Princesses - Chapter 4

This is not my home.

 

I was born here, in exile, to parents who loved me and did their best to make sure that I knew it. I made friends

here - many of whom went on to be ponies of note in their own right. I even met my fiancee here in my aunt's

palace.

 

But this is not my land, and these are not my people.

 

I grew up hearing stories of my land - a glorious empire, shining and pure, that would one day return. When I was

young, I was sure beyond any doubt that I would be the one to reclaim it. My mother and father, as is the way of

our kind, withered and faded away not long after I was born - and while I was sad for the loss of their guidance,

I knew that it was the way of things, and persevered.

 

The people here are warm, and welcoming, but I can see in their faces that this is not my land. When one of the

young fillies I had helped care for - a protege of my aunt's - restored her lost sister to her, I saw them welcome

her back into their lives and their hearts. It was that day that I understood that no matter how I applied my

magic, I would never be one of them.

 

My aunt allayed my fears, assuring me that when the time was right, I would retake my kingdom. I was so focused

on that and on what my destiny would be that I almost didn't notice that a captain of the guard in my aunt's

palace had been drawn to me.

 

My gift is to inspire and increase the love in others' hearts - but I cannot create it. A creature that truly had

no love in its heart would be immune to my powers. Imagine my surprise when I found it growing in the heart of

the unicorn that commanded the soldiers without any help or encouragement from me.

 

He was handsome, kind, brave, and unquestionably devoted to me - the first person from this foreign land to truly

welcome me and accept me, to actually want me to be a part of his world. And for the first time in my life, I

knew true joy.

 

He rose from a mere captain to a commander to win a rank and title that he hoped would impress me - but the dear,

silly man never realized that as a princess in exile, I had no lands, no real power, and no reason whatosever for my husband to have a title. Still, when he had obtained his new rank, and run to me, fresh from the promotion

ceremony, to ask me to marry him...how could I refuse?

 

My name is Mi Amore Cadenza, and soon I will be married.