My Retelling: Twilight is an only child

Twilight doesn't have a brother. Shining Amror is her cousin. He sometimes drops by. She used to play with him a lot but they grew their seperate ways.

Cadance is very important for Twilight. Cadance is somewhat of a mentor figure. Unlike the reserved sometimes pessimistic Twilight, Cadance is outgoing and optimistic.

(Cadance even unironically ships Sparity saying Spike might grow to be a handsome dragon.)

Cadance tries to make get Twilight get out of her shell. Cadance is often frustrated how Twilight drives away friends even if it's clear that Twilight really does want friends.

Maybe Cadance is also a dreamer who believes in a better world. Who believes peace with all creatures united by Harmony.

Twilight being an only child is part of an arc to make her understand not just friendship but family which she is also aloof too.

Or maybe Shining should be Twilight's brother still but Twilight grew distant from him.

I kind of want to weave in some sort of tragic backstory in filly Twilight's life that partly explains why she is isolated from others.