Chapter 27: Canterlot Wedding, Part 1

It was a beautiful day in Ponyville park. A pair of butterflies flew by as the Mane seven were enjoying a nice, quiet picnic together.

"Ahh!" Rarity sighed contently, wearing a sunhat and pink neck scarf around her neck as Fluttershy was enjoying munching on some of the goodies they had brought to eat. In the distance, a familiar baby dragon was heading in their direction.

"It is gorgeous out," said Rarity, "Just gorgeous!"

Fluttershy looked up and smiled in agreement.

"Yup." Chase nodded in agreement as he was shining his katana swords.

Spike was continuing to run and approach them. As he got closer, Rainbow was enjoying her sandwich and Applejack slurped her drink. Spike made a leap over a small stream as he came within range of the group's picnic blanket. Twilight pulled out an apple and went to take a bite.

"Twi...light!" Spike panted as he arrived and came up to her, making the purple pony drop her apple, "...I...have...Lemme just..."

Fluttershy and Rarity looked at Spike with worry as he went to take a deep breath. Spike then gave a loud belch, producing a scroll. Twilight wasted no time using her magic to pick it up and unrolled it.

"Dear Twilight and Chase," the purple pony read aloud as Chase read it quietly beside, "I am sure you are excited as I am about the upcoming wedding in Canterlot." Twilight and Chase shared puzzled looks.

"Wedding?" They both exclaimed as they looked at the others.

"I will be presiding over the ceremony, but would very much like you and your friends to help with the preparations for this wonderful occasion," Twilight continued reading aloud as the others listened attentively, "Fluttershy, I would like you and your songbird choir to provide the music."

"Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she looked at the others, "What an honor!"

"Pinkie Pie, I can think of no one more qualified than you to host the reception," Twilight continued. Pinkie then did a handstand followed by a front flip and a cartwheel.

"Hip, hip, hooray!" said Pinkie excitedly as she got into Spike's face.

"Applejack, you will be in charge of the catering for the reception," Added Chase as the orange pony smiled excitedly. Rainbow Dash looked rather bored.

"Rainbow Dash-" Twilight began as the blue Pegasus yawned, "-I would very much appreciate it if you could perform a sonic rainboom as the bride and groom complete their "I do's." When Rainbow heard that, she literally stuck a fore-hoof in her mouth in shock.

"Yes!" said Rainbow excitedly as she hovered in the air and did a double hoof pump.

"Rarity, you will be responsible for designing the dresses for the bride and bridesmaids," Twilight continued.

Rarity went agape as her face twitched and was suddenly teetering about as her eyes crossed. Fluttershy looked at her worried and tried to stabilize Rarity, but the marshmallow pony collapsed into her back. Fluttershy cringed at the impact, but Rarity was on her back with a wide toothy grin on her face.

"And as for you, Twilight and Chase, you two will be playing the most important role of it all," Twilight read on.

"What is it?" Chase asked curiously.

"Making sure that everything goes as planned. See you all very soon. Yours, Princess Celestia," Twilight finished and then examined the rest of the paper, "But...I don't understand. Who's getting married?"

"Good question," Chase remarked, "I mean...Celestia wouldn't spring a last minute wedding on us if it was hers right? I mean she would have said she was dating somepony. And one thing I know about Princess Celestia is that she refuses to use marriage to make peace with other rulers if you get what I mean."

Twilight nodded in agreement. Spike then blinked.

"Oh wait!" said Spike as he pulled out another piece of parchment, "Uh, I was probably supposed to give you this one first."

"That would have been nice," Chase remarked annoyingly as Twilight rolled her eyes and opened it.

"Princess Celestia cordially invites you to the wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and..." Twilight gasped as she read who the other person getting married was. The others looked over her shoulder, "My brother?!"

"Huh?" Chase asked in surprise.

*Main theme*

While Chase recovered a few seconds later after failing to figure out why the name "Cadenza" sounded familiar to him, poor Twilight was still in a state of shock as the others looked at her worried.

"Your brother's getting married?" said Applejack as she shook Twilight's fore-hoof, "Congratulations, Twilight!" Twilight then glared.

"Yeah, great news," said Twilight as she stomped away from the picnic blanket, "That I just got from a wedding invitation! Not from my brother, but from a piece of paper! Thanks alot, Shining Armor. I mean, really he couldn't just tell me personally?" Twilight then picked up a nearby sandwich.

"Hey, Twilight, just thought you should know I'm making a really big decision that changes everything," said Twilight in Shining Armor's voice as she used the sandwich like a puppet, "Oh never mind, you'll hear about it when you get the invitation."

Twilight made faces as she imitated her brother as the rest of the group looked at her worried, but Chase just looked at her indignantly.

"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," Twilight said in a mocking tone, "Who in the hoof is that?" Twilight snorted as Chase slapped his face in annoyance.

"Twilight, do we have to go through this again?" Chase asked sternly.

"Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked as she hovered over to the purple pony, "Are you okay?"

"Sorry, it's just that Shining Armor and I have always been so close," said Twilight as she took a few steps away and pointed a fore-hoof at them, "He's my B.B.B.F.F.!"

There was a long silence and Twilight rolled her eyes in annoyance as Chase sighed.

"She means Big Brother Best Friend Forever." Chase said as a matter of fact.

"Ohhh!" said all the ponies as they looked at each other and smiled.

"Before I came here and learned the importance of friendship and before I even met Chase," Twilight explained as she kept her back against the group, "Shining Armor was the only pony I ever really accepted as a friend."

It was then Twilight raised a fore-hoof as a magenta bird perched on it. Twilight nuzzled it gently by the cheek before it flew away and watched a pair of butterflies as she began to sing.

[Twilight - as a young foal, she was walking down the street with a book in front of her. Since she was so busy reading, she completely missed seeing a pair of unicorns playing hopscotch nearby.]

When I was just a filly, I found it rather silly

To see how many other ponies I could meet

I had my books to read, didn't know that I would ever need

Other ponies to make my life complete

[Twilight - her younger self then bumped into a white colored stallion with a two-toned blue mane and tail. Young Twilight looked up at Shining Armor. He stared at her at first, but then gave her a friendly smile, making her younger self smile back at him happily. She began to hop around him happily as he raised his fore-legs with her. He then gave her a noogie before nuzzling her and giving her a hug.]

But there was one colt that I cared for

I knew he would be there for me

My big brother, best friend forever!

Like two peas in a pod, we did everything together

[Twilight - her younger self and Shining Armor were then flying a kite together. They exchanged smiles with each other, but young Twilight let go of her kite. Shining Armor managed to catch it before it could fly away. They are then about to eat the same apple, but Shining Armor used his magic to split the apple for them to share. He was also there to cheer Twilight on when she used her magic to lift a heavy book for the first time. Another moment was when the royal guards were saluting on a balcony. Shining Armor was standing on the ground saluting as well as young Twilight watched him. Then Shining Armor watched as Twilight, Spike, and Chase were sent off to Ponyville. Twilight's face then appeared in the sky, her eyes tearing as she continued to sing]

He taught me how to fly a kite (Best friend forever!)

We never had a single fight (We did everything together!)

We shared hopes, we shared our dreams

I miss him more than I realized

It seems...

[Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Chase]

Your big brother, best friend forever

Like two peas in a pod, you did everything together

[Twilight - two clouds appeared in the sky shaped like young Twilight and Shining Armor as they played ball together, then they lose the ball and Shining Armor went after it into the distance where the city of Canterlot could be seen. If one were to look at the city, they could see some faint looking bubble surrounding the city. Present Twilight watched the cloud as she kept singing with a sad look on her face while walking away from the group. Her friends just watch her sadly as she looked up at the sky and lowered her head. As the view pans around her 360 degrees, Shining Armor's silhouette stood behind her as Twilight let her tears fall.]

And though he's, oh, so far away

I hopes that he would stay

My big brother best friend

Forever...

Forever...

Once Twilight had finished singing, Applejack wasted no time approaching Twilight as she placed a gentle fore-hoof on Twilight's back.

"As one of your P.F.F.'s..." said Applejack as she pointed to the rest of the group. Chase just smiled as the others just look at each other blankly. Chase noticed their blank faces and face-hoofed himself.

"Pony Friends Forever..." Applejack explained bluntly.

"Ohhh!" said all the girls in agreement and smile. Chase just rolled his eyes.

"...I wanna tell you that I think your brother sounds like a real good guy," said Applejack.

"He is pretty special," said Twilight as she walked away, still feeling rather upset as she sat down and played around with a slice of cake, "I mean, they don't let just anypony be captain of the Royal Guard." Rarity made an O with her mouth in surprise as she sat down beside Twilight.

"So let me get this straight," said Rarity with a excitedly screech, "We're helping out with the wedding of not only a princess but a captain of the Royal Guard?"

"I guess we are," Twilight answered.

"Ooh, ooh, oooh!" said Rarity as she wobbled about in a woozy manner.

"Not again!" Chase remarked as he handed Twilight a pillow, which the purple pony used to set on the grass as Rarity passed out again with a wide smile again.

Twilight just sat with an irritated look on her face as Rainbow and Fluttershy flew above her and Pinkie and Applejack held hooves as the four ponies just chattered excitedly about the upcoming wedding. Chase just sat next to her and put a fore-hoof on her shoulder. Twilight looked up at him as he gave her a sympathetic smile.

"You understand how I feel right now, don't you?" Twilight asked.

"More than you realize, Twi," said Chase, "Besides, I'm sure once we get going to Canterlot, we can get some answers. Like you said, Shining Armor wouldn't just make a decision like this and keep you in the dark. Something bigger must be going on. Don't worry, Twilight, I'm on your side and I'll help you get to the bottom of this. I don't like the idea of him upsetting you like this either. He befriended me too after all, despite my...feelings for you..."

"Wait, he knew?!" Twilight exclaimed. Chase nodded.

"Hey, you girls have your girl to girl secrets after all," Chase pointed out, "So I had him to have guy to guy chats with about it. Besides, I don't have too many guys that I confide in. Big Mac isn't much of a talker after all and until we left Ponyville, I used to go to Shining Armor when I needed somepony to talk to and you were busy studying. And I guess I wanted to know if he would approve of me..."

"And what did he say?" Twilight asked.

"Either I treat you right or he'll turn me into an earth pony the hard way, and I told him the exact same thing." said Chase in a snarky tone with a smirk.

Twilight giggled as she snuggled into his neck happily. Twilight wanted to say she loved Chase, but couldn't get her mouth to say it.

Why does admitting I love Chase have to be so hard? Twilight thought to herself.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before the Mane seven and Spike had gathered what they needed for the wedding and boarded the train to Canterlot. Along with them, Jade and Sunray were with them as well.

"Wow, I can't believe Twilight's brother is getting married." Jade said with excitement.

"You got that right, sis." Sunray said to his sister in agreement.

"A sonic rainboom? At a wedding?!" said Rainbow as she and Applejack leaned their heads out of the windows, "Can you say "best wedding ever"?!" Pinkie then stuck her head out of a window with a gasp.

"Best wedding ever!" Pinkie echoed as the train entered a tunnel and reappeared from another tunnel opening higher up the mountain.

"So you all get to help with the big fancy wedding," said Spike as he stuck his head out of a window with Rarity and Fluttershy at his left and right. They both smiled as he pointed a finger at himself, "but I'm the one who gets to host the bachelor party! I have just one question. What's a bachelor party?"

The other ponies just laughed, except for Twilight and Chase, as Spike, Fluttershy, and Rarity pulled their heads back inside of the train. Twilight was just sitting on the other end of the coach car, staring out of the window as Chase just sat beside her, worried about his best friend that he loved so much. Applejack then came up to them.

"Why the long face, sugarcube?" Applejack asked with concern.

"I'm just thinking about Shining Armor," said Twilight, "Ever since Chase and I moved to Ponyville, we've been seeing each other less and less. And now that he's starting a new family with this "Princess Mi Amore Ca - whatshername"..."

"Cadenza," said Chase annoyingly.

"Whatever!" Twilight snapped, making Chase flinch, "the point is that we'll probably never see each other."

"Twilight, don't be like that." Jade said gently as she approached the three with Sunray by her side. "If Shining Armor said that to you, maybe he wouldn't even mean that in a mean way."

"Come on, now," said Applejack, "You're his sister. He'll always make time for you."

"Couldn't seem to make time to tell me he was getting married," Twilight remarked bitterly as she pulled the blinds to her window down.

"Twilight has ever right to be upset about this," Chase added, "I'd hate to see what Shining Armor would do to her."

Applejack just gave them sympathetic looks as the train continued on its way to Canterlot, which was apparently surrounded by a giant bubble shaped force field. As the train arrived at the edge of the force field, it slowed down as the ponies standing guard created a way for the train to pass through the field. All the girls flinched as the barrier passed through them.

"Woah!" said Chase as he felt the barrier pass through him, "Well, that was weird..."

"We're here, We're here!" said Pinkie as the train arrived at the station, which was surrounded heavily by a large number of guards as the train came to a stop.

"Whoa, what's with all the guards?" said Rainbow as she, Applejack, and Rarity peeked out of their train car from the train car door.

"I'm sure they're just taking the necessary precautions," Rarity explained, "Royal weddings bring out the strangest ponies."

"Aaaaaaaaaa-choo!" Pinkie sneezed as her sneeze sounded like a trumpet as she, Fluttershy, Twilight, Chase, Jade, and Sunray hopped off of the train. Twilight still had a bitter look on her face.

"Hello there," said a male Pegasus guard in uniform as he and a male Earth Pony approached the Mane Seven, "Shining Armor asked us to escort you all personally to your staying quarters so you can get started with the wedding preparations."

Chase looked at the Pegasus and Earth Pony funny until he gasped when he saw their cutie marks.

A boomerang and machete on the male Pegasus and a kusarigama for the male Earth Pony.

"Sokka? Clay? Is that you guys?" Chase asked in surprise as Jade and Sunray walked up to their older brother with surprises on their looks.

The Pegasus and Earth Pony looked at them sternly for a second before smiling. Fluttershy and Applejack literally felt their jaws drop and their cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

"Hey! What's up old buddy!" Sokka exclaimed as the three shared a brotherly hug. The other ponies were surprised.

"This is the infamous, Sokka and Clay?" said Rainbow in surprise, "The ones Fluttershy and Applejack have been gushing over and writing letters to?"

Fluttershy gave a loud whimper as she tried to hide behind Rarity while Applejack glared at the blue mare Pegasus. Fluttershy was very nervous seeing the male Pegasus stallion face to face. Sokka gently approached her as Clay approached Applejack gently as well.

"It's okay, Fluttershy," he said gently, "I was really nervous to meet you too. I'm glad I finally get to meet you. Will you come out so I can see you?"

Sokka looked away a bit, showing his shy side for her. Fluttershy smiled, seeing that he was the Sokka she had been writing letters to and crawled out into view.

"You're beautiful," said Sokka, his cheeks turning a shade of red.

Fluttershy giggled.

"You're very handsome," Fluttershy remarked.

"Howdy there, Applejack." Clay tipped his stenson hat a bit.

"Oh, uh, howdy, Clay. Nice to meet you face to face." Applejack replied back as she blushed a bit.

Sokka and Clay smiled back until they heard some snickering behind them. They shot the other guards a death glare as they quickly went back into passive stances again, but still smirked discreetly when they turned away.

"Oh! Chase, Jade, Sunray, somepony else is here to say hello to you three as well." Clay said with a smile he sent to Chase, Jade, and Sunray as they looked confused.

"Who?" They asked in unison.

Clay and Sokka gave smirks with one another before they stepped aside for the three unicorns to see, which they gasped in surprise.

Behind the two ponies were two unicorns in particular.

One was a mare with a silky dark blue mane and tail, her eyes showed the most beautiful shade of brown, and she had a cutie mark with two kunai crossing. She even had a light blue bandana around her head, white wrappings around her front and back hooves with kunai strapped to her right side.

The male unicorn had a black mane and tail, his eyes were blue in particular, and he had a cutie mark with a tanto blade. He had a golden yellow bandana around his head, and blue wrappings around his front and back hooves.

"Trini? Antonio?" Chase asked in surprise.

"Hi, Chase!" Antonio greeted as he and Trini gave Chase and his siblings a warm hug.

Twilight and the others looked confused.

"Uh, Chase. Who are these ponies?" Twilight asked with a curious look.

Chase and siblings turned to them with smiles on their faces.

"Guys, these are our older cousins, Trini and Antonio." Chase introduced his friends to his two family members.

The others were surprise by this.

"Wow, Chase's family must be big." Rainbow Dash commented, impressively.

"Now, let's get going!" said Rarity, "We've got work to do!"

"And you've got a big brother to go congratulate," Applejack told Twilight with a smile.

"Yeah. Congratulate," Twilight muttered bitterly as she approached two guards, "and give him a piece of my mind."

Twilight pass by two guards that quickly lifted their spears to let her pass. Everypony watched her take off with worry, both Applejack and Chase had skeptical looks on their faces.

"I...better go make sure Twilight doesn't do something she regrets," said Chase as he turned to Sokka and Clay, "Think you guys can escort the girls to their staying quarter and show them where everything is while I go catch up with Twilight?"

"No problem," said Sokka as he looked at Fluttershy, "No trouble at all." Fluttershy just smiled back as Chase rolled his eyes.

"Try not to run into any lampposts along the way, especially if you keep giving Fluttershy goo-goo eyes," Chase remarked.

Sokka gave the stallion a raspberry as Chase chuckled and went to catch up with Twilight.

(Scene changes)

Up in a tower, Princess Celestia was using a telescope as she stood on the balcony to survey the area around Canterlot as Twilight continued her way towards the castle with Chase not too far behind her. For the moment, Shinning Armor, now in full uniform, was gesturing his fore-leg to give direct orders to the local guards on where they needed to go or patrol.

"I've got something to say to you, mister!" Twilight said so sternly and boldly that several guards pointed their spears at her.

"Hey, hey! Stand down you guys! You remember us?" said Chase.

The guards smiled and relaxed a bit as Shining Armor looked over to them.

"Twily! Chase!" said Shining Armor excitedly as he removed his helmet and raced down the stairs to meet his little sister and Chase, whom the latter he considered a friend of the family, "Ah, I've missed you, kids. How was the train ride? I-"

Shining Armor was taken aback when he offered to give Twilight a hug and she angrily pulled away from him.

"How dare you not tell me in person that you were getting married!" said Twilight angrily, "I'm your sister for pony's sake!" Twilight then turned away.

"It's not my fault!" Shining Armor replied in his defense, "Princess Celestia has requested a major increase in security. Did you and Chase see all the guards at the train station? I sent Sokka and Clay, my right hand and second-in-command, to escort you and your friends to the castle. Trini and Antonio decided to join up as well."

"Whoa, I didn't know Sokka and Clay were now second-in-command," Chase replied impressed.

"Yeah, there's a big wedding coming up," said Twilight sarcastically as she walked away a bit and stared at her reflection in a puddle, "Maybe you heard about it?"

"Easy, Twilight." said Chase gently, "By the look on Shining Armor's face, it's clear it wasn't intentional..."

"You can stop trying to get on his good side," said Twilight, "I think you're good enough for me and that's all that matters! You don't need his approval to be with me!"

"Good enough? Be with you?!" Shining Armor said puzzled before he blinked, "Are you two...a couple?"

"Not yet," said Chase, "but we have been dating for a while now. I've told her I love her. Twilight's still deciding how she feels."

No I haven't, I love you! But that was only in Twilight's head, but her mouth said, "Yeah...still deciding on my feelings."

Twilight winced discreetly as she said that. Recently, it seemed like every time she made an excuse about her true feelings, she felt like somepony has punched her stomach. She quickly shook it off as Shining Armor walked up to her.

"Well, all in good time," said Shining Armor as he gave Chase a friendly hoof bump, "But Chase is right. This has nothing to do with the wedding. A threat has been made against Canterlot. We don't know who's responsible for it, but Princess Celestia asked that I help provide additional protection."

Twilight didn't bother to look at him, but was still listening attentively.

"Pretty bold for a threat to openly state their attack," said Chase, "Need any assistance? I've actually gotten pretty good at self-defense and I've got plenty of useful moves to help you and the rest of your troops."

Shining Armor smiled.

"I'll let you know if we can use the extra help, little buddy," said Shining Armor, "First, this you two need to see."

Shining Armor then lifted Twilight's chin so she could look at him before taking a step back. He then began to concentrate intensely, making his horn glow brightly as a large beam exits his horn. The beam strikes the barrier above them, making it shine and reenergizing it. Shining Armor then relaxed, but gasped as his horn gave a tweak and he wobbled a bit.

"Ouch, all that magic output must be doing a number on your head," Chase remarked. "Here let me fix that."

Shining Armor sighed and bravely shut his eyes as Chase used his magic to tap Shining Armor's horn, making him wince a bit before his headache went away.

"Ooh, that is so much better! Thanks, Chase." Shining Armor thanked him.

"Anytime," said Chase.

While Twilight was still glaring at her big brother, she was inwardly relieved that Chase helped him out with his headache.

"Getting back on track," said Shining Armor as he made his way back up the stairs, "The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rest squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hand has been my top priority."

"Okay, okay, I get it," said Twilight as she, Chase, and Shining Armor made their way across a bridge, "You've got a really important job protecting all of Canterlot with a force field only you can conjure up. But still...how could you not tell me about something as big as your wedding? Am I not that important to you anymore?"

Twilight placed a fore-hoof on the bridge railing and looked out into the distance. Shining Armor looked at her sympathetically.

"She's got a good point there," said Chase, "I mean how would you feel if Twilight and I were getting married and the only way you learned about it was through an invitation?"

Twilight blushed at the idea, but kept her face away from them so neither could notice.

"Believe me, Chase, I get it," said Shining Armor before getting in his face, "And I'll pound you to the ground if you two ever try something like that!"

In his younger days, that glare would frighten Chase dearly, but now it still didn't affect him as he smirked and rolled his eyes before he looked at him with a calm look.

"I'd be more concerned about Twilight pounding you to the ground right now," said Chase calmly.

"Hey," said Shining Armor as he addressed Twilight, "You're my little sister. Of course you're important to me. But I'd understand if you didn't want to be my best mare now."

Shining Armor gave her a sad look, but Chase could tell it was playful one. The older stallion was clearly trying to cheer Twilight up. The purple pony perked up as Shining Armor donned a smirk on his face.

"You want me to be your best mare?" said Twilight in surprise.

"Well...yeah," Shining Armor replied, "and Chase can be my one and only grooms-colt." Now Chase was smiling.

"Awesome!" Chase replied.

"I'd be honored!" said Twilight as she bowed before him regally as Shining Armor pulled her into a hug. Twilight accepted it...before roughly pulling away from him again.

"But I'm still pretty ticked you're marrying somepony I don't even know!" said Twilight, "When did you meet this "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza"?"

Shining Armor looked at Chase.

"Don't you know who Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is?" He asked Chase as the younger colt gave him a puzzled look.

"It's sound familiar," said Chase, "but I can't..." It was then it finally clicked.

"No way..." said Chase in shock, "It's… Cadance?!"

"That's right," said Shinning Armor, "Twily, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is Cadance, your old foalsitter." Twilight pondered for a second and then smiled.

"Cadance?" said Twilight as she shook her head in surprise, "As in the Cadance? As in the greatest foalsitter in all the history of foalsitters?"

"You tell me," said Shining Armor with a chuckle and a light eye roll, "She was your foalsitter."

"Hey, she was mine long before she ever started foalsitting Twilight," Chase remarked.

"I just realized something," said Twilight, "How did you know Cadance, Chase?"

Chase chuckled in amusement.

"Until I met you, Twilight," said Chase, "Cadance was my only true friend. I still remember when I met her for the first time..."

Flashback

Five year old Chase was sitting alone shedding some tears after what had been a very awful day at preschool daycare. He was at that age where he had just learned to talk.

A young alicorn was walking down the hall. She had a pink coat and a mane and tail that had shades of dark pink, purple, and light blonde in it. Both her mane and tail had light blue ribbons tied in them. She had come to a stop when she found the young colt crying inside.

She wasted no time walking up to the colt and stroking his mane. Young Chase looked up and saw the alicorn giving him a warm smile.

"Who...who are you?" he asked softly, his eyes full of tears.

"My name is Cadance," said the alicorn, "Who are you?"

"Chase Young." Chase said. "All of the other kids have been mean to me. They made fun of me when they mocked Grandpa from disappearing. They say ...I'm...rubber-ish and...umm...what's...pity?"

Young Cadance just sighed.

"Pity means that you only feel sorry for somepony," said Young Cadance.

"So...my parents just pity me?" Young Chase asked, ready to cry again.

"Of course not," said Cadance, "And I'm sure your friends don't either." Young Chase looked at her sadly.

"I have no friends," Young Chase sobbed, "Nopony likes me...they just make fun of me...call me names..."

Young Chase continued to cry when he was taken by surprise when Young Candace opened a wing and pulled him close to her for a hug.

"I'll be your friend," said Young Cadance sweetly.

"Cause you pity me?" Young Chase asked with sad eyes.

"Of course not," said Young Cadance, "because I think you're special." Young Chase, despite his teary eyes, gave her a warm smile.

End Flashback

"Cadance and I were practically inseparable in those days," Chase continued, "I always felt happier when I was with her. And she was my biggest supporters in helping me find my cutie mark. I can remember whenever I was in a play, or a competition, she was there cheering me on. Even when my efforts were naught, she encouraged me to keep trying and improve on the talents I was good at. But the biggest thing she taught me was how powerful love can be, from how there are different kinds of love and how it is important to focus on love rather than giving into anger and hate, especially with all the bullying I had to deal with. I always believed she prepared me for my role as the seventh Element of Harmony..."

"I would say she did," said Twilight, "You certainly know how to be compassionate, kind, caring, and empathetic to everypony."

"And now she's marrying your brother," said Chase.

"I still can't believe it!" Twilight exclaimed, "Ohmygoshohmygosh! Cadance is only the most amazing pony ever! She's beautiful, she's caring, she's kind..."

A flashback was then seen of Young Twilight in her old bedroom searching for her old Smarty Pants doll when Young Cadance walked into the room. Young Twilight wasted no time rushing over so they could share a loving hug together. Other memories included Cadance putting a band aid on Young Twilight's fore-hoof after she scratched it and then wiping away the little filly's tears. Another moment was when Cadance was pushing Young Twilight on the swing.

"I am so lucky to have you as my foalsitter!" said Young Twilight.

"I'm the one whose lucky," said Young Cadance as she continued to push Young Twilight on the swing as Twilight scoffed.

"You're a princess," said Twilight as Young Cadance rolled her eyes playfully behind her, "I'm just a regular old unicorn."

"You are anything but a regular old unicorn," said Young Cadance as she removed Young Twilight from the swing and put her down on the grass. It was then they did their special dance together.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake!" they sang together, "Clap your hooves and give a little shake!" The dance involved the two bouncing on their hooves, ducking down, covering both their eyes and then peeking from one eye, then clapping hooves patty-cake style, and finishing with shaking their flanks and tails. After the dance was done, they fell into their backs laughing.

It was then Young Twilight, Young Chase, and Young Cadance were walking down the street when the latter spotted two unicorns arguing as they sat at a table.

"I am going for a hooficure and that is that!" said the mare named Wild Fire.

"You are not going-" a stallion named Lucky Clover yelled back.

"I am! I am!" Wild Fire shouted.

"I've already paid for three this month!" Lucky Clover protested.

"I...no!" Wild Fire shouted, "My girlfriends are all getting their hooves done! And you said that onl-"

"Please, we've done this at least-" Luck Clover shouted back.

Young Cadance, Young Chase, and Young Twilight just watched the two argue. While Young Twilight looked worried, Young Cadance and Young Chase just smirked with each other before she produced a red heart from her horn. She then made the heart split up into two perfect halves that floated over to the arguing couple. Just as the two halves united, the heart shinned brightly, making the couple stop arguing and smile at each other.

"Oh! Ho, ho, ho," said Lucky Clover.

"Oh, Sweetie," said Wild Fire, "You just did that face." Young Cadance just smiled proudly and walked away with Young Chase as Young Twilight smiled in amazement.

"How many unicorns can just spread love wherever they go?" said Twilight happily as the flashback ended.

"Indeed," said Chase.

"I only know one!" said Twilight as she looked at Shining Armor, "And you're marrying her!" Twilight then bounced about excitedly.

"You're marrying Cadance," Twilight sing-sang as she bounced around Shining Armor like she used to when she was little filly, "You're marrying Cadance."

"Oh boy. Sompony get the joy out of her head." Chase said with a smirk as Shining Armor chuckled in amusement.

"Come on, Chase. Can't we let her have the moment?" Shining Armor asked with a smug smile, which made Chase smile back.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Said a voice.

Twilight stopped dancing and Chase turned his head to see the very pony they had been talking about standing just a few yards away.

Cadance's physical appearance was roughly the same, but taller. She now had on a gold necklace similar to the one Princess Celestia wore, a small gold crown on her head, and her hair was now fully down and slightly curled to one side of her head. She also had her own pair of gold shoes on her hooves.

Chase and Twilight smiled.

"Cadance!" said Twilight excited as she stood before her.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and give a little shake!" Twilight danced for her.

Cadance just gave her a funny look.

"What are you doing?" she asked bluntly.

"Cadance, it's me, Twilight!" said the purple pony.

"And Chase. Don't you remember?" Chase asked curiously.

Cadance just gave them both a disinterested look.

"Uh-huh," said Cadance as she simply walked past the both of them and ignoring them both. Chase was confused as Twilight looked rather puzzled.

"Huh?" Chase asked in confusion as Cadance stood before Shining Armor as he wrapped a fore-hoof around her.

"I gotta get back to my station, but Cadance will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going," said Shining Armor, "I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn't be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?"

Cadance then gave a smile that was anything but genuine or sincere. One might say it looked rather devious.

"Absolutely," said Cadance, leaving Twilight unnerved and Chase narrowing his eyes at her suspiciously.

"Well, we'll let you get to it," said Shining Armor as the couple just walked off the bridge.

Twilight glared while Chase looked understandably confused.

"What was that about?" Chase asked in confusion.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before they were in the kitchen. Twilight was sitting on the floor fuming while Chase looked understandably confused, still unsure of what was off with Cadance.

Applejack was rushing frantically about the kitchen as some country music was being heard. Twilight had a notepad and pencil in her magic grip as well as Applejack was ironing out the frosting for the top layer of the wedding cake.

"Cake, check," said Applejack as Twilight bluntly marked her checklist as Applejack ran past the two ponies each time she went to show each completed item, "Ice sculpture, check. Best darn bite-size apple fritter you've ever tasted."

Applejack then pulled the said pastries from the oven and shoved one each into Twilight and Chase's mouths.

"Mmm. Check," said Twilight.

"Thanks, AJ." Chase said with a smile.

Then they noticed Spike was playing with the two cake toppers.

"I do, Do you?" said Spike, trying to mimic Shinning Armor and then made his voice sound like Cadance, "I do!"

He then made kissing noises with the two figurines as Twilight and Chase arrived and glared at him before the former grabbed the toppers and put them on the table. Spike just chuckled sheepishly at the two ponies kept glaring at him.

"Hiya, Princess!" said Applejack as Cadance entered the kitchen in a rather regal fashion.

"Please, call me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," Cadance replied snootily.

Twilight and Chase gave Cadance a dirty look.

"The Cadance I knew never used to make people address her by her formal name," Chase remarked with suspicion.

"Hiya, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," Applejack repeated as she bowed before the princess, "You come to check out what's on the menu for your big day?" As Applejack's back was turned, Cadance had a very irritated look on her face, which flipped into a smile as Applejack looked at her.

"I have," said Cadance in a cheerful tone that was obviously fake. But Twilight gave her a look that pretty much said "I'm watching you!". Applejack then offered her one of the apple fritters, which Cadance ate rather quickly as she shoved the whole thing in her mouth.

"Delicious!" Cadance replied, "I love-love-love them." Cadance then gave a nervous laugh as Chase and Twilight glared.

"How much more fake can she get?" Chase whispered to Twilight, "Though I find it weird because Cadance was a big fan of apple treats. At least she used to be..."

"Aw, shucks," said Applejack, "Why don't you take a few to go?" Applejack then handed Cadance a brown goodie bag and gave a little squee. "I know how you brides can be. So busy, you forget to get a little somethin' in your belly."

Cadance then took the bag by her mouth and turned to walk away. Chase and Twilight watched as Cadance headed towards the exit, and they especially took notice when Cadance threw the bag of treats into the trash can. Both ponies silently gasped as Cadance slammed the door closed.

"Did...you see what she..." Twilight stuttered, but Applejack paid her no attention.

"I'm afraid nopony is home at the moment," said Chase, giving Applejack a glare for being so clueless to their distress. Twilight just growled and stomped off with Chase not too far behind her.

(Scene changes)

Back outside, Princess Celestia was still patrolling the city from the top tower with her telescope. Some other guards were standing outside the tower where Rarity was hard at work, wearing her red glasses, as she designed and assembled the dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids.

"Oh you should have seen how she acted back there!" Twilight vented as she paced about the floor and Chase did the same behind her but in the opposite direction.

"I know right!" Chase added, "I have never seen Cadance act so fake and snooty before. She never used to behave like this! The worst part is that she brushed me off just like the other Canterlot elites used to do!"

"I don't know when she changed, but she changed!" said Twilight, ""Please call me, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!"" Twilight didn't resist mimicking Cadance in her irritation.

"Did I hear someone say my name?" said Cadance, now standing inside the room with Minuette, Twinkleshine, and Lyra behind her. Chase was surprised to see three members of the old Canterlot group.

"What are you guys doing here?" Chase asked as Rarity zipped past him right up to Cadance.

"Your highness!" said Rarity as she bowed twice before Cadance, who looked at her unamused, "Let me just start by saying what an honor it is to play a role in such a momentous occasion." Rarity laughed nervously as Chase facehoofed himself.

"Uh-huh," said Cadance in an unenthusiastic tone before heading over to the dresses, "Is my dress ready?"

"Yes of course," Rarity stammered as she presented her dress, which featured a blue sapphire broach on the front, lacy trimming on the top with a flowing multi-layered white skirt with gold swirl trimming on the bottom of each layer. There was also a floral headset for the wedding veil. Chase and Twilight just kept glaring at Cadance in the background. Rarity didn't notice the glares and watched as Cadance looked at the dress with a skeptical look on her face.

"I was hoping for something with more beading and a longer trim," Cadance said after a brief pause.

"Oh, yes, of course," said Rarity.

"And those should be a different color," said Cadance as she pointed at the three bridesmaid dresses.

"I think they're lovely," said Twinkleshine.

"Me too!" Minuette added.

"I love them, "said Lyra. Cadance gave the three girls dirty looks, making them cower back timidly.

"Make them a different color," Cadance said sternly. Chase then approached the still frazzled girls.

"Has Cadance been this difficult around you girls too?" he asked quietly.

"Excuse me!" Cadance snapped as she roughly shoved Chase away from the three mares, making him fall over onto his back.

"Hey! What's the big idea? You never used to be so rough with me!" Chase protested. "I was just talking to them! There my friends!"

"I don't see why they should be friends with a lowlife like you," Cadance retorted sternly, "now stay away from them!"

Chase was shocked and confused by what Cadance had said.

Minuette, Twinkleshine, and Lyra looked at him sadly.

"Girls!" Cadance shouted before they took off to catch up with Cadance before any of them could speak to Chase.

As Cadance left the room with a door shut, Chase noticed something sticking on the door. It was a green substance of some kind.

"Hey. What the?" Chase muttered as he got back on his hooves and walked to the green ooze.

He used his magic to take it off and looked at it suspiciously.

"Gee, maybe her name should be "Princess Demandy-pants"," Twilight remarked.

"Maybe, or maybe this Cadance is not exactly being snooty or demanding." Chase silently said to himself as he looked at the messy substance.

(Scene changes)

Meanwhile, in the royal ballroom, Pinkie had just finished setting up the decorations for the wedding reception. Cadance was also there as well, with her indignant and snobbish demeanor.

"Okay let me see," said Pinkie as she popped up from behind Cadance, "We've been over the games..." Pinkie then squatted down and rolled the dice to a board game set up on the floor, which was next to a poster of pin the tail on the pony and a floral shaped piñata behind her.

"...the dances..." Pinkie continued as she headed over to the music player and started doing to the chicken dance to the song she played when she drove out the parasprites from Ponyville. Cadance just gave Pinkie a bored look.

"I think this reception is gonna be perfect!" said Pinkie with a gasp as she hopped about, "Don't you?" Pinkie gave Cadance a sheepish smile. Cadance was taken aback for a moment before she recomposed herself.

"Perfect!" said Cadance before adding sarcastically as she walked away, "If we were celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party."

"Thank you!" said Pinkie as she gasped excitedly.

Neither pony noticed that Twilight had been watching them from behind one of the pillar columns, glaring at them. Chase was not with her as he told her he had to see his family for some reason.

(Scene changes)

Later that night, Princess Luna returned from a flight outside the barrier as she landed at the tower where Princess Celestia was still on patrol.

"Rest, my sister," said Princess Luna to a clearly exhausted Princess Celestia, "As always, I will guard the night." Princess Celestia then went inside the tower.

Down below near an outdoor cafe, the Mane seven and Spike were just enjoying a beverage. At least all but Twilight, who was still upset as she arrived at the table with her soda in her magic.

"Bet I can guess what you're all thinking," said Twilight, "Cadance is the absolute the worst bride-to-be ever!"

"Who, me?" said Spike mimicking Cadance as he held her cake topper in his hand.

"Spike! That goes on the cake!" Applejack retorted. Spike just laughed nervously as he put the cake topper down.

"Twilight, whatever are you talking about?" said Rarity as the two ponies quietly sipped their sodas, "Cadance is an absolute gem!"

"Not only that, Rarity," said Twilight, "She was so demanding!"

"Well, of course she is!" said Rarity, "Why shouldn't she expect the very best on her wedding day?" Twilight slapped a fore hoof to her head.

"Applejack," said Twilight, "did you know that after she told you how much she just "love-love-loved" your hors d'eouvres, she threw them in the trash?" Applejack was quiet for a moment.

"Aw, she probably just trying to spare my feelin's," Applejack replied.

"No, she was just being fake and totally insincere!" Twilight snapped as she crossed her fore-legs.

The response was an awkward silence, even Rainbow gave the two ponies an eye roll.

"She did raise her voice at one of my birds during rehearsal," Fluttershy pointed out.

"See? Rude!" Twilight retorted as she crossed her fore-hooves and smiled to claim she was right.

"But he was singing really off-key," said Fluttershy as she presented the bird perched at her fore-leg. He began to sing off key, making Rainbow cringe and Twilight cover her ears.

"Pinkie Pie, you had to have noticed how Cadance treated-" Twilight had tapped her fore-hoof to get the pink ponies attention, but then saw that she and Spike were busy playing around with the cake topper, making kissing noises with them and laughing.

"Never mind," Twilight replied, "Rainbow Dash, you're with me, right?"

"Sorry, Twi," said Rainbow as she stretched, "Been too busy prepping for my sonic rainboom to pay much attention to the bride's bad attitude. Say where is Chase?"

"He went to find his family for some reason." Twilight replied back before she growled in frustration.

"The princess is about to get married," said Rarity, "I'm sure any negative behavior she might be displaying is simply the result of nerves."

Twilight angrily slammed her fore-hooves on the table.

"And I'm sure it's the result of being an awful pony who doesn't deserve to even know Shining Armor, let alone marry him!" Twilight added angrily.

The rest of the group just gave her worried looks.

"Think you're bein' just a tiny bit possessive of your brother?" Applejack asked Twilight.

"I am not being possessive, and I'm not taking it out on Cadance!" said Twilight angrily. "You're just all too caught up in your wedding planning to notice that maybe there shouldn't even be a wedding!"

Twilight then slammed her fore-hooves on the table, making the drinks on the table spill over as she stomped away.

(Scene changes)

Meanwhile, in her room Twilight was still fuming about what happened today. Not only had Princess Cadance had been demanding things lately, but her friends simply dismissed her from this. As she was still fuming, Chase came into her room.

"Hey, Twilight." Chase greeted, but took notice of his crush still mad. "Oh, bad day, huh?"

"You think?!" Twilight shouted angrily. "Those ponies and Cadance are completely out of their minds! They have been ignoring me all day about all of this! I can't believe my own brother is marrying some princess like Cadance as his bride! You know what, Chase?"

"What?" Chase asked, concerned.

"I'm gonna go march up to him first thing tomorrow morning and tell him something is not right with her!" Twilight said furiously as she was about to walk past Chase, who's eyes bugged out before he grabbed her by the tail and pulled her back with an angry look.

"Hey! What's the big-?!" Twilight was cut off when…

SLAP!

"OW!" Twilight shouted in pain before she glared at Chase as he was glaring back at her.

"No! Twilight, what has gotten into you?!" Chase said with an angry look. "Can't understand that you've been hurting yourself from what has been going on around you and the others?! You can't do that! If you go in there barging in like a filly, they would dismiss you and kick out of the wedding!"

As Chase mention the last part, Twilight thought of an image of Shining Armor, her friends, and Princess Celestia glaring at her before her brother shut the door angrily leaving Twilight rejected. Twilight looked stunned before she became sad.

"I just can't believe that you are still mad that the fact either you are still mad at your brother and hasn't been in touch with you or the fact that you don't understand what's wrong with Cadance yet! You're just taking this too far and you are just being so immature!" Chase continued angrily. "I know you're upset about Cadance and Shining Armor, but this has got to stop RIGHT NOW!"

Twilight flinched at the tone of Chase's voice before she became more sad than ever as tears started to well in her eyes. She then covered them with her hooves as she sobbed lightly as Chase then noticed this and now became worried about her.

"Twilight, what's wrong?" Chase asked with a concerned look.

Twilight lifted her head to show her eyes at Chase as she slowly removed her hooves from her face.

"It's just that I… I… I miss my brother!" Twilight confessed as she wept loudly and sniffled. "He and I used to do everything together, (Sniff), but now it's just him and Cadance! And there's no room for me in the family."

She cried harder as she buried her face into her hooves. Chase looked at her for a moment before he smirked in amusement.

"So that's how it is, huh?" Chase said with a smile as he pulled Twilight close to him and held her gently. "You're just being so silly! Now do me a favor, dry those tears, and listen to me, Twilight Sparkle! He's still your Big Brother Best Friend Forever and he still loves you."

Twilight sniffled as she used a forehoof to dry her eyes.

"Really?" Twilight asked with a sniffle as she smiled.

"Yup." Chase responded back. "But if it makes you feel any better, I may have found something that may give you an interest. Look at what I found."

Chase pulled out the same gooey substance, surprising Twilight.

"What is that?" Twilight asked, curiously.

"We've been wondering that ourselves." A voice came from behind her as Twilight turned around to see Sunray, Jade, Trini, and Antonio walking in with serious looks.

"Guys, what're you doing here?" Twilight asked Chase's family with a surprised look.

"Chase told us about this gooey stuff and went off to investigate something suspicious of Cadance." Trini responded back with a grave expression. "We actually saw Cadance's horn glow green instead of blue when we were helping Clay and Sokka prepare some stuff for the wedding. Strangely, Auntie Jewel and Uncle Santos have been acting weird too."

"Really?" Chase asked with a shocked look. "Mom and Dad would never do that."

"We thought the same thing too, big bro." Sunray said with a suspicious look. "But it looks like this 'Cadance' that Shining Armor is marrying is not exactly what she seems."

"If the others are not gonna help us, what are we gonna do?" Twilight asked with a concerned look.

"I… I don't know, Twilight." Chase sighed as he looked down before he turned to Twilight with a determined look. "But grandpa told me that learning to trust your instincts is a valuable lesson to learn, and my instincts tell me we've got to do something about this."

"Then we should continue to investigate this and not try to act silly in front of the others." Trini acknowledged in agreement when…

CRASH!

Something crashed through the window and landed in front of the group of six. It was a green smoke bomb of some kind. They were surprised by this and before any of them could say anything, green smoke erupted from it.

Twilight, Chase, Trini, Sunray, Jade, and Antonio heaved and coughed at this moment as the green smoke spread out through the room before they collapsed unconscious.

Once the smoke was gone, something or someone entered the room. It was another Twilight Sparkle as this one had an evil smirk on her face. Arriving next to her was another Chase Young, Jade Young, Sunray Steel, Trini, and Antonio. These ones also had evil smirks on their faces.

"Well, I'm afraid you all won't be telling anypony anything." The evil Twilight Sparkle said with a devious look before she turned around. "Your majesty, we got them."

Arriving into the room was Cadance as she had an evil smirk on her face. She walked up to the real six unconscious ponies and smirked down at them.

"Excellent." Cadance said with a devious look. "Now, you six have been very bad ponies. Time for you to face punishment."

Soon the unconscious ponies were surrounded by a ring of green flames, which crackled as they were soon transported underneath the floor and disappeared. Cadance and the other pony look alikes watched as the real six ponies sink under the floor with an evil smirk before walking away, feeling very pleased with themselves.

"It's time." Cadance said with an evil smirk.

To be continued…