On another timeline in the wonderful world of Equestria, instead of mounting a full-on invasion of Canterlot, Queen Chrysalis decides to play things subtle. Very subtle. She stealthily infiltrates the city, following the recently engaged royals as they prepare for a humongous wedding. Unbeknownst to all, Chrysalis is able to use cunning and subterfuge to switch places with Shining Armor or Cadence in a way neither of them are aware of, sneaking in and out of intimate situations without so much as leaving a hint for suspicion. Everything is going perfectly… right up until there are two Princess Cadences standing in the same room at the same time. After the trite cliché of accusing one another of being sus, Chrysalis is revealed in all of her royal changeling glory with a single wicked burst of green flame. After some wrestling and wrangling, she is anti-climatically subdued by the combined efforts of the chamber guards and the royal couple. With a brief investigation it is revealed that Chrysalis had succeeded in her nefarious plot and was preparing to leave when she was busted at the last possible moment. She reveals that Cadence is carrying a new Changeling Queen that was sired by Shining! These strange circumstances call for a strange solution…

Instead of locking Chrysalis up and throwing away the key, the couple realizes they now share a special bond with the cheeselegged insectoid. In this timeline, Chrysalis is much better at sneaking around and impersonating others; she practically knows everything about both of them. Over the last few days, she effortlessly stepped in to many conversations, knowing precisely what to say and do. She’s a living reflection of both of them, something they both realize and cannot possibly deny. Cadence proposes that, since she’s now the mother of both Shining and Chrysalis’ child, there is only one solution that will lead the unusual trio to a happy ending. She orders another wedding band and custom tailored dress be made. Queen Chrysalis is to become their wife! Although reluctant at first, Chrysalis accepts their marriage proposals and the wedding is on. She’s… nervous, to say the least.

Heh, this pic came about as a spur-of-the-moment dealio after I saw the prompt on Derpi here reminding me that it’s the 10th… TENTH ANNIVERSARY… of the Canterlot Wedding episode. THINK ABOUT THAT! It’s been at least 10 FULL YEARS of horsing around with ya’ll, that’s crazy man! I thought about a few concepts, but this was the only safe for work one I was really feeling. It actually stems from a little fanon/headcanon “conspiracy theory” I have about Flurry Heart, but it’s kinda wordy so I will describe it below*. I first started with Chrysalis and, after only a few minutes, I gave her this nervous grin and the rest of the picture filled itself in. So here we are, a three-way wedding with Chrysalis, Cadence, and Shining Armor. I think it’s pretty fun tbh, especially thinking about this from an alternate universe perspective.

Hmm… I guess in this universe, this marriage would formalize a peace between the Changelings and the rest of Equestria without a need for the changelings to become their “skittle-fied” versions. Could be fun to see how awkward it would be for the hissing, mischievous, and hungry Changelings to fit in with their new allies. Also, I suppose this would make Chrysalis Twilight’s sister-in-law? Just imagine how those episodes woulda played out, crazy stuff.

*OH right right right, so I have a conspiracy theory about Flurry Heart and the fact she is the only alicorn to ever be born in the recorded history of Equestria. Here’s a fun one for ya: Flurry Heart is a juvenile Changeling Queen, incubated and nurtured by Princess Cadence. Perhaps this is a great secret known only to Cadence, Shining Armor, and the doctor that delivered the baby; they collectively agreed to keep the baby, of course, and use special magic spells to keep her in a pony looking form. The magic did not allow them to get rid of either the horn or the wings, however, so it appears, to everyone else, that Cadence is the only alicorn to mother another alicorn. This may also be why they were especially wary of a Changeling snooping about their kingdom. They may have feared Chrysalis was coming to collect her for the hive! Perhaps they feared a Changeling could somehow break the spell and reveal Flurry’s secret? Anyways, all in good fun. Of course none of this is canon, but I thought it was a pretty fun idea and it’s what inspired this AU pic, so there ya have it.

Happy 10 Years, Queen Chrysalis! Huzzah! Until next time, I hope ya’ll decide to keep it classy, ponefriends ;)