//------------------------------//
// The Ace of Hearts 
// Story: Shaping Love and War 
// by Sky Blue CMC 
//------------------------------//

	"Ace beats Queen, Starly." Sunburst told his marefriend. "I guess you win again." He knew how much she liked cards, false magic, because they didn't remind her of how evil she was when the two of them were apart. He always kept a low card under his cloak so he could let her win. She knew he cheated, but she didn't mind it. Starlight wasn't always honest herself, and cheating for someone isn't the same as cheating to beat them.

"Sunny, that's the seventh time in a row you played a Queen... even with two decks, that still means you're out of Queens. I have the last one. Please stop letting me win, O Great and Powerful Sunburst." Starlight had a point. Their double-decker War games always went the same... even when she lost, it was only because she let him win... which wasn't as often as the reverse. "Sorry, didn't mean to compare you to Trixie... my best friend and my..." she paused before lying to him. "true love. You're not the same pony, however similar you two may be."

"True love? Starly, you and I both know that's a lie." Sunburst responded. "I know you have feelings for somepony else. I can see it in your eyes. Your beautiful blue eyes. I know that twinkle in somepony's eyes when they love somepony... and it's just not there in yours. I've seen the way you look at me... like nothing more than a second best friend."

"How dare you lecture me on lying?!" Starlight exclaimed angrily. "You say you 'know the twinkle' as if it's something not obvious but I know it too. You're not that perfect either, mate. In fact you're way too easy to hate! What, 29 year old, can't get a date? Our whole relationship was built upon secrets and lies. Who is she, and what does she have that I don't?"

"Umm... she's somepony you probably don't know. Discord's daughter, Screwball." Sunburst explained. "She was the one who convinced me that I had more magical potential than I thought."

"I thought I did that, Sunny." Starlight replied in utter disbelief. "I've heard of the Princess of Chaos... she's kinda cute, probably more powerful than I am, and her swirly eyes are more than worth getting lost in. She's lucky to have an important wizard like you love her. But I thought she was trying to decide between Mothball and Thorax? Adding you to the mix wouldn't make her choice any easier, you know?"

"I know. You haven't told me who you're in love with, Starly." Sunburst returned the question. "What's his name and what does he have that I don't? I promise I won't tell anypony."

"You sure?" Starlight asked.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Sunburst Pinkie Promised. "Just tell me... I'll keep your secret."

"I never promised to keep yours... but OK." Starlight replied. "It's Thorax. The Changeling Prince. You remember him, right? You sent him to Ponyville for help when the rest of the Changelings attacked. Twilight was captured, so he joined me and Trixie to help save the main heroes. He and I really bonded on that trip, and Discord made sure we played our part... albeit by playing his own part poorly."

"Thorax, huh?" Sunburst asked. "Can I tell you another secret? Well... it's really more showing than telling." Without even waiting for a response, Sunburst transformed in front of Starlight. When he was done, he had a light-greenish hued skin, orange-ish antlers, and crystalline blue wings. He was the stallion the she secretly loved. He was Prince Thorax. Starlight was completely speechless.

"Well... I guess I'd better return the favour. I'm not really Starlight, either." The Starlight doppelganger transformed right in front of her true true love. When she was done, she was a mystical taffy-pinkish-coated earth pony filly with a purple-and-white mane, violet eyes with whirlpools of taffy pink, and a dual cutie mark of a couple of screws and a baseball. A propeller beanie magically appeared above her head to complete her form. She was the Princess of Chaos. She was Princess Screwball. Thorax was lost for words as well.

"How?" Thorax asked Screwball. "All this time, neither one of us knew it was right there in front of us! I'm sorry I lied to you, Screwy. I knew it was me you loved. I just thought you were Starlight... I should have known you weren't. I was a fool, milady."

"Me too, Prince Charming." Screwball replied. "It should've been obvious. You're the only one whose lies I can't detect... even Mothball can't keep a secret from me. Sunburst might be able to, but there were times when there were two of you, and I know he doesn't have the abilities for duplication spells, despite his vast knowledge. I also know you love letting me win because sharing love is the best source of food for you. I should've connected the dots."

"It's OK, Screwy." Thorax replied. "We both know now, and nothing can keep us apart anymore. We'll be together for eternity."

"Especially since we're both immortal." Screwball remarked. "And we've got nowhere to go but up. Can we get started right now?"

Thorax nodded. The two lovers flew upwards into the sky and embraced each other, their kisses lighting up their formerly dim spirits.