Dean Cadance walked the halls of Crystal Prep Academy with a smile, kindly greeting each student and staff member she passed by. She kept her expression as happy as possible without going overboard. Her smile became genuine once one of her oldest friends and fellow staff members Radiant Hope walked up to her.
Radiant Hope smiled at Dean Cadance. "Hello, there," she said, then hugged her. She leaned into her and whispered. "Have you had that dream lately?"
Cadance returned the hug and whispered back. "It's been a couple of days, Hope, and I'm hoping it'll be a couple more." She giggled at her unintentional pun, then sighed as she broke it. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You've been keeping me sane all of these years."
Hope smiled warmly. "Hey. Anything for a good friend." She pat Cadance on the shoulder, then moved on. Cadance sighed in contentment, then went to her office.
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Once inside her office, Dean Cadance sat down. Normally she'd take a brief glimpse at her book first thing, but there was work to be done. Calls to be made, paperwork to sign, all that administrative stuff. She took a deep breath, then sighed. How many years had it been? How much longer would she have to keep this facade up? She shook her head. Now wasn't the time to worry about such things. Her phone rang, and she picked it up. "Yes, this is Dean Cadance." The person on the other end of the line spoke and her eyes widened. "No," she whispered, fear gripping her.
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Cadance reached the hospital room and gasped in horror. On the bed before her laid a person she knew all too well.
Her once brilliant amber eyes that shone with love and happiness were now dulled and glazed over. Her once long, beautiful light crimson and azure hair had become thin and faded. Her light pink skin was paler than normal. The woman looked at her and smiled. "C...Cadance. It's so wonderful to see you, despite the circumstances." Her normally calming voice sounded raspy.
Cadance felt a lump in her throat. "Oh, god," she whispered. "What happened to you?"
The woman smiled warmly. "Why are you asking me, dear? I think you know, more than anyone."
Cadance sniffled. "You're going to get through this. We're going to get through this," she said as she took the woman's hand. A doctor walked into the room, and yelped as he was seized by her. "There's got to be something you can do," she said desperately, almost shaking him.
Another doctor walked in and put an arm on Cadance's shoulder. "I..." he said, looking away. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Th-There's nothing we can do."
Cadance let go of the doctor as a tear fell from her eye. "Have you tried everything," she asked. "Please tell me you haven't tried everything! Isn't there some sort of experimental procedure? Some new treatment? Anything?!" She sniffled.
The doctor continued averting his gaze and gave a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry," he said. "We've explored all options."
Cadance sniffled again as she walked to the woman. "Please don't go. I don't want you to!"
The woman smiled and ran a hand through her hair. "It's going to be okay, my dear," She said in a reassuring tone.
"No," Cadance whispered. "I need you..." she broke, then held onto the woman tightly. "Please don't go," she said between sobs. She repeated herself until the tears stopped. "Please," she whispered as she looked up. The woman was smiling.
"Cadance, my dear," the woman said. "Don't be sad." her voice began to fade. "You're at your most beautiful...when you...smile..." the woman shuddered, then passed.
Cadance let loose another wave of tears as the doctors announced her time of death.
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Cadance sighed heavily as she was joined by her old friends Radiant Hope and Vice-Principal Luna. The funeral was today, and she'd need all of the support she could get.
"I'm terribly sorry my sister couldn't make it," Luna said apologetically. "It's not that she doesn't care, she's just been so busy now that she's the Principal of Canterlot High."
"I swear," Hope said. "Celestia would raise the sun and the moon for you, Cadance."
Cadance smiled. "Yeah. I know."
Luna and Hope looked at each other and nodded, then embraced Cadance in a tight hug. Cadance almost immediately burst into tears and held her two closest friends tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
"We're here for you," Hope said softly as a tear fell.
"We wish there was something we could do..." Luna whispered.
Cadance sighed heavily and shuddered as she cried the last of her tears. "Why," she asked as the final tear fell from her face. "Why did this happen?"
Luna and Hope looked at each other again, then sighed. "You know why," Luna said, folding her arms.
"Why would you ask us such a question," Asked Hope. "The what, who, why, when and how... you know all of these."
"So why are you asking us," Hope and Luna said simultaneously as clouds began to darken the sky. Cadance blinked in surprise as rain began to fall. "Go." Hope and Luna said, and Cadance ran. She ran through Crystal Prep's campus. She ran through the streets. She ran and ran and ran, until she ran out of breath and took a rest.
"Why are you resting," Hope and Luna asked. "There's still a lot of ground to cover." It began to rain harder, and Cadance grit her teeth and her running slowed to the pace of a snail. She growled in frustration, then screamed, breaking herself out of the slowness. She ran faster than she ever had before, not stopping for anyone or anything. After what seemed like forever, she finally reached her destination: the Canterlot Graveyard.
Cadance nearly collapsed upon entering, trying desperately to catch her breath. Once she did, she searched the graveyard until she found the one tombstone that both did and did not wish to see.
Here lies Amore
Cadance's knees buckled, and she let out a long wail.
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Cadance shot out of bed with a loud gasp. She sniffled and sighed.
"...Mom..."