//------------------------------// // Cadence // Story: A New Life // by Roman //------------------------------// Cadence Aahhhhh, that’s so much better! I know belching is rude, but can’t always help it. Wait someone close by said Auntie, and I think Luna responded to… her I think… so she has a… niece? Giving me head a slight shake looked up into… a pair of bright purple eyes and… I think it’s a pleased to see me face, or is just happy? I'm NEVER very good to work out facial expressions! “Hey there little one, I’m Cadence.” She said with an incredibly sweet voice. “What’s your name sweetie?” Huh… never heard a name like that before. Okay, remember what they tort you in Communication skills. Look them in the eyes and err… Damn, what was the rest of it? Oh yes, If she says something like ‘pull your socks up’ or says something that’s in a… err… sar-cas-tic tone. Then she isn’t really meaning it, ok, let’s give thi- Right, that’s a little too close for my liking! Cadence was, almost nose to nose with me. This caused me lean my head a bit feather back… only to bump the back of my head against Luna. “Aww, don’t be shy.” Cooed Cadence. “I won’t bite.” “I’m…..Alex…Jones.” I mumbled, examining my hooves. “I’m sorry honey, I did catch that.” “I’m… Alex…” I’m not shore about this per- pony. She seems to me to have problem personal space. And I’m have REAL problem of trying not push her face away. Cadence to my relief stood up straight again. Looking down on me in… a really complicated way. At least to me it was. I ‘think’… it is sadness, but I’m not to shore. “It’s alright. You can tell when you’re ready.” She said, the edges of her mother curling up into a small smile. I do honestly not know how to respond to that. Ugh, I am a stupid boy… girl… boy… girly-boy! ‘Filly, and we are not stupid.’ No one’s talking to you dumbass. ‘Just saying, we don’t need to be so hard on our self.’ What…? “Well, it is always a pleasure to see you Cadence.” Luna suddenly announced, standing up form were she had been sitting. “But Moonlight and I have a busy day. And we need to be going!” Luna trotted to the shop door… only for a swift pink blur whoosh past us, the force of it blowing my long purple mane to be blown over my eyes. I using my forehooves and with some blowing, I manged to get it tucked behind my left ear. Only for it to fall over my eye. I am probably not going to get the hang of this any time soon. I’m used to my (well now former) dark brown curly short cut hair. Well, I can still see with my right eye. And what I saw, was clearly a frowny faced Cadence blocking the shop’s entrance-exit. “Cadence what are you doing?” Questioned Luna as she came to a stop about a metre away from her. “I have busy schedule, so please excu-” “Auntie I’ve just got here, and I would like spend some time with my… ‘Cousin’!” There was something in the way she said cousin, which made me think of something that tasted rather bitter. I’m also not liking that growling Luna is making in the back of her throat. “Well, I am shore there will be time LATER today that you could spend with her.” Growled Luna. “But right now, Moonlight is spending some quality time with her mother before I have to go to the second half of court!” Cadence raised an eye brow. “The second half of court started one hour ago.” She said (…) “Oh horse appals!” Luna looked down at me. “I’m sorry honey but I lost track of time. So I’m afraid we’re going to have to go home.” “Well, you will. But I think there is a certain filly might want…” Cadence said as her horn lit up with a light blue aura, which enveloped my entire body and floated me out the Carrier (which was starting to give hind legs cramp). “To go out and play with-” “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!” demanded Luna as she grabbed me in mid-air, and then practically squeezed me so hard to her barrel that it knocked the wind out of me. “Auntie, you’ll hurt her!” shouted Cadence, running over to us. She tried to force Luna’s grip on me open with her hooves. Only for it to tighten painfully. “Let. Go!” Growled Luna, wrenching me away from Cadence. I think I’m going to lose my doughnuts at this rate. Speaking of doughnuts, the hall doughnut shop seemed to be watching. The two guards that were with us, seemed to be just standing there taking it all in like the dominoes they are. I really need to come up with better describing words. “Luna if you smother her she won’t be able to be herself, and from what Twilight told me, she will probably have to RELEARN A NORMAL LIFE!” Uh oh, this has gone beyond getting out of hand and straight into something that I don’t even think the greatest minds of the worl… I’m mean, Earth, could even name or think of. I personally think this situation is too far gone to repair. I’m a seriously stupid boy-girl-filly thing. Oh forget it, this isn’t helping me. “Excuse me Princess Luna.” I snapped out of my inward self-criticism and looked around for the owner of the voice. Which turned out to be one of the guards. “But you’ll need to go now if you want to make it for the second half of court.” “Auntie.” Luna turned back to Cadence with a frown to Cadence’s… umm… ok, she has a sort of smile, or is it a grin, is it a… smug exasperation. I don’t know, facial exasperations are too hard to work out. “Yes, Cadence.” Said Luna stiffly. “You know I used to ‘foal-sit’ when I was younger.” Said Cadence, as her magical aura surrounded small body. “Besides, she will be in good hooves. As well as good practice for me.” Ay? “Well little one, in now ten months I'm going to be a mommy myself.” Cadence said, to my surprise. As she floated me on to her back. Oh, looks like I said that one out load with out meaning to. Wait, so she’s pregnant! Huh, if I had known I’d somehow for some reason what so ever end up in My Little Pain-in-the-backsides, I would have paid more attention to it. “Don’t you need this?” Luna questioned, as she unstrapped the BLOODY baby carrier from herself. And held it out to Cadence in her aura. “Oh I will.” Said Cadence, but held up a hoof as it was floated over to her. “When my foal is born.” I heard Luna Growling under her breath. “Alright then.” Luna said through gritted teeth. With a flash of light bluey-turquois the carrier disappeared into thin air. She then turned to the guards and conjured a quill and a piece of paper and telekinetically started scribbling some stuff on to it with the quill. When finished, she floated it over to one of the guards… who managed to take it one of his forehooves? HOW THE HELL DOES THAT WORK? “Would you two please get these required items?” Luna asked them. “Of… course… princess.” They said in perfect unison. After that Luna trotted around to Cadence’s side to face me. “I’m going to have to work now sweetie.” She said, giving me a nuzzle on my snout. “So you’re going to go out with your cousin for just a few hours.” She stood up straight and smiled down at me. “Be good now my little star.” She said, giving me a small kiss (ew) on my forehead just below my horn, before leaning close to one of my ears. “I love you with all my heart.” No one has ever said that to me! Not even Dad. And what’s this feeling I having? Never really understood my feelings, but this one feels… warm… and happy…? I think. What the HELL is this? ‘What we weren’t shown…’ I’m sorry, but was I talking you I don’t think so. So shut your bloody trap! And I seriously doubt it’s anything to do with... what ever it is. ‘My, we are so single minded.’ Right, one more word out of you and I’m going to course myself some major brain damage. (…) “I’m warning you Cadence, If ANYTHING bad happens to MY baby girl! I will hold you personally responsible! Am. I. Clear.” Growled Luna, bring out of my thoughts. Luna was looking at Cadence with an expression I knew not (no surprise there), but scared the caramel out of me. “Crystal.” Said Cadence calmly, looking Luna straight in the eyes. Luna snorted at her, then turned to me her face softening in the process. “See you soon darling.” she said sweetly, and then shot Cadence anther glare before trotting out of the shop doors. The two guards stood side by side and looked at each other, and then at the piece paper. “We are going to be the laughing stock of the barracks, you know that.” Said the one on the left with a sigh. “Come on, let’s just get it over with.” The one the right said with a roll of the eyes. (Ponies eyes in this loony-toon world are so large their easier to read.) The guards trotted past me and Cadence, giving a small bow to the both of us, and then departed to God knows what Luna tasked them with. “Come on Moony. Let’s go and play in the park.” Said Cadence happily. “Can you not call me that?” “Call you what?” “Moony.” “Aww, but it’s such a cute nickname.” “I HATE nicknames! And my name isn't Moonlight eclipse, it’s Alex Jo-” Aaannnnd, we’re outside the shop. I really need to pay more attention to my surroundings. “Well, what ever makes you feel combatable precious. I won’t call you Moony if you don’t want to be called Moony.” Cadence said, as she walked with me on her back down to what could only assume to be the park. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. We walked (well Cadence was, I was still riding on her back) into a wide field playing area. Cadence lifted me in her magic and placed me on the ground… To which shot off, sprinting as fast as I could away from her. FREEDOM Now, first step get out of this city. Second step, find someone or something that can break the 4th wall. I can hear Cadence running after me, and shouting something. But that doesn’t matter! Third step, try and convince the said 4th wall breaker to help me g- “MOONLIGHT, WATCH OUT FOR THA-” *CLANG* (…) All I can see is a very blurry blue sky with even blurrier clouds. (…) Now I see two blurry upside-down pink faces staring down at me. (…) Now there’s only one blurry upside-down pink face. (…) Now it’s just an upside-down Cadence with… what I think is a concerned expression. “Oh Moonlight, you silly filly!” Ok now I’m very shore that’s a concerned voice. “I tried to tell to you to watch out for that slide.” As Cadence helped me up, I saw a red metal slide right in front of me. With a very small dent on the lower edge of it. Wow, talk about having a concrete head. Lifting my right hoof I wiped my forehead and brought it in front of me to see if I was bleeding. Thankfully I wasn’t, but guess that was to be expected, this being everything works out land and everything. A light blue glow surrounded my form and turned me around to face a wide eyed pink Alicorn. (Like I said before, their eyes are abnormally large it’s easier to tell if their pupils and ‘irises’ have changed shape) “Oh dear, that’s a nasty graze!” she said, pulling a fresh plaster out of no wear with her magic. For some reason she was smiling at me. “You’re so brave you know.” “Huh?” “Well, Twilight was two or three years older than you when I foal-sat her. But I remember when she got boo-boo, she would shed a few tears.” Boo-Boo… seriously, how old do you think I a- Oh yeah. “But you haven’t shed a single tear!” Said Cadence, as she put the plaster just below my horn (I would love to know how to use this thing). “Which just proves you’re a strong and brave filly.” She said with a… ew… kiss on my sore for head. I gave her a blunt look. “I’ve had FAR worse than this!” Seriously I have. I been assaulted by drunks and ended up in hospital with some horrible head injuries. And one time when I was on a scout camp, I was chopping wood for the fire and the axe I was using slipped and struck my hand coursing it to bleed. Cadence looked down at me with an expression I couldn’t figure out. Hang on, she’s… oh… now she’s crying. I’ve got a bad feeling about this! “I know.” She said, pulling me into a hug (which I did prepare for). Why do these ponies keep hugging me…? I just don’t get it. Cadence gave a gentle squeeze, and then finally let go. “Now, how about we have some fun hmm.” Suddenly I’m grasped in her forehooves and before I know it, I’m plopped on a… swing. “Ready?” I Cadence say from behind me. I then felt a hoof on the swing seat, and then with a gentle push I was off. (…) “Higher, Higher!” I called back to Cadence. I haven’t been on a swing for years. Let alone be pushed by someone. Mum couldn’t be bothered and Dad was always driving off, and coming back a few months later. So yeah, I had never sat on a swing until I was 11 years old. Too old to be pushed by then. I heard a chuckle from behind me, and when swung back, I felt a slightly harder push. Sending me to the swing’s height limits. There’s something interesting about having the wind blow through fur instead of blowing right-slap-bang on to your bare skin. It’s a sensation I cannot describe, but it is an interesting one. As I swung bag down with my purple mane blowing in front of me, I just couldn’t help but grin…I just couldn’t help it. Cadence brought me to a stop. I looked over my shoulder at her. “Now, how about I show you something Twilight and I sometimes do.” “Can’t we just keep doing this?” I love doing the same things over and over again until I get bored (which can take a while). “Maybe later, my hoof needs a rest.” Said Cadence as she lifted me off the swing and placed me on the ground. “Come on. I’m sure you will enjoy it.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. That could have gone better. Cadence with me riding on her back were heading back to the castle. A couple of hours ago Cadence had tried to get me to do this really weird and… dare I say it… stupid dance thing. It went something like ‘sunshine, sunshine ladybugs awake’ and the rest of it is just embarrassing. All I did was question her on why to do it. She said it was just for fun, but I couldn’t figure out why we should do it, I mean she is an adult and I’m a former MALE teenager (It didn’t help trying to explain that. It turns out even she thinks I’m delusional). She tried to encourage me to give it ago. Which led to me throwing a ‘no, no, NO’ tantrum. So in the end she gave up and let me go back on the swing. I only came off when Cadence said ‘it’s sunset, time to go home now’. And so here we are going ‘home’. To take my mind off of my failed escape attempt, and this weird ‘looking forward to seeing Luna again’ feeling. I was just humming a simple amusing tune. “That’s a nice tune you’re humming.” Said Cadence as I brought the tune to an end. “Maybe you could teach me it.” “You probably wouldn’t want to know it.” I said, not knowing how they she would react to the bad language in it. As a matter of fact, how would all of these ponies react to the F, S and C words? “And why’s that?” she asked sweetly, turning her head as far back as she could in order to face me. “Is it Moonlight’s very special song?” Oh for God’s sake! “NO! Can we just forget about it… please?” “Alright.” Cadence said with a sigh. I breathed a sigh of relief, and tried to get comfortable on her back. You may ask why I haven’t attempted another escape. Well with a throbbing head ache, an empty stomach and feeling like it’s nearly time for bed. It just makes me not in the mood for such things at the moment. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... “Moonlight, may I ask you something?” said Cadence as we finally made our way through the castles entrance. “Sure.” “My sister-in-law Twilight, told me that you told her, that had you some sort of… condition.” Hmm, maybe there’s hope for me yet. “Yes, it’s-” A strange noise has just reached my ears as we entered the castles main hall. It sounded like an incoming fighter jet, and it was getting louder (as in getting closer and closer). “What’s that noi-” I was SUDDENLY hit by what felt like a sledgehammer, which completely knocked the wind out me. Before a far gentler force squeezed me to a plush fur surface. “Oh Moonlight! Mommy was worried you wouldn’t make it back before bed time, so she couldn’t show you your supri- *Gasp*” My vision stopped spinning in different directions and came to focus on Luna’s face, staring down at me with wide eyes, pupils and irises the size of pin pricks, mouth was wide open and her ears were pressed against her skull. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Luna stared down in utter shock at the plaster on her daughter’s forehead. She then rounded on Cadence with a glare that could melt flint. “What. Happened!” “It was an ‘ACSIDENT’. She was probably just over excited to be outside and be allowed to play!” Said Cadence as she took a step back at Luna’s tone. “I left you in charge of keeping her safe!” Growled Luna. “I warned you what would happen! From now on, you are never going to be Moonlight Eclipse’s foal-sitter… AM, I, CLEAR!” Cadence took a step forward, eyes narrowed at her aunt. “Luna, I am very qualified to be her foal-sitt-” She didn’t get to finish her sentence, as Luna took an aggressive step towards her. “And yet you let my baby girl ge-” “IT WAS AN ACSIDENT!” Shouted Cadence. But both mares instantly looked to Moonlight as she let out a gut wrenching SCREAM, while covering her ears with her hooves and began to cry in to Luna’s coat while saying “To load, to load.” Luna instantly covered her child with her wings while shushing and whispering all the soothing words she knew. “Auntie, there is something wrong with her!” snapped Cadence trying to regain lost ground. “There are therapists back in the Crystal Empire that might be able to-” “You’ve done enough.” Luna said calmly. “The last thing Moonlight needs is to be locked in a room with a pony she doesn’t know or trust.” She gave her daughter a quick nuzzle, then looked Cadence straight in the eye. “She was locked in a DEONGEON! Of a castle we have still yet to find. She has witnessed things that put Tirek, King Sombra, Chrysalis and my time as Nightmare Moon seem like nothing more than the villains from a foals fairy-tale!” Luna then lit her horn readying a teleport spell. “Now. If you don’t mind, my child is in need of comfort.” And with a flash of light bluey-turquois, she and Moonlight vanished. Leaving Cadence to just stare at where they had been.