See summary for disclaimer.

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Chapter 3: Help and Imprisoned

Twilight ran to Catania and Onyx Armor's home, having gotten the address earlier in the day. Knocking on the door, she hoped they was in. The door opened by Onyx Armor. "Twilight Sparkle? Why are you here at this time of night?" He asked, confused.

"I need to speak with Catania. It's urgent." Twilight said.

"Come in, come in. Catania's in the living room, writing a message to her sister." He said, leading her. Now that he was out of his armor, Twilight could see his cutie mark. It was a navy blue 3-point shield, like her brother's, but had two swords, one gold and one silver, criss-crossed on it. In each point was a 5-point star, the left and right gold, the center star silver.

They heard her narrating the letter, as they got closer.

"…can't help but feel that something is wrong. The Cadance I know would never act like this. Oh, my little Song; I pray to Celestia I am over-reacting! After all, they could be right about it being simple nerves. But somehow, I sense it's not. What's going to happen isn't going to be a royal wedding, but a royal disaster! Song, I need you here. Wear the package I sent you earlier when you arrive. I look forward to seeing you soon. With much love, your big sister, Tani"

Catania sighed, placed the letter in the fireplace, and whispered, "Send this to Celestial Song." The letter burned up. However, it would reappear to her sister wherever she was.

"Catania, love. We have a guest." Onyx said. She looked up, clearly startled to see the lavender unicorn.

"Twilight Sparkle! What is it?" Catania asked.

"So you think something's wrong too?" Twilight asked, ignoring Catania's question.

"I do." Catania said, nodding. She noticed that Twilight looked…unsettled. "Is everything alright?" She asked, concerned.

"No, it isn't! I just saw Cadance cast some sort of spell on my brother!" Twilight said, tears in her eyes.

Catania's eyes widened. "Wh-what?" She gasped in shock. She groaned, closing her eyes. "Things are getting worse quicker than I thought."

"Do you know what's going on?" Twilight asked.

"No, I don't." Catania said. "What is going on with her?" She asked to no one in particular. "She's my best friend, but this isn't her at all!"

Catania looked at a picture hanging on the wall. It showed Onyx Armor and Catania on their wedding day, six months before, Onyx in a handsome white and silver uniform, Catania in a lovely white gown that had an overskirt outlined in lilac purple and scattered with lilies. Atop her head was a circlet made of the purest white pearls that held her net-style veil in place. She also wore her usual accessories (her flower, black pearl necklace, and golden bracelets). Glittering golden-and-diamond bands were on their horns. They were looking at the camera, smiling, love and joy clear in their eyes.

Besides them was Shining Armor in a handsome silver tuxedo and Princess Cadance in a beautiful pale purple gown. On her horn was a glittering diamond ring.

Twilight looked at the picture. "Is that your wedding?"

Letting out a soft chuckle, she said, "Yes…and it was made even more special when your brother proposed to Cadance." Twilight looked at her in shock, her eyes wide. "Oh, yes. He did it there, near the end of our reception. It was one of the best wedding gifts we've could've received: Knowing that my friends would soon know the happiness I feel now." Her smile faded and she sighed quietly."But at this rate, that isn't going to happen."

"Cheer up, dear. Perhaps Cadance's just stressed. You were, after all." Onyx said, nuzzling his wife.

"Yes, but Cadance wouldn't take out her stress on other…ponies…" Catania's violet eyes widened in realization. "By Princess Luna's moon…that's it! This isn't Cadance!"

"It…isn't? But why do you say that?" Twilight asked.

"It's the only thing that makes sense…especially since she started acting like this only last week." Catania said, looking at the picture again. "Somehow, we'll have to expose her before the wedding."

"But how, love? You don't have proof." Onyx pointed out.

"I don't know." She said, looking out the window. "It's late, anyway, and we have the rehearsal in the morning. We'd best get some sleep." She looked at Twilight. "You can sleep over here, if you want."

"Thank you…Tani." Twilight said, yawning.

After guiding Twilight to a guest room, Catania and Onyx went to their own room. As the lights dimmed, all three couldn't help but wonder what would happen tomorrow.

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The next morning, Princess Celestia was orchestrating the rehearsal for the wedding. Twilight's friends walked down the aisle slowly.

"Perfect, girls. No need to rush." Princess Celestia said. Rarity and Rainbow Dash exchanged a look and a giggle before returning their attention to the princess. "Then of course, Cadance will enter."

The "Bridal Chorus" played as Cadance entered and walked to Shining Armor on the stage. As she and Shining tenderly touched horns, Celestia said, "I'llsay a few words, and then we'll begin with the vows. Shining Armor, Princess Cadance, you'll then get the rings from your best mare and mare of honor."

They all turned to see that neither Catania nor Twilight were present. "Has…has anypony seen Twilight?" Shining asked.

"And for that matter, where's Catania?" Cadance asked in annoyance.

Just then, the doors opened. Catania rushed in. "So sorry, overslept!" She said quickly, dashing to her place on the stage.

Twilight entered after her. But instead of going to her place, as everyone expected, she stood there. What came out of her mouth surprised them all. "I'm not gonna stand next to her! And neither should you!"

Catania let out a muffled groan as Shining Armor said, "I'm sorry, I... I don't know why she's acting like this."

"Maybe we should just ignore her." Princess Cadance said.

"You have to listen to me!" Twilight insisted.

"Oh, goodness! Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm fine." Twilight said.

"Ya sure about that?" Applejack asked.

"I've got something to say!" Twilight said, ignoring Applejack. She pointed to Cadance. "She's evil!" Not surprisingly, it caused a lot of concerned chattering amongst all the others except Catania, who simply looked resigned.

"She's been horrible to my friends, she's obviously done something to her bridesmaids, and if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that made his eyes go all," she demonstrated how her brother's eyes had appeared last night.

"Why are you doing this to me?!" Princess Cadance asked, starting to cry.

"Because you're evil!" Twilight snapped over the sound of Cadance crying. "Evil! And if I don't stop you, you're gonna ruin my brother's life!" Cadance ran off, crying as the others looked after her helplessly.

Shining Armor turned to his sister, anger in his eyes. "You want to know why my eyes went all," he reenacted the motions. "Because ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines. Cadance hasn't been casting spells on me. She's been using her magic to heal me!" Catania drew a sharp breath as everyone, except her, glared at Twilight angrily. She felt her heart hurt for the young unicorn as Shining continued. "And she decided to replace her bridesmaids because she found out the only reason they wanted to be in the wedding was so that they could meet Canterlot royalty! And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends, it's because with me being so busy, she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding!"

"I was just trying to–" Twilight began only to be cut off by her enraged brother.

"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that our big day be perfect! Something that obviously wasn't important to you!" He snapped. Catania gasped in shock. How could he have said that?! "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride. And you can forget about being my best mare. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all!"

That did it for Catania. "Shining Armor, are you insane?!"

He turned to her. "As a friend, Tani, I'm warning you, stay out of this!"

"No. Because I agree with her." Catania said, walking forward to stand with Twilight.

"Tani, this is ridiculous! She's your best friend!" Shining said in disbelief.

"No, what's ridiculous is that you're willing to put your bride-to-be over your own flesh-and-blood!" Catania snapped.

"She's no sister of mine if she's going to act like this!" Shining spat. "And since you agree, Lady Catania, maybe you'd better not show up to the wedding either!" With that, he stormed out to look for Cadance.

"C'mon, y'all. Let's go check on the princess." Applejack said, shooting the two unicorns a glare. She led Twilight's other friends out.

"I was—" This time, Twilight was interrupted by Celestia.

"You two have a lot to think about." She said icily, slamming the doors shut behind her.

Catania snorted. But at a muffled sob, she turned to see Twilight looking at the stage. "Maybe I was being overprotective. I could've gained a sister. But instead... I just lost a brother." Catania pulled her close as Twilight began to sing softly, tears in her eyes.

He was my big brother, best friend

Forever...

And now, we'll never do anything

Together...

Hoofbeats sounded. Catania looked up to see Cadance. "What are you doing here?" She said angrily.

A nasty smirk crossed her face. "Just wanted to make sure you pay for this!" She said, her purple eyes flashing green. Catania and Twilight looked up in shock as sinister green flames surrounded them.

"Wh-what's happening?!" Catania said in shock as they began to sink through the floors. They fell for what seemed like an endless amount of time until they hit hard stone.

"Oof!" Catania grunted. She and Twilight sat up and lit their horns, radiating magenta (Twilight) and pale purple (Catania) light. Now they could see gems surrounding them. It would pretty…if not for the fact that they were preventing them from escaping.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Twilight asked nervously, her voice echoing. The only answer was sinister laughter. "Where are we?"

"The caves beneath Canterlot. They were once home to greedy unicorns who wanted to claim the gems that could be found inside." Cadance said, appearing on a gem behind them. They looked at her in shock. She switched to another gem. "And now, your prison. No one will ever think to look for you, either. Most ponies have forgotten that these caves even exist, which is why they are the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans." She laughed wickedly.

"Plans? What plans?" Catania asked.

"The plans I have for Shining Armor, of course." Cadance said, sneering evilly.

Twilight gasped. "Don't you dare do anything to my brother, you…you monster!" She snapped.

"Only way to stop me is to catch me!" Cadance said tauntingly, laughing. Twilight blasted the crystal she was on. "Over here!" She called from another crystal, vanishing moments before Catania fired on it. "Nope, over here!" She switched from crystal to crystal as the two mares blasted them.

Catania finally fired on one that seemed to destroy her reflection. But what was behind that shattered crystal was something neither she nor Twilight had expected to see: a disheveled, weary-looking Princess Cadance.

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