Episode 8: Festival of Love
(Canterlot, 8 Months Earlier)
Princess Cadance had been summoned to Canterlot Palace, the message she received said it was urgent and that it was of the utmost importance that this be kept secret. It was a little disconcerting to receive such a message from her Aunt, the last time she got a letter like that it was to go to the Crystal Empire and protect it from King Sombra. She could only imagine what new threat was popping up. Currently the Princess of Love was in her royal carriage pulled by two pegasi, this time alone allowed her to contemplate just what the situation was.
Let’s see, Chrysalis trying to take over again? Possible. Aunt Luna being taken over by Nightmare Moon again…highly unlikely, but plausible. Discord causing trouble, again? Even more likely, but I wouldn’t discount it just yet. That incident with Sunset Shimmer was resolved, but you never know. Oh well, guess I’ll find out soon enough.
The carriage had entered Canterlot airspace and was making its way towards the landing site. Once the carriage touched down Cadance was greeted by the sight of the mare she once foal sat for, who had last year been ascended to an alicorn and crowned Princess.
“Twilight!”
“Cadance!”
Both mares quickly trotted towards each other and hugged. “It’s been awhile Ladybug; we really need to get together more often when there isn’t a crisis.”
Twilight giggled, “I agree whole heartedly. C’mon, the Princesses are waiting for us inside.”
Cadance and Twilight trotted casually towards the doorway, once inside the large double doors closed with a great THUD. The two grown mares gave each other a sideways glance. Twilight raised an eyebrow, Cadance did the same. The two alicorn mares then did a quick scan of the area, and after confirming that there was no pony in sight, they started their little ritual.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake!”
Both Cadance and Twilight began to laugh, as old as they were; this little ritual between them that started when they were younger hadn’t lost its flare. And both suspected that they would probably continue doing this even when they were way older. Afterwards, the two of them trotted down the hall, heading in the direction of the throne room. Twilight gave her sister-in-law an inquisitive look.
“Hey Cadance, you think we’re getting a little too old to be doing that,” asked Twilight.
The pink alicorn stared off into space, pretending to seriously think about it, which took all of ten seconds.
“Nah!”
The confirmation put a smile on her little sister-in-law’s face, something that always made Cadance smile as well. As they made their way down the hall, now passing by the main commons area, Cadance couldn’t help but wonder about something. She used a little of her magic, sensing something within Twilight. A slight magical peek into the lavender alicorn’s heart revealed something that made Cadance gasp with joy, startling Twilight.
“What, what’s wrong!?”
“You’re in love with somepony aren’t you,” asked Cadance.
“WHAT!? How did you – I never told –!” It took a second for Twilight to realize the “how.” “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, did you look into my heart!?”
“Hmm, just a peek,” she said with a devilish grin, “but I didn’t see who it was, only that you are in love.”
Twilight sighed.
“So are you going to tell me who your special somepony is?”
The younger alicorn seemed to blush and stared away from Cadance.
“Twilight…?”
“It’s just…the pony I like is…well…isn’t what you might call a traditional special somepony…”
“Ladybug, if there’s anypony who wouldn’t judge you, it would be me. I know love doesn’t have any boundaries, and you can’t help who you fall in love with, but, if you don’t want to tell me that’s fine.”
Twilight looked up at Cadance, smiling and relieved by her words. “Thank you.” Twilight stepped a bit closer and nuzzled Cadance neck.
“No problem.” Cadance nuzzled the top of Twilight’s head, returning the affection. “So, is it a stallion or a mare?”
“…Mare…”
“I knew it!” Cadance whispered.
“What was that?!”
“Nothing.”
Soon the two alicorns reached the doors of the throne room, Royal Guards were stationed out front, as per usual. The two unicorns used their magic to open the way for the two Princesses, inside were Celestia and Luna, they seemed to be having a conversation, talking low as to not let prying ears hear them. Their attention was now brought to the two Princesses who entered the throne room, the doors closing behind them as they trotted further into inside.
“Twilight, Cadance, I’m glad you were able to make it on such short notice,” said Celestia.
“It’s no problem Princess, from what your letter said, how could we not come quickly,” said Twilight.
Cadance glanced over towards Luna; she scanned her form and sighed in relief. Oh thank goodness, Aunt Luna hasn’t turned into Nightmare Moon. Well, at least I can scratch that off my “Worst Case Scenarios” list.
“Niece, is there something wrong?” Luna asked, now noticing the relieved expression directed towards her.
Cadance quickly regained her composure and smiled guiltily, “No, no, I’m fine! So, uh, ahem, what is threatening Equestria, exactly?”
Both Celestia and Luna looked at each other, and then back at Twilight and Cadance.
“There isn’t any threat to Equestria,” said Celestia.
“Seriously,” asked Cadance.
“None at all,” answered Luna.
“Then why the urgency,” asked Twilight.
“That answer will come in the next ten seconds, which reminds me.” Celestia’s horn flashed with a bright magical glow, a wave of energy was sent throughout the room, layering on top of it.
A sound damping spell, whatever Aunty Celestia and Luna want to discuss must be really important –
Cadance’s train of thought was interrupted when a bright light lit up the room. Cadance squinted her eyes in order to see, it didn’t come from Twilight, or from Celestia, or Luna. The light seemed to emanate from the center of the room. The light finally dimmed down enough for all of them to open their eyes. Cadance and Twilight let out an audible gasp.
There was being before them, white as snow. Its features were alien in origin, his lower body was covered in white cloth, and giant feathered wings on its back. Cadance could feel this creature wielded immense power, more than Celestia and Luna combined, and possibly even more than Twilight. Speaking of, Twilight seemed to sense the amount of power this creature possessed, being more attuned to magic than she was. The creature seemed to give them a gentle smile, to which Celestia and Luna returned in kind.
“Celestia, Luna, it’s been a long time,” said the being.
“Too long great Entity,” said Luna.
“P-Princess Celestia, who is this!?” Twilight asked in shock.
“Do not be frightened Twilight Sparkle, I mean you no harm. I am the Life Entity, I from whom all life was created,” said the Life Entity.
“All life…?” Cadance asked.
“Correct Mi Amore Cadenza – sorry – Cadance.”
“You know our names too!?” Twilight gasped.
“He knows the names of all living things, because his light gave life to Equestria, as well as many other worlds,” said Celestia.
Both Cadance and Twilight looked upon the Life Entity once more; there was a symbol on its chest that they missed before. It was a triangle, with an arch above it, and seven lines radiating from it. They just couldn’t believe what they were seeing; this alien being before them was really the source of all life itself. It’d be hard not to believe it, with the amount of power they could feel radiating from the Life Entity, and it couldn’t be anything less than godlike.
“We got your message old friend, tell us, why is it that you needed to meet us,” asked Luna.
The Life Entity became saddened, his white light dimmed slightly as if reacting to his change in emotion.
“I seek refuge, not for myself, but for four of my fellow entities.”
Cadance’s head was spinning, and from the looks of it, so was Twilight’s. “Okay, back up, there are more!?”
The Life Entity, Celesita, and Luna all glanced at each other coming to a consensus.
“Perhaps it is better if we start at the beginning,” said Luna.
And so they did, the story was told of how the universe came into existence. How when the universe was filled with light, and from that light were born the Emotional Spectrum. Seven other entities were created when the first creatures to come into existence felt different things. Rage was born from the first murder, fear from the first being afraid to die, avarice from the first temptation, willpower from the first to move, hope from the first prayer, compassion from when rage and hope entered the universe, and love came into existence before that.
The telling of this information was more than a little shocking; it was basically rocking their world view. Everything Cadance and Twilight knew about Equestria, the universe, was mostly and irrevocably shattered at that moment.
“The seven emotions have entities, similar to me, who embody them, and give power to those who wield that light. A great battle has been waged in the universe where we reside, currently they are freed, but I wish to find them all places where they can find peace. And for four of them, I decided that Equestria was the best fit for them,” said the Life Entity.
“Surely you wouldn’t call this place home to Rage, Avarice, and Fear, so you must mean the other entities,” said Celestia.
“Yes.” The Entity held out its hand, before four spheres of light appeared, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Inside each sphere was the image of infant creatures. “Ion, Entity of Willpower, Adara, Entity of Hope, Proselyte, Entity of Compassion, and Preadtor, Entity of Love, here on your world is where I believe they can live peacefully, away from the conflicts that threaten them. I come here asking for permission for them to live in your world, and if you would, watch over them?”
“Hence the reason why we called you two here,” said Luna.
“We are not the only rulers, Twilight, Cadance, you are also royalty, and therefore have just as much authority to grant permission, we wish to be in accordance,” said Celestia.
Cadance and Twilight looked to each other; they didn’t know what to say. It was obvious that Celestia and Luna were going to give the Life Entity their permission. The two alicorn mares looked at the four spheres, the energies being emitted from them drifted through them. Cadance felt herself drawn to the violet sphere, and the creature held within. It felt confused, fierce, and lonely.
“Twilight, what do you think,” asked Cadance.
The Princess of Magic looked up to the Life Entity, and then to the four spheres. After about a minute of silence, Twilight came to a decision.
“I can see that you don’t mean any harm, and I trust the Princesses. Plus as powerful as you are, if you really wanted to you could just do whatever you want without asking for our permission. So, you have my permission.”
“The same goes for me,” said Cadance.
The Entity smiled down at the two mares, “Thank you. It will take me a few weeks to insert them into your world’s Life Web, and a day to craft them bodies.”
“We will grant you access to the Canterlot Mines under the city, you’ll be able to work in private there, undisturbed,” said Celestia.
“Thank you.” The Life Entity’s eyes then fell on Cadance, “Princess Cadance, may I have a word with you,” he asked, gesturing with his left hand
Cadance suddenly became very nervous. She glanced over to Celestia and Luna, neither of them seemed worried, Twilight appeared to be just as nervous, but appeared to be ready to spring to her defense should anything occur. The Princess of Love then looked up at the Life Entity and nodded her response. She carefully trotted over to him, pulling up to his left side. The Life Entity then began to float a bit further from the other alicorn mares, keeping his left hand hovering over Candance’s back as if to shepherd her in his direction.
Cadance believed that being this close to such an omni-powerful being would feel oppressing, but it was just the opposite. The light from his body felt gentle and powerful. The Life Entity brought his right wing close to his right hand; he then allowed the indigo, green, and blue spheres to be cradled in his downy white wing.
“I saw you looking at this one,” he said.
“O-Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to –!”
“No, no, it is fine. I’m not surprised your eyes were drawn to this particular sphere. The entity that resides in this sphere is fierce, intimidating, but confused, and almost childish. Her name is Predator.”
“Sounds…strange, which emotion does she represent, something dangerous I presume," asked Cadance.
A bemused smirk appeared on the Life Entity’s face, “No my dear, Predator and you share the same talent, she is the Entity of Love.”
Cadance stopped walking, her left eye twitching as she looked at the sphere and saw the sleeping, raptor-like creature wiggle and squirm as if it were dreaming. She couldn’t believe it, this little creature was the progenitor of all love energy, and it was named “Predator!?”
“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to I…” Cadance hung her head low, ashamed of assuming that the creature inside was of some kind of monster of destruction.
“I hold no ill will towards you, Cadance. But there is something that I want to ask of you.” Cadance looked up once again. “The seven are, in a sense, my children, wielding different shades of the unified light I wield. I have been dormant for many years, but certain events have reawakened me. Like a parent, I worry for my spawn, in particular this little one.” The Life Entity brought Predator’s sphere closer to Cadance. “Predator may be the Entity of Love, but…she has trouble understanding love.”
“I don’t follow, what is it that you wish for me to do,” asked Cadance.
“Princess Cadance, I would like to ask you to look after Predator personally. Teach her what love truly means, and what it is to love. She has combined her power with multiple hosts, and her views of love have been skewed. I can think of no other for this task, but it is your choice in the end…”
(Present Day)
“…Cadance…Cadance…CADANCE!”
The pink alicorn was snapped out of her thoughts, frantically jerking her head from side to side as if expecting to be attacked.
“Who – what – I – huh!?”
Predator, who was sitting across from Cadance, giggled a bit as she watched her startled mentor/teacher/friend look around the carriage as if she had missed something important. When she realized that nothing was wrong Cadance blushed in embarrassment, which only served to make Predator giggle more.
“You seemed deep in thought, Cadance. Were you daydreaming about Shining Armor,” she teased.
“No, I wasn’t, Predator,” replied Cadance.
“Oh, then maybe it was about a past coltfriend…or perhaps a marefriend?” Predator began to form a devilish grin.
Cadance’s blush deepened as she tried to keep her wings from flaring out instinctually. After a few shakes of the head, Cadance cleared her throat loudly and composed herself before speaking to Predator.
“No, and if you must know, I was actually thinking about the day I first met the Life Entity, and the day he asked me to teach you what love is.”
Predator’s grin faded upon hearing that, her expression becoming less gleeful as she turned to look out the carriage window. The Princess of Love found that bringing up the subject often put her into this kind of mood. Although the Life Entity had informed Predator of why Cadance was to look after her, the notion of Cadance teaching the cosmic origin of all love energy what love is was a monumental task in her mind. But for Predator, the topic made her a little sad, and less talkative.
“So…you, uh, never told me why we’re heading to Canterlot today. Is it for something important,” asked Predator.
Cadance smiled, “I think you’re going to enjoy it. Do you remember when I was telling you about Hearts and Hooves Day?” Predator nodded an affirmative. “Well, every year in Canterlot, on Hearts and Hooves Day, the city throws a big festival, which is simply called, for a lack of better term, the Love Festival. A day full of activities for couples to come and enjoy the day in one of Equestria’s top romantic destinations, there’ll be games, entertainment, and a whole bunch of different things!”
Predator seemed to brighten up upon hearing this, her smile even returned as a twinkle of excitement flashed in her eyes. “That…That actually sounds like fun; I can’t wait to get there! Wait a minute, if this is for couples then why are we going together – not that I don’t mind, a romantic date with you sounds rather fun – but shouldn’t you and Shining Armor be going to this instead?”
As much as Cadance wanted to jump on Predator and ask her about that “romantic date” bit, she decided to let it slide, for the moment. “I would like to have brought Shining Armor too, but the Crystal Empire can’t have both its rulers gone, somepony has to stay behind and make sure there’s still an empire to come back to. And besides, ever since I became a Princess and it was known that my special talent was love, the ponies around Canterlot officially declared me Master of Ceremonies.”
“And that is why you are going?”
“Yes, and the reason you’re going also is because a: you are technically my apprentice, as far as anypony is concerned, and b: I think you’ll enjoy it.” Predator opened her mouth but Cadance was quick to answer, “And no it is not a date whatsoever.” Predator frowned slightly. “Okay, maybe it is one – a date between friends, got it!?”
The pink unicorn mare happily shook her head in agreement. The carriage finally came to a stop, alerting Cadance that they had arrived to at their destination. The Adamant Knight Guards quickly opened the door to the carriage and allowed Princess Cadance and Predator to disembark. Predator’s eyes opened in wide astonishment at what she was seeing.
“This is how Canterlot does Hearts and Hooves Day.”
Most of downtown Canterlot had been transformed into a giant festival ground. Booths lined up many of the sidewalks, everything from games, food, and a few kissing booths as well. Rides were scattered about, teacup rides, a giant Ferris wheel, and of course a Tunnel of Love, there was a long line for that. As Cadance and Predator walked down the street she couldn’t help but notice how all the ponies were looking straight at them, the teenage mare did her best to stay close to Cadance, maintaining the guise of apprentice, and holding herself with a certain level of dignity that came with such a title.
Predator couldn’t help but marvel at how much love energy was being emitted from this one location. It was in the air, in the ground, indeed every molecule that drifted in the ether. Such a display almost made the pink pony bounce from the happiness of it all. Cadance noticed how giddy the mare beside was getting and it brought a smile to her face.
“I guess you can sense it too, huh Star?” Predator didn’t respond. “Star…? Star…! STAR!?”
Oh wait, that’s me – ugh, I keep forgetting! “Sorry Ca – I mean, sorry Princess Cadance. But yes I do! There’s so much love energy it’s much different from that of Zamaron!”
Cadance gave the young unicorn a confused look, “‘Zamaron?’”
“Never mind.”
Princess Cadance and Predator kept walking through the crowd, heading towards a makeshift throne that was prepared for the two mares. Predator couldn’t help but looked into the sea of ponies; each was standing close to another, some with their tails intertwined with another’s. Mares with mares, stallions with mares, and, although secretly, stallions with other stallions, Predator was also acutely aware of groups of four or three who seemed to be emitting equal amounts of love energy towards each other.
The two mares finally made it to the stage where Cadance’s throne awaited. Once on the stage, Cadance walked up to the microphone that had been prepared in advance for her arrival. She then cleared her throat a prepared to address everypony.
“Hello everypony, and welcome to the Canterlot Love Festival. I would like to thank all of the couples who ventured here to join in the celebration of love and happiness!” The crowd cheered in response. “Enjoy the festivities and when you depart, I hope that your bonds of love will have strengthened even more!”
Cadance charged her horn; light-blue mana began to flare as she fired a beam straight into the air. The beam soared higher and higher till Cadance decided it was high enough. She then released the energy, causing the beam to collect in the air and explode into a giant sparkling heart in the sky. Many of the couples looked up and stared in awe of the giant symbol of love, causing a few to nuzzle their companions out of affection.
Once the announcement was made, many went back to enjoying the festival. Cadance and Predator sat atop the stage, watching the couples take part in some of the activities. The two of them were getting their fair share of ogling while perched on the makeshift thrones. The fact that Cadance was married didn’t deter some of the stallions and mares, and neither did it deter them from staring at her young protégé. The whole while Predator couldn’t help but look at each of them, she especially couldn’t help but bring her eyes to the groups.
“Cadance,” she whispered, “I sense a lot of love energy coming from that group of ponies,” Predator pointed a hoof at a particular group of ponies, two were pegasi, one was a unicorn, and the other an earth pony. “Strange thing is it seems to be a shared amount of love between them, why is that?”
Princess Cadance couldn’t help but giggle at Predator’s question. “That’s probably because they’re in a herd, Predator.”
“Herd? What’s that?”
Cadance pondered this question, she was going to teach Predator about Equestrian Relationships when they got back, but she figured giving her a little info here wouldn’t hurt the lessons later.
“Herds are actually rare, well I say rare because many don’t openly admit to them. You see, Herds are formed when one or more consenting ponies decide they don’t mind sharing a lover, or lovers. It usually happens when one pony loves another pony, but still has feelings for a second. If both are in agreement and show that they can not only share their partner, but also show mutual respect for the first significant other. They can all from one herd, a mix of tribes, all mares, in some cases all stallions, and of course a mixture of both,” explained Cadance.
Something about this topic seemed to make Predator’s eyes gleam with excitement. “Really, but why do they seem like their trying to hide the fact they are in a herd!? It sounds like something wonderful! I’ve often heard of ponies who confess their love but their feelings are not returned because they are already in a relationship. This sounds like a perfect way to settle such things!”
Cadances smile weakened slightly, “Well…It’s not very accepted. While the laws regarding herding still stand they are from an older time in Equestrian history. Though the laws haven’t been changed, herding has slowly been on the decline in favor of more monogamous relationships. Some see the idea of multiple partners as selfish and unacceptable, thinking that their trying to bring back the old days of Equestria. Because of this, many ponies who seek herding as a means to keep their shared love alive must do so in secret. So, while it isn’t against the law per se, it is a kind of social stigma.”
Predator’s eyes seem to narrow upon hearing this information, a low growl rumbling in her throat. “How dare they!? What right do others have to say how they express their love is wrong!? They should not have to hide it! Love is not something to be kept in the dark or ashamed of!”
Cadance quickly placed hoof on Predator’s shoulder, trying to calm the mare down before she went into a frenzy and transformed in the middle of all the festival.
“I know Predator, it’s not fair, believe me I know. But that’s just how others think. We haven’t the right to tell them that one way is better than the other…”
Predator snorted, she then rose from her smaller throne and started to make her way backstage. “I’m going for a walk, Cadance. I’ll be back later, is that alright?”
Cadance nodded, prompting Predator to begin to take her leave. It was then that the pink alicorn thought that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to leave Predator to her own devices. Alone, in the middle of a festival dedicated to love, with hundreds of ponies who practically wreaked of the amorous energy…Maybe it’ll be alright, besides, how much trouble can she get into…? Cadance let out an audible gulp.
Predator began walking through the festival grounds. She was still a bit miffed about what Cadance had told her. The Entity of Love didn’t understand why others would persecute another sentient beings’ right to express their love towards those they care for. While walking through the grounds, head down, not really watching where she was going, Predator suddenly ran into somepony, causing her to fall backwards onto the ground.
“Sorry, sorry, my bad, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” apologized Predator.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re go…ing…Star Sapphire?”
Predator shot up straight, cocking her head to the side in confusion. She finally rested her eyes on the pony she knocked over. It was a sun-yellow unicorn mare, with a red mane and yellow highlights. Her teal eyes stared at the young unicorn as if wondering if the knock on her head was harder than she originally thought.
“Sunset Shimmer!? Wow, what’re you doing here!?” Predator asked excitedly.
“I…I was…I…I don’t know anymore…” Whatever retort Sunset was about throw at Predator died out before it even was voiced. Her gaze was downcast and her ears were flat against her skull.
Predator looked at the older mare quizzically, “Sunset are you alright?”
“Not really…no…”
Predator eyes shifted for a moment, shimmering with a tint of violet-pink energy. She could sense something inside this mare, she was hurting, in her heart. She had lost love.
“Why don’t we walk around for a bit,” she suggested.
“Uh, yeah, I’m not going to walk around with a sixteen-year-old mare, in a festival for couples!
“Why not?”
“I’m twenty-one, and you’re jailbait,” Sunset deadpanned.
“But, Princess Twilight said that you were the same age as me –?”
“Parallel world me might be, but Equestria me isn’t, I don’t make the rules how I end up on the other side, I just happen to look like that.”
Predator just sighed, “Oh c’mon, I’ll buy!”
Sunset opened her mouth to once again deny the mare, but after hearing that she decided to change her tune. “Fine…”
With an elated smile, Predator and Sunset trotted off to one of the more fancy restaurants nearby. The two mares then found themselves at a nearby outdoor restaurant and then sat on a couple of cushions across from each other. Sunset ordered some wine for herself, and also ordered some water, exclusively, for Predator.
The pink mare found Sunset Shimmer fascinating. She was the only pony in Equestria, besides Twilight Sparkle, who had knowledge of humans. Granted it was a parallel version of Equestria, but regardless it was filled with humans. The first time she saw Sunset jump out that mirror it did spook her a bit, but she quickly got over it and became more inquisitive than anything. Although, right now, Sunset’s heart seemed to be aching, at least that’s what her power was telling her.
“So, what happened,” asked Predator.
“Nothing ‘happened,’ I’m just having a bit of an off day,” replied Sunset.
“Why’s that, on such a day as this I would think happiness would be infectious,” she beamed.
The sun-yellow unicorn couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that statement. “Look, if you really want to know. I just found out that the mare I had a crush on…and somewhat hurt a while back…doesn’t really like me that way! Not that I blame her…after what I did in the other world…and after what I said to her before I left…” Sunset took a sip of the wine, downing the contents in one go.
Predator was starting to get curious as to the mare in question, so, secretly; she used her power to gleam into Sunset’s heart. Not fully, just enough to get an image of the object of her affection. Within her mind a picture started to form. A tall mare, white as snow, with a flowing mane and tail, wings…a horn…and gentle magenta colored eyes. Predator gasped and placed her hooves over her mouth, looking at Sunset with a surprised expression.
“You have feelings for Princess Celestia!” Predator gasped.
Unfortunately, Sunset was taking a sip of wine at that moment and spat the contents in her mouth out. Luckily, Predator had learned how to cast a quick-fire barrier to block the wine from reaching her. Sunset coughed a bit more before she regained her composure.
“I never said that! How did you even –!?” Sunset took a moment to think it over, arriving at a conclusion pretty quick. “You used some kind of spell, right!? Or does that have something to do with your special talent!?”
Predator shrugged innocently.
“Whatever!” Sunset threw her forelegs up in defeat. “Yeah, alright, I did…”
“Did, as in past tense?”
Sunset sighed sadly, “I was an idiot for even trying. Of course she wouldn’t like me back, not after what I did! I turned my back on her teachings, ran away to another world, plotted world domination, and stole an Element of Harmony in order to take over Equestria!
Anypony in their right mind wouldn’t even think about being near me!” The sun-yellow unicorn glanced over at Predator. “Well…anypony but you, apparently.”
It should be noted that many of the patrons heard Sunset’s little rant, making some scoot their tables just a bit further away from the two unicorns. There were also some Royal Guards eyeing her suspiciously at the same time.
“Sunset you shouldn’t just give up on love, and I’m sure that Princess Celestia still cares about you,” said Predator.
“That’s exactly what she said. ‘She couldn’t return my affections, but she still cares greatly for me…’” Sunset scoffed dejectedly, “Not like I care…I almost expected it to happen…But still…I guess it was foalish of me to think that she’d feel the same. Faust, I can’t believe I did that, acting like such a schoolfilly!”
Sunset poured herself another glass of wine, downed its contents, and did so again for the fourth time.
“Well you can’t just give up, I mean, it is Hearts and Hooves Day! Maybe we can find your special somepony here at the festival,” suggested Predator.
“Your optimism is…annoying.” She downed a fifth glass, and still not drunk yet. Sunset then eyed the teenage mare up down as if sizing her up. “You up for a one night stand?”
“It’s the middle of the day –”
“Okay a one day stand then?”
“Um, what do those mean, exactly,” asked Predator.
Sunset couldn’t help but facehoof herself. “As a gesture of my changed ways, I’m just going to drop it, also forget I ever asked.”
“Okay, now, back to finding you a special somepony!”
Sunset groaned, this mare was determined, of that she was certain of. Predator however ignored Sunset’s annoyed noise and happily rose up from her cushion. “C’mon, Hearts and Hooves Day only lasts, well, today! No pony should be alone on this day! Not on my watch!”
Before Sunset could offer protest, she found herself wrapped in Predator’s telekinetic aura, lifting the poor mare into the air and dragging her away from her bottle of wine. Predator then trotted nonchalantly, as if toting a mare around in a telekinetic field of magic was the most natural thing in the world. Several times did Sunset try to free herself, but she found that the young mare had a strong magical hold around her. After groaning and grunting in frustration many times, the former student of Celestia just gave up.
“Oh, what about that mare, the one with the lyre cutie mark, she looks cute,” asked Predator while pointing a hoof at her target.
Sunset humored the overzealous unicorn and looked in the direction she was pointing. “No.”
“Ah, why not!?”
“For one thing, she looks like she’d annoy the Tartarus out of me, and two: she’s taken,” Sunset explained.
Predator took another look at the mint-green unicorn and saw that she was affectionately nuzzling an earth pony mare with a three candy drops cutie mark. Her ears fell in disappointment, “Oh, sorry Sunset – On to the next!”
For the latter part of three hours, Predator dragged Sunset Shimmer around the festival grounds, pointing out, in Sunset’s opinion, some attractive mares. But still, none of them caught her eye. This however did not deter the Entity of Love, as the apprentice of Princess Cadance, and the embodiment of love itself, she was determined to find this grumpy mare her soulmate! Whether she liked it or not, and she didn’t. And so, after much protest, Sunset was able to convince Predator to let her walk of her own accord, after promising that she wouldn’t run or teleport away.
Taking a break from their search, the two unicorns decided to rest up on a nearby bench. Across from them, there was a miniature stage where couples were quickly gathering for a show to start. Predator sighed; a bit disappointed that she wasn’t able to find a decent match for her companion.
“Sorry, Sunset, I thought that last one would be the one, guess I’m not so good at this matchmaker thing,” said Predator.
“Let’s see…for an apprentice of Princess Cadance, the alicorn of love and ruler of the Crystal Empire, not very – no.” Sunset Shimmer saw the frown that formed on the younger’s lips, to which she quickly added, “But you gave it your best, alright. Not every mare’s love troubles can be fixed in one day.” Sunset bumped her shoulder against the Predator’s, making the pink unicorn beam with renewed vigor.
“Thanks, maybe we should try –!”
“Mares and gentlecolts!” A boisterous voice cut off Predator, making both mares stare at the stage just a few feet away. The crowd of couples seemed excited by what was about to happen. “Today and today only, the greatest magician in Equestria will perform feats of magic that will dazzle and excite you! So all you happy little couples, give a round of applauds for the Great and Powerful Trixie!”
A big puff of pink smoke burst upon the stage, at the same time firecrackers and pinwheel rockets flared up and sputtered their multicolored flames. From the smoke emerged an azure unicorn mare, with a shiny silver mane and tail, and wearing a star spangled wizards hat and cloak. Sunset and Predator watched from the bench, something about her reminded Sunset of a girl she saw back in the Parallel World, particularly her magenta eyes, which held within them a boundless confidence and a hint of superiority not akin to Sunset’s.
Predator felt a slight spark of love emanate from Sunset; she tapped her hoof to her chin, wondering if something might come out of this. “Let’s take a closer look.”
“W-What!?”
There it was again, “C’mon, a little entertainment never hurt a mare. Besides you could use it.”
Predator lit up her horn in preparation to tote Sunset over towards the crowd. The sun-yellow mare saw what was about to happen and quickly rose to her hooves and began to walk towards the crowd, not wanting to be suspended in the air twice in one day.
Trixie began her magic tricks, some pyrotechnic work that impressed Sunset; she used the minimalist amount of magic, while still putting on quite a light show. However, when she started doing audience participation things went a little south. The azure unicorn tried her hoof at tarot card reading, trying to predict the futures of the lovers that had come up to her stage. It ended with her predicting, for one couple, that they would both die a horrible, agonizing death at the claws of a pack of timberwolves. Trixie tried to play it off as a joke, but Sunset could tell that she was hiding the fact that she had no idea what she was doing.
Her next trick involved sawing a pony in half. The mint-green unicorn from earlier volunteered her paramour to be sawed, even after the earth pony mare refused vehemently, she still found herself in the box. It was then that the showmare produced a long, rusty, dull looking saw.
“Now this shouldn’t hurt, much,” said Trixie with a devilish smile.
“Lyra, whatever I did to make you put me through this torture, I swear to Celestia I’m sorry,” pleaded the mare.
“Bonny come on, it’s just a magic show. Try and enjoy it,” said Lyra.
“You do know who she is, right!?”
“Yeah, and?”
“Enough talk, now let us begin!” Trixie proclaimed.
The sound of slicing wood started to fill the air; the pony crowd winced and averted their gazes, afraid that the trick might actually turn into a disaster. Bon-Bon, or Bonny as her marefriend called her, watched in horror as the saw blade continued to cut down, inch by agonizing inch, getting closer and closer to her midsection. It was then that Sunset saw something that made her curious; there was a very brief flash of light from her horn.
“What’s wrong, Sunset?”
“Nothing…maybe, but we’re about to find out.”
The blade finally passed through the midsection of Bon-Bon, she found herself still as a board, afraid that whatever magic was keeping her together would vanish if she so much as moved an inch. The saw at last made it all the way through, a sizeable mound of saw dust was piled underneath the box. Trixie then placed the saw down and rested her forehooves on the both parts of the severed box.
“Behold and be amazed as Trixie now separates this mare,” announced Trixie.
She pushed on both halves of the box, making them part at the middle. The crowd gasped and Lyra spat out her beverage she was drinking. Even Bon-Bon gasped in surprise at what she saw. The earth pony mare was cut in half, her hind legs kicked about frantically, while Bon-Bon herself still gasped at what she saw. Trixie then turned the box containing Bon-Bon’s lower half so that it faced the audience. What they saw puzzled them; it was as if they were staring into a black hole. Trixie then turned the other one containing the upper half and faced it in the same way as the first, showing the exact same black hole.
“I get it, she’s very clever,” said Sunset.
“What, do you know how she did that,” asked Predator.
“It’s a slightly advanced spell,” she whispered, “It’s called a Dimension Sever, basically you enchant a cutting tool, or in this case a saw blade, and cut through any object. It creates a sort of pocket dimension that keeps the other half connected to the severed half, even if they’re separated from a great distance, they can still be affected by whatever the other half is doing. In this case, she used to sever that mare’s upper and lower halves, all her internal organs are actually being kept together through that black hole, although we can’t see it, that’s what’s happening.”
Predator blinked a few times, “Equestrian magic is weird…and so totally cool!”
“Hey Trixie, mind keeping Bonny like that, I’ve got a few ideas for some fun later tonight,” shouted Lyra.
“LYRA!!!”
Trixie cleared her throat as her cheeks tinged with pink. “Yes, well then, as amusing as that would be, it is time to rejoin the halves!”
Trixie brought both ends together; she then concentrated her magic on the cut area. An intense flash of mana followed soon after, making many in the audience shield their eyes. After a few seconds Trixie wiped her brow and magicked the doors open.
“Voila!”
Bon-Bon jumped out of the box, everypony then just stared blankly at the earth pony, Lyra’s beverage fell straight to the ground as her telekinesis was interrupted by what she was seeing. Bon-Bon’s body was still split in half, yet, when the upper half moved, her lower half did as well. In all, the whole thing was downright freaky.
“What’s everypony staring aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa – OH MY CELESTIA!” Bon-Bon turned around several times, her lower half was always one step behind her as she did so. “W-W-What’s going, w-why am I – I thought – and you – Put me back together!”
Trixie smiled sheepishly, and cleared her throat before starting saying anything. “It is just a slight hiccup, nothing to get hysterical about.” Trixie once again cast the spell to rejoin the halves, but just like last time, nothing happened. “Okay, maybe there is some cause for alarm…”
Lyra made her way onto the stage and brought her foreleg around the upper half, bringing her into a half-hug. “C’mon Bonny, I think I saw Twilight here somewhere. She’ll get you fixed up.”
“A-Alright…” Bon-Bon allowed Lyra to lead her off the stage, with her hindquarters following them. It was then that the earth pony mare raised her left hoof and bopped her marefriend upside the head.
“Ouch, what was that for?!”
“The next time your mind decides to wander into the gutter, keep it in your head where it belongs!”
Lyra rolled her eyes playfully, knowing that her marefriend still loved her, even though she was a little ticked at the moment.
Now Trixie was in a bit of pickle, the crowd was starting to turn on her; the mare’s confident façade was starting to drain a little after both her debacles. Sunset Shimmer was wincing with every insult and jeer that the crowd threw at Trixie. In some ways the azure unicorn reminded Sunset of herself, only, unlike Trixie at the moment, she wouldn’t just accept such insults, true or not. Even though she was reformed, it didn’t mean she couldn’t be good in her own way.
“Star sorry, but, I-I need to do something about this,” asked Sunset.
Predator already had a knowing grin on her face and happily nodded to Sunset.
“Trixie!” All eyes were now on Sunset, “How dare you start the magic show without me!”
Trixie Lulamoon just started dumbly at the mare in the crowd, “Excuse me, what –?”
“This is supposed to be a couples magic show, and you can’t very well do couple magic without your partner.” Sunset’s horn lit up with teal colored magic. One minute she disappeared in a flash of magical light and in the next she reappeared before Trixie. She stared at the mare with half-lidded eyes and moved slowly towards her. The sun-yellow mare then caressed Trixie under her chin with her tail, making her shudder. Whether it was out of disturbance or delight was yet to be determined. “Listen, the crowd’s turning on you, and I don’t want you to take this,” she whispered. “Just follow my lead, and we can end the show on a high note.”
Trixie had no idea what the mare was getting at, but judging from the way the crowd’s attitude was changing she decided to go with it.
Predator then sat up and started to stealthily trot away from the stage, she knew where this headed, and the Entity of Love didn’t want to meddle in whatever was about to happen between them.
(A Couple of Hours Later)
Predator was continuing her trot through the festival. Having been on a frantic search for Sunset Shimmer’s soulmate didn’t give her enough time to fully take in the sights and events that were going on around her.
Everypony looks so happy, she thought to herself. I wonder…if my special somepony and I will –
Predator cut herself off mid-thought. She couldn’t be thinking about something like that! Yes she was the Entity of Love, and yes Adara has voiced her concerns about her and her friend, but Predator couldn’t believe she was feeling like this.
It’s absurd, why would I need to be loved by someone!? I’m the embodiment of love itself! I’m surrounded by its energy every minute, of every second, of every day – I practically ooze love energy!
And yet, there seemed to be a longing in her heart. Along the way Predator spotted a karaoke game station. Couples and soloists performed one after the other, belting out almost every genre of Equestrian music. Predator often heard that singing was good for those in her position. And she thought it might provide her with a distraction from thinking about not having a special somepo – Oh wait, too late, I thought about it again. Never mind, let’s just sing the song.
Predator used her magic flip through a song book, her eyes resting on a particular song that would be up Adara’s alley. After nodding to the DJ, Predator got up on stage and held the microphone in her magical aura. The music started to play as the pink unicorn began swaying to the melody.
“This world we live of dark and pain
Beneath a veil, so cold and vain
Safe and alone~”
Everypony seemed to stop what they were doing as their ears perked up.
“I sing a song of prayer and faith
To keep you warm, to keep you safe
These lonely fields will hear my fears
And shine anew~”
Mare and stallion alike all started to drift towards her melodic voice, gathering into a small crowd near the karaoke stage.
“I watched as you dreamed through the darkest nights
A laugh and a smile to bring forth the light
So near, yet so far, I’ll find where you are
And we’ll keep to tomorrow within my heart~”
Predator started to rise from her sitting position, feeling the music overtake her as if resonating with her power.
“A day of a morning so pure and green
That day we will wake to a brand new sheen
The sky gray with snow will fade away slow
But believe that we’ll make it through
Fields of Hope~”
The small crowd had grown twice as big now. Couples and – secret – herds started to gather around, closing their eyes as they leaned against their lovers and swayed to the hypnotic and wondrous voice of this young unicorn mare. Predator herself seemed to be getting into the music as well, for some reason, she felt like she was singing this to the pony she liked but didn’t know.
“This world we came from gentle hooves
And now we seek that warmth again
So lost and cold it’s hard to hold
All that’s been lost~”
“I sing a song of prayer and faith
As nothing lasts forever, we learn to cope
And start again where we begin the flow again~”
“Together we’ll travel the lonely nights
To morning to so green, to the purest lights
The place we all seek from darkness too deep
Lights will guide us through always, its path we’ll keep~”
“I pray with my heart in this song I sing
To keep you in warmth as you take your wing
So near yet so far, you’ll find where you are
In peace I pray that you’ll find
Fields of Hope~”
Predator’s movement slowed now, as she felt the song come to a close.
“So near, yet so far…I’ll find where you are
With a promising faith you’ll find
Fields of Hope~”
With that the music ended Predator let out a content sigh, feeling as if she had gotten all her worries and anxieties out through the song. Although, when she opened her eyes she was not expecting the ginormous crowd of ponies all clopping their hooves together in ovation to her singing. It came as quite a surprise to Predator, but in the end she gave a bow to the audience. It was then as she left the stage that she was approached. It was the DJ who was playing the music to her song. She was a white unicorn mare, with a two toned blue mane and tail; her rose colored sunglasses hid her eyes, giving her an air of mystique.
“Gotta say filly, you killed out there,” said the mare.
“I didn’t kill anyone, I just sang the song!” stated Predator.
“I mean you were good, pardon my Prench, but you were better than good, you were damn good!”
Predator eyed the DJ nervously, “Um…thanks, I guess.”
“Sorry, I kinda got ahead of myself. Name’s Vinyl Scratch, but everypony knows me by my stage name, DJ PON-3,” said the white unicorn.
“Oh, yeah, didn’t you DJ Prince Shining Armor’s and Princess Cadance’s wedding reception a couple of years back?”
Vinyl chuckled, “Yeah, not one of my better days, you know, Changeling Invasion and all that.”
“What’s a Change –?”
“So, kid, walk with me.” Vinyl started to trot off from the crowd, Predator quickly caught up to the mare, having noticed that she got ahead of her. The two of them walked side-by-side for a bit before Vinyl spoke again. “Kid, I gotta ask, where did you learn to sing like that? You had those ponies eating out of your hooves!”
“Oh, um, to be honest I don’t know. It just felt, right, I guess that’s the best way to describe it.” In truth Predator didn’t know how to describe it, it was as if the music and her power became one and the two worked in harmony.
“Listen, I was wondering, would you mind doing me a solid, I’d owe you BIG time if you did,” asked Vinyl.
Predator raised a suspicious eyebrow, “What kind of ‘solid’ is it?”
“Nothing seedy, I need your help for the Love Festival’s concert tonight.”
“The concert…Oh yes, I remember, there’s supposed to be a live concert tonight with Ca – I mean – Princess Cadance singing duet
with Sapphire Shores,” said Predator.
Vinyl chuckled nervously upon hearing the name Sapphire Shores. “Y-Yeah, listen, kid –”
“Star Sapphire,” she corrected.
“Sorry listen – Star Sapphire, really, weird, never mind – Miss Shores won’t be able to perform with the Princess tonight.”
Predator stopped abruptly and stared at Vinyl Scratch with wide eyes. “WHAT!!?”
“Shh, shh, shh, quiet Star! I don’t want the other ponies to catch wind of this, at least not yet!” Vinyl glanced to her right and then to her left, checking to see if anypony was eavesdropping on their conversation, thankfully, no pony was. “We’ve been secretly looking for a singer as good or good enough to duet with Princess Cadance. That’s not to say that she couldn’t do them herself, but many of the songs, stage effects, not to mention the countless hours it took to mix those songs just right to compliment two ponies, would take way too long to reorganize. So I’ve been DJ-ing at different karaoke stands and you were the only one I’ve heard all day that could probably hold their own with the Princess.”
Predator didn’t know what to say. She wanted to help Cadance that much she was sure of, but she didn’t know if that singing voice would appear a second time. She didn’t even know how she conjured it in the first time. “I-I want to help…but, I’m not really sure I’m the right pony for the job…”
Vinyl turned around and faced the mare directly; she then raised her sunglasses up, allowing her scarlet eyes to show as she gave Predator a sympathetic look.
“Star, I know what you’re going through. I’ve had stage fright before when I first started out, still do. But once you start to feel the music, let it carry you, become you, everything else is tuned out. There’s just you, you’re voice, and the song. I’d love it if you would, but I don’t want you to do it if you’re not ready.” Vinyl put her glasses back on. Her horn then lit up as an aqua-blue aura brought a business card in front of her. “Whether you decide to or not, I’d like to help you out, I think ya got potential. Smell ya later, kid.”
Predator took the card into her own telekinetic aura, allowing Vinyl Scratch to turn and walk towards the concert hall. The Entity of Love just stared at the card for the longest time. Though, the more she thought about Cadance appearing on that lonely stage with no pony at her side, the more Predator felt compelled to do something. She could do this one thing, right? This one thing for somepony she admired and took her under her wing? With a confident expression Predator galloped after Vinyl Scratch.
“I’m participating in WHAT now!?”
“A-A concert your highness…Apparently it was put together by a musician by the name of DJ PON-3, she somehow convinced the organizers to put it together…”
Cadance was trotting towards the Canterlot Concert Hall, she was a bit flustered that she had to actually sing, even though it was known that the Princess of Love had a particularly wonderful singing voice and didn’t mind singing at all, she still would’ve liked the opportunity to know ahead of time.
“Thank you, Quill. I’ll handle the rest from here,” said Cadance.
With a respectful bow, the glasses wearing unicorn took her leave. Cadance found the back entrance of the building and proceeded inside. Naturally many of the staff members all bowed to her, and of course she smiled demurely, not exactly wanting to announce so soon how irritated she was that this event was planned without her knowing.
“Excuse me, can anypony spare a minute,” asked Cadance.
“I might, your highness.”
Cadance turned to her left and saw a gray earth pony mare walking towards her. She had a black mane and tail, with violet eyes, a pink bowtie, and a treble clef cutie mark.
“Thank you, Miss…?”
“Octavia, Octavia Melody,” she announced while bowing.
“Oh, I’ve heard of you. You play for the Canterlot Philharmonic, and your solos are very lovely.” Cadance noticed the slight blush the sophisticated musician had upon her face. “But, more importantly, I need help in locating the organizer of this entire thing,” she said while gesturing with her hoof.
“Of course, Princess Cadance, please follow me.”
Octavia led the Princess of Love towards the main stage. Many of the stage crew were putting the final touches, such as the lights, the backdrop, and of course securing the drapes. Towards the left side of the stage (aka stage right) there were large electronic speakers being brought in. In between the speakers was a sound control dashboard along with some turntables, and in the control seat was the mare Cadance was looking for. Her head bobbed up and down to the music being played on her headphones, constantly messing with the dials and switches to tune the music just right.
Cadance put on a stern expression and trotted towards the DJ at a brisk pace. Slightly worried, Octavia matched her pace. Soon the pink alicorn was upon the DJ, she then cleared her throat loudly in an attempt to gain her attention.
“Excuse me, DJ PON-3?”
The white unicorn mare just continued to bob her head to the music.
“Miss?”
Still no response.
“MISS!?”
“Princess Cadance,” Octavia interjected, “allow me, if you please.”
Octavia moved behind the speakers and control panels and approached the DJ. She then let out a long exacerbated sigh as she lifted the left earphone.
“VINYL!!!”
Vinyl Scratch yelped and flailed her forelegs about as she fell backwards in surprise from the sudden shouting of her name into her ear. Vinyl regained her senses and shook her head, scanning for the unfortunate soul who was about to get their flank kicked from Canterlot all the way to the Badlands. That is, until she saw Octavia standing there.
“Oh, hey babe, what’s up?”
“Vinyl, we have a visitor,” said Octavia.
Vinyl Scratch finally stood up and stared at Princess Cadance. She saw that the Princess was less than pleased, and of course, Vinyl knew exactly why that was.
“Miss Vinyl, correct,” asked Cadance in an even tone.
“Yes…Look, I know why you’re here,” she said.
“Oh, do you now?”
Octavia raised a suspicious eyebrow, “What’s going on here, Vinyl?”
The DJ pony gulped under the scrutinizing gazes of the two mares, “You’re ticked because I set up this little concert without running it by you, right?”
Cadance simply nodded. She was ticked, but it wasn’t in her nature to hold grudges, her plan was to sternly lecture her, afterwards she’d agree to do the concert, but only after Vinyl Scratch promised to never do this kind of thing again, at least not without informing her first. However, Cadance’s plan was quickly derailed somewhat as Octavia glowered at her incredulously.
“YOU DID WHAT!!!?” Octavia shouted, flabbergasted.
“Heh, heh…oops…”
Octavia face hoofed herself and slowly dragged it down her face in frustration. “I cannot believe you! Of all the irresponsible, half-witted, harebrained things you ever done, this by far takes the cake!” Octavia then quickly trotted from behind the control panel and stomped about on the stage. “Do you even realize what you’ve done!?”
Vinyl quickly jumped over her control panel and hurried to her lover’s side. “Tavi, c’mon, I-I…ugh, alright you’re right I messed up, royally – no pun intended. But, Tavi, babe, we can’t just cancel the whole thing! A lot of ponies are coming, and they’ll be disappointed if –!”
Octavia then whipped around and stared directly at Vinyl. “Well you should’ve of thought about that before you decided to go rogue and put all this together!” The gray mare looked towards the pink alicorn, her face completely apologetic. “Princess Cadance, I apologize for my…marefriend’s, forwardness, and recklessness. I unknowingly agreed to this whole thing as well. You are certainly under no obligation to go through with this.”
Cadance’s magic was passively acting of its own accord. She could sense the love between them, but there was also some hurt in the unicorn mare’s heart. Apparently she wasn’t afraid of royalty, orchestrating this whole event was proof enough of that, but she was afraid of disappointing her marefriend; and that feeling was only growing by the second the longer this dragged out.
Cadance didn’t want to be the reason for a couple breaking up, especially on Hearts and Hooves Day. So she quickly put on a sincere and kind smile.
“Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody, I am not angry with either of you. A little annoyed by this concert being arranged behind my back, but not angry, that being said I would be happy to perform tonight.”
Both mares stared at Princess Cadance blankly, not sure if they heard her right.
“You will,” they said in unison.
“Of course, but promise me that the next time you want to plan something like this, you go through the proper channels, alright?”
“ALRIGHT! Thanks Princess Cadance, ya know, you’re alright and –”
Octavia pushed Vinyl’s head down, forcing her to bow and to stop her from saying anything that might ruin the Princess of Love’s benevolent mood.
“Thank you, your highness. I promise to keep a closer eye on this one. Anyway, may I show you to makeup and wardrobe,” asked Octavia.
Cadance nodded at the offer, Octavia then gave a light bop on Vinyl’s head before going leading the Princess backstage. As they left, the gray mare glanced over her shoulder, she then flashed her marefriend a smile, to which Vinyl smiled back. As the two walked towards the rooms a thought popped into Octavia’s mind.
“Oh, I almost forgot, Sapphire Shores – another pony Vinyl wrangled into this – is indisposed at the moment and won’t be able to join the concert. So you’ll be singing duet with another mare tonight.”
“That’s fine, who is she? Do I know her by chance?”
Octavia thought for a moment, “Well, to be honest, I don’t know her either. Vinyl scouted her at one of the karaoke stations. According to her she has quite the singing voice, and if I know Vinyl, which I do, she’s a very good judge of talent.”
The prospect of working with an unknown singer was actually quite exciting. Cadance had met a few of the famous ones, chief among them Sapphire Shores, but she liked the idea of working with an up and comer. Soon the two mares arrived at the door with a big gold star on it. Octavia knocked on the door a few times.
“Yes?”
“Miss Swoon, Princess Cadance is here, are you ready?”
“I’m putting the final touches on Miss Sapphire here, you two can come in if you please,” said Vidala Swoon.
With that out of the way, Octavia opened door and at that moment, Cadance’s mouth dropped. The mare in the styling chair smiled nervously at the alicorn princess and waved at her.
“Hi, Princess…”
(Later That Night)
Both Cadance and Predator stood on the platform underneath the stage. The muffled roar of the crowd up above was deafening, even through the thick wood and metal rigging. Predator would constantly glance over to Cadance, but whenever she suspected the mare to turn and look at her, she’d quickly avert her gaze and look down at her hooves like the most interesting thing in world was on the floor. The Princess of Love flexed her wing and tapped Predator on the shoulder.
“Just relax Predator, you’ll do great,” said Cadance.
“I-I’ve never done anything like this before…The whole thing at the karaoke stage was just a fluke. The ponies were probably just being nice.” Predator’s ears went flat as a frown appeared on her lips.
“Hey, don’t talk like that. You can’t be nervous, this from the entity that blew out part of Canterlot Castle and whisked me away to the Crystal Empire? And, if I might add, scared the living daylights out of Ponyville during Nightmare Night?”
“That was different! I was in my true form, not being myself – like this!” Predator gestured to her body. “I already mess up when it comes to our lessons, and I…I don’t want to embarrass you in front of so many ponies…”
“Predator I know you’re nervous –”
“‘Nervous’! I am the Entity of Love, a cosmic being as old as time itself, I don’t get ‘nervous’, I don’t even know the meaning of the word…!” Even though she said that, Predator wasn’t so sure it was true. Dealing with intergalactic villains, rogue guardians, a bringer of death, these things she could handle, but when it comes to something as simple as singing in front of crowds, it just felt different.
Cadance moved closer to her “protégé” and rested a foreleg around her neck in a half-hug. “You won’t embarrass me or yourself for that matter.” Cadance thought for a moment and the metaphorical light bulb clicked on in her head. “If you’re feeling nervous, just look at me. Block out everypony else, don’t even think about them. Just concentrate on the music and sing as if you’re singing to me and me alone.”
Predator looked up into the kind and gentle eyes of her fellow love wielder. Can it really be that simple…? The Entity of Love felt her heart skip a beat for a moment, but she didn’t really pay too much attention to it. “Thank you, Cadance.”
“HELLO CANTERLOT, AND ALL YOU LOVEY DOVEY LOVEBIRDS OUT THERE, I’M DJ PON-3 AND WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL HEARTS AND HOOVES DAY CONCERT!!!” The crowd stamped their hooves in ovation to Vinyl Scratch’s words, making the entire room rumble. “WE’VE GOT A REAL TREAT FOR YOU MARES AND STALLIONS OUT THERE, TONIGHT WE HAVE PRINCESS CADANCE PERFORMING LIVE FOR YOU ALL, WE’RE GOING TO END TODAY’S FESTIVAL WITH A BANG!”
Cadance glanced back to Predator, “Are you ready?”
“Not so much, but I guess so.”
“TONIGHT THE PRINCESS WILL BE SINGING A DUET WITH HER APPRENTICE, AND SHE’S GOT QUITE A VOICE TOO. SO MAY I INTRODUCE, PRINCESS CADANCE AND STAR SAPPHIRE!!!”
At that moment the metal rigging began to whir. The platform they were standing on started to raddle and shake, a sudden feeling of weightlessness overcame them. The trapdoors opened above them as they were hoisted to the stage. Immediately the two mares’ ears were assaulted with the roar of the crowd and the bright lights. When they were fully lifted up the two disembarked from the platform and allowed it to submerge. Princess Cadance waved to the crowd; Predator just smiled and gave little bows towards the large audience.
Let’s see, hope I remember how to do this right, ahem.
“WELCOME CITIZENS OF CANTERLOT, AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE TRAVELED HERE,” said Cadance in the Royal Canterlot Voice. “I’M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE, AND AM THRILLED TO END TODAY’S FESTIVAL SINGING WITH MY APPRENTICE, STAR SAPPHIRE!”
Cadance heard the Entity of Love let out a little “eep” sound from the mention of her name. The Princess of Love then nodded towards Vinyl Scratch, the white unicorn mare then levitated two microphones towards the singers. Both mares took hold of the microphones in their telekinetic auras. Cadance remembered to clear her throat to make sure she didn’t use the Voice while speaking into the device, else the entire Concert Hall be obliterated, and everypony along with it.
“Now, mares and gentlecolts let the concert begin!”
The overhanging lights dimmed slightly, leaving only two spotlights on Cadance and Predator. The mare’s heart began to race; she could feel the eyes of all the ponies in the audience peer over her, judging, waiting. Predator felt an overwhelming urge to transform and burst out through the roof and fly back to the Crystal Empire. Heck, fighting the Butcher would be more enjoyable than this.
“If you’re feeling nervous, just look at me…”
Predator glanced at Cadance, and just like earlier the pink alicorn held her gentle smile.
“Block out everypony else, don’t even think about them. Just concentrate on the music and sing as if you’re singing to me and me alone…”
To you…and you alone… Predator closed her eyes, blocking out the murmur of the crowd. The world became silent as she focused all her senses on Cadance, and when she next opened her eyes, all she saw, was Cadance.
The Princess of Love nodded off towards Vinyl Scratch once again. The DJ used her magic operate her control panel, the music began to play over the speakers. Soft and gentle, flowing and steady, there was only them and the music.
“Somewhere, out there,
Beneath the pale moonlight.
Someone’s thinking of me,
And loving me tonight~”
Predator was ready, right here and now, she would sing to this beautiful mare before her. Did she just seriously think that!? Concentrate, the music, the song, and Cadance, nothing else.
“Somewhere, out there,
Someone’s saying a prayer.
That we’ll find one another,
In that big somewhere, out there~”
Predator’s horn began to glow, a feeling of magic and her cosmic light melding together. Cadance could also feel a resonating energy within herself, it was exciting, powerful, and somewhat scary, but still she continued to sing, Predator was counting on her and she wouldn’t let her down.
“And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star~”
“And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby,
It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky~”
“Somewhere out there, if love can see us through~”
“Somewhere out there, if love can see us through~”
“Then we’ll be together, somewhere out there…”
“Then we’ll be together, somewhere out there…”
“Out where dreams, come true~”
“Out where dreams, come true~”
Something started to happen; their horns glowed bright with their individual auras. The two auras sparked out like lightning, uniting with the another’s, till the lightning harmonized with each other, and created a wave of combined love filled energy that washed over the auditorium. The couples, and secret herdmates, all began to feel an incredible rush of energy, along with the beautiful voices of the two mares; it was as if they were stepping into an ethereal dream. Vinyl Scratch continued to control the flow of the music, using her skill to match the awesome singing of the two mares. Whether she was affected by their magic was hard to say, but she didn’t let it interrupt her flow.
Cadance could feel the same rush of energy, it was intoxicating. It reminded her of the time when she rode on Predator’s back, but this time it wasn’t as wild or overpowering, it was calm and soothing. Predator could also feel Cadance’s energy passing through her; it felt right, like they were truly one.
“And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star~”
“And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby,
It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky~”
“Somewhere out there~”
“Somewhere out there~”
“If love can see us through~”
“Can see us through~”
“Then we’ll be together~”
“Somewhere out there…”
“Somewhere out there…”
“Out where dreams, come true~”
“Out where dreams, come true~”
They’re eyes met as the song came to an end, they held their stare for what felt like hours, but really it was more like a few seconds. Once the crowd had come down off of the love energy high, they all erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. The sound of which snapped the two mares out of their joint trance and making them both blush. The entire auditorium was a cacophony of whooping, yelling, whistling, and a few catcalls too. The alicorn and unicorn both bowed to the audience, flashing big smiles to their fans.
“GIVE IT UP FOR PRINCESS CADANCE AND STAR SAPPHIRE MARES AND GENTLECOLTS!!!” Vinyl shouted.
The crowd grew even louder, if that were even possible, continuing their applause. Predator couldn’t help but spare a glance at Cadance, something was…different. She liked Cadance of course; I mean how often you find someone with the same power as you. But right now, she glowed.
(After The Concert)
The evening found Cadance and Predator walking the festival grounds together. After their song was over, along with a couple of encores, the two of them decided to just wander around, enjoying the lovely night that Luna had made. Predator couldn’t look Cadance directly in the eye, and apparently neither could Cadance. They had shared something on that stage tonight, a connection – and a familiar one at that.
“Cadance I…I’m sorry,” said Predator.
“For what?”
“For…my power, it resonated with yours. I know you’ve told me to take it easy when I’m using it, especially when I’m around you. But it…it just happened, so I’m-I’m sorry…”
Cadance leaned closer to Predator and gave her comforting nuzzle. “Yes, I was a little overwhelmed, but it’s not like I didn’t like it. It wasn’t the same as the first time we met. It was more…loving, I guess. That’s pretty much the only word I can think of to describe it.”
The Entity of Love smiled at that, it was a small one, but she meant it. As they continued on their trek Predator noticed a couple of mares coming towards them. The pink unicorn mare immediately recognized them, as too did Cadance. It wasn’t surprising to see these two particular mares, but it was surprising to see them so close to each other, tails linked.
“Star, there you are!”
“Sunset,” called out Predator.
The two mares met each other halfway, with Sunset Shimmer giving Predator a hug, a sight that Cadance thought she’d never see from the usually irritated mare.
“I’m glad I found you I – Oh!” Sunset noticed Cadance coming up behind Predator and immediately bowed. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there Princess Cadance.”
“No, it’s fine,” said Cadance as she waved her hoof dismissively. “I just didn’t expect to see you, or…her.”
The mare, Trixie, walked up beside Sunset and gave a respectful bow as well. “Greetings Princess Cadance, I am –”
“Trixie Lulamoon.”
All three were struck speechless, but Trixie quickly regained her voice and puffed out her chest proudly. “I’m not surprised you know my name, Trixie’s great and powerful status does precede her.”
“Actually Twilight wrote to me about both your visits to Ponyville.”
The mention of Twilight Sparkle made Sunset and Trixie cringe in equal amounts of embarrassment and shame, more so Trixie at the mention of her infamous visits to Ponyville. The azure mare was now acutely aware that Princess Cadance was Twilight Sparkle’s sister-in-law, and wife to the former Captain of the Guard, Prince, and the big brother of said pony, Shining Armor. Trixie gulped and shrank a bit.
“Trixie would like to apologize…I never meant to hurt Twilight, I just –”
“Wanted to humiliate her, and prove that you were the better unicorn sorceress,” interrupted Cadance. “I know. Twilight seems to attract unicorns who want to ‘prove themselves’ or use her for their own evil agenda.” At this she glanced at Sunset Shimmer, who averted her gaze when she heard that statement.
“Trixie promises that those days are over, I’m trying to do better, Princess,” said Trixie in an almost pleading tone.
Cadance glowered at the two mares, even though she wasn’t as intimidating as Celestia, or as scary as Luna, when she looked at you it was as if you were staring into the disappointed eyes of your own mother.
“Cadance…I can sense that they aren’t like that. There’s love in their hearts, real love,” said Predator, trying to defuse the situation.
After another minute of Cadance’s intense stare, her gaze began to soften as a smile crept along her lips. “It’s alright everypony, I’m not mad. I just wanted the chance to grill the two mares who gave my little Ladybug a lot of grief. But now that I have, we’re okay.”
Sunset and Trixie didn’t question the Princess of Love’s decision. They both bowed low, thankful that they didn’t incur the wrath of the alicorn that controlled love.
“Thank you, Princess Cadance, I – we – swear that something like that will never happen again,” said Sunset Shimmer.
“I promise as well,” added Trixie, “the Great and Apologetic Trixie will never do any harm by anypony ever again.”
Cadance chuckled at Trixie’s apology. “It’s alright, and I see that you two are happy. I hope you two continue to be happy.”
Sunset and Trixie blushed at the compliment. Sunset then looked at Predator. “Star, thank you for your help earlier today, and for…you know.” Sunset nodded her head towards Trixie.
“I understand, and it was no problem,” said Predator.
“Well, we must be going, this one promised me dinner, on her of course,” said Trixie.
“‘On me’, I thought we were splitting the bill,” said Sunset raising an eyebrow.
“Details, details, come now, Trixie’s famished!”
The azure mare slid up against Sunset and gave her an affectionate nuzzle under her chin. With a defeated sigh, and an eye roll, Sunset bowed one last time to Princess Cadance before the two of them started to walk off, tails intertwined as they trotted along. Once the two were gone, Cadance looked at Predator with a grin.
“What?”
“How did you manage to get them together?”
“Um…the power of love…?” Cadance gave Predator a dubious look. “Not like that, I didn’t use my power I swear I –!”Predator stopped upon realizing that Cadance was laughing at how flustered the entity was getting. “That’s not funny!”
“Oh yes it is!” Cadance then ran down the street as Predator growled.
“Come back here, Cadance!”
“Gotta catch me first, Star!”
There it was, that feeling again, it was one that she felt in everypony here, and in others before. But this was the first time she genuinely felt in her own heart and not as a result of her power. It was love, for another, love… for Cadance.
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Predator is falling in love with Cadance, that makes a lot of sense considering they both represent love.
But I wonder what Shining Armour will make of it.
Nice chapter can't wait for the next update
4095032
Thought that be a sweet thing to put in this chapter
4095648
Let's just say that there will be a major drama bomb when Cadance and Shining find out
img236.imageshack.us/img236/3984/dramabomb4re.jpg
4095762
Look forward to some Discord and Angel hijinks, it will be total war!
Allright... I swear that the Twidash shippings are going to drive me crazy. But I'm not you. So do what ever the heck you want.
Anyway, I loved (no pun and or peek at the chapter) this chapter. It was hilarious at the begining with Twilight and Cadence. Keep it up!
4096930 Well, they could always start a herd
Also, Trixset... Sunxie... Whatever. Those two certainly make for an odd couple
Would totally love to see them get into a herd with Twilight and RainbowAngel & Discord vs. Proselyte.
May Faust have mercy upon us all.
oh, snap!
a Love triangle!
be very wary on this path, for it has ruined many a story.
why... cadence is already maried, so why are you making predator fall in love with her?