It’s a new day, a quieter day at the orphanage when Cadence hears a familiar voice at the door. “Cadence, it’s me, Twilight, I’m in town for a summit and I thought I’d stop by!”
“I’m in my office!” Cadence hollers down the hall from the office doorway. Twilight follows the voice and soon enters her sister in law’s office. “How have you been, Twilight?” Inquires Cadence.
“I’ve been good, it’s busy running the entire country,” she says with a nervous giggle. “I’m exhausted, Cadence.”
“Me too,” says Cadence, “but from the rewarding work we do here at the orphanage. Momma and auntie would be so proud of me if they were alive.”
“I know they would be,” Twilight reassures Cadence. She puts her hoof on Cadence’s shoulder. “They’d be so proud of you.”
“Thanks, now go enjoy your birthday summit,” responds Cadence with a smile. “I’m too busy with work here to go unfortunately.”
“Ok, I understand,” responds Twilight. “I’ve got to head out.” She hugs Cadence goodbye before heading out for the summit at the Crystal Palace up the road. Meanwhile, Cadence heads off to meet with a couple.
“Hello,” says the mare to Cadence, “I’m Daisy and that’s my husband, Green Light. We’re looking to adopt a little filly today.”
“Well then come into my office and let’s talk,” responds Cadence with a smile. They talk for a few minutes before heading to the big room where they are greeted by four little fillies: Candy Crunch, Chocolate Creme, Caramel Crepe, and Orange Swirl. After getting to know each filly better, the two end up taking both Chocolate Creme and Caramel Crepe home with them two weeks later. A few weeks after that, Candy Crunch gets adopted out to a Canterlot family Mr. and Mrs. Tea Kettle. And about a month after that, Orange Swirl finds her forever home with a Mareisville couple, the Typhoons.
Meanwhile at the summit, Twilight bumps into her brother who is there on his wife’s behalf so she can run the orphanage. “Hey Shining,” says Twilight, “it’s good to see you again, big brother.”
“Yeah, Cadence told me that you stopped by the orphanage earlier to see her,” responds Shining with a smile. “I’m just ready for this summit to be over. I’m missing Daring Con!” He says agitatedly. “I’d rather be there than here.”
“And you will be, the summit is only this afternoon, the con still has three days left, remember?” Grumbles an irritated Twilight.
“I know,” huffs Shining, “I’m just normally there from day one is all and I’m missing that this year due to this stupid summit.” He stops complaining as they’re called into the second to last meeting of the day. Two hours later, the summit is fully over and he rushes to the Crystal Convention Hall to enjoy the remainder of Daring Con. He plans to be there the entire time for its remaining days.
Meanwhile back at the orphanage, Twilight re-enters Cadence’s office. “Oh, hey Twilight,” says Cadence, “before you say anything, I know Shining is mad at me for him missing opening day of Daring Con. It’s no big deal, it’s a four day con.”
“I know, but it’s a big deal to him, has been since we were foals,” responds Twilight, “he’s never missed opening day to those cons. Not once, ever. He’s really upset. You could’ve left Crosslin in charge for a day. She runs it as well as you do. You should’ve been there, not him.”
“I know,” says Cadence, “and I feel guilty, just let it go, Twi.” Twilight stops pushing and backs off of her sister in law. “Did you ever hear the full story of how I came to be adopted by the royal sisters from these streets?”
“Only Celestia’s side of it,” responds Twilight, “what’s your side?”
“Well, before it started on these streets,” starts Cadence, “it started in the old Crystal Palace with my aunt, Princess Amor and my mom, her little sister, Amora Heart. Grandpa would always call mom his Lil Heart when I was growing up. He was dead by the time I was two years old. One day, a great threat came to the Empire and mom’s sister sent her and me away from all of it, and we were almost outside the city when it took over. That threat, the umbra army, it killed mom and left me to die. It surrounded me before it was warded off by a beam of light. That beam of light was Celestia’s magic. That day, she took me in as her royal niece. She’s been my family ever since.”
“Wow,” says Twilight, jaw dropped, “Cadence, I had no idea.”
“You wouldn’t,” responds Cadence, “Celestia would only ever tell you the role she played in the event. She wouldn’t tell you everything else, she’d fabricate something to replace that-me being raised by earth pony parents is one of her common go tos.”
“Yeah, that’s what she always told me,” says Twilight with a sigh, “but I’m glad you told me the truth, sis. Really, I am.” Twilight then hugs her sister in law before heading out for the night to enjoy the rest of Daring Con with Spike and her brother. As she walks, she can’t stop thinking about what Cadence went through as a filly and how hard losing her mom and aunt had been for her. She has to learn more about that umbra attack and why it happened all those years ago. For Cadence’s sake, that is.