“Clemence Violet? It is so good to see you here in my palace again after all these years,” said Princess Celestia, greeting her old friend.
Clemence just smiled and responded, “Well, I couldn’t resist coming back for a visit. I cannot believe that even after all these years, the palace is just as I remembered it.”
The two walked toward a stained glass window that stood between two beautifully decorated marble columns. They stood and gazed out upon the castle maze in the distance.
“You know, the Castle’s Botanical Garden hasn’t been the same since you left Canterlot. There wasn’t a flower that failed to flourish while you worked here.”
“Actually, I am just a regular old Earth Pony. I certainly cherished every moment tending the garden!” Her cheerful smile slowly melted into a disappointed grin. “However, there was a certain flower that would routinely fail to blossom.”
“Oh? What flower would that be?” inquired Celestia.
“Well -”
A loud screech echoed inside the chamber. As the palace doors opened, a member of the royal guard quickly galloped in with haste. “Your Royal Highness, your councilors seek an audience with you immediately!” He took off his golden helmet and continued, “They say it is a matter of... life & death! What shall I tell them?”
“Bring them in,” she said, and the sole ruler of Equestria took her place upon the golden throne awaiting her trusted advisers.
A few moments later, a group of eleven male unicorns trotted toward the throne. In the middle of the pack was a pink pegasus with a long braided pink and purple mane. When the group stood before the throne, the unicorns in the front stepped aside, revealing a confused & distraught young mare. Her protruding belly- a clear indication she was in a later stage of her pregnancy.
The eldest unicorn in the group stepped to the front. “Princess Celestia, as you know, I am Fair Esteem. Please forgive our intrusion, but we stand before you for a good reason,” he stated courteously. “You have made it clear that you care for all your subjects within this Grand Kingdom; no matter how big or how small. We are here because this young mare over here was on her way to get a medical procedure that would terminate the life of her defenseless unborn foal. Fortunately, we found her just in time. Every life is precious, so we implore that you remind her that terminating a life is wrong and convince her to keep the child.”
All the accompanying followers glanced at one another and nodded their heads in agreement.
“We trust you will make the right choice, so we await your wise council, Your Highness.”
Princess Celestia gave the crying young mare a handkerchief and a warm smile assuring her, “Do not be afraid.”
She gratefully accepted the handkerchief; wiping her tears and blowing her snout.
“So what is your name?” asked Celestia.
Although the young pegasus was clearly shaken, she managed to politely bow before her Princess and she whispered, “Endowa, my name is… Endowa.”
After composing herself, Endowa cleared her throat and declared, “It is true. I was on my way to get an abortion. What my accusers failed to mention was that the conception of this thing,” pointing to her large belly, “was not made with my consent. It was forcibly made by somepony I knew. Somepony I trusted, but he… he… viciously assaulted me with self-conceded intentions, and… I… I don’t know what else to say except that- I was raped,” she painfully stammered.
Celestia’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. “That’s terrible! Who could have done such a thing to you?”
Fair Esteem again stepped forward, declaring: “I do have some good news Your Highness. The pegasus whom she is referring to has recently been apprehended, and he confessed to the crime. He is currently being held by the royal guard and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Endowa, I am sorry you have gone through such a grievous tragedy, but don’t forget that the foal which is currently being knitted within the fabric of your womb has a purpose and destiny that only your foal can fulfill; I can feel it in my bones!”
He adjusted his gaze to the sole ruler of Equestria and asked, “What is worse than one tragedy, Your Highness?”
“Two tragedies. Go on” remarked Celestia.
“Exactly, this is a most heart-wrenching tragedy because she did nothing to provoke this assault. No pony ever does! It would be an equal tragedy to terminate the life of this beautiful unborn child- which is just as innocent; if not more so. Did this foal choose to enter this world or the circumstances of the conception? Need I remind you that even a seed planted by an evil deed can still bloom into something good. Something beautiful! I know what you must be going through right now Endowa, but….”
“But you don’t know what I am going through!” Endowa screamed.
An eerie silence filled the room.
“You see, I don’t want to go through with this abortion, Your Majesty, I really don’t!" Her emotions were ripping at the seams. "I am a full-time-student working full-time to make ends meet. I don’t have the means to continue my education and raise this child. I can barely support myself as it is! Besides, how could I love this 'thing' when it is but a reminder of my betrayal from a so-called-friend, and my constant trauma that still haunts me to this day? Plus, the fact that I was paraded in here like a… a common criminal is more than I can bear!”
Her legs gave way and she fell on her knees weeping uncontrollably upon the red velvet carpet. Her tail covered her left flank tightly- as she was trying to comfort herself.
Celestia gave her another handkerchief and Endowa was given the time and room to cry.
Until that is the youngest in group blurted out, “Wow, this is a more difficult decision than I thought it would be!” “Ouch!” Another member from the group elbowed him and gave him a snarl. He quickly corrected himself. “I mean, Princess Celestia? Are you going to stop her from terminating a precious life or will you allow her to go through with the abortion?”
All eyes were upon Celestia and the room went silent. Even Endowa stopped crying as she held her breath waiting for a response.
Princess Celestia closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and collected her thoughts. She then stood up and stretched her wings out. The sun was shining behind her- displaying her regality. “I have heard your case my trusted councilors, and your desperate plea Endowa. After much thought, I have finally made my decision.”
Everypony leaned in with eager expectation to hear the ruling.
“Endowa? Please step forward if you would.” So she gingerly stood in front of the imposing figure that was Princess Celestia upon her throne.
“Considering the extraordinary circumstances in which this foal was conceived, I have decided you do not have to keep the baby if you so choose,” she said affectionately.
Endowa began praising Celestia; showering her with gratitude, but the councilors began to murmur amongst themselves.
Fair Esteem looked confused. “But Princess Celestia,” he complained, “Are you saying that you are going to allow…”
Princess Celestia immediately silenced him and gave a curious looked at her advisers. “So you declare that it is wrong for her to abort the unborn baby?” inquired Celestia.
They all fervently nodded in agreement.
Celestia pondered their response and began to use her magic to paint something in the air. Above the group, a silhouette began to take form within the atmosphere- displaying a lively little foal gleefully jumping around in circles in front of a lovely home. Everypony in the room strained their necks upward and marveled at the majestic spectacle displayed above them.
“Then who among you will adopt this foal into your home and agree to raise him or her as if they were your very own?” Celestia asked to her councilors.
The group was taken aback by the request made of them, so they began to look at one another nervously and shrugged.
No pony volunteered.
“Again I say, if you all are so adamantly opposed to her aborting this ‘precious life,’ who among you will step up and give her another option?”
One by one each of the councilors became making excuses why they themselves couldn’t do it. The eldest said, “I am much too old to raise a babe in my condition,” the youngest shared he wasn’t ready to be a dad just yet, and the rest had too many children of their own to take on another.
Not ready to give up, Celestia pleaded with the councilors one last time. “You wish me to tell her to reconsider her options. Is there anypony among you who will become that option?”
In response, the group just lowered their heads in shame. Acting as if they hadn’t heard the question, and just like that, the visual incantation evaporated like the morning fog. So the jumping foal was no more.
Princess Celestia, much to everypony’s surprise, descended from her throne toward the pregnant mare. She knelt beside Endowa and comforted her with a wing wrapped around her. “Since those who condemn your intentions to carry out an abortion are either unable or unwilling to lend a hoof in your time of need. I hereby decree that you may go and do what you intend to do without interference from anypony who opposes your decision.” Tears began to pool up within Celestia’s eyes. She stamped the parchment with her Royal Seal and placed the scroll in front of Endowa.
She hesitated for a moment, but eventually accepting the written decree. So Endowa got up from the floor and began to walk toward the door.
Princess Celestia sharply turned her head toward her Royal Councilors and lamented, “What is worse than two tragedies? O-my-trusted-advisers; if only you had as much compassion stored in your heart as your abundant supply of conviction that you hold within your bones. If that was the case, then maybe, just maybe the procedure would have been unnecessary. That is the third tragedy.”
You could hear the heavy hooves of the young mare echoing with every step upon the cold marble floor, but the echo that resonated louder was the apathy that filled the chamber of empty hearts.
Before she reached the door, somepony began galloping towards her, crying out, “Wait!”
Everypony in the room was startled by the unexpected interruption. It was the old mare that was speaking with Celestia before the intrusion. She got to Endowa and began to catch her breath. “My name is… Clemence Violet… and I…”
“Did you not hear Princess Celestia? No pony who opposes my choice may interfere now! Go away and leave me alone!”
“But my dear, I am not here to condemn or judge. In fact, I am pro-choice! So I will respect whatever decision you make. I am just here to tell you that I wish to adopt your foal” said Clemence in a soothing tone.
“Thanks, but no thanks! I don’t need your pity!”
When they both exited Princess Celestia’s throne room and into the hallway, the door slammed loudly behind the two mares.
Unfazed by the rejection, Clemence kept pace beside her and replied, “This offer is not made out of pity for you, but love for your unborn child. I can’t explain it; I can only sense it. Fair Esteem was right about one thing- there is something very special about this foal,” pointing to Endowa’s belly. “For years my husband and I had long dreamt of raising a family of our own, but we were plagued by miscarriage after miscarriage. Although my husband has passed away, the dream of raising a family still burns strongly in my heart. I may be just an Earth Pony, but I will raise your Pegasus with love in my heart. This is the sole reason why I extend this offer to you, my dear.”
Endowa stopped dead in her tracks. She closed her eyes and tears of joy began to run down her face. “So are you saying that you promise to take care of my baby with the love and life that I myself cannot provide him or her?”
“Yes I am, and yes I will if it’s OK with y-” Endowa tackled Clemence with a tight embrace before she could finish, and Clemence hugged her right back.
Upon the warm touch of Clemence’s embrace, Endowa’s baby leapt inside, vigorously kicking her stomach. At that moment- a magical wave began reverberating from the womb. This magic couldn’t be seen, yet it had enough power to cover the entire palace.
Unaware of what had taken place, everypony inside, including the advisers were in awe because of the love, tenderness, and warmth, that had mysteriously enveloped the room. This magic had penetrated their soul and it began to overflow from their hearts like a cup under a waterfall. Then as if on que, the group of advisers immediately huddled together in discussion.
As the two mares exited from one another’s embrace, the advisers burst through the doors and into the hallway.
“Endowa, we understand you are going through with the abortion, but before you leave, we just wanted to say that it was wrong for us to drag you before Celestia in the manner that we did,” said Fair Esteem with great humility. "We should have been there to provide the support and comfort to help you through your pain. Instead, we only dragged you through additional trauma; only adding insult to injury. For all of this, I am truly sorry.”
One by one they all bowed their heads and humbly apologized to Endowa. “We cannot take back our mistake. However, as Celestia as our witness- we all discussed the matter and we felt compelled to pitch in whatever we could spare. By our combined pledges, we have enough bits to pay for the remainder of your education until you graduate. It is the least we could do. We wish nothing but the best for you and your future. We only request that you accept this gift and find it in your heart to one day forgive us.”
“This cannot reverse the agony that my heavy heart carries!” she said while wiping the tears from her eyes. However, I accept your generous gift because it will help to lighten the burden of moving forward in my life, and I do also accept your apologies; though it will take some time to forgive you.”
Endowa grabbed the front hoof of Clemence Violet and looked deeply within her eyes and said, “Actually, I have decided not to go ahead with the abortion after all.” She slowly ripped the scroll in two allowing the pieces to float toward the ground. “Clemence Violet and I agreed that she will raise my baby."
“That is wonderful news.” Into the hallway, Celestia entered into sight with her wings stretched, and a smile that shined as bright as her cutie mark.
So on that day, Endowa accepted Celestia’s invitation to stay at the Palace until she and her foal were healthy enough to leave their physician’s care. Clemence soon after returned to her small Earth Pony village at the edge of a dense forest waiting for Celestia to send foal to her.
Every morning Clemence would look out of her kitchen window facing Canterlot: wondering if Endowa’s baby would finally arrive this day.
One day, a crying little foal was heard outside the little Earth Pony village. When Clemence finally arrived at the scene, half of the village had already crowded around a woven basket made out of papyrus.
When she finally reached the basket, Clemence had her breath taken away when she gazed upon the gorgeous pink Pegasus with a mane of three hues. One strand matched the yellow shade of papyrus she was stored in; the middle was a vibrant rosy red color that could make a rose envious, and final stripe was a violet strand that covered part of her adorable little face.
There was also a scroll in the basket that read:
To my beloved friend Clemence Violet,
I am most pleased to hear that
the flower has finally bloomed
after all your years of waiting patiently.
As you know, this baby you are holding,
generated a powerful magical rhythm
that filled all our hearts with unconditional love.
In commemoration of this event,
I have decided to name this beautiful foal:
Cadenza
Mi Amore Cadenza
Yours Truly,
Princess Celestia
Over the years Mi Amore Cadenza was constantly surrounded by the inhabitants of one most loving and compassionate villages in all of Equestria. Yet even they were inspired by the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and gentleness that she displayed even as a small filly.
No pony could have predicted she would one day become an Alicorn Princess. Yet those who raised her weren’t surprised in the slightest to hear that their little Cadence had grown-up to be the Princess of Love. It would be difficult to imagine the world of Equestria if Cadence hadn’t entered this world, but when Clemence accepted Cadence with love in her heart, she didn’t just save a filly. She rescued an entire kingdom from certain peril.
Between the options of pro-choice or pro-life, it was the choice to show compassion that made the previous positions inequitably obsolete. Through a selfless act of sacrificial love, a seed sown by evil deeds was able to blossom into a blessing in disguise in the form of Cadence; reaping a harvest of love that increased a thousandfold within the Kingdom of Equestria and beyond.
