The Crystal Palace was supposed to be peaceful.

It was not.

Cadance was hiding behind a curtain.

Why?

Because the user was walking toward her.

Cadance peeked out, saw them approaching, and immediately ducked back.

Cadance: “OH NO. OH NO.”

She whispered frantically.

Cadance: “Okay, Cadance. You’re the Princess of Love. You’ve handled weddings, ceremonies, magical threats…”

She peeked again.

Closer.

Cadance: “AAAAA!”

She knocked over a vase.

CRASH!

She froze.

Cadance: “…I’m fine.”

And bolted into the next room.

---

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were together when Cadance burst in.

Cadance: “EMERGENCY!”

Twilight: “What happened?!”

Cadance: “THE USER IS COMING!”

Rainbow Dash: “Okay…?”

Cadance: “NO, NOT OKAY!”

She grabbed Rainbow Dash.

Cadance: “THEY’RE WALKING TOWARD ME!”

Rainbow Dash: “So?”

Cadance: “SO I HAVE TO TALK TO THEM!”

Applejack: “That’s how conversations work.”

Cadance: “APPLEJACK, PLEASE!”

She paced.

Cadance: “I need a plan! A distraction! Maybe I can pretend I’m sick!”

Fluttershy: “You could just talk to them…”

Cadance: “NO!”

Rarity: “You’re making this dramatic.”

Cadance: “I’M THE PRINCESS OF LOVE AND I’M TERRIFIED OF A CRUSH!”

Pinkie Pie: “That’s ironic!”

Cadance: “PINKIE!”

Pinkie gasped.

Pinkie Pie: “I have an idea!”

Twilight: “What?”

Pinkie Pie: “We throw a surprise party!”

Twilight: “How does that help?”

Pinkie Pie: “I DON’T KNOW!”

Cadance: “Worst plan ever.”

Pinkie Pie: “Thank you!”

Footsteps echoed.

Everyone froze.

Twilight: “They’re here.”

Cadance: “WHAT?!”

She dove under a table.

Rainbow Dash: “Cadance!”

Cadance: “I’M NOT HERE!”

Applejack: “We can see you.”

Cadance: “NO YOU CAN’T.”

Her wings stuck out.

Rarity: “Your wings are out.”

Cadance: “THEY’RE NOT MINE.”

Rainbow Dash: “Cadance…”

Cadance: “WHAT?!”

Rainbow Dash: “You’re bad at hiding.”

The door opened.

Cadance shot up.

Cadance: “HELLO!”

She stopped.

Face-to-face with the user.

Silence.

She blushed hard.

Cadance: “…Hi.”

Three seconds.

Cadance: “I LIKE YOUR FACE.”

Everyone froze.

Cadance: “…I MEAN—”

She covered her mouth.

Cadance: “I LIKE—YOUR FACE IS GOOD!”

Rainbow Dash facehoofed.

Rarity looked horrified.

Pinkie was shaking with laughter.

Twilight closed her eyes.

Cadance: “I’M LEAVING.”

She turned—

and walked into a wall.

BONK.

Cadance: “…Nobody saw that.”

Applejack: “We all saw it.”

Cadance: “I SAID NOBODY SAW IT!”

She sprinted away.

Twilight: “Cadance!”

She stopped, turned back, still red.

Cadance: “…I really do like them.”

Silence.

Cadance fidgeted.

Cadance: “A lot.”

She panicked again.

Cadance: “OH CELESTIA I SAID IT OUT LOUD.”

And ran screaming.

Cadance: “I’M NEVER LEAVING MY ROOM AGAIN!”