A Lost Connection

One Month Later

Princess Cadence was waiting tiredly at the train station. Quite a few ponies already had been coming up to her and asking her for advice and assistance. She was, of course, happy as ever to help, but her throat was quite dry and her hooves were getting tired from pacing around. She wanted to meet Twilight personally, to show that it was a big deal. It had been a while since they last hung out without and disruptions. In fact, it seemed like there was a disruption every time. She peered at the tracks and saw the pebbles and rocks began to tremble. She looked forward, minding her footing, and saw train arriving. She clapped her hooves in glee like she was a school pony. Princess Cadence walked back to where her royal guards were and waited patiently. The train roared to a halt. Groups of ponies began pouring out. In the center of it all was Princess Twilight Sparkle herself. They saw each other and did their classic hoofshake.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" They both burst into laughter after shaking their tails in the air for a good amount of seconds. The sisters began walking towards the palace.

"I'm so glad you could come, Twilight!" Cadence sighed with happiness. "It's been a while. How are your wings? What have your friends been up to?"

"Everypony, including myself, is fine. I'm dying to know about your new spell and ability!" Twilight pointed at Cadence's horn. "So how does it work? Is there a spell you need to do? How do you meet everypony?"

Just then, Cadence's horn began to softly glow. It was lavender, which meant somepony was in need of help. The magic in the heart doesn't lie. It only glows when ponies truly need the princess's help.

"Well, you're about to find out!" Cadence flew ahead towards the heart. Twilight eagerly pursued her sister-in-law to learn more about the heart. She had never read any books about powers like this.

"Hey Cadence! Where can I find the book about this power?" Twilight shouted over the wind as the girls soared through the sky. Cadence was completely in the zone. Before Twilight could get an answer, Cadence was already approaching a sad looking pony sitting near the heart. She had a white coat with a yellow mane streaked in blue. The mare immediately brightened up when she noticed Cadence. Twilight approached as well, and the mare was astonished.

"Hello princesses!" the mare nervously bowed down. "I'm sorry if I was bothering something....I...I didn't know you would be here too, Princess, not that I don't keep up with events, but...I...I..." The mare continued to stammer before Cadence calmed her down. The pink princess  put a hoof on the mare's shoulders.

"It's quite alright. Now, tell me what the matter is," Cadence smiled.

"Well, my name's Glimmer Daydream. And, well it's just that I can't seem to help anypony anymore! I used to be so outgoing, but now I'm not so sure what to do anymore. It seems I've ruined all of my friend's relationships. I didn't exactly know what to do, so I just sat here by the heart. I don't know what I was hoping for," Glimmer sighed.

"Oh, how so?" Cadence questioned.

"My and my friends used to hang around the heart all the time, when they all got coltfriends, I tried to help them, I guess none of them were as outgoing as me. Now their relationships are ruined and I'm to blame. I was just so inspired by how you activated the power of the heart, I wanted to help others as well. We were supposed to meet today, but it seems no pony showed up." Glimmer explained.

Twilight stood by the side and listened quietly, even adding in some advice here or there. By the time it was all over, the mare was much happier, but Twilight was confused by what Cadence meant.

"What did you mean by 'Shine at the Castle'? I've certainly never heard an expression like that before. Where did you get it from? What does it symbolize? Is this an empire thing I've never heard about?" Twilight had a bundle more of questions, but Cadence laughed and happily answered all of her questions.

"Its just an expression Twilight, you don't have to worry. You're a very smart pony. I'm sure you have some sayings over in Ponyville as well." Cadence smiled and continued to walk towards the palace.

"Where to now?" Twilight asked curiously. "How about that book on the heart? I mean, I don't want to waste time, but the book ooh! You just make it all sound so interesting! Not that it wasn't interesting before, but this...this is just....."

"Twilight! Aren't you forgetting something important?" Cadence asked with a suspicious smile. She tried to keep in her laughter. Twilight looked at her sister questioningly before turning around. She noticed she dropped her saddle bag near the heart. Nopony went to grab for it, and Twilight felt embarrassed.

"He he, lets just get going," Twilight quickly grabbed her bag and dashed into the palace. Cadence flew right behind her.

~~~~~

Cadence walked into the throne room with Twilight to find a mint green pony with red and white streaks braided in her mane. She had an angry expression on her face and was yelling at the guards.

"I don't care how long it takes! I will stay until the princess arrives." The pony sneered at the guards trying to calm her down. She was pretty angry. Twilight and Cadence looked nervously at each other before Cadence approached the pony.

"You!!" the mare pointed a hoof at Cadence. "You're to blame for all of this! You ruined my life!"

"Who are you, exactly?" Cadence asked the pony calmly. She was surprised she could ruin the life of somepony without even knowing them.

"I'm Peppermint Eclipse. I used to be perfectly happy alone! Now that you've activated the heart, all of my friends are taunting me for not wanting to love in what seems to be the most lovable place in Equestria!" the mare yelled. Cadence was shocked. She never meant to hurt anyone.

"Well, have you tried telling them to...uh...stop?" Cadence asked nervously. This wasn't taking the road of broken love, but friendship instead. Luckily for her, Twilight heard everything and immediately stepped in to help.

"Peppermint, it sounds like your so called friends are very supportive. You should try to reason with them and, if they are still being mean, just find more friends. If they don't make you feel like you belong, then you should find some ponies who care about you." Twilight comforted the pony, who seemed much less angry right now.

"Gee, I never thought of it like that. Thanks. And apologies, your highness, my outburst was a bit.....out of order..." Peppermint looked down in shame and rushed out of the room. The previously furious mare soon became shy as she left.

Cadence smiled at Twilight as a guard rushed up to them. "What's wrong?" Cadence asked. She looked around and saw at the far end of the hall was a group of ponies. A lot of them seemed to be angry and glaring at each other. Cadence and Twilight looked nervously at each other as they approached the crowd.....