'It doesn't makes sense.' Twilight thinks as she stares emptily out the train window watching the trees and sky fly past.

Ever since she had spoke to Celestia, she had almost removed herself from her life completely. Only writing to her friendship reports, and nothing else. She needed to clear her head. She'd drown herself in her new friends, her hundreds of books. Just trying to make sense of all these emotions.

She wasn't sure what to think to be honest. She could understand why Celestia had done what she had done.

After saving her friends and all of Equestria from Discord, after marching to Canterlot, demanding answers from Celestia. She ended up locking herself away for month, reliving those horrid memories over and over again.

She woke up in colds sweat, clutching at the burning feeling in her side. Looking down to find nothing. She'd wince sitting down on a chair and grimacing at the memory of that young colt touching her. She'd suddenly hyperventilate as her lungs contracted feeling like her chest was being kicked in. The event had long since passed, but the memories were fresh.

Looking back, maybe Celestia had done the right thing. What kind of mare would she have turned into if she had kept her memories? Would she be even more secluded and reserved than she already was? Would she have refused to oversee the 'Summer Sun Celebration?' meaning she would of never met her friends? Never stopped Nightmare Moon?

Did her lack of knowing save Equestria?

She shakes her head at the thought. 'Maybe it had been the best thing to do, but it was still wrong.' She reflects. Her thoughts drift back to the castle. Thinking how everything made so much sense now. She wonders how they had all dealt with it.

How they'd all managed to keep it hidden and not break down. She chuckles at the thought.

No. They had broken down. Celestia was watchful. Cadance was broken and Shining couldn't look her in the eye for too long.

She hadn't really spoken to her brother since she left. She was sad at the thought. Wishing she'd spent more time trying to help him, but she hadn't.

And now he was marrying somepony that she didn't even know. In only a couple of years he'd found somepony to replace her, but she could understand. They used to tell each other everything, but obviously this was something he couldn't tell her. Something he could never tell her.

How do you look into your baby sisters eyes and tell her she was sexually assaulted and physically beaten when she was four and had her memories erased? You can't. You don't.

It made sense why he would choose to seek comfort in another, but who was this 'Mi Amore Cadenza?' She thinks before her thoughts are interrupted.

“Why the long face sugarcube?” She hears the worried sound of Applejack's voice behind her.

“I'm just thinking about Shining Armour.” She half lies. Truth be told she was thinking about all of them.

“Ever since I moved to pony ville, we've been seeing each other less and less, and now that he's starting a new family with this princess Mi Amore Cal-what's her name. We'll probably never see each other.” She huff resting her chin on the windowsill, looking out towards the moving landscape.
“Come on now, you're his sister, he'll always have time for you.” Applejack says in sweet voice trying to reassure her. Twilight can feel her hairs stand on end in jealously.

“Couldn't seem to make time to tell me he was getting married.” She says in a bitter voice before shutting the blind and curling up on the seat. She waited, listening to Applejacks hoof steps disappear to the end of the carriage.

Twilight blinked the away the tears in her eyes. She couldn't stop thinking. Thinking about Celestia, about Shining, about Cadance.

Especially Cadance.

She nudged her head into the seat, willing the thoughts to go away, as she forced herself into a fitful sleep. She'd be in Canterlot soon.

Hopefully, she'd find more answers.

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

Cadance.
It had been Cadance all along.

How could she be so stupid.

'Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, it was so obvious!' Twilight's mind screams.

Shining was marrying Cadance. Twilight couldn't help the sinking feeling in her stomach. Couldn't stop the spikes of jealousy rushing through her heart.

Twilight shook her head, wishing the thoughts away. She thought back to her youth. To the days where her and Cadance were rebuilding their friendship. She'd watched as Cadance would give her a weak smile, look at her with sad eyes. She knew she was hiding something, but it never felt wrong.
Cadance had always looked at her with such pure love and devotion. That it made the secrets feel like second nature. Cadance was always kind, loving and caring, even when she looked like she was in so much pain.

That's probably why, it was so easy to fall in love with her.

Twilight had been shocked at first, blamed it on curiosity. But as the years went past it felt more like truth everyday. Every moment they spent together felt like specs of gold in an hourglass of sand. She always felt so loved, so cared for, so happy. She'd realised that she wanted to do the same for Cadance. So she studied psychology, read as many romance novels as she could get her hooves on and waited for Cadance to confide in her. She knew she was young and she knew that nothing would probably ever come of it. She was sure that it would go away.

But when she found out her and Shining were engaged?

It brought all of those feelings back to the surface. She could feel the million things she wanted to say bubble in her throat like bile. She bit it down, gritting her teeth at the sour taste. She couldn't do this now. Not when, in twenty four hours time, when she would marrying her brother.

But something seemed wrong. Cadance was acting like she didn't know her. She'd dismissed her like like she was nothing. Celestia had made her out to be this broken mess, her last memoires of Cadance were a pained look and weak smile.

Why now, was she suddenly holding her head high?

Why did she look at Twilight with such a hollow gaze?

It didn't make sense, none of it did.

And Twilight was determined to find out why.

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

“Which way do we go now?” Firecraft swifly moves a torch around, looking between three tunnels in the cave. They'd been down here for hours, without any success. Time was running out.

“Um.....I think the left one?” Nebula squints at map turning it upside down.

“Ya think? Or ya know?” Firecraft gives him an annoyed look, watching Nebula continue to fiddle with the piece of paper.

“I think.” Nebula sighs. “I study magical history and spell incantations, I'm not a navigator.” He states in frustration. Seemly lost to the map before him. He takes a couple steps forward before Firecraft holdd out his hoof, stopping him.

“Hold up a sec.” Firecraft says, turning around, listening to the faint sound of buzzing coming from the end of the tunnel.

“What is it?” Nebula gulps. “Do you see something?” He asks, following Firecrafts gaze. They both just stare into the darkness for a long moment. Holding their breaths. The buzzing gets louder as Firecraft squint even more. His eyes widen in shock at the sight. He turns around quickly shoving Nebula ahead of him.

“Move yer ass, now!” He screams before bolting off towards the left tunnel.

“Why?! What is it?!”Nebula asks franticly, daring to glance back. His eyes go wide in shock as he notices the six black bug like creatures head straight towards them. “Firecraft what the hay is going on?!” He screams, picking up the pace. “What are changeling's doing in the castle!?” He begs, turning his attention to the galloping stallion next to him.

“Eye've no idea, but I guess Reeetro was right!” He turns towards Nebula, a smile on his face.

“I didn't think he meant an invasion!” Nebula panics, not understanding Firecrafts reaction.

“Eye, a hope you're good with that magik of yours!” He chides before running towards a wall, jumping against it, and rebounding back towards the incoming threat.

“Firecraft!” Nebula screams, skidding to a halt, before beginning to charge up a protection spell.

“Because the battle for the kingdom has begun!” Firecrafty roars, drawing his sword ready to fight to the death.

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

Twilight groaned.

She clutched her head in pain and shivered as a cold rush of wind ran through her. She dug her hoof into the ground, feeling the hard surface, before charging her horn up to admit a soft purple light. She took a took around noticing the large barren caves before daring to call out.

“Hello?” She called out. Feeling unease settle into her stomach. She forced herself onto her hooves, staining at the ache in her body. She began walking down one of the tunnels, determined to find a way out.

“It was so obvious.” She muttered to herself in disbelief. “I knew that couldn't of been Cadance.” She thinks out loud, shining her horn down the ever darkening tunnels.

“Her smile was so fake.” Twilight shakes her head, willing tears to go away. Remembering the green ring of fire and then, nothing.

“Why?” Twilight whispers as she stops to take a breath. “Why did no pony believe me?” She says blinking rapidly, clenching her eyes shut at the thought of her friends betrayal.

“No.” She whispers. “You can't give up.” She huffs, putting on a determined face. “I need to find a way out of here.” She looks around the cave walls, hope they'd provide the answer. At no sigh of light she continued walking forward. Calling out again.

“Hello?” Her voice ring through the gave. No answer.

“Is anypony there?” She asks, her voice echoing off the walls.

She looks around worriedly before colliding head first into a wall. Shaking her head she's startled at her own reflection. She gazes for a moment before the sound of cackling causes her to back away in fear.

“Where am I?” She asks before a green shimmer causes her to quickly shut her eyes, as a voice begins to taunt.

“The catacombs beneath Canterlot. A final resting place for those ponies who gave their lives for there kingdom.” The hollow voice states, turning around Twilight notices the evil face of Cadance. “And now, your prison.” She chuckles.

“Help! Help!” Twilight calls running off towards the other end of the cave.

“Ha ha, it's no use.” Cadance taunts. “Nopony can hear you, and nopony will ever think to look for you either.” Cadance laughs. Twilight looks on in horror, as her face shifts from gem to gem. “Most ponies have forgotten these caves even exist, which is why they are the ideal place to keep the ones who try to interfere with my plans.” Cadance smiles wickedly down towards Twilight before erupting into a heavy laughter.

“Plans? What plans?” Twilight asks with terror in her heart.

“The plans I have for your kingdom of course.” She smirks. “I must say, I'm a little disappointed that your the cause for all of Cadance's pain. So pathetic.” She chuckles.

Twilight's eyes go wide, before her face morphs in to an angry expression. She steps forward puffing her chest out, her horn charging with a purple aura.

“What have you done to her!” She spits angrily, charging up a spell. Cadance's eyes go wide as a smirk erupts on her face.

“Catch me to find out.” She chuckles before fading from the gem. Causing Twilight to see reflections.

She turned around with an angry expression. Watching as Cadance reappeared on a gem, the other side of the room. Twilight charged a spell, shooting it off towards the gem causing it reflect and bounce around the room, her narrowly dodging it.

She begins to charge up several other spells, firing them off, one by one towards the gems that Cadance appeared on. Shattering them to pieces. Until she charged a large spell, blasting it off towards the wall, demolishing it entirely. She waited for the rubble to disperse before her eyes widened in shock at the sight.

A tattered pink mare was gazing back at her tears burning in her eyes.

“Cadance....” Twilight whispered in disbelief.

“Twlight....” Cadance looked on in both relief and horror.

Author's Note

The next chapter will be the last good fillies and gentle colts.

Regards

OnTheTrot