“Cadance, to what do I owe the pleasure.” Shining frowns towards the mare approaching him, taking off his helmet, drenched with sweat.

“I wanted to come talk to you.” Cadance feigns awkwardness.

“Now? After all these years?” He spits not looking convinced.

“Yes. I owe you an explanation.” She says continuing the charade. Shining's ear pricks up, waiting for her to continue.

“I wanted to say I'm sorry. I know I haven't been there for you-” She says before being interrupted.

“Or anypony, really.” Shining says with annoyance, squinting his eyes at her.

“Or anypony.” Cadance sighs. “It's been hard, the last few years, I wasn't sure if I could ever get over my fears, or if I wanted too, but I think I'm ready now, to try at least.” She offers a bashful smile. Shining just squints harder, looking even more unconvinced. Cadance swallows, feeling nervous under the stallions gaze. Shining relents, sighing and looking down towards the ground.

“What fears Cadance? One day, everything was going fine and then I find you crying, passing out in front of me and I don't know what to think.” He looks are her with a pained gaze.

“I thought it was going well, I thought you were getting better. Then you wake up and tell me you can't see Twilight anymore. You can't see anypony anymore. You disappeared Cadance. I know this has been hard on you, but it's been hard on me as well!” He screams, causing Cadance to flinch, tears filling his eyes.

“I know, and I'm sorry.” Cadance pleads. “I thought that if I removed myself from her life, she'd be happier.” She begins to tear up.

“Why?!” Shining bellows. “Why would you think Twilight losing one of her best friends would make her happier!” He screams, causing several trainee guards to look in their direction.

“I don't know.” Cadance huffs in defeat. “I thought, that maybe, if I wasn't around, maybe she wouldn't end up like me.” Shining stares at her angrily.

“Let's be honest Shining, I wasn't well. I'm still not. Twilight needed to be around ponies her age. She's young. She shouldn't be surrounded by somepony who can barley look at her. She needed somepony to be there for her. To give her encouragement, guidance. I couldn't do that for her.” She chokes tears filling her eyes.

“I'm devastated that she's left, that I didn't get to apologise to her, but, maybe, this will be good for her. Hopefully she'll make friends her own age. Hopefully she'll find ponies she can trust, who won't abandon her. I want her to be happy, even if it means letting her go.” She raises a hoof, placing it on Shining's shoulder.

“Now she has the chance, and hopefully, one day. I can be strong enough to apologise to her in pony.” She stares at him, with a hopeful gaze. Shining gazes at her, pain and sorrow evident in his eyes. He sighs, lowering his head in defeat, nodding.

“I hope you can Cadance. I miss her.” He says in a painful voice.

“I miss her too.” She lowers her hoof. “Hey, can we hang out this weekend, like we use to? I think it will both do us some good to try and heal from this, don't you think?” She pleads. Shining lifts his gaze, giving her an exhausted glance, before nodding. Cadance gives him a weak smile before turning around and proceeding to walk away.

Shining shakes the tears out of his eyes before putting his helmet back on.

“Alright colts! Move it!” The mask of Capitan Armour slowly slipping back into place.

…...................................................................................................

Cadance watches from the cave, tears streaming from her eyes. She feels so weak, so powerless. How could no pony know that wasn't her? How could no pony see that she was a fake? Surely Shining and Celestia saw? Surely they weren't that easy to fool? Cadance can only cry at the betrayal filling her heart, before the sound of somepony apparating in cause her to suddenly turn around.

“Well, that was a little bit harder but what do you think? Pretty convincing if I say so myself?” The smirking menacing gaze of a pink Alicorn fills Cadances heart with terror.

“What do you want?” Cadance pleads in a hushed whisper, the tears renewing in her eyes, as the sounds of hooves on stone echo through the murky cave.

“I must say you've done a fine job of destroying all the love around here, but don't worry my precious little princess. I'll make sure that it is all returned.” The figure chuckles, ignoring Cadance's plea. Suddenly Cadance is blinded as the figure becomes shrouded in a field of green magical aura as her true form replaces the pink Alicorn. She opens her eyes slowly, watching in fear and terror at the sight before her.

A large black creature with holes in it's legs, bug like wings, a jagged horn, piercing fangs and thin slits for eyes stares down at her with an amused smirk.

“Oh don't cry my dear, you'll join them soon enough.” The figure hisses.

“Who are you?! What do you want?!” Cadance screams, staring into the cold eyes above her.

“Who am I? Queen Chrysalis.” The figure chuckles. “What do I want, my little pony? Why, to feed of course.” She lifts her head up laughing.

“Feed on what?” Cadance asks horrified.

“Why love of course.” Chrysalis smirks. “It's what we changeling's need to survive. I must admit, I didn't expect to go as far as taking your place, but circumstances change.” She grins and begins circling Cadance.

“My hive have been so desperate for food. I'd heard the stories of a pink Alicorn that represented love and thought she would make the perfect meal for my children.” Chrysalis hisses, causing Cadance to flinch.

“Imagine my disappointment when I arrived and the Princess of love was nothing but a broken, hollowed out shell.” She reaches a hoof out to touch Cadance's cutie mark, only to have her recoil in fear.

“My initial plan was to swoon you, but after observing you for a long time. I realised that nothing could be done to save you.” She begins circle Cadance again.

“Your friends however, they could still be devoured.” She laughs.

“Don't you touch them!” Cadance screams, fresh tears running down her face at the thought of her friends in danger. Chrysalis look down towards her a smirk on her lips.

“I must say, I'm impressed that you still care for them, even after watching two of them already fall for such a blatant lie.” She chuckles, watching as Cadance's head falls towards the ground, choking back sobs.

“It must pain you to watch as the ponies you care about fall so easily into my trap, but emotions have always been the downfall of you ponies.” She cackles. Cadance just shakes her head in despair.

“They've watched so painfully as you declined, that it was so easy to convince them, because the only thing stronger that love, is hope. Hope that one day their bright and smiling princess would return. Although love is far tastier.” She taunts. Cadance just releases a scream.

“Scream all you want. No pony is going to hear you.” She chuckles. “I'm afraid I must get going, I have a date to plan for this weekend.” She laughs as she begins walking away.

“What are you going to do to him!” Cadance's balls from her spot on the floor too weak to stand.

“It's not what I'm going to do.” She chuckles, as green ball of light erupts over her body and she takes on the form of a fake Cadance once again. “But what you are going to do my dear.” She says, stretching out her new wings.

“That poor stallion has not only lost his best friend, but now, his little sister.” She smiles evilly. “I think he could do with a pick me up.” She smirks, shaking her rump at Cadance suggestively.

“Please! Don't hurt him!” Cadance begs.

“Don't worry. I don't plan to hurt him, not yet anyway.” She smiles coldly. “I plan to make sure he falls absolutely head over heals for you, then use his love to build my strength. Then, my children and I will take this kingdom, once and for all.” She lets out a bone chilling laugh that echo's through the empty cave.

Cadance screams, attempting to stand before falling to the ground in defeat.

“Save your strength, you'll need it. Don't worry, my children will make sure you're well fed.” Chrysalis chortles.

“Why- why won't you just kill me?” Cadance chokes out a broken sob.

“Oh my dear, where would the fun in that be? After all, you'll miss the show, and who knows?” Chrysalis chuckles. “You might still prove useful to me.” She smirks before disappearing in a yellow flash.

Cadance screams out in anger and sorrow to the now empty cave, as she smashes her hoof into the stone below. She screams over and over again until her voice turns horse. Hoping and praying that somepony, anypony notices before it's too late.

As the silence draws out and her pleas remain unanswered. She curls up into a ball, continuing to sob. Racked with grief that her friends are going to die, and she is powerless to stop it.

Author's Note

Another chapter for you fine filles and gentlecolts.

Regards

OnTheTrot