Equestrian Heroes

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Naruto x Rarity x Twilight x Fluttershy x Applejack x Pinkie Pie x Rainbow Dash x Ditzy x Luna x ? x ?

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For Normal Speech

Inner thoughts, Text read, Italics used to represent characters speaking in different language.

Demonic rage, Demonic characters, Kurama Speak

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Story Start

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'Something isn't right. The attack. The timing. Something isn't right Twi. Stay close to Cadance. Keep an eye on her.'

'I have to see to a hunch. I hope I'm right.'

'If something is wrong we should tell the others.'

'No. If what is happening I think is happening the knowledge of what's going on will be tipped by their emotions. Just trust me on this.'

'Okay. I trust you.'

Two days after the attack.

Two days of damage control and assuring the population that everything was fine.

The date of the wedding had been moved up.

Nothing like a royal wedding to get the populous mind off what happened.

The wedding rehearsal was in full swing.

In the wedding hall everypony was gathered.

The bearers. Their family. Ditzy with her family and Trixie who were making up the impromptu crowd as well as Princess Celestia and Cadance not to mention Shining armor as well was in attendance. The ponies setting up everything and maintaining the room.

"Perfect. Are you girls ready to begin?" Princess Celestia asked as she got an answer simultaneously from them.

The rehearsal was picking up.

As Cadence walked out of the room and the girls walked to the end of the room.

Princess Celestia began the practice session. As the church organ began playing, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash all began walking with smiles on their faces. "Perfect, girls. No need to rush!" Princess Celestia commented. "Then of course, Cadence will enter." They all looked towards the door, which the royal guards nearby opened and presented Cadence. Shining Armor opened his mouth slightly as he gazed at her beauty. Princess Celestia continued speaking as Cadence walked up to her. "I'll say a few words, and then we'll begin with the vows. Shining Armor, you'll get the ring from your Best Mare." Shining Armor turned his head to see her Best Mare, but she wasn't there.

"Hey... has anypony seen Twilight?" Shining Armor asked.

Afterwards, the door opened, catching the attention of everypony.

"I'm here!" Twilight answered, walking in. "I'm not gonna stand next to her. And neither should you!"

Shining Armor returned an embarrassed expression as he looked around nervously. He faced towards Cadence and apologized. "I'm sorry, I don't, I don't know why she's acting like this."

"Maybe we should just ignore her." Cadence responded in a rude tone.

"I can't keep quiet about this anymore!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Oh goodness!" Fluttershy reacted, rushing towards her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Twilight responded briefly.

"Ya sure about that?" Applejack asked, leaning towards her.

Twilight grabbed her hat with her magic and pulled it over her face in response. "I've got something to say!" Twilight walked a few more steps towards them.

"This is not Cadance!" She pointed, causing Shining Armor to become alarmed as Cadence returned an innocent and frightened look. He quickly stepped in front of Cadence with an irritated frown as the girls, even the guards at the end of the hall, responded with concerned chatter. "I know the rest of you were willing to dismiss how she's been acting because of the recent attack, but the Cadance I know wouldn't have been so horrible." She had assumed Naruto was being paranoid at first, but over the last two days Cadance's behavior had turned a one-eighty.

"Insulting Applejack's cooking, Pinkie's choice of beverage as well as a distate towards Rarity's dresses. Not even a few days ago she loved everything you all did. She was moved to tears and now she's so cold…so indifferent."

She continued speaking as she inched closer to Cadence, causing her to back away. "And if that wasn't enough, I saw her put a spell on my brother that confounded him."

The others could only return surprised and questionable looks. Cadence then sucked in a breath and began crying. "Why are you doing this to me?" She asked as tears fell from her eyes.

"You don't fool me. You're not Cadance!" Twilight responded, continuing to point at her as Cadance began running out of the room, continuing to cry.

"Twilight!"

The unicorn mare nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned to face the angry form of her brother.

"You want to know why Cadance was casting spells on me? Well I'll tell you. Ever since I started having to perform my protection spell, I've been getting terrible migraines." He began walking around Twilight. "Cadence hasn't been casting spells on me, she's been using her magic to heal me!" He emphasized. "And if she hasn't been on her best behavior with your friends you can forgive her after Chrysalis's sudden and vicious attack. You know how much Cadance loves and cares. Do you have any idea how much that betrayal hurt? Especially since she's had to make all the decisions about the wedding on top of trying to save that ungrateful terrorist's citizens without my help!"

"I was just trying to…"

"She's been completely stressed out because it's really important to her that her big day be perfect!" He interrupted Twilight. "Something that obviously wasn't important to you." He responded, directly at Twilight's face. He gasped, due to placing his hand in pain on his head again. Despite the fight, Twilight tried to reach out to him with a small smile, but he quickly declined it. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride." He said as he began walking away. "And you can forget about being my best mare." He added, shocking her. "In fact, if I were you, I wouldn't show up to the wedding at all."

Twilight sat down, gloomily, as she looked back at her friends. Tears filled her eyes.

Fear.

Desperation.

What was going to happen? Was she going to lose them?

Maybe a look into another life. Another reality.

Rainbow Dash had widened eyes. Fluttershy was on the floor, placing her hooves to her mouth in shock. Pinkie Pie was leaning towards the floor in shock as well. Rarity was surprised as she placed her hand to her chest. But Applejack… she returned a more annoyed and irritated expression towards Twilight. "C'mon, y'all. Let's go check on the princess."

They all began walking past her, ignoring her completely. Rarity walked past her, closing her eyes and furrowing them in an angry manner. Applejack did the same thing, but left her eyes open to glare at her. Pinkie Pie didn't furrow her eyebrows, but had them closed as if she was ignoring her as well. Fluttershy followed them as well, but she had a bit of a worried face. Rainbow Dash followed them as she flew away with an angry mood. Ditzy. Her parents. Everypony looks of disappointment as they walked by.

Twilight tried to hold out a hand to them in order to try to explain, but they all completely ignored her. When Twilight realized that they had all ignored her, she placed her hand to her mouth in worry. Princess Celestia began walking past her in the same annoyed and disappointed expression.

"I was…"

"You have a lot to think about." Princess Celestia cut her off, boldly, and with no longer the warm tone of her voice.

Twilight fell to her knees. The warmth leaving her eyes. The doors slammed shut after they all left.

But this was not to be. Because true bonds of love and friendship could not be severed or ignored so easily.

"Don't leave me…I'm sorry." The pain. The fear. It had taken route in her heart.

'Don't be such a spazz.' A voice passed through her mind. A hand on her shoulder.

Looking up.

"Rainbow?"

"You can't be crying alright. Crying isn't cool." Rainbow playfully chided her with a grin. In another time or place Rainbow being Loyalty would have just been an informed attribute. Reckless. Selfish. Unbecoming of what it meant to be Loyalty and for what?

What would it have meant?

"You've gone to Tartarus and back to keep Equestria safe. To keep us safe. I told you once I wouldn't abandon you. I'm not going to abandon one of my best friends for a pony I've only known for a short time you know. Being an element. Being with you guys thought me so much. I was a reckless daredevil and a bit selfish, but I'm approving you know. Using my head more." She added with a chuckle. "We're a team and a strong team supports each other and cover the weaknesses and what keeps a team together is a strong leader. Even if you don't see it or believe it Twilight even as far back as saving Luna its been you leading us down this crazy path. We need you. And as such I'm happy to serve my role being Loyalty and all."

Next thing Twilight knew she was being helped up by Rarity. "R-Rarity." She sniffled.

"What kind of Alpha would I be if I ignored your concerns. No, what kind of friend would I be if I doubted you. I would be betraying myself, my nature by not considering your words. By going off what benefits me instead of dedicating a bit of time to show concern for my friend. Sometimes the greatest gift of Generosity itself is a reward and the bonds I share with all of you is one of the greatest treasures of my life. I would not be who I am now if not for all of you. I would probably be some greedy, shallow, and selfish filly. But I have my experiences with all of you shaping me into who I am today. Even if I am the alpha of the herd there are few ponies I would trust our lives with against these threats and you darling are one of them."

Twilight found herseld startled when an all too familiar Stetson found itself on her head.

"Were ya friends Twilight. Like Rare said like we'd dismiss ya so easily. Cause yer a mighty fine judge of character. Ah think back to when Princess Luna showed up in Ponyville on Nightmare Night, we were all jumpin' like jackrabbits 'cause we were so scared-a her, but ya and Naruto weren't disturbed a bit. Then again knowin' him he'd tried and make a hydra a pet or somethin'." She added with a shake of her head and chuckle. "Then there was Zecora. Once again everypony in town was frightened cause of her looks and such and you went on setting us straight. So how could ah just dismiss you as just accusin' soempony of being no good when ya showed you'd be the first out of all of us to use ya smarts and give them a fair chance. Much as ah hate to say it being Honest doesn't mean ya always the best judge of character. I'd still be stubborn as a boulder tracked in a creek if it wasn't for all of ya supporting me and such and helping me accept that sometime ah'm wrong and there's no shame in asking for help. So as long as ya have us we'll be here to help."

"Applejack…thank you…"

"Twilight." Not only was her name called with confidence there was an endearing strength behind it.

Fluttershy strode forward taking up her friends hands. "When it comes to others, first and foremost I like to believe the best in them. When one assume the worse out of others and they act their worst in return it leads to a cycle of pain and misery. All born from a mistake. The type of mistake I was trapped in before I met and became friends with all of you. I was weak. So afraid. So scared. Of everything. My shadow. Other ponies. Loud noises. I didn't know what it meant to be brave, but I've grown so much sense I met all of you. Since I met you. And I would never dismiss you for somepony I know of as an acquaintance at best. I will always expect the best of you over a stranger. I cannot be Kindness if I am not willing to keep an open mind about things or trust in my friends."

"Twi…" that left Pinkie Pie. "I…" Pinkie seemed to hesitate. She had trouble expressing what she wanted to express. Taking a moment she composed herself. "…this is not easy." She added with a chuckle before finally speaking. "Since I'm Laughter, I'm supposed to be all smiles, laughs, and sunshine right? I…I don't like to talk about the sad stuff. For a long time I would deny whatever made me sad. Denying the negative emotions are harmful. Case in point…when I had thought…when I had thought I had drove you all away I had become depressed and heart broken. I was at the point I was considering making objects my new friends. Not the sign of a healthy pony which is why I've been seeing the psychiatrist semi-regularly." That information surprised not only Twilight, but everypony else. I never wanted to make any of you sad so I would repress them, but as I was told that was not the way. And being friends means sometimes you have to share the bad and not just the good. So even if I was not able to see what you imagine not too long ago I know that fear. I know that pain. And I don't want to hurt anypony. Attentional or otherwise. I am the Element of Laughter after all. And everything I've been through has helped me grow. It's helped all of us. You helped all of us."

"So how could we not just stand by you here and now?" Rarity asked.

"Oh…girls." They all piled in for a group hug.

The warmth.

The Love.

The acceptance.

Ditzy and the others piled around, assuring Twilight that they believed her.

Friendship truly is magical.

"Twilight Sparkle…"

As Twilight turned to Celestia's address she had been afraid for a brief moment what her beloved mentor would say.

"You truly believe Cadance is not who she say she is?"

"Yes princess. Deep down in my gut that is not the mare who foalsat me all those years ago."

A heavy silence reverberated throughout the room. "I have only ever taken on a few ponies and bestowed upon them the title of my niece or nephew. Cadance, has been more than exemplary. She has taken on any number of stressful duties, and never lose her warmth and kindness. Her behavior as of late has been troubling, but I would sooner think of other rationalizations then to think ill of her. And yet your conviction makes me wonder am I making the same mistake I did a thousand years later." Nopony needed clarification in what she was talking about.

Her eyes set on Twilight and they softened. "My most faithful student…never have the words ever been truer. You have truly proven yourself to be my most faithful pupil of all." Twilight let out a soft gasp. "I had faith in you to free Luna from the Nightmare Taints and faith you and the others could defeat the mad god. I've asked of you to put your life on the line for this nation and its subjects without the benefits of the Elements to heal you afterwards. You have proven yourself both intelligent and compassionate. So how could I stand here today and say I have no faith in you?"

The effect was instant. Celestia had been nearly knocked over as Twilight ran into her, arms tightened around her waist. Mutterings of thank you. Celestia's wings wrapped around her. She ignored the tears staining her dress.

'Cadance attitude has changed. Even her emotions are guarded. Something is not right. I'll be back in time for the wedding. '

"I promise you Twilight I will get to the bottom of this." If something was indeed wrong with Cadance, or Faust forbid it was an imposter she would not let anypony, no anyone or anything harm her subjects.

"Honey…" the sound of Velvet's voice finally occurred once Twilight was able to compose herself. "You could have come to me and your father. All you've done. All you've achieved, you know we're proud of you and will help anyway we can." Twilight wrote her and Night Light regularly, but as she suspected her daughter had left out certain details.

"We'll talk to your brother and set him straight." Her father told her with a form edge. Even if that pony was a princess and his fiancé, how could he choose her over family?

Twilight wiped away the last of her tears. She didn't know if she would be able to cry anymore today even if she tried. "I'll…I will talk to my brother. I have to at least try. If he doesn't listen to me then…then we'll have to show him somehow." A determined expression formed on her face. "I'll be back I promise." She said as she took off after her brother. Their faith giving her renewed confidence.

The last thing Twilight had expected when she ran down the hall was to run into…not Cadance. There really wasn't a name for her.

But the Bride. "You." Twilight uttered.

"You could not leave well enough alone Sparkle." The Bride's eyes shift to a light green for a split second. Then, she changed her expression to an evil and vengeful one. "Time to remove another threat." Unexpectedly, the bride's horn formed that same green glow. Green flames began surrounding Twilight, trapping her in a circle

Twilight tried to break out, but the green flames had produced a green shield above her, completely trapping her as it dug her through the ground.

Seconds later Twilight was gone. "I hope the barrier you placed down below will keep her there." The bride spoked to the figure emerging from the corner.

"Long enough for the ceremony. Once you've harnessed the power of love's bond we'll only have one chance to take out Celestia and the Elements." The speaker announced as the cruel smirk was unnatural on the form the speaker had taken up. "Now then Cady, time to go show the others we 'made up'."

"After you…Twilight." The bride suggested to her cohort.

Next Chapter: The Wedding: The Reveal! Estimated time remaining: 21 Hours, 17 Minutes