With a lot on their minds Cadence and Shining Armor smiled and said their goodbyes before heading off in different direction. Shining Armor had told her that he should probably ask Professor Tower, not looking happy as he said that, more about what the Princess had wanted. There was a lot to think about but for Cadence she thought a quick breakfast wouldn't be out of place.
Of course, there was a question of whether she needed to go back to the home she'd been staying at or if she could eat at the palace itself. Princess Celestia hadn't said anything one way or the other and they were technically family. So it wasn't long before she was wandering the expansive marble halls looking for where somepony might eat.
Eventually she just broke down and asked a guard who pointed her towards the kitchens. Said kitchens were obviously more for the staff then for the Princess it seemed, being located near the rear. Poking her head in, the sight of numerous ponies hard at work preparing food and the noise that it garnered left her a little out of her element.
Most of the staff barely gave her a second glance, far too busy and far too use to seeing 'important ponies' to be troubled much by her appearance. Eventually though, a kindly looking old mare with a kitchen whisk inside a bowl for a cutie mark approached her. “Can I help you your highness?”
“I was uh, if there was anywhere I could get some breakfast.” Cadence asked, finding it a little strange to feel strange asking. Had she really started to become like the high society that she was less then a fan of, use to food just being there. With a horrified start she realized that she'd likely have some difficulty making breakfast on her own.
The older pony wasn't aware of her inner turmoil and simply continued on. “The Princess' eats early, so you missed it if you wanted to join her. If you like I could make something for you. I'm Sunny Side. What would you like dear?”
“Yes, thank you. I'd like, well...a spinach omelet?” That sounded fairly simple and easy to her and a welcome respite from overly fancy foods she'd been subjected to.
Sunny Side smiled, adjusting the net in her mane and moving back over to her station. “I'll have it for you in a minute, you can sit over there if you'd like.” She gestured towards a rough wooden table set off to the side and presumably for the kitchen and other staff to take quick meals.
Cadence didn't spare it a second though before she seated herself and waited patiently. It gave her some time to think, about Shining Armor and this new revelation that a serious mission for all of Equestria was nearly upon her. She wasn't use to the idea of grand adventures and danger and chewed her lip thoughtfully.
She wasn't afraid, not really, it sounded like Princess Celestia was sending her with a veritable army and Shining Armor was even going to be there. If there was anypony she could really depend on it was him. She couldn't help but smile at the adorably embarrassed expression written all over his face once she realized they'd fallen asleep next to one another.
Boys could be stupid sometimes, as endearing as it was, and she'd read his barely disguised interest like a book. If anypony knew about romance and love it was her and she had to admit to thinking that there were a lot worse stallions to have interested in her then him.
The plate of food had appeared in front of her as quickly as Sunny Side had promised and she picked at the food without really eating much of it. As hungry as she was her thoughts were consuming her attention.
Did she like Shining Armor back? Of course she did...he was cute and nice and seemed to like her for more then just being a Princess. A trip like Princess Celestia suggested would probably be a great opportunity for them to actually talk and get to know one another after having not seen one another for so long. Cadence tried to caution herself not to get start thinking too far ahead, Shining might even have a marefriend. She nodded to herself, happy she'd decided something for a change. Best to take things slowly and let them naturally.
Then she heard the sound of the kitchen door slam open, startling her out of her reverie and looking at the glowering anger of her mother as she stalked in. The rest of the staff had flinched, looking at Sonata and then at Cadence, able to see a confrontation about to occur.
“Everypony get out.” Sonata said, without even looking at them. She had no authority over any of these ponies, wasn't even technically a Princess anymore but the sheer anger and venom in her voice did a remarkable job of clearing the place out.
“Mom...” Cadence started, trying to head her off as she tried not to look chastised already. She had a feeling she knew what she was in trouble for.
Sonata would have none of it, stalking up to her and glaring at her daughter. “I leave you for five minutes to talk to Princess Celestia and you disappear with some colt? Not only some colt, but one barely better then a commoner.”
Cadence couldn't help but bristle at the insult to Shining. “He's not just some colt, he's-”
Cut off, her mother didn't let her get a word in edgewise. “He's related to Princess Celestia's protege. Is future low level officer in the guard and a nopony. Maybe if you were the type to be interested in Celestia's pupil, if she wasn't so young, that could be different. Spending the whole night, who knows where, with a nopony...insulting half of Canterlot's high society by ditching your own banquet? You are not a little filly anymore Cadence, you know there are more important things then hanging out with some boy.”
“Mom...” Cadence frowned, not wanting to accept this chewing out, even if she probably had annoyed more then a few rich upper-crust types.
“Don't 'mom' me. You've been nothing but unpleasant this whole week. Every single young stallion I’ve liked you've been rude too. You don't even seem to care about being a Princess.”
Cadence desperately wanted to admit that she didn't, not the same way that her mother seemed to. But they'd had this sort of argument before and every time it got closer to a more uncomfortable truth. One that nagged at Cadence endlessly.
Sonata was still angry, having stopped and clearly expected Cadence to rise up to her words. Finding nothing she appeared to change tactics. “Cadence...our family has nothing anymore. We've only got our history, our claim. Even our money has dried up. When I married your father we were desperate. Your cousins are barely better then commoners, some are even earth ponies working on farms! I only want what's best for you, for all of us.”
It stung, the uncomfortable truth rearing its ugly head even without her having to say anything. That her mother had never particularly loved her father and had only married him because it was the best sort of social climbing method she could find. “Mom, please don't talk about dad like that...”
Her mother gave her a long look. “There was nothing wrong with your father...but we as a family, in the Crystal Empireuse to be great. The equals of Celestia, now not even the most learned historians know much of anything about our past. If you went and married somepony like Shining Armor you'd be right back where I was...and another step towards being just like everypony else. Do you really want that?”
Cadence only frowned and looked away as a reply, Sonata not happy to have that nonverbal answer.
“This isn't just about you, either, Cadence. Your whole family is depending on you finding a good stallion who can help keep our family afloat. You were born to be a Princess, literally. Do you even know how to survive in the 'real world'? Could you get a job?" The way she said job was if the very notion of Cadence working for money was ridiculous.
No, no thanks to you sheltering me. Cadence thought back with a touch of resentment, but didn't say. “I understand mom....” She finally wilted, how could she turn her back on her family or mother and just do as she liked? Wasn't a Princess suppose to put ponies above herself?
“Look at me Cadence. I know you love your family, that you love me. We all have to do things we don't like from time to time. And sometimes...they end up making us very happy. I know that's how I got you.” That twisted the knife further, rather then being comforting. “Thats why I absolutely forbid you from seeing Shining Armor or his family. That part of your life is over. You have to start thinking like a Princess.”
Utterly defeated and unwilling to fight the point, Cadence just looked down at her plate. “Yes mom.” She said glumly.
Apparently satisfied that she'd gotten her way, Sonata joined her at the table with a little huff of being unimpressed. “You couldn't have picked a more luxurious dining room then the servants kitchen?” She asked.
“They're the staff, not servants.” Cadence corrected, still downcast.
Sonata rolled her eyes and waved a hoof. “Yes, of course. Now let me tell you about this special assignment that Celestia has in store for you. You'll never believe who is going along with you.”