//------------------------------//
// Chapter 20-Investigation 
// Story: Emerald Fires 
// by FolkloreBrony 
//------------------------------//

////
Chapter 20-Investigation
////
The inside of the theater had descended into hell. Guards had been issued to hold back the crowd gathering outside, clambering to see what had started the commotion. The streets were bustling with law enforcement, a branch of the guard rarely seen in these parts, if anywhere. Cameras flashed and guards shouted, barking orders at civilians who drew too close to the doors.

It was to no one’s surprise when the princesses showed up, though a few drew their gaze at the third male alicorn, following behind the royal sisters as they entered the foyer. The guards prostrated themselves before them, showing their respect for them. Luna’s gaze moved from one end of the scene to the next, her body tense and reclusive. She obviously wasn’t too comfortable being out in the open in so much light. Celestia however, bearly gave them a passing glance, her mind focused on finding the lead investigator.

“Princesses! We’re glad you could get here on such short notice.” one of the forensics ponies said, walked right in front of them to bow.

“What happened? Have you apprehended any suspects?” Celestia asked sternly, eyes furrowed.

“No princess, we haven’t. We...you better see this for yourselves.” he motioned for her to follow him, Celestia calling to Luna and Novis to follow as well. The officer led them down the hall and made a turn, directing them to the intersections between the hall to the foyer and the stairways to the balconies. There a team of detectives worked carefully, searching for evidence as they dusted and swabbed. But the three alicorns were distracted, their attention drawn into the main attraction of the scene, Celestia covering her mouth.

“My God,” Novis whispered under his breath, rubbing his throat. The hall, with its pearl white walls sparkling in the camera flashes, was painted with splatters of crimson. The red carpets were darkened from their original color, made into a deep maroon. There laying in the middle of the hall rested two bodies covered in white sheets, one laying flat on the floor and the other leaning in the wall. However even concealed under the blankets they could see what kind of death they had endured, blood practically soaking the fabric.

“When did this happen?” Luna asked, reluctantly stepping forward.

“Lacerations only have begun to clot, and rigor mortis has yet to set in. I’d say this happened only a little over an hour ago.” one of the officers said, an older stallion nearing his sixties with a brown coat and a black mane that was starting to grey, brushing his short mustache. He pushed back the benny hat upon his forehead as he rose up from the ground, putting some fabric into an evidence bag, “Detective Summerset, leading division investigator.”

“Pleasure.” Novis stepped in, taking his hoof to shake it. He looked towards the bodies, gesturing with his head, “Do you mind if we take a look?”

“Not at all.” Summerset said, motioning with his hoof, “I should warn you though, it’s not exactly pretty.”

The three nodded their heads as the detective led them down the hall, where a pegasus stallion in his mid-twenties was hunched over examining something on the carpet, wearing a sweater and tie underneath a leather brown coat. His fur was tan and his mane was blonde, made up to look spiked and dirty. The stubble of his circle beard was defined against his softer features, sharpened by his aqua blue eyes. Summerset raised an eyebrow at him, glancing down over his shoulder.

“Windmill? What’ve you got?”

“Just a few hairs, can’t identify what their original color was though.” the younger detective struggled, lifting up the strains, glistening red with blood in the light.

“But?” the older detective said expectantly.

“But, if I had to guess I’d say that they were white, and I’d guess they’re from the male victim,” Windmill said, staring up at him with a half smile, confident in himself.

“Send them down to forensics, we’ll go over it later. For now, I’d like you to meet the Royal Sisters and…” Summerset looked at the male alicorn slack-jawed, inspecting him, “I’m sorry, I forgot to ask your name?”

“Novis. I was in the middle of some personal business with the Princesses before we were brought here,” he answered, his eyes locked on the two bodies on the floor.

“Of course you were.” Summerset frowned, stepping aside as Windmill came forward.

It’s such an honor to meet you both,” Windmill shock Celestia’s hoof and then Luna’s, moving in front of each of them as he did so before he came to Novis, and paused, “And you as well, I guess. You’re an alicorn too, so I suppose you must be important too in some way.”

“Anyway,” Summerset said as he rolled his eyes, mildly annoyed by his partner’s infocus, “Let’s get down to business then.”

The sisters watched as the detective lifted the veil on the Fancypant’s body, both holding their breath at what they saw. He stared up with glazed eyes, cold and indifferent now to the world around. He was partly bruised, beaten in some struggle. But it was his neck, the throat torn out, bite marks and scratches covering his neck all around that called attention the most. His gaze was that of shock and terror, no doubt emotions he suffered in the end. His fur was matted with dried blood, panting him in colors of red and white.

“You know him?” Summerset asked, his brows raised at Celestia.

“Yes…” Celestia nodded, hissing as she looked, truly saddened to have lost someone she had interacted and shared thoughts with on many occasions, “It is...painful.”

“You wish to continue?” he asked, looking up.

“Yes.”

Summerset nodded, lifting up the sheet of the second body, revealing Fleur, sprawled out on her chest face down on the carpets stained red left almost unnoticed by its original color. She was afflicted with similar wounds, though with the addition of claw marks across the top of her torso and shoulders. Celestia sighed loudly, raising her head up as if overcome with emotion, looking about before staring down, perfectly composed, “What did this?”

“Anything that’s ever done anything like this was done by an animal,” Windmill commented, brushing away a strain of the dead mare’s mane to look at the side of her neck. He took a picture.

“Of course, there are plenty of creatures, both natural and unnatural, native to this part of the Northern Wastes which could have done this,” Luna stated this as fact, before scrunching up her nose in frustration, “But if so, how did they get past the barrier?”

“And do you think that’s what happened here, Detective?” Celestia asked, leaning in closer along with her sister, Novis remaining in the back.

“I don’t think so,” the old stallion adjusted his hat, pointing at specific points on the killing wounds, “Look at these lines. They look like claw-marks, but at the same time, they’re too exact. Now that could indicate a higher level animal. But, at the same time...”

Novis knew that the detective and the princesses were talking, but he had all but muted him out as he stared at the open wounds on the bodies. He felt sick. He felt like the walls were closing in on him all of a sudden, seeking to press him together into mismatched shapes. He glazed his eyes around him, watching as their mouths moved in slow motion, caught in a drugged-like stupor.

“So what then? A non-pony?” Luna asked.

Windmill nodded, “Honestly, it’s hard to say. But I really think so. In fact...”

“Could you please be quiet?” Summerset stared at Windmill, his tone showing it was more of an order than a question, the younger stallion giving an annoyed huff in response.

“Take a look at this bite pattern. What does that remind you of?” he motioned over the wound with a pencil.

Windmill stared for a moment, then puckered his lips and shook his head, “I don’t know what you want me to say, it looks like a bite out of a sandwich.”

“Exactly, like a bite into a sandwich. Clean in the front, jagged to the sides, and wavy in the back,” he said, motioning across the wound with his hoof.

“What are you getting at?” Luna asked, both she, Celestia, and Windmill caught up in his train of thought.

He stared at the bite for a long moment, his mouth agape as he looked up, realization in his eyes, “This wasn’t some animal or monster. This was an equine.”

Luna and Celestia stared at one another in silence, almost as to read each other's thoughts. Windmill narrowed his eyes, giving the marks and patterns a closer look, studying the way the outlined and moved up into the exposed tissue.

“Then, that makes this…” the young detective looked at his elder.

“Murder.”

Celestia grimaced. Immediately, her thoughts drove her back to the night before, and the train ride her student and family had suffered. She thought back, and her thoughts immediately dwelt upon the changelings.

Celestia whispered, “Sister, you don’t think...?”

“Yes. I do.” Luna nodded in recognition.

“Novis, what are…” Celestia began to say, turning to the side before pausing, “Novis?”

Luna shifted around, looking to where Novis had been only to find a vacant spot. The two sisters turned their heads, searching for the stallion. To Celestia, he had completely disappeared, leaving them alone without a whisper. But to Luna, she caught him in the corner of her eye, a flash of blue and white entering one of the opera’s bathrooms. Gazing at her sister, who was still searching in the other direction, Luna let out a sigh, before her body became a mist, slowly fading away into another world.
////
In his mind he could hear them, the voices in his head rising like the coming tide, washing over him like a maelstrom. He started to breathe heavily, clawing for air. Quickly he lit his horn, a little purse popping into existence as he dug into it, pulling out a bottle unscrewing it and downing about three orange pills. He pulled a glass out as well, filling it with water to drink as he stared into the mirror, looking at himself.

He stood in the bathrooms of the theater with his reflection looking back at him, his surroundings as white and clean as himself. He looked down at the little yellow container. The doctor had given these to him. He didn’t know exactly what he was a doctor of, but Twilight had suggested him, dare say she insisted on it, and a doctor was a doctor after all. If the voices called, take the pills. If the visions pulling him from reality, take the pills. This was something he kept to himself, valuing his privacy. But, he wished that it could end.

He looked into the mirror and stared at himself. His eyes looked heavy and strained from too much thought and worry. This was starting to take its toll on him. He had accepted what had happened, that there was nothing he could do, but that didn’t help much. He still had their faces etched in his eyes. He still had their voices echoing in his ears. Some days were better than others, faint and distant like a bad dream forgotten in the morning. Other days were not so kind, screaming at him until he either took the pill our let out his frustrations onto things near to him. He sighed, sniffing steering the water with his hooves before splashing himself in the face with the cool liquid.

“Novis?”

Novis stared forward into the mirror, only to be met with Luna’s gaze. Her face replaced his reflection and blinked, before pressing forward, the glass bending outward like webbing, releasing her head before him, looking at him with a soft expression.

“Are you alright?”

Novis frowned. He wanted to left alone for the moment, and he found her presence rather intrusive. She stared at him with an expectant gaze, waiting for an answer she perceived she should be rewarded with. 

“What do you want?” he said, slightly annoyed.

“Well, I wanted to ask you about what we talked about earlier today,” Luna said, knowing he wasn’t going to take too kindly to this.

“Yes, don’t think I forgot,” he said with a sneer. He was content with telling the truth, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still bitter about it, “Honestly, Princess, after tonight I feel like I just want to get some sleep.” He turned away, wanting to just ignore her to the best of his ability.

“...If you wish, I could lend an ear to whatever troubles you,” she said softly, entering and looking at him softly.

He stopped.

“I know that it's been hard for you, but please, I do want to help,” she said, turning into a mist that pulled out of the mirror, reforming in the bathroom with him, stand there staring.

He remained silent for a moment turning to look at her, her expression softer than it had been before. He was put off a little by her sudden tenderness, how she showed concern for him. Why the change? He turned around and looked at her, then sighed, “That’s...kind of you, but I’d rather not.”

Luna blinked, taking a breath, “Is it that hard? Does the wound go that deep?”

He looked away, avoiding her gaze.

“Novis, I’d like to say something, if you’d give me the time?” she asked, walking to his side, swaying in her step in a smooth and elegant nature.

Novis stared at her dead-eyed but nodded in approval, leaning against the wall waiting to hear what she had to say.

“I’m sorry, I truly am. I shouldn’t have invaded your mind without your knowledge or consent, it was wrong,” she said with eyes honest and regretful, pleading for a response.

“You acted on behalf of the safety of your subjects,” he said, flat and plain.

“That still doesn’t make it right,” Luna admitted, feeling defeated.

Novis sucked in air, looking down at himself. He wanted to be angry, but couldn’t find any justice in it, “No, it doesn't.” he said plainly, with very little energy.

In the silence, he moved away from her, stepping in front of the mirror again, lost in thought. Letting out a sigh, he turned the faucet on and splashed his face with the water, rubbing out the tiredness out of his eyes, seeing her reflection.

“Luna?” he spoke up.

The princess looked at him, her reflection staring back at him through the mirror.

“Thank you.”

He composed himself, drying himself off before returning with Luna. The two stood together, looking at one another, before walking out the door.
////
The atmosphere surrounding Twilight with stiff as she marched towards the chambers, feverishly searching for the mare she desired to talk to. She had spent an hour at the restaurant talking with Flash and had only just returned to the palace, which was when she had heard about what had happened. Now she just wanted to seek her friend out and give her the comfort she knew she would need.

Towards the opening to the chamber, Detective Windmill was waiting for her, flipping through his little notebook making quick scribbles before he put it away, standing erect for her.

“Princess, I would like to ask you a few questions before-”

“Later,” Twilight said, not even looking at him.

“But this is import-” the detective persisted before he caught the two fiery irises staring at him.

“Later!” Twilight snapped, glaring at him as he quickly bowed, knowing when to back down. He could wait, holding his breath as she walked passed him, her mind on one thing and one thing only.

Rarity. The room was heavy around her, cold and foggy. Though rare, some unicorns could affect the environment indirectly by their mood. It was so rare in fact, that even if one could do it, it often was only caused by strong emotion, and even then it was random. The room was dimly lit, the candles finding a hard time to burn in the moist air. She had her head hung though, her back towards the archway where Twilight looked at her with a sad sympathetic pose, lightly making her way over towards the mare.

“Rarity? Can I come in?” she said, more out of politeness than an actual question. She noticed the mare was knitting something, a black suit with little floral designs being stitched into the corners.

“Oh? Twilight…” Rarity said calmly, looking up ever so slightly from her work.

“You okay?” she asked, levitating a teapot over, steam rolling off of it. She poured two cups, offering one to Rarity, who declined, nodding to a cup already filled. Twilight frowned at the cup, the liquid inside long since lost its heat, but let it go, taking her cup and sitting down.

Rarity stayed silent, mulling over the designs lost in thought before she felt a hoof on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Twilight's eyes filled with concern for her. She let out a sigh and nodded, relieving the girl's worries.

Twilight looked around the room, noticing it rather silent, “Where’s Spike?”

“Oh, the officers are still questioning him. Honestly, I think they figured out who he was and won’t let him go until half the empire gets an autograph.” Rarity smiled half-heartedly, imagining him getting swarmed by half of the kingdom.

Twilight grinned at the mental image, sitting down next to the mare on the bed. Rarity gave little indication that she noticed the alicorn sitting so close, eyes locked on the needle and its purpose, the string arching high above her head as she pulled. Twilight watched this in fascination, studying the efficient work of the seamstress. 

“What is that?” she asked, pointing to the black cloth.

“Just a suit. He...he should look his best.” Rarity frowned, staring at the stitching. Twilight glazed over the patterns, pondering her next move.

“You know, if not for Fleur, I would have tried dating him?” Rarity said, suddenly and in passing, thoughtful.

“That seems...a little inappropriate to say right now?” Twilight raised an eyebrow to the mare, surprised at such a statement.

“You misunderstand what I mean.” Rarity shook her head. She was quiet for a moment, pondering over something, “Do you know why I’m with Spike now?”

Twilight was about to answer, but quickly dropped it. Now that she thought about it, she honestly didn’t know. Rarity frowned, clinching the fabric in her magic.

“I’m with him because of his character. I’ve never been able to be with anyone ‘just because’. In fact, that’s been true for any relationship really. Honestly, I’m lucky to have you and the girls, I don’t think I could work properly as the representative of generosity if the other elements had been anypony else.” She said, a sad smile forming on her face from the thought of her friends.

Twilight listened to her in silence.

“But with ponies like Spike, it’s always been because of who they were, here that is,” she patted her chest, “That’s what really mattered to me.”

“What I’m trying to say is that…Fancy was one of the best stallions I’ve ever met,” Rarity sighed, a tear falling from her cheek as the air caught in her throat, “He was my friend.”

Twilight watched as Rarity suddenly broke down, sobbing as she folded her hooves. Twilight offered her a shoulder, Rarity leaning on her friend’s inviting sin as she cried, the question of the night ringing out in her mind.

Why?
////
Twilight sighed as she left Rarity’s room, closing the door behind her. She wished that she could do more, but she took comfort that she wouldn’t be alone. Spike had come back from questioning having to fight off a crowd and was now looking after her, so Twilight decided that she needed to go see Cadence. It was important that the figured out what to do next, and she knew that Cadence would know best how to handle gaining information from the Empire’s subjects.

Turning a corner, she was greeted by the large, wooden frames of the chamber doors, leading to the hall of rooms beyond. She walked slowly forward, searching the rooms for the princess, wondering where she was hidden. She started to become impatient, calling for her as she opened another door.

“Cadence? Cadan-oh!”

Twilight blushed hard as she turned away from the coach where sat Cadence, who was currently feeding her foal. The Princess looked up from her work and stared a Twilight, an expression forming on her face that was a cross between sympathy and humor.

“I’m so sorry! I should have knocked, oh...” Twilight blubbered, her cheeks flashing beat red as her eyes shifting left and right.

“Twilight, it’s fine. I was almost finished, anyway.” Cadence smiled, trying to set herself up, the foul in her arms giving a soft whine. Twilight, however, stayed put right where she was, her back towards the new mother as Cadence gave out a giggle.

“Twilight, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Really.” She said with a smile, albeit that there was ping of uneasiness in her words. Twilight threatened a glance, holding her breath before composing herself, silently walking towards her sister-in-law. Cadence lifted the colt and cradled it, holding him close to her warmth.

Twilight seemed to relax as she focused on the child, a smile soon resurfacing on her lips as she moved forward. She stopped at the end table, peering to look at the colt’s head, his eyes closed and hooves hunched up close to his face, “He’s so adorable.” She whispered, feeling the pride of an aunt.

“He’s perfect,” Cadence responded, grinning before looking up at Twilight, “Now I know how you feel. With Nyx, I mean.”

Twilight nodded, “Well, maybe not entirely. I never got to hold Nyx as a foal. Maybe someday that’ll change.” she mulled, rolling over thoughts in her mind.

“Thinking about the future, are you?” Cadence asked playfully.

Twilight sighed, “Unfortunately, I’m pulled to the present. More specifically, how we need to handle the current situation at hoof.”

Cadence froze for a moment, a dark shadow falling over her eyes before she inhaled, looking at her fellow princess, “Yes...I heard from my guard a while ago. I suppose that is something we must discuss.”

Twilight came forward, sitting in the chair parallel to the coach. She watched closely the movements of her sister-in-law, noting the strange mood she was in that Twilight was unaccustomed to, keeping it close in mind.

“Cadence, I know it isn’t pleasant, but it needs to be discussed. Others could be in danger.” Twilight encouraged, hoping to calm her.

“First Crystalis, then King Sombra, and now this,” Cadence grimaced, her anger starting to rise, “Why? Why can’t they just leave us alone?!”

Twilight gasped. Cadence’s horn sparked and crackled as her temper tittered, threatening to be unleashed upon whatever was closest to the mare. The static flickered against the shadows of the room, illuminating their surrounds in an ill light as the baby began to whine.

“Cadence!” Twilight shouted.

Cadence stared at Twilight in confusion, then snapped out of her anger fueled trance as she shook her head, sheepishly holding her foal close, comforting it until it quieted down.

Cadence sighed, staring at Twilight, “I’m...I’m sorry. I’m just so angry. Why did this happen? The Crystal Heart is supposed to keep us safe.”

Cadence wiped a tear from her eyes, her frustration and her fears combining as she sobbed, nuzzling her foal,  “How can I protect him if I somepony can just walk into my city and kill?”

“Cadence, I understand.”

Cadence looked up, surprised by Twilight’s response as the lavender pony looked off to the side, contemplating the words in her mind. Cadence wondered what she was going to say, but waited patiently for an answer, knowing that she needed her time to construct what she wanted to say.

“Did I ever tell you about Nyx’s field trip to Baltimare?” Twilight asked, earning a shaking head in reply, “I didn’t think so.”

“Well, a little over a year ago, Ponyville’s elementary school had gotten a boost in funding from an increase in tourism. Turns out having two castles in the same small town pulls pony’s interests. Anyway, Mr. Cheerilee decided to use the funds to pay for a trip to Baltimare so students could learn about the city’s rich history.”

Cadence smiled, “That sounds wonderful.”

Twilight shifted her eyes, her ears drooping a bit, “Yes, it would have been.”

Cadence frowned, not knowing where this was going, “What happened?”

Twilight tensed, “One of Nyx’s fellow students, the local school bully, got lost in an alleyway and got caught by gutter trash,” Twilight’s nose wrinkled, her expression forming a scowl, “Nyx found her and tried to help, and they...”

Twilight bit her lip, rage bleeding from her eyes, “They almost took my little girl away from me.”

“Oh my god,” Cadence put her hoof to her mouth, feeling sorry for the poor thing.

“Thank Celestia Cheerilee was there to protect them both, but they got away. And...” Twilight hung her head, sighing, “I think about what happened. They found out who she was, and the things they wanted to do with her. It’s just...”

“Twilight...” Cadence lowered her gaze, a sad expression born on her brows.

Twilight shook her head, composing herself, “Ever since then, I’ve kept an eye on her every moment I can. I don’t think she even knows, but I just...I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to her.”

“So know that I mean it when I say that I understand,” Twilight gave her sad smile, brushing her cheeks. She got up, sitting down on the couch next to Cadence, leaning her head on her shoulder, “To have that feeling of helplessness, not knowing what to do. To kill whatever tries to take what you love away. But you have to be strong. Strong for him” She motioned to the sleeping colt.

“And...” Twilight added, pulling out a small wooden box from her bag, “I think I have something that’ll lighten the mood.”

Cadence stared inquisitively at the box, raising an eyebrow, “What is that?”

“You know, I really don’t know,” Twilight inspected the wooden frame, holding it in her magic, “Novis said it was for the baby, but he didn’t really explain it all too well.”

“A gift from Novis? That stallion Aunty was talking about?” Cadence asked, gaining a nod from Twilight.

“He said that it was a traditional gift for firstborn royals in his time, but…” she bit her lip, fumbling with the latch, her face close to the opening before it shot open, a ring of rainbow light pulsing from the lid.

“Eep!” Both mares jumped at the sudden flash of light, startled further as a form began to take shape above the open box, colors of oranges, blues, and green stitching themselves together. Two glowing amber eyes formed among the colors, opening and blinking before they erupted, the form becoming solid. There, floating in front of them, stood a slender formed fairy, bipedal in form blinking at them with a smile on its face. The fairy fluttered its dragonfly-like wings as it put its hands behind its back, leaning up on its toes.

“Hello!” she beamed, her voice high pitched and bubbly.

Twilight and Cadence stared in awe at the small creature, her bouncy personality elating a pleasant aura around her. She ran her hands over her body and through her hair, stopping to caress the horns that sprouted from the sides of her head.

“What...what are you?” Cadence asked inquisitively, focused on those buzzing transparent wings.

“I’m a Paradel, silly.” the little sprite giggled, hovering in the air in front of their eyes with a wide open smile. Her gaze lasted for several moments, before a soft whimper came from Cadence’s arms, drawing its attention, “Oh! Is this the little one?”

The fairy reached forward to touch the child, only for Cadence to reluctantly recoil, pulling her baby away.

“What are you doing?” Cendence said at once, unsure and suspicious of the new entity before her.

The little thing huffed in annoyance, blowing away a strand of her hair from her eyes, “I’m only doing my job. I’m a paradel, after all!”

“And, what exactly is a paradel?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow, studying the creature’s unique movements.

The sprite looked at her in surprise, her cheeks puffing out like she was offended, “You don’t know? I’m one of the best charms ever created by Fontijzena mages, guarantee!” she said with a proud puff of her chest.

Twilight’s eyes widened in marvel, her curiosity stroked, “A charm? Then, you’re not-?”

“Real? No,” she smiled, not at all in the least bit upset by this truth, “I’m an illusion, meant to respond and take responses.”

“Well, what exactly do you do?” Cadence asked.

The sprite smirked, “I’ll give you any advice you need, always! You know, that little voice in your head that tells you something’s right or wrong.” she hummed, her wings vibrating, “I’ll give wisdom when you’re unsure where to go, what to do, what to feel.”

“You’re a wisdom charm?!” Twilight exclaimed, clapping her hooves together in both realization and glee, “I’ve never seen one like you before!”

“Oh, so you DO know what I am!” she playfully stuck her tongue out, smiling happily, “So! I’ve got a job to do, don’t I?” She said, looking at the colt.

Cadence relaxed a little, yet hesitated, concerned for the child, “It...won’t hurt, will it?” she asked, gaining a giggle from the little thing.

“New parents, always so worried!” was her response. Cadence sighed, then looked to Twilight to confirm if it was safe. Twilight nodded her head, confident Novis wouldn’t have given her anything that might harm her nephew, which was enough for Cadence as she presented the child to the Paradel.

She beamed, before taking her little hands and lifting them up to her head, the curved twin horns above her eyes glowing hot white as she dissolved, breathing a cheerful goodbye before her body became a golden dust, blowing onto the sleeping colt as he yawned and sneezed.

Cadence smiled, sighing as she leaned back onto the couch, cradling the foal as she thought, looking over at her sister-in-law.

“Twilight, I want to thank you,” she began. Twilight looking up at her, craning her head as she smiled warmly, “I’ll hold your words to heart, no matter what happens. I’ll try to stay strong, for him.”

“I’d say that’s rather valiant of you,” Twilight said, pondering as she took out some notes that she had brought with her and began looking them over, tapping a pencil against the paper.

“Hmm.” Cadance hummed, pondering in the quiet of the room, as she lovingly brushed away the hair of the baby’s mane, looking at him consideringly.

“Valiant.”
////