A Glimmer of Hope: Reborn

“So… Crystal Empire,” Nick announced as the landscape completely changed to the snowy mountains and city. “And it looks like… the group found some type of airship? Huh, just like out of a video game.”

“Seems like quite a remarkable vessel, more of a weapon than just for cargo,” Chrysalis remarked, amazed by the feat of technology in front of them.

“Well the Storm King did utilize airships during his invasion, it’s not too far a thought for Equestria to maybe consider it. Then again, the ponies for the most part seem too passive to even create a defense force.”

“They were an easy target to hit when I decided to invade,” the queen shrugged, remembering how easily she had taken over, but she wasn’t as thorough as she had thought. “I still don’t get how the power of love defeated my armies other than it being some cliche plot device.”

“Well I guess the phrase ‘love conquers all’ is the only explanation. Then again, when I finally realized what I needed to do in the last battle and seeing Twilight and Luna fighting so hard, it gave me sort of a … spark.”

“Yeah, I noticed that with you and Thorax. Guess that makes you two gay,” she smirked at the wolf, who just rolled his eyes.

“Love doesn’t always have to be romantic,” he replied, looking around as Cadance led his two lovers to another part of the castle. “Where are they-”

The scene was interrupted by a loud knocking, almost like they were in a fish bowl.

“So you’ll talk to your girlfriends but not me? Your brother that was shortly introduced after you died?”

“Ugh, Discord, even if my brother’s spirit somehow mixed with yours, you are still more yourself than him,” Nick facepawed at the ridiculous out of the blue admission. “Also how come NOW you can see us? Why didn’t you help out during the cyclops?”

“Because this is your journey not mine, little bro,” the draconequus talked to the two through what seemed to be a screen. “Also it was entertaining to see you all struggle to take the oaf down. Hi Chryssie, you’re not trying to create some sort of deep intimate problems with him behind the scenes are you?”

“No, he’s too gay for my likes,” she brushed off the question. “How you ever became a villain I’ll never understand. You’re more annoying than anything.”

“And you’re more dead than anything so there’s that,” the draconequus retorted. “Anyway, so you two are looking for Sombra now huh? Where could he be found if his horn exploded during the final battle?”

“Perhaps he left something else in the Crystal Empire in case of emergency,” Nick guessed. “I don’t suppose you could be helpful and try to search the world of the living could you?”

“Well I was planning on causing some panic by making the Crystal Heart disappear, but I could still do that after I find some information,” Discord sighed, looking towards the two. “You should learn how to use your new powers Nick.”

Before he could ask what the chaotic spirit meant, the tv turned off.

“Why is it that I can never get any straight answers around here. And don’t even think about making a comment about my sexual orientation.”

“Why are you being so overly sensitive about it? Closeting your feelings isn’t healthy.”

“Maybe I should have let the cyclops eat you.”

“So who wants to begin?” Cadence had just finished pouring some jasmine tea for her “patients”, sitting on a soft floor pillow Shining had won for her at a carnival. Twilight sat across from her on a similar pillow while Luna lay on her bed.

There was a silence that fell upon them, obviously talking about such personal issues would be a challenge. But if one thing princess of love learned in her experience with dealing in relationship issues, it was that patience was a key factor.

“How about I just ask some questions and see where that leads. Why did you two separate after Nick’s death? What was it about him dying that caused a rift? Auntie, why have you been so hostile towards the idea of him returning? Twilight, are you truly prepared for him coming back?”

The questions struck different chords within the mares, which was exactly Cadance’s plan. If she could elicit some reaction, any reaction, that would be progress.

“W-why would I not be prepared for him to come back?” Twilight asked, finding the question odd considering how much she had yearned for this opportunity. How she had exhausted herself in trying to find ways to even just communicate with Nick beyond the realm of the living. And now he was just a few steps closer, what was there to be hesitant about?

“Well, and I’m not saying that you don’t still love him, but it’s been over a year. You have changed since then and I’m no expert in the afterlife but there’s a chance that Nick has too. The likely image you have of him was when he was alive, when all three of you were together. Now there’s a completely different dynamic, and I’m not saying he doesn’t love you anymore, but the way he may show it could be different.”

“If he EVER loved us he could have at least prepared us for what happened,” Luna grumbled, thinking exactly what her niece had said was true. All of them had changed in one way or another, who was to say Nick hadn’t found some new interest.

“I can see Nick’s reasoning for keeping his required sacrifice a secret from all of us. He saw it more important to save Equestria as a whole than selfishly stay alive and cause us all to suffer.”

“Then why even string us along??” the older mare snapped, tired of hearing the repeated ‘he did it for the better of ponykind’. What about her? She shared with him how she was treated early on as a ruler of Equestria, losing love from her subjects. And when he died -

She shed a tear. Feeling the liquid slide down her face she shut her eyes to try and stem the flow. In doing so though, shortly after she felt a warm presence next to her, along with a wing draping across her back. Opening her eyes she could see pink, her niece softly smiling at her.

“It’s ok to let it out Luna,” the mare spoke in a supportive and confident tone. “You’ve held in all of these feelings for so long that they have affected everyone around you. I know this sounds counterintuitive to what we are discussing, but learning to just let out your feelings and trust those who you love and love you is an important step to healing.”

“B-but it was be-because of my trust in Nick -” she replied in a shaky voice.

“Who you will have the chance to confront directly when we bring him back,” Cadence added warmth to her tone. “Auntie, don’t you realize how lucky you and Twilight are? Where most ponies may not have the chance to find closure with those they lose, you two are being granted an amazing gift of speaking your peace to the one you lost.”

Luna knew her niece spoke the truth and that her stubbornness had gotten in the way of her relationship with Twilight. But with releasing a little of her emotions, she could feel the walls slowly softening.

And so she just let her niece embrace her, finding something within her reciprocating the gesture. There was a silence again, this time not of tension but rather ease, as Cadance simply smiled and Twilight watched the two in awe, finding herself tearing up too. Overall, progress was being made on a different front.