A pony on hard times

The adventure for Princess Cadence was coming to an end. She had been undercover for many months now and there were only minutes to go. But they were proving to be the longest minutes of her life, or at least the life she remembered.

She watched over the scene as the final arrests were being made ready to step in with her powerful magic had anypony tried anything. But they all knew that they had been set up perfectly by the Alicorn and the Manehatten police department – the reign of terror from this organised crime syndicate was coming to an end.

Outside the compound, the Royal Guard was keeping at eye on the perimeter despite their being no need with the shield Cadence was maintaining, and the local police were dealing with the more minor arrests. But this was a major event and so the Guard had to continue to make a showing. Besides, there was another reason one of the guards in particular wanted to be there.

As all the ponies left the ground of the mansion, Cadence was blinded by all the press taking photos. It hadn’t taken long for the word to spread, and with the media embargo out of the way there was no stopping them. They could finally break the silence and put all the rumours to rest – the Princess hadn’t fallen from grace, or done any terrible acts, she had put herself through this to help out Manehattan's police force.

There was a lot of noise and commotion, and lots of journalists calling out "Princess mi amore cadenza" to grab her attention, but the pink alicorns ears picked out one sound out of it all.

“Cadey” one of the guards called out as he ran towards the Princess, shedding his helmet against regulation 5447/b as he ran.

“Shiny” Cadence called out in delight and leaping over the gathered crowd galloped towards her colt-friend, coming together in deep hug. The press gathered round the hugging pair, capturing the moment for the front pages, but when the pair went to kiss all the photographers put down their cameras - for this was genuine moment of emotion and didn't need to be intruded on.

Suddenly, a loud “Yuck!” was shouted out from not far away in a high pitched but powerful voice. Cadence saw a purple ball of unstoppable energy heading her way. Separating herself from her colt-friend, she readied herself for the incoming unicorn filly charging her way.

“Sunshine, Sunshine, Ladybugs Awake, Clap your hooves and do a little shake”

the pair sang and danced in unison, the gathered ponies lapping up the sweet childlike moment between the Princess and the filly. Shining Armour looked on with a smile on his face as he didn't mind sharing his actual Princess with his sister, his little princess best sister forever.

Princess Celestia then came walking over as everypony including Cadence and Twilight bowed to her. She quickly picked up Cadences head and gave her “niece” a massive hug. One of the photographers sort of coughed, and Celestia nodded – she had no qualms at her subjects seeing this. The gathered photographers captured the tender moment between the two Alicorns, before the two siblings also joined in a family, or perhaps soon to be family, moment.

However, it was soon broken by the highest pitched voice in the group "Princess Cadence, can I ask you something?"

"Yes Twilight, of course" the loving voice replied

"Why are you wearing a horn ring? Did Shining propose?" Twilight squeed the second question and was jumping up and down in further excitement Celestia was struggling to suppress a smirk as the young couple blushed and Cadence quickly removed the ring and threw it away, as Twilight looked on confused at the response of the adults.

A few days had passed and Cadence was trotting through Canterlot Castle, alone with her thoughts. The newspapers had run front page stories for days about the whole thing including a clarification over the heroic saving of the ponies in the fire. Opinion polls on Equestria’s Royalty never showed a particularly low figure but right now they were through the roof! Coupled with the successful conviction of the mobsters, and the associated fall of crime, had made the whole ordeal worthwhile.

The first night back with her coltfriend after being away for so long wasn't too bad either!

But there was some unfinished business and making her way to one of the many reception rooms she heard a number of ponies chatting inside. She decided to be her usual playful self and instead of entering via the main door, went round to the back of the room and made a discreet entrance. All the ponies were waiting for somepony to enter and were sat chatting nervously, having never been to the castle before

“Silver Platter! I’m so glad you came. You two Orange Shadow” Cadence called out warmly from the back of the room “And welcome to the rest of you as well”

All the ponies turned in shock and started bowing to her. “Rise friends” the Princess laughed and trotted over to give Orange Shadow a long overdue hug “Whilst I may be a Princess, you should never bow to me. And please just call me ‘Cadence’, none of this 'Princess' business.”

The pony trotted to the front of the room with the clip-clop of her golden horseshoes being the only sound as the visiting ponies were all left speechless. She looked around and noticed most of the mares that she had befriended during her Manehattan stay had taken her invite to come to the castle.

“I have invited you all here today to join the castles staff as my personal maids, chefs and assistants. You all showed me compassion and friendship during the undercover operation, and as a thank you I want to give you this chance. It is not going to be a free ride and you will be expected to work as hard as anypony else. But I’m sure you will find your lives improved by working in Canterlot."

“But I don’t know the first thing about serving Royalty, you know what the type of serving we used to do” Orange Shadow's face looked embarrassed and the Princess saw some of the other mares have the same look of concern.

“That may be so, but I can't think of a better pony to help guide you then Ms Platter here” she turned to the mare, causing her to blush as well “You have each shown me your true colours and I would rather have you as the ponies I see everyday then somepony just trying to get in with Royalty. That is why until now I have had no staff of my own."

She smiled deeply and looked at all her friends "You will all get a place to live in Canterlot, and can bring your foals and partners to live with you. A free creche is provided and we can find jobs for any partners as well. So what do you say, friends?”

Cadence expected a thank you, and assumed it would be a meek one from their embarrassment at being round the Princess. Instead the alicorn found herself in the middle of a mass group hug, with most of the mares crying with happiness. A tear of her own escaped her eye as something deep down inside her was reminder of a time, long ago, when she was equally as loved as now…