Cadance frowned at the hoof-drawn map, should she have asked Nebula for directions? The directions provided to the music organiser seemed to point her to a small forest on the edge of the much larger and more terrifying Everfree Forest, just a short way out of her route to the town hall, but weren’t much more specific than that, leaving Cadance awkwardly wandering along the forest edge, trying to catch a snippet of music other than the constant, beautiful birdsong.

“Lost, princess?” a voice called from behind her, quickly revealed to be a mint-green unicorn with an easy grin that dropped into a look of pure mortification when Cadance turned around “Oh crud, You’re actua- I just used that line on- oh jeez, just kill me now!”

Cadance chuckled lightly before answering, “Yes, actually, do you know where I can find Fluttershy? I’ve been sent to oversee preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, and she’s in charge of music?”

“Oh, I was just going to see her! Well- not see, she’s ridiculously shy, but her music is something else and I was going to listen,” the other mare’s easy grin returned and she offered a hoof to shake, “I’m Lyra Heartstrings, I’ve been studying in Canterlot for a while so I’m running around town catching up with everypony ‘till BonBon’s free. Nice to meet you Princess Cadance!”

“Nice to meet you too, Lyra! I hope you don’t mind me following along?”

“’Course not! Happy to have company honestly, talking to Fluttershy without her animals around is… awkward; I usually just climb a tree or something and sit there listening for a bit until I get lonely,” Lyra started heading into the forest, holding up a low branch telekinetically for Cadance,

“What music does Fluttershy perform?” Cadance asked,

“Weeeelllll… her special talent is to do with animals and we’re in a forest…” Lyra grinned “Technically she doesn’t perform anything. She’s a conductor. Of birds.”

“…wow. Wow. I’m always waking up early just to hear the birds as Auntie raises the sun- and that’s what’s going to be playing?! An actual, genuine bird choir? …does she take commissions? Like, specifically around Hearts and Hooves day? Because I know a lot of colts who want her card if she does. Like, half of Canterlot ‘a lot’”

Cadance could just imagine it, a young colt wanting to impress but also act ‘cool’, invites a mare to the park, acts all surprised as he points the birds out… they sit in silence, he ’casually’ slips a leg around her as they sit together- if he’s particularly brave leaning in for a kiss…

“Um… Equestria to Princess Cadance? I doubt it, she only really does formal stuff- I think she has some contract with the council or something?”

“…shame.”

Lyra started giggling, smirking at Cadance, “So, who’s the special somepony?”

Instantly her mind filled with thoughts of a certain stallion. “N-nopony!”

“Oh wow, they must be pretty great if the princess of love is a stuttering filly at a thought. Tall? Short?”

“Oh, look how deep in we are, we must be pretty close to Fluttershy by now, right?” Cadance wasn’t blushing. She was just pink.

Lyra, still laughing quietly, gestured to a nearby tree before, in an impressive feat of agility, quickly scaling it as she stifled her laughter. Cadance gently flew up to rest beside her on the sturdy branch. The music was amazing, it would be the perfect thing to watch Auntie raise the sun to. She quietly ticked music- now she just had to get to the town hall and meet with Shiny, check the decorations then enjoy the town until the end of the sunrise.

As the sun began it’s steady decent, Cadance waved goodbye and headed to the town hall, easily finding her way back to the path and along to the centre of town. To her disappointment, Shining was discussing security with the mayor when she arrived, leaving Cadance to have a brief, professional conversation with the purple maned unicorn who seemed rushed of her hooves with making sure the finishing touches were all perfect then wait by the entrance for Shiny.

“Cady! So sorry I got held up, uh, you weren’t waiting long were you?” Shiny was running a hoof through his cobalt mane,

“Nope! Just finished checking out the decorations, I spent a while listening to the music that’s going to play later- you’re going to love it, it’s amazing!”

“Anything you like is amazing…”

“Hm? Sorry I couldn’t hear that?”

“N-nothing! Nothing important! A-anyway, is there anything you want to do until the Celebration starts?” Shining glanced at the horizon, the shortest night of the year already well underway, “I guess most ponies will be on their way here by now, huh?”

“I was thinking of pony watching for a while, I can point the people I met today out to you then too!” Cadance smiled,

“Me first!”

Cadence and Shining Armour jumped as a pink-maned pony suddenly appeared behind them,

Sky Tierer fell backwards, cackling. Her pink mane was now loose and flowing gently in the wind and her apron had been replaced with a simple gold chain with a small crescent pendant. Nebula hovered beside her, the hoof covering her face failing to hide the small smirk on her lips.

Cadance joined in with the laughter, gesturing to the sisters, “This is Nebula Lulamoon and Sky Tierer,”

“No relation to Trixie Lulamoon,”

“Lulu, you do realise no-one knows who Trixie is right?”

“It bears repeating, Sister.”

Cadance chuckled lightly at the sister’s, before noticing a minty-green mane in the crowd, “Lyra! Over here!”

“Oh, hey Cadance! This is Bon-Bon, my best friend!”

A mare Cadance vaguely recognised from Sweet Apple Acres followed Lyra, and Cadance instantly could see what an under-estimate ‘best friend’ was. Not quite a couple but… not far off. Even Shiny could probably see it!

“Wait… Lyra like Twily’s friend?”

“Y’know Twilght?”

Cadance face-hoofed, “That’s where I heard your name before! Twily mentioned you!”

“Wait, back up, you two know Twilight?” Lyra glanced between the two of them,

“I’m her older brother,”

“I used to foalsit her,”

“...Huh, small world I guess?”

“’The paths least likely to be trodden are those with the deepest wear in the infinities of chance’” Nebula smirked slightly,

“Oh, you’ve read the prequels too? Anarchy’s the only one I’ve read, I find the rest too sad what with knowing how it all turns out n’all,”

“I enjoy the take on the founding of Eques-”

“Your attention please everyone!” The rest of Nebula’s reply was cut off by the mayor coming too the stage, her voice magically enhanced, “The princess will be arriving shortly!”

As Fluttershy’s choir started, Cadance couldn’t help but feel a small swell of pride despite how little she’d contributed to the events.

This was going to be perfect.

Author's Note

Nebula's views on Trixie Lulamoon in no way reflect my own