Starry Skies looked over the letter she had finished, letting the last of the ink dry and making absolutely certain there were no errors that she had missed. Although at this point, it hardly mattered. After going through five drafts, there was not enough time to start completely over. It would just have to do as it was.

Folding it carefully, she put it into the envelope, sealed it, and slipped it into the waistline of her dress. Star then turned to the mirror, making sure that her mane was still in place, and the little bit of make-up that had been insisted upon was properly applied.

A knock at the door got her attention.

"Come in," Star called out, turning around.

The door opened and Princess Flurry Heart stepped into the room. She smiled as she walked in, wearing a dress that matched Star's, although with a paler shade of purple ("to better complement the mane and contrast with the pink without clashing," according to Rarity).

"Hey Star, could you help me with my ribbon? I can't seem to get it quite right for some reason."

"Sure," Star relied as she walked toward Flurry Heart. Flurry gave a smile as she turned around, letting Star see the ribbon and take a hold of it in her wings. As she worked, her gaze drifted toward Flurry's side. The dress did an excellent job of hiding the stitches -- almost impossible to see if she did not know exactly where to look --- but Star knew exactly where they were. She even knew the exact number.

"Flurry," Star said softly as she finished the bow, "about what happened. I--"

"Stop!" Flurry Heart ordered. She turned to face Star. "You apologized while we were fighting Sleep Thief, and at the hospital." Reaching up, Flurry placed a hoof against Star's cheek. "And I told you then, it wasn't your fault."

"But it was," Star replied. "The whole thing was my plan, and I didn't think about the chainsaw beyond getting past it. If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have been underneath to get hit by it. For Tartarus's sake, you weren't even the one they were after. If you hadn't been with me and Pumpkin--"

A hoof pressed against her mouth, cutting her off.

"At best," Flurry said slowly, "yes, you might have defeated her and nopony would have been seriously hurt." She pulled her hoof away, her gaze softening. "At worst, she would have fed on the chaos magic of all the ponies there, including you and The Cake Twins, then tried to take over Equestria as she intended. If that had happened, who knows how many ponies would have gotten hurt trying to stop her." She then leaned closer. "And I would have tried to stop her too, just like Mom and Dad, or Twilight and her friends, or Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

Turning, she looked toward the window.

"Some day, I'm going to be the ruler of The Crystal Empire. Which means that part of my job will be keeping it and the ponies that live there safe. If that means putting myself at risk, then so be it. I don't want to get hurt, but I would rather put myself in danger than let somepony else get hurt."

she tilted her head to look at Star from the corner of her head.

"And if that does happen, I hope that there's a pony there like you to try and get us all out alive."

Although she knew it was meant well, Flurry Heart's words did not bring Starry Skies any comfort. Even if Flurry Heart was willing to put herself at risk, it was Star's duty as an older family member and her job as a Shadowbolt to keep her safe. Not just Flurry either. If she had been better at her job, Pound would not have been hurt, they would never have been abducted, and Discord would have never been captured and drained of magic. She should have been able to keep the whole thing from happening.

Still, Flurry Heart meant well. So Starry Skies put on her best smile.

"Thanks."

"Hey, that's what family does," Flurry said with a smile. "We stick up for each other and help each other out."

"Okay," Star said with a roll of her eyes. "I think that's enough sappiness from Princess Fluffy Butt for one day. Any other mushiness should be between the bride and groom."

"Ah, yes," Flurry replied, giving an eye roll of her own. "There's that rarely seen romantic side of you I've heard about."

"Well we don't all grow up with a hopeless romantic for a mom and spend out free time reading trashy romance novels."

"They are not trashy!"

"Fine. They aren't trashy. But they are cheesy."

"No they're not!"

"'Oh, my dearest darling,'" Star said in a falsely deep voice, "'you are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen. Your coat is like cherry blossoms, and your eyes the sun.'"

She let out a snort before continuing in her normal voice.

"They're so cheesy, Twilight's afraid of them."

"And that unicorn detective monster hunter series you read is so original?" Flurry asked as she made her way for the door.

"Hey!" Star snapped as she chased after the alicorn. "Those books are going to be classics someday."

Flurry let out a snort.

"Right. And I'm going to use the mirror to go to that weird human world."

"Well now that you said it..." Star said, letting the statement trail off.

As they made their way through the castle, the two continued to verbally pick at each other, always trying to keep it light and only teasing the other harmlessly. It stopped as they reached the foyer, the two stopping and giving each other one last check over. Satisfied, the two of them stepped out of the castle.

Outside, the decoration for a grand wedding had been set up. A bright red carpet was rolled out, leading to a white platform where several columns had been set up. Around each column spiraled streamers of pink, green, pale violet, and purple. On each side of the walkway were a large number of cushioned chairs, some of which were already occupied by guests on both sides. Also on both sides (most likely for symmetry) were serving tables. On one table were a pair of ice sculptures, one of a pony (the bride), and one of a dragon (the groom). On the other table was a large single ice sculpture of the two embraced together in the way that looked like they were dancing. Each table also had a variety of drinks and treats. There was a chocolate fountain, a cheese fountain, and multiple bowls filled with nothing but gemstones.

A strange part of Starry Skies wondered: what would a chocolate covered ruby taste like? Or a cheesey sapphire? This also led to a momentary wondering of which gemstone went better with which material. Would the type of gem actually affect the flavor of the coating it was mixed with?

"There are my parents," Flurry said. "I'm going to have to sit with them... aaand... Dad's already crying." She let out a huff and shook her head. "I get it's an extra big deal since this is Uncle Spike, but still. He was Captain of the guard and is Prince Consort of The Crystal Empire. You would think he would be better and acting stoic and calm."

Starry Skies watched as Princess Flurry Heart made her toward her waiting parents. The change from slightly embarrassed teen to regal royal member happened quickly as she went. Before even making it halfway to Shining Armor and Cadance, Flurry Heart looked composed and proper. Star was not even sure if she could actually make signs of the underlying emotions, or was simply imagining it since she believed it was there.

Her own parents were nowhere to be seen. Most likely, they along with Twilight Sparkle were with Spike, dealing with last minute issues and nerves.

However, she did find Princess Luna and her daughters. The three of them were looking around the garden, with Princess Luna leaning forward to sniff at a Moon Rose.

Well, now's a good a time as any, Star thought as she walked toward the princess. Sooner the better, and quick like a band-aid.

Princess Nightmare Moon was the first to notice Starry Skies approaching. A small smile spread across her lips, a tip of fang slipping out.

"Hello Starry Skies," Nightmare purred out. "How nice to see you." Her smile widened as her eyes narrowed. "How is my favorite bat pony?"

"Princess Moon," Star said as she gave a bow, "Princess Tantabus, Princess Luna. It is good to see you all well." Straightening up, she turned her full attention to Luna. "May I speak with you on about a professional matter?"

Princess Luna turned from the flowers to Starry Skies. Her lips pursed as her eyes narrowed, studying the bat pony for a moment.

"Moon," Princess Luna finally said, "please take Tantabus to your seats and make certain that she does not get too bored."

"But mother, I wish to be involved in this," Nightmare stated.

"Do not take my politeness for this being a request."

Nightmare's ears dropped as she glared at her mother, lips pursed.

"Fine," she snorted out. "Come on, Tanty." Pressing a wing against her little sister, she walked off, making extra certain to stomp her hooves as she went.

Princess Luna watched them go before letting out a sigh and shaking her head.

"At times, I wonder if her behavior is merely typical teenage surliness, or a manifestation of the anger that created the original Nightmare Moon," she said. Luna then turned back to Star. "Now, what is it you wish to speak with me about?"

After looking around to be certain that there were no ponies watching them (although Nightmare clearly was) or could hear what they were saying, Starry Skies reached into her waistline, pulled out the envelope and passed it to the princess. Princess Luna's horn lit up as she took it, one eyebrow raising as she pulled it closer.

"What is this?"

"My letter of resignation," Starry Skies answered.

The statement drew Princess Luna's attention back to the other mare. The eyebrow raised higher as she tilted her head slightly.

"You wish to resign from your position with me?"

Star looked up at the princess, then down at the ground. Her entire body sagged slightly under the weight of guilt. Her ears drooped as she stared at her hooves. She could still see it all in front of her.

"In light of what happened," Star said softly, "I think it's for the best."

Standing like a statue, Luna stared a moment longer. Star did not look up, but she could feel the princess's gaze on her, studying her.

"I do not agree," Luna declared, making Star look up at her, "nor do I accept."

The magic around her horn flared brighter, and the envelope burst into flames. The fire consumed the letter quickly, leaving nothing but gray ashes, which Luna released from her magical grip.

Starry Skies could only stare wide-eyed as the remnants were scattered by the wind.

"You... you... you can't do that," she stuttered out.

"I believe that I already have," Luna stated. "I am not permitting you to resign from your position."

"But... but Flurry Heart. And Pound Cake. They got hurt."

"Indeed they did," Luna acknowledged with a nod, "and from what I have read of their reports, neither of them place any blame on you. Nor does Pumpkin Cake and Discord."

Discord. Star had not seen him around since he zapped them to the hospital. She had not even had the chance to speak to Fluttershy and see if she had talked to him. If Princess Luna knew that Discord did not blame her, then that would mean that he had said something about the event, mostly likely to Celestia. Although that hardly changed anything. He was not around when they were in the cages, and had been rendered unconscious -- or at least incapacitated -- during the fight with Sleep Thief.

"I am aware that such does not allay the guilt that one places upon oneself," Luna said, bring Starry Skies from her thoughts. "It is true that there are things that you can now see which could have been done differently, but that is always the case."

Stepping forward, Luna reached out with a wing and ran a feather along Star's cheek.

"However, that does not mean that we should give up when we make mistakes, even if it leads to others getting hurt." She turned to look at where her daughters had gone. "I have learned through personal experience that such leads to isolation and suffering only of oneself." She then turned back to Star and smiled. "That does not mean that we should simply forget what happened. Instead, we should learn from it. Try and keep such a thing from occurring again. While I tend to avoid comparing you to your siblings, I believe that is a way in which you all excel. In light of what has happened, you will in the future try all the harder to prevent risk to either willing allies or innocent bystanders."

Luna's wing pulled away as she stepped back.

"Which is why I have rejected your resignation, Starry Skies. You may have lost faith in yourself for the moment, but I have not. Yes, you may have made mistakes, but you shall learn from them, and try to avoid making those same ones in the future. Remember, one of the first ponies I hired, and the one that has been one of my most successful, was one that wished to make amends for the mistakes she made in her past. Something that I myself have needed to do as well. As such, I would be a poor friend, a bad princess, and a hypocrite if I did not allow you to do the same.

"Now if you will excuse me, I wish to join my daughters and wait for the start of this momentous occasion."

She turned to walk away, leaving Starry Skies standing there a moment.

It was a lot to think about, but now was not the time. Her brother was about to get married. This was to be a happy occasion, one of the most important in Spike's life. It would not do for her to be sulking around and wallowing in her own guilt and self-pity. For the sake of her family -- and especially for her brother, the groom -- Star pushed all of her feeling down as deep as she could to deal with some other time. Straightening up and putting a smile on her face, she made her way to her seat.

It was not long before she was joined by the rest of her family and the wedding ceremony started. They all sat there, watching as the dragon that had become a part of their family got married.

As far as everyone involved was concerned, it was perfect.