Hecate's Orphanage

by BlackRoseRaven

The City Of Neon Lights

Chapter Seventy One: The City Of Neon Lights
~BlackRoseRaven

“No.”

Cadence mouthed wordlessly, staring at Hecate, and Hecate looked resolutely back before she ordered calmly: “You have three hours to prepare your personal belongings to be moved to Endworld. An apartment has already been selected for you there.”

“But-”

Hecate held up a hoof, cutting Cadence off as she continued coldly: “You will relocate to Endworld. You will take two hours to acquaint yourself with the facilities in Exoterra, and then you can expect your team to be assigned to a mission. And it will not be to secure your homeworld, Cadence, I can guarantee you that much.”

“Loki made a direct threat against me!” Cadence slammed her hooves down on Hecate's desk as she leaned forwards, glaring defiantly at the Jötnar mare. “He's going to attack my friends, my family-”

“He already has. You are an Orphan, and we are your friends and family now. Leave your past behind.” Hecate retorted, and Cadence wilted a bit at this before she shivered in pain when the Jötnar mare merely extended a hoof towards her, and an immense pressure crushed down across the smaller pony's body. “Do I have to discipline you as I do Moonflower, Cadence?”

Cadence struggled for a moment, and then she dropped her head and closed her eyes, muttering: “No. I... I'm sorry. I don't... I just don't like this.”

“I know. But remember your place, Cadenza Danzsöngr. You are a soldier. You are my soldier. And I expect you to behave as such.” Hecate said evenly, and then she lowered her hoof, and Cadence gasped quietly for breath before the Empress of Decretum continued shortly: “This is your last warning. Your next offense lands you on cleaning duty, or you can go and spend some time with my son getting sense drilled in your skull. Understood?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Cadence mumbled, and then she awkwardly picked herself up, before she winced as Hecate simply grasped her with her powers and forcibly sat her back down in her seat, the ivory mare flinching as the Jötnar mare loomed towards her over the table. “Y-Yes?”

“We have a bit of personal business to discuss now.” Hecate said in a soft, dangerous voice, and Cadence gave a weak smile before Hecate asked quietly: “What is your intent as to your relationship with my oldest son?”

“Um.” Cadence stared blankly for a moment, and then she winced when Hecate narrowed her eyes at her, giving a brief, stupid laugh before she asked in a strained voice: “Can we talk about this later? Or at least not as... you know...”

“I want to know as both your employer and as a concerned parent.” Hecate replied calmly, before she asked softly: “Do you care about him, Cadence?”

“I do. I do, and... but... I won't let it... I mean, it won't interfere with my duties as a soldier of Decretum.” Cadence spluttered, and Hecate smiled thinly before she straightened.

“My son will be dead in several months. Do you understand that?” Hecate asked bluntly, and Cadence's eyes widened before she mouthed wordlessly, but Hecate only said matter-of-factly: “There's no point in denying it. I'm sure you can sense it yourself. Thesis is losing cohesion. Whatever Loki did to him, it's causing him to steadily break down, piece-by-piece. He will die. And I only hope his will is strong enough that he returns to the Void instead of dissolving entirely.”

Cadence lowered her head, and Hecate asked almost ruthlessly: “So are you willing to sacrifice for him, to love him, and to feel pain, Cadence, or are you a coward who will flee when things get too hard? If so, get out of my sight, and don't show your face here again. I have no time for the weak.”

“I... I care about him. I'm not going to abandon him.” Cadence whispered, before she shook her head and snapped: “And how the hell can you expect me to just blurt out my feelings for him, to know whether or not I-”

“I expect you to know, because when I met Valthrudnir, I knew. When you meet that one person, Cadence, you know. You might be afraid of it. Cruelest of all, you might not get to spend more than a moment of your life with them. But all the same, you know.” Hecate retorted, before she reached out and flicked Cadence under the chin, making her grimace. “So what is your answer?”

“I... gave you my answer already.” Cadence said after a moment, drawing her eyes towards Hecate and looking at her with as much determination as she could muster. “I care about him. I won't abandon him. And... and you can... stay the hell out of my personal life.”

Her voice grew a little tinny by the end, but Hecate studied her measuringly for a few moments before she gave the slightest of smiles, saying softly: “Good. That's enough for now. Go ahead. Your things should be packed up by now.”

“Great. The last time the Worker Drones moved my apartment for me they broke most of my plates.” Cadence mumbled, and Hecate only shrugged and gestured her irritably away. The ivory mare sighed as she left the desk, but then she bit her lip at the door to the office, looking back over her shoulder and asking: “How... did you know?”

“I just knew. Don't waste my time with stupid questions, Cadence. Go find the answer out for yourself.” retorted the Jötnar mare, and Cadence smiled lamely before she turned and strode out the door. Hecate waited a few moments, then she softened as she looked up and gazed at the space where Cadence had been only a minute ago, murmuring: “But I think you know the answer already, don't you?”

Cadence, meanwhile, made her way quickly back to her apartment, smiling awkwardly at the other Orphans she passed who were loading their own boxes of things onto dollies and miniature flattops for transportation. It looked like they were in the final stages of evacuating Decretum already. And I was just getting used to my apartment.

Cadence shook her head briefly, before she stepped inside her own little home, and blinked in surprise as she found Thesis closing up a box in the kitchen for her, the stallion smiling awkwardly at her as he said lamely: “Hi.”

“Uh. Hi. Please tell me you didn't go through all my stuff.” Cadence said moodily, glaring at the stallion, and Thesis huffed loudly.

“I packed your sex toys very neatly away. By the way, some of those?” Thesis pointedly held his forelegs wide, and one of Cadence's eyes twitched. “Didn't even know that could fit in there.”

“I guess you always avoided sharing the showers with other stallions, huh?” Cadence asked dryly, and Thesis huffed loudly.

“I had to! They would get jealous, otherwise.” he declared, patting himself on the chest before he grinned and flexed a foreleg absently. “There's more to a stallion than the size of his bits, you know.”

Cadence sighed tiredly, then she hesitated as she looked around. He had done a pretty good job cleaning up, though, and... “Did you pack all Daddy's things, too?”

“No, actually. His stuff was already gone.” Thesis replied with a shrug, and Cadence frowned at this. “I think he might be moving temporarily to the Tower of Etemanaki, though. It would be better for his recovery, I guess, but...”

“Yeah. Well, I'll have to trust you on that. I don't know the first thing about Exoterra.” Cadence said, and Thesis smiled at her reassuringly before he picked up a box as she lifted two with telekinesis. “Is uh, that flattop out there for us to use?”

“Yeah. I have one more box to finish packing, but I think I've gone through all your good stuff, so I'll just be a minute.” Thesis said with a smile, and Cadence rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile back all the same.

Somehow, Thesis always managed to make Cadence feel... better. She didn't know why. And she didn't mind him going through her things half as much as she put on, in spite of all her issues with, well, basically everything. And after they finished loading the flattop and were doing a quick, last sweep of her room, she couldn't help but grab the stallion and push him firmly back against a wall, Thesis' eyes bulging before she kissed him, and he kissed her back.

Their lips parted, and she blushed ever so slightly as she smiled at him, and he smiled childishly, widely back. Then she pulled away and led him out into the hall, and he joked with her, and she laughed even as she swung a hoof at him.

It had never been quite like this with Shining Armor. He had always tried a little too hard. Sure, they had been great friends, but never lovers, not like this. She had never felt this pure joy with him. Not even in the early days, when they had just been stupid kids...

When he had been a stupid kid. She had been the princess-to-be, even back then. A princess-to-be who had only ever dreamed of things she could never quite put her hoof on, never really remember, never fully understand.

Maybe that had been part of why things had never worked out. Cadence had always been 'different.' And being romanced by a young stallion had been so nice, even though she'd known, really, she was so much older, that she was from a different mold, a different time...

Thesis was different, like her. Thesis understood her. Thesis read between the lines, and saw when she was genuinely annoyed and when she was just being cranky because, well, that's what she was sometimes. He seemed to naturally know when to push her, and when to leave her alone.

They walked down the hall together, side-by-side, and he respected her boundaries and what she needed. He was strong, independent, but able to listen. He was honest. He was... he was just what she needed, and that was that.

She snuck little looks at him as they headed for the portal room, wondering if he was faking it. Wondering how he could be so perfect, questioning if he was just hiding things, what secrets he had...

Except she knew his secrets, didn't she? He was a Replicant. He had been the ultimate Replicant, the master design, the chief soldier of Valthrudnir, whom he still referred to as 'Father...'

She tried to sneak another look at him, and then blanched when she found Thesis gazing at her mildly, the stallion saying blandly: “So just a wild guess here, but spying and infiltration were never your strong points, right?”

“You can eat my entire ass!” Cadence snapped, in a much louder voice than intended, and an awkward silence fell as they entered the portal pavilion as the eyes of all the Orphans waiting to use the gateway to Endworld turned to stare at her.

Cadence shrank down a little behind the flattop as Thesis grinned lamely and waved awkwardly, before he whispered loudly: “Cadence, don't talk about the deviant things we get up to in the bedroom so loudly! They'll think we're weird!”

Cadence scowled horribly over her shoulder, one of her eyes twitching, and Thesis cleared his throat lamely as he looked awkwardly away. But as conversation returned to its usual murmuring ebb and flow, the ivory mare sighed a bit as she rose her head slightly, saying finally: “I was never that into. That sort of thing.”

“Wow that's something I... I guess I. Should. Know. But later. Not right now.” Thesis rambled awkwardly, and Cadence couldn't help but smile amusedly at him before she leaned into his face, enjoying the way Thesis' pupils contracted with fear.

“I always had to take control in the bedroom with my last husband, you know. He was more of a sub than you are.” Cadence said mildly, and Thesis stared at her. “I remember one time when I tied him up and then I climbed on top of his-”

“Hey look portal's opening, let's get into line!” Thesis babbled, leaping past her, before he halted, then backpedaled suddenly, leaning towards her and adding: “You uh. Said 'last husband.'”

Cadence frowned, and Thesis asked lamely: “Does... that mean I can be your. Current husband?”

Cadence stared at Thesis, and then she asked disbelievingly: “Is that your idea of a proposal?”

“No!” Thesis shouted, again attracting the attention of everyone present. He looked back and forth, then dropped his head and mumbled: “Maybe it's more like a question about whether or not you think that maybe we could... uh...”

He looked up at her awkwardly, and Cadence scowled back at him before Thesis straightened and suddenly grabbed one of her hooves, looking into her eyes as he said quietly: “I like you a lot. Let's be open to wherever that takes us.”

Cadence looked at the stallion for a moment, and then she smiled a little before Seneschal announced irritably over the speakers: “Alright, form a line, the portal won't stay open forever! One meter of space between each household!”

Thesis and Cadence fell into place with each other, and then the stallion asked in a voice that was suddenly much more serious: “How much time did Mom give you?”

“A few hours. We're early heading over, but I know that just means she'll want me to start the mission sooner.” Cadence answered, shaking her head briefly, and Thesis gave a wry smile before the ivory mare said hesitantly: “I'm worried. She didn't assign me my mission, but she said it wouldn't be...”

Cadence looked uncertainly at Thesis, but Thesis only smiled at her, reassuring gently: “Off hours, and I'm only the substitute Regent. I'm sure Thorn would have cut you off by now, but I prefer to think of myself as your coltfriend, not your boss. Partly because I'm pretty sure if I said 'I'm the boss' to you, you'd punch my face out my ass.”

“Something like that.” Cadence agreed with a small smile, and then she shook her head before she said finally: “I'm worried that Loki is attacking the world that I came from. It just seems like he really wants to hurt me, and the others who are part of my team... and I feel like Hecate is just going to send us on another wild goose chase.”

“Are you sure you aren't letting Loki get into your head on this one? He wants you distracted, and he wants us jumbled all over the board.” Thesis replied pointedly, and Cadence scowled at him. But part of her appreciated him speaking against her, actually trying to reason with her instead of just going along with whatever she had to say... “Just think about it. I think you're great, Honk, but how important in the grand scheme of things do you think you and your friends are to him?”

“I... know. I know. And Hecate's probably already figured out what he's actually targeting, but...” Cadence lowered her head, murmuring: “I fought a mare like Sol Seraph before. Her name was Pain. I saw what Pain did to my family and friends when I wasn't around to protect them... not to mention...”

Cadence absently rubbed at her neck, and when Thesis softened, she nodded, murmuring: “First death.” A pause, and then the ivory mare shook her head quickly before she muttered: “Look, me and Moonflower are from pretty safe worlds. If anything happens there... they just... they won't be ready for it, okay?”

“Ponies are strong.” Thesis said simply, and Cadence frowned at the Replicant, but he only smiled and shrugged a bit. “I know. We tend to fly instead of fight, but once you get us backed into a corner... we're what, a thousand pounds of hooves and teeth? Come on. We're awesome.”

Cadence scowled, before Thesis continued quietly: “And whatever we were in the past, that herd mentality has developed into a compulsion, a need, to protect our friends and family. To stay together, to find strength as one. I know that no matter what happens, as long as ponies stick together, they can weather the storm. At least long enough for us to show up and punch things, okay?”

Cadence grumbled a little, but she nodded after a moment with a sigh, muttering: “I guess that... I mean, I do know that whatever happens won't be instantaneous, the world isn't going to just blow up-”

“But you're worried about your friends and family. And that's understandable. And I know you want to go to them, Cadence, but the best way you can protect them right now is by stopping Loki. The best chance we have of stopping Loki...”

“Is by intercepting him or whoever he's sending to get... whatever it is he really wants.” Cadence sighed a little, looking down as she muttered: “And I'm a soldier. I have to do what I'm told.”

“Well, no.” Thesis shrugged, and Cadence looked at him with surprise. “I never did what I was told, Cadence. I mean, okay, maybe I didn't end up in the best place at the end of the day, but you know that what Mom really cares about is getting the job done. Our job is protecting these worlds. If you go against her direct orders, but it protects the worlds... she'd reward you, not punish you. The question is, who do you trust? These worries, or Hecate?”

“I know that... and that's the problem, I guess. I trust Hecate more than I do myself.” Cadence grumbled, before she looked up almost in surprise as she realized that they were at the front of the portal line now. She hadn't even realized they had been moving. “But I guess first thing is figuring out where my apartment is.”

“Residential District, block D, 501. A suite. You're welcome.” Seneschal said grumpily as a set of security orbs whizzed overhead, and then he ordered loudly: “Through the portal, hup-hup! Stop holding up the line!”

Cadence rolled her eyes, but Thesis only shrugged amiably as he pushed the flattop forwards, the ivory mare matching his pace as they headed into the portal and passed quickly through. Cadence grimaced as they emerged from the other side of the tunnel of light, shaking herself out briskly before a security orb shot down and said in a effeminate but mechanical tones: “Greetings. I am Portia. Please follow me to your allocation.”

“Hey, Portia! Guess Seneschal has you up and running as a subsystem, huh?” Thesis said cheerfully, but the security orb ignored him completely as it began to float away, and Cadence followed after it even as she tossed a curious look to Thesis, who trundled along behind her with the flattop. “Oh, Portia is a very simple AI system, basically used to pass around orders and for stuff like this, leading drones to checkpoints.”

“I'm not a drone.” Cadence grumbled, before she frowned at the security orb and said: “She doesn't sound the same as Seneschal.”

“She's not. She's strictly barebones, just for transmission.” Thesis shook his head, adding after a moment as he looked slowly back and forth: “As a matter of fact, we had her shut down, the last time Exoterra was online... wow, Mom most have been concentrating more on here than Decretum. I guess I can understand why, but...”

“What are you...” And then Cadence's eyes widened in amazement as they stepped out onto a long bridge, staring through the glass walls that lined the structure at a gorgeous, sprawling city that surrounded a massive tower that stretched up towards the sky, muttering: “That's.... that's no Canterlot or Imperia.”

There were construction sites visible here and there, but the city was by far in better shape than she remembered Imperia ever being: more than that, she could see the telltale sign of smoke in the distance, and for as dark as the world looked beyond the borders of the neon city, there were signs of light and life, the regularity of structures amidst the misshapen geometry of alien nature...

Cadence leaned against the glass, then scowled as she fogged it up with her breath, scrubbing almost wildly at it before Thesis said gently: “Hey, let's get your stuff to your room, then I'll take you for walkies, huh?”

“Horses of Heaven, I hate you so much.” Cadence groaned and rolled her eyes, then she strode over to the stallion and roughly spanked his hindquarters, the Replicant yelping as he hurried forwards with the flattop and the orb that had been patiently waiting for them started to lead the way again. “Just don't break any of my stuff, you asshole.”

“How the hell am I the asshole here?” Thesis complained, before he added quickly: “Door!”

Cadence opened the door ahead with a flick of her horn, before she grimaced a bit and crossed her eyes as she looked up at the little spire, which had sent a thrum of pain through her head. Thesis looked at her curiously, but Cadence only muttered: “You just are because you always are.”

“Yes, that makes a whole lot of sense.” Thesis said wryly, and then he looked lamely away when Cadence scowled at him, before she was thankfully distracted as the little orb veered towards an elevator. “Wait, are we going out there?”

“Why do you sound afraid all of a sudden?” Thesis looked over at her mildly, and then he shrugged a bit and added: “The carbon levels are probably a little high, sure, but it should still be comfortable enough for you, if you're concerned about-”

“Don't be dumb, of course not. I just...” Cadence looked back over her shoulder for a moment, half-wistful and half-anxious as she shifted a little before saying in a quieter voice: “It's a big step up from Imperia. That looks like a real city, not just one... big...”

“Military facility?” Thesis smiled a bit as the doors to the elevator opened, and then the Replicant grunted as he pushed the flattop on board the lift, Cadence grumbling and squeezing in beside him as he said: “I bet Mom was planning this from the start, honestly. It makes sense: the facilities here in Endworld are in better condition. The only advantage Decretum has is that it's still on the chain of worlds, so it can be portaled to and from by a variety of methods. Endworld has to be routed or use portal rings, so...”

“Is that why Hecate trained everyone to use the portable rings?” Cadence asked as the elevator doors opened, and the two stepped out, Thesis grunting as he pushed the flattop into a sharp turn after the floating orb guiding them.

“Probably. Loki might be cunning and tricky, but Mom thinks about a hundred steps ahead at all times.” Thesis paused, then he muttered: “And now with Hel there, too... expect weird orders and to be yanked around a lot. But it is for your own good, you know.”

“Tyranny done in the name of 'good' is the worst kind.” Cadence muttered, and Thesis cocked an eyebrow at her, which made the ivory mare smile lamely as she realized that was probably going a little far. “Uh. Sorry.”

Thesis shrugged, then he replied mildly, as they headed towards a large set of double doors that Worker Drones were already pushing open for them: “Just remember, we're not fascists. Not entirely. We're a military corporation, and Hecate is the CEO. Uh. Do you know what that-”

“I get it. She's the boss. Yes. We're all aware of this.” Cadence said sourly, before she shook her head and asked quietly: “When do we... cross the line from becoming some large-scale interdimensional military operation to... an actual civilization, though? What rights do we have as people, what-”

“You're thinking way too much, Cadence. Look at the pretty lights.” Thesis said mildly, and Cadence scowled at him and opened her mouth before her jaw dropped as they stepped out onto the streets of Exoterra.

The city was utterly beautiful: the architecture was different from Decretum: to her surprise, it was more swooping and graceful here, the gothic qualities accented by statuettes of gargoyles and drakes and demons, chiseled patterning over every pillar and wall.

And the lights: bright, warm crystal lights flashed in all array of colors as they made their way down the street, which was vividly lit by the thrumming, eternally-burning lamps. There seemed to be no day or night here, just eternal twilight like in Decretum, but as they walked down the city street, Cadence murmured: “It's like... electric Canterlot. But not. What is this place? What is that castle in the distance? That's not Imperia...”

“That's Genesis. It was Mom's Castle before Canterlot... Canterlot was the heart of Equestria, after all, and...” Thesis paused, then he smiled a bit as Cadence looked over her shoulder at him curiously. “Well, that's all Mom's story. I don't know it as well as I should. Mom was around for a long time before I was, after all.”

“Hecate must have quite a history.” Cadence muttered, before an odd question came to mind: one she hadn't thought to ask before, but... “Thesis, how long was Valthrudnir here before you were... uh...”

“Born. I was born. Not bred in a test tube like most of the Replicants.” Thesis smiled over at Cadence, glancing down before he murmured: “I guess that's why I was more 'successful' than the others. But...”

He cleared his throat awkwardly as Cadence gazed at him silently, and then he looked ahead and answered: “Twenty years, give or take. Then Mom had me, right near the start of the griffin war. I would say the rest is history, which it technically is, but... I guess it's not your history.”

“Twenty years...” Cadence shook her head slowly, asking after a moment: “Why didn't Valthrudnir just... burn that world?”

“This world. This... is my homeworld.” Thesis said softly, and Cadence's eyes widened in surprise as she looked back and forth, but Thesis only smiled a little. “It's changed a lot, yeah. After their uh... 'falling out,' Dad turned this world into a manufacturing center and dump. Mom was hooked up to the HECATE network, eventually merging into it and becoming the Hecate we all know and love today, with total access to all of Decretum's software and systems.”

Cadence grimaced a bit, and Thesis nodded as he agreed wryly: “Yeah. Mom's not always in a bad mood just because she's mean. She's got literal supercomputers constantly at work in her head. And I mean... I don't know what it means, now that she's a Jötnar on top of that, but I imagine it hasn't lightened the load that much or anything.”

The ivory mare nodded a bit, chewing nervously on her lip before she looked up in surprise as the orb stopped in front of a tall, glass-walled building, declaring calmly: “Please enter the facility. Your apartment is... Five. Zero. One. Goodbye.”

With that, the orb floated away, and Thesis waved after it as he shouted loudly: “Goodbye, Portia! Rest your circuits, I know this must be a hard day for you!”

He turned back around to find Cadence studying a plaque near the doors, the mare muttering: “'Green House.' Creative. So what are we, her little berries?”

“Why the hell were 'berries' the first thing that came to mind?” Thesis asked, and Cadence gave him a dry look even as she used telekinesis to open the double doors for him, Thesis grunting as he pushed the flattop into the building's lobby. “Elevator?”

“Here.” Cadence strode quickly over to the nearest, hitting the button to call it. The doors opened, and Thesis wheezed his way in as Cadence frowned at him, joining him in the car as she asked hesitantly: “You, uh... Thesis, are you...”

“I'm fine. One of the servomotors popped when we went through the portal, that's all. I'm not getting any thrust.” Thesis paused, then he grinned over at Cadence. “Although, now that I think about it-”

“Forget I asked.” Cadence rolled her eyes as she hit the button for the fifth floor, and then she smiled wryly as she muttered: “It's weird how this is all second nature to me now. But my time with Daddy was still closer to... how life was even in Canterlot. Why was that?”

“Because when you have magic to make everything easier for you, you don't really need machinery that much.” Thesis shrugged a bit as the elevator rose, and Cadence nodded after a moment. That made sense... “And you know, the unicorns like to be in power. Can't have us earth ponies getting too uppity and all.”

Cadence smiled, before she asked curiously, with the smallest hint of hesitance: “Do you think of yourself as an earth pony?”

“I... I'm me.” Thesis said awkwardly after a moment, glancing down as he rubbed at the back of his head, and Cadence softened. “I'm just me.”

“I think you're an earth pony.” Cadence said softly, and Thesis looked up at her with an honest smile as the elevator doors opened, before Cadence grumbled as she grabbed the flattop away from him and grunted as she pushed it out into the hall, cursing under her breath. “You did break it!”

“I didn't! The portal did!” Thesis argued as he followed her out into the hall, and then he paused before pointing in the other direction as he said awkwardly: “Cadence, uh. You're going in the wrong direction.”

“I'm just... turning the goddamn flattop around because... you got it jammed in the elevator the wrong way and broke everything.” Cadence retorted grouchily, blushing ever-so-slightly as she carefully began to guide the flattop around in a circle. But it wouldn't turn properly thanks to whatever had broken inside it, the mare swearing under her breath until Thesis grabbed the front of it and gently helped her pull it around in spite of her glaring and complaining.

He only smiled at her, which made her feel embarrassed until they pushed through into her apartment, where Cadence forgot her moodiness for sheer amazement, her jaw falling open as they strode into a massive living area with a... “Is that a spiral staircase? To... to another floor? My floor? I have a second floor in an apartment?”

“I guess it's more like a condo, but yeah. And look, it's a corner room, too!” Thesis added, leaving the flattop to walk towards the corner of the room: he whistled loudly as his eyes traced over the polished, clear surface of the windows that lined the wall, eyes roving along them before he muttered: “Wow, that's not glass, that's clear metal. Even you wouldn't be able to chuck someone through one of these windows.”

Cadence ignored the stallion as she strode past the massive window-walls towards the opposite corner, and it took her a moment to realize that these doors actually led into other rooms. She wandered through the apartment in awe, finding a bathroom, a kitchen, a small sitting room just on the first floor, while the second had two bedrooms and a small room she could convert into an office or a weight room or a tiny library...

Cadence came trotting back to the main room, leaning over the railing to look down and watch as Thesis directed Worker Drones who were carrying furniture, the mare saying incredulously: “That isn't my stuff. What's all this stuff?”

“Hey, there's a few perks about being in administration, you know.” Thesis shrugged, smiling amusedly up at Cadence. “Seriously, though. I expect everyone's getting new stuff shipped in. These are actual apartments, after all, not just residencies. I mean, would you really have considered that last place we stayed in to be somewhere where you could spend the rest of your life?”

“Yeah. I loved my apartment.” Cadence said awkwardly, and Thesis looked back at her mildly, the ivory mare blushing a bit before she grumbled: “Well, I apologize, your highness. I was never very good at being a princess.”

“That's not the problem. The problem is that your priorities and your ambitions are all screwed up.” Thesis replied dryly, and Cadence huffed at him before the stallion said gently: “It's not a crime to want more for yourself. You don't have to stay in the dark places of the world. This is our home now. You deserve a nice home.”

“'Our' home?” Cadence asked moodily, jackknifing the railing and catching herself with her wings a moment before she hit the ground to land silently.

“Wow, you're going to be a nightmare for the people beneath us.” Thesis said blandly as he glanced away slightly, and Cadence gave him a sour look.

“Don't change the subject. What do you mean, 'our' home? What about Daddy, or...” Cadence scowled at him moodily. “Hey. Did you somehow get Daddy to move somewhere else so you could try and-”

Thesis only looked at her patiently, and after a few moments, Cadence looked lamely down at the ground before she mumbled: “It's my home.”

“Okay. Can I move in?” Thesis asked bluntly, and Cadence glanced up at him, then chewed on her lip for a moment.

“It's... my home.” she mumbled, shifting from hoof-to-hoof.

“Well, I'm going to call it my home too, you know.” Thesis said mildly, tilting his head towards her, and Cadence grumbled under her breath, but only looked away.

“Just... don't touch my stuff.” she said finally, and then she grumbled a bit as she looked over the furniture, muttering: “Futon, couches, chairs, a bed...” She looked up at a clanking, noting another set of Worker Drones, carrying... “We don't need two beds.”

Thesis turned bright red at this, and Cadence frowned at him before she said: “Well, we don't, if we're... I mean...” She halted, then scowled at him and grumbled: “Don't be a child.”

“I'm not!” Thesis paused, then he said lamely: “We might need one for... guests, though? And when your dad moves back in. I assume you want your dad to move back in when he feels better, right?”

“Yeah. I do.” Cadence said after a moment, and then she smiled a little over at him before she sighed as the Worker Drones dropped the bed with a thunk before leaving, muttering: “Now I just need to unpack all this crap in an hour.”

Cadence did not finish unpacking in an hour: after the Worker Drones stopped showing up with furniture and supplies, she ended up just making awkward piles in the living room before she half-dragged Thesis onto the bed. But they only laid together, bodies resting close, the mare silently playing her hoof every so often over the machinery on his back as he traced along her tattoo, as he traced out both the Swan and the pony parts of her and made her feel whole.

He made her feel whole. That was what made him so perfect, she decided.

She was loathe to get up. But she didn't want to be late, either, so she dragged herself out of bed and dug her Mission Drive out of one of the boxes around the room, using it to bring up a layout of the area and figure out where she she should go. Not that it was hard: she already had a summons to Endworld's Orphanage, so she supposed she would head there first.

Thesis decided to walk with her, which Cadence appreciated more than she wanted to admit. The streets of Endworld were busier than she had expected, too: Genesis was teeming with life, from Orphans to civilians to Dogmatists and drones, and it looked like some of the ponies were already working on setting up their businesses in some of the nearby buildings.

She had the sense that everything was still laid out neatly in sectors and districts, but Exoterra felt a lot less mashed-together than Imperia. Imperia had been so much more... synthetic, in a word. A weird, bad word, really, considering Exoterra was all metal and glass, too, but it just felt different.

Even the Orphanage had that same feel to it, that feel of age, of having been lived-in, of supporting life, not just being another metal box for them to work out of. It was a massive, ancient-looking building of brick and metal, surrounded by gothic, spike-top fencing, built like a sprawling private school. They entered through the main gates at the front, the Kirin guards saluting them as they strode inside and followed the walkway up to the front doors, and it was already busy here, too, Cadence noted. Dogmatists, Orphans; familiar, and surprisingly, unfamiliar faces.

“Everyone's on duty.” Thesis remarked as they stepped into the entrance hall: it was gorgeous, lined with beautiful statues on either side, with massive tapestries hanging from the rafters behind each, depicting stories and civilizations and-

A familiar beeping caught Cadence's attention, before three orbs shot in front of them and swirled quickly around, projecting the holographic image of Seneschal, who huffed and crossed his arms as he said irritably: “As you should be, Prince Thesis! We've been calling you for the last hour!”

“Is that the royal 'we?' Because I don't see Mom anywhere.” Thesis said pointedly, and Seneschal scowled at him before the Replicant added: “Also, I apologize for not picking up. I must not have heard the alert.”

“That would be because you muted your communications.” Seneschal said stiffly, and Thesis pretended to look shocked before the AI groaned silently, then slapped a hand over his face as he pointed to the right with the other, grumbling: “Cadence, go to Reception. You will be given further orders from there. Thesis, you will be coming with me. You have your own duties to attend to, as substitute Regent.”

“Maybe you should just fire me because I'm really not very good at my job.” Thesis suggested, and Cadence smiled in amusement as she patted him on the head before she began to turn, then suddenly wheeled around and kissed him quickly. Thesis' eyes bulged, and he nearly fell over as Cadence grinned and turned to stride off, as Seneschal threw his arms out in exasperation.

“This is the last thing we need!” he shouted as Cadence left through the door the AI had indicated, and she couldn't help but laugh and shake her head as she strode down the hallway, smiling to herself-

“Someone looks happy.” remarked a callous voice, and Cadence's eyes narrowed slightly as she realized there were two members of the RED unit ahead, leaning against the wall: Karsilamas and Gesicht. “Heard you enjoy all the killing, though.”

“I'm busy.” Cadence said shortly as she passed by the two, and then she scowled as she heard them both drop into step behind her, prowling about ten feet... no. Karsilamas just vanished. She's trying to sneak up on my side. “Guys. You don't want to do this.”

“Not doing anything. Mind your own business.” Gesicht said rudely, even as he continued to slowly stalk behind her. When Cadence sped up, he sped up: when she slowed down, he slowed down, maintaining the same pace, and it made the mare grind her teeth together in frustration as the Swan twisted inside of her with... curiosity? Goddammit. How can you just be curious about these assholes? Anyway, it's clear what they want, they're trying to-

Yes. Anger you. Test you. Distract you. And delay you. the Swan said softly, and Cadence frowned before she looked moodily up. Was this really about the fact she was their superior officer? Were they really trying to just get her in trouble?

“Very preschool.” Cadence muttered, as she paused for a moment in front of a sign. She glanced over the information it, then scowled as she felt the Illilleap's breath on her neck, but she resisted the urge to punch it in the face for now.

It took a few minutes to find Reception, but that was mostly thanks to the RED Replicants harassing her the entire way there. The moment she reached the doors to the room, however, they mysteriously vanished, and Cadence rolled her eyes before she shoved into the room.

Reception was not what she had expected: it wasn't a waiting room or staffed by anyone: instead, it was a cold metal room with a large, circular metal plate in the center of the floor. A television screen faced this, and a camera was mounted in each corner of the room, facing towards this point as well, where Cadence was clearly supposed to go.

She looked awkwardly for a moment at the plate, then she hesitantly strode forwards and onto it. She felt it shift slightly beneath her weight, before the television screen flickered to life, and an image of a white dragon head appeared in stark profile on the black screen.

“Welcome... Cadenza Danzsöngr.” said a voice: Portia's voice, Cadence remembered after a moment. “Your team, 0-0, has been assigned a mission from Empress Hecate. You will be investigating a... Class C world. This world has been previously investigated by... Team 0-0.”

“You don't have quite as much processing power as Seneschal, huh?” Cadence muttered under her breath, and then she rose her head higher, asking: “Are we going to-”

“You will be accompanied by... Luna Brynhild and... foreign reinforcement team.” continued Portia, in her implacable mechanical tones. Cadence supposed ironically that was one place where having less of a brain came in handy: she could try to interrupt all she wanted and it wouldn't make a bit of difference to the talking computer. “You will secure the objective... Furnace 5, from enemy attack. Allied soldiers are already present. You will be authorized with... command status.”

Awkward language and jagged delivery aside, that made Cadence frown and look up, asking: “Wait, I don't think that I'm ready to-”

“A portal will be opened for you in... fifty-two. Minutes.” Right. It's just a talking box. “A summons to... Orphanage, Preparations Room A, has been sent out to... Solenne Serenite. Moonflower. La Croix.” An awkwardly-long pause followed this, as Cadence nervously shifted on the stand, wondering if their conversation was over until Portia said calmly: “Additional instructions have been sent to... Luna Brynhild, and her... team.”

“Is it just me, or are you getting even slower?” Cadence asked sourly, not expecting a response, but then staring in surprise as several infographs appeared over the television screen in place of the symbol. All she really understood were that they were jargon about Portia... I guess that's sort of a response?

“Your Mission Drive is being updated. Please stand by.” There was silence for a few moments, and then Portia announced: “Briefing complete. Mission Drive synchronized. Please exit Reception.”

Cadence smiled lamely, and then she awkwardly shrugged before turning and heading to the exit, muttering: “Alright then.”

She left the room, then looked down at her Mission Drive in surprise as it beeped once before a holographic screen popped into existence beside her, displaying a briefing transcript. The mare read over a few of the larger points quickly, then smiled briefly to herself before she muttered: “Great. Still, I don't think I'm ready to be in command like this, Hecate.”

She hesitated, then scowled slightly as she felt eyes tracing over her, not needing to look up to know who was watching as she said distastefully: “And here I thought you guys had run away.”

Gesicht only scowled at her as Karsilamas giggled and shook her head, saying with a sly, false happiness: “Isn't this exciting, darling? We'll be working together! And what do you think of the mission?”

“Simple.” Cadence said shortly, and Karsilamas' face tightened visibly before the ivory mare turned away, grumbling: “I still have to go over the briefing files. Either way, I've got more important things to do than deal with you guys, like talk to my team. So if you'll excuse me-”

“And if you are not excused, dear?” asked the Illilleap in a dangerous voice, and Cadence paused and glanced moodily back over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes.

Gesicht shifted, displaying perhaps the faintest hint of discomfort, while Karsilamas was almost frozen on the spot, all four eyes narrowed, her smile ferocious. Cadence, however, remained unfettered as she met the Illilleap's gaze before she said in a firm, quiet voice: “You will be briefed when you need to be briefed. Until then, I recommend you stay out of my way and do whatever other tasks Empress Hecate has assigned you.”

Karsilamas snorted, but after a moment she looked away and simply vanished from sight as the griffin-like Replicant growled: “Careful, Swan. You don't want to have us as your enemies. And if you make an enemy of one of the RED, you make an enemy of all of us.”

“I could care less.” Cadence said grouchily, glowering at the creature. “A... crazy deer and a griffin don't-”

“Hippogriff.” Gesicht corrected icily, and Cadence smiled wryly.

“Fine. A hippo-griffin doesn't scare me all that much either.” Cadence said dryly, and one of Gesicht's eyes twitched. “And no, it's not just because I have command authority. It's because I know I can kick the asses of all five of you. And you clearly know that too, so... why don't you stop trying to sneak up behind me, Karsilamas, and just go hide in a corner and pout?”

Cadence didn't so much as look back, but she all the same saw Gesicht's eyes widen and felt the Illilleap tense behind her, before Karsilamas snorted and said moodily: “Fine. Be that way, then, dear. Just bear in mind we only have to listen to your orders... everything else, we can decide for ourselves. Let's hope that doesn't leave any of your friends in the wind.”

“I am the wind.” Cadence grumbled, as Gesicht turned around to stride away, and the ivory mare felt the invisible deer-thing sweep past her in the wake of the hippogriff. Cadence didn't bother to watch them leave, instead bringing up a holographic map so she could see where she was supposed to head, and then shrugging once before she turned and walked in the direction that the computer indicated.

She arrived in what reminded her of some kind of transit hall, lined with chairs and with many doors along one side, each marked with a sign that went from A to F. Scrolling, electric signs formed an octagon in the center of the room, displaying various bits of information, and Cadence quirked an eyebrow as she saw 'TEAM 0-0 – ROOM A' scroll by along one of the black signs in bright light.

“Huh.” Cadence mused. This definitely felt much more large-scale, she supposed. In Decretum, getting equipped at the quartermaster's had always been a lot more personal, having to always go through Thorn or someone else to get their gear, which that person then checked over and verified for them. But on the other hoof, they had never been able to have more than one – rarely two – teams getting themselves ready at a time. This way, however...

Cadence rose a hoof with a smile as she saw La Croix anxiously looking around at the other end of the hall, and he sighed in relief as he saw her, almost galloping towards her as he exclaimed with relief: “Cygne! Mon dieu, am I glad to see you! And oh, uh... hey! Ici, madame, she be right here!”

Cadence smiled warmly, then caught La Croix in a firm hug as he came close, the zebra yelping in surprise, but then blushing and grinning a little as he patted her on the back, looking almost bashful as he glanced away. “Yeah, 'sgood to see you too, Cygne. Didn't think I'd be missin' your faces so much.”

“I know what you mean.” Cadence said wryly, as the Loa stepped back, and she looked over him with a smile: he had sewn himself a new cape and a new top hat, it looked like. They were just a little different from his old gear, but seeing him dressed in it, looking fresh and healthy... “It's great to see you.”

“Hey, great to be here. Forgot how ennuyeux it was trying to do paperwork for Nanny Hecate.” La Croix said blandly, and then he smiled over his shoulder and beckoned a few times, and Cadence cocked an eyebrow in surprise as a mare approached with a nervous smile. Her coat was pale pink, her mane flowing blonde, but veins of redness visibly pulsating through her body, marring her beauty...

“Aster.” Cadence said after a moment, smiling back at the mare as she drew her eyes quickly over the winged unicorn. She looked healthier than the last time they had crossed paths, she thought, except for that weird gleam in Aster's eyes. And the fact that she's dressed in a bodysuit like Daddy used to have to wear... “Are they testing you for corruption?”

“No, no. It's just... easier.” Aster said lamely, absently rubbing at the one-piece bodysuit, carefully ignoring the tubes that poked out of it here and there that liquid flowed through; were those plugged into the mare's body, or did they serve some other purpose, she wondered.

La Croix looked at her pointedly, and Cadence shifted awkwardly before she asked: “So uh... have you been assigned to a team? I guess this makes you an official Orphan, though, huh?”

“Well, I was asked by Lady Hecate to assist in this endeavor because of my knowledge of the seas.” Aster answered, smiling awkwardly at Cadence before she half-stated, half-asked hesitantly: “Did you not know that I would be going with your team, Cadence?”

“Huh?” Cadence looked at her blankly for a moment, and then she began to reach for her Mission Drive, but La Croix pointedly glared at her, and the ivory mare frowned for a moment before she said finally: “I uh. Guess I missed that memo.”

Aster shifted apprehensively, but before she could say anything, a voice said morosely: “I'm glad to see all of you, but I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Hey, Moony!” La Croix turned with what was almost relief, before he blinked in surprise at the dejected sight of the black unicorn, who had arrived with Sombra. Cadence smiled warmly at her father, but then looked with concern at Moonflower as Sombra gently rubbed the fellow unicorn's back. “You uh... hey, what's got you so down? You lookin' real good for once, you know. You too, Papa Sérénité.”

“Thank you, La Croix, I appreciate it. It is good to see all of you.” Sombra smiled, stepping forwards to trade a hug with his daughter, before he turned towards Aster and gently took her hoof, kissing it and making the winged unicorn blush and smile up at him, even as her eyes darted worriedly towards Moonflower. “It is good to see you too, Aster, in such high spirits and health. And it will be good to have your knowledge on the seas.”

“Brynhild and her companions are going to be there, too.” Cadence said, not knowing whether or not she was trying to just fill the silence or distract Moonflower, but he barely looked up. He looked healthy, at least, like all his wounds had healed... but she couldn't help but wonder... “Uh... Moonflower, let's check out the equipment room, okay? We can get your suited up, since Daddy and La Croix will take less time.”

“Oui, I'm just 'bout ready, as a matter of fact. Do me a favor, though, Cygne, ask if Aster is gonna suit up there or we should bring her to a different room, this whole place be real different from the way Decretum was.” La Croix said, and Cadence gave the zebra a sour look.

“Yeah. I will.” Cadence grumbled, and then she grabbed Moonflower and half-pulled him towards the room marked with an A, muttering: “Already going over my head. Fantastic.”

“What does it matter? It's not like we matter, Cadence. We all just... use each other. We're all pathetic.” Moonflower mumbled, and Cadence stopped in front of the door to the room to stare at him as Moonflower said sulkily: “Used until something better comes along, and then that's that!”

Cadence sighed, then she shoved the door open and pulled Moonflower through into a room that was lined with shelves of equipment. She winced a bit as two automated turrets in either corner of the room immediately trained on her, but these beeped and disarmed themselves after a moment, letting Cadence take a quick look around: their gear had already been laid out for them in large, labeled racks, and there were shelves of additional equipment set up in the middle of the room, and what looked like some kind of modified Worker Drone sitting in a cage at the back...

“I think he's going to break up with me. And he should. I'm useless. Stupid. Worthless! Necrophage is such a nicer fit for him. And then he doesn't have to put up with being called colt-cuddler or faggot, he doesn't have to feel-”

Moonflower squeaked as Cadence punched him, stumbling to the side before he grasped the side of his face and whined, eyes watering: “That hurt!”

“Good, because you're being an asshole right now.” Cadence retorted, glaring at him. “Horses of Heaven, Moonflower, I mean... seriously? Has anyone even ever called you a faggot?”

“Thorn did that one time.” Moonflower defended awkwardly, before he lowered his head between his shoulders meekly and mumbled: “When he was making a point, yes, I am aware that is a... a silly thing to focus on. But... still. Necrophage is so-”

Cadence reached up and covered Moonflower's mouth, saying firmly: “Enough of that. Moonflower, Thorn obviously cares for you. A lot. I know right now... it's not fun. And yes, I do know what it's like, because even though Daddy's always been so strong, you've seen what happens when he gets taken over by the corruption. Thorn is going through something very similar.”

“I know.” Moonflower silently pushed Cadence's hoof away as he looked down in shame, and Cadence softened before the black unicorn whispered: “Necrophage is there for him so easily. She loves him. Deserves him more. I get... upset. And I cry. And he gets mad. I just... I don't understand how she can always smile... or why...”

“We hurt the people we love most. That's just the way we are.” Cadence murmured, and then she sighed a little before she leaned in and said quietly: “Take this mission as a break, okay? We're just going to be on hoof to secure the soul furnace. It should give you a chance to think. Think about what you need, what you're willing to do... what you can do. I won't lie to you, Moonflower... if you're not strong enough, then yes, step aside.”

Moonflower looked up, blinking once, and Cadence smiled faintly as she said softly: “I wasn't strong enough for my first husband. Shining and I ended up dragging each other along through... a lot of unnecessary pain and hoops. I really do wish sometimes that we had parted ways much earlier. It would have saved him so much pain and heartache, and I really do... care about him. Even now, I worry about him, and I hope he's okay, and I wish I could see him again, even. Just... not as a lover. And in part that's because I know that I was never strong enough.”

Moonflower looked down, and then he murmured: “Love is selfish, isn't it?”

“Love is selfishness, but it makes you feel like you'll do anything for that one person you care about. And you will, but you'll do it because it makes you happy, and because you want to keep them under your control, under your power, as part of your world.” Cadence shrugged a bit, laughing quietly. “Cause and effect.”

Moonflower as silent for a few moments, but then Cadence smiled softly and murmured: “But that doesn't necessarily make it bad, either. You just can't romanticize facts.”

“I suppose.” Moonflower looked away, and then he brushed at himself idly before he faced the rack that was labeled with his name, mumbling: “Well... I suppose... a bit of work won't hurt. Freya went through all the trouble of bringing me here, after all.”

“Wait, what?” Cadence turned, looking surprised, and Moonflower rose his head and tilted it curiously before Cadence muttered, as she fumbled at her Mission Drive: “How much have I not been informed of? Or is this someone else trying to go over my head... and how the hell am I supposed to get gear for Aster now, too?”

Moonflower awkwardly gestured at the Worker Drone in the little cage at the back of the room, and Cadence sighed tiredly before she looked in the direction of the drone and asked: “Hey, how do I requisition equipment?”

The Worker Drone clicked to life, raising its head slightly, before Portia's voice spoke from the machine: “Please state the name of the Orphan you wish to authorize equipment for.”

“Uh... Aster?” Cadence said lamely, pausing in her hammering at her Mission Drive, and the drone clicked several times before the ponies looked up in surprise as several hidden doors in the ceiling slid open, circular racks filled with equipment extending down from these.

“Orphan Aster is authorized for... Class B equipment. Please select as necessary. Please remove no more than... three... items.” Portia advised, and Cadence sighed a little as she surveyed the rack moodily, figuring that meant she wouldn't get in trouble for bringing Aster along... probably.

“Well... the more the merrier.” Cadence grumbled, and Moonflower smiled lamely at her, but on the bright side, at least her team was back together.

And having her friends by her side always made everything that much more bearable.

Comments

[Randomfastreader]

FINISHED reading up to chapter ? I lost count:
SUNDAY OCT 23 10:12 PM
finally i'm caught Up again now for tomorrows update between 11:30 and 12:00
either way great so far!