The Crystal Empire shone brightly as Twilight looked down upon the pristine field of the Equestria Games. A part of her still isn't quite used to the idea of being a princess just yet. Princess Celestia sat beside her with a smile, occasionally remarking on the feats of strength and skill the ponies executed on the field below. Her sister, Princess Luna, sat beside Celestia as well, looking among the crowd and seeming disinterested in the sporting event.
A part of Twilight could empathize. She had a book in her room that she started yesterday on Eccentrics of Great Unicorns, including a mind blowing article on Starswirl the Bearded. Yet, she still attempted to feign interest in the event.
"Smile and wave," she thought to herself. "I have to look the part of a princess."
She leaned forward and looked to the throne of Princess Cadance. A part of her wished she was sitting closer to her, at least then she would have someone to chat with. Twilight could chat with Princess Celestia of course, but she was her mentor. In fact, in some ways, almost like her mother. Girlish chit-chat didn't feel quite natural with her for Twilight, despite the fact that she would simply enjoy sharing the moment with her student. As Twilight got a good look at Cadance's throne, she found it sitting empty.
Of course.
She's in the background, doing her best to ensure the games run smoothly. Just like Shining with his announcing down on the field. They both seem so busy all the time. Twilight leaned upright again and sat up straight. With all of the work that they have been doing lately, she could only wonder how much they have seen each other. Cadance is likely doing everything she can to ensure the Crystal Empire runs the event smoothly, but when do they get some time alone? In fact, when was the last time the purple alicorn saw the two together? She rubbed her hoof on her chin and pondered the question carefully. Wasn't it back when Sombra was attacking? She shook her head and smiled.
“Silly, Twilight,” she thought to herself. “They're married! Plus they aren't going to share with you their private moments. That would just be absurd. You've seen the way they look at each other. They have something truly special.“
Her mind wandered back their special day as the athletes made their way down to the field below for the next event. 'Love is in bloom'- That's what she sang for them on their special day. Her eyes raised to the sky in some sense of pride. A part of her wondered when she was finally going to be an Aunt.
Yet, thinking of them on their special day just raises even more questions for her, questions that create a burning deep inside of her chest. When will she going to find her special somepony? When is love going to bloom for her? She let out a sigh and watched the event with disinterest. Is there even anyone she would consider dating? Anyone who would even think of dating a Princess? There's only one person that came to her mind. The thought of him brings a warmth to her chest and butterflies in her stomach. Yet, would he be interested in her?
"Princess Twilight," a deep masculine voice called beside her.
Twilight's head turned to a grey guard that stands at attention.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Your presence is requested by Prince Shining Armor."
"Certainly," she answered, turning to Celestia who casually nodded at her.
What could Shining want? Shouldn't he be busy with the event? Stepping down from her throne, she followed the guard out of the tunnel of the stadium. Shining paces carefully at the end of the tunnel, his face focused on the ground and wearing an unrecognizable expression. Is something wrong with the games? She trotted ahead of the guard and lost her Princess demeanor for a more fitting 'little sister mode'.
"Shining... What's wrong?"
"Things are bad, Twiley. Really bad. I-I..." he stammered out.
"Woah. Slow down. Slow down," she said in a calming tone. "Is everything okay with the games?"
Shining looked up at her and she saw the look in his eyes. The deep blue pools were filled with anger, hurt, guilt and betrayal.
"Who cares about the games, Twilight?! None of that matters right now!" Shining shouted at her. She took a few steps back, unsure of what to make of his current state. He shook his head and looked down.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted. Let's... go somewhere more quiet and I'll fill you in." Then, with a simple nod, she followed her brother to a sitting room just down the hall. A feeling of uneasiness washed over her. Something felt wrong to Twilight. Shining never got this angry.
'What's going on?' She wondered to herself.
When you open your eyes, you gaze upon the gentle pink face of the Princess, who lies beside you in the recovery room. Her deep violet pools study your face carefully, which brings a warmth to your chest and butterflies to your stomach. The feeling distracts you from noticing the lack of pain throughout your body.
"Good morning, Sleepyhead," the princess coos beside you.
"Mornin," you answer gently. "How long was I out?"
"Just a few hours. I made sure you were getting your treatments while you were asleep. I think you should be able to walk with a crutch now."
"Really? Wow. Magic sure is something," you remark.
"I'll get the nurse and we can see about getting you out of here."
She smiles, stepping out of the bed and out the door of the room.
As you lie alone in the room, you look up at the ceiling feeling the dull pains in you legs and head. It was nowhere near what it was when you were attacked, but it still made you feel terrible. However, you aren't fully sure if it's the pain that made you feel terrible, or this whole situation you've been roped into.
Yet, something sits in the middle of your stomach and eats away at you. Why was Shining so aggressive? A part of you understands the anger... but you are in the hospital now! You shake your head and look to the side. He thought he caught his wife cheating on him, it has to be the only answer. What would you have done? He probably wouldn't have listened to any sort of explanation you tried to give anyway.
What are you going to do? You're stuck in this love triangle with the Captain of the Royal Guard and the Princess of Love. It's going to be hard to get this to all end peacefully. Another question strikes you as Cadance re-enters the room with the nurse, but the healing mare cuts you off before you can ponder it.
"Looks like you are all healed up, Anon. Ready to get out of here?" the nurse enthusiastically asks.
"Yeah!" you answer, sitting up carefully.
You'll have to dwell on your questions later. Right now, you need to figure out what to do next. For all you know, Shining could sick the guards on you and start a manhunt on you. Who can you go to in all of this for some sort of help?
"Alright, we've got a pair of crutches here for you, since your right leg still needs some more time to heal."
The unicorn nurse levitates one of the crutches to your bed with her magic. You pick one up and inspect it. A pony sized crutch. Great.
"They are, uh, a little small," you remark. The crutch only extends up to about your waist in height. At best, this could be a good cane.
"This is all we have for him?" the pink alicorn asks.
"I'm afraid so."
Cadance takes the crutch from your hands with her magic and the wooden crutch begins to grow longer. Once it reaches just under your shoulders, she sets it down beside your bed before grabbing the other one.
"This is a lot better," you reply, grabbing the crutch and easing yourself to your feet.
She levitates the second crutch to you and you take it. Placing it under your other arm, your raise your bad leg and crutch yourself across the room.
"How's that?" Cadance asks.
"Perfect!" you answer with a smile.
The nurse looks between you two and nods.
"I'll just attend to some other patients then, stay off that leg, Anon."
"Will do." you answer.
Then nurse leaves you alone with the Princess of Love. Cadance takes a few steps closer to you and nuzzles the side her face against your chest. Leaning on one crutch, you wrap an arm around her and stroke her mane, looking down at her wide smile.
"Now what do we do?" you ask calmly. "The cat's out of the bag."
Cadance goes silent and sighs.
"I'm... not sure," she solemnly replies. "I didn't think that would happen."
You bite your bottom lip and consider all the terrible possibilities that may be just around the corner.
"I have to attend to some Equestria Games business, but I think we should make a plan on how to tell Celestia."
Looking down the Princess, you feel slightly shocked.
"What are you going to tell her?" you ask.
She goes silent again.
"Just... everything?" you suggest.
"I suppose," she answers. "I'm going to think about how I should should tell her over the next few hours."
"Alright then."
"Let's meet back in our room in two hours... okay?" she asks, looking back into your eyes.
Wait. Our room? A smile curls on your face.
"I'll be there," you whisper.
The edges of her lips curl upward, her doubt and fears slipping away. She leans up towards you and you close the distance, placing a warm gentle kiss on her soft lips. For those few moments, everything felt like it was going to be okay. That somehow, the two of you will work through all of this together and be happy. After a quiet moment, she steps away, watching you, as if when she looked away you would simply disappear from existence.
"See you then, Nonny," she says softly.
"See ya," you reply and she steps out the door, leaving you alone.
A part of you feels dumbstruck, watching the door close and smiling like a newborn pup being cradled by their new owner. The pink alicorn fills your mind, her face remains etched in your memory and you let out a sigh of content. There is just something about her. Something you can't quite put your finger on.
You walk towards the door and step outside, looking left and right to get your bearings. This area is completely unfamiliar to you. Might as well explore then. You take a left and walk down the hall. Who would have thought so much would have changed in such a long time. Now you are seeing a mare! A princess no less! How is that even going to work? A human and an alicorn. Is that going to be a scandal?
Your pace slows as the word sits in your mind.
Scandal.
Your throat becomes dry as you think over everything you've told Cadance. You've driven a married mare away from her husband. Guilt shoots through your veins and chills you. What have you done?
You shake your head and take a deep breath. You haven't done anything wrong. You haven't driven anyone away from anyone else. This is all because of Shining. Shining cheated first. You and Cadance didn't even do anything. Even then, if you were the final wedge that drove the two apart, you only made them aware that it was broken to begin with.
Yet, there's another problem in all of this. If this were some normal married mare, it would probably be over and done with. No questions asked. No problems. Something ironed out in some kind of paperwork. Cadance is a princess. A -married- princess. Can princesses even get divorces? How does any of that even work?
Your mind races as you try to think of some way to figure out what to do next. You could check the library for something... but where would you even begin? What if it takes too much time? Asking around is only going to spread rumors. You have to find someone you can trust. Only one pony comes to your mind.
Twilight.
Erm, Princess Twilight now.
The two of you have been friends in Ponyville for what feels like forever. She has to know what you can do to make this all work out. You begin to limp as fast as you can to get somewhere you recognize. Twilight must know about any sort of royal scandals in Equestria. This situation can't be unheard of.
Pushing through a heavy set of double doors, you step into a familiar hallway. The Princess's Balcony should just be to the right. You crutch onward to where you think Twilight should be. Guards pass by and eye you carefully, making you uneasy. She has to be able to help you. She's neutral in all of this, she should be able to-
That's when it hits you like a ton of bricks. Why isn't your brain working today? A red carpet marks the entrance to a tunnel where the Princesses sit and you simply stare at it. Of course. Twilight is Shining's sister. She was their best mare.
Your eyes grow wide and you attempt to turn around. You can't go to her.
Finishing your turn on crutches, you freeze in your tracks as your eyes set their sight on the crowned purple alicorn slowly walking towards the balcony. You can't get away fast enough with your messed up leg. Twilight looks up and catches sight of you.
The friend that has been there for you through thick and thin, connects eyes with you. Her normally understanding and caring gaze is filled with disbelief and anger. She walks towards you slowly. Your throat seizes, and you try to think about what you can say to her.
She knows.
Shining must have told her, it's the only way. He has to be spreading some sort of false story about what's going on. What if all the Princesses know the false story because Shining got there first? She walks up to you, silent and unblinking, studying every inch of your body. This could be bad.
"Hey," you call out to her.
Twilight simply stares at you, as if daring you to explain yourself. This isn't going to be fun in the slightest. However, everything needs to be set straight with her. She needs to know your side of the story.
"I think we should talk," you say.
“Perfect.”
Twilight turns away from you coldly and walks to a nearby room. Unsure of what else to do, you follow her and close the door behind you when the two of you are inside.