Cadence was lying on her side on a hospital bed. With her in the examination room was her husband Shining Armor, who was smiling down at Cadence in re-assurance. The Canterlot infirmary was one of the most advanced medical facilities in all of Equestria, with MRI's, blood transfusion machines, dialysis machines, various labs for blood work, vaccine research, and diagnostic tests were spread throughout the building. No expense was spared for the place where royal guards injured in the line of duty, and sometimes royalty, would be treated. Cadence was not ill, and Shining was not injured. In fact in light of the reason for their being at the hospital it could be safely said that both ponies were perfectly healthy.
All this did little to settle the nerves of the brown unicorn doctor with the royal couple. He was about to examine royalty, indeed the great power which Princess Mi Amore Candenza possessed was exceeded by only Celestia and Luna. To the doctor he was looking at a god, and the prospect set him on edge. The unicorn grasped in his magic an ultrasound reader and lifted a pack of sterile jelly from a heating unit.
Gulping, the doctor turned to face the Princess, her husband close by. "Alright, let us begin. Now I have to warn you the jelly can be quite cold, but it shouldn't be too bad," The doctor said. Lifting the pack to his mouth, the doctor tore off the top and inverted the package over the Princess' abdomen. Squeezing the package, the doctor let out a stream of jelly. When the strand made first contact with the mare's stomach, Cadence flinched, causing the doctor to do the same and send the rest of the jelly cascading down onto the deity. "My apologies your highness!" the doctor quickly stammered out, his eyes glancing quickly to Shining Armor and noting with relief the stallion had not moved.
Letting out a sigh the doctor turned on the ultrasound machine and began to spread the viscous slime over Cadence's undercarriage. Pressing the device to the mare's belly the doctor began focusing on a monitor and adjusting various dials. Appearing on the screen was a pulsing image of a pony in miniature. "Everything looks fine, you have a perfectly healthy, four month old... er." The doctor hesitated, leaning his ears back in a gesture of confusion. He lifted the ultrasound wand away from Cadence's slightly distended belly. Shining shifted position and Cadence lifted her head from the pillow the doctor had provided. No expense spared.
"What is it? Is it a filly or a colt?" Shining asked.
"Colt," the doctor replied quickly.
"What was the hesitation for?" Cadence asked.
"Well, you see erm, it's not the gender that threw me off it was ummmm..."
"Doctor," Shining began. "Tell us what it is you saw, is my son alright?"
Cadence cooed to Shining. "Hush dear it's alright." She turned her head to the doctor. "Take all the time you need, but please tell me, is he healthy?"
"Yes," the doctor said before continuing. "Its just that I've never seen anything like this, your child is... an alicorn," the doctor finished.He cast his eyes about sheepishly and smiled. For the doctor it was an experience in the sublime. He was the first to witness, in hundreds, maybe thousands of years, the newest addition to the Royal Family. That he had taken part in such a monumental occasion made him feel exceptionally small. Before him lay a part of creation itself, and it was so grand in scale he could not comprehend the magnitude of it, but understood that he did not see the whole of it.
"Oh honey, Auntie Celestia and Luna are going to be so happy! I'm so happy!" Cadence expressed. Shining Armor stepped towards Cadence pressing his lips to hers in a long kiss.The doctor turned around and waited uncomfortably for some indication that the affections were over.
Shining Armor pulled away from his mare and lifted a hoof up to Cadenza's. "So am I."
It was dawn, and the sun had just risen. Cadence looked out to her auntie's gorgeous morning sky, gentle hues of pink and purple fading to a soft blue permeating the heavens above. Shining Armor was out on patrol and soon Cadence, as Goddess of Love, would make her own trip, sowing in the hearts of her little ponies affections, passions and desires that would compel them to seek the best and the good. She cast her eyes down on herself and her child. She gave a contented sigh and blinked slowly. To think I went for so long spreading love before finding my own. A smile spread over her face as she thought to her unborn foal.
Turning to her right Cadence looked over at Celestia as she finished raising the sun. The soft yellow glow of the Sun's magic cast the balcony in a soft incandescence. Celestia turned to face Cadence with a warm smile on her face. "Good morning dearest niece, how are you?"
"I'm doing wonderfully auntie, I was just thinking." Cadence cast her eyes back down to herself, smiling gently.
"Speak child, what is on your mind?" Celestia asked, nothing in her voice commanding.
"You know that my foal is going to be an... alicorn right?" Cadence asked. Celestia nodded, bidding Cadence continue. "I was thinking about my parents. I can still see their faces, after all these years, and that's what confuses me. Not that I don't want this but, how is it that my little colt." Cadence lifted a hoof and pressed it against her belly. "Is going to be so powerful? How did I end up being a goddess?"
Princess Celestia extended a wing over Cadence, drawing her close. "Have Luna or I ever told you of how we came to be? Us, goddesses of the sun and moon?"
"Yes, you each raised the sun and moon by yourselves when the unicorns were attacked by Discord over seven thousand years ago," Cadence responded.
"And do you know what happened before that?" Celestia prodded.
"Discord had been wreaking havoc across the land of Equestria just a few years after the three races settled here," the pink alicorn replied.
Celestia grinned at the answer. "A few years relatively speaking, in truth the span of time was about two hundred years. I was born just three years after Equestria's founding, Luna just two months after, to a different couple, but our bonds are just as strong. Do you know who our parents were?"
Cadence looked at Princess Celestia confusedly. "I never really thought of you having parents. Who were they?"
"You know the story of Hearth's Warming Eve?" Celestia inquired. When Cadence nodded the Princess of the Sun continued. "You'll notice that each pageant that is held, the six founders of Equestria are sometimes played by colts and sometimes by fillies. Well, Clover the Clever, and Commander Hurricane were both male." Celestia sat on her haunches as Cadence did the same, the pink alicorn staring wide eyed at the white alicorn. "Clover the Clever ended up marrying Chancellor Puddinghead in the months following the founding of Equestria. As did Commander Hurricane and Princess Platinum. Eleven months later from each wedding, born from true loves that had formed even in the midst of great strife, was Princess Luna and I." Princess Cadence was gazing out at nothingness.
After a few minutes Cadence spoke out. "So... Prince Blueblood and I?" Cadence was still awestruck.
"Blueblood was born to a pegasus and earth pony couple during the last year of Discord's rule. And yourself..." Celestia allowed the pink alicorn to garner a guess.
"My mother and father both lived in Stalliongrad under the Diamond Dog Khanate before being liberated by the Draco-Gryphic-Pony Triumvirate." Celestia smiled, years of investing in the Canterlot library with Twilight as a filly had given Cadence a habit to study various histories of the pony cities she might require to visit and hold court at. "And my child ... the Changeling Invasion." A shiver ran up Cadence's spine as memories flashed back.
Celestia nodded, but her expression quickly changed to one of mild surprise as a scroll materialized before her. Celestia began reading the letter and a frown began forming on her brow.
"What's wrong Auntie?" Cadence asked, worry apparent in her tone.
"Cadence, go find your cousin Blueblood," Celestia replied before realizing she had been asked a question. "We need to go to Ponyville.
The Elements of Harmony, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike, the Apple Family, and all the Royal family, Shining Armor and accompanying guards were gathered in the Ponyville cemetery. In the distance over the Everfree Forest a wild storm had gathered, sending booms of thunder and pulses of lightning across the overcast sky that had settled over Ponyville. Before the group lay a casket that Applebloom was crying over, grasping the coffin with her hooves as her sorrow was made known to the world.
Behind the coffin a traditional slab of stone was facing the group, engraved with the words: "Here lies Granny Smith, matriarch of the Apple Family and last founder of Ponyville, born 858 AB (after banishment), died at age 145." Applejack moved to her younger sister and placed a hoof on her shoulder gently tugging at the filly to get her away from the coffin.
"It's not fair!" Applebloom screamed, stomping her hooves on the ground. She finally relinquished her grip on the smooth, varnished sides of the casket crafted from an apple tree. She sniffed one last time before following Applejack into the main crowd.
Cadence could smell the sweet odor of apples coming off the box. She could also see the priest shuffling to the podium set beside the coffin. The old gray stallion adjusted his glasses and began. "Friends and family, kindred and dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to observe the loss and to celebrate the life of Granny Smith. As earth pony she was of the earth, and to thus she is returned. Would any of Granny Smith's relatives like to say a few words before she is interred?"
Wordlessly Applejack walked up to the podium and cleared her throat. "Ahem, Ah just wanted to say..." Applejack swallowed, fighting back tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes. "That mah Granny loved me n' Big Macintosh, Applebloom too after our parents died. When Ah went away to Manehattan she didn't stop me. She knew I had to find who Ah was mah own way. But she was always there, ready to lend a helpin' hoof an a word o' advice. She..." Applejack fought through a the sentence as a cry choked her. "She loved us, and she always sought what was best fer us. An ain't that what anypony should do? Care for and raise those they love, no matter the harm or cost to themselves? Mah Granny... was a good mare." Applejack stepped away from the podium and returned to Big Macintosh, sobbing into his shoulder as the stallion let a few tears roll down his cheeks.
Pinkie Pie tried hugging Applejack but her friend's heaving sides were to much for her and Pinkie joined in dejectedly. Nopony else spoke at the funeral and the priest began going through the entire ceremony. When he finished speaking Cadence could feel a few light flecks of moisture graze her fur. A unicorn lifted a shovel with his magic and began filling the hole the coffin had been lowered into. Everypony began to disperse as a steady drizzle began to permeate the area. Each had a half hour before they were expected to return to the funeral parlor to say their final goodbyes to one another and head to their homes.
Cadence was walking under a tree's protecting leaves, Shining Armor at her side. "It's a real pity," he said. "Twilight told me about how much she respected Granny Smith, never got to meet her myself though. She sounded like she would have been fun to know." Shining chuckled as the two sat down on the damp grass. The white unicorn turned to his wife and noted she was staring at herself. "Honey are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Cadence stated flatly. This is what I have to look forward to? To watch my Shining die someday? To have my foal be in Applebloom's position?
"Cadence..." Shining placed a hoof on the pink alicorn's shoulders. "Is it something to do with the child?"
"No... yes, I don't know," Cadence whispered.
A look of surprise, and then of understanding flowed into Shining's features. "Listen, I'm going to be around for a while yet, and we have a lot to do together." The stallion moved his hoof to his wife's belly. "All three of us." With that affirmation Cadence nestled her chin over Shining's neck, feeling the warmth he radiated even in the cold weather. In the distance the sound of hooves pressing against the soft turf could be heard by the couple. Out of the distance came a white stallion, blonde mane and blue eyes contrasting with the surrounding grey. He stepped up to the couple and inclined his head.
"Cadence."
"Blueblood."
Prince Blueblood turned his head to Shining Armor. "Would you care to leave my cousin and I alone to discuss things briefly?"
"What things? Surely I can stay and listen," Shining asked with his brow furrowed. What does that lout want to talk to Cadence about?
"Godly, and no," Prince Blueblood responded curtly, staring at Shining.
The unicorn sighed and rose to his feet and spoke to Cadence. "I'll meet you back at the parlor, don't take too long sweetheart." With a farewell kiss Shining left the two younger members of royalty alone.
Blueblood sighed and took a seat beside his cousin. Cadence spoke before her cousin.
"Why do you do that? Lord yourself over others, he's your cousin too now." The pink alicorn wasn't even looking at her cousin.
Without speaking Blueblood's horn glowed and the buttons on his jacket came undone and he slid it off. His sides glowed briefly and his wings were elucidated as his illusion spell was stopped. The primary's of both feathered appendages were askew and crooked. "It's all just part of what I do to keep myself distant. I don't want to have to go through what you are, and what yo will; not again anyhow." Blueblood stated.
Cadence turned to her cousin and tried looking into his eyes as she asked. "What do you mean 'again'?"
Blueblood sighed again and began morosely. "During the Diamond Dog-Triumvirate War, before you were born, I was a general of the pony divisions. I... we lost a lot of good stallions and mares. It hurt a lot, losing them, and when even the survivors started dying, and I was all that was left, it hurt even more, knowing I'd never join them. I guess I envy you that." Blueblood turned to his fellow deity and spoke softly in reply to Candence's confused look. "You're so full of love, and even though it may hurt when he's gone, you still do it, I wish I could believe that the joy is worth the pain, .... maybe there isn't even supposed to be pain at such a loss... I should think on this, you too, thank you for listening cousin." With that Blueblood donned his jacket, covering his wings again and trotting with purpose Cadence hadn't seen in centuries. Not since he introduced her to Celestia and Luna after she worked the courage up to reveal herself in Stalliongrad. When the Diamond Dog loyalists were still prowling the streets plotting revolution.
"Not feel pain at his loss? How could I do that?" The pink alicorn spoke to no pony, save herself.
Several groups of ponies were having hushed conversations in the funeral parlor. Twilight and Celestia were speaking with Shining Armor. The Apple Family had decided to forgo the parlor and seek comfort with each other at Sweet Apple Acres. Princess Luna was attempting to cheer up Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash by telling of her recent pranks in the royal palace. Princess Cadence hadn't spoken with anypony except Fluttershy, who was mostly in awe over seeing the pregnant alicorn.
"Fluttershy?"
"Yes your majesty?" Fluttershy whispered.
"Please, just Cadence is fine, I'd like to have a conversation on the balcony outside." Fluttershy nodded and followed the royal mare up a flight of stairs and through a door leading to an outside balcony. The sky had cleared somewhat and the ground beneath them was dry from the sheltering awning that was set up. "Fluttershy, you take care of a lot of animals right?" Cadence began.
"Oh yes, I love taking care of each and every one of them. They're all so diverse and unique, but none of them are as important as my Angel Bunny!" the yellow pegasus spoke up, forgetting her bashful nature in light of her favorite topic.
"About that, Angel Bunny, how old is he now?" Cadence asked.
"Oh, um, I'd say about eight years. Why do you ask?" The butter-coated mare looked up at Cadence.
"What will you do when he... passes on?" Cadence asked. She winced at the statement herself. Here I am bringing my problems to one of the kindest mares I've known.
"I ... um." The yellow pegasus began tearing up facing the prospect of losing her center in life. She took a deep breath to calm herself and looked back up at Cadence. "I would be sad, of course, but I wouldn't let it hurt me, I'll know that we had a good life together and that even with him gone."
"You'll have your memories of him," Cadence interjected, the conclusion coming to her not as something learned but remembered. Still, Cadence had to look even further. "Would you look for another bunny? Would anything ever be able to replace him?"
The pegasus lowered her head and spoke. "No... but there would be other animals, different, unique, maybe in some ways similar. Maybe I would love one as much as I do Angel Bunny, but I'd remember the good times we had while making new ones with somepony else." Cadence smiled and Fluttershy looked up at her confusedly, then realized what she had said and bent low. "Oh dear, I didn't mean, it's not that I...!"
"Hush Fluttershy, I'm sure you'll find somepony who will make you as happy as Shining has made me, but promise me something." The butter pegasus stood up and nodded. "Promise me you won't ever tell yourself that it wasn't worth the time spent with Angel Bunny when you find somepony special."
The pegasus smiled and stated simply, "Of course."
Cadence was standing on the balcony of the royal palace. Tears rolled down her face as she looked towards the hills where Shining Armor had been buried. He had slipped quietly in his sleep, hooves wrapped around Cadence, still as beautiful as she had been the day of their wedding. She had woken up to him lying there, perfectly still. She had wept for hours with him there before she finally worked the courage to pull herself away, his forehooves finally unclasping from her neck like the pendant she now wore. In that pendant was a tiny portrait of them together. In the slight breeze one of Cadence's tears fell on her hoof guard. The small bead settled on a pearl inset.
The purples of the late evening sky brought Cadence's thoughts to the letter that lay on the ground beside her. It was a copy of the doctor's report for Twilight's death. Five fifty-one AM, June twenty-first, one thousand one hundred and forty-five years AB. She lay on the ground and began crying silently. The pink princess sniffed when a clopping sounded behind her. Cadence didn't even move, beside her two deep blue hooves entered into her vision.
"I just heard the news," Luna said. "Celestia is heartbroken."
"She knew it would happen," Cadence spoke morosely in reply.
"True, but that does not mean she cannot feel as keenly as she has in the past."
"In the past?" Cadence questioned. "The way we always spoke of Twilight, she was one of a kind to the princess."
"And she was. But Celestia has had other students, each one she taught as much as she could, and they learned other things, each was unique, valuable in their own way. Celestia sought to improve all of them with the same fervor as she did with Twilight," Luna responded, kneeling down to look Cadence in the eye. "We'll never forget Twilight, nor will you Shining, the memories we have of them will go on. Their accomplishments too, great and small, will continue to have a lasting effect that may even escape our notice in the fullness of time."
Two more sets of hooves sounded at the hall. In the entryway to the balcony two young alicorns sat. One was a white coated colt with the pastel mane of his mother Cadence. The other was a light grey filly with a pearl mane with blonde highlights suffusing it, her eyes a piercing grey-green that looked about attentively, taking in all her surroundings.
The colt walked to Cadence. "Mother?" he asked. "What do we do with auntie Twilight gone?" Tears started flowing down his cheeks and Cadence stretched a wing out over him.
"We do as we've always done my child, remember, and continue."
The grey filly now walked up and began bawling into Cadence's side. "I miss her so much! First my mother, then my sister, and now my godmother! What do you mean continue? Continue doing what!?"
Luna pulled the crying filly to her own side and laid down on the bare marble, allowing the filly's tears to soak into her fur. Luna whispered gently into the filly's ear. "Pursuing the best for our herd, our flock, and our charge..."
"Building our pantheon," Cadence concluded.
