//------------------------------//
// Day IX 
// Story: Celestia of Equestria's tonic experiment 
// by Acologic 
//------------------------------//

Cadence bit her tongue as she watched Celestia’s chest rise gently and then fall. She turned away, then doubled back, tucked her in and walked over to the latter’s UCCTV system.

‘Well,’ said Tirek once she’d plunged into T-Kam. ‘If it isn’t Cadence the kind. How’s our dearest?’

‘She isn’t coming tonight,’ said Cadence solemnly to Luna, who looked taken aback. ‘She’s still feeling unwell – it’s getting worse, whatever it is.’ She puffed out her cheeks. Luna bit her hooves.

‘This isn’t like her,’ said the latter quietly. ‘She’s never sick like this. Something must have happened. I wonder what.’

To Cadence’s surprise, Tirek sniffed. In fact, she could see wet in his eyes – cold, dead eyes that had no reason to carry tears.

‘What?’ said Cadence, bemused.

‘What?’ Tirek snapped back. ‘Can’t I be upset that my favourite source of entertainment is currently unavailable? It just . . . isn’t right!’

Luna nodded without saying another word, which surprised Cadence. Luna was normally so spritely and sassy. It wasn’t like her to muse – unless things were serious. And they may well have been, for Cadence had spent the day at Canterlot castle, helping the big boss in whatever way she could – there she’d been exposed to just how bad Celestia’s condition was. And it – well, it was bad.

The three of them stood in silence. The DAGs, of course, were equally silent. For the first time, Cadence noticed a faint humming emitted by Tatarus’ black stone. Her ears twitched.

Without Celestia to conduct proceedings, Cadence felt a kind of emptiness the likes of which she’d never experienced before. It didn’t feel good. She didn’t feel good, and judging by the current atmosphere, neither did the others. Tirek glumly flicked a coin, then reshuffled his deck. Luna was staring into space, shifting subconsciously on the spot.

‘This is weird,’ said Tirek at last. Luna nodded again, and so did Cadence.

‘I really hope she gets better soon,’ said Cadence, ‘not only for our sake but that of Equestria. I just can’t handle these meetings of hers. I proved that much today, with the Saddle Arabians. We argued for three hours straight on the matter of capital punishment. They were all for condemning such a practice, would you believe.’

‘I just hope she’s all right,’ said Luna abstractedly. ‘Whatever happens, she’s my sister. And she’s a good sister.’

Cadence’s skin crawled, but she nodded. ‘Yes.’

Tirek scratched his face. ‘She’s a good pony. I’m missing her already.’

‘So am I,’ said Cadence.

‘Me too,’ said Luna.

Silence again, until Tirek stood up. ‘A toast, then.’ He waved at the DAGs, and they poured him his drink. His tonic. The very stuff with which Celestia hoped to kill him. Nevertheless, the centaur raised his tankard. ‘To Celestia’s good health. Get well soon, old friend.’

Luna and Cadence murmured their acknowledgement, and Tirek drained the tonic, licking his lips thoughtfully.

Silence.

Cadence winced. The humming – it was too much for her. She couldn’t bear it.

‘I have to go,’ she said.

Luna blinked. ‘Huh?’

‘I’m leaving,’ said Cadence a little louder. ‘Lots to do.’

‘Oh. Bye.’

‘Goodbye, Luna. Goodbye, Tirek.’

‘Cadence.’

She pulled out of T-Kam.