Following the years of Twilight's two marriages and the raising of her children into their teens, the high princess of Equestria finally finds the kind of love that she needed.

I love this ship.

———————————————————————————————————-

"Are you flirting with me, your highness?"
"Took you long enough to catch on, Berry Twist~"

Twilight Sparkle had had many 'maybes', even more 'hopefully's' and a good portion of 'perhaps's'. She was tired of fulfilling all the duties and living up to the expectations that her friends didn't have to.
They had all saved the world numerous times. They were all known and revered as heroes. Only, she was also a princess. A high princess.

Ruling alongside Celestia and Luna had its limitations, and to the public, she was already two-halfs of a scandal away from being shunned. There were expectations you see, and though they weren't bound by the rules of old, some ponies still clung to it as societys only way of managing. Some of her subjects expected royal, or at least, powerful, magical blood to stand beside her. And as the years had gone by and her foals had grown into their own, the public was buzzing like beehive delivering and creating all the gossip they could. Starstrucks pegasus heritage and how much potential Spellcaster waste on mind-numbing potion-making.

No heads fit for a crown, or at least not in the publics eyes.

It had annoyed Twilight to no end in the beginning, and had sent her spiralling into bad decisions for everyone involved.

But this beautiful mare in front of her. This 'once-upon-a-time enemy' of hers made her feel things she had sought so long for. Not just friendship, but a kinship. An understanding.
Tempest Shadow was a mentor to her children, her own royal guard and the closest confident Twilight had. She could share any secret with her, and even turn her nose up at social events at the highclass ponies clampering for a peek of the 'ruined' princess. She knew it would earn her a snicker or a quiet laugh from the pony beside her, and that had made the years much more bearable lately.

And they would steal moments more and more often. Mettings in secret. These small moments under the moonlight were sparse but treasured, and once Twilight thought that Tempest perhaps shared her interest, she invited her to meet her at midnight behind the courtyard. Bathed in the moonlight above them. This special meeting led to many years of companionship and true love for both of them.