A Lost Connection

Princess Cadence was thrilled to finally have a day off! No problems in the empire, no meetings to attend, no villains to defeat. It was glorious! Shining Armor was still busy helping guide the Royal Guard and all that, but a break! Ugh! She needed one so badly! She immediately tossed her crown onto her night table and flopped onto the bed. She looked around at the emptiness around her. What now? The princess wondered. She never actually had a break before. Hmm...what do the other princesses do during a break? Luna and Celestia would probably keep each other company or hang out with one another. Twilight would be studying or hanging out with her friends. Oh! She could hang out with Twilight today! Cadence leaped up at the idea. She conjured up some parchment and quills.

Dear Twilight,

Hey! I'm off today, so maybe you want to hang out? I mean, I don't have anything special planned. We can find something to do here or in Ponyville? What do you say? Please rescue me from this boredom! Sorry if this sounds rushed. It must be the boredom. Reply soon!

Love,

Princess Cadence

Cadence happily sent the message and put her crown back on. She waited eagerly for a reply. After a few short minutes of waiting and pacing around the room, Twilight's message finally arrived.

Dear Cadence,

I'm so glad that you turned to me for fun! But, unfortunately, I am currently in the midst of helping to restore and organize the Castle of the Two Sisters. I know you probably don't want to help clean. Besides, I think we have more than enough hooves helping here. Gotta run now. Spike just arrived with more supplies. Maybe another time?

Love,

Twilight

Cadence sighed as she finished reading the letter. Well, what does she do now? She exited her room sadly and slowly walked into the halls. The blue crystal glimmered all around her. Look at me! All dressed up and going nowhere she thought to herself. During the first few days as a princess, she spent all the free time that she could exploring her new castle. Everything was so bright! Every inch of the place was exciting from the throne room to the hidden lair of Sombra ( now being renovated to become a museum ) to the Crystal Heart. It was great back when she was new, but now she was all settled and it just seemed....normal. She walked into her throne room and sat back down on her seat. Nopony was around except a few guards.

"Any news?" Cadence asked. Her normally quiet voice boomed in the still palace. A guard began to approach her. Cadence's heart rose up. A new challenge? A new foe? A new adventure? I'll take anything! Even a boring old dispute between two ponies!

"No, your highness. Everything is in perfect order. Please, feel free to take a break now. Everything is alright," the guard announced in a monotone, yet regal voice. Cadence sighed and slumped out of her throne. Might as well find something to do outside. The quiet was creeping her out. The throne room was usually packed with ponies who had requests, needed something, or even just wanted to complain. It was previously annoying, but now the pony princess missed the buzz and chatter of angry citizens. Cadence trotted outside. Two guards ran after her in pursuit. They finally stopped next to her.

"Your highness. You shouldn't leave without any protection. We will accompany you on your journey," the first guard pony said to her quietly. "Perhaps you would like to take a sky chariot instead? Maybe a train?" The guard motioned for Cadence to go back inside the palace.

Cadence laughed. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll just be hanging around here.  Go back to the palace. You can keep an eye on me from there if you want." The guards were left astonished as Cadence trotted away. She headed for the Crystal Empire Library. Maybe a good book will take my mind off of my boredom! The librarian bowed down to her as soon as she entered the doors.

"Your highness! Welcome to the library. May I assist you with anything?" The pony, who was still bowing, asked.

"Oh, no thanks. Just here to...you know...get reading!" Cadence answered awkwardly. Gee, I am out of it today. I blame the boredom Cadence thought to herself as she motioned for the librarian to get up. After that, Cadence flew lightly over the entire library. What book should I read? I haven't read anything for fun in quite some time. Suddenly, a pony caught her attention. She was silently crying. Cadence didn't want to pry, but her boredom led her right in front of the pony.

The crying pony didn't even realize someone was in front of her until Cadence spoke up. "Hey! Are you alright? I don't mean to pry, but I was so bored! Anyway, I just saw you here and...well...it doesn't matter. So are you alright?"

"I.....I..." Suddenly the pony remembered her manners and immediately bowed down. Cadence cursed under her breath. I have got to stop forgetting they do that by now!

"It's alright. Get up. I'm here to help you," Cadence smiled as she helped the mare up.

"Thank you your highness. My name is Ivory Splint. It's just that my husband. He is always busy with work. We got into an argument about it lately, and well....things aren't going well...." the mare began to tear up as she stuttered on her words.

"No need to cry Ivory! I can fix this," Cadence smiled. The pony looked up at Cadence, confused. "Okay, what does your husband work as, exactly?"

"He's part of your royal guard, your highness," Ivory Splint replied.

"Oh? What's his name?"

"Whirlwind Splint,"

"Well, I suggest when Whirlwind gets his next break, you two can go on a romantic journey! Might I suggest Ponyville? I hear that town is wonderful towards any newcomers. Including Princess Twilight,"

"Well...I suppose it's worth a shot..."

"Go for it!"

"Thank you, your majesty," Ivory wiped away all of her tears and trotted out of the library. She seemed to be looking way better than before. The librarian nodded at her just before she left.

Cadence was glad to have solved someone's romantic problems. Now, off to give Whirlwind a break! He was always one of the more attentive guards. Tragedy in the empire happened, sure, but sometimes the guards just weren't capable. Besides, one less guard can't hurt anyone..right? She kept on trotting along until she found the history section of the library. Might as well brush up on my facts while I'm here! Cadence opened a book and started to read about life before Sombra. She studied all of the holidays, more traditions, more about the crystal heart. She was so caught up in the moment, she never really thought about the past of the empire. She skimmed the book when suddenly, a page caught her eye. It was on the crystal heart!

When the heart was first created by Crystalline Love, she made it so that it would spread love everywhere. However, all ponies know that spells can't fix everything. While Crystalline was a loving pony indeed, she couldn't help but suffer from broken hearts, and was unable to help ponies with their broken hearts. Her sister Clair Love however, was able to find a solution. Since they both ruled the empire Clair used royal magic to control the heart's power, so whenever somepony was in need of aid, they simply went by the heart and Clair could hear their needs. This ability and power was passed down the royal line. No non-alicorn pony has ever been able to achieve that ability.

Cadence was intrigued. She could use this to fix everypony's problems! She was great at healing a broken heart! Cadence thought back to when she was just a foal-sitter. She sometimes used her magic to sort out disputes. Twilight loved it when she did that. Thinking about broken hearts, her mind floated off to Shining Armor. She missed him so much. He would always be back, but they rarely ever got a chance alone. Cadence strolled by the crystal heart on her way to her room. Some tourist ponies were there, as well as a group of crystal ponies who were just bustling about. Many bowed to the princess, but without the large entourage of guards, she was sometimes glanced over. Cadence didn't mind. She wasn't all about that royal life anyway.

I can't just tamper with the heart in front of everypony like this Cadence thought. Its too strange, I need to go....sometime less occupied... She trotted back up to her palace to find Whirlwind Splint. After all, it was the only thing left for her to do. She burst open the doors of her throne room, slightly startling everypony. She smiled awkwardly and ascended her throne. After settling down a bit, she raised her voice in a regal manner.

"May the guard Whirlwind Splint please stand here before me," Cadence announced. The guards immediately turned to look at an indigo pony who was sheepishly walking towards Cadence. She looked at him slowly approaching from her throne. "You are Whirlwind, correct?"

"Ye...yes your highness.." Whirlwind stammered nervously.

"A hmmm, how long have you been standing post?"

"Longer than any other pony, your highness. About a month or so...."

"Go home Whirlwind."

"What! Your highness, pardon, but...."

"Whirlwind, you need a break. I'm sending you on it for two weeks. Go home to your wife and maybe take a nice vacation? It sounds like you need it and earned it."

"My wife doesn't...... I mean yes, your highness."

The guard quickly left the room. Another one was fetched in to replace him for the time being. Cadence smiled and gazed out of one of the windows near her throne. She could see her shining empire. She immediately thought of Shining Armor and got sad again. She got up and strolled to her own room. She plopped down on the bed once more. Well, maybe if her boredom can keep her alive until nightfall, she would have something to do....finally.