fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Sweetie Bell has a great singing voice.
Scootaloo likes stake boarding everyone around them seems to expect those to turn out to be their marks, but I never got beyond session 3.
Illuminating Invitation (MLP: FiM AU)
- Thread starter Alivaril
- Start date
- Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Scootaloo likes stake boarding everyone around them seems to expect those to turn out to be their marks, but I never got beyond session 3.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Uh, spoiler so I'll stay vague, they aren't. They get their cutie marks on screen but it was quite different than expected. Lots of people were ambivalent about it.
Either way, their cutie marks don't match their names. Apple Bloom's doesn't either.
Either way, their cutie marks don't match their names. Apple Bloom's doesn't either.
"Cadence" is now "Cadance."
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Apparently, Princess Cadence's name was spelled as "Cadance" in the vast majority of later material. I'm a bit disgruntled by that, honestly, but I've changed the text accordingly.
(Next chapter will be up tomorrow, because I cannot be stopped.)
Narrator: She can definitely be stopped.
(Next chapter will be up tomorrow, because I cannot be stopped.)
Narrator: She can definitely be stopped.
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I feel like Sunset Shimmer would be a lot better at discipline-based magic than freedom magic. I'm not sure she even really understands what freedom really is. Though, that in and of itself is probably a reason to focus on that...
Spring really is what Celestia wants to be, she just knows that that isn't what Equestria needs in its immortal god-princess.
Official canon used Cadance later on but Cadence came first and I've usually seen fan works use Cadence as well. Random people online seem to think that there was some sort of legal reasoning behind the switch.
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
We're sorry, but we're afraid the "official timeline" for this fic just has the word "smol" written over and over in an endless litany of purest madness.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Endurance [Legendary:Failure]- You'll be feeling that when you wake up in 12 hours.
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Kai Merah
Hound Hearted Hedonist
- Location
- Somewhere in the corners of my imagination
We're sorry, but we're afraid the "official timeline" for this fic just has the word "smol" written over and over in an endless litany of purest madness.
Aww, is true. Twilight was indeed a tiny baby, the size of one of the CMC Crusaders when she hatched a dragon, turned her parents into plants, and found her cutie mark. At least Sunset should have no trouble with Twilight's work ethic.
- Pronouns
- It/Its
An entertaining, slightly more eldritch explanation I've mused on is that pony names are generally just random sounds, but when they find their talent, their names are retroactively added to the lexicon of all other ponies with meanings fitting to their talent. Like, not in the sense that history has changed to see those names used as words, but rather that all ponies suddenly recognize them as words they've always known, even if they can't think of a time they've used them or where they heard them.
How closely the name hews to the meaning varies and can shift with cultural views. For instance many modern magic specialists wind up having their names linked to the day-night cycle (Sunset, Twilight, Lulamoon, Starlight), on account of cultural views of the alicorns controlling the sun and moon as magically powerful, alongside words that might be used to describe the appearance of magic (Shimmer, Sparkle, Glimmer).
owrtho
- Location
- Oregon
It could be a mix of the two; the pony is destined from birth to have certain talents and passions, but the particulars of the mark depend on what ways the pony finds to express them. Your desert sailor, for example, may be born with a talent for air currents and a passion for travel. Born by the sea they would find a natural place among sailors, able to readily grasp how a mast catches the wind and how to use that to go where he or she wishes. Born in the desert they might instead find themselves drawn to aviation, or to aerodynamics of land vehicles, or (if born a pegasus) long distance flight as they ride the desert thermals and drift upon the wind like a tumbleweed.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Especially since with her ascending they'll still need a court wizard!
I wonder if Sunset will take over a lot of Twilight's training? Celestia is supposed to be so busy and Sunset has Opinions on vague lessons and having to flounder on one's own.
Sunset is happy there's finally someone with a proper and sensible attitude towards the learning and practice of magic.*
This terrifies both Celestia and Cadance, but at least Sunset has a pony she respects, so that's good. And these days she has a more sensible minder, so maybe that will help. The concept of the thing from beyond the stars being the more sensible one will have to be examined at a later time. Right now everything is still too on fire, metaphorically, to do so and prevent everything from being on fire, literally.
I do think Cadance will be glad, because she likes Twilight, and wants to like Sunset.
And "you're only self-professed equal was a small child" is great future teasing material.
*She will of course also find a way to twist it so she can be hurt and suspicious about it, but that's Sunset for you. But I'm hopeful the power of smolness, sensible adivce from beyond reality, and making Cadence do the same excercises as a small child will win out in the end.
A Princess by Any Other Name
Princess Cadence tries to legally change her name to "Princess Cadance." Footnotes ensue.
www.fimfiction.net
BarnabusBarnabus
Something like spice and something like pine.
- Location
- A beach, limned in silver like the painted moon.
All I know is that Twilight was very small, but I've always personally headcanoned that she goes through exactly five seconds before. Just for sheer irony value.
EDIT: Also this is gonna be sooo unhealthy you have no idea. Like holy shit. Twilight is neurotic in canon. If we removed the Voice from the equation, I would swear up down and sideways that Sunset was going to ruin this small child's life. As it is, it's still not going to be good for her. Celestia's teaching method wasn't great, but Sunset is going to vastly overcorrect in the other direction and produce an entirely different set of mental illnesses.
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Chapter 6: Necessary Sacrifice
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Special thanks to @saganatsu, @DB_Explorer, @fictionfan, @Adephagia, @Wordsmith, @Taut_Templar, Jamie Wahls, @Elfalpha, @BunnyLord, @Drcatspaw, @tinkerware, @Lonelywolf999, D'awwctor, @magicdownunder, @Mordred, and my 16 other patrons not mentioned here. An extremely enthusiastic "Thank you" to @Torgamous for her patronage as well. Also, if you're not on here, you fit the tier, and you want to be added, please tell me.
AN: Enabled and beta-read by @ensou.
Sunset Shimmer
My positive early impressions of Spring Hail only intensified as the lesson on pegasus magic continued. Celestia's near-limitless knowledge of a variety of subjects, ability to elucidate the pros and cons of different approaches, and unique perspective on cultural and historical trends all survived the transition. Spring was almost as kind to me as Celestia pretended to be for the benefit of the masses, and no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find any sign that Spring's emotions were feigned. Certainly, there were flashes of emotion that she didn't follow up on, signs that there was a working brain behind the wellsprings of positivity. But even when she ignored them, they weren't subsequently crushed and hidden by a mask. They persisted and only faded due to other factors, not because Celestia decided to hide them.
Spring even made forays into dark jokes! Celestia never said things that could potentially hurt a pony if they overheard, and she usually chided me for making them myself! That, more than anything else, convinced me that Spring's behavior could not be feigned. There would have been a significant tell somewhere, some crack through which harsh judgment peered.
Admittedly, her dark jokes were at the expense of ponies who had died centuries ago, but those figures were often still venerated. A fair number of ponies would be upset by, say, learning that a certain popular Manehattan architect had been implicated in mass fraud, and only escaped (publicly known) punishment by turning in his co-conspirators. At least, I thought that was what Spring was implying.
At the same time, Celestia's worst traits were suppressed. There were no hidden tests interspersed throughout the lesson, and even when we disagreed, it didn't prompt any underlying disappointment. The lessons continued instead of pivoting to focus on how wrong I was.
It had been rather a long time since I'd exited a lesson feeling like I hadn't failed Celestia, and it was wonderful. Ironically, the mare with a Cutie Mark of the Sun peeking from behind a cloud was just plain warmer than the Princess of the Sun with her unobstructed view.
Still, it wasn't entirely perfect. The experience was overshadowed by looming and intensifying dread; I knew that she would, inevitably, return to form — pun fully intended — before too long. It wasn't as though she could teach me like this once we were back at the castle. Pegasus magic lessons may continue, but it would be in her original form; even if she was technically the same mare, prior experience told me that we would be soon return to a thousand years of cruel habits, false masks, and unfair tests.
That time arrived much, much too quickly, and I felt my ears flatten as Spring straightened in a reflex that I recognized and irrationally disliked. There was one responsibility that could not be put off, and even I couldn't blame her for: the lowering of the sun and raising of the Moon, and from there, bedrest so that she might be able to do the opposite in the morning. I never could figure out whether her consistent timing was some sort of feedback from the Sun, a thousand years of habit, or the product of a spell, but I'd learned to recognize when nighttime was only a few minutes away.
"I think that's a good place for us to leave off," Spring said, acting as though I wouldn't be forced to learn far more on my own before she was next willing to make time for me. "This mare needs her beauty sleep, and you need to rest up if you're to feel better."
Celestia would have followed it up with a disparaging comment about how she'd noticed my yawning near the tail end of the lesson, and I would never do as well if I was exhausted. Spring said nothing of the sort. I did not want this to be the last time I saw 'her.'
"It's not like I won't have all the time ever while I'm in the hospital," I tried. "No levitation or hooves, remember? I can afford to stay up for a little while."
I braced myself for disapproval, ears flattening once more as I looked away. With nighttime imminent, Celestia would likely be dragging herself back out of the Spring persona right about now. That meant crushing disapproval was back on the table.
With me looking away, the sudden tussling of my mane came as a complete surprise. I jerked my head back to stare at Spring, wide-eyed.
"I believe that the paralysis spell–"
Oh, so that's what this is. That would explain why I could still only barely move my body even after multiple hours without a nurse directly checking on us. There was still plenty of magical monitoring with built-in wards exemptions, of course, but it was best to accompany magical monitoring with frequent check-ins when medicines were used instead of spells.
"–will be lifted tomorrow morning, provided that you agree to stay in bed. Your body is still adapting to having earth pony magic, and any significant exertion risks setting the process back."
There was no emphasis placed on stay in bed, no implied expectation that I would disobey basic medical instructions and jeopardize my own recovery in the process.
Spring stood up, stretched, and went still for several seconds. A spherical flash of yellow light soon enveloped Spring, leaving behind the ever-regal Princess of the Sun. I thought I caught a glimpse of some unusual emotion — regret? Distress? Regardless, she soon proved how different she was from Spring by crushing the emotion under a mask of false kindness.
"I'm afraid I will need to spend tomorrow rearranging my schedule. Two and a half days of ignoring my appointments without warning has left a bit of a mess."
I meant to keep my muzzle shut. I intended to keep Celestia in a good mood and cajole her into continuing our lessons as soon as possible, preferably while I was still in the hospital and could learn from Spring Hail instead of Princess Celestia.
"That tends to happen when you make a habit of overworking yourself," slipped out, and I winced.
Well, there goes my chance of ever seeing Spring for another year.
Although, if I was immortal now — no, that was the worst idea. Voice's assistance was a safety net, not something to rely upon and certainly not something I used to excuse self-destructive behavior.
I'd expected a flinch, and I got that much. Next would come guilt that wasn't acted on, apologies that meant nothing, and no change in her behavior or plans.
"I am long overdue for a vacation," Celestia acknowledged.
But?
Rather than continue immediately, the Princess of the Sun held up a hoof and trotted over to the hospital window. Her horn soon lit with a yellow glow of increasing luminescence as she connected to the sun and prepared to move it across the sky. She could, when so inclined — such as at the Summer Sun Celebration, or when there were witnesses around in general — make a big deal out of the action. Floating in the air, turning into a miniature sun herself, the works.
Most of the time, though, it was a far more somber affair. Moving the sun was easy for her. The Moon was where she sometimes seemed to have trouble, with the occasional display of tensing muscles and gritted teeth. At a guess based on the times I'd observed and extrapolating relative rates based on that, I'd say the Moon "fought" her twice a month or so. For whatever reason, those incidents always seemed to upset her even if she was excellent at hiding it.
Tonight was not one of the harder days. The Moon and night sky did take longer to raise compared to the sun, certainly, but Celestia didn't seem as though she was overly struggling. The sun often seemed effortless for her, and the night only gave her its normal amount of grief.
Not for the first time, I wondered if she would want me to help with the Moon once I became an alicorn. Certainly, my own Cutie Mark was of a stylized sun in the same colors as my mane, but the Special Talent it reflected was for magic in general rather than Celestia's overwhelming solar affinity. Celestia hadn't asked for Cadance to help, I knew, but Cadance couldn't magic her way out of a wet paper bag.
The Solar Princess finished flipping the day/night cycle within five minutes and soon trotted back to my bedside table, visibly tired by wresting the Moon and night sky into place.
"I am not pleased that my duties keep me from simply staying by your side until you are well," Celestia admitted.
My urge to say something cruel about her time management fought with my own dawning comprehension of what she had just said. Did — did I finally count as somepony important now, or was she just saying that to get me back under her hoof after I was straying? It wasn't as though she'd stopped with her cruel tests, and pretty words ultimately changed nothing. I'd let myself think that a few hours ago, and it had taken her pretending to be a completely different pony before she could show genuine emotion.
"However, I cannot simply order the whole world to halt," Celestia sighed, bowing her head with alleged regret. "Even should I delegate Day Court cases to lower judges, there are simply too many projects explicitly requiring my approval before they can go forward. It will take time to amend regulations and rules so that they no longer require my oversight."
And halfway through the process, ponies will object, or there will be some minor emergency, and you'll back down. I knew how this went. Celestia had attempted reforms in centuries past, but ponies almost always found a way to pile responsibilities back onto her. Or perhaps it was that she looked for more responsibilities the moment she started to have free time again? After all, she was apparently trying to run from memories via overwork.
Something shifted in Celestia's expression as I watched her, and she, in turn, watched me. It—almost looked like desperation? It was twitchy, though, like she was torn between hiding it behind a calm mask and actually showing the emotion. To my surprise, the mask actually lost.
That instantly made me suspicious of what I was looking at, and I was forced to wonder if this was simply a less practiced mask.
"I am trying to do better, Sunset, but I simply cannot drop everything for your benefit. I want to, but–"
The Solar Diarch paused as a thought occurred to her, her supposed desperation winking out as though it had never been. Or perhaps it had been her plan all along, and she was only pretending to have had a sudden thought.
"Sunset," she said oddly. "I have long remembered your disdain for the 'petty affairs of petty ponies,' and felt as though I was acceding to your wishes by keeping you well away from politics. However, recent events have demonstrated that I do not know your mind as well as I thought I did — and considering how frequently we fought, my confidence seems to have been baseless in the first place. As such, I must ask: do you want to help me with the governance of Equestria? I may not always agree with you, but I at least trust you, something I cannot say of a great many other ponies."
My eyes widened. Was this a trick question? Another stupid test? Oh, I can't give you any more magical lessons for a while, but if you really want to then we can do something I believe you hate! You'd much rather just study on your own, right?
"The need to teach you will almost certainly slow our pace, especially at the beginning. However, I believe you would pick it up as quickly as you do everything else, and would soon be of great benefit. It is something I always intended for you to learn after you became less…"
Celestia hesitated, and I already knew that she was once more judging me.
"Fiery," she settled on. "There are times where a verbal castigation would, perhaps, be useful. There is a time and place for that, however, and they are not 'always, at all times, for absolutely every noblemare I interact with.'"
Yup, there was the judgment. Was that seriously what she thought of me? Yes, I'd been rude when she tried to introduce me to Canterlot's nobility, but that was because they all wanted something from me. Snapping at the first few had done an excellent job of demonstrating that I was not a pony to be trifled with. But here Celestia was, implying that my refusal to ignore their arrogant attempts to exploit me meant that I was in the wrong.
"Unlike you," I snapped, "I'm not going to just smile and ignore it when somepony tries to use me. I don't know how you can just — sit there and let them get away with it all the time! They're not ever going to stop unless their hooves actually get burned from trying to push the literal Goddess of the Sun!"
Celestia's expression pivoted from slightly pained to what might, for once, be genuine surprise. She stared at me as though I'd claimed all unicorns were born with wings before a secret cabal of pegasi came along to steal them.
"I am many things, Sunset, but I am afraid a goddess is not one of them," said the immortal ruler of Equestria and primary reason we barely needed to bother maintaining a standing military. "I am as fallible as any other pony. I am aware that ponies worship me, certainly, but attempting to dissuade such worship long since proved to be more trouble than it was worth — and yes, truthfully, it has proven useful many a time."
I stared at her, aghast. She was serious, wasn't she? How?
"I wasn't talking about fallibility. You can raise the Sun and Moon on your own when it used to require rotating shifts encompassing the entirety of the Unicorn Kingdom. The greatest works of the most respected 'experts' in Equestria pale in comparison to what you can do without even trying. Case in point: you just spent several hours transformed into…"
I stared at her calm visage and felt my irritation gradually crumple. Everything I said was just going to go in one ear and straight out the other. Celestia had long since made up her mind.
"Never mind," I grumbled. "Point is, I know what answer you expected, but I actually would like to be given some real responsibilities for a change. Just don't expect me to smile and let ponies walk all over me."
As expected, Celestia did not appear thrilled with my answer. Her mouth opened, disappointment writ large upon her features, and — she stopped. The Princess of the Sun closed her eyes and sighed.
"Very well. I do not believe this stance will do your reputation any favors, but if you are intent on this path, I will not stop you."
I was torn between laughing and screaming. Even when Celestia thought she was being permissive, she still couldn't stop herself from expressing how much of a huge disappointment I was. An argument would have been better; at least that way I could defend myself, rather than this horrible, "Oh, you're wrong, but I'm going to let you do it anyway and you can just suffer the consequences until you realize I'm right."
Spring had only existed for a few hours, but I already wanted her back. On a whim, I adopted one of Celestia's masks, well aware that she would know that it was even faker than she was.
"Good night, Princess," I said with false serenity. "You need your beauty rest, and I apparently need to spend the night pretending to sleep while actually condensing pure hatred for all living ponies into something that I might throw at the perfectly gentle, undeserving noblemares of Canterlot, who surely aren't going to try to exploit the inexperienced personal student of Princess Celestia for personal gain."
As I'd hoped, Princess Celestia's mask of calm was a bit less calm by the time I'd finished. She could be pained by my words all she wanted, though. If she wasn't going to change her behavior, why should I care?
"Sunset–" she tried.
"It would probably take the form of some sort of fire," I added. "You know, based on how I blew up at Cadance earlier today. Don't worry, though: I remember your lectures on how I'm not supposed to set other ponies on fire even a little bit, including when it's just a few short-lived embers to singe manes, and I'll do my best to make sure all this hatred is–"
My rant was interrupted by Celestia crouching down and pulling my paralyzed form into a hug. I would have frozen if I wasn't already perpetually confined to that state. Why was she hugging me? With her hooves, no less! I couldn't remember the last time — had she ever hugged me straight on, rather than using her wings for that purpose? I couldn't be certain, but thought she might not. Why was she fully embracing me for perhaps the first time after I had just been sniping at her?
"I am sorry, Sunset. I–"
Celestia stuttered to a halt. She was close enough for me to hear her swallow, and certainly close enough to break my brain through sheer proximity. She might not know what to say, but I didn't even know how to feel. You weren't supposed to give positive feedback to ponies when they'd just been doing something you disliked!
All too soon, the Solar Diarch pulled away. My muscles twitched as I instinctively tried to follow, and found myself suddenly grateful that I had been magically paralyzed. I wasn't, had never been, some weak little filly who would dissolve into a blubbering mess if she didn't get a daily dose of affection. Acting like I needed comfort would just make me look pathetic.
"Good night, Sunset," Celestia sighed. "I will try to do better."
For an instant, I was tempted to point out that she could just stay with me overnight. She was, after all, returning to the castle specifically so that she could sleep.
The moment passed. Just because she'd decided to hug me out of the blue didn't equate to it meant anything. In fact, it seemed quite appropriate that she should turn and trot away so soon after performing such an uncharacteristic act, as though embarrassed that she had done so at all. The Sun's warmth was available to all, but only from a distance.
The door swung shut behind her, and I was left somehow feeling even more unhappy than when Celestia had changed from Spring in the first place.
"I arrived with expectations," Voice announced, jerking my attention back to her.
I had forgotten she was there altogether, actually. Whether that was enforced via Outsider, or simply because Celestia was acting weird enough to occupy my entire brain and then some, I couldn't say. Either way, I pounced on the distraction and focused my full attention on Voice, banishing any fleeting feelings to the corner where they belonged.
"You ponies somehow not only exceeded them, but by such a massive margin that I do believe she isn't allowed to die for at least a decade, either. You are both calamities."
I blinked rapidly and promptly decided to ignore both the slightly disturbing phrasing, and whatever She had whispered at the end. I supposed it was good that She didn't feel as though She had wasted Her boons? I was uncomfortable with the very idea that something might manage to kill Celestia, though. Almost impossible or not, it was a scary thought.
"I, u-uh–"
Oh, I sound pathetic. Ugh.
I swallowed, took a deep breath, and made good use of Celestia's example to force my tone back into normalcy. Celestia's behavior shouldn't bother me even more than when she stuck to harsh strictness all the time. Hay, maybe she was sprinkling in other acts specifically to unbalance me. If so, her attempts were working far too well and I couldn't let them.
"I am sure the Princess will be happy to hear that? Or—actually, do you mind if we not tell her? I'm afraid of how she might literally overwork herself to death if she finds out that she could get away with it."
For a moment, I felt oddly triumphant that Celestia and I were now truly undying — if only temporarily in Celestia's case — while Cadance was presumably just left with being exceptionally difficult to kill. Guilt struck an instant later. I might hate Cadance, but I didn't want her dead. Celestia would be devastated should Cadance be killed, too.
The very possibility was absurd, of course. No mundane accident could do enough damage to an alicorn to kill them; even a building collapsing upon them could be overcome by telekinetic levitation. Hostile action was out, too. Equestria had been at peace for centuries, and even brief periods of would-be war were rather decisively settled the day that Celestia took the field. We didn't live in Griffonstone; no matter how cutthroat equestrian politics might get, they never reached the point of being literal. Cadance was in no danger.
But now that I'd had the thought, there was an ever-present, niggling concern that I might be wrong. Celestia and Cadance were the only alicorns, yet Voice had confirmed that Celestia knew how they were made. That implied a larger sample size than just the two, and mythology agreed. So where were all the others? Could I truly assume that any and every threat had been dealt with long before I was born?
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed away the burning hatred that insisted I never do anything nice for Cadance. The fact that my hatred had turned from metaphorical burning to literal burning proved that the emotion had gotten out of hoof. Knowing that didn't make it much easier for me to ignore, though.
Just think of it as for Celestia's benefit, not Cadance's.
"Could I bargain for the same to be extended to Cadance, please?" I reluctantly requested. "Celestia would be devastated if she died, and it doesn't — even if I hate her, it feels wrong for her to be excluded when the two of us are safe. I know that you're already being exceedingly generous, but…"
I trailed off, wincing. There was no but there, if I was going to be honest. Even just extending the guarantee to Celestia was an incredible boon. Asking for anything more was risking offense.
Thankfully, Voice didn't seem offended by my request. On the contrary, she was smiling oddly at me. Not the stolen smile that usually meant I am entertained, so… I approve of you asking this, perhaps? Not the reaction I'd expected, honestly.
"I will raise the subject with her," Voice announced. "You do not need to worry about further services, Sunset. It shall be handled, or not."
And with that proclamation, the world blurred. Not half as badly as the night of the Dirge, but still enough to distort colors and space for what seemed like several seconds, but could have been even less time.
I blinked at the empty cushion where Voice had once sat, then glanced around the empty room. A few books had been left on the side table, but I couldn't exactly move to read any of them.
"I didn't mean you had to go right now," I halfheartedly complained.
It seemed as though I would be getting mandatory bedrest after all, if only from sheer boredom. That my stomach was full and I had been staving off sleepiness for hours was beside the point.
Princess Cadance
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza — or Princess Cadance, as she much preferred to be called — crumbled a ball of parchment in her hooves and flicked it off her desk with one wing. Unfortunately, the wastebasket she was aiming for seemed to have reached maximum capacity, and she couldn't be bothered to summon a servant to empty it. She would clean up after herself later.
Why in Equestria was Cadance the one who had to do this? Aunt Celestia should have explained matters ages ago! Cadance didn't even like Sunset, and Sunset literally burned with hate when Cadance tried to ask what her problem was!
Unfortunately for Cadance, she actually possessed empathy. Sunset's bewildered confusion during the negotiations had said a lot. Celestia refusing to meet Cadance's increasingly incredulous gaze said more. So, given as Celestia seemed to think Sunset's behavior was Celestia's own fault and she was trying desperately to make amends, it fell to Cadance to handle the ugly bits. Or the actually rather wonderful bits, as the case may be, but still very embarrassing ones.
Sunset was already well into the stage where stallions — and any other appropriately inclined ponies — would start noticing her, and possibly vice-versa. Sunset's complete obliviousness to the implications was simply unacceptable. What if Sunset found a special somepony, and was too bewildered by what she felt to know that those feelings should be nurtured instead of avoided? Cadance would be betraying her status as the Alicorn of Love if she declined to intervene! For the sake of Sunset's eventual love life, something needed to be done!
But I really really wish I didn't have to be the one to do it!
It would be so much easier if Cadance didn't know Sunset. Ask her to give a guest presentation on puberty, plus healthy romantic relationships and their possible results to a classroom full of initially starry-eyed, then increasingly disgusted foals? She could do so without any trouble. Had done so, even, and she would forever treasure her memories of their adorable dismay.
Explain matters to somepony she actually knew? Somepony who loathed her? So much harder, especially given Sunset's expressed disdain for "crippling emotional attachments." Trying to explain anything relevant ran the risk of having Sunset simply scoff and trot away, believing Cadance's entire attempt at explaining to be a waste of time.
Cadance stared at the newest blank piece of parchment on her polished wood desk, sighed, and decided to temporarily rest her head upon the hard surface.
"Auntie, why?" she whined.
Resting her head on the desk soon proved to be a mistake. The surface vibrated beneath her, jarring her jaw and sending her shooting straight up. Her wings flared wide with alarm and she looked around frantically, wondering if an earthquake had struck. As far as she knew, Canterlot had never suffered from an earthquake that hadn't been magically induced by some calamity — and for that matter, most of Equestria tended to be geologically stable, too.
In the time it took her to glance at a spot, look away, and return her gaze to that part of the room, a rather familiar orange, yellow, and red mare had appeared. The 'earthquake' vanished at the same time, leaving Cadance alone with an alicorn Sunset — or more accurately, Voice of Imperceptible Dreams. The pony-shaped entity was watching Cadance with, frankly, an exceptionally disturbing level of interest. It was even worse than when she watched Sunset sleep.
Cadance closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried her utmost not to show how incredibly off-putting Voice was. All those restrictions Sunset worked out, the bits and pieces that essentially said, 'don't commit crimes–' Voice claimed that they were means through which she might understand acceptable boundaries. But at the same time, she'd effectively said that if they set too many boundaries, she would start ignoring them. Cadance felt that Sunset had done the best job that anyone could ask for.
"The Princess of Love and former weathermare, Mi Amore Cadenza, greets the visitor from Outside," she recited from memory.
Voice's lips stretched in a smile that Sunset wouldn't be caught dead directing at Cadance. Not unless it was part of some cruel trick, at least.
"Oh, good, you were paying attention. However, that is for initial meetings, and we have already been acquainted."
Despite her words, the shapestealer did seem pleased by Cadance's repeat of the greeting. Cadance relaxed just a tiny bit. She hadn't forgotten — didn't think she ever would forget — that Voice came from a place apparently full of potential pony-eaters. Voice didn't seem like she was one of them, but Cadance also hadn't thought that Voice would care to speak to anyone other than Sunset any time soon.
"I, um — don't really think I would let Sunset in here…?" Cadance said hesitantly.
Voice froze in place, halting her scan of Cadance's rooms. 'Froze' seemed to be the right word for it, too; no parts of her body moved, not even her eyes. Hay, she wasn't even breathing.
"Would you like me to leave?" Voice asked, the sounds escaping her without any movement of her muzzle whatsoever.
Cadance swallowed and suppressed a shudder. She didn't know how Sunset could stand being around Voice — and as soon as Cadance had that thought, she felt ashamed to have produced it. It was wrong to think poorly of somepony just because they seemed strange and different.
"You're here for a reason, right?" Cadance ventured. "So it's fine this time, but please don't do it again unless it's an emergency?"
Voice resumed normal motion, and Cadance breathed a quiet sigh of relief. That relief was short-lived. The Outsider's horn soon lit, floating one of Cadance's discarded drafts from the floor to a visibly curious Voice. Cadance suddenly felt terrified for a completely different reason.
"Um, please don't read that, it's really not — I mean–"
The creature wearing Sunset's form completely ignored her request and unfolded the parchment containing one of Cadance's failed drafts. She immediately regretted not tearing every single failed attempt into tiny pieces before she disposed of them. They probably would have taken up less space in the trash that way, and nopony would need to see her humiliating attempts at discussing a certain topic.
Regret compounded on itself as Voice's features slowly stretched into a too-familiar smile: that of Sunset when she was about to do something cruel, and amuse herself at the expense of another. Cadance wanted to melt into a puddle on the spot. Sunset was bad enough on her own, and if there were two ponies that were going to do their utmost to make Cadance's life miserable? She might just decide to flee the castle altogether. She loved Aunt Celestia, she truly did, but Auntie could not for the life of her rein in Sunset.
Maybe she could run and request asylum over at Shiny's house. Cadance was sure his parents would be, if not exactly fine with it, at least too intimidated by her status as a princess to refuse her, and she could ensure they were compensated. Better still, Sunset probably didn't know that Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle existed. Even if Sunset knew, she wasn't so cruel as to bully an absolutely adorable little filly who would immediately ride to Cadance's defense with weakly thrown pillows and indignant protests.
"You aren't going to die for at least a decade, either," Voice declared, before bursting into (Celestia's) giggles.
Cadance squeaked out an, "Um?"
"Oh, don't worry about it," Voice said, still smiling. "I am merely assuaging one of Sunset's fears. She truly is a remarkably sweet filly once you get past the prickly exterior. And interior. And middle layers. And emergency backup ablative spike layers. And automatic spike manufacturing glands."
Cadance could only stare incredulously at that claim.
Are we talking about the same Sunset? Cadance wanted to ask. Yellow and red mane, arrogant, obsessed with magic, offended if you don't share her obsession? I think there are only spikes all the way down.
As it turned out, Cadance had stared for perhaps a bit too long. Cadance soon blinked and found herself completely alone in her room without ever seeing Voice depart. There hadn't even been a (fake?) earthquake this time.
At least Voice left the failed draft behind. Cadance didn't know what she would have done if Voice decided to show it to Sunset.
"…I'm going to choose to slot whatever that was under 'Sunset's fault,'" Cadance said aloud, well aware that she was being unfair but not feeling particularly charitable after Voice's brief home invasion.
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Not_Interesting
The Munchkin of Megastructures
- Location
- In your walls(the walls between realities)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You forgot the tertiary Spike sacks! Those kick in when the glands fail.
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Sunset prefers to call it "awareness of how pointless most socialization is."
Sunset is not even a fully grown up mare and already a wizard.
Barbaric Bob
The Barbaric One
- Location
- Soon to be plundering a village near you
Nightmare moon: I have returned, now perish!
*Celestia goes splat*
Nightmare Moon: There, now as the sole ruler of-
*pop*
Celestia: Oh, that's never not weird, still magical implosion is definitely going to #19 of the terrible ways to go list
Nightmare Moon: How!?
Celestia: I'm not allowed to die right now, try again in three years, might I suggest battle axe? haven't died in armed combat so far
Candance: Meh, doesn't really have the thrill after the first three times
Celestia: Oh that's a shame
Nightmare Moon: I thought dreams were my realm, this is clearly one why can't I make it stop!?
*Celestia goes splat*
Nightmare Moon: There, now as the sole ruler of-
*pop*
Celestia: Oh, that's never not weird, still magical implosion is definitely going to #19 of the terrible ways to go list
Nightmare Moon: How!?
Celestia: I'm not allowed to die right now, try again in three years, might I suggest battle axe? haven't died in armed combat so far
Candance: Meh, doesn't really have the thrill after the first three times
Celestia: Oh that's a shame
Nightmare Moon: I thought dreams were my realm, this is clearly one why can't I make it stop!?
Wow.....Sunset really is more disappointed in Cadance then an Asian Mother learning that her offspring wants to be an artist.....
And I forgot that though Cadance is the Alicorn of Love, she is connected to the full emotional spectrum and thus can literally SENSE Sunsets feelings. Yikes! Yet she still cares enough that when she notices how oblivious Sunset is in matters of "love" she takes the time to try to correct that.
Voice is having the time of it's existence. They wanted entertainment and BOY do these ponies deliver. Making the entertainment immortal is an absolute bargain as that just prolongs the entertainment! Take about having AND eating your cake at the same time.
And I forgot that though Cadance is the Alicorn of Love, she is connected to the full emotional spectrum and thus can literally SENSE Sunsets feelings. Yikes! Yet she still cares enough that when she notices how oblivious Sunset is in matters of "love" she takes the time to try to correct that.
Voice is having the time of it's existence. They wanted entertainment and BOY do these ponies deliver. Making the entertainment immortal is an absolute bargain as that just prolongs the entertainment! Take about having AND eating your cake at the same time.
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Sunset would beg to differ. Cadance gave up on her formal dancing lessons fairly quickly and retreated to go do pointless, small-scale "community service" instead of actually learning how to be a princess.
(That she eventually came back once she adapted to being an alicorn is irrelevant, as Celestia had to bribe her with specific dances she liked to manage even that much.)
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LostArchivist
Sane, unfortunately.
- Location
- The State of Confusion
I feel like this in a nonzero number of the conversations I have with people, especially at work. Fun!
I've really been enjoying this story too. It's funny and everypony is finally trying to get along. With some stumbling, admittedly.
Kai Merah
Hound Hearted Hedonist
- Location
- Somewhere in the corners of my imagination
This chapter sounds like 'set-up for calamities'. As evidence, I present to you Exhibit A:
Celestia and Sunset are not just disasters, they are utter calamities at interacting with each other. Good work exceeding expectations!
Exhibit B:
Clearly another calamity-in-the-making. In the short term, the event of attempting to explain romance and reproductive systems to Sunset from Cadance is already going to be a flood of entertainment. In the longer term, look at the baby calamities Cadance will likely drag into this calamity singularity in the future! In ten years, Twilight will definitely be Celestia's student by then, given that Nightmare Moon's return is in 12 years. At that time, Voice will steeple her tentacle-hooves, and go "All according to keikaku."
EDIT: Also, on a completely separate note, Celestia, be aware, this is your fault.
You've failed to teach Sunset that conversation is not a zero-sum game. Or at least, you seem to have failed to teach Sunset how to defend against things she dislikes besides by outright attacking them to drive them off.
But also, Sunset, aren't you being hypocritical? You don't talk to ponies unless you want something from them either.
Celestia and Sunset are not just disasters, they are utter calamities at interacting with each other. Good work exceeding expectations!
Exhibit B:
Clearly another calamity-in-the-making. In the short term, the event of attempting to explain romance and reproductive systems to Sunset from Cadance is already going to be a flood of entertainment. In the longer term, look at the baby calamities Cadance will likely drag into this calamity singularity in the future! In ten years, Twilight will definitely be Celestia's student by then, given that Nightmare Moon's return is in 12 years. At that time, Voice will steeple her tentacle-hooves, and go "All according to keikaku."
EDIT: Also, on a completely separate note, Celestia, be aware, this is your fault.
You've failed to teach Sunset that conversation is not a zero-sum game. Or at least, you seem to have failed to teach Sunset how to defend against things she dislikes besides by outright attacking them to drive them off.
But also, Sunset, aren't you being hypocritical? You don't talk to ponies unless you want something from them either.
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