Imperfect

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: Surprises and Revelations
Chapter 2: Ceremonies and Talks
Chapter 3: Preparations and Nobility
Chapter 4: Weddings and Dances
Chapter 5: Festivals and Stories

Prologue

Author's Note

This chapter was rewritten on 5/26/2018 due to major plot holes. For those of you who had complaints about it, we heard you and made the necessary changes.

Prologue

Imperfect

Prologue:

“No!” Twilight screamed as she forcefully stomped both front hooves on the cutie map. Her voice echoed throughout the throne room. “Are you kidding me? I’m not going to do it! Never!”

“Twilight Sparkle, please, calm yourself…” said Luna, sitting in Fluttershy’s crystal throne, but the upset, young alicorn interrupted her.

“Don’t tell me what to do!” she was furious, her eyes beaming with anger, shock and disbelief.

“Twilie, please, just listen to…” Cadence’s calm voice came from the seat usually taken by Rainbow Dash during their Friendship Meetings. But this princess also couldn't finish her sentence, when the enraged lavender pony turned her murderous gaze towards her.

“Shut up! You’re with them?! What would you do in my place? What if they would have chosen Flurry, not me, huh?!” she attacked her. This was enough for Cadence to become silent and look at her hooves, not being able to face her sister-in-law again. This was also enough for one alabaster alicorn to rise up from Pinkie Pie’s throne.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle! Pull yourself together and stop behaving like a filly!” she thundered with her voice not-so-calm this time, but powerful and loud. Twilight just looked in her direction, gritting her teeth, her ears flopped down and pressing hard against her head.

“Don't ‘princess’ me, Princess Celestia!” she huffed, looking like a frantic dragon, panting heavily. “What are you all thinking?! I am NOT” she stomped her right hoof on the map to emphasize her decision “doing this! Understand?! You are crazy! You are all freaking crazy!” her voice went a bit higher and turned into a loud squeak. Twilight turned around lightning her horn up and the crystal door flung open. Then she dashed out of the room, shutting the door right after the last hair in her tricolored tail. The princesses were speechless.

“I think…” Cadence started hesitantly a few moments later, looking at the map with sad expression “...she didn't take it well…”

“Oh, you think?” Luna asked sarcastically with an eye roll.

“Auntie, please…”

“We have to give her some time. She is just shocked.” Celestia sighed and sat in her temporary throne with three balloons atop of it. Sadness and worry were clearly visible on her face. She hid behind her wings, to not show the others how broken she was right now. She didn't want this, neither Cadence nor Luna. But it has to be done. And Twilight has to agree. She will be devastated and heartbroken, but there was no other option.

The Sun Princess exhaled deeply and folded her wings near her sides, her face no longer showing any emotion except seriousness and dignity. “She will soon understand how important it is for Equestria. She is the Princess and she has responsibilities,” she said quietly. The other princesses hung their heads with sorrowful sighs and sadly nodded in agreement.

Twilight was wandering through the corridors in her Friendship Castle. Thanks to Celestia there wasn’t anypony here except the four princesses. She had to cancel all her visits and shoo her friends, as well as Spike and Starlight, away so nopony could disturb their meeting. Thoughts were flowing through her mind like a turbulent river. She couldn't believe it. She was shocked and heartbroken. ‘How could they do this to me? Did they not care?’ she asked in her thoughts. Soon she was outside her bedchambers. Without hesitation, the lavender alicorn threw open the doors to her room with her magic. The mare entered the room quickly and shut it behind as soon as she passed the arch.

Back in the throne room the three other princesses sat in silence. Each trying to decide what they needed to do about this situation. It wasn’t long before the youngest of the three stood up.

“I’m going to talk to her” Cadence declared, making her way to the door of the throne room.

“I do not think that is wise.” Luna attempted to deter her. However, the eldest Alicorn cut in.

“I agree with Cadence sister. She is the closest to Twilight and will be the best chance. We have to persuade her to go through with this.” The alabaster mare argued. Luna looked at her sister for a moment before nodding in agreement. Cadence smiled at their approval before making her way out of the throne room, thinking how she can comfort her friend.

The lavender alicorn laid down on her bed staring up at the ceiling, deep in thought. ‘Should I just accept it? Is it really that important…. don't I get a choice? Maybe this is only a bad dream… It has to be a bad dream!’ She wrapped herself in a yellow blanket and hugged a pillow, closing her eyes tightly. ‘I just have to wake up… wake up Twilight, wake up!” She felt tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. Was this her fate? That’s why she became a princess a few years ago? Was she really worth so little…? These thoughts that plagued her mind were cut off when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

“Twilight, it’s Cadence... Can I come in?” Came the voice of her sister-in-law. Twilight gave a sad sigh. She couldn’t avoid this, she knew she couldn’t. But she couldn’t also force herself to speak to them after all she heard. She wiped her eyes with a hoof, getting up and sitting on her bed.

“Yes, you can...” she replied quietly. The door cracked open a bit and the pink alicorn peeked at younger pony, coming inside a moment later.

“Hi.” Cadence said awkwardly as she closed the door behind her.

“Hi.” The purple mare answered grumpily. She wasn’t even looking at her ‘sister’, her gaze focused on that really interesting fly on her bedside cabinet. The awkward tension in the room was suffocating. Eventually, Cadence gave a sad, deep sigh and hung her head low.

“I’m sorry Twilight.” was all she said. Twilight’s annoyed frown soon melted to one of mild sadness, when she heard true sorrow in Cadence’s voice.

“I can’t stay mad at you Cadie.” She said before laying back on her bed and staring up at the ceiling, embracing her pillow once again. “It’s just a lot to take in… I always thought I’d be marrying out of love not… politics.” She said dejectedly.

“Who says you can’t learn to love him?” The pink mare said as she came to sit by next to the bed.

“How can you be so sure about it?”

“I’m the princess of love remember? I’m certain of it.” she added with sad smile. “Not every political marriage have to end like a nightmare.”

“Is that why you didn’t reject the plan?” Twilight asked. She turned her head to the side to look at Cadence directly.

“In a way it did. I don’t know how to explain it but... something told me that this was the right decision.” She said in a hushed tone. Twilight looked back at the ceiling. Once more mulling it over in her mind.

“I still don’t know Cadence, it’s just so much to accept…. maybe I should talk with the other princesses too?” She asked herself more than she was asking Cadence. “I want to understand this whole situation…”

“I can tell them. I think it would be a good idea to talk to each of us separately. Would that help?” she asked. The lavender alicorn didn’t say anything, just nodded.

“Okay, I’ll be back.” Cadence stood back on all fours and she stroked gently Twilight’s mane, before she made her way to the door. She looked back at the mare on the bed once more before leaving and closing the door behind her.

The pink alicorn re-entered the throne room to see the two other rulers discussing something. She didn’t hear what it was because it ended as soon as she walked in. She didn’t concern herself with it, her thoughts were still flowing around Twilight. Making her way over back over to the cutie map she sat back in the seat with the rainbow thunderbolt mark on it.

“I was able to get her to open up and she is now willing to talk, but only one at a time.” She informed the other two alicorns. Immediately Celestia stood up to talk to her student, however, she was halted by Cadence.

“I think it would be best if Luna went first. You were the one to tell her about this plan in the first place, she is upset with you the most and I feel it would be better if you let her talk to Luna first to help her try to accept it.” She said seriously. The eldest alicorn stared at the younger for a few moments before nodding and returning to her seat with a griefly sigh. Luna stood up and made her way out of the throne room without a word.

Twilight’s thoughts were pulled once again, when she heard another knock on her bedroom door few minutes later. She sighed quietly.

“Come in.” The mare answered. The door to her room opened and the alicorn of the night stepped in. She came up beside the bed and sat down.

“Greetings Twilight.” She said regaly. If it weren't for the situation Twilight would have smiled at that. Luna still held on to some of her old habits, especially speaking ones. Twilight, however, was in no mood to smile. They remained there in silence for what felt like an eternity. Eventually one of them decided to speak up.

“Luna…” Twilight started, but trailed off, still looking at her ceiling.

“Yes, Twilight?” Luna replied encouraging her to speak.

“I’m scared… what if it doesn’t work out? What if I mess up? What if I’m not good enough…”She paused and sucked in a breath,”...what if they don't accept me...?” There was a long pause as the princess of the night contemplating the question for a moment.

“Twilight, my friend, you are asking the same questions I asked myself when I returned from my banishment.” Luna’s words made Twilight looked at her with concern. The princess noticed this and continued. “I was afraid I would not be able to complete my tasks and that I would ruin all the hard work my sister put in to build this nation. I was afraid I was not adequate. I was so afraid of failure that I created the Tantabus to remind myself to never fail again.” She paused to let the younger mare absorb the information.

”After you and your friends saved me from my own self-harm I learned that I am not perfect and I am going to make mistakes. The important thing is that I tried my best to complete my tasks. If I made a mistake I did what I could to make up for it and I moved on. You must learn to not fear failure, but to accept it and move past it.” She concluded. “But this won’t be your failure dear Twilight. It could be the start of a new period if your life.” Twilight mulled over this information for a few more moments before a small, but a genuine smile appeared on her muzzle.

“Thank you Luna... I appreciate it, I really do.” She thanked.

“Tis not a problem, you are a friend after all.” Luna returned the smile in kind. The lunar mare stood up and left the room without a word.

Twilight felt like eons had passed before she heard the last knock on the door to her room. ”Come in,” she said. The door once again opened, but this time Celestia stepped in. The tension in the room returned immediately. The two mares locked gazes and kept eye contact as the elder made her way next to the bed, This time the younger mare sat up on the bed, putting her pillow and blanket away, but kept her gaze. Once the older alicorn sat down she spoke.

“Twilight… I’m sorry for all of this…” She started softly, but was cut off by the lavender alicorn.

“Why?”

“Huh?” Celestia was a bit surprised by the abrupt question.

“Why me? Why did you choose me?” She asked, her face showing no emotion. Celestia had to process the question for a moment. Eventually, she answered with a deep sigh.

“After what happened with Chrysalis the nobles were in an uproar. They were demanding that we subjugate the changelings. I didn’t want to risk a war and the loss of thousands on both sides. I had to make a decision. The only available option was to marry the princess of friendship and harmony to the new king of the changelings. This would, in hope, preserve the peace. I’m sorry Twilight but I didn’t have any choice, politics are complicated. I couldn’t ignore the nobility or I’d risk looking like a tyrant.”

Twilight’s ears perked up with surprise but quickly flopped down, when Twilight gritted her teeth. “So you want to use me like a bargaining chip, huh? To save your good image in the eyes of some wimpy, snobbish nobility!?” she hissed, her eyes filling with tears, hooves trembling. Celestia, shocked by her former student’s outburst, opened her muzzle to speak, but Twilight was on fire now. “That’s why you want to RUIN the rest of my LIFE?! I have to sacrifice myself, because YOU CAN’T?!”

“Wait… No, it’s not like that! Twilight, please…” Celestia was on the edge now, seeing her dear student in this state was breaking her heart.

“NO!” she yelled, hitting both hooves on her quilt. She was looking at her teacher, mentor, friend.. with grief and anger. “I-I won’t… do this! Find another pony for this role! M-maybe one of th-this stupid nobility, huh?! Maybe you or Luna?! I don’t w-want to… lost my life f-for nobility’s stupid w-whims! You won’t force me to do that!” Twilight was choking on her words, tears streamed down her cheeks like a waterfall. Then she felt two strong hooves pulling her close to the white alicorn and two enormous wings binding her in a warm hug. She wanted to run away from her, but the Sun Princess was stronger. There were no words, only quiet hushes from the older mare, and Twilight finally gave up, crying into Celestia’s neck. “I-I’m too weak… I can’t m-make this… I don’t want…

“Shhhh… It’s okay… Twily, my dear” the lavender alicorn shivered being called by this pet name, but Celestia ignored this. “You… you misunderstood me… Can I… Can I explain now? Are you calm enough to hear me…?” she asked softly with a hint of hope in her voice. There was no regal Princess Celestia here. She was more than ever like a friend to Twilight now. The young mare nodded, sobbing quietly, as she wiped her eyes with a hoof and looked up, to see her teacher’s eyes were watery. She clenched her teeth to not to burst into tears once more.

“The nobility want to subjugate the changelings as retribution, I didn’t want to force the changelings in serving us, so I tried to find a compromise. Sadly the only one I could get them to agree on is for you to marry their new king. If you decide to not marry him, then the nobility will take it upon themselves to mobilize an army and annex them, whether peacefully or not.” Twilight gasped silently, perking her ears up. Celestia nodded, confirming her unspoken question. “Many changelings would be thrown into the flames of war if they don’t surrender and, as you know, they’re not ready to face an attack of unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies. On top of that, I fear the nobility will attempt to exploit them if this comes to pass. They announced their country as peaceful, they still don’t have an army prepared to defend themselves. We want to prevent this… and as the princes of friendship, only you can do it…”

“Celestia...”

“Nopony said that life of a princess is an idyll.” she continued, caressing Twilight’s tousled mane to calm the younger mare. “We have to think for the whole nation. The common good is more important than the good of individuals… Sometimes we have to do something against us… even hurt those we love and care about… to safe our subjects…” Celestia’s heart was aching. She had to do this again. First, the banishment of Luna and now… one single tear flew down her cheek, as Twilight hugged her back. “D-do you understand now, my dear? You are the only hope for the changelings… and for Equestria...”

“I understand…” she sobbed and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry I yelled and b-blame y-”

“Decision is yours my dear… Forgive me if I made you think that I was forcing you…”

“Is something wrong, darling?” Rarity’s voice pulled the lavender alicorn from her memories. Twilight blinked few times and looked at her friends’ worried faces. They were all with her, in the throne room. She was the one, who gathered them here. The Lavender mare inhaled and exhaled deeply, as was taught to her by Cadence, to calm her mind one more time.
“It’s okay, I was just… carried away by my thoughts, that’s it… sorry...” she answered quietly with sad smile on her face.

“What was the reason you brought us here together Twilight?” Fluttershy asked in her usual, calm voice, smiling encouragely. Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere and jumped onto the cutie map, searching for something on it with a magnifying glass.

“Oooo, ooo! Is it new super-duper-fantastic friendship mission? Did the map called all of us AGAIN?! Do we have to fight another crazy unicorn who wants to ruin our timeline?” she grinned, jumping to other places on the map when Starlight’s magic aura finally caught her and sat her in her crystal throne.

“Thanks Pinkie, remind me mooore of my past…” Twilight’s student said sarcastically with roll of her eyes, standing near Spike’s throne.

“Whatever it is, can we mooove on, straight to the point? I have an important meeting with some awesome guys who trained Spitfire in her young at Wonderbolts Academy and I don’t want to miss it” Rainbow Dash said, hovering above the rest, waving her wings impatiently, ready to dash out the window and head to the place of her meeting.

“Hold yur’ horses, Dash, you know that if Twilight asked all of us to be here it has to be more important than anythang ya’ll have goin’ on at the moment.” Applejack huffed at her pegasus friend. “So behave yur self!”

“Said the one with dirty hind hooves on very important cutie map!” Rainbow accused the earth pony, pointing one of her hooves at Applejack’s. AJ quickly sat normally and hid her hind legs under the map with blush, looking at Rainbow with murderous gaze.

“Guys, shut up already and let Twilight speak, for Celestia’s sake!” shouted Spike, seeing how much nervous his friend was. The princess of friendship was shaking slightly, looking down on her hooves with ears flopped down. The room momentally became silent, after few quiet “sorries”. Everypony was again concerned about her friend, waiting for her to speak. After few moments and few deep breaths Twilight stood up, but still was looking down.

“There is no friendship mission today girls.” she started and gulped quietly. “I… I gathered you here to tell you something… very important…” All heads inched closer, to hear better what she had to say. Twilight finally raised her head with a deep inhale and opened her eyes. She looked at every one of her friend with dignity, but with sadness at the same time.

“I’m marrying Thorax, the King of the Changelings.”

Chapter 1: Surprises and Revelations

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Chapter 2: Ceremonies and Talks

Imperfect

Chapter 2: Ceremonies and Talks

“Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and Harmony, her protégé, bearers of the Elements of Harmony and Spike the Brave and Glorious” echoed through the Ceremonial Hall. Twilight was walking slowly with her head up, back straightened, and wings opened. With a tiara on her head and dignified composure she really looked like a princess. Just behind her were her friends, along with Spike and Starlight. She felt like she was already having her wedding... At the end of the Hall, before the balcony, was Celestia, regally as always.

Next to her was Thorax, something was odd about him, maybe it was the crystal necklaces on his antlers? Maybe his look, serious and not showing any other emotion? In contrast to the sun princess, he was looking regal as ever. On the left side were her parents, they seemed strangely happy and excited, but they were trying to hide it. Maybe Celestia forgot to mention to them that her wedding was only to make an alliance with changelings…

On the right side were Pharynx and three other smaller changelings, everyone serious, standing in line. And next to them… momentarily Twilight felt like she would fly over and hit every pony standing there. The nobles, the most important representatives of Equestria, who could even disobey the princess, who could control her and stand against her. They were almost at the same level of power as the princesses themselves. And it was them… who is responsible for this. For her sacrifice, their sacrifice.

Twilight shivered but managed to calm herself, as she walked up to Celestia and her husband-to-be. She sighed, when she finally stood next to the Changeling King and her friends took their places next to her parents. Now that she was up close, his calm shell looked more fragile, she could see how nervous he was, shoving that thought aside she quickly repeated her lines in her mind. Celestia opened her wings, which only made her look more regal and powerful. How could she not be the strongest creature here? How could she be limited by those wimps over there?

“Mares and gentlecolts, your highnesses” she bowed slightly. Twilight, Thorax, and Pharynx bowed back. “Dear Bearers, nobles, and Changeling legation. We gathered here today to officially tie futures of these two children of royal blood, who will make an oath, having the Sun and the Moon as their witnesses, as well their families and subjects.” Twilight's ears perked up a little. Talking about the Moon, was Luna going to miss the ceremony? And where is Cadence and her brother…? She was pulled from her thoughts when Thorax turned to her and cleared his throat. She gulped silently and looked up at him with expectancy, feeling her heart pounding so fast as if it were a Wonderbolt trying to set a new record.

“I, Thorax the First, the King of Changelings and their Kingdom, ask you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, to marry me. Your life will be tied with mine and our lands will live together with peace and harmony,” he said. Twilight cringed a bit when he said that, but she saw a spark of sadness, and nervousness in his eyes. She gulped one more time, trying to not get nervous herself, not right now!

“I… Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship and Harmony… am honored by your proposition, King Thorax”. She began, she could see he was shaking a little. ‘He’s more nervous than me!’ she lamented “and am willing to become your wife for the sake of our subjects…” she said, praying that her voice wasn’t trembling and her hooves weren't shaking. The changeling opened a small box he was holding in his magic. Twilight forced herself not to gasp as she saw a beautiful light-green diamond on the horn ring that was inside.

“Will you marry me, Princess Twilight Sparkle?” he asked. His voice sounded slightly strained. He was having difficulty keeping himself calm and she couldn’t blame him. ‘This is it. Here is where my life will end…’

“I will…” she slowly turned to her parents, who came a bit closer to her and Thorax, whose nervousness seemed to double as they approached. “My fate lies in your hooves, my father,” she said with a small bow to her father. Thorax bowed too, but looked at the dark-blue unicorn, while Twilight’s gaze was focused on the floor. She didn't have the strength to see her parents’ faces, feeling tears gathering in the corners of her eyes and her lips tremor a little. No… she has to stay strong. She’s doing it for the changelings. They deserve better lives than under Equestria’s nobility reign… She exhaled with no sound and managed to calm herself enough to survive the rest of this fatuous ceremony.

“Night Light, dear father of my chosen one, see upon our request. I will take care of your daughter, reign with her fairly and never do any harm to her. We want your blessing.” Thorax’s voice cracked a little. ‘At least I’m not the only one,’ Twilight thought, feeling more sympathy to her future husband, he had to give up on his life too. His future... maybe he already had special somepony...somechangeling?… and he has to marry her for the good of his country. The alicorn had to raise her head now, her mother was standing next to her father with… pride on her face and genuine smile, forcing herself to not cry from happiness. Twilight felt speechless. ‘Why… They really don’t know why I’m doing it… she wouldn’t be so happy if she knew…’ Thank Celestia she had, nothing to say now, her throat was dry as a desert.

“I see your dedication, King Thorax, as well as yours, my daughter.” Twilight’s father recited with a calm voice. “Who am I to stand between you and the good fate of our lands? You have our blessing, our dearest children. “ with the last words, spoken in a serious tone, both Twilight's parents raised one of their hooves and symbolically blessed them.

“Thank you, my father,” said Thorax quietly and Twilight cringed again. ‘Gee, not even announced as my husband and yet have to call my dad like this… what is the point of this ceremony anyway? Couldn’t he just…’ her thoughts were halted, when she and Thorax had to stand up and face Celestia again. The young alicorn would now ask Thorax’s parents for their blessing, but knowing that his family matter was… complicated, Celestia skipped that part. Twilight couldn't stop herself from peeking at the box, which was still hovering near them, enclosed by Thorax’ magic aura. Thorax cleared his throat one more time and looked at the alabaster alicorn. “Celestia, Princess of the Sun Ruler of Equestria, we are asking you for your blessing, so we can seal the alliance between Equestria and Changeling Kingdom.”

“Are you aware of your responsibilities and are you truly willing to do this for both kingdoms?” she asked, looking at them with no shown emotion.

“Yes,” the young princess and the king answered in unison. The Sun Princess turned to the nobility and other changelings.

“Does the Nobility or Changeling legation have any objections?” the ponies and creatures just shook their heads. Celestia sighed deeply and faced the young couple again. “You have my blessing. I hereby pronounce you as betrotheds.” Twilight turned her head to Thorax and he delicately put the ring on her horn. This tension was killing Twilight from the inside. As he placed the ring on her horn she could feel it shake, he was so nervous that he could barely keep his magic stable. She wanted to smile at him to buoy him up a little, but she was so anxious she could barely do anything… “May nothing destroy the union you will make with your marriage.”

Twilight and Thorax bowed for the last time in front of Celestia. The room burst into applause in the form of ponies stomping their hooves on the floor.

“The Nobility, Changeling legation, and I must continue signing the documents to make the alliance official. We will return momentarily, until then the friends and family of the betrothed are free to mingle.” Celestia announced to all the ponies and changelings in the room. She, along with the Nobility and Legation, left the young duo with their friends and family. Once the big double door shut after the Sun Princess and her guests, Twilight turned her attention back to her husband to be, who just let out a sigh of relief, glad that he was no longer under scrutiny. He soon turned to look at his wife-to-be and locked gazes, in an instant it became incredibly awkward again. Twilight was starting to get used to these awkward moments at this point, but that didn’t mean Thorax was, he was now shaking and sweating nervously. ‘Can changelings even sweat?’ She didn’t think about it long before someone broke the silence.

Her father decides it was a good time for an interrogation. He walked up to the Changeling King and began inspecting his head to hoof. This did little to help the young King’s nerves.

“I expect you to keep your word and not harm my daughter. I want to hear it again, this time without all the formalities,” he said, pressing his hoof against the changeling's chest. It was a bit of a strange sight seeing her father intimidate someone almost twice his size. Thorax was clearly miffed by this and could barely speak. Eventually, he found his voice, even if it was a bit shaky.

“Y-y-yes father!” he stammered, causing everypony who stayed in the room to look at him with widely opened eyes. Twilight groaned and put a hoof to her muzzle. Thorax realized what he said when Night Light squinted his eyes and growled quietly.

“It is SIR Night Light, for you. For now…”

“O-of course, sir!” he quickly nodded, blushing from embarrassment. “I-I was memorizing these lines since yesterday evening, I'm sorry, sir…” ‘little’ unicorn continued to stare the Changeling King down.

“Apologies accepted. Do you also promise to protect her at all costs? Even if it costs you your life!?” He leaned at him with a stomp of his hoof. At this question Thorax seemed to gain a bit of confidence, he replied with much more assurance in his voice.

“Of course!” He said with bravado. This response to her father's question took the lavender alicorn by surprise. ‘He would?’ the thought of Thorax protecting her was a strange image that developed in her mind. ‘He hardly knows me and yet is willing to risk his life to keep me safe? Why?’ She asked herself but then calmed down. ‘Nah, he just said that to please my father.’ Looking up she saw Thorax looking at her with a strange look in his eyes, but with a little smile too. His gaze was broken again by Night Light once again giving him a stare down. He was about to ask another question, but Twilight decided she was done hearing her father torturing Thorax. He was going to be her husband and she couldn’t let this be a common thing.

“Okay dad I think you’ve terrified him enough,” she said, standing up and walking up to her father.

“I just want to be sure Twily. I want to make sure you won’t get hurt.”

“I know, but I can take care of myself, remember?” The mare gave her father a reassuring smile, the stallion let out a sigh.

“I guess you are right, you have faced worse before…” he said. Turning back to Thorax, he gave an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that. I just want to make sure my little girl is safe.” He said.

“It’s not a problem, I understand,” he said, returning the stallion’s smile with a nervous one of his own.

“Then welcome to the family, Thorax,” the dark blue stallion gave the changeling a pat on the shoulder.

“Thank you, sir.” He replied with a genuine smile. Once the stallion had walked back to his wife, the changeling approached his bride-to-be.”Thank you too, for your help,” he said. Twilight let out a sigh. The mare sat down while turning to her husband-to-be.

“Thorax I’m going, to be honest with you, I don’t have feelings for you... at least not in a romantic way,” she said solemnly.

“I know...” he answered with a sad smile while taking a seat too. “I could say the same thing about you Twilight… Don’t feel offended, you are just a friend to me.”

“I know... But….” she started, but silenced, looking down and observing her hoof as she was making circles on the floor with it. Thorax’ ears perked up and he looked at the alicorn with a raised eyebrow.

“But?” He echoed it as a question.

“That doesn’t mean it has to be that way forever...” the lavender mare said in a hushed tone, blushing a bit.

“What makes you think that?” Thorax asked surprised.

“What you said earlier about saying you would protect me with your life,” she blushed more at the thought of a big strong stallion protecting her… She banished the mental image with a shake of her head and forced herself to look into his eyes. “I want to know, was it true? Or did you just say that because of my dad?” Twilight asked with hope and little smile.

“Why, of course, it was true, Twilight!” he said, which caused Twilight’s heart to speed up. “You already have done so many good things for our kingdom, I owe so much. If I could save you, I would do it.” Twilight felt her cheeks burning, she wasn't used to talking with stallions, she never had time for them, and now…?

“It… made me realize that if I’m going to marry you we need to at least try to make it work…” She trailed off awkwardly as she realized what she was saying. ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid! This is a bad idea we should just keep it professional this will never work!’

“You want me to court you?” he asked, blushing a bit.

“I would have said dating, but yes…” She trailed off again, quickly catching herself she spoke, “forget I ever said anything, we’re better just stay friends and we- I-I’ll just go…” she said about to get up, but the Changeling King spoke up.

“I’d actually like that.”

“W-what?” She asked stupidly. She was not expecting this response.

“I said I’d like to get the opportunity to court you properly.”

“Y-you’d be okay with that?”

“Of course. Like you said if we are going to be married, we should at least try to make it work out…. If it doesn’t work out… we will still be friends, right?” He smiled warmly. What he said next made the mare’s cheeks flush with red and her heart warm up a little more. “Besides, it’s the least I could do for a beautiful mare like yourself.”

Twilight’s face turned so red it would make an apple jealous.

“Th-thank you….” She squeaked, making Fluttershy sound loud. She wasn’t used to being complimented, especially by stallions. ‘Get it together Twilight!’ Taking a deep breath followed by an exhale, she calmed her nerves, “thank you Thorax! I hope this works out…” she said with a pleasant smile. This is different, she thought that she needed to keep distance between them. They are friends, but… she could never imagine Thorax as somepon- someling she could fall in love with. She knew she could adapt to any new situation very quickly, but this surprised her. ‘Maybe I don’t have to treat this whole marriage as something bad after all…’ she thought to look up. She wished she could see the ring of her horn, knowing she is actually engaged to Thorax’ made her feel strange, but not in an unpleasant way.

“Me too,” he said. He stood up, Twilight went to do the same, but before she did Thorax stuck out his hoof to help her up. Smiling with a slight blush, she took his hoof and he helped her to her hooves. ‘He is very kind,’ she thought to herself.

“Maybe we should go talk with the others.” He said gesturing to the mare’s friends and family talking amongst themselves. The lavender alicorn nodded and the two began walking towards the group. As they approached Twilight Velvet noticed them.

“Oh, you two are so adorable together! I can't wait to see the grandfoals!” she exclaimed with sparkles in her eyes.

“G-g-grandfoals?!” the alicorn shouted, as her cheeks began to burn brightly. ‘MOM, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO EMBARRASS ME?!’ she screamed in her mind, still in quite a shock, unable to say anything.

“I... uhh… don’t think that’s even possible for us,” Thorax lamented, also blushing and smiling awkwardly. Damn, he isn’t even married to her yet!

“Thorax, shush!” the princess of friendship cried with a pout, while her cheeks still burned. A very dirty image entered Twilight’s mind at the mention of having foals. ‘Bad Twilight, you don’t even love him!’ she mentally screamed at her self. ‘Yet…’ she added quickly, which surprised herself even more.

“You could at least try...” Velvet sang with a smile and little blush. “I would love to have more than one little filly to cuddle when you come for a visit along with Cadence, Shining, and Flurry. What would name your kid, anyway? Maybe something with ‘star’ this time?" She was thinking out loud, Thorax hid his face behind a wing, which didn't help at all, being mostly transparent, his cheeks burning red the same as Twilight's. The lavender alicorn jumped to her mother and slightly pushed her and Night Light towards the exit.

“Ohh, you heard that? I think Princess Celestia was calling you two to sign some veeeery important paperwork!” she said in a too-obviously-lying tone with an embarrassed smile while pushing them away from Thorax and the rest of the guests. She turned back and showed Thorax that he could go and she will deal with their parents… huh… their parents… and she could swear she HEARD some of her friends giggling behind her. She will have to talk with them later…

“Oh? We didn't hear anything” Twilight's dad was surprised. The princess rolled her eyes.

“That's because you were too busy embarrassing me!” she hissed with her ears down and a clearly upset look. Her parents halted and looked at her, the Ceremony Hall was indeed an enormous room, so they were now away from the others, really close to the double doors.

“Twilight, dearie, what's wrong…? It isn't about this whole grandfoal talk, is it? Mom just wanted to relax the atmosphere here,” Night Light stated, defending his wife. Twilight sighed slightly.

“Well, not exactly… I mean, a bit! But not that, I-I uh, maybe.. ugh…!” she put a hoof to her face and breathed deeply, starting to shiver a little.

“Easy there, honey. Inhale and exhale~” her mother instructed her and she obediently followed her words. After few seconds she was able to speak again.

“Sorry… I think I will still be nervous and a bit… touchy for some time…”

“Don’t worry, sweetie, we know how a before-wedding stress can eat you up,” her father added with assuring smile and stroked her shoulder with a hoof. Twilight smiled a bit more, but her happy expression quickly faded away. Dad looked at her with concern, “Twi, please, there’s nothing you should be nervous about,” he added. “Princess Celestia said she will take care of everything for you.”

“Yeah, Princess Celestia…” the lavender alicorn started, hearing in the background that Thorax was talking with their friends. She gulped quietly, “I don’t think she told you the most important thing about my marriage…”

“What is it? Is the date postponed? Will it take place in Ponyville instead of Canterlot? Is it-” Velvet’s words were cut when Twilight quickly interrupted her.

“Nononono, mom, please let me tell, okay?” she was starting to shake a bit, nervousness eating her from the inside. She sighed one more time, “the thing is… this whole marriage is political only. I-... Celestia herself told me yesterday about it, the same thing with Thorax. It is only happening because of the alliance between our lands, you know…” she finally said it. She didn’t know what she was expecting from them. Outbursts of hate towards Thorax or Celestia? Parental hug filled with compassion and tears? Maybe they would try to persuade her to break off the wedding? They would probably be in shock, Twilight was sure of that, but she wasn’t prepared for what she heard after few moments lasting like an eternity.

“Oh...we already know it, honey,” her mother replied with a relief in her tone and joyful smile. “Phew! You scared me, you little filly!” she chuckled a bit.

“I-I didn’t want to agree on this, because I was scared but the changelings- wait, what? Y-you know?!” she was astonished.

“Of course, hon. The Princess wouldn’t keep that for yourself. We were surprised when she told us about you marrying the Changeling King anyway, so it was our first thought that it has something with the last invasion and their new land and we kinda guessed that in the first place,” her father said with a smile, not noticing the broken look of his daughter.

“We are really proud of you, Twily.” added her mother while she hugged her tightly, but the alicorn pushed her away. She was shaking and her voice cracking a bit.

“Th-that’s it?! ‘We knew’? ‘We are proud’?! Is this all you want to say?!” she screamed a bit too loud and the echo of her words went through the room. She heard her friends stop talking and could even feel them looking at them. Although Twilight and her parents were far away from the rest, the hall had some good acoustics. She exhaled, looking at her mom and dad, who were surprised by her outburst. She lowered the volume of her voice. “D-do you not care anymore? You seem so calm… So… Ugh, I just got engaged to a stallion I barely know, for Celestia’s sake!” she hissed, watching her voice so it won't echo through the hall again. She could feel tears forming in her eyes again. “You didn’t even ask how I feel! Why did I agree! How am I trying to keep nerves in check! Do these things means nothing to you?”

“Sweetie... “ Velvet started hesitantly, worried about her only daughter. “...this is hard for us too, but…”

“You don’t look like you’re having bad time, you know?” Twilight sniffed, looking at them with a devastated look.

“...we just wanted to look at the bright side…” the mare came closer to the lavender alicorn and hugged her one more time. “What are you expecting us to do? Do I have to yell at you? ‘How could you?’ Maybe try to persuade you to not do it? Celestia told us it was your decision in the end, and it could help their kingdom… We weren’t so… uhh..” she stopped for a moment, searching for a good word. Twilight raised her head up a bit with concern look and a question on her face. “joyful when we heard that… But we tried to understand you and your decision. If it is what you want to do, then we won’t stop you… Right, Light…? … Right, Light?” both mares turned her faces to a dark-blue unicorn, who was gazing at Thorax at another end of the room with a murderous look. “Light!” Velvet hissed at him.

“Dad!” Twilight whined, cowering a bit within her mother’s hooves. Night Light smiled slightly and came closer.

“Oh, I’m only joking,” he said with a chuckle and hugged his daughter too. Twilight cuddled slightly in their embrace, feeling safer already. “We are really proud of you honey. Willing to give up on your plans to help the creatures, who were used by our enemy with no heart, to have a normal existence... We know it was hard for you…” he was talking in a soft, assuring tone, almost hush.” But we are proud, you are already a great ruler if you can act that mature…” Twilight felt tears running down her cheek. “And if you will ever need our help or support you can count on us… and your friends…”

“We will still love you and support you, dear. No matter what you decide,” said her mother, feeling her own eyes becoming watery.

“Thank you… Thank you… I love you...” the young alicorn whispered with a genuine smile. That was what she needed to hear.

“And no matter what your children look like…” she added with devilish smile, which caused Twilight to choke on her words and laugh, despite the fact she was crying.

“Mo-hooom!” she whined again, this time with true laughter and smile.

“You know hon if this green bug will ever hurt you, just say a word. I will have a nice talk with him” Night Light said with a devilish grin, and Twilight laughed even more

“Daaad, come on!”

“Are you feeling better, Twi-Twi?” Velvet asked when they finally let Twilight free from their parental hug. The alicorn wiped her eyes with a magically summoned tissue and looked at her parents. Despite her mildly tired appearance, she was genuinely happy now, knowing that her family fully supported her… and will love her unconditionally.

“Yes… thank you, mom, dad…” the alicorn said in hushed tone.

“And don’t you ever think that we don’t love you or won’t care for you! Or you will be grounded, missy!” Night Light put in and poke his daughter's chest with a hoof, as he did earlier with her husband-to-be. Twilight chuckled once more.

“Sure, Daddy. I love you two, so much…” she whispered, and then the double door opened with a loud creak. Twilight straightened up, waiting for Celestia and the nobles to enter the room, but she saw a pink alicorn mare and a white-blue unicorn stallion instead. She hesitated a bit at first, but seeing smiles on their faces she smiled too and ran to them with open hooves.

“Cadance, Shining!” she exclaimed and hugged each of them tightly. They were looking a bit exhausted, but a little, exuberant alicorn filly was nowhere to be seen, “and where’s my adorable niece?”

“She just fell asleep in our chamber, one of our maids stayed with her. Don't worry, she was taught how to deal with that little demon…” Shining smirked and Twilight laughed slightly.

“Oh, Twilight! We’re so sorry about missing your Royal Ceremony!” Cadence said as she closed the door behind them with her magic. “The train had to stop just a few kilometers from Canterlot due to some sheep on the tracks!”

“Curse you, SHEEP!” they heard Pinkie Pie’s voice, but when they all looked in her direction, she was with Thorax and the others at the end of the room, talking with them… Twilight blinked a few times and shook her head.

“Don’t worry Cadie, it was boring and kinda dispensable…”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Velvet piped up and greeted her son and daughter-in-law with a big hug, Night Light restrained to smile and shook their hooves. “I think it was beautiful and breathtaking! So regally and-and traditional!” he added with delight and Twilight sighed with a roll in her eyes.

“Too traditional. These Ceremonies were organized many years ago before Celestia and Luna became the rulers. It was common in these time that marriages were arranged and mostly because of political reasons. And we didn't even have an audience, except my friends, parents and the nobility,” she gritted her teeth with the last word and Cadance noticed this.

“Twilight… you can’t blame nobles for this… m-mostly,” she added, quickly seeing Twilight’s murderous gaze. She was too touchy to talk about this now… “it was their right to demand Changeling’s annexation after they lost the war,” the young alicorn groaned loudly.

“Yeah, yeah, I know! And I am not blaming them!” she huffed. “I am still nervous about it and they were the main catalyst of this whole situation…” she then inhaled and exhaled deeply, and put a serious mask on her face. “I will get over it with time. I am an adult and a princess, after all. I cannot be acting resentful my whole life, like a filly.” Cadance smiled lightly and chuckled.

“That’s my sister! The one who can bring down any obstacles and do anything.” Twilight only smiled a little and flicked her hoof on her chest.

“Well, I was fighting monsters, became a magical alicorn pony, and dealt with a time-traveler who wanted to destroy Equestria-”

“I heard that, Twilight!” Starlight shouted and their friends burst into laughter as well the group near the door.

“-marriage? Looks easy compared to another feat I’ve done in my life,” she finished with a lazy smile. Her family laughed slightly at her comment, Shining approached his sister and hugged her a bit too firmly.

“Yeah, about you getting married…” he let her go and looked into her eyes with disappointment and genuine sadness in his. “How could you not tell me about your wedding personally?!” he pouted his lips and flopped his ears down. All Twilight’s good mood just flew away in a second as she remembered the same situation before her brother's wedding

“B-but… I-I wasn’t… C-Celestia, she-” the alicorn felt like she could start to cry again, but she heard:

“Gotcha!” and Shining smiled at her devilishly. She pushed him away with blushes and hissed at him.

“I’ll hurt you someday!”

“Oh, I almost forgot! Speaking of hurting, where’s that oversized green bug…?” he stated with a dead tone and started to move towards Thorax and Twilight’s friends, at the other end of the Hall.

“Go, tell him, son! Ah!” Night Light was pinched by his wife as soon as he shouted after the white unicorn. Twilight groaned.

“I will stop him before he terrorizes my fiancé to death…” she explained and ran after her brother. Her fiancé… she again surprised herself with how quickly she adjusted to the new situation in her life… “Shiney, wait!”

“Hi, Thorax!” the unicorn started as he approached the giggling group. Said changeling turned back and smiled a bit.

“Oh, hello Shining Armor!” he welcomed him with a slight bow of his head, expecting the Prince of the Crystal Empire to do the same, but Shining just pushed him with a hoof. Thorax, surprised, felt on his haunches and girls along with Spike gasped and came closer. Now both stallion's eyes were on the same level.

“Now, listen to me, you bug!” the white unicorn hissed at him with a look which could kill him in a flash. The scared changeling just nodded in silent. “If you EVER hurt my Twilie… Even if just touch her without her permission I will squash you like the worthless insect you are!”

“OKAY, Shining, leave him alone, he already had this talk with Dad…” Twilight tugged his tail with her magic as she reached the group, blushing slightly. “Geez, why do all the male relatives of a bride have to terrorize her groom?!” Shining just snorted and looked at his little sister.

“I have the right to talk with him!”

“Yes, but not in that way!” the alicorn stomped her hoof on the floor. “And stop calling him ‘bug’! That’s racist!”

“I-I don’t mind…” Thorax uttered as he stood up. Rainbow Dash flew closer to him.

“Come oooon, Thorax! Don’t let others push you around like that! You’re a king and he’s a prince! You have more power than him!” she groaned.

“But not here. In the Changeling Kingdom yes, I do. But here and in the Crystal Empire, he’s higher than me,” he looked at Shining’s face which was saying, “Really?” And he quickly corrected, “has a higher position than me.” He smiled apologetically and the girls giggled a bit. Cadance approached the ponies and changeling with her parents-in-law.

“Oh, Cadie, I forgot to ask you, why are you here anyway? It was just an Engagement Ceremony” Twilight turned to her sister-in-law.

“Well, I was asked to help with the wedding preparations,” she answered after a few moments, most of the ponies were surprised.

“Wait a minute! I thought WE were going to organize her wedding! And bachelorette party too!” Pinkie jumped in the air and the other girls nodded in agreement.

“Yes, I asked them for help, I wanted to prepare it myself, I mean with Thorax… Why were you asked? And by whom? Celestia?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow. This is getting annoying, did she or Thorax even have any influence over their own marriage?!

Then the double door opened again, out stepped Celestia, the Changeling legation, and the Nobility.

“All proper legislation has been signed, except for one,” Celestia declared as she walked over to Night Light and Twilight Velvet. “We still need the parents of the betrothed to sign this to make the union official,” she said while levitating a piece of parchment to the parents, along with a quill.

“Of course, your highness,” the two said in unison. Taking the quill in his magic, Night Light signed first, then his wife did the same. Seeing this made Twilight feel a great deal of sadness well up in her chest. Her parents were literally signing away her life. ‘It’s like I have no value…’ she thought. She began to quiver as the thought played with her. This did not go unnoticed by Thorax, he could clearly tell what was bothering her, he just had no clue what to do.

‘Crap! What should I do!? What should I do? Should I do anything? Will I even help, or will I just make it worse!?!’ He mentally screamed at himself. ‘We did agree to make this work, so maybe I should do something! But what?’ He bit his lower lip in distress. ‘Ah what the hell!’ he concluded in his mind. Reaching over with a foreleg he draped over the mare’s withers and pulled her against his chest. He immediately regretted his action as the mare’s cheeks became very red at the contact and she stiffened. ‘Good going…’ he mentally chastised himself.

Twilight’s thoughts came to a complete halt when the Changeling King pulled her against his chest. After a few seconds, her mind kicked back into action with a flurry of thoughts. ‘What is he doing!? Why did he do that!? What should I do? Should I be enjoying it!? Should I run!? What do I do!?’ The answer turned out to just do nothing. She just stood there dumbly unable to move, trapped by her chaotic thoughts. The two just stood there awkwardly. It didn’t go unnoticed by the others in the room, however. Though it took a while before anypony did anything about it, waiting for the to-be-wedded “couple” to do something. Eventually, Celestia cleared her throat, breaking the two out of their stopper. Once reality crashed into them, they both took a side step away from each other, both their cheeks looked as if they were on fire. Taking this moment Celestia spoke.

“All the official documents have been signed,” the eldest alicorn declared. “The preparations for the royal wedding will begin first thing in the morning and will be held this Friday. We request the betrotheds remain in Canterlot for measurements and rehearsals. They, along with their family and friends will be guided to their chambers in the east wing of the castle,” she finished, as she did so the nobility along with the Changeling Legation began to leave.

“Wait!” Twilight jumped forward and approached Celestia. “Excuse me, Princess Celestia-” she bowed slightly with her head. “May I ask you a question?” The alabaster alicorn excused her guests and the nobles, and the changelings were escorted outside the door by few Celestial guards. Thorax slowly came closer to the two princesses as they waited for everybody to leave the Ceremonial Hall. Celestia sighed heavily and looked at her former student and her future husband, waiting for a said question. Twilight raised her head up and straightened a bit.

“Yes, Twilight?” Celestia asked with warm, but tired smile, encouraging her to speak.

“Well… about these preparations in the morning…”

“Oh, you don't have to worry about anything!” the older Princess quickly cut in, grinning more. “Both of you. You can spend all the time with each other and your friends. You are only needed for rehearsals and fitting-”

“Wait, I'm sorry Princess, but does it mean we-” Thorax started but Twilight quickly finished the sentence for him.

“-don't have any influence on our wedding?” the young couple exchanged worried looks. Celestia chuckled a bit.

“We will plan everything. Don't worry.”

“But, why? I already asked my friends to help me with organising,” Twilight quickly opposed with disbelief I'm her both eyes and voice.

“Yes, I-I wanted to give some ideas too,” Thorax added quietly. “It is our wedding after all, Princess.”

“I understand dears. But as you know, this is also a political marriage, which is meant to seal the alliance,” Celestia said with concern, her expression becoming more serious, her smile disappearing slowly. “It’s a tradition that representatives of both sides are in charge of organizing the wedding. Their job is to choose the most important customs and mix them to create a nice and warm atmosphere for all guests.” Twilight and Thorax exchanged looks one more time and looked at the Sun Princess.

“Yeah, but we can do this…” Twilight said with raised eyebrows, getting more and more annoyed by the princess’s behavior. “I mean, me, my friends, Thorax, his brother… we know our customs right? We could meet up tomorrow and plan the wedding, then we will present our ideas to you, the nobles and the rest of Changelings. I am sure we can make it work and you will love it!” she said with a smile and hope.

A lavender notebook and a pen appeared next to her in a flash of her magic, which surprised both her interlocutors. “I was thinking we should start by playing a traditional changeling song at the beginning instead of the wedding march.” she wrote this down with a warm smile. Maybe if Celestia saw how dedicated Twilight is to this case, she would let them do it by themselves? She already let the nobles have too much influence in her life, but the Sun Princess looked at her with surprise. Thorax quickly got Twilight's idea and looked at her notepad. Twilight felt his orange magic aura taking a pen from hers, he wrote a few words on the paper with a small smile.

“I was thinking about making a few completely new meals from mixing changeling and ponies food. Also, we could bring a few magic crystals from the Changeling Kingdom to light the Ballroom!” Twilight looked at him with thankful eyes and smiled at him. He isn't so bad at all… he will be a really good friend, that's for sure.

“Oh, and Pinkie Pie has already started planning our bachelor and bachelorette parties. And Rarity, you should just see her sketches of my gown and Thorax’s tuxedo!” Twilight's eyes sparkled a little and Thorax laughed.

“A Tuxedo? For me?”

“Why not? You could at least try it” Twilight chuckled a bit and looked at Celestia with a warm smile and hope in her eyes. “What do you think, Celestia?

“No.”

“Great! It will be soo... what?” Twilight blinked as she became full of disbelief. Thorax was also surprised, they both took one step back. “Why?”

“Because, young pony and changeling, it was already decided that the nobles and changeling legation will have a deciding vote on any wedding matter.” The white alicorn explained with dead serious tone, looking at the future married couple. They took one more step back and flapped their ears down, almost in perfect sync. Celestia’s gaze was slightly indignant, but powerful, making the pair gasp quietly. Both of them felt a bit guilty about even talking about their ideas for the wedding, but Twilight was feeling even more. Celestia wasn't only her superior. She was her teacher, mentor, her… friend… what was happening to this lovely, caring mare? The young princess forced back tears, looking at her friend with disbelief and shock. She opened her mouth, but the older alicorn saw it and quickly said. “If you were a mature leader, you would understand it and respect our decision.”

These words broke Twilight's heart. She felt Thorax move next to her.

“That also refers to you, the young king,” the Sun Princess added as the changeling sighed with resignation. Twilight wiped her eyes and stood straight stomping a hoof on the floor.

“I am mature. I agreed to marry King Thorax to give the changelings a new life they deserve after decades of tyranny! I did something YOU couldn't do!” Twilight said with a fire in her eyes. Thorax made the pose similar to his betrothed mare and looked at Celestia with seriousness in his eyes. The Sun Princess stepped back surprised by Twilight's words. “We DEMAND a right to organize our own wedding! We are aware of the needs and customs of our subjects and we could be very helpful during the preparation meeting.”

“I cannot agree to that,” Celestia stated, opening her wings. Twilight and Thorax did the same. It was two to one.

“Without me and Princess Twilight, the alliance and the wedding wouldn't be possible. We HAVE the right to at least be able to be present during the meeting and listen to the nobles and legation’s adjudications.” Twilight never heard Thorax speaking with such regality and power in his voice. Celestia felt she was in the losing position. She had two of them against only her. She was sure Twilight would give in and accept it, hers and Thorax’s reaction surprised her. She had to make a deal with them, the Sun Princess sighed and folded her wings to her sides.

“I reconsidered your… demand…” she started. Twilight was still looking at her, not breaking her concerned gaze as she felt that Thorax is by her side. Both literally and mentally. “... I, along with nobles and legation, will be really content if you, King Thorax and Princess Twilight Sparkle, will honor us tomorrow at the preparation meeting,” there was no emotion in her voice. The ponies bowed their heads, still dead serious.

“We will gladly come there. Thank you for accepting our request,” Twilight said and with her wings still opened regally, she trotted towards the door. “Good night, King Thorax. We shall see each other tomorrow then.” The changeling smiled slightly at her.

“Have a nice rest, dear princess Twilight,” he said before she disappeared behind the large double doors, leaving Celestia speechless with her lips shut closed. “And you too, princess Celestia,” he added with a hiss before he disappeared down the corridor. As the door rumbled after him, Celestia sighed heavily. She was looking at the door with a sad expression on her face for a few moments before she asked her guard in. She gave him instructions, and the white stallion in full golden armor bowed low, they then left the Ceremony Hall together.

Many rooms away, in separated chambers, the young king and princess laid down on their beds, exhausted by all the events that happened during the day. Hours passed and they couldn't sleep, thinking and over thinking their new, not-so-bright future. Eventually, Twilight couldn’t take it anymore and pulled herself out of bed with a groan. Where was she going? The place where the only other pony, or in this case changeling, could understand her plight.

Thorax was staring up at the ceiling of his dark room, the only thing lighting it being the moonlight shining through the balcony window. He couldn’t sleep, the stress of the last couple days was keeping his mind from calming. A certain purple alicorn would not leave his thoughts. ‘Will it actually ever work out between us? Do I want it to be more than just friendship? Could it ever be more than that? Will it better for us and our countries if we will be just friends?.’ These questions seemed to have no answers, and he wasn't sure if he ever wanted them answered. Just then a knock came on his bedroom door and pulled him from his thoughts. ‘Who could it be? It’s the middle of the night!’

“Coming,” he called and slipped out from under the covers and onto the floor. Making his way over he opened the door, who he saw on the other side made him blink his eyes. “Twilight?” He asked a bit dumbfounded that the one mare he was just thinking about was now outside his bedroom door.

“Hi...” She responded. An awkward silence followed for a few moments before the mare spoke again. “Can I come in?”

“Uh… sure…” He answered, stepping out of the way and holding the door open for her with his magic. He was honestly unsure of what to think of the situation. ‘Why was she here? What did she want?’ Just more questions to throw on to the pile of uncertainty that had started to build up in his mind. Once the mare had stepped into the room he closed the door and turned to her. “Umm… is there something you need?”

“Well I don’t know, I just couldn’t sleep and… I guess I just wanted to talk.” She said looking down at the floor while rubbing her left foreleg awkwardly, trying to avoid looking at him directly.

“I can’t sleep either… so much has just happened in such a short amount of time. Literally about six months ago I was a rogue changeling, and look at me now - I’m their king and will be marrying a princess of Equestria. It’s all so much to take in,” he said as he made his way back over to his bed and sat down on it, leaning his back against the bed’s backboard. Twilight looked up and saw he had moved. She decided to join him on the bed, albeit sitting near the foot and keeping a good hoof length between them.

“I know how you feel.” She stated. “I’ve only been a princess for a few years now, and I’m already about to become a Queen... I’ll now be in charge of the kingdom of thousands and possibly millions of changelings, and be tasked with the responsibilities of rebuilding said kingdom,” she murmured, looking at the floor. Thorax nodded in understanding. “I’m a bit… scared…” The two sat in silence for a few more moments until the greenish changeling decided to speak again.

“They’re very excited to have you.” he said.

“Who?” Twilight raised her head to look at him with surprise.

“The changelings. They are excited to have the pony who saved them as their new Queen.”

“But I didn’t save them, my student Starlight did.” she explained.

“I know it may seem strange to think of changelings having a culture, being that we have all been living under chrysalis for so long, but we do have one and also have a bit of saying. For every great student, there is a greater teacher. That combined with what you’ve done in the past. The prospect of having a great hero being the new queen has gotten many changelings excited to serve you,” He explained. Twilight was a bit surprised by this. ’They want you to be their Queen.’

“Really?” She asked to make sure she had not imagined what he just said. He nodded in confirmation with a small smile. “What do they think of you then?”

“They also see me as a hero, I’m the one who showed them they could share love instead of taking it,” he answered with pride and the alicorn nodded. The room once more descended into silence, but this time it felt less awkward.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?” the changeling asked.

“Well, not entirely…” she trailed off a small blush forming on her cheeks. It was at this moment the Changeling King realized just how beautiful the mare in front of him looked in the moonlight. ‘Was she always that pretty? Wha-, okay, keep it together Thorax, she’s just a friend.’ he reminded himself. ‘It doesn’t have to stay that way. She could be more than just a friend.’ his mind argued back.’

Meanwhile, the mare was having her own internal argument. ‘This is all going too fast. We should just stay friends. It would be better that way. For us and for our countries...’ She told herself. ‘Why are you fighting it, you could be more than just friends. Would that be so wrong? What’s wrong with going fast?’ her mind argued. ‘I should get to know him more.’ She argued back. ‘You already do, you talked with him and got to know him whenever we visited the Crystal Empire.’ her mind rebuked. ‘I guess... Maybe we should talk about it.’ She concluded.

“Umm...Thorax…” Twilight started hesitantly.

“Hmm?” he looked at her, being pulled from his own internal monolog.

“Where do you see us a year from now?” she asked quietly. This caused the king to think for a moment.

“I.. don’t know… really…”

“Let me rephrase the question. Where do want us to be in a year from now?” She asked looking him in the eyes with genuine interest. Thorax thought on it for a moment. ‘Where do I want us to be in a year?’ he mentally repeated the question. Then an image formed in his mind. The two of them each sitting on a throne next to each other. Another one; the two of them spending time together, happy… in love. Was that what he really wanted? ‘Yes,’ his mind answered his question. Did he love her now… he was unsure… ‘should I tell her?’ Before he spoke, however, the mare sighed and looked away.

“Sorry it was a silly question, I should go…” she said and was about to get up, but a green hoof rested on her shoulder. Looking up she saw the King of the Changelings looking at her with smile.

“You really want to know?” He asked genuinely and the mare nodded waiting for his response. Thorax gulped down his fears and spoke. “I see us… together… happy… more than friends…” He explained. “I see us ruling together over our changelings. Our nation prospering, and happy. I see you and me… in love.” He finished. He said it. He said what he felt. It may be time before she felt the same way, but something told him he cared for this mare deeply. The mare just sat there staring at him with a neutral expression. His smile soon turned to a frown, unsure of how she would react. What she did next surprised him. She closed the gap between them and pulled him into a hug, which he returned.

“I… hope you are right… I don’t know how I feel now…” she explained, her voice clearly showed how nervous she was at saying this. “... but I hope that maybe... it will be more than just friendship.” She concluded still holding onto him in a hug. A few more moments passed before the mare yawned. “If not… we will still be friends, right…? Who knows… Who knows…” She was exhausted, but for the first time in these last few hectic days, she felt truly at peace. It wasn't long before sleep took her and she drifted off into her dreams, snuggled in the changeling’s arms with her head on his chest.

Thorax soon felt the pull of sleep. He didn’t want to wake the mare and was too tired to even try. She looked so… cute with that calm expression on her muzzle, with closed eyes and… the green ring on her horn. The changeling smiled a bit. He had enough of this day and so did she. Without much thought, he laid down on the bed with the lavender mare still held in his arms and pulled the covers over them. “Who knows…” Before long sleep took him as a content smile graced his features.

The two knew that life was not going to be easy and they knew they were going to take it at their own pace, but now they knew their future would be much brighter than they had originally feared.

Author's Note

Hmm... something strange is going on with Celestia... I wonder what it could be....

The story will be going on hiatus for a few months because my co-writer will be gone for a while and I will be busy. The next chapter should be here a little before August.

Chapter 3: Preparations and Nobility

Author's Note

It's finally here! Thank you all for being patient! Hopefully, the next chapter won't take so long.

If you like my stuff consider following me on Patreon!

I hope you all enjoy the chapter!

Also huge thanks to my editor for having to translate mine and Julunis' broken English!

(There may be a few things my editor missed, so please quote and point them out so I can fix them.)

Chapter 3: Preparations and Nobility

Imperfect

Chapter 3: Preparationsand Nobilities

“Twilight, can I come in?” A pink alicorn knocked on the dark wooden door with a purple six-pointed star on it. Cadance sighed and knocked again as she heard no answer. “Twily, it's Cadance! I wanted to talk to you!” It was early, but the Princess of Love knew that her sister-in-law was an early riser, not unlike herself. Cadance waited another minute and huffed quietly, maybe she was still sleeping? Yesterday was tiring for her and Thorax for sure, but not just them, the preparations meeting was starting in three hours, but she really needed to talk with the younger alicorn. Maybe something happened to her? Something bad? Cadance shook her head as the image of the lavender mare lying in bed without any life and a long ‘goodbye’ letter next to her invaded her mind.

“Twilight! Ready or not, I'm coming in!” she opened the door and practically ran inside, mildly panicked, but the mare wasn't there. Her bed was in a total mess, her tiara lying on the bedside cabinet, her bag unopened next to the bed’s foot. Cadance let out a sigh, but the worry entered her mind again. ‘Where is she then? Where could she be?’ Cadance trotted out of the room and closed the door. Hearing hoofsteps echoing through the corridor, she raised her head, hoping to see her sister, but, to her disappointment, it was just a maid, a light blue earth pony.

“Oh, good morning Princess Mi Amore Cadanza,” the mare smiled timidly and bowed, but kept her gaze on the alicorn, “do you need anything?”

“Princess Cadance is fine,” the alicorn replied with a smile of her own, and a little lightbulb lit up in her mind. “Tell me, please, have you seen Princess Twilight today? I need to speak with her,” she asked with a bit of hope in her voice. The maid only shook her head.

“I'm sorry, Princess, I haven't. Forgive me for my audacity, your highness, but I've heard the rumors…” she said with a small blush on her cheeks, “is princess Twilight really going to marry the King of the Changelings?”

Cadance sighed but smiled warmly. “That's true, but the official announcement will take place today at noon. Can you please not tell the others until then?”

“Of course, Princess.”

“Good. Can you ask somepony to take care of my sister’s room?” she asked, already making the list of “possible places where Twilight could go” in her mind. The mare nodded, and after saying goodbye to Cadance, ran through the corridor. The Princess of Love sighed deeply and went in the opposite direction. She could be anywhere! the Royal Library, any of her friends’ room, her parents’ room… or maybe she was talking with Celestia? One more pony came to her mind, or more accurately, a changeling. It could be worth a try, maybe Twilight was with him now… But what could she be doing with him anyway? Cadance was really surprised seeing how good her sister was taking this whole situation. So mature, with so much dignity. She sighed deeply as she made her way to the Changeling King’s room, ‘I wish I could be like her then… I was just one year older than her… and acted like a kid…’ Her flood of thoughts was stopped when she finally found herself before the door with a purple, semi-transparent wings symbol. She hesitated at first but knocked on the door.

“Umm… hello, Thorax! It's Cadance here! Can I come in?” She heard some shuffle behind the door and a few rather quiet yawns. Suddenly she jumped in the air as the short, high-pitched scream filled the air. Maybe she was already paranoid, but that was Twilight! Why she was screaming?! What was going on in there?! Did Thorax do som-

The princess opened the door in a flash, just in time to see the lavender alicorn push her husband-to-be out of the bed and cover herself in the covers. The changeling fell on his back and grunted. After a few seconds, he managed to raise his head and sit up with a hiss.

“Thorax?! What is the meaning of this?! Why am I here?! What?!” the lavender alicorn was in a total mess, her heart beating quicker despite the fact she just woke up. Said changeling just stood up and massaged his back and neck with a hoof.

“Ugh… you came here, by yourself. In the night, remember?” he said with a calm voice. He was still too sleepy to fully understand the importance of this situation, and the reason of his betrothed’s panic attack. Twilight blinked as she momentarily calmed down and looked at Thorax with a dumb expression, she was still sleepy herself.

“Oh… I… yeah, I did…” and as quickly as she became normal, she turned to her panicked self once again, “but that doesn't excuse you! Why was I in your bed? With you? Together?!” she hid her muzzle behind a corner of the cover, and flopped her ears, she was so scared! She barely remembered what they were doing last night, she was so tired… did something happen between them?!

“You just fell asleep in my arms, I-I didn't want you to wake up!” said the changeling, blushing slightly.

“S-so, you should! And you should have escorted me to my room! And at least carried me there!”

“Wha- I have never been here before, I don't know where your chamber is!” he tried to defend himself, he was not married yet, and was already becoming a henpecked husband? No way! “Besides, I fell asleep just after you, I was too tired to think! You shouldn’t have come here in the first place!” before he understood what he said and how Twilight could interpret that, he was hit with a pillow.

“Fine! I’m sorry for being a burden on you!” the sleepy alicorn stated, and jumped on the floor, almost falling down. She opened her wings to catch her balance, and looked at Thorax with sadness and disappointment, but also with anger. The changeling was surprised at first, but after a moment huffed at her.

“Fine! Then you are free to go, spoiled princess!” Twilight felt a small twinge in her heart but managed to overcome it. She huffed with a stomp of her hoof and lifted her nose up.

“Fine!” she exclaimed and turned to the door, promptly preparing to head out… but momentarily she stood in place, unable to move, as she saw who was still standing next to the opened door. “Ca-...Cadance!” Twilight’s wings shot up in the air as she jumped to her sister-in-law. “Out!” she cried and slammed the door as soon as she pushed the shocked princess outside. The young alicorn blocked the entrance with her body, pushing her back against the door when she heard a knock.

“Twiley, plea-”

“Go away!” Twilight cried, feeling like she could die right then and there from heart palpitations. Two tears fell down her cheeks, and Thorax took note of this, standing up and approaching his fiancée carefully.

“Was that Cadance?” he asked quietly, but Twilight hushed him anyway.

“Shhh! Maybe she will go away if we don’t respond to her!” she murmured to herself as she stood up and started to stamp her hooves, furiously. “Nonononono! She saw us! Together! In your bed! What will she think of us?! Is she g-going to tell the others?! Oh, they will KILL us! You especially!” she was freaking out, her voice high and trembling, her whole body was shaking. Thorax looked at her, not sure what to do. He had to calm her down, but how…? He was more conscious with every passing moment. “Maybe we can hunt her down and erase her memory? Quick, before she gets away!” the tall changeling caught her in his magic just in time before she opened the door, he sat her on the bed and gave her a pillow. “This won’t help us, Thorax! The memory spell will!” she pushed the pillow to him, and again he had to use his magic on her to keep her in place.

“Scream.”

“What?” that word threw her off balance and she blinked few times looking at him with a strange look. The changeling once again gave her the pillow and looked at her with a reassuring smile.

“Take it and scream into it. It will help you, I promise… please…?” Twilight sighed and hugged the pillow, she took a deep breath and dived her muzzle into the cozy materiał. Her worries left her as she screamed until the air had left her lungs. She was still shivering a bit, nervous again, but it was better… Thorax wanted to speak, but the lavender alicorn decided that one scream wasn’t enough, and once again pushed the pillow against her mouth followed by Thorax cowering again for a bit, looking at her. Yesterday she was so calm… and under her own control… ‘Guess she isn’t taking it so well as she wants us to believe…’ The changeling dodged another one of Twilight’s attacks, and the pillow hit the wall with a thud. “Better now…?” he found the courage to ask her. The alicorn just laid on the bed with watery eyes, completely exhausted. She could think clearer now but was still nervous as ever. And yet… Thorax’s words were still echoing in her mind… You shouldn’t have come here in the first place! Why that was so heartbreaking for her? Another tear escaped her eye. “Twilight…?”

“I shouldn’t have come here in the first place…” Thorax cowered a little, hearing his own words said by this mare with dead tone. It was mostly his fault that Twilight freaked out… How could he do something like this to her? He sighed deeply and flopped his ears.

“Twi… I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean it… Our talk yesterday really helped me… And you too…” he reached a hoof out to her, but she curled up and looked in the opposite direction.

“I should be the one who needs to apologize, Thorax… You helped me… Gave me the support I needed, and I just… Yelled at you! I-I’m sorry, I was just so… sleepy, nervous, I panicked, I didn’t know if something happened between-” she cut and blushed furiously. “Oh gosh…” Thorax sat on the bed and smiled slightly.

“Between us? Twiley, please, I wouldn’t take advantage of you, never… After what your dad and brother said they would do to me if I did…” he chuckled, blushing a tad himself. The second pillow flew his way, but he couldn't dodge this one. “Auch! Violence in the family already?”

“Don’t make fun of me!” she hissed at him and wiped her eyes. She was now sitting near him, looking like a total mess… again. “You see how nervous I am right now?! I don’t want to freak out again because of nothing!” she waved her hooves in the air and felt on the bed once more. “I’m sooo… touchy! I HATE IT! I’m always so composed…! For… Most of the time… But that nervousness… It’s driving me crazy!”

“Hey, hey! Calm down, Twi, it will be okay… It was an accident,” Thorax said, looking at his future wife with a warm smile.

“But… Cadance saw us together… We shouldn’t… Ugh… She’ll probably tell the others, and we’re busted! And we didn’t even do anything! We need to slow down,” she sighed, turning on her belly and looking at him from under her fringe. Thorax blushed, as he suddenly thought how pretty Twilight looked from that angle, hiding from him under her hair…

“Oh… O-of course! You know, we shouldn’t rush into it or anything if we want this to work… I mean... “ he shook his head to clear his mind a bit. “We shouldn’t feel forced to fall in love with each other… It should come… Naturally, right?” he sighed with relief, as the mare nodded and sat up. He could now see her sparkling, beautiful violet eyes.

“Yeah, I agree…” she smiled too, forcing herself not to hug him right now. He was so easy to talk with, it seemed like he was the best solution for her nervousness, as someone who was already really close to her. Silence came between them, as they were looking into each other eyes, with small smiles, just enjoying each others’ company. Twilight suddenly realized that they forgot about one thing. She slowly got out of the bed, put herself together, and brushed her mane with a hoof. “I’ll go and talk to Cadance…”

“I think she’s already talking with someone else, it was some time since you-” Thorax started, but Twilight wasn’t listening anymore, she just dashed to the door and opened it vigorously.

“Cade-!” she cut her shout short when a certain pink alicorn fell into the room. Twilight looked at her surprised, as she stood up and closed the door behind her with a bright blush on her cheek.

“I-I wasn’t eavesdropping, I swear!” she murmured, and both Twilight and Thorax blushed too. The lavender mare put a hoof to her face, her embarrassment already went beyond any scales.

“Okaaay…” she sighed, putting a fake, too wide smile on her muzzle, her eye twitched a little. “So, you already know that nothing happened, we just.. Slept... Together… In one bed… But we did nothing, we swear! Don’t tell anypony, please!” she pleaded with tears in her eyes, as all of her calmness just flew away. Cadance came closer and hugged her sister-in-law.

“Twiley, I would never do that!” she assured her. “I know how hard it is to restrain yourself before the wedding…” Twilight heard her giggle and blushed even more.

“Princess Cadance, please… Don’t tease her, she’s a bit… Kinda... Very touchy…” Thorax asked politely, coming near the two mares. Cadance smiled and wiped Twilight’s eyes.

“Oh, I’m just joking, Twiley… I know that you’re really stressed… And nervous… I was going through the same thing, you know? With that difference, I got kidnapped by Chrysalis and almost lost my lover and-” seeing that this wasn’t helping at all she quickly changed the topic. “I’m… I’m sorry, but I heard some of your talks…”

“Sorry I pushed you out like this, I just… Freaked out, I wasn’t me!” the lavender mare exclaimed, flopped her ears down and rubbed her foreleg with another one.

“Don’t worry… I completely understand, Twi… I… I wanted to talk to you about something, but… You already had a tough day and the preparation meeting is coming…” she sighed, as she realized how bad Twilight looked now… She wasn’t the same calm and composed mare she saw yesterday… “Maybe you shouldn’t be there, you two need some good rest, away from this wedding fever…”

“No!” Twilight raised her head up to look at the older alicorn. She squinted her eyes and pouted, “we have the right to be there! I just need to… Get myself together… I’m a strong mare, I can do it,” she stomped a hoof on the floor to emphasize her decision. Cadance exchanged worried looks with Thorax and looked at her younger sister.

“Twilight… You don’t have to play a strong princess in front of us… You do have your limits too… If you think you can’t stand with-”

“But that’s what princess role is, isn’t it?!” Twilight was once again on the edge. There were too many things, too much stress around her, too much… Everything! “I need to pretend! To play! In front of you!” she poked Cadance’s chest with her hoof. “In front of him!” she pointed to Thorax next to her. “In front of my friends, Celestia, nobles, subjects...! Everybody! They are expecting me to be the strong, mature princess who is able to do everything, who can endure any situation with a calm smile!” she screamed, stomping a hoof on the floor. “I can’t! I can’t pretend that long! And the wedding is coming too soon! It’s happening too fast, I can’t-” she choked on her words and sobbed quietly. “I’m freaking out about almost everything! I hurt Thorax because I panicked, I pushed you outside the room and accused my parents of not caring about me! I’m a paranoid nasty filly, who can’t stay one minute without c-crying and screaming!” she sat on the floor and covered her face with her hooves. “I’m… I’m pathetic…”

“Enough,” Cadance said and sat down with her sister. Twilight soon felt herself being wrapped in two strong pink-violet wings. “It’s going to be all right.”

“Twilight, you are not pathetic, why would you say that?!” Thorax said as he gazed upon his future wife’s eyes. “You are afraid, just like me! I couldn’t… Nopony can demand you to stay calm and regal in this situation! This is too much for anyone! We understand perfectly…” Twilight sobbed, hiding her muzzle in Cadance’s mane as she heard her voice.

“Thorax is right, Twiley. You can’t blame yourself… You need time…”

“And we will give it to you. You will get as much as you need…”

“And you don’t have to pretend in front of US!”

“We are your friends… Your friends from Ponyville, your parents, your brother, Cadance… They are here for you… I am too…” the changeling added with a small blush, as he saw a spark of life in Twilight’s eyes. “You already did so much for me and my land… I mean…Our land… If you ever need my help or support… I will give it to you.” The lavender mare smiled slightly and sobbed.

“Th-thank you… I’m… sniff… I’m so thankful to have such wonderful f-friends… I really am…” she slowly stood up, still being wrapped in her sister’s wings. “I… I see I still need to learn much about how friendship works… I’m just…”

“Cut it out, Twi… don’t start again… We understand. You don’t have to justify yourself. We know…” the Princess of Love nuzzled Twilight’s cheek, which caused her to giggle despite the tears. “Can you excuse us, Thorax? I think she needs a hot relaxing bath…” the changeling nodded with a tired smile. “You could use one too. Of course separately…” she winked at the blushing King, and delicately pushed Twilight to the door.

“Of course, thank you for your advice, Princess,” he replied, looking at two mares who were about to leave his room. Twilight was gazing at him with a waiting look in her eyes. He smiled wider, “if you ever need a pillow to scream into, I’m here for you… princess Twilight.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a warm smile of her own. “And if you ever need to be hit with a pillow a few times, I’m here for you, King Thorax… Bye,” she waved a hoof to him. He waved back until the door closed behind the two mares, and let out a sigh as he jumped on the bed. He covered himself in a blanket and laid on his side. It was… So empty without Twilight by his side… But he shouldn’t be getting used to it. They won’t do it again soon, it was just a one-time situation… But the cover… Still smelled like her. He shook his head and tried to fell asleep. ‘One more hour won’t do any harm to anypony…’

Cadance, meanwhile, was escorting Twilight to the royal bathroom in another part of the castle. “So…” she started with a devilish smile, “...I told you that you would get along with him…”

“Cadie, pleeease!”

***

One hour later, both mares were clean, relaxed and with full bellies. They had talked about everything and nothing the whole time. Cadance wanted so much to tell her about one important thing, but she decided that she didn’t want to ruin her good mood. Not after all she did to bring Twilight back to her normal, happy self. They took a long, hot bath in the royal bathroom, and ate their breakfast there. They also received messages, cucumber muzzle masks, and had their manes done by the royal hairdresser. Twilight sighed as they were marching through the corridors.

“I really needed that, thank you, best sister-in-law ever!” Twilight chuckled and the pink alicorn did the same. “I feel more relaxed than ever.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Twiley. You deserved it after all this stress. I hope you won’t freak out again…” she added quietly, but Twilight huffed and cut in.

“Yeah, yeah, me too, can we NOT start this topic again, please?”

“Of course… Just remember one thing…” Cadance tried once again to speak.

“I’m not alone, I know. And I have your support and my friends’ and family too. Thank you, Cadance. For everything,” the princess of friendship smiled slightly, and nuzzled her former foalsitter, Cadance smiled too. They were approaching a little crowd that gathered in front of the royal meeting room. Twilight straightened her mane a bit and checked her tiara. Well, she was about to become a queen, she had to behave properly in front of… The Nobles… She greeted them each with a slight bow of her head, as the older alicorn was doing, she then saw a group of changelings near the end of the balcony.

Twilight regally excused herself to Cadance, and trotted that way, as the pink alicorn started a conversation with one of the mares. The lavender princess spotted Thorax, his brother, and a few other changelings talking passionately about something. She could see how Thorax was composed, or maybe he wanted them to think of him that way? In any case, he had no signs on his posture that something happened only a few hours earlier.

”So, you did research on the Equestrian Nobles Monarchy, right, Anteness?” She could hear Thorax’s voice as she came closer, but it seemed that no one of the changelings noticed her. Said changeling, a dark blue male without wings, nodded and showed the long scroll to the king and his brother.

“Yes, Thorax. According to actual Equestrian Law Book, the nobles had more power than princesses themselves. They meet every month to discuss new rights and other current cases. A Princess can make a proposal of making a new law or changing an existing one, but the nobles had to accept her idea before she can make it so.” Anteness explained, as Pharynx took the scroll in his magic aura, and started to read it really quickly. Thorax looked above his shoulder and glanced at the paper.

“Huh, very interesting. What about the princesses objecting to the nobles’ will?” The other smaller changeling asked. Twilight assumed by her voice that she was female. She was a bit smaller than the rest, is probably the only female changeling in the legation. She also had a long tail, and a smaller horn, which wasn’t forked like the males’ and had no crystals on her neck.

“If one of the princesses breaks the law, they can be judged like a normal pony. Also, if the princess doesn’t agree to the nobles idea, they can object to her, and ask another princess for her help.” Anteness said, which caused the third changeling, a yellow-greenish male with no horn on his head, to cringe a little.

“So, this whole talk about nobles attacking our Kingdom if Princess Twilight and Thorax didn’t agree to marry each other was real? Could they do that against Princess Celestia’s will?” he asked in a low voice and Thorax nodded sadly.

“It seemed so. Princess Celestia wanted to prevent the repressions of the Changeling Kingdom, so she proposed an alliance, but the nobles wanted it to be sealed with a marriage like it was done long ago, even before the princesses’ reign. And Twilight was the only ‘single’ princess…“ he added with a sad voice, and Pharynx huffed loudly, folding the scroll and giving it back to the smaller changeling.

“There would be no war, and no forced marriage if we just said NO and attacked them first! We shouldn’t prostrate in front of these ponies like their princesses do!” he hissed, looking in the nobles direction with fire in his eyes, but then he spotted the lavender alicorn standing near them with a curious but also scared look. Pharynx blinked his eyes, surprised, his expression changed momentarily. “Uhh, Thora-”

“Pharynx, for the hive’s sake, we talked about it!” the taller changeling growled at his brother, as he started to lose his composed mask. “We are a peaceful community now, we will do anything to keep the peace in our land, understand?!”

“Yeah, yeah, but Thora-” he started, looking at Twilight with embarrassment.

“I’m not finished yet! I let you train our army, but only for defending ourselves. We won’t attack first! Never! Besides, marrying Twilight is a-” a short gasp interrupted him when a female changeling turned back and saw said alicorn just a few steps behind them.

“P-princess Twilight Sparkle!” she bowed quickly in front of her, and the other changelings did the same. Twilight smiled, slightly bowing to them as well.

“T-twilight, I mean, Princess, I’m so sorry, we didn’t know you were here!” said Thorax, putting his ears down with an embarrassed smile.

“I did,” huffed Pharynx, as he stood up, and his older brother hissed at him with one word: Behave!

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m sorry too, I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation, I just… Wanted to say hello and welcome you to Equestria,” she said with a smile, looking at the smaller changelings. “We didn’t meet earlier, did we?”

“Oh, right. Princess Twilight, let me introduce you to the first Changelings legation,” Thorax took reign as the king and cleared his throat. “This is Antennes, Femur, and Costa. Chosen from the newly formed Changeling Senate, representatives of all Changelings,” Twilight shook hooves with every one of them.

“It’s an enormous honor, Princess Twilight. We are really thankful for what you did to our land, we are looking forward to having you as our queen!” said Costa, blushing slightly, as she was talking to a royal. Twilight chuckled and smiled warmly.

“I’m really glad to hear that. It’s an honor for me as well, to become your ruler. I will do anything I can to make your lives better.”

“Well, you can’t be worse than Chrysalis, soo…” Pharynx started but was hit slightly on the hoof by his brother. “Hey!” Twilight laughed quietly, and the legation did the same.

“It’s okay, really. It’s nice to finally see you, Pharynx,” she said with a big grin on her muzzle, as she reached a hoof to him. The changeling cleared his throat and smiled devilishly.

“If we are on this whole ‘regal’ level of speaking now, Princess Twilight, it’s Prince Pharynx, the First General of The Changeling Army,” he said. Twilight blinked in surprise.

“Oh, I… Didn’t know that, I am truly sorry, Prince Pharynx,” she said with a smile, seeing the second tallest changeling gave a proud smile. “If I can ask, what were you talking about? I might have heard some of it, I’m sorry…”

“It’s no problem” assured Antennes. “We were actually hoping you could better explain it to us. Is it true that the noble council has more power than the princesses?”

“Oh, of course, I can explain, and no not completely.” She began, going into lecture mode. “The nobles write the laws and have command of the army, due to the fact that they own most of the land in Equestria, and the resources on them. Celestia has the power to annul any law that the nobility proposes, or that has been put in place, however, the nobility can put it to a vote, and if they have a supermajority in the council, they can overrule the princess. If both Celestia and Luna wish, they have the right to completely overrule the council’s wishes and do as they please, the exception is that they cannot command the army… Well, they could, but because the nobility owns most of the resources in Equestria, they could easily declare independence, and thus there would be no way to supply the army if the princesses abuse their power,” she finished.

“Ugg… I retract my statement about you not being worse than Chrysalis,” Pharynx groaned, which earned him a hit upside the head from his brother, “Ow, what was that for?!”

“Being rude,” Thorax replied in a huff, then turned to his fiancée. “Sorry about that, Twilight, it’s just that Chrysalis liked to monologue a lot, and many of us got tired of hearing her ramble.”

“Oh, I’m sorry… maybe I should just talk a little less,” her ears folded back, looking away with embarrassment. Thorax cringed at the disappointed look on her muzzle.

“No, it’s okay, you shouldn’t have to worry about it.” He rested a hoof on her shoulder, “Chrysalis only ever talked about how great she was, as long as you don’t do that, then I doubt anyone will mind. Like I said, Twilight, the changelings will love you,” he reassured. Twilight looked at him for a moment, thinking, before nodding.

“It still sounds like the nobility has more power than the princesses. What’s to stop the nobility from breaking away at any moment?” Femur asked.

“Oh, that’s easy, because the princesses are loved by most, if not all the ponies, some of them even see Celestia and Luna as Gods. If the nobility wanted to break away they would need a reason to. If Celestia and Luna took full control of the military, the nobles could distort the information to make it look like Celestia or Luna plan on creating a military state, or conquer the world through propaganda, just as an example,” she lectured.

“Sounds like your political system has a very delicate balance,” Femur stated with a curious look.

“What about your government?” Twilight asked.

“Basically, my brother and I have absolute power, our word is practically law. Though we do have a council of elected representatives who advise us,” Pharynx explained, “there is nothing to stop us from disbanding it, beyond our desire to be better than Chrysalis.”

“Currently, I have more power than my brother,” Thorax explained. “This is mostly because his power is technically only in the army, and as it is right now, we have almost no military.” The shorter royal changeling groaned.

“Don’t remind me, after Chrysalis’ militaristic reign, most changelings aren't too eager to throw themselves into combat,” he grumbled.

“Don't worry, Prince Pharynx, I’m sure our new queen will come up with a solution, I heard she is really, really smart!” Costa praised while looking expectantly at Twilight. Twilight immediately became uncomfortable.

“I… Er-well… You see… Umm…” she stumbled and started to feel the panic rise in her chest, thankfully Thorax came to her rescue.

“Costa, please,” he half-pleaded, half-scolded, “Twilight has a lot going on right now, we’ll worry about our issues later, but for now let’s just focus on the wedding and alliance,” he said while giving Twilight a side glance to see how she was fairing. She gave him a small, thankful smile, Thorax gave a tiny nod before turning back to see Costa visibly shaking, covering and looking at Thorax like he was about to punish her. He sighed, “please, not again... Costa, I’m not going to punish you, okay? I just want you to calm down, I’m not Chrysalis, I won’t hurt you.” He did his best to reassure her, trying to smile. Costa nodded but was still visibly shaking.

“Come on, Costa, let’s go get you some water,” Antennas said while leading her to a table with drinks set out on it.

“I’ll go with them to make sure she’s okay, I’ll see you later your Majesties,” Femur said, and bowed slightly, before going to join Antennas and Costa.

“I’m going to see if I can find your brother before the meeting, maybe he could give me some advice on getting the changelings to enlist,” Pharynx said to Twilight, before leaving the soon to be wedded alone. Thorax let out a long sigh of frustration.

“Most of the Changelings are like that, they are afraid of making me upset, that I might punish them. Costa was one of Chrysalis’s main targets for random punishment. You become their queen, I hope, will help them become less afraid of me… ” the changeling king explained with a sad frown.

“I just hope, I can be what they need me to be,” she replied, trying to comfort both her and her future husband.

“I’m sure you will do fine, from all the stories I’ve heard of you and what I’ve seen, I know you’ll be a good queen, and I’ll also be there to help you, as well as my brother,” he soothed, and was rewarded with a thankful smile. Just then, the doors to the room opened, and in stepped the rest of the nobility, along with Celestia before they made their way over to the table, where the wedding planning would begin.

“Well, at least I get to plan my wedding,” Twilight whispered before she made her way over to the table, with Thorax following right next to her. Seeing them make their way over to the table, Cadance joined them along with the Changeling Council. Upon seeing Twilight, however, many of the nobles looked upset, many of them having a deep frown. The only one who looked happy to see Twilight was Fancy Pants, even Celestia didn’t look too happy, though she hid it well. Once they were all seated, Celestia spoke.

“Good morning, everypony!” she said cheerfully, though it sounded somewhat forced. She then turned to one of the noble ponies, a mare, “why don’t you start us off, Golden Crest?” The golden-maned pink unicorn nodded to Celestia, before returning to facing forward and opening a folder.

“Of course, your Majesty.” she cleared her throat and used her magic to take out a few sketched papers. “We shall start with the main problem: the wedding dress for Princess Twilight Sparkle. I already asked our royal designer to sketch a few ideas, all we have to do is choose.”

“Which royal designer?” Cadance asked, noticing Twilight frowning a bit.

“The one who made the gorgeous dresses for Princess Celestia, Luna, and you, Princess Cadenza, for Princess Twilight’s coronation,” Golden Crest answered, and the lavender princess froze as she remembered those dresses. Her gown was really well made and beautiful, but the other princesses’ dresses… they were bad. Even for Twilight, who had a limited fashion sense could tell they were. She didn't have to look at these sketches to know that they were terrible. Not only that, after her coronation, Rarity had gone on a rant to her about how horrible they were, especially Luna’s dress. Twilight had fully agreed with Rarity on that one, even she could tell how horribly the colors clashed. She gulped quietly and raised her hoof. Celestia blinked slowly, looking at her with irritation in her eyes.

“Is something wrong, Princess Sparkle?” she inquired, forcing herself to smile and sound nice.

“Can I speak now?” the mare asked regally. Celestia looked over the nobles, who, eventually, nodded their heads, as did she. Twilight took a deep breath, smiling confidently. “Well, dear nobles, majesties, and changelings. With all due respect, you have your ideas for my dress, but we have them too. You may know the designer Rarity, she is a dearest friend of mine, and she recently drew a few sketches for my dress, using mine and King Thorax’s suggestions.” Twilight used her magic to teleport said sketches from Rarity’s chamber to the meeting room, then quickly used the copying spell she learned from Starlight. A few nobles gasped quietly with amazement, and Twilight smiled, feeling more confident every second. She handed them out to every creature. “We thought about using traditional, modest white dress with a few greenish details, and long a semi-transparent train, which would mimic a changeling’s tail. Necklaces with greenish crystals would finish the job. The differences between the sketches are simply the dresses’ shapes, sleeves length, etc…” she finished. The observing ponies and changeling looked at the papers. Some of them were truly impressed, but some of them looked displeased. “Of course, I don't want to discard the Royal designers’ sketches, I just thought, Rarity’s are more... Suitable,” she finished with a smile.

“Thank you, for your… Ideas and these sketches, Princess,” one of the stallions, a light-brown unicorn with beige mane and tail, said in low voice, looking at Twilight. “But I don't think that Rarity could compare to our Royal designers. She is a really high-rank designer, but these sketches are…” he looked at them with visible disgust. “Too simple. Too modest. A Queen-to-be should be seen with a big, gorgeous gown, not simple, straight, rustic, backwater dress for a village party. Of course, no offense for your taste, your Majesty, but this is a serious ceremony, and we need serious solutions...” Twilight forced herself not to huff aloud but was visibly upset by that comment.

“I actually like these sketches,” said one mare, she possessed a light orange coat, and a darker orange mane, looking through papers with an amazed look. “They are modest, yet elegant and shines, just like Princess Twilight herself. I prefer these,” she stated. The Princess of Friendship looked at her with a silent, “Thank you,” in her eyes, a few other nobles and all the changelings nodded with agreement. But then Celestia cleared her throat, taking everybody's attention.

“Yes, Rarity’s sketches are genuinely good, she is a well-known designer. But…” she started, and Twilight just knew, she will try to dump her idea. The young Princess glanced at Thorax, and he nodded at her, noticing that, as he wants to say, “you have my support, Twilight.“ “...she is also Princess Sparkle’s best friend. We shouldn't favor any one pony, especially during such a big and important ceremony...” Twilight huffed in her mind and rolled her eyes. Before she could say anything, Cadance took the lead.

“That shouldn't be a problem, dear Aunt. If we want to be sure, that my sister-in-law dress is the best we could afford and that we don't favor one designer, we could organize a little contest. We will announce it right after our meeting, and every designer is free to bring us one of their sketches for Twilight's dress. Then, without knowing their creator’s names, we will choose the best one. Is every creature okay with this?” she smiled genuinely, ignoring murderous looks that her aunt gave her. She was on Twilight's side during this conflict. Celestia frowned, but one of the nobles spoke up first.

“We don’t have time, we need to have the wedding finished in a few days. I’d rather get these bugs on a leash sooner rather than later,” the light blue stallion argued, with no regard to the changelings sitting at the table nearby. Thorax frowned deeply, and Pharynx bared his teeth, with a quiet hiss.

“I agree with Turquoise Light, Princess Cadenza, I, along with my fellow nobility, would rather do this sooner, we don’t fully trust the changelings, and would like to have this alliance formed before they try anything,” Golden Crest explained a bit more gently, though Twilight was still put off by it. The young alicorn knew that Golden was trying hard not to sound offensive, but it was clear that she held the same views as Turquoise. It started to make more sense why they were having her marry Thorax. The changelings would essentially be tied to Equestria, and with Twilight as their Queen, she could defend them in the case that the nobility wanted to try and wrongfully exploit them. I guess that’s why the marriage makes some sense, but why me? Also, if they are going to force us to marry, the least they could do is let us plan our own wedding!

“I’m sorry Twilight, but this is time sensitive, and we need to avoid wasting time,” Celestia said in an even tone, before turning back to Golden Crescent. “What’s next on the agenda?”

“Actually, if I could make a small suggestion...” Thorax spoke up, causing all the nobles to look at him with slight annoyance, but didn't stop him, so he continued. “I was wondering if you could make a few changes to the designs, so they could compliment, like for example, my attire could have pink crystals in the shape of Princess Twilight’s cutie mark, and have her dress have a few translucent pieces of fabric, like that of a changeling’s tail,” he explained. Golden Crescent gave a look of thought before she gave a nod.

“It sounds interesting, I’ll discuss it with the royal designer after the meeting,” she replied. Thorax gave a look to Twilight, basically asking, ‘did that help?’ Twilight showed her appreciation with a small smile, but in reality, she was still upset that they ignored her suggestions, but still went with Thorax’s ideas. She understood that he was trying to help, and she appreciated it very much, but that didn’t hide the fact that she was overlooked, and not even her mentor had come to her aid.

The rest of the meeting was not much better. When they began talking about decorations, once again Twilight tried to give some suggestions but was either ignored, or they outright rejected it. Cadance would try to help by trying to find some middle ground, but it was always brushed aside. Thorax had more success, though only a few times were his suggestions actually considered. That was also another thing that Twilight couldn’t understand, the nobility clearly didn’t trust changelings, so why were they listening to Thorax more than her or Cadance?! There was also the fact that Celestia seemed to be dead set on appeasing the nobility, she was even more confused when Celestia gave an idea for the dance.

“If I may make a suggestion, I had an idea for the couple’s first dance,” Celestia spoke up, getting the attention of all at the table before continuing. “I think it would be a good idea to have a mixed-race dance. In other words, for the first dance, each pony would be paired with a changeling, and vice-versa.”

“An excellent idea, your Majesty!” the orange mare exclaimed, and the others nodded. It took all of Twilight’s will not to storm off right then and there. Even worse was the response they gave to Twilight when they started talking about the food. Again, Twilight suggested that her friends, Applejack and Pinkie Pie be allowed to take part in preparing the food.

“Errr, Excuse me, Princess, do these ponies happen to be earth ponies by any chance?” Turquoise asked with raised eyebrow.

“Um… Yes, why would you ask?” Twilight responded, already not liking where this appeared to be going.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but I think it would be best that they are not apart of the wedding in any capacity. It may bring down the validity of your wedding to invite peasantry to be a part of it,” he reasoned. Twilight was appalled by this, she turned to her former mentor for some sort of support, but got none. Celestia seemed unfazed by the bigoted stallion. The purple alicorn couldn’t take it anymore, she stood up abruptly and charged out of the room.

“Twilight!” Cadance shouted, but it was no use, she had already left. Thorax stood up too and ran after her. Pharynx remained where he was, glaring daggers at the nobility. The other changelings simply stood, looking shocked by their soon to be queen, and current king runs out of the room. Cadance turned back to the nobility and her aunt. “Okay, that’s it. I’ve been letting this go on for long enough. I’m invoking my power as the Princess of Love and vetoing all of your suggestions. The wedding will be planned by me, Princess Twilight, the Elements of Harmony, and the changelings,” she said with a stamp of her hoof on the table.

“Cadance…” Celestia began.

“No, Auntie, you and I are going to have a talk about this later, but I’ve let this political wedding go on the way it has long enough. I’ve agreed to let Twilight and Thorax be married, because I have confidence that a real, romantic relationship can come out of it, but if this wedding is not a happy memory for both of them in some capacity, then it makes the chances of that relationship forming much lower, and I will not stand for it.”

“We can easily overturn your veto, Princess Cadenza,” Turquoise argued.

“I can easily pull my support form the populace, and that may not even be necessary if Twilight pulled her support, because, let me remind you, Twilight has saved Equestria a total of six times now! If ponies found out how you were treating their hero and princess, her wedding dress design would be the least of your worries,” she retorted quite firmly. “You may be in the right on how to deal with the changeling threat, but you have no right to disrespect Twilight, your princess, as you have, or our future allies!” she finished before storming out, likely to comfort her sister-in-law.

In another part of the castle, Thorax was running after Twilight, leaving shocked guards and maids behind him.

“Twilight! Please, wait! ” he shouted at her, panting slightly, but she just turned into another corridor. Before the Changeling King could ascertain where they were, Twilight shut the door to her room right before his muzzle. He sighed and knocked a few times, “Twilight? Can I come in?”

“No, go away,” came the answer. Thorax put his ear to the wooden door. Her voice was so… Stoic, so dead... He knocked one more time.

“Twilight, please, we need to talk...”

“Go and talk with the nobles, I noticed you're very good with that!” she huffed from behind the door. She sounded better now, but was still clearly upset and sounded a little sad too. Thorax blinked with confusion.

“What? That's why you ran away? Because they liked my ideas and not yours?” just after he finished his sentence the door opened suddenly, making Thorax almost fall down. He caught his balance and looked the mare in her eyes.

“No! Not only because of that! They insulted my friends! Earth ponies aren't worse than pegasi or unicorns in any regard!” she stomped her hoof down with a murderous gaze. “And how about the way they were talking to you?! Changelings are just like us, and they were treating you like nothing! Those racist fffaaaarrrg!!!” She raged and stormed back into her room. She didn't close the door, so Thorax followed after her. He looked back and forth down the hallway to make sure no one heard her outburst before closing the door.

“You should be careful or they will hear you, and abdicate you,” Thorax said jokingly, in a hope to help her mood, but seeing Twilight’s lack of a reaction made his smile disappear. “Well, can I be honest with you?”

“I guess…? About what?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. Thorax looked at her with a serious expression.

“Well… I know they might have insulted your friends-”

“They DID insult my friends!” she cut in his words, putting her ears down. “What, are you defending them now? Like Celestia’s doing?! They offended your WHOLE kingdom and its citizens! I can't stand that kind of ignorance and bigotry! THAT'S why I ran awa- I left the meeting!” she exclaimed before marching over to her bed. She pulled out a luggage case from her closet, placed it on the bed, and began to fill it with the few things she brought with her. “I’m not staying here any longer, I’m going back to Ponyville, and I’m…” she trailed off as Thorax sighed.

“Twilight, you can't run away and hide in Ponyville.”

“I’m not running away!” she turned around and glared at him in defiance. Thorax just shook his head.

“I’m a changeling, running and hiding was something I did all the time, and you are doing it now,” he argued. Twilight gave a dejected sigh.

“Fine, I’m running and hiding, what do you want from me?!” she said with a pout.

“I don’t know you on a personal level all that much, but I have heard a lot about your adventures. And from these stories, one thing I’ve been able to glean is that you never run from your problems. Unless you charging down Nightmare Moon is an exaggeration?” He inquired. Twilight was now sitting on the bed looking mildly embarrassed. She was never a fan of being praised.

“No, it’s sort of true, but I teleported before I collided with her.”

“You still charged her, and might I remind you that you fought an army of we changelings.” he smiled sadly.

“But I was with my friends!” she tried to argue.

“So? You still fought us without running and hiding.”

“Yeah well…” she tried to argue, but Thorax continued.

“You also fought Tirek to a standstill!”

“But I had the power of four alicorns!” she tried to argue again, but it was a flimsy argument and she knew it. After Tirek destroyed her home, Twilight went full force at the centaur and almost won. If it weren’t for the fact that he used her friends as hostages, she probably would have beaten him. After a few more moments, Thorax continued.

“If you leave, it means you were beaten by a bunch of stuffy nobles!” he exclaimed. “The mare who fought, Nightmare Moon, Discord, an army of changelings, saved the Crystal Empire, and fought a being with all the magic in Equestria! And you’re running away from a bunch of bigoted ponies who didn’t like your wedding ideas? Come on, Twilight, you’re better than this!” he finished, hoping he somehow helped her. Twilight remained still for a moment, going over it in her mind. He was right! What was she doing? She had faced much worse, both with and without others by her side. Twilight got off the bed, walked up to the changeling king, and wrapped her hooves around his neck in a great big hug.

“Thank you, Thorax, you’re right I need to be stronger!” she affirmed. Thorax returned the hug.

“Of course, Twilight, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t help?”

“OOOH, YOU TWO ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER!” a voice squealed from the door. The two turned to see Cadance standing in the doorway with a wide smile on her face.

“Cadance? What are YOU DOING HERE?!” Twilight squeaked, jumping away from Thorax, who blushed furiously just like his fiancée.

“Oh, I just came after the trail of love in the air…” Cadance giggled, which caused both of the betrothed to cower a bit. “Aww, come on! I want to tell you something very important!” Twilight’s ears perked up. Why she was so happy?

“What is it?” Thorax found the courage to ask, despite still blushing. “Has something happened during the meeting after we left?” Twilight felt guilty and ashamed as he reminded her that. We left… This should be ‘Twilight run away!’ she huffed at herself. The changeling noticed Twilight’s mood changed and after opening one of his wings, he put it on her back and hugged delicately. The lavender alicorn blinked her eyes and looked at him with a shy smile.

“Quite a lot, actually” Cadance smiled, looking at Twilight and her fiancé. “I vetoed nobility’s suggestions, stood against my aunt and declared that WE will organize the wedding!” Both Twilight and Thorax looked at her with disbelief in their eyes, their mouths gaping wide open.

“Wait… You’re kidding, right?” Thorax asked, but Cadance shook her head with her smile even wider.

“No! We have to get the elements, and your legation, Thorax, here, as soon as possible! We only have a few days and have a whole wedding to prepare!” she was feeling her heart glow, as she watched her sister-in-law’s smile getting bigger, and her eyes almost watery. Twilight just jumped to Cadance and hugged her tightly.

“Yes! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” she squeaked and jumped in the air with a happy neigh. She immediately blushed and hid behind her mane. “Oh my, I’m sorry, I’m just so happy! Thank you, Cadance!” she hugged the taller alicorn one more time, and picked up a paper and quill with her magic. “I’ll write to my friends to let them know they need to get ready! When we will meet, Caddy?”

“In the meeting room, it should be empty.”

“I still can’t believe it! Thank you, Princess,” Thorax smiled, as Cadance watched in awe while Twilight was writing eight different letters at the same time, and searching for the notebook with her wedding ideas. “How did you do that? Weren’t the nobles angry at you? And… Well… What about Princess Celestia?” Cadance sighed quietly, even Twilight calmed down a bit and came closer, listening.

“Well, she didn’t take it well. But it was absurd, you should have the right to organize your wedding, even if it’s political. And…” she sighed. “I’m really sorry about the way the nobles treated you and the other changelings, Thorax,” she added sadly, putting her ears down.

“Don’t apologize for them, Cadance, it’s not your fault,” Thorax stated and smiled at the princess. She smiled too.

“I know, but I feel kinda responsible for what they do. I’ll go talk to Celestia later.”

“I’d like to talk with her too-” Twilight started, but was cut by her sister.

“No, Twily, I will do it. You have more important matters to attend to right now!” she smiled, as she again saw sparkles in the younger alicorn’s eyes.

“Oh, right! Wedding! Oh, Rarity will be on a cloud nine, when we tell her about it! She really wanted to make our suits! She and the others will be in the meeting room, in 15 minutes, I also asked Spike to find and bring the changeling legation with him!” she said, as she magically sent all of the letters. She glanced at Cadance with a genuine smile. “Thank you… Once again… I feel way better, knowing I have some control now!”

“Yes, me too. But we could use some of the previous ideas,” Thorax added, taking the lavender notebook from Twilight’s aura to his. He wrote a few sentences. “Like, the changeling-tail-like train for your dress, your cutie marks symbols… Or the dance…” he added with a slight blush. Twilight and Cadance looked at him with surprise.

“The dance? You liked this one?” the younger princess asked him, and he nodded shyly.

“Well, actually… It could be a really good idea to try to make ponies and changelings integrate with each other. I know that other ponies aren’t so radical about us like nobles are, but… I don’t think everyone loves us, despite our reforming… The dance could be an amazing ‘excuse’ for them to talk with each other and form a camaraderie,” the mares thought about for a moment before they nodded, almost in sync.

“It could be a really good idea. We’ll ask the rest of our wedding committee what they think about that. Come on, Thorax, Caddy, the meeting will start right away!” Twilight cheered as she went towards the door leaping like Pinkie Pie, so happy and excited… Cadance laughed a bit, but went towards another corridor, as they exited the room.

“Go ahead, I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes! But if I'm late, start without me, don’t worry!” she exclaimed after her sister and her husband-to-be and trotted to one particular pony’s chamber.

“Celestia, we need to talk,” Cadance said outside the sun princess’s door after she knocked on it a few times. She refrained from referring to her as Aunty Celestia to show that she was not pleased.

“Come in, Cadance,” came the alicorn’s voice through the door. With a flick of her magic, the pink alicorn opened the door and stepped into the room. Celestia was sitting at her desk, going through a stack of papers. “I don’t like being overruled, Cadance,” Celestia said with a neutral tone, not even looking at her niece.

“I don’t know what has gotten into you, Celestia, but you need to stop. I know you well enough that you care deeply for Twilight, and would do anything to make her happy... I’m a little surprised that you didn’t come to her defense when those nobles not only ignored her suggestions for her wedding but also let them insult her and her friends as they did. You just sat there and did nothing,” she finished with a stamp of her hoof. Celestia’s expression changed quickly to that of a sad frown. She put down her quill and a few papers.

“You’re right, Cadance… I’m sorry. Things have been a bit stressful lately, and my mind has been elsewhere. With Luna away dealing with a problem to the South, I’ve had my hooves full, I am just so tired and stressed… It’s really hard to control everything that’s happening here...” she explained. Cadance seemed to contemplate her words for a while before nodding.

“That explains why I haven't seen Luna in a while, but I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. I want you to say you’re sorry to Twilight before her wedding,” she stated, giving her aunt a serious look.

“Very well, Cadance. Now, excuse me, but I must get back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said before turning back to her aforementioned work. Cadance nodded before walking out, without a word. Celestia continued on to her work and pulled out a checklist. She checked a small box on the list after she finished the stack of papers. She then noticed the next, and final task on her list. “Oh, I have one more thing I need to do…” She opened the door and stuck her head into the hallway to make sure no one was coming. She then pulled her head back in before closing and locking the door. “I have someone important to talk to…” She gave a sneer as she walked over to a black spot on her wall. She pressed her right hoof against its smooth surface, and a click sound came from the wall as a section of said wall pulled back and to the side. Celestia entered the secret passageway, and the wall slid closed behind her, leaving the chamber empty.

Chapter 4: Weddings and Dances

Imperfect

Chapter 4: Weddings and Dances

“I swear to Celestia, if you move ONE MORE TIME, I will STAB you with that needle on PURPOSE!” Rarity yelled, stomping her hoof on the floor. Twilight turned to her with a nervous, embarrassed grin, putting her ears down.

“Sorry, Rarity, I'm just-”

“Yes, I know, I've heard it almost thirteen times already,” the white unicorn muttered, as she took a fold of her alicorn friend's dress in her magic aura and examined it carefully. “It's been 2 hours now, I'm tired and nervous, just as you. It could have taken less time, but somepony can't stand in one place for five minutes!” she hissed the last sentences under her breath, observing the dress and going in circles around the purple alicorn standing on a dais with her wedding dress on. The princess trotted in place with a panicked expression, causing the designer to growl in annoyance.

“I said I'm sorry! How much more time do you need to finish it? I-I don't want to be late! And why did you cover all the mirrors here- Ouch! Rarity!” she whined with a frown.

“...and I said I would stab you. Stay. Still. For Luna's sake!” the unicorn cried out as she checked and improved another part of the dress near Twilight's flanks. She murmured something about wedding fever and Twilight rolled her eyes. “I covered the mirrors because you could see yourself and correct me in everything I would do. And, no offense darling, after what happened on our first gala, I won't take any pieces of advice from you. You and Thorax helped me a lot with the sketches, but now, it's only my job to make this dress gorgeous. Can you not-! Thank you… even Thorax was better than you with that one task! You are unbearable today! I can understand why the girls are already so exhausted!” Twilight blushed and flicked her tail nervously, getting another stab from Rarity.

“Ouch! Hey, you all know it's not my fault… It's my… big day, isn't it? It has to be perfect-”

“Yes, darling, but you are pushing yourself too much into this! We agreed that WE will organize this. That means, me, the rest of our friends, Cadance, and the changelings. You had only inspected our work at the end. So stop worrying. You already checked everything twice-”

“Three times.”

“...three times. You had your hair done, beautifully, I must say. I love the way your mane pulls into these locks over your neck…” Rarity gave herself a moment to admire her friend’s mane-style with a genuine smile. Twilight hummed quietly and looked at her friend.

“I would prefer if they just let them be straight as always. I think these curls don't really fit me… And-And what will Thorax and other guests think about it? Will it be a disaster?! Maybe we should cancel the wedding before it's too late!” Rarity just rolled her eyes and sighed deeply.

“Celestia, please have mercy… TWILIGHT, darling!” she used her magic to stop Twilight in place, as she was about to jump off the dais and run away. The alicorn struggled in her friend’s magic aura but sighed deeply moments later. Rarity carefully took off her spell, looking at the princess attentively, exclaiming, “I swear, I have never had a bride-to-be more nervous than you are. It is just beyond any comprehension, dear! First, you almost made Pinkie depressed, when you didn’t enjoy the decorations she organized with that female changeling-”

“B-but I was just… my mind was elsewhere, I didn’t mean to hurt Pinkie’s feelings…” Twilight interrupted but watched herself not to move. One more stab on her flank and she will start bleeding, for sure.

“Well, you could have at least pretended that you were happy about them. Pinkie thought she failed you when the only response she got from you was ‘That’s good.’ said without any other emotion than boredom!” she scolded the alicorn, who cowered a little, but quickly straightened up, hearing her friend hiss in annoyance.

“I-I know, I should have been more concerned about that… I will apologize to her after this fitting, I hope she won’t be mad at me…” Twilight stammered quietly, her ears flopped down on her head.

“I hope the others won’t be too…” the designer huffed as she picked up Twilight’s hoof and adjusted the golden shoe on it. Twilight blinked and looked at her friend surprised, feeling slightly offended by that.

“What was that supposed to mean?” she asked with one eyebrow raised as Rarity rolled her eyes.

“Should I remind you how you treated Rainbow during her lessons? You two almost had a fight in the middle of the ballroom!” Twilight cringed and blushed furiously.

“That’s not my fault! She wasn’t so gentle with my wings and you KNOW how sensitive they are!” she tried to defend herself, but already knew she was on the losing position during this quarrel. She behaved like total jerk…

“And you KNOW how she hates dancing, but she agreed to teach you and Thorax how to use your wings during your first dance. I can understand now, why she couldn’t withstand with you after you yelled at her. It was clearly your fault that you fell, not her nor Thorax. Thank Celestia that he separated you two, before she-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, I messed up… again…” Twilight sighed deeply and lowered her head, as Rarity was working on her trail now. “I just… was so touchy then. I hated how she corrected my every move.”

“Twi, darling, are you aware that you are a terrible dancer?” Rarity asked, sewing few more little crystal rocks on the material, not even looking at Twilight, who rolled her eyes.

“I am! But that wasn’t it, I-I felt like she criticized my every action just to make me mad! I… ugh… I don’t know anymore… I hope Fluttershy is doing better…” she murmured and quickly straightened up, because Rarity finished the trail and came back to her, examining the crystals on her chest.

“I hope so! What did you say to her, that we found you two crying in each other arms in the garden?! You just had to check if it was decorated and ready for the wedding!” Twilight again cowered, fighting the urge to hide behind her wings.

“I said I was sorry! I was so… overwhelmed… I had to talk to her… about this wedding, Thorax, everything… she was trying to help, b-but I started crying, I don’t know why, a-and she then looked at me with her big, turquoise eyes, filled with tears, I-I couldn’t hold mine back, I just-” Twilight was stammering, feeling her eyes begin to well up with tears again, and her voice tremble, Rarity quickly noticed this and looked at her, putting down her needles and threads.

“Twily, darling, please stop. Don’t let it overtake you again, inhale and exhale…” she started quietly, gently caressing her friend’s shoulder. Twilight gulped loudly and sobbed, but followed the unicorn’s words. Rarity smiled a bit, seeing her friend calming down with every breath. “Easy there, Twi. You can do it… Don’t think about bad things, I’m sure you will be happy after all,” she giggled as she saw Twilight’s smile. “I can’t believe you today. First, you cried in the garden for about half an hour, and just a few minutes later you were so excited about this wedding you almost threw off your cake with your wing when you saw it. I thought that Applejack would kill you for almost destroying her masterpiece, she just finished decorating it!” the alicorn hid her flushed face behind her wings, but Rarity took them away. “Now, now, I finished my job too. Want to see it?” before Twilight could answer, the unicorn used her magic to uncover all mirrors around her alicorn friend.

Twilight gasped in amazement, as she was examining herself in a reflection. Her mane was indeed gorgeous, curls were enclosing her neck, but her fetlocks remained mostly straight, only slightly curled at the ends. Her dress looked ten thousand times better than on Rarity’s sketches - it was white, straight, with the long trail, which started with a pearl white color at her body, but ended semi-transparent, it was also sparkling a bit due to the little crystals on it. The dress also had a golden colored material, which began above her wings before going down her flanks, similar to her coronation dress. On her golden chest necklace, she had three light-blue diamond-shaped crystals, just like her husband-to-be. In a few places, Rarity had made a few pinkish and purplish touches, but the dress looked just like Twilight wanted it to look - modest and beautiful at the same time. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to, Rarity knew from the look on her face that her friend just fell in love in her work. The unicorn smiled with pride as she took the last piece of her friend’s gown in her magic aura.

“Rarity…” Twilight started, but Rarity interrupted her, putting a golden tiara with a veil on her head, careful not to ruin her hair.

“Shh. The last piece aaaaand, there!” she grinned genuinely, as she stepped back to admire her work. “Perfect… you look… so, so beautiful, my dear…” she whispered, as she felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Twilight looked at her.

“Rarity, what is happening to me? Am I already insane?” she asked quietly, but her friend just hugged her.

“No, darling. You aren’t. Yet,” Rarity giggled, wiping her eyes with a tissue. She helped her friend to stand off the dais and walked with her to the doors. “Come on now. Your husband-to-be is waiting for you!” Twilight sighed, but raised her head and smiled slightly.

“Yes… let’s go… I… I’m ready…”

Thorax was nervous. Actually, that wasn’t true… he was on the verge of a full on mental break down! He was currently passing in his fitting room. His brother was there leaning against one of the pillars on the wall with a mildly amused smirk on his muzzle.

“Jeez bro, you’re acting like you’re about to marry Chrysalis,” Pharynx joked, “then again, Twilight does seem to talk almost as much as she did,” he mused as Thorax stopped his pacing to glare at his brother.

“You're. Not. Helping!” he growled before resuming his pacing.

“What are you all so freaked out about? You’re acting like if this isn’t perfect, Twilight will never love you. Why should you care so much? It’s not like you two have feelings for each other,” Pharynx reasoned. However, when Thorax gave him a troubled look his smile vanished. “Wait, you're not actually in love with her, are you?”

“I don’t know!” Thorax exclaimed while pressing both front hooves to his forehead and falling to his rump on the floor. “These last few days have really made me confused on my feelings for Twilight! I don’t love her, but I don’t see her as just merely a friend anymore,” he explained.

“So… friends with benefits then!” his brother concluded, shrugging his shoulders as if it was obvious.

“NO!” Thorax practically screamed as his face tried to imitate a tomato. Pharynx burst into laughter and fell over onto his side. The king took a deep breath to calm his nerves before he rolled his eyes, and then opened the door with his magic. Leaving his laughing brother behind, he exited the fitting room and walked into the hallway. He wasn’t really paying attention to where he was going, his mind once more was a storm as he struggled to organize his thoughts.

“Hey, Thorax, where are you going?” Pharynx called after him and ran out of the fitting room to join his brother. “I’m only teasing you, little bro,” he said, giving his brother a light punch in the shoulder.

“I know that, Pharynx, but I’m really stressed at the moment, and your joking is just making me frustrated,” he explained.

“Okay, well, you want to hear what I think is really going on?” the prince asked. Thorax let out a sigh of defeat. Clearly, his brother wasn’t going to leave him to clear his thoughts.

“Fine, what do you think my problem is?” he conceded.

“I think you have a crush on Twilight!” Pharynx declared.

“What? You can’t be serious!” Thorax exclaimed, “What did I say about joking?!”

“I’m not joking Thorax, I’m serious. It looks like you have a crush on Princess Twilight,” he explained.

“I don’t have a crush on Twilight!” he denied a bit too quickly, feeling blushes on his cheeks. Pharynx gained a wry smile, seeing his reaction.

“Oh yeah, you definitely have a crush on Twilight,” the prince teased.

“Pharynx…” Thorax growled threateningly. However, before he could say anything else, the two heard somepony yell.

"Twilight, hurry up! We’re going to be late!" at the sound, the two royal changelings looked forward to the opposite end of the corridor. The two watched as a white unicorn and a purple alicorn in white dress quickly walk past.

"LATE?! ARE WE LATE?! I NEED TO CHECK MY CHECKLIST ONE MORE TIME!" came a second voice, followed by the purple alicorn running back the way the two ponies came.

“Hey, don’t run, you’ll ruin your mane!” the white unicorn ran back after the alicorn.

“Rarity, give me my checklist back!” the second voice cried. Once more the two ran by with the white unicorn holding a checklist in her magic. This time, however, when they ran by, the alicorn dropped one of her shoes. “Oh, pony feathers.”

“Twilight, darling, that’s not appropriate for a lady, let alone a princess, and even less so for a queen,” the two mares walked back into view.

“I know Rarity, but give me a break, I’m stressed,” Twilight countered, while she slipped her shoe back on. “I would say that maybe you should have made these tighter, but I’m afraid you’ll make them so tight that I won’t be able to feel my hooves,” she said before finally getting the shoe secure on her hoof, “there!”

“Good, now let’s go!” Rarity exclaimed before turning and heading in the direction the two had been heading with Twilight not far behind. Once the two mares were gone, Pharynx spoke.

“Well, I’ll admit she looked pretty… for a pony,” the prince said. “What do you think bro?” he asked Thorax. However, when he didn’t get a response right away he turned to the Changeling King. Thorax was staring mouth ajar where the two ponies had just been moment’s ago.

“She’s beautiful…” he finally said. Pharynx burst into laughter at his brother’s response.

“Oh yeah, you totally have a crush on her!” he exclaimed. Thorax groaned in frustration, slightly. Seeing that his brother wasn’t going to give him much more of a response, Pharynx relented, “okay, come on, let’s get our armors and go to the altar, we don’t want to be late either,” he said before he started walking again. However, before he got far he spoke, “we don’t want to keep your crush waiting,” he teased.

“Ugg…” Thorax groaned. “Call her that when she is near, and I will kill you,” Pharynx only laughed at that, and Thorax sighed deeply. “This day can't end soon enough…”

“Okay, Twilight just calm down, it’s just your wedding, one of the most important moments of your life. It’s also a marriage that you have been, for the most part, forced into to save the changeling kingdom from annexation and exploitation, and you are marrying a stallion you don't even know, oh sweet Celestia, this is going to be a disaster!” Twilight exclaimed. She was pacing just outside the wedding hall, on the verge of a panic attack.

“What’s the matter, my little star? You’re more panicked than you were when Celestia would give you tests,” a blue unicorn stallion, dressed in a black suit, said, as he approached her.

“The better question is, what’s not the matter!” she exclaimed, panic now fully taking her. “If I started listing what’s wrong now, I’d be as old as Celestia by the time I was done!”

“Oh yeah, definitely just like the tests,” he remarked.

“Dad! I’m serious!”

“Twilight dear,” he said, placing his hooves on his daughter’s shoulders to keep her from running in circles. “Use the breathing technique Cadance taught you,” at this Twilight nodded and did as he said. She took a deep breath and placed a hoof to her chest before breathing out and pushing her hoof forward. She did this a few more times to calm her thoughts. After a minute Nightlight spoke, “feeling better?” Twilight nodded.

“Yeah, thanks, dad.”

“No problem, now tell me what the problem is,” he pressed. Twilight sighed, but remained calm.

“I don’t know… I just feel overwhelmed is all. So much is happening, Dad, and I don’t know if I can handle it. I became a princess only 3 years ago, and now I’m about to become queen of another nation, and marry a king that I might be friends with, but I don’t love him. I’m just so uncertain of where my life is going, and it feels like I’ve lost control of everything!” she yelled in frustration. However, she took another deep breath to calm her nerves, “I just don’t know if I can handle it, dad.”

“I know you can handle it,” Night Light said without hesitation. Twilight blinked in surprise at how fast her father replied. Nightlight didn’t waste a moment, continuing, “Twilight, I’m honestly surprised how uncertain you are about your abilities, despite all that you have done.”

“Wha-” she began, but Night Light wasn’t done.

“How many villains have you defeated? How many disasters have you prevented, Twilight?” he asked, however, he continued before his daughter could reply. “Let’s go down the list; Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek, and Starlight. That’s not everything either, if I remember correctly, not a week after your coronation, Celestia and Luna disappeared. According to what I’ve been told, you took control of the situation and gave out orders. In the end, you were able to find them and stop the Everfree Forest from invading.”

“But-”

“Yes, your friends did help you through all of that, but in the end, it all fell on you to lead your friends to victory,” he finished. Twilight was silent, her muzzle scrunched up to show she was thinking. Her father was right, how many times had she saved Equestria? Seven times now? This was nothing compared to what she had faced in the past. Yet she was still freaking out over this, why? “Twilight,” he spoke again, drawing her attention to look at him, “it’s normal to be worried about the future, but you need to be more confident my dear. Every challenge that has come your way, you succeeded.”

“I know…” Twilight said with a sigh of frustration. “I’m just… afraid… that it won’t turn out okay this time.”

“Tell me Twily, what did Celestia tell you about your entrance exam?” he asked. Twilight gave him a confused look for a moment, but soon her eyes lit up with realization.

“I was never meant to pass the entrance exam, it was designed to be failed,” she mumbled.

“Not only that, but did she try to get you to fail again?” he asked. Twilight remained silent for a moment before answering.

“Almost every test she gave me was meant to fail me…”

“And did you ever fail?”

“Well, yes... but…”

“But?”

“But not on the tests she gave me… I passed every impossible challenge she gave me. She told me that was why she put me in danger to save Equestria. She said she knew I would succeed no matter the odds,” she finished. Realization coursed through her. “Why am I always so afraid of failing? I have always been capable of succeeding and making it through challenges! I can do this! It will be hard, but I know that this will turn out all right in the end!” A determined expression soon filled her features. She turned back to look at her father. “You’re right, I can handle this! I know that it will be difficult, but I know I can make it through.”

“That's my girl!” Nightlight gave his daughter a tight hug. “You know you make it hard for me not to have a favorite child,” he teased.

“Dad…” Twilight ground in mild annoyance. However, her annoyed expression soon turned into a genuine smile. “Thanks Dad, I needed that.”

“Anything for my little star. And you are really beautiful in this dress, I love it.” Twilight smiled wider and blushed slightly, before she could reply a serenade began to play through the door. “Looks like it’s time,” he said, “ready?”

“Yes, I am,” Twilight replied with a confident smile and a proud posture. Her father nodded, and the doors to the wedding hall opened.

The Ceremony Hall was truly impressive. Thousands of ponies and changelings gathered here, and even more of them waited in the ballroom and gardens for the couple to arrive. Twilight couldn’t choose any of her friends from Ponyville to be her best mare, so she asked Shining Armor, he was now standing proudly in his favorite suit, waiting for his sister to arrive. The bearers of the elements stood in the first row in the audience, with Twilight’s mom and little Flurry Heart, all of them wearing beautiful, colorful dresses. Celestia stood near the wall, as to not cover the view, and looked at her niece with no emotion in her gaze, most of the nobles stood there by her side. Cadance, on the other hoof, was smiling widely, looking at the guests and shooting calm glances at Thorax, who stood by her side in the center, near the balcony. Cadance looked at his best mare, Starlight, who was standing proud, with her black dress. Rarity had designed the dress for her a year ago, but she seemed to be elsewhere. The unicorn gazed at the wall, sometimes looking at Thorax, but quickly turning away. Cadance made a mental note to talk with her later, maybe she was overwhelmed with the idea of taking care of the castle while Twilight would be in the Changeling Kingdom.

Next to her stood Pharynx, dressed similar to his brother - in solid silver armor, which surrounded his underside, his neck, back, and flanks. On his head was a helmet, similar to those worn by Celestial guards, with a maned mohawk in dark purple color. Thorax’s armor looked almost the same, but was golden and had more embellishments. His ‘mane’ was dark green, and he also had golden shoes and leg-pads. Of course, they couldn’t forget about the little, purple star-shaped crystals in them. Thorax shook his head, making his ceremonial mane wave a bit. As soon as the music started he felt his panic return in full. However, it didn’t last long, when the doors to the wedding hall opened. Upon seeing his bride all his nervousness seemed to melt away. As Twilight walked closer he became more enamored by how she looked. “She’s beautiful… Gah! Stop, she’s just a friend! I’m marrying her to ensure my kingdom’s independence! Then again is it wrong to like her? She is going to be my wife after all, but, maybe she won’t like me back, after all, it’s partially my fault she’s in this mess, to begin with.” He would have kept arguing with himself if it weren't for a certain purple alicorn, who approached him with her father.

She had her eyes closed, as she was listening to the beautiful tunes, played not on a piano like usual, but on traditional changelings wooden instruments. She was wearing a calm smile, ignoring everything around her, just focusing on how the music went through her body, calming her heart and mind, her long semi-transparent train was brushing the floor. Twilight heard some oohs and aahs and she smiled even wider, once again Rarity did her best. “I hope Thorax will like it…” When she opened her eyes she was just next to her almost-husband. She gulped quietly, looking at him. “He looks… kinda handsome…” she smiled at him, blushing slightly. She saw his and Pharynx’ armors before, but they looked more stunning on them, instead of mannequins. Night Light bowed his head to his daughter, and then went to his wife and stood next to her, she already had watery eyes and wiped them with a tissue.

“Hey…” Twilight whispered, pulling Thorax back into reality. The changeling shook his head before replying.

“Hi…” He said quietly, forcing a smile. Nothing else was said between the two, they just looked at each other awkwardly. Cadance, who was standing there behind the altar in the same light blue dress she used on Twilight’s coronation day, cleared her throat to gain their attention, opening her wings regally.

“Are you ready to begin?” she asked the two of them. They nodded in confirmation, which Cadance returned with one of acknowledgment. She cleared her throat again, much louder this time so as to be heard by the crowd. Every creature went quiet, and once they were all focused on her she began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for the joining of two ponies in matrimony, and to forge an alliance between two great nations, ponies of Equestria and changelings from the Changeling Kingdom!” she began.

“This is it.” Twilight thought. “My life will never be the same after today, but I can accept that. Whatever happens, I know I will be able to handle it.” She restrained her focus on the changeling in front of her. She looked at his suit, but also raised her head to admire his face and helmet. “He really does looks handsome… Stop Twilight! He’s just a friend.” “He’s also about to be your husband.” “So what?!” “So, it’s not strange that you find him attractive.” “This wedding is just to ensure the independence of his kingdom. Besides he would never see me in that way I’m just his friend! And let it stay that way…” She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard Cadance speak to her. Guess she missed this whole ceremony talk about alliance, sacrifices, and friendship between ponies and changelings...

“Do you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, take King Thorax, the First of the Changelings to be your lawfully wedded husband, to hold and cherish for as long as your eternal lives keep you together?” she asked. “Eternal, right, we’re immortal, I’ll be with him forever or until one of us gets killed.” Twilight swallowed her doubts quickly. She’s doing it for the changelings. They’re doing it, she looked in Thorax’ eyes determined.

“I do.”

“And do you, King Thorax the First, take Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria as your lawfully wedded wife, to hold and to cherish for as long as your eternal lives keep you together?” she asked. “Right, we’ll be together forever…” Thorax sucked in air to calm his nerves. He almost couldn’t keep eye contact with his wife, he felt a blush on his cheeks.

“I do.”

“May I have the rings?” Spike, who stood next to Pharynx in his little black suit, stepped forward and presented a horn ring and a horn band on a small, purple pillow. Cadance grabbed both objects in her magic, gave the band to Twilight, and the wedding ring to Thorx. She nodded at Thorax to begin. He exhaled and tried to calm himself.

“With this ring I bewed,” he said loudly, while placing the ring on the alicorn's horn. Twilight then spoke the same line, with her calm, sweet voice.

“With this ring I bewed,” she placed the wedding band on the changeling's horn.

“Then, with the power vested in me as a princess of Equestria, and the embodiment of love, I now pronounce you, husband and wife, King and Queen. You may now kiss the bride.” The two of them froze up at that sentence. Clearly, both had forgotten that they had to seal the marriage with a kiss. Being aware that they were being watched they knew they had to do it quickly or it would grow incredibly awkward. The alicorn rapidly searched in her mind if she had ever read a book about kissing, but she found nothing. So, pushing her inhibitions aside, Twilight closed her eyes and leaned forward and gently puckered her lips. Seeing what Twilight was doing, Thorax quickly did the same.

When the two met in the middle, it felt like lighting coursed through Twilight’s body. The kiss felt amazing, feeling his lips against hers, she could feel how her face was turning to pink and even red, she had never felt anything like that before. However, they soon separated, and Twilight felt a slight pang of sadness. She pushed down the emotions quickly, for they weren’t done yet, but she noticed a blush on Thorax’s muzzle too. Oh gosh, she could die of embarrassment right now, she just kissed her friend, in front of thousands, or maybe millions ponies and changelings! ...and she liked it… She heard the applause fading, and blinked as a noble unicorn stepped forward with a treaty.

“Please sign here to formalize the alliance between our two nations,” the mare said out loud, lifting up two pens next to the document. The newlyweds took a pen in their magic each. Breathing deeply through her nostrils one last time, Twilight signed the document. Thorax followed suit and did the same. The mare took back the pens and walked away with the document. With that done, the two newlyweds faced forward side by side to the audience, opening their wings and presenting themselves to the ponies and changelings. They were clapping their hooves, whistling, cheering, and few winged creatures flew higher with excitement. Twilight smiled proudly.

“With the ceremony finished, the after party may now begin! Please make your way down to the palace gardens and ballroom and enjoy yourselves, but we should let the newlyweds go first,” Cadance announced. Thorax and Twilight turned to her, and she gave them a nod of confirmation. The two returned the nod and made their way out of the room, as the ponies were applauding them and throwing confetti and flowers above them.

Twilight absentmindedly took a sip of her champagne. Her mind was a buzz of confusing and uncertain thoughts. Despite her boosted confidence in herself, she was still struggling with her emotions. Next to her was her new husband, he too was silent and seemed to stare blankly ahead. “What could he be thinking?” she wondered. Was he as troubled as her? Would this most of their interactions be like this from now on? “Maybe I should say something,” she thought. Before she could say anything, however, a voice came from her left.

“Darlings, why aren't you mingling and enjoying the party?” Rarity asked, daintily walking out of the crowd to address the newlyweds. “It is your wedding after all,” she reasoned.

“Yeah, and it’s not as uptight as our first gala was!” Rainbow Dash declared loudly, landing next to Rarity.

“Ah’ll say I’m not exactly a fan of super fancy parties, ah like the more down ta earth atmosphere,” Applejack said as she sauntered out of the crowd from their right.

“I know, right! So much more fun without as many meanie ponies to ruin it! I did my best to decorate this place!” Pinkie Pie declared loudly, seemingly just popping into existence. “Just looked at these crystals, oooh, they’re inactive now, but I can’t wait to see them light up with magic during your dance! I’m so so sooo glad that Costa and Pshemek managed to transport them here from their Kingdom!”

“Who’s Pshemek? I know Costa, but not him…” Twilight asked, putting down her unfinished glass with a drink, Thorax took a sip of his and did the same.

“Oh, he works in the mine a few kilometers from our Kingdom. He and his two brothers are the best in it, they are the one who discovered these crystals months ago, and we used them to light our houses. They are also good for lanterns outdoors!” the girls looked at Thorax with interest, as they would love to hear more about the changelings’ land, but suddenly Pinkie jumped into the air a few times, her hooves making a ‘spoink’ sound as they touched the ground.

“Oh! I just realized something!”

“What?” asked Rainbow Dash, stretching her wings. She never got used to having a dress under them.

“Twilight is the first of us to get married!” she declared, happily having confetti spring out from her mane. Rainbow Dash groaned and pressed a hoof to her forehead.

“Dammit, well looks like Fluttershy won,” the prismatic mare said dejectedly. Twilight raised an eyebrow at that.

“What do you mean that Fluttershy won?”

“Dash, Flutters, and ah made a bet on who would get married first. Ah said it would be Rarity, and RD bet it would be Pinkie.”

“Darling, how in the world did you get Fluttershy to bet?” Rarity asked in shock, but the farm pony just shrugged at the question.

“Said somethin’ about bein’ more confident.”

“Fluttershy thought I would the first to be married?” Twilight asked with disbelief.

“Well, of course, you were the first to get married!” Pinkie seemed to appear right in front of Twilight’s muzzle. “The plot demanded it!” she declared with a proud smile and closed eyes.

“What?!” Thorax’s muzzle was scrunched up in confusion. Twilight leaned over and whispered in his ear.

“Don’t question it, you’ll save yourself a lot of headache,” Twilight whispered. Thorax decided to listen to his wife’s advice and not press the issue. “Where is Fluttershy anyway?” she asked out loud.

“Last I saw she was headed to the castle garden,” Dash replied. “I bet she’s chasing some animals or something as always. Have a great time, girls! And Thorax! I have to speak with Spitfire about the fireworks!” she waved her hoof and with a flash of rainbow she disappeared into the crowd before Twilight could stop her.

“What? What fireworks?! Isn’t that dangerous?!” she started to panic, but soon found that a strong, yet calm hoof was put on her shoulder.

“Easy there, Twi. We got it covered. You just have to relax and enjoy your wedding!” AJ said, and asked her friends for a piece of cake. Twilight apologized, said she didn’t want to eat anything at the moment, and excused herself to the garden to speak with Fluttershy. When she parted with her friends, Thorax walked with her.

“Uhh, can I go with you? All the changelings I know are partying, Pharynx and his general are talking with your brother right now, Starlight is avoiding me, Spike is telling stories to little ponies and changelings, about how we defeated Chrysalis…” he murmured, ashamed of how he has to ask for somepony’s company. Twilight nodded, looking around.

“Sure…” she replied, but her mind was already elsewhere. As she noticed the decorations Pinkie Pie mentioned, she started to truly experience their beauty. The crystals from the Changeling Kingdom looked amazing, she wondered what kind of light they would illuminate later. But they weren’t the only ones to grab her attention. Almost everywhere she looked were garlands that formed a six-armed star, they had many colors, but mostly pink, blue and violet. The curtains started with light-yellow colors, but were semi-transparent at the ends, and the tablecloths were similar to them, but they had also little diamond-shaped crystals sewn a in few places. The pillars were decorated with rainbow-colored ribbons, the whole ballroom was also full of vases with different flowers, some of them exotic, again, brought from the changelings’ land.

The food smelled delicious, as Applejack really appreciated the help she got from a few changelings with the mixed food. If her stomach wasn’t in such a tough knot, she would have at least tried a bit of every dish they made! She caught a glance of a big ice sculpture presenting her and Thorax in their wedding suits, both standing on their hind legs and looking in each other's eyes. Her gaze followed it, as she continued walking to the garden until she could see it. “Wait, what was that? I didn’t agree to th- uugh, must have been Rarity and Cadance…!” she groaned quietly, as she started to come back to the Earth. She blinked in realization, “wait, you said Starlight was avoiding you? Why?”

Thorax jumped slightly, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts too, before Twilight spoke, “oh, you said something?”

“Starlight, why is she avoiding you?” she repeated, looking at him with concern.

“Oh, I… I don’t know, she was like that since you all came here from Ponyville. Did something bad happen to her last time? She should have sent me a letter a week ago, but I received nothing from her,” he said, sometimes cutting off his words to answer many ponies’ and changelings’ congratulations. Twilight looked at the ground, her mind already questioning why Starlight would have been acting that way.

“No, she’s been fine since she returned from your Kingdom after the Maulwurf’s attack. She was telling me about your adventures, and she seemed overjoyed... Maybe I should talk with her…”

“She just disappeared after the ceremony, and before that she was completely lost in thoughts…” Thorax sighed and shuddered slightly. They already entered the gardens, it was already dark, the moon was high in the sky, and lanterns were illuminating the area. “Cold, isn’t it?” he asked his wife, to which she nodded, lost in her thoughts again. What was happening to her student…? Thorax, on the other hoof, tried to take a closer look at his guests. Many changelings and ponies stayed in one-species groups, talking, eating and laughing. It was rare to see a pony and changeling together. The king sighed again, months or years will have to pass before ponies will finally forgive them and treat them as friends and not enemies.

Twilight suddenly stopped, opening her wings. Thorax was looking elsewhere, so he bumped into her, he murmured apologies and looked over her left wing to see, why she had stopped. And then he saw it; two pony fillies were being chased by a little male changeling. They had just run in front of the new queen. the little ponies managed to shout “sorry!” between their laughs, but the pale-green changeling stopped himself, he gave a quick bow to the royals, panting heavily, and then continued to run after his friends.

“Hey, wait for me!” he called after them, but they were already with their parents, laughing and hiding behind their hooves. Thorax and Twilight followed foals with their gazes to see that the pony parents were talking casually with a male changeling, probably a father, or another relative of the little one. The foal came to him, hugged his leg, to which he responded by patting one of the fillies on her flank, and sent her off so the chasing game could continue. Twilight smiled brightly, observing them in silence for a moment, when she heard a quiet voice, a bit too close to her ear.

“I think my heart just melted a bit…” the alicorn chuckled, putting her ears down and pushing the taller changeling away.

“Don’t do that, you tickled me with your breath!” Thorax laughed quietly as they both continued their walk, side by side. “It was nice to see that they are already interacting nicely with each other, wasn’t it?” she asked him in a hushed tone, looking around for Fluttershy. She was finally starting to become calm and with it, she grew hungry, she would definitely need to try some of the food that was being presented on multiple tables in the corners of the garden. Thorax nodded sadly.

“Yeah, but that was a one-time situation. Most of our guests are separated, they only spend time with their species,” he focused his gaze on Twilight’s mane and her face in general. She looked so regal, so mature, so pretty… He felt her gaze on him and cleared his throat, feeling his cheeks blush a bit. “But I’m sure they will overcome the fear and anger someday…” The alicorn smiled and delicately put her left wing on his back.

“Let’s hope the dance will help with that,” she winked and giggled. Then she suddenly ran ahead, “Fluttershy, there you are! We were looking for you!” she called, as she stopped under one of the biggest trees. Thorax didn’t see the yellow pegasus anywhere, but then looked up - she was sitting on a massive branch, really high, with more than ten birds sitting on her hooves and head, while the trail of her dress was waving in the wind.

“Oh, hello Twilight, hi Thorax!” she waved at them with her wings and turned to her feathered friends. “Stay here, please, I will be back in no time, sweeties!” she cooed and cuddled a white-blue small bird, and after all of them took their seats on nearby branch, she glided down gracefully. “Congratulations, my dears! I’m so, so happy for you!” she exclaimed and closed Twilight in a hug. Spending time with animals seemed to make her more assertive now.

“Thank you, Fluttershy, we really appreciate that,” Thorax said, right before receiving a big hug from a timid pegasus. “Have you seen Starlight anywhere?” Fluttershy shook her head.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t. Did I miss your dance? I was spending so much time with these little birdies over here...”

“No, you didn’t, Fluttershy, it’s all right,” Twilight reassured her and hugged her again with her wing. “We just wanted to talk, I heard you won the bet.”

“The bet?” the pegasus blinked in confusion, but then she remembered, “ooooh, the bet! Oh, I guess you’re right!” she smiled and chuckled quietly, flapping her wings.

“You seem pretty happy, will you get something cool from them?” Thorax asked, looking at his friend with interest. The pegasus nodded earnestly.

“Oh, yes! I will ask them to accompany me this year during the butterfly migration in Ponyville! It’ll be so amazing, watching butterflies, together, and eating some butterfly snacks, together, and taking photos of butterflies, together! I should go and tell them, the migration is only two weeks from now!” she flew up and excused herself from her animal friends. “Are you two having fun, too?” she asked the couple. They nodded slowly and murmured quiet ‘yes’s. The pegasus said goodbye to them and walked towards the ballroom, still smiling and probably daydreaming about her butterfly migration. Twilight sighed and looked around.

“I guess that was the last peaceful conversation I will get tonight. All the girls are having fun, and I’m just tired, hungry and- Thorax, what are you doing?” she asked as she felt the changeling putting something behind her. She looked back and noticed two big cushions. “Huh?”

“Sit down, please. Do you know where are we now? Look there!” he pointed towards the sky as he sat down. She sat too with hesitation and looked up. She was staring at the starry sky for a few moments when she suddenly realized what she was looking at.

“It’s the constellation of the alicorn!” she gasped. “It’s only visible-”

“-during the longest day of the summer from the east side of Canterlot Gardens!” they finished in unison, looking at each other. Thorax started to chuckle, but Twi jumped to him, almost landing in his arms, with sparkling eyes.

“Are you an astronomy enthusiast too?!” she asked with disbelief. The stallion smiled and rolled his eyes.

“Well, duh. When I ran from the hive I was navigating my way with the stars. Later I found some astronomy books in Crystal Empire libraries, had nothing to do, so I found myself a new hobby.” He almost melted the second time this day, looking into her beautiful eyes. She was inches away from him. He momentarily blushed as he remembered how her kiss felt. He smiled nervously, “and you?”

“I’ve read almost every astronomy book I ever found, in every library I was. At least twice,” she smiled, as she sat at her pillow again with a faked modest smile, which caused her husband to laugh quietly. “I also wrote in my Stargazing journal when I was younger and had more free time. Now it’s sometimes hard to find time to go out, put the telescope out and just watch them…” she sighed sadly.

“Well, if you would like to… we could go stargazing sometime in the Changeling Kingdom. We could find a good spot, take your telescope and watch them together,” he suggested, looking at the sky with a dreamy look. Twilight nodded and mimicked him, smiling widely and enjoying looking at stars. They didn’t know how much time they spent there, stargazing and talking quietly, just being friends, but they wouldn’t have minded if it had been forever, when suddenly they heard Spike behind them.

“T-twilight! Tho...rax…!” he panted, as he ran to them and just stopped for a moment. They stood up quickly, visibly concerned.

“Spike, did something happen?” Thorax asked while Twilight gave the young drake a glass of punch. He drank viciously and breathed heavily, then spoke.

“The dance! It will begin in.... five… minutes… we were looking for you from like…! Ehh!” he sat down, still catching his breath.

“We were here the whole time, didn’t Fluttershy tell you?” Twilight raised her eyebrow, but Spike shook his head, he pointed to another part of the garden, the one with exotic animals. She sighed and used her magic to seat Spike on her back, between her wings. “We’d better be going, Thorax. Can’t be late for that!” she smiled.

“Oh, you like this idea now?” he asked playfully, checking his armor and helmet. Twilight pat him on his neck with a wing, “Hey!”

“Hush! And come on, the guests are waiting for us!” she walked towards the open door, Thorax right behind her, but then he heard a voice calling him in a quiet hiss.

“Thorax!”

“Huh? What was that?” he looked around, stopping for a while. He caught a glimpse of a pair of cobalt eyes, hid in the bushes and looking at him pleadingly. He knew who their owner was.

“Thorax, are you coming?” Twilight was almost near the entrance to the hall. Thorax cleared his throat and shouted to her.

“Yes, yes, I will be there in a minute!” he looked after his wife, as she entered the castle, and he hesitantly went towards the bushes.

“Thorax, what took you so long!” Twilight hissed as the stallion approached her, panting slightly. The mare was again nervous because of him being late.

“S-sorry Twilight, I-I was just-” he stammered quietly, but she cut him off and brushed his mane with her magic.

“Later, now, go to your place, every creature has already gathered in a circle to make a place for us! Spike, Pinkie, Cadie!” Twilight shouted as she ran away and took her place in the opposite part of the made circle, facing Thorax. He gulped as all the lights went out for a moment and Spike’s voice echoed through the hall with a small helping spell, which made him sound louder. Every creature went quiet for a moment, scared of the darkness that surrounded them, but then crystals from the Changeling Kingdom lit the ballroom up with pastel rainbow colors, illuminating the hall magically. Twilight took a deep breath.

“Ponies of Equestria and changelings of the Changeling Kingdom!” said Spike, standing in the middle of the circle, proudly. “Put your hooves together for our lovely couple! Queen Twilight Sparkle!” he presented her to the crowd and the light illuminated from above. The mare bowed with a smile. “And King Thorax the First!” Spike did a spin and pointed at his friend with his claws. The changeling also bowed when he was illuminated with his own light beam. When the applause faded, Spike continued. “Because now, they will perform their first dance, as wife and husband! Queen and King of the Changeling Kingdom!” Spike quickly made his way out of the scene and the first notes of the song started to play. Twilight closed her eyes, remembering all rehearsals they did with the orchestra. “First, to the right, then - left, jump, switch hoov- oh, it’s too late! It’s going to be a disaster!” She opened her eyes as she heard Octavia’s cello and just let her heart do the thing. Thorax nodded in her direction. The dance has begun...

Twilight and Thorax carefully approached each other, putting their hooves on the ground to the rhythm of the music. Twilight gulped and sighed. “First to the right, then left… Don’t think too much, just feel the groove…” When they met in the middle, followed by their lights, they bowed slightly and made a slow circle around themselves, looking directly in each other's eyes, then they took a step back and did the same in the opposite direction. They performed some easy steps and jumps, going in circles and squares, but when the music reached the first chorus they stood on their hind legs as Thorax took her right hoof in his left. She faked trying to escape, but he pulled her close and put a hoof around her waist, making both of them blush a bit. They started dancing, circling around, still in each other's arms, slowly, calmly, and when the music became more powerful, Thorax occasionally helped Twilight make a spin.

Then, the second chorus struck with even more power, Twilight felt goosebumps as Thorax held her tighter, and with one powerful push he lifted her up during a spin. They opened their wings to catch the balance, Twilight flapping them slightly, as he continued the spin before the mare took a stronger grip on his hooves and he also jumped gracefully in the air. Creatures gasped with amazement at the couple’s flying dancing above them. Thorax and Twilight made two circles, still holding their hooves in flight, then just stopped mid-fly and did a spin of their own. Once again they caught themselves and made a circle in the opposite direction, landing calmly and finishing it on the ground, raising their hooves and flapping their wings slowly to meet the rhythm. The pair just continued dancing to the powerful tune, facing each other with determination and focus, almost flawlessly copying the steps they had learned. When the song came to the second verse, again quieter and calmer than the chorus, the audience applauded them, as the alicorn and the changeling repeated the same steps as earlier, more relaxed now, since the worst part was done.

“Now, dear ponies and changelings, we ask you to join our pretty couple on the stage! But, remember one thing: only mixed pairs! Mare and male changeling, stallion and female changeling!” this time Cadance took the role of the wedding host. “Come on! Find your partner and dance!” the music came back to its previous volume, and a few singers started to sing, but none of the creatures seemed so eager to ask one another. Twilight, still focusing partially on the dance, looked around with fear, she also felt that Thorax tensed as well. Another line of the song passed and nopony and no changeling joined them.

“Months will pass…” Twilight whispered quietly to her husband as she rested her head on Thorax’s neck, while they were on their hind legs one more time. They wouldn’t do any other spins until the end of the song. Thorax sighed sadly.

“Maybe years…” he added. The alicorn raised her head, as she heard hoofsteps and saw… her father approaching a small yellow changeling. He bowed to her and asked her for a dance. The changeling hesitated a bit, but agreed after a moment, murmuring something with a timid smile. Night Light only smiled and took her to a stage. They started dancing simply, standing on their hind legs and holding each other. As the first pair overcame their fear, more and more pairs started to join them in the dance, leaving Twilight and Thorax their space. The new queen couldn’t force her smile to fade away. She was just dancing by her heart, her mind racing through every pair of the ponies and changelings. She even saw a few foals dancing, also mixed! She felt like she could start to cry. The creatures looked so happy, she could even sense the friendship that was flowing between them!

Then she felt Thorax lifting her again when the chorus sang one more time in the end. She was surprised, this part of the dance was only destined for the first time! She looked at her husband’s smile and loudly whispered. “Focus, Twily! Dance!” She smiled slyly and pulled him into the air again, but they flew higher this time, performed their circled flying sequence, and then stayed in the air, doing the same steps they were doing on the floor, but in the air! Cadance, who stood near the wall with a wide smile, was gazing, touched by the scene, and staring in amazement. What a view! Creatures, who months ago were in the flames of war, now dancing together with friendship, and above them - two beautiful, wise and mature leaders, who made this possible. She felt a tear going down her cheek, but then she heard someone clearing his throat near her. The princess quickly wiped her tear with a tissue and looked left, just to see Pharynx, giving her his hoof with a mute question. Cadance just nodded, and both of them went quickly to the stage, laughing together, as Pharynx was a terrible dancer. But it didn’t matter - it was fun, ponies and changelings were spending time with each other! That’s what mattered at the moment.

The song eventually came to an end with a powerful blast. Thorax lifted Twilight above him in the air and stayed in that position as the last notes faded, and every creature underneath them started to clap their hooves, whistle and cheering for the newlyweds. They landed with grace and bowed to their audience, tired but genuinely happy. Cadance thanked them and ask the guests to stay on the stage, as another song was about to be played soon. Many of the pairs just nodded and started a friendly conversation, waiting for the music to come back. Twilight, panting slightly, ran to her father and gave him a warm hug.

“Thank you, dad…” she whispered.

“Anything for you, my dear star,” he replied. On her way to the exit, Twilight spotted her mother, talking to two female changelings and showing them something on her dress, later she caught a glance of Pinkie Pie followed by Costa and… this one should be Pshemek. Anywhere she looked, it seemed that this dance somehow broke the barrier between two species - changelings were talking, laughing and dancing with other ponies, and vice-versa. She even spotted Princess Celestia standing with a glass of punch in her magic, talking with two nobles and a changeling family. Twilight blinked in disbelief, as she saw Celestia smiling and laughing with them. The alabaster alicorn felt her gaze and looked directly into Twilight’s eyes. She waved a hoof to her with a timid smile, which Twilight returned to her with a mouthed Thank you. The dance was princess’s idea, after all.

“Thorax?” Twilight asked him a few moments later, as he approached her with two glasses of champagne.

“Hm?” the alicorn took one of the glasses into her magic and took a sip.

“Thanks for the dance,” she said with a genuine smile and hugged him with a wing. Thorax just smiled, and they delicately hit each other's glasses. “For your Kingdom?”

“For our Kingdom…”

“Ooooh, I’m so tiiiirrreeeed” Twilight whined, shuffling her legs. Thorax was in better condition but still tired as well. He was holding a tray with some cakes, food, and a bowl of punch in his magic, his antlers shining in the dimmed hallway.

“Do you think they’ll notice we stole all of these?” he chuckled, but Twilight only huffed.

“Don’t care, just want to sleep. Why are going with me anyway?” she raised her head and looked at him. They were in the east wing of the castle after they snuck out of their wedding party following few more hours spent on talking, dancing and eating. Thorax shrugged, taking a bite of a chocolate pie.

“Just walking you to your room, ‘cause the last time I didn’t,” Twilight smiled slyly.

“Oh, thank you, you gentleling!” she joked and they both laughed. “Ehh, I just feel exhausted, you know? My mother cried almost every time I came near her, all these ponies who congratulated me... and I had to talk with the nobles, smiling and laughing at their not-funny jokes! Ugh… They looked so concerned about you. Oh, princess, we hope that with you in charge we can form an amazing alliance and help both nations to grow strong! It was like a play at the theatre, I know they only care about themselves, two-faced moneybags… And later, changelings were surrounding me after the dance, thanking me, praising, I-I didn’t know it would all come so quick!”

“Well, maybe they finally saw that it’s really happening. The whole ceremony always looks, you know, regal, forced, artificial… but that dance,” he smiled widely, “I saw you, Twi. You put so much emotion in it, your dancing was perfect, twenty times better than at our last rehearsal!” he said, making the alicorn blush.

“Ayyy, you’re exaggerating!” she flicked her tail under her dress. “I just… wanted to do it the best I could…”

“And you did…” he answered her, stopping before the doors to her room. To their surprise, the purple star imitating Twilight’s cutie mark was gone. “Huh? Wasn’t that your room?”

“It was, but for some reason it’s not labeled as mine anymore?” Twilight raised an eyebrow, ready to knock on the door. Then, a white unicorn guard approached them.

“Oh, your majesties!” he bowed before them. Twilight was too tired to play nice, timid princess.

“Soldier, do you know why my room isn’t labeled as mine anymore?” she asked in a rough tone. The stallion stood up and looked at the tired queen.

“There were too many guests, and Princess Cadance ordered to move your things, Prin-uh, I mean, Queen Twilight, to another room at this floor. Didn’t she tell you that?” Twilight shook her head and sighed. “I can show you which room it is, Your Highness. Come along too, King Thorax. Every other guest room is already taken, you can’t move anywhere further from another creature, unfortunately.” Twilight and her husband just followed him in silence. After a minute of walking, they stood before… Thorax’s room’s door, but next to the semi-transparent wing symbol there was also Twilight’s cutie mark star. “She is kidding me, right…” The mare groaned, putting her hoof to her face. The guard looked at her, surprised. “Is… is something wrong, Your Majesty?”

“Iamgoingtokillher…” she murmured under her breath. Thorax quickly opened the door and asked Twilight inside.

“Everything’s all right, sir. Thank you, you are dismissed,” he said, as he nodded his head to the stallion. The white unicorn saluted, said good night to them, and quickly went through the corridor, the changeling closed the door with a loud sigh. Old Thorax’s bed was changed into a big, circled one, with red pillows and duvet, on the side, there was a dressing table, next to it stood Twilight’s bag with her belongings. On the side of the room stood two mannequins - one male one female.

“This is ridiculous…” Twilight huffed, putting her tiara on the table with no delicacy at all. Thorax nodded, and put the tray on the desk. He took off his helmet and placed it on the bigger mannequin’s head.

“Yeah, does she think we’re just going to undress here together, and start to- OUCH! Gee, I’m joking, Twilight!” he hissed as a red pillow hit the back of his head with force.

“Yeah, sure you were,” she said with a roll of her eyes as she began to undo the buttons and laces on her dress. “By the way, did you ever find Starlight?”

“No,” Thorax sighed. “ I haven't been able to find her, it’s like she just disappeared.”

“Hmm… I’ll try to find her tomorrow, and we can talk about it then,” she said before slipping out of her dress and hanging it on the mannequin haphazardly.

“Remember, we’ll have to leave tomorrow morning. The rest of the changelings are really excited to see their new queen,” Thorax said, while placing his wedding armor on the mannequin neatly. “There is a bit of a surprise for you there too.”

“A surprise, what is it?” The alicorn asks before flopping backward onto the bed.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise,” he replied.

“What are you, Pinkie Pie?” she grumbled in annoyance.

“Sounds like somepony is in a bad mood,” Thorax said in a slightly teasing tone. From her current position her husband couldn’t see her withering glare, but if he could he would have crumpled under her gaze, at least that’s what she told herself. Thorax on the other hoof was thinking, he was debating how to lift Twilight’s mood. He may not love her in a romantic way, but she was his wife now and that meant, in his mind at least, that it was his responsibility to make her happy. He stood there for a few more minutes before an idea popped into his head. “I know what will cheer you right up...”

“Oh yeah, and what would that be?” the alicorn asked sarcastically. Instead of getting a verbal response, she quickly found her self pinned to the bed. Twilight’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she found herself pinned down by her newly wedded husband. Thorax was looking down at her with a sly and mischievous smile.

“Maybe a little fun...?” he teased with a low voice as he lit his antlers. Twilight gasped and quickly tried to cover herself, blushing furiously. She was just barely able to cover herself with her wings in time before she was impacted by a pillow. Twilight cried in shock and fell off the bed. Laughter filled the room while the purple alicorn regained her bearings. When the world finally stopped spinning she finally responded to her husband’s actions.

“WHAT IN TARTARUS IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” she screamed. “You nearly scared me to death!” Thorax responded by doubling over in laughter. Twilight began to fume, however, before she boiled over her, glare turned mischievous. “Oh, you think that’s funny, huh?” She lit her horn menacingly, to which Thorax responded by ceasing his laughing and allowing an expression of concern to quickly spread over his features.

“Um, Twi-” he was cut off as he was pelted by multiple pillows repeatedly. Twilight continued to assault her husband with all the pillows she could get a hold of in the room. She reached into the room’s closet with her magic to grab more pillows. After a good minute of assault the spot he once stood was now occupied by a mountain of pillows.

“Hah!” Twilight exclaimed. “That’ll show you what happens, when you start a pillow fight with the Element of Magic!” she said victoriously. She got no response from the pile of pillows. “Oh, ha ha, very funny, but you’re not going to trick me this time!” the alicorn said definitively. Still, the pillows remained undisturbed. “Seriously, I’m not falling for it,” she said, though this time with less certainty in her voice. Yet again the pillows did not move. This time Twilight cautiously approached the pile. “Thorax? Are you… okay?” she asked. Again she stepped closer, and again she got no response. Twilight really started to worry, she rushed over to the pile and began to use her magic to pull them away. She hadn’t even gotten to the second pillow before the pile exploded just before she was tackled to the bed by her husband, who was wielding a cushion in his magic. “GAH!”

“AH HA! I RETURN FROM THE DEAD!” the changeling king cried triumphantly as he impacted his wife with the pillow in his magic. Twilight rolled over on the bed and quickly grabbed a pillow of her own. She intercepted her husband’s before he could land a second blow. Thorax continued to press his atack. He swung fast and hard in an attempt to overwhelm the alicorn. Twilight, at first, appeared to be struggling under her husband’s fluffy assault. She had been pushed to the edge of the large bed, and was at risk of falling off. Thinking fast, Twilight ducked instead of trying to block the pillow. This left Thorax wide open for attack, and the alicorn didn’t waste a moment.

“I WILL NOT BE BESTED!” she cried in determination as she retaliated with her own flurry, fierce, fluffy, fighting attacks. Like her husband she also attacked fast, but instead of using power, she turned the speed up to eleven and attempted to assault him from multiple angles, trying to overwhelm him. It worked well and Thorax was forced to give up ground in a desperate attempt to get some breathing room. There was one major flaw in Twilight’s strategy, however, and that was that it left her wide open, so when Thorax rounded her to try and get out of the fray he saw his opportunity. He lunged forward just as Twilight turned to face him. The tackle sent the two of them rolling forward. A quick scuffle later, and Twilight found herself once again pinned to the bed.

“Ah hA mM fIcTorUs!” he said, around the pillow he had in his mouth, batting Twilight with it one last time before spitting it out.

“So… it… seems.” Twilight said between breaths. The two of them were sweaty and clearly out of breath, Twilight’s mane was a mess and even had a few white feathers from the pillows were in it!

“Feeling… better?” Thorax asked. Twilight gave a genuine smile, both her and his cheeks were red from fatigue.

“Yeah… I do... thanks… I needed that to… get me out of my mood.”

“You’re welc-”

*Snap*

*Flash*

“Yes! I got them in the act, I’ll make front page for sure!” came a voice just outside the door. The two newlyweds froze in shock and surprise as they tried to process what just happened. Twilight was the first to recover.

“WHAT!?” She hollered, sitting bolt upright and nocking Thorax off the bed.

“Uh oh!” they heard the voice behind the door, followed by frantic hoof stepps that quickly began to fade. Twilight was out the door so fast that one would think she learned to teleport without using magic. Bursting into the hallway, she looked around frantically for the pony who had taken the picture. To her left she spotted the pony she was looking for. The light blue stallion was about to round the corner.

“Guards, stop that reporter!” Twilight yelled as she gave chase. Thorax soon burst out of the room as well and followed his wife’s lead. Despite being tired from a long day and a pillow fight, Twilight was gaining on the pony, clearly her alicorn strength was kicking in. The chase lasted a solid two minutes with the three ponies weaving back and forth through the castle. Eventually Twilight spotted a pair of changeling guards. “Quickly, stop him!” she commanded. To their credit, they did as they were commanded. The photographer didn’t stand a chance and was subdued in mere seconds. The alicorn trotted to a stop before the shaking photographer. She took a few moments to catch her breath. In that time Thorax slid to a stop next to his wife before collapsing in exhaustion.

“I... should really... work out more like... Pharynx... suggested,” he groaned as he slowly got back to his hooves. Twilight had, for the most part, recovered and was now giving a withering glare to a now cowering news photographer. Soon hoofsteps were heard from multiple attached corridors, and it wasn’t long before they were joined by seven more royal guards, twelve changeling guards, and one concerned pink alicorn.

“What in Equestria happened? Are you okay, Twilight, Thorax? Did something happen?” she asked rapidly, looking at them.

“I’m… fine,” Twilight said between breaths, still not fully recovered. “This stallion here broke into our room and took a photo,” she explained. Cadance gave a look of surprise which soon turned into a glare directed at the reporter who, somehow, was shaking even harder than before.

“Show me your pass,” she said.

“P-p-pass?” he asked.

“Yes, your castle pass that all news reporters and photographers get who were welcomed to the castle. You know, that pass…” she trailed off menacingly. The unicorn’s pale blue coat seemed to grow even more pale. Cadance didn’t even need an answer. “I hope you are aware that you have broken a few laws just now. The first being trespassing on, not just private property, but in the royal palace itself. You’ve also ignored a command setup by me, you also invaded not only on a pony’s privacy, but the privacy of one of your princesses and now queen of a foreign land,” she listed off. “I hope you realize that these are very serious crimes,” the pony didn’t answer as he was too busy having a staring contest with the floor. “Now, I could have you thrown in the dungeon for at least a month for this, but considering it’s my sister’s wedding and I don’t want to ruin the occasion; I’ll let you go,” the pony’s head snapped forward and a shocked expression was plastered on there muzzle.

“Th-thank y-” he was cut off by Cadance raising a hoof for him to be silent.

“That being said, I will be personally notifying your superior about what you’ve done, and I’ll be confiscating your camera,” she said with finality before grabbing the camera. The stallion looked like he wanted to protest, but wisely stayed silent. Cadance turned to the changeling guards holding him down. “Would you please escort him off the castle grounds?” the changelings nodded and did as was requested. The rest of them went away too, agreeing which ones will take guard near the king and queen’s room first.

“Thanks, Cadance,” Twilight said, walking up to her sister-in-law.

“Of course, Twilight, no problem,” she replied with a kind smile. “Though,” her smile grew mischievous. “I do wonder what picture he got that you were so eager to keep secret...” she trailed off while examining the camera in her magic.

“No,” Twilight said firmly.

“But Tw-” her whine was interrupted by her sister.

“No,” she said even more firmly. Cadance sighed dejectedly before passing the camera to the alicorn.

“Fine, just destroy it or whatever you plan to do with it.” The second the camera was within Twilight’s magic, it collapsed in on itself. Cadance blinked in surprise at the younger alicorn’s act. The now crumbled mass of wood and metal that was once a camera fell to the floor.

“I’m going to bed,” she stated matter of factly before stomping off. Thorax sighed.

“And I just had her cheered up too,” he said dejectedly before following after his wife.

The moment she made it back to her bed, Twilight collapsed upon it, and let out a groan. Thorax entered the room behind his wife and closed the door gently. He walked over to the pile of pillows, and began to move most of them back to the closet. He laid about a dozen on the floor before laying down on them himself. Twilight sighed in annoyance.

“You’re not sleeping on the floor,” she said. Thorax sat upright and turned to his wife with a confused expression. She was currently laying on her back with her both eyes closed. She turned her head slightly and cracked open her right eye to look at him. “You can just sleep on the opposite side, it’s a big bed, we need to be up early and I’m not having you sleep on the floor.” Thorax considered protesting, but decided against it considering her current mood.

“All right,” he answered and began to clamor onto the bed. He shuffled his way under the sheets and blankets as Twilight did the same. Once he was sufficiently comfortable he spoke, “good night…”

“...‘night…” Twilight responded. Lighting her horn, she snuffed out the candles in the room, and the two were engulfed in darkness.

“Is everything all right, Your Highness?” Twilight blinked and suddenly raised her head, looking around, scared by the voice. Then she met confused and concerned eyes of one of her new royal guards. What was his name…? The young queen shook her head and covered her mouth with a wing, to hide a yawn.

“Y-yes, Coxa, I’m sorry, I’m just tired, that’s all…” she explained, blushing awkwardly. Her second day as a queen, and she was falling asleep while standing in front of her subjects! Even if it was expected from her to feel sleepy and weak, it was six in the morning, Celestia just raised the Sun. Even if Twilight was an early riser, she slept for just three hours. The dark purple changeling nodded his head.

“If you don’t feel well or need our help, just say a word, my queen,” he said. Twilight wiped her eye with a hoof. She still wasn’t used to being called “queen” and she wasn’t going to be anytime soon.

“Thank you for your concern, Coxa. Do you know why Thorax isn’t here yet? Weren’t we supposed to leave 14 minutes ago?” the male changeling blinked slowly and cleared his throat, flicking his tail nervously.

“As far as I know, Your Highness, King Thorax came back to the castle to, and I quote, take some of my belongings I left there, including Prince Pharynx, end of quote.” Twilight forced herself not to laugh at his words, but she still let a quiet snort out anyway. Coxa smiled timidly. “Is this carriage sufficient enough for you, my queen? We didn’t have too much time to design and build it, but we did our best,” he explained quietly, blushing slightly. Twilight took a glance of the carriage - it looked similar to the usual Canterlot carriage, it seemed to be carved out of a big light blue crystal rock into a rounded shape, with the appearance being rather light. It had a floral ornament and two lanterns, made from lighting crystals, were hanging on the front wall. It was destined for four ponies, or changelings in this case, to pull it - they were already standing in their harnesses, waiting for the royals to go. At the back of the carriage was a place for hoof luggage, where her bag, some packages with food Thorax packed for the journey, and wedding gifts were located. She didn’t even have time to unpack them yesterday. The roof of carriage was convex, decorated with vines, which were going down along the walls. It also had big, wide windows to look through them on every wall. Twilight smiled. Just behind the carriage, two changelings were starting to put on the harnesses of the empty, wooden cart. They will make a stop in Ponyville and take more of her things from the castle, she was going to spend six months in another kingdom after all. The alicorn looked back at her guard and nodded.

“It looks really nice and cozy. I like it,” the changeling smiled and even raised his ears, because of her words.

“I’m glad that you do, Your Majesty.” A silence came between them, but the soldier didn’t interrupt his queen, she was clearly lost in her thoughts again. Twilight was thinking about her friends. She already said goodbye to everypony she needed to, but she still felt like a traitor to leave so early without seeing them one last time. She sighed, putting her ears down. She didn’t have much time to worry herself any more, because she heard loud talks and hoofsteps behind her. She looked back and saw two royal changelings coming in her direction with a bag and few books. Twilight smiled slightly. “I will inform the others, that we will leave soon, Queen Twilight,” Coxa said, and after getting a nod from her, he went in another direction. She, on the other hoof, went to meet her husband and brother-in-law. Well… a new chapter of my life just began… I just hope it will go well…

High above on a balcony overlooking the castle grounds, Celestia stood watching the carriage ride out of the city gate and down the mountain. She looked down to a piece of parchment held in her magic. Levitating a quill over the paper, she quickly crossed something off on the parchment.

“Everything is going perfectly so far…” she remarked with a smile before looking back into the distance to where the carriage had left. “Just... perfect.”

Chapter 5: Festivals and Stories

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