Cadance P.O.V

Cadance woke up to the feeling of a soft hum in her head, it felt gentle and soft almost like an embrace yet persistent enough to shake her into a proper awakening. The love princess lifted herself from the bed and stared out the window.

At first, the sight escaped her as she concluded that she drank herself to sleep (Auntie and Shining will definitely talk to her about it later…if they knew). A thing that she consistently does after long days and meetings, a bad habit yes, but when you feel the hidden emotions of everyone around you from hate and love you do notice things that you wish to bleach out of your mind. Being a love princess is anything but easy, honestly she envied her aunt and new mother for the simpler domains.

Bad habits and envy aside, her brain went from relaxed to hyperactive as soon as she saw the night sky. It was…it was so different… The night before, the one that she has seen all her life was replaced by a sea of flowing lights and swirls that spread further than the eye can see. Cadance might not come from a family of astrologers like Twilight and Shining Armor but it would take a fool to think that this was not a sight to behold. Was this going to be a daily occurrence now? Is this what the night will be under the new princess?

Wait…oh buck she missed the ceremony! Well, she assumed there was one considering the nature of the situation. She cursed under her breath as she galloped out of the room to search for the princess. Fortunately (well, unfortunately) she sensed the familiar grief of the moon princess so locating her wasn't that hard.

She slowed down as Luna came into view so she didn't crash into the other mare. A frown came to be on the pink alicorn’s as she got a proper feel of the heartbreak ... Also the fact that the dark blue mare's gaze was stuck on the ground did not help.

“Princess?” She said hesitantly, she thought that Luna didn't hear her but the ear twitch and change of pace said otherwise. Suddenly, the princess's change of pace turned into a halt. She took a deep before she lifted her head.

Her face was cold and aloof, betraying all the swirling emotions that Cadance could feel, yet she did not comment on it. She'll do her best to warm the princess into opening up, but rushing things will only make them worse.

“Yes, Princess Cadenza?” Honestly, Cadance was impressed and concerned. Why was the princess so well-versed in hiding how she felt? Even Auntie Celestia wasn't like that in private.

“Oh, Princess Luna oh- or is it mother now? I'm… not sure what to call you if I'm honest. Anyway, Cadance is just fine truly, I told you already, friends and family call me Cadance.” Honestly, this was the first time that she was called just Cadenza, people either called her by her full name or Cadance. Still, it felt a bit too formal.

At her question, The Moon princess withers sagged a bit as she let out a sigh. “We- I do apologize for that. I fear that in my love for logic and haste, I rushed the both of us into a situation that neither of us has agreed to.”

Cadance couldn't help but freeze in surprise for a moment. Where did that come from? The princess seemed very happy about that decision earlier, what brought this sudden change? She shook her head slightly to get her thoughts clear.

“No no, it's okay really! I agreed to be your daughter, remember? I just wonder if you would like to be called mother or something else.”

“And for that, I couldn't be happier, but I'm afraid it cannot be. You saw me and your first thought was to help and comfort me when you could. To you, I was a stranger and yet you rushed to me to comfort me as soon as you heard of something that you considered a woe.

It is simply unacceptable for me to use your kindness and get you up in a situation where neither of us knows how to make heads or tails off. I am not truly ready to be a mother as I have much to deal with now that I returned. Dragging you along with what I desired is not something I can allow. I hope you understand.

You have no need to call me mother or any maternal word. You can simply call me Luna, for we are equals as princesses of the realm.”

Cadance simply didn't know what to say for now. She frowned and thought for a moment, a million thoughts going through her mind at once as she tried to come up with a way to answer that…and she did get one. Not perfect, but viable. Truth and emotion tended to be like that anyway.

“Then can we be friends? Or at least start at that. I-...I do understand what you mean. Honestly, I have to admit, I was pretty surprised and uncertain about the whole deal myself. It's just not every day that someone gets told that they gave a new mother after all.”

At that, Cadance gained a small smile and a nod from the princess.

“It is a rather jarring situation, isn't it? Honestly, I commend you for taking it with as much stride as you have.”

“Thank you, but I wasn't done…I was surprised and uncertain yes, and a whole ton of confused…but I was also excited. Don't get me wrong, Princess Celestia is great but she always kept a distance to herself, she is family and one of the closest people to me but she truly committed herself to the role of aunt. She's close but never close enough to substitute for well, parents or anything.

Your case, however, is different. Sure, the cause was odd but you seemed truly eager for it, and I sensed you perking up at agreeing and I have to admit, while I did indeed agree to help you, I also agreed partially for myself.

You're a pony who has been in the same situation as me, you too were a pegasus before, and you too ascended and had to adjust to a whole new way of life. It's just…there's common ground between us that will help us relate to each other more than anyone I know and I wanted that. So seeing you wanting to take the maternal role for me, I was eager to jump at this opportunity.

As I said, I understand what you mean but I hope, I wish, I dream, I pray, that you do take me as a friend at least, and perhaps we can grow closer from that.”

Cadance sucked her breath as she waited for Luna’s response after her monologue.

The Lunar Princess blinked silently for a moment as if contemplating something before a sombre smile formed on her face.

“Nighty would have loved you. Very well, let us start as friends, and see what fate has in store for us.”

The smile remained on her expression as she started to walk again.

The Alicorn of Love decided to not comment and simply followed Luna. Since she wasn't hiding herself or anything, Luna did notice her and raised an eyebrow at her.

Getting the question, Cadance answered “Oh, I just thought that we might be able to spend some time together starting tonight, I did just wake up after all. Perhaps I can get you up to date with Equestria as well! Oh by the way, while your speech is more formal, it is still relatively modern. Did pony language really not change at all or did the Royal way of speaking get adopted by everyone?”

The Dark blue alicorn’s eyes narrowed a bit as if considering something before the previous aloof expression returned.

“No, the language was very different back then. The tone, the volume, the word structure and even the way we speak to our subjects are different. It is honestly almost unrecognizable.”

Now that just confused Cadance, how is the language so different yet Luna was speaking it normally? The princess apparently noticed her confusion and went on to continue speaking, thus answering the unasked question.

“During our Banishment, Me and Nightmare Moon roamed the realm of dreams during our time of rest after a long half-earth cycle. Over the years we noticed the change of Language and we began to adapt, taking various forms and speaking to the sleeping inhabitants of Equis, though what form and what topic to converse or who to even converse with was not of our choosing thanks to our weakened state.”

“You can walk through dreams? That's…that's amazing! What else have you learned while dreamwalking? That is what it's called right?”

“Hm, I suppose it can be called that. As for what I learned? I'm afraid it was nothing significant. I couldn't enter lucid dreams nor for lucidity so whatever I learned was through whatever was integrated into the minds of ponies and other creatures alike as normal, things that their brain memorized to heart and can portray easily. For example, I have no idea what happened to the writing systems and what changes were in letters and all but I was aware of our visage on the moon.”

“Oh…Well, would you like to learn?” She asked with a hopeful tone, Luna started relaxing around her and Cadance wanted to learn more about the alicorn.

Luna however looked a bit confused and tilted her head “Learn what exactly?”

“Well, whatever you want! From history to how to write in modern equine. You sure have a lot of catching up to do.” That raised a slight frown from Luna, “So um, what I mean is that a lot has changed and you have a lot of time and I was thinking, maybe we can spend some of our time together by teaching you about the modern world and you teach me about the past?”

Now while Cadance was interested in the past, history was not her favorite subject and she doubted anything would be interesting (little did she know) but she wanted to make it more appealing to the other princess.

Luna returned to staring forward for a while without giving a response. Cadence was about to ask again after the silence got awkward but it proved unnecessary.

“We'll-...I'll see to it that whatever schedule I have will give us enough time for this…trade of knowledge, the only complication would be aligning our schedule. I am to assume that you, like the rest of the ponies, don't spend your waking hours during the night.”

Cadance frowned slightly at the addressed issue, was the princess truly nocturnal? How lonely was it for her in the night then? … Perhaps she can stay up a bit late for her new… family member.

She turned her head slightly and stared at the night through the various windows. It wouldn't be bad, the view will certainly make up for it.

“I don't think that will be a problem, I'll manage to stay awake and hey, getting to know your night is just as important right? Honestly…if it always looked this beautiful then how come the ponies could ignore your night?”

Cadance almost chuckled at how wistful she sounded, she knew she hit a sore topic but she wanted Luna to talk about it, perhaps say how she felt about ponies admiring her night upon her return.

However, that… that was not what happened. Luna stopped walking, frowned slightly and turned towards her

“What is it that you mean Cadenza? The night was never ignored by Ponykind, even though it was not made for them to live in.”

Now that caused Cadance to frown and stare at the princess. What did she mean by that? Wasn't the reason eternal night happened because of the ponies shunning the night?

Cadance was so confused she couldn't manage a response that articulated her confusion except for a measly “What?”

Twilight's P.O.V

Twilight was currently following her mentor along the hallways of the castle. It took a while for Twilight and everyone else to leave after bearing witness to the birth of the new night (or the return of the original one for those who knew). How could they leave soon when a piece of such beauty was presented for them all to see? A piece of beauty that will accompany them every night?

Honestly, Twilight couldn't stop gushing about it. She knew her dad wouldn't either, her poor mother would probably hear talk about the night of either praise or remorse as a thousand years of study had gone to waste. Anyway, back to the topic. How could she stop gushing about it? This was a sight that Equis had been deprived of for a millennium, a sight that would be the talk of all of the creatures that roamed the planet.

All of that contributes to why Twilight was confused, she was confused because her mentor, the one who longed most to see this night return for a thousand years, looked disturbed.

While Celestia might be able to hide her emotions for the majority of the time, and Twilight wasn't particularly good at figuring out what a pony was feeling, she just knew that something was wrong. Celestia’s steps were a pace and a half faster than usual, her eyes darted around as she walked, almost as if she was looking for a distraction.

Then came the fact she looked at everything but the night. Was there something wrong with it that no one else knows? Celestia is the only one who saw what it was like before and is still alive and able to see the difference. Perhaps there was indeed something wrong with it…but why would there be such a thing? Princess Luna would have certainly fixed it. This was the new standard that she set for the entire world, why would she leave a mistake in it?

Deciding that her silence would neither explain anything nor help her princess, Twilight saw fit to end the silence herself. “Princess? Is something wrong?”

A twitch of a tail, slight widening of eyes, expanding of magical aura. All signs that something was wrong.

At last, the Princess turned her head so her eyes could meet Twilight's, her expression clear and calm as if the face she was seeing didn't belong to the body that held it.

“I beg your pardon Twilight? Why would something be wrong?”

Hurried, unreasoning, unconvinced with her own tone. It was Twilight's turn to worry and hasten her steps. Just what was going on?

It honestly pained Twilight to see the princess like this. Celestia was the living example of perfection itself, yet here she was, a worried mess for the second time in 48 hours.

At least it was more dignified this time with her trying to hold her composure, but something was clearly taking over the princess's mind at the moment.

“Oh it's just…you've made no comment about the night, I just thought it was odd since you seemed eager for it outside. So I'm just wondering if everything is alright…is it?”

Celestia’s withers tensed for a moment, her wings shuffled slightly and hugged her body closer. It was as if the princess was holding herself back from taking flight and escaping.

“Everything is-” Celestia stopped mid-sentence. She shook her head slightly and steeled her expression. An uncomfortable silence filled the air before the princess spoke once again “...No, No it isn't.”

Twilight just tilted her head, her ears twitched and so did her tail. She usually controlled herself and didn't allow reflexes to take control over her mind, but she worried more than before and was fearful now.

What was wrong then? “What…what may the issue be then?”

After another bout of silence, suddenly, the slightest amount of force was added to each step the princess took. She didn't increase her speed, no she just put more force into it, making each step slightly louder than normal.

A silent huff that did not befit the calm face escaped Celestia. Before, Twilight thought that the princess was nervous, but now she knew she was wrong. The princess wasn't worried, not anymore at least. No, Princess Celestia was frustrated, a hint of anger escaping into her aura and disrupting its pristine even presence. It was what caused Twilight to even notice it even formed. Since when did that happen? And why?

“Well, nothing went according to plan nor did it go as expected.”

It was said matter of factly as if it explained everything that needed to be explained.

Twilight waited for a moment, thinking that there was more to it but there was none. That single sentence was all the answers she got.

Usually Twilight would question that. She would ask and see what was troubling her mentor or beg her to tell…but Twilight, for the first time in her life, felt afraid of Celestia.

How could she not? No one, absolutely no one has seen CELESTIA angry before. As slight as it was, it was still anger and frustration.

Twilight didn't know what caused it, but she knew she might be at fault. Whatever that Celestia had in mind didn't occur, and Twilight might be a cause.

Perhaps she shouldn't have fought Nightmare Moon, or perhaps she should have separated her and Luna instead of (killing) disposing of her.

Maybe it could be because of her pledging servitude to Princess Luna. Princess Celestia wasn't fond of the idea and she tried to protest but was that worth the serene princess's rage to brew?

Or it might be something else that she was not responsible for, something unrelated to her completely. Twilight knew that was probably the case since the princes did nothing to punish her. But it was this uncertainty, this slight chance for it to be her fault that terrified Twilight, and so for the first time in her life, the young unicorn did not seek knowledge.

“Well, perhaps things will get better soon? Everything that happened is a big change and maybe things will settle in the next couple of weeks?” Twilight assured. It was both an assurance to herself and the princess and a drive away from the topic.

A thoughtful expression came upon the princess's face at the suggestion, her pacing slowed and her neck and head were just that bit higher than before.

“Yes…perhaps it will. I still have much to do to fix what I can but perhaps there is a way to fix this issue.”

The princess slowed herself so she was right next to Twilight before she brought the young unicorn into an embrace. At that moment, Twilight felt all the tension leave her body, just as it had when she was with Spike…who was currently sleeping on her back.

Twilight instinctively leaned into the embrace, not commenting about how it might not be inappropriate or how it was embarrassing to do such a thing in public. But she needed this, Faust knows she does.

After a bit, Celestia broke the hug and returned to walking. Twilight wanted to call for her and to ask for the embrace to continue but she knew it wasn't the time.

“Thank you Twilight, I'm sorry if I worried you, it's just been…a difficult day or so to speak. Things will get better, that, I promise you.”

Twilight found herself silently nodding as she continued to follow her mentor, as it was meant to be.

The princess walk was slightly more energetic and her smile returned, not a happy smile, but a thoughtful one. Twilight didn't exactly know what was going through the princess's mind, but she was glad she helped ease her mind.

Perhaps, she should open another conversation? No…No, she shouldn't. She's content with this silence. She doesn't want to think more, for this simple moment, for this little while, she just wants to enjoy the silence and comfort of familiarity while she can. Faust knows what will the Night Princess bring to Twilight's life from now and on, she just hopes it wouldn't be too much.

Speaking of the night, she did start getting sleepy, perhaps she could take a quick nap at Celestia’s study later on near the a fire, the beautiful view from the windows will certainly help…now that she thought about it, she can't wait for the night to come tomorrow just so she can see this view again, to make sure that this isn't a dream, to make sure that the comfort she is feeling is real.

She really needs either coffee or sleep…

Author's Note

I apologize for the wait and length of the chapter, I decided to focus on the material itself this time around, specifically Cadance to make some things fit better.