Twilight sat alone in the castle gardens. She watched the water flicker as fish flapped their fins inside, swimming with their friends. Friends. Twilight doesn't know if she actually has any of those, now. The wedding, though ending fine, as it seemed, left some damage. The damage wasn't left in the buildings, but in the bonds of the six ponies known as the Elements of Harmony. Twilight looked up with her vibrant, purple eyes to the sky, and toppled back.

The clouds were so puffy, and they didn't look as alone as Twilight thought she looked right now. Her friends, the ponies that knew her for years, didn't believe her on her suspicions. Why? Twilight didn't know the answer to that, but she had a good, long time before the train came and she had to leave and go back to her library.

The last place she wanted to be was in Ponyville, after how betrayed Twilight felt because of her friends. Taking a moment to think, she thought on possibilities on why they wouldn't believe her. Maybe Twilight did something to upset them, and her eyes widened at the thought. What did she do? She rolled her eyes. Nothing? She hardly thought that was a reason to betray her. Maybe, they were never truly her friends. Maybe, they thought they couldn't trust Twilight, so they followed her, and happened to be the true Bearers anyway? Maybe, on that night when Nightmare Moon took over Equestria, Twilight sent a true, magical spark that made the elements appear, and they took on the Bearer Twilight told them to. Maybe she was the true bearer of all the elements. After all, Rainbow wasn't loyal, Pinkie wasn't so fun for her, Fluttershy wasn't kind to her during this, Applejack couldn't find the truth, though it was right in her face, and Rarity wasn't generous enough to give Twilight a few minutes to speak to her about this. In a flash, Twilight made a decision. She would stay in Canterlot, and find her old friends she left behind.

Twilight brought a hoof to her face as she thought she missed Moondancer's party, for some false friends. Well, she had to tell her mentor and her friends of her decision. She should have made her unhappiness clearer before, as this would seem kind of sudden and bad for her to mention more. But, it had to be done, and it would be finished now. She sat up, and started making her way back to the castle.

At the doors of the grand castle before her, Twilight took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. This was a moment she didn't look forward to. She had to be heard and that was all that mattered. She opened the doors, and she found Celestia and her friends, exchanging a final goodbye. Celestia's magenta gaze passed to her, and she smiled.

"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student," said Celestia cheerfully. Twilight laughed nervously, and bowed quickly.

"Princess, I have something to tell you," said Twilight, and her friends thought it was important, for the two of them, and they started to leave.

"We'll see you at the train station!" exclaimed Rainbow, taking into the air, and Twilight's magenta aura stopped her.

"I thought you guys would like to hear this too," said Twilight, a tinge of coldness in her voice. Her friends looked to her in confusion, as did Celestia.

"Yes?" they said, concern etching into their voices as they noticed Twilight's tone. Twilight sighed.

"I don't think we can be friends anymore," started Twilight, and a collective gasp went around. Rarity fainted dramatically, using her magic to summon her couch.

"B-But why?" asked Fluttershy, tears forming in her eyes.

"Twilight! Did we do something to be party poopers?" asked Pinkie. More cries of protest and sorrow cried out until Twilight raised a hoof, her eyes closed, so she wouldn't lose it.

"Well, I guess you guys deserve an explanation," said Twilight.

"You guess?!" shouted Rainbow, but a glare from Applejack made her fall silent, though she shot daggers from her magenta eyes at Twilight.

"I know this may seem sudden, and I should have told you sooner," started Twilight. "But, I'm not coming back to Ponyville. When I was suspicious of the fake Princess Cadence, none of you bothered to listen." Her eyes sadly looked at Rarity. "Not even you, Rarity, was generous enough to give a few minutes of time for me to explain." Rarity, still on her couch, summoned a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, sniffing.

"I know, I know, darling!" sobbed Rarity. "I should have listened. But please, still be our friend!"

"It won't be the same without ya," said Applejack, sadly looking at Twilight. Twilight narrowed her eyes.

"Well, you should have thought about that before you betrayed me!" snapped Twilight. She gasped. "I'm sorry for my outburst, but you guys should leave before you make it worse.

"I refuse to leave!" growled Rainbow. "Until you can accept we were tricked."

"So do Ah!" said Applejack, stomping her hoof on the ground. "Ya said ya forgave us. Was that a lie?"

"I had to somehow break it to you, and I was put on the spot in front of hundreds of ponies!" retorted Twilight. They had forgotten about Celestia, who stood beside them.

"Stop!" yelled Celestia. The one unicorn and the group of friends stopped glaring at each other, and glanced at Celestia. "Twilight, you may stay here while you recover. As for the rest of you," Her gaze passed over the five ponies, who looked down to the ground in shame. "Go back to Ponyville and let your frie-, excuse me, acquaintance recover." The five ponies hung their heads, and they left the castle, and Rainbow stole one last, vengeful glance at her.

"I swear, if I see your traitorous face again," said Rainbow, turning around. "I won't hesitate to fight!" She stomped, and left a crack in the ground.

"Rainbow! Ya will not!" scolded Applejack, and she dragged her out of the castle, Rainbow glaring until she was out of sight. Twilight sighed, tears welling in her eyes. Celestia's hoof was set on her shoulder.

"My protege, I know this is hard," said Celestia. "But you will find new friends."

"No I won't," replied Twilight. "I will make amends with my old ones before I moved to Ponyville." A thought came over her. "Spike! Where did he go?!"

"If I remember, I saw him with Rarity last," replied Celestia. The door slammed open on cue, Spike arrived with bloodshot eyes. He pointed at Twilight, gasping for breath as if he ran a far distance.

"W-Why, Twilight?" asked Spike. "Why d-d-did you break your friendships? Rarity treated me l-like... I didn't matter." Twilight rushed over to him.

"I'm so sorry that this happened!" exclaimed Twilight. "I-I forgot about you for a moment. Come here." She hugged Spike tightly, while he sobbed into her fur. "We will have our old friends. Moondancer and the others." Spike sniffed and looked up to her in surprise.

"Really?" asked Spike.

"Yes," replied Twilight, smiling down sadly.