As The Sun Sets

Cadance and Luna and all the nobles shuffled their way backstage. As they were leaving, the workponies started work clearing away the stage for a pair of musicians Twilight had gotten Morning in touch with. Luna slouched as soon as she was passed the curtain. Cadance was at a loss for words, it was technically night, but even backstage, it was bright as could be.

"I must ask." Immaculate said, "I haven't seen the sky like that since before Sombra's reign. How did you do that?"

Cadance, finding her voice to tack on her own question. "What kind of magic was that? I've never... felt anything like it." Which was true enough, her empathic senses lent her connection to powerful magics the same as it did with ponies. What Luna had done was nothing she'd ever felt before. She had an idea though, and Luna confirmed her theory after a heavy breath.

The Lunar diarch looked and felt exhausted from Cadance's empathic senses, much like how Silver had exerted herself earlier. She spoke normally though, unlike Silver, who tended to oscillate her voice with mood. "Magic of the Skein. Dream magic, very few have the power to draw imagination into reality like that. Majoritvely, it is an illusion, it will take generations to truly return the sky to what it once was under my care, but for now, thanks to the Heart's magic, we can see what it could be."

Ichor snorted, "Poetic. Given the particular circumstance."

"They come." Said Astralation, hidden under more ornate red robes for the event. "Atiria remembers, and the Creeping Darkness comes for the stars in the sky, for it All." A visible shiver ran up her spine and shook loose some of the wrappings.

Her sister rubbed her back comfortingly and passed a glance between the onlookers. "Crowds make the visions worse. Apologies for the doom speak."

"Quite." Immaculate summarized.

Mirror smiled his same fake disarming smile and spoke with the flair required of his station. "So the hour approaches. Cadance, should I ask? Are you ready for your crowning?"

"In an hour, yes?" Cadance return asked.

"The ceremony begins then. Yes." Isotope grumbled, still clearly displeased with the entire idea.

"The beginning of The Final; The Narrative starts with a quote from our Lives."

Everette frowned and began to draw Astralation away from the curious gaze of Princess Luna. "I believe we should tend to her." The other nobles nodded, Immaculate and Isotope moved to follow them out, as Cadance took to Luna's side and ushered her out the other way.

"Oof, Cadance-"

"Shh!" Cadance continued pushing, despite Luna's strange vocalization of 'oof'. "You heard them, we only have an hour. You've got to tell me about what you did with the sky."

"Oh, uh-"

Cadance had never felt Luna become embarrassingly excited, but there it was. "What do you know of the multitudes of creation?"

"You know?" Cadance said as they stepped out into the fairgrounds, trying to stealthily clear the party area without attracting too much attention, "That's exactly along the lines of what I thought you'd say." Because of course whatever she just did had to do with the 'multitudes of creation'

Fun and unintelligible conversation incoming!

"Shining?"

Shining was joking with another soldier in brass, and what looked like a Thestral bodyguard with a full face plate when Cadance noticed him. She said his name from a bit further away, conscious of how she'd been accidentally sneaking up on ponies lately.

He turned to look over his shoulder in a glance, before seeing Cadance and turning all the way around. "Cadance! Fantastic everything is yes." He tried to say, "I mean that-"

"I knew what you meant." She silenced him with a smooch, "Listen, after the crowning ceremony, I need you to invite me to dance."

Shining thought for a moment, "So you can let loose and not get blamed?"

"Mmmmhm!" She turned around, "It'll be better for my image, thank you honey, I love you!" Then she was gone. Off to set up one more thing. She just had to find Twilight... or Silver... or Pinkie Pie.

Odd that I've come to the point of recognition that those three are interchangeable for musical accompaniment.

The good news was that Cadance only had to walk around for a little bit. Pinkie Pie was visible from a distance, Twilight always had something going on around her, and Silver would have found her. That being said, she found Twilight first, and they shared a few words about the music that would come after her crowning ceremony, details that would be passed off to Pinkie, which would make it to the musicians, hopefully with a minimal amount of confetti.

Hope she actually sleeps. Luna's busy... it's not like she could dream walk right now anyways.

"Point Flare!" Cadance bounced, accidentally launching herself a little with her newfound strength when she tried to move slightly faster.

Point Flare, easily visible due to the day like night time, turned to the tallest mare in the crowd and said a few words to Kayfur, who nodded, and then made her way over. "Yes?"

...

Cadance probably should have thought of what to say before calling Point Flare over.

"I... wanted to apologize, correctly. Now that we're not on a time crunch."

Point Flare pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. "That would be nice."

Cadance wasn't full of herself. She was a leader, not a princess. The tone did still tickle at her pride though, the veiled, but still slight disrespect was there; but this was a party. Cadance was in the wrong, and she knew it. There was a glint of mischief that flittered over through the crowd of emotions, something Cadance was desperate to focus on, but...

Bite the horseshoe...

"Both for ignoring your expertise, and for trying to strongwing you into doing something you knew was wrong, I'd like to say that I'm sorry. For both, mostly for talking to you the way that I did." A beat, "Someone put in perspective how I treated you, and I'm sorry."

Point Flare chuckled, "Silver really knows her stuff. 'The 'ol raised eyebrow and pursed lips' is what she called it."

You were messing with me! Aha!

"She's rubbing off on you."

"She's rubbing off on you." Flare elbowed Cadance, "Everyone?"

Cadance rolled her eyes.

"She rubs off on ponies, it's what happens when you're that arrogant."

"Something like that," Cadance silently did an exchange of bits followed by a 'yoink' at range and a pair of paper cones with crystal candies attached in some oblong pattern came floating over, Cadance tried to emulate Pinkie, "Have you had one of these yet? They stick to your face!"

The ceremony itself was silent. Which was the 'tradition' part of the tradition. In a big fair with loads of things going on, the music stopped for long enough for Immaculate Gemstone to find Cadance, hoof over a crown to her, and for Cadance to put it on.

Cadance was staring out over the crowd, one crown heavier, as Immaculate said a bunch of nothing in too many words to ponies who wanted to continue partying, instead of listening. Cadance already did her big speech. That's why it was scheduled this way, there wasn't any one upping it, this was just a formal presentation of what they'd already basically announced.

Empress...

Cadance wondered if her adopted parents would have been proud of her.

There were polite hoof stomps, ponies smiled, Cadance let herself do the same as she waved to the crowd.

Empress to deal with Silver. A trade deal from political intrigue how...

How dumb.

Cadance wasn't proud. She felt wrong all over. Some deep seated sense of having done something wrong, guilt mixed with duty in exactly the worst way as she smiled and waved out at the crowd.

Maybe this was a mistake.

She couldn't deny that it worked though, supposedly. They still had time for the other horseshoe to drop, but luckily none of that mattered. Shining Armour stepped up onto the stage, and the stomping grew quiet as he stepped up to her, clad in his parade uniform, and offered her his hoof.

Slow music began to play, and Cadance's heart fluttered from Shining's smirk.

That's not what I meant you handsome idiot.

She took his hoof, and a slow dance started. Cadance stopped worrying. Shining led her through a few moves, mostly consisting of the two of them stepping around each other. It was elegant, simple, and if Cadance wasn't in public, the dance would have been very different.

Shining was right about one thing: She did love a stallion in uniform.

It's a good thing I made plans for this eventuality.

Another turn, and the deep sounds of a cello cut out, replaced by a similarly sounding instrument in technological wave form. Two beats passed as a single thrumming note played over the crowd before three flickering strobe beams shot through the crystal stage and the beat started.

Shining looked surprised, even more so when Cadance grabbed his hoof a little tighter and then spun him around to the new beat.

My turn.

Cadance yawned slowly. Really drawing it out to take advantage of the natural movement to stretch her jaw. The fair was over, mostly. The Thestrals had started an impromptu after party that Cadance had joined until the alcoholic beverages started flowing. When she left, Luna was halfway through a tank of some citrus rind drink that made Cadance's hair stand on end from a single whiff.

That being said, Cadance was going to think about everything that had happened in the morning. The light levels were confusing her body.

Find Shining, foalnap, Spire, bed.

Shining was somewhere. Cadance was wandering the fairgrounds, maneuvering her way through the crowd by feel of Shining's emotions. Most ponies had gone home, though, most of the locals were still either sitting out on porches talking or otherwise enjoying the exceptionally beautiful night.

"Heya."

Cadance perked up, and stepped to the side. She would have gone for the tackle hug if her hooves weren't killing her, just out of spite. "Silver! You're okay."

"Of course." Silver inclined her head, "Sorry I missed your fair."

"No you aren't, you said you would." Cadance countered.

Silver shook her head and frowned, "Let's not do this, I actually have a question for you." A beat, "Thanks for not giving me up to Celestia, but was she acting weird? If she was here, she should have been able to find me."

She missed the entire fair.

Cadance wasn't wearing her new crown. Shining had taken it for her mid way through their impromptu 'bust a move' in front of the city. There was a small, a miniscule chance Silver still didn't know. She could use that, she could. All she'd have to do is not say anything. "I'm not sure. Celestia's been acting weird... All the time, I suppose."

Silver tapped a hoof to her chin. "Concerning. She must already know I'm here." Silver mused, "What is she planning?" Then turned to Cadance, "And for that matter, what are you planning?"

dangit

"I can feel the domino's Cadance. Causality has a sense to it, it's all coming down to the wire." Silver stuck out the hoof she was tapping her chin with.

Cadance looked at it in mild confusion.

"Well?" Silver shook her hoof.

"Er-" Cadance lifted her own before hesitating, "Uh- is this a spell? What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to say goodbye."

What?

Cadance blanched, "Goodbye, what are you saying good- you're not leaving are you?"

Silver made the same face, "What? No. Ca-" A head roll in annoyance, "Were you not- never mind. Whatever. Odds are, we won't get next Thursday. So from here, this is goodbye. It was honestly a pleasure."

Cadance reached out a hoof and shook. Nothing exploded, and she didn't turn into a duck.

"Breaker Wave." Silver said as she set her hoof back down. "You asked, but I'm pretty sure you never heard." Cadance, momentarily caught off guard by the non-sequitur, blinked and opened her mouth, only to be interrupted by Silver striking a pose and yelling, "Dramatic exit!" before poofing into a cloud of white smoke.

Cadance coughed a few times and waved her hoof in front of her nose. A single flap of her wings was enough to remove the smoke around her.

Breaker Wave?

Cadance... was going to think about all of that in the morning. Shining first. She stalked off, following her empathic senses to her husband. At least she would have, if she wasn't suddenly interrupted by a purple Alicorn who looked just as tired as she did. "Hey."

That's right, I should say goodnight-er, goodmor? Never mind. They know.

Twilight chuckled, "You look tired."

"Not tired enough for a hug." Cadance stepped forwards, Twilight did the same, hug was had.

"You know, I'm surprised you're still awake at all. You don't normally fight monsters like I do."

"Are you saying I have low monster hunting stamina?" Cadance jokingly frowned before actually frowning. "Oh my gosh that was today."

Twilight laughed and stepped out of the hug. "We can talk later-"

"No." Cadance vocalized a little too strong, "I mean, go ahead. I promise I'm awake, I just may not remember."

"..." Twilight looked to the side and her thoughts churned over themselves. There was a massive ball of emotions tied together with stress and anxiety sitting in the smaller Alicorn. Unfortunately, Cadance was too tired to have spontaneous words of wisdom, all she could do right now was listen. "Do you think I'm... a good fit for a Princess?"

Cadance tilted her head, and waited for Twilight to finish her thought.

A hoof wave, "Not a good Princess, I know I can be, but a good fit for a Princess."

Cadance's memory called up a comment Silver made about Twilight being an adventurer. She dropped her tone and smiled softly. "No."

Twilight blanched, "What?"

Cadance half chuckled, "None of us were meant to be Princesses. Whatever being an Alicorn means? It doesn't have anything to do with ruling. You're overthinking it."

Twilight pursed her lips. "Oh."

A beat passed.

"Oh..."

Cadance mischievous smile, "You've been associating being an Alicorn with being a ruler this whole time haven't you?"

"UH- no, I haven't." Twilight lied. Cadance's good humour had gotten to her, and the tension in the moment lifted, but the anxiety was still there, all wound and sickeningly stuck inside Twilight.

"Do what you do as yourself, Twilight. Being something you're not only leads to mistakes and heartache, only sometimes success." Cadance's left eye angrily tried to close.

OK. That was all the wisdom I had for tonight, crashing.

"Thank you." Another hug, "I'll let you go find Shining. I saw him over by the..." A lilt, "Fried stuff stand?"

Stallions.

"Goodnight- er, goodm- Dangit."

Twilight laughed and took to the air.

Bed.