homebaked apple goodness to answer.

"Well as soon as yer done with that, I'll let y'all sample yer weddin' cake. If ya like mah fritters and mini-pies, you'll love yer cake."

She was right, the cake was divine.

"Mind if I take a few of these with me?" I asked. "I've got a dress fitting with Rarity next, and I don't think I'll have time to grab lunch. She warned me it might take hours to get it just right."

Applejack rolled her eyes, likely at Rarity.

"That Rarity, she's always gotta have things perfect, o' course, it is yer wedding day, y'all have a right ta perfect. Here," she took a bag and loaded it with treats. "Take 'em with ya. An' good luck with the dress fittin'! Don't eat to many or Rarity'll have a fit 'bout how yer figure ain't what it's s'pposed ta be or somethin!"

I grinned and took the bag from AJ, as she'd told me to call her, with my magic.

"An' Ah better not catch y'all throwin them away," she teased.

"I think I've had enough of a being a bitterly evil Changeling queen," I said, smiling. It was good to know AJ could joke about what had happened. The days of being in the cavern were still filling my nightmares, and a little humor always helped.

AJ waved goodbye as I moved on to part two of preparing for my wedding via trial by friendship.

I took my time getting to my room where Rarity was waiting for me. I had fritters to snack on and I'd doubt Rarity would want me snacking while she was trying to get me to try on a dress.

I made it to the room and saw a rather frazzled and slightly less well-groomed Rarity bustling around and an impatient Twilight, who'd been in the kitchen with Applejack and me with her checklist but left once she saw that the food was "checked", tapping her hooves at me.I blushed a little I admit. Stalling was not on Twilight's checklist.

"There you are darling! I was beginning to get slightly worried dear!"

"Oh, I was just really, really enjoying Applejack's fritters and didn't want to get them on your dress!" I said.

Rarity seemed to accept this. Twilight rolled her eyes and just let Rarity get to work.

Rarity took my measurements just to be sure they were the same as the fake me's. Admittedly I'd lost an awful lot of weight during my capture, but Rarity still seemed please.

"Your figure is absolutely lovely darling!" the unicorn crooned as she measured me. She flitted around like a fussy bird, taking measurements, messing with my mane, until she had it just so.

After what had to be hours of Rarity fussing with the details, and Twilight going in and out, occasionally coming back with another one of her friends to keep her company, Rarity finally finished.

"There you go darling, what do you think?"

She turned the mirror toward me. I gasped.

It was like the first dress, but entirely more...me.

Instead of the crystal heart on the bodice, it had white roses, which I hadn't even told Rarity were my favorite flower. It had a long train, was cream colored with gold lining, and my hair was done up in a beautiful up do also adorned with white roses.

"Oh Rarity, it's perfect!" I said.

"Oh darling don't flatter me," the unicorn said, waving off my compliment gracefully.

"I mean it Rarity, I hope you'll design more for me in the future?"

"Design...more for...you...A PRINCESS...oooooh!" Rarity swooned. Rainbow Dash, who had come in with Twilight to keep her company, caught her.

"Eh, it's ok. It could stand to be about...20% cooler..." Rainbow Dash remarked. "But whatever, it's your dress."

"Oh speaking of dresses," Rarity said, recovering. "Thank you for catching the bridesmaids dresses. Making a whole new bridal gown on such short notice was stressful enough as it is."

"It's not a problem...I'm surprised they survived," I responded.

"Well it's certainly a blessing they did. I still have to make a dress for Twilight, but other than that..." she turned to Twilight. "I suppose you would say, 'bridal gown, check!'"

Everyone laughed. I waved goodbye as Rarity, Twilight and Rainbow Dash filed out of my rooms. I had to eat and then get to sleep, I had to be up early to meet with Fluttershy and her birds.

The next morning I met with Fluttershy to hear her bird choir up close.

"Now, Mr. Jay, please try to stay on key, ok?" the timid pegasus instructed one of her birds. He nodded.

"Now a one, a two, a one two three four."

Fluttershy's choir of birds was magnificent. Her talent with animals really extended beyond anything I've seen.

After the birds were done, Fluttershy turned toward me nervously.

"I...um...I mean, Princess, I hope you liked it..."

The birds flew to land on me, I smiled at them and Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy it was absolutely amazing!" I said.

"Oh...you can say what you really feel if you want, your highness" she said.

"I mean it. And you can call me Cadence," I replied.

"Oh my goodness, I simply couldn't...I mean...you're a princess, and Rarity says that Princesses deserve respect and..."

"It's ok, any friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine."

Fluttershy blushed and squeaked, and went back to her birds. It really was a lovely sound, and the birds seemed to like me.

"Um...Princess Cadence?" Fluttershy spoke up after a minute.

"Yes?"

"Would you like it if...I mean if it's ok...if some of my less talented singers carried your train?"

"Oh my, Fluttershy, that would make my wedding even more perfect!" I exclaimed. I think I startled her, because she shrank back a little bit.

"Oh...really?"

"Of course, how much more of a royal wedding could it get than birds carrying my train?"

Fluttershy perked up a little.

"Ok, um, I glad you like the idea...I hope Rarity doesn't mind them holding her dress..."

"A wedding dress gets worn once, and never again, I think we can both handle a few talon marks."

Fluttershy smiled and waved me off to go meet with Pinkie Pie about the reception.

"HIYA!!" a high pitched voice greeted me as I stepped into the reception hall.

"So I was thinking, and I totally think we should have the reception in the courtyard where all the fancy ponies have their Garden Party that's so not a fun party, because Rainbow Dash told me that the pegasi are going to make Canterlot have the bestest weather ever! But I'm gonna show you all the cool stuff you're gonna have at your totally amazingly incredible reception here!" Pinkie Pie said bouncing around me. If I hadn't been a foalsitter all of my teen years she would have been impossible to keep up with.

"Ok, Pinkie, want to show me the dances first?" I said,

Pinkie beamed.

"Come on Princess Cadence!" she said, and turned on the cutest little march. I joined in her goofy dancing as she threw confetti everywhere.

I couldn't help but smile and laugh, I guess that's what Pinkie Pie did to ponies, as the Element of Laughter.

"Now, come over here, I want you to see your decorations!" Pinkie said, leading me around to a plethora of colorful streamers, balloons and more confetti than I've ever seen in my life.

"Wow, Pinkie, everything sure is colorful," I said. "Weddings are usually so boring, with all the pastels."

"I KNOW RIGHT?" Pinkie exclaimed. "I love birthday parties because birthday parties are so much better with all their colorful colors and receptions are always so blah, but I think you and Shining Armor should have the best reception ever with all your prettyful colors and pastels are boring anyway, except on ponies, but a party isn't ponies, a party is a party!"

I grinned and once again thanked the stars for my foalsitting experience. Pinkie Pie was a lot like a six year old.

"Thanks Pinkie, it's perfect!" I said.

"REALLY?"

"Yes really, Pinkie, I love the colors. I think it's perfect. And the outdoor idea is great too," I said.

"Good because I totally want you to meet the DJ! She's setting up now!" Pinkie said and hopped out of the room into the courtyard not that far from it.

"Yo, sup Pinkie?" called a female voice I didn't recognize.

"Cadence, this is Vinyl Scratch, aka DJ Pon3 and she's gonna DJ your reception! But don't tell anypony because I have a super awesome surprise planned!"

"Princess," the DJ said, bobbing her head in something that could maybe pass as a bow. "Congrats, yo."

"Thank you, Miss Scratch," I said. Pinkie sure knew some strange friends.

"Ain't no thing, now don't you have a wedding to finish planning?"

"Yes, um..."

All that was left for me to do was actually get married. We were skipping the rehearsal since the bridesmaids, Twilight, and Spike all knew their places, and the only one who might need rehearsing was me. I felt butterflies flutter in my stomach.

I'm finally getting married...for real.

I went to bed early, trying to get a good night's sleep. I also woke up early, my nerves humming like a bumble bee, so strongly I could have sworn they were audible.

I passed the morning in a blur of breakfast, well-wishes from my aunt Celestia (Luna had yet to return), squeals of joy from Twilight and her friends, and of a lack of Shining Armor. Royal wedding tradition said the bride and groom weren't to see each other at all on their wedding day.

Then it was time to get ready.

Twilight went off to help Shining Armor. As his best mare, it was her job to help him. Her friends...namely Rarity and Fluttershy, took to the task of helping me into my dress.
"Oh Princess Cadence, you look simply lovely," Fluttershy sighed.

"Oh more than lovely, darling, absolutely divine!' Rarity said. "Oh I do hope I don't cry, I always cry at weddings..."

"Oh for Pete's sake Rarity, it wouldn' matter if ya cried if y'all didn't insist on wearin' so much make up!" Applejack said, as she slipped something into her dress and made a strange wrinkled face.

"Like you would understand anything about the fine art of a lady's face paint," Rarity snapped back. Before long they were bickering back and forth.

I whispered to Pinkie Pie, "Do they do this a lot?"

"Yep!" the pink pony replied, "All the time! Sometimes I think they do it in their sleep!"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Can we be done already? Everypony's all done up, Princess Cadence is in her dress, and we're ready. I'm tired of waiting around, I wanna get this whole wedding thing done with so I can do my sonic rainboom!"

"Now, Rainbow," Applejack said, taking a break from arguing with Rarity to reprimand Rainbow Dash. "This is Princess Cadence's weddin', and it'd do y'all some good ta be patient for once."

I kind of wanted to get out of the dressing room myself, but for different reasons. Shining Armor would be waiting for me when I got out there.

Applejack's and Rarity's sisters and their friend Scootaloo poked their heads into the dressing room. AJ and Rarity had kindly offered to send for their sisters when they'd found out I didn't have a flower filly, and they wouldn't come without all three being included. I'd agreed, three little flower fillies was kind of adorable. Besides, I could handle a couple rambunctious kids at my wedding, I'd dealt with worse.

"Are you guys ready yet?" Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle, said.
"Yeah, I'm getting totally bored," Scootaloo agreed.
"Me too, Ah'm ready ta go when y'all are!" Applejack's little sister Apple Bloom said.

"As soon as the usher says to get ready for the procession we'll be out," Rarity said.

"Yeah, Twi an' the boys have ta get ready first," Applejack agreed.

The three friends groaned and went back to their dressing rooms. At least, we all hoped that's where they went, apparently those three fillies had a reputation for causing trouble.

It felt like hours, but I'm certain it was only minutes before I heard the wedding march start up. Fluttershy quickly flew out, leaving instructions for the birds that were supposed to carry my train. Rainbow Dash nervously shifted from hoof to hoof, Pinkie Pie jumped up and down, which earned her a glare from Rarity, and Applejack nervously, and rather unlike herself, smoothed her gown, then went into the chapel to take their places.

Then we heard the usher beckon for us to follow him. We did, coming into the hall. The flower fillies entered first, then, Fluttershy's birds and the brass instruments started up the bridal march. My heart did a flip flop as a I walked down the ailse, my gaze never looking away from Shining Armor.
Twilight whispered something to her brother as I headed toward them and he answered something that made her grin.
I saw Rarity tear up. She wasn't going to be happy about that later, I thought and smirked. I had to bite my tongue to keep from busting out laughing when as soon as Rarity closed her eyes, Applejack pulled out that something she'd hiding in her dress...which turned out to be her hat. I looked back at Shining Armor. The smile on his face was one I loved more than anything in the world.

I reached the altar and looked at him. We both smiled softly at one another.

"Mares and Gentlecolts," Celestia began. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of the real Princess Mi Amore Cadenza..."
Oh not that name...
"Princess Cadence is fine," I said, interrupting. I'd probably get it later, but that name...
Celestia frowned, then seemed to understand as she chuckled, smiled, and continued.

"The union of Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor. The strength of their commitment is clear. The power of their love, undeniable. May we have the rings please?" Celestia turned to Spike, Twilight's oldest friend and assistant.

Celestia slipped the rings on our horns. "I now pronounce you, Mare and Colt."

She'd read Shining Armor's vows too... I thought, and smirked.

The crowd cheered, everyone in the chapel, and nearly everyone in Canterlot. My heart swelled. I looked at Shining Armor briefly before we went out to the crowd to wave.

"I think Celestia cut the ceremony short because she read your vows," I whispered to Shining.

"Yours were just as long, besides, don't you think defeating an evil queen with the magic of our love was vows enough?" Shining responded, smirking.

"Nah, pretty sure Celestia just didn't want to sit through our whole relationship story, again," I said. He nudged me. My husband...

Celestia was speaking to Twilight behind us, but we weren't bothering to listen. Shining kissed me. And kissed me longer, in front of all of Canterlot, and yet we were the only two ponies in the room.

I did hear Celestia urging Rainbow Dash. Ha, pony is so eager to do her Rainboom and forgets all about it during a wedding I really was going to like Twilight's friends. I already liked them.

Rainbow Dash took off, and created the boom in less than ten seconds flat. She really was a fantastic flier. A beautiful rainbow surrounded Canterlot. Pinkie Pie started twitching strangely...

"Congratulations, Shining Armor, oh I'm so proud of you sweetie," said a voice I recognized.

"Thanks mom," Shining said as a sobbing Twilight Velvet pulled him into a hug. "You should find Twili, she deserves even more congratulations than I do."

Twilight Velvet and Dusk Sparkle nodded, and went to find their daughter.

"Princess Mi Amore, how wonderful to see you again," said another voice. Fancy Pants.

"You too Fancy Pants," I said.

We waded through what seemed like an endless round of congratulations, and by the time we got to the courtyard, the moon was in the sky. Shining and I went out to dance as my aunt Luna landed and asked if she'd missed anything. I snorted. Shining teased me for being unladylike.

I heard a squeak and Pinkie Pie say, "Let's get this party started!" as she pulled the weird DJ pony from underneath a set of DJ decks and speakers. Oh Pinkie Pie...

Twilight busted into song.
"Love is in bloom, a beautiful bride, a handsome groom,"
Shining and I grinned at one another and at the crowd around us, just kind of standing there for a minute.
Two hearts becoming one We looked at one another, and Twilight's friends surrounded us, urging us to dance.
A bond that cannot be undone because We obliged.

Twilight continued the song, as everypony enjoyed our reception.

"So, this is the beginning of the next chapter of our lives, isn't it?" Shining asked.

"Yes, I'd say so," I replied, smiling at him.

"Can't wait to spend it all with you," he said, as he pulled me into a dip.

The rest of the reception passed in a blur of ponies having fun. Soon it was time for us to leave, Twilight opened our carriage door for us and bowed.

"Wait," Shining whispered to me. "I've got to say something to Twili."

I nodded and got into the carriage, happy to wait for him.

"Twilight!" I heard him say. "None of this would have been possible without you, little sis. Love ya, Twili."

"Love you too BBBFF," she said, and hugged him. He climbed next to me in the carriage.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"Oh!" I realized, "I almost forgot!"

I pulled out my bouquet and tossed it from the carriage.

"IT'S MINE!!!!" I heard Rarity's voice shout manically as will pulled off. I laughed out loud.

Yes my day had ended up perfect after all.

This day has been so perfect,
Even more that what I dreamed when I was small.
Everypony made it that way, but believe me when I say
Shining Armor, you're the one who made it all...

Author's Note

I apologize for the shear amount of direct dialogue in this story.

It takes place just before, during, and just after a set of episodes. I tried to have original dialogue in places, and I really hope you do enjoy this story.
Cadence is one of my favorite characters, and to be honest, she gets a lot of crap for no reason.
The days in the caves were actually really really hard for me to write. This is going to sound incredibly cheesy, but I connect with Cadence (and with her relationship to Shining Armor) a disproportionate amount compared to what I should. The idea of being forcibly separated from a loved one and then being forced to watch them not even realize you were gone is painful...
I also apologize for any inconsistencies. I was watching the wedding episodes as I went to refresh my memory...plus I can't stand listening to Chrysalis talk...which she does a lot of, which is why some of her dialogue gets cut out.
Again, I hope you enjoy this story. Constructive criticism is welcome, but please...there's a lot of me in this story, so try to keep it loving and tolerating?