When Cadence was young, she had traveled to Elysia to learn. While it was an intense, militaristic planet, Cadence was a very curious and smart young woman. She would miss her friend, Gregory, but she needed to do this...
In school, she met a man named Josiah. At the time, she had no idea who he was... If only she had known then, maybe she wouldn't have ended up with a broken heart...
"Hey, Cadence," Josiah smiled, sitting beside her in the library and putting his arm around her.
Cadence looked up from her book and smiled up at him. "Hey Jo. How was class?"
Josiah smiled back, kissing her head. "It was good... So, I was wondering if you wanted to go see the spaceship show tonight with me?"
Cadence thought then smiled. "Okay, it's a date."
Josiah smiled. "Perfect."
Cadence rested her head on him and kept reading.
"Wow...this is amazing..." Cadence grinned. "How did you get such great seats?"
Josiah smiled. "I have my ways, love... Being the Emperor's son has some perks."
Cadence blinked and looked over at him. "You're...you're the prince?"
Josiah chuckled. "I am."
Cadence's eyes widened. "I am so sorry if I disrespected your position before... I had no idea-"
Josiah smiled and kissed her quickly. "Relax, Cade. You're fine..."
Cadence smiled sheepishly. "I can't believe I didn't know..."
"I'm glad you didn't. Most people want to get close to me for my position... You loved me before you knew that, and so... For being the most amazing, beautiful girl I've ever met... Would you marry me?" Josiah asked.
Cadence was surprised at first because of the difference in proposal methods between their two cultures. Regardless... She smiled and nodded. They hugged and the audience cheered.
After they got married and Josiah became the Emperor, Cadence was pregnant with a baby boy. As half-Rybro, the baby would be able to survive well past the current Emperor's lifespan, which was a first for the Eldi royal line. This child would be very powerful... It's unfortunate to note that Josiah's younger brother was very jealous of his position. Josiah had made Elysia more peaceful than it had been before. This was not the Eldi way...
Cadence woke up and she yawned, walking over and picking up baby Ian. "Good morning, baby..."
Ian yawned and stretched, snuggling up to his mom.
Cadence smiled and walked out, looking around for Josiah. "Jo?"
A guard grabbed her arm and pulled her into a room as some guards walked past them. "Cadence, please listen closely... Josiah is in the dungeon on his final breaths. Tristan attacked him and is going to take over... You need to leave before he finds you. Ian is a threat to to his rule..."
Cadence's eyes widened and she teleported in. "Josiah! No no, get up...come on..."
Josiah smiled weakly. "Hey Cade... I love you both... But you need to leave. Ian is a challenge to the throne... Tristan will try to destroy him too. Run, my love..."
Cadence sniffed. "Tristan, it will be okay-"
"No... The wrong brother...was chosen to lead...and it shows...by my death... Now go, love... Bye...Ian..."
He groaned then closed his eyes.
Cadence sniffed and gave his hand a squeeze before disappearing with baby Ian.
Cadence had left to the only place she knew to go... Gregory.
Eyes filled with fear and tears, she appeared. "Greg...?"
Gregory looked up from baby Rosa to Cadence. "Cadence? Oh my goodness, what's wrong? The kids can play in here."
He gestured to a playpen and set Rosa down. Cadence set Ian beside her and then hugged Greg tightly, crying and explaining what happened.
Greg frowned, hugging back and listening. "I am so sorry, Cadence..."
Ian began playing and 'talking' to Rosa.
"And I'm worried that he'll come for Ian..." Cadence sniffed, pulling away.
Greg frowned then got an idea. "What if we said they're twins? My wife, um... She left me. She didn't die, she just... Left... So, if we said they're twins, it wouldn't challenge Tristan as much, right? Because I'd be the dad. You can stay here and we'll take care of these two together."
Cadence sniffed. "You'd do that for me...?"
"Of course," Greg smiled.
Cadence smiled and hugged him again.
A while later, they got married and had Ender and Nate. And so Ian grew up, living a lie and being different from his Rybro peers. That might have been what made him so angry... And what ended up making him betray his planet to the Empire, which led to many other poor decisions. It was hard being an outcast in a place that was supposed to be his home while his 'twin sister' got all the opportunities and acceptance. This led Ian to the downward spiral that he finally reached the bottom of when he attacked Skyler.
