At Canterlot, in a different part of the school, Shining, Cadance and Blue advanced towards the twins’ parents’ house. During that course, Cadance was telling Shining everything that have happened during the time they were separated, including things she had already told through her letters. Blue let himself get behind a little so she could stop listening part of Cadance’s monologue. It was with great relief that they arrived to their destination.

“Hey, look, it seems we arrived!” Blue exclaimed, turning then to Cadance. “Now that you know that Shining got at home safe and sound, why don’t you turn around and get to the castle? I bet that you have princess things to do, Cadance, like royal duties and stuff like that.”

“Why do I have the impression that you’re trying to get rid of me, Blue?” Cadance asked. “You should be more civilized with me, not just because I am a princess and niece of your queen, but also because I am your future sister-in-law.”

Noticing that his brother’s patience was being burned out quickly, Shining told to Cadance:

“Don’t take what Blue said seriously, Cadance. I think that what he wanted to say is that you should return to the castle before your aunt notices that you still didn’t do your duties.”

Sighing, Cadance said:

“I thing you’re right, dear Shiny. Mainly now that we have some moments of peace. But I want to be clear that I want to spend the day of tomorrow with you. After all, we have to make up for the time we were apart, isn’t that true?”

Having said that, Cadance gave a long kiss on Shining’s mouth, while Blue dodged the look in a repulsive way. Finally, Cadance ended the kiss and moved away, flying.

“Finally!” Blue exclaimed. “Now, we’re free from the pest.”

“Come on, Blue, watch the words” Shining said. “Don’t forget that…”

“Yeah, I know, she’s Queen Celestia’s niece and your fiancée” Blue replied. “I believe Cadance left that part pretty explicit.”

“She’s not that bad.”

“You’re right, she’s not that bad. She’s terrible.”

Shining rolled his eyes, while he shook his head, smiling. Since always that Blue had a certain dislike for Cadance that only grew with time, mainly when she and Shining announced their engagement. However, the young lieutenant learned to deal with the implication that his twin had, ending up eventually considering it as something perfectly normal.

“Enough talking about Cadance. We don’t want to make mom and dad waiting, do we?”

“Yeah, you’re right” Blue replied. “But I want to know all the details of your trip.”

And the two brothers got in the house.

Getting inside, Shining was welcomed with a lot of warmness by his parents: his mother Dusk Velvet and his father Bow Hothoof. Velvet was a unicorn with a light gray coat with three purple stars as Cutie Mark, a moderate purple and light gray mane and light arctic blue eyes and Bow Hothoof was a pegasus with a pale, light grayish blue with a rainbow and cloud with a horseshoe at the front as a Cutie Mark, a rainbow mane and moderate amber eyes.

“I was starting to think that I would never see you again, son” Velvet said, while giving a hug to Shining. “We missed you so much!”

“Mom, I’m already a grown stallion” Shining replied. “I can take care of myself.”

“That’s what I told to your mom, but you already know how she is” Hothoof said.

“A mother always worries about her children, no matter how old they are” Velvet defended herself.

“Yeah, but you know that our sons are strong and tough” Hothoof told. “Beyond that, they are responsible and have the heart at the right place. Fortunately, they are not like certain someponies who like to disappoint…”

“Hothoof!” Velvet exclaimed.

“I’m just telling the truth!” he replied. “If only she was like her brothers…”

“I think it is better if we end the talk right now” Blue said. “Shining is tired from the trip and it is better if he takes a nap before going to report to captain Hepheus.”

Having a great ability to mediate the arguments in his family, Blue sighed slightly with relief when everypony agreed with what he said. The twins then climbed to the next floor, getting in the one that was their foalhood bedroom where there was bunk beds. Laying on the bunk bed on the floor, Shining sighed:

“I can’t believe that they still talk about her after her betrayal.”

“That doesn’t surprise me” Blue replied. “After all, she is their daughter… and our sister.”

“A sister that preferred the enemy over her family and country” Shining said. “To me, she’s nothing more than a traitor.”

“Shining, you should have calm” Blue advised. “Don’t forget that Sombra already seduced honorable warriors that were considered to be incorruptible. Because of that, we can’t judge Rainbow Dash’s actions without knowing her side.”

“I don’t understand why you keep defending her” Shining said, while holding with his magic and observing a photograph that contained his family: he along with his parents, Blue and even his younger sister, Rainbow Dash that was a pegasus with a very light cerulean coat with a blue-yellow-red lightning bolt with cloud as a Cutie Mark, a rainbow mane and moderate cerise eyes. “She doesn’t deserve it.”

Rainbow Dash, who was done living in the shadow of her elder brothers and desiring more than what she already had, deserted from the Canterlot Royal Guard to join King Sombra’s army, leaving her family suffering from the humiliation of having a traitor as a member.

“I’m not defending her, just stating a fact” Blue replied. “Maybe one day we can put some reason on that stubborn head, but, for now, we better not keep feeding the existing hate.”

Shining hated to admit, but Blue was right, although he didn’t know if he would be able to overcome his pride on that matter.

“Why don’t we talk about happier things?” Blue said. “How was the trip? I hope you have followed my advice, although I have a feeling that you didn’t do it.”

“Believe it or not, I did” Shining replied.

And he told to his twin brother about his meeting with Twilight and how it ended. After finishing, Blue said:

“Wait, wait, wait… Let me see if I got it right. You fell for a mare that is not Cadance and you went to the bed with her? Shining… Finally! I was starting to think that you would never do anything to get rid of that unbearable mare that you call marefriend.”

“Wow, slow down, Blue” Shining said. “I never said that I would leave Cadance.”

“Oh, come on!” Blue exclaimed. “I mean, you found a mare you fall in love with and even so you still keep wanting to be with Cadance?”

“It was only a one-night-stand. Probably, I won’t see her again. Why ruin everything for a fling?”

“Shining, I know you pretty well. Have you forgotten that we shared the same uterus for months at the same time? I can see in your eyes that this meant more for you than you’re really trying to say.”

Sometimes, Shining hated to be Blue’s twin, because it seemed that he was an open book that he could read easily.

“Maybe you’re right, but it doesn’t matter now. I did my choice and I think that there’s no turning back.”

Despite what he had said, Shining really hoped that wasn’t true, even if it were just to see again the mare that awakened in him true passion.

Author's Note

I decided to change Twilight Velvet’s name to Dusk Velvet because of the fact that she, in the original series, is Twilight’s mom.