The following days, Twilight was pampered with kisses, hugs from her family and friends, and hundreds of cards from all of Ponyville. Unfortunately, the doctors could do nothing about her Changeling-like appearance, that magic had done permanent damage to her. However, Twilight didn't mind looking like a half-bug at all. Sure, everypony would be taken aback at first, but she trusted that they would eventually accept the changes in her body. She was still Twilight Sparkle, only with holes in her hooves, a sharp horn and bug wings, and darkened legs and face.
"Daad, you don't have to do this." Twilight giggled, turning away her pupiless lavender eyes from her father as he levitated a spoonful of soup from her bowl.
"I don't care what you say." Night Light replied with a smile. "From now on, I will never get away from you. I will always take good care of you, my little princess."
"We're so glad you're awake, my filly." Twilight Velvet had her head on her daughter's bed, weeping of joy. She took Twilight's hoof when the latter came into contact with her shoulder. "
"It's okay, mom. I'm alright now, that's all that matters."
The door opened, and Twilight's face brightened when Spike, her friends, and Princess Celestia came into her room bearing warm smiles, bringing gifts such as flowers, books and one or two cupcakes (on Pinkie Pie's part).
"Hey, girls." Twilight smiled at her friends.
"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie rushed to Twilight's bed and hopped into it, nearly spilling the bowl of warm soup unto Twilight hadn't Night Light levitated it away in time. "I'm so happy you're okay! Well, no okay-okay, because you look like a Changeling, but beauty is in the eyes of whoever looks, that's what everypony says!" she wrapped her hooves around Twilight's face. "And to us, you'll always be the same Twilight as before!"
Twilight smiled and returned the hug. Then she noticed the rest approaching the bed, but their expressions were turning sad and guilt ridden.
"Twi…" Applejack was the first to speak. "The first thing we wanted to do when we came was to apologize for not believing you about the fake Cadence." she sighed. "You wouldn't be like this if we had listened to you."
"You had every right not to believe me girls." Twilight replied kindly. "I mean, I acted like a foal, just bursting into the room yelling that she was evil instead of gathering facts and evidence. And just after we'd written a friendship report about gathering evidence when we were bringing the Cakes' cake to Canterlot."
"And what about 'taking you friends' worries seriously?'" Rainbow Dash spoke sadly, rubbing the back of her head. "We should have listened to you, instead of simply assuming you were just jealous. What a loyal friend I am, aren't I?" There was bitterness and sorrow at the last part.
"Please, girls, you don't have to apologize. I understand it completely, I did panic a bit, and you warned me to cool down-"
"That doesn't justify the way we abandoned you, Twilight." Princess Celestia intervened, looking down with guilt and drooping her ears. "You've been a wonderful student, like a daughter to me, and yet I left you when you needed me the most. I should have noticed the changes in Cadence's behavior, I should have known she would never act as such, no matter in how much stress she is in, yet I chose to ignore it and justify it as simple stress. And that mistake not only nearly costed the lives of my subjects, but also your own." She took Twilight's hoof. "Can you ever forgive me?"
Twilight smiled. "I forgive you, Princess." She then looked at her friends. "I forgive you too, girls. Actually, you don't have anything to apologize for."
Rarity was shedding moved tears by then. "Oh, Twilight. You're such a wonderful friend, forgiving us just like that even after we betrayed you."
Twilight held out her hooves for her group of friends, and they knew what it meant. The six friends embraced each other in a tight hug, mending the wounds made on that fateful night. However, Twilight was scanning the room around for a certain stallion with white coat and blue mane.
"Where's Shiny?"
Cadence was about to go in to see Twilight Sparkle when a gentle hoof tapped her shoulder; she was surprised to see Shining Armor still outside. She had assumed he'd already be inside with Twilight, but yet he was still out here. She had a feeling that he wanted to speak with her in private.
"Cadence, can I talk to you?" Yup, her theory was correct.
"Sure, Shining." they moved away from the door in case anypony would come out. "What is it?"
"I… I wanted to apologize to you."
"To me?" Cadence inquired. "For what?"
Shining Armor didn't know what to say, but he had to find a way. She had been acting coldly towards him during the time Twilight had been comatose, but this was a good chance to say what he had to. "For not realizing that… impostor had taken your place. I should have realized there was something wrong with those flashes, and the change in your personality… The real you would have never behaved as such. You're the kindest, most caring soul in all of Equestria, but I was blinded and tricked by that Changeling into abandoning my little sister and casting her out of the wedding. You would have never allowed me to do such a thing, actually."
Cadence's coldness was starting to melt away at his sincere words. "Shining…"
"Cadence, I love you, I love you with all my heart, but I understand if you want nothing to do with me after this. I mean, if I had really loved you like I said I did, I would have realized that Changeling wasn't you. That mistake not only nearly cost me you, but also my sister's life. But even if you don't want to marry me anymore, I still would like to be your friend, and-" Shining Armor was cut off when Cadence leaned in and gave him a quick kiss in her lips, her familiar warm smile bringing new hope to his heart.
"Of course I forgive you, Shiny." She spoke softly and warmly. "I admit, I went a little overboard too. The Changeling Queen had you under her spell, even if you actually noticed something was wrong with me, that monster could have made you forget it with a flash of her horn. Instead of blaming you for what happened, I should have been there for you to comfort you in these hard months."
Shining Armor smiled, and took Cadence's hoof in his own. "Thanks, Cadence. Now all I need to do is to apologize to Twiley for causing all of this, and hopefully she'll forgive me."
"Of course she will forgive you, Shining Armor. You are her BBBFF, remember?" Cadence giggled.
Twilight's eyes lit up when Shining Armor trotted into the room, followed by Cadence. Immediately, the pink Alicorn ran to Twilight's side and hugged her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're back, Twilight." Cadence smiled at her favorite filly. "I was starting to think you'd really leave us."
"Are you kidding?" Twilight giggled. "How could I ever leave my wonderful friends and family before its time? I'd call it more like a break from all the stress." All the ones in the room burst out in laughter at this. The only one who didn't have the heart to laugh just yet was Shining Armor.
"Twiley…" he whispered sadly as he approached his little sister slowly, fearing any lashing out she might throw at him. "Can I talk to you in private?"
Twilight had a feeling to what this talk would be about. "Sure."
The siblings were left alone in the room. The air became rigid and cold, at least on Shining Armor's perspective. This was it, he would apologize to Twilight for the way he treated her, and hopefully she would forgive him. Hopefully.
"Twiley, I wanted to tell you I am really sorry for what happened at the rehearsal. I know you're going to say that you should have brought proof, but what if there was no way to prove it? But the point is, I should have listened to you, I made a mistake in putting Cadence before you when family must always come first. Because of me you lost four months of your life, and now your body is corrupted."
"Shining, really, you don't have to apologize at all." Twilight spoke gently, but Shining still continued.
"I don't know why I said those things. Everypony says that it wasn't my fault because I was under the Changeling Queen's control, but deep inside I know that it was me who said those horrible words to you, not her. I don't know what was I thinking, if I was angry because you didn't come to me to tell me in private, or if I was just so excited on marrying Cadence that I forgot for a moment that you were my LSBFF."
"Shining…"
"These four months that you were comatose, I couldn't rest at night knowing that you could die, and I wouldn't be able to tell you this. Every single night I was plagued with nightmares where you didn't forgive me, or died, or I even recalled the moment I cut you from my life. But I don't want you out of it, Twiley, I want to be your BBBFF for as long as I live. I want to embrace you when you get married, be there for you when you form a family, I want you by mi side when I exhale my last breath, but I guess I screwed it up."
"Shining Armor…"
"I understand if you'll never forgive me for this, I deserve it after all. But I want you to know that from now on, you will always count on me and-"
"SHINY!" Twilight raised her voice to call her brother's attention. Satisfied, she spoke. "Please stop punishing yourself like that! I don't want you to keep thinking about it anymore! What happened, happened, now what matters is the present. How could I not forgive you when you came every single day I spent in this bed like a vegetable, speaking to me and refusing to leave my side even when the nurses came to kick you out."
Shining's eyes widened. "You mean…?"
Twilight nodded with a small smile. "Yes, Shiny. I heard you. Every single word you told me all the days you came. I felt every tear you shed when you apologized a hundred times. I wanted to tell you that I forgave you, I wanted to tell you not to cry."
Shining Armor felt tears coming to his eyes. "Can you truly forgive me for everything I said to you?"
Twilight took her brother's hoof, her now completely purple eyes showing deep compassion. "I forgive you, BBBFF."
This was the last straw. Shining Armor sniffled as he let the tears flow from his eyes and down his cheeks; he rested his head on Twilight's lap, sniffing and sobbing, embracing his little sister, not wanting to let her go. Twilight caressed his mane gingerly, shedding a few tears of her own as well. With every tear that fell, Shining Armor felt a weight being lifted from his chest.
For the first time in a long time, these were not tears of sorrow.
These were tears of joy.
Many times, the decisions we take affect and hurt your closest friends and family the most.
I have lots of regrets in that regard.
But God has forgiven me, which I am very thankful for. It has enabled me to forgive myself and move forward one day at a time.
-Lex Luger