//------------------------------// // Interlude I (Side Cadance) // Story: Cheer Princess // by MythrilMoth //------------------------------// The sky had been frozen in a starless, moonless dusk for hours. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza gazed out at the violet horizon with worried eyes, remembering a time, when she was much younger and still a pegasus, when she had asked her adopted aunt to let twilight last longer because the sky was so pretty. Celestia had chuckled and patiently explained that there was an order to things, and twilight lasted for only a mere handful of moments because it was a precious, magical, and fleeting thing. "Your Highness?" a guard asked from behind her. "Some nobles are here to—" "Send them home," Cadance said, tearing her gaze away from the endless dusk. "I don't want to hear their complaining, and I don't want to start a panic. Summon the faculty of Celestia's School, as well as any scholars and sages who...who might be able to figure out a way out of this mess." The guard nodded and cantered off. Cadance sighed, rustling her wings. "I can deal with this," she said to herself. "I'm a princess. I'm an alicorn. I wouldn't be an alicorn princess if I wasn't ready to lead. Celestia wouldn't have trusted me with—oh, who am I kidding," she moaned. "I'm just barely a mare! I still foalsit for spare bits, for pony's sake! I haven't even kissed my boyfriend yet! How in the world can I—" There was a knock at the door. Cadance took a deep breath. "Enter," she called crisply. The door opened, and a young stallion's head poked through. His white coat and two-tone blue mane looked a bit unkempt, and his eyes were full of concern. "Cadance?" "Shiny!" Cadance trotted over and nuzzled him happily. "Oh, am I ever happy to see you." She took a step back to allow Shining Armor to enter, then closed the door behind him. "Cadance, what's going on?" Shining Armor asked. "Mom and Dad are trying to keep things calm at home, but Twiley's completely freaking out about the sky. You know how neurotic she can get. I swear she's going to give herself ulcers before she even has her Cutie Mark." Cadance giggled. "She is a bit high-strung," she said. She sighed. "Shiny, don't tell anypony else this, but..." She took a deep breath. "Princess Celestia has disappeared." Shining Armor's eyes widened. "Disappeared? How? Was there an attack? A kidnapper? Who—" Cadance held up a hoof to silence him. "I don't know all the details yet, the reports from the guards are very confused. What little I've been able to piece together is that there's an artifact in the castle, a mirror that has some sort of magic portal in it. Celestia had a falling out with her student—you've met her, right? Sunset Shimmer?" Shining Armor grimaced. "Yeah, I know her. She's an arrogant, conceited little—" "Celestia expelled her from the castle," Cadance interrupted. "She was being escorted out when she overpowered the guards and fled through the mirror portal. Celestia followed her. The guards tried to give chase, but...the portal just stopped working." Cadance bowed her head. "That's...that's all I know." Shining Armor's irises contracted to pinpricks. "So...Princess Celestia is just...just gone?!" "I'm afraid so." Shining Armor began to pace. "But that means..." He swallowed. "That means the sun will never rise again. That means...it means Equestria is doomed." "No, it doesn't," Cadance said firmly. "I'm gathering every scholar, sage, and teacher in Canterlot. Shiny, listen to me. I'm an alicorn. I might not be anywhere near as powerful as Celestia, but..." She swallowed heavily. "If...if she can move the sun and the moon, then so can I. I just...I just have to learn how she does it." "Are you sure?" Shining Armor asked, tilting his head. "No," Cadance admitted. "But somepony has to, and right now, I'm all we've got." Shining Armor sighed, then moved to embrace Cadance. "I'm not leaving your side," he declared. "Not until Princess Celestia is found and returned." Cadance smiled, tears leaking from her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.