Cadence was fuming. It had had suddenly risen up, threatening to spill over. So when Shining Armor came in, limping from battle practice and complaining about his day, she whipped her head around, glared at her husband, then took off, locking her room in the Crystal Empire, refusing to come out for reasons that even she could not explain. She supposed it just that she was sick and tired of Celestia not giving Melody the protection she required. Once or twice a month, she'd travel to Cantorlot. Now, she was refused by the Solor Guards. It was also rather infuriating to find out Celestia posted Solor Night Guards.
"Honey," emitted Shining Armor's voice from the other side of the thick aqua colored crystal door. "Please let me in. I'm sorry for complaining. I know that you're still angry, but this doesn't make any sense. Why are you still angry? The longest you've ever been angry was like - what - five minutes? It's been three months! You've got to stop locking yourself up. And guess what? When I wrote Twily and Flurry, even they said that they're worried. Please. Let me in." Cadence heard a slight thunk of her husband's head hitting the door with worry and frustration, the peak of his horn visible. Cadence realized just how hard he must've hit the door.
Blinking back sudden tears, Cadence could've kicked herself. Sure she was angry. But that should've been directed into doing something, not taking it out on poor Shining! Opening her door, she didn't look his way, ashamed.
"Cadence," Shining started. "I think it'd be a good idea for something called vacation-time. You keep yourself shut up in your room and refuse to talk. It's not healthy. Please. If you'd like, you can go yourself. Whatever you'd like. But you can't just stay around the castle mopping."
Cadence turned to look at her soulmate, who gasp.
"C-C-Cadence," he stuttered. "You look horrible! That's it!" Slamming a hoof down, he lit up his horn, his pink magenta magic rapping a shimmering cocoon around his wife. "You're taking a mandatory two-day relaxation at the spa, whether you want to or not."
Indeed, Cadence's eyes were all puffy and red, her mane was one giant rat's nest and she looked sleep deprived, not to mention something close to starving.
"Put me down Shining!" Cadence tried to fire through the aura around her. It didn't work. She was too weak.
"Melody will be fine. Luna's looking after her, and that's a good thing for the two of them. Right now, you need to stop being a recluse out of worry, before you'll end up doing something you regret." In softer tones, Shining Armor continued. "You have an Empire to run after all, and the ponies are starting to worry. Give them the light and love that they need. They'll support you, but they can't if you're locked up. So for all of our sake's, you're going to reassure them, give advice and be the kind, fair and just ruler they know... And the wife I love." And with that, Shining gently set Cadence down who's face was a deep red with shame and embarrassment. Suddenly, feeling weak, as the three months caught up to her, she leaned on her husband, and allowed him to guide her to the Royal Spa.
A few hours into her spa treatment (hiring Aloe and company was a good idea, it was a shame Twilight was ignoring her, Cadence would've loved to thank her) and Cadence felt good enough to allow ponies to come in and just get comfy while they asked about their problems.
"...Downright dishonest! Can you believe the nerve?"
Cadence looked at the older pink crystal pony with the donkey face and laurel cutie-mark.
"Look, Winning Laurel. I'll have to speak to - who was it, Token Collector? - and see his side of the story." Though Cadence knew that the two had regular spats, she still would need to see the pin-crazed pony later, just to avoid lying. But now, Aloe was at her side.
"Miz Cadnza," she started in her soft accented voice, "it'z time for your mud bath. Pleaze give me von more minute to prepare it." Nodding, Cadence agreed. After all but fifty seconds, the mud bath was ready. Sinking in, Cadence felt very soothed. So it wasn't a shock when she requested that the next hour be just for her.
When Shining Armor came to visit his wife, he was please to see her reading and relaxed - not to mention well kept looking and rested. "Hey honey. What did you do today?"
"Sent a letter to Spike, hoping he'd read it to Twilight for me. I wanted to thank her for the suggestion of asking Aloe to be hired. Oh, and another letter to Celestia, demanding that I should be allowed in the castle. You may want to shore up the defenses around the Northwestern side. Apparently the griffins got organized. I also sent Flurry a message, telling her that no matter whom she had sided with, she'd be welcomed home at any time."
Shining's mouth dropped. "What?"
"Mmhm... So, how was your day?"
Shining Armor's mouth stretched into a grin. "Cadence... You'e brilliant! I'm so glad to see that you're better. And I'll get the troops out there right away!" Happily, Shining trotted out of the room, closing the aqua door with his magic. Cadence stared where he husband had been standing, with a small, yet fond and loving smile on her face. Then a knock on the door sounded, and it opened.
"Princess? A letter from Cantorlot has just arrived." Cadence smiled at the young page-colt she had hired. The young orphan had been taunted relentlessly for being a 'blank-flank'. Her whole family looked down at the young foal as if he was one of the family. Cadence really had to get the adoption papers in order.
"Thank you Cloud Strike. Anything else?"
"No Princess."
"Okay then. You can go get a meal from the kitchens and then go to Rain Count for your weekly pay. Here." Cadence quickly wrote a note. "Tell Rain Count he should follow this to the letter. Also, if you can let Honey Light know that I'll be stopping by in hopefully about a week or two with Shining Armor, it'd be a nice favor of you."
"Okay. Thank you Princess."
"No problem... And thank you."
"Shining! Twily and Flurry wrote back!" Cadence galloped the hall towards the training center. Bursting through the doors, she raced to her husband, dodging the sweeping lances, swords, spears and daggers. "Shining! Didn't you hear me?"
"I heard you, Cadence. But first, I have to take care of this." Squeezing his eyes closed, Shining Armor's horn started to glow, and all of the troops stood at attention. As Shining released the energy, it went bouncing around the walls, going through an opened window and headed off to Celestia-knows-where. "So, what did they write?"
"Dear Cadence and Shining (Mom and Dad),
Thanks for sending us the messages. This is Flurry, just by the way. I'd love to come home, but Aunty Tia doesn't want me to... Mel is fine. She's a sweet filly, you shouldn't worry about her. Luna has taken up your lessons. I don't agree with some of the plans Aunty Tia wants to execute, but I digress. Love ya! ~Flurry Heart
Your welcomed. Don't write back to me. ~Twilight Sparkle"
Cadence's and Shining Armor's eyes met. "This won't end well, will it," Cadence asked him.
"I'm afraid not. Contact Luna. I think it's time we pulled off 794-3890-12534."
"Don't tell me we're - and by that I mean me - will have to pull off 794-3890-12534? 'Cause that'd be hard. Very hard. We'd be uprooting everything to her." Luna glared at the couple facing opposite her. "Oh, and don't trust that 'letter' you received. Sunbutt saw what they wrote. She's getting very irritable.
Cadence shook her head mentally, sighing at her aunt's foal-like behavior. Calling Celestia 'Sunbutt'?! Shining just chuckled.
"Well, yes. We are asking that of you. I understand how hard it'll be, but I think you'll find a little bit of help..."
"What help?"
"Go to the barracks. There, ask for Class Two Private Flame Brand and Class Two Private Silver Feather. They'll help."
"And," Cadence broke in, "ask for Class Four Private Swift Water."
"They'll help?" Luna was skeptic.
"Yes." The couple looked at the other and grinned. They knew these guards personally and they truly had a lot of talent. Then, their smiles faded, the enormity of what was about to be pulled off was weighing down on them all.
A few hours after the meeting, Cadence and Shining Armor discussed how they were to protect the Crystal Empire. And adopting Cloud Strike.
"I think we should do it next week. So Melody settles in, then gets a new playmate as a bonus!" Shining Armor looked skeptic. "Come on," prodded Cadence.
"I... Have to think on that one."
"Well... Alright."
"I think we've been up for too long anyhow. Let's go to bed and see what morning brings," suggested Shining Armor.
"That sounds like a good idea," agreed Cadence.