//------------------------------//
// Romance 
// Story: Fear Me, for My Name is Twaith! 
// by Michael Hudson 
//------------------------------//

	Cadance lifted a teacup to her muzzle and took a light sip before letting out a content sigh. She had spent the last five months in Saddle Arabia to, as Celestia put it, become more worldly, strengthen political ties, and further her range of social experiences. Of course, except for the political reasoning, these had been the same reasons that she had been told to foalsit through her teen years, and she suspected that to put her through frustration had been the reason for this trip as well.

Now she was home though, and was able to let her tired wings rest while she sat on a couch, awaiting Celestia's arrival and drinking her tea. Cadance hoped nothing too chaotic had happened while she had been gone, but knowing Equestria, that one thought would make the country have to prove her wrong.

Almost as if on cue,  a plate of scones floated through the air, carried by a somewhat transparent, purple mare in a tattered, black cloak. The ghostly being bowed to her as she let her magic drop the tray besides Cadance. "Hello Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I am the resident wraith of both Golden Oaks Library and Canterlot Castle. It is a pleasure to meet you."	

Cadance blinked a few times before lifting the cup to her mouth and taking a larger gulp, cringing as the hot liquid ran down her throat. It did not wake her up like she had hoped though, and so she swallowed hard and put on a forced smile. "You don't say now. How... um, fascinating. Does Celestia know about you?"

Twilight nodded, while not noticing the slight aura around Cadance's horn. "Of course she does. She in fact was the one who suggested I meet you since she is running late. Apparently, a nephew of hers is asking how many dates he can bring to something called the Grand Galloping Gala, and is being adamant about at least half of the Wonderbolts. It was actually pretty funny to watch."

Cadance let out a small laugh as the glow on her horn disappeared. She had decided that if Celestia trusted the being, she should be able to as well. "That sounds like Blue Blood. He can be a bit of a... hoof full, at times, but I suspect once a mare smacks him across the muzzle he'll turn around." She paused for a moment, thinking about the two weeks of 'courtship' they had gone through. "Hopefully."

Twilight nodded and gave her a big smile. "Well, it seemed like Celestia was about ready to smack him with the necronomicon, so maybe that chance will be sooner than you think."

Cadance spat out her drink through Twilight as her eyes widened. "Since when has Celestia been learning necromancy?"

"She isn't."

"But you said she had the necronomicon."

"Yes."

"If she isn't using it for magic, what is she using it for."

"To smack me, Trixie, and Luna whenever we get into fights."

Cadance simply stared at the hovering ghost as her brain desperately tried to work. She had heard about Luna's arrival, and could believe that she wouldn't be able to accept Twilight's innocence, just as she was beginning to have a hard time doing as well, but the rest made no sense. "Who's Trixie?"

"A kitsune that took residence here and is now one of my best friends, though she won't admit it."

More gears started to break in Cadance's mind as she tried to choke out anything. "Except don't kitsunes usually kill wraiths and are respectful, and above all else, normally in Saddle Arabia?"

Twilight shrugged. "I suppose that might all be true, but Trixie likes to say she's on a special mission into Equestria for her kind, though she won't quite say what it is. Of course, we have nothing to fear. A thousand years of aging does wonders to a wraiths power, and I can easily keep her down if she causes trouble."

"A-a-a thousand..." Cadance brought the teacup back to her lips spending a few moments draining it as she tried desperately to calm down. She was on the verge of a panic attack at this point, and hoped the bitter liquid might help.

As she drank though, the pink alicorn heard Twilight say, "Fluffy! You should come say hi to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza."

Lowering the cup, Cadance saw an undead manticore walking her way, and finally broke. "Shine Bug!"

In only a few moments, Shining Armor burst into the room, spotting a confused wraith that he had been told about a while ago but usually never saw or heard, her pet, and his fiance, who was currently in a protective bubble. He lowered his raised spear and bit into his cheek. "May I know what's going on here?"

Cadance reached out to him, shaking a bit. "Hug me, I'm scared."

Shining scowled as he swept his beloved into his hooves and then glared at Twilight. "What did you do to her?"

Twilight's form shuddered as the guards pony she had continued to watch scolded her. She swallowed hard and tried to smile. "I was merely answering her questions. I didn't mean for them to scare her."

Shining frowned and stroked Cadance's mane. He could hear her muttering about how Celestia had gone insane, a sentiment he had at one point shared, but now accepted, as well as all the supernatural things that surrounded the castle. Still, he empathized more with his soon to be wife, rather than a dead mare. "I'm sorry Twilight, but you must have overwhelmed her, so please, leave."

Twilight immediately nodded and began to float away. Just before she went through the wall though, and Fluffy almost attempted to walk through it, she turned around. "May I know why you came when she called out Shine Bug?"

A small chuckle came from Shining as he heard the stupid pet name come from somepony else. "I suppose it does sound weird, but as my fiance, pet names are perfectly fine."

Twilight paused for a moment, staring at the mare that had seemed actually quite nice, if not a little weird. She a pretty mare that she had hoped to befriend, but could now only be her enemy. She slowly nodded to herself about what she had been told, and floated away, trying to think of a good outlet for her jealousy and confusion.

A few minutes later, as Cadance was just getting composed, Celestia finally trotted in, at the same time as her sister. Cadance saw the well guarded secret of Luna being a foal, and fell back on the couch, finally done with the day as a whole.

Celestia looked down at her sister and the small, blue filly blew at her nose, blowing away some of the frost and snow from it. "May I know why Twilight froze my room?"

She looked from Luna, to Shining, to muddy manticore prints, to Cadance, and then simply outside. Something told her that somehow, Blue Blood would not be her biggest annoyance of that day.