Chapter 12
Luna and Celestia looked to each other as the envoy of Princess Cadance.
"I hope her journey was not to rough." Celestia said looking to Shining armor that beamed at the sight of his fiancés envoy but tried to keep himself composed in front of his highness. The envoy slowed at the barrier that Shining Armor had put up, his horn began to glow making a hole appear to let the group in. they landed and they walked over to greet their guest. Princess Cadance stepped down from her carriage and looked around and her eyes locked onto Shining Armor making him smiled wide.
Chrysalis was amazed at what she felt coming through the barrier. She could eat to her hearts content, the love in Canterlot was enough to feed her children for decades or dare she think centuries. He turned her head to see her rival leaders Luna and Celestia. Then beside them was a white unicorn that struck her with more love then she had ever encountered. This must be her "fiancé" she smiled as his love seemed to flow into her through her and surround her in a cloud. She smiled and chuckled walking over to her greeting party.
"Greetings and welcome Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." Celestia greeted with a nod. Chrysalis bowed to her and smiled.
"It has been to long Princess Celestia." She replied.
"Princess Luna." She then nodded to her which Luna greeted in similar fashion. Shining armor took his place beside her just before her guard did making her leader of her guard begin to growl but she silenced him with a steely glare and he nodded bowing away.
"Let me show you up to your room." Shining armor offered smiling. Chrysalis giggled and smiled.
"Of course my love." She said drawing a huge smiled from as he blushed, walking just ahead of her leading the way Shining Armor's chest seemed to puff out with pride at the presence of his fiancé. Chrysalis followed them looking at the grandeur that was Canterlot she had never been there for fear of being found out but now she never wanted to leave. They entered the throne room and Celestia took her place and Luna by her side.
"I am so happy for you two. I have a few ponies in mind that will make sure your wedding will go off without any problems. Shining Armor, I will need to see you after you show Princess Cadance to her room." She said. Chrysalis bit back a laugh only because of how well this was going everyone was fooled, maybe her master was a threat to her but with this much love that supplied by her soon to be husband dare she entertain the idea of opposing him and taking it all for herself.
"Princess Cadance?" Celestia said braking her train of thought with a questioning look.
"Oh yes that sounds wonderful please get the ponies in question." She said with a polite nod. Shining Armor looked to her.
"This way I'll show you to your room." He said smiling. Chrysalis followed him down the corridor and up the stairs and as they entered her room Shining Armor ambushed her with a kiss that was passionate and heartfelt. He stopped and pulled away looking confused. Feeling that her cover might have been blown Chrysalis brushed her hoof along his rigid jaw and smiled.
"I can only imagine the stress it is looking after the barrier, let me help ease your mind. I'll take away your stresses my love." She said softly smiling. Her horn began to glow green and she began to force her will on his mind. His mental barrier was like striking a brick wall and so she focused her thoughts to a fine point and began to chip away at his mind and pulled herself back and smiled as he shook his head.
"Feel better?" she asked sweetly. He looked to her and smiled blissfully.
"I haven't felt better." He replied.
Sweety Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootalo were in their club house looking at each other board as could be.
"Where is Nightmare I haven't seen him in days." Scootalo said signing.
"Should we go and ask Zecora if she's seen him." Sweety Belle suggested.
"Yea that sounds like a great idea." Apple Bloom agreed. They all looked at each other and nodded in unison. They all left their clubhouse walking through the town and made their way towards the foreboding forest. Scotaloo was now leading the group into the Everfree forest and walking in the direction of Zecora's hut. The gloom of the forest seemed to begin to press in on the fillies. The group began to slow down as Scotaloo's fear began to grip her heard then a loud snap of a stick from their left. They all jumped back with a scared squeak. Zecora pushed a beard of moss from a low hanging branch as she looked to the fillies.
"Apple Bloom and friends this is not a good time to tread." She said scowling walking to the fillies.
"Zecora were just wondering where Nightmare is. He didn't show up for our club meetin." Apple Bloom said stepping forward. Her look of concern softened to one of understanding.
"I fear cutie mark crusaders, I have not seen him and it make me fear for him." She said looking up to the trees.
"Come to my hut for it is not safe to strut." She said smiling. Zecora Lead them to her hut and closed the door behind them and closed the blinds.
"Little fillies you must listen well for the tale I am about to tell. Nightmare Darkness is missing I say for he has not been to my home in many a day." She said looking worried.
"Well what can we do Zecora." Sweety Belle asked
"If I had something of his I could brew a finding brew." She said looking to her many potions. Scootaloo looked up after some thought.
"Nightmare Darkness Gave us a feather from his wing could that work." She asked.
"Oh yes indeed that will do the deed." She smiled taking the feather gingerly and began to work on the cauldron then began to add ingredients, soon the hut was alight with an unnatural green glow then she cut the feather letting a small piece fall into the caldron and a loud thump accompanied by a miniature mushroom cloud.
"It is done, but fillies we need help for this task for the mane 6 we will need to save Nightmare from whatever has befallen him indeed." She summarized.
"You think Nightmare is in trouble?" Apple Bloom asked
"Yes I do, for never has he not come here in so many moons." She said. Zecora and the fillies soon after packing their things they left the hut and headed for town. Knocking on the door of the tree house no one answered. An Owl flew down and looked at them
"Who." The creature answered. The crusaders looked at eachother then Zacora.
"Where is twilight sparkle." Sweety Belle asked
"Who." the owl answered.
"Twilight…you know." Scotaloo said again. The owl looked to them and blinked and looked towards Canterlot.
"Who." It answered. Zecora picked up on the direction.
"The owl says she has gone to Canterlot…I can only think they others did to." She said looking at the owl who closed his eyes and nodded.
"We will have to wait for them to return in order to gofor they must have something important on their plate." She said looking to them.
"Go home for now while I find a way to get word to ms. Sparkle." She said to them. They looked deflated but nodded.
"Ok Zecora." They all said at once. Zecora watched them go and looked to Canterlot with determination something in her gut felt off a dark presence was hanging over Canterlot what was disturbing her, She set out for the train station.
The knock of the door startled her and she looked to the door.
"Come in." she said sweetly as she could. It was the head of her guard and she automaticly removed her fals smile and was replaced by a genuine smile.
"How are our guests?" She asked looking to the mirror making her brush levitate and brush her mane.
"The priso…guests have been given proper accommodations the one guest who seemed very hurt by his news of the death of his…friends seemed to succumbed to grief and I don't think he will recover." he said smiling. Chrysalis smiled in turn then her mirror glowed and Princess Cadance was in the crystal walled room. Cadance's eyes opened and she looked up at her.
"where am i?" she asked.
"You ar in Canterlot…or well beneath it to be more exact. Not many know about the caverns. I Hope you know Shining armor is a very good catch." She said teasingly.
"You leave him alone! I swear by Celestia I will!" she threatened struggling to stand.
"You will what? Stop me? I have begun to break his mind he will soon step off a cliff for me if I ask it… and soon I will have Canterlot and more power than him…" she said looking away and blinked looking again to her prisoner.
"But don't worry, my wedding will go off without a hitch." She said chuckling.
"You are a foul creature no wonder Celestia banished your kind." She said aming to wound.
"You absolutely right…I am a foul creature…and that is why I am marrying your pony prince my dear…dear Cadance." She said laughing making her image shimmer and became a mirror. Her guard smiled and bowed.
"Your victory is assured." He said agreeing with her.
"Have I ever told you that I have always dreamed of this…overtaking Canterlot and crushing Celestia Under hoof." She said looking at him in the reflection of the mirror.
"I always assumed your highness." He said.
"Well here we are on the precipice of victory with nothing to stop us." She said smiling. then another knock on her door and Shining Armor opened the door looking to her with a slightly confused look as she stood up and cooed him.
"You look like you're in pain…it must be all this stress of the threat against Canterlot…here let me look after you my prince." She said, lying with every word that was uttered from her lips.