Author's Note

The sequel dawneth sooneth. Hopefully. I'm heavily writing it out as I post this- but I want this to be a little nugget for the future, and to give y'all one last chance to make any predictions ~~some of you got really close so far, though.~~ But also because a little burst of writer's block has really made me push out every little moment of flow. And I wanted to make a bonus #3 as a better lead-in so... There we go!

Anyways, 'Temptations, And Love' is heavily in the works. Expect something a little different- a few of you have noticed this paralleling the show and exploring out a different AU. I fully intend to lean into that. And yes, you know who you are, you're right that we're at the tail-end of S1 timeline-wise right now.

I'm a fan of longfics, and projects that breathe as long as they need to... So expect that out of me. I want to make what I enjoy, after all.

Oh yeah, and this is at the top to differentiate- this chapter has a slight tonal shift from the others, but read it with optimism. Moreso a lead-in to the next story. Make thine judgement on this fic before this bonus chapter.

... It is gonna shift to an M-rating though, so be warned. Not for gratuitous sex, just because I felt it would limit me less.

Bonus III: Full System Reset

Cadance sighed, her wings uncomfortably shifting at her side as she left the throne-room. Auntie had warned her that some of her ideas wouldn't be so easy to press, or that others might be overenthusiastically accepted, but that entire ordeal hadn't been expected.

She glanced down at her slippers, and peytral, a little wistfully. Even her tiara felt a little... heavy today. At least she could leave these behind for the time being. Celestia didn't trust the elements in Ponyville yet, and neither did Cadance her crown jewels.

... But maybe that was an excuse for her to hear 'princess' spat at her less often. Especially with the plan going forwards.

Though the stars themselves knew Princess Luna was the only one spitting it after that ordeal. Why did she have to make her first public reappearance now?

Her mouth drew into a long line, as she bit back another sigh, mostly letting out an uncomfortable snort as she moved to leave. She really did need a walk, and-

Bzzzz-

A good distraction... Bless this alien colt's timing.

-"So, gonna tell me what you're so stressed over yet?"

"Nah," She shot back almost instantly, smiling as her magic comfortably took hold of the screen after Auntie had shown her how. "I was just farming your sympathy, now here comes the part where I'm extra mysterious."

-"Jesus Christ you really are mastering the art of phone addiction, down to the personality type you develop."

"... Who?"

-"Don't ask."

"Okay. But also what does that mean?"

-"It means... Mysterious."

"Ohhh, buck you."

-"Nah, ask nicely."

She snorted, the slight bitterness in her from earlier rolling uncomfortably in her stomach, as she lingered for a long moment.

"How are you doing?"

-"it was that bad, huh?"

"Oh, shush"

-"Could be better, but y'know how life is. Everything only keeps you going for so long. Momentum is important like that, I guess. Always sucked at that part."

"Hahah, well unlike you Mr. Grumpy, I've been using mine just fine. I've managed to weasel my way out of this castle for now, at least."

-"Jeez, you really did have a tough time, eh? Go take a walk, dork. We'll talk later, you sound kind of bitter."

Her breath hitched for a moment, and she almost frowned. But after a moment to gather her thoughts, she... nodded.

"I'm sorry. It really has been a long day."

-"Walk. I'm not getting you used to anger-venting the moment something bad happens before you can process. We are not giving you silly horses that internetism."

She nearly laughed again, shaking her head gently.

"Thank you."

-"Walk, Cadance. Last time I was up there I remember the gardens were very nice."

She gently clicked the thing 'closed' (as David had put it) before tying it back quietly behind her head- she really needed to find a better spot than wrapped up in her mane- before turning, meandering down another side-path in the halls.

'It's nice knowing somepony who cares. Without all the other weight.'

She looked upwards, her eyes tracing the stained glass on the ceiling and walls close to the throne-room, the many showings of Equestrian history. Immortalized in the new capital's capitol to show the changing of the ages.

'And all the flirting-' Auntie looked over her shoulder. Once long ago, once days prior.

Her mood suddenly dampened. Her gaze flicked downwards, only enough to see the windows lining her path, as history got older and older the further she went from the throne...

'And you intend to do what? Exercise a privilege over this nation-' 'Lulu, a minute please-' '-To pull title to get what you wish after causing the crown such stress? Frankly, we find this ridiculous. If you wish to hold that title, at least live up to it, maybe grovel to the captain and present y-'
'LUNA!'

Her hoof passively fiddled with the object wrapped in her mane, as she came across one particular stain... one whose history had been long lost. All she really did know, is that it had been brought from the old capital before the Everfree took over, and the castle fell.

Two ponies stood opposite a massive tower of crystal, one marked just like Cadance, the other with tears running down her face. Their magic wrapped around the tower, a darkness trying to seep from it. The entire image itself seemed to be placed in a bubble, almost like a snow globe, as on the next stain...

The ground itself was left marked by what almost looked like a snowflake. The tower was nowhere to be seen. The princess fading into dust, as the other mare vanished along with the tower. Dark clouds lingered above, lightning and snow swirling around this ancient grave.

Her heart ached, almost hollow. Auntie never did explain these properly to her, she always seemed to disappear before she travelled down these halls. She had always been meaning to ask, but always seemed to forget before she did, or just never found the opportunity or time.

But for her entire life here, she almost felt haunted by them. How could she not?

Nopony she knew, knew of their history. No books she opened ever spoke of it.

All she knew, is her heart and cutie mark ached painfully every time she saw them.

And she felt like she had done something wrong.

After a long moment- she suddenly sucked in a breath. She hadn't realised she had been holding it in the first place. Admonishing herself quietly, she turned, eyes nervously flicking between the windows and her path, as she continued down the halls of the castle.

She really did hope she hadn't messed up her destiny, like so many ponies seemed to be implying by how they treated her now... She pulled in a light sniff. She didn't know if they were even doing it on purpose. By the strings, they could be doing it for their will.

...

At least, at least she'd be heading to Ponyville within the week.

At least, maybe then, she could get a fresh start.

With a small push of magic, she opened the doors to the gardens. A rushing of crisp, mountain air washing over her as she walked.

She couldn't rush ahead. The world didn't work like that.

She knew she was hurting, she knew she was desperate to be loved, to be understood, to find her way.

But for now, she had to take it slow. Take it realistically. Focus on herself.

Nopony likes the dregs, someone still fixated on what they had. She wasn't sure if she wanted to smile or cry when her own advice would wash over her. 'Get over your last one first.'

It was good advice... that's probably why it hurt.

Bzz...

But maybe, just maybe, she could learn to forgive herself too. One of these days.

... Like she had yet to forgive herself for using a freaking compatibility spell on the ALIEN COLT SHE JUST MET-
She definitely needed a break. She was going stir-crazy.

~~~

-"What were you working on again, then?"

"A little carving project, ponies really like getting their cutie marks immortalised in something. It's kind of cute, pays well too."

-"Ooo, that does sound really cute! Can I see?"

"I dunno, are you going to tell me what your 'plans' are, then?"

-"Nope, that's princess business~ But I also know you wouldn't be telling me about your projects if you didn't want to show them off to somepony."

"Touché. I'll break you one day."

-"You write that literally already knowing the joke I'm going to make."

"Self-awareness is key, little filly. I wanted to see if you'd dare."

-"Har-har. Show me your little project, dork."

"If this was in person you would've made the joke without stopping yourself, and then immediately regret it."

-"Shut the buck up."

"Especially after I clapped right back."

-"I will soar down from Canterlot right this minute and dome your skull in, stars willing, stop."

David nodded, laughing to himself as he flicked open his camera. Angling it towards what was the half-carved image of Twist's new cutie mark, something he was commissioned to make by her parents after her cutie mark appeared, and she'd asked for one after her cute-ceañera. Though it had been in his backlog since these little projects had exploded in popularity- a good distraction- he hoped to make it up to her by painting the thing later too. Turning the thing to the side, he squinted with one eye and-

Fat-fingered the fuck out of it, his finger gliding across the screen as it nearly stumbled out of his hands. He never claimed to be a coordinated person, just that he was a person. After a solid 10 seconds of fumbling, the thing sprawled out across the floor.

Groaning, mostly to himself, he leaned over and-

He'd tapped on the corner. His gallery was open.

...

A long moment passed, as his phone 'generously' flicked through a montage of all the pictures he'd had since he got the thing. Y'know, it was easy to forget they had features like this. Just a cute little side-piece to post on social media or show your closest friends, a little laugh for those who enjoy their life a whole lot... An automatic feature for more than one would expect, whenever you don't open your image history for too long.

But David? David was the type to chronicle the best times of his life on his phone. Not just anything. Hell, it wouldn't be wrong to call himself an amateur photographer. He got a premium model for a reason... The highest definition, to view his life through again. After all, everything had been perfect, for so long. Until it wasn't.

... He saw family, he saw friends, he saw monuments he visited, he saw history, he saw life, he saw everything.

He saw his ex. He saw his life collapse in moments. He saw the last month before he came here, which he'd lost in a haze.

His purgatory had a sense of humour sometimes, didn't it?

...

Bzzt!

A notification popped down, to interrupt the stream.

-"What's taking so long? C'mooon, I'm curiouuus!"

His hand trembled as he reached down, finally pressing to home, and shuffling the thing shakily into his hands.

"Sorry, something came up."

He closed it, shoving the thing unceremoniously down onto the couch. Even as it buzzed and shook away, he ignored it.

Maybe Twilight was out and about, looking for some lesson to learn. Maybe Pinkie needed help with something. Maybe even Bonbon-

He buried his head into his hands, taking in a sharp breath, before he all but ran out of his 'home.'

Anything would do, honestly.

He just needed to be anywhere else but here right now.