Umbra shook hooves with ponies that came and went. It was less of a 'party' and more of a 'function', if one thought about it. Sure, there were streamers and tasty snacks, but Umbra was on-duty, greeting all of the crystal ponies that had one more reason to hero worship her. "Don't let that get to your head," she reminded herself. She was still Umbra. Umbra was still a creature, like any of them. Umbra made mistakes.

"Hey."

There was one right then. Wait, no, that was mean. Umbra smiled at the unicorn that had emerged from the crowd. "Starlight! It's so good to see you."

"Yeah..." Starlight rubbed one leg with the other hoof, awkwardly shuffling. "That was... a nice wedding. So... That knot is tied, huh?"

"Tied." Umbra nodded, a shallow motion. "But that isn't to keep you out... Or to say... you did anything wrong. That... Hm." She frowned. "I'm being awkward, sorry. Our time together? It was great, but I was being a huge asshole in having it. I didn't deserve it, and you never deserved to be played like that... I don't... deserve it, but I don't want to push you away. I'd love a wizard friend."

Starlight thumped Umbra, punching her in the chest, then the shoulder. She was looking ready to begin beating the new royal princess, to the point that the guards were starting to move towards them. "Jerk..."

Umbra flinched with a step back. "I deserve that."

"And more." Starlight took a slow breath. "Prepare to have it delivered. Tomorrow, morning, you, me." She pointed towards the grand arena. "You're going down."

"I will take what you have to offer." Her eyes flashed with dread shadow magic. "But don't expect me to stand meekly by."

Starlight barked out a laugh. "Good! As fun as beating you silly would be, a proper fight is closer to what I want." Her eyes dropped to Umbra's new dangling necklace. "Twilight mentioned that. You want a second pair of eyes? Maybe after our spar?"

They met with hoof to hoof, promising without further words that neither was banishing the other from their lives. Umbra smiled, feeling like a weight had been taken from her. "Hey." Starlight perked. "Are any of the others here?"

"They wanted to be, really... But only Twi's parents, me, and Spike."

"Hey." Spike popped free of the crowd to join them. "Are you talking about me?"

"A little." Umbra grabbed the dragon in her magic. "It's hard not to talk about the cute dragon friend we have."

Spike snickered, almost a giggle. "Hey... I'm a fierce dragon..."

"Fierce, cute..." Umbra shrugged. "When you're a nightmare princess, things can be both of those at the same time, and I'm alright with that."

Morning peered up at Spike. "Hm."

Umbra set Spike down in front of Morning. "You two are related now. He's your uncle. By adoption, technically."

Spike raised a hand in a little wave. "Hiya! Huh, I have a niece? Cool."

"Hello." She tilted off to the side. "How are you fierce?"

Spike consider that duly. "Hm, well, I have these." He flexed his claws. "I can breathe fire... You know, the dragon stuff."

"Even dragons have nightmares." Morning's smile was too confident. "Even dragons know fear."

Spike waved Morning off. "Yeah, right. It sure isn't you." He crossed his arms. "You should respect your uncle."

"My uncle should know better." Dread intent flared in her eyes.

Umbra left the two to establish their social hierarchy.

"Having fun?" Pinkie dropped just in front of Umbra. "Pick the Shadow's coming up in ten minutes!"

"I have no idea what that is..." Umbra cracked a smile. "But it sounds fun."

"Best answer!" Pinkie pumped an arm with a triumphant grin. "Hey, who are the bunnies? Not complaining, they're bringing the right vibes, as they say, but I'm still curious..."

"Tsuki." Umbra reached and grabbed a passing Tsuki, intercepting it just as it was about to bounce. "Say hello to Pinkie."

"Hello, Pinkie," greeted the boy-tsuki. "Are you friend of shadow?"

"Shadow?" It clicked. "Oh! Umbra! Yep! I helped her plan this party!" She threw her hooves wide. "Having fun?!"

"Have lot fun." The tsuki nodded quickly and leaned in to sniff at Pinkie curiously. "Huh..."

"What?"

"Smell funny."

Pinkie inclined her head. "I do?" She sniffed herself. "Smells normal..."

"Normal smell funny?" offered the tsuki.

Pinkie giggled at that. "That actually makes sense. Funny is one of the things I do." She hopped forward and crashed with the tsuki in a big hug. The rabbit was happy to return the embrace and that got the two getting into a mild wrestling match that had both pleased with the exchange.

"Have fun." With the contest over, the tsuki bounced away.

Pinkie dusted herself off. "That was fun! Is that how they say hi? I'm gonna go say hi!" She casually tackled another tsuki, the two tumbling over one another as the contest began in earnest. Though the motions were in complete earnestness from both sides, trying to gain wrestling supremecy, both were smiling and happy about it.

"Umbra." Her attention was drawn to a smiling Cadance. "I am told you are their 'protector shadow.'"

Umbra worked through the crowd in the way to get to Cadance and the elderly tsuki matron. "Oh, we met before." They met in a firm hug, but the elderly tsuki made no attempt to wrestle. Umbra had the etiquette to not expect a senior tsuki to do such. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Very good." The elder nodded slowly, holding a bubbling glass in her hand. "Good taste. Sting. Good sting?" She took a fresh sip. "Good sting... Surprise. Good shadow." She gestured at Umbra. "Surprise. New things, good? Sometimes." She nodded, confident in her philosophic sharing. "Good?"

It took Umbra a moment to parse through those words, sincere, but disjointed. "Good! Yes." She pressed in close to Cadance. "I'm married now. Do Tsuki do marriage?"

"Marriage?" Not an answer, but also a perfect one.

Cadance waved a hoof between herself and Umbra. "We are..." She reached for a baser word. "Mates. Three of us. Umbra, Shining, and me. We are a family."

"Family!" That word she clearly knew. "Good good good! Understand now... Not know why, but know why now. Ponies strange, but learn. Worth learn." She tossed up her glass, hugged the two of them together, and managed to catch the glass on the way down in a feat of athletics her age implied she didn't have. "Good. Happy family. Strong kits." She considered Umbra anew. "Strong shadows? Protector shadows? Good Shadows?"

Umbra worked through that, lips moving without sound. "Oh, I already have at least one good shadow. Morning!" With a burst of shadow, an umbrum filly emerged beside her. "There you are." She gently hugged Morning Dew close. "This is my daughter, Morning Dew. She's already a good shadow. Will she protect? Up to her. She's a bit young for that."

Morning examined the elder and perked suddenly. "You are Tomtom's grandmother."

The elder tsuki brightened at the name. "Tomtom! You know?"

"He is a... friend." And so she was grabbed, hugged firmly by the grandmother in a show that she could still give a good one of those with the right inspiration.

"Thank. Good Tomtom friend. Good shadow!" She released the dizzy Morning to the ground. "Stay friend."

"I will... attempt." Morning turned back to her mother. "Was that all?"

To ruffle her mane, a temptation, but one Umbra fought off. "What are you in the middle of?"

"Playing." She said it with a flat tone. "With Spike, and Tomtom. The two have much to learn."

"Go on then." Umbra turned back to the adults in the area, seeing the elder tsuki had been replaced with a representative of some far off pony place, where they came... large. They were as large as she was, but they were no princess. They also had a bit in their mouth, like a horse, but they weren't a horse. "Hello?"

"Hello," greeted the large stallion. "You were speaking with your foal, and I didn't want to get in the way of that."

"Thank you for waiting." Umbra touched hoof to hoof. "And a pleasure to meet you. Are you... Sorry... Where are you from?"

"Saddle Arabia." He smiled brightly around his bit. "Before you ask, we're all this sized. This is not a marker of nobility. I am not a noble, just a diplomat, carrying their good word and wishes to the newlyweds, you included."

"How lovely." Umbra dipped her head in kind for his dip. "I'm Umbra Shadowheart." That he had likely heard of her, a given, but it felt polite to say anyway. "Welcome to the Crystal Empire. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to let Cadance or I know."

"Lovely," he echoed, sounding sincere in the thought. "That you two are already working in tandem. How long have you two known each other?"

Time... Time was a hard topic. There was no easy calender with an easy number... "It feels like forever... Not long after she became princess of the city. Right when Sombra dared to show his face."

"Ah. I heard of that event." He looked Umbra over. "That is where you earned the first of many titles."

"With more to come," sighed out Umbra with a soft snort. "But worth it, to keep things safe. Tell me about your land, if you don't mind?"

The diplomat was happy to do that, spinning tales of that warm, sandy place and its people. They had many stories, worth telling, but not in the middle of this one.

"Excuse me." Shining had slid right up next to Umbra. "It's time for the cake."

The diplomat backed away. "I won't stand in the way of that. Please."

"I will." Umbra turned with Shining. "I didn't get your name?"

"My name means little, as I have no voice of my own." He dipped towards her. "But I know ponies are rarely satisfied with that answer. You may call me Hamza."

Umbra hesitated. "That... is not a pony name."

"I am not a pony. At least, not an Equestrian one." He pointed past her. "They are waiting for you."

Umbra hastened to catch up to Shining. All three of them took up position to slice into the cake with a knife held in their shared magic, all their colors of magic swirling around it. To cut the cake like that took coordination. That they could let the walls down and cheat a little, they didn't mention. Working with shared sensations, they sliced evenly into the sweet treat and served it up as they put the walls back up, without a word or a prompt.

Umbra nipped at Shining's ear. "We have that down to a science."

"Science?" He was facing the crowd, smiling as they served up cake one by one. "What do you mean?"

"I'm feeling very in sync today... It's a good feeling." She passed another slice on, the line dwindling as they efficiently got out three slices at a time. "Like we were meant to be together, and now we are."

Cadance smooched Umbra's cheek loudly, getting a cheer from the crowd. "Because we were, and we are. The heart has spoken, and what are we but to obey it." She didn't sound as deferential as her words, hand out another slice. "Glad to hear you're feeling good about it. Let's make this a success."

Cheese emerged from the crowd. "It's your turn!" He served up the last slices, officially dismissing the newlyweds from the task as he put a plate in each of their magic grasps. "Great job! I'll get this cleaned up, then..."

"Horseshoes!" finished Pinkie, tapdancing in place. "The fun never has to end!"

Cheese consider that with a frown. "Well, as fun as that'd be... The party has a schedule."

"I know." She sagged with the reminder. "But it's fun pretending. I'll get the shoes!" She vanished off to see to festivities.

Happy receptions are happy! The newlyweds are pleased, and they got to shake hooves with a lot of creatures. Good times, yes?

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