//------------------------------//
// Cadance Times 
// Story: Rebirth of Harmony 
// by WanderingPhysicist 
//------------------------------//

        The Elements of Harmony sit at the head of a table with a number of officials. They are on a large stage in the middle of a festival. All around them, couples celebrate their love. The singles of the town try to woo the objects of their affection. The Elements pay little attention to the festival as they enjoy their midday meal.
        ‘Thank you so much for visiting our humble town during our small festival,’ the mayor says. ‘It is truly a honor to have all of you here.’
        ‘It is our pleasure,’ Trixie replies. ‘We are lucky to be in the area to enjoy your celebration.’
        ‘What is this festival for anyway?’ Alba asks.
        The mayor laughs. ‘It is only our most famous event: Cadance Times.’
        ‘What is that?’ Razzly squeaks.
        ‘Princess Cadance was Twilight Sparkle’s sister-in-law,’ Alba explains. ‘She and her husband Shining Armor were at the wedding. After Shining fell protecting Ponyville, Princess Cadance returned to the Crystal Empire and rules in solitude.’
        Razzly frowns. ‘Oh. That is so sad.’
        ‘It is not that dramatic,’ the mayor huffs. ‘Princess Cadance still spreads love and joy wherever she goes. This holiday is in recognition of all the hard work she does making sure everypony loves each other.’
        ‘We all know why the holiday exists,’ Trixie interrupts. ‘We just don’t know why it is such a big deal here.’
        ‘Ah!’ The mayor laughs. ‘This, my dear Elements, is the town where the pegasus known as Cadance grew up before she became the princess known as Cadance. There is mysterious love magic everywhere. If a couple kisses before sundown during the Cadance Times festival, then they are destined to be together forever.’
        ‘That’s so sweet,’ Razzly coos.
        ‘What proof do you have that it is true?’ Alba asks.
        ‘My wife and I have been together since we kissed countless years ago.’
        ‘Got anything better than that?’
        ‘Alba! This is a sweet tradition. Don’t ruin it,’ Trixie scolds.
        ‘Alba does have a point,’ Helios interjects. ‘Any unicorn with a working horn can tell there is no more magic in the town than anywhere else. Do you have any solid magical or scientific evidence to back up your claim?’
        The mayor snorts. ‘Just ask any couple in town. We all know the legend, and we have all kissed our mate on this day. You will not find any happy couple that hasn’t followed through with the tradition.’
        Helios stands. ‘That sounds like a challenge to me.’
        ‘I’m with you,’ Alba adds, joining her brother.
        The two royals gallop off to investigate.
        Apple Pie slides closer to Apple Bloom. ‘So, uh, AB...’
        ‘Hey! They got funnel cake over there!’
        Apple Bloom trots off to enjoy the festival. Apple Pie sighs and follows. Raindrops laughs.
        ‘I’m glad Rainbow isn’t awake for this,’ the pegasus comments.
        Beside Raindrops, Rainbow lays on the table. The younger pegasus extends her tongue, trying to eat the meal in front of her.
        ‘Why is that?’ Trixie replies.
        ‘Back in Cloudsdale, she was the hottest catch. I remember fillies and colts lined up just to give her a card every Hearts and Hooves Day.’
        ‘Too bad she isn’t taken already. Looks like the natives have picked up on her relationship status.’
        Trixie nods towards the foot of the stage. A large group of young ponies have gathered to watch Rainbow sloppily lick her plate. Raindrops laughs, getting Rainbow’s attention. The older pegasus points. Rainbow sits up and slowly takes in all the fillies and colts giving her attention as she licks her face clean.
        ‘Uh… What is this about?’
        Raindrops leans over and whispers an explanation.
        The young mare’s eyes go wide with surprise. ‘Oh.’ She looks at the gathered ponies. ‘Uh, well, uh… I’m, er… What’s that!’
        Rainbow points in a random direction and dashes off. Her admirers chase after her.
        Raindrops laughs as she returns to her meal. ‘Just like in Cloudsdale.’

        Rainbow gallops through the streets as fast as she can. A mob of earth ponies and unicorns chase after her while a squadron of pegasi fly overhead.
        ‘Why does this happen every year!’ the Element of Laughter laments.
        Rainbow dashes down an alley, but a group of ponies is waiting for her. She screams and darts away. Everywhere she turns, there are ponies in her path. The pegasus tries a number of Iron Pony-esque maneuvers, but she is trapped. Rainbow ducks down another alley. She looks back to watch for pursuers and gets pulled aside, behind a sewer grate. Her admirers gallop past. The young mare is released and immediately goes on guard, lightning appearing in her clouds.
        A green pegasus stallion about Rainbow’s age trots away. He looks back. ‘Come with me if you want to live.’
        Rainbow drops her guard, her clouds changing to rainbow balloons, and holds back a laugh. ‘Live with me if you want to… Hey! Whoa! Almost said the exact wrong thing, especially around this crowd.’ She gets on guard again. ‘Who are you and how much do I have to beat you to keep my lips pure?’
        The young stallion groans and rolls his eyes. ‘First of all, I am not into fillies. Or mares for that matter. Second,’ -- he turns around and extends a hoof -- ‘my name is Lucky Heart. It is a pleasure to meet you, Rainbow Pie.’
        Rainbow nervously takes the hoof then shakes it vigorously. ‘Hi! Great to meet you! I’m Rainbow Pie, but you knew that already.’ She releases the sore hoof. ‘So, why’d you pull me in here? Is this where you take all your first dates?’
        ‘I saw you being chased and wanted you to be safe. That is no way to treat anypony, especially an Element of Harmony.’
        Rainbow bats a hoof. ‘Ah! I get this every Hearts and Hooves or whatever. I just needed room to Sonic Rainboom my way out of the mess.’
        Lucky Heart raises an eyebrow. ‘You can do a Sonic Rainboom?’
        ‘Well, not really, but I ate a lot of beans for lunch.’
        ‘And everypony is hot for you why?’
        Rainbow poses. ‘Because I’m cute!’
        The young stallion moans. ‘Right. Whatever. I hate this holiday. I’ll share some of my good hiding spots with you. Just promise not to do anything crazy.’
        Rainbow yawns. ‘As long as we get to the first one soon. It is almost nap time.’
        ‘Tourists,’ Lucky Heart huffs as he leads his guest away.

        Apple Pie follows Apple Bloom as she trots through the festival. The young stallion carries a number of prizes and souvenirs for his love.
        ‘Um, Apple Bloom, I was wondering if you would like to...’
        ‘Hey! Check it out!’ The young mare goes to a stall. ‘Ah bet ya’d be great at rin’ toss.’
        Apple Pie sighs and sets down his load so he can play the game. Nearby, Helios and Alba interview a couple of ponies.
        ‘And how long have you been together?’ Helios asks.
        ‘Five years,’ the mare replies. ‘Four married.’
        ‘And you kissed during this festival before you got married?’ the prince follows up.
        The stallion laughs and kisses his wife. ‘Of course we did.’
        Alba nods. ‘Uh, huh. And did you see anypony before your husband?’
        ‘I don’t see how that is relevant,’ the stallion snorts.
        ‘Sir, this is a detailed scientific investigation,’ Helios states. ‘We need only the best, most accurate data.’
        ‘Well… I did have a coltfriend before I met my husband...’
        ‘What!?’
        Helios writes something down. ‘Did you kiss him during this festival too?’
        The mare blushes. ‘I-is that important?’
        ‘Crucial,’ Alba replies.
        The mare glances away. ‘Yes… I did.’
        ‘WHAT?!’
        Helios and Alba bow. ‘Thank you for your time!’
        The siblings trot away. The couple starts arguing about the wife’s past.
        ‘Looks like we have some good data,’ Alba notes.
        ‘Very good,’ Helios agrees. ‘Let’s check the hall of records and see if we can get anything else.’
        The siblings gallop away. The ring toss vendor places a giant plush alicorn on Apple Pie’s back.
        ‘Do Ah have t’ worry ‘bout Princess Cadance tryin’ t’ steal ya from me?’ Apple Bloom snickers.
        The young stallion groans as he reclaims all the other prizes and follows her to the next stall.

        Lucky Heart leads Rainbow through the streets. They are being cautious, since crowds chasing them have spread out to search. Rainbow prances behind her guide as she takes in the town.
        ‘This is a great place. You grew up here?’ Rainbow asks.
        ‘Born and raised.’
        ‘So, you weren’t raised by wolves or whatever like Aunty Princess?’
        ‘What?’ Lucky Heart thinks. ‘Oh. You mean how Cadance was raised by earth ponies. No. My parents are pegasi too.’
        ‘Neato! My mom is an earth pony, but my dad has wings.’
        ‘And a horn too.’
        Rainbow blushes. ‘Well, he’s my dad, so I never look down there.’
        Lucky Heart stops and facehoofs. ‘I walked right into that one.’
        ‘Watch out!’
        ‘Huh?’
        Lucky Heart trots right into somepony.
        ‘Looks like you walked into that one too,’ Rainbow laughs.
        ‘Miss Rainbow!’ the new pony cheers, smiling at the mare.
        ‘Uh… The pegasus you are looking for is in another castle.’
        ‘Come on. One little kiss.’
        Lucky Heart steps between Rainbow and her admirer. ‘Give it a rest. She isn’t interested in you.’
        ‘Oh, like she would like you? You’re half the stallion I am. What could she ever get from you that I can’t give her double?’
        The green pegasus smirks. ‘An escape route.’
        The other pony looks. All that is left behind Lucky Heart is a small cloud formation in the shape of Rainbow. The pony growls and gallops away to begin the search anew.
        Rainbow pokes her head out of the cloud. ‘Is it safe?’
        ‘For now.’
        The young mare shakes the cloud off her. ‘Great! Where to next?’
        ‘I think I know a place. Follow me.’
        ‘Awesome! Let’s roll!’
        Lucky Heart leads Rainbow away. She rubs against him as they trot. He blushes and tries not to glance at her as he smiles.

        Alba levitates a file in front of her. She jots notes as she reads.
        ‘Found another divorce,’ Helios reports.
        ‘At this rate, they will be slightly higher than the national average,’ his sister replies. ‘We really need to publish this data.’
        The prince laughs. ‘Disproving a silly tradition with no scientific basis. Dad would be so proud of us.’
        The siblings laugh and continue their research.

        Lucky Heart sighs contentedly as he finally relaxes after running around with Rainbow all day. He moans as he is poked in the side.
        ‘Hey, hey!’ Rainbow strokes her mane. ‘Timotei! Timotei!’
        ‘What?’
        The young mare scowls. ‘I knew I should have hung out with your brother Blue Clover or Green Tuna.’
        Lucky Heart groans. ‘I don’t even like that cereal.’
        Rainbow gasps. ‘But it is marshmallows! For breakfast! The only thing better would be candy!’
        ‘You’re a really weird filly, you know that?’
        The young mare lets out a loud, long yawn. ‘Is it nap time yet? Also, when is second lunch? Or are we skipping that and going straight to first dinner?’
        ‘Wait here,’ Lucky Heart huffs. ‘I’ll get you something.’
        ‘And extra fries too.’
        The young stallion rolls his eyes and spreads his wings. Rainbow blows a kiss. Lucky Heart tries to hide his smile as he flies away.

        Helios and Alba smile proudly as they present Trixie with a thirty-page report detailing all the data disproving the myth about Cadance Times, complete with historic marriage and divorce rates extending back from before the princess was born.
        ‘Pretty impressive, right?’ Helios brags.
        ‘We really should submit it to a journal,’ Alba suggests.
        Trixie flips through the report. She rolls it up and hits both royals over the head with it. ‘You two have to be the most unromantic ponies since Rainbow Dash, and she courted Soarin’ by kicking a lightning bolt at him as a romantic gesture!’
        ‘But the data...’ Alba whimpers.
        Trixie hits the princess again. She points around her. All over town, couples are watching the sunset together and slipping in their last kisses before the day ends.
        ‘Oh… Sorry.’
        Trixie sighs. ‘Let’s go back to the hotel. You can explain to Razzy why you didn’t play with her all day.’
        The unicorn puts the paper away as she leads the royals away. A hoof pulls the paper from Trixie’s saddlebag.
        ‘I think their dad might like this...’ Octavia comments as she seals up the report for mailing.

        Apple Bloom sits on a hill watching the sun go down. Apple Pie trudges up behind her, setting down all the prizes he won for Apple Bloom over the course of the day.
        ‘Apple Bloom, can I ask you something?’ the young stallion pants.
        Apple Bloom kisses him and smiles. ‘What is it?’
        Apple Pie sighs, laughs and shakes his head. ‘Never mind. Let’s just watch the sunset together.’
        The mare leans against her stallion. ‘Like Ah need some stupid tradition t’ tell me Ah’ll be with ya ‘til the end o’ the universe.’
        Apple Pie laughs and kisses Apple Bloom again. They enjoy the sunset together.

        Rainbow and Lucky Heart finish their meal in their hiding spot. The sun slowly sets.
        ‘You know, except for the chasing and the running and the sewer and the flying, this was a pretty good day,’ Rainbow comments.
        ‘Yeah. It was pretty nice.’
        ‘I’m glad I got to spend it with you.’
        ‘Me t-’
        ‘Liar.’
        Lucky Heart is shocked. ‘What?’
        Rainbow goes over to the young stallion. ‘You lied to me, but I don’t mind.’ She leans in and whispers. ‘I know you’re not into stallions.’
        The young stallion blushes and sweats. ‘I, uh, well, um. What I mean to say was...’
        Rainbow kisses Lucky Heart right as the sun goes down. ‘I know. I like you too.’ She stretches her wings. ‘Well, I better get back to the hotel. It is almost time for dinner, and I’m starved!’ She waves. ‘See ya around, liar.’
        Lucky Heart watches Rainbow fly away. ‘Yeah. See ya.’ He smiles and laughs. ‘I’m destined to be with her until I die? I’m the luckiest stallion to ever live!’