Cadence couldn't stand it as the tears streamed down her face, suddenly she heard loud hoof steps down the hall. It was Twilight. She knew it was her, she felt it. Cadence couldn't find the strength to get up, she couldn't really find the strength to do anything so she just laid there. Cadence heard the guards yelling. She wanted to be alone, she told them that much. Letting Twilight in would just erase the remaining strength she had left. Still she listened very closely to what they were saying.

“What do you mean I can't see Cadence?!” She heard Twilight's voice scream.

“Princess Cadenza has informed us that she does not want to be interrupted” One of the guards said.

“This is ridiculous! As personal prodigy to Princess Celestia and the sister of Shining Armour Captain of the Royal Guards I demand you let me in!” Twilight screamed.

Cadence wasn't sure what she wanted, she wanted more than anything to talk to Twilight, but she couldn't stand the thought of letting Twilight see her like this. Seeing her so broken. So she kept quiet and waited. Waited for them to open the door. Waited for Twilight to leave, anything she just waited.

“We apologise Miss Sparkle but unless Princess Celestia or Shining Armour is with you to grant you permission we are not allowed to give you access to Princess Cadenza's room” The guard held his tone.

“Fine! Then I'll be back with Princess Celestia in a few moments!” Cadence heard Twilight's hoof steps fade in the distance, in one way she was relived and another disappointed, but she couldn't care anymore. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall into an uncomfortable sleep.

Cadence awoke to the sound of a hoof banging on her door. She trotted over and opened it to reveal Sargent Spark.

“Ah Spark is something wrong?” As she stepped aside to allow Spark access into her room.

“I guess it depends on how you look at it Princess” Spark grinned briefly.

“Is it Twilight, is she okay?” Cadence asked ready to break out into tears.

“She is fine, she is resting in the infirmary” Spark smiled. “This is regarding the foals who were responsible for putting her in there.”

“And? What happened?” Cadence asked fearing the worst.

“Lieutenant Reaper took matters into his own hooves and stripped the foals of their magic by removing their horns” Spark said flatly.

Cadence gasped and fell onto her haunches.

“Princess Celestia found him next to the foals unconscious bodies before the guards did and wounded him, then blamed the whole situation on a 'Timber Wolf attack', Silver Signature head of the examiners confirmed this, and so have I” Spark said with a kind smile.

“So what really happened?” Cadence said still shocked.

“Do you honestly care Princess? Twilight is healing and the foals responsible for it have been punished, forgive me... I thought you would be more... well... not happy per say but more comforted knowing this information” Spark said feeling guilty.

“Do not mistake my hesitance for discomfort spark, I am thrilled, ecstatic even... but...” Cadence stuttered.

“But?”

“I am a Princess of Equestria and the Princess of love, how can I say that I'm those things if I don't even feel mercy for some poor foals who made a wrong choice” Cadence just stared at the floor shuffling her hooves.

“If I may interject Princess?” Spark asked hesitantly.

“Yes Spark?” Princess looked up.

“No matter how you feel on the situation I believe Princess that the fact you are even considering mercy for those foals shows that you have love and compassion ,it's just a shame that Twilight had to be the cause of this lesson” Spark frowned “Either way Princess what's done is done and I feel no guilt for what happened to those foals, and well yes I do feel bad that they're lives have been reduced to this but at the same time, we have all been through much worse and I'm sure there's worse to come but as long as you remain true to yourself then, myself, reaper and all the others guards and servants will remain true to you” Spark offered a weak smile.

“I hope your right Spark, I hope your right”Cadence lowered her head as a single tear broke free as it hit the floor it thumped in Cadences ears. Soon her eyes watered quickly as she thought of Twilight, the one thing that mattered now.

…................................

“But I don't wanna go!” Twilight yelled holding onto the door post of her soon to be old bedroom.

“Come on....ugh..... Twilie, you have too, your moving closer....urgh.... to Princess Celestia's royal chamber so you can....urgh........learn more about magic won't that be fun!” Shining said pulling with all his might.

“I. Said. No!” Twilight stated before using her magic too tighten her grip on the post.

Shining's grip slipped and he fell onto his haunches with a thud.

“Ow!” He said hitting the floor, he got up a produced a very powerful stare. “Twilie?” He stated staring down at her.

“I'm not moving” She huffed before turning back to hug the post.

“Phffff” Shining sighed, knowing he was losing this battle.

“Why do I have to go, I like it here” Twilight frowned.

“Look....” He said while rubbing the back of his head with his hoof. “I know you don't want to go, but you'll get to be closer to Celestia. You'll learn all new kinds of magic, the kind that can't be done in the open. You'll live in a big tower and get to see across the sky, doesn't that sound magical” Shining put on his best smile.

“No...........” Twilights voice softened. “That sounds lonely.......” She let go of the post just enough to slide to the floor.

“If I move there, I won't be able to see you that often.” She shrugged

“Yeh ya will” Shining walked over to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

“I'll come round every week and we'll have one day to ourselves, I promise” He turned her round and smiled down at a teary eyed Twilight.

“Only once a week.....” Twilight whispered.

Shinning lost his goofy smile but gained a determined grin.

“Hey” he lightly punched her in the arm, to which she raised her hoof and rubbed where he punched, and looked up with a slightly annoyed look.

“Yeah once a week may not seem like a lot, but it'll be a hell of a 'once a week' ” he winked.

Twilight's gaze softened, she stopped rubbing her arm and cracked a smile. “Can you get Cadence to come as well?” Her smile grew bigger.

Shining slumped. Cadence huh?

“Sorry kiddo I think she'll be busy most of the time, but I promise you I'll try” He offered a weak smile.

Twilight's ears dropped as she stared at the floor.

“Guess that's a no then?” She said with a hint of anger in her voice.

“Hey listen! I know it's been a while since you last saw Cadence but she's just busy as all. I mean your ten years old now, you don't really need a foal-sitter anymore do you!? Your not a filly anymore are you!?” Shining said a little harsher than he intended.

Twilight flinched. She looked up at her big brother then down again.

“No..... I don't need a foal-sitter, but I still need a friend” Twilight said as harsh as she intended.

Shining's ears dropped for a split second before he perked right back up.

“Well yeh.... I know she's your friend as well..... and she's not just your foal-sitter....... and I know you miss her.... but hey she'll come see you as soon as she can.... I promise.... and hey! Ya still got me kiddo, I ain't just your big bro, I'm BBBFF remember?” He smiled down at her.

Twilight sighed.

“Yeah but your here less than she is......” Twilight squinted her eyes.

Shining's ears dropped for the third time that conversation, but this time they stayed down. He began to think rapidly 'Well yeah I've been quite busy during the past couple days...weeks....months...wait......he thought. When was the last time we actually hung out.... yesterday...no..no..no... I was training the new recruits.....urm...last week......nope...Princess Celestia......had that meeting that needed extra guards... urm! Last month!..... no I had to deal with those griffins that went wild at the royal meeting.... Urm! Wait! Wait! I know! Her birthday I was definitively there on her birthday..... for the first hour before I got called away...... but we talked for a few minutes yeh that was the last time we talk for a while when was that again................... 7 months ago............. 7..........months...........ago.........' Shining's mind stop when he realised that.
'No....no....no!...... Shit!.......it can't have been that long ago.'

In the midst of his mental breakdown there was knock on the door.

“Come in...” Twilight said

“Excuse me, Miss Sparkle” A deep voice said.

Twilight glanced upwards and he ears shot up as a smile spread across her face.
“Reaper!” She screamed running toward him for a hug, he picked her up with his magic and span her around in the air.

“Hello there Miss Sparkle” He said with a smile.

“How many times do I have to ask you to call me Twilight” She huffed trying to break free of his grasp.

“At least once more Miss Sparkle” He chuckled. Before he levitated her towards the ground.

“Why are you here?” She questioned.

“I'm here to escort you toward your new quarters, Miss Sparkle” He smiled.

“Do I really have to go....” He ears fell again.

“Well no you don't have to go, but I think it would be wise to go, think of all the things you'll get to learn. Everything. All kinds of magical knowledge opened up to you. Wouldn't that be a good enough reason to leave?” He tilted his head slightly.

“I guess so...” She huffed.

“Well let's be on our way shall we Miss Sparkle” He motioned for the door.

“Okay... Bye Shining!” She yelled as she left the door on her route to her new room.

'Shining........Shining....... not big bro, not BBBFF, not even shiny? Just Shining?' Shining thought to himself. 'That's right your no longer her BBBFF, your not her big bro anymore, your just another pony to her now.' Shining's slumped was obviously picked up by Reaper.

“Commander?” He asked.

No reply.

“Commander Armour?” He said a little louder.

Blank.

“Shining Armour!” He yelled.

“huh wah....” Shining stuttered.

“I said me and Miss Sparkle are departing now.” Reaper said loud and clear.

“Oh....yes carry on.......” Reaper turned to leave before Shining stopped him.

“Wait Lieutenant Reaper?” Shining asked

“Yes Commander?” He turned to face Shining”

“Was it worth it?” Shinning asked glancing down at Reapers chest.

Reaper looked down and then look down the hall to where Twilight had already gotten ahead. Stared at her, and replied without turning his head. “Every moment...... I'll be on my way Commander” With that Reaper left.

Shining stared at the floor, at the room that used to be Twilight's. The place that was just torn away from her.

'Cadence' he thought 'Where are you........ she really needs you right now'

With that Shining closed his eyes and sighed

Author's Note

Hello good Filly's and Gentlecolts, sorry for the long and clearly, not anticipated wait for this chapter but I have been rather sick for a long time now but I missed writing and really hoped that you could forgive me for this. I've just spent the last few months in hospital, but just managed to put a chapter together I've still got some saved away so I shouldn't be too long before the next update.

Your regards

OnTheTrot

Bonus Points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : If you can detect the persona 4 reference