The Tower Arcana is commonly associated to overly arrogant, and prejudiced organization. Furthermore, it is also more generically used as an omen of doom and disaster. - Persona Wiki (paraphrased)
Uppercrust's mother, Pie Crust, returned to her home, carrying groceries in paper bags. She set one bag down on the grass and pushed the door open.
“Uppercrust!” Pie Crust called. “Cadence! I'm home. Girls?”
Pie Crust winced at the sound of a crash coming up from upstairs. Moments later, Uppercrust raced down the stairs, galloping towards her mother with a huge smile on her face. “Mom!”
“Oh!” Pie Crust put the other bags down on the floor as her daughter jumped on her and gave her a hug. “Hello, dear.” Uppercrust and her mother proceeded to nuzzle each other on their heads and snouts. Uppercrust's mother opened her eyes to see a battered Cadence limping down the stairs, her hooves clinking on the wooden steps.
“Oh, you poor thing.” Pie Crust said. “Did Uppercrust play rough with you?”
“Yes.” Cadence's eye twitched. “Yes, she did.”
“Can I get you anything?” Pie Crust let go of her filly, who jumped to the floor and began rummaging through the grocery bags. “Some bandages? Some anti-bacterial spray? Or maybe … an anesthetic?”
“No, no, it's fine, Miss Crust.” Cadence shook her head, wobbling on her shaky hooves. “Happy to help!” She offered Pie Crust her hoof.
“Uh, Cadence? I'm about three inches to the left.”
Cadence turned her head and squinted. “So you are!” Cadence swung her hoof over.
“Well, thank you so much for your help.” Pie Crust shook Cadence's hoof.
“It's nothing, really.” Cadence said. “I love spending time with foals! Even really demanding high-energy ones.”
Pie Crust chuckled. “Runs in the family, I'm afraid. Wait right here.” Pie Crust left the room, leaving Cadence and Uppercrust alone. Cadence began to hyperventilate at the thought of having to spend more time alone with Uppercrust, but Pie Crust returned before it became an issue.
“Here you go.” Pie Crust gave Cadence her payment of bits. She wrapped her hooves around Cadence's hoof. “Are you sure you don't want me to do anything for you?”
“It's fine.” Cadence insisted. “Really. It's fine.”
“Okay … ” Pie Crust moved away from Cadence, but she flicked one more bit on top of the pile as an extra tip. Cadence smiled and waved as Pie Crust and her daughter began to put away the groceries.
Cadence stepped out of the house and closed the door. Holding her hoof firm on the knob, she collapsed against said door. She'd hate to admit it, but she was glad her time foalsitting for Uppercrust was, at least for now, over. Cadence found herself covered in dirt, scrapes, and scuff marks from having to endure the rigorous play upon which Uppercrust had insisted. It certainly made her appreciate sitting for Twilight Sparkle all the more.
Oh, Twilight Sparkle … Cadence thought. Why can't more foals be like you?
Cadence got along with Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle was quiet and was content to be left to her books in silence. She didn't insist on stealing cookies from the jar, piggy-back rides, or any of the other actives Uppercrust introduced which Cadence would argue met the criteria to be considered national sports.
Taking another look at her banged-up hoof, Cadence sighed. Maybe I should have taken Pie Crust up on her offer … I should probably get back to the castle and clean myself up …
Cadence pushed herself off the door and went on her way to the castle. To home.
Cadence returned home to the castle and made straight for a bathroom. After first taking out a wet wipe and applying it to her body, Cadence decided the tiny cloth would be inefficient and decided to run a bath instead.
Cadence lingered in the bath for awhile, taking the time to relax and let the water sooth her nerves. “Ah …” With a sigh of content, she stepped out of the tub. After drying herself off, she applied some ointment and creams to her various scrapes and cuts, which seemed cleansed by the water.
Finishing her delayed first aid, Cadence stepped out of the bathroom and stretched, eager to start a new day. She walked into the hallway, humming to herself. She considered the idea of locking herself up in her room while she enjoyed a good book.
On her way to her room, she was interrupted by Princess Celestia.
“There you are.” Celestia said. “Twilight Velvet is looking for you.”
“For me?” Cadence said. “Why me? There's nothing she could get from me that she couldn't get from you … unless she wants me to foalsit for Twilight Sparkle again!”
“I would believe that to be the case.” Celestia said with a smile. “However, given the way you look, I am sure Twilight Velvet would understand if you wanted to take a break from foalsitting for a while.” Celestia discovered, to her surprise, Cadence had already disappeared before she finished her sentence. “Huh.”
Cadence peeked into the room where Twilight Velvet worked during the day. She was reviewing some scrolls and making notes, along with some other unicorns and Earth pony workers.
Cadence put her hoof on the door frame. She cleared her throat. “Twilight Velvet?”
Twilight Velvet turned at the sound of her name. “Cadence!” Twilight Velvet abandoned her work station to talk to Cadence in the hallway.
“I was told you wanted to see me?” Cadence said.
“Yes.” Twilight Velvet nodded. “My husband and I … well, after you did so well with Twilight Sparkle those first few days, Night Light and I … we've come to realize how shackled we really were with this whole foalsitter business. We've barely had any time to ourselves. So we were hoping you could come and foalsit for Twilight Sparkle again? Shining Armor is going to visit some friends before he leaves for the academy, and Night Light and I would like to go out of town for awhile. There's this great restaurant in Ponyville we haven't been able to go to in a long time.”
Cadence chuckled. “I know you've been holding onto your vacation hours because of Twilight Sparkle, but don't go spending them all at once!”
The two of them laughed and chuckled. Twilight Velvet only now noticed the scrapes and cuts Cadence received from Uppercrust's play earlier. They were beginning to fade, but still noticeable.
“Are you okay?” Twilight Velvet asked. “You don't look so good.”
“I'm fine!” Cadence assured her. “My and another filly I was sitting for just roughhoused for a bit. Nothing serious.”
Twilight Velvet put a hoof to her chin, reconsidering. “Maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea for you to come sit for Twilight after all … you should take some time off. Rest up so you can heal better.”
“Twilight Velvet,” Cadence put her hooves on Twilight Velvet's shoulders, “I would love to come and sit for Twilight Sparkle.” Cadence nodded and smiled to let Twilight Velvet know she was serious.
Twilight Velvet was convinced. “Okay.”
“When do you need me there?” Cadence asked.
“About an hour after Night Light and I get off work.” Twilight Velvet answered. “We'll need to make sure everything's ready for you to come over.”
“I'll be there.” Cadence saluted.
One of Twilight Velvet's coworkers cleared her throat. “Twilight Velvet … if you're done chatting with the Princess, we have work to do.”
Twilight Velvet grimaced. She looked to Cadence, who nodded to show she understood. Twilight Velvet and Cadence engaged in a quick hug before Twilight Velvet ran to rejoin her coworkers.
Later in the day, Cadence arrived at the house. Inside, Twilight Velvet and Night Light were running around, making some last-minute checks to be sure everything was ready for them to leave. Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle sat on the floor, waiting for their parents to say they were all set and leave.
“Oh!” Shining Armor looked out the window. “Cadence is here!”
“Already?” Twilight Velvet and Night Light asked in surprise.
Cadence opened the door. “Hello, everypony!” She glanced around the room until her eyes came to rest on Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight Sparkle approached Cadence. Their eyes met, and Cadence recognized what was going through Twilight's head. Cadence had never felt more connected to a filly than in that moment.
Twilight Sparkle and Cadence moved their hooves up and down on the floor. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves, and do a little shake!” They turned around so their little pony flanks were facing each other and bumped them together. Cadence and Twilight shared a laugh.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light looked at each other, not sure what to make of Twilight Sparkle and Cadence's dance. “Er ...”
“Oh, I'm sorry, Twilight Velvet.” Cadence said. “I was so excited to see Twilight Sparkle again, I completely ignored you! Do you have everything you need for your trip?”
“Yes, thank you.” Twilight Velvet said. “We've arranged for a chariot ride to pick us up and take us to the restaurant.”
“Hey.” Shining Armor said. “Mom and dad have never been this far away from home before, so I know Twiley's going to be scared.” He poked Cadence in the chest. “You take care of her, all right?”
“Don't worry.” Cadence assured him. “I will.”
Cadence, Shining Armor, and Twilight Sparkle gathered outside to wave goodbye to Twilight Velvet and Night Light as they left. Shining Armor looked to Cadence. Cadence gave him a reassuring nod, and Shining Armor left, waving his hoof goodbye at them.
Cadence and Twilight Sparkle went back inside the house. Twilight Sparkle continued walking as Cadence stopped to close the door. Cadence raised her eyebrow upon noticing the room turning from the bright color it was to a much darker, gloomier, more saturated color. Was Twilight Sparkle up to her tricks again?
Walking over to the window, Cadence peered outside. The clouds overhead had turned grey, and pegasi were working on pushing the the clouds together.
“Huh.” Cadence said. “Looks like we're scheduled for it to rain. Nopony told me. I mean, I'm a Princess, I would think somepony might mention to me that we're going to have some rain ...”
Cadence winced and covered her eyes as a flash of lightning and was accomplished by a loud crack of thunder.
“Ugh.” Cadence groaned, rubbing her head. “I hope it doesn't do that all day.”
“Eeh!” Twilight let out a squeak and darted up the stairs. Cadence turned her head at the sound of Twilight's little hooves clopping against the wooden floorboards.
“Twilight?” Cadence asked. “Twilight!” Cadence gave chase, following Twilight up the stairs and to her room, where Twilight Sparkle had gotten onto her bed and curled up, her hooves over her eyes as her body shivered.
“Mmmm ….” Twilight whined, her nervous hooves fidgeting.
“Twilight ...” Cadence entered the room. “Are you … scared of thunder?”
Twilight lifted one hoof up to reveal her eye. Whining, she nodded her head.
“Hey.” Cadence said. “Hey.” Without waiting for an invitation, she climbed up on the bed next to Twilight. “It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's something every filly goes through in their lives.”
Twilight looked up at Cadence. “Were … were you ever scared of it, Cadence?”
“Me? Oh, no.” Cadence giggled. “But you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because when I was very young, Celestia found me and explained to me why I shouldn't be afraid of thunderstorms.” Cadence said. “And I'm going to explain it to you the same way she explained it to me.” Twilight perked up, intrigued to learn more about the science behind it. “Thunder is just noise. That's all it is.”
“Really?”
“No. Well, yes ...” Cadence giggled. “There's a little more to it than that. But you see? It's nothing to be afraid. It's just noise. It can't hurt you. Lightning, on the other hoof … heh. But that only happens rarely.” Cadence thought about telling Twilight how she was more at risk for lightning hitting something else, like a tree, and it falling on her, but decided not to. It would be somewhat counterproductive to what she was trying to do, which was to calm the filly.
Twilight Sparkle rose up, sitting on her haunches. “I … don't have to be afraid of thunder. It's just noise. It can't hurt me.”
There was another thundercrack, and Twilight curled up, covering her eyes and shivering. “I just want it to go away …”
“Hmm. All right.” Cadence gave a contemplative gaze to the windows. “Perhaps not today, but one day, Twilight Sparkle, I'll teach you not to be afraid of storms.”
“Okay.” Twilight said. “Cadence?”
“Yes?”
Twilight moved closer to Cadence. “Sometimes, when it's raining really hard, I'll take nap to make the rain go away. That way, when I wake up, the storm is gone. Um, while I do that, would you … stay with me?”
Cadence smiled. “Of course.” Cadence's horn let out a faint blue glow. She levitated Smarty Pants up off the floor and set the doll on the bed between Twilight and her. She draped a wing over Twilight before levitating the blanket up over both of them.
Twilight smiled, comforted by the presence of Smarty Pants. She snuggled up to her doll while Cadence used her magic to pull the blanket up over both of them. Cadence wrapped her neck around Twilight's body the way a mother would, and the two of them closed their eyes. Their breaths became slower and slower until they at last fell asleep.
“Mmm ...” Cadence's eyes twitched before she opened them. She lifted her head up and looked out the windows. “Twilight ...” Cadence nudged Twilight's head with her nose. “Twilight, get up. The rain's stopped.” Cadence gave Twilight an affectionate lick, as ponies did to show affection.
Twilight grunted and opened her eyes. Looking back and forth between the windows, she was pleased to see the rain had stopped. Her plan worked. Gasping, Twilight jumped off the bed and ran down the stairs.
“Twilight?” Cadence asked. “Where are you going?” Cadence pushed herself up from the bed, jumped off, and followed Twilight Sparkle down the stairs.
Twilight went into the kitchen, where an open book lay on the table. Twilight climbed up the chair, her hind legs kicking fruitlessly at the air before she was able to pull herself up and resumed reading. “I was reading this book when you got here! I was going to go back to it, but then the storm happened ...” Twilight picked up the book with her hooves and held it front of her.
Cadence stood in the kitchen doorway, looking at Twilight with concern. It wasn't natural for a filly of her age to read so much and play so little. “Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight lowered the book. “Hmm?”
“I know you don't like playing with other ponies ...” Cadence rubbed at the back of her neck. “But could I ask you to come play outside?”
Twilight looked at Cadence as though she was crazy.
“Please?” Cadence said. “Come on, it'll be fun. Haven't you ever gone outside and hopped into muddy puddles after it's been raining?”
Twilight shook her head no.
“Well, I have, and it's a lot of fun!” Cadence gestured for Twilight to come over.
Twilight gave her a blank stare before returning to her book.
“Oh, please?” Cadence begged, moving her hooves up and down in place. Cadence was concerned. Playing outside and being exposed to the world was an important part of a growing filly's experience.
And, Cadence would admit, she wanted to play in the mud.
“Twilight … I'm going to be honest. I want to play in the mud. But I can't do that and sit for you at the same time unless you come with me.”
Twilight set her book down on the table. “Am I foalsitting you?”
“No?” Cadence answered the question, confusing though it was.
“Are you foalsitting me?”
“Yes?”
“Well then, maybe someday, I'll foalsit you instead, and then we can do what you want. But right now, we're going to do what I want, and what I want is to read a book.”
“All right.” Cadence cricked her neck and marched into the room. “I didn't want to do this, but you've forced my hoof.”
“W-what are you doing?” Twilight asked with some fear as Cadence approached the table.
“Twilight Sparkle, you and I are going to play outside. It's not good for a filly your age to be locked up indoors all the time.” The blue aura of Cadence's magic wrapped around the book. “You can have the book back when we're done.”
Twilight gasped. “Noooo!” Hopping down from the chair, Twilight's horn lit up.
Cadence levitated the book into the air. Ha. She thought to herself. It'll be just like Jet Set.
Cadence smirked, confident in her ability to wrest the book away from Twilight Sparkle.
Her confidence eroded when Twilight's magic took hold of the book and pulled on it, yanking it away from Cadence's telekinetic grasp with such force it pulled Cadence forward with it.
Whoa! Cadence closed her eyes and attempted to reel the book back in. This filly's magic is incredibly strong!
Compared to Twilight, Jet Set was nothing more than a pest. Whereas Twilight possessed true magical strength and unrefined skill. Cadence had no doubt Twilight Sparkle would be a powerful unicorn one day.
The book traveled back and forth through the air. Cadence and Twilight grunted with the effort of using their magic against the other. Cadence walked backwards, trying to pull the book away, but it felt as though she was pulling on a steel cable and trying to get it to break.
Cadence grimaced. As her horn was tugged forward, she realized if she kept this up, she was going to rip Twilight's book in half before she overcame Twilight's magic. So she conceded defeat and let go, dismissing her spell. The sudden release sent Cadence tumbling onto her back.
“Ha!” Twilight cheered for her victory. Looking pleased with herself, she held the book ahead of her and walked towards the living room.
Cadence groaned and rubbed her head. Blinking, she saw Twilight Sparkle leaving. “Twilight, wait!” Cadence reached a hoof out.
Twilight paused and looked over her shoulder, giving Cadence an irritated look.
“Maybe trying to take your book away from you … wasn't the most responsible thing.” Cadence said. “And for that, I'm sorry. But I just want to play outside. I want you to play outside.”
Twilight glared at Cadence and humphed, proceeding on her way with her nose upturned.
“What about a compromise?” Cadence asked. “Come play in the mud with me, just for a little bit, and then I'll let you go back to reading your book in peace. I won't bother you again until you've finished it, from cover to cover. What do you say?”
Twilight rubbed her hoof against her chin. She looked back to Cadence. “Okay.”
“Yes!” Cadence pumped her hoof in the air. "Don't worry, Twilight. It'll be fun. I promise."
Twilight and Cadence went out to find a mud puddle. Twilight Sparkle dressed up in raincoat and boots, though Cadence was fine without any rain clothes. She didn't mind the mud on her skin, and felt no need for protection from the muddy waters.
Walking along the street, they found a group of foals playing around a puddle about the diameter of a hot tub. The foals splashed and tossed the mud at each other, though they all stopped to stare when they saw Twilight Sparkle heading their way. Cadence recognized most of them as the ones who had been awed when Twilight took the ball from Jet Set, though Uppercrust was also among them.
“Princess Cadence!” One of the foals said. “Can Twilight Sparkle come and play with us?”
Twilight saw the foals looking at her and bit her lip, turning away.
“Hey.” Cadence put a hoof on Twilight Sparkle's shoulder. “I know you don't like playing with other foals.” Cadence got down on her knees, bringing herself eye-level to Twilight. “But why don't you give them a chance?”
Twilight looked at the foals with concern.
“Come on, Twilight!” One of the foals encouraged her. “We'll give you your space, like Princess Cadence said!”
“See?” Cadence began to push Twilight towards them. “They're not going to hurt you.”
“O-okay ...” Twilight stuttered. She walked to the edge of the mud puddle and stopped.
“Aren't you going to play in the mud with us?” A filly asked.
“Um … what are the rules?” Twilight asked.
Cadence's jaw dropped and she pulled her hoof to her face.
“Rules?” The filly said. “It's just mud. There aren't any rules on how you're supposed to play.” The filly demonstrated her point by lifting her tail up and swiping it through the mud, flicking the mud onto a nearby colt. The filly smiled at Twilight.
Twilight looked down at the edge of the puddle. She dipped her hoof in and kicked, sending a small amount of mud into the air.
Seeing Twilight's lackluster attempt at playing with the mud, Cadence decided to take action. She would show Twilight how they were 'supposed' to play in the mud.
“Coming through!” Cadence shouted and dived into the puddle. The impact of her body sent out a huge splash, getting several of the nearby foals – including Twilight Sparkle – covered in muck.
Twilight Sparkle raised a hoof to keep the mud from getting into her eyes. After a moment, she realized she was no longer being plastered by mud and smiled as she realized what to do. Cadence's lesson worked.
Displaying a surprising amount of eagerness, Twilight hopped into the mud and pranced around, sticking her tongue out as she stepped in and out of the puddle. From there, Cadence and Twilight proceeded to enjoy playing in the puddle.
One of the other fillies kicked mud at Twilight. Twilight kicked back. Another, more enterprising foal, scooped up the mud into his hooves and tossed a mudball at Twilight, hitting her in the cheek. Cadence worried for a moment this would send Twilight Sparkle scurrying for home, but Twilight scooped up some mud and paid him back, throwing it into his face.
This continued as it always did in cartoons, with the colt picking up another mudball and tossing it at Twilight, only to miss and hit a different filly. The filly picked up a mudball and, not knowing who hit her, tossed it in a random direction in the hopes of revenging herself against her assailant. This escalated until every foal present was throwing mudballs at one or another.
Twilight Sparkle shielded her head and ran under the flying artillery until she regrouped with Cadence. Cadence and Twilight looked at each other. Twilight smirked at Cadence, getting an idea, which Cadence smiled at, able to tell exactly what had gone through Twilight's mind.
Twilight rubbed her hooves together. Her horn lit up. A magical glow appeared in the puddle, going unnoticed by the other foals. Twilight levitated the mud upwards, creating a dripping sphere held together by Twilight's magic. Twilight moved the sphere through the air, raising it further up in the air so it would acquire more momentum and do the most damage.
After placing it where it would hit the highest number of fillies and foals, Twilight let the bomb drop. It hit the ground and sent out a huge splash which hit almost every foal present. It didn't take the foals long to figure out Twilight Sparkle was behind it.
Twilight and Cadence laughed, celebrating their victory. “Hahahahahaha!”
They celebrated too soon, as Cadence was soon tackled by Uppercrust, sending both of them sliding and separating her from Twilight.
Before Twilight could go to Cadence's aid, another filly sneaked up on her and tossed a mudball in Twilight's face. Twilight's response was to use her magic to create a pillar of mud from the puddle and direct it at the filly.
Cadence and Uppercrust laughed and laughed, enjoying themselves even as they engaged in a grapple. Cadence held back and pretended as though Uppercrust had won, before surprising the filly and wrapping her front legs around Uppercrust's chest and rolling to the side, dunking Uppercrust into the mud.
Cadence, still laughing, messed with Uppercrust's hair before letting the filly go. At which point they both lost their balance and toppled backwards, falling into the mud again.
“Hahahahahaha ha … ha ha.” Cadence wiped some mud from her face. She got up and wiggled her rump, preparing to pounce on Uppercrust, when she felt something tap on her flank for her attention. She turned around to face Twilight. Despite the great time Cadence knew she was having, Twilight appeared to have the color drained from her face. “What is it, Twilight?”
“Cadence ...” Twilight droned, sounding weak. “I don't feel so good … ah … ah … AHCHOO!” Twilight let out a sneeze.
Cadence's eyes shrunk into pinpricks and her heart sunk like a stone. What? No! Don't be sick. Please don't be sick ….
“Okay, kids! Playtime's over.” Cadence announced. “Twilight Sparkle has to go home now.”
“What? Aw ...” The other foals expressed their disappointment.
“Just hold her and make her drink water upside-down!” A filly said. “That's what my dad does for me!”
“That's for hiccups, you dolt! She obviously has a cold.”
“Obviously, she should be drinking orange juice!”
Cadence ignored them, picking up Twilight by biting onto the scruff of her neck before galloping towards Twilight's house at a break-neck speed.
Please don't be sick, please don't be sick, please don't be sick … Cadence repeated in her head until they arrived at the house.
Cadence brought them inside and closed the door, letting Twilight down on the floor, where she sneezed again.
“Oooh.” Cadence groaned, hopping up and down in place. What was she going to do? If Twilight's parents came home to their daughter like this, they were going to brutalize her! Cadence went through a mental list of every treatment for a cold she knew of. Recognizing they'd been playing in the mud, and knowing certain common bacteria couldn't withstand high temperatures, Cadence resolved to give Twilight Sparkle a bath.
“Come on.” Cadence put a hoof on Twilight's back. “Let's get you into a nice, hot bath. That should make you feel better.” Cadence looked around. “Where's your bathroom?”
“Up the ...” Twilight paused and sneezed. “Up the stairs."
Cadence walked Twilight up the stairs. The sounds of Twilight's sneezing haunted Cadence for the duration of the trip.
Cadence set Twilight into the tub and turned on the hot water. While Cadence turned on the cold water so the water would reach a medium temperature and not boil Twilight alive, Twilight sneezed again.
Cadence had always meant to give Twilight Sparkle a bath after they played in the mud. She knew they would have to clean up after playing in the dirt for so long. She wasn't expecting to have to try and treat a cold as well!
Cadence put a hoof on Twilight's forehead to measure her temperature. It was a bit lower than it should have been, but it was normal for somepony suffering from common illness.
The water filled up the tub, releasing steam into the room. Cadence levitated a soap bottle over with magic and squirted some onto her hooves. She put the bottle down and applied the soap to Twilight, stroking her hooves through Twilight's shoulders and legs.
“Ah-ah-AHCHOO!” Cadence, in her rush to clean Twilight Sparkle up, wasn't careful enough. As a result, Twilight's sneeze flew right into her face, getting it covered with spit and snot.
Cadence sighed. She used her magic to pull some tissue paper off the roll and proceeded to wipe her face off. I hope I'm resilient enough not to catch whatever she's come down with.
Cadence continued applying the soap. After giving some time to sit in, Cadence proceeded with the rinse. Twilight groaned, though Cadence suspected it was more from illness, rather than anything to do with her.
After using a combination of her hooves and magic to swirl and move around the water and rinse Twilight's body, Cadence helped the filly out of the tub, taking Twilight's hoof and lifting her up over the edge of the tub before setting her down on the floor.
Cadence levitated a towel and used it to dry Twilight Sparkle.
“How do you feel now, Twilight?” Cadence asked. “Feeling better?”
Twilight gave her answer in the form of a sneeze.
“Drat.” Cadence said. She ushered Twilight Sparkle out of the bathroom. “Why don't you go rest in bed, and I'll whip up a nice hot soup for you?”
“Okay ...” Twilight groaned. Cadence watched over the young filly, never leaving her side until she had crawled into bed and climbed under the covers.
Cadence darted out of Twilight's room and down the stairs into the kitchen. She set about getting all the things she needed to make the soup – a pot of water, whatever fruits and vegetables the family had available for her use – like onion, celery, carrots … some spices for flavor.
As Cadence got out a cutting board, using her magic to hold the knife and cut the onion, she wondered whether or not Twilight Velvet would have gotten some pre-made, packaged broth. Casting an enchantment on the knife so it would keep cutting by itself, Cadence searched the cabinets.
“Ah!” Cadence reached in and pulled out the carton. She opened it and poured into the pot. She took a glance out the window and noticed it was getting dark.
Time sure flies when you're having fun, following by desperately trying to make a filly well before her parents get home … Cadence realized she wouldn't be able to completely cure Twilight with a bath and some soup alone, but she would settle for Twilight being able to stand on her own and not sneezing every five minutes.
Cadence heard a creak. Somepony was opening the door to the foyer.
No! Cadence thought. Not now. Not yet! I still need to try to get Twilight feeling better!
“Twiley! Cadence! I'm home.” Shining Armor's voice said. “Mom and dad should be back soon, too.” Shining Armor stepped into the door of the kitchen. “Cadence? Where's Twiley?”
“She's, uh, in her room.” Cadence said.
Shining Armor looked at the stairs. “I'll go see her then.”
“No!”
Shining Armor gave Cadence an odd look.
“I mean ...” Cadence cleared her throat. “She's had a rough day. She probably wants to be left alone.”
“If she's had a rough day, then I think it would be even more important she get a visit from her big brother.” Shining Armor said, proceeding up the stairs.
“B.B.B.F.F?” Twilight's voice called. “Is that you?”
“Yeah, it's me.” Shining Armor said. “I'm coming up there, Twiley.”
“No!” Cadence said, earning another glare from Shining Armor. Cadence resisted the desire to scream. This couldn't be happening. This could not be happening. Everything was falling apart around her.
Cadence didn't know what to do, or what she could do, but she knew she had to buy herself some time. She took a minute to try to think of what she could do to distract Shining Armor. Something to keep him distracted, keep him occupied … something he would never see coming and would be a complete surprise to him …
Cadence knew what she had to do.
She rushed up to Shining Armor, dragged him away from the stairs, and pinned him against the kitchen wall.
“Hey, what are you doing-”
Shining Armor's questions and protests were interrupted by Cadence pressing her lips to his. Shining Armor was surprised at first, but he grew to like it. He wrapped his hooves around Cadence. Cadence found she liked his strong, yet reassuring grip, but her mind remained focused on her mission.
She was, however, so preoccupied with distracting Shining Armor, she didn't notice the door to the entrance opening a second time.
“Kids, we're home.” Twilight Velvet said, carrying a bag of leftovers.
“The restaurant was great.” Night Light said. “You should have been there. They had the best appetizer. Maybe next time we'll take you with us.”
“I hope everything's going ... okay?” Twilight Velvet peeked into the kitchen door. Her jaw dropped at the sight of Shining Armor and Cadence kissing. Night Light saw it, too, and his eyebrows shot up.
Twilight Velvet held a hoof to Night Light's mouth before Night Light screamed. If this was what they wanted to do, Twilight Velvet wanted them to do it in peace. If she or Night Light had an issue with it, they could yell at her later.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light went up the stairs. They saw Twilight's door out of place and became worried. Twilight Velvet put a hoof on the door and pushed it open.
“Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight Velvet asked.
“Mom! Dad!” Twilight Sparkle rose up to greet her parents. Her joy was cut short by another painful sneeze.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light were shocked. Night Light set the leftovers bag down, and they rushed to their daughter's side.
“Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight Velvet asked. She put a hoof to her daughter's forehead. “Your temperature's a little high, you're in bed … you're clearly sick. What happened?”
“C-Cadence-” Twilight Sparkle sneezed. Twilight Velvet levitated a tissue over for Twilight Sparkle to blow her nose with. “It rained while you were gone, and after the rain stopped, Cadence had me play in the mud …”
Twilight Velvet was speechless. She adjusted her lips before being able to speak her again. “Oh, did she?” It didn't take much for her to connect the dots between the mud and Twilight Sparkle's poor condition.
“Yes, she did.” Twilight Sparkle answered, missing the ominous, threatening undertone to her mother's words. “It was fun.” Twilight got a little smile on her face, but it went unnoticed by her mother or her father.
Downstairs, Cadence and Shining Armor were continuing their kissing session.
“PRINCESS MI AMORA CADENZA!”
Both Shining Armor's and Cadence's eyes widened. Cadence separated from Shining Armor.
“Would you come up here, please?”
Cadence gulped. She walked up the stairs and entered Twilight Sparkle's room, where Twilight Velvet and Night Light had some angry glares prepared for her.
“Y-yes?” Cadence stuttered, still trying to remain positive.
“Explain this.” Twilight Velvet pointed to Twilight Sparkle. “Explain to me why, why you thought it would be a good idea to make my daughter play in the mud!”
“I … I ...” Cadence stammered. She hung her head. “I just wanted to show her … the world didn't have to be such a scary place.”
“Uh-huh.” Twilight Velvet said. “I suppose I could respect that, but … tell me. Why, upon our return home, we found you kissing my son and neglecting to mention you had gotten our little filly sick?”
Cadence's eyes watered. “I – I thought I could fix it. I thought that I could make her feel better. First I gave her a bath, and I was going to give her some hot soup, but then you came home. I-I wanted to try to get her feeling well before you got home because … because I was afraid if you got home and found out I had gotten her sick, you … you wouldn't let me be her foalsitting anymore.”
Twilight Velvet put on a smile. The smile a crocodile has right before snapping its jaw and eating its prey. “Well, you were right to be worried.”
“I – I was?”
“Get out of my house!” Twilight Velvet yelled. “And If I see you near my daughter again, I'll -!”
Cadence nodded to show she understood. Tears welling up in her eyes as she realized she would probably never see Twilight Sparkle again, she closed the door. Gasping as she cried, she went down the stairs.
After she had left, Night Light felt concerned. “Honey … you realize we just fired the only foalsitter Twilight Sparkle ever got along with?”
“That's … slowly dawning on me, yes.” Twilight Velvet said. She huffed. “I stand by my decision.”
This conversation meant nothing to Shining Armor, Cadence, or Twilight Sparkle, however. Cadence exited the house and walked a few feet away from it before stopping.
Cadence turned her head over her shoulder, giving one last look at the house. On the bottom floor, Shining Armor was staring out the window at her. He hung and shook his head before leaving the window.
On the top floor, Twilight Sparkle was looking out the window, her hooves on the glass as if reaching out for Cadence. Cadence's eyes rested on Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight Sparkle sneezed, getting her mucus all over the window.
Seeing the green slime on the window – which she herself had caused - was too much for Cadence. Closing her eyes, Cadence took off, running off into the night, tears flying off her face as she ran to the castle.
To home.