//------------------------------// // Relief, Recovery and a Reunion // Story: Before the Friendship Games: Dean Cadance // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Several minutes later, Cadance sighed and shook her head. "I'm so goddamn sick of crying, Hope..." Hope put a hand on Cadance's thigh. "I understand, but you can't keep these emotions in all the time. It's bad for your health." The Dean snickered. "You've been barking up that tree for how long, now?" "...Cadenza. I mean it." Cadance blinked in surprise. "I'm worried about you. You can't go a day without crying or nearly breaking something in a fit of rage." Cadance looked away. "Look at me, Cadenza," Hope said firmly. Cadance looked her friend in the eyes. "Please," she continued. "Talk to me. I can help you. If not for yourself... do it for me. For S.M.I.L.E..." Cadance sighed heavily. "I-I want to hold on to this anger." The Dean hugged herself. "Because I'm scared that if I do end up letting go of it, I'll lose all motivation to oust Cinch." "Cadenza..." Cadance got up off the couch. "I'll tell you what. I will make a solemn promise here and now to get real help from you. After the Friendship Games." She extended her hand to Radiant Hope. Hope smiled warmly. Whenever Cadance made a promise, she always kept it. Always. She shook her friend's hand. "I'll take you up on that." Cadance smiled as she broke handshake. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do... but not before this." She shot forward and hugged Hope. "Thank you," she whispered. "Anytime." Cadance broke the hug, then headed back to her office. --------------------------------------------- Time had passed, and Cadance had made some decent headway into her work when she heard a knock on her office door. "Come in," she said. Indigo Zap entered her office. "Hello, Indigo. How can I help you," The Dean asked as she closed the door behind her. Indigo sat down on the couch in Cadence's office and remained silent, her face expressionless. Her body still. Just blankly staring at nothing in particular. Moments passed before Cadence got up from her chair and approached her slowly. "Is everything okay?" Indigo stayed silent, further concerning the Dean. "Do... do you need me to call one of your parents?" Indigo nodded very slowly, to Cadence's relief. Cadence went to her desk and fished out a directory of all the parents for each student. She skimmed through it until she found Indigo's parents. She took the phone on her desk out of its hook and dialed a number as the warning bell for third period sounded off. The phone rang a couple of times, then the call was picked up. "Hello?" "Azure Feather? It's Dean Cadence from Crystal Prep." "Well, hello, Dean Cadence. What's the occasion for the call?" Azure asked. "Indigo just walked into my office and sat on my couch, but she hasn't said a word and remained still for the most part. She nodded when I asked if you needed to be contacted." "Ah. I see." Azure said, "And what period is it now?" "The warning bell for third period rang just as I dialed your number." Said Dean Cadence. "Mm-hmm." Said Azure, "Okay, ask her if the first two classes of the day were intense." Cadence covered the phone. "Indigo, were the first two classes of the day a bit too intense for you?" Indigo blinked, then slowly nodded. Cadence took her hand off of the phone. "She nodded in response." "I thought so." Said Azure. "She's just a little overwhelmed, that's all. She needs to be in a quiet space so she can regroup. She should be back to her old self by the time third period ends." "Thank you, Azure." Cadence said. "No problem." Azure said, "Is there anything else you want to discuss?" He asked in a meaningful tone. Cadence paused for a moment. "No." She said, "Perhaps another time, though." "Understood. Glad I could help!" Azure said, then hung up. "T...t..." Dean Cadence looked up at Indigo. "Th...than...thank...you." Was all Indigo managed to say before she returned to silence. Dean Cadence smiled. "You're welcome, Indigo." --------------------------------------------- By the time the bell signaling the end of third period rang, Indigo was indeed back to normal. She ran up to Dean Cadence and hugged her. "Thanks a ton again, Dean Cadence. I really needed that recharge," she said with a grin. Dean Cadence returned the hug. "No problem. I'm happy to help when I can." Indigo broke the hug. "See ya later," she said, and walked into the halls. Cadance smiled genuinely for the first time all day. Helping others made her feel better. --------------------------------------------- Some time later, Cadance's office phone rang. "Hello?" "Cadance," Principal Cinch said as the mere sound of her voice caused the Dean to grit her teeth. "Could you bring Twilight Sparkle up to my office?" The Dean took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Of course, Principal Cinch." She paused for a moment. "Is there anything else?" "That will be all." Cinch hung up. Cadance made a sputtering noise, then made her way to Twilight's private lab. --------------------------------------------- Once the Dean arrived at Twilight's door, she knocked. "Come in," Twilight said from behind the door. "Hello, Twilight," Cadance said softly. "Principal Cinch would like to see you." Twilight blanched. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't hesitate to see the Principal, but after everything she learned recently... "S-She does?" Cadance put a calm and reassuring hand on Twilight's shoulder. "Don't worry," she said with a smile, then leaned in and whispered. "If she really knew what was going on, she'd come over herself." Twilight calmed considerably. "That's a relief." "By the way, you should probably change your shirt." Twilight blinked. "Why?" "Principal Cinch is highly allergic to dogs." "Ah. I understand." "Oh, and Twilight?" "Yes," Twilight asked. Cadance smiled warmly. "Good luck up there." Twilight paused momentarily, then nodded with a smile. "Cadance!" The Dean turned around and smiled genuinely at the person who called out her name. A light grey adult with dark and light blue hair returned her smile as his cerulean eyes shone with happiness. "Shining Armor! It's so good to-" Cadance was cut off mid-sentence as Shining hugged her. Her eyes widened in surprise, then closed with a sigh as she returned the hug. The Crystal Prep Alumni rarely hugged the Dean, but it felt welcome. It felt ...warm. Like the hugs her mother gave her, which were always given with- Cadance opened her eyes, and broke the hug with as much composure she could muster. It... it couldn't be... She shook her head rapidly, bringing herself back to reality. "W-What brings you here?" Shining Armor sighed. "Cinch called me here to convince Twily to compete in the Friendship Games." "She what?!" "I know," Shining said flatly as he folded his arms. "I don't like the idea any more than you do, but for the sake of appearances I think we should just play along." "Agreed." Cadance nodded. "We'll catch up later." Cadance and Shining Armor walked to Principal Cinch's office together. --------------------------------------------- A while later, the two left Cinch's office as Shining Armor closed the door behind them. "Dammit," Cadance muttered under her breath. "What's wrong," Shining asked. "I recognized that look in Cinch's eyes as we left..." The Dean's hands curled into fists. "I know what she's planning." "What?" Cadance took a deep breath, then sighed heavily. "How badly does Twilight want to be in the Everton Independent Study Program?" "More than anything, but what does that have to do with-" Shining's eyes widened in horror. "No... Cinch wouldn't." Cadance sighed again, then faced Shining Armor. "She would..." her tone was a mixture of resignation and fury. She played right into Cinch's hands. "And she's probably blackmailing her as we speak." Shining Armor grit his teeth and started for the office door, only to be blocked by Cadance's arm. The Dean shook her head. "There's nothing we can do right now that wouldn't potentially compromise everything we've worked for..." "...Dammit." Cadance put a hand on Shining Armor's shoulder. "The Friendship Games are tomorrow. If that isn't the turning point we need, I don't know what is." She smiled. "I promise you that Cinch will receive retribution for all that she's done if it's the last thing I do." Shining Armor smiled back. "Thank you. I really needed to hear that," he whispered, then hugged her again. Cadance returned the hug, grateful to feel the warmth again until Shining broke it. "I-I have to go," he said. "Y-Yeah. Me too. I have some paperwork and other things to take care of." Cadance smiled and waved as she watched Shining walk off, then headed back to her office, trying to ignore the warmth that flowed through her body.