Several Years Later...

"... and that is why I know how to be such a fantastic lover for a mare," Shining Armor said to Cadance after their second time having sex, taking a deep breath to finish his long story, "because I briefly used to be one." Cadance laid there on his bed beside him. Blinking in disbelief, trying to find the words for her response, speaking at last.

"Well... that was needlessly graphic."

Several More Years Later...

"And that was how I got Cadance to marry me," Shining said to Twilight on the day of his wedding, taking a deep breath to finish his long story, "because I was such a fantastic lover for a her. Because I briefly used to be a mare." Twilight stood there beside him. Blinking in disbelief, trying to find the words for her response, speaking at last.

"Well... that was needlessly graphic," she said. "Wait! So Cadance has known about that this whole time!?" He nodded quickly, and directed his attention to the back of the Great Hall. Twilight followed his eyes, and felt a wave of emotions wash over her, not the least of which being anxiety as Cadance walked up the aisle. There was so much she wanted to ask him. Both of them. So much she needed to tell them. But it would have to wait.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and reception was the event of the year. But Twilight never found the opportunity to speak with either of them away from the onslaught of the other guests and well-wishers. After an evening of dancing and singing and of course cake, it was time for the newly-weds to depart for their honeymoon. Twilight helped Cadance into the carriage, and then her brother. He hugged her before he got inside, whispering into her ear.

"I'll see you soon." He looked at her and winked, getting into the carriage. Twilight watched it roll away, confused as to what the wink meant. Some time later, two more carriages pulled up to the reception. The drivers stepped out from each harness, opening the doors in synchronicity.

"Twilight Sparkle?" the first asked.

"And company?" the second asked. Twilight and her friends nodded.

"Wait, why does Twilight have a separate carriage?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah, I'd actually prefer to ride with my friends," Twilight said.

"Complements of the wedding party," the first driver said.

"We were given very specific instructions," the second continued, "This carriage is for your friends."

"This carriage is for 'Twilie' Sparkle," the first said, putting emphasis into her nickname. There was only one pony she knew who called her that. This must have been what the wink was about.

"It's okay guys," Twilight said to her friends. "I'll meet up with you all back in Ponyville." She boarded the carriage. Her friends' carriage went back to Ponyville, dropping each pony off at their individual homes. Twilight's carriage did not go to her home. It didn't even go to Ponyville.

"Driver, where are we going?" she asked. He looked back from his harness.

"Captain Armor has given specific instructions that I am not to tell you. It is supposed to be a surprise."

Shining and his surprises...

Twilight looked up ahead at the skyline of the city they were approaching. The sun was rising behind it, so she knew they were heading east. But it didn't look like Fillydelphia or Manehattan.

"Baltimare?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am."

The carriage headed to south Baltimare, to Horseshoe bay. It was so-named for the U shape of the inlet, bordered by beautiful, white-sand beaches and dotted with luxury resorts.

One in particular, the Bitz-Carlton, owned most of the southern peninsula. It was a very expensive and exclusive resort. It didn't have hotel rooms so much as individual houses. They were marketed as bungalows, but they were each at least as large as her parents' house. Each one had a secluded section of the peninsula, and had it's own private section beach.

"Here we are," the driver said. Twilight stepped out and fumbled for her purse. "It's quite alright ma'am. It's already been seen to. Enjoy your stay." He passed an envelope to her before departing. It had her name written on it. She recognized the hoofwriting. It was her brother's. In the Royal Guard, he was a savant when it came to combat magic. But his hoofwriting still looked like it was written by a foal with palsy. Twilight stood there on the sidewalk, watching as the carriage rolled away. She turned back to where she'd been delivered. There was a long, cobblestone walkway down the gentle hill. She could only just barely see the structure for all of the palm trees.

Getting closer, she could see that the entire structure had a tropical theme with a modern underlay. A thatch roof clearly over a normal roof. A teak wood facade. Bamboo veneer window frames. The thing that really looked out of place was the stainless steel door nob. She opened the envelope. A key fell out with another note, likewise in his writing.

Surprise!

Twilight arched her eyebrow at the note. "Subtle," she muttered. She put the key into the door's lock and turned it. It was just as spacious on the inside. A big, fully-furnished living room and an open wall to the kitchen. The far side of the kitchen had a pair of full-pane glass sliding doors that led out to a giant patio adjacent to the beach. They had gotten her a suite at the resort! Twilight walked into the short hallway, checking out the bedroom. It had a king-size bed and all sorts of nick knacks on the bureau and shelves.

"Surprise," she heard from behind her. Twilight spun around. In the bedroom doorway stood her brother.

"Shiny!" Twilight ran over and hugged him. "What is going on? Why am I here? What is all this?" she asked.

"This is actually Cadance's summer house," he said. "One of the perks of being royalty, I guess. She thought it would be nice to let you stay here for a week as thanks for everything you've done for us."

"Aww, thank you!" Twilight said, looking past Shining into the hallway. "Where is she anyway? I thought right now you two would be... you know, consummating your marriage." Shining blushed and scratched his mane.

"Actually, we haven't done that part yet," he said. "She's actually-"

"SHINING!" Cadance called from across the hall. "Would you get in here!? I'm dripping wet!"

"Oops!" Shining blushed and trotted into the hall. "I forgot about that!" He looked at Twilight. "Come on." Twilight scoffed.

"Me!? Come with you!?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yeah." Shining opened the other door and walked into the other room around the corner, out of her sight. "Hey baby! Do you want this?" she heard him say.

"Oh yes! Give it to me! I need it so bad! I'm so wet!" Cadance said from inside the room. Twilight waited nervously in her own bedroom, listening to Cadance. "Oh, that feels so good!"

"Are you coming?" Shining asked. Twilight waited for a moment.

"Um, are you asking me!?" Twilight asked nervously.

"Please, come inside!" Cadance said.

"Are you telling me!?" Twilight asked louder into the hallway.

"Don't make it so hard!" Shining said.

"I'M SO CONFUSED!" Twilight cried.

"Twilight Sparkle, get in this room!" They shouted together, leaving no uncertain terms for the lavender unicorn. Twilight steeled herself, preparing her eyes as she walked out into the hallway and into the other room.

Shining was sitting beside Cadance on the edge of a large Jacuzzi bath tub. Cadance had just finished taking a bath and she was enjoying him toweling her mane dry with a towel that he'd gotten for her from the linen closet.

"Oh. Well that explains a lot!" Twilight said.

"Hey Twilight!" Cadance said. "How was your trip?"

"It was okay. A little confusing."

"Sorry about that," Cadance said. "I wanted to tell you at the wedding but-"

"You know how Shining is with his surprises," both mares said in unison.

"Hey!" he protested.

"Anyway," Cadance continued, "After such a long day with the wedding and the trip in the carriage, I really needed a bath. And this tub is simply luxurious!" Twilight could understand how she felt. She was, herself, still in her Best Mare dress from the night previous.

"Yeah, I could probably use a bath myself," Twilight said.

"Would you like me to lend a hoof to scrub your back?" Cadance asked. "It would give us some time to catch up on things. I haven't really had a chance to talk with you since the wedding."

"Aww, just like when you used to foalsit me as a filly! That would be nice," Twilight said. She paused, glancing at her brother. "If it's okay with your new husband."

"Pshh, I don't mind," he said as he finished drying Cadance's mane with the towel.

"Okay then," Cadance said, turning to him, "why don't you go for a swim at the beach for an hour? Maybe practice surfing!"

"Nah. Maybe later."

"Shining, why don't you go for a swim for an hour so Twilight and I can catch up?" Cadance repeated with less subtlety as she began to draw a fresh bath. Shining got the hint.

"I'm going to go for a swim," he recited obediently. "You two take some time to catch up. I'll see you both in about an hour." He walked out of the bathroom and out through the kitchen down to the beach.

"You've got him trained well," Twilight commented with a smirk as she shuffled out of her dress.

"Well I was his marefriend for a long time before we got married," Cadance said, helping Twilight out of the complicated garment. Despite usually not wearing clothing, there was still something erotic about a pony undressing. For certain garments, it was about what it covered, or left exposed, and what showcased to draw the eye to. Cadance took her removed dress and hung it up on a rack.

"Yeah..." Twilight replied with melancholy.

"Are you okay?" Cadance asked.

"Yeah I just- I knew you two had dated a while ago, but I didn't think you still were. And then out of the blue, I get a wedding invitation," Twilight said.

"I'm sorry Twilight. I didn't want to keep it a secret from you, but we had to keep our relationship a secret from everypony, what with me being a princess. You understand. And to be fair..." Cadance leaned in and kissed Twilight on the nose, "there's plenty that he doesn't know either." Twilight blushed. "Come on," Cadance took her by her hoof and helped her into the tub. It was less of a tub, and more like a raised section of the tile floor, with a small in-ground swimming pool of a tub. It had a large faucet to fill the tub, as well as a removable shower head mounted on a post. Twilight lowered herself into the warm water of the half-filled tub. The temperature was perfect.

"Are you upset that we got married?" Cadance asked.

"What? No," Twilight answered. "I mean, I was at first, when I first found out. I didn't even know who he was marrying! 'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza'," she mocked. Cadance chuckled.

"Yeah. I never did use my formal name with you, did I?"

"I guess I was just worried that I was going to lose him. Especially when I met-" Twilight stopped short, glancing at Cadance. The trauma of what had happened was still so recent, both of them nearly losing their lives and Shining to that thing, the Changeling Queen. "...her."

"You really saved the day," Cadance said, trying to keep the mood positive.

"Yeah but... even then, after, I felt like I was still losing somepony. Maybe I still do." She frowned.

"Twilight," Cadance sat on the side of the tub, taking the shower head in her hoof, running it over Twilight's mane, soaking it down. "You're not losing him. Just because the relationship between him and I has changed, doesn't mean it's going to change between you and him, okay?"

"If you say so," Twilight said, taking some comfort in her words, but not entirely convinced. Cadance turned off the water and drizzled some shampoo into Twilight's mane, working it into a lather. She worked quickly and carefully, in a way that only a foal caretaker could, keeping the soap from her eyes. Twilight sat and enjoyed her hooves massaging her scalp. It was just as she remembered from when she was a little filly. "I've missed this," she said, with an edge of bittersweet tone to her voice.

"Me too," Cadance replied as she rinsed the shampoo from Twilight's mane. With the lightest touch, the unicorn’s body spun around, allowing her companion to begin working more shampoo into her tail. The shower head had been placed back into its holder above, left to cascade warm water onto her back. A pat on the rump told her to turn back around and allow her tail to be rinsed by the falling water. Meanwhile, Cadance placed her hooves into the unicorn’s wet locks, spreading out some conditioner. Cadance’s touch shifted; no longer simply administering hair product – though it was still doing that – but becoming closer to an affectionate caress of Twilight herself.

“If it hadn’t been for you, I might still be in those caves... or I would’ve died there." Cadance made short work of kneading in the conditioner and finished with her tail. Twilight eventually rotated, trying to stay neutral and composed. "And who knows... by the grace of fate it could have been you under her spell instead of him. Before I dated Shining, I honestly thought it was going to be you proposing to me. Or me proposing to you." Twilight blinked back a tear, hoping the water on her cheeks would hide it. Cadance just sat there, looking at her. "Honestly... I still would." Twilight struggled to find the words.

"I love you," Twilight said.

Or at least, it was what she meant to say. Instead it came out a bit differently from what she had intended,

"I'm sorry," she said. Twilight tried to say what she'd been thinking about ever since she saw her walking up that aisle. "I miss what we had. I miss our..." Twilight wanted to say 'dates' if one could call them that. "Our times together." Cadance just smiled. It was that warm, knowing smile that could only come with time and wisdom. It was honest and real. And genuinely comforting.

"There is nothing to forgive. I miss what we had, too. But we both knew that it might not last forever. And when it ended, that was it."

"I was a fool for letting you go," Twilight said. "You were- you are perfect. Everything I could have ever hoped for in a..." she couldn't bring herself to say 'wife', "...partner." Twilight felt her throat get tight, "I was a fool."

"You were confused. You didn't know what you wanted, or who," Cadance said, "You were still just figuring out who you were. Everypony has to go through it. It's nothing to be sorry about."

"I'm sorry I pushed you away," Twilight said. Cadance took her chin in her hoof.

"Hey, you didn't push me anywhere. I'm still right here," she said with a smile. "I did want to marry you. And I still do. But while you might not be my wife, you're still a big part of my life. And I will be forever grateful for it." Twilight looked up at her. Twilight's emotions were a hurricane. But like the so-named storm, there was calm in her eyes. Both of them remembered those times, years ago.

After the sordid weekend with Trixie, Twilight had felt emboldened to explore her sexuality. Particularly her proclivity toward mares. While neither could recall precisely how or when it started, she and Cadance became lovers. At first, Cadance took on more of a teaching role for the young mare. But ever the fast learner, Twilight quickly became an equal in the bedroom, the student taught the master a few tricks of her own.

But that is a story for another time.

Perhaps it was what Shining had said to Twilight before, about getting emotionally involved, but Twilight did not want there to be strings attached with Cadance. Cadance understood that in the beginning. But as time went on, she couldn't deny her attraction to the capable mare growing beyond just a physical infatuation. And like all things, ponies change over time. Perhaps Twilight was beginning to feel the same way.

One night, contrary to their promise to eachother, Cadance admitted that she was falling in love with her, and she hoped that Twilight had felt the same way. Whether it was true or not when Twilight said it, she said that she did not feel the same way. For fear of hurting Cadance further, Twilight put an end to their relationship. It was to this day, one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do.

“I... I do love you,” Twilight managed at length. That, at least, was true. “Maybe not in the same way that you feel about me, but... I do. I know it. I love you, Cadance...” Her dripping forelock provided the illusion of tears rolling down her cheeks. She could only hope that there weren’t any real ones mixing in. “I’m sorry it’s not enough...”

“It’s enough,” came the whisper. “It’s more than I ever hoped we would be.” She hugged her as they brought their foreheads together, horn-to-horn, exchanging unhurried breaths in the artificial downpour of the shower. Cadance pulled away first, giving a quick shake of the head to dismiss both the moment and the water accumulated on her muzzle. “Now, we still need to clean your coat."

Cadance got to work quickly, lathering up her neck and shoulders and finally her hindquarters, the Alicorn's forehooves moved in smooth, deliberate circles. For Twilight, having her mane and tail washed had been a touch intimate. This was notably more so – especially since Cadance had foregone using a washcloth or sponge, opting for skillful direct contact. The feel of those hooves massaging every part of her body left Twilight riding an indulgent high that the best spas couldn’t rival. It was also nostalgic.

“I only said that I was open to us being more," Cadance said. "But the last thing I wanted was to pressure you into a relationship you weren't comfortable with. My only hope is that wherever we end up... we can stay friends.” Twilight nodded resolutely.

“Always.” By this point, Cadance had progressed all the way down to the unicorn’s fetlocks. She brought the nozzle in again, giving a thorough rinsing to the smaller pony’s frame, paying special attention to her undercarriage, where the normal shower from above might miss. It tickled, just a bit.

The Alicorn’s muzzle rubbed soothingly at the base of her ear. She traced along the younger pony’s jaw, tickling her with warm air as she did, and making the briefest touch of pink nose to purple at the finish... It was an invitation.

They gazed at each other again, eyes dreamily half-lidded, mouths happy and anticipating, moving closer until they connected. This one didn’t immediately crest and fade; it built as Cadance pressed forward and Twilight answered in equal measure, neither mare backing down from the challenge. Their lips parted, and Twilight’s tongue won the race by entering the Alicorn’s mouth first, meeting its friend for a long-awaited affectionate wrestle.

Each pony twisted her head to the side, hooking foreleg around neck, locking together tighter, going deeper, tasting more of the other. The tingles of initial contact gave way to surges of pleasure as they continued to push and twist in a hot and wet game that had no real loser. Twilight’s heart beat faster, and a familiar warmth embraced her entire body. It was electric; magical. Lips and mouth were erogenous zones, after all. Cadance was skilled in manipulating them, but Twilight had been a quick study, and by now she knew just what the princess liked, remembering to vary the pressure on the lips, and perform little twirls on the tip of her tongue that the alicorn especially enjoyed. Twilight broke the kiss first, catching her breath.

"Why did we ever stop doing this?" Twilight asked.

"I couldn't keep pretending to be foalsitting you, Twi," she said, "You were grown up. You were already going to magic school." Cadance blushed. "And I was afraid that your brother would find out about us."

"Really?" Twilight asked. Cadance nodded. "So you've never told him? About us?" Cadance shook her head.

"No, of course not. I had promised you that I wouldn't," she said. Cadance kissed her again. It was a gentle blend of passion and intimacy, bore of both wanton lust, and familiar longing. Cadance slipped into the spacious tub, joining her in the warm water, wetting again both Twilight's and her own mane that she'd just dried earlier. Neither cared. Twilight rolled onto her back as Cadance slid over her, cupping her head in her hooves, and taking her horn into her mouth. Twilight practically squealed.

"Cadie!" Twilight tried her best not to squirm too much as Cadance expertly sucked her horn. Twilight kept her state of mind just enough to work her own hoof in between Cadance's straddling legs. Cadance's wings flared open and she hummed onto her horn as Twilight ran her hoof along her slit. Even after all this time they both knew exactly how to play each other like a fiddle. Cadance's legs shuddered, her hips falling into Twilight's hoof, making some small waves in the water. Twilight took her free hoof and ran it along Cadance's wings.

Growing up in Canterlot, Pegasi were a rare sight. It was mostly Unicorns, with a few Earth ponies. Exclusively so at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. For the longest time, she never saw a Pegasus up close enough to really get a good look at their wings. They were usually flying above the city.

Cadance was the first pony she saw up close with wings. And Cadance wasn't shy about showing them off for the curious filly. There was always something magical about them to Twilight. Ironic for a Unicorn. As Twilight got older, Cadance taught her more about proper wing care, such as preening. It wasn't meant to be erotic at first. That part came later.

Twilight always felt that Cadance's wings were her favorite feature about her. Well, maybe it was a tie between that and what she had her other hoof on. Twilight struggled to multitask her hooves while Cadance continued to such on her horn. Cadance, for her part, struggled to keep her focus on Twilight's horn. Years ago when they first made out, Twilight was but a fledgling fillyfooler. But by the time she'd had her last, she was a proper pony pussy pleaser. Twilight ran her wet hoof against her pussy, softly teasing her clit in just the way she knew would drive her old marefriend wild. Her thighs would spasm with each stroke. Twilight could tell that she was getting close.

"Mff MFFF MMMHH!" Cadance hummed onto Twilight's horn, causing it to vibrate. She felt jolts of electricity running throughout her nervous system as she continued to felate her horn. Cadance's hips twitched and jerked in time with Twilight's hoof, growing in both speed and intensity until at last they slammed down, pinning her hoof between them, keeping it from moving as she pressed herself into it harder still. "MMMMMMmmmm!" Cadance moaned as her climax rolled through her.

The sight and sound of her old marefriend cumming above her, coupled with the sensations on her horn triggered Twilight's own horngasm. Twilight cried out and Cadance whipped her head back as Twilight's horn erupted in a shower of sparks that vanished as soon as they landed on the ponies' fur. They panted, absorbing the smells of wet pony. Another, shorter, smaller kiss served as an addendum to the main composition. One pair of violet eyes joyously found the other, though Cadance soon looked away, somewhere behind the unicorn.

“Your brother’s watching us,” she whispered with a devilish smile. Twilight turned around. Sure enough, Shining Armor was standing in the bathroom’s open doorway, looking thoroughly pleased with the sight before him.

"Shining!?" Twilight gasped. Her fear of being caught, realized.

“Hey, don’t let me interrupt,” he said. His cocky smirk was as irritating as ever, though it somewhat assuaged Twilight of her fear of them being found out by him. Cadance grinned right back at her husband. “I can wait outside,” he offered. Cadance wordlessly confirmed with Twilight.

“No. We’re done here.” The mares toweled off again and brushed past as they made their exit, leaving the stallion to follow.

“What did I miss?” he asked.

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?” the alicorn teased. “All that fog in there isn’t just from the shower."

"I think that's pretty obvious," he said. He was by no means angry. But he certainly seemed anxious to be let in on the big secret. Twilight knew that he hated not knowing something almost as much as she did. Cadance had that 'everything according to plan' smirk on her face.

"I figured it would be best if you found out like this," Cadance said. She looked at Twilight, watching the expression of understanding grow on it.

"Wait- you planned this?" Twilight asked.

"Twilight, I don't keep any secrets from my husband," she said. "He told me about what had happened between you two when you were younger, and I felt that I needed to be honest with him about the relationship between you and I with him as well."

"Relationship?" Shining asked. Cadance gave Twilight a leading glance. The three of them settled onto the seating in the living room.

"Well..." Twilight tapped her hooves together, "A little while after... that weekend, with Trixie and the boxes, but before you and Cadance stated dating, she and I dated for a while."

"Oh." Shining said. As simply and as plainly as though somepony had told him that the weather would be cloudy tomorrow. "Do either of you want something to drink?" he asked.

"Wait- that's it? 'Oh'? Aren't you mad, or upset or jealous?" she asked.

"No."

"But- but why not? She's your wife."

"Twilie, just because you were jealous of me being with her, doesn't mean I have to feel the same way about you."

"But we still- she still-"

"Loves you? I know. I wasn't just watching, you know. I was listening too," he said. Cadance tried to keep her expression neutral.

"But doesn't that bother you? I mean, shouldn't it?" Twilight asked. Shining moved over onto the couch, between the two mares.

"Twi, if being with Cadance has taught me anything, it's that love doesn't always have to make sense. But I trust her. And if you two still have feelings, I'm not afraid of losing her. But I don't mind sharing, either, with you, the other important mare in my life. She is pretty wonderful. You both are."

"And I don't mind sharing either." Cadance said. Shining and Twilight both turned and looked at her. Cadance grinned nervously. "Well come on, Twilight. I knew that when we broke up, I could tell that it was because your heart belonged to somepony else. And it still does. I didn't know whom at the time. But after Shining and I started getting serious and he told me about what had happened that weekend... well, it kind of all made sense."

"What!? No!" Shining protested. "That weekend was just a one-time thing. Twilight and I promised that we wouldn't-" he turned and looked at Twilight. "Twi? You don't- do you?" Twilight couldn't hide her tears.

"She's still in love with you, Shining," Cadance said. Cadance reached over and took Twilight's hoof and put it in Shining's. The flood gates opened. All of the emotions that she had worked so hard to keep in check, all the walls that she had built up around herself crumbled. She had lied about her feelings for so long to everypony, but most of all, to herself.

"Twilie-" he tried to speak. Twilight lunged over, hugging him.

"I'm so sorry Shining!" Twilight cried into his shoulder. "I know you said that its wrong and that I shouldn't feel this way but- I tried, I really tried. But I can't stop feeling this way about you. I love you!"

Shining felt- lost, for lack of a better word. He just sat there as his little sister held onto him for dear life. Idle, not out of ambivalence, but shock. A stallion of action, hardened in the guard, he could handle most any situation. But nothing could have prepared him for this. Ever since that night that he walked he back to her school, he hadn't put much thought to that weekend beyond that it was not a dream. He didn't repress it, so much as he had filed the memory away in strange events of his life that he didn't care to dwell on. He had thought that Twilight would have done the same. Wouldn't any sane pony? He looked beside him, at Cadance, his wife.

She leaned over, lifting his hooves from his sides, and laying them over Twilight's back. He took back control of his limbs and hugged Twilight. She clearly needed the comfort and support during this confusing time for her. That's what it had to be. She was confused. Between the wedding, and the invasion and the changelings and the Queen, Twilight was just overwhelmed and confused. She didn't understand what she was feeling, Shining reasoned.

He hadn't repressed the memory of that weekend. It wasn't like he never thought about it. It was a unique experience after all. It gave him a lot of insight into how the 'other half' lived. He looked down at Twilight laying against him. The details of that weekend came flooding back.

And it wasn't all bad.

He ran his hoof through her mane. She really did have nice hair. She looked up at him with those soft eyes, so innocent and violet. She craned her neck, closed her eyes and kissed him. She gave no sign or warning. Before he could even react, her lips were upon his. He froze at first, uncertain of what to do. She was kissing him. And part of him, an increasingly growing part, wanted to let her. He glanced out of the corner of his eye. Cadance was looking at them. He abruptly put his hoof on Twilight's shoulder and pushed her away.

"Twilie, I- We can't. We shouldn't," he protested. She looked hurt, at first. But her emotional disappointment gave way to her cunning mind.

"I've heard this from you before," Twilight said, drying the tear from her cheek with her hoof. She leaned in close to him, pinned on the couch. She put her cheek against his and whispered loudly into his ear. "You said it to me before, when I wanted to fuck you with your own dick."

"Twilie!" he scoffed, embarrassed that she was speaking so coarsely, and plainly about that in front of Cadance.

"Don't tell me that you haven't thought about that time since then at least a little," she grinned. He didn't need to say anything. The redness in his cheeks told her everything she needed to know.

And he had thought about it. For as much as he wanted to deny it, for as much as it ashamed him to admit it to himself; he had. The view of her marehood in the mirror, during the time it was his, was a sight forever seared into his memory. The feeling of his first maregasm in the shower was unforgettable. And especially when they had sex together that night. It was something he thought about in moments he was none too proud of, alone with himself in his hoof.

"You said the same thing back then. That we 'can't' and that we 'shouldn't'," Twilight said. "You never wanted to take responsibility for your own feelings. And you still don't." She sat up on his lap.

"Twilie, how I feel isn't important!" Shining said. "I'm your brother! I should be the one protecting you from this, not enacting it! Not to mention the fact that I'm married!" He shook his head in frustration. "That weekend, what happened between us should never have happened. I should have stopped it at the very beginning. I should have been stronger. But I wasn't and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you and used you like that."

"You didn't use me," Twilight said, "Don't treat me like I'm still a little filly who doesn't know anything. It's insulting. I knew what I was doing then and I do now. You're the one who's confused." Twilight took a breath, calming herself. "Shining, I- I'm sorry. I know this is sudden, and out of nowhere for you. I didn't mean to tell you like this. In fact, I wasn't sure if I would ever tell you." She looked down for a moment. "I'm a smart mare. But I'm wise enough to understand that I don't know everything. But I do know that I love you. And not- not in a sibling way, although I think we're great siblings. And not in a misplaced-affection, puppy-dog kind of way, although I'm sure that's what you'll call it." She looked back up, into his eyes.

"I love you. Very simply. Very truly. You are the epitome of everything I have ever looked for in another pony. And I know that you think of me as just a sister and that crossing that line is just the furthest thing from your mind that you would ever consider. But I had to say it. I just- I can't take this anymore. I can't stand next to you without wanting to hold you. I can't look into your eyes without feeling that longing that you only read about in trashy romance novels. I can't talk you you without wanting to express my love for everything you are. Because I have never felt that way before, or since. And if bringing this to light means that we can't hang out anymore then- then that hurts me. But I can't allow another day to go by without just- getting it out there, regardless of the outcome!" Twilight said, taking a hurried breath. Shining was listening intently to her words, but frowning.

"Which, by the look on your face, is to be the inevitable... shoot-down." She sighed. "And, you know, I'll accept that. But I know, I KNOW that some part of you is hesitating for a moment. And if there's a moment of hesitation then it means that you feel something too. And all I ask is that you please, please do not dismiss that. And try to dwell in it. For just ten seconds." Shining tried to look anywhere but at her, but found himself drawn back to her eyes.

"Shining, there is not another soul in this world that has ever made me half the pony I am when I'm with you. And I would risk what we have, to take it to the next plateau. Because it is there between you and me. You can't deny that." He grimaced. Twilight could feel herself losing him. "And even if we... never talk again after today, please know that I am forever changed because of who you are, and what you've meant to me." Twilight wrapped her hooves around him, holding him tightly as she pressed her cheek against his chest, for fear that if she were to let him go now, she would lose him forever.

The high price for her heartfelt admission.

"How do you do that Cadie?" the filly asked her foalsitter.

"How do I do what, Twilight?" the alicorn replied.

"How do you make ponies fall in love like that?" the small filly asked, witnessing her cast a spell on a quarreling couple at a cafe table, ceasing their argument.

"I can't 'make' ponies fall in love," she explained. "It's more of a love 'reminder' spell. It reminds the ponies of the love they once felt for each other, bringing it to the forefront of their hearts and minds, and helping them to understand what is really important in their lives. But the love has to already be there."

Shining and Twilight did not see Cadance's horn glow. Nor the small, pink half-hearts-shaped projection as it floated above them, clasping together to complete the spell. Twilight needed no reminder to feel the way that she did. And there was just one way to know if another did as well.

"I love you," Twilight said again, briefly kissing his cheek. She shifted her self to stand and leave, likely seeing them for the last time. A hoof on hers stopped her. It was his. She turned and looked at him.

"I love you too," Shining said. "And-" he looked away for a moment and grit his teeth, painful in the admission, "And I would be lying if I said it wasn't in the same way." Twilight's eyes lit up like fireworks, nearly about to ponce him. He put a hoof up to her chest, stopping her short. "But Twilight, you have to understand, I'm in love with Cadance, more. And that's not going to change. I'm sorry if that's not enough, but you need to accept that," he said. Twilight felt hurt at first. But she looked into his eyes. There was no lying there.

"It's enough," Twilight breathed, falling into his broad chest, hugging him once more, "It's more than I ever hoped. I love you."

"And I love Cadance," Shining said.

"And I love Twilight." Shining and Twilight both looked up, over at Cadance sitting beside them, speaking at last. She had been quiet this whole time, barely holding herself together. She had cast her love spell selflessly, knowing that Twilight would never love Cadance as much as she did Shining. But she was assuaged in the fact that it seemed she had company in that. "I'm sorry Shining, I love you too. A lot." Cadance said, "I'm just, in love with Twilight, more." The three ponies sat in realization of their predicament. "And believe me, I know; half of love is just... cruel."

"Of all of us, you had gotten the better deal. At least you got to marry the pony you love," Cadance said. "I got to marry the brother of the pony I love, keeping her in my life. And Twilight- well, taboos being what they are, Twilight will have to keep her true feelings a secret from everypony outside of this room for the rest of her life." Cadance paused. "But she deserves better than that. As long as she could share them with the ponies inside this room, that would be okay. That would be enough. She could be happy." Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle hugged each other. Princess Cadance hugged them both. "This is good," she said "This... this can work. We can make this work."

...

"You know, Cadance actually had originally invited you out here to thank you for helping me be such a good lover," Shining said after a few moments. "I wasn't sure how exactly she was going to pitch the reason to you though. But after the changeling invasion, I figured she would say it was to thank you for saving her from the caves, or me from the Queen, or for saving all of Canterlot, really."

"No secret agenda to try to work it into a three-way with the mare you've been holding feelings for all this time at all, right?" Twilight asked dubiously, grinding her hips on Shining's lap. Cadance put a hoof to her own chest and scoffed in faux shock.

"What? Me!? Never," Cadance said in a playfully sarcastic tone. She kept her outward mood positive with levity. But inside, her relief was almost palpable. She had taken a great risk arranging the emotional reunion of the siblings. But she knew that she would not be able to have Twilight as her lover again without resolving her feelings for her brother. But Cadance was not a mare who played with dice. That's the power of love. Or rather, a love spell. "It really was my intention to thank you by inviting you here. The specifics of how you were thanked I left open." Twilight smiled, feeling her brother's excitement growing between her legs. She could think of a few ways. And all three of them had a lot to be thankful for. The clock on the wall chimed the hour.

"Well, as far as thanking me for helping Shining to be a better lover, you really should thank Trixie. She was the one who made it possible," Twilight said.

"It's actually funny that you should mention that," Cadance said.

*DING DONG*

Twilight panicked and quickly climbed out of her brother's lap. Shining adjusted his seat and covered himself.

"I'll get it," Cadance said calmly as she rose from her seat, striding over to open the door. Shining and Twilight watched from the couch. Twilight gave Shining a worried looked, hoping that he knew who they were expecting for additional guests. His expression looked just as confused as hers. Cadance opened the door.

"I was scheduled for a performance at this address," the pony outside said. Upon recognizing her host, they quickly did a quick courtesy. "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! What an honor it is..."

"Oh, that's quite alrigh-"

"...for YOU, to have performing in your home, the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!"

Author's Note