//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 (Edited 10/28/18) 
// Story: Loved And Lost 
// by EquineAvenger 
//------------------------------//

Twilight Sparkle was on a train heading to Canterlot accompanied by her young dragon assistant, Spike, and her five friends: Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. They had received an invitation to a wedding between Shining Armor, Twilight’s big brother and captain of the guard, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and almost all of them were really excited about participating in what they hoped would be a very momentous ceremony. 
“A sonic rainboom? At a wedding?!” Rainbow Dash said excitedly. “Can you say ‘best wedding ever’?!”
Pinkie Pie took a deep breath and shouted “BEST WEDDING EVER!!!!!” which echoed throughout a tunnel the train went through.
“So you all get to help with the big fancy wedding, but I’m the one who gets to host the bachelor party!” Spike proudly announced. “I have just one question. What’s a bachelor party?”
The five mares all giggled at the dragon’s cute and silly question. Then Applejack noticed Twilight sitting in a seat far away from them looking unhappily through the window.
“Why the long face, sugarcube?” the concerned cowpony asked her friend.
“I’m just thinking about Shining Armor.” Twilight confessed. “Ever since I moved to Ponyville, we’ve been seeing each other less and less. And now that he’s starting a new family with this ‘Princess Mi Amore Ca-whatshername’, we’ll probably never see each other.”
“Come on, now. You’re his sister. He’ll always make time for you.”
“Couldn’t seem to make time to tell me he was getting married.” Twilight angrily remarked pulling down the window shade. 
Finally the train reached Canterlot, which was entirely encased in a gigantic pink protective sphere. 
“We’re here, we’re here!” Pinkie said excitedly as the train passed two royal guards station outside the sphere on the railway line. Everypony felt a tingling sensation as the train entered the force field. 
The train came to a halt at the station which was filled with royal guards. 
“Whoa, what’s with all the guards?” Rainbow asked.
“I’m sure they’re just taking the necessary precautions.” Rarity theorized. “Royal weddings do bring out the strangest ponies.” Then they turned to see Pinkie Pie sneeze confetti. “Now, let’s get going! We’ve got work to do!” 
“And you’ve got a big brother to go congratulate.” Applejack said to Twilight.
“Yeah. Congratulate. And then give him a piece of my mind.” Twilight said angrily as she passed two royal guards and leaving the rest of her friends worried about her.

From the balcony of the highest tower, Princess Celestia kept watch over the castle with the aid of a telescope. Atop one of the castle walls, a white unicorn stallion in purple and gold armor was giving out non-verbal instructions to the other guards when he heard an angry but familiar voice.
“I’ve got something to say to you, mister.” Twilight said as she trotted through the castle yard which was filled with royal guards.
The guards on the wall pointed their spears at the approaching unicorn. 
“Twily!” The purple and gold armored stallion said excitedly while removing his helmet revealing a dark and light blue mane and running down to greet the unicorn. Realizing their captain knew this mare, the guards lowered their spears. “Ah, I’ve missed you, kid. How was the train ride? I-” he asked reaching out a hoof to her, but she stepped back not wanting him to touch her.
“How dare you not tell me in person that you were getting married! I’m your sister, for pony’s sake!”
“It’s not my fault. Princess Celestia has requested a major increase in security. Didn’t you see all the guards at the train station?”
“Yeah, there’s a big wedding coming up. Maybe you heard about it?”
“It has nothing to do with the wedding. A threat has been made against Canterlot.” Twilight lifted her head to show her brother understanding eyes. “We don’t know who’s responsible for it, but Princess Celestia asked that I help provide addition protection. This, you need to see.” Shining Armor’s horn started glowing light red, then shot a beam of magic up at the top of the interior of the barrier which seemed to strengthen it. Once that was done, the captain made dizzy facial expressions as if he were suffering from a headache. “The burden of keeping Canterlot safe and secure rests squarely on my shoulders. Staying focused on the task at hand has been my top priority.” Shining Armor told his sister as he led her up some stairs to high levels of the castle. Twilight started to understand why her BBBFF couldn’t personally tell her everything. The two siblings stood together on a bridge between two towers overlooking the guards.
“Okay, okay, I get it.” Twilight said understanding but still a little hurt. “You’ve got a really important job protecting all of Canterlot with a force field only you can conjure up. But still… how could you not tell me about something as big as your wedding? Am I not that important to you anymore?”
“Hey. You’re my little sister.” Shining Armor told her. “Of course you’re important to me. But I’d understand if you didn’t want to be my best mare now.” Then he put on an excited face in anticipation for her response.
Twilight was both surprised and excited. “You want me to be your best mare?”
“Well… yeah.”
“I’d be honored.” She said bowing humbly and then the two siblings exchanged hugs. But the moment passed when Twilight pushed him out of the hug. “But I’m still pretty ticked you’re marrying somepony I don’t even know. When did you even meet this ‘Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’?”
“Twily, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is Cadance, your old foalsitter.”
Twilight once again felt her excitement rising. “Cadance? As in the Cadance? As in the greatest foalsitter in all the history of foalsitters?!”
Shining Armor chuckled at his sister’s excitement. “You tell me. She was your foalsitter.”
“Ohmygoshohmygosh!” Twilight said remembering her younger days as a filly and the times she spent with Cadance. “Cadance is only the most amazing pony ever!” A memory popped into Twilight’s head of a filly version of herself searching through her toy chest in her room and then an older pegasus mare with pink fur, a mane and tail of light warm colors, purple eyes, and a cutie mark in the form of a crystal heart walked into the room. Seeing her, the filly Twilight immediately ran over and the two exchanged hugs. “She’s beautiful.” Another memory of Cadance putting a bandage on Twilight’s hurt leg and wiping away the filly’s tears came up. “She’s caring. She’s kind.” 
Twilight, as a filly, was swinging on a swing set with her favorite foalsitter giving her a few gentle pushes.
“I am so lucky to have you as my foalsitter.” She said while swinging.
“I’m the one who’s lucky, Twilight.” Cadance replied while continuing to push her on the swing.
Twilight scoffed at that. “You’re a princess. I’m just a regular old unicorn.”
“You are anything but a regular old unicorn.” Cadance said catching Twilight and setting her down on the ground.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two chanted together while doing a little dance before collapsing on their backs and laughing together. This chant was their own secret hoof-shake.
Another memory showed Twilight and Cadance walking through the streets of Canterlot, then noticing a couple arguing at an outdoor restaurant table. Then Cadance cast one of her special love spells at the couple and the two immediately stopped quarrelling and started enjoying each other’s company. Cadance beamed with pride at her special talent. 
“How many unicorns can just spread love wherever they go?” Twilight asked. I only know one! And you’re marrying her!” She then started hopping around her brother happily chanting “You’re marrying Cadance! You’re marrying Cadance!”
“Well, it seems the princess’s reputation certainly proceeds her.” Came a voice that caught Twilight and Shining Armor by surprise. They both turned to see a unicorn stallion around Twilight's age with tan fur, a  golden brown tail and a long mane, blue eyes, and dressed in a purple royal suit with gold patterns. He was a few inches shorter than Shining Armor but a little taller than Twilight. By his right side was a unicorn mare with light gray fur, a black tail and a short combed back mane, she wore glasses and a red and silver formal outfit. She was roughly Twilight’s height. “How are things holding up, captain?”
“Canterlot is secure, Your Highness.” Shining Armor politely addressed the stallion. “My shield spell is holding up greatly, with a few minor inconveniences.” He put his hoof to his throbbing head.
“Excellent. If this event is to go perfectly, security must be of the utmost importance.” Then the stallion turned his attention to Twilight. “Ah, you must be Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia’s prized pupil and Captain Armor’s sister I’ve heard so much about.”
“Indeed I am. Who are you?” Twilight asked.
“Twily, this is Prince Jewelius, Cadance’s cousin.” Shining Armor introduced the stallion.
“Wow!” Twilight excitedly exclaimed. “I’ve never actually met you but I’ve heard about you from Cadance. She said you were like a little brother to her. It’s very nice to finally meet you.” She shook hooves with the prince.
“The feeling is mutual.” Jewelius replied. “This is my personal assistant, Vivian.” He introduced the mare at his side.
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance.” Vivian said politely bowing her head.
"I've also heard a lot about you as well from my aunt and my cousin, Miss Sparkle," the prince said in a warm and polite tone.
"You can just call me, Twilight," Twilight said.
"I've never been able to meet you in person because I've been traveling most of the time," the prince explained. "I like to explore and learn more about Equestria. But when I heard my cousin was going to get married, I just had to be here for the momentous event. Everypony has to make some time for family."
“Isn’t this exciting?” Twilight said. “Pretty soon we’ll all be one big happy family!”
“Oh yes, I believe this wedding will be a day nopony shall ever forget.” Jewelius agreed.
“My brother’s marrying your cousin! My brother’s marrying your cousin!” Twilight continued jumping happily, then she stopped when a tall pink alicorn with a tail and mane of light and warm colors and wearing golden shoes, a golden necklace, and a golden crown stepped out of one of the towers.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.” She said displeased.
“Cadance!” Twilight exclaimed recognizing her. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” She sang their little chant along with the dance. However, Cadance just stood there staring at her as if she was the most bizarre thing she’d ever seen.
“What are you doing?” She asked unamused.
Twilight was surprised. “Cadance, it’s me, Twilight!”
“Uh-huh.” She replied in an uninterested tone as she passed the young unicorn. Twilight was shocked and confused. How could her favorite foalsitter completely forget about her.
“I’ve gotta get back to my station, but Cadance will be checking in with all of you to see how things are going.” Shining Armor said putting his hoof around his future bride. “I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn’t be more excited to have you here. Right, dear?”
“Absolutely.” Cadance said while sporting a suspiciously malevolent grin that only Twilight seemed to notice.
“Vivian and I better be on our way.” Jewelius said. “We’ve got a lot to do. Hope the preparations will be to your liking, my dear cousin.” With that, the prince and his assistant left.
“Well, we’ll let you get to it.” Shining Armor said as he and Cadance left as well leaving Twilight very confused.