Twilight walked alone through the long corridors of the castle, her steps echoing softly on the gleaming marble floor. She had just been in the castle gardens with Celestia, practicing some concentration exercises, when her mentor was suddenly called away for a pressing matter. Even though Twilight had already been living in the castle for a month, the large, sprawling halls still felt intimidating without Celestia's presence. She missed the comforting aura of Celestia, who always made her feel safe and protected.

Her thoughts kept returning to the distorted images of the burning village that Celestia had shown her. The sharp scent of death and ash seemed to still hang in her nostrils, and she could see the panicked looks of the trembling soldiers, trapped in fear and despair. And then there was that dark figure, standing like a demon amidst all the destruction, surrounded by flames and shadows. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of oppression that had accompanied her since then.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the images, and continued walking. "I must not be weak... Celestia is counting on me," she muttered to herself, but her voice sounded uncertain in the silence of the corridors.

Celestia had begun to give Twilight lessons about dark magic—how to recognize its users and how it differed from regular magic. Regular magic, she explained, was an art that required both strength and concentration from the user. It utilized the body's own mana, which flowed from the magical source within every unicorn and was directed through the horn to produce the desired effects.

Depending on the characteristics and strength of one's mana, the shape and refinement of the horn, the ability to control magic, and the understanding of magical laws, one could influence the environment in harmony with one's own will. Mana flowed like an invisible current, and every spell was a manifestation of the spirit and inner harmony of the user.

Dark magic, however… dark magic was different, as Celestia repeatedly emphasized. Unlike regular magic, which drew its power from a pony's mana, dark magic drew its power directly from the soul. It fed on the desires and deepest emotions of its user and defied the natural laws of the world. This made it immensely powerful but also uncontrollable and destructive.

Dark magic consumed the life force of its user, amplified their strongest emotions, and poisoned the soul. Particularly powerful dark spells often required the sacrifice of multiple lives to gather the necessary energy. It was an abomination, nourished by negative emotions such as hatred, fear, and greed, and could corrupt even the purest of hearts.

Twilight's thoughts circled around her lessons, the explanations of dark magic, and the dangers associated with it when she suddenly heard the faint echo of hoofsteps behind her. She stopped, her heartbeat quickening. A slender, tall stallion with an elegant, almost exaggerated demeanor emerged from the shadows of a colonnade.

It was Blueblood. His haughty smile revealed his immaculate teeth as he looked down at her. "Ah, the little student of Celestia," he said, his voice dripping with sickly-sweet arrogance. "Are you wandering around the castle all by yourself?"

Twilight felt an unpleasant tug in her stomach, but she forced herself to smile politely. "Yes, I was just... getting some fresh air. That's all."

Blueblood's smile grew wider, almost into a mocking grin. "Fresh air? Shouldn't you be in your lesson with Celestia right now?" He took a step closer, his eyes fixed on her with a penetrating gaze. "Surely you're clever enough to realize that this study is not what you hoped for. It almost seems as if Celestia just wants to create an appearance of being close to the ponys by having you as her student, a common pony from the crowd to polish her image."

He tilted his head slightly, as if pondering something. "Look at yourself, a month under her care, and already your education is being neglected. Do you really think she sees something special in you?"

Twilight stared at him defiantly, her eyes flashing with determination, even though her voice wavered a little. "What do you know? Celestia enjoys spending time with me," she retorted sharply, trying to suppress the uncertainty in her voice.

But deep down, doubt gnawed at her. Could it be that Blueblood was right? Her insecurity slowly returned. But no, she must not let him unsettle her. Celestia trusted her… she had to keep telling herself that.

Blueblood's smile grew even more smug at her words. "Oh, of course, of course..." He let the words draw out slowly and sweetly, as if savoring a particularly delicious morsel. "Celestia enjoys spending time with you because it is politically smart. A small, eager pony at her side makes her look warm-hearted. Do you really think you're something special to her?" He shook his head slowly, as if he had to reveal a painful truth to a naive foal. "Believe me, you are just another pawn in a bigger game. Once you've served your purpose, she'll discard you... like all the others before."

Now, Blueblood looked at Twilight with a disappointed expression, as if she had deeply disappointed him. "What a shame," he said slowly, letting each word weigh heavily on her, "another, truly talented foal could probably benefit from your position... and achieve great things." His eyes narrowed slightly as if he were scrutinizing her, waiting for her reaction. "But you... you just don't seem to understand what an opportunity you're wasting for someone else."

Twilight felt her chest tighten. The insecurity that had been haunting her for days now seemed to spread over her like a dark shadow. She wanted to contradict him, to tell him he was wrong, but the words stuck in her throat. "You're lying..." she finally whispered, but her voice sounded weak. Blueblood's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he saw his words hit their mark. "Oh, little Twilight," he said softly, almost pityingly, "it's not a crime to see the truth. It's just painful."

Tears welled up in Twilight's eyes, and a soft sob escaped her throat. Blueblood grinned with satisfaction and walked past the weeping foal without a hint of sympathy. "If I were you," he said sharply, "I'd stop being so selfish and just leave this place. It would be best for everyone involved."

Twilight stood frozen, as Blueblood walked past her, his cold words echoing in her head. Her tears flowed freely now. She wanted to run away, to hide somewhere from the pain and confusion that Blueblood had stirred in her. But her legs felt like lead, and she just stood there, trembling and lost, unsure of what to do. "Maybe he's right..." she thought desperately. "Celestia must have noticed my hesitation in the dungeon, and that's why she's avoiding me today..."

Eventually, she forced herself to move her legs and stumbled back toward her room, her vision blurred with tears. With her last bit of strength, she reached the door, pushed it open, and sank heavily to the floor, her hooves covering her face as the tears continued to flow. She didn't know how long she had been lying there; time seemed to have lost its meaning. Minutes, hours, perhaps even days… Everything blurred into a sea of pain and uncertainty.

At some point, the tears stopped. Her throat was raw and burned from crying, and her eyes felt swollen and sore. But she remained lying there, her thoughts still spinning wildly, her chest rising and falling heavily.

Twilight's sorrow was interrupted when she heard the soft creak of the door behind her and sensed someone entering her room. She lifted her head slightly and saw Celestia approaching, her eyes filled with deep concern. "Twilight," Celestia said gently, her voice full of compassion, "what happened? I came to check on you and heard you crying through the door."

Celestia knelt beside her, her wings spread wide as if to shield Twilight from the whole world. "Talk to me, my student," she continued softly, placing a gentle hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "What has upset you so much?"

Twilight felt a new lump forming in her throat as she saw the gentle expression on Celestia's face. Her lips trembled, and she felt tears burn in her eyes again. She opened her mouth, closed it again, and her gaze wandered to the floor as she tried to find the right words. Finally, she took a shaky breath and murmured softly, "When… When I was coming back from the castle garden to my room, I ran into Blueblood." Her voice was thin, and she didn't dare to look at Celestia. "He said… he said that I'm just a means for you to look better. That you don't really… care about me and that I'm wasting your time."

Celestia's face hardened for a brief moment, and Twilight suddenly felt a noticeable warmth rising from beneath her wing, as if an inner fire was burning within the Empress. But then Celestia's expression softened again, even though the warmth remained, like a protective cloak. She pulled Twilight into a firm, comforting embrace, her wings forming a secure cocoon around her. "Twilight," she said gently but with unwavering determination in her voice, "never let someone like Blueblood tell you that you're not good enough. He has no idea what he's talking about. From the moment I met you a month ago, you've seized every opportunity to make me smile and fill my heart with pride."

Celestia gently stroked Twilight's mane and added with a loving smile, "There is no pony in this world I'd rather cuddle with right now, and no one more worthy of being my student." She held Twilight for a moment longer, letting the silence underline her words, then added emphatically, "Never forget that you are special, not because someone tells you so, but because you know it deep in your heart."

Twilight looked up at Celestia, her eyes wide and filled with doubt. "But then why did you leave me alone in the castle garden today?" She pressed her face deeper into Celestia's soft fur, as if trying to hide from all her insecurities. "I thought you were avoiding me because I hesitated in the dungeon…"

Celestia stroked Twilight's head gently and smiled reassuringly. "Twilight, as the ruler of Equestria, I can't always arrange my time as freely as I would like. There are often urgent matters that require my attention, sometimes unexpectedly. But that has nothing to do with you disappointing me. On the contrary," she paused to take Twilight's face in her hooves, "you showed down there what a big heart full of compassion you have." Celestia gently pulled Twilight back to her chest. Twilight leaned into the embrace, slowly calming her still-wild breathing.

As she felt Twilight's shaky breaths, Celestia's thoughts ran through the situation again. "I never thought one of the nobles here in Canterlot would be so brazen as to intimidate Twilight in this way," she thought with a hint of anger. "I must make sure Twilight is no longer left unattended… and I already know exactly which pony can watch over her when I don't have the time. And Blueblood..." A cold gleam came into her eyes as she continued to think. "He needs a stern reminder of where his limits lie. If Twilight had left the castle and run away, I would be facing a much bigger problem right now."

Celestia's thoughts were interrupted by a faint noise from the back corner of the room. Her gaze shifted to the source of the sound, and she spotted Spike, desperately pressing against the bars of his crib, as if trying to reach the upset pony. How long had the little dragon noticed that something was wrong and tried to comfort the pony who meant the most to him in the world, without being able to reach her?

"He will serve Twilight faithfully one day," Celestia thought to herself, while gently using her magic to lift the little dragon out of his crib and slowly float him over to them. Spike squirmed impatiently in the air, and as soon as he touched the ground, he snuggled up to Twilight's side, a soft, soothing purr escaping him as if he wanted to let her know in his own way that she was not alone.

Twilight lifted her head slightly when she felt Spike beside her. The little dragon nestled close to her, his big eyes full of concern. She felt the gentle vibration of his purr. "Oh, Spike…" she whispered softly, stroking his head. A faint smile flickered across her lips as she was reminded that she was not alone.

Celestia watched the scene with a gentle smile, glad that her student had found some comfort again. "You two really do look adorable together," she commented lovingly, letting her eyes rest on the two of them for a moment before gently stroking Spike's head.

Later that day, Celestia left the castle to visit Blueblood's manor. By now, the sun was already on its slow descent, bathing the mountain city in a warm violet light and casting long shadows across the streets. The air was noticeably cooler, and a gentle evening breeze blew through the alleys. But Celestia, in whose veins the power of the sun flowed, felt no cold. She walked with her head held high and a determined gaze through the streets—determination in every step.

It didn't take long for Celestia to reach Blueblood's residence. The manor was imposing, an impressive building of light stone and glass, designed in a modern style. The tall windows reflected the fading light of the evening, casting sparkling patterns on the manicured garden paths. It was a property that loudly displayed its wealth and importance, like a monument to self-righteousness.

Celestia did not give the building a second glance as she walked through the sprawling gardens to the massive front door and knocked with determined force. The loud echo reverberated through the courtyard, like a silent announcement of her arrival. It didn't take long before the door opened a crack, and an elderly stallion stuck his head out.

"How can I assist you?" he asked in a polite tone, the etiquette clearly evident in every syllable. The immaculate uniform he wore left no doubt that he was a servant of Blueblood. His eyes widened slightly when he recognized Celestia, and he immediately made a respectful bow while waiting for her response.

"I wish to speak with Blueblood," she said in a friendly tone that nonetheless brooked no argument. The servant remained in his bow before he hesitantly replied, "I understand, Your Majesty. I will see if he is available."

He straightened up and began to close the door slowly, but Celestia held it open with a gentle but unyielding magical grip. "Don't bother," she said with a soft smile that hid a steel core. "I know he is at home, and I can assure you he has nothing more important to do than to receive me."

The servant stepped back, unsure of how to react to the unexpected situation. Etiquette demanded that he not allow anyone in unannounced, but the guest was none other than the Empress herself. One did not contradict the Empress. That was a law of nature, unshakable and clear.

Torn between his loyalty to his employer and the unmistakable wish of the Empress, he felt his resolve crumble. Finally, he stepped aside and bowed his head respectfully. "Of course, Your Majesty," he murmured, as he opened the door wider and cleared the way. "I will lead you to His Lordship."

Celestia smiled and followed the servant through the expansive manor, past elaborately decorated corridors and oversized paintings, until they finally stopped in front of an unassuming door. "Lord Blueblood is in the dining room behind this door," the servant explained, his voice low and respectful.

Celestia smiled gently and nodded. "Thank you," she said in a friendly tone that nonetheless radiated clear authority. "You may attend to your other duties now; I wish for privacy during my conversation with Lord Blueblood."

The servant raised an eyebrow, surprised by this request, but he dared not question the Empress. Instead, he bowed briefly before turning wordlessly to attend to his other tasks, his thoughts still on the unexpected encounter.

Celestia opened the door and entered the dining room. The room was vast, yet an unexpected emptiness filled it, as if it had been made to appear even larger by the lack of furnishings. An imposing dining table of dark wood dominated the center of the room, but the chairs around it were empty, waiting in vain for guests. Large paintings of Blueblood and his ancestors hung on the walls, each portrait carefully placed to emphasize its own significance.

Here and there were ornate decorations—marble busts and statues, all of which bore the same smug expression as Blueblood's face. It was as if the room were a single monument to himself, filled with a coldness evoked by the self-love of its owner. Celestia let her gaze wander through the room, her smile unchanged.

Seated on one of the chairs, with his back to the entrance, was Blueblood himself. He was hunched over a plate of red soup, his movements slow and deliberate, as if each gesture was considered and meaningful. When he heard the sound of someone closing the door behind him, he barely reacted. "Pocket Watch, how many times do I have to tell you that I don't want to be disturbed while I'm eating?" he said in a bored tone, without bothering to turn around.

"Well, forgive me for the intrusion, Lord Blueblood," Celestia replied with a hint of playfulness in her voice. "But I thought you might enjoy my visit." Her tone was friendly, but the subtle irony in it left no doubt that she had not come for polite conversation.

Blueblood froze in his movement, his spoon hovering for a moment over the soup. Then he turned slowly, almost mechanically, in his chair, his expression twisting into a forced smile. "Your Majesty, what an unexpected pleasure to welcome you to my humble abode," he said as he hastily stood and bowed deeply to Celestia. His eyes nervously searched for a hint of her intentions. "What brings me the honor of this visit?"

“What's the matter? Can't a Empress just drop in on the most important nobleman in Canterlot for a nice chat?” Celestia said, emphasizing the word "Empress" with a gentle but unmistakable sharpness that left no room for misinterpretation. Her smile remained friendly, but in her eyes burned a fire that made Blueblood shift uncomfortably.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Blueblood replied hastily, a nervous smile playing on his lips. "I just did not expect your arrival; otherwise, I would have had something prepared, of course." He sat back down at the table, trying to adopt a relaxed posture. "May I perhaps offer you a bowl of gazpacho?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

Celestia gently shook her head. "No, thank you." Her voice remained calm but firm. She turned and pointed to one of the imposing paintings on the wall, which depicted Blueblood in a pompous pose. "Can you tell me about this painting, Blueblood?" she asked, a slight hint of curiosity in her voice, which was meant to distract from her true intentions.

"A true masterpiece, isn't it?" replied Blueblood with a hint of pride, the tension from before completely gone from his face. "It was made by an exceptionally talented artist from Saddle Arabia to perfectly capture my inner and outer greatness." His chest swelled with self-satisfaction as he looked at the painting, as if admiring himself on the canvas once again.

"Indeed," Celestia commented with a slight smile. "The way he depicts you… the linework… He must truly be a master of his craft." Her voice carried a hint of admiration.

"Isn't it?" Blueblood agreed smugly, his pride unmistakable. Celestia nodded slightly, as if agreeing with him, before leaning a little closer to the painting. "It is truly impressive," she continued, "a painting that tells a lot about its muse and their ambitions. It shows a person who takes their role in society very seriously and likes to present themselves as significant."

She slowly turned away from the painting and looked directly into Blueblood's eyes. "Speaking of ambitions," she added with an inscrutable smile, "can you tell me what you were doing at my castle today?" Her voice was friendly, but there was a certain emphasis in it.

Blueblood's smile froze for a moment, then he put on an innocent expression. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," he replied with feigned innocence, "I don't know what you mean. I have been at home all day." His voice sounded polite, but a flicker of nervousness flashed in his eyes for a brief moment.

"Is that so?" Celestia asked with feigned confusion as she lightly brushed her hoof over the painting. "Interesting, because I just spoke with my student," she continued, her voice growing colder. "And she told me a very different story."

Blueblood's eyes widened for a moment before he put on his smug smile again. "Oh, did she?" He laughed quietly but nervously. "Well, you know how foals are. She must have mistaken me for someone else."

Celestia let go of the painting and took a step closer to Blueblood, her eyes glinting coldly. "A mistake, you say?" she asked, her voice soft but with a dangerous edge. "Twilight may be young, but she is not foolish, Blueblood," she hissed with venom in her voice. "And she is certainly not someone who easily confuses who is trying to intimidate her." She paused and let her words hang in the air for a moment, the atmosphere in the room seeming to thicken. Blueblood could feel it growing warmer. "Do you know what I value even less than cowardice, Blueblood?" she continued. "Being lied to."

Blueblood's smug grin disappeared, and he swallowed hard. "Your Majesty..." he began, his voice trembling slightly, "I really meant no harm to your student. It was just a harmless conversation, I assure you..." He avoided her gaze, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

Celestia turned back to the painting, examining it with a sharp look. "The artist must have been truly talented," she said with a slight hint of sarcasm in her voice, "because he managed to masterfully conceal your inherent cowardice."

Her words were calm, but the cutting irony in them made Blueblood's face pale. Celestia let the remark hang in the room, the smile on her lips seemed to grow slightly wider as she observed the noble's reaction.

"I will tell you what is going to happen," Celestia continued undeterred, her voice now like cold steel. "From now on, you will not approach my student of your own accord. If you are in a room with her, you will treat her politely and with the same respect as if you were speaking to me." Her hoof rested once more on the painting that showed Blueblood in his proud pose. "And you will never lie to me again, Blueblood."

Around her hoof, black, charred edges began to spread across the canvas, creeping over the image like flames. "And tomorrow, you will apologize to Twilight under my supervision," she added as the painting burst into sudden, blazing flames, consuming Blueblood's likeness. "Have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal clear, Your Majesty," a visibly frightened Blueblood stammered, his eyes wide with fear.

"Very good," Celestia replied in a honey-sweet tone, while a fleeting expression of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. Without another word and without giving Blueblood a second glance, she teleported out of the room, a faint hiss accompanying her sudden disappearance.

All that remained was the oppressive silence and the blackened, charred spots on the floor where she had stood before.

* * *

The next morning dawned, and the soothing scent of fresh pancakes and waffles wafted through the palace halls, accompanied by cheerful birdsong streaming through the open windows. Twilight sat in her room, her snout buried deep in a book, when she suddenly heard a gentle knock on her door. She lifted her head and blinked in surprise. "Huh, who could that be so early?" she murmured softly to herself as she hesitantly put the book aside and went to the door.

When Twilight opened the door, she looked into the warm, friendly eyes of a mare she had only seen from afar. Before her stood a young unicorn, perhaps in her late teenage years, and Twilight found her beautiful. Her coat was bright pink and perfectly groomed, while her mane flowed over her shoulder in soft pastel hues and ended in elegant waves. On her lips was an inviting smile that made Twilight feel a comforting warmth immediately.

"Hello, Twilight," the mare greeted her with a soft, melodious voice as she leaned down to her slightly. "It's so lovely to finally meet you. My name is Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Cadance."

Twilight became a little nervous. What was this noble mare doing here, in front of her room, so early in the morning? The last noble she had spoken to had not had good intentions. But Cadenza… or Cadance, as she called herself, had always seemed like a kind pony, at least. Twilight put on a somewhat uncertain smile. "Hello, Cadenz… I mean, Cadance. My name is Twilight, but you already know that," she babbled hastily, the words almost tripping over each other. "I knew your name, too. Celestia mentioned it during the council meeting, but that probably doesn't interest you at all." Her voice became higher towards the end, and her uncertain smile wavered.

Little did Twilight know that Cadance was just as nervous as she was. Cadance tried to hide her own nervousness while remaining friendly. "Oh, Celestia mentioned that she would be in Twilight's chambers around this time… Where is she? That mischievous alicorn is doing this on purpose. Just stay calm, Cadance, you can do this. Twilight seems nice. It's not like Celestia would never forgive you if you mess this up," she thought to herself. She smiled a bit wider, hoping her uncertainty wasn't too obvious.

"No, Twilight, it really does interest me!" Cadance finally replied with a bit too enthusiastic an exclamation. Inwardly, she cringed. "Cadance, what are you doing? The moment is getting more awkward... quick, say something smart to save the situation!" she thought frantically. She forced a nervous smile and tried again. "So..." she drew the word out while frantically searching for a topic, "how was your day?"

Twilight blinked, confused. "Well... it's pretty early, so I basically just got up," she replied in a slightly confused tone. Cadance felt her cheeks heat up, and she bit her lip inwardly. "Great job, Cadance… really great," she thought sarcastically as she tried to keep her smile up.

"Oh, I meant... the other day... I mean yesterday," Cadance hastily added, her smile a bit wider as she tried to bridge the awkward silence. "Good save, Cadance," she thought to herself, forcing herself to stay calm, even though she inwardly rolled her eyes in embarrassment.

Twilight looked confused for a moment, but then she seemed to notice Cadance's efforts and nodded hesitantly. "Oh, yesterday... yeah, yesterday was actually okay," she finally replied, trying not to giggle. The nervousness between them slowly dissolved as both seemed to recognize the absurdity of the situation. "Would you like to come in?" Twilight asked hesitantly as she opened the door a bit wider.

At that very moment, Celestia seemed to appear out of nowhere, standing beside Cadance. "Cadance," she said with a warm smile. "I'm sorry, I got held up in the hallway and I'm a little late. But I see you've already made acquaintance with Twilight." She gave Cadance the most innocent look she could muster.

Cadance whirled around and stared at Celestia in surprise. "Celestia! Of course," she quickly replied. "Yes, we… just started having a nice conversation." Inwardly, she sighed with relief as Twilight looked back and forth between the two of them. The day was getting stranger and stranger.

Celestia turned her gaze to Twilight and smiled. "I hope Cadance didn't scare you, Twilight," she said in a playful tone. "She's a very warm-hearted mare, but sometimes she can be a bit... overzealous."

Cadance snorted softly and puffed out her cheeks as she shot Celestia a playfully reproachful look. Twilight couldn't suppress a giggle; the sight of the two older mares teasing each other finally eased her tension. Cadance's face brightened at Twilight's laughter, and she couldn't help but smile. "Oh, really, Celestia?" she said with mock indignation. "Overzealous is more like your relationship with cakes and pies."

Celestia just rolled her eyes at that and focused her attention back on Twilight. "I just wanted to make sure you two get along well. I have a terribly busy day today, and I thought it would be a good idea if you didn't spend the whole day alone." She gave Cadance a meaningful look. "And who knows," she added, "maybe she'll show you around outside the castle a bit to get to know Canterlot better."

Cadance grinned broadly and nodded eagerly. "Oh, I know some wonderful places I absolutely have to show you," she said with a mischievous wink. "From the best restaurants and coziest cafes to the most interesting museums and hidden bakeries that have the best treats in town!" She actually squeaked a little with excitement, and her joy was contagious. Twilight felt her own excitement grow. "That sounds great!" she replied, full of anticipation.

"Well, apparently, I'm not needed here any further," Celestia commented with a smile. "Have lots of fun together," she added as she turned to leave them. But before she left, she paused for a moment and looked back over her shoulder. "Oh, and Cadance," she said with a warm but meaningful undertone, "take good care of her."

Cadance nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, Celestia, she's in good hooves with me," she assured. Twilight watched the Empress for a moment longer before focusing on Cadance again. "So… how come you're supposed to look after me now?" she asked curiously.

"The opportunity came up spontaneously yesterday," Cadance replied with a smile. "Celestia said something unpleasant happened to you yesterday when you were alone in the castle, and she's worried about you. Lately, she's been talking about you a lot." She placed a hoof on her chest and added with a broad grin, "And when I heard that, I practically volunteered to spend some time with you and watch over you. I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know you better!"

Twilight smiled at this revelation. It was nice to hear that Celestia cared about her. "That's… that's really nice of you. So, where do we go first?" she asked eagerly.

Cadance stepped into the room and quickly glanced around, as if looking for something specific. "Aha, there you are!" she suddenly called out and moved with such speed through the room that Twilight almost thought she had teleported. "There's a beautiful pavilion there that many don't know about. And afterward, we could explore the city, maybe visit a small cafe that has the best lemon tarts in all of Canterlot!" she explained enthusiastically.

Then Cadance took a step toward Twilight's wardrobe and turned to her with a mischievous grin. "But before we do that, we need a little makeover. I remember how cute you looked in that summer dress." With a wave of her magic, Cadance opened Twilight's wardrobe, only to stare into the gaping emptiness. "Uh, Twilight..." she began with a puzzled smile. "Do you perhaps have a second wardrobe? This one seems... quite empty."

Twilight felt the heat rise to her face. "Um… no, that's the only one," she murmured, embarrassed. "I… I don't really have many clothes. The summer dress you saw is still in the wash, and otherwise… I left everything else at the orphanage." She shrugged and looked at Cadance apologetically, her eyes briefly glancing at the floor in embarrassment.

Cadance's smile became softer, and her eyes shone with empathy. "Oh, Twilight, I'm sorry about that. But actually, this gives me a brilliant idea," she said cheerfully, clapping her hooves together. "We can head out right away and get you some nice things. There are so many great shops in Canterlot; this will be an adventure for both of us!"

Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a single word, Cadance had already telekinetically grabbed her and pulled her out of the room. "Now, no objections, young lady," Cadance said in a playfully stern tone. "I'm going to buy you some wonderful things, even if I have to tear down all of Canterlot to do it!"

Twilight was so surprised that she could only giggle as she floated down the corridor. Cadance's determination was infectious. "Okay, okay! We'll do what you say," she finally laughed. "But maybe you could manage to leave Canterlot standing!"

Cadance smirked, not slowing down. "We'll see," she murmured with a playful sparkle in her eyes. "I can't make any promises."

Author's Note

Will Cadance and Twilight succeed in buying clothes? Will Canterlot remain standing? Will Blueblood apologize? All this in the next episode of...

No but seriously, I hope you like the chapter. Next time we'll see Cadance and Twilight's adventure in Canterlot.

As always, please comment with your thoughts and opinions. Bye