In one of the chambers of the Crystal Empire, a royal princess, pink in color and with elegance to match, waited and sat comfortably onto her couch while she was with a cream stallion that had a very grim look on his face.
“I’m sorry to say princess but, there is nothing we can do. We have thought of every possible means to help you with the situation but it has come uncheck for some time.” Doctor Heart, the unicorn spoke with dread and with worry as he was sure that this news would surely upset their princess.
With a heavy sigh Crystal Empire’s own princess, Princess Cadence was not enjoying the news, one that begs her to accept the fate but she cannot, not even for a moment.
“Is there anything else? I’m sure magical medication can stop it? We can also look for some unknown cure elsewhere. There can be something done that we can do so.” Cadence spoke with regal and poise but her worried expression and her watering eyes betrayed that outward display from the inner conflict of her sorrow and distress.
Doctor Heart sighs greatly hearing their princess at such distress, but he cannot change the facts. “I’m sorry princess but what you have is something unknown, even the archives here cannot explain what you have. We have done Magical remedies, but they can only do so much. Foreign cures may have some effect but it is hard to tell what they can do to a pony, much more, an alicorn of your power and magical reserves.” He spoke clearly the news not helping his position as royal doctor but he has done his best as he has gone through their hospital so many times and added that he had to appear out of their Prince’s sight every time his appointment with her came up.
Cadence felt defeated, nearing to collapse onto her couch. Her eyes continue to water as the news ebb away at her, there was no hope unless she looks at every possible means to find a cure. “I have yet to check on the records in Canterlot, I’m sure somepony might know what to do.” She desperately spoke, the hope trying to rebuild itself as she tries to get to her hooves but the royal doctor spoke in.
“Princess, I’m sure you may be thinking a lot but strain of any physical sort will further develop this problem you have.” He tried to reason with the alicorn princess as his look of worry, one he wore every meeting he had with their princess.
“I cannot, I just can’t let myself succumb to this! I have a nation to lead, a nation you live in!” She argued to her doctor who kept himself in his stance still. “Princess, exerting yourself will surely make the inevitable closer than before. I know you have exponential power in regards to removing the tyrant off this world, but you need to calm down and think. You are immortal, the fact is true, you have spent countless times proving you are both the beauty and the power that an alicorn can ever show, but with logic and reason, we know this will not be if you keep feeding the disease stuck inside you.”
With the long but very sensible talk, Cadence found her own stuck in pause as her doctor was both versed in speech as he is in his medical profession. “But what can I do? I know hoping is something to keep us safe and with miracles happening upon us, but I want to live my life!” She shouted some more as she slumps down onto the couch finding her form weak in the knees, all four to be exact.
Doctor heart sighs as he was sure he needed to feed hope to all his patients, even the princess if he had to. One look at the princess of his nation, the leader of his home, in a heap of worry, tears and dread, it was a sight most unbecoming, even for him. He sighs loud for both his new decision and with how their princess will react. “If you truly wish to find a cure, or some comfort to your… predicament, I shall and will allow you to go to Canterlot…” The doctor spoke, clearly acting like he was the higher authority but he knew it was for the moment as he had a patient and it was a patient who was in need.
Cadence, hearing his answer, rose up from her seat and look at the doctor with a hopeful smile, even when there was a slow black mark of her ruined makeup by her tears in her cheeks. “Thank you Doctor Heart.” She spoke with her regal tone, friendly and with enough proper manners to both tame and suppress anger yet the undertone of her worry still stung.
The doctor bows to his princess, not wanting their conversation to extend as he too, regardless that he kept a straight face and with a hopeful tone himself. “I shall allow this princess, but when you come back, I expect you to be in better moods than this, regardless of the result of her search.” He spoke out as he pack up his things and levitate his white back with his own purple aura of magic that came from his horn. “I shall see you when you ask of me for our next medical appointment. Please, care princess.” He spoke with proper and with straight thought as he leaves the bed chambers of their two ruling ponies.
As the crystal door, one adorned in white and in a mix of crystal blue and pearly white sheen, closed for the privacy of the princess. Cadence could not only sigh in relief of opportunity to have a cure but also the stress leaving her so. The revelation was very daunting and dangerous, one that poses a threat not just to herself, but to her people, the crystal ponies, the crystal heart and this wonderful kingdom… But most of all, she worries how her mortal husband would feel if he heard her dreaded news.
“No!” Cadence shook her head some, trying to dismiss the thoughts, “I have to think positive, I am the princess of love and I shall do this with all that I can manage. I will find a cure, I will try, but when there is none…” She choked at that thought, imagining her husband, mortal that he is, to be sad beyond repair at her grave. She felt her eyes water once more, the news still strong in her mind. “I shall find another to rule it with him… I shall think of that when I get there…” She spoke with a forced poise and regal tone but her own crying eyes and hiccups of her distress broke through as she moves to her and her husband’s bed, crying her tears out with the tissue by the bed.
_____
Today was no different, though this is after the week that Cadence’s own Twilight Sparkle changes from her sister-in-law to fellow princess, Princess Twilight Sparkle, one title that was a mouthful, rivaling her own more proper name and title. But that was not why Cadence was reminiscing about her former charge, but about the news she might catch on, being keen and very observant when she wants to. Cadence sigh, Twilight would know about her arrival, as many times as this has happened but she knew it was bound to be true.
She has sent a letter to her aunts, both asking to check the archives for some information that seem her own do not contain. It was formal, that was for sure, and this was to mask what she tries to find in Canterlot Castle. She was quickly moving to the castle, once the reply came with greetings from both her aunts and new sister. She was thrilled and joyous about the matter and was very keen on trying to fly over there, of course leaving Shining to do what he deems best for the empire, but she knew he won’t move any political things.
She chuckled at her thoughts as a crystal chariot she rode was being pulled by two Pegasus ponies, one a visible red and the other a visible blue. Both were mares, as insisted by Shining when he heard the news that Cadence needed to check by Canterlot. Shining was thrilled to hear it but knew well enough to stay, as acting prince, the fact that he tries to still get used to but not completely. But Cadence was determined, to find a means, a way to help her or through the troubling news of her situation or to find a suitable, if not proper mare to help Shining in his time of need as the new princess of the Crystal Empire.
But, only time will tell if one or the other will be needed… but she disliked her later plan as only one pony, or thing, can really take her place as royalty, the fact remains as she has done so before.
Cadence got off her chariot, thanking the two Pegasus ponies who accompanied her. She knew this will take long as the Canterlot Archives was a vast storage of all tomes, books and scrolls that housed knowledge of old and of the past. She was sure she will find her answer, a cure to her dying body or any alternative. “Just please, I hope not to go with my last resort.” She whispered in her plea.
As she steps onto the courtyard she saw that both her aunts have chosen to meet her as they both smiled at her. “It is good to see you Cadence.” Celestia spoke softly as the three alicorns were grouped together. “It is also good to see you too aunt Celestia.” Cadence answered, bowing a bit to the higher power as it would seem. “Greetings to you too aunt Luna.” She answered and bowed to the alicorn of the night. “Please dear niece, thou are our guest.” She answered back as she smiles at her.
The three moved inside the castle, talking about things of change, from how the Crystal ponies are with the newfound world, how the royals of Canterlot are taking that there is now another pony with power, Princess Twilight. As the topic of her came, Cadence could not help but give a worried look.
“Is something troubling you Cadence?” Celestia asked with a hint off worry onto her tone, one that also caught Luna’s attention. “I am worried, I have asked you both to keep me away from seeing Twilight. Knowing her, she will be thrilled to see her sister-in-law, but for me, this is a matter that concerns more than just a visit.” Cadence spoke sadly, mustering her will to hold all her sorrow for now as she must act and be a princess in front of her aunts.
Celestia nods to Cadence’s request as they walked along, guards behind them protecting the princesses. “You need not worry, We have made sure not to hint Twilight about a visitor. I just hope none of our guards start their own gossip.” Celestia spoke out, indicating the guards about it. The guards escorting them steeled themselves, as they all knew they can be punished if any of their compatriots had been the cause of the new princess’s outburst. One of them quickly galloping back as if to warn the rest, unnoticed by the princesses.
“I know it was a bit too much Aunt Celly, but I need to check on some matters from your Archives.” Cadence spoke out, hopeful, one that has implications of worry. Luna can also sense this, even with her learning process of the modern world, “WE know not to intrude but, we worry about you niece.” She spoke out as they near the archives.
Cadence sighs as this bit of secrecy was not a normal activity for them. “I know you worry about me, but I need to do this.” She once again spoke out, this time holding up a smile for them to see. Luna had an evident worry in her face while Celestia kept her warm smile and face to her. But knowing Celestia, Cadence knows she was worried as well. With a bit of pause as they now stood by the archive doors, Celesia nods to her.
“Then, may your search bring you joy in your discovery. Will you excuse us? Luna and I are due for a meeting with some of the royals.” Celestia spoke with all her regal but with that, both Princesses left Cadence to her thoughts. A heavy sigh escaping the Princess of love as she looks at the massive double doors of the Canterlot Archives, home in the Canterlot Castle itself. With a heavy sigh, the guilt of having secrecy over this, Cadence enters, her blue magical aura forcing the doors open and closing behind her.
At first she expected the archives here to be messy, nearly dusty even but inside she was surprised at how organized, neat and even properly shelved many of the scrolls, books, tomes and notes. The room wasn’t poorly lit even, as there were windows nearly reaching the ceiling that gave ample light for any reader. Cadence gave a loud sigh still, the massive size and the many references and items will be a very demanding task, but as she took her first steps, the many bookshelves and organized isle gave her the idea that they have been arranged alphabetically.
“Well, that’s a relief…” She comments under her breath as she looked towards any words that may have great relation to what she was looking. First was Canterlot, since she knew where she would have gotten her illness from. She was thankfully there was an isle for Canterlot alone. She kept a smile as she checked every item in said isle. There was a lot and that was no understatement. There were all such things, from the miniscule thing that was nearly weird to think about but she surely wasn’t looking until she came upon the Canterlot Caverns.
“Time to find if what I have has a cure…” She said with an uneasy quiver of her tone as she checked all the items that mentions of diseases and caverns under Canterlot. Of course that easier said than done. Cadence first though it was easy like many things in the world but she was soon to learn that this was no ordinary search and research. Quickly as she has taken Canterlot diseases, she find herself going to references over references, to Canterlot and Cavern from sickness, illness to ailment.
At first, she was just keeping calm, thinking this was no problem, and this was the archives, this housed millennia of knowledge ever since her aunt moved Canterlot from the old Castle in the Everfree forest. She quietly checked every book, with the works sick, ill, ailments, even checking medical records and even the death rates when the castle was being built. Sadly, the numbers were staggering… daunting even for her as the numbers were very high about the first 5 years when Canterlot was being built, under Princess Celestia’s command. Sure it was expected since they were moving but… the numbers were very well there.
Cadence paused, looking at this record, one that lapsed father than 1000 years, this one depicting such a death toll. Within her, she had hoped that this was natural, not some plague that has taken these ponies. She searches over the names, the many names that were written there, to both commemorate, and to remember the ponies who worked yet died. Cadence’s heart feels heavy, hard even inside of her as she fought back the growing doubt in her she checks the names.
Slowly, not really knowing what time it was, as she has kept a lamp nearby herself, a servant was sent her way in the Archive to give her water and food as instructed by her aunt, but she refused to leave as she was near this news. It was unlike her but it was a very important and very troubling matter that she refused to leave and return for even just a moment. As she checked the names, slowly the fear etched onto her body. Her hooves shaking some as she checked the names, all the names in this medical record kept, the pony they were, the job they had, cause of death…
…
…
…
Every name, every pony, within the five years, until the base of the castle was done… died of a disease that originated from the caverns… Cause of death, the Gem Leak… At that point, Cadence, with all of her barriers, within her very being broken, shook with sadness, remorse not just for these ponies but she herself. She quickly look over the disease, Gem Leak, the name, though not that grim, still sent a shiver of pain onto the Alicorn of Love as she check the medical books.
Even with a heavy heart, the fear buried deep in her spine and the painful pangs of her heart, she move on, checking this one ailment, one disease that has taken many from the time the castle was created. But still… in her own mind, she could not help but worry. She was worried that she might not be here long here with the numbers vast, list of ponies that had them and the very small number of survivors…
But kept herself from ever weeping down, in defeat, she refused so as there was a chance, a very slim chance that she may survive, but the numbers do not add up as she tread on through now checking the diseases in one with, her hooves shaking, her eyes watering and her lips quiver as she holds herself, not wanting to be denied on what this Gem Leak of a disease can do to her, to her life and most importantly, to her subjects and her husband…
