Chapters I Was Counting On Forever
In the throne room of the Crystal Empire's castle, a pink alicorn raised her head as two large doors opened. Her brow furrowed in confusion when she recognized her private secretary, whose face was dark with devastation. Cadance was almost afraid to ask, though she knew that she had to. What happened next was an agonizing blur, silent save for the few words that stopped Cadance’s world:
“Celestia… dead… Captain Armor… killed in action… his parents… Twilight… all dead… so sorry.”
No. This is just a nightmare. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The princess began to shake, and her heart began to pound so intensely that she feared she might go into cardiac arrest. Luna had insisted on including Shining Armor and Twilight in the mission for which they and Celestia had left not even two days before. Twilight’s parents had accompanied them because the risk of such a mission had been considered minimal. Rage began to bubble up inside Cadance’s body, and she cried out.
The cries of a newborn foal echoed through the castle. Cadance wept as she walked to the nursery and lifted her two-day-old daughter from the bassinet, leaning in to inhale the foal’s sweet, milky scent.
“We are all each other has now,” Cadance whispered to the tiny alicorn filly. “I promise you will know how amazing your daddy, aunties, and grandparents were. I swear to make sure you know how much they loved you.” She dropped a featherlight kiss on Flurry Heart’s forehead, then walked to the rocking chair and sat down to cuddle her daughter.
“You… also have me,” a familiar voice murmured. Cadance’s stomach dropped as she noticed a dark blue alicorn standing in the doorway.
“Get out,” Cadance said coldly, her voice dangerously soft as she held Flurry Heart protectively against her chest and glared at Luna.
“I… I cannot,” Luna said hoarsely, obviously exhausted from crying. The princess of the night’s wings hung limply at her sides, and her mane hung in stringy, matted clumps along her neck. Her tail was equally unkempt, and her coat was dirty.
“Cadance,” Luna whispered as she took a few tentative steps into the nursery, “we are the only alicorns left. I cannot, in good conscience, simply abandon you and Flurry. You will need support. Raising a foal alone will be extremely difficult. You cannot do this by yourself. We must stick together for the sake of your child. You have every right to hate me, but I swear to you right now that I already have so much love for my sweet little great niece. Cadance, we have both lost so much; let us grow stronger together through the love we share for this new life.” Cadance’s gaze returned to her daughter, who was sleeping peacefully in her hooves. She knew that what Luna was suggesting would most likely result in the best circumstances for Flurry, but she still could hardly bring herself to look at Equestria’s sole ruler. With a defeated sigh, Cadance forced herself to meet Luna’s eyes.
“Fine,” she snapped, “you can help me, but only under my supervision. If you endanger my daughter in any manner, I will take you down. I hate you, and I always will.” Luna looked wounded for a second, but she recovered quickly and took another step toward Cadance.
“She is precious,” Luna said, smiling warmly at Flurry as she reached out her hoof to gently stroke the filly’s tiny cheek. “Look at that sweet little face.” She cooed softly over the newborn alicorn, her cyan eyes bright with adoration. Cadance had to fight the primal urge to jerk Flurry away from Luna. She only wanted to scream, to protect her baby from the pony whose inability to rule had taken her husband from her. The princess of love kept her eyes on her daughter, who opened her eyes and began to cry. Cadance guided the foal to her breast and sighed with relief as Flurry began to suckle noisily.
“She is latching well,” Luna observed, a smile evident in her voice. “What a hungry one she is! Listen to those sweet little noises she’s making while she eats. She is a doll, Cadance. You must be so proud.”
“She’s an alicorn,” Cadance said shortly, gently pulling back the foal’s blanket to reveal her feathery pink wings. Luna’s jaw dropped. After a few seconds of silence, the new sole ruler of Equestria nodded decisively.
“Then it is even more important for you to receive all the necessary support from me,” she said. “You will not be able to raise an alicorn on your own, Cadance. This little one is the sole heir to the Crystal Empire, and as Equestria’s monarch and your aunt, I have a duty to be there for you and your daughter. I understand that you do not want my help, Cadance, but you must do what is best for your child; she is, after all, next in line to the throne. I know that I have no experience raising a foal, but I want you to understand that I will be there for you every step of the way. It’s… what my sister would have wanted.” Luna swallowed hard as her eyes began to glimmer with tears.
“So long as you are aware that I will never stop hating you,” Cadance hissed. “I am only allowing you to know my daughter because we are all she has left. I have no choice but to let you help me.”
I Was Counting On Forever
After only half an hour of sleep, Cadance was awakened by Flurry’s cries. Sighing, she rolled out of bed and trudged into the nursery for yet another feeding. After Flurry Heart had eaten, Cadance left the filly with Raven and returned to her bedchamber to prepare for the day ahead. She freshened up with a glamour spell that left her mane and makeup looking immaculate, then changed into her simple black Chanel coat dress with a matching hat that was embellished with a black silk bow. A diamond and pearl brooch resembling Shining Armor’s cutie mark was pinned on the lapel of Cadance’s dress.
Luna, who was visibly exhausted from the previous night, stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase in a simple black wrap dress with an equally elegant matching hat. She wore a simple string of pearls around her neck. Cadance partially dreaded knowing the answer to the question that bounced around her mind like a rubber ball, but she knew that she had to know.
“Aunt Luna,” she murmured. The blue alicorn’s delicate ears flickered in the direction of Cadance’s voice. A heavy sigh deflated her body as she turned to acknowledge her niece.
“I know you grant ponies’ final wishes before you take them to the afterlife,” Cadance said hesitantly. “What… what did Shiny wish for?” She took a deep breath, preparing for the inevitable pain of Luna’s reply.
“Your husband wanted you and Flurry to be happy and safe,” Luna said with a sigh. “He made sure that you two would be well cared for. He also asked to be a guardian angel for you and your daughter. Shining Armor wanted you to know that he will always watch over you, and that he will love you forever.” Tears stung her eyes and spilled down her face as she spoke. Cadance sobbed, nodding.
“You need to rest,” Luna said firmly. “Please, Cadance, let me watch Flurry Heart so that you can get some sleep. I am perfectly capable of looking after a foal, my dear niece.”
“Raven has her,” the light pink mare replied. “We have a long day ahead. What time do we need to be at the base?”
“The royal flight is due to arrive at ten,” Luna sighed. “I have begun making funeral arrangements. Celestia and Twilight will each receive a state funeral, while Shining Armor will get a ceremonial funeral. I know that this is extremely overwhelming, Cadance, but we must discuss these matters now.”
“Their bodies haven’t even touched Equestrian soil yet,” Cadance hissed. “I would prefer to absorb the fact that nearly every member of my family is returning home in a casket before I think about anything else.” She gritted her teeth, ignoring Luna’s wounded expression as the new ruler of Equestria slipped into the backseat of her chauffeured black Bentley. With a toss of her head, Cadance snorted and trotted outside to her Rolls Royce. The two cars set off toward the nearby Air Force base, where rows upon rows of soldiers stood on the tarmac, the right sleeve of each one’s scarlet dress uniform donning a black mourning band. Cadance’s stomach twisted when she saw nine guards in formation in the center of the tarmac. A military band stood behind them, their brass instruments glinting in the sun. Six black hearses waited side by side.
As the royal flight landed, Cadance took a labored breath and stared ahead as the soldiers presented their arms in a royal salute. Celestia’s coffin, draped in her royal standard, was slowly carried off the plane. Luna’s face was soaked with tears as she fought to keep her composure.
Twilight’s coffin was the next to leave the aircraft. Cadance began to sob, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. When the coffin carrying Shining Armor’s body appeared at the top of the steps leading off the plane, Cadance released a loud, anguished cry. Her body trembled as she broke royal protocol and dashed over to her husband’s coffin, leaning on it and sobbing. Luna wept openly as she surveyed the six shiny black vehicles, which were given a royal salute as they set off on their solemn journey to the funeral home. The two-month period of royal mourning had officially begun.
I Was Counting On Forever
"You must eat."
Startled, Cadance jumped at Luna's voice. Flurry Heart, who had been sleeping in Cadance's hooves, stirred and began to cry. Cadance glared at Equestria's new ruler, who stood in the doorway of the sun-drenched rear veranda of Canterlot Castle.
"You need to eat, Cadance," Luna repeated. "You cannot look after Flurry if you do not look after yourself."
"Look what you did," Cadance snapped, glowering at Luna. "I just got her to sleep. I was up all night with her because she still hasn't gotten used to her sleep schedule. I was hoping to just enjoy some cuddles. Oh, Flurry-Whirry, shhhh, I know you're tired," she said gently, nuzzling the tiny foal's forehead. "I know, sweetheart, I know. There, there, little one. Did Auntie Lulu scare you?" She shot a scowl at the older alicorn, who looked wounded, then she kissed Flurry's head again. "Come on, sweetie, let's give you a nice, soothing bath; you always fall asleep in the bath, don't you, Bug? Yes, you do." Cadance huffed as she stood and started to carry her new daughter towards the bathroom. "If you're just going to stand there, you might as well make yourself useful," she called to Luna. "Come with me."
Luna felt a glimmer of optimism as she followed Cadance down the long corridor. The princess of love had already prepared the newborn-sized bathtub, which was filled with lukewarm water. Flurry began to relax as soon as she was placed into the tub. Luna smiled affectionately at her new great-niece as she reached out to caress the foal's head.
"What a sweet little one she is," she murmured, reaching for a washcloth and squeezing a small amount of shampoo onto it so that she could begin to wash Flurry's mane. She paused for a second, looking at Cadance for permission. The pink alicorn sighed and reluctantly nodded. Luna began to gently work the shampoo into the filly's long, thick tresses. Flurry Heart gurgled and smiled up at Luna, blinking sleepily. Luna tickled the foal's tummy.
"Uh-oh," she cooed, "I think somepony is getting sleepy. Are you tired, darling Flurry Heart? Oh, you're so sweet and adorable. Aren't you just the cutest little thing? Yes, you are." She continued to bathe and fuss over the filly, who suddenly began to grunt and scrunch up her face into an expression that Cadance instantly recognized. Cadance stifled a giggle as Luna carefully tipped Flurry's head back and poured a cup of water over her mane to rinse it.
"Let's get your pretty little tail nice and clean," Luna went on, working shampoo along Flurry's back and sides towards her rear. Cadance bit her lip, deciding not to warn Luna about what Flurry might do next. When Luna reached the filly's tail, she lifted it slightly to wash it. As Cadance had expected, Flurry, who had been grunting and tensing the entire time, pooped, turning the water a yellowish brown color. Luna froze, and her eyes shifted to Cadance as she realized what had just happened; her reaction, however, was the complete opposite of what Cadance had expected it to be.
"Oh, my goodness!" Luna exclaimed in a singsong voice, her baby talk never wavering as she smiled proudly at Flurry. "Did Her Royal Highness just go poopy in her bath? I think she did! Are you all done, my lovely? Here." She hastily removed Flurry from the tub, which Cadance cleaned and refilled with fresh water. Flurry was still straining, so Luna put her on the changing table and began to gently massage the foal's tummy.
"That's it, little one," the lunar princess cooed. "Let it all out. There you go." Luna beamed as Flurry finally relieved herself, then she cleaned the foal off and put a fresh diaper on her without batting an eye. Cadance stood dumbfounded by her aunt's prowess with newborns, but she quickly composed herself and put Flurry down for her nap.
"Thank you," Cadance said shortly. Luna raised her head and met her niece's eyes with a tender smile.
"Of course, dear Cadance," she replied. "Do... do you need anything else?" Her expression turned stern. "Come," she said, ushering Cadance out of the nursery and shutting the door behind them. "You must eat now. Do not argue with your auntie. You will need strength for the week ahead." Cadance's shoulders tensed as Luna's wing brushed along her back.
"Don't touch me," she growled. Luna recoiled, looking hurt once again.
"Stop it! Wipe that look off your face!" Brick by brick, the strong facade that Cadance had been maintaining for Flurry's sake began to crumble. "You did this, Luna! You took my husband and niece away from me, along with the only parents I have ever known. You took my daughter's daddy away from her! Because of you, Flurry will never know how wonderful her daddy was. He won't get to watch her take her first steps or sit in the audience at her college graduation," Cadance yelled, her face turning scarlet. "He will never walk her down the aisle or meet his grandchildren one day. You stole all of those moments from us because you wanted to attack some insignificant country on the other side of the world, Luna, and I will never forgive you for that. I hate you. I am only keeping you around because the rest of my family is dead, but don't you ever mistake my tolerance for forgiveness. You should have died instead." Luna looked at the floor, her wings drooping.
"I know," she whispered. "I wish I could have taken their places." She choked back a sob. "If... if you're hungry, there is food in the kitchen to be sampled for the receptions that will be held the night before the funeral, and immediately following the committal service. I know that you want nothing to do with me, so I will respect your space. Just know that I'm here for you if you need anything. I... I love you, Cadance... my dear niece." With that, Luna trudged off to her bedchamber, while Cadance headed to her room to rest.
