CHAPTER 2

THE CALL FOR SUITORS

Each sibling had a different reaction, which would normally be humorous but was not for any sister gathered. Fluttershy raced towards the canterlot gardens, tears streaming down her cheeks that glistened in the light. Applejack roared in fury and went to go buck some trees. Rarity sobbed as loudly and as dramatically as possible, racing to her room to go wallow in ice cream. Pinkie pie's usually poofy mane had deflated and was hanging limply as the normally cheery pony silently dragged herself towards her room. Rainbowdash screeched and flew towards a skylight in the room, bursting through it in a Fit of rage before tearing across the sky. Twilight teared up silently and went to go engross herself in books, hoping to forget of their mother's recent declaration. Twilight herself couldn't believe what their mother had asked of them. To get married! Let alone to a pony they didn't know! Just to save their Kingdom. Sighing the lavender unicorn moved towards her window, glancing at some of her siblings down below. She could faintly see the butter cream coat of Fluttershy moving up and down as she sobbed, being comforted by many animals. Even further in the distance she could see an orange blur she assumed was Applejack kicking the life out of some trees. A rainbow trail was lighting up the sky as her angered sister Rainbowdash flew at top speed. Squinting, Twilight could see past them and into the distance where the streets of the city were. Those ponies living on those streets was the reason why the six mares were getting married in the first place. Angrily the unicorn leaned back inside and slammed the window shut with a Force that rattled the glass. She, being the most understandable out of her sisters could see her mothers reasons, but this was outrageous! Twilight also had an inkling that it wasn't just for the kingdom aswell. Her theory is that their mother did not want them to get married to somepony they love, as that had happened to Celestia long ago, only for her love to be crushed by another Queen, a queen that goes by the name of Chrysalis. But not before she had six daughters of course. Not lingering on these pained thoughts Twilight sighed depressingly before slumping onto her bed, tears streaming down her face. Her deep purple eyes fluttered closed as a single tears slivered it's way down her cheek.

"Cadance, Cadance, I need you to take a message!" The alicorn in question raced down the corridors and burst into the throne room where Queen Celestia sat regally. "Of course your highness!" The pink mare grabbed a scroll and a pen with her magic our of a saddle bag that rested across her hips before turning to the Queen.

"My six daughters are in need of suitors, these suitors must be noble of birth..."

Cadance finished sending the scroll with her magic before turning to the queen. "Is that all your highness?" The pink alicorn asked questioningly.

"Yes, thank you." The White alicorn seemed troubled so Cadance left her to her thoughts. Poor girls, this doesn't seem like something they would willingly go along with... The servant decided to go check on them individually, over the years of the six mares growing From filly to mare Cadance had formed a strong bond with each of them. Going to the closest room the pink pony knocked. After hearing no answer from inside she gingerly opened the door. Seeing that the lavender mare curled up on the bed was snoring slightly Cadance shut the door behind her with a warm, but concerned expression. Moving to the next room she knocked and immediately got an answer from inside. "GO AWAY, CAN'T YOU HEAR I'M DEPRESSED?!" Sighing Cadance heard bawling from inside and opened up anyway. Rarity was sprawled across her bed. Sobbing uncontrollably before shoving spoonfuls of ice cream in her mouth, then going back to bawling her eyes out.

"Rarity, Hun you shouldn't be eating like this, especially if you wan't to keep your figure up for those suitors." Cadance took the ice cream in her magic and moved it away, but as her words were spoken Rarity somehow broke into an even louder crying session. Setting the ice cream down the alicorn moved to the bed and sat down upon it next to the bawling Unicom. Wrapping her legs around Rarity in a comforting embrace the mare returned it halfheartedly. The pink alicorn's fur was getting soaked in tears but the mare did not mind. After her sobs had died down and the only sound was the ragged breathing of the White unicorn Rarity spoke.

"You know I always imagined getting married... But not like this..." Her sapphire blue eyes sparkled with fresh tears and Cadance smiled warmly at her, brushing the tears away with a hoof.

"I'm sure the suitors are going to be wonderful ponies that will love you, ok Rarity?" The pony in question nodded and Cadance broke their hug, turning towards the door. "I have to go visit the others, will you be okay?" The loving mare asked and the other mare in question nodded, staring at the wall in front of her. Gently shutting the door behind her Cadance moved to the next one along. Opening it a creak she saw Pinkie on the floor, her mane deflated and hanging limply around her face the party pony princess curled up in a ball, rocking back and forth with a sadistic smile upon her lips. Her light blue eyes where not full of sparkles as usual and were almost dead as she stared at the wall ahead. "Pinkie?" The servant warily asked but the pink princess did not turn around, the only sign of Cadance being heard was the flop of an ear and the twitch of an eye. Cadance gingerly trotted into the room, seating herself by the party planner anxiously. After a moment of hesitation she extended her foreleg, and wrapped it around the depressed mare's shoulder. Almost instantly the usually laughter full mare broke down crying, her tears like waterfalls as they sprang from her eyes. "Oh Pinks..." Mi Amore Cadenza wrapped the crying mare in a hug. After a minute of bawling the party planner stopped and pulled herself out of the hug.

"Enough of this foalishness! I have to a job of cheering up others to do!" The mare then grabbed her party cannon that was leaning near the door and bounced doesn't the corridor, entering Rarity's room with a crash. Giggling as she heard Rarity's surprised squeals and the sound of confetti, Cadance shut the door to Pinkie's room and walked down the hall. She ignored the next three rooms completely. She knew the three other mares were not likely to sit and wallow in sadness in their rooms. Cadance was about to trot towards the end of the corridor when light filtered around her. Squinting the mare looked up, and saw the skylight.

"Perfect!" She exclaimed, before spreading her wings and launching herself into the sky, flapping her wings every so often she eventually made it through the skylight and into the open air. She let the cool breeze tickle her fur as she soared across the grounds, she knew exactly where Fluttershy would be but it was the other two she was worried about, Applejack had shown she had amazing strength but when angry tended to use her strength to the best of her ability. And Rainbowdash, well, she was already a hothead and often let her temper get the best of her, who knew what those two could be up to right now? She got her answer as a tree suddenly shook tremendously before toppling over. "Uh oh..." Cadance whispered to herself anxiously before flying at fast speeds towards where she had seen the tree collapse. Landing on the soft grass the alicorn began to race towards where she now heard shouts. Cadance reached the end of the knocked over tree, and saw a tree stump leaning over it an orange and a blue mare who were locked in a furious arm wrestle. Their eyes were alit with outrage, their teeth clenched in determination as they battled in strength. Letting her purple eyes travel over the sight before her Cadance could practically see the tendons in their forelegs as they hoof wrestled. "Girls stop, you could get hurt!" The alicorn worriedly demanded. The two mares didn't seem to hear, either that or they ignored her words as they continued their furious battle. "I mean it one of you could get seriously injured-" she was cut off as Applejack and Rainbowdash screeched with anger? Pain? Cadance couldn't tell. With a gasp the servant aimed her horn at the tree stump and sent a powerful beam of magic at it. The blue beam hit both ponies hooves and they were sent flying back with a thud. They both groaned and sat up, rubbing their singed hoof.

"What in tarnation was that for!" Applejack exclaimed as she stood up.

"Yeah! What gives?" Rainbowdash stood up too shaking some grass out of her rainbow name.

"What were you two thinking! You could have seriously hurt yourselves and each other!" Cadance scolded but moved closer to the two sisters. Both mares glanced at each other but didn't seem the least bit sorry. AJ suddenly took her hat off and walked over to the stump. RD quickly followed and the two took a deep breath.

"W-what are you girls doing?" Cadance pondered their strange moves nervously as earth pony and pegasus seemed to be deeply thinking, collecting their thought perhaps? Suddenly both mares gave a cry of fury and launched themselves at each other, tumbling over the stump and into the dirt as they wrestled. Oh they were thinking of a way to unleash their anger... Rainbowdash suddenly grabbed AJ's shoulder with a hoof, slamming the orange mare into the side of the stump. The freckle faced earth pony barely winced as she swiped RD's legs out from under her with a kick. Both princesses tumbled about in the dirt, unleashing their fury in an odd way. Cadance bit her lip, what could she do to keep these two from unleashing their anger together on each other? A spell. That was the only way. Sighing the alicorn powered up her horn, and Waited until both wrestling mares were in her sight before shooting at them, the magic hit them and they were almost instantly frozen, paralysed so to speak.

"Now I need to check up on Fluttershy, if this spell wears off please behave yourselves!" The pink alicorn sighed as she left the frozen sisters to reevaluate their choices.

Cadance neared the castle gardens and frowned sympathetically as she heard sobbing coming from within. Entering the gardens she passed under an archway that was interwoven with vines, leaves and flowers. Her purple eyes flittered over the archway before she heard sobs coming straight ahead. Cadance walked gracefully towards the figure, who was slumped over in grief, birds, squirrels, rabbits and many other creatures fluttering about their pony friend in worry. Cadance picked a flower from the garden bed, and with her magic gently set it in Fluttershy's silky pale pink mane. The butter coloured Pegasus turned slightly, her tear tracks along her cheeks having many a grass stains in them.

"Oh Cadance..." The gentle pegasus whimpered and the alicorn sympathetically lay down next to the mare, removing the blades of grass with a gentle swipe of the hoof.

"How are you holding up Hun?" Cadance asked worriedly and to answer Fluttershy sniffed.

"I'm okay, I'm more worried about how the others are holding up..." Her teal eyes sparkled with concern and Cadance almost cracked a smile.

"Oh Fluttershy, always the kind one you were." At this Fluttershy managed to let a giggle slip loose.

"But if you really want to know..."

"Yes!" The answer was immediate and Cadance couldn't believe how caring and compassionate this mare was, she was the perfect older sister.

"Well I think Twilight cried herself to sleep, Rarity had a bawling fit with ice cream, Pinkie Pie was incredibly scary for about a minute, then went to go cheer up the others. And AJ an RD were tackling each other in a wrestle." Fluttershy gasped at this and then frowned.

"You did break them up right?"

"Well...kind of..."

"We must right away, last time they did that they both came out with something broken!" Before Cadance could react the mare had leapt into the sky, unfolding her wings gracefully and taking off to where she saw the tree fall. Cadences smiled before taking off after her.

The servant followed the princess with her feathery appendages before they both landed on the ground. Fluttershy immediately followed the fallen down tree until they reached the clearing with the stump. Cadance quickly followed and heard the pegasus gasp at the sight of the frozen siblings.

"It's okay, I just used a spell on them just to make sure they stayed put." Cadance explained and the buttercream mare sighed in relief.

"I'll unfreeze them now" the alicorn quickly powered up her horn and sent a beam at the paralysed princesses. Both mares suddenly sprang from where they were with gasps, shaking themselves like a dog would that had just been covered in water.

"What did you do to us?!" Rainbowdash exclaimed shuddering.

"Ah' couldn't move mah' legs!" Applejack found her hat and placed it on her head.

"Just a little paralysing spell" the alicorn giggled at the two sisters frowns.

"Yes now you two need to stop this foalish fighting right now, it accomplishes nothing." Fluttershy spoke firmly but the sisters just groaned.

"But I'm so angry!" RD rolled about the grass.

"Me too!" AJ growled and kicked the closest tree.

"Do these two always chuck tantrums?" The alicorn rolled her eyes at the scene ahead.

"Yes, they are the biggest tanty chuckers right after Rarity." Fluttershy giggled with Cadance and both princesses stopped their actions.

"Hey!"

Celestia watched as the chefs prepared dinner, she wasn't quite sure how her children had reacted, but she knew none of them would be happy. Eventually her daughters filtered in one by one. Fluttershy politely but quietly walked past, Applejack looked her dead in the eye, Rarity was sniffling as she walked past, Pinkie had a forced smile on her face and had lost her bounce. Rainbowdash stood tall and ignored the Queen's presence and Twilight looked like she had just crawled out of bed. "Hello my children..." Celestia greeted her daughters but none answered. Soon dinner was served and eaten silently. And as soon as it was finished six princesses left quietly.

"Okay, we need to talk about this, I need everypony's opinion on the situation!" Twilight took charge, the mares were in Twilight's room sitting in a Circle on the floor as they shared thoughts.

"It sucks!"

"We can't get married, we are too young!"

"What if the suitors are just big dumb meanie Mc meanersons?!"

"Ya'll are dumber than a doorknob if ya'll think I'll go along with this!"

"I can see mothers reasoning but..."

"Okay, okay quiet now!" Twilight hushed the shouts of outrage.

"My personal opinion is that we might be forced to go along with this wether we like it or not. Mother is the Queen guys! She can force us to do anything!" Gasps went all around.

"Like she would punish her own daughters if we refuse!" Rainbow snorted.

"B-but we've never stood up to mother before..." Fluttershy whimpered.

"We might have to darling..." Rarity fluttered her eyes sympathetically and the other shared glances. Suddenly a knock was sounded on the door.

"Come in!" They chorused and it opened showing Cadance.

"Hi girls" the alicorn entered and they moved around so Cadance could fit in the circle

"How are you girls going?" The servant asked the six princesses and Pinkie answered.

"Oh Cadance, we don't know what to do!" She squealed and the Pi k alicorn sighed before silently pondering. After a while of thinking the servant replied.

"I think you girls should do what you think is right." She answered truthfully.

"But how will we know what is right?" Applejack questioned and Cadance lifted her chin.

"You'll know." Chatter started among the sisters again. Fluttershy sighed as her much louder siblings argued and bickered, sharing thoughts, opinions and noting things they hadn't thought of. Something sparkly caught Fluttershy's eye and she turned, seeing the window. The pegasus stood and gracefully trotted towards the window. With a small push of the hooves she opened the window, almost instantly a cool breeze caressed her face, although it wasn't strong enough to blow her mane. She gazed up at the rising moon and the twinkling stars. Her face was bathed in the light of the moon and she leant on the window sill, sighing deeply. Suddenly a butterfly fluttered past the window. Fluttershy extended a hoof, the beautiful insect landing on the tip of her hoof. "What are you doing all the way out here little one?" The gentle pegasus asked the butterfly curiously, the creature fluttering it's wings in response.

"You wan't me to follow you?" She frowned and the butterfly fluttered it's wings again. Looking back over her shoulder, she saw her sisters were still chatting. She locked eyes with Cadance who was staring at her knowingly. The alicorn nodded elegantly with a smile and Fluttershy turned back to the insect on her hoof.

"Lead the way."

The butterfly flew off her hoof and off into the night. Without hesitation Fluttershy unfolded her own wings and leapt off the window sill.

Flying is like music, it's a calming yet passionate pattern that will stick to you like glue. There is nothing like soaring miles above trees that stretch on for miles, the wind blowing your mane, the breeze in your face, the gentle yet firm beat of your wings as your heart pounds with exhilaration. Fluttershy felt all of this as she followed the butterfly faithfully towards their destination. Wherever that may be...

As the trees started dispersing into houses the butterfly did a nosedive towards the little cottages, Fluttershy quickly following with a flying dip. Spiralling after the insect the Pegasus eventfully reached the ground. Ruffling her wings back to her sides Fluttershy looked around curiously. The butterfly fluttered down and landed on her shoulder.

"Where are we my little friend?" She asked softly but the insect didn't reply, instead with a powerful beat of it's wings it took off into the night sky. Frowning the mare faced the cottages. The straw thatched roofs were caving In and multiple of the buildings had cracked walls.

"W-what happened here?" The butter coloured mare whispered as she started to trot down the street, The cobblestone underneath her hooves hard. As she went further down the street she could see ponies. They looked ragged, as if they hadn't bathed for days, the rags they wore teared in many places. Fluttershy passed a mother, she was holding her foal close to her, whispering soothing words in the filly's ear, but when she looked up her eyes shimmered with despair. Fluttershy gasped a hoof to her mouth, he heart ached at the scene before her, we're so these ponies really so poor they couldn't do anything about it? Fluttershy continued on until she reached the centre of the little village. What she saw in the centre was nothing like she had seen before. It was a massive mosaic, made out of little coloured tiles. It was so big she couldn't see the whole picture unless she flew. Unfolding her feathery appendages the Pegasus flew upwards until she could see the whole thing. She gasped. On the side of the mosaic was a picture of a white alicorn, her long pink, blue and green mane stretched across the whole picture. Inside her mane was six circles, each one holding the picture of a foal. Fluttershy's teal eyes widened as she recognised each foal as her sisters and herself. On the other side of the mosaic was pony she didn't recognize, the pony was an alicorn aswell, she was a grayish blue, with a beautiful blue mane that although curled delicately, looked coiled up tight. Around her neck was a black necklace with a picture of the moon on it, just like how Fluttershy's mother had one of the sun. Fluttershy cocked her head, confused, she had never seen this pony before, who was she and what was she doing on the mosaic with their mother and them? Ignoring the questions she let her eyes trail over the circles with the foals in them. Each foal adorned a beautiful crown and necklace themselves. Fluttershy flew back to the ground... She had no idea she and her sisters meant so much to the ponies of the kingdom.

"I have to go!" She cried and took off into the skies back towards the palace.

Upon arriving at the castle she fluttered back inside the window.

"Where have you been?" Twilight scolded worriedly but Fluttershy did not reply immediately.

"I know what is right." This was returned with stares.

"Say what?" The blue Pegasus spoke up.

"We must at least meet the suitors, it is the right thing to do." Silence fell upon the room, but Cadance smiled warmly.

"I'll leave you girls to talk this over" the alicorn left and as soon as the door clicked shut. The ponies madly started squabbling.

"How can we go along with this?"

"What do you mean right thin-"

"Maybe she makes a poin-"

"We can't possibly-"

"QUIET!" The noise was silenced once Twilight shouted,

"And then I was like, pancakes, no waffles! oops..." Pinkie blushed embarrassedly.

"Do you truly believe this is the right choice Fluttershy?" Twilight questioned the eldest sister.

"I do."

"Then is it decided?" The lavender unicorn glanced around the circle of sisters.

"Yep!" A pink hoof went in the middle of the circle.

"You can count on me!" A blue hoof.

"Of course!" A white hoof.

"Eyup!" An orange hoof.

"Yes." A butter yellow hoof.

"Then we shall agree to meeting suitors, wether it be for better or worse..."

The last lavender hoof entered the middle. The six hooves raised up simultaneously before clacking together.

AUTHORS NOTE: first authors note of this story :P okay, so let me know what you guys think as this chapter was a little sketchy. If you couldn't tell Cadance is going to play a big part in this story, as well as chrysalis and Luna how exciting! Now concerning the AJ RD fighting, yeah I don't think they would actually do this, I mean RD is hotheaded but AJ is very collected, but it was very humorous to write and I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!