//------------------------------// // A Promise Forgotten // Story: The Best Intentions // by SpearmintSonnet //------------------------------// Chapter 3: A Promise Forgotten: The moonlight slanted steeply into the royal bedchamber, pooling by the windows in luminous puddles that cast the rest of the ornate room in deep shadow. What little of the room could be seen shimmered with silver light, crystal sparkled and metal shined. Outside the window, snow glistened brightly causing the whole city to be washed in a white and silver glow making everything look bright as if seen at midday. It was a late hour, one at which most ponies slept. But Princess Cadence could not find sleep. She tossed and turned fitfully next to her sleeping husband. Every time she thought she had found sleep, something caused her to wake up again. A voice. But she could never hear what it said, although somehow she knew it was important. Eventually she rose, unable to fall asleep and unwilling to wake her lover, Cadence quietly moved to the window. Pushing the heavy curtain aside, she glanced longingly over the city. It has been a while since I had a good flight. Spreading her wings slightly, the princess nodded. A short flight around the palace would do me good, it will let me clear my head. Maybe then I can sleep. Quietly she left the room through the balcony door, leaving the door cracked open so it wouldn't lock after her. Taking a deep breath of the frigid air, Cadence shivered. It certainly is cold tonight. Lifting her wings, she took off from the wide balcony, diving low to the ground and sweeping up the tower, being careful not to clip her wings on windowsills or protruding crystals. As she crested the highest tower, the princess flared her wings, settling down on the smooth crystals with care. She breathed deeply, taking another long breath of the winter air. Lifting off the roof, Cadence circled the towers, weaving between the many columns of crystal. As she rounded one of the lower towers, she noticed a light flickering in a window. Curious as to who else in the palace might be awake at this time of night, the princess changed direction and alighted down at the nearest window large enough for her to fit through. Slipping through, she entered the library. It must be one of the scribes working late. I should check in on them. Entering the hall, Cadence kept a careful eye on the door frames, looking for one with candle light lining the edges. Her hooves clacked quietly across the crystals as she followed the halls towards the room where the light was on. The door was wedged open just slightly, allowing a generous amount of the candlelight to cascade across the floor. The crystals glittered brilliantly until Cadence's shadow blocked the light. Pushing the door open wider, the pegasus princess noticed that the pony sitting in the office wasn't a pony at all, it was her friend Claudia, the dragon. Without turning around, Claudia stuck out a claw and pointed to a pile of papers stacked on a chair, “Graceful Stroke, thank goodness. Please could you take those down to the clerks for filing? I'd do it myself, of course, but I have so much else to do... I simply don't have time.” Cadence looked confused a moment until she realized Claudia had simply mistaken her for one of the scribe ponies, “Claudia?” “Hmm? Is there something else?” Turning around in her chair, the dragon jumped to her feet in surprise. “Oh! Princess, it's you! I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you, I thought you were... well, that doesn't matter. What are you doing up at this hour?” “I couldn't sleep. Something... was bothering me. I figured a flight around the castle would clear my head. I saw the light on in here and came to investigate. And I could ask you the same question. What are you doing up?” “Well, not that it matters to you, but I've been keeping the country running while you've been making googly eyes at that prince of yours.” Even though she was happy to see her friend up and around, Claudia couldn't keep the bitter note from her voice as she turned back to the papers scattered across her desk. Sitting back down, the dragon waved dismissively at the princess. “Speaking of, I really should get back to work.” Instead of leaving, Cadence stepped into the room and glanced over her friend's shoulder, “Shouldn't I be the one reading these?” She turned her attention to the stack of papers Claudia had asked be taken down to the castle clerks. Across the bottom of each was a well-scripted signature. “Ha-have you been forging my signature? Claudia! What has gotten into you?” Slamming her claws down on the desk, Claudia stood up and whirled on the princess, “You have no right to ask me that! I should be the one asking what has gotten into you!” “Whatever do you mean?” Cadence was surprised and confused by the aggression in Claudia's voice as the dragon growled at her. “You, Princess, have been lost in love with Prince Silver Scales, leaving me alone to make sure this kingdom doesn't fall apart! I have been working my claws to the bone to make sure this kingdom is kept up, and whenever I ask you for assistance or advice, or to just show your face to visiting dignitaries, you brush me off!” Claudia's face was red with emotion as she finally was able to get her feeling's out. Cadence was surprised, “I thought... I thought you were able to take care of everything yourself...” Thinking back, Cadence did remember being distracted when Claudia came to talk with her once or twice, but strangely everything that happened after the Crystal Fair seemed to be a hazy blur. “I'm sorry... I didn't realize...” The mare sighed and turned to her friend, “what can I do to help?” “Well,” the dragon indicated the stacks of paper around her, “choose a stack, I guess. Everything needs to be read, signed, and given to the clerks to file.” Cadence carefully lifted a stack of papers off of the other chair in the room, setting them on the floor. Moving the chair around to face the desk, she sat down next to her friend and pulled a smaller stack of papers towards her. Claudia sat back down and began riffling through the papers she had been when Cadence had appeared. Graceful Stroke did eventually come to pick up the papers Claudia needed taken downstairs. The minty green mare apologized for being late, waiting for the as of late irritable dragon to snap at her, but was surprised, and delighted, when Claudia dismissed it lightly. “Just so long as it gets done.” Cadence and Claudia stayed up late, signing many different papers and petitions sent to the palace looking for the princess's approval. Once when Cadence glanced at Claudia signing her name, the princess chuckled. “What's so amusing?” Claudia asked, setting the paper on top of a large stack of papers that was just one petition. The princess laughed again, “I was just noticing how well you can forge my signature. I wouldn't be surprised if the scribes questioned the authenticity of these papers-” the princess indicated her own signature at the bottom of a page that looked sloppy and lazy compared to Claudia's script “-because your signature looks better.” The dragon laughed. “I'm doubtful that will happen, princess, but if it does, I suppose I will just have to sign everything from now on. So long as you do the reading.” Cadence smiled, “oh sure, give me the boring bit.” The two friends laughed as they continued to push papers. Graceful Stroke came back three more times before Claudia stood with a yawn, stretching her claws above her head. “Well... I think it's time for me to head to bed.” The princess looked up from her papers, distracted for the first time in hours, and yawned broadly. The dragon grinned, “and I think you could stand for some sleep too, Cadence.” “Y-yeah,” the pegasus yawned again and shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. Standing, she moved the last stack of papers to the “finished” pile the two had created on the far side of the room nearest the door. Cadence took one last look around the room and was shocked. Where just a few hours earlier papers seemed to stack all the way from the floor to the ceiling, covering every surface, and leaving hardly any room to breathe, now there was a significant chunk gone. The two left the room, Claudia shut the door and locked it tight. Cadence was about to turn away and head back to the royal wing when her dragon friend stopped her with a claw on her shoulder. “Hey, Cadence, would you mind helping me later? I need to run an inspection of the guard with Captain Iron Point, but I've been putting it off... Would you mind being at the guardhouse around three?” Cadence smiled at her friend, “sure. I'll be there.” As the princess slowly walked back to her rooms, the dragon sighed with relief before turning and heading in the opposite direction. It's good to see Cadence is back to her former self. I knew it would just take some time. Won't Iron Point be surprised! ~~~ The next day the sun was beginning to sink in the sky as the lavender dragon paced back and forth out by the guardhouse. The captain stood nearby, his stance stoic and unmoving as his eyes watched the pacing dragon. “You told her three?” Claudia nodded absently as she gazed up at the palace that towered above them. “Yes, I'm sure I did... unless I dreamed it all. I haven't been getting enough sleep as it is, I could have just imagined the whole thing last night...” “Don't give up hope yet. It's just three now. And for all Cadence's virtues, punctuality was never one of them.” Claudia smiled a touch, the Captain was right. Still, the dragon couldn't shake the feeling that Cadence just wouldn't show up at all. I have to believe she has gotten better, I can't be doubting her now. Looking up at the castle, her eyes found the small balcony that jutted out from the princess's quarters. The sun glinted brightly off the crystals creating a glare that shone directly in Claudia's eyes. Blinking fast and turning away, the dragon continued her pacing. Time passed slowly for the pair below the castle as they waited in vain for the princess to appear. Finally Iron Point shifted, the plates of his armor clinking softly against each other brought Claudia out of her silent vigil, “Claudia, we should inspect the guards before the evening post gets here. The stallions don't like being kept late.” Claudia was about to give a smart remark back to the captain, but snapped her jaw shut at the last moment. Now wasn't the time to irritate the only pony in the castle who thought she wasn't crazy. “Yeah... you're right... I was just really hoping...” The dragon snorted and shook her head. “Let's just get this over with.” The captain nodded and followed after Claudia. They spent the next hour and a half checking all the guards on duty and Claudia kept checking each window as they passed, hoping to see Cadence below at the guardhouse, but each time she was disappointed. When they finally finished the rounds and the current guard was allowed to go home, Claudia waved good-bye to the captain and started back towards the castle, but Iron Point stopped her. “Where are you off to in such a hurry? We still have work to do.” “Captain...” Claudia sighed as she tore her eyes away from the high balcony. “You can do all that without me... and there's something I need to take care of. Right now.” The captain watched Claudia for a moment before he sighed. “Alright. Just don't do something you'll regret in the morning.” As Iron Point walked away, Claudia shook her head. “I promise nothing.” Hurrying into the castle, the dragon tried to calm her nerves. Cadence probably just lost track of time. She's been known to do that. Come on, Claudia, you don't believe that she might have relapsed? How does one 'relapse' in love, anyway? Still she couldn't quell all the doubts she had, and as Claudia all but ran through the castle, her mind buzzed angrily with all her fears. Reaching the top of the stairs that led to the royal wing, Claudia had to stop and take a breath. She stopped at the door, her claw resting on the wood to push it inward when she heard a loud giggle on the other side of the door. Drawing back a moment, Claudia thought twice about just barging in, instead rapping loudly three times on the door and stepping back. From behind the door, the dragon could hear a muffled yelp, “Silver!” then a giggle, “Silver! Stop it!” A thump of hooves hitting the floor and the soft clop across the crystals. “Just a moment, it's probably nothing.” Claudia clenched her fists and took a deep, steadying breath. Maybe Iron Point was right... I should have put this off longer. Slowly the door before her opened and Cadence appeared, her mane slightly rumpled. “Oh... Claudia... what is it?” The dragon shrugged, feigning disinterest, “Oh, it's nothing really. I just couldn't help but notice you weren't at the guard inspection earlier.” Claudia made direct eye contact with Cadence for a moment before she added in an angrier tone, “even after you said you'd be there.” The pegasus princess wrinkled her brow slightly, as if she was trying to remember, and for a moment Claudia thought she might get a heart-felt apology, but that moment passed as Cadence's eyes seemed to glaze over again and she shook her head, “No... I'm sorry. I don't remember saying that.” “But... It was last night! You told me you'd be at the guardhouse at three today!” Claudia couldn't keep back her anger anymore. “You promised!” Cadence sighed, not angry, but obviously annoyed at her dragon friend's insistence, “Claudia, you must be imagining things. I was asleep here last night. Like every night.” The two stood silent until Cadence tapped her hoof on the door awkwardly, “Um... was that all you wanted? Silver and I were... kinda in the middle of something...” Claudia slowly shook her head, “no, Princess. That was all.” As the dragon walked back down the hall, she heard Cadence turn back into her room, but the door didn't quite shut. “No, it was just Claudia. I told you it wasn't too important, Silver.” Grinding her teeth together, Claudia fought the urge to turn back around and tell Cadence just how important this was, but Iron Point's advice rang in her ears and she refrained, instead hurrying down the stairs. I have work to do... Work that needs to be done... I can worry about Cadence later... I'll deal with it later...