"I'm really sorry," Cadenza smiled warmly at me, the regret on her face rattling me a little. "I hope I didn't overstep my bounds... introducing you to the Empire like that, I mean."

"It's alright," I returned her kindness with an awkward smile of my own. "I'm used to being in front of big crowds," -- mostly due to being by my mistress' side so often -- "I'm just... not really used to speaking in situations like that," I blushed, embarrassed by my inability to say anything in front of the crowd when I was given the opportunity.

"I can tell," Cadenza giggled, covering her muzzle with a hoof. "Honestly, I was the exact same way when I had to deliver my first address to the Empire."

"Hey! You didn't seem to have a problem parading me around like a prize!" Shining Armor feigned a pained expression, receiving a playful swat on the shoulder from the Princess of Love for his troubles.

"That's because you are a prize, Shining," she kissed him on the cheek. "You're my grand prize." She returned her attention to me as soon as their display of affection ended. "I just really wanted to share my new family with my citizens," she looked towards the table where the parasite was currently located. "All of my family."

"And we love you for it. Don't we, Twily?" my brother gave his wife a squeeze from the side before returning her peck on the cheek.

"Y-yeah," I nodded in agreement, though it couldn't have been very convincing. The long rectangular table we were sitting at did well in helping me hide my discomfort from my siblings. At the center of the exquisitely decorated table sat Cadenza on an ornate chair that could rival both my mistress' and Princess Celestia's thrones. To her left sat her mother, Queen Cantata, and to her right sat my brother, the new prince. I was sitting on his right and Sunset was sitting to the queen's left. My only friend and Queen Cantata had been side by side for most of the proceedings and were speaking even now, while they dined.

There were several ponies sitting with us at the table of varying degrees of importance, but I didn't know any of them and I didn't really care to know who they were either. We were all facing the center of the reception where ponies were dancing. Loud, upbeat music was coming from a band performing on a stage situated opposite our table. There were countless other tables set up to the left and right of the makeshift "dancefloor", though they weren't as large or extravagant as ours.

The gardens of the Crystal Palace were filled to the brim with ponies for the reception. While all of the ponies who'd attended the wedding were also invited to said reception, Cadenza had also opened the doors to the rest of the Empire for the after-party. That decision did make things a bit more complicated at first, but over time her trust in her ponies proved to be well placed.

They were effectively entering in intervals, enjoying some of the festivities, and then taking their leave so that those who hadn't gotten in yet were given an opportunity to do so. It was an impressive feat to behold, such selfless cooperation.

It was a good thing too. The Elements had done such a splendid job of helping prep for the event it would've been a travesty for a few ponies to enjoy it. The decor that had been put up throughout the gardens was impossible to miss. From the smallest table to the streamers soaring through the sky, it was difficult not to be impressed by their efforts.

Currently, the six mares were all sat together with a seventh pony at their large round table. They were eating and making merry, the seventh appearing to fit in like she'd always been a part of their group. It was hard for me to see them all together in the same place.

I hurt all of them. I-

"Hey!" I was jerked out of my thoughts when a dark blue hoof was placed gently on my thigh. I looked up into my brother's eyes, the concern in them reminiscent of a time so many years ago. "You okay, Twily?"

"Shining..." It was a sweet gesture and made me a bit happier, but it didn't fix anything. Not really. But knowing that he cared again really meant a lot to me.

Still...

I couldn't just be honest with him. That would be way too harsh.

Right?

...

"I'm... okay," I tried to produce the most convincing smile I could.

...

"You don't have to lie, Twilight," Cadenza interjected, drawing my attention. My only response to her was to lower my head slightly. Had anypony else said such a thing to me I'd have jumped down their throat, but coming from Cadenza I knew it was simply a genuine comment and nothing hostile.

"It doesn't take an alicorn princess to see that you're not," my big brother patted my leg gently before removing his hoof. "If you don't wanna say anything about it you don't have to though."

"Just know that we're both here for you if you need us," Cadenza snuggled up next to him as the pair embraced once again.

"We're family, Twily," Shining Armor grinned, "we'll always be there for you," he laughed. It was so loud an action that even Cadenza looked at him like he was a little crazy. "That probably sounds weird coming from me, doesn't it?" he asked me once his fit had died down.

Family, huh?

"Honestly?" I smiled. "...Yeah. It does."

"To be fair, if you'd have tried talking to me I wouldn't have ignored you or anything messed up like that," he replied, still grinning. "I just wasn't planning on compromising anytime soon."

"Until 'Cady' er Cadenza made you," I snickered.

"'Cady' is fine," Cadenza giggled.

"How about 'Cadance'?" I asked. We may be sisters now, but she was still a princess in more ways than one.

I can't just throw all respect out the window.

"That works," she nodded, satisfied.

"Goodness gracious, I'm gonna have to deal with two absurdly powerful mares working together in my life now, aren't I?" This time, my brother feigned abject horror at the thought.

"We could always leave you alone, Shiny. Right, Twilight?" Cadance suggested with a devious smirk.

"Sounds good to me," I agreed with a conniving grin of my own.

"You know I could never let you go, Cady," he pulled his wife into a hug, pecking her on the cheek once again. "Aaaand," he reached out and pulled me into the hug as well. "You're not going anywhere either, kid. I really missed you."

I couldn't fight him. I couldn't fight them. I returned their embrace.

We are family.

And I'd been apart from mine for far too long.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wha... WHAT IS SHE DOING!?

The hairs of my coat stood on end as my heart pounded in my chest like a prisoner trying to break out of a cell they'd been in for far too long. I forced my horn into dormancy, knowing that if I didn't it might begin sparking out of control. I tried to keep a straight face as well, but that was not happening after whatever... THAT was.

SHE... SHE L... SHE ACTUALLY LI...

My mind wouldn't admit it, even as the blue unicorn fled from the table. From the looks of things, Starlight was pleased with herself. On the contrary, I was filled with boiling rage. She immediately went back to "chatting" with her new friends like nothing at all had happened.

It was just one of her games, Twilight. Get a grip.

I knew that was the truth and yet I couldn't stop glaring at her. I was almost as furious as I had been when she'd belittled my mistress. I couldn't understand why I was so mad now though.

I don't really like her that much... do I?

I couldn't say for sure. But I wasn't alone.

"H-hey... Shining?" I prodded my brother in the side, drawing his attention away from Cadance.

"What's up, Twily?" he asked. Cadance also leaned forward to look my way.

"I... I have a question... for the both of you. I-If that's okay?" I twiddled my hooves nervously, though I still wasn't able to take my eyes off of Starlight.

"Of course! Er, Cady?" he glanced at his significant other, making sure she was fine with it as well.

"Anything, Twilight," she nodded.

They looked absolutely fabulous, my brother in a sleek black tuxedo and Cadance in the most stunning wedding dress I'd ever seen. She'd removed her veil , but the rest of her outfit remained in place. Whoever had designed it had to be a genius of their craft. They really did look like the perfect couple, and that's why it had to be them that I asked.

I didn't want to take my full attention away from Starlight, -- especially not now when I noticed her moving away from the table -- but I had to sort out my feelings and the Princess of Love would probably be the best creature in all of Equestria I could get advice from.

"How did you two..." I scratched at my mane, trying to think of the correct approach to take. "Wh-who confessed first?" They looked at each other, knowing smiles coming to both of their faces.
"Please!" I held up my hoof, hoping they wouldn't. "Just answer the question?"

...

"I knew I liked her from the first moment I laid eyes on her," Shining Armor stated proudly.

"But I asked him out first," Cadance countered.

"Buuuut I popped the big question," he lifted a playful eyebrow.

"After I told you that I loved you," she grinned, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

"So it was you then, Cadance?" I wasn't really surprised. Shining Armor had always been popular with the mares... and even some stallions., though he obviously didn't swing that way.

"It was," she nodded with a smile. "It wasn't really difficult to see how badly he wanted to get to know me," she giggled. "I just gave things a... nudge in the right direction."

"That's... yeah, that sounds about right," my brother guffawed. "I was way too scared to say anything. I mean come on, look at her," he told me specifically. "And she's a princess now? I never stood a chance."

And yet here they are.

"You're a lot more impressive than you give yourself credit for, dear," Cadance assured, cupping his face with a hoof. "You're nothing short of the most breathtaking stallion I've ever laid eyes on."

They kissed again, though not before a maroon tinge came to my brother's cheeks.

"So then..." I waited for them to separate before asking another question. "How did... how did you know, Cadance? That you loved him, I mean."

"It's... pretty simple, to be honest," she focused back on me. "It started with little things. I wanted to see him more. I wanted to be around him more. I wanted him to be happy. I wanted him to be safe," she looked back at him, a loving gaze coming to her eyes. "Then I started to learn things about him. He wasn't just handsome, he was incredibly smart too. And he's talented! He's so good at magic and..." she blushed turning away from both of us. "and he's really fun. I... I knew." She turned back to face us, a look of pure elation on her face. "I KNOW. I love you, Shiny," she kissed him. "I'll ALWAYS love you."

"I love you too, Cady," he kissed her again. "Forever and ever."

Cadance's answer was like a punch directly to my gut. I wanted to fight against it, -- against the truth -- but there wasn't really a point. It's like she'd held up a mirror and said "the pony that you see is indeed, in love". I searched my surroundings, trying to find Starlight once again.

...

"You're struggling with it." Cadance stated not asked. "Love, I mean."

My body stiffened as I slowly shifted my shocked expression back to her.

H-huh!?

"I can tell you," she smiled warmly once again, her eyes flicking to the right for just a second before resettling on me. "I can see it."

"W-what?" I had no clue what she'd meant by that.

See what?

"Love," she chuckled as if it was the obvious answer. She pointed at her horn with a hoof. "I guess this thing came with more than just the ability to cast spells. If I concentrate a bit, I can see the love coming off of all of the creatures here. All the different kinds," she looked out at the party. "There's so much of it here. Love for family. Love for friends..." she looked at her husband. "Love for your other half." Another kiss. "Though, honestly," Cadance laughed, covering her mouth. "Right now, Chrysalis is eating most of it up."

I looked back at the parasite's table only to feel sick to my stomach.

S-Starlight!? What are you doing!?

The lilac mare was sitting at the table with our enemy, though I couldn't fathom why.

What could they be talking about?

...

Me?

How I betrayed...?

Seeing those two together was even more stressful than seeing her with the Elements. She might be in danger, being so close to that... monster. I couldn't handle that.

"So... do you want to know?" Cadance asked. I kept my eyes locked on the parasite and unicorn. I shook my head left, then right. I didn't need to be told. I already knew. It wasn't complicated. It was simple, just like my sister had said.

I love her... I love Starlight.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can do this, Twilight. You can do this.

I trotted towards the table where Starlight was sitting with the parasite. At some point, Sunset had joined the duo. I'd excused myself from our table and began my trek toward my friends, but the journey was proving to be too difficult for me.

As I drew closer to them I could feel myself beginning to panic, could feel the terror of being rejected -- of being hated by her -- crawling up my spine. I swallowed the lump in my throat, pressing on in spite of my fears. After all...

What's the worst that can happen?

"I hate you, Twilight."

No. That wasn't it. That was expected. That was honestly probably needed. No. Far worse than her anger and hatred would be her indifference. If she simply decided I wasn't worth speaking to, worth acknowledging ever again, I wasn't sure what I would do. That was more terrifying to me than anything else.

I shuddered, coming to a complete standstill. I was only a few meters away from their table, though I was far enough that there were still ponies moving around me. I tried to take another step, tried to move forward, but I couldn't budge. The idea that Starlight might never speak to me again made me tremble.

Come on, Twilight. You're not this weak.

I wasn't.

And so, taking a deep breath to steel my nerves, I turned around and walked back through the crowd towards the interior of the palace.

I... am.

I bit my tongue, fighting against the pain of failing myself once again as I wiped the coming tears away with a hoof. I didn't want to head back to my table just yet. I didn't want my siblings to see me like this.

I found an entrance into the palace that was lightly guarded and headed towards my former room. I'm not sure why exactly, but it technically was still where I was staying, so I figured I could calm down in there without being bothered. Entering the hallway, I found a truly detestable sight.

Trixie...

"RIGHT! So it was a joke! It was clearly just a joke, Trixie! She was just messing with you!" The mare was tapping a hoof against the wall, obviously under the impression that she was alone in the hall.

My blood boiled.

"HEY!" I snapped at the unicorn, her gaze filled with surprise and terror as soon as it settled on me.

"T-Twilight!?" her back pressed against the wall as I trotted up to her.

"What is Starlight Glimmer to you!?" I was directly in her face, forcing her down into a sitting position.

"Wh-what?" she was genuinely confused.

"I said what. Is. Starlight. To. YOU!?" I emphasized each word with a growl, getting so close to her our noses were touching.

"Trixie- she's- we're just-"

"EXCUSE me!" A majestic voice drew my attention. A unicorn mare with a curled purple mane and tail stood a couple of yards away from us, her expression not one of pleasure. Next to her stood the pink earth pony from the train. She was panicking once again, her expression much like the one she'd had back then.

"WHAT!?" I took an imposing step toward the pompous mare who'd interrupted my interrogation.

"Rarity!?" Trixie wasn't expecting the pair to appear either. "It's okay! Nothing was-"

"It most certainly is NOT okay, Trixie!" Rarity, the snooty white unicorn, replied before trotting right up to me.

"B-be careful, Rare," the pink one whispered from behind her friend. The unicorn hadn't even activated her horn. I wasn't sure what she was planning, but there wasn't much she could do without magic.

"Actions like those are most unbecoming of Princess Luna's protégé, Twilight Sparkle," she stated firmly. I was instantly somehow even more livid. Just as I was about to open my mouth she stopped me with a raised hoof. I'm not sure why I waited, but I did. "You sought our forgiveness back on the train and yet here you are once again, bullying our poor Trixie?" I opened my mouth again, but this time, I shut it myself. "Was it all just a lie?"

...

She's right. What's wrong with me? What am I doing?

"I wasn't..." I looked back at the blue mare. Seeing her felt like a knife had been plunged deep into my heart. She was smiling at me, seemingly filled with nothing but kindness. "Trixie, I..."

"Twilight," Rarity's voice was far more gentle when she spoke again. I turned back to face her. A gentle smile was on her lips as well. "That isn't you," she stated with confidence.

"But... but it is... I-"

"Do you know how we know that to be true?" she lifted her head towards Trixie and then back at the pink mare. I shook my head meekly. "Because your dearest friend Sunset Shimmer told us how kind you truly are."

"She..." I bit down hard on my lip, hoping the pain would prevent the tears.

"We're just friends, Twilight," Trixie said softly from behind me. "That's all. And..."

"We want to be your friend too." Pinkie said as she drew closer to us.

I was stunned. I barely knew these ponies. I'd come here to feel better about failing to speak with Starlight and now I was being offered friendship?

I don't deser-

"Oh, darling..." Rarity lifted a hoof and wiped away some of my tears.

"Please, let us in, Twilight," Trixie wrapped her forelegs around me from behind, hugging me tightly. The duo in front of me did the same, hugging me from the front. As more and more tears fell from my eyes I could only reciprocate their kindness. It wasn't just Sunset that was willing. I had my sister and brother. And there were others...

"I'm so sorry, girls. And... thank you."

Author's Note

It's hard to catch up when the world is weighing you down.