“Okay, everything checks out so far. Even though we just got here, with everypony in the right places, things are going smoothly!” Twilight beamed as she walked down a hall with Trixie at her side, dutifully looking over checklists and reference guides to wedding ceremony. She however did not notice how intensely disturbed all the ponies she passed were at her glowing toothy smile, and the two armor fused Shifters in general.

“Yes, it would seem that our duties thus far are merely vestigial. Trixie is glad to see things going so well.” Trixie's mouthless voice echoed out from her, sounding rather like a howl of wind against a glacier.

“-And that will be all. I am so happy with how things are turning out!” The two mares heard the bride-to-be's voice from around the next corner, and they trotted a bit faster to see her giddily trotting away from a pleased, yet clearly tired Game Junkie.

“I'm happy you're happy your majesty!” Game called after her, and then sighed in exasperation.

“Hey Game!” Game looked up at Twilight's voice, and smiled tiredly at his friends.

“Ah, hey, the armor looks awesome.” Game yawned shook himself, he seemed drained, his usual clear diamond luster was a bit dull, but not as bad as when Pinkie first found him.

“Are you alright?” Trixie asked in concern.

“Yeah, yeah...just really tired. I've been getting things ready for days. The best thing though is, I totally expected the princess to turn into a bridezilla. She has, but seemingly with everypony but me.” Game informed them in some confusion. “If anything, she's happier after she checks in with me. I know I've only given good news, but for some reason I don't think that's it. She also “feels” oddly familiar...like I know her personally.”

“Well whatever the case, you can take a break Game. We and the others are here to make sure everything goes perfectly.” Twilight informed the event planner, who sighed in relief and plopped his toned diamond plot onto the floor.

“Oh, that's nice. Sitting down. Alrighty then, I have faith in you all. Just...keep an eye on Cadenza. She can be really vicious.” Game closed his eyes, and to the two's shock; started snoring as he drooped.

“Wow...Trixie knows his job can be taxing, but isn't this a bit much?” Trixie asked worriedly, and Twilight decided to scan him with a few spells to see if he was okay.

“He is oddly drained...I guess it's from being away from Pinkie for a while. Remember, he was sorta undead until Pinkie infused him with her love. Let's let him sleep and hope he doesn't get much worse. We'll have to tell Pinkie about this though.” Twilight levitated the sleeping crystal pony onto her back, and casually started trotting along.

One of the maids saw this, and huffed in displeasure. “There goes the snack....”

===////////>

Animak was out of his armor, laid up in an absurdly comfortable bed. He looked ill. Shockingly so. Spike left him be after a few minutes of worried doting, but couldn't avoid grabbing several of the rapidly molting feathers to take to Celestia. Animak's wings were shedding all their feathers, his fur falling out in clumps, and he was decidedly pale. He snoozed weakly as the door opened, and a maid poked her head in to look around, and enter quietly.

“Oh no...it's worse than we thought.” She locked the door, and suddenly her whole body was caught ablaze in emerald fire of a disturbingly familiar green color, and burned her appearance away to reveal an insectoid black pony with glowing light blue eyes, holes in her legs, insect wings, green bands around her barrel, a crooked and wickedly sharp horn, and a fanged mouth. Her expression was one of concern as she placed a chitinous hoof over his head. “Fever, molting, shedding. Too soon, way too soon and not the way it should be.”

Her thin and crooked ears perked and began wiggling about. 'My Queen! My Queen, can you hear me?'

'Barely my subject, there is much interference, what is it?'

'Prince Animak is rapidly approaching the final molting stages.'

'WHAT?! But he isn't...Kamina is...alright, okay, we have to move things along sooner than expected. Um...yes, please prepare to enact plan C.'

'C?! But isn't that only if-?'

'Such a scenario has come to pass! The forces arrayed against us are far greater than expected. I was not aware that the Knights of Equestria had their armor finished. Then again Magic and Generosity were quite adamant about keeping their little project under wraps, so our agents in Ponyville couldn't get much intel on the matter.'

'Very well my Queen. I shall prepare to port.'

'Be safe Amethyst.'

Amethyst's black cheeks flushed green a bit at her queen referring to her by name, and sighed as she focused her magic on levitating Animak out of the bed and onto the floor. “I am sorry Prince Animak, but we can't have you in this sorry state.” She looked to the empty armor off to the side of the room, seeming to looking at and through her in it's standing pose. The eyes of the face seemed to shimmer green for a moment, making her shudder. 'That thing isn't actually looking at me...is it?'

She nearly panicked when she saw the brows of the eyes crease to leer at her, so she quickly cast a port spell, causing a ring of green fire to surround her and the ailing prince, where they quickly sank into the floor and out of the sight of the eerie armor. When they were gone, Lagann's teeth clenched, and a familiar light shined from the eyes and mouth. “Aniki....”

===//////>

“What did you want to show me?” Kamina asked Cadence in confusion. She'd been getting fitted for her dress by Rarity, who chided her for the extra inches she gained in her flanks the past month from all her snacking, only to be rebuffed by Kamina rolling her eyes and absorbing the extra fat into her biomass so Rarity couldn't call her fat. Anyway, she was getting the dress fitted when Cadence entered and asked if she could come with her to see something. What that something was? She...couldn't remember. Just that she had to go with her.

“It's in here.” Cadence, surprisingly led her into the ceremony hall that the wedding was going to take place in. Recital wasn't for an hour or so, so it was empty at the moment. “Watch this, it's pretty cool.” Cadence said as her horn lit up, and a section of floor clicked before lowering and sliding out of the way, revealing a cavern!

“Whoa! That is cool!” Kamina looked down into the cavern, and when Cadence flew down into it, she followed. “What is this place?” Kamina asked as they landed, the clear blue crystal formations that formed the entirety of the cave mesmerized her.

“It's a giant network of caves that run under Canterlot. It's also connected to Stallion's Landing. Not many ponies know it even exists, and those that do, like Celestia and Luna, have forgotten.” Cadence led them through into the caves, to reveal abandoned mining equipment. “The unicorns that founded Canterlot tried to mine it, but the number of ponies that died in here made it not worth it to even them, and they sealed it away to be forgotten.”

“Well, we have safer mining practices today, and better equipment...letting this all just sit here seems a waste.” Kamina commented, and heard a chuckle from Cadence that seemed to lower in octave oddly.

“I agree.” Kamina saw green, so much green, then all went black.

===//////>

“Auntie!” Celestia turned away from speaking to Twilight and Trixie to see a distraught Cadence galloping up to her. “Auntie, it's Kamina! She's gone!”

“WHAT?!” The three mares all responded in equal shock, alarm, and concern.

“I wanted to show her something, but as we were walking, I heard her yelp, and turned around to find her missing! I've asked the guards and staff to look for her, but I'm worried! What if the terrorists are INSIDE?!” Cadence started hyperventilating until Twilight and Trixie both hugged her from either side, and she did the same breathing exercise as Twilight. “I...am a mature mare...I am...in control of the situation....”

“My daughter...they have my daughter....” Celestia's eyes were wide open like a deer in carriage lights. “That means...GUARDS!” Celestia called in the RCV, getting several nearby soldiers to respond in salute. “My sons! Protect my sons! Spike should be about, and Animak is in his spare room!” They all flew, teleported, and ran off to follow their orders and spread the word that the enemy was inside. “No, no, no!” Celestia paced as she started panicking. “Not them, not them.” She was on the verge of tears, but the three ponies with her all hugged her, and she sniffled as she tried to calm down.

“Auntie, I'm sure Kamina is fine, she's a strong mare, and I know Spike and Animak will be fine too. Calm. They're stronger than this.” Cadence soothed her aunt, tears threatening to leak from her own eyes.

“I don't know who took her, but whoever it is, they will be on the menu.” Twilight swore as her flaming aura flared from her whole back. “Come Trixie! Tracking spells!”

“Yes love.” Trixie and Twilight's horns began glowing, and they promptly rushed off, leaving a despairing Celestia in the hooves of a leering Cadence who was looking away from her to where the mares had run off.

'Damn, more liabilities.'

===//////>

“Alright, the spells I've placed on both Kamina and Animak both read them as being below us, but we're as deep as we can go!” Twilight cried out in frustration from the deepest cell in the castle's dungeon. Said dungeon was practically empty due to the few usual criminals being held in the city's various guard stations spread around Canterlot. Only political or serious offenders get transferred to this dungeon, and usually those inmates are shipped to Tartarus to serve out sentence if their crimes result in longer-than-life imprisonment.

“Is there a cave down there? It would make sense considering the nature of Stallion's Landing.” Trixie considered, and Twilight's horn shined before forming a telekinetic drill, and aiming down.

“We'll see soon. We'll apologize about damages later.” Twilight was about to fire off the lethal drill, only to yelp and lose focus as she was tackled by a guard that seemed to come from nowhere. “What are you doing?!”

“Back off!” Trixie shouted as she fired a freezing magic beam that just barely missed the guard as he jumped over it, and watched as the wall she hit was frozen over in inch-thick ice.

“This is the dungeon! Do you have any idea how compromised you'll make our security?” The nondescript white earth stallion demanded of them. “If you must get below, then use a storage cellar!”

“Fine! Geez, let's go Trixie, the nearest cellar is this way.” Twilight and Trixie both ran off, and the guard sighed in relief as he burned away into another bug pony.

'My queen! I was able to buy some time, they're heading for the eastern storage cellar!'

'Good work! I have some other drones ready to intercept.'

'Shock troops? Those two are too deadly for us normal changelings.'

'Of course! I'm not putting any of you in needless danger if I don't have to.'

Shortly after the previous attempt being thwarted for fairly understandable reasons, Twilight and Trixie both galloped in front of the Lunar Guard standing in front of the cellar door, and explained the situation frantically. “-Of course ma'am! I can understand not allowing you to dig in the dungeon, but here is fine. We can just seal it back up later.” The Lunar Guard guarding the cellar door replied to Twilight's demand, and stood aside. “Just please don't hit any of the crates, we might be needing those supplies sooner than we'd like.”

“Thank you!” Twilight appreciated the understanding as she and Trixie barged into the full storeroom. “Okay, spell says they're still reasonably nearby. With one shot, I should be able to pierce a good hole straight down.” Twilight found a clear area in the center of the room, and prepared to fire down, and to the west at a steep angle. “Stand back Trixie.”

“Okay. I've seen this spell before, but never on Shire Stone, let's see if it will work.” Trixie commented as she stood behind Twilight, taking the moment to vainly examine her mare's plot, even if it was just armor at the moment. 'Mm...even as just armor, she's so sexy.'

“Here we go!” Twilight fired the drill, and they watched as it shredded a smooth cone into the stone, down into bedrock, but stopped on what seemed to be luminescent blue crystal. “Whoa...again!” Twilight fired again, demolishing the crystal into what was clearly a crystal cavern. “Okay Trixie lets-AH!” Twilight yelped as suddenly she was smacked in the face by a green blob. “I can't see! Trixie!”

“Get off me! Get-mmph! MPH!” Trixie's ethereal voice was muffled even more as Twilight could hear struggling, and she tried to use her magic to free her vision from whatever this green glob was, but quickly found herself pelted by more of the substance, even her burning hair was smothered. 'No....'

===//////>

“Princess!” Celestia and the rest of the Knights, as well as the other important royal figures and Shining were all in a large council room, secured by her most trusted soldiers. The voice was from Keen, the Twin's sire and one of her most trusted lieutenants. “We cannot find Lady Sparkle or Lulamoon! They seem to have disappeared in the lower levels.”

“No~!” Cadence cried as she wept into her hooves while Shining tried to console her. “I should have canceled! These terrorists are taking my family!”

“Not anymore!” Scoddri roared, and he looked to them all. “This latest development cinches it; the terrorists are using Stallion's Landing as a staging point, and have found access to as far as the palace from beneath Canterlot. We must bring the fight to them! We are not going to cower in here as they pick us off, and fill our subjects with fear!”

“Scoddri's right! We must lead a crusade into Stallion's Landing, and rout the interlopers!” Luna stood as she trotted to the exit. “I shall lead my Lunar Guard into Stallion's Landing, and contain or rout them. Sister; have the Solar Guard search for any breaches in the lowest levels of the castle, and lead a counter-offensive. We will pin them in their own trenches.” Luna finished leaving when Celestia nodded her approval to the plan.

“We will move with full force! Let none of these criminals go, use lethal force if deemed necessary, and secure the safety of my children, student, and loyal subjects.” Celestia ordered to Keen, who nodded and rushed off to relay the message. “Everyone, we are to move as a group. I have full faith in your abilities, but these terrorists are swift, stealthy, and obviously prone to guerrilla tactics, something none of you have experience against. We must move together and be on guard if we are to avoid being separated.”

“Yes Princess!” Almost everyone responded.

“Oh, my head.” Shining groaned, getting them all to look to him, and Cadence to fawn over him.

“Oh my dear, holding up that shield is so taxing isn't it?” Cadence asked redundantly before she looked thoughtful. “Auntie, wouldn't dropping the shield be a good idea? It's obvious the terrorists are already within the barrier.”

“No, for all we know there are more outside, waiting to get in once we've focused ourselves on the intruders.” Celestia then cast a spell on Shining, getting a sigh of relief out of him as she restored some of his magic and lessened his headache. “Captain Armor, you should remain here with Cadence and my elite guard. Keep your focus on maintaining the shield.”

“Yes Your Majesty.” Shining bowed, and they all left save the guards, Cadence, and Shining.

Cadence's expression shifted to one of glee. 'Perfect~....'

===//////>

Luna roared in fury as she flew headfirst at the rotting undead griffin approaching her. She cleaved it in two with a summoned black scythe of her magic, and watched it fall. 'Wights?! Of all things, these invaders are using wights?!'

Modern society mocks the lost art of necromancy with all the popular culture of zombies and whatnot, but they have forgotten about them for good reason, as the sisters worked tirelessly to weed out any source of information of the dark art long ago. Clearly they'd failed.

“Princess!” One of her soldiers shouted for her attention, and she looked in time to jump away from the wild flailing claw of a one-armed diamond dog corpse, which she promptly bisected vertically, sending a pile of rotted organs flying.

The undead were upon them almost the instant they entered Stallion's Landing. The once pristine and beautiful hideaway had been transformed into a necropolis filled to the gills with risen corpses. Almost none of the undead were equines, thank goodness, but the advanced decay of most of the wights was evidence that these bodies were very old, and likely hoarded over a long period of time. Whoever was moving against them had been planning for this for possibly centuries.

How they moved all the cadavers into this place without notice was baffling however, their weekly check-ins with the often abandoned locale said everything was normal. Clearly the reports were false. “Rally my stallions! Keep them at bay! They be mere mindless beasts, strike them down with impunity!” Luna charged a spell and launched a small orb of light into the false quartz sun overhead, creating a blinding flash that incinerated most of the weakest of the wights instantly, but that still left most of them. 'I hope things were going better on your end sister.'

===//////>

“I was a fool!” Celestia cried in despair, as barely before they got to the courtroom did Shining's shield fall, and hundreds of green flaming comets fell upon her helpless city. “I should not have left them! This...this....” Celestia's eyes filled with tears, until she grit her teeth, and roared in utter fury as her gentle flowing hair turned to sunfire, and her eyes slitted. “NONE OF YOU SHALL LIVE PAST THIS DAY!”

“Sunfire wait!” Scoddri's call for her was on deaf ears, as she flew out the window into the city to protect her subjects. “You all continue down! Find the one behind this! I will try to rein in Tia before she baptizes all of Canterlot in the sun!” Scoddri grit his teeth, and roared in pain as white dragon wings grew from his sides. “Tia! Don't use Forbidden Sun!”

“C'mon y'all! We ain't got nothin' ta lose!” AJ shouted, Game nodded and since he knew the castle best of the group, he led the way down. Nyx whimpered on Fluttershy's back as the Knights descended as fast as they could.

“My goodness, this is terrible! Who could be doing all of this?” Rarity asked in horror at all the things spiraling out of control so fast.

“Bugs.” At the unfamiliar mechanical voice, they all halted and turned to see Lagann walking towards them with Gurren next to him.

“Animak!” AJ leaped at the armor, who accepted the hug without response, and she blinked before realizing it wasn't hugging back. “Ani?”

“I am afraid Aniki is not with us. Our pilots are in danger.” The suit responded to their surprise as AJ backed away.

“Aneki has been behaving so oddly lately, we feel that this is the result. These invaders have planned this around our pilots.” Gurren's monotone female voice intoned from the moving chest mouth.

“Why? Aside from the obvious?” Blitz asked, only for Gilda to tap one of his wings.

“You didn't used to have those.” Gilda suggested, as it was the only other thing she could think of aside from the fact that they were royalty.

===//////>

“Ugh...I feel like I got tackled by Mac.” Twilight moaned as she tried to move, but found herself unable to. She forced her eyes open to gasp at her predicament. Her whole back was coated in green hardened resin, so her flames couldn't escape at the moment, and she was pinned to a crystal wall spread-eagle by the stuff as well, Trixie was next to her, still out, worryingly so considering the size of the dent cratering in the side of her love's helm. “Trixie! Trixie wake up!”

“She can't hear you right now.” A husky and oddly reverberating voice informed her, getting Twilight to look around until she saw two glowing green slitted eyes in the dark.

“Who are you?! Why are you doing this?!” Twilight demanded as she tried to use her magic, only to hiss in pain and look up at her horn to see a limiter on it.

“I, my dear, sweet, helpless Twilight Sparkle....” A tall, gangly insectoid mare similar to those before, but much larger to being the same size as Celestia, came forward into the chamber's light. “Am Queen Chrysalis. Ruler of the Changelings. As for why...well, why don't I have you ask my soon-to-be betrothed?”

“What?” Twilight asked as the lights emanating from the walls illuminated the rest of the large chamber, getting a choked gasp from Twilight. “No....” In the center of a massive translucent and writhing green cocoon, sat the still forms of Animak and Kamina embracing, their faces frozen in cries of agony as their colors faded to black from the feet up, while their bodies were fusing back together. “KAMINA~!”

Author's Notes:

So fast-paced! So sudden! So confusing! I am so EVIL aren't I?! *laughs maniacally*

Finally, I get my weekend. Finished this so I could properly relax on my days off.

Sorry if it's really busy, but I wanted to have some fun with this one, I've been waiting for this part for ages.