She had never known just how difficult it could be to ignore an absence. When the lack of presence was enough to signal that the world was still amiss, the memory of what had been lost could not be ignored. She still felt it; saw it day by day, knew it by heart until it seemed that the very thought was all her mind could hope to contain within it. Even though the time between the memory and now was growing ever more distant, even still the grief of loss could be felt; raw, patently painful, still so full of fear when having stared into the face of it- but less often now that time had gone. It would never really go away, her gaze unable to avoid its raw emptiness.

But there could still be good things that could help fill the gap.

“Let me see… your hair is in the way, dear. If you wouldn’t mind brushing it aside.” The words of instruction were good medicine in times like this, simple commands always a comfort when it could be so easily to get lost in thought. To hear an order, and to heed it, helped keep the doldrums away more often than not.

Rarity was busy at work, deep into that subconscious thought that only came when she was totally focused on her work. Paying little attention to anything that was not a part of her here and now came so naturally to her, a brilliant skill that was something to be envied. Here she worked, pins and needles and a smattering of stitchwork at her fingertips as she made corrections to the neckline. The lace was lovely, soft and comfortable when pressed against the skin. There was no doubt that the one who had crafted it by hand was the greatest seamstress in the world, and she somehow had deigned to fit a dress for her.

The fashionista paused- hands pulled away from fabric and flesh as she stepped backwards to examine it from a distance. “Hmm…”

“Is- is it alright?”

Rarity’s confidence had never once faltered, even in the face of impossible odds. “More than alright, darling,” she whispered proudly. “Go on, take a look in the mirror. I know you’ll love it.”

Her weary model, even if there by her own choosing, turned to the side and saw herself in the reflection of the full-length mirror, struck softly into silence by the sight of snow-white garments that adorned her skin. It had felt like so long ago that she had once tried to achieve this very moment, a girlhood dream that had so easily been destroyed in the face of a bleak reality. Perhaps it was not exactly how she had envisioned it- but to say that such a daydream made the real disappointing would have been foolish. Standing there, the centerpiece of all thought and attention for all who witnessed it, she knew that there would never be anything better.

Cadance smiled. “It’s perfect,” she breathed. How else was she supposed to describe it? She was clothed in the purest white, a faint pattern stitched into the fabric. The gold that ringed the shoulder of the gloves gleamed with that brilliant glow of a darkened light, an intricate pattern made to enhance the pristine whiteness. Where she felt further was down below, the silken smooth dress fitting to her body perfectly. Just a hint of sensuality amidst the regality, a means by which to make the graceful all the more fascinating. She could not have asked for anything better, nor would she have dared to hope so. As the quiet Princess admired herself in the mirror, the only thing that could hope to distract her from the picture of beauty made right by Rarity was the concealing neckline, a simple trace of lacing pattern up the body and to the shoulder- and the absence to which it so obviously lead beneath.

She still didn’t think her clothes fit right. It had taken time to see them all done, but Cadance had worked her way through her entire wardrobe and seen everything altered properly, and all of them under Rarity’s strict supervision. It actually hadn’t been her idea; Twilight had suggested it as a means of coping, to help push away the mourning period. It had been beneficial, but there would not have been anything that could have helped her see the utter finality that was this, a long-awaited wedding dress altered to fit a body missing a particular piece.

“You look wonderful, darling,” Rarity said happily. “At least- I think so, but I may be a bit biased.”

“She’s not wrong at all, actually,” Adagio added, speaking out from her place in the corner to give her calm assessment. “Rarity did a great job, but you look great. Like one of my model friends, really.”

Cadance wanted to laugh, to scoff and heed it all as pitying words. She could dismiss Rarity’s glowing smile as sympathy, deem Adagio’s words as little more than compassion to help bolster her spirits, a way to ignore the obvious absence of her breast and the scars that had replaced it. But why should she? Was she not still loved, still considered beautiful by the only one that would matter? Why should she allow the dark blue world of grief rob her of this moment, when it had been awaited for so long? “I… I think you’re right. Rarity, you really did an amazing job. I couldn’t look better.”

The delighted seamstress gave a squeal of joy and leapt into the air, a sharp contrast from the smug grin that came from her beloved. “Oh, I knew it! Twilight will think you’re straight out of a fairytale, darling, she’ll have never imagined you could look so wonderful!”

“And you still won’t-”

Rarity had been expecting the query to come forth eventually. “And no, I won’t tell you how she looks!” the beautiful woman said firmly, “It’s a surprise, and you’ll be glad to keep it unspoiled!”

“Pinkie and Sunset couldn’t stop screaming,” Adagio added helpfully.

“Dagi!” Rarity admonished her love with a single word, though unable to wipe away the teasing smile that sat on her face. “It would have made a marvelous story at the reception, but you just had to ruin it!”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Adagio continued to tease, “and here I was thinking I was adding to the excitement!”

The two women continued to bicker, sounding more akin to an old married couple than a pair of newlyweds who’d tied the knot out of the blue only a few months prior. Their argument was teasing words and irritation turned light by levity, even if only a few would know it. Cadance did not mind enduring the sounds in the slightest, always happy to let the two overflow, all societal pressures cast aside in favor of being themselves. Out of all things, Cadance knew she enjoyed the real.

“So- Cadance, darling,” Rarity said, forcing herself away from her wife and attending to the bride-to-be, “you’re certain the dress is comfortable for you?”

“Yes, I’m sure. You did a wonderful job, as always!”

Rarity tried not to bask in the praises, but still couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll go get the packaging for it,” she said, “Adagio, if you wouldn’t mind hanging it properly when she’s free of it-”

“Of course I don’t,” Adagio said promptly, rising to her feet to give her beloved a small caress in response. “Go on, we’re alright here.”

Cadance admired them both. Professionals to the end, even now. She couldn’t have been any happier for either of them, even if the elegant superstar was still someone she did not quite yet fully know. The tired, happy bride was more than willing to let a friendship start small, especially after the long months that had crept slowly, painfully by.

“Here, I’ve got the zipper,” Adagio offered, coming behind the casual model and helping her be free of the magnificent garment. “Looking forward to it?”

“Dreaming of it,” Cadance said fervently, and meaning it. She had awaited this day for so long, and what came next was to be even better. She hadn’t really thought it would come, ten months of surgeries and physical agony in between her old life and the one she knew now. It would never be quite right, and never quite how she’d imagined- but it would be even better because of it all.

“Here’s your- oh, sorry, something slipped.” An envelope, stained and crumpled from constant use fell aside from its place beside Cadance’s purse.

“It’s fine! I must have not put it all the way back,” Cadance replied gently, bending down to bring forth the deeply-wrung letter and finding herself hesitating. Was now a good time to actually see its contents, read the words put upon its pages? She’d had it secure in her keeping for a while now. Maybe there would never be a better time. Perhaps with a sigh, a single iota of restraint, she dipped her fingers in and unfurled the small paper within for her eyes to see:

Cadance,

Congratulations to you both. Apologies for not being there, dealing with hospice staff for my mother has been difficult. I wish I could say it all in person.

Take care of her. And thank you for not leaving her there all alone.

~ Velvet

It was small. Short and simple, but more than enough to be the first stepping stone in a repair long-needed, especially for someone who needed it far more than she. Cadance smiled in the midst of her blurred vision as she put the now-read letter aside. It was to be alright.

And only a few days later, she had never imagined anything in the world could be better. Perhaps it wasn’t official, a make-up day for one that had nearly been lost, but it was the girlhood fantasy at last turned real, and so far better than anything imagination could have hoped to conjure.

Did she know any feeling better than Twilight’s lips? Any gesture more desired than the gentle stroking of loving hands across her skin? Was there any sound more wonderful than the cheers of friends and family who had found a way to be there and see them unified in the most desired way at last? Cadance could have been there in little more than a t-shirt and it would have been worth it, simply glad to know that the woman she held in her heart was Twilight. Her beautiful bride, more perfect and sweet and wonderful than she ever dared to hope. And Cadance was considered lovely; Twilight, the pristine, unblemished vision of perfection in that wedding dress was more than she could have imagined.

The happy couple heard every single cheer, every clap of hands that came to wish them well. Eyes that shone in pride, in love, was theirs for the relishing. It was better than the day it had been made official, the ceremony the long-missing piece to make it all better. They could relax now, be at peace and enjoy it all. There would be dancing and songs and good company to make it all the sweeter, and loath were they to wait any longer.

Cadance danced with everyone who asked, from the smallest child to Twilight and everyone in between. She watched as happily married couples wound their way across the floor, the love between spouses seeming to radiate as they came closer to the joyous brides. There was not a soul present that couldn’t feel it, could possibly hope to ignore the glow that came forth so naturally. It was a day of celebration, and nothing could hope to withstand it.

It was fall instead of spring. A cool day tinged with an early evening rather than the still-straining glow of warm sunlight. It was not as they had planned, but she wouldn’t have wished it any other way. This was Twilight, her wife- how could she possibly hope to ask for more? Even as the night reigned and the lights grew soft, as well-wishers and friends said their goodbyes, as the reception that dwelled in the orchards dwindled to only the brides themselves, still they rejoiced. They had no reason not to, as far as they were concerned. Twilight could not kiss Cadance enough, Cadance could not hold Twilight too closely. This was their day, and it would be their night also- even if no one knew it just yet.

When their time came to rest, they did little more than to sit there in the comfortable arms of a nearby tree, still giggling and happy to hold one another close. Nothing could hope to stop them, not even that small niggling fear of when it would all come to an end. Another bad day would come, the inevitable march of the unforgiving years seeing that old poison return and make its work finished. It would only be a matter of time, no matter how much they tried to ignore it. Or maybe not; maybe this really would be the day they left their troubles behind, nothing less than endless joy ahead of them as they walked into the rising dawn. Cadance didn’t know. And as she sat there with Twilight resting comfortably against her, she could not be bothered to care. She would rejoice in the moment, for however long it lasted.

Because it really might not last forever.

Author's Note

No such thing as a happily ever after. But for now, there's a happy time.

Keep tossing suggestions. Hope you enjoyed.

... Hmm. Real talk, would anyone like to see these two continue on? I know this kinda bombed in terms of views, but I do like writing them. They feel far more real than most.