@Phantom Rider  
Yeah, this NMM is only about half as ruthless. She’s a pretty chill dictator.

Nightmare lets you say no? Cool. I mean, not that you ever would…

Seems pretty straight forward. “I’m leaving you an open invitation to be completely informal with your Empress. Let your hair down and I’ll take that as acceptance.”

Rapunzel Rapunzel, let down your hair.
 
Oh wait, she isn’t a princess yet. (facepalm)

@SilFoe  
Meh, it’s alright.

@Night–Mist  
Nope, I just forgot it in the first panel and the dress is out of frame for the others

Something that just caught my attention. It would appear that Cadence magically donned some attire in the last fame of this page, which I can see possible, since she is an Alicorn in a land of magic. I just didn’t take notice originally. The other frames she only seemed to be donning a crown and necklace.

@Aedan  
She’s alright.  

… What exactly happened to Sunset Shimmer?

@Spoonlol
 
Ah, that would explain why the moon looked bigger than what it was last week.

@Night–Mist  
O please we all know celestia’s the one with the big plot… even bigger now she’s in the moon

@Spoonlol  
I see.
 
I was also kind of hoping you’d play along, and go one of two ways of answering Nightmare Moon. But, guess that didn’t work. Oh well.

@Night–Mist  
To be honest I put that out there waiting for someone to make that joke

@Spoonlol
 
Nightmare Moon: Is That Another Crack About My Flank?!
 
(I tease, but I couldn’t help it.)

The plot thickens

So, you’ve been offered a chance to sleep your way to the top.  
Step one: Are you gay? If not, well, you’ll have a difficult choice to make.  
Step two: Are you attracted to your queen? This one is important too.  
Step three: Are you okay with using sex to obtain power? Really, if you’re a mage, you’ll probably be making blood sacrifices.  
If you answered yes to all of these questions you should, in fact, hit that and take the express train to success. Good luck, and Goddess bless you!

The facial expressions were enough for me to stay interested, so, don’t worry that it wasn’t colored.
 
Though, I am now having a hard time on reading Cadence’s true intentions here. Is she just broken lacky that just happens to know things about the love subject? Or is she planning something even the Empress doesn’t see coming, and Twilight’s the key to making it happen?
 
I like how you’re keeping me guessing. It’s more fun that way, and keeps me wanting more for this AU arc. Keep them coming when You can.
 
And I hope you feel better soon.
 
One question that does peak my interest though. Is Scootaloo able to fly in this AU, or no?

A smart pony you are, Shining Armor…

“Um…C-Cadance? Personal space?”

Feel better soon, Silfoe. ♥

@Hopeful_Ink_Hoof  
Poor guy. That’s gotta be so awkward.

@Dirty Bit  
Can you blame him? His sister is asking the princess he’s supposed to guard (and possible girlfriend) about having a sexual relationship with the empress he officially serves.

Shining is the real man here.

This is so funny and adorable. I like how Shining just exits in the first panel