Prologue : Cendres Froides ( Cold Ashes )
A gust of wind a little more violent than others blew outside the castle of Canterlot and shook the shutters of the lattice window from which stood the Princess Cadence. The Alicorn raised her muzzle to the outside and shivered reflexively, imagining the wind bite. It was strange, she thought, this tendency for the body to get cold simply by thinking about it. After all, she was warm, in the princely library, a good fire was roaring in the fireplace, giving off a pleasant smell of wood that was consumed. But she had yet shuddered.
It was fun.
Cadence looked down to take back her reading. She pulled a big book archives earlier in the day, a grimoire covered with illuminations and initials, on the history of Equestria.
Quite the kind of books that Twilight would appreciate, she thought with a small smile.
For its part, Cadence was not a big fan of books. She had nothing against a good little reading occasionally, but then to read as much as her sister in law, there was still a step to cross. The princess would never have confessed but her favorite series was to be Daring Do.
But it was not for pleasure that Cadence was studying in detail the book since three in the morning, it was a duty. Tomorrow - well, in a while - Shining Armor and herself are invited to dinner with Noble Circlet, the most respectful historian of Equestria. Especially his critics say the most boring.
Cadence had suddenly panicked, imagining gaffe in the evening, say something absurd and be ridicule in the eyes of the unicorn. If it was only affecting her, it would be okay, but she does not want to embarrass her husband or the princely family of which she was one of the members.
This was why Cadence were traveling the book since hours, with the funny impression of being again a filly which revised in disaster some hours before an exam.
Cadence thought that at the same time, her husband was probably sleeping peacefully. He did not have the same anxiety as his wife about the dinner. Out of what was directly involved the royal guard, Shining was not the unicorn the most stickler on the protocol. The fact that he became the prince consort of Equestria their wedding made no difference.
Moreover, thought Cadence during chasing with her hoof a stand of hair that had fallen on his eyes, this prince title was curious.
She had not really thought that it was funny when you take time to stop on it : Celestia and Luna, her aunts who were two-ruled on Equestria had the same title as she and Blueblood, his cousin, who had no political power.
It was a way of comfort for her and Blueblood, though unlike his cousin, Cadence preferred to be addressed just using his nickname, without pomp or excessive protocol.
It would have been more logic that Celestia and Luna would be designated as queens or empresses of Equestria.
Why be limited to the prince rank?
Turning the page and continuing his reading, Cadence promised her to ask the question to Circlet a bit later.
Using her magic, Cadence took a cup flower wine brought by a waiter who went immediately provide refreshments to other ponies. Princess dipped her lips, more by politeness than anything else. She had not a palate train for the wine.
Her husband, quite the reverse, was an amateur and visibly enjoyed the opportunity to taste some great wines: he stopped regularly in the conversation he had with other guests to try new flavors.
Cadence smiled while seeing the captain of the guard stop his presentation about the past performance of Wonderbolts with the top three bankers of Equestria, equally keen on sports than him, to catch a new glass and empty it with pleasure.
Shining had definitely no kind of idea how to hold the rank when we were consort. And think that Cadence were always courted by ponies who dreamed of being in his place.
The Alicorn was happy that her husband was laughing as royal customs. It was a good hoofpunch made to all those pretty-hearts. And it was only making Shining more precious to her eyes.
She would love to have this detached side that Celestia had sometimes, but Cadence was not forgetting that she was still a blood princess. Regardless to the protocol that her aunt Luna, the mare was trying a little bit to keep his rank.
Taking care to don’t strip up her legs in his big evening dress, Cadence trotted a little more in the garden, bowing with the head or answering with a kind word when someone were spoken to her.
She would have to take a few moments alone with her husband but Shining was deep in his sports commentary. Better to not disturb him.
The Alicorn were looking especially a quiet location. It had not stopped to talk to her and hold her leg since they arrived in the evening of Noble Circlet, three hours ago. Ponies, unicorns and pegasi they had crossed were all very nice, that was not the problem, but there were times when even a blood princess had to release the pressure.
It was in these moments that she finally understood Celestia, always ready to play a little trick to her subjects.
After a few minutes of searching, Cadence found what she wanted.
Attracted by the sound of water, she finally found that place in the gardens, where a small white water canal were travelling, covered with water lilies and fragrant flowers. The Alicorne went to lie down on the edge of the water, being careful to don’t stain her dress in the grass.
The laughter and the discussions of the party seemed diffuse, as if they came from far away. His ears were even more delighted.
_Princesse Mi Amore Cadenza, began a voice behind the Alicorne.
_Cadence, please, said the princess, almost automatically. Just Cadence.
_Of course. Cadence, so, corrected the voice. Do you allow me to join you?
The Alicorne made a sign with her muzzle, and the person came sitting next to her.
Cadence recognized the cutie mark in book form and intersecting time curve symbol that Professor Noble Circlet sported on the side.
Strangely, Cadence noticed, it must be the first time in three hours that they met up together. They saw briefly each other at the beginning of the evening, when the historian welcomed the royal couple, but then he had to leave them to greet his guests and Cadence and Shining, individually, had to socialize with the guests of the festival.
The thing that marked Cadence was that Circlet was an earth pony, not an unicorn. Canterlot was yet dominated by unicorns, and finding a hornless pony was rare.
Circlet was an exception.
For the rest, he was exactly in keeping with the popular stereotype of the historian, from his little white and pointed beard to his square glasses, including the pipe he had regularly in his mouth.
The pony took a few puffs and looked up at the starry night.
_We have the chance to have a great night tonight... praise is your aunt for her actions.
Cadence looked at the sky too, but made no comment about the remark that the historian just used, even if she found it weird, like every time someone put her aunt on a divine pedestal. Besides, about what aunt spoke Circlet ? Celestia or Luna ?
“Does this surprise you?” Circlet asked with a smile, pinning his pipe between his teeth. “That I speak about the Princess like that?”
“I will not allow myself to judge your beliefs,” Cadence said with a small smile.
The pony had a shoulder movement :
_You can. I have no embarrassment to admit what I see about Princess, even about the Princesses, something that goes beyond the simple Alicorne. No offense, of course.
Cadence made him understand that she wasn’t taking badly what he had just said. Reassured, Circlet continued :
_You know, I have many colleagues who do not understand how we can marry our scientific work and our faith. But personally, I don’t see any problems. Scientific work allows me to demonstrate and analyze, and my religious beliefs are the starting point. In addition to something to hold when I'm in doubt. And believe me Cadence, an historian is often in doubt, the pony chuckled.
The question came up fleetingly for Cadence . What was she believing ? The power of love was the answer that was burning his lips, as Twilight would surely have replied the power of friendship.
But it was an interesting question, it was necessary to recognize it.
_But is not the doubt necessary to your profession, Professor? Without it, you would not suggest any hypothesis, am I wrong?
_The word "doubt" might be wrongly chosen, admitted Circlet in removing his pipe from his mouth and expelling some smoke rings. I wanted to talk about personal questions, metaphysical. Under a beautiful night like this, when we realize that we are a particle on a point in the giant universe ... the mind can have difficulties to admit it. The pony will always tend to think that he is exceptional, apart, and it is logical because our lives seem to revolve around us at first sight. This is when we realize that there is something beyond us that faith can be helpful. Like when we are lost in the fog, but we know that outside of this fog, there is something and someone watches over us.
The historian let slip a blank.
_But I did not come to bother you with my theological reflections, Circlet apologized in taking a puff of his pipe. The evening is going well for you?
_Perfectly, the alicorne replied.
_I’m happy about it. I was afraid that the party does not last. The canterloters have this tendency to think that I am a pretty boring pony.
_Your evenings are far from “boring” Noble, I assure, asserted a voice behind them.
Circlet and Cadence turned over and saw Princess Celestia, as resplendent as usual, its colorful floating mane shining as gas in the light of the night.
The couple saluted respectfully the alicorne’s aunt, who quickly made them understand to pick up.
_I thank you were at Baltimare, your Majesty, for an inauguration, Circlet emphasized during he picked up, quickly imitated by Cadence.
_I was, Celestia answered. In fact, I just got back, I was going back to the castle. But I decided to stop at your party, to say good evening. I hope it don’t disturb you Noble?
_You never disturb me, ma'am.
The Sun Princess sent him a small smile before turning his attention to his niece.
_Cadence, I take advantage of seeing you to tell that the Baltimare Doge count on your presence, you and your husband next week for the city games opening.
_Understood my aunt, we'll make sure to be there. I will...
Cadence correct herself, remembering that they Celestia preferred being on first-name terms with the royal family. She even allowed Shining Armor to do it but the captain of the guard would rather eat his ceremonious uniform without salt than follow, for once, the instructions in the Alicorne.
_... Thank you.
_You are welcome, the co-ruler of Equestria replied, without departing from her smile.
A white Pegasus passed through the conversation. Cadence went on quickly :
_Tell me, she asked for the attention of Celestia, I wanted to ask you, there is a question I always asked to myself : why you and Luna, you have the title of "princesses" of Equestria? Would not it be more logical if you were queens? Or empresses?
Celestia had a sly grin :
_I could answer you, but since teacher Circlet is here, I would not encroach on his chosen field. Noble, please, would you do us this favor?
The pony salute a second time and did so:
_I will try to be brief. Your Majesty will forgive me if I recall the facts she had experienced, apologized historian to the solar Alicorne.
Circlet left his pipe on the floor, cleared his throat and began his story.
_The Title of "Princess" by which we name Her Majesty Celestia and her sister, Her Majesty Luna is actually the shortened form of "big Princess". We still find traces today in the sense that this is why the titles of Their Majesties are written with a capital letter and not with a tiny as is it the case for you, Princess Cadence or your younger cousin, Prince Blueblood. When Discord, the spirit of chaos ruled Equestria and the alicornes defeated him with the Elements of Harmony, the people was left without boss, without leader. You could not really say that Discord managed, it was a despot, but it was even the supreme authority. Ponies, unicorns and pegasi then proposed to the heroines who had imprisoned draconequus in stone to take in their hoof the fate of Equestria. And adorn them with this title of their choice. It is His Majesty Luna who chose "Big Princess”, in disagreement with his sister, I think, who would have preferred be a simple princess.
Celestia gave a small nod to prove the truth of his statements. Circlet continued.
_So that’s how we could summarize, badly I admit, thousands years of the Equestria history. But be assured, Cadence, that if your aunt had the title of queen, empress, or even had none, she would always be the best leaders that our nation could dream.
“Stop it, Noble, you'll make me blush,” Celestia said, half flattered, half embarrassed. You should know that I do not like compliments.
_I am a historian, said Circlet taking again his pipe, and raising his eyebrows with a half-smile. I am just exposing the facts. If you Majesties want to excuse me, I have other guests to see before the evening ends. Ladies...
The earth pony had a muzzle movement and walked away from the canal, leaving the two alicornes alone. Celestia was the first to break the silence.
_You should go back to your husband, Cadence, she advised, pointing with her hoof the captain of the guard, who was beginning to stagger on its hind legs. I am afraid that Shining had trouble keeping okay the rest of the night.
_Bloody mane, Cadence swore under his breath. Excuse me, aunt Celestia, she said, trotting to her husband to pull a cup of wine out of his hoofs, before he drink it.
Left alone, Celestia thought back to the presentation by Professor Circlet.
He was not wrong, basically, but it was strange to hear events that we participated, telled by the mouth of a pony who knew them only by testimonials and studies.
Actually yes, if we summed up more than succinctly, the facts had occurred like he told. But we forgot a crowd of details, information that had been cleaned up in the river of time.
Elements that existed only in the minds of Celestia, Luna and Discord itself.
_You are right Cadence, Celestia whispered with a voice so low that even her could not hear, seeing his niece improvise a little waltz with her husband on the applause of the other ponies, we should always be with those we love. Always. And enjoy them while we can still do it.
With a sad sigh, Celestia, Princess of Equestria though that this was a long time she did not go to the statue of a certain draconequus.
She promised herself to correct this mistake when she would return to the castle later in the evening.
