//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two: The New Regime 
// Story: Path of Redemption 
// by Lucidenn 
//------------------------------//

The Friendship Express train car was unbearably silent.

Twilight Sparkle shifted restlessly on her seat, in part due to the challenge posed by her distended belly in getting comfortable. Two seats in front of her gathered her PFFs. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie clumped together on one seat, while Rainbow Dash Applejack and Spike spilled across the isle onto the seat across. The first three would contort their faces in a range of emotions, alluding the storm raging inside of them, opening their mouths as if to ask a question that was burning in their minds, but close them before a sound could come out. The last three remained stoic, trying to hide the fact that they were staring at her, and at him. They were apprehensive, the hesitation to trust, to feel for her again plainly written in their eyes.

Twilight shifted around again, her anxiety starting to get to her. Her friends had been genuinely happy to see her return, but what if they never fully forgave her? What if they could never fully come to trust her again, after what she'd done to them? What if... but that thought was soon cut off by the warmth of her husband's side as he slid closer to her. He had opted to lie down and relax for the train ride to ponyville, all but sleeping through it. He couldn't care less for how the others felt about him, he wouldn't bat an eye if they riled against him in anger, or if they showered him with friendship, they simply didn't matter to his happiness.

Now, he had is left eye cracked open to peer at her from that charming ruby iris of his. He said nothing, just looked up at her for a moment, before a hint of a smile graced his lips. Closing his eye once more he scooted even closer than before so that she could feel his warmth, his love, radiating throughout her body. Confound his tranquility, it had such a habit of spreading to her; she couldn't help but to feel relaxed, all warm and fuzzy inside, when he was so close like this. Looking back to her friends, took a quick breath and regained a mote of confidence. She could never earn their trust and friendship back if she paralyzed herself with 'what ifs'. It was time to take matters into her own hooves. As she opened her mouth to speak, Rainbow Dash decided to walk over to the seat directly in front of her and sit down.

"So am I going to have super powers or something?"

The question was so outlandish, so completely out of context, that it threw Twilight for a complete loop, wiping out all of her carefully constructed conversation topics. "I...huh?"

"Because if my left wing's gonna have super strength or speed now, I think I'd need my right wing fixed up too, gotta keep things balanced right?"

Twilight burst into laughter, it was too much for her to handle. All the stress she'd piled on herself about trying to make up to her friends and here Rainbow was asking her about magical modifications, just like the time she wanted Twilight to change her into a gryphon. Her laughs became intermingled with sobs so that she was making a hiccupy/gaspy sound. Sombra had cracked his eyes open again, wise enough from the past few months to remain as unobtrusive as possible, while simultaneously as supportive as possible for his wife's mood swings, though he doubted it to be entirely hormonal this time around.

"How, how can you...already..." was as much as Twilight could gasp out of her uncooperative mouth. Rainbow's eyes grew somber, there was so much pain left over still, a scar too deep for anything other than time. "I can't really forget what happened Twi, when I lost my wing I...look I'm not good at all this mushy stuff. I was broken, but now you're back and you've already fixed a part of me. Let's just call it even and start off a blank slate, deal?"

Twilight nodded happily, "Deal." Now her other friends came closer to join Rainbow. "Darling, I think what Rainbow is trying to say is that while you made a mistakes, we only got hurt because we made mistakes as well. If we had really listened to you that day, this whole mess could have been avoided in the first place. Funny how every time it turns out so disastrous hmm?"

"Rares got a point Sugarcube, my silly brother's still over the moon for that rag doll from the first time we didn't listen." That prompted a chuckle from the rest of her friends, and an embarrassed flush of blood from Twilight. Spike suddenly leapt up onto her seat to cling to her in a desperately needed hug. He looked just like he had 9 months ago, though perhaps was he just a little bit taller now? Those eyes when he turned them to her pierced her heart, filled with tears and somewhere between love, and fear. "I know you had to leave Twilight, but what took you so long?" It would seem the supply of liquid to her tear ducts were endless this night.

"Oh Spike, I'm so so sorry. I promise not to leave you, any of you ever again." He nodded in acceptance, for now that would have to do. "As for your question, well let's just say Applejack used to be the most stubborn pony I've ever known." Applejack gave an embarrassed cough and suddenly became extremely interested in the cushion she sat upon. Sombra for his part simply stuck his tongue cheekily at Twilight, which in turn naturally earned him a gentle elbow to the rib cage. Everypony was laughing now, the silence gone to be replaced by the old warmth of companionship. For the first time in more than a year, Twilight finally felt like everything was certainly fine.
****

Celestia watched from her tower as the Friendship Express chugged away into the distance. It added a sense of completeness to the day, a circle opened and closed with watching a train from her window. With a hint of déjà vu, her sister approached from behind, only to simply sit beside Celestia without a word, content to share her silent company.

"It's a beautiful night Lulu, though I suspect the new addition will greatly vex the royal astronomers and their maps."

"Their maps have been the same for generations, its about time those old geezers had some real work to do."

"Perhaps, though I doubt many will appreciate the irony of a star-shaped constellation."

They shared another chuckle together before settling down to watch Equestria rest peacefully in the gentle moonlight.

"I'm sorry Tia, for doubting her like that."

"No, you were right to do so. It was prudent to be distrustful, and Equestria couldn't afford both it's rulers throwing caution to the wind in favor of personal emotion. I just thank the stars that everything went better than we could have hoped."

Luna nibbled on her lip, uncertain of how to bring up her next topic of concern. "Thank you Tia, as I'm afraid I must be further practical tonight despite how much I would wish to join you in relaxed celebration of Twilight's return."

With a slight downturn of the corners of her lips, Celestia cocked her head and looked directly at Luna, giving her a small nod to show she held her full attention.

"Nopony is more relieved than I that Twilight has not only returned repentant, but having completed her original task and then some, however that poses a significant problem for Equestria that we have not foreseen. Sparkle is barely a month out from bearing foal, which means there is a royal family about to make root in Ponyville. Furthermore, 'reformed' though Sombra may be, some things never change about ponies. Though Sparkle may have somehow turned his energies toward the path of good rather than evil, Sombra has ever been an ambitious and power-hungry individual. What is to stop him from trying to claim the right to rule over the crystal ponies once more? And if we are to deny him there, will he really be content to live out as royalty only in name, in a small town in the country? Will Twilight?"

Celestia's frown deepened, troubled by the truth in her sister's words. With a deep sigh, she turned to look out upon her precious ponies once more. "I don't know the answer to any of those Lulu, it is worrisome indeed to think what unforeseen consequences their return may bring. We shall have to tread lightly, and watch closely; we must be there to help in any way we can to help guide them across each bridge we may come across. Other than that, all we can do is hope, and to believe in them both. Twilight's proven many times now that she can do anything at all that she puts her mind to, and she deserves our faith in her decisions."

For a moment, Luna said nothing as she absorbed her sister's response. Looking outside as well, she scooted closer to Tia to wrap a comforting wing around her, a gesture that was returned in kind. "You're right again Tia, Twilight certainly has proven her ability time and time again. I just simply cannot shake the feeling that whatever it is that she sets her mind upon next will have ripples that will permeate all of Equestria....

Perhaps even, the entire world."