Canterlot.
The City on the Mountain; unlike the still impressive Witeaneigh, this city was young and built specifically to be the capital of a global hegemon. On the highest point of the Platform-City stood the Palace of the Sun and Moon: A massive work of architecture, with a dintel, supported by columns taller than fifty ponies which gave way to a great waiting room and a pair of massive alabaster doors. Behind these doors, the Throne Room, with twin thrones, stood. In the throne to the right, a white alicorn with a multicolored mane and tail sat regally, her sister, of a dark shade of blue and a sparkling blue mane and tail sat, both looking at the pony in the room: a young guard from a town not far from the northern border…
“Your Majesties,” He said, “I have come to confirm what the rumours in Vanhoover say… the young filly ascended.” The guard, a unicorn, said the last word with disbelief, not because the filly in question did not do so, but because he did not see this as an “ascension”. The Eldest of the sovereigns nodded and looked at her younger sister who nodded as well.
“I assume you brought her to us,” She stated, her lavender eyes looking upon him in what can only be described as an unreadable manner. The guard nodded and motioned for her to be sent in.
A pink filly came into the throne room, her purple eyes looking to the floor, looking as if she had done something wrong. The white Alicorn smiled warmly at her and slowly stepped out of her throne, her mane flowing around her with every step; carefully the mare moved and while she was not eye-to-eye with the filly, she was as close to that as she could be. The younger royal Alicorn sighed and looked at them.
Somewhat scared, the filly looked up to see a warm, almost motherly smile; The white alicorn gazed at her.
“What is your name?” She asked; The filly looked away and then at her.
“C-Cadenza,” she answered with a stutter, for it was impossible to not be nervous when faced with both empresses.
“I,” soothed the white alicorn, “am Celestia, and she,” she motioned towards the darker alicorn, “is my sister Luna.” said alicorn sighed and looked at them. However the moment was cut short when a mare went in-- a light grey crystal mare with purple eyes and mane
“Oh goodness there you are,” She panted.
Little Cadenza flinched, almost hiding behind Celestia. Surprised, the empress stood up, letting the little one remain behind her. The mare then noticed Celestia and Luna and bowed.
“And who,” Said Luna, “Might you be?” Her voice, as usual in such situations, was colder, more demanding than her sister’s motherly voice; The crystal mare seemed to be slightly scared, but soon composed herself.
“My name is Abacus Cinch, and I run the central orphanage of Vanhoover… We have been looking for her for some days already!” She explained.
Celestia and Luna exchanged confused and skeptical looks as Cadenza remained hidden behind Celestia; Luna came down and gave the little filly a warmer look before she clung onto the darker alicorn.
“P-Please, don’t let her take me,” She whispered.
Luna nodded at that and eyed Celestia, who nodded and turned to Cinch. “As you can see, she is well… How old is she?”
Startled and confused by the question, Cinch nodded and answered, “She is Twelve years old, Your Majesty.”
Celestia nodded, barely believing it. When she saw the little filly, she looked nine or ten at most: not only did she seem underdeveloped, but it also seemed that she was not having enough to eat… and from what Celestia saw, it wasn’t just because of lack of funding.
With a soft sigh, Celestia turned back to Cinch; it took her a few seconds to decide.
“Miss Cinch, Little Cadenza will not be needing your care anymore; I have decided to adopt her… Furthermore, I believe that since we were about to begin checking the state of the orphanages across the Empire, we could start with yours,” Celestia announced.
Cinch froze for a few seconds, then nodded a bit nervously. Celestia gave her a soft smile as always, and then Cinch excused herself as Luna carried the filly away…. Now Celestia’s attention was turned to the guard.
“Night Light is it?” She said; The guard tensed up and saluted.
“Yes Your Majesty, that is my name.”
Celestia nodded and sat back in her throne, thinking…
“Do you have children?”
The guard nodded. “Yes your majesty, a young son around twelve”
Celestia smiled at that.
“Good, could you bring him tomorrow? Little Cadenza needs a friend of her age,” she told him, and despite sounding like a friendly question, they both knew it was an order. Night Light saluted and saw her leaving before sighing… tomorrow was definitely going to be a long day.