“Princess.”

Cadence felt something soft and scaled touch against her shoulder, shaking her out of a comforting slumber. Cracking open her eyes, she found the blue face of Flo before her, barely discernable in the darkness.

“Wake up princess.” Flo shook her again, a frown on her lips.

“Yes?” Pulling away from Shining’s sleepy grasp, Cadence sat up, rubbing at her eye with a hoof. “What is it Flo?” Looking to the windows behind the dragon, she realised it was still dim outside. “Is it still night?”

“Sort of, the sun’s just about to rise. Do you want to come watch it with me?” Taking hold of Cadence’s foreleg, Flo tugged her across the ethereal mattress toward the open balcony door.

Thoughts still hazy with sleep, Cadence followed without resistance, the crisp night air shocking her body as she stepped outside. “It sure is cold out here.” A shiver ran down her spine as she spoke, shaking her words.

“I know, but the sun will fix that.” With a claw Flo pointed to the horizon where a hint of orange peeked over the distant mountains. “I watch it come up every morning. It makes me feel happy.” The young dragon’s eyes were wide as she stared at the glimmer of hope on the horizon, the coming of a new day.

Standing beside Flo, Cadence stared out at the sliver of light as well, the fog of sleep clearing from her mind. When was the last time I did this? She thought as the sun slowly revealed itself. Celestia would always wake me when she raised the sun, it’s so beautiful to watch.

“Princess,” Flo said, breaking Cadence from her memories. “Are you going to the festival today?”

“Well,” Cadence glance back inside at the Shining, still sleeping. “I don’t know what the others want to do, but I want to go. It sounds like a lot of fun and it’ll be a great way to get to know the city better. Have you ever been before.”

Flo nodded frantically, “I got every year. It’s so much fun. There’s nice food and crazy shows. It’s one of my favourite times.”

“Can you two be quiet, ponies are sleeping.”

Turning toward the voice, Cadence found Skylight standing in the doorway behind them, a smile on her lips. She felt Flo leaning against her, muzzle touching her ear. “Miss meanie isn’t coming is she?”

“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask her,” Cadence replied softly before lifting her voice. “Why don’t you come watch the sun with us Skylight?”

Flo eyed Skylight carefully as she stepped toward them, making sure to keep Cadence between her and the pegasus.

“Still afraid of me?” Skylight said as she sat on the opposite side of Cadence, extending her wing to pat the dragon’s head.

Shrinking away from the touch, Flo shook her head, “No. I just don’t want your meanness near me.”

“Flo, that’s not a nice thing to say.” Cadence frowned at the dragon.

A smile touched Skylight’s lips, “Yes. That was mean.”

Flo’s jaw opened and closed like a drowning fish as she stared back at Skylight, unable to think of anything to say.

Ignoring Flo’s distress, Skylight turned to Cadence. “What’s happening today?”

“I was thinking of going to the festival. Obsidian advised-” Cadence stopped, feeling her words freeze in her throat as the memories of her conversation with the king returned to her. “I think it will be, fun. Flo said it’s one of the best days of the year. Will you and Cloud come?”

Skylight looked back to the dragon, teasing on her lips and in her voice, “If Flo says so, we’ve got to go.” Glancing up at the sky, she scowled at the dragons already dotting the morning sun. “There’s too many dragons in the air to fly anyway.”

“Should we wake Shining and Cloud then?”

Smirking, Skylight shook her head. “Good luck waking Shining at this time.”

As Skylight had predicted, Shining proved impossible to rouse, ignoring jets of water and the scent of chocolate. Eventually Cadence joined the other three on the balcony, Flo cautiously nibbling at the apple pie Skylight had given her.

“I give up,” She said as she sat next to the dragon, shoulders slumped. “We’ll just have to wait a little longer before we leave for the festival.”

From their balcony they could see the swarm of dragons ascending and descending above the city centre. The canvas tops of tents peeked over buildings, red and orange, blue and yellow. Smoke rose into the sky as well, familiar and unknown scents drifting into their snouts every so often.

“I can wake him up for you,” Flo said, drawing all eyes to her.

Cadence eyed the dragon with suspicion, “As long as you don’t hurt him.”

A grin lit up Flo’s features, the pie remaining in her claws disappearing in one bite, “I won’t leave a scratch.” She charged toward the curled up figure of Shining, leaping into the air a few steps before she reached him. “Wake up!”

The blue ball of scales collided with the stallion, knocking the breath from his lungs and snapping his eyes open. “Cadence?” Swinging his eyes round, Shining found a blue face instead of pink, scales instead of fur. “Flo? Where’s Cadence?”

A collection of laughter drew his eyes to the balcony where the three ponies sat. “I’m out here Shining,” Cadence said with a wave. “Sorry about that, but I had to resort to, extreme measures to wake you.”

Shining sighed, rubbing the sore area on his side, “Next time just let me sleep. What did you wake me for anyway?” Standing, he stretched his limbs, mouth overcome with a yawn.

‘The festival remember?” Cadence pointed out to the tent peaks and twists of smoke in the distance. “The king told us about it yesterday.”

At the mention of festival Shining straightened up, his legs quickly dashing towards the door. “That means lots of food right?” One inhale answered his question, the mixture of smells filling his mind with all sorts of fantasies. An unfamiliar scent followed, causing Shining to screw up his snout and turn away. “What is that horrible smell?”

Tasting the scent with her own snout, Cadence found it repulsive as well. It’s burnt, and dead. “Flo?” The dragon turned to face her. “Do you know what that smell is?”

Stepping to Cadence’s side, Flo took a deep breath, the grin on her lips widening as she did so. “Which one? They all smell so yummy. I just want to eat all of them.”

Cadence took another sniff, cementing the smell in her mind. “The burnt one, it almost smells like-”

“Meat,” Flo finished, her grin widening, saliva spilling from her lips. “It smells like cow.” She inhaled deeply once more, lifting her snout to catch the flavour. “I’ve never had it before, but it’s always looked so yummy.” Turning to Cadence, she held the princess with wide eyes. “Can you buy me some? Please?”

Grimacing, Cadence tried to ignore the sickening feeling in her stomach. “You eat cows?”

Flo nodded rapidly, unaware of the four ponies’ disgust. “And pigs, and rabbits, and all sorts of birds. One time I even had a frog, it tasted like chicken. What’s your favourite meat?”

“Flo,” Cadence said, stepping toward the dragon, placing a foreleg on her shoulder. “Ponies don’t eat meat. Even the thought of it makes me feel sick, so can you please stop talking about it.”

Realisation struck Flo’s features alongside shock. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know.” Looking from pony to pony, she found sickly expressions on all of their faces. “There’s other food as well. All sorts of tasty looking food I’ve seen but never got to taste.”

“Why don’t you help us keep away from the meat when you lead us around then?” Cadence said, forcing a smile to her lips. “If you do I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

Flo’s eyes lit up, “Anything?”

“Any kind of food you want, that isn’t meat of course.”

“Okay. Let’s go now.”

Cadence glanced at the others. “Is everyone ready?” They all nodded, Cloud’s jaw full of a pastry. The sight of it reminded her of Shining. “Do you want something to eat before you leave Shining?”

A smile found his lips as he shook his head. “If there’s as much food down there as Flo says, I want to be able to eat as much as I can.”

They found the throne room empty for all but a single guard half-asleep at the far end of the room, most of his heavy plate resting on the floor beside him. The sight of Cadence and her party snapped him awake, fumbling to dress himself correctly as they chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell,” She said, causing a sigh of relief to escape the guard’s lips.

The grey crystal doors opened up to an entrance hall just as empty, only a pair of guards to nod at them as they stepped out into the gardens.

“Where’s the king?” Cadence asked, looking to Flo.

“Listen.” Flo lifted her ear upward, motioning for quiet with a talon over her lips.

In the distance they heard a voice, familiar. “Let the festival begin,” It pronounced, followed by a dull roar from countless different voices.

“It’s already started?” Glancing around, Cadence realised the numerous dragons who were tending the garden the previous day were missing.

Flo nodded, dashing a few steps ahead of them before looking back. “Are you four going to stand there or what?”

After they exited the gardens, street after street were swam by, each one seeming just as unfamiliar as the last. The scents and sounds that filled the air grew in magnitude as did the amount of dragons they saw.

The first unfamiliar face they met, a small purple scaled hatchling, quickly shot down a side street at the sight of them, her eyes watching the ponies as they passed. Next they found a pair of dragons, scarlet and a fiery orange. The two simply stared, whispering between each other as Flo lead the four at an erratic pace.

Many dozen streets passed by before they saw any signs of the festival, a swarming mass of dragons all heading for the same point. When they saw Cadence they parted, watching with awe as the five of them passed through, murmurings of princess and Ember passing through the crowd.

One dragon, sapphire blue scales with a row of ruby red spikes running down her back, stepped out before them, one claw outstretched toward Cadence. “I love you princess,” She uttered, the three words unleashing a horde.

All at once they rushed up to the group of four, choking their movement in the centre of the street. Some cried for her protection, others just to touch her mane, all had the same word on their lips, princess.

Feeling the tightness of the crowd around her, Cadence resisted the urge to push them all back magically, instead she twisted her neck around to face Skylight. “Can you give us a little room?”

Skylight extended a wing, meaning to shove back the mass of scales pushing her against Cloud, but at Cadence’s word the dragons retreated, giving her space to pass once more.

Glancing around, Cadence realised someone was missing, “Where’s Flo?” She called, both to the ponies behind her and the crowd at her sides.

“Over here,” The cry came out from one side of the crowd, the dragons parting to reveal a wide grin on a sapphire muzzle. She dashed toward Cadence, cuddling close against her side, “I thought I’d lost you.”

Feeling a wetness against on her fur, Cadence reached out a hoof to stroke Flo’s neck. “Don’t cry, you’re back with us. Now lead the way.”

Flo lifted her eyes, wiping the streams that ran over her smiling lips, “I wasn’t crying.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and continued to step through the crowd, dragons parting before her and closing behind the pegasus pair.

The gap they had to squeeze between shrunk as festival’s sounds and smells increased in strength, Cadence feeling the brushing of scales against her wing. The whisperings of each dragon so close she could almost feel them against her ear.

Tighter and tighter it grew, the dragons on either side growing so close Cadence was about to call for single file, before it opened up again.

Like a great amphitheatre the city centre took circular steps downward till it plateaued. A lifeless fountain, dripping slowly, the centerpiece. Stalls and stages occupied each step, dragons of every color filling whatever gaps were left.

“Over here.” Grasping Cadence’s foreleg, Flo dragged her along one of the rings, the crowd parting before them and the other three following closely behind. She stopped at a stall that smelt of oil and fire, the batter coated results on display. “Can you please buy me some battered bread?”

Cadence looked between the variety of food on display, from a length of batter heavy with the brown of chocolate, to what appeared to be the leg of some small animal wrapped in the same crispy gold. “Are you sure you don’t want something, more interesting?”

“I don’t know.” Flo looked up and down the display. “All these other things I’ve never tasted before, but I love bread. I’ve always wanted some battered bread.” The dragon stared up at Cadence with begging eyes, melting the alicorn’s heart.

“Well, okay.” Stepping up to the stall, Cadence found the owner’s eyes attached to her, his loose hanging jaw revealing charred and chipped teeth within.

“It is an honour that you visit my humble stall princess. Please, take whatever you wish.” He dipped his head slightly, spreading his claws out over his goods.

“I couldn’t, it would feel wrong to take something without paying.”

“What you did yesterday, and what I know you will do for our city is more than enough to pay for all I own a dozen dozen times.”

“Well, as much as that might be true, I can’t just leave you with nothing.” Feeling at her sides with her magic, Cadence realised she had left her bags back at the palace, Celestia’s sack of coins inside. “Just give me a moment,” She said to the dragon before turning around, Hopefully Skylight or Cloud can fetch it for me.

She collided with a ringing object as she completed the turn, a bundle of cloth wrapped in blue. “Looking for this?” Shining said, a smile on his lips. “I knew we’d need it.”

“Thanks you so much Shining.” Lighting her own horn, Cadence grasped at the bag with her magic, expecting Shining to release. When he failed to she frowned at him, “What do you want?”

“Can you buy me one of those battered chocolate things?” He inhaled deeply, a drip of saliva spilling from the side of his mouth. “They smell so good.”

“I guess I can let you have a little more than usual, but just for today.” She tried to pull the sack away from him once again, but found it still trapped in his magic.

“You said it was only until we got to the dragon lands.”

“Well, I did, but eating less is much better for you, don’t you want to keep going?” Glancing backward, Cadence realised Flo and the stall owner were still waiting for her, their eyes staring. “Anyway, can we talk about this later.”

Shining released his grasp, allowing the bag to fall for a moment, before Cadence snatched it out of the air. Digging inside, she produced a golden coin as she turned. “Do you take pony coins?”

The stall owners eyes widened at the sight of it. “We do princess,” He breathed. “But all the coins I have for change can not even compare to the value of this one. It is one of royal families own. A dragon like me could feed his family for a lifetime with this.”

“Then take it.” She placed it on the wood before him. “You’ll get more out of it than I ever will.”

“But how will I ever repay you for it’s worth? Two sacks of silver is all I have.”

“Just give us some battered bread and chocolate.” Cadence felt Flo nudging against her with her snout.

“Take one of the sacks,” Flo whispered into her ear. “Then I can buy all the other things I want.”

Cadence nodded. If I give one of these coins to every stall owner we’ll be out before Shining’s full. “And one of the sacks. That will be plenty.”

Gasping, the stall owner reached over the stall with his forelegs, pulling her into a tight hug. “Thank you princess, you do not know how many dragons you have blessed with this coin.” He handed them their food, twice the amount Cadence had asked for, Cadence giving Shining the sack of silver to hold.

From stall to stall they moved, spiralling down the great steps. Toys and sweets, games and rides, Flo had everything she wanted in mind as she led them through the staring crowd.

Every so often a dragon would call out to Cadence, thanking her, others bowed. One pair of performers were telling the tale of her victory over Ember with flames and words, a Cadence made of golden flames knocking back a whimpering red prince.

The dragons watching cheered when they saw her, a great circle forming around Cadence. Shouts ranging from “We love you princess,” to “Kill him next him!” rang through the crowd.

Feeling the weight of every stare, Cadence meekly waved to them all, causing an uproar that deafened her.

“Do you wish to show us all how you defeated him?” The call came from one of the dragons on the stage, his scales green with fringes of gold around his ears.

“No,” Cadence replied, but her voice was drowned in the noise of the crowd, the dragons behind her bunching up, forcing her forward. At the stage the green dragon extended his claw out toward her, Cadence took it, glad to be out of the swarming mass of dragons.

Looking back out over the crowd she realised Shining, Cloud and Skylight had been split up from her, their heads barely visible in the muddled mass of colored scales. Flo still stood beside her however, the young dragon somehow managing to slip through the crowd with her.

“Are you ready to show you power?” The gold and green dragon said from beside her, his partner forming a steady ruby red flame in the shape of Ember behind him.

“Well, it wasn’t me who did that magic yesterday.”

“Hah,” The dragon laughed, flipping aside her statement with a claw. “Don’t be so modest princess and show these dragons what you’ve got.” Without waiting for an answer from her, he nodded to the other dragon before stepping backward, allowing the beast of flames to descend upon her.

A gaping mouth of roaring red flames opened before her snout, bringing memories of the previous day back to Cadence, her body stiffening the same way it had done then.

Just move, She thought, willing her horn to light, willing her legs to shift even the slightest, but nothing happened.

Moments before the fiery teeth closed around her neck a burst of blue magic snuffed out the dragon, the breath Cadence held in her chest leaving. Looking out to the now cheering crowd, she noticed Shining shoving his way through, a hint of blue fading from his horn.

When he climbed atop the stage she leapt into his forelegs, nuzzling into him as one hoof stroked her mane. “Thank you,” She whispered.

“Why don’t we keep moving?”

A nod and Shining stepped down from the stage, helping Cadence down after him, Flo tailing at her hooves. “That was so crazy. It was just like yesterday, but blue. Can you do other colors? Like green, or maybe purple.”

The chatter blurred into a noisy hum in Cadence’s mind, her thoughts focused on the feeling of Shining supporting her and the image of Ember’s teeth closing over her head. Why did that happen again? What is wrong with me? I hope this doesn’t happen when I talk to him next. She shivered at the thought, imagining Ember standing over her once again, this time Celestia failing to interfere.

“Oh, can we go there next?” Flo pointed toward a stall on the step below, brightly colored balloons floated above it, their appearance a stark difference from the dull colors that filled the rest of the festival. “I’ve always wanted a balloon.”

Nodding, Cadence slowly followed the energetic Flo, still leaning against Shining for support. They had to walk between many crowds of dragons to descend to the lower level, Cadence somewhat thankful for the dragons’ apparent awe of her as they parted.

The dragon standing at the balloon stall was stunted, his eyes barely reaching over the stall. The dull golden scales that covered his body were dried and cracked, looking as if they would fall off at any moment.

“What do you want?” He growled as they neared, lips curled to show the chipped and stained teeth behind. A few of the balloon strings beside him tugged briefly before pulling away from the rest, drawing the old dragon’s eyes upward.

In the sky above two young dragons, a little smaller than Flo, were flying away with the stolen balloons, leaving only laughter behind.

Inhaling deeply, the old dragon shot a few short balls of flames at the balloons, popping both them and the thieves’ joy. “Damn hatchlings,” He muttered under his breath as he turned back to face them. “You better not be here to steal my balloons as well.”

“No,” Cadence shook her head, pulling a silver coin from the sack Shining held. “I actually wanted to buy one.” She deposited the coin on the wood before the old dragon. “Is that enough.”

“Heh.” Taking the coin in his claw, the old dragon bit at it before nodding. “That’s enough for a dozen, but only a fool turns down a good offer when he sees one.” He grasped at the one of the strings beside him, pulling a bright green balloon from the mass.

Looking at the color, Flo pouted. “Can I have a blue one instead?” The old dragon’s head shook, causing Flo’s shoulders to slump. “But we paid for it. Why can’t I choose?”

“Tough luck hatchling. This is life, you don’t choose what you get.”

Flo looked to Cadence for support, her eyes wide and begging, “Can you get a blue balloon for me?”

A step took Cadence even closer to the old dragon, his face now only a foreleg away from hers. “Can you please just give her what she wants this once? She’s never had a balloon before, and I know this would make her happy.”

The old dragon shook his head slowly, “A blue balloon won’t give her anymore happiness than this green one. Friends are what make a dragon happy,” His eyes glazed over for the briefest moment, as if her were looking back into the past. “Too bad I have none of those anymore, so take your balloon and go.” Shoving the balloon towards Cadence, he released it and turned away.

Grasping the balloon in her magic, Cadence handed it to Flo to hold before looking back to the dragon. “What happened to your friends?”

Stopping mid turn, the old dragon peered back at her with suspicious eyes, “Why are you asking so many questions? Wait a second.” He twisted his body back to her, leaning hard into the bench, his snout less than a hoof’s distance from Cadence’s. “You’re that pony princess everybody yelling about aren’t you?”

“Well, yes, why does that matter?”

He grimaced. “That’s the only reason anyone would even try to be nice around here.” Sighing deeply, the old dragon shook his head. “I’ve got some advice for you princess, just leave. Your help won’t do this city any good. Even if you do defeat Ember somehow, when he’s gone there’ll be another one who takes his place, even worse than him. It’s a worthless cause.”

“I don’t want to defeat Ember however. I want to save him.”

A hint of a smile curled the end of the old dragon’s lips, his eyes lighting up with humour. Pursing his lips tightly, he tried to hold in the laughter, but could not, an old croaky laugh filling Cadence’s ears. “Save him?” He said, wiping wetness from the corner of his eye. “You ponies sure a great comedians.” Without waiting for a response he turned his back to them, still shaking with laughter.

Clutching her balloon tightly, Flo stepped away from the stall, pulling Cadence with her. “That’s one mean old dragon. He laughed right in your face.”

“Well, I’m sure he has his reasons,” Cadence murmured, glancing back at the old dragon surrounded by balloons. Is my idea really that silly? She shook her head slightly. No, he’s just forgotten how much love can change things.

The sun rose to high noon as the day passed Cadence in a blur of stalls and food, performing dragons and spectators, every eye seeming to be on her. They descended the great steps of the city centre slowly, arriving at the flat bottom a short time after midday.

Here the largest of the stages were set up, each of them holding the grandest performances with stalls overflowing with smells, tempting and repulsing, packed in between. Where there had been two flame formers there was now an entire team, telling stories Cadence had never heard, but Cloud seemed somewhat familiar with.

Tales of dragons long ago, a time before the ponies had even existed and dragons ruled Equestria themselves, lording over the other beasts. Brave warriors defeated writhing monsters of vines, rescued their beautiful princesses from locked towers and saved townsfolk along the way. Each story depicted in the flickering and roaring flames of half a hundred colors, not a word spoken but the awe filled whisperings of the crowd.

As Cadence stood and watched the murmuring within the crowd grew and grew until she could hear one word clearly from every dragon’s lips, “Princess.” Groaning to herself, Cadence looked to Shining and found him grinning, foreleg pointing to the sky above.

She followed his direction and found herself staring into the eyes of a great fiery dragon descending towards them. This one not made of a single color like the simple imitation she had seen previously, this one had every color highlighted in detail, from the ruby red of his back to the yellow of his chest, even his eyes were lit with gold.

A familiar feeling crept into Cadence’s limbs, the same feeling she had felt the each time she stared into Ember’s eyes, whether it was one made of flame or the real thing. A numbing that threatened to move further upward.

No, She thought, lighting her horn before she lost control of it this time. I can’t let this keep happening. Breathing deeply, she allowed a calming spell to flow throughout her body, soothing the feeling and pushing it out the bottom of her hooves. Above her she heard the ring of Shining’s magic dispersing the flames, saving her from another encounter.

“Are you alright?” He stood with forelegs curled around Cadence, ready to catch her if her body gave out.

“Mmhmm,” She nodded, nestling her head into Shining’s neck as the crowd around her cheered, the sound so loud it shook every bone in her body. “I just want to go somewhere quiet.”

Holding his princess close to him, Shining turned to Flo, “Is there anywhere we can go that’ll be quiet during the festival?”

Flo looked up for a moment, thinking before she nodded. “Just follow me.” She spun round and led them back through the crowd, toward the fountain that occupied the centre of the lowest step.

The mass of dragons parted before them as usual, all watching and whispering, smiles on their lips. As they moved through the crowd Shining noticed their attention shifting, one by one they looked up to the sky, pointing, their murmuring growing louder and louder.

Eventually Shining felt the cool touch of a shadow pass over him, sending a shiver down his spine and causing him to look to the sky. His jaw dropped at what he saw, Cadence won’t like this.

Above them soared fiery red wings, the underside of the leathery things tinted with yellow. A body of the same red rested between the wings, its belly blackened slightly from the previous day’s encounter.

“Cadence,” Shining heard Skylight say from behind them, a hoof touching against his shoulder. “You should look up.” He felt the head nestled under his neck shift, and a gasp fill her lungs.

Why did he have to pick the worst time? Cadence thought, wanting nothing more than to hide away from crowds and the constant attention and cuddle into Shining. Instead she breathed deeply and lit her horn with the tiniest spark of magic, allowing the calming spell to once again flow through her body.

The crowd before them opened up to a wide circle as the sound of wings on wind grew louder, descending towards them. A shockwave ran underneath their hooves as Ember dove into the cobbles, cracking and splintering them.

He lifted his head, eyes burning bright with anger, lips curled in a growl. “I knew I’d find you here princess, trying to win these dragons over with talk of love.” He gritted his teeth at the last word. “Love is a lie, even my father will tell you that.”

As he stepped forward the crowd swarmed backward, hatchlings crying and dragons shouting, all trying to flee from the monster that terrified them.

Behind her Cadence felt Flo hugging against her rear legs and the pair of pegasi moving to stand beside her, Skylight’s wings spread. “Do you think you can take him down with you magic?” She questioned, forelegs slightly bent as if she were ready to pounce.

“Maybe, but that’s not what I want to do.” Cadence took a step forward, her lungs heaving for breath, legs shaking.as she forced herself to take another step, and another. “I just want to talk with him.” Her voice rose as she spoke, half speaking to the dragon towering over her, half to the ponies behind her.

The words caused Ember to laugh, “You want to talk? What kind of tea party do you think this is princess?” He glanced at the surrounding crowd with a grin on his lips, drinking in the fear that filled their eyes. “I may as well just take your head off now.”

Cadence shook her head, forcing herself another step closer, able to feel the heat of Ember’s breath on her snout. “No. Please no.” She heard the shakiness of fear in her voice, the numbing feeling forming in her hooves.

No, She thought, closing her horns and swelling her horn with calming magic, pushing back the fear. When she opened her eyes again Cadence noticed Ember had taken a step back from her, the fear on the faces of the dragons behind him replaced with smiles. Some of the braver took up as shout.

“Kill him!”

“Crush Ember!”

“Destroy him!”

The voices started as a trickle, but soon the dam burst and the crowd flowed with the shouts of several hundred.

Looking back up to Ember, Cadence noticed uncertainty was leaking into his eyes, his head swinging round, looking for someone to pick out in the swarming crowd but finding none. He looked to her horn every so often also, pupils reflecting the blue of her magic.

Closing her eyes, Cadence pulled her spark away from the calming spell and instead directed it towards her lips. “Quiet!” Her voice boomed over the suffocating shouting of the crowd, silencing most. Only a few stragglers giving a yell or two more before quieting.

Before her, Ember’s features were still filled with terror, his eyes locked on her now, or rather her blazing blue horn. Quickly she silenced her it, stepping forward once more, her voice seeming like a whisper compared to her previous words. “I just want to talk about what happened with you brother all those years ago, and your mother. She loved you-”

“No!” Ember cried, backing away from Cadence as if she were holding a sword to his chest, eyes filled with flashes of memories. “Don’t talk about that. She was a fool, stupid to trust. No.” Ruby red wings of leather snapped out at his sides before he leapt into the air, the wind carrying him up into the sea of dragons above.

Behind her Cadence felt Shining rushing forward, followed by the two pegasi.

“Are you okay?” He asked, one foreleg reaching out to cradle the underside of her neck. “He didn’t touch you did he?”

“No, that’s not important now.” Shaking away Shining’s embrace, Cadence turned to Skylight and Cloud. “Can you two follow him, I want to find out where he hides.”

A nod and the two were in the air, beating wings carrying them after the fleeing prince.

Turning back around, Cadence expected to find Flo and Shining but instead her eyes met Obsidian’s, the king somehow managing to sneak up on her during the chaos.

“I must apologize for my son once again princess,” He said, dipping his head. “And I thank you for scaring him away, without you the festival would be ruined, but what you did was still foolish. You could have died. You do not need to be the hero for this city.”

Around them murmuring was building in the crowd, each word growing louder and louder until Cadence could make out the one she dreaded most, “Princess.”

“I just want to-” Cadence stopped herself, realising the king wouldn’t listen to her plans, or even worse, he would scold her for them. “Well, I’m glad I could help, I guess.” Glancing around, she felt the eyes of every dragon on her. “But I’m all tired out, I was just about to leave.”

Swinging away from Obsidian, she made to step past him, only to find a great black wing blocking her way. “But surely you mean to stay for the parade? All the dragons here want to celebrate you.”

By now the murmurings had become chants, the word she had grown to dislike filling her ears, shaking her body. “I,” Looking past the wing, Cadence found Shining’s face, a comforting smile. Beside him stood Flo, an even wider smile on her lips, excitement obvious in her face. I’ll do it for her. “I can stay for the parade.”

Up and down the giant steps a pair of guards led her, Shining and Flo a few steps behind. Great masses of dragon bulged on either side of her as the had all morning, expect instead of silent stares they now roared, “Princess!” Fighting to get to the front, to be close to her. Some even threw small gems before her, cheering whenever one shattered beneath her hooves.

Eventually the king called her to the great stage set up in the centre of the bottommost step. Shining and Flo looked up at her from the first row, the young dragon’s face lit up with awe.

“Speak,” Obsidian whispered into her ear, prodding her forward slightly with his wing.

“About what?”

“I do not know, you are their saviour, not I.” With that he stepped backward, leaving her alone on the vast stage, one hundred pairs of eyes staring up at her and many more behind that.

Not knowing what to say, Cadence thought back to the dozens of times she had seen Celestia giving speeches, the princess had always seemed so calm. She often spoke of happy things, how beautiful the city was, how joyful the occasion. Cadence even recalled Celestia speaking about her one time, “Her budding little pupil,” She had said. “Like a daughter to me.”

But for all the hope and joy she had seen Celestia speak with, Cadence could only think of dark things. How blind Obsidian was when it came to love, the terrifying stories he had told her about his previous son, and how she could see the event repeating once more.

Instead of allowing her thoughts to leave her lips, she pushed them aside and thought back to Celestia, how she had always managed to brighten ponies faces with her words. I can do this.

Breathing in deep, Cadence took a step forward, her hoof almost hanging over the edge of the stage. “This has been a great festival.” Words felts hollow on her lips, the unchanged faces of the dragons before her showing how much emotion she had put into them. I can’t lie.

Shaking away the false words she had organized into a speech, Cadence took another breath and allowed her feelings to flow. “Actually it hasn’t been the best,” She admitted, noticing the smiles on a few dragons shrinking.

“Ever since I got here everything has gone horribly, from the welcoming ceremony where Ember almost killed me.” Behind her she heard the king stepping forward, felt his claw reaching for her. Instinctively she leapt forward and spread her shaky wings, soaring over the crowd.

“And then this-” Cadence stopped, realising the dragons below could no longer hear her voice. A flow of magic to her lips solved that, empowering her voice till it deafened her. “And then this festival he tried again, but both times he’s been unsuccessful.”

The crowd cheered at the mention of her success, the smiles on their lips lighting back up, spreading muzzles so she saw thousands of teeth. “Kill him!” Some called. “Banish him!” Some of the less bloodthirsty ones echoed.

“No, I don’t want to kill him.”

The cries below her silenced instantly, Cadence fearing that she had gone deaf for a moment, until she heard Flo’s cheer. “You tell them princess.”

A smile touched Cadence’s lips at the sound of her voice, her passion burning brighter than ever before. “As I said I don’t want to kill him, I want to love him.”

Below her a chuckle echoed through the silence, followed by a burst of laughter. “Love,” Called a voice she knew, the old balloon seller. “These dragons won’t fall for tales as easily as that young one has. They know love can’t change a dragon like Ember.”

“But it can and it will.” Swooping back down over the crowd, Cadence saw that many were laughing along with the old dragon. Those who weren’t murmured amongst themselves, looking up at her every so often. “Love can heal his wounds.”

Another pass and Cadence found Cloud and Skylight in her vision, racing towards her with grins on their lips. When they pulled up Skylight glanced downward. “Why are they laughing?”

Cadence sighed, head drooping downward like a wilting flower. “I told them I was going to use love to change Ember.”

A smirk lifted the corners of Skylight’s lips. “I think I understand.” Looking to Cloud, her smile tightened until it disappeared, her features strict one more. “Anyway, we found where he hides.”

“There’s a mountain some distance from here,” Cloud explained for her. “In the side of it there’s a cave we saw him fly into, and didn’t come back out.”

Gazing past the pegasi hovering before her, Cadence struggled to maintain a stable height as she studied the rise and fall of the distant landscape. “Do you think I could fly there?”

Skylight shook her head. “Even if you could, why? Do you think he won’t kill you?”

“Well, I’m not too sure, but I know he needs help.” Diving into her recent memories, Cadence brought Ember’s face to the forefront of her mind. “I could see it in his eyes when I talked about his mother. That day still haunts him.”

“If you do go, I’ll be taking you. Someone has to keep you alive.”

“I’d like that.” Cadence looked down to Shining and Flo, backed up against the stage, gazing up at the hovering three. “We should probably get going. I’ve had enough of this festival.”

The ethereal blue mattress felt like a soft cloud as Cadence sunk into it, her wings still throbbing from their unexpected workout. They had seen little of the king since he had attempted to silence her speech, his duty still requiring him to attend the festival.

Flo stood out on the balcony, late afternoon sun lighting her scales. Ear tilted up. she was still listening to the sounds of distant dragons, breathing in the final smells of the dying day. Cadence had thought about telling her that their one night arrangement was over, but didn’t have the heart.

The softness beneath her shifted slightly as Shining lay down beside her, his mane stuck to the side of his neck with sweat. “I wonder if there’s anywhere we can wash around here?”

Stroking the side of her coat, Cadence felt the filth as well. There weeks of waterless journey had left them with little to wash with, only when she mustered up enough energy to fill a pool for them did the four ever clean themselves. The heat of the festival day had not helped either.

“Well, I haven’t seen anything. Maybe dragons don’t clean themselves?” Cadence glanced towards the balcony where Flo was still staring out into the distance. “Flo, do dragons bathe?”

The young dragon turned to her words, confusion creasing her brow, “Of course we do, otherwise we’d get smelly.” She made a face. “I always swim in the big fountain. The water there’s warm.”

“Is there anywhere in the palace where we could wash then?”

Stepping back inside, Flo eyed the room suspiciously. “If it’s anywhere like the inn, they’ll be in the wall.” Moving away from Shining and Cadence, she stalked towards the nearest wall, opening the cupboard hidden inside it with her claw. “Not here.”

Around the room she moved, finding jewels and precious metals, bedsheets and beds half the size of the room itself, even the half-filled pillow storage they had emptied the previous day. “No, no, no, no, no. Yes!”

Flo glanced back to Shining and Cadence, her claw beckoning them over. “I found it.”

Rising from their cuddling, they joined the young dragon. A hallway, narrow by dragon standards, allowed them in a room behind the wall. The room was dim, Cadence just able to make out a pair of doors that stood at the far end of the hall, tall enough to admit most dragons.

Lighting her horn, Cadence took a step forward and found her hoof falling through air. She quickly extended her wings, flailing them helplessly as she tried to stop her eventual descent.

Water, she felt it enveloping her hoof, running up her leg until her snout impacted against the surface with a splash, the rest of her body following. It’s so warm, Cadence thought as she twisted in the water, aiming her head for the surface.

Laughter filled the air as she broke through, gasping for breath. “I didn’t know you wanted a wash so badly,” Shining half said, half chuckled, unaware of the ringing mass of magic positioned behind his rump.

Watching his features, Cadence giggled herself as smile on Shining’s face was quickly replaced with wide eyes, his body splashing into the water beside her. As he came up, she felt his foreleg brush underneath her tail, gracing the edges of her lips.

Still standing at the edge of the pool, Flo bent her legs before springing forward, curling her body into a ball midair, “Watch out below!” She cried, expecting a splash to follow her words, but it never did. “What?” Opening her eyes, Flo realised she was suspended above the pool by the same blue glow that had nudged Shining into it.

“Sorry Flo but,” Cadence back looked to Shining, his hoof still stroking the inside of her thigh. “I think we’d rather bathe alone tonight, maybe another.”

“But why? Are you having secret fun without me?”

Cadence noticed a blush flare on Shining’s cheeks, grey in the dim light, her own cheeks feeling warm as well. “Well, I guess we are, but it’s the kind of fun you only share with the one closest to you. You’ll understand one day.”

A frown crossed Flo’s muzzle. “You better not have too much fun.” Turning, she stepped towards the door.

“I don’t know if I can promise that,” Cadence called after her. “Oh, and can you shut the door?”

The light from the main room gone, Cadence and Shining were in complete darkness, only the sensation of his touch against her rump letting Cadence know she wasn’t alone.

“I thought we were going to have to wait until we left the dragon lands,” Cadence breathed as Shining’s touch teased her nethers, causing her to squeeze tight, pushing her pink nub out towards him. “Who knew they’d have a perfect place in our room?”

“Flo did.” Cadence heard a ringing accompany Shining’s voice, followed by the wall before her lighting with a soft blue. “Why don’t we move out of the pool?” He suggested, stepping past her. “I can’t do everything I’d like to in the water.”

Reaching the other end of the pool, Cadence found Shining’s hoof outstretched, ready to help her up. He pulled her into a tight hug, muzzle kissing at her ear. “Do you have anything planned?” His hoof roamed the length of her back as he spoke, playing with the base of her tail.

Shivering as he touched the sensitive area, Cadence scanned the room, mostly empty but for a sizable pipe embedded into the wall on one side. “Not really, but-” A gasp cut of her speech as Shining glanced her lips with his hoof, sending a rush of pleasure along her spine. “I might be able to think of something.”

Still intertwined the moved toward the wall, Shining stroking her rear with a blue glow, Cadence’s head curled into his neck, gasping and moaning whenever he touched her sensitive lips.

“Okay,” Cadence breathed when they were underneath the pipe. “I think that’s supposed to shower us with water, but I can’t see how to turn it on.”

“It’ll be just like all the other dragon things.” Shining extended a leg backward, kicking against the wall gently, a gurgle of water sounding from the pipe in response. “You just touch it.”

Water followed his words, a light sprinkle, like warm rain, drenching their manes and coats, easing Cadence’s aching wings. “That’s better. Now why don’t we continue?”

Shining’s hoof squeezed against her rump as he pressed his lips into hers, drinking in her lips and tongue. Reaching underneath his belly, she felt his hot length, almost full from playing with the lips underneath her tail.

Gently, Cadence ran her hoof along it, hardening it completely. Kissing and playing with each other, warm water rained down upon them, washing the sweat from their coats, water heavy fringes forcing them to close their eyes.

She stepped into him, pushing him towards the wall, again and again, until his rear was pressed against the stone. Slowly Cadence moved sideways, spinning both of them around until it was her pressed up against the wall.

Breaking away from the kiss, she pressed her lips into his ear. “Just follow my lead.” Turning from him, Cadence reared up against the wall, until she was almost flat against it. Her legs were spread, revealing her glistening pink lips. She glanced back at him with lowered eyelids, bottom lip between her teeth.

Feeling a rush of want burning hot in his body, Shining reared up behind her, positioning the tip of his member against her nethers before driving upward. His hips against her rump, she squeezed around him, begging for him to move.

Shining obeyed the request eagerly, driving himself completely inside her before pulling back out as far as he could, half his length still resting inside. The motion felt strange to him, Shining forced to bend his legs to get any further out of her.

Realising this, Cadence extended her wings, beating upward slightly to lift herself from his length, before dropping back down, gasping as he filled her once more.

Up and down she beat her wings, sliding against the now wet stone as Shining tried his best to thrust in the awkward position. Cadence’s cries echoed around the room, the splashing of water against their coats doing little to muffle them.

After some time Shining felt strain building in his legs, the weight of each of Cadence’s drops causing his hooves to slip backwards slightly. “Cadence,” He groaned, as she fell again, his slippery grip on the floor below barely holding both of them upright. “Can we move to an easier position? My hooves are slipping.”

Glancing downward, Cadence noticed how Shining was leaning into her, looking as if he was slipping over already. “Okay.” Gently, she lowered herself until her hooves could touch the ground, Shining’s shaft deep inside her. “Why don’t we lie down?”

With Cadence’s support Shining managed to right himself, the stone beneath his hooves feeling firmer. A step backwards and he felt his tired legs collapsing, pulling both Cadence and him onto the stone.

A small puddle of water softened Shining’s fall a little, but the force of Cadence coming down upon him and the stone meeting his back knocking the breath from his chest. His shaft remained inside, held by her tight inner muscles, she squeezed around him as they settle on the floor.

“Are you ready to continue?” Cadence questioned, her voice breathy as she wiggled her rump against Shining’s hips, stimulating her sensitive nub against his fur.

Unable to speak, Shining simply nodded, wanting to feel release.

Cadence placed her hooves on either side of his head and pushed, drawing herself off of Shining’s length before driving back down, gasping with pleasure as he filled her. Up and down she rode him, the want in her loins driving her.

“Cadence,” Shining said once he had recovered his breath. “I think I’m getting close.”

Squeezing around him, Cadence sensed the tension in his member, shaking her head. “You’ve still got a little longer to go.” Her horn lit with blue and Shining felt the tension in his member fade slightly, the imminent need to release gone.

With little to do in his position, Shining found his hooves roaming over Cadence’s rear, squeezing at pink cheeks and pulling at the end of her tail while he watched her moan and gasp in response.

Moving his hooves with each thrust, he noticed the distance of each movement lessen, her rump only rising half the way it had done when she started before slamming back down. Cadence’s gasps grew more rapid with the shorter movements, the pitch of them rising as well, She’s nearly finished.

Watching her, Shining noticed her back arching, eyelids dropping as she screamed her pleasure at the top of her lungs. The tension in his groin returned instantly, his balls feeling as if they were about to burst, his member tensing up to release.

“Shining!”

She spasmed hard and fast around his length, driving him over the edge as well. Her wetness dripped down onto his fur as he filled her with shot after shot of his hot seed, the cries from her lips turning to gasping breaths.

Thrusting himself slightly into her, Shining moaned himself, the sensation of release one that he wished would continue forever. Her insides sucked at him like a foal drinking from its mother’s teat, draining him until he had no more to give.

Eventually he felt Cadence sigh, the writhing of her muscles around him loosening as she leant forward, her head resting in the crevice of his neck. “After a day like today, that was exactly what I needed.”

His shaft still leaking the last drops of his seed inside her, Shining felt a smile coming to his lips, “Maybe I should plan stressful days more often.”

She giggled as well, the sound echoing round the room, “Maybe they’re not so bad after all.”

“Cadence!” The voice came from one end of the room, Skylight’s.

Both Shining and Cadence’s bodies jolted, heads instantly snapping towards the sound. “Yes?” Cadence answered.

“The king wants to talk with you.” Her head poked inside, spotting them, one atop the other, underneath a shower of water. A smile touched the pegasus’s lips. “I’ll tell him to wait.”

When Skylight’s head disappeared and the door clicked shut, Cadence slid off of Shining before turning her rear towards the shower, allowing the water to wash away his seed. “I guess we spoke too soon, this day isn’t over yet.”

Shining rose and stood beside her, washing the last drops from the end of his shrinking shaft. “Do you think he’s angry at you for what you said today? It looked like he wanted to stop you up on the stage.”

“Well I hope not. It’s bad enough that the dragon prince hates me without his father joining him as well.”

Obsidian waited out on the balcony, Flo staring at angrily from inside. “He stole my spot,” She said as Cadence passed.

Stroking the young dragon's neck, Cadence smiled reassuringly at her. “Don’t worry, he’ll be gone soon.”

“He better.”

The sound of her hoofsteps caused him to turn, the emotion on his features not one Cadence had expected, disappointment.

“Why do you insist on endangering your life princess?” He began. “Your visit here was supposed to be little more than a taste of the dragon culture for you, why you you wish to change it so badly?”

“Well, they’re all so unhappy.” Glancing back inside, Cadence caught sight of Flo’s eyes, warily staring at the king. “And scared. They’re scared of Ember mostly, but they’re also scared of you. I just want the dragons to live happily.”

“They are happy, did you not see the festival?”

“I did, and while the crowds might have cheering, just the sight of Ember changed that. There’s no reason for them to live in that kind of fear.”

“I will deal with him,” Obsidian insisted, impatience leaking into his voice.

“How? By killing him like you did with your last son? He doesn’t need to be dealt with, he needs love.”

“A monster like that has no knowledge of love. You heard what he said, if I tried to show him love he’d just laugh in my face as he did yours.”

“I heard what he said, but I also saw what he truly felt. I saw the frightened dragon behind those golden eyes of his. A dragon who needs love.”

Obsidian scoffed. “Will you never understand princess? He is beyond the reach of your love. Give up already!”

The order caused Cadence to step back, her jaw dropping, eyes lowering to the ground. “I know this is something you don’t want to hear,” She said softly, Obsidian having to lean close to hear. “But I think you’re missing out on love just as much as your son is, and that’s why you can’t see what he lacks.”

A touch of anger flared in his eyes. “How dare you-” He drew a deep breath, extending his wings. “You are past conversing with princess. Whatever follys you might think of committing, I leave you to them.” He stepped up on the balcony railing, poised to take off. “If you die, the blood is not on my claws.” The wind caught his wings as he leapt off, carrying him up into the late afternoon sky, black on orange.

“Is he gone?” Cadence heard Flo dashing out behind her, her muzzle raised as she followed Obsidian through the sky. “That king is one old meanie.”

Her hoof instinctively finding Flo’s head, Cadence stroked downward along her neck. “I think you’re partly right Flo. He can be one mean dragon.”