The Abyssal Requiem

Entering the castle, Tempest and Apple Bloom bowed before Princess Cadance and Shining Armor before rising up and presenting themselves. Turning towards her guards, Cadance dismisses them before stepping closer to them.

“How has Flurry Heart behaved?” Cadance asked.

“There was no trouble with her. She made it to school without a hitch.” Tempest answered.

“Good. I was afraid that she would make a mess of the tour site. Regardless, how have you been? It’s been awfully busy around here and I barely had the time to chat, so how have you been?” Cadance asked in a tired manner.

“Well, your daughter has been getting a bit rambunctious recently. Sometimes she runs off without warning, she does these crazy magic experiments in her room, and whenever she has a very important question… it’s always related to candy or ice-cream. But she is doing okay.” Tempest answered.

“I see. It’s been ten moons, hasn’t it?” Cadance asked.

“Yes, it has. And we have hardly recovered from the damage dealt to us by the Abyss.” Tempest said.

“Really? Because the population has started boosting back up a bit recently and we have discussed plans of beginning the ten-year anniversary of our victory against the Abyss. We’ve yet to schedule the meetings though.” Sunset said, looking at the stained glass windows.

All of them looked at the stained glass windows inside the hallway. They were depictions of the events that befell them during the Abyssal Invasion and the tragedies that followed up to their victory. A huge feeling loomed over them and their minds filled with a sense of longing and sadness. But Shining Armor shook it off and asked,

“S-So… when will the preparations be made?”

“Right now, we are holding meetings about the festival. Although it might take some time until plans are finalized.” Sunset answered.

“Whatever it takes, Sunset. I want games, snacks, and I want crowds gathered in Canterlot. New Equestria deserves a moment of happiness. And we are going to give it to them. Make sure they get the full message, Sunset.” Cadance ordered.

“It will be a day they will never forget, Your Majesty.” Sunset said before bowing and leaving.

“As for you three, make sure Flurry Heart behaves herself and don’t let her out of your sights. She may be an alicorn, but she is unprepared and she has no idea how powerful she is. If this festival goes south, it could end in disaster. So until the festival begins, do not let her escape your sights. Understand?” Shining Armor asked, trying to keep Flurry Heart safe.

“Your daughter is in good hooves. She won’t be a problem.” Starlight said before bowing to Cadance and Shining Armor.

“I am relieved to hear your words, Starlight. But please do not tell her until we have a plan for this festival. I don’t wish to give her the wrong idea that this will go on in a hitch. So please be discreet until the time is right. I don’t wish to ruin the surprise.” Cadance said, chuckling a bit.

“We understand. Our lips are sealed.” Tempest said in a playful tone.

Cadance gave out a tired laugh at Tempest’s joke, but then she started coughing and nearly fell to the ground. They stopped her fall and helped her up before she could hit the ground.

“Easy, Your Highness. You shouldn’t push yourself like this. Get some rest. We’ll take over from here.” Starlight said before giving her to Shining Armor.

“Thank you, Starlight. When you see Flurry Heart, tell her that her mother said hello…” Cadance said before turning around and leaving with Shining Armor helping her.

After watching them head back inside and seeing the doors close, Starlight turned to Tempest and said,

“Princess Cadance is long overdue for a rest.”

“Ever since we defeated that monster, Cadance has been putting everything under a microscope and trying to keep everything in order by herself. That is no way to live.” Tempest said, feeling sympathy for the tired princess.

“I think she’s planning something. After all, she’s keeping herself holed up in this castle.” Apple Bloom speculated.

“Apple Bloom, what happened ten years ago is out of our hooves now. There’s nothing we can do to reverse what happened to our friends.” Tempest said, trying to calm down the peeved earth pony.

“Spike and everypony else meant Equestria to me too, but this is beyond our control now. Even if we did tell everypony the truth, who would believe us? This is a time of peace and this is the burden we now carry until the day we die.” Starlight said, trying to knock some sense into Apple Bloom.

“Spare me that trash. If I wanted to hear a lecture, I would have asked for her.” Apple Bloom responded in a cross tone.

“You’re still angry at Applejack, aren’t you?” Starlight asked.

Hearing that name, Apple Bloom gave them an icy glare and retorted,

“Don’t ever mention that liar to me. She betrayed everything that she stood for, she had the audacity to turn a blind eye from Spike, and allow Discord to destroy our lives.”

“Why don’t you go and take a walk, Apple Bloom? I think you need to think a little more about time and place.” Tempest suggested, feeling a tad crossed.

“I’ll do that.” Apple Bloom said before furiously taking her leaving. Watching the angry young earth pony take her leave, Starlight said,

“She hasn’t let it go. After all these years, she isn’t the same Apple Bloom that I remember.”

“She has seen it all. She lost her entire family, her Crusader friends, and she has lost her fillyhood. Nothing can replace those images. Not after living a full life of solitude.” Tempest said in a forlorn tone.

“Too true. So how long does Apple Bloom have until tutoring ends?” Starlight asked, trying to change the subject.

“An hour from now, I think? Do you have any plans?” Tempest asked.

“Well, I plan on making a few stops before heading off to the cave. Do you wanna come with?” Starlight offered.

“Maybe. But right now, I have guard assignments and I need to make sure Flurry Heart leaves on time. Will you be fine by yourself?” Tempest asked.

“I’m fine. Just wanted to make sure if he’s doing okay is all.” Starlight said with a nervous chuckle.

“Starlight…” Tempest said in a slightly-frustrated tone.

“Anyway, I gotta get going. Tell Flurry Heart I said hi.” Starlight said before rushing out of the castle.

“Starlight!” Tempest shouted, trying to stop her friend.

But it was already too late. Starlight left the castle and Tempest was all by her lonesome. With nothing else to do right now, Tempest said to herself,

“May as go check if Flurry Heart has finished…”

With that, Tempest left the castle, ready to see if Flurry Heart had completed her tutoring for the day.