1.8

“Twilight… What does this mean?” Celestia asked herself, pacing back and forth. “What is the magic of twilight?”

“It must be cryptic your highness,” Rhyme suggested.

Rhyme and Celestia sat in her observatory, carefully analyzing the Zecora’s words. Meanwhile Cadance rummaged through some books. Rhyme and Celestia weren’t worried she’d make a mess because the place was already a mess. Books and scrolls laid around the cluttered room.

“I think I got it,” Rhyme said finally, “You are the day and Luna is the night, right? Well between that is a moment of twilight, neither day or night. Settle your differences, make peace and maybe get lunch afterwards.”

“I considered that, but Zecora mentioned that the Elements of Harmony were key to all of this,” Celestia replied, “For this reason I am sure that Luna’s heart is filled with bitterness and that needs to be soothed by the elements.”

Celestia thought a bit more.

“There is no other reason that the elements would be necessary,” Celestia added.

“You can still use them right?” Rhyme asked.

“Not exactly, I could only wield half of them truthfully. The other half rebelled against Nightmare Moon and altogether was I able to seal her into the moon. For all I know, Luna could still control the other three.”

“I think we need make sure we at least have the elements and then worry about the meaning of the twilight riddle,” Rhyme suggested, “Also lunch, because that would be lovely too.”

Celestia nodded her head in agreement to both.

Later that day, Celestia entered one of the castle’s many private courtyards after preparing herself for her task. Rhyme and Cadance stood at the edge of it, watching closely to observe any occurrences.

“I have not done this in centuries Lady Rhyme so when I attempt to tap into the elements, I need you to note everything that occurs so we can begin to measure their strength,” Celestia said sternly, focusing ahead.

As Rhyme readied her notepad Celestia braced herself. Her horn shone a brilliant, blinding white as she began to rise in air.  The spheres of light rose from the ground and slowly circled around her, leaving tracers in their wake. Celestia opened her eyes, revealing a glowing gold hue and clenched her teeth, focusing harder.

Much to her mother’s horror, Cadance also began to rise in the air. Three additional spheres of light floated up around Cadance as she began to take the same position as Celestia. A silly look came over Cadance as she began to grit her teeth like Celestia.

Shells of light formed around the two until they were two balls of light, the larger one holding Celestia and the smaller one holding Cadance. They slowly moved until Celestia was sat a few feet above Cadance slightly askew from perfect centering, hanging in perfect harmony, the six smaller balls of light sitting in a circular pattern around each pony. Suddenly Cadance’s sphere turned dark and Celestia’s sphere shot searing light down towards the ground, catching Cadance’s sphere in the brilliant ray. For moments there was blinding light.

After the light dispersed, Cadance laid on the ground next to Celestia on top of a new burned image of a crescent moon on the ground. Cadances’s sphere had create a shadow when Celestia’s sphere shot her light downward. Cadance stood up wearily next to Celestia.

“Cadance! Are you alright?!” Rhyme shouted out.

“Yeah mom, my head hurts a little bit though….”she replied dazed.

Cadance looked down at her side and screamed.

“Mom! Look I’m a princess just like Princess Celestia!”

Celestia and Rhyme looked down at the pony and saw both wings and a horn on her body. Celestia looked at the filly and then the smoldering moon symbol on the ground. Suddenly it was all clear to her.

“Well my little pony, it would appear that you are indeed a princess,” she said, smiling warmly at Cadance, lying beside her

Celestia dusted herself off and stood tall in front of Cadance. She stood with an air of authority and honour.

“And as a Princess you should remain here in Canterlot with your mother. You do have royal duties now,” she commanded gently.

Cadance lit up and began jumping around Celestia.

“I’m gonna be a princess! I’m gonna be a princess!” she chanted cheerfully.

Rhyme looked up at Celestia worried. Celestia returned her gaze sternly.

Later that night Rhyme went up to Celestia’s observatory. There she found her gazing through her lenses. Cadance had already gone to bed in her temporary room in the castle while arrangements were being made for a more permanent room.

“Princess, I was hoping I could talk with you about Cadance,” she said, quietly entering the room.

“Yes, I knew you would,” she replied briefly.

Rhyme bit her lip before speaking, but continued anyways.

“What is it that you plan to do with Cadance?” she asked, “Because for some reason I don’t think you made her a princess merely because you liked her.”

Celestia sighed and looked back at Rhyme solemnly.

“I didn’t make her a princess on purpose. I had no control over her receiving the mark. However, it is obvious that she is linked to the elements and to Luna in some way. I predict that she will play a pivotal part when Luna returns,” Celestia explained, “If the hope of this kingdom lies in Cadance, she simply must remain safe and be ready to fulfill her purpose.”

“What purpose is this? What will she have to do?” Rhyme prodded.

“I do not know,” Celestia said, looking down, “I will not lie to you, when I used the elements to stop Discord, something happened and caused me and Luna to change permanently. I cannot tell you what will happen to Cadance.”

Rhyme stared at Celestia in disbelief.

“So you plan to use an innocent little filly for this? What if something goes wrong?” Rhyme demanded, outraged, “Luna was trapped away forever when you last used them! How do I know Cadance won’t suffer a similar fate?!”

Those words cut deep into Celestia, but she didn’t show it.

“She represents the hope of Equestria, if nothing else, she will be a pony of legend worth remembering,” Celestia rebutted, scornfully. She saw the sadness and worry in Rhyme though. She had let her duty get the best of her and she was ashamed.

“I’m sorry Lady Rhyme, it’s a lot to ask of you, but I promise you, I will do everything I can to learn about the elements to protect Cadance, if you allow me to use Cadance to save my kingdom should the time arise, I will do my best to keep her safe,” Celestia promised.

Rhyme didn’t feel like she had much of a decision, but she trusted the princess and it made her feel better that she was insuring Cadance’s safety, despite the inhumanity of her dealing with her daughter in such a practical way.

“Ok, please keep her safe princess,” Rhyme submitted.

“She will have everything she could ever ask for,” Celestia assured.

Rhyme nodded reluctantly, she didn’t like the princess using her daughter in such a way, but it was for the best. Mostly she was worried about Cadance. In a short time span, she inhaled unknown fumes from Zecora’s mixtures, came in touch with very powerful and dangerous artifacts and sprouted wings. Rhyme had no idea how any of it worked, but Cadance seemed healthy and she was the same Cadance she had a week ago, except airborne… and legally outranking her.  

A few weeks later, Cadance was inducted into the royalty of Canterlot and became Celestia’s royal protégé. A grand ceremony was held and the aristocracy of Canterlot was all in attendance. Cadance’s typical hyperactivity was slightly disruptive, but well met. Rhyme kept on her like a hawk to stop her from doing anything stupid.

“This is Fancy Pants the Lord Minister,” introduced Rhyme, motioning towards the white stallion of Canterlot.

“Hey Mr. Fancy Pants, Lord… uhhh what’s a mister?” Cadance asked.

“Lord Minister your highness, I just make sure that everyone knows what the princess wants,” Fancy Pants explained warmly.

“Why is your name Fancy Pants? You’re not even wearing—“ Cadance started. Rhyme interrupted her quickly.

“Is that Hoity Toity?! Well we should probably go meet him! Look at his cool sunglasses dear,” Rhyme interjected, grinning awkwardly at Fancy Pants, pushing Cadance somewhere else.

After clearing Fancy Pants, Celestia approached them.

“Good afternoon Cadance. I trust that you are fulfilling your royal duties and socializing with your subjects,” Celestia said with a wink.

“Oh yes, your highness, I talked to Fancy Pants and a guard and then I ate food…” Cadance replied, half-distracted by a butterfly.

“My dear, no need to address me as, ‘your highness’, we are both princesses now….” Celestia began, but trailed off. Cadance was already eyeing down a butterfly and sneaking up on it slowly.

Celestia enjoyed the wonder on Cadance’s face. She had spotted a butterfly and was slowly moving in on it to prevent herself from startling it and scaring it away. Before Celestia knew it, she had already cast her Brilliance spell on the butterfly. The butterfly shone a spectrum of colours in a dazzling display. Cadance didn’t run away, instead she stood there and called her mother over to see the butterfly too. Celestia thought quiet thoughts to herself as the young princess in reveled in the moment. Thoughts she thought she had long buried away.

She saw a filly in front of her, but it wasn’t Cadance. Next Chapter: 1.9 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 29 Minutes