Goddess Cadence

## General

While worshipped the least when counting by sheer numbers, Cadence is a beloved Goddess, completely adored by those faithful to her. Outside the unicorns, whose worship of her is far different from that found in northern Equestria, only the changelings and crystal ponies swear to her. She brings a loving warmth to the lives of those who devote themselves to her, despite the cold lands they tend to live in.

### Appearance

Vibrant in color, Cadence's coat is violet and decorated with cloudy pink spots that curl into hearts on her flank before spiraling down her legs. Her horn mimics that of a dead tree, curved with the texture of gnarled wood, and digs into her face, blinding her completely. A set of pink crystalline wings sprout from her body, the flight "feathers" of which are translucent. Her mane is a periwinkle, pale blues that match that of The Etherstride, before fading into a bubblegum pink.

### Values

Love above all. Love, curiosity, and beauty. Love for the world, the ponies within it. Curiosity triggered by loving the world, those ponies, and wanting to know more. Beauty, defined more by the internal than the external meanings. While these values will be taken in ways that are almost night and day between the crystal ponies versus the unicorns, they are dear to those who live by them. Cadence also teaches that the world is cruel and that there is no avoiding it, grief, while good for you, should not rule you. Moving on is an inevitable, do not run from it. Your loved ones will find you, even if its not face to face anymore.

### Imagery

The most obvious of Cadencian symbols, crystals, find themselves at the center piece of her depictions. Colorful things beyond that like dyed fabrics, stained glass, paints, and mosaics own the art world of Cadence centered cultures. While butterflies are most often associated with Celestia, they do show up in many Cadence pieces and stories. They are typically paired with flowers given the myths around them about deceased loved ones. Animals that represent her divinity are swans, doves, rabbits, and foxes.

## Stories and Myths

### Overview

The events described below are both a mix of historical and religious fabrication. For Cadence worshippers, this is the way of the world and how it came to be. While those stories vary, their facts ever contradicting, curiosity will guide you to the truth.

### Demon Banishment

When the demon blight first took hold of their world, the Sisters went for an immediate action. Celestia and Luna fought vigilantly and planned diligently, all in the name of keeping the newfound Equestria safe. While they took the warpath solution, Cadence wrapped herself around the ponies of Equestria. She told them about her love for the Sisters, how because of those two, they all could live on. She comforted them as they learned fear, soothed them in their unrest. She helped them learn something else as well, to offset it. She taught them love. She gifted it to them as she was in no short supply. And as long as they live, it should be enough.

### Floating Isle Origin and Divine War

Cadence was absent for the war, she loved them both too much to bare it. She would be forced to pick a side, you know. How could she make that choice? How could you?

### Birth of Magic

The myth that is most consistently agreed upon is how she earn the title Mother of Magic. Almost all the accounts, excluding the Unicorn Religion's version, tell of a love story. A love story between a Goddess, with rainbows in her wings and love in her heart, falling for a mere mortal stallion. She disguised herself among the mortals to spend time with him and found herself completely head over hoof. Reasons vary depending on who's telling the story, oftentimes storytellers will attribute their own lover's traits to the stallion. When she revealed her true self he did not flinch nor did he think of himself highly for wooing a Goddess. Instead, he vowed to keep her secret if she promised to keep seeing him. And she did. They began to spend more and more time together, falling only harder for one another. When the stallion fell ill, Cadence was distraught. She bargained with her fellow Goddesses to let him ascend to Godhood with them, though such a thing had never been done. She wanted any chance she could get to save him from his own fickle mortality. The Sisters were hesitant but agreed to let her try. Try she did, but to no avail. Instead her magic flooded his body, too much to handle. An explosion of magic followed, it shattered the earth, creating the mountain range surrounding them. The unicorns nearby were fractured just the same, filled with all of Cadence's love and magic, transforming into what's now known as the crystal ponies. Her lover didn't survive, neither did her ability to use magic. Instead, the world was now filled to the brim with the arcane. For better or for worse.

## Afterlife

### The Etherstride

Cadence's faithful believe in reincarnation. After a worshiper of Cadence passes, they transcend from their physical form and exist as a soul in a land made of light and color. Any lover they took during their most recent life will join them in The Etherstride when they themselves have died. Once all the lovers they had taken, if any, have joined them there, they are reincarnated at the same time. This is described as a chance to fall in love all over again, though it is not guaranteed. Cadence worshippers find beauty in chance and spontaneity of relationships, so while even meeting your past life lover(s) is not destined, the opportunity to fall for them once more is more than a blessing. The specific visuals of The Etherstride vary for who is experiencing it, most say it reflects the warmest memories a soul's experienced over their many lifetimes. Dead loved ones are often depicted in the living realm as flowers, many older Cadence worshippers will tell family members which flower they will choose to come back as until they reincarnate completely.

## Holidays

### Valentine's day

Very different from what we know as Valentine's day, the crystal ponies celebrate the birthday of one of their past kings, Valentine. He had twenty spouses and loved them each deeply. With so many leader's heading the Crystal Kingdom, they entered a golden age of love, light, and music. His endless heart and compassion made him a icon of romance in the Kingdom and went down in history as the Lover's King. Every year ponies honor him by spending the day with their romantic partner(s) and treating them with extra love and adoration.

### Crystal Festival

In the heart of the Crystal Kingdom, a festival of music and love is thrown. A huge event that spans three days in which ponies from all over Equestria come to celebrate which is rare. They do not have to follow the Cadencian faith but being treated differently for worshipping Celestia or Cadence isn't unheard of. Musicians and performers prepare all year long just to strut their stuff during the festival. Ponies often find love during these parties and it's said to be because of Cadence's romantic aura blessing the occasion. In recent years gambling tables have been set up by a vampire batpony casino owner, Silver Solstice, and a certain travelling circus of Equestrian oddities led by one Presto Paragon has become a festival regular.

### Obsidian Day

Obsidian Day is marked as the day Cadence lost her lover to the horrific accident. Also known as the Day of Lovers Lost, crystal ponies take this day to release any held over mourning they have. As is crystal pony custom to move on quickly, this day allows those who need it a day of healing. It's a somber holiday and is often spent with family or loved ones. There are no traditions tied to it, it is a divine invitation to mourn with the Goddess herself and everyone mourns a bit differently.

### Day of Kinship

A day honoring those related to you, parents and siblings usually. Gift giving to immediate family members is the norm, and paying visit to those farther out in your family tree is encouraged. There are typically feasts but other traditions are often passed down through familes, making everyone's version of the Day of Kinship unique.

### Day of Friendship

Unique to the Crystal Ponies and similar to the Day of Kinship, this day is meant to love your friends and make them feel appreciated through gift giving and quality time. There are often street festivals up across the Kingdom for the days surrounding it to allow friends something unique and special to do. These festivals often include events and games that throw you in with strangers in hopes to build new friendships instead of only maintaining old ones.

## Followers

* Crystal ponies
* Changelings
* Unicorns