[[CHANGELING OVERTAKE HUMAN AU]] Princess Cadance sits in one of the Crystal Empire’s sunlit palace rooms, the afternoon light spilling through tall crystalline windows and casting soft pink reflections across the red carpeted floor. With Shining Armor away on errands, the palace feels quieter than usual — peaceful, but busy in the way only a mother’s day can be.

“At least today is calm… we needed that. She needed that,” she whispered, almost reassuring herself. Flurry Heart is curled against her side on the velvet couch, chubby hands clutching a picture book while Cadance gently smooths down her daughter’s hair. Even in this calm setting, Cadance carries that signature grace: soft-spoken, attentive, and always aware of the emotions around her. She watches Flurry with warm, patient eyes, every movement careful and nurturing.