//------------------------------// // Going Back // Story: A Love For Madness // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// “Yes, flying…” The filly said nervously before Celestia grabbed her up and placed her on her back. “I’m afraid she still doesn’t remember much about that.” The other alicorn said. “Oh, well then it’ll be a first-time experience for all of us if we try cloud-riding, which would probably be the fastest way if the show’s anything to go by.” I explained, then realization came over me as I still didn’t know the filly’s name. This had been a rather crazy day… and that was saying a lot after what I’d been through. “Oh, where’s my manners, what’s your name, sweetie?” I asked the little filly. “My name?” She asked with a sigh. “You mentioned you saw the show?” “Sorry, it’s… been awhile and I’ve been through a lot.” I explained. My memories of a TV show after several days of crazy weren’t exactly at their freshest right now. “Refresh me.” I paused. “So… what’s your story, then?” “There is an episode after Twilight became an alicorn where the Cakes hire a cook to help them out because of an increase of popularity.” The filly explained. “The cook they hire happened to be socially awkward and Pinkie Pie tried to help her out.” She said, pausing and staring at me as if hoping that’d trigger some memory. I rubbed my chin with my hoof for a moment. “It’s starting to ring a bell.” I said. “Eventually, Pinkie Pie gets her to foalsit three young fillies. The two oldest and twins like the Cakes’ foals.” The filly continued, then looked uncomfortable. “It used to be my younger sisters’ favorite episode.” “I see…” I said, still unsure of the episode. Must have been a more obscure one. As I tried to remember it I spread out my wings and gave them a crisp flap, finding myself in the air again for the first time in a while. “There’s a patch of clouds up there, we can talk out of sight up there I think.” While the sky was mostly covered; the weather apparently ‘mostly cloudy’, there were enough breaks in the clouds to fly through and enough cloud to remain hidden till we found some to ride to Alice’s apartment on. As I made it above the low clouds and landed on them, I have to admit the experience was really something else; it was like landing on the world’s softest pillows! Somehow… a part of me felt almost at home here. Maybe it was due to Cadance having once been a pegasus? I wasn’t sure. Either way, it was comfy enough I had to sit myself down and take in the full experience. My messenger bag lay next to me, I guess being worn by me subjected it to pegasus magic as well; though I wasn’t about to test the theory of whether it kept it or not by removing the bag from such a height, especially given that I really liked the laptop I had in it. “Wow!” I said with more joy in my voice then I intended. “These are really comfy!” I swear, I could probably go to sleep on one of these if I were tired enough or didn’t have somewhere I needed to go. “I know. They are rather useful to rest on for long flights.” Celestia replied. “It’s rather poofy.” The filly remarked as she hopped off Celestia’s back. I took a moment to take in the softness… maybe there were some pluses to this… in a sea of minuses though. Still I guess in some ways I was better off then some. “I take it what happened to you was a dream come true for your sisters, then.” I said to the filly. She sighed in response. “They seem to have more fun out of the situation than me.” She said. “Well I imagine a lot of young girls fantasize about their own cute pet pony.” I joked. “Actually…” Celestia said. “They became ponies at the same time as her. I think they are now one year older then her.” She explained. “Don’t remind me.” The filly replied bitterly, prompting a snicker from me. “What do they do with you?” I asked. The filly frowned as she formulated an answer. “Filly stuff.” She said. “I see…” I replied. “I got my mane brushed by my friend. It actually feels really nice.” “I’m lucky that their dresses don’t work well for ponies…” The filly answered, prompting another snicker from me as the mental picture went through my head. “I see…” I said. “Sorry you gotta go through that. No offense though, you are extremely cute so I can’t blame them entirely for trying.” “I know…” She muttered. “Let me guess… unicorns?” I asked, the most logical way she could get subjected to being babied and dressed up and subjected to other girly things forcefully. “One unicorn and one pegasus. They actually looked like identical twins as humans, though.” The filly answered. “Wow… who keeps you in line?” I asked, curious now of how a group of fillies that spirited could have the law laid down on them. “Actually, that would be me and Luna.” Celestia answered with a pause. “And their foalsitter from the episode she mentioned.” Turning over, I lay on my side so I could stretch my legs a little and face them better. “So, I notice you call my aunt…” I began, in my mind figuring that since I was Princess Cadance and would apparently be the rest of my life, I should get used to thinking of Celestia as my aunt now. “…'Tia… instead of her full name, something behind that story?” I asked. The filly took a moment to ponder that. “Hmm, I don't know. That seems to be what people use on the net.” I rolled my eyes; I’d been enough of a fan of the show to remember that rather strange nickname that never truly appealed to me. “Never much favored it... sounds like something you call an old spanish aunt.” I said. “Well, she is kind of old.” The filly replied. I shuddered a little from that comment. “Uhhh... I know the fairer sex enough to say that's the absolute last thing you say to or about them.” Angela responded to such things with the back of her hand and a lot of force put into its movement, and even Alice didn’t appreciate any implication she was past her prime. Wishing to divert the subject as quickly as I possibly could, I tried to resume the previous topic on her foalsitter. She was pink right? Berry in the name somewhere? Well one came to mind. “Foalsitter… I see… and to think everypo—I mean everyone…” I said, correcting myself. “…in the fanbase saw her as the town drunk.” “Eh, my foalsitter's name is Strawberry Frosting.” The filly explained. “I think you are confounding her with Berry Punch.” She said as Celestia mumbled something about drunk ponies. “Sorry,” I explained. “As I said, I haven't paid much attention to non-Cadance episodes lately. Well, on the plus side you get to enjoy childhood again.” I said, trying to up her spirits a little. I also realized she still hadn’t given me her name. “So... what was your name?” “Actually, she never officially presented herself.” Celestia answered. The pink filly sighed. “I'm not a fan of my name. Yet...” I cocked an eyebrow from her response. “Oh? Well go ahead and tell me. Try turning into the most dainty, girly pink princess ever and having a title like Mi Amore Cadenza.” I replied, taking on a mock-prissy tone as I said Cadance’s formal title. My moment was killed by a double-take at Celestia’s earlier comment.”...What do you mean MORE drunk ponies?” “Does the name Fireball remind you of somepony?” Celestia asked. “Oh, her...” The filly said. “I hope she didn't set my house on fire. And yes, I would prefer that to Pinkie Peach...” So that was her name. It was… extremely cute. It took a lot of willpower not to laugh or d’awww at it. “Not to my knowledge.” I said to Celestia. The name didn’t ring a bell but from associating such a pony with alcohol and setting houses on fire did make me uneasy. “Oh my... pyromaniac or just careless when drunk?” I asked. Still, I felt like I got a pretty raw deal with what happened to me. Masculinity was beyond gone for me no matter how hard I tried to cling onto the old me. “...Okay, let me compound the situation. Not only does what I described happen, but when your friend shows you a picture of a stallion character... in this case it was Shining Armor, you find yourself feel attracted to them, despite you've been attracted to women your whole human life. Still feel like you got the bad deal?” The filly, Pinkie Peach, just shrugged. “Try being a filly and constantly having conflicting ideas.” “Like what?” I asked. “Like wanting to play with the clouds...” She said. My eyebrow rose up again. “Well, to be fair the show made it look pretty fun.” I said, patting the cloud beneath me. “…And they are actually pretty comfy, like being on a padded all-feather mattress.” At that moment, both Celestia and Pinkie Peach poked a cloud in unison as we continued to drift closer towards our destination. “I can easily imagine sleeping on one.” Celestia said. “Do you think I could have one in my home?” Pinkie Peach asked. “Why not? I have half a mind to take one with me, though I don’t think Alice would appreciate that.” I said. “Beats sleeping on a cheap cot in a padded room.” I'm sure she'll be too busy to... do things to me to notice the cloud.” Pinkie Peach said with what I detective as a hint of nervousness, prompting a cough for attention from Celestia. “We don't really know her friend, what makes you think that’s how she would react.” “Oh I think the most she'll do is give you a big hug because you are... not gonna lie... EXTREMELY adorable.” I said assuringly. “But other then that she's not gonna do anything too bad.” “That, and want to do my mane...” Pinkie Peach said. “I know how females react to cute fillies.” “Okay, yeah, probably.” I said with an innocent, upward roll of my eyes. “But as I said, you won't complain, she does a great job brushing it feels like a full scalp massage.” “The worst is that I might actually want her to do it...” The filly mumbled to me. “If I were a cat, I'd have started purring. It's not this... girl part of me either,” I explained. “It just feels incredibly nice and relaxing. Like I said, think a good scalp massage or back scratch to how it feels. “I see...” Celestia said, speaking up again. “Well, I can tell you that taking a shower feel really good.” She explained, she then paused as something came to mind. “Are you sure you don't remember Fireball? When she is sober, she kind of reminds me of Pinkie Pie. I remember that I made her guard the throne room. I understand from the memory that is was rather useful to reduce the noble attendance.” “Name rings a bell...” I said, tapping the side of my head with my hoof and wincing a little from it as it was essentially a hard surface rather then anything like a finger or palm. “I seem to recall a few fires she caused… Is it weird that when I watched the Grand Galloping Gala episode, I had this hunch every time Cadance was always conveniently out with feather flu, now I feel like that hunch was right?” “Eh, I wouldn't know.” Celestia answered. “Rather boring night if you ask me.” “Probably why I—SHE…” I corrected myself, shaking my head. That was Cadance then, not now… I told myself. “…just happened to not be well when it came around.” “I wonder what Luna was doing at the time…” Celestia mused. That had been the question of the ages. As she was Princess of the Night though; many, myself included, assumed she slept through all the changeling drama. “How has she been anyway?” I asked. “Busy.” Celestia replied. “Actually she is the one who told me about your situation because she did not manage to enter your dream world.” “After what was in there, she’s probably better off.” I said. “Give her my thanks when you see her.” “I’ll pass your thanks to her.” Celestia answered. “Who knows, you might be able to speak to her sooner then you know.” That would be an interesting experience if it happened, that I was sure of. “No offense, Princess Cadance, but Luna is my second favorite princess.” Pinkie Peach said. Oh that how it’s gonna be, huh? I wondered to myself. “It’s fine, Pinkie Peach.” I said, using her full pony name. “Twi and Dash were my favorite ponies.” I explained, and gave a mischievous smirk. “And Twidash.” “Twidash?” Celestia asked. “What does it mean?” “Good question.” Pinkie Peach said. And just like that, their ignorance to fanships killed my joke faster then reality tv killed brain cells. Still, if they were gonna function as ponies they may as well learn of such things especially if they ran into more… passionate brony-types… Break out the scapels, kiddies, it’s dissection time. “I guess given my theme of love, I can’t avoid having a favorite fanpairing if I tried. Or at least I did.” I began. “Fanpairing?” The two other ponies asked. Celestia frowned. “Aren’t the two mares?” She asked. “Trust me, that one’s extremely tame compared to a lot of others.” I said. “Clearly neither of you were on the internet much. Ever since I ended up like… well, this, though, I look at Twilight differently… like she’s a kid sister or something soooo let’s just continue this conversation NEVER.” I added hurriedly. “Though for your own sake, Aunt Celestia, don’t ever look up your name plus romance or pairing. It could leave you as messed up as I was when you found me.” Celestia frowned. “The Internet… I suppose you are right, it might be for the best that I avoid that part… though I found a rather interesting song while looking for information about ponies on the net. It’s about…” Her voice saddened. “Luna’s fall…” “Is it The Moon Rises?” I asked. “No, Lullaby for a Princess.” She answered. “Oh… that one…” I replied, recalling how sad it was. “I only wish it didn’t resonate so much with me…” Celestia mused as we drew closer to some very familiar apartment complexes. “Be glad you have her back, now… and me if that means anything.” I answered as we got closer and I pointed… gestured… whatever ponies did for indicating things without using fingers with my hoof. “That’s her apartment complex… if she seems a little miffed at me, don’t be surprised. I sort of… disappeared on her back on the fourth day. Left only a note.” Pinkie Peach looked down from the cloud she was on. “I wonder if I can glide down by myself…” She mused. “Don’t worry, Cadance. I’m sure all will be forgotten once she sees you, and learns about what happened to you.” She paused a moment. “There is something I have been wondering though. If I adopted you, why are you my niece?” She asked. I was fortunate to have found that book one day and skimmed it. It was a gift for Alice for one of her birthdays and I couldn’t help myself when I got really bored. “I’d… she’d already been adopted by an earth pony family when she was a pegasus filly, so I guess Cadance saw them as her mom and dad.” I explained. “Really? I guess that makes sense.” Celestia looked down at the young filly. “You should let me do the gliding until we know how well you can fly.” She said, causing the filly to groan a little in disappointment as she floated her onto her back and looked at me. “Ready to reveal yourself to your friend?” She asked. “I think so…” I said, standing and putting my forehoof to my chest, and exhaling sharply as I thrust my hoof out. Spreading my wings, I glided off my cloud to the correct door. Seconds after, Celestia and Pinkie Peach landed behind me. “That reminds me…” Celestia explained. “I still haven’t told you where we stay.” “I was wondering that.” I said, I’d been hoping to find out as soon as possible. Still, hopefully I could get us indoors first. “Tell me when we’re inside. I want to know all about what you’ve been going through all this time.” I explained. Approaching the door, I did another breathing exercise and knocked. “Eh… maybe we should let them alone for the introduction?” Pinkie asked Celestia behind me. A moment later, the door opened, revealing my friend Alice. She looked like she’d better days and I couldn’t blame her… my disappearance must have worried her sick. She looked down and stared agape the moment she laid her eyes on me. “C-Cale?!” She stammered, almost stumbling backward in disbelief. It must have been like I’d come back from the dead, and for all intents and purposes I may as well have with the shock I probably gave her just now. “H-hey, Alice… guess I got a lot of explaining to do?” I asked nervously.