Three sharp knocks drew Twilight’s attention from her papers. She glanced up at the clock first. Two solid hours of work, at least. Rubbing at the ache in her chest, she rose from her seat and made her way to the door. When her magic still didn’t work, Twilight opened the door the old fashioned way.
“I’m back!” Rarity sang as she bounced past Twilight. She carried a red dress that clashed with the blue glow of her magic.
“Come on in,” Twilight muttered, closing the door behind her.
“I told you that I’d be back when I left earlier.” Rarity glanced around the room, squealing in delight when she saw Twilight’s closet. She dug inside, taking an empty hanger and slipping the dress onto it. With that taken care of, she hung it on a hook on the closet door. “Alright. Now where should we start? Have you had time to bathe yet?”
Twilight ambled back to her desk and started collecting her notes.
“Bathe? For what?”
“Didn’t anyone tell you? Cadance is throwing a party tonight.” Stars shimmered in Rarity’s eyes. “You know, to celebrate victory over those horrible creatures that attacked the castle. And we can’t have a victory party without the mare responsible. Wouldn’t you agree, darling?”
“A party? I don’t really have time for that, Rarity. I’m in the middle of something.” Twilight waved the stack of papers. “I need to run some tests to figure out if any of these theories will work.”
Rarity frowned. “That is for Celestia’s potion, right?”
“It is,” Twilight said.
“It seems you’ve already made progress for today. Can’t you spend a few hours with your friends who’ve been dying to see you?”
“As compared to Celestia? Who’s just dying?” Twilight said.
“I suppose you’re right.” Rarity visibly deflated. “You at least intend on eating dinner, don’t you? Couldn’t you at least join us for that?” She punctuated her request with batting lashes and a sad pout.
Twilight shook her head. “Fine. I can spare . . . an hour or two. But that’s it. I’ve got to get back to work after that.”
“Deal!” Rarity’s sadness evaporated. “Now, we still need to worry about getting you ready. You didn’t answer me yet. Did you end up having time to bathe?”
“I didn’t know there was a party going on tonight,” Twilight said flatly.
“I’m going to take that as a no, then. Very well, darling. Do you require any help?”
“Do I need help . . . bathing?” Twilight asked, her cheeks red.
“That is what I asked.” Rarity cleared her throat. “I know it might be difficult to admit, but some injuries make certain tasks difficult. Are you capable of cleaning yourself?”
“Yes!” Twilight squawked.
“No need to be so dramatic about it, darling. I just thought it would be nice to offer, in case you were too embarrassed to ask.” Rarity took a deep breath and smoothed her mane back in place. “Now then, I’m off to go help the others get ready. We’ll be meeting for dinner in two hours. And you had better get a move on, Missy. You don’t want to be late to your own party, do you?”
As quickly as she had arrived, Rarity was gone, leaving a stunned Twilight standing in the middle of her bedroom. With an exasperated sigh, Twilight finished clearing her desk and loaded her hypotheses into a folder, which went promptly into a case. She would have to remember to have a servant run it up to her lab while she was gone.
With that squared away, Twilight walked into her bathroom and flipped the light on. While she waited for her shower to heat up, she studied her reflection in the mirror. Gritting her teeth, she swept aside the tuft of fur on her chest. Chrysalis’ bruise was gone, but her broken rib still stung.
She removed her hospital gown and stepped into the shower. The warm water ran through her fur. As always, the heat did wonders putting her at ease. In this case, though, she didn’t have time to waste. Rarity would be back soon, and she had to be ready before then.
As Twilight fumbled the shampoo bottle and watched it slide across the porcelain, she almost regretted not taking Rarity’s offer. Or, at the very least, fetching a servant or nurse to assist her. How long had it been since she bathed herself without magic? Had she ever been forced to? It didn’t matter. She would rather take a thousand difficult showers before she let someone else do it for her.
Eventually, she managed to pop the cap off the shampoo and lather it into her mane. She gasped as her hoof brushed the base of her horn. A spike of pain drove through her skull, forcing her to bite her tongue to keep from screaming. When the pain subsided, she slowly reached back up. Even a gentle tap was enough to take her breath away.
What had she done? What had left her powerless for three, almost four days? What if her magic never came back? How could she be a Princess of Equestria without her magic? How could she be Twilight Sparkle without her magic?
Rarity’s voice dredged Twilight from her spiraling.
“Twilight, Dear? Are you almost done in there?”
“Y-Yeah, Rarity. I . . . I just need to rinse.”
Twilight shoved such thoughts to the back of her mind. She finished up in the shower and stepped out, drying herself with the stack of towels in the cabinet under the sink. Before she wrapped her mane in a towel, she leaned in close to the mirror for a better look. She turned her head slowly, her eyes locked on her horn. She saw neither a crack nor any discoloration. Nothing looked out of the ordinary.
That only tightened the icy grip on her stomach.
No time for that now, though. Once dry, Twilight returned to her bedroom. Her writing desk had been transformed into a makeshift salon. As Twilight watched, Rarity continued to add different tools and sprays from her bag to the collection.
“What is all this?” Twilight asked, combing her mane with an idle hoof.
“I’ve already helped the girls get ready. Now it’s your turn, darling. Take a seat.” Rarity twirled the chair towards Twilight and motioned for her to sit.
Twilight cautiously lowered herself into the seat. She gave a startled yelp as Rarity turned the chair inwards toward the desk. She clicked her tongue a few times, scanning the room.
“Aha!” she cheered, pulling a mirror from its place on the wall. She set it on the desk, balancing it out so Twilight could see herself.
“Is all of this really necessary?” Twilight asked, biting her lip as she stared at her horn. “I mean, I’m only going to dinner. I don’t think we need to spend too much time on my--”
“It’s like I always say: ‘If you wish to do your best, you must look your best.’” Rarity ran her hoof over the line of brushes. She pursed her lips as she plucked one from its kin. “Don’t you want to do your best?”
Twilight winced as the hairbrush pulled at a knot.
“My best at what? Dinner? Isn’t this just going to be a thing between friends?”
“Of course.” Rarity frowned and adjusted her attack angle. “Very well, Twilight. I submit victory to you. I’ll do my best to keep it simple.” She brushed out Twilight’s mane first. Afterwards came a small miasma of sprays to add a bit of curl while keeping it tidy. “Are you alright, darling? You seem . . . tense. I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“Nope, I’m fine.” Twilight bit her tongue. In reality, each brush stroke that neared her horn brought another wave of agony. She had every muscle in her body flexed to keep her from reacting. “Are you almost done?”
“Just a little more. And . . . voilà!” Rarity stepped back, mired in the pride of her work.
Twilight bobbed her head back and forth, inspecting the bouncy curls that framed her face. The sight briefly reminded her of her old wedding photos. “Alright, you were right, Rarity. I do feel great,” she said, smiling at her reflection.
“Of course I was right, Twilight.” Rarity chuckled. “I don’t know why you continue to doubt me.” Her image disappeared from the mirror as she ducked away. Twilight turned her chair to find her friend standing in front of her, holding out the red dress from before.
“Is the dress necessary, too?”
“Didn’t we just establish that I was right?” Rarity huffed.
“Yeah.” Twilight sighed. “I guess the dress is fine.”
The seamstress gasped. “It’s far more than fine, Twilight. This is a custom job. Ponies would kill for a dress like this.” Rarity pulled the dress from the hanger. “Now, stand up straight and lift your front hooves.”
Twilight complied. Rarity slipped the dress over her head. It took a few minutes of struggle for them to get Twilight’s legs through the holes. The cloth was smooth and cool. She guessed silk, but couldn’t be sure.
“Stand still. I need to fix this.” Rarity retrieved a needle, thread, and a pair of orange eyeglasses. She knelt down, weaving the needle along the hem. “Just a small adjustment.” Twilight could feel the dress pulling tighter with each customization. Only once, she yelped as the needle jabbed into her hip, earning a stream of apologies from Rarity.
Trying her best not to squirm, Twilight tried to occupy her mind. “So, is this Pinkie’s idea?”
Rarity clipped her thread and moved on to the next piece. “Is what Pinkie’s idea?”
“The party. Was it her idea?”
“Twilight, we’re talking about Pinkie Pie here. She would have already thrown you a party if the doctor hadn’t stopped her.” Another snap of thread. Rarity cheered quietly before continuing. “No. This was Cadance’s idea. She did put our lovable pink party planner in charge of the festivities, though.”
“Don’t forget. I’m just staying for dinner.”
Setting her tools aside, Rarity circled her model, poofing or flattening the dress as each situation called for.
“Of course, darling. Just dinner. And . . . we’re done. What do you think?”
Twilight stepped back from her desk, allowing her to see the whole of her body in the mirror’s reflection. Thin red straps held the dress in place around Twilight’s shoulders. The back half of the dress consisted of a gem-edged skirt. The billowing cloth reminded Twilight of a blossoming rose. Gaps had been left open on her back, allowing for her wings to remain unhindered. At the same time, it wasn’t nearly as colorful and loud as some of Rarity’s other designs. Perfect for catching the attention of a mare or stallion or changeling who preferred more sensible attire.
“It’s beautiful, Rarity,” Twilight said, turning to grace her friend with a hug. “How much do you charge for something like this? I might pick one up for the Gala.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it. It’s yours.”
Twilight shook her head. “A design like this couldn’t have been cheap. Don’t you--”
Rarity silenced her by pressing a hoof to her lips.
“I will not accept a single bit from you, Twilight. This dress was designed to your specification, customized entirely to fit your frame and enhance your assets.”
“My assets?” Twilight tilted her head curiously.
Rarity continued, ignoring the question. “You were made for one another, darling. It would be a crime to separate the two of you. So consider it a gift. It’s yours.” Rarity returned Twilight’s smile. “And, of course, the free advertising doesn’t hurt.”
“If anyone asks, I’ll point them to you,” Twilight chuckled.
“I appreciate that.” Rarity looked to the clock as she slipped into her own dress. “And it seems we finished just in the nick of time. The party should be starting soon. Shall we head to Cadance’s room?”
“I’ll follow you,” Twilight said, motioning for Rarity to start walking.
Before she slipped out after her friend, Twilight stole one last glimpse at her reflection. She almost didn’t recognize the gorgeous mare staring back at her. There was no doubt this dress would turn heads. Of course, there was only one eye she wanted to catch.
As Twilight left, she smiled and held her head high.
Tonight would be perfect.
The castle hallway felt empty. Even on the carpet, Twilight could hear the click of her hooves echoing through the archways. But the emptiness extended beyond that. Claw marks and scorched stone took the spaces once held by paintings and colorful flower bouquets.
“Alright, we’re here.”
Twilight nearly crashed into Rarity. They had only journeyed a few seconds from Twilight’s bedroom. She glanced at the door in front of them and the mare that led her there. She couldn’t miss the sigil emblazoned on the door: a navy blue door marked with the crest of a crystal heart.
“Why are we doing this in Cadance’s room?” Twilight asked.
“We didn’t want you to walk too far if you were still hurt.”
“That’s quite thoughtful of you,” Twilight turned away bashfully.
Rarity knocked on the door. Hushed voices emanated from inside. It only took a few seconds for the handle to click and pull open. Cadance stood in the doorway, dressed in a stylish gold-accented, sky-blue ensemble. Her tiara sat atop her head.
“Twilight! Rarity! I was wondering when you ladies would show up.”
“You were waiting for us?” Twilight pursed her lips. “I thought the party just started.”
Cadance smiled, but shook her head. “Nope. It started an hour ago.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes at Rarity, who simply flipped her mane in response.
“If you were only going to be here a short time, I figured you would want to wait until a smidge closer to dinner.” Rarity grinned. “And, of course, we had to be fashionably late.”
“Oh? Did we? We couldn’t just be late? Or maybe fashionably on-time?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, darling, don’t be so dramatic,” Rarity said, marching past Cadance.
“Yeah. I’m the dramatic one.” Twilight rolled her eyes. But her annoyance faded quickly as Cadance welcomed her inside.
Furniture lined the edge of the room, clearing out a space large enough for a long dining table. Pink streamers lined the rafters, forming a candy-colored web around the chandelier. Several piles of confetti were strewn across the room, along with a dark smudge of gunpowder. A fine cloth had been draped over their table. Empty platters and silverware waited at each seat, lit by a half dozen silver candlesticks.
Most importantly, nearly every chair had a pony in it, smiling and waving. Almost immediately, Pinkie Pie rocketed out of her chair, nearly toppling Twilight as she crashed into a hug. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity stood nearby, smiling at the scene and waiting their turn for the Princess’ embrace. Spike, Starlight, Thorax, and Cadance all remained in their seats, shaking their heads and trying to contain their laughter. Rainbow Dash lazed on a cloud floating up near the ceiling.
“You’re alive!” Pinkie howled as she squeezed Twilight.
“Easy now, she just got out of the hospital. She doesn’t need any more broken bones, Pinkie,” Applejack said, putting her hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder and peeling her away. “We’ve missed you, Twilight.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash called, her rainbow-maned head peeking over the edge of her cloud. “Ponyville’s been so boring without you. Nothing explodes when you’re not there.”
“You know, Dash, some of us quite enjoy when things don’t explode,” Rarity explained, sipping from an expensive looking teacup.
Fluttershy stepped up next, throwing her hooves around Twilight’s neck. “I hope you’ve been doing alright since I left.”
Twilight accepted the gentle hug gracefully.
“It’s been rough. But it’s much better now that all of you are here.” She released Fluttershy. “I’ve missed all of you, too.” Twilight’s joy muted slightly. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you all what was going on. I know you’re probably a little upset with me for keeping a secret like Celestia. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Cadance interrupted, splitting the group as she walked up. “If anything, you should be the one accepting our apology. We’ve been letting you go through this all alone.” She leaned down, letting Twilight put her head on her shoulder.
Surrounded by her friends, Twilight’s body felt lighter than it had since the whole ordeal began. For the first time since arriving in Canterlot, she felt she could finally breathe.
“Thank you, Cadance.”
They stayed together a few seconds more. Once they parted, Cadance whistled, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
“Dinner should be arriving any minute now,” she announced. “So, why doesn’t everyone take their seats?”
The party complied, settling into the open seats, leaving each end open for one of the princesses. Twilight sighed in relief as she plopped down in her chair. Spike scurried up into the seat beside her.
“You okay?” Starlight asked, tapping Twilight’s shoulder.
“Yeah. My body’s still a bit shaky. I’m not used to standing for that long.”
The two of them laughed. But, slowly, the joy in Starlight’s face started to fade. Twilight knew what she wanted to ask. She put Starlight at ease by reaching out and gripping her hoof as she nodded.
“Alright. Good.” Starlight sighed.
Twilight leaned back in her chair, tilting her head back into the headrest. She scanned the faces of her closest friends and family. Her smile faded. The girls, Thorax, and Spike occupied every chair.
“Hey . . .” Twilight felt a lump form in her throat. “Aren’t we missing a chair?”
“Oh?” Cadance looked around. “Right. We invited Shining Armor, but he’s being paranoid that some of those nightmare monsters are still around. He told me to apologize on his behalf.”
The lump turned to a stone as it dropped into her stomach. “What about Chrysalis?”
Gradually, the cheer faded from the room. The ponies looked to one another, exchanging confused and worried glances.
“You wanted Chrysalis here?” Applejack asked, scratching just beneath her hat.
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. I guess she didn’t accept the invitation, though.”
Most of the table refused to meet Twilight’s gaze. Starlight, Thorax, and Spike were the exceptions. They all watched Twilight with pained expressions. Frowning, Starlight reached out and offered her hoof for Twilight to take.
“She . . .” Cadance cleared her throat. “Chrysalis was not invited to this little soirée.”
Twilight stared down her older sister. “I see.” She tapped her hoof on her placemat. “Any particular reason?”
Thorax laughed nervously as he started to speak. Starlight shut him up with a furious glare. Twilight sat straight, watching Cadance as she waited for her answer.
“I didn’t think she should be here,” she said.
“And why not?”
Before the argument could continue, a knock rang out. A small army of servants burst in, each carrying silver trays loaded down with different food and drink. Bowls of salad, loaves of bread, vegetable medleys, fruit salads, and a wide variety of sandwiches were all served. The second wave provided each pony with a crystal goblet, as well as a whole selection of juices and wines that they left nearby.
When their work was finished, the waiters filed out, each bowing as they did. In their absence, a long pause fell over the meal. The attendees sat still, unwilling to risk reaching for any food. Except for Pinkie Pie, who currently had piled her plate high with a little bit of everything.
“Isn’t anyone else going to eat?” she asked as she started picking grapes from their vine.
“Yes. We should eat. Twilight is quite busy and only had time to stay for dinner,” Rarity said, trying to defuse the tension with a terrified giggle.
“Alright,” Pinkie put down an orange slice. “This is absurd. If we’re going to enjoy any of this delicious food, it’s clear that we need to clear the air. And that starts with a very obvious question.”
“Why did you kiss her?” Cadance asked, wincing.
“Because . . .” Twilight sighed and squeezed Starlight’s hoof. “It wasn’t intentional. I don’t know why I kissed her. I don’t remember kissing her. But I won’t apologize for it. I . . . I’ve gotten very close to her recently.”
Her friends gasped, save for the trio that knew the truth.
“Did she put you under some kind of spell or something?” Rainbow asked, scratching her chin. “I mean, that’s how it worked with Shining Armor.”
“She doesn’t need a spell,” Rarity scoffed as she poured blood-red wine into her cup. “She’s a charmer. She could talk her way into anyone’s heart. I will even admit that I’m a touch jealous of her skill. Of course, I would never use it for such awful schemes like her.”
“It’s not a spell. And it’s not some charismatic scheme. She . . .” Twilight bit her lip.
“Look, Twilight,” Cadance interrupted. “Try to see this from our point of view. Six days ago, we could barely talk to Chrysalis without her attacking someone. And three days later, you come tripping out of a portal locking lips with her. What possibility is there besides her charming you?”
“She didn’t,” Twilight stated adamantly.
“You wouldn’t even know,” Applejack started. “I mean, Shining didn’t seem to remember being under her spell. Maybe she is just . . . Look, I don’t know. I mean, she’s Chrysalis. She’s a villain.”
“Don’t say that,” Twilight snapped. “You don’t know her like I do.”
This time Fluttershy spoke up. “She captured and tried to kill us twice. I’m not exactly keen on getting to know her better.” Fluttershy frowned at her reflection in her plate. “This is all my fault. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten on that train. Maybe If I’d have been here, I could have stopped this.”
“It’s not your fault, Fluttershy.” Cadance put a hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Shining and I should have done something. And I intend to fix that now. We just have to keep you away from her for long enough, Twilight. That will break her spell, then everything will be back to normal.”
“It’s not a spell,” Twilight cried desperately. “And she’s not a monster. She saved my life during our fight with the Nightmare. Deep down, I know she wants to start over and find a new purpose. She’s lost and confused and she needs my help.”
“She saved your life?” Rarity asked, swishing her wine glass.
“The Nightmare? That monster that took you?” Cadance’s eyes widened. “Of course she did. She needed you and Luna to help her escape. An alliance of convenience. That doesn’t prove that she--”
“That’s enough!” Starlight slammed her free hoof into the table, rattling the dishes. “None of you know what you’re talking about. None of you know the truth.” She met Twilight’s gaze. “You have to tell them, Twilight.”
“The dream doesn’t matter, Starlight. I know that wasn’t really her.”
“That doesn’t change the way you feel about her.”
“Would you care to share with the rest of us what exactly you’re talking about?” Cadance interjected. “What dream? What does that have to do with Chrysalis?”
Starlight blew a scoff through her nose. “Fine. It’s your choice. If you don’t want to tell them, then I won’t, either. But it won’t hurt to tell them the truth. It’ll feel nice to get it off your chest, even if it doesn’t help the situation.”
Her words churned in Twilight’s mind.
“You’re right. Everyone, listen up. I have something I have to say.” Every eye on the room settled on Twilight. “When the Nightmare dragged me into his world, the Dreamscape, he trapped me in a dream. Or maybe it’s more accurate to call it a nightmare, now that I think about it.”
Twilight’s friends looked on curiously, but kept their questions to themselves.
“My dream,” Twilight continued. “Was a continuation of this world. A world where my cure worked on Celestia. Where the Nightmare and his legions never made it into our world. F-For all of you, that dream lasted three days . . . But . . . But . . .” She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think.
“For Twilight, the dream lasted twenty years,” Starlight finished, draping herself over Twilight in a tight hug.
“What?” Cadance lurched back in her seat. The rest of the table remained silent.
“Twenty years,” Twilight repeated. “I . . . I had a whole life. I had a family.”
“A family?” Cadance’s mood shifted dramatically as the realization struck home. “You ended up with Chrysalis, didn’t you?”
“We were married for over a decade.” Twilight closed her eyes, fighting back tears. “We had a child. It was . . . It was perfect.”
“Celestia preserve us,” Cadance muttered, rubbing her temple. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like. And we’re here saying all these horrible things about her. Why didn’t you tell us about this earlier, Twilight?”
“Because it wasn’t really her.” Twilight slumped in her chair. “It was my ideal version of her. The real Chrysalis doesn’t know anything about it. She was probably just as confused as you all were. I . . . I know that this version of her isn’t the one I fell in love with. But . . . But I also know that deep down, Chrysalis is hurt and needs my help. And I won’t let her down. For the sake of my crown, and for the sake of the life I left behind.”
Her friends were silent for a long time. Rainbow Dash finally broke it with a mutter, “Damn.”
“That’s horrible, Twilight. I’m sorry for what I said earlier,” Applejack admitted. “We were just worried about you. Worried that Chrysalis had turned you. We should have trusted you.”
“Oh, dear.” Fluttershy looked pale and unsteady.
“Sorry, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck.
“No.” Twilight hung her head. “You all have nothing to apologize for. You were just looking out for me. You had no way to know. You haven’t seen what I have. And . . .” She drew in a deep breath. “I won’t ask any of you to forgive her. She has done horrible things. Nothing can ever change that. If I . . . If things had played out differently, I don’t know if I would feel any different then you do.”
They sat in silence long enough that a few of the waiters returned for refills, only to find their meal untouched. After assurances from Cadance that the food was acceptable and had no issues, they left.
“So, what do we do now?” Thorax asked.
“Well, we shouldn’t let the food go to waste,” Twilight said.
“Twilight . . .”
“Don’t.” Twilight raised her hooves, calling for quiet. “Don’t apologize. And don’t worry about her absence. I should have considered that you all wouldn’t have been comfortable around Chrysalis. A good friend would have realized that forcing you to party with a mare that threatened your life isn’t the best time. I’m sorry.”
“Then, you still want to party?” Pinkie asked. At this point, she had more whipped cream on her face than on her plate.
“Yeah. I’m sure. Thank you for all being so understanding.”
“I won’t trust Chrysalis,” Cadance said. The ponies all turned to her. “And I’ll never forgive her. Every day, for the rest of my life, I’ll wake up feeling hatred for the creature that nearly ruined my life.”
“Princess Cadance, I don’t mean to sound rude, but isn’t that a little harsh to say directly to Twilight’s face?” Rarity asked.
Cadance shook her head.
“I think I’m completely justified in my decision. In fact, I think I’m being lenient. She deserves much worse for the things she’s done. But I trust you, Twilight. Shining Armor trusts you. Celestia trusts you. She must. After all, she saved Chrysalis first, right?” A long sigh slipped through her lips. “You’re the Princess of Friendship, Twilight. Which means that this is your circus to manage. I just hope that you know what you’re doing. Equestria’s fate is with you.”
“I . . . I don’t think you’re helping, Princess,” Starlight said.
“She’s right,” Twilight said, nodding towards Cadance. “And I won’t ask any of you to hide your opinions if you feel the same. Because there is a chance that I’m wrong. And I don’t need to be reminded of what's at stake.”
Cadance’s features softened, her lips curled into a smile. “Spoken like a true Princess. I wish you the best of luck, Twilight.”
“Thank you, Cadance. Now, why don’t we enjoy the food? I'm starving.”
Twilight rolled her eyes and motioned for the rest of the table to go crazy.
Good friends, good food, and a good splash of wine helped Twilight forget the nightmare waiting for her in the morning. And though she remained on Twilight’s mind, none of them mentioned Chrysalis again.
Over the night, merriment filled the air, including a handful of party cannon blasts.