The sky had been frozen in a starless, moonless dusk for hours.
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza gazed out at the violet horizon with worried eyes, remembering a time, when she was much younger and still a pegasus, when she had asked her adopted aunt to let twilight last longer because the sky was so pretty. Celestia had chuckled and patiently explained that there was an order to things, and twilight lasted for only a mere handful of moments because it was a precious, magical, and fleeting thing.
"Your Highness?" a guard asked from behind her. "Some nobles are here to—"
"Send them home," Cadance said, tearing her gaze away from the endless dusk. "I don't want to hear their complaining, and I don't want to start a panic. Summon the faculty of Celestia's School, as well as any scholars and sages who...who might be able to figure out a way out of this mess."
The guard nodded and cantered off. Cadance sighed, rustling her wings. "I can deal with this," she said to herself. "I'm a princess. I'm an alicorn. I wouldn't be an alicorn princess if I wasn't ready to lead. Celestia wouldn't have trusted me with—oh, who am I kidding," she moaned. "I'm just barely a mare! I still foalsit for spare bits, for pony's sake! I haven't even kissed my boyfriend yet! How in the world can I—"
There was a knock at the door. Cadance took a deep breath. "Enter," she called crisply.
The door opened, and a young stallion's head poked through. His white coat and two-tone blue mane looked a bit unkempt, and his eyes were full of concern. "Cadance?"
"Shiny!" Cadance trotted over and nuzzled him happily. "Oh, am I ever happy to see you." She took a step back to allow Shining Armor to enter, then closed the door behind him.
"Cadance, what's going on?" Shining Armor asked. "Mom and Dad are trying to keep things calm at home, but Twiley's completely freaking out about the sky. You know how neurotic she can get. I swear she's going to give herself ulcers before she even has her Cutie Mark."
Cadance giggled. "She is a bit high-strung," she said. She sighed. "Shiny, don't tell anypony else this, but..." She took a deep breath. "Princess Celestia has disappeared."
Shining Armor's eyes widened. "Disappeared? How? Was there an attack? A kidnapper? Who—"
Cadance held up a hoof to silence him. "I don't know all the details yet, the reports from the guards are very confused. What little I've been able to piece together is that there's an artifact in the castle, a mirror that has some sort of magic portal in it. Celestia had a falling out with her student—you've met her, right? Sunset Shimmer?"
Shining Armor grimaced. "Yeah, I know her. She's an arrogant, conceited little—"
"Celestia expelled her from the castle," Cadance interrupted. "She was being escorted out when she overpowered the guards and fled through the mirror portal. Celestia followed her. The guards tried to give chase, but...the portal just stopped working." Cadance bowed her head. "That's...that's all I know."
Shining Armor's irises contracted to pinpricks. "So...Princess Celestia is just...just gone?!"
"I'm afraid so."
Shining Armor began to pace. "But that means..." He swallowed. "That means the sun will never rise again. That means...it means Equestria is doomed."
"No, it doesn't," Cadance said firmly. "I'm gathering every scholar, sage, and teacher in Canterlot. Shiny, listen to me. I'm an alicorn. I might not be anywhere near as powerful as Celestia, but..." She swallowed heavily. "If...if she can move the sun and the moon, then so can I. I just...I just have to learn how she does it."
"Are you sure?" Shining Armor asked, tilting his head.
"No," Cadance admitted. "But somepony has to, and right now, I'm all we've got."
Shining Armor sighed, then moved to embrace Cadance. "I'm not leaving your side," he declared. "Not until Princess Celestia is found and returned."
Cadance smiled, tears leaking from her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.
Looks like we're going to hop back to Equestria for little updates throughout. I definitely like that, since it will be seeing some serious changes with Sun Horse MIA for over two years.
The question of different time flows allowing Twilight and Sunset to be about the same age makes me wonder if it is different on each side of the portal. And if so is it 30 moons in Equestria or Canterlot City? Or stop thinking about it it's a kids show. I suspect you have your own answer to that as we go on. Definitely a strong beginning, good luck!
This story feels like it should be more of a comedy set-up than a drama/slice of life story. I mean, I get you still have a plan for Equestria but...the whole premise sounds like a comedy where everything keeps going wrong for Celestia because of her choice. Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way.
I was curious about how Celestia being absent would affect Equestria, not to mention Twilight's destiny. Guess we'll have three sides to this story overall.
I mostly be waiting how you gonna go with Twilights entrance exam. See if nopony will calm her magical freak out or if Cadance does calm her but send her as a regular CSGU student as oppose as the Princess personal student.
I guess Candace and Shining doesnt know the history of Equestria that the Unicorns used to do Celestia and Luna's job
7192313 Well, it'd be awfully hard for Candace to know that unless she watches My Little Pony or reads the books. Which is likely since she's a teenage girl who likes Ducky Momo.
Why would Celestia take Cadance in as a pegasus?
7192334 It's canon that Cadance was born a pegasus. It's not official canon when or how or why she came to be an alicorn and was adopted by Celestia, and the chapter books are open to fiddling. I choose to fiddle.
7192355
I only know of the story but have not read it. I am also multiple seasons behind, just more incentive to catch up I suppose.
Best idea: free Discord and make some sort of pact with him about moving the celestial bodies. Or Chrysalis. Would Chrysalis be able to do it if the had the level of power from ACW?..
7192359 Clarification: it's canon to supplemental materials that Cadance was born a pegasus, and the show writers have not chosen to either confirm or deny this. It is generally accepted that this is the case. The chapter book where this is introduced has Celestia adopt Cadance at the same time Cadance becomes an alicorn. However, the chapter books and comics are far more open to reinterpretation than the show's canon (which is already pretty malleable if you're going in an AU direction anyway).
Long story short, I prefer a backstory for Cadance where she was taken in by Celestia as a pegasus filly.
7192321 dont worry i just find it weird not impossible since even i have little knowledge of my countries history
I didn't think you'd forget the consequences in Equestria, but it's good to see you acknowledge them. Who knows? Maybe they'll get someone to figure out a way to override the portal's normal activity cycle while they're at it. Of course, someone's going to have to think of that first, and how many ponies are willing to mess with a mysterious relic, especially when destroying it would strand Princess Celestia forever?
Actually, I think following Cadence's side of things and how she learns to govern, and take over the sun and the moon makes for a more interesting story than following Celestia in the EQG world.
How about spinning it off into a whole separate story vs interspersing interludes in this one?
7192366
Aw, I thought you meant it was canon that Celestia adopted Cadance as a pegasus before becoming an alicorn.
7192398 Nor apparently the ability to see when someone is making a joke at your expense because you typed "Candace" instead of "Cadance".
7192437 It's not really the story I want to tell though, is it?
7192457
img12.deviantart.net/8612/i/2012/184/8/a/pinkie_pie___pwetty_pwease__by_mysteriouskaos-d55rb5b.png
Pwetty pwease?
Like the idea of taking a quick look back into the MLP world for what's going on, though personally I still want to see how Celestia's doing. She is the main focus, after all.
7192477 I would not object to someone else writing a spinoff focusing on Cadance trying to keep Equestria in line. It's just that that isn't as interesting to me, personally, as what I set out to write in the first place. And when it comes to fanfiction, since it's a hobby, it's very personal to me--I write the stories I, personally, want to write.
If Cadance can't find a way raise the sun, than in a way, Sunset has basically done Nightmare Moon's work for her. Sunset may have just earned her first number one fan.
Dang, that just made me thing of something: are there any fics where Sunset Shimmer is Nightmare Moon's personal student? I know there are quite a few where Twilight is, but I haven't found any where it's Sunset.
Whew, short but awesome chapter, nice going! :D
One problem. Twilight was already Celestia's student at the time that Sunset left. So, she'd already have her cutie mark by then.
Other than the complaint I mentioned about Twilight not having her cutie mark here when she already had it and was a student before Sunset exiled herself, I've got to say, I do enjoy the chapter. Very touching moment with Cadance, and I like how you're having her stand up to take her place here. Nicely done.
7192646 No, she was not. Where did you get that from?
7192658 She was. The official comics showed such. Though, Twilight had only recently just been gained as a new student. And it explains how Sunset knew about her to an extent as well.
7192658 Heck, if anything, her being Celestia's student would further make her neurotically worried.
Now kiss!
7192670 *shrug* The comics aren't always internally consistent with the show canon, or with themselves, and can easily be ignored at will when sampling from them.
7192740 Perhaps, but it leaves the concern of what will happen with Nightmare Moon if she didn't have her cutie mark. As proven with the show and the multiple timelines.
7192740 And fairly sure in Equestria Girls that she stated that Sunset left not long after Twilight became her student. Though, could be remembering that wrong.
Ah, nice to see a bit of what's going on with Equestria. I'm actually a bit surprised Cadance has managed to keep Celestia's disappearance quiet for so long, considering the lack of sun or moon. Hopefully with her own power, as well as with some help and/or research from other ponies she can get things working again. At least the portal should reopen well before Nightmare Moon's return, considering Twilight's current age.
Hm, wonder if Sunset Shimmer brought that journal along with her in this story or not. Its introduction in Rainbow Rocks was a bit sudden, but at least it could serve as communication and a way to force the portal open again, though probably nopony aside from Celestia and Sunset know the journal even exists at this point in time.
7192457 kinda hard to detect jokes in words but its ok im used to make fun off also spelling the name is my bad
7192753 You are remembering that wrong. Also, can you please just edit your comments instead of double-posting? Thanks.
7192779
Well, there are probably legends of unusually long twilights, nights, etc. due to Celestia getting drunk and passing out...
Whoa! A short but very informative chapter on what's going on in Equestria. I sure enjoyed this! Wonder what'll happen next?
See ya next update!
I like seeing things from the perspective of Cadance. She's young and inexperienced compared to Celestia, and has now been given the task of protecting Equestria until she returns. She might have been trained to take over should something happen to Celestia, but Cadance shows that she doubts herself because everything happened so suddenly. It makes her more believable that way.
7192174
Or more than two years, Equestria side. Remember the little bit that while Sunset spends at most 3--4 years at Canterlot High before she goes back to steal the Element of Magic...Twilight goes from little filly to adult mare, indicating that a lot more time passed on the Equestrian side of the mirror...
7192908 Sorry about that.:\ Still though, feels wrong considering the confliction there in regards to Twilight with her cutie mark. Still love the rest of the chapter beyond that detail though.^_^
7192355
I go with the Cadance of Cloudsdale version of the events.
I'm looking forward to reading more
7193352
She ran off to a different country, same as pony Sunset.
If you make Celestia act and talk like a stereotypical teenage girl and have her mean it, I will read this story a hundred times over.
a great Chapter, a nice little peak back into the home world.
keep up the great work my friend!
7194159 We're talking about a world of technicolor people that's connected to a world of magical talking ponies by way of a magic portal. I'm sorry, but where exactly does realism have any place here?
7194180 Same as it does in any story. Its one thing to have science fiction, and another to go against a logical conclusion that anyone could find. It's where plot holes come from, after all. I guess it all depends on how you explain it, but you haven't yet elaborated on the two year thing, so perhaps I spoke too soon.
As an inversion of my own fic premise...I must read this! Will hopefully get a chance to sit down and read it tomorrow, but regardless, as a premise I adore it super excited
I'm getting an implication that this story is meant to take place when Twilight was a foal; possibly just before she got her cutie mark. Is that impression correct?
7194800 It's not implied so much as stated outright, but yes.
7194817
That would put Sunset at around ten years older than Twilight.
Meaning she'd have to spend ten years in the human world before the events of EQG.
So, unless you meant "elementary school" when you said "high school", you may want to rethink that one.
7194906 I'm going by what the movies and comics show. Which frankly don't add up and I'm aware of that fact. But I'm not stressing over it, because it's not worth overthinking.
7194963
The comics are non-canon, if that helps you at all. You don't have to take them into account.
It wouldn't get rid of all the inconsistencies, but it would with a lot of them.