"You can run, but you can't hide!"

The great dome over the city groaned, cracks spiderwebbing across its sides. The changelings above squealed as the force field shocked their chitinous flesh but continued to smash it, pounding with great force. The horde let out a cry as the shield finally shattered and dove into the city.

Their jet-black bodies wove between high towers and spirals, flying over pavilions and fountains. Yet they had no attention for architecture, as grand as it may have been. They had only one focus: a certain six ponies running across the ground far below. As one, the changelings screeched like a great bird of prey and dove.

Take them.

Flashes of light lit up the sky as the Hive sped to the ground, trails of green fire flickering in their wake. They hit with the force of small meteorites, gouging out chunks of dirt and rock. Each changeling hissed as their prey dodged over and around the assault. With the Queen's command echoing in its mind, one snarled and swooped around a brick building to land on the other side. Two dozen of its brethren followed, the wind whistling through the holes in their skin.

The changeling was there, waiting as the ponies climbed the steps. It hissed in amusement as they froze in place, and its kin echoed its mirth. The ponies backed away but soon found retreat impossible: they had been cut off from all sides.

There came a flicker of green flames to the changeling’s right. A blue pegasus now stood in the place of one of its brothers, a colorful mane on its head. The changeling bared its teeth and let the transformation take it as well. Its flesh rippled as it grew with new height, muscle, and strangely enough, a bright pink coat. It took a step forward, a motion echoed by the others around it.

With a shout, the ponies leapt forward, their hooves poised to fight. In the back of the changeling's mind, its Queen was laughing. Did the ponies really think that they could win? The changeling snarled and leapt into the air beside its brethren, teeth and hooves bared.

The ponies attempted to resist, but it was hopeless. The changeling watched with glee as their foes were cut down one by one, unable to overcome the horde. A huge cloud of dust erupted from the center of the courtyard, kicked up by the struggle, but it proved no trouble to the changelings. Some fell, yes; the Queen watched with sullen disapproval as a dozen of her subjects fell to the magic of one purple unicorn, but she rejoiced when that same equine was taken from behind, disappearing beneath a pile of changelings. Her children were ultimately replaceable. The defeat of her foes, however, was priceless.

The last of the ponies fell to the ground unconscious, bruises covering its colorful skin. The changelings’ harsh laughter echoed through the streets of Canterlot. Finally, the city had fallen.

Back in the castle, Chrysalis threw back her head and laughed from deep in her throat, a rich, dark timbre permeating her voice. "It's over," she whispered. She grinned down at Celestia's unconscious body. "I've won!"

The changelings in the courtyard looked down at their prey. They were hungry, and there was no more love to be found here. But they had lived off of meat before, as they had in the Badlands before coming to this rich, spoiled land. With a flicker of glee, the first changeling noted one of the ponies stirring, an expression of pure terror dawning on its face.

And then they attacked.

With a single cry, the horde attacked. In that instant, the changelings discarded thoughts of tact and orders: this was prey, and the Hive was hungry. They fell on the ponies like a starving beast. Fangs flashed in the light, ripping, tearing, shredding.

When they were finished, there was nothing left.

Twilight woke up screaming.

She jerked up straight in bed, her breaths coming in dry gasps and her heart pounding in her chest. Her eyes fluttered, hooves shaking as they clutched at the covers. Her thoughts spun madly, and for a single, terrifying second, all she could hear were the screams.

“Twilight! Are you okay?”

She jumped, strands of her mane flying in every direction. Darting about wildly, her eyes caught onto a small, purple shape. She squinted, and the image blurred into a more familiar one.

“Are you okay?” Spike repeated. He looked down at her from his place on the bed, biting his lip. “You look like you were having a pretty scary nightmare.”

“Where did the changelings go?” Twilight whispered.

Spike blinked. “The what?”

She shook her head. “The changelings!” She swallowed, her eyes flickering over Spike’s stubby frame. Could he be one of them, sent here to fool her? She shuddered and let out a cough. With a hacking gasp, she lurched forward with one hoof over her mouth.

“Whoa! Here, drink this.”

As her chest shook, Twilight felt something being pushed against her lips. She made a halfhearted attempt to nudge it away but gave up when she felt cold water against her mouth. She licked her cracked lips and drank greedily.

Spike sighed as he lowered the now-empty glass. “Now Twilight, what the heck were you talking about? What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” Twilight looked straight at him. “Changelings have invaded Canterlot! Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and Princess Celestia are all in terrible danger, and you’re asking me what’s wrong?”

“What?”

“You heard me!” Twilight felt her fear fading to be replaced by something else entirely: anger. Her nostrils flared, her gaze intensifying into a fiery glare. She took a step forward, her eyes narrowed, and Spike stepped back a gulp.

“Look! Nothing’s wrong!” He reached back and seized a curtain, pulling it open to let light stream in. “See?”

Twilight flinched back, the brightness searing her eyes. “Spike, what are you—”

“I don’t know what weird nightmares you had last night, but you need to wake up.” Spike frowned down at her as she held her hooves over her eyes, the light still burned into her retinas. “Everything is fine.” He gave the last word a firm enunciation and eyed her carefully.

After watching her for a few more seconds, he gave a satisfied nod, hopped down from the window, and headed for the door.

“I’ll be waiting in the dining room,” he called back over his shoulder. “I heard the Princess’s chef is making pancakes this morning!”

“But...” Twilight put a hoof to her forehead as the door slammed shut. “The invasion—the wedding!” She felt bile rising in her throat. Okay, Twilight. Things might seem strange, but everything will make sense soon. It has to. Now, just stand up, and—

She glanced out of the window, and froze.

Canterlot stood glimmering in the sunlight, with not a single charred brick or blemish marking the walls of its spiraling towers. On the streets far below, ponies went about their business as usual, adding to the din of the city.

She shook her head and looked up to the sky. Shining Armor’s shield still held the city in a gigantic bubble, its surface glittering with energy.

There were no changelings.

There was no panic.

There was no invasion.

She stumbled back, bumping against a table and sending a vase tumbling to the ground with a crash. A shiver crept up her spine as she looked around the room. For the first time since waking up, she took in the full extent of her surroundings.

A four-poster bed occupied most of the space, its covers in a jumbled heap on the floor. Elegant silk tapestries and oil paintings were strewn about the walls. She trotted up to one, recognizing it almost immediately.

Within the painting, two alicorns stood emblazoned on a field of red and blue. One was a deep purple, and the other pure white. A streak of viridian green ran through the center, splitting it like a bolt of lightning. She remembered this picture. This was her room: the one Celestia had given her when she arrived in Canterlot. The one she had seen crumble to the streets below when the changelings had wreaked havoc on the city.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, memories flickering across her mind. There was only one possibility: she had had a nightmare, and a particularly vivid one at that.

But it seemed so real!

She smiled nervously. Get a hold of yourself, Twilight. Yes, it seemed real, but dreams always did, didn’t they? That was the point: dreams were just that, and couldn’t affect reality. She took a few steps toward the door. There was nothing to worry about.

And yet she remembered each part of it perfectly—the changelings, the wedding, and Canterlot—with each detail as pristine in her mind as though she’d seen it just an hour ago.

With a deep breath, she set off after Spike.

Twilight stepped through the door and into one of the castle’s many dining rooms. Her stomach rumbled as she noticed a large table, piled high with platters of food, sitting in the middle of the room.

“Good morning, darling.” Rarity waved her over from her place at the end of the table, and Twilight smiled weakly in return. “Come have some breakfast. We were starting to wonder if we’d ever see you again!”

“Mornin’, sleepyhead.” Applejack winked as Twilight padded up to a chair and took a seat. “You should try the flapjacks. They’re hoof-lickin’ good!”

Rainbow Dash yawned, stretching her wings and legs. “And with that...” She curled up against the back of her chair, her eyes sliding shut. “You all know where to find me.”

“You’re a real trooper, you know that?” Applejack snorted. She emptied a bottle of maple syrup over her plate, and her face brightened. “Mm-mm!”

“The cooks here are great!” Pinkie cheered. She buried her face in a bowl of oatmeal.

Twilight scanned the table. Everything looks perfectly normal in here… She looked out of a window and frowned. From this angle, too, the Canterlot skyline remained pristine and untouched.

“Hey, Twilight. Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Pinkie beamed, her own face dripping gray mush over the stained wood. “You look really, really focused on something.”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s nothing, really.”

Pinkie leaned in closer, eyeing her suspiciously. “Hm…are you sure?” She stroked her chin, and Twilight shifted on her haunches, sweating beneath Pinkie’s shrewd gaze. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Dash pop open one eye to watch. I guess she thinks this is funny.

After a second, Twilight leaned back in her chair, still squirming. “Erm… Yes?”

“Okie-dokie!”

“Good morning, everypony.”

Twilight looked up, feeling a touch of warmth in her heart and mind that banished some of her worry. “Princess Celestia!”

“And a good morning to you, Twilight.” A warm smile played across Celestia’s face. “Did you all find your rooms comfortable?”

“Quite charming.”

“Oh, they were very nice…”

“Comfier ‘n a bed of feathers!”

Celestia chuckled. “I’m very glad to hear that. I suppose you all have your itineraries ready? I know I’m quite busy, myself.” She rolled her eyes and offered a conspiratorial smirk. “My secretary has me working from sunrise to sundown.”

“No worries, your Majesty,” Applejack said with a bow. “I’ll make sure to help get that kitchen in tip-top shape!”

“And I’ll be off practicing my awesome flying skills!” Rainbow Dash saluted, striking a pose before her cheeks flushed pink. “Oh…and helping with the weather, of course.”

Rarity put a hoof to her chest, beaming. “And I have already begun designing the finery to be worn at the ceremony.”

Twilight put a hoof to her mouth to conceal her smile. Each of her friends was puffed up with pride, and in her mind, they had every right to be. Idly, she poked her leg with her other hoof and then pinched, just to make sure. She winced at the sharp stab of pain. Yup. She was definitely awake.

“Excellent news,” Celestia said, smiling down at them. “I’m sure the royal couple will be very happy to hear about that.”

Twilight grinned. Shining Armor! She made little effort to hold onto the dark thoughts that had clouded her mind only moments before. By now, she could barely recall the specifics of her dream; its memory was little more than a vague collection of sensations. The bad mood she’d been in faded further with each passing second. There’s no need to focus on nightmares when reality is so much nicer.

She tilted her head, looking up at Celestia. “Princess,” she began. “Have you seen my brother anywhere today?”

Celestia put a hoof to her chin. “I believe I saw him taking some new recruits down to the training grounds earlier this morning for some drills.” She shook her head. “That stallion works himself too hard.”

“Is it because of the threat?” Dash piped up.

Celestia nodded, frowning. “Sadly, yes. I hope that nothing comes of it, but I will admit that I was the first to ask him to implement extra security measures.”

“So would that be the East Grounds, or the West…?” Twilight pushed her seat away from the table, waiting for an answer.

“East.”

She took a short breath and got to her hooves. “Thank you, Princess. I think I’ll go see him now.”

Pinkie gave her a wide-eyed stare. “Wait, aren’t you going to have anything to eat?”

“You really mustn’t start the day on an empty stomach, darling,” Rarity said, her magic surrounding a bowl of fruit. It drifted over the heads of the others and landed at Twilight’s side.

Twilight shook her head. “No, really. I’m fine.” She pushed the bowl away. “I’ll grab something later.”

Rarity pursed her lips. “If you insist.”

Twilight trotted to the door and nodded up at Celestia as she passed. “Thanks again, Princess.”

Celestia winked back. “You’re quite welcome.”

Twilight picked up her pace as she exited the room. For some reason, something tickled at the back of her mind as though there was something she’d missed: something she’d forgotten.

With a small snort, she pushed it aside and continued on her way.

As she cantered down the castle hallways, Twilight yawned, pausing to rub her eyes.

Seeing the large double doors to the East grounds in the distance, she resumed walking and increased her pace to a brisk trot. She nodded to a passing group of sweating, dirt-smudged guardponies, and one or two saluted in reply. After she’d passed them, she walked up to a window beside the doors and, hearing voices, peered out to the courtyard below.

“Ha!”

The clang of metal on metal rang in her ears, and she looked down at the scene with wide eyes.

Shining Armor stood in the center of the dusty courtyard, a spear levitating beside him. He was sweating, his eyes focused on a wooden target standing against the opposite wall.

With a click, dozens of small, black projectiles flung themselves forth from the wall behind the target, flying at high speeds toward his unprotected body. Twilight froze, watching in horror as her brother seemingly prepared himself to be skewered.

Shining narrowed his eyes, and the spear beside him came to life. It spun round at his command, twirling like a whirling dervish. He dodged around the projectiles and deflected them to the ground using a combination of his own martial skill and quick flashes of telekinesis.

Like drops of rain, the objects fell from the air and crashed to the ground. Shining drew a deep breath, pulled his head back, and flung the spear forward with a grunt. It sped forward like a flicker of wind, splitting through the air in a silver blur.

Twilight swallowed, her eyes brimming with awe. Whoa…

There came a loud crack. Down below, Shining slowly breathed out, his chest steadily rising and falling. His mouth curved into a satisfied smirk, his eyes still fixed on the spear quivering in the center of the target.

From above came the unmistakable sound of applause.

He did a double take, and the second spear that he’d been reaching for clattered back to the ground. “Twilight?”

She beamed as she pushed open the door and rushed down the stairs. “That was amazing! How did you do that?”

Shining chuckled and rested a hoof on the back of his neck. “It’s nothing. I just needed something to get my mind off things, especially after the drill session I just ran.”

“Why?” Twilight frowned, her hooves touching the cobblestone floor of the courtyard. “Did something happen?”

Shining paused and licked his lips as he stared off into space. “Well… No, not that I can think of.” He shook his head. “It’s just that with everything that’s been going on, I guess I needed to let loose a bit.”

“I can see that.” Twilight peered down at one of the projectiles: a black, polished rod with a sharpened end on one side. She prodded it with a hoof. “Are you sure these things are safe?”

He lifted one off the ground, tossing it up and down with a fond look on his face. He gave her a toothy grin. “The worst they’ll do to anypony are a few cuts and bruises. It’s the first drill that any new Guard goes through.”

“Defense?”

“Agility training.” Shining smiled at her but then faltered, putting a hoof to his head. “Ugh.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, and she jogged over to him. She touched his forehead, feeling for a fever. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Is it another one of your headaches?”

Shining gave her a strange look. “Wait, how did you know I was getting headaches?” He blinked a few times and ran a hoof through his mane. “I don’t remember telling you about them.”

“Um.” She grinned up at him innocently. To be honest, she wasn’t quite sure herself. It just seemed…obvious for some reason. “Lucky guess?”

Shining staggered, still holding one hoof to his forehead. “It’s—ugh. It’s okay; I’ll be fine. Just need to rest, or see Cad—”

“My dear Shining Armor!”

Twilight’s ears perked up, and she turned to search for the source of the voice. Her eyes traced over the castle walls before finally settling on the landing where she herself had entered the courtyard. “Cadance!”

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Cadance glided down the stairs and into the courtyard. “I was worried; I hadn’t seen you in so long.”

Shining grinned weakly. “I just saw you this morning, though.”

“Do you know what’s wrong with him, Cadance?” Twilight bit her lip. “I don’t know what could be causing these headaches. Stress, maybe?” Even as she saw Cadance coming over to them, fussing over Shining Armor, she let herself relax. With her here, everything would be—

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, please.”

Twilight’s eyes shot wide open. “Sorry?”

“I would prefer if you called me Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Cadance frowned down at her and pursed her lips. “Though I believe I’ve already told you that. Thank you for finding Shining Armor. I should be able to take it from here.

“I—“

“Now, if you would please excuse us for a bit…”

Twilight swallowed. “Cadance, you know I want to help, too.” She turned to her brother. “Shining—“

“Ahem.”

He chuckled, giving her a thin smile. “It’s fine, Twily. Cadance knows what she’s doing.”

“Thank you, dear.” Cadance stared her down for a moment more. For an instant, Twilight could almost swear that something dark had flickered in those bright eyes.

She coughed. “Right. Sorry. I’ll just be going, then.”

As she turned to begin the walk back into the castle, she couldn’t help but hear the murmured, and then slightly raised voices over her shoulder. She reached the top of the landing and hung her head.

The double doors shut behind her with a thud.

"Ah, Twilight. How good of you to visit! I've only just begun, you see."

Twilight gaped as Rarity shooed her into her tower workshop. Over the past forty-eight hours, the room had been transformed from a stuffy old keep into a glamorous boutique filled to bursting with wedding costumes of every shape and color. She took a moment to admire a particularly striking stallion's jacket as Rarity busied herself making a cup of tea.

"Only just begun?" Twilight felt her jaw drop as she looked around at the huge expanse of cloth, jewels, and dyes, her mind reeling at the sheer scope of it all. "Rarity, this is incredible! How could you do so much in such a short amount of time?"

Rarity raised a hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle as a small cup of tea floated to Twilight's side. "Oh, dear; those are nothing. Trifles, really, although I do hope that my sister and her friends will enjoy the gowns I've prepared for them." She gestured toward a trio of neatly trimmed, filly-sized dresses but then pursed her lips, her smile fading into a determined frown.

"My largest and most difficult project," she said carefully, turning to face a back corner, "I've barely begun."

Twilight followed Rarity's eyes until they settled on a large, simply fashioned mannequin. She gasped. On the figure's shoulders rested one of the most beautiful gowns that she had ever seen.

Sprinkles of white gold glittered from its gleaming train, curves of amber spiraling along the sides. A small band of fabric covered the neck, crossed with stripes of purple and a bright, cheery yellow that evoked memories of sunshine and sweet-scented buttercups. Twilight let out a soft sigh as the edge of the bridal veil caught the light just so and burst into an assembly of colors.

"It's incredible," she whispered. "Rarity, I've never seen anything like this! This is for Cadance?"

Rarity sniffed, trotting up to the arrangement. "But of course! The bride—a member of the Canterlot Royal Family, even! —shall receive no less than my finest work." Her hooves trembled as she gazed up at the dress, a faraway look in her eyes. "Yet it is unfinished. It needs something, but every time I ask myself what, my muse is silent.”

Twilight gazed down into her tea and sniffed. Mint. As she took a sip, something tugged at the back of her mind. Now that she'd heard it, she could definitely see that the dress wasn't quite complete. It was missing something.

"Why don't you add a gemstone to the necklace?" she blurted.

Rarity stopped in place, an army of needles, threads, and other sewing tools halting in their dance about her head. "I beg your pardon?"

"A gemstone. Heart shaped." Twilight trotted up and pointed to the center of the colored band. "Right here. It should be blue, to offset the rest of the colors, and to serve as a clasp for the rest of the dress."

Rarity's eyes widened until they were as big as saucers. "Oh, my." She levitated a measuring tape and a spool of gold-trimmed thread, poking and prodding at the place that Twilight had pointed out. "Twilight, I cannot imagine what gave you the inspiration for such an idea, but that is perfect! I should have at least one Heartstone left in my collection."

"And here," Twilight said, pointing just above the neck. "You should add something to brace it. Maybe some kind of golden frill." Her mind was filled with pictures and colors, swirling as though they'd been only just out of reach. "And a floral pattern on the veil."

"Of course." Rarity worked frantically to scribble down each word that Twilight had said into a pastel notebook. "How could I have been so blind? That's perfect!" She snapped the book shut and set her quill aside, gazing at Twilight with adoration. “Dear, however did you stumble upon such inspiration?"

Twilight flushed a bright red, her eyes tracing over the dull wood grain of the floor. "Oh, please. I'm sure that you would've gotten it eventually."

But wait—hadn't she?

She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts bouncing around inside. There was no doubt in her mind that Rarity would've come up with something just as good, if not magnitudes better, on her own time. She was Twilight Sparkle, after all, a mere student and librarian. Rarity was a professional and a self-acclaimed fashionista! What could Twilight know that she didn't?

Yet standing there, looking at the gown as it began to take shape under Rarity's elegant hooves and magic, she couldn't help but feel the strongest sense of recognition. The image in her mind that had suddenly seemed so clear was now faded, like a memory, old and used.

"Oh, Twilight, darling," Rarity called from over her shoulder, a half dozen bobby pins sticking out of her mouth. "Was there something that brought you up here in the first place?"

Twilight opened her mouth and then quickly shut it. She'd made a lucky guess, and that was all. She yawned to push away a small wave of fatigue. Looking up, she offered Rarity a weak grin and shook her head. "Nothing, really."

"Oh, that's just fine. A friend's company is always more than welcome." Rarity reached out to take hold of a pair of scissors and neatly snipped off a square of pink fabric. "Now, what do you think of the puce?”

"Spike, I'm scared."

Spike looked up from his place on the bed, his stubby dragon legs swaying over the side. "Whoa. Where'd that come from?"

"Things just feel...wrong." Twilight paced beside the window, her hoofsteps echoing on the hard wood floor. "I can't pinpoint why, exactly, but it's this feeling I've got in my gut and it just won't go away."

"Well, that's helpful." Spike rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the bed. He let out a muffled yelp as Twilight lifted him back up with a flicker of magic and looked him right in the eye.

"Spike, I'm serious." She shook her head. "It started with Cadance. We've always been so close, but now she's acting so cold and distant toward me! It's like we've never met!"

"Rarity already said it," Spike pointed out. "It could just be stress."

Twilight rubbed her eye and groaned. "I know, I know. But it just feels completely wrong. She's not like this! She shouldn't be acting like this!"

"Ponies change, Twilight." Spike lifted his hands in a half-hearted shrug. "What can I say?"

"But not like this," she insisted. She took a deep breath and glanced out of the window. She bowed her head. "Not like this."

Spike was quiet. He fidgeted with his claws and stared at the ground.

"And it's not just Cadance." Twilight lowered her head from the windowsill and gave him a glance over her shoulder. "It's a lot of little things, all coming together."

"Such as?" Spike tilted his head, one eyebrow rising up into his forehead. "Care to expand on that?"

Twilight pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ignore the small ache that had begun to throb there. "Ugh—little things. You know. Somehow guessing that Shining's been having headaches, when he hadn't so much as hinted at it before. Or this afternoon, when I met with Rarity."

"And helped her with making an awesome, beautiful dress?" Predictably, Spike's eyes had gone wide at the mention of Rarity's name, his smile stretching from ear to ear. Twilight smacked her head but then recoiled at the stab of pain.

She took a moment to calm herself down. "But that's just it, Spike. I don't know fashion. It's just not me. That's Rarity's job."

"But she says you got 'inspiration,' or something like that."

Twilight shook her head even more vigorously, not even caring about the sense of vertigo it gave her. "Barely. One minute, I was clueless as ever, and the next, I somehow had the entire image of the dress in my head, like a picture. Like some kind of..."

"Like a memory?" Spike offered.

Twilight's mouth went dry. "Like a memory…” A boiling, rolling sensation began to rise in her gut.

She blinked a few times before her vision cleared up. She noticed that Spike had put a clawed hand over her horn, eyeing it with his tongue between his teeth. "What?"

"Nothing," he muttered. He blushed but didn't remove his hand. "Just checking to make sure you're okay."

She took a breath, exhaled, and then repeated the motion. Another deep breath, and another deep sigh. "It's alright Spike," she said quietly and pushed his claw away. "I'm fine. Just a little bit—"

"—Stressed out?"

She smiled and raised a hoof to her mouth, stifling a chuckle. "Yes, Spike. I'm stressed out. Maybe as much as Cadance has been."

"You shouldn't get so worked up, Twilight." Spike gave her a sidelong glance as he plopped down on the chest at the foot of her bed. "You're not much fun to be around when you're like that."

"Oh, Spike." Twilight didn't stop the giggle that escaped her this time. She lifted him up with a levitation spell and gave him a light peck on the cheek. She didn't laugh as his cheeks flushed more brightly than Pinkie's mane, though: pointing that out would be too much for the poor baby dragon. "I'll make sure not to get too bad about it.”

"Well, good." His face returning to a more normal hue, Spike shoved himself off of the bed and onto the floor. He dusted off his knees and shoulders. "Now, I think the Princess wanted someone to help with mail, so I'm gonna be up helping in the rest of the Palace for the next few hours. Anything else I can help you out with?"

Twilight waved a hoof dismissively. "No, you're fine. Thank you, Spike. Really."

He turned to see her beaming right at him. The corners of his mouth turned upward into a smile.

"Alright! Time to get to work!" She could still hear his voice bouncing off the walls as he walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him. "Time for a horde of paperwork. Better than facing Discord again, at least!"

Twilight shuddered, but couldn't quite tell why. She shoved the cold sensation back down without acknowledging it. With a final glance in the mirror, she pushed her mane into something vaguely presentable and then set off out the door. Her hooves echoed in the marble corridor after Spike's hopping footsteps.

"Don't they look just adorable?"

"Rarity, shush!"

"I could just squish their little cheeks!"

"Rarity!"

Rarity scowled at Rainbow Dash. "Is it too much to ask for a sister to be able to pride herself over her younger sibling's appearance every now and again?"

"Not now! Look!" Dash jabbed a hoof toward the twin doors that marked the entrance to the wedding chamber. The first chords of the pipe organ rang throughout the room, soft, melodic tones opening up into a much richer timbre. Everypony watched as the doors creaked open.

"There he is!" Fluttershy whispered to Twilight. She flushed, fanning herself with one hoof. "Oh, my. He looks so handsome!"

Twilight beamed.

Shining Armor slowly cantered past the pews that filled the wedding chamber, the light glinting off of the badge on his chest. The sash crossing his uniform was a deep royal blue, set against red satin. Twilight felt her eyes well up with tears as he marched down the aisle and through the crowd. In the row ahead of her she could see her mother weeping into her father's shoulder. Twilight wiped away the moisture in her own eyes. He was more than handsome: he was regal.

As Shining took his place at the foot of the dais, he gave a formal nod to Celestia, who stood ready to preside over the marriage ceremony. She nodded back, smiling from ear to ear. Twilight felt her heart fluttering like a storm of butterflies in her chest. For an instant, she thought she saw Shining flinch as his gaze met Celestia’s. She dismissed it as a trick of the light and settled back into her seat.

With a resounding hum, the organ's music reached a breaking crescendo, echoing like a thousand trumpets in the hall. When the doors opened this time, a round of sighs and gasps went up around the room.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza strode down the aisle, her presence enveloping the room in an aura of awe. Her hooves moved daintily across the carpet, her head held high with pride. As she crossed beneath a stray beam of sunlight, another sigh went up from the crowd. Her dress glittered like the stars, and the veil swirled around her head like a fine mist. She ascended the dais and Shining turned to gaze lovingly into her eyes. Twilight felt herself tear up again, sniffling as silence settled over the chamber.

In that moment, there was no more suspicion, no more jealousy. Celestia began to read aloud the prelude and vows, but Twilight found her mind drifting among a sea of dreams and stars. Watching this magical ceremony take place, she realized that this wedding was more than special. It was perfect.

Celestia's oration came to a close, and Shining Armor reached in for the kiss. Before his lips touched his bride's, though, a tinkling chimed through the great hall, followed by a low rumbling noise.

Laughter.

Twilight noticed her parents and friends looking around in an attempt to spot the source. She was soon able to find it herself. When she did, her jaw dropped, and her eyebrows shot up into her forehead.

Princess Cadance wiped her eyes, seemingly unable to stop the few chuckles that escaped her. She gave a smirk and strode to the front of the dais. Shining turning to face the crowd alongside her, his eyes dazed, distant, and illuminated by a dim, green glow. Twilight felt her breath catch in her throat.

No…

"I must thank you all for coming," Cadance said, her voice much more highly pitched than normal. Her body shook with laughter and, after a few seconds, she let out a loud snort. "But, I am afraid the ceremony must be cut short."

A low murmur echoed through the crowd. Twilight noticed her parents looking at each other with wide, confused eyes.

"This day has been just perfect, you see," Cadance purred. "And though I'd prefer not to see it go just yet, I am afraid that I must. I've held this charade for long enough. For you see, I am not Princess Cadance."

A gasp went up through the hall, and Twilight felt her heart try to jump through her throat.

With a sound like a whiplash, each of the stained glass windows of the wedding hall cracked straight down the middle. Cadance beamed out over the crowds, a smirk the only expression on her face.

A dim, green mist washed up around her hooves, and began to rise. "Shining Armor was the one true hurdle to my plans, but it was simple enough to take him from you." The mist rose up her knees, and Twilight gasped: Cadance's legs and hooves were gone. In their place was a set of black, sticklike limbs filled with holes and cuts. "Laughably so, even."

The mist continued to rise, revealing a scarred torso and neck beside two insectlike wings. Twilight watched in horror as "Cadance" continued to disintegrate into a nightmarish monster She barely registered that Shining seemed not to react at all.

"That sound you just heard?" the creature asked, putting a hoof on its chin. Twilight shuddered. The juxtaposition of Cadance's face alongside that insectlike leg put her hairs on end, raising goosebumps and casting shivers down her spine. "That was the sound of the barrier—your precious, precious shield—falling into a billion pieces. Canterlot's last defense is broken."

The mist reached the top of the creature's head, and two eyes snapped open. They were a virulent, toxic green, dotted with purple and black. A fanged mouth opened, and a deep, low laughter rang through the hall once more.

"No."

The creature whirled, its blue mane flaring out behind it. "Oh? Princess Celestia. I suppose I would have to consider with you."

"This is my city; my kingdom," Celestia said quietly, in a voice more dangerous than Twilight had ever heard. "I will not allow you to do this."

"You won't, will you?" The creature threw back its head and laughed.

"Really, I suppose I have you to thank." The creature tilted its head and looked out at the audience. Its tongue tasted the air in a single, flickering motion. "You and your inane, pointless stupidity. You never noticed anything out of the ordinary, did you?" It smirked. "Of course not. Now, to business."

Twilight felt her throat constricting as she looked up at the monster standing there upon the dais. In a single, terrifying heartbeat, she knew her.

The creature's voice echoed through the hall in a tone colder than a glacier.

"Come."

Each window shattered into a million pieces, and all hell broke loose.

The guests screamed as smaller, similar-looking creatures burst through the windows, their translucent wings blurring with a droning buzz. They were everywhere: snarling, tearing, and trapping their prey in clumps of a thick, green ooze.

"No!" Celestia screamed, and took flight. Her horn glowed with a golden radiance, and Twilight flinched back as the light seared her eyes.

"Twilight!"

With Applejack's scream ringing in her ears, she whirled around. She was instantly tackled by a snarling creature.

A changeling.

She bucked outward with her back hooves, hard, and was pleasantly surprised when the creature flew back with a screech. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Celestia rising higher into the air, the light around her horn warping the air with its pure heat—

Another changeling slammed into her side, and as if by reflex, Twilight spun her head around and flung it back with a telekinetic shove. It tumbled head over hooves into a wall, landing with a satisfying crunch. Before she had the chance to catch her breath, though, a barrage of small, stinging green lights on her hide forced her to stop in place.

A dozen changelings hovered over her friends, their eyes glinting with an alien glow. Fluttershy let out a small yelp and hid behind Pinkie Pie, Rarity curled up in a fetal position beneath them both. The buzzing felt like broken glass on Twilight's ears. In that instant, she remembered something else: something that, just barely, she was sure she'd already done.

A warm feeling welled up in her chest, building from the center of her magical font. She molded that energy into tiny, bulletlike projections of force and, with a grunt, hurled them at the mass of changelings. Dozens of purple spheres sped through the air and collided with chitinous flesh, sending nearly all of the changelings to the ground. The others fled to the sky with a frightened chorus of screeches and squeals.

Twilight's gaze drifted over the room and met Rarity's trembling eyes. She gave a quick nod and turned in a quick, fluid motion. Her eyes roved over the pews, combing the crowd for her brother.

Most of the other ponies—guests, guards, and family—had already either fled or been taken. She felt her heart ice over, watching as a trio of changelings carried a weeping unicorn into the distance. Shining Armor was nowhere to be found, and her parents were long gone. She swallowed, readying another spell, and then froze in place as a thunderclap sounded through the room.

There was a grunt, a small, tinkling sound, and then a loud crunch. She nearly shut her eyes but forced herself to look.

The changeling queen—for Twilight was now sure that that was her identity—stood over Celestia's fallen body. The Princess's crown had been crushed beneath the creature's feet, and her horn was blackened and singed as though it had been burned.

"Even a goddess could not defeat me," the changeling crooned, though she was breathing heavily. She drew herself up and gave the rest of the room a satisfied look. "Canterlot has fallen."

With a single cry, Twilight launched herself at the dais, summoning every ounce of magical power that she could.

In that same instant, a horde of changelings descended upon her, flinging themselves over her body in a grotesque pile. Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and magical force exploded from her horn, throwing them in all directions. Within seconds, though, dozens more had come to take their place. She felt her vision begin to go dark.

The changeling leader looked shocked at first, but the expression faded into a much more subtle smirk. Twilight watched helplessly as the creature spread its wings, gave a final look to the rest of the room, and took flight out of the topmost window.

No. Twilight shook her head as her thoughts clouded over and her circulation slowed down. "This isn't how it's supposed to happen."

The weight on her back doubled, and Twilight thought she heard something crack.

"No," she whispered, and then she was falling, falling, falling—

My dream.

It was never a dream.

It happened.

Twilight sat up straight in bed with her breath caught in her throat. Her chest heaved up and down, a cold sheen of sweat covering her face. Almost hesitantly, she removed a hoof from beneath the covers and raised it to the light to watch it in a bizarre fascination.

"It wasn't a dream," she whispered. "It was an event. Something that already happened.

"And it happened again."

She looked out of the window, seeing the sun rising over the city just as it had the past week—no: two weeks, she corrected herself. Rise and set. Day and night. An endless cycle: a loop.

And so it will happen again.

In that moment, the sunlight falling on her bed seemed unnaturally cold.

And again.

And again.