The Silver Pony Slippers
Chapter 10: Princess Cadence
The next morning at ten o’clock sharp, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike met their five pony friends at the Ponyville Railroad Station where they boarded the morning train for Canterlot. Spike was carrying a brown box. Inside were the silver pony slippers. Two hours later the train arrived in Grand Canterlot Station and they disembarked on their quest, to find the other three alicorn princesses and to determine one and for all who was the owner of the silver pony slippers.
“I’m feel certain that we’ll find the slipper’s owner here in Canterlot,” said Twilight as she and her friends walked away from the station.
“And if we don’t,” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Then we’ll journey all over Equestria until we find the owner,” said Twilight. “But I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
Upon arriving at Canterlot Castle they found a long line waiting to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Quite a number of dignitaries from Prance had also arrived that day to discuss matters with the princesses, and it was clear that they wouldn’t get their chance to speak to them for several hours. The ponies then decided in the meantime to find and visit with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.
Princess Cadence was in her and Shining Armor’s private rooms of the castle lounging on a sofa and reading a book when there was a knock on the door. The butler answered it. A moment later he returned to Princess Cadence and with a small bow said “Your Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle and company wish to see you.”
Cadence sprang off the couch, completely forgetting about the book which fell behind her. “Twilight’s Here!” exclaimed Cadence, “This is wonderful, she actually came, and with her Ponyville friends too.” “Shining!” she called, “Twilight’s here!”
The sound of a rushing pony could be heard before Shining Armor, burst into the room and skidded to a stop next to Cadence. “Twilie’s here? Really?” He asked.
“Positively.” answered Cadence. “Please,” she said turning to the butler, “Let them in.”
A moment later, Princess Cadence was greeted by her sister-in-law Twilight Sparkle upon which they proceeded to do their special greeting/chant/dance saying “Sunshine, sunshine. Lady bugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake.” They had barely stopped laughing when Shinning Armor suddenly grabbed Twilight and gave his little sister a big brotherly hug. Princess Cadence and Shinning Armor then proceeded to greet Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy.
“It’s so wonderful to see you all here.” Said Princess Cadence. “We were just about to have lunch, won’t you join us?”
Twilight and her friends agreed.
A royal lunch, usually, consists of only the best ordure’s served in small amounts, but a private royal lunch is no different than any other lunch consisting of hay sandwiches, fruit and vegetables on the side, and, as a special treat, cake for desert. So lunch was enjoyed by all, including Applejack, who was concerned for a few moments that she wasn’t going to get a hearty meal that day. There was also plenty of conversation. Twilight, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Spike had quite a lot to catch up on. The Crystal Empire, Cadence’s kingdom was, after all, a long way away, and they didn’t get chances to talk like this very often. The other ponies joined in with bit of news of their own from Ponyville. After lunch, the ponies retired to the den where, once everyone was sitting comfortably, Shining Armor asked,
“So what brings you and your friends to Canterlot Twilie?”
“Well, actually,” said Twilight, “We’re here on a self-appointed mission.”
“You mean like a quest?” asked Shining Armor.
“Exactly.” Said Twilight.
“What kind of quest?” asked Cadence.
“Well, you see, said Twilight opening the box that Spike and left on the floor and pulling out its contents, “My friends found this set of silver pony slippers and…”
“We all thought, they were ours, but when we found out they weren’t we came here to find who’s they were.” Said Pinkie Pie.
“Yeah,” said Twilight thoughtfully, “that does sum up a good deal in one sentence, but anyways I did some research and I found that these are the magic, silver pony slippers from the Canterhorn Empire, and if our hunch is right their owner must be an alicorn, and other than me, we only know of three alicorns in all of Equestria. I already tried them on, and I proved that they’re not mine. So we came here to see if they are yours Cadence.”
Cadence picked up one of the slippers with her magic to examine it.
“So these are real relics from all the way back to the Alicorn era?” Cadence asked.
“No question about it.” Said Twilight. “Do you recognize them?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t Twilight,” said Cadence. “They’re beautiful, but I don’t remember ever owning a silver set of pony slippers. I’ve always worn golden slippers like these.” She said as she stuck out one of her hooves to show one of the golden pony slippers she was wearing. Twilight and her friends had seen them before. Cadence was always wearing her golden pony slippers. They went so well with her gold necklace and tiara.
“That’s what I said too, before my friends asked my to try them on,” said Twilight, “But there is a way to prove whether they’re yours or not.”
“How is that?” asked Cadence.
“The book,” said Twilight, “said that whenever the owner was wearing the slippers, they would sparkle. So, if you wouldn’t mind trying them on…?”
“Oh, I don’t mind.” Said Cadence. She sat up on the couch and was just about to take off her slippers when Shining Armor suddenly rushed over.
“Please,” said Shining Armor, “Let me darling.”
“Of course Shining,” Said Cadence as she gingerly extended her left hind leg toward him. He always insisted on doing things for his wife, even things that she was perfectly capable of doing herself, but Cadence thought it was cute. Shinning Armor sat on the floor, as he carefully removed Cadence’s golden slipper from her hoof and after placing it on the floor, she proceeded to remove the other slippers as Cadence extended them to him. Shinning Armor then picked up the first silver slipper and slid it carefully on Cadence’s left hind hoof, and then proceeded to fit the other silver slippers on Cadence’s hooves. They fit her perfectly, which Twilight and her friends had expected.
“Thank you Shining,” said Cadence as she stood up, and then took a few steps to try the slippers out.
“Wasn’t that just romantic?” asked Rarity “I’m suddenly reminded of the story of Cinderstar.”
Applejack shrugged, and Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
“It was nice.” Said Fluttershy.
The others didn’t answer. The ponies all waited, their eyes glued to the silver pony slippers, but just as before the slippers still didn’t sparkle.
“I guess the answer’s no again.” Said a disappointed Pinkie Pie.
“I’m sorry Cadence.” Said Twilight.
“No need to apologize Twilight,” said Cadence. “I didn’t think they were mine anyway. Oh, well” she said as she sat back down and Shining Armor began to remove the silver pony slippers and replace them with Cadence’s golden slippers.
“Don’t worry about it honey,” said Shining Armor “You look just as beautiful in silver as you do in gold.” He said with a kiss to her cheek.
“Ah, thank you sweetie.” Said Cadence.
Twilight picked up the silver pony slippers and put them back in the box with her magic.
“Well, I guess that means we have to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as soon as possible then.” Said Twilight.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be much more help,” said Cadence. “I hope you are successful in returning those slippers to their owner.”
“Thank you” said Twilight. “Well, it’s been wonderful to see you again, thank you for this time to chat.”
“Thank you,” said Cadence as she and Twilight shared a parting hug. “Come see us in the Crystal Empire sometime. We’ll be going back in two days.”
“Hopefully we will soon,” said Twilight as she hugged her brother.
“Bye, Twilie,” said Shining Armor.
“See you later B.B.B.F.F.,” said Twilight.
The ponies and Spike all exchanged their farewells, then Twilight and her friends turned to leave.
“Good luck,” called Shining Armor as they passed through the door.