The Royal Family

The doors to the royal bed chambers opened to the glow of Princess Twilight Sparkle's magic as she stepped in with a smile on her face. "Good night, good sirs," she offered to the guards standing there.

"Good night, your highness," they each said without shifting. Twilight smiled at them before closing the doors behind her.

With the doors now closed and no one there to see her, the smile on her face instantly faded as she used her magic to remove the crown from her head. Twilight walked over and placed the crown on a mannequin head resting on a makeup table next to the wall. With the weight of Equestria off her head for the day, she turned her magic to the necklace and horseshoes on her neck and hooves. As the necklace levitated off her neck, she stepped one hoof after the other out of the horseshoes and used her magic to place them all neatly in a chest next to the mannequin.

Now that Twilight's body was naked and free, she walked straight to the window and pulled herself onto the cushioned window seat. As she lay on the cushion at the window, she gazed out over her ever-growing country. Canterlot castle stood tall and proud at the heart of the capital. The nightlife of Twilight's subjects kept the city of Canterlot outside the castle walls alive.

Down the mountainside in the distance, Twilight could see the town of Ponyville, her old home. The town had grown quite large since she last lived there before her coronation day. Her School of Friendship can be thanked for Ponyville's growing popularity and drawing in such attention to the place she held many fond memories for.

Twilight's thoughts turned back to the old days of when she lived in Ponyville. The friends she made while living there, AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and of course, Starlight Glimmer, her first friendship student, had all lived out their lives. While they may be gone, their memory has never been forgotten. Sweet Apple Acres still grew the best apples in all of Equestria. The business for Sugar-Cube Corner was still as strong as ever, both of which are still family-owned. Rainbow Dash was highlighted in the hall of the Wonderbults, not only for her amazing skills as a flyer, being the only pegasus at the time ever to perform a Sonic Rainboom but also as one of the six mares who saved Equestria multiple times and helped form the School of Friendship, which had grown quite immensely over the years. Rarity's boutique was handed down from mentor to student ever since Yona yak took it over and has since become Equestrias number one fashion provider.

Twilight stared out the window for a minute staring at the town before a tear began to run down her cheek. "I miss you girls," she whispered to herself as she turned her eyes to the stars. Having already replaced the sun with the moon, the sky was filled with all the constellations she had spent so long studying. Usually, the lavender alicorn found some level of comfort in staring at the stars while naming every one of them but, tonight offered no such comfort.

Soon, Twilight could no longer hold herself back. She broke out into tears and softly cried to herself as she pulled a pillow up to cling it against her chest while she buried her muzzle into it. Twilight longed for the days when she did not feel so alone. Sure, she still kept in touch with Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Flurry but, having penpals could only carry so much weight. She knew she would never see her friends again; she made her peace with that a long time ago.

The clock tower bell sound pulled Twilight from her breakdown, and she lifted her muzzle from the pillow to look out the window. She saw the hour and wiped the tears from her face as she used her magic to put the pillow back in its place neatly while pulling herself off the window cushion. She stopped short when she saw the massive ben at the heart of the room. This bed could fit ten ponies at once. However, she would be the only one who will ever use it.

"Oh, Celestia," she sighed to herself, "how did you do it for a thousand years?" The tears began to fall down her cheeks again as she stared at the bed. After standing there crying for a few minutes, she finally walked up and pulled herself into the bed. Once she pulled the sheets over her body with her magic, she looked over the edge. "Goodnight, Spi-" she froze in place when she remembered the dragon she raised since he was a baby, no longer slept in a basket next to her bed. Even if Spike was still in the castle, he would be far too grown for that basket he used as a bed.

Apart from the alicorns, Spike was the only other friend she had who still lived. Since dragons live for hundreds of years, Spike remained Twighlight's faithful assistant and right-hand dragon for decades after her coronation. However, Spike found a mate, and Twilight not only oversaw his marriage to the dragoness but released him as her assistant so he could spend his life with his new family.

Tonight just was not Twilight's night. Come to think of it, the whole day just was not one of her best. In the afternoon, Twilight hosted a wedding for one of her royal guard members, an event that reminded her of her brother's wedding to Cadence so many years ago, as well as a reminder of how she would never be able to marry herself. With Twilight being immortal now, she would outlive any pony who asked her hoof in marriage or if she were to ask another to marry her. Either way, it would end the same way as her relationship with her friends as well as Cadence and Shining Armor.

Twilight rests her head on the pillow as she pulled the covers over her body. There she lay for an unknown length of time before she finally cried herself to sleep.

The following morning, Twilight woke up just in time to hear a knock on the door. She stretched with a yawn as she sat up in place. "Come in!" she answered. The doors opened to find a white unicorn with a golden mane and tail walk in. The unicorn levitated a breakfast tray in her green magic aura as she wore a smile on her face.

"Good morning, your highness," she said happily. Twilight smiled at her as she sat on the bed.

"Good morning, Golden Glow," Twilight replied.

"Your breakfast is ready," Golden said as she levitated the tray over Twilight's lap on the bed. "Freshly baked strawberry and blueberry pancakes with orange juice. Just the way you like it." Twilight smiled at the meal placed before her.

"This is wonderful, Golden but, isn't this a bit much?" Twilight asked as she noticed how there were enough food and silverware here for two.

"Well, you do have a visitor, your highness," Golden answered with a smile. Twilight looked at the unicorn with curiosity.

"Who might that be, Golden?" Twilight asked. Golden looked back at the door to reveal a pink alicorn with a technicolored mane and tail flowing behind her and a smile beaming from her face.

"Good morning, Twilight," Cadence said warmly.

"Cadence!" Twilight beamed at her. Cadence walked up to the bed as Golden walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Twilight watched Cadence with a beaming smile that rivaled the sun before she pulled her sister-in-law in for a hug with her magic.

"It's so good to see you!" Twilight stated proudly.

"It's good to see you too, Twilight!" Cadence replied as she wrapped her forehooves around the high princess. The two held each other for a minute before finally releasing the hug and smiled at each other. Normally, the two would break into their Sunshine dance, but they settled with a warm hug since Twilight had a breakfast tray over her lap in bed.

"It was your idea to make this breakfast, wasn't it?" Twilight asked with a knowing smile.

"I thought you could use the company," Cadence replied as she made herself cozy next to Twilight.

"You hit the alicorn on the horn there," Twilight giggled. "How's my favorite niece?" she asked as she used her magic to levitate a fork to Cadence.

"She's doing fabulous," Cadence answered as she took the fork in her own magic. "She's ruling the empire like she's done it for thousands of years." Twilight smiled at the thought of her little niece all grown up. It seems like only yesterday Flurry almost destroyed the empire when she shattered the Crystal Heart.

"Twilight, don't you think you should raise the sun?" Cadence asked, pulling Twilight from her trance.

"Oh," Twilight blushed before she looked toward the window with her horn glowing brightly. A few seconds later, the light of the day replaced the starlit night. "How embarrassing," Twilight observed.

"Is everything alright, Twilight?" Cadence asked. "You never miss a schedule." Twilight's smile faded at the question.

"To be honest, Cadence," Twilight sighed, "I'm not alright." Cadence watched Twilight intently as she rested a hoof on her back. "I've been thinking about..." Twilight paused, unable to finish her sentence.

"You've been thinking about our family?" Cadence asked. Twilight only nodded in reply. Cadence pulled the lavender alicorn into another hug. Twilight leaned into Cadence's warm touch as tears began to slide down her cheek. "I miss them too," Cadence assured.

"Not only that," Twilight said with a sniff as she pulled out of the hug. Cadence wiped the tear from Twilight's cheek. "I've been thinking about..." Twilight took a breath.

"What?" Cadence asked. Twilight looked Cadence in the eyes.

"How do you think Celestia lived for so long without someone in her life?" Twilight asked directly. Cadence immediately understood Twilight's pain.

"I honestly have no idea, Twilight," Cadence answered with a frown, an answer that made Twilight sigh. "Maybe you can ask her yourself." Twilight looked at Cadence.

"Are they here too?" Twilight asked with a spark of hope in her eye.

"No," Cadence answered. "But, I have this letter from her." Cadence levitated a rolled-up scroll in her magic for Twilight, who took the scroll into her own magic and opened it up to see what was written inside.

"My dearest Cadence and Twilight,

My sister Luna and I have been thinking a lot lately about how we wish to spend the rest of our immortal lives together. We know we cannot find husbands without eventually losing them to time, so we have chosen to take our relationship to an unorthodox level and get married."

Twilight blinked and reread that paragraph closely before looking at Cadence in shock. Cadence only smiled and gestured for her to continue reading.

"We would like to keep our wedding secluded and not involve all of Equestria to come and witness our union as wives to each other. With that being said, Twilight, we would greatly appreciate it if you hosted our wedding with only Cadence and Flurry as witnesses.

We understand this is a difficult task, with all of you having important roles to play within Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. However, we have faith in your abilities to make time for this most wonderful occasion. We look forward to hearing back from you both.

Forever yours,

Celestia and Luna."

Twilight read over the letter a few times to make sure she was not misreading anything before turning to Cadence for confirmation. "Celestia and Luna marrying each other?!" Twilight's shock was so great she could not contain her voice. Cadence, however, suspected Twilight would forget herself and break under the news, so she sealed the room in a soundproof bubble before Twilight could utter a word. Twilight realized her error and pulled the blankets to her muzzle with a blush.

"It's okay, Twilight," Cadence assured as she gesture to the bubble around them. Twilight sighed in relief as she let the blankets down.

"How can they get married?" Twilight asked. "They're sisters."

"I know it's something most frown upon but, what other choice do they have, Twilight?" Cadence asked. Twilight understood Cadence's reasoning immediately.

"I suppose you're right," Twilight observed. "Well, I'll need to make arrangements for my departure." Twilight began to levitate the tray over to the side, only for Cadence's magic to stop her, getting Twilight to look over at her.

"There's plenty of time to finish breakfast, Twilight," Cadence giggled.

"But, I was late rising the sun," Twilight countered as she looked out the window.

"I've made sure we have time to catch up, Twilight," Cadence countered. "You can relax." Twilight smiled as she moved the tray back over her lap. Cadence may not be the high ruler of the Crystal Empire now that Flurry has been coronated but, she still knows how to make things happen.

"You're the best, Cadence," Twilight observed. Cadenced leaned over and planted a kiss on the high princess's cheek.

"You're worth it, Twilight," Cadenced hummed. Twilight smiled, and they both resumed eating the pancakes on the tray. While eating and catching up on everything going on in their lives since they last saw each other, which was not much for alicorns, Cadence could not help but find herself staring at Twilight with a loving smile. She had cared for this mare ever since she was a foal so many years ago. In a way, Cadence helped raised Twilight until she was found by aunt Celestia and taken in as her student.

As Cadence watched Twilight enjoy her breakfast, she found herself smiling at the high princess but not like any smile she shared for her before. Cadence was smiling at Twilight much in the same way she smiled at her late husband when he was doing almost anything, from playing with their daughter to training the crystal ponies in the courtyard. Cadenced loved Twilight almost as much as she loved her older brother; she made no secret of that. Cadence also knew that Twilight loved her.

"Not yet," Cadence told herself. "Everything has to be perfect."

Twilight finished her share of the pancakes, and Cadence helped move the tray from her lap as they both slip out of the massive bed Twilight used every night by herself. "I suppose I better get dressed." Twilight walked over to the makeup table, where her crown and royal garb rested as Cadence followed after her.

"I'd be more than happy to help you," Cadence offered, earning a welcoming smile from the high princess.

"I would be more than happy to accept," Twilight replied regally. The two alicorns giggled before Twilight sat down in front of the mirror as Cadence used her magic to pick up a brush and start brushing Twilight's long flowing hair. As Cadenced tended to Twilight's long flowing mane, Twilight pampered herself with a few techniques she remembered from Rarity. Nothing too fancy yet, something befitting of her regality.

"You look beautiful, Twilight," Cadenced commented with a smile as she looked at her sister-in-law through the mirror, earning a blush from the lavender alicorn.

"I still know a few tricks Rarity showed me," Twilight replied as she put the makeup set away.

"Even without the makeup," Cadence began as she put the brush down, "you're still quite beautiful." Twilight looked at Cadence through the mirror, who only offered her a caring smile. They stared at each other for a minute before Twilight broke the silence.

"I better get dressed," Twilight said through a blush as she turned to the rich jewelry that made marked her royal status. Twilight knew Cadence her whole life. Cadence was her foal-sitter, after all. She loved the mare who cared for her when neither her parents nor her brother could. She was proud to consider Cadence her big sister when she married Shining Armor. Since his unfortunate passing, Twilight and Cadence were there for each other. They both lost someone they loved, and their relationship only grew stronger ever since. Cadence was also there for Twilight as she lost her friends one by one.

Even though she lost her friends to time, Twilight never gave up. She continued training generation after generation of gifted unicorns and offered guidance for the School of Friendship alongside her friends' children and grandchildren. Even though the pain of time weighed down on Twilight, she never faltered in her duties as the high princess. She never let that friendly, caring smile fade as she ruled unless the situation required a more harsh approach.

Twilight turned to her necklace and horseshoes, and before she could reach out with her magic, the items were already levitating from their resting place by Cadence's magic. Cadence offered Twilight a smile as she levitated the necklace toward Twilight's neck. Twilight lifted her chin to allow better access for the accessory with a smile as Cadence snapped it in place from behind. Cadence then used her magic to move the horseshoes toward Twilight's hooves and slipped them on one by one. Right foreleg, left foreleg, right hindleg, left hindleg. The only thing left was the crown.

Twilight stared at the crown forged from both Celestia and Luna's crowns on the day of Twilight's coronation so many years ago. Twilight was more than capable of leading the country after the sisters' retirement but, Celestia never abandoned Twilight in her hour of need. Celestia was proud to offer Twilight any advice she ever needed. A part of Twilight felt guilty using this crown, but she was very proud to have it dawn her head as she ruled Equestria. This crown was as much a symbol of her status as it was a symbol of the sisters' trust in the lavender alicorn with such a task.

"Everything alright, Twilight?" Cadence asked, pulling Twilight from her trance.

"I'm fine," Twilight said with a sigh. "I just can't help thinking-"

"I know," Cadence offered as she rested a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. Twilight looked over her shoulder at Cadence, who offered her a caring smile that said, "I'm here for you, no matter what," which put a thankful smile on Twilight's muzzle. They stared into each other's eyes for a long minute with loving smiles on their faces. Twilight reached over to take Cadence's hoof in her own as both started leaning towards each other.

"Your highness," a voice along with a knock on the door caught their attention. The princesses found they were so close together their lips were almost touching before Twilight pulled away with a blush while Cadence shook her head. "It's almost time for your appearance at the school."

"I'm on my way," Twilight answered. Before she could go for her crown, Cadence already held it in her magic with a smile on her face. "I'm sorry, Cadence," Twilight muttered.

"What for?" Cadence asked as she looked at Twilight.

"What we were about to do," Twilight blushed. Cadence only smiled as she levitated the crown onto Twilight's head.

"Twilight, there is nothing you could do to make me think any less of you," Cadence assured with a smile. If she were to be truly honest, she wanted their lips to meet. Nothing would please her more at this moment to share something more than a sisterly love for the mare she knew since she was born.

"But-" Twilight began.

"Twilight, how long have we known each other?" Cadence countered as she made sure the crown was straight.

"It's been one hundred and fifty years," Twilight stated matter-of-factly. "One hundred and fifty-one next month." Cadence could not help but giggle at Twilight's direct and specific answer.

"And in all that time, has there ever once been any regrets between us?" Cadence further queried.

"Well, there was that one time," Twilight began only to stop herself short. "No, we found something to laugh about that." Twilight scratched her chin. "What about that time when," she stopped short again. "No, that turned out good too." Cadence giggled at Twilight before she leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Every challenge that has come between us, we've faced together," Cadence assured. Twilight smiled at Cadence.

"You're right," Twilight observed as she stood up from her seat. "Well, I have a class to get to, and I know they would just love to see the Princess of Love." Twilight smiled.

"I cleared my schedule to be with you today, Twilight," Cadence giggled. "I'd be happy to join you." With that, the two alicorns left Twilight's private chambers to begin the day together. Starting with the School for Gifted Unicorns.