//------------------------------// // 23 - Reconciliation // Story: Of Love and Loss // by tom117z //------------------------------// Canterlot Castle, three weeks later Twilight wished she could say that things had gone back to normal following the ‘incident’, but that would be a lie. Outside of raising and lowering the sun, Luna had pretty much taken over all of Twilight’s royal duties for the time being, Twilight herself in the meantime had disappeared from the public eye while the political nightmare resultant from her rampage cooled off. Still, Twilight couldn’t complain. She had a loved one with whom which she shared her bed, and plus she couldn’t remember the last time she just sat down and had a rest. Years? Decades? Everything back there was a maelstrom of darkness and sorrow, she was glad to put it all behind her. The whole Nightmare Nova situation was also made a little awkward by the mere presence of the individual sitting next to the Solar Princess as they viewed the city from Twilight and Luna’s bedroom balcony. “Anyway, you’re looking good for a dead guy,” Twilight smirked. “Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated,” Spike responded, miniaturised to the size of a pony once again. “Honestly, I was injured, but not that seriously! Talk about miscommunication.” “This is why you need excellent organisation,” Twilight stated. “Otherwise, somepony might turn into a demon bent on burning the planet to a crisp by turning the sun into a dark magic infused red giant…” “Until said demon makes smoochy faces with Woona,” Spike teased, earning him a smack with Twilight’s tail. “Turnabout Kiss, that’s what history should call it.” “Who are you, Phoenix Wright?” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Who?” “Oh, it was an interactive novel thing Sunset Shimmer showed me once about a lawyer,” Twilight stated with a shrug. “Hold, I think I remember,” Spike said. “That time you took a few of Sunset’s personal items back from the human world to ‘study’.” “Oh shush you!” the Princess said with a grin. “It was in the name of science!” “You built a device that breached the boundaries of reality to pick up, what was it called, the internet?” “That was it.” “Right, well you spent the entire time on Sunset’s phone and playing games on those other devices.” “And I learnt a lot in that time,” Twilight stated. “As I said, for science.” “Uh-huh…” Spike didn’t buy the lie in the slightest. “Your science didn’t stop a rather annoyed Sunset barging through the portal and demanding for them back.” “Ah, but it did allow me to introduce her to Starlight and get her and Celestia to reconcile,” Twilight stated. “Considering that shortly afterwards Celestia… passed away, it was a good thing I did in the end.” Spike heard the door opened behind them. “Speaking of reconciliation,” he muttered, knowing who it would be.” “Luna?” Twilight called out expectantly, and she was indeed there, but she was not prepared for the alicorn next to her love. “Hello, Twilight,” Cadance said quietly, standing in the doorway. “It’ been a long time.” “Cadance?” Twilight muttered in disbelief. “I’ll make myself scarce,” Spike said, slinking out of the room. This left only the three alicorns standing there, Luna moving to one corner to give the other two some space. “You got old,” Cadance said with the barest hint of a smile. “It had to happen sometime,” Twilight responded. “Why are you here?” Cadance looked down at the floor. “I’ve been hiding for too long, Shining wouldn’t have wanted that and… I’ve neglected you. You, my daughter, my subjects, all of them. But you especially, I felt what was growing in your heart, and I did nothing. I sat there and felt sorry for myself.” Cadance sighed. “It took you losing yourself to Nightmare Nova for me to realise this, and get off my ass and do something.” Twilight stared at her, blank faced. “Twilight, I’m so sorry,” Cadance whispered. “I wish I could change us drifting apart, sister. But I can’t, and if you don’t want to know me after this then I understand but-” “Sunshine, sunshine ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Twilight chanted, and pulling Cadance along after the second sunshine, joy mixing in with surprise and confusion. “Cady…” Twilight hugged her sister. “I should have done more to help you, too. We’re both to blame.” “There are many avenues of blame,” Luna spoke up. “Perhaps it would make for a good friendship report?” “Perhaps,” Twilight laughed. “A fitting end to this chapter of our lives, before the next one begins soon,” she stated, looking lovingly at Luna. “Erm, am I missing something?” Cadance asked. “I know you’re together now, which I am barely holding in a massive squee for right now, but there’s something else? “Well…” Twilight twirled a hoof. “Luna came to me the other day…” “And I asked Twilight a question,” Luna stated casually, nuzzling the lavender alicorns neck. “A question that led to this,” Twilight finished, using her magic to pick up something from a nearby desk. A ring. Outside the Princess’ chambers, a guard was going about his duties loyally, patrolling the corridors with complete focus on the task at hoof. *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* The Royal Canterlot Voice enhanced squee made the guard stop in place before, like a statue, he fell over to his left and clattered to the floor. It took nearly an hour for Twilight and Luna to calm Cadance down as she began expressing her joy at the couple’s engagement. Even after she stopped bouncing off the walls, her excitement was still there. At least her speech was understandable now, rather than the babbling of a madmare. “You’re getting married!” Cadance pranced like a filly. “Yes, that is the idea,” Luna cringed at the Princess of Love, wondering if telling her was a bad idea after all. “This is the best thing ever!” Cadance exclaimed. “When are you planning it to be?” “We’ll wait for things to calm down first,” Twilight stated. “Then we’ll see.” “My love is trying to stay in the shadows for the time being,” Luna informed Cadance. “Understandable,” Cadance conceded. “Still, I can’t wait!” “Whose wedding is it again?” Luna deadpanned. “One moment,” Twilight interrupted. “Cadance, can I ask you something?” “Of course! Anything!” “When the time comes, could you marry us?” Twilight asked. “I could think of nopony better suited for the task. Cadance froze. Slowly, her mind began to process the words that had just been spoken to her, and a massive grin slowly formed on her face. “You… want me to…” There was a loud bang as the pink alicorn slumped to the floor, having passed out. Twilight and Luna could only stare at the sight, both at a complete loss for words. “I… think that’s a yes?” The next day The very next day, something that had been said between the three alicorns wouldn’t leave Twilight Sparkle’s mind. She kept thinking it through over and over, wondering whether she should. But in the end, there was only really ever one choice in that particular matter. So when Luna was off doing her royal duties, and Cadance was spending time with her daughter, Twilight picked up a quill and parchment and got to writing. Taking a long look up at the sun as she did so; even after so many years of it being hers, a part of another mare still remained, a part that if Twilight concentrated she could feel. When she did so, she pictured a warm motherly smile on a mare whom, as a filly, Twilight had considered perfect. Dear Princess Celestia, Normally I would say what I learnt today, but this isn’t a lesson learnt in a single day, but one I’ve learnt over a mortal’s lifetime. I have learnt that life can sometimes take cruel and unexpected turns, events can happen that you’re unprepared for and can change you as an individual. You may lose hope, allow yourself to slip away into a pit of despair and agony. But it doesn’t have to be that way, because even in those darkest of hours you will always have somepony there to lend you a helping hoof. Whether it’s a friend, or one whom you love, they will be there for you as you should always be there for them. And while those friendships may be tested and sometimes even broken, you shouldn’t blame yourself and others. There are normally many avenues of blame, and you shouldn’t focus on them. Instead, talk to you friends and loved ones and move past it by providing strength to one another, just as my friends, family and love of my life do so for me. The nightmare has finally ended for us all. Because that is the power of friendship. Always your student, Twilight Sparkle Twilight looked down on the letter in satisfaction. “Friendship report?” Spike asked, coming up from behind. “Yes,” Twilight said, not even jumping at his surprise appearance, having heard him approach again. “One final report.” “Do you want me to send it?” Spike asked. “Huh?” “I can send it, it might end up in the tomb but it shall be with her,” Spike suggested. “Just to finish things off.” After a few moments of though, Twilight nodded. She gave Spike the letter, and with a huff of green flame it disappeared in a flash. Through the magical vortex the letter ducked and weaved, but not towards Celestia’s tomb. Instead in was whisked away far away from Canterlot and into wild and untamed lands. There sat an old ruin, and in that ruin sat a chamber with a pulsating obelisk at its centre. The letter popped into existence and fell to the floor, the room remained empty and silent. Then, a mist began to form and morph into the shape of an alicorn. The shade, who had developed some clearer features such as a mouth and eyes while still appearing to be made from shadows, slowly approached the letter and picked it up. Seeing who it was from, and the content of the letter, she couldn’t help but smile.