Lightning Dust, to balance her work as a Washout organizer and her newfound family, decided to visit Shining Armor and Flurry Heart every two weeks, and also take advantage of those moments to meet up with Rainbow Dash and the others.

The distrust the blue pegasus felt for her had gradually dissolved, leaving room for the surprise of a completely new Lightning Dust, without the harmful arrogance that had characterized her years before.

Her presence had helped Shining Armor recover a little. By now it was December and the signs of mourning were still visible, but now the Prince remembered to comb his hair, shave and eat properly, which in the weeks following Cadance's burial he often forgot to do, and he didn't even care too much.

Flurry also loved being in the company of her aunt; Lightning helped her to perfect her flight, and as the two fluttered through the vast halls of the Crystal Castle, Thunderquake followed them running as fast as she could.

Twilight and Spike were happy to see their brother so reassured, and this had benefited them too, hit as they were by that immense pain.

The rest of the family and friends had graciously welcomed Cadance's extended family, and commented positively on its beneficial influence, but there were those who were dissatisfied.

Pinkamena Diane Pie had remained faithful to the impression she had had three months before, which was that Lightning Dust was a danger to her.

She, the first to make friends, to give joy and celebration.

Pinkie hadn't thought about the reckless actions of Dashie's ex teammate anymore, they weren't what disturbed her peace; she was afraid of the… consequences.

Lightning was an intruder, something who came to unbalance the scale.

Pinkie didn't want to name what she felt, it wasn't fair to Twilight, to Flurry. To Cadance.

She had doubled her workload, cooked pies and pastries at factory pace, and repeatedly had to have the oven repaired or buy new utensils because hers were getting worn out by excessive use.

Mrs. Cake was worried about her collaborator, she didn't see her look up from her dough and rarely smiled, which was excruciatingly unusual for the Element of Laughter in pony form. The pink mare answered her questions with fictitious reassurances that weren't worth much.

One afternoon, while she was alone mixing custard in the shop, two large tears fell into the bowl, surprising the curly pony.

The feeling that she had long held back was overflowing, like a vase too full of water.

She wiped her eyes just as Mrs. Cake was returning.

"Are you okay, dear?" she asked her, in a maternal manner.

"Oh, yeah... Dissolving the lumps of cream is making me sweat!"

The blue pony looked at her incredulously; it was almost winter and certainly not hot enough to excuse a sweat.

"Ok... If you need something you know where to find me..." Cup Cake told her, definitely not referring to the custard, which Pinkie knew how to make blindfolded.

That said, the lady ordered her twins, who were eight years old and had just returned from school, to go upstairs and do their homework. The two foals greeted Pinkie and went upstairs like bolts, leaving the girl immersed in her sorrows.

Contrary to Pinkie Pie's catastrophic predictions, Lightning Dust had no intention of destroying the balance between Shining Armor and her daughter: when she was at the latter's home she felt at ease, as if Cadance had brought her there, even though never having known her. The pegasus saw the Prince as a brother and adored Flurry Heart. The emotions she felt with her family were not comparable to those of the adrenaline she was used to, and they made her feel alive.

Lightning wanted her little girl to grow up with her cousin, and was happy to see that the two got on well together.

Every time she had to prepare to go to her relatives she felt relaxed, at peace with herself, she who had always challenged the whole world.

Shining Armor's calmness was a balm to her restless heart, and seeing Flurry play tag with Thunder was an indispensable pleasure for her.

The Washout didn't yet know that that Hearth's Warming Eve would've made her reflect on another emotion that was taking hold in her soul, something she had never felt for anyone.

Thunderquake's father was some random stallion, a die-hard Washout fan she had fun with and whose name she didn't even remember. It wasn't important to her, at the time she was a selfish and full of self pony, and she saw others as mere tools of gratification.

That year, at the Hearth's Warming Party organized by Twilight in her Castle would've also be attended by Lightning Dust and her daughter, as well as Shining Armor and Flurry Heart.

The turquoise pegasus wore a long light blue satin dress, while Thunder a pretty red dress.

It was snowing outside, so hangers for coats and scarves were placed at the entrance to the Castle, guarded by the Princess's staff.

Mother and daughter had arrived at the party around nine in the evening and the hall was already packed. In the distance they could see Twilight's friends and Spike talking to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

The Princess of Friendship had gathered her hair in an elaborate hairstyle, and had worn a purple velvet dress encrusted with lots of small diamonds, courtesy of Rarity.

She was simply magnificent, and in that moment Lightning Dust understood.

The unthinkable had happened.

If she felt at home in the Crystal Empire, in Canterlot Castle she felt overwhelmed by unknown sensations.

She had never been in love with anyone other than herself or a trophy.

And instead Twilight had welcomed her, she had respected her pace, and she had done the same, with a naturalness she didn't believe it belonged to her.

Seeing Princess Twilight so radiant had given her a thrill.

It was love, a feeling that had grown in those months almost without being noticed, and as such it had to remain, she certainly couldn't afford to make it evident to the sovereign of all Equestria.

"Why are they always stuck together?"

"Huh? Who are you talkin' 'bout, Pinkie?"

Apple Bloom was enjoying the excellent cinnamon apple juice brought by her sister, and she didn't understand why the otherwise party mare was about to tear someone to pieces.

The pastry chef's blue eyes were focused on Lightning Dust and Shining Armor, who chatted animatedly and laughed, comfortable with each other.

"Now I'll take care of it."

Striding, Pinkie swung her big fuchsia skirt, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood looking at each other without knowing how to comment on that misbehavior.

She walked over to Lightning and Shining, announcing herself with a forced chuckle:

"Nice evening, right?"

"Yes, wonderful..."

Pinkie thought she was imagining things: why were the pegasus' eyes twinkling? Was she right?

"Nice dress."

The compliment came from Twilight's brother. Pinkie blushed abruptly.

"Tha-Thanks."

The two stood looking at her without speaking any more. The pink pony was feeling embarrassed, so she made up an excuse and slipped away.

Hidden from the rest of the crowd, she could see those two laughing and joking as if it were just the two of them. The thought of it hurt her.

Dragging her hooves a little on the floor, Pinkie asked Vinyl if she could sing a song on stage, and the DJ agreed.

When people saw the pink mare in front of the microphone, there was a general murmur; there were those who remembered very well her disorderly way of singing at the Gala ten years earlier...

Either way, the lights all shone on her and there was silence around. The girl's rib cage filled to the bottom:

"When the world sparkles

Of happiness

Laughter gushes

No way for crankiness"

In that moment, Pinkie knew what she was going to do, how she was going to sing.

"Each snowflake is a wish

Every happy child is joy to me

A couple is about to kiss

Letting their love be free!"

The song of happiness was having a swing rhythm and everyone in the room was dancing.

"I want to laugh with you

I want to be with you

I want to sing a song that

Will help me distract!"

Pinkie turned the volume up to maximum:

"SING TOGETHER WITH ME

THE SONG OF WHO IS HAPPY

DANCE TOGETHER WITH ME

YOU HEAR HOW IT'S JAZZY!"

Suddenly, the pony stopped dancing and smiling, and lowered her head:

"You sing, you can

Embrace those you love

You have romance

A passionate crush"

The sudden change of tone didn't go unnoticed even by Twilight, who looked for her other friends.

Pinkie, meanwhile, had thrown herself into a heartfelt love confession:

"He has blue hair like the sea

The fur as light as the snow

It's a love I have to flee

Pretend I can forgo

And I know, now I know

I should get back to dough

He lost an angel in his life

I'll never be his bride."

The music faded and everyone, including Vinyl Scratch, looked at Pinkie without moving a muscle, or saying a word.

That song, which began cheerfully and turned into a burning sadness, was certainly not the best choice for the evening.

The pink mare got off the stage and headed towards the entrance to the Castle, oblivious to Rainbow Dash's voice calling her insistently. She hoped no one would stop her, and luckily it was like this.

Pinkie hadn't noticed, but her song had stirred the spirits of her friends: Applejack was standing in the middle of the room; Rarity was frowning; Fluttershy had been dancing with Thunderlane the whole time and Spike had disappeared into the bathroom.

During the musical break for refreshment, Rainbow Dash and Spitfire approached the group of friends.

"Um... Can anypony tell me why Pinkie Pie ran away like a thief?" Rainbow asked.

"I don't know, she have said two words in the whole evening..." Scootaloo replied.

"Too bad, I wanted to show her Blaze's photo..."

With pride, the pegasus showed everypony the image of the griffin cub that was born from Celestia and Luna's egg. He was a month old, he was a boy with dark blue plumage slightly tinged with violet, with some feather on his head that turned to purple and red.

The beak and forelegs were deep red, and the belly was pale turquoise. The wings and lion-like tuft of the tail were light green. He possessed very bright colors, uncommon for a griffin.

His eyes were halfway between orange and brown, a color very similar to Spitfire's.

"He's lovely!" Rarity exclaimed.

"He looks almost like your biological son with those colors and those eyes..." Apple Bloom noted.

After talking a bit about Blaze, who stayed home with Spitfire's mother, Rarity sifted through the crowd, turning her head left and right.

"Girls, excuse me, do you know where my sister is?"

"She went to the bathroom to see if Spike needs something, he's been gone for half an hour now." Scootaloo answered.

Spike was locked in one of the boys' bathroom.

He didn't want to go out, what he saw during Pinkie's song made him feel too bad.

And to say that he had been warned, but he had wanted to keep hoping like a fool.

Rarity had kissed Applejack.

What could've been worse than knowing that he had no hope with the pony of his dreams? Seeing her kissing somepony else, bonus if that other was somepony he knew.

A hoof knocked repeatedly on the door roused him from his gloomy thoughts.

"Spike? Is everything OK?"

It was Sweetie Belle's voice.

"What are you doing in the boys' bathroom?"

"I came to see how you were, you didn't come back..."

"And I'm not coming back now, for that matter."

"Spike, what's going on?"

He didn't need the pity of Rarity's sister. Spike's self-love had an angry surge.

"Nothing, Sweetie Belle. Go back to have fun with the others."

He had said it with an irritating tone, as if he considered the group a bunch of silly fillies only good for partying. The only thing he heard was four hooves moving away and a slammed door. The dragon sighed, relieved. He was alone again.

Things weren't quite as Spike had predicted. Applejack wasn't burning with love for Rarity, in fact, she was pretty confused.

What had happened to her friend during that party? Had she been drinking too much? Had she been carried away by Pinkie's song?

Her lips had rested on those of the earth pony and she hadn't even had time to wonder if she wanted to kiss her back or not, because the seamstress had come off immediately.

Rarity had caught the uncertainties of her foalhood friend and she had walked away a little disappointed, but hoping to have left a mark.

She had reached Shining Armor and Lightning Dust, and had discovered an expression similar to hers in the Prince's cerulean eyes.

Maybe he too was wondering what Pinkie Pie was going through, and why she wasn't happy on Hearth's Warming Eve.

Luckily, the children played carefreely, and even when midnight struck tiredness had not yet gripped them. The Cake twins organized small competitions with Thunderquake and Flurry Heart, and the two little friends gave little cries of joy.

Rarity smiled as she looked at them: how beautiful their age was!