Twilight Sparkle peeked over the side of the crib to look at the tiny pink alicorn who was cooing and babbling incessantly. All at once, Flurry Heart descended into a fit of giggles and extended two tiny pink hooves in the direction of her aunt. Twilight couldn’t help but smile and levitate her niece towards her hoof. “Awww! Come here, Flurry Heart!” she said as she held her close to herself. “Who’s your favorite aunt?” The foal squealed and giggled with delight as she was magically hoisted aloft. “That’s right! It’s me, Twilight!” she said, returning her niece to her embrace.

     “She’s getting bigger every day now,” Cadance said from across the room. “Soon she’ll be teething, and then talking, and flying not long after that. She’s growing up so fast.”

     “I know. I wish I could come out here to see her more,” Twilight lamented.

     “That’s not your fault, Twilight,” Cadance reassured. “Because of the distance between us and both of our royal duties, it’s a wonder you’re able to visit as often as you do.”

     “My family is important to me. I deliberately make time in my schedule to come and see her. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

     Cadance nodded her understanding and resumed filling Flurry Heart’s bottle. As she did, a wave of insatiable curiosity crashed over her. “So, Twilight, not to be personal or anything, but is there a special somepony you have your eye on?”

     “Oh, I might have a crush or two,” she said as she booped Flurry Heart on the muzzle, inciting another round of laughter. “Why do you ask? Are you eager for a niece or nephew of your own?”

     “I was more wondering if I would be meeting the future Princess of Friendship anytime soon,” she declared, her eyes unwavering from her task until the top had been screwed onto the bottle. She turned towards her sister-in-law to behold her bewildered face. “Oh. Do you not know?” She asked.

     “No, I—I guess not.”

     “I’m sorry, Twilight. I assumed Celestia had already told you. I hate to be the one to break the news to you.” Upon seeing the bottle, Flurry Heart grunted and reached towards her mother, who gently levitated her into her embrace.

     “What news?” Twilight ventured.

     Cadance began with a sigh. “Celestia is the Princess of the Sun, Luna is the Princess of the Moon, I’m the Princess of Love, and you’re the Princess of Friendship. Those four things are all eternal. In this regard, we aren’t like our subjects.”

     “[I]All[/I] eternal? Even friendship and love? Friends can drift apart, and love can grow cold—”

     “But the spark is still there, Twilight. It’s like when a fire burns through its wood, and only hot coals remain. You can still get a fire going again, but you’d need more…”

     “Wood,” Twilight finished.

     “Exactly,” Cadance said, glancing down towards Flurry Heart. She then looked back up to Twilight, watching the gears turn.

     Suddenly, Twilight gasped. “Wait, so Flurry Heart is the new wood for the fire?” Cadance nodded. “But, that means you’re the old wood. The wood that burned up.” She nodded again. “That’s not possible, Cadance. You’re an alicorn.”

     “I [i]am[/i] the Princess of Love, and I love Shining Armor. Through a spell that Celestia, Shining, and I cast, my fate is now intertwined with his. We will live together, love together, and when the time comes, pass together.” Twilight’s eyes wandered as her mind recoiled. “I know that’s a lot to take in all at once, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I thought Celestia already had.”

     “I don’t know if that’s really romantic, or really heartbreaking.”

     “Yes, it [i]is[/i] bittersweet, but Flurry Heart will carry on when I cannot.”

     “Does this mean I’m going to have to tie my fate to my friends’ fates?”

     “It’s a completely voluntary process,” Cadance reassured, “but this way, I know my love will never truly die.”

     “If it means friendship will live on in Equestria, then yes, I would at least consider linking my fate to my friends’ fates.”

     "Are you sure?" 

     "Friendship has changed my life for the better in ways I still can't fully understand. I want others to know that friendship long after my friends are gone. Besides, I was wondering how I was going to cope with an eternity without my current friends."

     Cadance smiled. “Sounds like you owe Princess Celestia a letter, then.”

     “I guess so,” Twilight agreed.