A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2

Dear Princess Luna...

Alright, here we go, the exciting finale to this wedding story. =]

After a quick re-cap of the previous episode showcasing Twilight's insolent actions against Princess Mi Amore Cadenza which lead to her being banished in green fire, the episode begins with Twilight inside the Princess' hell dimension.

Unicorns cast Magic Missile at the Darkness

Crazy crystals reflect Twilight's image, scaring her.

At least she didn't try to blast herself like in that scene from To Hell and Back (Pretty sure it's in that movie, anyway)

The lovely Princess Mi Amore Cadenza projects herself onto the crystals and starts talking trash.

We are immediately presented with pro- and anti- Unicorn propaganda. Unicorns can use their magic to create light in darkness, yet it had to be specifically called out that the Unicorns were greedy for wanting to claim the enormous quantities of gems that appear to reside there. Also, it appears that the Princess is not as powerful a warlock as previously thought, as instead of banishing Twilight to her own private hell dimension, she just sent her to these caves under Canterlot.

"Should have thought twice before trying to crash my wedding, eh, Twilight?"

Cadenza gloats about her 'plans' for Twilight's brother, and that sends Twilight into rage mode.

One wonders what happened to the 'greedy unicorns' that used to call the caverns home, but since the Princess seems to know all about it, and is using it as her own private gulag, we can only imagine what horrible fate those poor Unicorn miners met.

Enormous caverns, underneath one of, or the capital city of the realm, filled with gems, and they have been 'forgotten'? More like Princess Mi Amore Cadenza used her magic to purge it from every pony's memory so she can use it as her private prison.

The Princess utilizes Twilight's hair-trigger rage and the cavern crystal's natural reflective properties to try and make Twilight zap herself.

It's magnetically sealed! Put that thing away you're gonna get us all killed!

The Princess laughs and taunts Twilight some more.

Twilight begins destroying the crystals, despite her first shot ricocheting all over the place, and blows up a wall, exposing a grimy looking Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

"Uhh... Pay no attention to that mare behind the crystal!"

Twilight's blood lust can barely be contained, but it works in favor of the Princess, as instead of blasting her with her charged up magic, Twilight chooses to try and bludgeon her to death with her hooves.

"Time to die, Mi Amore whatever."

"Twilight, it's me!"

"I know who you are, that's why you're about to get your skull caved in, witch."

Now, if you were trying to pull some 'mare behind the curtain' deal and were about to die a horrible death at the hooves of your enraged victim, wouldn't you try to pull a 'It wasn't me! It was my evil twin!' defense?

"You've got to ask yourself one question, "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?"

Even Twilight doesn't fall for this ruse at first, luckily Twilight showed the Princess her secret greeting earlier and she was able to remember it.  Unfortunately it appears there is indeed an 'evil twin' as their heartfelt reunion is interrupted by the laughing of the Evil Princess.

"Imbecile! She bought it! Hook, line, and sinker! Hahahahah!"

If I was Twilight, I wouldn't be trusting anything that was going on here. First of all, we know the Princess Mi Amore Cadenza has great magical powers. Casting a doppelganger spell would probably be extremely easy for her. Secondly, we know she can probably alter memories, in that she quite possibly wiped the minds of most ponies in order to make her private cavern prison. And thirdly, Twilight, you immediately trust her because she does that greeting (which you showed her earlier) and suddenly starts acting nice? Hmm, you were about to smash her face in with your hooves, I wonder why she would try to trick you.

Aww.

Ooyah! Here we go, the This Day Aria song.

Perfect.

Who's room is the Princess in? Looks like Rarity's maybe, since there are those pony mannequins. She proceeds to start trashing the place. Stay classy, Princess. More points for Unicorns. Not only can you use magic to put flowers in your mane (I'm not sure how a non-unicorn/royal pony would do that), you can use it to force subjects to kneel before you, and disintegrate objects.

New use for magic: forcing your subjects to bow before you.

The Princess did not like that table and its apple arrangement.

New use for magic: disintegration.

I bet a lot of fans complain about this scene, commenting how lucky it was no one wandered by. Well, considering she sent Twilight, a skilled magic wielder, to her personal hell caverns, I doubt random palace staff will be any challenge.

Meanwhile, the Princess' doppelganger is running around the gulag with Twilight, upset that the other Princess gets to enjoy the wedding while she's put on prison guard duty.

Aww.... :(

Further proving that she's a doppelganger, instead of using her magic she tries to push a mine cart full of rocks and ends up in tears. This scene is enough to warm even Twilight's frigid heart.

Twilight is smiling once more while the Princess bursts into tears

Chalk up another one for Unicorns, rocks in your way? Magic them outta there! A Princess too heartbroken to use her own magic, or wings? Use your magic to toss her in the cart!

Now, I'm pretty sure the Royalty breed of ponies has to be comprised of all 3 'commoner' breeds, since they have the Unicorn horn/magic and the Pegasus wings. Presumably, they have the strength and endurance of the Earth ponies.
So, Twilight watched this royalty pony try in vain to move this thing, magics away a couple rocks, then proceeds to try and push it herself.

Gold Star for effort, Twilight, at least you didn't give up like the Princess.

Looks like we know what happened to those greedy Unicorns who used to live here. "Here you go fellas, just put your gems in here and it'll bring you right up to Canterlot!" "I say, thank you, your highness!" Just look at this death trap, in the jagged fields below lie the remains of countless Unicorns.

RIP, Unicorns.

The doppelganger at least knows how to use her wings, or else they would have ended up haunting the caverns like those poor Unicorns.

The Princess looks mighty angry about having to save their lives.

And we're back to the wedding, and another point for Unicorns, as they are able to play trumpets. The Princess is eagerly awaiting the chance to get her hooves on Shining Armor, as she declares him "Mine, all mine!" Unfortunately, that is the end of This Day Aria. =[

<3

Back to the gulag. The Princess' anger at having to use her precious wings to save them is revealed as Twilight 'bamfs' them up to a ledge, surely she could have done the same to bring them safely somewhere without riding the Mine Cart Of Unicorn Splattering.

They are encountered by the three original Bridesmaids, who creepily talk in unison with glowing green eyes. Hmm, they all appear to be Unicorns, or Royalty, and are probably possessed by the ghosts of those murdered miners.

"Your souls are ours."

We cut back to the wedding and instead of letting the doppelganger Princess have the honors, Twilight runs in, unable to resist mucking up the wedding yet again.

Even her friends are 'facehooving' over the interruption.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

The doppelganger Princess enters, Cadenza demands to know how they escaped her bridesmaids. It is revealed the innate desire to catch the bridal bouquet outweighs the murderous rage of the miners' ghosts, as the doppelganger and Twilight were able to escape them with ease.

Now, wait a second here. Twilight has been trying to undermine this whole wedding thing since she first learned of it. She interrupts the ceremony and arrives with a doppelganger Princess who starts going on about 'changelings' that feed on love? Hmm, sounds like some Hail Mary play by Twilight to me, but apparently it is the truth.

"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could ever imagine!"

Instead of playing it off like 'Why do you hate me so much Twilight, to use your magic just to try and make me cry again?' the Evil Princess reveals herself as Queen of the Changelings.

The Queen reveals her only intent was to try and find a source of food for her race, because, like the Princess said, they require Love for power and sustenance, and Equestria has tons of love.

Despite having just escaped from the cave, the Queen threatens the Princess with the cave again, and the Princess backs down. Perhaps there are multiple levels of the cave, each with more insidious traps to prevent escape, like Level 1 was the Mine Cart of Unicorn Splattering.

Princess Celestia seems to have disappeared while this is going down. I'm not entirely sure what Changelings are, look like insectoid ponies I guess.

You have no chance to survive make your time.

So the Queen actually had a very well thought out plan here. Impersonate Princess Cadence, by doing so she would gain power from Shining Armor's love, while also weakening him and therefore the force field around Canterlot. Once Canterlot fell, she would then use her army to take over the rest of Equestria, which must be what the realm is called.

"And you all thought Twilight was just a jealous psycho! Haha!"

Princess Celestia reappears and  finally decides to do something,

Things are about to get real, 'Mi Amore Cadenza'

Their fight begins following traditional Canterlot royal dueling rules. Both sides politely stand a few paces away from each other, then there is the traditional clash of horns, followed by a battle of magical energies.

 

"Hmm, perhaps I should have just gone with: Twilight is crazy and will do anything to hurt me!"

To the surprise of all, Princess Celestia loses. I don't really know the 'lore' here, but I would have to say the Queen should have been more powerful to begin with, considering she is presumably the sole ruler over the Changelings and was able to orchestrate this whole invasion-subterfuge plot, while Celestia shares her power with Luna, and couldn't even tell her own niece wasn't herself.

Le princesse est mort. Vive le queen!

The conquered Celestia orders Twilight and her friends (the only ones that bothered to rush to her aid) to go get the Elements of Harmony, presumably some sort of powerful artifacts. The 'Mane 6' proceed to throw off their clothes and run off, causing Rarity much distress.

As Twilight and company race off to find these artifacts: Zip, zip, di dudela, die Invasion. The Changelings attack with magically boosted meteor strikes, with comical SPLATs as they leave craters in the ground.

The Mane 6 run into a massive swarm of Changelings. I'm not sure where the bit started from (Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin?), but Rainbow Dash engages in the classic comedy bit with her mirror image, resulting in her taking some hooves to the face.

There's not even a mirror there, you're in a courtyard, come on, Rainbow!

The Changelings decide to try and mind freak the Mane 6 by all of them assuming their forms. In addition, the Changelings seem to just swarm the pony they are mimicking, I guess they figure the Mane 6 will be reticent to attack themselves for some reason. This plan backfires as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash both just pretend to be a Changeling-in-Pony form and gain the upperhand.

Score another point for Unicorns, as Twilight finds she can use her magic to not only strip the disguise from the Changeling (Really, all that time the Queen was under disguise, with a terrorist threat on the kingdom, and no one thought to zap her as part of some security screening? How long was she under cover, anyway?) but also can use her magic to enact her furious vengeance upon the Changelings. She drags one Applejack over to make an example of, but stops at her pleas of 'It's me!' which is exactly what a Changeling would cry in that situation, no?

"GET OVER HERE!"

"Blue on blue! Blue on blue!"

A Changeling wanted to befriend Pinkie Pie and was entertaining her by changing his form to all the different ponies. Pinkie Pie was not amused by his Pinkie Pie form and proceeded to unleash Twilight's magical rage as a Gatling gun.

Don't start a bombin' with those hand grenades... There's a machine gun! Holy spades!

As the tide of battle turns in their favor, the Mane 6 proceed to beat the living daylights out of the Changelings. Even Fluttershy was doing some damage, although I think they were just tripping over her, cowering on the ground. Not content with a magic machine gun, Pinkie Pie busts out some kind of artillery piece.

Surprisingly, the 'mane 6' won this fight. More Changelings descended from the skies as they rush towards the temple of the Elements of Harmony. Within, they find more Changelings, and instead of fighting their way through, they give up and are taken prisoner.

Ribs are scattered over the ground like the bars of old broken cages along with bits of blackened leather and battered drinking mugs and mess tins.... Sometimes from elongated humps in the ground  - for all the unburied dead end up by becoming part of the soil - a scrap of cloth pokes out to indicate that here some human being was destroyed.

Princess Celestia is in a cocoon for some reason (Is this how Changelings get new members? Corrupt ponies? Hmm, there may be something to that, didn't the Queen seem kind of bitter, pointing out those unicorns in the caves being greedy, saying 'princess' mockingly to Cadence) while Princess Cadence is glued to the floor with green goo.

The Queen makes sure all of Twilight's friends feel like idiots by bragging about Twilight being the only one that thought something was evil about her, despite Twilight's actions just coming across as crazy and jealous to every pony.

"Sweet little Twily, you could have been my sister-in-law."

The Queen sings a reprise of This Day Aria and we briefly see a war-torn Canterlot with military and civilians alike falling victim to the invaders.

"Bah. Green goo on our armor? Those stains will never come out."

Air raid: Canterlot! This is not a drill!

As the Queen revels in the destruction and terror being unleashed on the poor people of Canterlot, Twilight sneaks over to Princess Cadence and uses magic to erode the green goo. Score another one for Unicorns. Hugging her mind-melted love causes a magical reaction that triggers Cadence's mastery over Love magic. This burst of magic frees Shining Armor from the Queen's spell.

Aww...

Magic. Hell yeah.

Here's a question, do the Changelings feed off all emotion, or just love? Why are they going around terrorizing these ponies? "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hatred leads to suffering." Nothing about Love in there.

Twilight yells for Shining Armor to use his protection spell, the Queen boasts that it is useless, she's already won, Shining Armor tries anyway but is too weak.

Cadence says her love will give him strength. Aww...

Magic über alles.

Okay, seriously. If you're not a Unicorn or Royalty pony, I feel kind of bad for you. Their combined magics manifest as an intense love-forceshield that sweeps through the area.

This magical explosion sends the Changelings careening off into the horizon while leaving all the ponies intact.

"Darn you meddling kids!"

Twilight rushes to Celestia's aid who says she is fine, and tells Twilight she has a real wedding to put together. Really, Celestia? You sure didn't seem to think Cadenza was something else, pretty sure that would have counted as the 'real' wedding if Twilight didn't meddle it up.

Aww..

"I'm fine, see? My horn isn't scorched."

I could be wrong, but it appears everything is exactly the same as it was when Evil Princess was the mare of honor. After all, she wouldn't be a very good deceiver if her personality was really that different from the real deal, right?

Cadence, who has been trapped in caves for who knows how long, eagerly eats the apple fritters.

Was Rarity mad when she went back to her room and found all that stuff Evil Princess trashed?

They even show Cadence enjoying the bird choir, even though the Evil one only disliked them because one of them was off key.

Cadenza has more class than Cadence, you'd never seen her doing this.

 Finally, the wedding is going to take place, hopefully without any more Twilight meddling.

Wait, did they just show Twlight's and Shining's parents? It showcased two Unicorns so I'm guessing so. Where were they when Twilight was going rage mode and trying to stop the wedding? (Update: Yep, that would be their parents, still no explanation why they let their daughter just rampage around.)

Twilight, endeavoring to disrupt this wedding at all costs, decides to talk to her brother about how he came to be marrying Cadence, as she is walking down the aisle. (And you wonder why the Evil Princess had to send you to her crystal cavern gulag, Twilight.)

This really raises a good question here as to how long the Queen had been impersonating Cadence. Shining Armor tells Twilight he convinced Cadence by telling her she would be gaining a husband, and a pretty great sister too. So, did the Queen gulag the real Cadence, then romance Shining Armor on her own, or was she 'quantum leaping' into various ponies while trying to find a way to take down Canterlot, and just happened to learn about Shining Armor's wedding? Twilight/Cadence need to tell Celestia or whomever to get a search party and check out those caves, who knows how many ponies are lingering in torment down there.

As Rarity is overcome by this momentous event and cries, Applejack exploits Rarity's momentary weakness to whip out her cowgirl hat. Another point for Unicorns and use for magic, drying your tears/manipulating a tissue.

"Ha ha! Rarity has feelings!"

So the real Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are finally married. Hurrah!

Alright, now, are unicorns/royalty the only ones that can get married? Unless they make special 'bracelet' rings or something for non-horned ponies. (Update: They do, as seen in Hearts and Hooves Day)

Princess Celestia thanks Twilight for being a crazy, jealous, rage-filled sister trash talking Cadence with circumstantial evidence (like not wanting to carry a brown paper bag full of apple fritters made by what is likely an Equestrian 'hillbilly' or 'redneck.' (Update: Ponyville ponies are considered rednecks by Canterlotians), despite Celestia herself not being able to see anything was 'evil' about the, well, Evil Cadence.

Aww...

Rainbow Dash finally gets to do a 'sonic rainboom,' her only duty besides being a bridesmaid, and had to be reminded of it.

Later that day the festivities are still underway.

Princess Luna arrives, asking if she missed anything. Oh, only an invasion by Changelings. No big deal.

"Wasn't this wedding supposed to take place hours ago? What happened?"

Love is in bloom

A beautiful bride, a handsome groom,

Two hearts becoming one

A bond that cannot be undone because

And so, the episode seems to be ending with Twilight singing a song for her brother and Cadence, very sweet.

Love is in bloom

A beautiful bride, a handsome groom

I said love is in bloom

You're starting a life and making room

For us (For us, For us....)

Is that Rarity's dad? Or is Rarity a gold digger? Dig a little deeper, dig a little deeper, dig a little deeper, dear. Don't mind if he's old, dig and you'll find gold! Tell him strings of pearls will comfort little girls! Just give your smile to someone who you come across, there's always some rich dumbbell playing Santa Claus!

"MINE!"

Haha, it's the possessed bridesmaids!

Look at all the gems on that carriage.

Refusing to let the episode end on a high note, Spike has to bring up his 'bachelor party' again as the bride and groom are riding off into the night. At least the Mane 6 get to laugh at his ignorance again.

Good one, Spike.

 Episode ends with fireworks over Canterlot.

Love is in bloom

A beautiful bride, a handsome groom

I said love is in bloom

You're starting a life and making room

For us, (For us... For us...)

And that's the end!

Now I cannot say I have never watched it, as I have two full episodes under my belt. Perhaps I was foolish not to give this show a chance sooner, as if the quality matches these two episodes, it is rather well made with good animation, songs, and voice acting, if I do say so myself.

What I learned from this episode:

• Unicorns continue to reign supreme, with magic providing all kinds of useful benefits.
• Twilight can be really sweet, so long as she doesn't suspect you are 'evil.' In which case may God help you, as she will stop at nothing to see you destroyed.
• There exists great evil in the realm of Equestria. I do have to wonder who called in the 'threat' on Canterlot. Did the Queen do so herself as kind of a 'I'm so great, I'll even tell you what I'm going to do, then do it despite your best efforts' plan?
• Spike continues to be the worst character so far. Yes, worse than the 'evil' Queen.
• I'm not sure what it means, but I know it cannot be good: I found the Evil Princess' character more attractive than the Good Princess'. Shame she ended up being some insectoid Changeling.

I guess I'll watch random episodes after this since I already skipped to the end of the season. Seems like it's more like The Simpsons where watching things out of order isn't an issue, as opposed to something like Band of Brothers where missing stuff may result in confusion. =]

Update - I judged this as my favorite episode, write-up copied from my Triumphant Return post:

This was one of the first ones I watched and helped pique my interest in the show, so it's also got some 'sentimental' value going towards it. It's got my 'perfect' Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. It contains awesome songs: This Day Aria and its reprise, and Love Is In Bloom. It contains lots of magic usage. Good plot with lots of action. The villain achieved her goals, for a little while, but was still pretty impressive in that she fooled everyone, including the powerful Princess Celestia and Luna. In fact, the Queen even beat Celestia in a duel.

As the 'evil' Changeling Queen's plan comes to fruition, it is up to Twilight Sparkle to save the day. Twilight escapes from the caverns, rescuing the real Cadence on the way, and interrupts the wedding. Princess Celestia is defeated and tells Twilight and her friends to get to the Elements of Harmony: WMD-level magic super weapons.
Twilight leads her friends towards the vault of the Elements, where they then have a big battle against Changelings. They end up overwhelmed, captured, but don't give up. Twilight frees Cadence, who rushes over to Shining Armor. Their love, and magic, combine to create a powerful blast, which launches the Changeling army out of Canterlot and into the horizon.
The wedding finally occurs between the real Cadence and Shining Armor, and Twilight sings 'Love Is In Bloom' for them at their reception, with the episode ending as they ride off into the night.

A song from this episode also made my top 5 song list:

This Day Aria - Perfect.