//------------------------------//
// Past & Present : Part 4 
// Story: Cadence Unbridled (Sections 1 & 2) 
// by Flikaline 
//------------------------------//

Past & Present : Part 4

‘It’s nice weather, isn’t it Aquila?’ Celestia said brightly, in a failing attempt to make Aquila less depressed. 

Celestia couldn’t help but miss the playful attitude Aquila had once possessed. Aquila gave a nod and tried to smile. In reality, she could no longer enjoy the pleasant day. Nothing looked like anything special anymore. It just looked gray. The warm sun seemed to burn her and the light seemed too bright.

Dusk held an awkward silence as they walked along. The problem was Aquila was nearly always in a bad state (which meant he couldn’t tell her anything slightly negative, as she would become terribly worse) and on those rare occasions she wasn’t, he didn’t have the heart to say anything. Now that Cadence had freed True Star’s soul, the issue had become a fly which he couldn’t flick away with his tail. He had to tell her that he had lied. He suddenly became aware of the sound of puffing and panting. He looked up. 

Aquila had become aware of the sound moments before, and already had her head turned towards the sky, the light causing her to squint, and her golden hair slightly swaying in the breeze. Celestia recognized the source of the sound as being one of the pegasus ponies in the Royal Guard. The guard stopped, and hovered in mid-air in front of Celestia.

‘Your highness,’ he breathed, ‘there’s trouble. There was some fighting, many of the other guards are absent, and, it’s Cadence. She’s been ponynapped. Shining Armor’s taken charge and . . .’

‘Why isn’t Hawk Talons dealing with this?’ Celestia asked abruptly, rather overwhelmed with all the information.

‘Hawk Talons is the cause of the problems,’ the guard gasped, ‘he, he was responsible. He took Cadence. He wasn’t what we thought. Disguised himself somehow. Cadence, Starburst and Shining Armor seemed to have worked him out though. Apparently, his real name is Raven Mocker . . .’

Aquila gave a terrified shriek.

*

‘I . . .’ the servant tried to continue, ‘I heard a cry for help so I rushed in the direction it had come from. I saw the princess on the floor. She had been tied up using, well, it looked like cobwebs. The three creatures were trying to gag her, and I foalishly thought I could help her . . .’

‘And Raven Mocker did this to you?’ Shining Armor asked.

The servant nodded feebly, her hooves shaking slightly.

‘That poor filly,’ the servant murmured, ‘never done anything to harm anypony . . .’

To Shining Armor’s relief, the guards now returning had at least five more with them. Once they had all arrived, Shining Armor addressed the guards.

‘We need to race after Raven Mocker and his swarm, and attack,’ Shining Armor told them, ‘we can do it but we’ll have to move fast. One guard will stay here and take care of this injured mare. Everypony else must come. I know it may seem a big risk to leave Canterlot unguarded, but any less would mean we risk failing to rescue Cadence. Raven Mocker has no desire on anything but Cadence, so we will not be falling into a trap. Princess Celestia is being informed of the situation, but we cannot afford to wait for her return. Starburst and I will lead the attack.’

*

Cadence wasn’t happy. The cobwebs binding her were so tight that she couldn’t move, and could barely breathe, never mind try to free herself and attempt to escape. Not only that, but the cobwebs were somehow depriving her of her magic. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or not, but it had seemed the more she’d tried to struggle, the tighter the cobwebs around her became.

Raven Mocker was enjoying himself watching Cadence’s helplessness. The rest of the creatures, which there were quite a few of, seemed to be packing up camp. Arachne and Lamia were supervising this activity, occasionally pestering the others to keep up the pace and hurry up. 

They were only just outside Canterlot, on a mountain ledge below it. Raven Mocker casually glanced in the direction of the being dismantled camp. He seemed to be a bit concerned about the length of time it was taking.

‘Hiya, Princess,’ a female voice sneered, ‘Having fun?’ 

It was Thora. Cadence blinked in surprise.

‘Thora,’ called a slightly irritated Raven Mocker.

‘Yes, your majesty,’ Thora replied in an enthusiastic instant, ‘anything I can do for you?’ 

Cadence rolled her eyes. Thora had something in common with Fleur de Lis. Thora’s crush on Raven Mocker couldn’t have been more obvious. Cadence couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her.

‘If I need anypony aside from myself to torment my princess, Thora,’ Raven Mocker told her with an irritated sigh, ‘I’ll let you know.’

Thora looked sulky, and glared enviously at the attention Raven Mocker was giving Cadence. Cadence wondered if Lightning Dust, who had disappeared a few days after Thora’s banishment, was here too, but she couldn’t make out the filly whom Thora had taken in among the crowd.

Cadence wondered how long it would take the others to realize she was missing, and how much longer it would take these creatures to dismantle their camp. There wasn’t much time left.

Arachne gave a sudden shout, directing everypony’s attention to the waterfall above. From behind it, the Royal Guards were beginning to emerge. Cadence could just make out Shining Armor and Starburst at the front of the group. 

Raven Mocker quickly gave orders in a frustrated tone, and the swarm was ready for the coming attack much sooner than Shining Armor and Starburst had hoped. The guards moved swiftly but carefully down the mountain edge, very well aware that it was dangerous to attack and fight in such a place. 

The swarm and the guards were almost evenly matched.

Raven Mocker, who had been doing nothing but standing possessively in front of Cadence since the battle began, was bellowing orders over the noise. Thora, who seemed to have somehow managed to sneak off, was no-where to be seen. Cadence knew that, as soon as no-pony was looking, Raven Mocker would drag her off, probably never to be seen again. Cadence closed her eyes tightly.

‘It’s okay,’ came a female voice, which Cadence recognized, but couldn’t quite put her hoof on, ‘you’re free!’

Cadence opened her eyes in surprise. The cobwebs were gone, that, indeed, she was free. Cadence was so relieved that she didn’t have the chance to think how. 

Raven Mocker hadn’t noticed yet. This was her chance to escape. As quietly and as quickly as she could, she walked away from Raven Mocker, with a little difficulty due to her injured leg. As she moved, Cadence realized Raven Mocker was about to turn his head. With panic overcoming her pain, she broke into a run, then into a gallop. If she could get to the guards, she was more or less saved, but Raven Mocker wasn’t going to let her get away that easily, and he had a lot more stamina, as well as speed, than she had.

Cadence’s break for freedom, however, hadn’t gone unnoticed by the guards, who now knew where Cadence was. The guards were now aiming for Raven Mocker and Cadence, while the other mutated changelings tried to hinder them as much as possible. One of the guards managed to break through this defense just in time to prevent Raven Mocker from snatching away poor Cadence.

Now the defense had been broken through, and Cadence was closer to the guards, the swarm changed their tactics, needing to attack rather than fight mainly on the defensive. Unfortunately, it seemed they were much more skilled in attacking.

‘Get Cadence to safety!’ Shining Armor yelled to the pegasus guard who had rescued Cadence.

Once Cadence and the guard had got to the top, and were facing the entrance to Canterlot, she realized it was that same pegasus guard who had been imprisoned with her by White Flame, but Cadence realized something too.

‘Sir,’ Cadence began (for she realized she actually didn’t know the guard’s name, and felt she should address him in some way), ‘I think we may have a slight problem.’

The guard listened attentively.

‘You must return to the battle because you are greatly needed,’ Cadence said, ‘but it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave me here alone either.’

There was silence for a moment while the pegasus pony considered what Cadence had said carefully. He then took to his wings, and hovered in the air above, as Cadence watched him with interest. Once his hooves touched ground again, he turned to the princess.

‘It won’t be that much of an issue,’ he told her, ‘everypony is coming this way. I suspected this. They are moving to safer ground to fight on. No doubt Starburst and Shining Armor are hoping to cause some disarray in the enemy ranks.’

Cadence nodded.

‘What are these creatures anyway?’ the guard asked. 

Cadence gave a shrug.

‘All I know is that they are mutated,’ Cadence replied. 

As the guards came thundering into view, Cadence decided that she would be better off staying with the guards, who could protect her if necessary. She hoped that the three alicorns would arrive soon.

As soon as they were firmly on safe ground, the guards turned and some of them commenced an attack. Cadence kept looking hopefully towards the sky. They couldn’t be much longer surely?

Cadence found herself having to dodge attacks, as the lack of guards was really beginning to show on their rather flimsy defense. Everything and everypony seemed to be moving so fast. Cadence could just make out a ferocious fight between Starburst and Raven Mocker, who was making nasty remarks about True Star.

Cadence didn’t feel so good. She didn’t exactly feel ill or anything, but she felt rather funny, like she wasn’t herself somehow. She was aware that she was feeling emotions that weren’t her own: sorrow, pain, anguish, despair, love, and a hatred for Raven Mocker which was too strong to be her own.

This odd state had left Cadence frozen to the spot. One of the guards accidently knocked Cadence to the ground without realizing. Unfortunately, Raven Mocker did notice, and sought to take advantage. 

A blast of magic seemed to erupt out of no-where.

‘DON’T YOU DARE!’ bellowed a terrifying and furious voice.

It was Aquila. As she breathed heavily and angrily, the sky darkened drastically. Both the mutated changelings and the guards began to fearfully back away from the emotional and enraged immortal alicorn. Celestia and Dusk, who had been hovering not too far behind Aquila, looked at each other, and followed suit, lowering themselves to the ground in the process. They knew very well how much damage Aquila was capable of with so little control.

Raven Mocker and Cadence were the only ones who didn’t back away. Cadence curled up into a ball and covered her head with her hooves. Raven Mocker had backed up a few steps to avoid the magic, but his obsessive nature was far greater than his fear.

After a moment, Raven Mocker began to approach Cadence again, who sat up. Her eyes were glazed over, and she looked straight at him with a defiant look which, on recognizing, made Raven Mocker stop in his tracks. Aquila was just about to send another spell at Raven Mocker when Cadence spoke, or rather, Cadence and somepony else spoke. Two female voices, speaking in unison, came from Cadence’s mouth.

‘I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you,’ they said.

Aquila slowly lowered herself to the ground, her mood changed completely.

‘Or you will come to regret it,’ they continued.

Starburst blundered forward to the front of the guards, with a shocked and longing look in his eyes.

‘I will not allow you to hurt her,’ the voices went on, the other female voice in ascendance. 

Aquila looked like she was about to burst into tears, and the sky was gradually beginning to clear of her rage. Starburst’s face was becoming patchy and pale. Raven Mocker was frozen to the spot, staring in anger and fear.

‘Because I won’t let you do to her,’ she cried, ‘what you did to me!’

There was an eruption of pale blue-green light that seemed to come from somewhere inside Cadence. For a few moments, the light settled like a mist. It cleared. Aquila let out a gasp, which came out more like a choking sob.

Even as a ghostly spirit, she was beautiful. She stood over Cadence protectively, her hooves not quite touching the ground, wearing the defiant expression Cadence had worn. Her mane and tail were moving in a breeze that only the dead seemed to be able to feel. Cadence, who had covered her eyes to shield them from the light, looked up to see the ghostly young mare, who couldn’t have been much older than her friend, Fleur de Lis, standing above her. She stared, and couldn’t help but feel a little bit frightened. 

The young mare must’ve noticed this out of the corner of her eye, for she turned her pretty face towards Cadence, and gave a gentle smile.

‘Don’t be afraid of me, Cadence,’ she said softly, ‘I’m here for you.’

Raven Mocker let out a sound that was comparable to a yelp. The young mare returned her attention to him and glared.

‘What’s the matter,’ she snarled, ‘expected me to be more bloody!’

Raven Mocker’s horrified and scared expression was priceless. Cadence was unable to suppress a giggle. Aquila gave a very loud sob. The ghost turned her head towards the emotional, immortal alicorn.

‘Don’t cry, Mummy,’ she pleaded, ‘you need to take better care of yourself!’

Aquila sobbed harder.

‘My poor, little Starry!’ Aquila exclaimed through her tears.

True Star turned back to Raven Mocker with a thoughtful glance. She made a sudden leap forward. The movement somehow allowed her to send ghostly rocks, which appeared to come out of the ground, and a strong wind at Raven Mocker, sending him and his swarm at least several hooves backwards and doing them some damage. Satisfied that Raven Mocker would now be too scared of her to try anything, True Star placed a small, temporary, dome shield over Cadence, just to make sure, and approached her poor mother.

Everypony was silent and staring. True Star tried to hold her mother’s hoof, but True Star went almost completely through. True Star tried to make herself more solid, but it only made a little difference. Aquila cried more bitterly as she struggled to hug her daughter. Celestia and Dusk looked on sadly.

‘Thank you,’ Aquila managed to mumble, while trying to stroke her foal’s mane, ‘I can just about feel something.’

‘I wish I could,’ True Star replied with a small, sad smile, ‘make sure you look after yourself. I love you, Mummy.’

‘I love you too, True Star,’ Aquila mumbled back with a small smile, wiping tears from her eyes.

True Star was about to return to Cadence when she caught sight of somepony. His eyes were wide and glassy, tears wouldn’t stop running down his battle-worn face.

‘Starburst . . .’ True Star said quietly.

Her hooves shaking slightly, she slowly approached the one stallion she had wanted to be near to for so long. His youthful energy and optimism were long gone. He looked so rough! He clearly needed a decent sleep. He needed her so badly. She was the only one who could do anything for him.

Once she reached him, she didn’t know what to say. She was so aware of how little she could do for him, how helpless she was. They looked at each other, barely aware that everypony else was staring at them. True Star tried to smile. Raven Mocker gnashed his teeth.

‘You could find somepony else, you know,’ True Star said awkwardly, after a few moments.

‘Never!’ Starburst trembled croakily.

He sounded as if it had been years since he had spoken.

‘You could try to get over me,’ True Star mumbled, fiddling with her mane.

‘Some things you can’t get over,’ Starburst stated, ‘and part of me doesn’t want to. I can’t move on, not without you with me.’

‘Is our foal alright?’ True Star whispered so Raven Mocker couldn’t hear her.

Starburst nodded.

‘She barely knows me though,’ he responded, ‘I thought it best with me in this state. I wouldn’t be a very good role model.’

He choked back a sob.

‘Hush, my darling,’ True Star told him comfortingly.

‘I’m lonely without you!’ Starburst exclaimed, ‘I miss you! I let you down!’

True Star put a hoof to his lips.

‘Shh, my love,’ True Star said with a tender affection and concern.

She tried to wipe his tears away, but was unable to. True Star’s touch, however, seemed to comfort him.

‘You’re not to blame.’ True Star told him, ‘I would cry too, if I could.’

‘You’re so beautiful, my love,’ Starburst said, his eyes aglow.

‘You always say that,’ True Star managed to almost giggle. 

‘Can you forgive me, Starburst?’ True Star asked anxiously.

‘You don’t need to ask forgiveness, my darling,’ Starburst responded, ‘your courage . . ! May I . .?’

‘You won’t be able to feel much you know,’ True Star warned him nervously.

‘Please . . .’ Starburst begged, ‘I need to feel that love, that closeness again! I need . . !’

‘I need it too,’ True Star replied.

As their soft lips met, Cadence could feel tears welling up in her eyes. Their love seemed to radiate from their delicate touch, and the last of the darkness in the sky disappeared. The sun shone brightly down on the display of true love. Their happy memories together seemed to flood before them, and they both managed to smile. As they parted, a little bit of Starburst’s youthful energy seemed to return to his eyes.

‘I love you, Starburst,’ True Star told him, ‘I always have and always will.’

‘I will love you all my life, True Star,’ Starburst replied, ‘and I will love you all my death too.’

‘I’ll be waiting for you,’ True Star responded, ‘I’ll wait forever if I have to.’

Without any warning, Raven Mocker had leapt at Starburst. His fury and jealousy had evidently got the best of his fear of True Star. Shining Armor raced over. True Star screamed. She knew very well she could only use her ghostly abilities for Cadence’s benefit. Everypony else raced over too.

The battle had started again. Cadence gave a terrified yell. Too much time had passed. The shield True Star had produced for her had disappeared and Raven Mocker had been the first to notice. He had bitten down hard into her back, right, lower leg, leaving an oval, lilac mark. True Star rushed to the rescue, and kicked Raven Mocker so far that he almost fell off the edge of the mountain side Canterlot was built on.

‘Are you alright?’ True Star asked.

Cadence looked a little concerned, but nodded. Three immortal alicorns very quickly proved too much for Raven Mocker and his swarm, and they began to retreat at a rapid speed. Before he fled with his swarm, Raven Mocker turned to True Star.

‘Now, you’d better listen, and listen well, my angel,’ Raven Mocker snarled, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to have your precious Cadence for my own, and I’ll make sure I destroy you if it’s the last thing I do!’

Go ahead and try!’ True Star retorted. 

Raven Mocker gave a small, knowing smile, before racing off. Cadence turned to True Star.

‘I don’t understand,’ Cadence informed her, ‘what exactly are you doing here?’

‘Well, I promised your mother, didn’t I?’ True Star replied, ‘I promised her I’d look after you and take her place as your guardian angel.’