I knew the two were in trouble the moment they waltzed in through my door. As open minded as Canterlot Ponies claim to be, no one comes to my office unless they're in trouble. That's why I'm the premiere babysitter here: Tough cases welcome.
My office is a amusing affair. The door was set with rose glass, frosted with heart symbols. I had ordered my name printed on it in a respectable font: comic sans. The carpet was thick and rich as a lover's mane. Hidden throughout the office, by a cavalcade of young clients, was a veritable avalanche of toys. In the midst of these warm surroundings I sat like a spider with a ready grin, a cup full of pens, and a game of narrating to myself in a husky voice.
The couple hesitated outside the door like the lingering odour of roses after hearts and hooves day, a clear sign of nerves. “Honey, are you sure about this?” the stallion asked his wife.
“It’s not like she can cause any more damage than Rose did” The wife responded outside the door.
“Rose can at least handle Twilight. That’s better than most babysitters” The stallion responded with a sigh “Even if they did destroy our sitting room.”
I strutted, grinning, towards the door and pushed it gently open with my muzzle, so that they could see my horn but not my wings yet. I love the look on pony’s faces when they first realize that I’m an alicorn.
“Hello, I couldn’t help but hear you two arguing outside my door. Would you care to come in?” I asked in honeyed tones, baiting the trap for the surprise soon to come, my wings tucked close to my side.
They were normal , as far as canterlot ponies go. They looked ragged, as if they’ve been through tartarus and back.
I waggled my flank as I strutted back to my desk, and the two followed closely. Then I casually fluffed my wings while I settled on the desk. The look on their faces was priceless. The mare’s eyes went as wide as a lemur’s and the stallion’s jaw dropped so much he reminded me of a largemouth bass.
I giggled heartily “Welcome to Perfect Princess Babysitting, I’m Mi Amore Cadenza!!” I cheered. “But you can call me Cadance. Do you have any questions?”
“But… huh… those wings?” the stallion managed, his eyes darting back and forth between my face and my wings.
I glanced comically towards my rump, pretending not to notice, then gave him an equally confused looking glance.
“You… have wings!” He exclaimed.
“Oh these tatty old things?” I asked fanning them “Yeah, they’re pretty convenient.” I winked playfully at his somewhat more composed wife.
“Wait,” His wife exclaimed, “Aren’t you Princess Celestia’s niece?”
“Now, Now, no need to bring up politics,” I say coyly. I must admit, the mare won some points with me. Not many ponies knew that auntie adopted another princess yet.
“Why are you babysitting?” The wife asked
“To spend the time." I responded with a casual shrug. "But enough about me, let's talk about you." I dislike speaking of my sordid past. I did not have the happiest of foaldoms, but foalsitting was more than just a way of giving back to the community, it was fun.
The two gave me a confused look, like they were uncertain what to expect. They were so tense! I slinked around the table, and began to rub the mare's back gently with my hooves. "Just... relax, and tell me about it." I reiterated carefully, placing another hoof on her husband's flank "You're here because you're having babysitting problems. I might be an Alicorn, but I am not a goddess. You have to communicate with me so I can understand what is going on."
"Well" the husband began "I'm Night Light, this is Twilight Velvet, and our problems are like this..."