Author's Note

Children of God

The decades with Shining Armor taught Cadance a great deal about the joys and hardships of entrusting her life to another. The couple had their ups and downs like everyone else, but they managed to maintain a relatively happy marriage, never wavering from their commitment to one another. When Flurry Heart was old enough to inherit the throne, they spent the remainder of their years together reconciling their differences, repairing the cracks, and learning to love one another more deeply than they ever could have otherwise. Alas, in the grand scheme of time, this happiness proved short-lived. The inevitable day of Shining's departure came, siphoning the last grain of sand from his hourglass. All Cadance could do was ensure he didn't suffer. It was truly the most heartbreaking sight one could behold. Tears and sorrow would continue to creep upon her heart for the next half century, but unknown to her, forces far beyond the world she knew were beginning to stir - forces that would consume her grief and make her whole once more.

After Shining's passing, Cadance opened an office for those seeking assistance in their love lives. Her experience and talent transformed her into a renowned figure in the world of psychology, able to tear down the walls between strangers and lovers alike. It was as though the pain itself contributed to the development of this newfound skill. It felt so strange, and her situation would only grow more bizarre in the modern era.

Fifty years after the loss of her husband, Cadance received a call from an unusually curious individual - a soft-spoken stallion who wished to learn the inner workings of her profession.

"To put it bluntly, I provide opportunities for those navigating matters of the heart," she explained, "Whether you've never spoken to someone you're interested in or are in a committed relationship, there's always something more to learn."

"Looks like we're on the same page, then," the stallion replied, "If possible, could you put me down for an appointment? I'd like to speak with you directly. We have a bit more in common than you might think."

"How do you mean?"

"Let's just say there are a few outlying factors about my relationship you may find interesting. My wife is a rather unique individual."

"I'm curious. Will Thursday work?"

"Perfect. I look forward to sharing my story with you."

"Likewise."

"Later."

"Goodbye."

Cadance hung up the phone, only realizing after the stallion hadn't given her his name.

"He must've kept it from me on purpose. What is he up to?"

She marked him down as an anonymous client.

"Something tells me I'll know him when I see him. Why do I feel so nervous...?"

When the appointed day arrived, Cadance waited anxiously for the mysterious male's arrival. A quarter past lunch, a black equine entered through the door: his mane a blinding shade of blonde.

"Mrs. Cadenza?" he inquired.

"You must be the one."

The stallion nodded.

"Please, take a seat."

The pair rested across from each other at Cadance's desk. They could taste the tension in the air.

"Who are you?" the princess questioned.

"My name's Harmonic. You're probably wondering why I called you, right?"

"That obvious, huh?"

"May as well be upfront. I called because my wife is intimately familiar with your situation."

"Was she in a relationship before you?"

"Not exactly. It's complicated."

"Start with what you think is most important."

"Before I can proceed any further, I need to ask an important question. It might sound unusual, but I promise there's a point."

"Ask away."

"Do you believe in angels?"

Cadance thought for a moment. She'd heard the stories growing up about God and the divine beings under his command.

"Well, you're right. It's definitely unusual."

"Thought you might say that."

"Why do you ask?"

"Remember when I mentioned she was a bit different from other people?"

"You're not seriously suggesting what I think you are."

"Yeah. She's a seraph."

"You understand why that's hard for me to believe."

"That's why I brought proof."

"Okay. I'll bite."

Harmonic pulled a portable frame from his coat pocket. He handed it to the Alicorn.

"Look at her wings."

Cadance obliged, scanning over their anatomical structure.

"The size and feathers...This can't be a mutation..."

"I couldn't believe it either, but lo and behold, there she was, in the flesh and plain as day."

"This is unreal..."

"Her name's Atmospheric. As you've probably guessed, those three booger-pickers are ours."

Cadance stared Harmonic dead in the eye.

"Tell me everything."

"All my life, I felt like someone was watching over me," Harmonic began, "I would often hear a voice in the back of my head trying to convince me to do the right thing, like my conscience was actually talking to me."

"So it was her?"

"You guessed it. Sometime after she was born, we became telepathically linked. It was like we were meant to be together from the very beginning."

"What'd you do?"

"What I could. I followed her instructions to the best of my ability, and it worked out in the end, but at the time, it felt more like the most insanely spectacular failure in history."

"I don't understand."

"I was the textbook definition of a loser. My family situation was rocky at best, I struggled academically, I didn't have any friends, and after high school, I could barely find work. I took whatever odd jobs came my way just to pretend like I was doing something meaningful. My entire life was falling apart at the seams, and it bled through into my attitude and behavior."

"I take it your luck turned around after she made herself known?"

"You're pretty sharp. She taught me survival techniques so I could travel around the country and pick up on other skills. As you can imagine, I was eternally grateful for her help. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, we were hitched with three kids and a house. My head spun so fast I thought it'd rocket into the stratosphere."

"I'm glad things worked out, but what did you mean when you said she was familiar with my situation?"

"I think it'd be better if she told you herself."

Cadance grimaced, pulling away the mask of professionalism she'd maintained up to now.

"I don't like mind games."

"I'm not trying to deceive you. She knows Shining. That's all. I just figured you'd wanna know how he was doing."

"What...!?"

Harmonic glanced at the clock.

"Time's up."

He rose to his hooves, strolling toward the door and twisting the knob.

"You can't spend your whole life living in misery. That was the greatest lesson she taught me..."