Twilight smiled into Cadence's eyes as she heard Flury pronounce them a married couple when she leaned in and locked lips with her new wife. The moment their lips met, everything faded away into a dark abyss around them. Twilight and Cadence looked around as a crowd of ponies rushed past them like they were on a moving sidewalk. Twilight and Cadence watched as everything sped past them until they came up to no less than seven ponies.

"Hello?" Twilight asked the group.

"Hello?" a familiar raspy female voice called out. "After all this time, the best you can come up with is "Hello?" Twilight blinked as soon as she heard that familiar voice.

"Simmer down, sugar-cube," another familiar voice called. The accent was instantly recognizable. "It has been a long time."

"Maybe it's been so long she's forgotten about us!" another familiar female voice called out. "Oh! Maybe I should make her a remember-us-cake!" Twilight gasped.

"It can't be," she said as her lip began to tremble.

"It can, and it is, Twily," a male voice called out from the shadows softly. Cadence gasped at the sound of this voice.

"Shining armor?" Cadence called out. The figures took a step forward into the light, revealing themselves to be none other than their friends and family from so long ago. Shining Armor, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and all the others stood in a group smiling at the alicorns with proud smiles on all of their faces.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Cadence," Shining said softly with a smile. All of them looked as young and healthy as the day Twilight first met her friends, as Shining looked as strong as the day he married Cadence. Both Cadence and Twilight could not hold back the overwhelming joy welling up inside of them as they burst into tears and rushed over to hug the group.

"How is this possible?" Twilight asked.

"How often do you have four alicorns dedicate themselves to such a magical promise?" Starlight Glimmer asked with a smile. "You have five of the most powerful creatures in Equestria gathered together with the spirit of chaos and two of the oldest dragons alive." Twilight began to open her mouth to question the phenomenon further.

"Twilly," Shining interrupted. "It doesn't matter how this is happening. What matters is we're all together again for this moment." Twilight's lip trembled as her tears stained her cheeks before she pulled him into a tight hug.

"I've missed you all so much!" Twilight proclaimed through trembling lips. Shining rubbed her back as he held her close before looking at Cadence with a warm smile.

"We can't tell you how happy we are for you two," Applejack chimed in as she and Rainbow smiled at them. Twilight and Cadenced looked between them all.

"And to celebrate your future family!" Pinkie cried out as she lept into the air before hugging Twilight's hips. "Oh, how I wish I could be there to see the new foal!" Twilight blushed hard as she looked at Shining, who only smiled warmly at her.

"Honestly, I'm surprised it took you two so long," Shining mused.

"Wait," Twilight blinked, "you knew?" Shining smiled.

"Come on, Twilly," Shining began. "You and Cadence were always so close."

"And you're okay with this?" Twilight asked.

"C'mon, sugar-cube," Applejack piped up. "We were more than just your friends; we were a family."

"We still are!" Rainbow proclaimed as she held her wife's hoof in her own. "You should know we would've supported you no matter what!" Twilight and Cadence smiled at all of them as they all smiled at the newly married couple. Twilight and Cadence held each other's hooves as she smiled into each other's eyes before looking at the group.

"I only wish this moment could last forever," Twilight whimpered.

"Twilight," Shining said as he stepped up to lift Twilight's chin to look at him. "We will always be with you, and Cadence, and the sisters, and of course," Shining paused as he smiled at Cadence, "Flurry Heart."

"Don't forget the new foal!" Pinkie chimed proudly as she nuzzled Twilight's belly. "We'll always be there to watch over the foal! Oh! What are you gonna name him?! Or her?! Have you got clothes picked out!? How are you gonna raise the baby!?" Pinkie's tail was yanked back into the group by Cheese Sandwich.

"Calm down, honey," Cheese said in his cowpony voice. "Our friend Twilight already has enough on her mind without worrying about such things." Twilight giggled at the couple.

"In any case," Starlight Glimmer piped up as she took a few steps forward. "Life has given us this chance to let you know, Twilight," she paused as she rested a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, "we are all here for you and your family. We always have been, and we always will be, and to give you our blessing."

"Not that you need it," Pinkie called from her spot next to her husband. "You are the princess of Equestria, after all." Pinkie received a smack on the back of the head by a white hoof before Rarity smiled at Twilight.

"As much as we'd love to physically be there for you, darling," Rarity began, "just know that we are always here to support you." Twilight smiled at the white unicorn before pulling her into a hug. The whole group joined into the hug for a long minute, neither wanting to let go.

"As much as we want to make this moment last forever," Shining Armor began, "it's time for us to go." Twilight and Cadence looked at him. Shining planted a loving kiss on Cadence's lips before turning to Twilight. "Before we go, I think I owe you something you've been longing for a long time." Shining stepped up and tenderly pulled Twilight into a deep kiss, which she melted in as she hugged him. The others smiled through tears as they watched the moment before Shining broke the kiss. "Now, go and build a new family with my wife, knowing that you both have my full blessing." Twilight smiled at her older brother.

"You're not going to leave this moment without at least giving us a hug, are you?" another familiar voice called from behind Twilight, making her blink before looking back to find her parents smiling at her, both looking as young and healthy as their twenties.

"Mom, Dad!" Twilight called as she rushed to give them a hug, which they returned happily.

"You didn't think we'd miss this, did you?" Night Light asked as he rubbed his daughter's back with tears.

"Oh, Twilight," Twilight Velvet began through her own tears, "I can't tell you how proud we are of you." Twilight leaned up to plant a kiss on Twilight's forehead. Twilight Sparkle's tears soaked her cheeks as she smiled at her family.

"I wish there was some way to bring you all back," Twilight said shakily.

"You know everything has its time, honey," Night said as he caressed her cheek.

"I know, but-" the blue hoof of her father silenced twilight.

"Now, Twilight," Night began. "Don't dwell on the past. Look at what you have to look forward to," he said as he pointed to Cadence. Twilight looked over to Cadence, who smiled at her while standing next to her late husband. "You have a wife who loves you as much as we all love you." Night pulled Twilight's chin to look at him. "And you are carrying her foal. I can promise you; we know you'll be a great mother." Twilight smiled through tears of joy. "Now, go and live the bright future that's no doubt ahead of you." Night planted a kiss on Twilight's nose. "And remember, we will always be there to love and guide you." All of Twilight's friends and family began to glow as Twilight and Cadence were pulled closer together, and they were engulfed in bright and warm light. Soon after, the light faded, and they found themselves breaking the wedding kiss to the sound of a screaming crowd of Discord while Flurry Heart took off and flew so fast, she created another Sonic Rainboom.

Twilight and Cadence smiled into each other's eyes as the tears they shed were still staining their cheeks. Cadence reached up and whipped a tear from Twilight's cheek before kissing her again. "I love you, Twilight Sparkle."

"I love you too, Cadence Sparkle," Twilight replied as she hugged her new wife.

"Cadence Sparkle?" Cadence asked with a smile. "I like the sound of that." She pulled Twilight into another deep kiss.

Author's Note

Just a little something I felt was desperately needed for the story.