"Hey Twily, it really sucks that we couldn't see you off, -- royal and guard duties are a nag -- but Cady and I wanted to write a little note for you to read on your way back to Canterlot. So, uh, this is me, Shining, obviously. I just wanted to say that I'm so proud of you, Twilight. It's been such a long time, and I might not know everything about you, but it's easy to see just how fine a mare you've become. Her Highness, -- Princess Luna I mean -- has done a wonderful job guiding you. And while I might've only given her the credit before yesterday, I gotta say your friends are doing a pretty amazing job too. I didn't get to talk to Starlight, but Sunset is a shining (heh) example of a true friend. Stick close to her, Twily. She's a wonderful mare and somepony you can count on. Anyway, it was great seeing and talking with you, kid. I don't want to keep you reading the whole ride so I'll leave you with this: if you ever need ANYTHING, me and Cady are here for you. Until we see each other again. I love you, Twilight."

"My dearest sister, Twilight. It hurts my heart to see you go, but I know I'll see you again so I can bear the pain for the time being. Don't ever forget Twilight, you are loved. Remember what I told you about love at the reception? There are so many. Your brother and me and my mom. Sunset and Starlight (Even though it may not seem like it right now). Princess Luna and Celestia (Yes, I can feel it all the way over here in the Empire!). And just like Shiny said: we're here for you, for anything and everything. If you need help with something. If you're bored because everyone else is busy. If you're just feeling down. I'm not really sure if I can do it, but I'll try to teleport clear across Equestria if you need me. I'm so glad you came to the Empire, Twilight, and I thank all that is good that you're my sister. Thank you for everything. Without you all... I'm not sure what would've happened to us, so... thank you, again. I love you, little sister."

I bit my lip, holding in the tears as I finished reading the letter.

"You can cry in front of me, Twilight," Sunset said quietly, sitting on Princess Celestia's bed. "We're friends."

She'd been silently watching me for the train ride thus far. We were still a couple of hours away from Canterlot and I'd decided to take out the envelope that one of the Crystal Guards had given me before I left the palace. With a foreleg I quickly wiped my face before putting the treasure back into my saddlebags.

"I know,," I smiled. "I'm okay. Just... happy,' I laid down on my mistress' bed, resting my head on the luxurious pillow. "That was pretty crazy, huh?"

"SO crazy!" she enthusiastically agreed. "I never thought I'd get the chance to meet a changeling... much less fight against their queen."

"And Cadance becoming an alicorn?" I shook my head in disbelief, but smiled all the while. "My big sister is an alicorn. I can't believe it!"

"You and me both," she chuckled, getting more comfortable on her own bed. "Could you feel how strong she's become too?"

"It was strange, right?" I laid a foreleg over my forehead. "Like just being around her made you feel-"

"Comfy?" she supplied the end of my statement for me. "Like her mana was a powerful entity itself."

"Yeah! Exactly!" I replied with a grin.

"Honestly, it kind of felt like being around-"

"My mistress or her sister," I finished for her.

"Yeah! Yeah, exactly..." she sat up, stroking her chin with a hoof as a look of deep reflection came to her face. "I wonder why. That can't be a coincidence"

"Well, who else could've done it?" I looked her way though I remained in my lying position. "Transformed her, I mean. It had to be my mistress or Princess Celestia."

"I... don't think either of them did it, Twilight," she shook her head slightly, her brow furrowing in contemplation.

What? my face screwed up in confusion. If it wasn't one of the only two alicorns in Equestria, then who could it have been? I was drawing a blank.

"Any ideas?" I asked. "I'm not familiar with any creature stronger than our teachers."

...

"Well... when it happened," she began her answer still looking a little doubtful. "Back in the palace the Elements all referred to the presence as 'Her'. I wasn't really sure who they were talking about at the time and I didn't get a chance to ask them after either."

Presence?

I decided to ignore that and focus on a more logical answer.

"That could just be Princess Celestia though, no?" I suggested. "They answer to her after all." A look that said she utterly disagreed came to her as she shook her head.

"It really didn't seem like it," she crossed her forelegs, still deep in thought. "It almost seemed like they'd never encountered this 'Her' being before then," she made a quotation gesture with her hooves.

I covered my eyes with my hooves, thinking harder as well.

...

Silence gripped the train car, save the rattling of the train moving along on its tracks. I tried to recall any creatures that might have any possibility of being able to transform a pony into an alicorn. Yet again, I came up empty hooved.

There was one nagging thought though. Far back, in the deepest recesses of my mind, a deathly silent voice, barely a whisper, said a single solitary word...

Me.

I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. I'd been so preoccupied with the Crystal Empire and all of the problems I'd encountered there that I'd nearly forgotten all about the Nightmare. I'd hoped it would just go away, but as we got closer and closer to home I could sense its presence growing stronger. But that monster wouldn't do something positive like turn my sister into a benevolent goddess anyway. It made no sense to even entertain the possibility.

But...

Maybe a creature like her?

...

No.

There was only one Nightmare and she was my problem.

So then who?

"We could always go ask them," I laughed bitterly, a single joyless time. "They should be in the next car over again, right?"

Sunset had told me about Starlight riding home with them as soon as I'd arrived at the station. It was... confusing to say the least. She clearly didn't want to be near me, -- that made complete sense -- but after everything that had happened at the party I was still having trouble processing her newfound relationship with the Elements. Apparently, they were all friends now.

I wasn't mad about it or anything like that, I just felt...

Betrayed.

No, not betrayed.

It would be unbelievably arrogant of me to think something like that. No, I suppose if I felt anything it would be: inferior. Starlight was crazy.

Starlight IS crazy.

That was one of the main things I liked about her. She was unpredictable and fun to be around. On the other hoof I'm...

Pathetic.

Too serious?

...

Maybe.

Not to mention studious and obedient to a fault. And even with those possible flaws, the Elements reached out to me as well. I was grateful to them, but I still had a lot I needed to work out before I tried to make new friends.

Particularly with my current friends.

I'd declined their offer to join them at the reception, but expressed my gratitude and hopes that we could do something together in Canterlot. I also avoided Starlight, Sunset, and that parasite. It just wasn't the right time. Especially not with that insect around. I could definitely see myself losing it in her presence. She had a mouth that was effective at sowing discord and I didn't trust myself enough yet to be able to withstand her taunts.

I'd spent the rest of the party with my older sister and brother. Afterwards, they'd even provided me with Shining Armor's room, considering it'd be empty for the night, what with the newlyweds bunking together in Cadance's quarters.

"I don't think that'd sit well with Star," Sunset sighed, troubled by just how accurate her statement was.

"I was joking, Sunset," I offered a more genuine laugh, bringing a slight smile to her lips. "To be perfectly honest I could understand if Starlight never wants to speak to me again."

"Be... because of what you did to her?" she prodded. She didn't look at me and her demeanor had become more sullen, but she was trying to help me so I decided to confide in her.

It's not like you have anyone else.

"Not just that," I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. "You know how she was really up in arms about trusting my 'brother', right?" She nodded, listening intently. "Things got pretty heated between them and I ended up... taking his, well... her side."

I wanted to slam my hoof into something. Possibly my own muzzle. It all sounded so stupid. I sounded stupid. It was embarrassing. Shameful even. Sunset didn't ridicule me though.

"That... sucks," her expression betrayed no emotions save consideration. "I... I should've been there," her head lowered a degree.

"You're really gonna blame yourself for my stupidity, Sunset?" I tried to hold in the irritation. She didn't budge. "I'm a grown mare. I can make my own decisions and I can live with the repercussions that those decisions bring."

"But we're friends, Twilight." She still hadn't moved. "I could've helped you." I got off my mistress' bed, trotting over to her and taking a seat. "I could've done something."

"I think I've blamed you long enough for my shortcomings, Sunset." I didn't hug her or wrap a foreleg around her. I just sat with her, letting her know I was there. "Do you wanna know why..." I hesitated. I wanted to be honest with her, but I didn't want her to know just how vain I really was.

If she's really my friend-

She's NOT!

She won't judge me too harshly.

I just wasn't sure if I wanted to take the chance.

I failed with Starlight... I can't make that mistake again.

"Do you know why I've hated you for all this time, Sunset?"

She tensed up, lifting her head to look at me. She was mostly surprised, but there was a smidge of confusion in her as well.

"I... have an idea," her eyes shifted slightly to the side, no longer on me.

"Do you... mind sharing with me?" I looked forward, staring at my mistress' bed. Hopefully, the gesture would make her a bit more comfortable at the prospect of being open with me. "No pressure."

In my peripheral vision I could see the relaxing of her shoulders as well as a slight lifting of the corners of her lips.

"It's... because of Princess Celestia, right?" she asked more than declared. "Because... because you wanted to be her student?"

"That's part of it," I smiled. She'd always been smart. I knew I couldn't keep the whole of it from her, but that wasn't everything. It was simple.

You're an awful little pony.

"I was... I am jealous of you, Sunset," my words caused a look of complete bewilderment to bloom on her face. "I hated you because I thought you'd taken my rightful place at Princess Celestia's side. I thought you'd stolen my life. I hated you more than I hated anything else." That revelation hurt her, a visible wince came to her before her body slumped.

"Twilight... I didn't-"

"I know that now, Sunset," I stopped her. "I think I've always known, but I... At the time, I needed somepony to hate. It was either that," I turned to her, a weak smile lifting my lips. "Or acknowledge the failure that I was and hate myself." She threw her forelegs around me, hugging me tightly.

"You're not a failure, Twilight!" she was fighting back tears, her body trembling. "Please don't say that!" I slowly lifted my own forelegs, hugging her back.

"It's okay, Sunset," I chuckled, squeezing back tightly before getting to my hooves so I could stand in front of her. It was such an odd situation. She was crying for me while I was finally beginning to understand my big brother. Both of those things made me feel a lot better. "I was a failure. I lost so much of my time and relationships with my loved ones because of my bull headedness. But that's in the past. I'm not a failure. Not anymore," I lifted her head, staring into her turquoise eyes. "Do you know why that is?" I asked, smiling brightly. She gently shook her head, wiping away the tears that had started to form in the corners of her eyes. "Because I can finally say what I need to say to you, my best friend." More tears formed in her eyes as her bottom lip quivered. "I'm sorry, Sunset... for everything I've done to you," I bowed my head.

...

"T-Twilight..."

The sounds of the train were joined by the loud bawling of my best, and possibly only, friend.

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

"We're gonna talk, Twilight. All three of us are going to get together. Star already said she would, so... you have to come too, okay?"

Sunset's words echoed in my head as the two of us stepped off of the Canterlot Express. I hadn't expected to be invited to a get together with her, --much less Starlight -- but I'd agreed to it nonetheless. After I'd gotten my apology off my chest we'd settled into a less significant conversation, but our chat still somehow ended up being led right back to a serious topic.

Starlight.

I knew I had to cross that chasm eventually, I just wasn't sure if there was even a bridge there anymore. I could understand if it'd gone up in flames, but apparently, my friend had managed to convince my possible former friend to at least try.

I was grateful to her. Beyond grateful.

"Don't forget, Twilight," she gently nudged me with a shoulder as we walked through the bustling crowd of creatures at Canterlot's train station. "You promised."

"I know, Sunset," I chuckled as we separated for a moment to let a preoccupied stallion walk by us. "I'll keep-"

In a flash of bright white magic both Sunset and I were standing in Princess Celestia's room.

"Oops... it seems I've only pulled two of your students. My mistake."

...What in the world?

The... thing standing next to our mentors was huge, easily towering over the princesses. It was a baffling creature, to say the least. It had a long, serpent like body that was split into three distinct sections. It's arms and legs were also different than its torso. Even its horns failed to match, both one another and any other part of its body. Each section of it was all from different creatures. Snake, lion, and others, including pony.

All in all, it was one of the most discombobulating beings I'd ever laid my eyes on.

"That's quite alright, Discord," Princess Celestia smiled at the sight of me and Sunset (who appeared to be just as confuzzled as I was). "Luna and I wished to speak to Sunset and Twilight first anyway."

"Wonderful!" The... thing? Discord, snapped its fingers (claws?) causing it to pop out of existence with more white magic. In an instant, he reappeared directly in front of Sunset and I. "As your lovely mentor said," he bowed, facing Sunset and smiling politely. "I am Discord. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Sunset Shimmer."

...

"OH! Er, forgive me!" she bowed once she'd realized she was being a bit rude by staring wide-eyed at the creature. "You too, uhm, Discord."

The thing was pleased with her response, his smile widening a bit. He then turned his attention to me.

"Twilight..." His smile shifted, not to a frown or anything like that, just... changed.

"Uh-uhm... It's nice to meet y-"

He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly. I had no clue what to do, stiffening up at the unexpected turn of events.

"I told you, didn't I?" he whispered to me. For some reason I suddenly felt... melancholic. I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. "It's so good to see you again, Prin-"

Princess Celestia loudly cleared her throat.

"Right!" He quickly let go of me, standing back up and stroking his chin. "Since you two are back in Canterlot then that must mean-"

"That is correct, Discord," my mistress spoke. "She's currently with the other Elements at the tra-"

Before she could finish he snapped his clawed fingers and disappeared in an explosion of magic.

"We'll talk again later, Twilight!" His voice echoed throughout the room. "And you as well, Sunset!"

And with that, he was gone.

Author's Note

Discord makes his appearance. It's been far too long.