Masquerade's Law: Passed in the wake of a teacher's abuse of influence over more than a dozen fillies a decade ago; this law makes it illegal for any Doctor; Teacher; or other adult with influence upon a minor to be alone with a minor at any time without a parent; guardian; or a representative of the Crown princesses' government with a clean legal background. The goal was to avoid any future chances of foal fiddlers who might want to abuse their influence with these impressionable and unsuspecting children.

Ponyville Clinic was so quiet in the early morning, and Dusk was there alone, just after dawn. It was surprising just how much had happened so quickly when a letter from one of the princesses arrived suddenly. It had only been two days since Dusk had received the Gala tickets from Celestia and now suddenly he knew every mare in town, as everyone now wanted to get to know the star stallion better as a person after their daydreams enraptured rampage through town.

Then yesterday Cadence's letter arrived, one for himself, another for Nurse Redheart. All the sudden the staff of Ponyville Clinic were falling over one another to get things ready, with Dusk suddenly being consulted on any kind of random paperwork; the color of the blinds; and what kind of flowers should be planted on the walkway from his home to the clinic as well as the new hospital building site. The fact that she was younger then half the clinic's staff apparently had no factor on today. A royal visit from one of the three princesses' made for a huge event for the town now alight with royal fever.

And then laws suddenly were being thrown around. Even before his supper last night, mayor mare had been knocking at his door nearly faint with shock. His mind wandering in the silence of the quiet clinic's sterile halls, Dusk drifted back to last night in his mind. To the mayor's panic attack over some simple loopholes in paperwork.

The incessant knocking at the Great Oak Library's back door, where the hall connected to the kitchen, demanding his attention just as Dusk's first bite of a daffodil salad slipped between his teeth. Memories of the endless conversations and tiring assault of requests for what might be served for dinner to a princess. He was sure all of this was at last answered, with the assistance from Rarity to set up a lunch tea to the worried mayor's exacting requirements, even her reputation for class, grace, and style had hardly won the diplomat over. And here she was again, her voice calling, nearly begging though the door for them to answer. "Dusk! Dusk!! We've got a real major emergency! You've got to help us!"

His eyes matched Barb's for a moment as they sat at the table, and when she shrugged, he gave a forced little sigh, fork dropping to the plate, half bite of leafy greens mixed with fresh daffodils likely to go to waste with hours of still more meetings that likely lay ahead if this went anywhere similar to the day he had just had. At last his voice lifted tired but calm while his fingers moved to straighten his shaggy bangs a little and a brave face was put on. "Get it Barb, or she will just break it down."

The dragoness gave a simple shrug and nod, before shoving his plate closer to him before she turned to walk away. His lunch had not been touched, and breakfast had been eaten at a run, she was not about to let dinner be disturbed by yet another asinine list of concerns that even Dusk himself clearly didn't care about. With the door opened, the mare rushed inside swiftly and pushed past the little dragoness without a word of thanks, nearly slamming her back into the door frame as she charged past. "Dusk! It's all falling apart! Her parents are gone from town already and left permission only to Nurse Redheart or Princess Celesta's royal court! And if we don't submit the paperwork, Canterlot Royal Hospital refuses to let the princess visit! Some law about not allowing resident doctors work at another hospital without proper documentation!"

Even with his quick mind, Dusk needed a minute to catch up to just what in Tartarus Mayor Mare was talking about. It was only thanks to Barb's glare at him from behind the mayor that he stopped, and twisted his fork up once more, drawing it to his dinner platter again, forcing the mayor to wait as he ate. While chewing as slowly as he could manage, his hand lifted, waving for Barb to close the door and come to his side. In silence he finished what was left between his teeth, leaning back upon the chair and crossing arms over his chest while his hand lifted to wave gently to Barb. "This is quite the problem Mayor Mare. After all, clearly you need someone other than her physician. Diamond's Masquerade's Law, aye?"

The mayor nodded enthusiastically, her mind still reeling from the weight of the problem at hand and all the sudden effort they had put to a royal visit, now doomed because of Scootaloo's parents absent permission. Dusk lifted a hand, and softly stroked two fingers across the curve of his jaw even while he pretended now to be lost in deep thought. His gaze turned to Barb, speaking with a light, sarcastic edge. "Barb, this is horrible. Cadence will never be allowed to visit if Scootaloo's attending medic does a physical and sends it to Canterlot for their release." Barb nod slowly, but even as she did, the math was quickly adding up behind her eyes and soon she had realized what he was getting at, a sly grin spreading on her lips.

Turning to stand at Dusk's side, her hands lifted up and clasped her cheek's in horror her cat's eyes going wide in shock. "But Dusk! Wherever will we find someone who could stand in as Celestia's representative to satisfy Masquerade's Law?" Her over dramatic tone made Dusk's lips quiver with suppressed mirth, attempting to suppress his glee at the situation at hand. "Maybe we should send a letter to the princess? I'm sure if we wrote her, even this late at night, she might answer us with some kind of helpful advice, after all, you are her favorite student and have acted as her personal representative on a dozen occasions in the past."

At this point, Dusk had hoped that the mayor might have caught up with them, and realized her foolish mistake. She didn't, instead she was turning from one to the other as they spoke, her eyes spreading wide with glee at the hope that some form of salvation to her problems might be found before disaster struck. Thus Dusk suddenly found her clutching his hand, on her knees with tears in her eyes, the thin wire frames of her glasses gazing pleadingly up at him. "Please Dusk Shine! Anything you can do! Oh to have a princess visit us at a time of peace has gotten the people so excited! Can you write her? Even with it being so late?"

A groan left his lips, even as he and Barb both mentally shared a glance that spoke volumes of how poorly the mayor was handling this crisis, though of course for Barb the joke of the situation lay deeper as she had seen Dusk fall apart just as easily when a problem got its grip on him. So, she stepped forward, taking the mayor by the shoulder, and waved a hand towards Dusk. "We can write, but why bother the princess? She has left Dusk as her student and representative already mayor... Why not have him stand in as Scootaloo's guardian while Nurse Redheart conducts the physical? His seal should stand good as any others we could get in so short a time, and I'm sure both princesses' will vouch for him and his record being spotless when it comes to matters of the law." A pause before she grinned softly. "Besides, he is one of the few adults Scootaloo gets along with. Other than Rainbow Dash of course... "

At last Mayor Mare finally caught up with her hosts and in a single violent moment her brain snapped back into place at the realization of just what they had been talking about all along. The mayor attempted to clear her brain out and stand up, her throat cleared as she shifted into a more professional frame of mind. "Err, yes! Yes of course Dusk Shine! If you could stand in as the princesses' representative, it would be a huge assistance!" It was shocking how easily she could manage to shift gears once she caught up with the situation at hand leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. "It might be the greatest favor you could do for Ponyville if you could give up your free time to help us out..."

And so Dusk had found himself signing yet another silly pile of paperwork, working for a few hours into the night to clear the paperwork for some nameless bureaucrat in Canterlot who planned to hold out on any tiny technicality possible, right to the very last minute. And when at last Dusk had gotten serious about the paperwork, applying real effort to clearing up each and every silly crossed 't' and dotted 'i' until even this annoying paper pusher had backed down. Thus he was left with five hours of sleep before Nurse Redheart and Scootaloo's scheduled appointment... and somehow he had still showed up early, and was left to wait alone in the nearly empty clinic for a half an hour in boredom.

It was with glee that someone opening the clinic's door drew Dusk back from his idle thoughts. Turning to snap his head over his shoulder the short figure who entered was instantly recognized as Scootaloo, and behind her? Nurse Redheart walked with a muffin currently still in her lips, while the younger filly munched at a grilled cheese sandwich. Even as he stood, the mares crossed the hall, young lass rubbing her limp cerise locks from her eyes as she was still half awake, even while her gaze turned up at Dusk, voice lifting in quiet annoyance. "You're promising to make this worth my time, right? It's too early for this shit if I'm not gonna get something out of this." Her low grunt made Dusk laugh and Redheart sigh, but rather than delay things, the three moved down the hall to one of the clinic's open exam rooms while the two mares continued to finish their breakfast.

Walking into the exam room, Dusk now realized things were still going to be quite uncomfortable for a while yet. Someone had set up a seven foot tall thin white curtain that separated a Desk from the rest of the sterile white exam room. Already having guessed what the rules of having anyone but a relative in the room during an examination of a child, Dusk wandered to the desk, a small mound of paperwork piled up on the table awaiting him as his weight sunk into the doctor's chair. Even as the girls finished off their meals he scanned over the pages, his spoke up with with quiet care. "It might save some time if I did the writing, alright Redheart?"

Here the mare stepped to his side and lowered her gaze to look to the paperwork he was still flipping over page by page in quiet review. Her eyes locked onto a page and a grin spread over lips, fingers lifting to lightly tap the page, Redheart lifting her gaze to Dusk the tone of her voice soft. "Oh I think you're neat enough a writer to handle this Dusk. And it might help out and save us some time. Barb's going to come here when she gets up?" At his nod she grinned warmer. "Good. As much as the others are getting worked up over this visit, I do admit I want to meet the princess as well. Her work during the wingrott outbreak in Canterlot is still talked about in medical circles, even if she had figured out some kind of miracle cure for wingrott it couldn’t have made her any less popular."

Here it was Scootaloo’s turn to speak up, her voice low and hollow. "We learn all about wingrott in school you know." Dusk swallowed and stood slowly, walking around the white curtain and looked at the small girl, sitting low on the exam table, her eyes red from restrained tears.

Three easy steps split the distance and Dusk's hand was on her shoulder with a soft touch, his voice offered in quiet consideration to the now clearly panicked young girl. "Princess Cadence doesn't think it's wingrott Scoots. If it was you'd have started molting months ago." Of course, this was far from supportive for the young mare.

Nurse Redheart knelt, taking the girl's hand into hers, making Scootaloo look up at the taller woman. Her voice was a low coo as she spoke, while her thumb rubbed the back of the young mare's knuckles. "Think of it this way Scootaloo. Your wings are weak, but with someone like Cadence taking direct and personal interest, we will find out what's really wrong with them, and get you back in the game, one way or another."

At last the little mare managed to relax a little, her gaze turning up to Dusk again as she let her hand rest in Redheart's. Her voice was fragile, eyes wide with pain as she looked into his. "Ca... can you make Dash come visit me sometime Dusk? I love watching how beautiful she is when she flies with such easy grace." At his nod she swallowed sharply and sat up taller again, her free hand wiping her eyes before returning her gaze back to Nurse Redheart again, grinning lightly. "Then let's get this shit over with. I wanna see Dash!"

The stress from the room alleviated, at least for the moment, Dusk and Redheart laughed quietly and moved to their respective sides of the room again, to get this exam started. Quickly enough the Nurse began her work, numbers called out over the curtain as Scootaloo's height, weight and a dozen other physical figures were broken down. Even the measurement of her wings was done with detailed specifics from the length of each wing bone, to even the weight and composition of a single flight feather. In the end even as Dusk was signing his name to the last page, Scootaloo pulled down the curtain that had separated them, and crossed arms over her chest, leveling a glare at him, her voice sharp. "You forget about what you just wrote down Dusk. No way I'm putting up with you knowing all those personal details." She then leveled a dark glare, grit her teeth, and waved a fist was lifted to wave before his eyes to emphasize her open threat at him.

Laughing at her threat Dusk gave her a nod, and softly pushed the stack of papers across the counter towards the girl, his voice soft and warm as he tried to reassure the young girl. "What are you talking about Scootaloo? I've no clue." His eyebrows lifted high up and he followed her as she nodded at the quiet seriousness to the young girl. "Now take these papers and go give them to Barb. She should be in the waiting room. Ask her to walk you home and if you're nice, she might even treat you to breakfast." Even as he spoke, Dusk slipped a twenty bit coin on top of the papers, and pushed at the girl’s shoulders, directing her from the room.

The filly grabbed the money greedily and clutched the paperwork to her chest, she rushed from the room, leaving Dusk alone with Nurse Redheart, the mare was still washing her hands... washing them for the fifth time. It wasn't until Dusk's hand rested on her shoulder that she at last looked up, her eyes red with restrained grief, her eyes wide as she looked up at him, slowly shaking her head. "I don't know Dusk. I swear. I've spent the last few weeks since you told me about her wings pouring over everything I could find on wingrott. Everything except her lack of molting makes me swear it's wingrott. But the lack of any kind of Osteoarthritis? Its following no natural pattern." Her tears at last came when Dusk's arms slipped around her hips and he drew her into a soft hug. For a few minutes silence reigned in the room, save for the nurse's raking sobs.

Taking the nurse by the hand, Dusk lead her from the clinic, and across the street to the half finished new hospital. He walked around the much larger facilities new halls. At last they stopped at the recently finished fountain, a tribute to princess Celestia's new dedication to the health of her people. Someone had hooked up the water already, and thus its soft ripples and spray broke up the silence between student and nurse, over ten years separated them in age, but the problem of someone nearly a generation younger had captured both their minds this morning. At last Dusk released her hand turning to look down to her again. "Something that doesn't spread like Wingrott. That doesn't cause rotting or bone decay. It's a quandary... but it's something we will have to leave for Cadence. Maybe she will at last find us an answer."

For a moment Redheart looked ready to speak up against him, but slowly she at last offered him a nod. "You're right. I'm no expert on wing diseases. My heart goes out to the girl, but beyond taking care of her.. she is slightly malnourished... about ten to fifteen pounds underweight for her age." A low sigh escaped the nurse's lips, as Dusk's hand on her shoulder and his warm grin encouraged her. With a solid nod she lifted one hand to squeeze his hand before pulling away. "I have work to do before the princess arrives. After all, I need to get through my backlog of patients before Cadence shows up."

Even as Cadence stepped from the shower the sounds from downstairs told her Shining Armor had already arrived. Even as early as she had started her morning, already he was here and making her breakfast. Already the smell of freshly cut flowers drifted through the air, tormenting her rumbling belly. Quickly she rushed to dress and rushed down the staircase, for a moment she paused at the kitchen entrance for just a moment wishing she didn't already know what was awaiting her inside. Slowly a breath was drawn, before stepping around the corner and into the room.

Few could make a romantic breakfast as as Shining Armor. Freshly cut roses both, red and white, were mixed together in a bouquet containing five rare Saffron Crocuses, the rich purple hue had a unique presence that sung out between the two vivid roses. Breakfast was piled out exactly to her taste. From the rich aroma that danced through the air she could tell that her vegetarian lifestyle had rubbed off on him, leaving the meal that ran the gambit of her favorite dishes: from the decadent hazelnut almond chocolate spread and freshly baked rye bread, to the simplistic bowl of oatmeal with blueberries. A swell of emotion rippled up in her heart and turning slowly, her eyes locked upon the stallion who had been up for hours to prepare this morning. But just as quickly as her heart began to flutter at the romantic gesture from her love, at the same time an uncomfortable conversation with Celestia flared up in her memory and in an instant her stomach dropped. Walking with quiet confidence she shifted into a more official mind-frame. Dealing with what she knew was going to come this morning might just be easier if she just distanced herself from the situation. Breath calm, shoulders straight and a polite smile drawn upon her lips. "Good morning Shining Armor. It's a pleasure to see you've set up quite the breakfast spread."

Shining Armor had worn his official parade dress, the fine red uniform jacket a professional showpiece even if the white enameled breastplate had been left at home, leaving the stallion a proud example of the royal guards finest men. Grinning as he lifted his gaze to look with longing to Cadence's eyes, while she smiled back, her lips spreading wider than ever. "Cadence! You... you look radiant this morning." His lingered, watching her, a soft breath whispering from his lips in wistful joy. Gesturing to the table he drew back her chair. Trapped now between a rock and a hard place, Cadence blushed and slipped across the room and into the chair he offered, letting him push her chair in for her and sitting while her soft mumbled words were offered to him in quiet thanks. "No problem at all my darling Cadence. It's just a pleasure to get the chance to see you so early in the morning."

Even as he moved to sit down Cadence knew what was to come. For all the times she had helped others with their love life this was the first time she had ever had to think of how to get out of this situation, and yet no answer was forthcoming. Thus with polite grace she accepted a plate he placed before her, his fingers lingering on her hand for a moment even as a soft breath of quiet delight whispered free from her lips. "You're... too kind Shining." She darkly blushed as his hand drifted openly across her palm, before grinning down to her. "Shining... I... we c.." his touch to her lips silenced her even while he dropped to a knee beside her, a small box drawn from the fine red jacket, and placed into her hands.

Gazing lovingly up to her, Shining struggled to swallow and smiled warmly up to her, his voice calm and confident even while his fingers lightly stroking across hers as the box was pushed into her hand. "Cadence... I know for the last few years I've been trying to honor your request to take it slow. But I love you Cadence. Will you... Will you marry me?" Popping the box open in her hands he revealed the fine crystal gemstone, carved in the same shape as her cutie mark, and set in a golden ring that framed it from below in the shape of a shield like his cutie mark. His fingers lifted to stroke her cheek, cooing softly up to her.

In turn, Cadence was now forced to swallow her heart, her eyes wide open even while his words sunk in, and lower lip was sucked between her teeth, raking across its surface as she grasped for words. Her throat ached with raw pleasure and an overwhelming need to say yes, yet Celestia's words echoed in her mind, and swallowing deeply her gaze lifted to lock upon the stallion's. Her free hand lifted and drew out to stroke her soft fingers across his jawline. "I... oh Shining... I. it's fantastic. So pretty... I love it. I..." A sob racked through her chest and throat, while she sat back pulling her lower lip between her teeth and gasping for a breath.

Blushing in return and smiling warmly up to her, Shining Armor grinned and leaned into her fingers stroke voice a low coo of soft delight at her kind attention. "You do? Then, you'll say yes?" His eyes were warm and deep as he gazed up to her, silently murmuring a soft coo of joy.

Cadence shifted a little to draw her body to sit up tall and draw her hands back from his touch her eyes wide even as she swallowed once more. "I... Shining, I need time. I love you so deeply, but... But what happens after Armor? What happens in a hundred years?" Her eyes hung low and her breath whispered free of her lips as she slowly shifted and lifted both hands to cup his cheeks fingers stroking at his jawline slowly while a low breath whispers free from the depths of her throat. "Ca... can you give me some time? Let me thin... think about it?"

Shining was clearly hurt, he ducked his head at her words, yet at the same time even as she drew his hands together and whispered to him, hope flared up, and his weight leaned forward, arms lifting to wrap around her hips and pull her into a warm hug voice soft as his cheek rubbed against her belly. "I... Ca... I understand Cadence. Take all the time you need to think. But know I love you and I will wait for your answer as long as it takes."

Even as he spoke a fist knocked upon the door to Princess Cadence's apartment. Ripping them both back to reality. Cadence leaned in close and wrapped her arms tightly around Shining's shoulders, hugging him tightly and pressing a tender kiss into his cheek, breath released in a low and whispering sigh. "Th.. Thank you Shining my love. I promise... when I get back from visiting Dusk, we will talk properly. Okay?" At his nod she gently smiled as she stroked her fingers across his jaw even while she continued cooing softly and nuzzled against his cheek.

Silence reigned until again the impact of knocking ripped them back to reality, a voice calling for her through the door. "Princess? Your Chariot is ready. Do you need help?"

A sigh escaped Shining's lips and he stood, his hands slipping to gently grip Cadence's, even as he helped her to stand up. His eyes gazed lovingly into hers, and a soft grin spread even as he leaned in and kissed her tenderly in return. A level murmur whispered free from his throat's base, then at last, he called out softly over his shoulder. "She is on her way, thank you Empire Wing." The sound of guards realizing that their captain stood inside, quite embarrassed while muttering was traded between the men outside while Cadence laughed in quiet delight at how aptly he handled his men.

A rich breeze drifted through the air and tickled at her nose. Alone upon the chariot, Cadence watched as six pairs of wings beat in time and effortlessly drew her though the air. A copy of Nurse Redheart's report on Scootaloo's health was tightly clutched in her fingers, a low murmur escaping even while she tried her best to understand the situation as it read out. "Advanced decay or malformed growths in half the Pinion feathers, but no molting at all." Shaking her head even as she continued to softly mutter to herself, the mare looked up to Empire Wing, inspecting the silver and grey streaks in his powerful flight pinions. Her voice lifted and she called out to them. "Empire Wing? You other guards? You all had sisters right?"

The others offered nods in response to the question even as the lead stallion spoke up first. "Five Princess. South Edge has two. Zephyr and Arctic Gust have fourteen but their father has a herd of eight mares." All of them laughed at this, if gently the twin brothers beaming with pride. "The two trainees have one each. Why do you ask Princess?"

Grinning a little as she inspected the stallions in flight before her, her voice light and tender in her careful phrasing. "It's this case. A girl of thirteen, unable to fly. My childhood biology is a little rusty. Do any of you remember how much their wings weighed at the time? I remember having nearly thirty pounds of feathers myself at the time. But I'm an Alicorn, and was easily six inches taller then this girl."

The stallions only took a few minutes to talk among themselves, at last Empire Wing turned to speak over his shoulder to the princess, his voice gentle. "We didn't exactly weigh our sisters or anything Princess, but I suppose we all agree, about twenty pounds sounds about normal yeah."

Offering them a quiet nod the mare sat back in the chariot's chair, calling out lightly. "Thank you, that is exactly as I feared." Her head dipping again to inspect the page the figure that came up again was exactly as she had figured. "Twenty pounds as an average. And this little Scootaloo ranks in at only twelve. Oh Dusk, what horror did you find..."

Even as she made small notes upon the papers based off her theories, the chariot began to circle and lower into Ponyville's city square. Already a collected crowd numbered in over a hundred had gathered, and many were waving flags and banners, while Dusk stood with the Mayor and a pink haired mare in a white nurse's uniform, a quick connecting of the dots lead her to assume that this must be Nurse Redheart.

Even as the chariot lowered, Cadence launched into the air while her wings unfurled and spread wide open to take up her weight and allow her to glide through the air. Pink feathers danced in the wind as she circled twice over the crowd and spiraled down to land before Dusk and the two older mares, to continued deepening applause. Waving to the gathered crowd and accepting a heavy bouquet of flowers from a cute little filly with pale violet and white streaked hair to go with a cute little tiara she wore. A soft grin flashed down to the short filly, before she drew the girl up into her free arm, holding the girl against her shoulder so she could wave to the crowd. "These flowers are fantastic, thank you so much... but who is this 'Filthy Rich' the note speaks of dear?"

Diamond Tiara smiled glowingly up at Cadence, still waving to the crowd even as she gave the princess a tight hug about the neck. "That's my father! He runs the Rich family business. You know, the only company that sells real Zap Apple Jam?" When Cadence grinned and nodded in return Diamond reached a hand out and separated the flowers a little to reveal three cans of the jam in the flowers. "A gift for the visiting princess. Daddy says it's not a bribe though princess. Just a present to show you how much we appreciate you visiting a boring place like Ponyville."

Laughing gently, Cadence lowered the mare from her hug and fluffed her hair playfully even while she drew away from the young girl, still waving to the cheering masses. She turned to walk to the fountain in town square and passed Empire Wing the heavy bouquet now that he had landed to stand at her side. Striding swiftly forward, the mare step up to stand before Dusk first, ignoring the fact that the mayor and hundreds of others were gathered around, her hands took up his and with a delighted grin crossing his lips he leaned in close in time with her.

As one the two started to sing out, ignoring the hundreds of eyes as the two rested open palms against one another and started to do a small dance in place. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybug's awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" together the two laughed in glee, clapping hands together in time as they sung, closing together while Dusk wrapped his arms around the taller woman's waist and drew her into his arms, then lifted her up and swirling her around in a circle, despite her being over a half foot taller than him.

Giggling in glee, Dusk hugged her tight once he lowered her to her feet again. He then took her by the hand and guided her to the mayor and Nurse Redheart his voice soft but warm. "It's a pleasure to see you again Cadence, but we don't have a lot of time to talk just now. We should get this stuff over with so we can talk in private, maybe over lunch?"

When Cadence laughed, Dusk guided her to the older female first. A professional woman in a light tan business suit, which included a white blouse with a frilly collar. A rich grey mane that suggested she was older then she looked. "Mayor Mare. This is Princess Cadence, my foalsitter and the inspiration to learn I've ever had. Cadence, this is Mayor Mare, Ponyville's mayor of fourteen years."

Even as the Mayor lifted a hand to shake Cadence's, Cadence used her strength and size to pull the shorter mare into a warm hug, grinning wildly. "It's wonderful to meet you miss Mayor!" Cadence giggled with glee, after planting a happy kiss on the older woman's cheek. When the squealing mayor was set down to her feet and saw a grin from Cadence, it was clear to the shorter mare it was clear the formal rules were out the window and Cadence wasn't going to take a professional stance on meeting strangers.

When the Mayor's soft and pleasant small talk was over with, Cadence turned to face Nurse Redheart, and grinned warmly, as the mare stepped forward with her arms lifted up, already well aware of the princess's method of greeting others. "Cadence. It's a pleasure to see you on a much nicer day than last time." In quiet joy, the towering mare slipped arms around the nurse and for a moment the two of them hugged in silence.

Grinning a little at the attention from the nurse, Cadence lovingly stroked her hands over the mare's back, her grin warm even as she laughed warmly in her soft joy. "While this was a better time than the last, we should keep this trend going. Why don't I sneak out for a few days when both of us don't have any work so we can talk properly without.." A pause as she leaned back to wave to the gathered crowds who of course happily cheered at the attention from the princess. "Such a happy crowd." She laughed gently and leaned back stroking her nails across the nurse's arms before stepping away and offering a soft smile. "So do we get to move on or are they going to require a speech?"

Here Dusk came to the rescue, stepping forward and waving a hand to the gathered crowd, his magic joining his horn and echoing out to the collected crowd. "It's a pleasure to see you all here. The Princess would like to give thanks to you all for coming to see her. That being said, she is here on medical business. Please understand she only has a few minutes to talk." Turning to Cadence, she offered him a calm nod, and let his spell slip over to lift her voice.

With her words echoing forth Cadence spoke for the gathered crowd, her hands lifted to the gathered crowd with her polite and professional waving. For a good five minutes she praised their town, their rebuilding efforts, and the fantastic spirit of community she had seen from them all. When the last of the cheers died out, her quiet smile spread and a light wave ended, hands moving to rest on her hips. Swallowing one last time she spoke up again, voice calm and confident. "Thank you for welcoming me Ponyville. I wish you all a good day until we can meet again soon!" Here she nodded to Dusk who at last dropped the spell. Soon they walked off together, Dusk guiding her to the Carousel Boutique.

Even as Rarity's teapot lowered back to its knitted pad, her voice lifted to speak once more, tender tones light and dancing in a soft and low cooing tone. "It's just a simple Earl Grey Princess Cadence. I do hope you don't mind?" Her hand lifted to wave over a platter of cucumber sandwiches; berry trifles; vegetarian quiche and a half dozen small cakes and matching sweeties. "It's just a random collection I picked up from the Cakes I asked them to help out by making sure it was all done up vegetarian style. Dusk said it was very important to you. And if it's very important to Dusk?" Here she stopped and giggled a little to titter to herself. "And if it's important to Dusk? It's important to me dear prin--"

And here at last Cadence gave a calm grin, her hands slipping forward and grasping softly at the slightly younger woman's hands, pulling her closer while flashing her warmest grin to the fidgeting younger unicorn. "Please. If you and Dusk are half as close as that kiss you two shared before he left, then you should call me Cadence... or even better, Cady." And here she laughed warmly, and squeezed the other woman's hands tenderly. "Now tell me while I enjoy a cucumber sandwich. How did you two meet? How did you fall in love? I must hear it all, to know someone is making little Dusky-poo so happy!"

For her part, Rarity took the matter in stride and attempted to stay calm as the older woman took her hands and gushed all over her with such affection. Rarity drew her lower lip between her teeth and raked it in joy before speaking with soft delight. "Oh... Pri.." A pause as Cadence leveled a glare at her. "Cadence. I apologize! Dusk is wonderful. I admit I heard of him due to the Canterlot gossip mags." When Rarity saw Cadence's jaw drop, she groaned out a little in embarrassment, lifted her hands and waved them protectively before her to drive off any questions. "I am still obsessed with the silly gossip that comes from Canterlot. It's the best channel to keep up with Canterlot's elite without having to leave Ponyville."

Here Cadence started to warmly laugh at how quickly Rarity got defensive over the whole situation, even as Cadence herself worried that it was getting out of hand. "Oh come on Rarity, it's not so bad. Dusk was telling me on the walk here you care for your little sister? What was her name... Um... Sweetie Belle?" She cocked her head to the side, flashing Rarity a warm grin even while nibbling the crust-less half cucumber sandwich, chewing at it in small light bites.

Grinning, Rarity turned her head, and called over her shoulder to Sweetie Belle with soft joy. "Darling! Please, come say hi to Cadence if you are not busy with something." In an instant Cadence's eyes spread wide at the sight of the young filly who stepped through the dining room door that lead into one of the sitting rooms. Dressed in a light white lily colored silk dress with a bow that was dyed a very pale yellow lily hue in the front. Grinning warmly the girl rushed up to her sister and took a light grip of her arm, standing half behind the taller woman who sat half behind her shoulder while gazing around it to watch the towering princess.

Cadence's eyes flared wide open, joy dancing in her eyes even as she drew raking fingers through the hair of the girl who half hid behind her older sister. The resemblance was striking and the girls dependance and trust on a sister thirteen or so years her elder was so sweet. It made her heart throb in rich delight, her heart throbbing in joy even while a soft murmur whispered free from her lips. "Hello Sweetie Belle... I am Cadence. Can I have a hug?" Her arms lifted and offered a warm hug to the smaller girl her voice soft and eyes warmly begging.

Sweetie's stride was slow at first, stepping forward from behind her sister's chair in soft steps, those wide eyes half hidden by wild locks of mulberry and pale rose hue. Soft steps continued as the thin mare drifted he short distance across the floor with a innocent grin. The distinct sound of Rarity clearing of the throat made the tiny mare freeze up for just one second, then she grasped the hem of her dress, as she dipped into a shallow curtsey for the princess her voice warm and high pitched, a squeak of delight bursting the middle of her sentence. "Hello Princess Cadence, it's a pleaSURE!" She stopped swallowing deeply and then continued again blushing darkly. "Its really great to meet you!"

Laughing at the young mare's gleeful but clearly drilled behavior, Cadence swooped in and pulled the filly into her lap, hugging her tightly and giving her a warm kiss on the top of the head. Her voice was light, warm and soft as she rocked the small lass in her arms sitting back in her chair and grinning with joy. "Someday I want a daughter just like you. You're perfect Sweetie Belle. Just make sure you behave for Rarity, or I'll be forced to steal you away."

For just a moment the princess could have sworn that she saw Rarity freeze up and swallow at what she had just said, a single tear tracing down her left cheek. But why? Her eyes scanned the mare as she made small talk with the young filly and hand fed her a few of the richer treats from the sweets on the table, her manic grin of joy an honest one, even as she secretly continued to study Dusk's lover. What had she said that had set her off, had hurt the woman who acted so calm and happy... Why wasn't she as happy as she acted.

Even as the mares were eating lunch and getting to know one another, Dusk was across town, knocking upon Scootaloo's door. Just after noon on a weekday, Dusk was shocked when it was Nurse Redheart who answered the door. "What? Redheart? You're still hanging out here? Is Scoots Ok?" His voice short and eyes darting with worry around the room hunting for any sign of the tomboy filly.

Gently laughing, she pulled the door to the house wide open and turned to call out to the girl. "Scootaloo! Dusk's here. Finish cleaning your plate and come help me lock up. You're going to meet the Princess."

Even as Dusk stepped up to speak with the nurse the distant yell of a filly split the air before he could. "I know, I know! They are my dishes to clean! Just cause you're in charge of my medical care doesn't mean you're my mother!" Dusk was impressed, it was clear even though Scootaloo didn't care for Redheart's words, the fact the rebellious young mare was talking with such a casual tone to the woman more than twice her age suggested the two were getting along well enough.

Laughing warmly, Dusk crossed his arms over his chest, leaning to the door frame and glancing down to the nurse mare. "So I take it even grumpy little Scoots is excited to see Cadence?" A grin spread as she started to laugh in return to his question shaking her head.

"It took nearly two hours after you left to get her to pick out her outfit and even then she demanded I watch as she tried all three outfits on." A pause, as she drew closer to Dusk, standing on her tiptoes and whispering softly. "She even tried on a dress. Can you imagine? Our little Scoots showing up to see the princess in a dress?" A snort of laughter was suppressed between their lips, Dusk biting his lower lip while Redheart turned to face the door frame even while Scoots came storming out of the kitchen her voice still at a powerful volume.

The filly was dressed up at least that was clearly her intent. Her short hair had been brushed but still stood tall, while matching white jeans and a dress shirt had been picked out for the meeting with the princess. A soft off pink lilac vest was worn on top, left unbuttoned "Come on guys! You should have way more class than this. Let's get going before the princess gets sick and tired of waiting on you two to stop flirting and leaves me to suffer another round of Red's examinations." At Dusk's glance and a raised eyebrow she snorted. "She tugs too hard on my feathers. They are sensitive! How'd you like it if I pulled your tail?"

The silly threat made Dusk laugh but he backed away casually from the mare, his hands held up defensively. "I yield! I yield! Let's go Scoots, so Redheart can get back to her lunch, while we head to Rarity's for some tea before Cadence eats all the sweet cakes." A nod was offered to Redheart before he turned waving for Scootaloo to lead the way, grinning warmly as he started to whistle, happy for how well the day was going.

With the hyper Scootaloo leading the way, Dusk found the trip back to Rarity's Boutique took no time at all, leaving him knocking upon the door with two light wrapping blows before opening the door himself and stepping inside his voice lifted in a soft calling tone. "Rarity? Cadence! We're here." A pause as soft voices and happy talk came from the dining room. As he stepped through the door and waved for Scootaloo to follow, the young filly spoke up with slight sarcasm.

"You and Rarity sure must be close. Just storming into her house without any permission. Are you two that hot to trot?" At his leveled glare she only grinned warmer with glee. "I'll take that as a yes Romeo."

Rolling his eyes, Dusk lead his way to the dining room, ignoring the smart mouthed filly's comments. Even as he guided her through the kitchen soft voices and easy laughter reached him, the happy easy conversation a reassuring reminder of just how well both Cadence and Rarity were at getting to know people so quickly. "So then, Dusk managed to accidentally cast a teleportation spell disappearing from the horde of jealous mares and landing safely back in the golden oak library. When I remembered what Nightmare Moo... err I mean Princess Luna's teleporting looked like, I told the others and we tracked Dusk back to the only place he felt safe, the library. Thankfully he accepted our apologies for hounding him so aggressively and now the six of us are good friends..." She paused here as Dusk stepped through the door, blushing darkly at a story about himself being the topic of conversation, but continued when Cadence gestured her to go on. "He err.... We are all good friends still and Applejack plans to invite Dusk out to the farm more often once harvest is over."

With her back to the door, Rarity's face must have given his presence away, for Cadence turned slowly in place, lifted her gaze to him and put a finger to her lips while shushing him gently. Even as she did he quickly realized why, curled up in her lap and clinging to her chest was little Sweetie Belle, passed out and dozing in her lap, a quiet grin on her lips even while the young filly dozed on. Dusk swiftly stepped back, slipping a hand over Scootaloo's lips just as her mouth opened to call out something loudly. Even as the tomboy glared up at him, he pointed her towards the second filly and a grunt was released from her lips before she pulled away from his hand and leaned against the door frame, grunting in her annoyance.

When he was sure Scootaloo was not about to disturb the sleeping filly, Dusk stepped into the room and walked lightly across the room to Cadence's side. Nodding softly to each mare in turn, he stepped in close and wrapped his arms around the tiny and peacefully resting Sweetie Belle, lifting her up into his arms with a soft touch, while he stroked his fingers tenderly across the young girl's cheek while his free hand supported her weight with a hand under her hips. As he drew a soft nod from Rarity, he spoke gently to his foalsitter in a quiet whisper. "I'll take the girls upstairs and see if Opal can look after Sweetie. Redheart isn't expecting us for another hour or two."

Cadence's lips curved into a soft frown as he took the mare's weight from her arms, a finger lingering in a light stroke across the filly's cheek with quiet loving affection, before relenting at his suggestion, nodding softly. "Thank you Dusk. Take care of the sweet filly. She has a priceless heart." Even as she spoke, Rarity offered a small silk hankie to Cadence, who drew this to wipe tiny tears that were flowing from her eyes. Swallowing softly the princess slipped her weight back a little and picked at a random piece of her cucumber sandwich, but her eyes were on Dusk and the tiny filly asleep in his arms as he carried the pure innocent from the room. Scootaloo followed Dusk only after she had slipped in and stolen a few of the sweet cakes from the table.

Author's Notes:

Yet another chapter that got away from me as I worked on it. It's quite a delight to have a basic idea for a chapter to grow this large but it's also a little disconcerting since I continue to get delayed further and further as more things come up and yet I feel I can't rush on to the next chapter even though all I can think of right now is whats going to happen in the next dozen chapters. Hopefully you guys find this extra chapter as fun as I do!

Version 2.0 Updated April 28th, to reduce over use of own and would. More edits to come tomorrow when my brain stops aching.