"The next morning I left the castle almost before dawn. There was some mist on the ground, and the sun had barely risen. I wanted to be alone, think for a bit, after all the weird things that had happened the night before with dinner. I was so confused, but I didn't dare to ask anyone. After all, nobody knew of Anrui and Taishi, and I knew it wouldn't be a good idea if I told anyone. It was all so weird. First Taishi tells me he doesn't care for Reine, and next thing I hear was that they were going to marry. Did he lie to me?

I slowly walked up the cliff and I walked towards the great tree. It was a quiet spot and I had hoped to be alone there, so I was more irritated than surprised when I saw somebody sitting at the roots of the tree. Who would be there at this time of the day? The rays of the sun had hardly climbed above the mountains! As I got closer, I actually was surprised to see it was Taishi sitting there, all alone.

‘What are you doing here?’ I asked, when I was close enough and he noticed me as well.
‘Waiting.’ He answered softly, without looking up.
‘On Anrui?’ I sofly asked, not really sure what to say.
‘Maybe.’
‘She’s not here.’ I said, and he shook his head. Poor Taishi sounded so… depressed, so alone, that I felt really sorry for him, but I still didn’t understand what happened. It was hard to see through the morning mist, but I was sure he was crying.
‘what happened Taishi?’ I asked. ‘Why did you…?’
‘Choose for Reine? I never did.’He interrupted me. I was surprised at this answer
. ‘Then what happened?’
I remember him sigh. I remember him stand up. I thought he was about to leave me, about to walk away. But he didn’t. He looked me in the eyes. He wanted to tell me the truth to someone, and he was obviously extremely upset.

‘I didn’t have a choice, Regina. Don’t you know? I’m a boy. I’m born in a royal family. A disgrace to my mother. And now I could give her the highest honor I would be able to give her. The heir to the throne of the Friendshiplands wants to marry me, for crying out loud! My mother didn’t accept my opinion. She didn’t care that I wasn’t in love. I liked the girl, right? So why not marry her?’
I looked at him for a long time without blinking once. Did they force him to engage Reine? Without listening to his own opinion? I think he could read my questions in my eyes, as he answered them without me asking.
 'I don't know if they forced me into marrying her, Regina. I know I don't want to marry her, but I didn't really have a choice, and I didn't want to upset my mother more. I felt like I had let her down so many times already, that I had to give in to her request.'

'I... I don't understand, Taishi. You love Anrui, right? Did you tell her you weren't given the choice?' I asked him, still a little confused. I almost felt my own heart hurt when he shook his head.
'No, they didn't even give me the time to do that. It was decided an hour before dinner that we would get engaged. I was surprised myself that they told the family already. I wanted to tell her, but I simply couldn't.'
'Does your mother now about Anrui?'
'No... Anrui and I had decided to keep it a secret a little longer, and I didn't want to break my promise. Besides, I didn't know how they would react. I wanted to protect Anrui from any trouble, but I'm afraid that all I did was hurt her.' He sobbed.

Poor, poor Taishi. I had never known boys were regarded as something less than a girl. Now that I think of it, I never even was around any boys. Allmost all of the court were women, except my father and some other ponies who were married into the family. It made me wonder if Matoe's engagement was also forced on him, but I never found that out. It doesn't really matter to the story, anyway.

We sat there for a while, both not really knowing what to say. As I saw the first rays of light break throuh the mist, I almost could see Anrui's crystal eyes in the sparkles of the sunlight that was breaking the little drops of water in the sky. The golden rays of the sun warmed up my world swiftly. I looked at Taishi, who was looking at the same clouds and rays od the sun as I was.
'Taishi...' I soflty said, and he looked at me. 'I... I'm sorry, but I cannot understand. You love Anrui, right? And she loves you, I know she does. Why do you not go to her, tell her the truth, tell her you love her, and why don't you go together to my mother? She is not a mean person, and if she finds out you two really love each other, she will cancel the engagement.' I told him, and I believed in it. I believed in my mother's judgement. She was my mother, after all, the wise queen, and I think at that moment I was sure everybody would accept their love if they saw what it was.

'Are you sure?' He asked with a trembling voice. I nodded.
'I guess so. Please, do not run away from what you really feel. You will only be unhappy your entire life, and I am sure Anrui will, too. Please, don't make the wrong decision okay? Go find Anrui and stand up for yourself. As for your mother... I don't think this marriage with Reine is the best thing you can give her, not at all.' I said, and he looked at me questioning. I smiled at him and I got up.
'I think a child's happiness is the best gift a mother can recieve.'
I wanted to walk away, but after a few yards Taishi called my name. I turned around and he was on his feet, too, and he smiled.
'Thank you, Regina. You're a wise girl, you know that? You have inherited your mothers wisdom.' I smiled at him, and I walked on.

As I walked away from him, I really thought it would all turn out well. I was sure my mother would accept his request, and I was sure the queen of Madash would listen to her. Why would she not? She had such respect for my mother. Of course I felt a bit bad for Reine, but hey, she was a sweet girl, she would find someone else. And I was positive she wasn't really in love anyway. Not like Anrui and Taishi were.

I didn't see Anrui and Taishi before I met them with my mother in the throne room late afternoon that day. But by then, they were together. I assume Taishi had explained everything to Anrui by then, and I am sure she understood. She had a brother herself, she knew how boys were treated. Anyway, I didn't do anything relevant to the story that day, until, as I said, I walked into the throne room. I wanted to ask my mother if I was dining withthem again that evening, but when I came there I found Anrui and Taishi on their knees before the throne. Tafide, the queen of Madash, was sitting next to my mother. I waited at the door, because I knew better than to disturb. I realised how strong my mother looked, sitting on that huge throne, I am sure you remeber it all, except you two of course, Ivy and Fleur."

All of them nodded. Twinkle Star definately remembered the huge throne room and the gigantic throne. It was so much more majecticthan the little room they had here, and had always been impressed with her grandmother, especially when she sat on her throne, and hr mother next to her. She remembered the awe she had felt, and she completely understood her mother's feelings. She knew Fleur and Ivy wouldn't understand, but she would never be able to explain. It was something you had to see for yourself to understand.

"Apparently, Taishi had just explained that he loved Anrui, and not Reine, to the two queens, because my mother asked Anrui if she was feeling the same for Taishi. Anrui bowed even lower, and answered: 'Yes, my queen. My feelings for Taishi are strong and pure. Love is all I feel when I am in his presence, and I am sure it is what he feels for me.'

My mother sighed and looked at Tafide, who shook her head in dissaprovement, and she once again turned at Taishi.
 'Taishi, you know this is a serious request you have placed upon me now. I already informed the royal family about the engagement. Nobody in the country knows yet, but it will not be long. It will be a disgrace to my daughter to announce the wedding is off. It is not something I can do lightly.'
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat. Was I wrong with my judgement of my mother?

'My queen, I apologize for my lacking behaviour, and I will take all responsibility of this situation upon me. It is my mistake for not being clearer sooner, and my mistake if something bad happens to Reine. It was my choice not to tell earlier and I regret it. But I cannot choose to love Reine, because my heart has already made that decision for me. It is Anrui I love. I will never be able to love Reine, and to be a good and loving husband for her, or a good father to her children, because my heart will always cry for Anrui. I cannot give Reine what you ask of me, and I cannot be forced to do that, for my feelings cannot be told what to do.'

I shuddered when I heard this. Even though i could not see his face, I knew he meant every word he spoke, and I knew it would be wrong for him to marry Reine. Not only for him, but also for her. She deserved someone who loved her, not someone who was forced to spend his life with her. And I was relieved to see that my mother realised this too.

'I understand, Taishi.' She said, and she nodded at Tafide, who looked at her son, not completely happy about it, but she knew there was nothing she could do. My mother once again looked at Taishi.
'I can feel it too, the love you two have for each other. I felt it the moment you two entered the room, but I wanted to hear it from you both. I will cancel the engagement of you and Reine, Taishi. I will tell her, she will accept it better from me. I know where your heart belongs, Taishi, and don't ever stray from it. Please take good care of Anrui.'
She then turned at Anrui.
'I remember the day you were born, Anrui. You were so small and fragile. But now here you are, a beautiful grown woman, full with love. I am sure you and Taishi will be happy, and I know your mother and brother will be happy for you as well. I am glad you have found something as pure and beautiful as this.'
She then looked at Tafide, who only said: 'I hope you have made the right decision, my son.'

She wasn't happy with her son's choice, that was obvious, but she could do nothing but accept it, if even the queen of the Friendship Lands accepted the marriage. They both left the throne room, and Taishi thanked my mother before he walked out of the door. I quickly walked inside, and discussed other things with my mother, trying to forget the extremely happy feeling I had. I felt as if it all turned out allright after all. Anrui and Taishi were together."

Twinkle Star sighed. This didn't sound like a sad story at all! Didn't all the loved ones get together? Sure Reine would not marry Taishi, but what the hell? There were more boys in the world than him alone. She heard someone's stomach grumble, and she slowly looked behind her. It was getting late already. it wouldn't be long before the sun would set. And she agreed with whoever was hugry; they had been here for a long time now, listening to this story. Though Twinkle Star was still fascinated, it became harder and harder to believe that this story had to do with the fact that Reine had lost her right to the throne.

"Yes, Twinkle Star, the sun is about to go down, and the sky is about to turn red. I was hoping this would happen when I would start at this part of my story. The end is near. A sunset... Every sunset like this reminds me of that bloodred evening, and the last sun I saw on which my sister was the heir to the throne. I will now tell you why she had lost that position. I will now tell you how the story ends, and how my world was changed forever in one evening."