//------------------------------// // After Twilight's Departure // Story: Sometimes Things Don’t Last // by TouchofDestruction //------------------------------// Run. That’s the only word that echoed in her mind, her only conscious thought, her only natural instinct that she could harness at that very moment. Run.  Run away. Run away from them all.  Run back to her room where it was safe.  Run, she repeated to herself. Run, don’t let them catch you. Don’t stop. She found her chest beginning to twist again, the emotional highs and lows, the intensity of her anger, it weighed down on her form as if it were a massive stone she carried on her back.  And she wasn’t sure of just how much longer she could shoulder its burden.  After a short time of looking back to see if anypony was following her, she finally reached her room and quickly opened the door before ducking inside and locking it. She then levitated her suitcase and began haphazardly throwing things in, all the while trying to banish the memories of what had occurred the night prior. The night she was sent down to the caverns.  The night nopony, as Queen Chrysalis said, bothered to look for her.  Her brother banning her from the wedding, her friends and teacher walking out on her, the sight of them all at the altar, Applejack’s apology that only served to further rub salt in the unicorn’s wounds, and the Princess’s smile and belief that everything was all right. It all just sent her over the edge. And, only after getting a quarter done, Twilight’s magic ceased, objects and items falling to the floor as everything that had happened hit her at once all over again. The tears began to fall and she felt her body beginning to shake. Ultimately, it didn’t take long for Twilight Sparkle to throw herself onto the mattress and soak the pillows with rivets of fresh moisture from her eyes.  How long she was there, crying for what felt like hours, her lilac form steadily drained of all energy as she wept herself to exhaustion, the unicorn wasn’t sure. But just as she felt a haze begin to silently greet itself by slowly clouding up her mind, she was brought out of nearly falling asleep by a knock on the door.  At first, she had assumed it was perhaps her brother, her friends (formerly), the Princess, or maybe even Spike. Maybe Cadence? Regardless, she didn’t want any visitors right now. “Please, just leave me alone.”  But, to the unicorn’s shock, she heard a voice she didn’t recognize. “Pardon me, Lady Sparkle, but we insist that you come with us.” It was a stallion’s voice, perhaps one of the guards? Even after all the time she had been here, Twilight Sparkle herself never got to know just HOW many were employed under the Princesses. Opening the door with her magic, the lilac equine was greeted by the face of a dark-gray stallion equipped with golden armor and a spear. “Yes?” Twilight asked, confused. “How…can I help you?”  “Lady Sparkle,” the guard began. “By order of the Equestrian Council, you are hereby summoned to give a testimony regarding the earlier attack on the city.” “Testimony?” Twilight asked. “What do you mean? Aren’t there repairs being done? The Changelings are gone, so there should be no more danger, right?” “Currently, no, there is not,” the guard answered. “But, given current events, the Council has decided to take action and potentially hold those that failed to take Canterlot’s safety into account responsible.” Twilight’s violet eyes widened. “What do you mean? I thought only the Princess had authority like that!” “Given that she too failed to take precautions and failed to defend her subjects against the Changeling Queen, she has temporarily been revoked of her authority.” The unicorn could scarcely believe what she was hearing. “Wait, what?!” she was flabbergasted. True, even if she still didn’t hold the ivory mare in high regard, such news was shocking to hear. The Princess?! Stripped of her authority?! She didn’t believe such a thing was possible! “When did this happen?” “When the damage was assessed and the city began repairs. During that time, Captain Armor, the Element Bearers, and several witnesses have testified of what occurred the day prior, as well as this day.” Element Bearers? Did he mean…? And her brother was there too?! “What about Princess Luna? And Cadence?” Twilight paused. What about Cadence? What about the wedding?  “Princess Luna has been found to be enchanted in her chambers,” the guard said, Twilight gasping in shock. “It seems the Changeling Queen snuck into her room and gave her something extra in her evening tea.” “How is she?” Twilight asked, greatly concerned. “Is she alright?”  “She’s fine physically, save for a slight headache and dizziness,” the soldier told the unicorn. “As for Princess Cadence, she too has given her statement. Which is why I have come to collect you-” “Wait, sir, if I may,” Twilight interrupted. “What about the wedding?” The guard lowered his head and closed his eyes. While he hadn’t been present for it, he had been outside in the hallway to see a lilac unicorn galloping as if she were trying to race the wind, which brought the attention of not only himself but other guards that were recovering from the sudden invasion. Needless to say, when he and his comrades arrived, they saw something they never expected to see.  “There…will not be a wedding.” the guard told Twilight. The unicorn’s mouth went agape. “What?”  The stallion winced. Even if he wasn’t the one receiving the wrath he had witnessed on display hours ago, reminiscing about still made him pity his Captain. “After you left, and, I’ll admit, I saw you leave, we went to the throne room to see if Her Majesty, Celestia, was safe. And, well…” he bit his lip. “It…wasn’t pretty.” Hours Before Once he and his fellow guards reached the throne room, they were presented with a scene of their Solar Monarch openly weeping, tears falling to the floor, while five other ponies looked just as forlorn and miserable as their ruler. Their Captain had his head down as if he were afraid to show his face. One of them was about to speak, but before they could do so, one of the Element Bearers spoke first.  “Wh-Why…?” the pink mare, Pinkie Pie, he believed, croaked, her usually bouncy mane completely flat, her blue eyes watering with tears that soon couldn’t rest in her ducts anymore, finally flowing down her face.  “Were we…really that horrible?” a white unicorn with blue diamonds on her flank said, barely able to get out words.  A golden mare sporting a hat removed the head accessory and held it over her chest. “Wh-What are we going to do?” Celestia sniffled, able to put her tears to a halt, at least temporarily. “We…we can’t let this sit as it is,” she said. The guards exchanged surprised and worried looks. It was so alien to see their Princess, their Ruler, a mare over a thousand years, look so defeated and broken. “I…we have to make this right.” Their Captain then spoke. “I…I’ll try talking to her again. She…maybe she’s had time to calm down, and I can-” “Don’t bother,” a voice said. Although, it wasn’t from one of Twilight’s friends, nor from the Princess. Nor from the guards silently observing what was taking place. “There’s no need to have her as a Best Mare.” Shining turned around to see Cadence, always beautiful, but the normally cheerful, friendly, inviting look in her eyes was gone, replaced with one of extreme disappointment. Which then steadily grew into disgust. Shining Armor could see his bride-to-be’s brows furrowing, her eyes narrowing, and her teeth clenching from underneath her pink lips.  “C-Cadence?” the white stallion nervously said, but he immediately wished he hadn’t. It was then that the Princess of Love exploded. “The wedding is off.”  The room fell silent again, everyone taken aback by what they had just heard. “Wh-What?” Celestia stammered, unable to completely believe that there was yet another dire consequence to her neglect and foolishness.  “I’ll be going to check on Twilight,” the pink Princess growled. “Right now, I think it’s safe to say that she doesn’t want to see any of you.” Shining Armor ran in front of his bride, who was just about to leave, the guards kept quiet as they continued to listen and watch. “Cadence, wait!” he cried out. “Wh-What do you mean it’s off?!” “Exactly what I said, it’s off,” the Princess answered, voice devoid of any affection or attachment. “I’m not going to marry you.” The stallion was left speechless for a good few moments before finally regaining his voice. “But…but why?” “Why?” Cadence questioned as if the fact he even dared to ask such a thing was an insult in of itself. “Why?! You seriously are asking why?!” she practically roared in his face. “Do you think that I would ever want to marry a pony who puts his stupid pride before his own family?! Someone who’s willing to make his sister’s friends and mentor turn on her because of a Princess?!” “But Cadence, I didn’t know that-” Shining Armor tried to argue, but his bride was having none of it.  “That’s Princess Mi Amore Cadenza to you, Captain Armor!” Cadence shouted. “And if you think any of that sweet talk will win me back, you are sadly mistaken!” “But…But I seriously thought that was you! I didn’t mean to-” “I don’t want to hear it! Despite everything, it seems that your own sister didn’t matter to you in the least, seeing as how willing you were to cut her out of this event!” the Princess of Love then turned to the five mares that had formerly walked out on the pony she used to sit for. “And you, every single one of you should be ashamed of yourselves!” she bellowed, causing each of them to wince and flinch. “I know Twilight has a tendency to overreact, but she always means well, and you know it! How could you treat her so cruelly?! I thought you were all learning about friendship, but I guess, when an opportunity like this comes along, you really are willing to just throw it all away!”  Celestia’s lips parted. “Cadence, please-” “And you!” the younger mare directed her attention to her aunt with an outstretched hoof, the white monarch robbed of breath. She had never seen her niece so furious. “You seriously put a wedding over the safety of your subjects?! Over the safety of your student?! I heard her say that she was gone for hours after the rehearsal, and not ONE of you thought that perhaps something was wrong?! That maybe she was in some sort of danger?!” “But…” Celestia stammered. “But…” “The Changeling Queen was right. You all cared more about a wedding than this kingdom or your friend! A friend that’s risked their life for you so many times and has done so much for you! Especially you!” Cadence glared at Celestia again after looking scornfully at Twilight’s friends. “Maybe she’s right, maybe she IS nothing more than just a tool to you. Maybe you don’t care for her at all.” “That’s not true!” her aunt protested. “I do care! I love Twilight as if she were my own filly!”  “Certainly did a poor job of showing it,” Cadence responded. “Making sure this went ahead despite the present danger shows that this wedding was the only thing that mattered to any of you. You didn’t give a single thought about Twilight,” her eyes then met Spike. Her resentment and anger simmered down to disappointment. “Despite however long you’ve known her.”  The little dragon lowered his head. He began to remove his tux, not even wanting to touch the fabric that composed the garment.  “I think we’re done here,” Cadence said. “Forgive me, but I don’t exactly want to be part of a company that’s willing to abandon a pony they claim to love and cherish to partake in a royal wedding. In fact,” she then turned to the stallion that was to be her husband. “And I especially would NEVER, EVER marry somepony like that.” her eyes glistened dangerously.  Shining Armor was frozen, the guards still keeping silent. Princess Cadence began to move to the door but was blocked by the white stallion.  “Cadence, please! Don’t do this-” He got no further words out.  A golden horseshoe met his face with surprising force, making him stumble for a moment before regaining balance. He brought a hoof to his cheek, the stinging burn her blow had left further confirmation that everything was going to Tartarus.  “That’s Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Captain,” the pink equine hissed. “And I’ve been down in those caves for some time, so I’d like to get myself cleaned off, if I may,” she then walked past him, Shining Armor too shocked to say or do anything. “Don’t bother following me. I never want to see you again.”  With that, the Princess made her exit, noticing the guards by the door, but ultimately paid them no mind. For now, she just wanted to find Twilight and make sure she was all right. Then, perhaps take a shower. Anything to ease this insufferable weight that now rested in her heart, which had been completely shattered.  Present Time Twilight Sparkle stood in place, shocked at what she had just been told. Yet, with that, another question came to her mind. “Where is Cadence now?”  “She is being cared for by the physicians before she gives her statement. While it was not for an extensive period, any longer in those caves could’ve proved deadly for her, alicorn or not,” the stallion told the unicorn. “But, seeing as you are in perfect health, I request that you come with me to the Council Chamber to present your recounting of what’s transpired.”  “Me?”  “Yes, is there a problem with that?” The unicorn shifted her eyes, looking out the window. She then realized just what time it was, the sky a canvas of pinks and oranges with splashes of magenta and violet. The sun was about to set! How long had she been in her room?!  “Bear in mind, Lady Sparkle, if you do not come, you shall be brought to the Council regardless,” the guard told her. “You seem like a reasonable mare, so I do not wish to do that. But I am a stallion that serves orders. So,” he said. “What is your answer?” Twilight was unsure of what to say. Even if she had known of what took place after she left, she had no idea what was currently going on in the streets of Canterlot. From the sound of the guard’s tone, she assumed that things weren’t exactly good. Yet, whether out of this sense of curiosity or with a genuine desire to speak, Twilight Sparkle nodded her head. “Yes,” she answered. “Please, lead the way.”