The sound of a quill could be heard scratching on parchment, echoing through the library's large open room.

Twilight sighed, placing down the quill before softly gazing towards the small candle flame, her only source of light during the cold night. She shivered at the cold feeling running through her fur and turned around, noticing a window had been left open.

She slowly rose from her chair making her way over, softly closing it. She offered a weak glance towards the basket at the foot of her bed, smiling weakly at the sleeping drake, snoring lightly.

She turned her attention back towards the starry sky. As the moon bathed her room in a gentle glow.
The past year had been amazing. She'd made friends, gone on adventures and learned so much over the short course of time.

So why did still feel so alone?

Everypony in Ponyville seemed to be filled with so much love and warmth. She couldn't understand it. She thinks back to her time in the castle. Remembered how everypony hoof-steeped around her. Always cautious, always afraid of something.

She closes her eyes as images of Princess Celestia, Shining and Cadance fill her mind. The look of pained expressions, filled her memoires. Her thoughts lingered on Cadance. How terrified she always looked, how her smiles always seemed so broken. He eyes fling open as her expression contorts into one of despair.

Cadance had left without a single word. She felt tears filling her eyes before clenching them shut and shaking her head, will the tears away.

Cadance was gone. Twilight couldn't change that, and she refused to shed any more tears on the subject.

She walked over to her desk, extinguishing the light and slowly made her way over towards her bed.
She had other things to worry about. She was going to spend the day with Applejack tomorrow, Scootalo, Sweetie Bell and Applebloom were going to Canterlot tomorrow to visit the royal gardens.

She shifted un-comfortablely, as the thoughts of sad pink mare, sent her off into a broken sleep.

.............................................................................................................................

The gardens were alive with sounds of chirping and faint humming. Cadance was in the garden, taking care of the plants as usual. The sound of clanking metal approaching causing her to grin.

“I thought you weren't coming today?” She chides in a happy tone.

“We finished early today.” The unmistakable voice of Shining armour was heard. “And I needed to ask you a question.” He says taking off his helmet.

Cadance smiles, slowly placing down her water can before turning around.

“Okay, what abou-” She says before pausing in shock at the sight before her. Shining armour was knelt down on one leg, holding out a red box with a brilliant shining ruby ring inside of it. Cadance covered her mouth before gazing into the stallions eyes. He simply smirked before asking;

“Cadance, will you marry me?”

…...........................................................................................................................

Cadance watches with tear filled eyes, at the sight before her.

Watches as a pink Alicorn jumps up and down in glee, nodding furiously before a ring slips onto her horn and she proceeds to hug a tall white stallion.

Terror grips her heart as she watches the mare turn towards her, winking evilly.

Cadance doesn't even bother to scream anymore.

….........................................................................................................................

The sounds of hooves running through mud echoes through the darkened woods.

“Reaper, we need to move! The frantic voice of Spark calls. She dodges through various trees before coming to a halting just behind a large trunk.

She sits still, holding her breath, assessing, waiting. The sound of a twig snapping causes her ears to stand on end and her heart rate to increase. She holds position. Unmoving.

She blinks rapidly, daring to peek her head over the trunk. She can't see anything but the thick fog surrounding the landscape.

She lets out an exhausted breath. How long had her and Reaper been on the run? She couldn't remember. As soon as her and Reaper had made it past the castle grounds she'd heard it.

Heard Celestia branding them traitors.

They had to hide, quickly. They'd made it to the train station and managed to board unnoticed. They'd shed their armour just before getting off and proceeding to make their way towards the northern mountains. They had to lay low. Soon enough, their muzzles would be plastered all over Canterlot and probably most of Equestria come months end. They needed to hide.

Unfortunately Reaper still had his initiator ring on, which meant that magic was out, and they wouldn't be able to walk through a town for supplies without getting noticed. So they'd remained hidden in the darkest forests, away from every pony.

They were exhausted. Neither dared to sleep for more than a couple hours a night lest they be caught. They took turns to watch the other sleep, and they ran.

Spark couldn't help feeling her eye lids flutter, despite the adrenaline that was coursing through her body. She gulped heavily daring to call out to the fog.

“Reaper!” She yell whispered and watched in fear as the fog drifted through the trees. The sounds of thumping echoing through the distance, causing Sparks heart to fill with panic. Then suddenly it stopped. She slowly climbed over the tree trunk, etching forward blindly into the fog.

“Reaper!” She tried again a little louder, before she stopped. Hearing a faint sound of humming quiet close to her. She froze closing her eyes to focus on the sound.

“Found you.” A voiced hissed. Sparks eyes flew open before she quickly turned around, noticing a bright flash of green before everything went dark.

.............................................................................................................................................

The sounds hooves scraping on the floor could be heard echoing throughout the castle dungeons.

In the furthest cell a small figure began rousing from an uncomfortable sleep, sitting up groggily before reaching up to place a hoof on his horn and feeling the cold metal reside there.

“Damn it.” Reeetro exclaimed to the empty cell, meagerly hoping that he would wake up and the ring would be gone. His ears pricked up at the sound of somepony trotting down towards his cell. He forces himself to stand, peering out the bar sceptically.

His eyes widen in shock, at the sight before him.

Coming down the hallway, hooves chained together, were Reaper and Spark.
“Reaper! Spark!” Reeetro calls out, leaning his hoof out of his cell in an attempt to reach his friends, before a guard yells at him.

“Reeetro! Step back!” The guard threatens. Reeetro reluctantly steps back, watching as both of his friends are escorted into separate cells. He watches the guards leave before leaning through the bars again.

“Reaper! Spark!” He whisper yells. “What happened?! What's going on?!” He pleads.

His face drains of colour as the two ponies give him a sickening smile, eyes flashing bright green.

He looks on in horror at the realization.

The enemy has infiltrated.

The war had begun.

…....................................................................................................................

Betrayal.

It was an odd word on Twilight's tongue.

After spending so much time in Ponyville, she felt even more confused by her memories from the castle, felt more frustrated at the memories of a cautious Shining armour, a calculated Celestia, a broken Cadance.

She now knew why. All because of Discord.

When he'd invaded, she thought for sure that she and her friends could beat him.

But as she watched her friends lose their hope, one by one, she felt despair.

She watched as they all left her, and felt a brokenness take over her heart.

Felt the cold feeling of her sorrow encase her, as her fur turned grey.

Listened to Discord taunt her, as she was abandoned, once again.

She returned home, all light and hope gone from her eyes as she climbed the steps towards her bed preparing to pack and leave, forever.

Worry filled her vision as she watched Spike writhe around on the floor in agony. Burping up scroll after scroll. She watched with curiosity and proceeded to pick up one of the scrolls.

Her eyes furrowed in confusion. 'My friendship reports?' Her mind questions as her eyes scan the paper. 'Why would the princess send me these?' She ponders before relenting to read one.

She feels her heart swell as the memoires of her time with her friends return. Reminding her of one of the truest gifts in life, and just as she feels her heart become filled with so much joy. She freezes.

As something else returns.

She's not sure she believes it, she can't at first. It's blurry, like it's something from long ago. She remembers. She remembers Cadance and her playing in the garden. Remembers her promising to read her a bedtime story if she went to go play with the other foals for an hour.

She remembers the pain.

Then she remembers, waking up in the hospital. A sad smiling Dr Reeetro looking down at her. He told her that she'd had an accident and hit her head, and that she probably couldn't remember.

She'd never thought that anything of it, but it all made so much sense now.

Celestia looking so remorseful. Shining being so cautious around her. Cadance being so broken. All the puzzles fell into place.

She dropped the scroll as tears filled her eyes. Finally understanding what she's missed for so long.

She lets out a growl and rushes out towards the door.

She'll speak to Celestia soon enough but it will have too wait. Right now, she needs to save her friends. She bolts out the door towards Sweet Apple Acres, tears pouring from her eyes.

She'll finally get the answers she's waited for, for so long.

….......................................................................................................................................

Celestia was sitting in her chambers, watching the clock move. Listening to the deafening ticks as the minutes passed by.

She was worried.

Twilight had sent her a letter, telling her that she would be coming to see her. Not asking, telling.

'Princess, I'm coming to speak to you urgently, Twilight' Was all the letter said. No 'Yours faithfully' No long drawn out detail about her day. A simple statement, and it filled her with dread.

She watched the clock, growing ever more nervous as the handle ticked by.

Twilight would be here soon.

She took a deep breath, calming her thoughts before the sound of the clock chiming sent a chill down her spine. She stared emptily towards it. The handles pointing exactly on nine. The sound of a knock breaks her out of her thoughts.

“Your highness?” A stallions voice questions. She swallows heavily.

“Yes?” She asks in a shaky voice.

“Miss Twilight Sparkle is here to see you.” He states. Celestia takes one last breath before speaking up.

“Send her in.” She takes on a defensive stance, as her mask slips into place.

She watches as a small purple unicorn steps into the room, filling her vision, and her heart breaks at the sight. Tears streaming down her face, years worth of pain and hurt brought to the surface.

“How could you?!” She watches in pain and horror, as Twilight screams at her.

The room goes quiet, only the sound of Twilight's broken, tear filled gasps, echoing throughout the heavy room.

Celestia's eyes close as she prepares.

To finally tell Twilight the truth.

….....................................................................................................................

“It was after our fight with discord.” Twilight chokes. “I watched as all of my friends left me, I felt alone and betrayed.” She takes a step closer towards Cadance. “I'd gone home, I was going to run when I found that Celestia had sent Spike all of my old friendship scrolls.” She takes seat in front of Cadance on the floor. Cadance just stares at her, a guilty expression on her face, tears in her eyes.

“I read them, smiling at the memories I'd made with my new friends.” Twilight gives a faint smile before looking off to the side of the room with a sad expression. “But.....” She trails off.

“But?” Cadance pleads, needing to hear the rest.

“But the memories of my friends weren't the only ones that came back.” She says, turning her attention back to Cadance. Cadance just chokes out a sob.

“I'm so sorry Twilight.” She cries, rubbing her hooves into her bewildered mane.

“Why didn't you tell me Cadance?” Twilight pleads, reaching out a hoof and placing it on one of her legs.

“I wanted to.” She chokes, staring deeply into Twilight's eyes. “I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't.” She sniffs, watching Twilight give her a sorrowful smile.

“It was my fault, you were so focused on learning, so sure that me, Celestia and Shining were all you needed, that you forced yourself to be alone.” Cadance sobs. “I just wanted you to have friends, but I never thought- I could never of imagined-” She chokes, Twilight just shakes her head, giving her a warm smile.

“You did what you thought was best.” She scoots closer. “You wanted to see me happy, you can't blame yourself for that.” Her horn lights up, brushing stray hairs away from Cadance's face. As she continues to choke out breaths.

“I was angry.” Twilight looks down towards the floor. “After beating Discord, I came straight here and Celestia told me everything.” She chokes. “I wanted to see you, but she wouldn't let me.” She says, shaking the tears from her eyes.

“She told me it was too much for you, that you couldn't be around me anymore.” She chokes. Cadance just shakes her head as she quickly leans in to hug Twilight.

“If I'd of known.” Cadance clutches harder. “If I'd of known for even a second that you were here, I'd of come.” She sobs, hoping Twilight believed her.

“Why didn't you?” Twilight clutches back, shaking with tears.

Cadance clutches harder, refusing to let go.

“Because she had me then.” Cadance begs. “She had all of us.” She cries.

“When?” Twilight begs. Cadance releases her grip. Leaning back and huffing, eyes red from tears.

“A week before you're eighteenth.” She sniffles.

“And before? Where did you go Cadance? Why did you leave?” Twilight begs.

Cadance's ears perk up as she feels her face beginning to flush bright red at the memory.

Author's Note

I have been bitten by the inspiration bug good filles and gentle coats. The story is nearing it's close.

Regards

OnTheTrot