From a short distance away, Cadance watched as Twilight converse with the new girls. She couldn't hear all that was being said, but she could see that Twily was slowly getting used to them being there.

Knowing her as she did though, it would be a while before she was fully comfortable with them being around her like they would be. She had been for sure, and there were still many things they had to show and tell Twilight as well.

Twilight's current look of confusion said that they had just hinted at some of it at that moment.

"Do you think they'll tell her everything tonight?" Cadance asked Appitrite, who just giggled.

"Probably not. It's more fun if it's a surprise," she replied as she gave Cadance a look. "Or at least it was for me and Hippothea anyway. That's how she tells it at least."

Cadance gave her a pout in return. "Have I ever said how much I'm still sore you didn't tell me about it before you hit me with it? Not that I'm complaining since we have what we do now, but still."

Appitrite gave her a flat look. "You're the Princess of Love. I was surprised you didn't see it coming before I did."

Cadance stuck her tongue out at her. "Well excuse me if I was still new to all of this at the time. It's not every day I grow a horn and have to learn all new magic. I was born a Pegasus remember?"

Both of them held their looks for a moment before they both broke into giggles. It was a running joke between them and had been for years now. Neither were ever that annoyed about it.

Cadance though was a bit annoyed she hadn't seen it coming though. Love was her specialty, and it still stung slightly that she had never seen the signs and hints Appitrite had given her. Speaking of which.

Cadance leaned into the embrace as Appitrite pulled herself closer. Her own mind soon began to back to that day so many years ago now. For being as young as she was, and still was now, Appitrite had done rather well when the time came.

Love hadn't been something Cadance had much experience with before then. But the end result had been worth it.

***

Cadance knew something was up the moment Appitrite looked in her direction like she was. As new as she was to all of this, something was telling her that something big was about to happen.

Today was one of her lessons with her Aunt Celestia's Day Court. Normally this would be the time she would be foalsitting her favorite filly, Twilight, but the Sparkle Family had left on a trip to Vanhoover the day before, and wouldn't be back for a week, so here she was.

Not that she minded of course. It was always interesting to see how Equestria's government worked. One day, she too might end up doing this very same thing.

But she had made it clear when she had first come to Canterlot that she wanted to have as normal a childhood as she could, and Princess Celestia was more than happy it seemed to let her.

For crying out loud, she went to Canterlot High like other teenagers, she listened to the newest colt bands and swooned over who was cuter, and she did sleepovers with her friends at least once a week.

Seriously, how many could say that they had a sleepover at a castle with an actual princess?

But that was beside the point. Cadance couldn't explain the look Appitrite was giving her, and the feeling it was giving her as well. Whatever it was, she liked it.

And then Appitrite flicked her tail over and ran it over Cadance's back. In a way that was far more than just a friendly gesture, and it made the young princess blush to no end. Her, blush? She made other ponies do that.

Celestia saw the gesture though and gave them both a knowing look. "Feeling something new my dear?" She asked Appitrite, who just grinned widely.

"Maybe?" She singed songed, one that got a chuckle out of Hippothea.

"There is more to it. I know what you mean, for I once had the same feeling. Long ago now though it was," she said, as she and Celestia shared a knowing smile.

Cadance gave them all a flat look. "What are you three talking about. You know it's not nice to kee things from me like this."

Appitrite gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry Cadance, but this isn't something I could explain if I tried. It has to be shown. I think Hippothea knows what I'm talking about."

Hippothea nodded as she held up a hand. "Indeed. This is not something I can help you with Cadance. This is for the two of you alone to do among yourselves."

Cadance crossed her hooves and pouted. "Fine. Be like that. So where do we start then?"

Appitrite's grin grew. "Someplace where we can be alone if we can."

Celestia nodded as she ignited her horn. "And I know just the place. We did it there once upon a time many years ago now." With that, she teleported Cadance and Appitrite away to a secret glade only she, Hippothea, and two others knew about, but they had been gone for almost a thousand years now.

She and Hippothea often wondered what had become of Dianathe, for she had vanished the same night as the Nightmare Moon debacle. Neither of them thought she was dead. She was far too good for that.

***

When the light of the teleport had faded, Cadance and Appitrite found themselves in the Royal Canterlot Gardens, and the most restricted section at that, for only Celestia was ever allowed to come here.

Cadance blinked away the spots in her eyes. "I hate it when Aunt Celestia does that. I'm still not used to it."

Appitrite giggled. "No kidding. But this is a perfect spot for this. It's only for you Cadance."

Cadance gave her a look. "What is? I'm not liking you not telling me something Appitrite."

Her companion smiled slightly as she removed her glaive and bow and set them aside. "Sorry, Cadance. But you probably wouldn't have believed me if I'd told you before now about this. But the time is right."

"Right for what?" Cadance asked.

Appitrite ran her hands along Cadance's spine, right between her wings, hitting every sweet spot. Cadance couldn't help but lean into the touch. "This," Appitrie said in a husky whisper.

Before the young princess could respond, Appitrite strode forward. Smiling in a way she never had before, she flicked her tail up and brushed it along Cadance's snout, causing her to blush heavily. A fact that made her brain crash. She had this effect on ponies, so why was it happening to her now?

And why did it feel so good? Cadance sighed in delight as she felt the tail drop away as her companion walked in front of her. Her flared wings didn't lend any calming effect to the scene.

"There comes a time when we feel more for our charge than the love our loyalty brings. Much more. That time has come for me," Appitrite explained.

Cadance's mind began to race. She wasn't asking what she thought she was, was she? "Do you mean?" She asked.

Appitrite nodded. "Cadance, can I be your special someone? I know you don't look at stallions like that. You never have."

Cadance couldn't argue with that. It was true. She had always preferred mares but had never worked up the courage to confess to any. And she knew several who also liked other mares like that.

One thing though came to mind. "What if I say no? What happens then?" She asked.

Appitrite's smile dropped. "Nothing. I pledged myself to you and to be at your side forever. That won't change." She took a step forward. "But do you want the pain that comes as a lover grows old and dies, while you remain forever young?"

Cadance bit her lip. She knew Appitrite was right. It was a fact of what she was now, no matter how much it hurt to think about it. And she knew that Celestia and Hippothea had shared this same conversation once. How she knew, she didn't know, but she did.

A small part of her wanted to say no, that it was too weird, that she wasn't ready for this, that they should wait a few more years. But Cadance ignored it and followed what her heart was telling her. Consequences be damned to Tartarus.

With a speed that harkened back to her Pegasus ancestry, Cadance leaned forward and locked lips with Appitrite, who was happy to return the kiss in full Together, they both felt the new bond ram home between them. It only strengthened the idea that this was the right way forward.

As they pulled apart after a time, Cadance smiled and made it official. "Yes. I will be your special somepony."

Author's Note

So I decided to go with some flashback scenes before we move on to the Equestria Girls stuff. Princess Celestia is next, and then Princess Luna. Twilight's turn will come later.

To be clear about the new cover art. That is Appitrite. Young as she looks in it, I felt she fit Cadance the best of those shown in Fantasia and the Pastoral Symphony.

The cover art will change again when we get to Celestia, and then again with Luna.