Chapter five

Twilight sense the time she has woken up has been running around cleaning up the house waiting for her relatives to come. Cadance has seen the house while it was being built, but not the finished product, and with many a books lying around (considering the occupant that should serve as no surprise), she doesn’t want to make it look like a mess. With the kids coming by as well she has another thing to prepare for. Already going through her kitchen and getting a light lunch ready for them all, she has a table set and ready to go for when they arrive.

From the kitchen just as she finishes she hears a knock and the sound of the door opening as the pitter patter of little hooves across the floor gets louder and louder from the approach of the kin from her mentor. Soon turning around to see the twins in her sight as they are all too happy to see their ‘aunt’ in person for the first time in a while. “Auntie Twily!” they scream at the top of their little lungs in unison as she rushes towards them as well, wrapping her wings around each of them in a warm embrace.

“Oh I’ve missed you two!” she returns to affection, rubbing her cheek against theirs as they nuzzle in to her neck. Looking up Twilight finally sees the pink alicorn in the door way watching the three with a smile on her face.

“Well it seems they found you before I could,” Cadance says jokingly, before she walks up and gives her sister in law a hug as well, “how have you been, Twilight?”

“Oh the same you could say,” she plays off the fact of all her teachings that she’s been doing with Celestia like they’re nothing, and also the fact of her mind silently racing about at a million miles a minute from the guard that is headed her way. “However, before I forget. I already have lunch set out for when you three came,” she turns her attention to the foals, “let’s eat first, then you two can play for a bit while me and Cadance chat before heading out. Sound like fun?” the kids don’t need to be told a second time, and are at the table in a moment’s notice. Both the alicorns look at one another and grin before sitting themselves down.

Helping the twins put fresh fruit on their plates and pour their juice, they do the same for themselves, as they sit down to take a load off for now and start with some small talk. “They have gotten big sense I last seen them,” Twilight says admiring the two little ones sitting by her. “To think I go over to the castle often enough, you would think that I would see more of them.”

“Well my aunt can keep you quite busy,” Cadance points out as she uses her magic to peel an orange and break the slices apart for the youngest prince in the room. The Princess starts to blush as a similar subject comes up in her mind, “me and Shining have talked about having some of our own,” she says looking at the pair, “when it feels right that is.”

Twilight can’t help but shake her head after hearing this, “ironically my brother was not only the one saying he would never get married, but also the colt who said he would never have a foal of his own.”

“Well it seems he was wrong on one account so far,” Cadance says looking at the wedding ring atop her horn. “Never the less, he’ll make a great dad one day.”

“And you an awesome mom,” Twilight chimes in, “I mean you were after all the greatest foal sitter in the history of foal sitters.”

Cadance starts to giggle, remembering back to when Twilight was only as old as her cousins. She would come over when ever needed and help her with studies that she was getting from Celestia even back then, and even teach her a new spell or two. To think that she came all that way, from hatching her own dragon egg, to becoming an alicorn and a Princess.

“How come uncle Armor never comes to visit mommy and daddy?” Rosebud asks the two adults before her.

“My brother always puts royal guard duties ahead of most things to keep them in top shape,” Twilight answers with a slight scowl to her brothers actions.

“Yes he does,” Cadance adds on, “Shining currently was putting a new group of them through the ringer when I left. He wanted to come down this time but,” she leans in closer to Twilight's ear so as not to say it out loud in front of the children, “there have been some odd reports of double sightings of ponies in the area of the Crystal Empire. Some even going missing and showing up without a clue on what happened. The word changeling has been tossed about here and there.”

“Changelings?” Twilight says in shock, remembering all they did to Equestria beforehand. “I thought they were all gone after you and Shining’s wedding?”

“Well that’s what we thought as well,” she informs her, “I mean there isn’t much else it could be. Although I think it’s just speculation and hearsay. Then again you know your brother, he takes it to heart and is trying to step up guards just in case.”

“That does sound like him,” she giggles, trying to lighten the mood more than anything.

Cadance though changes the subject to something a little less serious to bring back the mood. “I have to say though the house does look quite lovely. My aunt spared no expense did she?”

“I know Shining Armor, and you know Celestia,” Twilight answers simply to her, “I would have gone with a more humble ‘at homey’ look, but with a library that rivals my old one,” she starts to grin, remembering all the books that she cleaned up prior to her guests getting here, “I don’t think I can complain in the slightest.”

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After a quick tour of the new house, the two adults find themselves sitting down in the living room while the kids play hide and go seek in their aunt’s house. Sipping on a glass of iced tea, they talk more about what Twilight has been doing with Celestia in the castle and all she has learned. “Dark magic?” Cadance says half surprised and half intrigued.

“That’s right,” Twily nods at her, “if I want to one day be an effective leader, then I have to know everything I can about magic. Even the quote unquote bad.”

“I don’t even know any of those spells,” the older of the two Princess cringes. After hearing about some of the things past rulers who were adept in the art could do, what princess wouldn’t? Well besides the young princess before her who would slurp up knowledge like a milkshake on a hot day in summer. “I’m impressed though. The spells sound quite powerful after all, then again I’m sure they can’t be all that ‘evil’ in your hooves.”

Twilight bites down on her lower lip holding back a laugh, “Spike may beg to differ about that one.”

Cadance has no idea what her friend did to the scaly companion, but never the less chuckles with her. “By the way,” she turns it around, “how is the big guy doing?”

“As much as one may expect a dragon in a library to do,” she says with the utmost of sarcasm as she can manage, “He enjoys being able to help out others when they come in there looking for an actual book. Something that for some reason never really happened while I was there?” Twilight pauses for a moment to mull over that idea, seeing as for the most part it is true. “It always seemed to be something involving ‘the fate of Equestria rests in your hooves’ when I was around. Although…” she pauses for a moment while her eyes pierce like daggers at the innocent look on her sister in laws face that she tries to play off so well, “I’m sure he’ll be happy to know I won’t be completely alone around here.”

The look on Cadances face says it all as Twilight reads it line for line like one of her books. ‘Damn,’ the Princess of love says in her head, ‘I had hoped to keep that subject out as long as possible.’ Trying to still look as guiltless as possible, she plays it off, “what do you mean?” she asks.

“You know very well what I mean,” Twilight answers, calling her bluff immediately, “Celestia told me in her letter that she wrote. That you can tell me more about the guard that is being sent here. Because you know him better, so utilizing simple methods of deductive reasoning and a small hint of common sense. I’m assuming he comes from the Crystal Empire?”

Cadance drops the act once she knows the gig is up, ‘thanks auntie for throwing me under the carriage,’ she thinks before trying to figure out a way to explain this one to her friend, “well… yes he does.”

“So!” Twilight snaps at the thought of the three other Princesses all sitting in a room trying to find a guard for her, all of them gossiping at which ones would fit best and which ones are out of the question like a mother attempting to find a prom date for her daughter. “Who is he? Do I know him? When is he coming? Why didn’t-” before she can say anything else, Cadance nearly shoves a hoof down half her throat.

“Calm down Twilight,” she tries to reassure her while explaining her own side of the story, “I came over to the castle, and after hearing about them trying to find a guard for you, I was told what you were looking for. And the one I thought of fit all of them…”, ‘besides the part of you being shy around him because you have a huge crush and don’t want to admit it,’ she finishes off in her head before giving Twilight a moment to think.

“Will you answer anything I just asked then?”

“Well, only that he’ll be here in the morning,” Cadance grins looking off to the side away from the alicorn in front of her. Waiting for the small explosion of a mare to take place.

And that she does.

Twilight literally flies off the couch in to the air as she throws either of her fore hooves on to her temples at the next ton of bricks that have just been placed on her mind. “Are you kidding me!” she screams, more so to herself than anyone else, “couldn’t I have at least gotten more notice then that! I mean now I have to make this house look spotless, pick up fresh linens for the guest bedroom, get a more variety of food in case he doesn’t like what I have already, find out if…if…ughhh!” Twi lands back on the couch and slams her face in to the coffee table in front of her with a light thud.

All the while Cadance looks at her and can’t help but snicker to herself, “Twilight you’re thinking about this too much,” she tries to comfort her for what it’s worth, “I saw your guest bedroom, it’s lovely. House, all the magic in the world won’t get it any cleaner. As for food, now you’re being ridiculous. This is a guard coming to watch over a princess in a small town just outside of Canterlot. There really isn’t much that he can complain about.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” she rolls her eyes back at her sister in law, “you know him, and for that matter,” she recalls one of the things she asked for in a guard, “how do you know I’m comfortable around him?”

“I’ve seen you two work together,” Cadance answers flatly, attempting to give as little away as possible.

“And I’ve worked with several of your guards over the years as I went to the empire for various reasons,” she points out the obvious, “why is this one special?”

Cadance stands up after seeing that Twilight, with all her logical basis and feeling, has not a clue who to expect. ‘Better get out of this one as fast as possible,’ she says to herself as she calls for the kids. “Havoc, Rosebud. We’re getting ready to head out, come on darlings,” she says to change the subject at hand. Turning around to see Twilight still there on the couch knowing full well what her intention was with that little diversion. “Oh don’t give me that look,” Cadance says after seeing the glare directed at her, “it’s better to get out of the house anyway. Besides I’m sure you would like to see your friends and catch up with all that’s been going on in your life.”

“Nice save there Cadance,” Twilight snickers at her, “did you plan that one?”

All the pink Princess does is shrug her shoulders while the kids come out from hiding and gather at their feet. “Meh, I usually just make it up as I go along,” she trails off, and with that they’re out the door.