"Twilight! We're back!"
"We brought donuts!"
No answer. The girls and Spike shared a concerned look. Applejack took a step forward and knocked.
"Twilight? You in there, sugarcube?"
She knocked again, and she heard a creak. The door was open. Furrowing her brow in suspicion, she pushed the door open wider.
The room was pitch black and empty. They entered nervously.
"Maybe she went to the bathroom?" Rainbow suggested.
"Then why's all her stuff missin'?" Applejack asked, sweeping her hoof around the room. And she was right; there was not a single trace of any of Twilight's belongings, or evidence that anypony had ever set foot in the room that day.
"Umm, girls? I believe you should see this." Rarity turned to the group, levitating a piece of paper with her magic. "It seems she was more upset than we thought."
Applejack took the paper, and fearing the worst, read out loud,
My dear friends,
By the time you read this, I will be out of Canterlot and on my way back to Ponyville.
I'm sorry for simply leaving like this, but what I did at the rehearsal was inexcusable. And even if you, my brother, Celestia or Cadance forgives me, I don't think I will ever forgive myself.
Shining Armor deserves a better Best Mare than me. If he can't trust me to not act like a foal on the most important day of his life, than I have no business being in the wedding at all.
Please don't come after me. Nothing you say will change my mind. Please just give my brother the wedding he deserves, and be the best bridesmaids you can be.
Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle
The six friends stood there, completely stunned.
"Aw, sugarcube...." Applejack said sadly.
"I don't believe this." Spike cried. "She just....left? Without even telling me?"
"Who's left, my little ponies?" said a voice from behind. They turned to see a concerned Celestia standing in the doorway.
"Princess...Twilight's gone!" Fluttershy cried in distress.
Celestia's eyes widened as Applejack handed her the note. As she read, her brows furrowed and her mouth formed a tight line.
"I see. And....you found this here? In Twilight's room?" Celestia asked.
"Yeah. And all her stuff's gone." Rainbow pointed out. "It doesn't look like anypony's been in here all day."
"What's going on?" The group turned to see Shining Armor approaching them. His eyes seemed...strangely glazed over.
"It's seems that Twilight has left Canterlot." Celestia said, handing Shining the note.
He barely glanced at it before turning back to them. "I see. Is that all?"
"Excuse me?" Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes. She couldn't have heard that right. There was no way the pony that Twilight regarded as her best friend would be so flippant about her disappearance.
"I made it clear that I don't want her here. I see no reason why she would stick around." Shining shrugged, then turned to walk down the hall.
The group just stared, filled with shock and disgust, before Rainbow Dash screamed, "What is wrong with you?!"
Shining paused, but didn't turn around.
"Your little sister is gone! Don't you care?!" Rainbow's voice echoed off the walls. Shining didn't even flinch.
"Twilight's a big girl. I can't go chasing after her every time she decides to throw a mad fit. If she wants to act like a foal, that's her problem." Shining monotoned, and with that, he walked down the hall and left.
Rainbow clenched her teeth in anger, then the pounded the floor with her hoof. Nopony complained when she left a huge crack in the floor.
"What do we do now?" Fluttershy asked somberly.
Celestia regarded the note, and then answered, "If Twilight truly has left of her own accord, then there's not much to be done. And it would be pointless in forcing her to return when she clearly does not want to be here." Celestia sighed, then continued, wearily, "For now, I suggest you retire to your rooms and get some rest. The wedding will commence as planned....with or without Twilight."
This last sentence was said with much regret in the matriarch's voice, and she turned and left, too.
"Hey girls....did you notice something weird about Shining Armor?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"You mean besides the fact that he's being a humongous jerk?" Rainbow grumbled.
"Well yeah. Did you guys notice that his eyes were all..." Pinkie rolled her eyes around and twirled her hooves in a "cuckoo" fashion.
"Now that you mention it, he did seem a bit out of it." Rarity conceded.
"I'm starting to think Twilight was right....that headache spell really did scramble his brain." Rainbow snarked.
Applejack shook her head in disgust. "Don't Ah know it." Then she sighed and said, "That bein' said.....Ah guess we should go rest up fer the weddin' tomorrow."
"Whoa whoa whoa...you can't be serious!" Rainbow objected. "You're not seriously thinking of going through with this while Twilight-"
"Dash." Applejack interrupted, raising her hoof. "Ah get it. Believe me Ah do. But y'all heard what the note said. She don't want us goin' after her. And besides, she feels bad enough as it is. Can y'all imagine how much worse she'd feel if she thought we'd missed out on the weddin' cuz a' her?"
Rainbow tried to argue, but couldn't.
"Then it's settled." Applejack continued. "Tomorrow we'll be the best bridesmaids ever, and throw Twilight's brother the best weddin' ever....." Applejack scowled. "...even if he don't deserve it."
And with that, the girls and Spike all reluctantly parted ways and returned to their rooms, each wondering, hoping, if their friend was okay.
EDIT: And nevermind, I misinterpreted that by thinking that she was calling Twilight a princess. END EDIT.
Also, props for doing what many others who wrote fixfics of this episode failed to do by remembering that Shining Armor is brainwashed and therefore not in complete control of his actions.
7554637 Ahem....they were talking to Celestia...who is an alicorn....and a princess.
7554656
Oh dammit, I misinterpreted that, sorry about that.
I'm surprised that most fics about the Canterlot Wedding didn't talk about this bit whatsoever. But Shining Armor DOES have a point that he doesn't hafta take crap from someone who does things for immature reasons... even if that immature pony is his own sister. I wouldn't be surprised if Luna slept the whole thing off and woke up too late.
Interesting chapter there. Good idea to put a part where they wonder about Twilight's absence.
7554766
I think Shining here is obviously influenced by Chrysalis. I don't think he would be monotonous and distant like this, otherwise.
7554933 So, a diversion from canon?
7541368
The 5 mares, Spike and Celestia just leaving Twilight there without giving her the benefit of the doubt (why did she get so worked up?), especially after Lesson Zero, is where it hurts. Also, the 5 mares choosing a princess they've just met over a friend they know and have known for 2 years...
7555618
You don't remember the part where Twilight saw "'Cadance' helping him with his headaches"?
Wait did 'cadence' write that letter?
Shouldn't they notice somethign is off about her writing style even if it is telekinesis
Why exactly are they even staying for the wedding, royal wedding or not they don't really know anypony other yuan the fact shining is twilight's brother
7555892 Oh. Forgot about that.
7556144 They're staying because Princess Celestia had sent the a letter requesting their help with the wedding along with the invitation at the beginning of the episode, and because "Twilight" asked them to in the note.
And also keep in mind that "hoof"writing can be forged, especially with telekinesis.
7556212 yeah but I doubt chrysalis could do it convincingly considering her poor performance for celestia
I know it would be considered wedding jitters but celestia would know her student's hoof writing well enough
7556218 You think so, huh? :evilgrin:
Wait if that noted was faked wouldn't Celestia have noticed a different writing to it? She has been reading Twilight's letters for so long I'd think she'd know what her writing looks like. Or am I missing something or just thinking to hard?
7559710 Sigh....just wait for the next chapter, okay?
7554637 Was it ever indicated whether or not Shining was in complete control when he dismissed her from the wedding?
...ehhh, I dunno. They fell for that way too easily.
7559710
Chrysalis is exeedingly good at imitation, so why not forgery as well?