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// Ch 9: Twilight 
// Story: All These Shining Lights 
// by InkyTalon 
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Twilight Sparkle sat alone in the room with the Crystal Mirror, letting the coldness of the smooth castle floor seep through her hooves. This, along with her worry and regret, were all that was keeping her awake.

She’d sent a very hesitant Spike to bed an hour ago. Her friends had all left together, not long after Sunset and Starlight disappeared through the portal. None of them seemed to harbor any resentment toward her for keeping Celestia’s condition a secret… they must have known that she had planned on telling everypony eventually.

Either that, or they were all too upset at the news to be angry with her… as they really should be.

Twilight had told herself the party was for Sunset… for Sunset… but she knew she’d arranged it with hidden selfish intentions. Being terrified of the future had made her desire her friends’ company (and a healthy helping of punch) more than ever.

That was the true reason. She couldn’t handle the truth, and she was avoiding it at her friends’ expense.

Even the Princess of Friendship makes mistakes… all the time. How could Princess Luna have thought she was fit to rule Equestria, when she can’t even handle this one responsibility with a hint of integrity?

Perhaps, deep down at her core… she really was still that indifferent, socially-inept unicorn she’d been at the very start. And she was showing herself in ugly ways.

She was nothing without her friends. If she'd never met them, if they had never shown her their kindness, honesty, loyalty, laughter, and generosity… she would have ended up just like Moondancer, or perhaps even like Sunset Shimmer.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Is this what you think is helping? I thought you had changed.

Twilight recalled her own harsh words to the unicorn, and cursed herself for it. Sunset hadn’t deserved that… at all. Though a tiny, tiny part of her was still wary of Sunset… she knew Sunset had become a better person, and pony. She’d watched that change in her happen. She’d been there.

The alicorn’s wings slumped at her sides, and she sighed into the darkness. She had been stressing so much about a situation out of her control, that she’d forgotten to control herself… and now she could only hope that Starlight was being a better friend to Sunset than she had been.

She wouldn’t sleep. She’d wait here for them for as long as it takes, and hold onto the faith she truly has in them.

I’m so sorry. I’ve failed you, Sunset… Princess Celestia… everypony.

But true friendship will never fail. And I will make this right.

I promise.