Knock Knock “Princess?” No answer.

Knock Knock “Princess Cadence?” No answer.

Spark sighed. It had been three days since Cadence was last seen. Two weeks since she last left her room. Five months since she had spoken to anypony. Cadence was broken. EveryPony knew.

“Princess Cadenza?” Spark strained while knocking twice more.

“Princess I know you are in there please open the door.” Spark pleaded. Nothing.

Spark sighed. Ever since the event Cadence had refused to leave her room unless absolutely necessary. Only leaving to collect food that was left outside, even then she did it without being noticed. She had ordered all guards to leave her alone and not interrupt her, unless for a real emergency. She had drifted away. After the indecent, she still managed to converse with ponies. Mainly Celestia, Spark and Reaper, but even that had drifted away. Cadence had blamed herself for what happened to Twilight. She believed it was all her fault. She had only seen Twilight three times in the whole year. Three Times. Cadence couldn't face what had happened. She couldn't face Twilight knowing she had let her down, failed to protect her. So she faded from Twilight's life almost completely. She hadn't spoke to Shining since the incident. She couldn't face him either. Couldn't face the look on her former best friends face. Knowing that he would look at her with disgust. With betrayal. She wouldn't go find him. She wouldn't know what to say. She couldn't make it better couldn't fix what happened so she avoided it. Just like she was avoiding everypony else.

Eventually she faded into obscurity. The many attempts by Reaper and Spark to get Cadence out, help her recover had gone in vain, and eventually so did Celestia's. The Princess had tried on many occasions to get Cadence out of her room but they were also in vain. The only pony who still knew of Cadence's existence was Reeetro. Celestia had made sure that he was sent there every week to ensure Cadence's well being, but even he left the room feeling defeated.

Spark sighed again. She was never good at talking to Ponies. Which is half the reason she became a guard because she knew she wouldn't have to, but here she was asking, begging, almost pleading with Cadence to open the door.

“Princess open the door now!” Spark finally screamed. If any other guard had heard her she would have been reprimanded for yelling at the Princess but she knew this had to be done. She was just about to give up when she heard the sound of a lock turning. The door opened a crack and Spark hesitantly stepped in before shutting the door quietly behind her. Sparks eyes needed time to adjust. It was dark, darker than a winter night. However she knew the room fairly well and walked over towards a table where an oil lap sat. She turned it on filling the room with barley little light. She would have attempted to open the curtains to Cadence's windows but the last attempt ended with Cadence hurling a vase towards her head.

“Princess?” she scanned the room looking for a sign of life, anything.

There in the dark right hand corner of the room. Cadence was sat on the corner of her bed hunched over staring at the floor. A tray of uneaten food sat in front of her.

“Cadence....” Spark said in no more than a whisper.

Cadence just stared at the floor, no movement, no blinking, nothing.

Spark stepped closer feeling her heart clench. Cadence was broken.

Cadence was skinny, too skinny to be considered healthy. She had large bags and dark rings on her eyes. Celestia knows when she must of last slept. Her eyes were bloodshot although no tears were present. She wore nothing of her regal gala. No tiara, no pendent, no shoes. Her mane was a mess and she just stared at the ground unable to move, think, barely even breath. If she kept this up she would slowly wither and die. Maybe she wanted to.

“Cadence?” Spark asked speaking louder than before. Nothing

“Cadence?” Spark asked louder again. Nothing

“Cadence please look at me!” Spark screamed. Nothing.

Spark sighed. “Princess I knows this has been hard for you, it's been hard on all of us.” Spark spoke quietly. Spark wasn't Celestia. She didn't have a thousand years worth of wisdom. She didn't have the social skills to fix Cadence. She couldn't offer comfort, or relief, but she had to try. She spoke not as a hired guard but as a friend.

“Cadence.....” She stared. “I'm not good at this...” She felt defeated and gazed at the floor the same as Cadence. “I know your hurt.... I can understand that much, but what good are you doing anypony sitting here?!” She yelled. “Celestia is worried, she's scared Cadence, she's scared of losing you, were all scared of losing you!” Spark yelled Cadence hadn't even flinched.

“I know your hurt, and I know I could never understand the pain. I felt so many things that day, so much hated which is probably only a quarter of what you felt, but this isn’t good!” Sparked screamed. Cadence never even blinked.

Spark's eyes began to glisten. She couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand the Princess of love being so broken. Cadence was gone. She was gone and there was nothing she could do about it.

“She was asking for you again” Spark stared off into the wall, not noticing Cadence's sudden ear twitch.

“She misses you Cadence. Shining misses you” Spark turned to face Cadence and noticed the sudden shiver at the mention of Commander Armours Name.

“And I know you miss them. What good has locking yourself anyway done. What good are you doing hiding from the world! What's done is done. We can't erase it, but you can't just ignore it either” Spark screamed tears flowing freely.

“How is this fair to her! To Shining! To Celestia! After everything they've done for you! After everything you've been through, how can you stand to let it end like this! She's hurting Cadence and I know you are too, but she doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve to be forgotten!” Sparks voice grew louder and harsher.

“How can you just sit there!?” She shrieked

Cadence didn't flinch.

Sparks ears fell down in defeat. Cadence was broken and there was no bringer her back.

“I never thanked you.” She turned away wiping her snout.

Cadences ear twitched.

“For saving me that day.” Her voice lowered.

Cadence's head tilted slightly to the right.

“If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have all this. A job, a home, a life, friends.” Her voice got quieter. “I always promised myself I'd protect you. That was my debt. My promise” She looked at Cadence with a pained looked.

“But look at me, crying. Knowing your broken and I can't do anything about it! Knowing how hurt you are and I can't do a bucking thing about it!” She clenched her eyes shut.

“I promised to protect you and I can't! I'm sorry Cadence but I'm trying!” She screamed. Cadence tilted her head a little bit more.

“Come back Cadence please......” Spark begged. Cadence just stared down at the floor again. Not moving. Tears slowly filling her eyes for 100th time that day.

Spark slumped. What could she do? Nothing.

“She's moving today.” Spark admitted.

Cadence's eyes glistened.

“She wanted to see you. She wanted to say goodbye” Spark began to head towards the door. Putting the lamp back onto the table.

“She misses you Cadence, we all do. Please come back” Spark choked out before shutting the door behind her.

Cadence's tears ran freely now. “I'm sorry” She whispered to the empty room, and the sound of a clicking lock was heard.

Spark walked down the halls tears trailing her way. She was blinded. Blinded by emotion, guilt, regret everything. So blinded that she didn't notice walking past Shining Armour. However Shining noticed her and headed towards Cadence's Bedroom. Being a captain of the royal guard had it's perks but so did being a friend. Shining had start acting like one. He arrived at Cadence's room and used him magic on the lock. In case of emergency's Celestia had granted him this power. He opened the door to the room. His horn emitting a faint glow. He noticed something that broke him nearly as much as the incident that caused this.

“Cadence” He whispered.

Cadence froze.

….........................................................

Cadence roused from a restless sleep. To the sound of hooves banging on her door. She wanted it to stop wanted more than anything for it to stop.

“Princess Cadence our apologises but Princess Celestia has granted Miss Twilight Sparkle permission to enter” The guard said.

Cadence froze as a deja vu seemed to ring in her ears. However she could not hear it over the thumping of her own heart. She knew it would come to this. This would be her end and she was more than ready for it. Cadence held her breath before saying.

“Let her in”

Shortly after the doors opened, Cadence closed her eyes and put on the bravest face she could. Waiting for the impact. When it did not arrive she opened her eyes to a sight that shook her to her very core. Twilight was crying but not of anger or hatred or betrayal but a look of relief.

“Cadence I'm so happy your okay” Twilight beamed.

Something inside Cadence broke. This wasn't what should of been happening. Twilight shouldn't be happy, she should hate her.

A painful memory rose to the surface.

Cadence screamed.

Author's Note

Hello Filly's and GentleColts and fans of OnTheTrot Well I'm back as you can see I hope to get caught up with all that I have missed and apologise for my going away. I hope to make it up to you and thank you for your patience.

Your Regards

OnTheTrot