//------------------------------//
// MicroChapter- The Walk of Shame 
// Story: Morning Glory 
// by Jade Ring 
//------------------------------//

They spent most of the walk in silence, just letting the crisp morning air clear their heads.

When they neared Cheerilee's house, it was Twilight who broke the silence. “I hope last night doesn't make you think any less of me.”

Cheerilee laughed and shook her head. “You're my friend, Twilight, and one drunken roll in the hay isn't going to change that. If we do it again, though, I insist you buy me dinner first.”

They both laughed and kept walking. 

Twilight looked over at the teacher, one last question buzzing about in her head. “Cheerilee... this morning...”

“Hmmm?”

“You, uh, talked in your sleep a little.”

A flash of panic crossed Cheerilee's face but it vanished just as quick. “Did I?”

“Yeah. And I recall you saying that you drank so much at the reception to 'drown your sorrows.'”

“And the point you're trying to make is...?”

“Cheerilee, I'm not dumb. Or blind.” She offered a sympathetic smile. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Cheerilee sighed and shook her head. “There's nothing to talk about. The better mare won.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I wasn't aware you two were competing.”

“That's the thing about the game of love, Twilight; you never know there's somepony else playing until it's too late.” They had finally reached the door to Cheerilee's house and the teacher gave Twilight  a sad smile. “I'm happy for her. And for him. It just... it just wasn't meant to be.”

“Cheerilee...”

Cheerilee held a hoof up. “I'm a big mare, Twilight. I'll get over it, believe me.” She offered a stern, teacher's stare. “Far be it from me to order a princess around, but I must ask you...”

“I won't say anything. To Mac or Fluttershy.” 

“Or?”

“Or anypony else.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Twilight intoned, going through the Pinkie Promise's motions as though they were muscle memory. 

“Thank you.” Cheerilee turned and looked under the mat for her key. “Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“Flash said that you kept saying he reminded you too much of someone else. The specificity of that implies that whoever this lucky fellow is that Flash reminds you of, he's not technically a pony...” There was a flash of light in the corner of her eye and she spun in time to see the hazy image of the newest alicorn princess fade into nothingness as she winked away. She smiled and shook her head. “Guess I'm not the only one with a secret.” She spared a glance down the lane at the distant silhouette of Sweet Apple Acres. She sighed, turned away, and headed into the house.

Sweet Apple Acres, home of the stallion she'd fallen for and now lost forever to another, vanished from her sight with the closing of a door.