The Library in the center of town burned with a steady light, spilling out of all of its windows into the streets below. Outside, the wedding celebrations of the Lady Twilight Sparkle, also known as Everstar, were still in full swing. Packs of ponies caroused wildly through the streets, drunk on peace as much as alcohol. In fact, many of the wandering groups were comprised of Loyalists and Rebels, both in uniform and laughing and cheering with one another. A crowd was gathering in the fields outside of town, and they were all waiting expectantly for the final show of the evening to begin.

With a thunderous roar and a dozen bursts of light, the first magical illuminations lit up the sky, exploding into reds and greens and blues as the crowd cheered in appreciation. Children flinched momentarily before letting forth squeals of delight, and the adults smiled and held one another close, in camaraderie or romance as the case may have been. The show continued, each spell booming, whistling, and popping as they lit up the sky for miles around.

Twilight Sparkle watched the show with interest from her window in the Library, Tarantella beside her. Both were back in their dresses, though soon enough they would be retiring to the wedding bower. Before that particular activity could take place, however, there remained one final duty that Twilight had to undertake. And she was not looking forward to it.

“Cara mia, it’s time.” Tarantella murmured. “Everypony is waiting downstairs.”

Twilight grumbled. “Let them wait. It’s my wedding night, for crying out loud.”

The Condottiero laughed, unfurling one wing and resting it over her. “Unfortunately, you must do your duty to your nation before you do your duties to your wife.” She leaned over, whispering gently into the unicorn’s ear. “And the sooner you do the one, the sooner you can get to the other.”

Twilight felt a chill go down her back. “Maybe I should go down there. It would be impolite to keep anypony waiting.”

Tara grinned. “That is the general idea, yes.”

Twilight took a deep breath in, steeling herself. “Wish me luck.” she said, trotting towards the stairs.

“All the luck in the world.” Tarantella replied, watching her go.

It was a short distance from Twilight’s stairs to the basement door, and from there she ducked into the dimly lit room where she had once stored all of her equipment, her favorite books, and anything else she deemed precious. Now, the space was spartan in nature, bare walls painted white with a table set up on the floor made of plain, unadorned wood. Around this table sat a few figures, lit by the candles placed on the walls. Quills and ink were provided at each place setting.

Celestia sat at the farthest end of the table, her crimson mane blowing fitfully in a non-existent breeze. Twilight was forcibly reminded of how much she resembled her Mother. She was conversing with her brother, who sat erect, and in his best dress uniform, his ocular piece polished and glowing with steady light and his mechanical parts buffed to a reflective sheen. Shining Armor’s face was pleasantly neutral, as he regarded his monarch resolutely.

Sitting at Celestia’s right side was Cadance, who was listening to the quiet conversation with great intent. Twilight had briefly considered remarking her face out of spite, but she had decided to let bygones be bygones. Besides, there would be a considerably larger fight this time around, with the power they both wielded.

Luna sat at Celestia’s left, her gaze stoic and far away. She had become more and more withdrawn as of late. In fact, she had simply vanished for more than a month after that fateful night. When she was asked where she had gone, she had simply responded “Home”. Twilight had decided that it would be pointless to question her further. When she was ready, Luna would share more of her journey. At her side stood Silent Shield, who was carefully watching Twilight as she walked down the stairs.

Though the Lunar Guard and Reserve were no longer under her control, Twilight had easily replenished her ranks. In fact, they stood larger and more numerous now than they had before the battle. Birchwood and several of the other smiths had worked on miniaturizing the “buckers”, making them more portable. Training ponies to use flash powder and buckers had considerably less needed investment per soldier. It took months to train a fighter for the Guards, or even the Regulars. Twilight could train a pony in weeks. That, along with the massive exodus of unicorns from Celestia’s lands, and the support of the Changelings, meant Twilight Sparkle’s new nation was the dominant military force in the region.

One of her officers stood by her side, in fact, clothed in a purple and gold uniform. Silver Lily, after escaping Canterlot and her hanging during the Windigo attack, had decided to hang up her spy’s cloak and step into the light as one of the heads of Twilight Sparkle’s new Air Corps, in Recon. She had considered offering the job to Tarantella, but it had felt wrong. Tara wasn’t military, she wasn’t that kind of mare. Which was probably a good thing, Twilight mused to herself. She was gone enough with the Condotteiri, recruiting more tribes.

“Milady, I have the papers you’ve requested.” Silver Lily said, coming to attention and extending a scroll to her. “They just arrived this afternoon, during the ceremony as a matter of fact. The Gryphons sent a representative and signed, so all that’s left is the three at the table.”

“Thank you, Silver Lily.” Twilight said, taking the document. “Please, close the trapdoor and station a guard at the top of the staircase. Nopony in or out until I give the word otherwise.”

Silver Lily didn’t say another word, merely snapping a crisp salute before flapping her wings and taking to the air, soaring over Twilight as she headed for the door. A moment later, there was a thud from above as the door closed, and Twilight was alone with the three Alicorns and their representatives. Without a word, she trotted forward, coming to her place at the table.

The conversation ceased as she surveyed the group. Taking another deep breath, she set the roll of parchment on the table. “Thank you all for coming. This is pretty much a formality at this point, but signing this will give us all the appearance of legitimacy and help to keep things calm as power transitions where it may. You’ll have to excuse my lack of a representative, but most of my officers and general staff have seen the document we’re about to sign, so there was really no need for one. Queen Feldspar sends her regrets that she cannot attend, but she is busy settling a new city near the Regia and was unable to pull herself away. And the Gryphons are busy consolidating their new lands as well.”

“It’s a shame they couldn’t come.” Luna said. “The Changelings would have a field day at this party, and the Gryphons are always good for a few laughs when intoxicated.”

“We seem to remember differently, sister.” Celestia said. “Last time an ambassador from the Oligarchy got drunk at a party he nearly managed to filet a buffalo chief before passing out in a bowl of noodles.”

Luna smirked. “Like I said, sister. Hilarious.”

“Moving on,” Twilight said lightly, unfurling the scroll. “This treaty defines the boundaries of the Ever Free’s territory, names it as a technical subordinate of Equestria in name if not in practice, and allows for free and easy transit between the two nations. Everypony saves face and goes home relatively happy.”

She looked at the assembled rulers, meeting their eyes in turn before continuing. “And while we’re here, we should probably iron a few things out between us.”

Celestia smiled. “Go ahead, Twilight. I’m all ears.”

Twilight turned to Cadance first. “Cadance, as far as I’m concerned, we’re even. You did wrong to me, and you paid the price for it. I’m not going to say I’ll forget the past four years happened, but I am saying that I’ll try to keep an open mind around you in the future, if you think that you can prove yourself worthy of that trust. I think we’ll all have enough on our plates already, so it would be nice if we didn’t have to worry about planting knives in one another’s’ backs.”

The rose colored Alicorn nodded slowly. “I think I can work with that. And I think I’ve probably learned my lesson about trying to take advantage of you, physically or otherwise.” Her hoof rose unconsciously to her cheek, where a scar had once been displayed. “And I’d like to thank you for agreeing to let me preside over the marriage. Tara’s family, and so are you. It was really important to me.”

Twilight nodded. “Well, it’s a step in the right direction in my book. And besides, it got you to Ponyville. You’ve been spending an awful lot of time up north.”

She turned to Luna next. “The reason I am here right now is to help you restore and maintain balance. I am more than happy to do so, and I look forward to doing so,” she said cheerfully. Leaning forward, she continued in the exact same tone of voice. “But if I catch wind of you manipulating me or the ones I love like you did with Tarantella, I’ll destroy you so quickly and completely that you’ll wake up in the Aether wondering what in Tartarus just happened to you and in more pain than you’ve felt in your life.”

Luna’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward. “I see you talked with Tarantella.”

Twilight shrugged. “You knew I’d find out sooner or later, and I know you were only doing what you had to in order to restore the Balance. This is the reason why I didn’t bother to push back until now. I wanted you here, in front of everypony, before we had this conversation. There are two of us to maintain the Balance until we can find the Shadow and eliminate it. Give me a reason to, and…I might decide to try doing it on my own.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, Luna. A warning. There is no reason we cannot be friends and allies, and I don’t particularly mind if you do any political maneuvering of your own, but I want to be very clear that meddling with myself or the ones I care for will be an unacceptable breach of trust between us. That goes for everypony at this table.”

The dark Alicorn was silent, choosing only to nod in response. Twilight sighed. “I do not mean to cause you harm, Luna. But I must stress this. Do not attempt to use me. At the very least, ask me for assistance. After all, our goals are the same. We should be able to work with each other, not use one another. You might be surprised as to what I’d agree to, if you truly needed me.”

Luna held herself a bit straighter. “Very well, then. You have my word, Twilight Sparkle. I shall not manipulate you or those you care for, and if I need your assistance, I shall ask.”

Twilight then turned to Celestia. Meeting her eyes, she addressed the goddess, not as a mentor or an enemy, but as an equal. “Celestia, I’ve been putting this off ever since that last night in front of the Regia because I’ve been trying to find the words to describe the breach of trust that exists between us. Honestly, I hate the fact that you’re going to remain in power, that I need to work with you to stop the Shadow from taking over entirely, and that you’re basically going to suffer no consequences for you actions. Hay, in a hundred years most ponies will have forgotten about the horrors of this war.”

Twilight’s voice gained strength as she continued. “Which is for the best, I think. I want them to be happy and safe just like you wanted them to be happy and safe. I see now how you could think ignorance and mindless direction could keep them happy. It would, now that I think on it. But recently, I’ve had a change in thinking.”

Celestia quirked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

The unicorn nodded her head. “I couldn’t think of how to phrase it. I spent a full night trying to figure out how I would explain myself to you. And then it hit me. I knew how to describe how I felt to you, how to frame my thoughts in a way you could understand.” She placed her hooves on the table, drawing herself to her full height. “So, from me to you, I’d like to deliver one last report, in person. Think of it as me stepping forward, leaving your tutelage for good.”

Celestia smiled gently. “You’re graduating?”

“I am.” Twilight replied grimly. “Are you ready?”

Celestia said nothing, merely inclining her head in acquiescence.

Twilight cleared her throat. “Dear Princess Celestia. Over the past five years, I have spent a lot of time looking at the past. I’ve examined my mistakes and my successes, the years I spent in service to you and the years out on my own. I’ve remembered good times and bad times, the friends I’ve made and lost, all the sacrifices made by both sides. And until recently, I spent the majority of my time examining what had already happened. I firmly believed that by remembering my past, I would somehow be able to have those good times back.”

“But one snowy night, last winter, I died. My life was cut short, and I found myself talking to a pony I once thought I knew and loved. I talked with the Mother of everything, who told me that I still had work to do, and sent me back. I came back from the dead with a task, one that will take me many lifetimes to accomplish. And she made sure I would have all the time I needed. I was, for the first time, presented with an abundance of future. And then I realized that I had spent too much time looking at my past, and striving for something I would never have. With that in mind, I turned to the future.”

Twilight smiled. “My future. With my beautiful wife, and my friends, old and new. With strong ponies at my back and standing by my side. My future, the one where I help others strive for perfectly unattainable goals, helping them to stand and crawl and walk and run on their own. My future, and all the trials and tribulations and successes that would come with it. I stopped focusing on the happiness I had once possessed in the past, and focused on finding happiness in the future.”

“I learned that it’s important to learn from your past, but you cannot attempt to live there. You need to enjoy the now, and look to the future. You can’t let your past mistakes define you as a pony, and I can’t afford to live in the past any more than I can afford to abandon those who need me. This is why the next time I “die”, I’ll be shedding my name and taking up a new one. Some ponies call me by it already, which will certainly help. I can’t afford to live in the past any longer, and neither can you. Those you considered enemies, your sister and brother, are your allies and mine now. No longer can we work in opposition to one another. It’s time to lay the past to the side, and move forward together.”

Twilight’s smile turned sad. “For the final time, your student, Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia cocked her head quizzically. “I get the feeling you weren’t just talking about yourself, Twilight.”

The unicorn nodded. “I told you once that I would have gone along with your plans, had you asked. I meant it, too. I loved you, Celestia, and part of me still wished that things might have turned out differently.”

The Alicorn frowned. “And now you hate me?”

Twilight shook her head. “No. I have no love for you, Celestia. But I…respect you, I think would be the best way of putting it. I’ve seen what you’re capable of, and it frightens me how far you are willing to go to achieve what you believe to be a worthwhile goal. And I believe your intentions are noble, but you know what they say about good intentions. If I can’t make you pay for what you’ve done in the past, then I’m going to make sure you don’t get the opportunity to try again in the future. And this time, I’ll be ready and in a position to stop you if you do.”

Celestia’s gaze softened as she looked at Twilight. “You really have come into your own, Twilight. I’m proud of you, in a way.”

It was the unicorn’s turn to be perplexed. “How so?”

“Think of what you accomplished.” Celestia said. “After you left Equestria, you did more in four years than ten ponies could in ten years. You organized a small nation, trained an army, pushed yourself to your limits every day, and made difficult decisions while recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, all for a cause you believed in. I’ve spoken to some of the Lunar Guard. You trained with them after rising through the ranks. You suffered with your followers through your first winter together, turned a potential enemy into an ally with the Changelings, and remained a strong leader while trying to alert ponies to the truth for four long years. And it paid off.”

“What are you getting at?” Twilight asked.

“Do you remember when I brought you back under the power of the Elements? That conversation we had in your mind?” Celestia asked curiously.

“Vaguely.” Twilight replied. “Why do you ask?”

“Twilight, I meant it when I said that I wished you could have been born as the Alicorn. Somepony like you is born once in a very great while. You are everything I hoped you would have been in a ruler. You’re kind, loyal to your subjects, have a knack for turning handicaps into assets, and devastatingly intelligent. But most importantly, though you have changed some in bearing and mannerisms, you are still you, Twilight. And I find that to be admirable.”

Twilight’s brow furrowed. “I don’t get it.”

“I’m trying to tell you that as far as I’m concerned, my goals have been met. I didn’t realize it at the time, but when you sat Discord and myself down and convinced us to work in tandem, if not directly with one another, you took your rightful place as a champion of Thought. And you did it on your own terms.”

Celestia smiled. “I’m telling you that you have nothing more to fear from me, Twilight. Regardless of whether or not you believe it, I will not work against you. In fact, I look forward to working with you. Not as a monarch, or a teacher, but as an equal. You may not be an Alicorn, or a Princess, but in my mind you stand just as tall.”

Twilight tried to digest that information. It almost sounded like Celestia was trying to extend an olive branch and a compliment at the same time. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. After years of looking at Celestia as an enemy, she had been willing to try and start again. But to hear her say that she actually regarded Twilight as a friend already, and to mean that sincerely, sounded strange to her. Five years ago, she would have leapt at the chance. Five years ago, she would have accepted without a second thought in this position. But she was five years older and wiser, and so she looked at this gift with careful eyes.

Twilight held herself erect. “Thank you, Celestia. It means a great deal to me that you are willing to abandon your plans for a utopia. I truly believe that the two-state solution we have set into place will work to the benefit of all.”

Celestia’s smile quirked into a grin. “Still canny, I see. I suppose I can’t blame you for not trusting me, Twilight. I wouldn’t in your position. I’ll just have to prove to you that I intend to work with you in good faith.”

“Speaking of good faith,” Silent Shield cut in, “I believe we should be signing this treaty into effect.”

“Agreed.” Shining Armor replied. “Technically, the war isn’t over until the required signatures are acquired. And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m a bit nervous with troops mingling in the middle of a cease fire.”

Twilight nodded, unfurling the scroll. It was a single sheet of paper, containing only a few paragraphs. Other treaties would be signed later, but for now, this was all that was required. The ink was still crisp and black on the signatures, though the letters had settled along the pre-written paragraphs at the top. These few lines were the work of a full month of debate between the two sides, haggling for pieces of land and acquisitions and reparations and so forth before Pinkie Pie had taken a look at the massive document, pages long, and suggested that all that was required was a basic understanding of where things would sit. Everypony should be able to read it, she had claimed. Later that day, she had produced an “abridged” version of the treaty. It was, everypony agreed, what really was needed.

The words, in Twilight’s finest calligraphy, read as such.

“ The Monarch Celestia, benevolent and true to her subjects, has entered into this compact with the Lady Everstar. She of the undying flame, to promote Order and Peace in the lawless region known as the Everfree Forest.

It is ordained that these lands, from the cities of Trottingham and Hoofington in the East, bounded by the southernmost reaches of Ponyville in the North and the lands of Los Pegasus in the South, from thenceforth into the sea to the West, shall be apportioned under the Lady Everstar, and she shall be sovereign over them and rule them how she sees fit.

It is ordained that she shall receive her lands and titles by the will of Celestia, and make them habitable for her subjects so they may thrive. As compensation for her labors, the Lady Everstar shall be appointed with wealth and goods with which to support her subjects.

It is ordained that the vassals of the Princess Celestia shall be withdrawn from the lands of Lady Everstar, and cease conflict with her subjects. So too shall they be withdrawn from the lands of the Gryphonian Oligarchy.

It is ordained that those who wish to reside within the demesne of the Lady Everstar shall not be denied entrance to her lands, provided they are subject to her laws and customs, as determined by her and her appointed officials.

It is ordained on this, the Spring Equinox of the year One of the Age of Evening, that the Unicorn Twilight Sparkle, now known as Everstar, Ruler of Magic and the Crystal Flame, Champion of Thought, has founded the Evening Kingdom. Long live her reign.

Signed Twenty March, Year One A.E.”

It was impressively simple. The Gryphons would be signing another treaty with Equestria in a few short weeks, ceding the southern deserts to them under the condition that no ponies be evicted from their settlements. No problem was anticipated there, as there were vast expanses of space available for the Gryphons to settle and hunt in. It was a good thing, too. Luna had promised to make a visit to the capital, Ashtar Sharestan, and begin the process of undoing the spell on those ten thousand warriors who lay in vaults, turned to crystal. It would be a long process, but well worth it. In response, the Gryphons had sent their diplomat, the one Twilight knew as Vagadar. His name was signed in bold, confident strokes below the text.

Vagadar az Durmasagarti, Mouthpiece of the Five Kings, Protector of Peace.

Twilight had already signed another treaty with the Changelings as well. They had several settlements already planned, mostly underground, where they were suited to living. It had taken some doing, getting the new arrivals from Canterlot to accept living with the shapeshifters, but steps forward were being taken. Their Queen’s name gleamed underneath, the black ink somehow managing to gleam teal in the candlelight.

Queen Feldspar of the Changelings, Ruler of the Hives and Protector of the Ancestry.

“The specifics can be dealt with later.” Twilight said. “But right now, we need to get this signed. It’s time for peace. We’re long overdue.”

“Agreed.” Cadance said, pulling the treaty towards her. Dipping her quill delicately in the inkpot next to her, she signed her name in flowing, flowery script.

Princess Mi Amore di Cadenza Allegretta, Radiant Dawn, Guardian of the Heart, ruler of the Northern Mountains.

Luna eyed the document critically as she pulled it towards her. “You have my support, Twilight. Should you need me, call on me.”

“It sounds like you’re leaving.” Twilight joked.

Luna nodded her head. “I go to found my own lands, far away from Equestria. After tonight, I shall depart for at least a year. My followers will go with me as well.” She signed her own name in graceful, smooth characters.

Princess Luna Aetheria ex Selena, Majestic Night, Mistress of Dreams, Keeper of the Moon.

“Where are you going to go?” Twilight asked.

Luna smiled. “To find the answer, simply go outside and look to the east. You’ll see it with little trouble, especially on a clear night like tonight.”

With a jolt, Twilight realized what she was talking about. “Do you mean to say…are you going back to the moon?”

Luna nodded. “There are some, like me, who have tired of Equestria. They feel lost, like they have no place here or in the new nation you are forming. There is a city for them, on the moon. I can protect them with my magic, and keep them there until they wish to return.”

“I’ve spoken to Luna about it, and we both agree it’s for the best.” Celestia said, pulling the paper towards herself. “The fact is, there will always be those who can’t help themselves, nor do they want to be helped. By creating a place where they can go to work through their problems, away from the world, they can bring themselves to make the choices they need to make. That place is neither under your control nor mine. Luna has agreed to create a place for those who are lost.”

Twilight sighed. “Clearly you’ve all discussed this already.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard about it.” Cadance said, looking at the elder Alicorns. “And I’m beginning to see what Twilight is talking about. Before making decisions like this, you should at least let us know.”

“Agreed.” Celestia said. “It was poor judgment on our part, but we both agree that it needed to be done.” She looked at Twilight. “Can we count on your support, Twilight?”

The unicorn made a snap decision. “Fine. But I’ll need the particulars ,and soon. I want to know how many are going, the logistics, how to get to the moon, all of that.”

Luna nodded. “You shall have them tomorrow morning.”

“Maybe not tomorrow morning, Aunt Luna.” Cadance replied. “It is Twilight’s wedding night, after all. I imagine she’ll be sleeping in tomorrow.”

The Alicorn’s eyes widened, and Twilight could have sworn she saw a blush creep across her face. “My apologies. A week, then.”

Twilight looked at her, confused. “I don’t think I’ll need a week to recover.”

“If you don’t you aren’t treating her right, Twilight.” Celestia said, smirking as she signed the treaty. Her signature was familiar to Twilight, all bold curves and elegant lines.

Princess Celestia Aetheria ex Equestria, Glorious Noon, Brilliant Sun, Ruler of Equestria.

Twilight groaned, resting her face in her hooves as the parchment was slid across the table to her. “You all are going to be teasing me about this for years, aren’t you?”

“Decades, my dear.” Celestia said. “Get used to it, you’re immortal now. And I wouldn’t be ashamed, were I you. Truth be told, Tarantella is a very pretty mare. And spirited, too. A good match for you.”

The three Alicorns laughed as Twilight shook her head, picking up her quill and staring at the parchment. The nib hovered above the inkwell as Twilight stared at the line where her name would go. She gulped. That line was the start to a new life. That line would give her a kingdom of her own, responsibilities and titles and privileges she had only ever dreamed about. Once her name was on that line, her titles alongside, she would be a ruler just like Celestia and Luna and Cadance.

“Twilight.” She looked up. It was Shining Armor. He looked at her, his expression calm. His voice was steady and soothing, like it had been when she was young. “You’re ready.”

“Indeed you are, Lady Twilight.” Silent Shield rumbled. “More than ready.”

Luna smiled proudly. “We all agree.”

Cadance nodded. “You’ll be a good ruler. I can tell.”

“I’m proud of you, Twilight.” Celestia said. “It’s time.”

The quill dipped into the ink. She wiped away a spare drop, and before she could stop herself, she signed her name in precise, tight strokes, well-practiced over long years of writing.

Lady Everstar ex Arborea, Ascendant Evening, Bearer of the Crystal Flame, ruler of the Evening Kingdom.

She rolled up the parchment with a smile, turning from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go and comfort my bride.” She trotted up the stairs, knocking twice on the door. “Silver Lily, open up!”

Turning back, she gazed at each member sitting at the table. “We’ll talk more soon. For now, I bid you all a good evening.” The door opened, and she stepped through, handing the scroll to her aide. “Get that copied and sent to the necessary parties. And let everypony outside know. The war’s over.”

Twilight grinned as she saw Tarantella descending the staircase. “Excuse me, Commander.” A moment later, Twilight met her bride at the bottom of the stairs. Together, they disappeared in a flash of light.

The three Alicorns made it out of the basement just in time to see the newlyweds disappear.

“Does anypony know where they went?” Luna asked.

Celestia shook her head. “I don’t, and I don’t believe she told anypony. Which is alright by me. She hasn’t had a moment to herself in five years, after all.”

Cadance smiled to herself. She knew exactly where they had gone. There was no need to share the information, though. She agreed with Celestia. Those two had earned some privacy, at the very least.

“That was not so bad, was it?” Tarantella asked, shedding her gown and hanging it over a nearby tree branch. She had dispatched a group of Condottieri the previous week to drop supplies in this area, and they were both grateful for them. A small fire burned in a freshly dug firepit in the middle of the clearing.

“No, I suppose it wasn’t.” Twilight replied, creating a small lean-to out of branches cut from nearby trees. With a minor effort of will, she gathered pine needles, creating a fragrant bed of them underneath the makeshift shelter. “But I can’t help but think that they will try something in the future.”

The Pegasus shrugged, looking out over the lake. “So you will be ready for them. But I think they are sincere.” She stretched her wings, letting the cool mountain air play over her pinion feathers. “And I have faith in you, my love. Else we wouldn’t be here now.”

Twilight grinned, shucking her clothing as she joined Tarantella by the shores of the lake. They both stared across the lake, holding hooves as they took in the view of the crumbling manor in the distance. A gentle breeze caressed them both as they felt the nearness of each other, two burning beacons in the darkest night. The stars twinkled above, the only witnesses to this area’s visitors. It was quiet, and serene, and a bit lonely.

“I haven’t seen my home in a very long time.” Tarantella said. “It’s beautiful.”

Twilight swallowed nervously. She wasn’t sure why, she’d done this sort of thing a thousand times before. “Yes,” she managed to get out. “Beautiful.”

And she was. The firelight caught Tara’s hair, making it shimmer like silver and gold. Each individual strand on her coat seemed to Twilight to be the softest and most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and her scent was that of swift water and autumn leaves. She turned to face her, and Twilight drank in her lover’s face, every bit of it. Her eyes, the amber of a hawk’s, her strong features and wiry figure somehow irresistibly feminine.

Twilight felt a flutter in her stomach. She was married to this mare. To the most wonderful, kindhearted and strong and loving pony she had ever met. Tonight she had been given a kingdom and a wife. And she knew that she held Tarantella much higher than any kingdom. How could it have been any other way?

“Twilight…” Tarantella breathed out.

As one, they sank down onto the banks of that lake under the spring sky. Though there were trials ahead, challenges that would need surmounting not just in the way of a kingdom but in the way of friends, and family, and goddesses, Twilight was absolutely sure, in that moment, that everything was going to be alright. Better than alright. It was going to be perfect.

And as it turned out, she was right. There, under that gentle sky, for once in Twilight’s life, everything was perfect.

Author's Notes:

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.

Be well.