//------------------------------// // ~Part 10: The Truth~ // Story: Shadows of My Past // by Calligraphy Legends //------------------------------// It was late in the evening, Cadence had just finished baking cupcakes for the bake sale fundraiser for the school the next day. She was heading out to the orchard to see what was taking her father so long when she came face to face with a familiar mare. “Summer?” Cadence stammered out after staring at her in shock for nearly thirty seconds. “Uhm, hi?” Summer replied. “What-how-why?” “I-I just wanted to apologize. I never should have acted the way I did. I… Let’s just say I was in a bad place.” “Why? Is it because of something I did? Something I said?” “I lost everyone I loved, my entire family.” Tears began to fall from her round eyes, darkening her blue coat. “I felt hurt and lost, then I didn’t know what to do with those feelings. I shouldn’t have taken them out on you, and I’m sorry.” “Y-your entire family? To what?” Cadence cringed, immediately regretting the latter question. “Yes. To a fire, a horrid fire.” Summer’s legs shook and she laid on the soft grass before her knees could give out. She touched her forehead to the green blades as tears raced down her cheeks. Cadence’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed. She couldn’t imagine losing her parents. She felt her eyes pool with tears, an overwhelming flood of empathy and sympathy came crashing down on her. She laid beside the blue mare, wrapping her with her abnormally large wings in an embrace. Cadence hugged her tightly. “I forgive you,” Cadence whispered. “And I’m sorry. Not just for your family, but for not being more understanding. For not trying to listen or talk with you. For just running off and worrying over myself and not what might be wrong with you. I’m so sorry.” Cadence took in a small breath suddenly as a light began to glow. She stood, staring down at herself. The light was coming from her. Summer stared, eyes wide, as Cadence glowed brighter and brighter. Disappearing in a flash of white glitter. Cadence found herself in a vast space of cloudy blues and teals, with glittering white orbs floating all around her. This was all she could see, stretching on for miles and miles. “Hello?” she called out. “Is anypony there?” “Hello, Cadence,” a strong yet gentle voice said. “Where are you?” “Right here.” Cadence stood, wide eyed and flabbergasted, as a beautiful alicorn appeared before her. She was the purest white with an ethereal mane and tail, both four-toned of celeste blue, sea foam green, lilac, and sunrise pink. A golden necklace, crown, and shoes adorned her, deep purple jewels set into her crown and necklace. Her magenta eyes looked down at the pink pegasus lovingly, a kind smile on her face. While Cadence had never met the princess, she had seen many paintings and photos of her. “Princess Celestia?!” Cadence gasped, bowing to her princess. “Hello, Cadence,” Celestia said, bending down and nudging the young mare to stand. “Y-you know my name?” “Of course. Come with me.” Cadence followed her through the unending space, as images appeared of...her. All of them were Cadence from when she was a foal to a young mare. Cadence looked at each one as she walked beside the Sun Princess, her purple eyes were wide with amazement. Why would the princess know who she was? “Cadence, you are no ordinary pony,” Celestia said, keeping her gaze ahead. “I’m not?” Cadence asked, looking up at the princess. “No. I knew that from the moment I saw you when you were just a foal.” “You saw...me?” “Yes. I visited Reinville a long time ago, and I spotted you amongst the other ponies.” “How did you know I was special?” “It’s quite the story. Which I will explain in due time. First, you need to know something.” “What’s that?” “Like all ponies, you are destined for something truly amazing, you are going to change the world.” “Really?” “Yes. And your future also holds something very unexpected.” “What is that?” “You’ll see.” Celestia stopped walking and looked on at an image of a beautiful castle made completely of crystal. Cadence stared at it in amazement. She soon felt a strong magical presence within her. She looked down and saw a crystal blue swirl of magic float in front of her, circling her as she was lifted into the air. She was encased in a cocoon of crystal light as she felt herself being magically transformed. “Well, where did she go?” Cora demanded, having arrived home to find her husband and a young mare frantically searching for Cadence. “She just vanished, right in front of me!” Summer cried. The trio looked around in the house and then searched the orchard, when a bright, crystal blue heart appeared in the sky. The three ran towards it as it lowered to the ground, the silhouette of a pony appearing as it faded down. The light soon vanished and in it’s place laid Cadence. But she was, different. It was made obvious as she stood, being clearly a few inches taller. Most prominent was her long, pink horn protruding from her forehead. “Ca-Cadence?” Cora whispered shakily. “Mom?” Cadence replied. “What happened?” In response, her father grabbed a metal bucket sitting nearby and showed Cadence her reflection. Cadence gasped and stared at the mare in the reflection, her reflection. She couldn’t believe that she had a horn! Suddenly, she felt it. A cone through which her magic could flow through. While still feeling her wings resting on her sides. She was an alicorn! “I-I don’t understand,” Cadence gasped. “Perhaps I could help you with that,” a voice said as Princess Celestia appeared in a flash of light. All four of the ponies immediately bowed to their princess. “No need for that, might I come in for some tea?” “I-I don’t understand,” Cadence whispered after Celestia had explained everything to her. “I’m not a princess, I’m just a simple pony. I-I can’t be adopted, you guys are my parents!” “Cadence, I’m afraid you are,” Cora said gently, tears silently falling. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” “We always meant to, we just weren’t sure how or when. Not to mention the fact that you seemed to be in danger and running from something, we were trying to protect you from whatever could have possibly wanted to hurt you. We wanted a family so badly, And you were our chance to finally have one! I know you’re angry with us, but I hope you know that we never wanted to hurt you.” “What happened to my birth parents?” Cadence looked to the princess now. “I’m afraid that your father died a long time ago,” Celestia said. “As for your mother, she died shortly after she brought you here. To be raised by your parents.” “So you’re saying everything about me is a lie? I’m not the pony I think I am and I never was, my whole life has been a lie!” “No, it hasn’t. Your mother brought you here because she knew you needed ponies to love and care for you. Blood does not make you a family.” “Is Cadence even my real name?” Cadence whipped her head around to Cora. “In a manner,” Cora replied. “Your given name is Mi Amore Cadenza, it means My Love Cadence.” “At least you kept one thing kind of close.” “Cadence, listen, you need to come to Canterlot with me,” Celestia explained. “At least for a few hours a day, pretty soon your magic will start to flare off randomly, you need to learn control. You can use a chariot to take you to and from, pretty soon you’ll learn teleportation, which will make travel much easier.” It was silent. Cadence stared at the floor, anger boiling inside of her. She felt like she was a fraud, just some toy for her ‘parents’ to play house with. As if her entire existence were a lie, a giant scheme that everypony else helped put together as one grand, cruel prank. And after all these years someone finally decided to jump out from behind the couch and yell “Gotcha!” “I’ll learn from you,” Cadence said softly. “I’ll move to Canterlot with you.” Gentle gasps escaped from everypony's lips, even Celestia’s. “Cadence, that’s not-” she began. “I don’t want to stay here anymore,” Cadence cut her off. Before more could be said, she flew up to her room and quickly began packing. She could hear the muffled voices of the princess and her ‘parents’ coming up through the floorboards. Celestia apologizing, Cora insisting it’s not the princesses fault through heartbroken sobs, Pear trying to comfort his wife. Cadence could hear soft hoofsteps coming up the stairs. “Cadence?” Summer’s voice came from the doorway to her room. “Sorry you’re mixed up in all of this,” the new alicorn quickly apologized. “Oh, it’s fine. Are you sure you want to do this?” “Summer, they lied to me. My entire existence is a lie.” “Cadence, they’re your parents.” “No, they adopted me.” “That doesn’t mean they aren’t your parents.” “You just don’t understand, I don’t even know who I am.” “You are not your parents, you are you. It doesn’t matter who raised you, you would still be you.” “Look, Summer, I just can’t stay here and act as if they haven’t been lying to me.” “They lied for your own safety, You heard your mom, someone seemed to want to find you; and not for positive reasons.” “They could have at the very least told me I was adopted.” “So they made a mistake, they apologized. Now you need to forgive them so the three of you can work to amend your relationship. Besides, isn’t that what you did with me?” “That’s different.” “I don’t see how.” “Summer, just leave it alone.” “Fine, all I’m saying is that I would give anything to have at least one family. You have two, and one is still here to love and care for you. Good bye, Cadence.” Cadence didn’t reply, she just let Summer walk away. She knew that Summer was right, but she didn’t want to admit to being wrong. So, she convinced herself that she was right. She pulled her bag and suitcase out of her room and down the stairs. “I’m ready,’ Cadence said in a rather cold tone to the princess. “I’ll let you say goodbye,” Celestia said, tears stinging the edges of her eyes. “Cadence, I-” Cora began. “Bye, I’ll see you guys later,” Cadence cut her off in a monotone voice. Pear pulled her into a hug and whispered a tear filled farewell to his daughter, Cora gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. They both told her to be careful, they loved her, and they were always there for her. She merely said goodbye and walked out. Leaving Cora crying softly into Pear Slice’s shoulder. “Let’s go,”Cadence said to the princess, who nodded sadly. Celestia’s horn lit in a brilliant pink and soon they were gone. Whisked into the wind on the breeze, feeling as if their entire matter was composed of nothing but a billion specks of glitter. Until they were reassembled on Princess Celestia’s balcony. Cadence looked over the big city, hundreds of ponies (perhaps even thousands) sound asleep in their beds. For a moment, she thought on Summer Penn’s words, but she quickly pushed them away.