The Royal Foalsitter

Princess Cadance was trotting through the crowds of Canterlot. Around her city thrived. Ponies going in all directions busy with they every day errands. Above her Celestias sun shined and gave pleasant warmth of spring. Canterlot Weather Teams did especially good work that day and only few clouds could be seen above the city. Cadance had to admit that the team leader had excellent idea to place them there. Canterlot bloomed.

Cadance traveled a lot around the Equestria and have seen many cities. She noticed that every city was especially beautiful in different season, for example Las Pegasus flourished in the summer, Fillydefphia autumn was a breath taking sight and seeing Staliongrad in winter was worth all the trouble of getting to the east Equestria, but spring… Spring belonged to Canterlot.

Cadance bought few sweetrolls in one of many stands in the market. She took one from her bag and started to eat it slowly during her trot.

Do I have time for a stroll around the park? Asked herself in thoughts Cadance. Twilight evaluation to School for Gifted Unicorns will take a while.

Canterlot Royal Park greeted Cadance with laugh of fillies playing and view of glamorous mares enjoying company of gentlecolts. As she ventured into the park she saw fillies playing with kites, old ponies enjoying sunny day and a play of chess. What she didn’t notice was a group of colts playing volleyball. Problem was she felt it when a ball hit her head.

When Cadance opened her eyes she saw face of well known to her colt. Shining Armor was smiling at her with his stupid grim.

“You should pay attention to your surroundings Cadance.” Said Twilight brother. Although his words were expressing concern his tone and face were not. It seemed as if the colt was forcing himself not to burst out laughing. “Tell me please princess how is it that every time we see each other you somehow manages to end up under me.”

Cadance grinned her teeth to a memory when she lost her balance and felt on Twilight brother landing with him in very awkward position. Since then he never missed an occasion to remind her of that stupid incident.

When Cadance finally managed to lift herself from the ground, ignoring hoof of Shining Armor and his comment all together, she saw that he was holding a ball in his hoof.

That… low life. Thought Cadance.

“I wonder sometimes Armor if the shield spell you are so proud of is not in fact to protect ponies from you not the other way around.”

“Touché Cadance. I just hope somepony will manage to melt your frozen hart you have on your flank and chest, my Princess Mi Amore.” Shining Armor didn’t lost his humor, even more to Candance frustration he seemed to enjoy this words fencing.

Cadance only snorted at him. “Learn your aim Armor. Your reckless behavior will be the end of somepony.”

To Cadance terror Shining Armor smiled even wider and raised an eyebrow. “Yes it will be the end of somepony,” he whispered, “but who said I missed.” With that Shining Armor trotted away towards other colts, waiting for him to retrieve the ball.

Cadance suppressed the urge to run after him and punch him with all her force in the face. She wasn’t a silly filly any more. None the less she was raging inside.

That … low life. He didn’t even apologize. That… arrogant bastard.

Cadance looked around. The scene between her and Armor went unnoticed in the park. Unfortunately the fall on the ground left Cadance all dirty, with her mane a mess and a sweetroll now uneatable on the ground. All good mood of a spring day in Canterlot was gone so Cadance trotted back in direction of the Royal Palace.

Cadance spent all the way to the palace muttering curses and blaming Shining Armor for all evil in this world. She was furious with him. Part of her mind was distressed that he was able to get under her skin so easily. Finally Cadance took a deep breath and with a long sigh released all that anger. A trick she learned from her Aunt.

Princess Cadance looked at the sky and with shock realized that it was late. In an hour or more Twilight evaluation to Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns will end and Cadance wanted to be at the ceremony of granting the Certificates of Acceptance. Furthermore she wanted to be there and not look as if she just wrestled with a bear.

There were two reasons for that. First was to congratulate her protégé. Twilight was exceptional unicorn and Cadance bonded with the filly during her time she spent as Foalsitter and she wanted to be there for the filly.

Second reason for Cadance to be at the ceremony was to show herself to Celestia. Not every Royal Foalsitter manages to find a talent worthy of attempting Celestia School in first year of field work. Cadance managed to tutor young talent of Twilight Sparkle straight to the renowned academy moreover she managed to implement in the filly love for studding and magical science. Of course the filly had natural tendencies to those things but subtle censorship of books she read and delicate shielding her from distractions were also important. Shining Armor was the only distraction that Cadance could not eliminate from Twilights life, as her brother he had the right to be there. To Cadance relief he never did interfere with the direction that Cadance lead Twilight in her early education.

Cadance smiled to the memory of what was written above the entrance to the Foalsitters department of internal affairs in the Royal Intelligence Agency:

“Take them young and teach…”

Twilight Sparkle is a great asset in the sprouting career of young princess. Furthermore Cadance will be able to shine today in front of her Aunt herself, finally proving that joining the agency and starting from the lowest place was the right choice. Cadence will prove her abilities and soon Celestia will acknowledge her and not treat her as a teenager.

Deep in those thoughts Cadance entered the Royal Palace grounds.

“Cadenza!” yelled some pony at her. At first she didn’t recognized the voice but the second she saw who called her she bowed her head. Next to her stood none the less then her Majesty in person.

“Where are you going? I called you twice. Something happened to you my dear? You look dreadful.” Asked Princess Celestia with actual concern in her voice.

Or maybe centuries of practicing speech give her the ability to imitate all sorts of emotion through her voice. Thought Cadance because Celestia face didn’t express any emotion at all. Cadance learned long ago that her Aunt was able to shield her true emotions perfectly and trying to read her true mood from face was nearly impossible if Celestia herself didn’t wanted to be “read”. Cadance hoped that she will someday learn that ability because right now her embarrassment was more than well shown for all to see.

“No Princess. I … I had little accident in the park. Gravity is addiction hard to lose.” Cadance used old  joke from flight camp to loosen the tense, for her, situation. Celestia only raised her eyebrow so Cadance took other tactic and tried to change the subject.

“I was just going to my quarters to freshen up before the Ceremony.” Proposed Cadance hoping Celestia will take the bite.

“Aaa …yes I have been informed you brought some filly for testing today.” Celestia sighed. “Cadance I never asked why did you chose the Royal Intelligence? There were so many other institutions with would give you chance to prove yourself and much more fame in the process. You do realize the Biuro work in silence and depends on subtlety.”

The question surprised Cadance but she know the answer to that one.

“Because knowledge is power.”

Celestia looked at her niece for a while. Finally she gave her a bright and warm smile.

“We will have to talk more about this my dear. Maybe today at dinner?”

“Of course Princess.” Replied fast Cadence. Personal audience with Aunt was a rare privilege.

“I’m looking to meet your …” Princess Celestia was not meant to end that sentence because a great explosion shattered in that moment Equestria sky.

Great rainbow colored waves of light swept past the sky in all directions from unknown origin point. With the outstanding play of light come the thunder that brought all ponies to their knees.

Cadance didn’t know how did she landed on the ground but for some reason again that day she was eating dirt. Above her stood Princess Celestia in all her majesty and with troubled eyes looked into the distance sky.

Then ground shaken and to the terror of many Canterlot citizens through the roof of the School for the Gifted Unicorns stared at the city head of a Dragon.

Cadance blood froze for a second. Dragon in the city could bring pain and death to hundreds of ponies. A flash of light brought her back to reality. Aunt was here and acting.

She will fix things as she always does. Thought Cadance.

Then came very weird realization that she and all of Equestria witnessed something extraordinary. Whatever that was it couldn’t be good.

Could it?

Cadance shivered. Somehow she know that those were time changing events.

The cogwheels of fate were on the move again.