A Shining Sparkle of Love

A week flew by, and before Twilight knew it, she was standing in the center of the main hall with the gates of her castle breached, the nobles and gentry of all kinds that had for so long besieged her beginning to flow in and accumulate themselves around her hooves like a shoal of piranha around their prey. Twilight’s birthday gala had begun.

Greeting a pair of ponies in black suits whom she knew nothing about, Twilight proceeded for the final round of her castle to make sure that everything was as she had planned. At the great lobby the busts and sculptures from times more ancient than Celestia herself stood on either side of the corridor to meet the guests, their demeanors imperturbable. A little further on and music began to reach across the castle out of the grand hall. The musician ponies from Canterlot, the best in their craft, were chafing their hooves beyond blisters to bring the most beautiful melodies there were alive. For those who weren’t sated by music alone, a dozen tables ran the length of the hall with cushions to either side, all manners of delicacies and exotic fruits arranged along the middle of each.

Her mouth salivating, Twilight ignored the treats and sneaked around the corner to observe Pinkie Pie and make sure that the party mare wasn’t wreaking havoc upon the guests or involving them into dubious activities they would most likely take the wrong way. Convincing Pinkie to temporarily put aside her views on how a birthday should be celebrated had been the hardest part of the whole preparation process and Twilight hadn’t gotten away with it easy. Pinkie had demanded that after this ‘farce of a party’ was finished, she should be allowed to throw a ‘real’ party on her own terms the day later. Twilight had had no other choice but to agree. The consequences of her failure were too high to bargain over concessions.

At last, Twilight walked up to the giant crystal mirror not far away from the entrance hall and had a peek at her new dress. Twilight was nowhere near an expert on fashion but even she could safely say that Rarity had outdone herself this time. For a moment Twilight even felt herself not a simple bookish mare but a princess as she stared at the luxurious dark purple collar laced with gold and blue silk and the long flowing skirt that followed Twilight like a soft cloud. And gems all over the dress, hundreds of them, shone brighter than any star, captivating the eye and telling the dress’s own story that couldn’t be told in words – the story of beauty itself. Her dress was perfect. In fact, everything was perfect. It would be the grandest gala Equestria had ever seen and Princess Celestia would definitely be proud of her.

“Celestia!” A pitched voice interrupted Twilight’s musings and she turned away from the reflection to watch her number one assistant running in her direction. Spike slid to a halt beside her, almost doubling over in half as he tried to catch up his breath. “Celestia is here,” he muttered through a series of gasps.

A moment later Twilight was off and galloping towards her mentor, her heart racing with both excitement and a hint of nervousness. Twilight had made it clear to Spike that he was to inform her when Princess Celestia arrived. And though she trusted him to meet the guests and even had Rarity make him a black butler’s suit that he adored wholeheartedly, Twilight wanted to show Celestia to her castle personally. Her beloved mentor was, after all, the only reason she had the gala in the first place.

Twilight’s teleport to the castle’s entrance proved fast enough to offer a guiding hoof just in time as Celestia reached the main gates. She made to bow but was immediately stopped before she could do as much as tilt her head. Even after all those months, it was hard for Twilight to accept the fact that she was equal to the princess.

“Happy Birthday, my faithful student,” Princess Celestia said in her ever gentle voice that always served Twilight as some sort of sweet remedy when she was nervous. The princess of the sun levitated out a big book in a wrapper with her Cutie Mark emblazoned on it and hoofed it over to Twilight.

Twilight’s eyes brightened as she unwrapped her present, taking a look at the book’s title. Pony Of Time. The thick dappled cover felt rugged in her hooves and it had the faint odor of mold and sawdust that suggested the book hadn’t seen light for at least a thousand years.

“Is it what I’m thinking it is?” Twilight could barely hold the excitement boiling rapidly inside of her.

“Yes, Twilight.” Celestia gave out a mild smile. “It’s the original tome written by the hoof of Starswirl the Bearded himself.”

Twilight shrieked. Then she shrieked louder and began hopping in a circle. She did already have three copies of the book in her library but she could have never imagined getting hold of the original. Despite her mentor’s earnest protests, she groveled at Celestia’s hooves, thanking her profusely.

Twilight’s elated mood was short-lived, however. Soon Celestia’s long legs gave way to the view of the pony Twilight hoped to not meet here. “Blueblood,” she muttered under her breath. She immediately straightened herself up, fixing her mane and assuming the most imperturbable demeanor she was able to muster. Though she wasn’t familiar with the prince quite as close as Rarity had happened to be, Twilight’s coronation had resulted in a few conversations with him. It had been more than enough to realize that his characterization as an ‘asshole’ developed by Rarity was a complete underestimation.

“Still as servile before Auntie Celestia as ever, Twilight Sparkle,” Blueblood said, shuffling his hooves toward them, his expression so sour as if he had just eaten a whole lemon. “No wonder that she chose you to be her pet.”

“Watch your mouth, nephew.” Celestia threw Blueblood a stern look but otherwise didn’t express any indignation. “I chose Twilight to be a princess because of her devoted service to Equestria and her extraordinary talents.”

“Of course, of course. Sorry for my impoliteness, Auntie.” Blueblood showed a toothless grin, an ugly thing framed by his silk white fur and long golden mane.

Twilight ignored the remark despite anger boiling up inside of her and led the way into the main hall. As soon as the three ponies entered the lobby, a huge herd of gentry encircled Celestia and, on the pretext of business too crucial to the fate of Equestria, detached her from Twilight into another part of the room. Blueblood found neither a morsel of attention of his distant auntie nor any admirers and was left there standing beside Twilight.

“So...” An aura of condescendence emanated from Blueblood as if Twilight had to be thankful for just the opportunity to be speaking with royal blood. He did his best to keep his eyes off Twilight’s wings, pretending that they didn’t exist. “Good barn you have here. The biggest one among the peasants of this village.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said. “Not as big as your vanity, though. I fail to understand how it fits into Celestia’s castle. The princess must have a hard time finding fresh air that isn’t tainted with it.”

Blueblood gave out a sarcastic smirk. “It’s called prestige, dear. Some ponies are just born to be less worth than others. That’s how the world works. I, for example, have too many affairs of state to take care of as to waste my precious time on such nonsense as helping peasants to figure out who is which friend and with whom they are going to get drunk after a day in the field.”

For the first time since morning, Twilight was glad that her friends, especially Applejack, were too busy entertaining the guests as to not have to witness this. Otherwise, the gala would already have ended by this point with the tables flipped over and jaws broken.

She drew a deep breath and restrained herself from dancing to Blueblood’s tune and declaring that the only things he governed were a scatter of brothels and public houses, the only establishments in Canterlot that incurred losses to the kingdom and the only purpose of which were to satisfy Blueblood’s depraved appetites.

“You know,” Blueblood continued. “At my latest rendezvous with Auntie I ran into your photos from her school. A pitiful sight, really. Just looking at your insecure expression, the way you held yourself, trying to look as invisible as possible was more than enough to understand you for who you really are. Outcast. The worst candidate to help Celestia rule Equestria. But...” Blueblood paused for a dramatic effect, grinning. “The best candidate to follow her blindly. Be a little dog kept on a short leash.”

Twilight didn’t know why she kept listening to Blueblood’s insults. Perhaps because deep inside her she knew that at least some part of it was true. Her education, her status, even her friends. She owned everything to Celestia.

“Even as a pet, I’m glad to be—” Twilight didn’t finish. One moment a white hoof smashed against Blueblood’s face, and another moment he was sprawled on the marble floor of her castle, a bowl of potato soup on his head, a flipped-over table behind him.

“You better find another pony to bother, Blueblood,” said a male voice.

Twilight’s eyes went wide as she saw Shining Armor standing before her. He shook his hoof to ease the ache after the impact, his stern look turning into a smile as his eyes met Twilight’s. All around the crowd gathered to watch the scene and the whole hall became drowned in rustles and whispers.

“Did you just hit him?” Twilight didn’t need an answer. All the evidence was here before her, the most obvious of which being Blueblood’s right eye full of hatred and fear as he nursed his left eye with such a care as if it was a mortal wound sustained during a war.

“He had that coming for a long time,” Shining said simply. “I’ve warned him.”

“Shining, please. I’m not a little filly. I can stand up for myself. I saved Equestria more than once, you know.” Despite her best attempts to sound mature, Twilight’s words came out like the whine of a spoiled filly. Her brother was there for her and that was the only thing that mattered. He was there to defend her. To love her. Maybe not in the way Twilight’s mind was prone to imagine, especially during cold nights, but even so it was always more than she’d ever had. Meetings with her brother were the only time when she could feel herself being a mare.

Shining took a step closer, ignoring the crowd staring in his direction. “You can save Equestria a thousand times, but you will always be my little sister.” He stretched out a hoof to pull Twilight into a hug. “I missed you so much, Twily.”

Twilight didn’t waste time to accept her brother’s big embrace, wrapping her own hooves around his neck, their cheeks rubbing against each other. “I missed you too, BBBFF.” Twilight was about to snuggle even closer, perhaps even steal a kiss on Shining’s cheek, feel his warmth against her lips. She stopped herself however. Nothing in the world could cool down the passion toward her brother more quickly than a crowd of ponies surrounding her, evaluating every move of their new princess, ready to spread gossip at the slightest pretext, all the way up to Celestia’s ear.

“Where’s Cadance?” Twilight asked. Thinking of her former foalsitter, her friend, now her brother’s wife and the mother of his foal, was the second largest thing that tended to spoil the moment of their reunion. It wasn’t jealousy that bothered Twilight. She sincerely loved Cadance. But more importantly she loved her brother and wanted nothing more than for him to be happy with his wife. No, it was a sense of pure fear that fettered Twilight every time she touched her brother tighter than a sister should probably do. Cadance would never forgive the slightest advance on her husband, Twilight was sure. She would definitely have never forgiven it if she were in Cadance’s shoes.

“Cadance’s talking to Princess Celestia,” Shining said as he let go of Twilight and stepped away to point a hoof toward the far side of the hall.

Without her brother’s warmth surrounding her, Twilight suddenly felt as if a cold gust of wind swept over her. Even despite all the fears, she couldn’t bring herself to break the embrace first. And now when it was broken she couldn’t help but wish that it lasted a little bit longer.

The crowd parted as Shining stamped his hoof, leading Twilight behind him to the place where Celestia and Cadance rested, chatting gleefully. As soon as the show ended, the gentry left the siblings alone and returned to their previous affairs. Even Blueblood seemed to disappear.

The moment Cadance noticed Twilight approaching, she excused herself from the company of Celestia and trotted swiftly to the pair. “So glad to see you, Twilight!” she chirped, hugging Twilight who in turn awkwardly returned the gesture and greeted the Princess of Love back.

Pleasantries done, Cadance turned her glance to Shining Armor and frowned, disapproval painted on her face. “I sincerely apologize for my husband, Twilight. My dear Shiny managed to make a scene the first moment he got in here. But I’m sure it will not be repeated, will it, Shiny?” Cadance’s eyes narrowed in a way that suggested a promise of much more hurt than a mere black eye he’d given to Blueblood.

Despite the aura of menace emanating from Cadance, Shining stood his ground and made no sign to retreat. “I’m sorry, honey, but I can’t guarantee it. I will not allow anypony to say bad things and spread dirty rumors about my sister.”

Cadance huffed and returned to the cheerful self, a smile wide on her face. “Can’t do anything with him. You always had a special spot in my husband’s heart. Truth be told, sometimes I even feel jealous of you, Twilight.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, honey,” Shining hurried to defend himself. “You know I love you as much as Twilight. I would have done the same thing for you.”

Cadance giggled. “I know. I’m just fooling with you, dear. And by the way, Celestia is waiting for you to explain yourself.” She pointed to Celestia’s seat and Blueblood sitting beside her, baring his teeth like a mad dog.

Shining Armor cringed.

“Well, good luck, dear.” Cadance patted her husband’s head playfully. “And while you’re busy with my auntie, it’s just the perfect time for me to give Twilight my present. You would have gotten in the way anyway.”

“A present?” Shining lifted his brow skeptically. “I haven’t seen you prepare a special gift for Twilight.”

“Of course you haven’t. It’s a secret present between us mares.” Cadance shooed her husband away in the direction of Celestia and turned to Twilight. “Now, come on, Twilight. I’m so excited to give it to you.” Cadance looked around the hall, taking in its grandeur and numerous ponies in fancy dresses filling it to the brim. “But not here.” She tilted her head to Twilight’s ear, whispering. “Follow me to the balcony.”

Off they went, Cadance with a long stride that suited a princess and Twilight shuffling her hooves behind indecisively. “Is he going to be ok?” Twilight’s heart sunk as she saw her brother dissolve in a crowd of ponies. “Shouldn’t we be with him? I’m sure I can explain why Shining did it for me. Blueblood was really—”

“Shining is a big colt,” Cadance interrupted. “He’ll be fine. Plus, it’s just an obligatory small talk. Celestia knows better than anypony how much an annoyance her nephew is and doesn’t want to dirty her hooves in the whole situation more than necessary. She’ll make them say some fake excuses, shake hooves and that’ll be it.”

“I hope so,” Twilight said. She would never forgive herself if Shining got in trouble because of her. Images of Celestia’s wrath began to bubble up in the back of her head and before statistically impossible(or having a probability so small as to be ignored in accordance with any book on probabilities Twilight had read) scenarios consumed her mind, she decided to redirect her thoughts on the upcoming present instead. It must be some rare artifact, she thought. Something so powerful as having to be concealed from regular ponies. No, even from Shining. Perhaps some forbidden and illegal magic? Would she even have the guts to accept it? It certainly couldn’t be something too hazardous. Cadance would never put her in danger. A tinge of excitement ran through Twilight’s back. She would definitely accept it.

As they walked onto the balcony, Cadance glanced around and closed the doors with her magic. Having made sure that nopony could overhear them, she leaned forwards to Twilight who was now grinning eagerly. “Well, here we go, Twilight.” Cadance let out a puff of air before speaking. “You can fuck Shining Armor tonight.” She then straightened back up. “Now I said it.”

“Fuck...? Whom...?” Twilight’s mind stopped working. Had Cadance just said ‘fuck’? Had she meant sexual intercourse or was it a simple swear word? Of course Cadance couldn’t offer her to have sexual intercourse with her brother. It would be ridiculous. Twilight felt her fur begin to sweat and her heart pound like a drum. Cadance had no reason to even think about it. She had done everything possible to have Cadance not even think about it. Also, Cadance had no reason to even think about it. She had done everything possible to have Cadance not even think about it.

“Are you ok, Twilight?” Cadance waved her hoof before Twilight’s glassy eyes. “I know it might be sudden, but I’ve been thinking a lot about it. It would be better for both of us to—”

“Excuse me,” Twilight interrupted, her mind still trying to process that simple word – fuck. According to the Equine Global Dictionary, it was considered to be one of the words that had a multitude of meanings and is easy to misinterpret because of that. One of the many meanings of that word was to ‘damage or ruin’. Another one is ‘to treat somepony badly’. In other cases, it meant ‘to annoy’.

“Excuse me,” Twilight repeated. “But why would I want to annoy my brother? I have a good relationship with him. I mean, not as good as you have. You are his wife after all and I’m just a sister.” Twilight’s head began to spin, her breath ragged. She didn’t know why. There’s was nothing to worry about really. In accordance with any book on probabilities, the chance of Cadance knowing about her feelings for Shining was so dim that it could be ignored.

Cadance sighed. “Twilight, I know about your feelings for—”

“No, you don’t.” Twilight’s voice cracked and a tear slid down her cheek. “There’s nothing between me and Shining. You are wrong.”

“Twilight, I’m not here to accuse you of anything.” Cadance’s hoof touched Twilight’s cheek tenderly and wiped out the tear. “If anything, I’m here to help you to figure out your feelings. As the Princess of Love and your friend I can’t stand watching you torture yourself. You have to open your heart to Shining, otherwise the hole in your heart will only grow until it completely consumes you. That’s why I invite you to our bed tonight so you can sort things out between you and him. You will feel much better after that. I promise you.”

“You are wrong!” Twilight slapped Cadance’s hoof away from her cheek and ran away, more tears falling behind her.

“Twilight!” Cadance shouted but Twilight already left the balcony, rushing toward her room.

A stallion in a black suit and a mare in posh red dress began to laugh between themselves as Twilight came near them. Did they know about her secret as well? More laughs and giggles surrounded her, everypony looking her way, grinning.

“What is so funny?” Twilight’s eye twitched as she shouldered her way through the pair before her, almost sending them to the floor. “Do you like laughing at me?”

The stallion and mare looked up at Twilight, terrified, shaking in every limb. “Princess, we would never dare laugh at you. It was just a joke a friend of ours told us—”

“I swear to Celestia,” Twilight cried. “If anypony else knows about it, I will make your life hell. I will ruin you. Stomp every one of your dreams just as you have stomped mine!”

Everypony around Twilight took a step back, confusion and horror absorbing them like a sudden tsunami swallowing a city. Conversations ended; jokes turned into an incoherent gibberish.

With no pony to block her way anymore, Twilight ran on, taking a turn to leave the gala hall and making her way to the living quarters. She slammed the door to her room hard and walked in, as broken as she ever had. Her life was over and there was nothing she could do about it. She threw herself onto the bed and began to weep.

A hoof knocked on the door. “Twilight, please. Let me in. We need to talk.” Cadance’s voice. Twilight pressed her hooves against her ears to muffle the sound. It didn’t help. Cadance’s voice inside her head was much stronger and more agonizing than the one outside. I know you clop to my husband. Know how wet you become when you think about him. You dirty little whore of a sister. Wait till auntie Celestia knows about it. Or maybe she already knows that her star student disgraced herself before the most influential ponies of Equestria. Ha ha ha. You are done, Twilight. Next time you will think thrice before fantasizing about my husband.

“Just leave me alone!” Twilight cried.

“Twilight, open the door!” Cadance shouted back. “Get yourself together and stop imagining things that don’t exist. Nopony knows about anything, not even Shining. I’m here to help you, you idiot! Open the door.”

“But they laughed at me. Everypony laughed at me.” Twilight drew in a sniffle.

“They laughed because it’s a gala, Twilight. That’s what ponies do here. They tell each other stupid jokes and laugh at them, pretending them to be funny to not offend their companions. Now open this fucking door.”

A long moment passed, then Twilight’s horn lit and the door’s latch slid open. Cadance walked in, closing the door behind herself. “First I have to say I’m really sorry, Twilight.” Cadance sat down on the bed beside Twilight. “I didn’t expect your reaction to be so... so sudden.”

“Sudden?” Twilight turned to face Cadance, her eyes red and stinging from tears. “He’s my brother, for Celestia’s sake. And you... You are his wife. How can you offer me to have... have.” Twilight gulped down a big lump in her throat. “Have sex with him!”

“Love doesn’t care about such details, Twilight.” Cadance slid closer and put her hoof on Twilight’s back, stroking it gently. “Your love to Shining is no weaker than mine. Perhaps even stronger. I certainly have no right to deny that love of yours.”

Twilight frowned at that. She’d read in books that love had no boundaries, of course. Brother and sister romance novels were the ones she enjoyed the most. But she was different! She was a princess. Celestia’s personal student. Generations of foals were going to look up to. And, besides... Shining had never seen her as a mare. She would have noticed otherwise. Of course he loved her but it had never been the depraved passion she had for him.

“How did you know about... him?” Twilight asked. She still couldn’t believe that she had messed up somehow. Had it been that one time when she hugged Shining longer than necessary at his wedding? How could she have been so stupid?

“I’m the Princess of Love.” Cadance smiled. “You can’t hope to hide this stuff from me. Truth be told, I knew Shining had been more to you than just a brother since you were a filly. I thought it was just a teenage crush that would clear up by itself. I thought that when you grow up, you’ll find yourself a nice stallion and forget about the feelings to your brother. I was wrong. I was talking with your friends the other day and they told me everything about your failed relationships with other ponies.”

“Rarity.” Twilight scowled. “I’m fine with my personal life as it is now. There’s no need to worry about it.”

“When was last time you had sex with a pony, Twilight?” Cadance asked, her tone serious.

“Does it really matter?” Twilight turned her eyes to the floor, frowning. Being a virgin is not the end of the world.

“When was last time you kissed somepony then?”

Twilight didn’t answer, continuing to stare pass Cadance. Though she’d never kissed on the lips, she had stolen enough kisses on the cheek from Shining to be happy about it. She doubted this answer would please Cadance, though.

“Oh, my.” Cadance sighed. “Everything is even worse than I expected. I shouldn’t have dragged on with it for so long. I should have helped you much earlier. I’m sorry for all those days and nights you felt broken and alone because of my hesitation. I’m really sorry, Twilight.”

“But you don’t have to be sorry. You can’t help me. Nopony can help me.” The familiar bitterness returned to Twilight’s throat. “He will never love me the same way I do. And even if he did... I just can’t. I have my responsibilities. Even if it’s nothing to you, it is not nothing to everypony else. It will be a raging scandal. A crushing blow to reputations of all ponies I know and love.”

“I tell you what, Twilight, we all have a skeleton in the cupboard. Celestia, Shining, your friends, me, everypony. The secret here is to not let it out in public.” Cadance gave Twilight a wink. “That’s the first lesson Celestia should have taught you when you became a princess. You are right, it would be a scandal. That’s why we’ll make all the preparations necessary so that nopony will ever know about it. Consider it your princess training. Saving your appearance is a part of your job. And believe me, ponies will spread all kinds of dirty rumors about you anyway, not even a quarter of them true. Your role here is to be strong, to not let common folk subdue you to a trembling mess, fearing to take a step.”

“How can you be so confident of this?” Twilight’s hoarse voice whispered. “Even just by talking to me about this your reputation is at great risk.”

Cadance laughed, a ringing clear sound that filled Twilight with confusion. “Oh, Twilight, you’re such a little naive thing.” Cadance reached down to couple Twilight’s cheeks in her hooves, kneading them lovingly. “As I said earlier it’s because we all have a skeleton in our cupboard. Me? I have too many already stuffed there for another one to make any difference. If ponies knew everything that goes on in my and Shining’s bedroom, The Crystal Empire would have fallen apart long ago.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked puzzlingly.

“It’s a story for another time and I promise you I’ll tell you everything you want, but not before we take care of your problem here first. Right now, all I can tell you is that it’s not the first time Shiny and I share our bed with somepony else. Or for that matter, much more... exotic creatures. So your presence won’t scare him away.” Cadance paused, laughing, then stopped and cringed slightly. “Well, at least not as far away as you might think. I won’t lie, I’ve never noticed him having his eyes on your flanks long enough to make out any details. But we can fix that quickly. You’re one sexy mare, Twilight. And I’ve been training Shining long enough to have him tell a gem from stone. He learns fast.”

Twilight’s jaw fell agape. She always thought herself to be a pervert and couldn’t even imagine that somepony else could beat her in that. And of all ponies, her own brother and her friend plus former foalsitter? Two ponies she had known her whole life? Perhaps, she was even less experienced in love matters than she could think of. Bookworm or not, Twilight wasn’t stupid and understood that books hardly scraped the surface of how love really works but still she wasn’t able to hide her bewilderment. “You and my brother? With whom?”

“Mostly servants,” Cadance said nonchalantly. “It’s just sex really. Nothing more. It allows to free oneself of any residue sex energy and guarantees that my husband will never have a mere thought of looking at another mare behind my back. And if he would be foolish enough to look at another mare, he knows that he would be left without his head and another important parts of his body.” Cadance paused. “Except you. You’re not another mare. You’re my little Twily. You are family. I hope I shouldn’t remind you about it ever again. Tell me you understand this.”

“I am family,” Twilight mumbled under her breath, sneezing her tears in.

“What does it mean, Twilight?” Cadance locked Twilight with a stare.

“That you will be always by my side and help me no matter what.”

“Good. I’m glad that we got over it.” Cadance said as she pulled Twilight to her chest and hugged tightly. “Unfortunately it also means that I can’t force you to do things. You have to make this decision yourself. Shining and I will stay at your castle a few days before we return to the Crystal Empire. I will be waiting you in our chamber tonight. Don’t worry about anything. Nopony will ever know about this whole ordeal and we can go about it as slowly as you’re comfortable with. Even Shining won’t know a thing before you get more or less used to being close to him. Promise me that you will at least think of my proposal.”

“I will,” Twilight lied. There had been times when the thought had crossed her mind to just let it all out to Shining, to sink into his chest and finally say how much she really loved him. But that time had long gone. She was no longer a little filly to allow herself such silliness. Cadance was right. She wasn’t just another mare. She was family. She was his own sister. Ponies would forget fast a petty flirt with a maiden. But a romance with a sister? She could put herself at risk if she really wanted to but not the ponies who relied on her. She would never forgive herself if Shining or Celestia had serious problems because of her selfishness. It would be much better if the things stood the way they did, without that depraved love of hers.

“I hope you’ll make the right decision,” Cadance said. “But whatever you decide, I will always support you no matter what.” Cadance extended her hoof and helped Twilight from bed. “And what has Celestia taught you? Definitely not how to be a princess. Look at yourself, got messy like a little filly.” She wiped away Twilight’s dried tears. “Here, now it’s much better. Don’t forget to remind me that after we deal with this problem of yours I have to teach you how to behave like a princess. Perhaps you don’t have to be strong all the time, nopony can, but you do have to look like that. Now go on and show them how strong you are.”

Twilight did as she was told and left all her worries behind the door to her room. Almost all of them, anyway. Enough to look as happy a princess as it was expected.

As the princesses trotted into the main hall, they saw Starlight appear around the corner. The mare had been seemingly waiting for them after Twilight’s boisterous exit. She walked up to the princesses, falling into a trot beside them. “You really scared me there,” Starlight said. “I thought you’d finally broken down under all this stress.”

“I’m fine now.” Twilight assumed a smile. She didn’t really feel like that but Cadance was right. She couldn’t let ponies see her sulking around and ask questions about what had happened.

“Are you sure? Maybe I can help you somehow? I can greet the important guests if you want me to.”

“Thank you, Starlight, but I’d better do it myself.”

“Well,” Starlight stretched the word awkwardly as if somehow knowing that Twilight was faking her cheerfulness. “I’ll then go check on Pinkie and see if she didn’t kill somepony accidentally.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said sincerely. One thing she loved about Starlight the most was that the mare never pushed the matter. Pushing was the last thing Twilight needed right now. Her head was still buzzing with confusion and Twilight doubted she could ever sort it out without sleeping through it first. Her only mission for today was to get through it and see what’d happen next.

“See you later, then.” Starlight made to turn around but Cadance stopped her.

“Actually, you can help me instead,” Cadance said, moving closer to Starlight. “Is it ok with you?”

“Princess Cadance?” Starlight startled back, seemingly completely unprepared to talk to a princess who wasn’t her closest friend. “Of course, I’ll help. W-what do you want me to do?” She stuttered.

Cadance put on a sorrowful countenance. “It’s something personal and Twilight told me that you’re good at keeping secrets.”

Starlight gulped down and nodded.

“Well, the thing is... I recently noticed that my husband started to look at other mares. Perhaps it’s just my paranoia but I want to be sure that he is still faithful to me. I want you to test him.”

“Test him?” Starlight’s eyes narrowed with confusion.

“Yes. Talk to him. Flirt. Use your feminine charm. I’m sure I’m not the one to tell you how it’s done. I’ve seen enough gentlecolts pursuing you with their eyes today. You’re quite a popular mare indeed.”

“I’m not sure we’re talking about the same pony...” Starlight’s eyes wandered around, looking for escape. “I’m not really that... social.”

Cadance smiled gently. She stretched her hoof to Starlight’s chest where her heart was. “You just have to believe in yourself.”

Starlight slowly turned her head to Twilight, screaming silently for help but Twilight just shrugged. Any other day she would have helped her student without a second thought but right now she definitely didn’t feel like making eye contact with Cadance, let alone arguing with her. Whatever plans the Princess of Love had for Starlight, she would have to go through them without her support.

“Perhaps I can do it but...” Starlight began to give up under Cadance’s pleading expression. “What if he actually falls for it? I mean, of course he will never do.” Starlight wiped the sweat on her forehead away. “I’m sure Shining Armor loves you and only you, Princess.”

Cadance laughed softly. “Then it wouldn’t matter, would it? You can do whatever you please with him then. The Princess of Love hardly deserves a stallion who can’t keep his prick in his sheath. What’d you say?”

“Well, y-yeees.” Twilight, please save me. Twilight could literally read Starlight’s mind. Somehow her student had managed to send an electromagic wave straight into her brain. She sure was a very talented unicorn.

“You’ll be fine,” Twilight said. “Cadance is the only pony my brother loves. He’ll never cheat on her. Just drink a few cocktails with him and that’ll be it. Imagine it’s your homework on how to make friends.”

“When you put it this way, it sounds almost innocent.” Starlight let out a puff of air, getting herself together. “Just a new friend. I can make it.”

“Thank you so much,” Cadance said, giving Starlight a brief hug. “I’ll be awaiting your report on how everything has gone tomorrow.”

“Report?” Starlight giggled, giving Twilight a knowing look. “That is a homework friendship assignment. Well, I guess I’ll be going then.” She returned around with stiffness in every limb and ran away.

“I’m afraid I have my business as well,” Cadance said as they entered the hall. She turned Twilight’s attention to the pair of nobles who backed away as soon as they saw the princesses, the same fear in their eyes as the one Twilight had left them with when she had been running through them to her room. “I think you have some work to do too. I was trying to calm them but it’s better if you do so yourself and apologize. Your behavior was indeed very inappropriate.”

“You’re right. See you later then.” Twilight wanted to hug Cadance goodbye but couldn’t bring herself to do that. She doubted she would be able to ever see Cadance the same way she’d seen her before. No matter how encouraging her former foalsitter’s words might be, she still felt herself a traitor while standing beside her. However, Twilight hadn’t the last say in that matter as Cadance pulled her close to her chest and hugged tightly.

“Chin up, Twilight. Remember what I said.” And Cadance was gone.

Twilight stood unmoving for a few minutes, then took a deep breath. Well, time to fix your mistakes before Celestia hoofs you out, Twilight. She slowly approached the pair of ponies to make her amends. Contrary to her fears, the two ponies turned out to be quite nice and accepted her apologies without complaint and helped her to convince the rest of the crowd that Twilight wasn’t some sort of a crazy pony but merely a fledgling princess who had stressed out under the pressure. She also successfully managed to evade Shining while doing so. It wasn’t that easy and soon she found herself jumping from one conversation to another, from a mayor of an Equestrian town to a chief of a most distant village, all the while awkwardly excusing herself and promising to visit every of those places. Of course, she couldn’t run away from her brother forever and soon was cornered with no other choice but to face him. He looked as if he was trying to run away from somepony too.

“Hi, sis. Do you want the latest news?” He laughed as he approached her. “I think your student is trying to seduce me.” Seeing Twilight’s complete lack of reaction, he added. “Well, it doesn’t sound funny now but you should have seen that. I don’t mean anything rude really. Starlight’s a cool pony and all that but where in Tartarus did she get that idea to hit on me? She sure didn’t forget I’m married, did she?”

Twilight kept silent and moved on to welcome the sheik of Saddle Arabia who had just entered her castle with a flock of retinues and a herd of his wives. And though the etiquette demanded that it was enough to address only the sheik, she took her time to approach every pony of his escort individually and shook their hooves.

“I’m starting to think that you’re deliberately ignoring me, little sis,” Shining said, dragging on behind her.

“Well, maybe,” Twilight said half-heartedly, turning her eyes away from him to the next guest.

“Is it because you’re still angry at me after beating Blueblood? You have nothing to worry about really. I’ve already settled everything with Celestia and made sure that you have nothing to do with it.”

“It’s not that.” Of course it wasn’t. How could she be angry at him about such nonsense, especially if he’d done that for her? It was one of the reasons she loved him so much. He would do anything for her before even realizing in how much trouble he might be because of that.

“Then what?” Shining doggidly followed Twilight, unceremoniously ignoring ponies who were trying to stir him into their conversation. “It can’t be that you’re still sulking over my missing your previous birthday, can it? It was a very important mission that demanded I prepare the defensive spell in time. Well, you already know the details.”

“It’s not because of that either!” Twilight fumed, partly because of her brother’s persistence but mostly because she knew that the only problem here was her and her alone, and that she would never have the guts to admit it to him.

Shining made his way through a crowd of nobles to stand before Twilight. He looked her in the eyes, concern written on his face. “Twilight, you know you can trust me. Say what is bothering you. I’m sure I can help you with it.”

“Why is it so stuffy here?” A tear almost escaped Twilight’s eye but she stopped it in time. “Sorry but I need some fresh air. If you excuse me.” She shook hooves with some gentry and hurried away to the solitude of the balcony where nopony could notice her stinging eyes.

Once at the place, Twilight leaned against the balcony rail and watched pegasi chase clouds in the distance. The scene was somewhat soothing.

“Twilight, stop running from me.”

Twilight said nothing and continued staring into the distance.

“Twilight, don’t be a spoiled filly. You know I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.” Shining put a hoof on her back and began to caress it slowly while rubbing his side against hers. There had never been a moment in her life when she didn’t feel better after her brother’s affection, even during the most severe depressions when she was a foal. Now? Now she felt as sick and broken as never before.

She brushed her brother’s hoof away and took a step back. “Just leave me alone!” Twilight boomed, her inflection commanding. A near replica of Royal Canterlot Voice.

Twilight let out a desperate sigh. She would never have thought that she would raise her voice to her brother. But it hurt so much being so close to him and unable to share her feelings with him. At least it helped get some of her anger and frustration out. Though it didn’t last long. Soon a new, much stronger void replaced the previous spot in her heart. “Please, just leave me alone,” she whispered.

“Fine.” Shining placed his hoof back on the ground and yawned. “If you insist. I get that you’re not in the mood to speak to your big bro.” Her sight on the clouds, Twilight heard Shining beat the dust out of his jacket. “Then, as The Prince of The Crystal Empire, I demand a conversation with you, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Our nations do not do as well as desired and we have serious matters to discuss.”

“What?” Twilight frowned. “If it’s another game of yours, I’m not in the mood for it either.”

“Watch your tongue, Princess.” Shining said extravagantly. “The matters of the Empire is not a mere game. Our nations have already had enough of differences and disagreements. And if you continue to disrespect the official representative of The Crystal Empire by having your head turned away to the clouds, I’m afraid I have no other choice but to declare war on you and your ponies.”

Twilight couldn’t hold back a snicker at the absurdity of her brother’s proclamation.

“Do not underestimate me, Princess.” Shining puffed the air from his lips for a dramatic effect. “I’m going to abduct you and have my best torturers tickle you until you agree to speak to me properly.”

It took Twilight an effort to keep a smile from blooming on her face as she tried to imagine that. She shook her head exaggeratedly.

“You don’t believe me?” Twilight turned just in time to see Shining’s sly grin. “I will begin a war without a second thought for you, Twilight. You and Cadance are the most important ponies in my life. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to have you both by my side.”

Twilight continued to keep silent. She knew it was just a joke but something inside her told her that some part of her brother’s proclamation might be quite serious. She wondered if her brother was really ready to sacrifice the lives of innocent ponies just to get her attention. She stared at Shining’s face, his broad cheekbones, his smiling lips. Everything in her brother was perfect. There was no need to get somepony hurt, that was for sure. Her soul and heart had already long ago belonged to him. All she needed right now was a little time to sort out her thoughts and feelings. It hurt her that her brother couldn’t understand that.

“So it’s war then, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Shining Armor watched Twilight’s pursed lips with expectation. “Your silence left me no choice.”

Twilight’s legs abandoned the crystal floor under her and she felt suspended. A pink aura surrounded her whole body and moved her sprawled form on Shining’s back, her forelegs dropping over her brother’s right side, her hind legs over the left.

“Shining, what are you doing? Put me down right now!” Twilight cried, confusion and anger fighting over her emotions.

Instead of the answer, Twilight was met with a bright light emanating from Shining’s horn. The world around her collapsed into a jumble of colors and she lost any notion of space. She wanted to scream but a sudden need of sleep overwhelmed her and she passed out, her head falling over on her brother’s side.