Stones kicked at Cadence’s hooves as she stepped through the darkness, unable to see where she was going or which way she had come from. Unable to do anything but keep walking, hoping that eventually she would find some light.

Where am I? How did I get here? The answers to these questions evaded her memories, as if she had been walking through this darkness her whole life. My horn, She realised, stopping to concentrate on the spark she usually held above her head, but when she reached for it, she found nothing.

Lifting a hoof, Cadence found her horn was gone, a flat patch of fur in its place, indistinguishable from the rest around it. What happened? Where is my horn? She wanted to scream but nothing came out, her lips feeling as if they were stitched together.

It’s a dream, She thought, hoping if she believed hard enough it would be true. It’s just a dream, if I close my eyes I’ll wake up next to Shining. It’s just a dream. In the darkness she could not tell whether her eyes were open or closed however, whichever way she moved them making no difference.

So she continued to walk, unsure if she were walking forward or backward, unsure if she would ever leave what she thought to be a dream. Another rock kicked at her hoof, causing her to stumble forward, her snout burrowing into the orange-brown dirt.

Snorting and blinking, Cadence pushed herself out of the dirt, wiping the remaining specks away with her hoof. My hoof! She could see it before her, only faintly, but it was there, a dim pink blob. There must be light up ahead.

Her pace quickened until she was galloping through the cave, its walls slowly revealing themselves, but she wasn’t looking at them. Cadence’s eyes were focused on the distant point of light, growing closer with each stride, the rocks that had tried to trip her before now swept aside, allowing for a clear path.

All at once the light met her, the tunnel opening up to a cavern before her eyes, the path below ending abruptly. Skidding to a halt, Cadence had to lean backward to stop herself from toppling over the edge into the bubbling lava below.

Peering over the edge, she saw nothing but molten rock below, no exit in sight. What is this place? Am I in a volcano? All thought left Cadence’s mind as something burst from the lava below her, a head of red scales and golden eyes. Ember.

He flew up to meet her, open mouth displaying rows of sharp teeth the size of her hoof, each stained with dark brown. Molten rock spilled from his wings as he left the lava, claws gripping the ledge before her as he settled, hovering, eyes level with hers.

Princess. The greeting didn’t come from his lips, but instead Cadence simply sensed it, as if the thought had been placed into her mind. His jaws opened, forming something that could have been a grin before he leant forward, teeth capturing Cadence before she could react.

Darkness surrounded her again, the sensation of defeat filling her chest. A great weight that made her simply want to lie down, lie down and cry. Obsidian’s voice echoed in her head, “If you die, the blood is not on my claws.”

Eyelids fluttered before her, a gasp filling Cadence’s lungs as Shining’s neck came into focus, lit up by the blue mattress the slept upon. A dream, She thought, nodding. I knew it was just a dream.

Lifting her head, she took in the world around her. The hazy windows were lit with the dim blue of early morning light, the sun still resting below the horizon. Just go back to sleep Cadence, no one’s awake yet.

A blink and she woke again, Flo standing before her with a grin on her lips, the golden glow of the rising sun behind her. “Princess, come watch the sun.” She tugged at Cadence’s foreleg, trying to lead Cadence out onto the balcony.

Glad for something to pass the time, Cadence rose and stepped out into the chilly morning air after Flo, Shining groaning and rolling over into the gap she left.

“Isn’t it just the best?” Flo’s eyes were wide as she stared out sliver of sun peeking over the horizon and all the golden glory it brought.

Breathing in the crisp morning air, Cadence found her mind wandering back to past mornings when she had watched Celestia raise the sun. The princess had always seemed too calm as she performed the magnificent act, like it were as easy as lifting a hoof.

Maybe it is, Cadence pondered, a thought she had often had as a filly. Celestia did say the sun was part of her in some way or another. The sensation of scales against her side broke Cadence from her thoughts, her eyes finding Flo staring at her.

“You’re going to see Ember today aren’t you?”

“Well,” The previous day hit Cadence in a rush of memories, her confrontation with Ember, Skylight and Cloud’s discovery of his hiding place, and last of all her conversation with Obsidian. “Yes. I hadn’t thought about it so far this morning, but that was what I was planning.”

Flo’s eyes sunk, her muzzle falling slightly. “Do you have to go? I know you’re a crazy princess and everything, but I’m scared.”

“There’s no reason to be scared Flo.” Shuffling closer to the dragon, Cadence cradled her head in the slope of her neck, the same way Shining did when she was troubled. “I wasn’t going to ask you to come.”

“I didn’t mean that silly.” Flo stepped back from Cadence, her lips twisted in a frown. “I’m scared for you. What if Ember, what if he… eats you.”

Cadence blinked as she felt Ember’s teeth back against her neck for an instant, one hot breath blowing against her mane. Calming herself with a deep breath, she shook her head. “He wouldn’t do that. He’s not that kind of dragon, I can tell.” Even as she spoke she found herself doubting her own words, What if she’s right? What if he does eat me?

A distant cry pulled Cadence from her thoughts, both her and Flo rushing to the edge of the balcony, eyes searching for the source.

“Over there,” She heard Flo call, directing her eyes with a claw.

Cadence managed to catch the dying glimmer of a flame before the city fell silent once more, only a hint of smoke showing any signs that something had happened. Still watching, her ears picked up another cry, followed by a dragon cloaked in red scales shooting into the air. Ember, she knew.

Turning back to Flo, Cadence found the dragon still staring out at the city. “That was Ember wasn’t it?” A nod confirmed her suspicions. “What would he be doing in the middle of the city? I thought he lived far away?”

“Someone probably forgot to pay,” Flo responded, her tone calm, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. “Or maybe he was bored. There’s all sorts of reasons why he’d steal something.”

“Don’t the guards do anything about it?”

Blue shoulders slumped as Flo shook her head. “No. They used to, when I was still a hatchling. But so many died trying to stop him and the king ordered the guards to stop interfering. Ember does whatever he wants.”

Glancing back out at the twist of smoke that rose in the centre of the city and the fading body of rubies behind it, Cadence felt her heart sinking. If only Obsidian knew why his son was doing this, if only he’d listen. “I’ve got to do something. I can’t just let dragons be terrorised like this.”

Turning away from the balcony, Cadence made to step back inside, only to find Flo’s grasp stopping her. Worry lined her features, “You’re going to be okay, right princess?”

Cadence nodded, patting Flo’s head. “I’ll be fine, Celestia’s watching over me.”

The worry on Flo’s face faded slightly, the hint of a smile showing on her lips. “You're going to go kick Ember’s butt?”

“Well, not really. I’m going to kick the butt of the mean dragon that lives inside him.”

A smile spread right across Flo’s muzzle, her eyes lighting up. “As long as there’s butt kicking.”

Chuckling to herself, Cadence made her way towards the balcony door, only to find the pony she had been looking for standing there. “Skylight? When did you wake up?”

The pegasus stared past her, out into the cityscape beyond. “I heard a scream. What happened?”

“Ember did. We saw a burst of flame come from a house, and then he flew away from it. Flo said he’d be stealing something.”

Skylight’s eyes narrowed, lips twisting in a snarl. “I know you want to change him Cadence, but this dragon needs a little force to help him.” Her wings flared as she stepped past Cadence.

For once Cadence found herself smiling at Skylight’s aggression. “Well, let’s not waste any time talking. Are you ready to leave?”

Surprise came to Skylight’s features, softening the anger that lay there. “You want to come?” Seeing Cadence’s nod, she lowered herself to the ground. “Get on then.”

The moment Cadence’s hooves gripped around her neck Skylight leapt into the air, wings propelling them forward so quickly Cadence felt a gulp of air forced into her lungs.

So this is what flying fast really feels like, She thought, forced to close her eyes to stop the wind from tearing them out. Her mane flew in a frenzy behind her, Cadence feeling hairs tearing off.

Just as quickly as they had started, they stopped, Cadence’s stomach slamming into her neck, the air in her lungs leaping free. She heard Skylight’s hooves click against stone. “He’s gone.”

Opening her eyes, Cadence found Skylight’s words to be true. The smudge of crimson scales that had been on the distant horizon when they left was gone. She felt Skylight’s legs bend against the stone wall underneath her, ready to take off once more.

“He must be at that mountain.”

“Wait,” Cadence cried, her voice stopping the descent of Skylight’s wings. “If he’s at his cave then we can go to him later. I’d like to visit the house he was at first.”

“Why?”

So I can have a break from your deathly flying, Cadence thought, but instead she said, “I want to find out what happened, what Ember took, and I want to find the house so we can return whatever he stole.”

Skylight hesitated for a moment, eyes still on the distant line of mountains. “Okay,” She said eventually. “We can’t take too long however.”

“Just give me ten minutes.”

The small swirl of smoke proved surprisingly easy to find in a city full of fire breathing beasts, the house that sat below it showing obvious signs of the fire. It was a squat building of black stone, only slightly larger than the tent Shining and Cadence slept inside at night.

A hole had been blasted out of the roof, scatterings of brick laying across its surface. Sobbing came from within, filling Cadence’s ears as they gently descended.

They landed in a dim alley outside of the building’s entrance, the door in a similar state to the roof. Smashed open to allow for a body several times larger than both Cadence and Skylight together, the black stone that had once filled the hole now littered the ground on either side.

“Hello?” Cadence called as she stepped towards the opening, knocking on the cracked stone with a hoof. “If anyone home?”

A sob answered her question and nothing else, whoever was inside trying to choke back their tears, silence themselves.

Taking another step, Cadence leant into the cramped space, her eyes finding a figure huddled in one corner of the room. “It’s alright, I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to see if you’re okay.”

She heard a watery gasp, followed by the sound of scales scraping against stone. “Princess?” A weak voice called out, its owner clearly on the verge of tears. “Is that you?”

“Yes.” Cadence felt a smile touching her lips as she took another step forward, lighting her horn and filling the room with a soft glow. “I’ve just come to ask you what happened here.” She sensed Skylight stepping into the building behind her.

“Oh I can’t believe you came.” A dragon of deep green scales burst out of the shadows, the sides of her snout stained with tears. She held her fore legs outstretched, wrapping them around Cadence when she was close enough. “No one ever dares to help Ember’s victims anymore.”

Lifting a foreleg, Cadence stroked along the side of the dragon before her, careful to avoid the broken row of spikes in the centre of her back. A smile came to her lips as she thought of how they must look, like a badger nursing a bear the dragon would have stood twice as tall as her.

Still stroking, Cadence brought her muzzle close to the dragon’s ear, whispering softly. “What happened?”

“He-” The dragon choked back a sob, her whole body shaking violently, the force almost knocking Cadence off balance. “He took my hatchling, my precious little Azure. Could you-” She choked again, this time with less force. “Could you rescue her?”

“Of course,” Cadence said without thinking, imagining if it had been Twilight that had been taken. Or Flo. The quirky little dragon had grown on her in the recent days, reminding Cadence of how much she missed babysitting. “Will you be okay to stay here?”

The dragon nodded, stepping back from Cadence. “I’ll manage. Just knowing you're going to save her makes me feel so much better.”

Smiling, Cadence turned to find Skylight crouched out in the alley, her wings spread. “Get on.”

They rocketed upward at a speed that left Cadence’s stomach behind once more, her eyes instinctively closing, forelegs tightening around Skylight’s neck. As she passed through the sky blindly, Cadence heard some cheers, the word “Princess,” Called at her more than once.

Instead of the usual discomfort she usually felt when she heard those words, Cadence felt her lips spreading slightly, smiling as much as the roaring with would allow her. Hopefully I can do something to deserve their cheers.

The words came fewer and further in between as Skylight continued to fly, never slowing in the slightest.

“We’re here,” She said eventually, pushing Cadence’s stomach into her mouth as she slowed. “This is where we followed Ember to yesterday.”

Opening her eyes, Cadence found herself gazing down at a mountain that stood some height above its brothers. Despite what Flo had told her about the lack of volcanoes, she wondered if this were one, the blackened rock at its peak and running down its sides showing signs of activity.

An entrance was carved into one of its sides, an expansive ledge giving them plenty of room to land. Stepping off of Skylight, Cadence found her legs shaky, her mind relieved to be on the ground once again. If that’s how quickly Skylight flew when she first carried Shining, I can see why he hates flying.

“Are you leading?” Skylight’s voice broke Cadence from her thoughts, pulling her attention to the shadowy mouth the stood before her.

“Well, it would be best. If there are any traps I’d rather force Celestia to protect me again than risking you.” Stepping toward the darkness, Cadence sensed Skylight follow for a step before stopping. Turning, she found Skylight staring up at the cave’s mouth, frozen. “Are you coming?”

Skylight didn’t respond, instead she took a step back from the shadow before her, wings opening.

Stepping towards the unresponsive pegasus, Cadence held out a hoof, resting it on Skylight’s shoulder. “Is something wrong Skylight?”

The touch seemed to reach the Skylight, her eyes moving away from the cave and meeting Cadence’s. “I’m fine.” Blue wings returned to their resting place, the terror on Skylight’s features fading away.

“Well let’s keep going then.” Turning back to the cave, Cadence strode inside once more, expecting to hear the hoofsteps of Skylight following, but once again they stopped. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Outside the cave once more, Cadence stood beside the wordless Skylight, watching at the pegasus’s blue eyes shook with fear. “Skylight?” She questioned again, touching a hoof softly against Skylight’s cheek. “Are you afraid of something?”

“No.” Skylight drew away from Cadence’s touch, stepping back towards the cave. The moment the cool touch of shadow passed over her body a shiver followed, Skylight quickly dashing back to Cadence’s waiting forelegs.

“Are you afraid of the dark?” The question felt wrong to Cadence as she spoke it, her mind bringing forth many memories of Skylight and Cloud’s night flying.

“No.” Skylight shook her head as she pulled away from Cadence’s grasp, eyes glancing between the shadowy mouth and her interrogator. “It’s caves. They feel wrong.”

Moving towards the pegasus, Cadence held out a hoof, ready to pull Skylight into a hug. “There’s no need to be afraid. I’ll be right here beside you.” She’s not a filly, Cadence found herself thinking. She won’t fall for silly promises.

Yet the words seemed to calm Skylight, her wings relaxing, the fear lining her face fading away. Still she shook her head. “I can’t go in. I won’t be able to move.”

Persistent, Cadence met Skylight’s eyes, holding the blue pair with her pink. “This isn’t the Skylight I know. Where’s the brave pegasus I know? The one who would never be afraid of a cave, no matter how deep it went.”

Skylight’s lips lifted slightly. “I’m not that pony.” Pulling away from Cadence’s hug, she stood to face the cave. “I’m afraid, but I’ll do it.”

Smiling herself, Cadence stood beside Skylight. “That’s the Skylight I know.” Stepping into the darkness, she looked back to find Skylight following this time, shaky legs carrying her forward. Now if only convincing Ember was that easy.

They continued in silence, the only sounds their breathing echoing off of the walls around them and the click of their hooves against stone. Whispers of wind rushed past them every so often, playing with Cadence’s mane and stirring up dust.

“What are we doing when we get there?” Skylight asked after some time.

“Well, I’d like to talk with him, hopefully.” If he doesn’t try biting my head off first. The thought danced through Cadence’s head, a fear that had resided there ever since Ember’s teeth had wrapped around her neck.

“If we can’t?”

“If we can’t?” Cadence repeated, wondering the same thing herself. Will we have to fight him? What if that makes him even angrier? What if he can’t be changed? Shaking the insecurities away, she forced herself to smile. “Hopefully we won’t have to think about that.”

A faint scream echoed Cadence’s words, followed by a roar. Both ponies stopped, tilting their heads to hear better.

“You heard that?” Skylight whispered.

Cadence nodded, straining her hearing for anything else, but all she found was the rush of wind past her ear. Eventually she dropped her head, “We must be getting closer. I hope Azure is still okay.”

Their pace picked up as they continued, the roof of the cave rising above them until Cadence’s dim light no longer reached it. Every few steps they moved quicker and quicker, until they were both running through the cave, dodging piles of rocks and avoiding holes in the ground.

“I can see light ahead,” Skylight grunted after they had been running for some time.

Cadence could hear her own breathing, heavy and hurting. Dispelling the light of her horn, she slowed to a walk. “Why don’t we, go a, little slower?”

A smirk came across Skylight’s now dim features, her breathing slow and steady, as if she had just woken from a nap. “We are tired aren’t we.”

Shaking her head, Cadence found herself smiling as well. As long as I can catch my breath before we encounter Ember, you can tease me all you want.

Stepping slowly now, they continued towards the light, a steady, soft sound filling Cadence’s ears, growing louder with each step. Is that bubbling, She thought. I wonder if this light is coming from lava?

As they grew closer her ears confirmed her suspicions, the bubbling sound unmistakable, as well as the heat that came with large quantities of the molten rock. It met both ponies, becoming hotter and hotter until Cadence could feel sweat forming under her coat.

Ahead tunnel turned abruptly, both ponies stopping a step or two before the corner.

“Wait here,” Cadence whispered, one eye on the corner before her, one on Skylight. “I’ll go in and rescue Azure and then come back out.” Turning away from Skylight, she made to move around the bend.

“What?” A harsh whisper from Skylight’s lips stopped Cadence in her tracks, causing her head to swing back. “Why don’t you want me with you?”

“Well, I don’t want you getting hurt. We don’t know what’s waiting behind this wall.”

“Cadence, I’ll be fine. Now lets go.” Not waiting for a response, Skylight stepped around Cadence, the orange-yellow glow lighting up her blue coat as if she were on fire.

Sighing, Cadence followed quickly, watching her hooves, careful not to trip on anything. The heat grew almost unbearable as they rounded the corner, the bubbling of lava joined by the sound of it passing below them, lapping at the sides of its containment.

Across the small stream of lava stood Ember, his back to them, forelegs moving, occupied with something his body hid.

Still moving as silently as they could, both ponies came to the lava’s edge, the other side half a dozen leaps away. Skylight looked to Cadence wordlessly, her expression saying all that was needed, I knew you’d need me.

As gently as she could, Cadence mounted the crouched pegasus, Skylight leaping into the air the moment she was comfortable. Soaring over the lava, Cadence bit her lip, restraining herself from wincing as the extreme heat bit at the underside of her hooves. If it’s this bad for me, what must Skylight be feeling?

Skylight landed with a thump, hissing softly as she closed her wings away. “Sorry,” She whispered as Cadence climbed off.

The sound had broken Ember away from the object he was so intent on. Turning, his lips reared in a snarl, eyes lighting up with anger when he spied the pony standing before him. “Princess,” He spat, wiping his muzzle with the back of a claw, as if bile had just left his lips. “Did you come to kill me? Or did my father send you to lock me away? Either way this is your death.”

“No.” Cadence held up a hoof as Ember stepped forward, pleading with her eyes. “I don’t want to kill you, or do anything your father would want me to do. I just want to talk.” Looking into his eyes, she found a battle raging there. The fear of a young dragon cowered beneath the wrath of his long brewing hate.

“Talk?” Ember stepped forward again, a muffled sob coming from behind him, causing him to flick his snarl backward. “Quiet!” He roared, eliciting a scream from whatever was there.

Leaning her neck sideways, Cadence caught a glimpse of dull blue scales, terrified eyes and tear stained cheeks. “Is that Azure?”

“If that’s what you wish to call it, more trouble than it’s worth.” Ember growled as she whimpered again. “I saw you caring for one of those young things and I thought capturing one would bring you to me. Looks like I was right.” He stepped to the side, allowing the hatchling to see Cadence.

“Princess!” She cried, her voice choked with tears.

“Don’t worry,” Cadence called back, reaching out a hoof to Azure. “You’ll be safe soon.”

Completely focused on the hatchling, Cadence felt something strike her in the side and drive her to the dirt, breath knocked out of her lungs. I’m so stupid, I let Ember trick me. The thought sat in her mind until she realised the body that had collided with her was soft and warm, not scaly.

“Lucky I came.” Skylight’s voice lifted Cadence’s spirits, her muzzle lifting up to nuzzle the inside of the pegasus’s neck.

“Thank you so much Skylight.” Before she could say anything more, Skylight sprung off her, turning to face the dragon that was approaching them once more.

Rising from the ground herself, Cadence dashed across to the constrained dragon as Skylight dodged Ember’s sweeping lunge, leaping over his foreleg and dashing away.

Azure’s lips curled up in a smile as she watched Cadence fumbling with the chains that pinned her to the rock wall. “Thank you princess.”

This time Cadence kept one eye one Ember and one on Azure, watching as the prince turned away from the taunting Skylight to face her. “Don’t think I’ll be fooled by such a simple trick.”

“You already have,” Skylight called back, the sound of chuckling following her words.

Gritting his teeth, Ember ignored the distraction and instead focused on Cadence. The great leather canopies that were his wings spread out over his back, legs bending underneath him, storing power for a leap.

“Watch out Cadence,” Skylight warned. “He’s launching himself at you.”

As the scene playing out in the corner of one eye, Cadence still fumbled with the chains to no avail, finding no way she could break the bonds without tightening their grip around Azure.

The instant Cadence saw Ember leap, she grunted, lighting her horn with an inferno of blue, focusing her spark inside the wall behind Azure. At the same time she focused some of her power into a simple shield, a hazy blue defence between her and the charging Ember.

Moments before he would collide with her, Cadence released the built up power in the stone, causing the chunk of stone holding Azure to break from the wall, an aura of blue catching her. Cadence stepped back as soon as she had the rock in her grasp, angling her shield so Ember would only glance it.

Another step backward and she felt the force of his blow, shattering her shield and plunging into the rock Cadence had stood beside only moments ago, his head and neck and shoulders filling the gap she had created. The whole cave shook on impact, cracks splitting from the hole Ember had entered, pebbles raining from the ceiling.

As soon as everything came to a standstill, Cadence dashed across to Skylight, Azure and her rock floating a few steps behind.

Skylight still stared at where Ember was lodged in the wall. “That was close.” A muffled roar followed her voice, flame bursting out the tight cracks around Ember’s shoulders.

Glancing up at the back end of Ember, Cadence nodded. “I hope he’s alright.” She heard Skylight chuckle.

“He tried to kill you and you wonder if he’s okay? Let’s untie this dragon and go.”

Tearing her eyes away from the raging prince, Cadence lay the rock she held on the ground before wrapping the chains in her magic. Slowly, gently, she dislodged the stakes from the rock, unwinding the chain from Azure’s body, careful not to choke her. The dragon smiled at her the whole time, eyes full of awe.

When they had finally freed her, Azure leapt up to latch onto Cadence’s neck, the weight of her body pulling Cadence downward. “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you princess. Do you know what happened to my mommy?”

Gently, Cadence unwrapped Azure’s forelegs from her neck, lowering the bundle of blue to the ground. “Your mother’s fine, we made sure of that before coming. Now why don’t you climb on Skylight’s back,” She motioned to the pegasus who stood a step back, bringing a look of unease to Skylight’s features. “And she’ll take you back across the lava.”

Nodding, Azure gladly accepted a pat from Cadence before dashing over to Skylight, looking up at the pegasus as she shot an icy glare at Cadence.

Cadence simply smiled back before turning to the body that stuck out of the rock, muffled grunts and roars still coming from Ember.

“Just leave him Cadence,” She heard Skylight call as she stepped towards him. “He deserves it.”

Taking another step, Cadence thought back through her memories of Ember, picking out the emotions that came with each one. The ghostly sensation of teeth against her neck brought pure terror, as well as awe of Celestia’s great power, but there was also pity there. A frightened little dragon she had always seen in his eyes. I know there’s good in him, he’s just too afraid to let it show.

Standing right beside him now, Cadence heard the laboured breaths filling Ember’s chest as he struggled to free himself. Claws tore at the rock on either side of his neck, trying but failing to dig himself out. She could also hear Skylight speaking quietly with Azure.

“Stay here, I’ll be back.” Skylight’s hoofsteps crept up behind Cadence until she could sense the pegasus at her side. “If you want to talk with him, now is the time.”

It is, isn’t it? Cadence realised, her mind only thinking of how to free Ember without endangering herself or the other two. “Ember?”

Her voice seemed to have little impact, the body of rubies still struggling at the stone, dull roars still sounding from within.

“Ember?” Cadence said again, this time raising her voice.

“You’re still here?” A red claw swept out toward Cadence and Skylight, both of them stepping back as it skimmed a hair from where their muzzles had been. Finding nothing, his body stopped moving but for the motion of his chest, shoulders slumping. “There, I’m trapped. I know you want to kill me, just do it.”

“No,” Cadence cried, denying the accusations with her tone before lowering her voice. “No. I want to do anything but kill you. I want to talk about you, and why you terrorize everyone.”

She noticed his shoulders tense up, an almost silent snarl coming from the rock that held his head. “Why do I need a reason? Doing these things is who I am.”

“No, you’re wrong. Even if you don’t know it yourself you’re wrong. No one is cruel without a reason, wouldn’t you rather live in a peaceful city where no one feared you? Where they smiled when they saw you, they gave you gifts because they wanted to instead of being forced?”

“A world like that is a fantasy of a princess who still hasn’t grown up.” Ember raised his claws once again, trying to force himself from the rock he was so firmly wedged within. “In your own city there’s someone like me also. You might not know it, your princess is probably hiding it from you, but they’re there, spreading fear like I do. No place is perfect, there’ll always be someone like me.”

The statement silenced Cadence, her thoughts briefly drifting back to the white streets of Canterlot, Is there someone like Ember there? Casting the thought aside, she focused back on her point. “Even if you think there always will be someone like that, why does it have to be you?”

Ember’s scraping struggles paused, his whole body freezing as if he were a statue. “Why me?” Cadence thought she heard him whisper, words deafened by the rocks to the point where it could have been wind rushing past her ear. His chest fell again, voice raising as he spoke, “Because I have nothing else, my father hates me, so does everyone else in this city. Even if I changed no one would believe me.”

“Your father doesn’t hate you,” Cadence assured, resisting the urge to touch her hoof against his shoulder. “I’ve spoken to him and he seems afraid, afraid and misguided. He thinks he’ll have to do to you what he did to your brother. Do you know about your brother?” By now Azure had grown bored of watching them from afar, Cadence feeling her cuddling against her hind legs, hiding from the dragon that terrified her.

It was some time before Ember spoke, only the sound of bubbling filling their ears. “Only a little,” He said eventually, his voice softer, missing some of the aggression it had previously held. “I just know I had one.”

“What about your mother?”

Ember’s body deflated at the mention, his shoulders and forelegs falling, stillness falling over his body for a moment. Then his wings flared outward, a rush of flame spilling from the gaps around his neck.

Reacting quicker than the other two, Skylight pulled both Cadence and Azure back from the burst of flames, bundling them into a heap on the stone. “We should go,” She said, glancing back at the raging beast now thrashing against the rock.

While Azure mounted Skylight’s back Cadence stared at Ember. I’m getting closer, I can feel it. There’s someone in there who cares, I just have to bring him out. Lighting her horn, she placed a ball of glowing blue in the rock above him.

A touch of Skylight’s hoof on her shoulder turned her back to them. The pegasus shifted awkwardly with the bundle of blue scales on her back. “Wait here,” She said. “I’ll come back afterward.”

Smiling, Cadence spread her own wings. “It’s only a tiny flight, I can do it myself.”

“If you want.” Turning, Skylight leapt into the air, the pain on her features obvious as she sped across the gap. Following, Cadence instantly felt the heat increase, where her coat had been soaked in sweat it now burned, the underside of her body feeling as if it were on fire for the short flight.

On the other side she fell to the ground wincing, reciting a water spell to douse her searing wings before tending to Skylight. “You should have told me how much it hurt when we flew across before, I could have cooled you down.”

Skylight responded with a grin, “One more distraction and Ember would’ve gotten you.”

To her surprise Cadence found herself smiling as well, despite the topic’s weight. “I think so. Why don’t we take Azure back to her mother?”

Their trip out the tunnel seemed quicker than the nerve wracking walk inward. Daylight showering them before Cadence even realised they were halfway through.

“How did you become a princess?” Azure asked as they stepped into the light, the same question she had asked half a dozen times throughout their journey.

Cadence only smiled, answering the same way she had every other time. “Well I don’t know for sure, I just woke up one day and Celestia told me I was.”

“So she’s your mom?”

“I don’t know for sure, but in a way, yes.”

“So if my mom was queen instead of The King I would be a princess?”

A giggle left Cadence’s lips at the thought, “Well, yes you would.” The mention of Obsidian brought Ember to Cadence’s thoughts. I should free him now. Lighting her horn, she focused on the spark she had left above his head, focusing her energy into it and allowing it to explode. Hopefully that didn’t hurt him.

The flight back was slow, Cadence forced to fly herself as Skylight was burdened with Azure. The hatchling gasped as they grew closer and closer to the city, her eyes wide as she looked out over buildings she had never seen before. “I never knew the city was this big,” She breathed as they glided over it, towards her home.

A crowd of many colors was gathered outside the broken building, all looking upward when they heard the whisper of wings above them. Cheering broke out as the eyes of the dragons below met the sight of a pink coat. “Princess!” They called, bringing more dragons out of the side streets.

By the time they landed the alley was packed to the brim, the face of dozens of dragons around them, wanting to catch sight of Cadence.

Azure seemed somewhat frightened by the swarming mass of colorful scales around them, choosing to stay tight against Cadence and Skylight’s side until she caught sight of her mother.

Tears sprung once more from the emerald dragon’s eyes as she swept Azure up in her forelegs, holding her hatchling close. Eventually she looked up to Cadence, a smile on her lips threatening to escape her muzzle. “Thank you princess, for saving my precious Azure.” The words were echoed by others in the crowd.

Smiling herself, Cadence glanced around at all the eyes around her, each pair resting above a smile. “Thank you, but I couldn’t have done it without Skylight here.” She lifted a hoof, pointing to the pegasus beside her. “She interfered just as Ember was about to take hold of me.”

Every eye shifted in the direction of Cadence’s hoof, gasping and murmuring filling the crowd, some eyes grew wide, as if they were seeing Skylight for the first time. “Skylight?” Some questioned, the muttering of voices growing louder and louder until someone cheered, “Skylight!”

The cheers echoed each other, “Princess! Skylight!” The crowd of dragons growing even louder than they had been previously, every alley around them filling with scaly bodies.

Cadence felt her ears instinctively folding downward so she wasn’t deafened by the din. Still watching Skylight, she noticed the pegasus was frowning at her, a tint of red on her blue cheeks. Leaning close, Cadence whispered into her ear, “Would you like to leave?”

A nod from Skylight and both ponies opened their wings, Cadence waving farewell while Skylight shot straight up into the air. Following, Cadence found her sailing gently between the tall rooftops and towers back towards their balcony, avoiding the stream of activity above.

Flo greeted the pair as they landed on the grey stone with a clop. “I’m so happy you’re safe princess,” She said, wrapping Cadence in a hug, nuzzling her muzzle into a pink neck.

Eyeing the meeting with a smile, Skylight chuckled. “Where’s my hug?” She regretted the joke the instant Flo unwrapped herself from Cadence, diving at Skylight with outstretched arms.

“There,” Flo said, hanging from Skylight’s neck. “I thought you didn’t like hugs?”

Her cheeks lighting with red once more, Skylight suffered Cadence’s giggles as she untied Flo from her neck. “I don’t.”

“Then why-” Flo’s mouth was plugged by a aura of glowing blue, Cadence smiling at her.

“Where are Shining and Cloud?”

Her lips now free, Flo frowned at Cadence before speaking. “I told them where you went. They followed.” She ended the explanation with a shrug.

Before Cadence could even meet Skylight’s eyes she heard the pegasus’s wings snapping open. “I’ll find them. Stay here.” Without waiting for a response she took off at the stomach twisting speed Cadence had endured before.

“So did you beat Ember up real good?” Flo’s voice drew Cadence’s eyes away from the speeding pegasus and back to the sapphire blue dragon.

The image of Ember’s head lodged into the rock wall filled Cadence’s mind, the smile on her lips fading. “Well, in a way I did. His head got stuck in a rock wall and I was, partially involved.”

“So what did you do? Swing his body at the wall like a ram? Or maybe you shot him like an arrow. Whoosh.” One of Flo’s talons sailed before her, colliding with her other claw. “Boom! And then he’s stuck. Like that?”

Cadence giggled at Flo’s representation, lighting her horn and grasping both of the dragon’s claws with blue. “Well, almost.” Placing a hoof before one of Flo’s claws she continued. “I was here, and Ember over there.”

The sound of wings interrupted Cadence, drawing both her and Flo’s eyes to the sky. Shining was mounted atop Cloud, forelegs clutching the pegasus as tightly as his eyes were closed. Skylight flew beside them, a grin on her lips as she landed.

“I found these two gliding outside the city,” She said as Cloud landed beside her, the click of his hooves against the balcony opening Shining’s eyelids.

A smile spread Shining’s lips as he met Cadence’s eyes, the grip of his hooves easing around Cloud’s neck. “I’m so glad you’re safe. I woke up this morning and you weren’t there, when Flo told us you’d gone to fight Ember, I was so worried.” He wrapped her tightly in his forelegs, inhaling the smell of her mane.

Cloud greeted Skylight in a far more reserved way, draping one of his wings over her withers, he kissed softly at her cheek, lighting it with pink. “I missed you too.”

Standing in the middle of them all, Flo made a face before sitting down and gazing out to the sky, trying to pretend both couples weren’t there.

After some time of quiet kissing and cuddling, Cadence’s stomach growled, drawing all attention to her. “Maybe we should have something to eat. I’m starving.” Shining’s stomach growled in response, eliciting a giggle from the other three.

The four of them left Flo up in their room before descending to the throne room. They found Obsidian sitting on his throne, speaking with the few who had come to his court today. Upon sight of Cadence the minority of dragons in the throne room sneered before turning away, leaving Obsidian the only one left.

Turning to see the disruption, Obsidian’s eyes found Cadence and her party with a hint of annoyance, a sigh escaping his lips. “Those dragons have told me you’ve been troubling the city. Breaking laws that have to do with my son, is this true?”

“Well, all we did was rescue an innocent little dragon that had been stolen by your son. Is that wrong?”

Grinding his teeth, Obsidian swung his gaze away from the four, looking back out over his now empty throne room. “Even if you did not know it is unlawful to interfere with my son’s mischief, you put yourself at great risk.” He turned back to Cadence, worry now showing in the creases of his brow. “What if you had been killed princess? How would I explain that to The Princess. It would start another war.”

Stepping back from his questioning, Cadence felt the embrace of Shining closing around her withers, warm, comforting. “I know it’s dangerous, and I know I could have died, but I can’t just watch Ember spread fear through your city like this. Don’t you think your people are tired of always worrying, always wondering if today will be the day Ember picks them?”

“It is my problem!” Obsidian roared, annoyance blazing in his eyes momentarily, until he realized the volume of his voice. “I am sorry princess, I should not have shouted, but you must understand this is a delicate political situation, something I will handle without your help.”

Cadence’s muzzle fell, her eyes studying the smooth black of the stone underneath her hooves. When she spoke, her voice seemed that of the scuttling of a mouse compared to the giant’s footsteps that were Obsidian’s.

“He’s not just a political situation, he’s your son. I don’t know if you realise this Obsidian, but no treaties or bargaining will calm him, and I hope the thought of killing him will never cross your mind. All he wants is for you to love him, I can see it in his eyes, he wants someone to care for him. So maybe you could just give him a little of your time and try talking with him, like you did your other son. Love is all you need.”

All emotion faded from Obsidian’s face at Cadence’s words, worry and anger and annoyance fleeing from the unknown word. A strange wonderment filled his features, as if he were a young foal seeing a full moon for the first time. “Love?” The word came out as a breath and hung in the air. “I don’t even know what love is anymore.”

“Don’t you remember?” Cadence pleaded, feeling the urge to comfort Obsidian as she would a frightened filly. “Surely you would have felt it once before. Maybe for your wife, one of your sons? The dragon who gave you your first son?”

The hint of a smile turned up the ends of Obsidian’s lips, his eyes unfocused as memories long forgotten and pushed aside clouded his vision. “I think I do recall the feeling, like a fire burning inside. It was once a roaring inferno, but now it has dwindled to nothing but ash.” Eyes refocusing, he looked to Cadence. “How can I show love to my son, if I don’t feel it?”

The question silenced Cadence for a moment, the concept of not having love burning inside foreign to her. When did I first feel love? She thought back to that night with Shining, their first kiss. It had been burning hot in that moment, but that was not where it started.

Even further back, the first time she had seen him, it was already there, Celestia’s love wrapping her in warmth for as long as she could recall, like the rays of the sun always warming her coat. Eventually she spoke.

“Well, I don’t know for sure, but I think you need someone to show you love.”

“But who? I have no one close to me. The only ones who I know well are my advisors, but they would simply laugh.” Obsidian’s head fell, his claws supporting it.

Cadence felt Shining’s muzzle pressing into her ear, the tickling sensation pushing a smile across her lips. “Why don’t we find a dragoness for him?” His suggestion made her smile even more.

“That’s a perfect idea. You need to find a dragoness Obsidian. Someone who can show you love and teach you how to love back.” Glancing backward, she met Shining’s eyes. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Brow creasing, Obsidian shook his head at the suggestion. “I don’t have the time to do such a thing. Keeping this city together is difficult enough, let alone controlling a whole kingdom.” His eyes fell. “I don’t know if I could handle another relationship anyway, the deaths of my first two have left heavy burdens on my mind, moments I can not forget no matter how I try.”

Stepping forward again, Cadence felt a warmth swelling in her chest. “But this isn’t just for you. This will help your whole kingdom. It will help you calm Ember, help you change him into a dragon who can rule by your side.”

“I,” Obsidian sighed, gazing around the throne room before his eyes came back to rest on the throne beside him. “I don’t know. How can I be sure this will succeed? Love has always seemed like a waste of time to me, how can it possibly change things so greatly?”

Looking back to Cloud and Skylight, Cadence felt the warmth in her chest burn even brighter, memories of the broken ponies both of them had been filling her mind. “I’ve seen it happen before, I know love can solve any problem. Just-”

A throaty cough from the far end of the throne room cut Cadence off, drawing all eyes towards the dragon who stood there. Scales of sandy yellow covered his limbs and body, a sneer on his features. “Don’t listen to their talk of love. It’s all a lie.”

Studying the dragon, Cadence felt Skylight’s wings flare behind her, heard the king murmuring to himself.

“Why do you to say such things Brazen?” Obsidian said after a moment, his brow creased in question. “These ponies are simply trying to aid me with my troubles.”

Stepping along the throne room towards them, Brazen met Cadence’s eyes, curling his lips back to reveal the teeth behind. Stained with streaks of red. “Trying to trick you more like, distract you so they can hatch some plan of theirs.”

Cadence glanced at the ponies who stood behind her before speaking. “We would never plot against Obsidian. Where do you get these ideas from?”

Nodding, Obsidian shifted in his throne. “Yes Brazen. I have seen these ponies doing no such thing. From where do these accusations come?”

Standing before the throne now, Brazen licked at his lips with a thin tongue, like that of a snake’s. “Where do I begin?” He held up his claws, silently counting out their grave deeds on each one. “Ah, that’s right. Before they even entered the city they were fooling us with false names. This one,” Extending a pearly white talon, he pointed at Skylight. “Gave the false name Nectar to one of their escorts. Why?”

All of them turned to Skylight, her wings still ruffled, eyes narrowed. “I didn’t trust him.”

Brazen gasped, as if she had committed the most vile crime. Turning to Obsidian, he met the king’s eye with shock on his features. “You can already see their deceit. What reason would they have to mistrust one of the king’s own number if not for some malicious plot?”

Eyeing the dragon standing before him, Obsidian’s jaw shifted, all emotion gone from his face. “Which one of the guards was it? I find a few of them difficult to trust myself.”

“Ah-” Brazen faltered, his eyes flicking around the room, looking for an excuse.

“Which one Brazen?”

Sighing, Brazen’s neck drooped, a frown creeping onto his lips. “Signa.”

A smile touch Obsidian’s muzzle. “The well known gambler? I would be surprised if anyone could put their complete trust in that dragon any longer. His great strength is the only reason he still remains on the guard.”

Lifting his head, Brazen shook his claws before him. “But that is not all king, there are other acts that show them to be the tricksters they are.” Rolling his eyes into his head, he counted off on his claws once more.

Thinking back herself, Cadence found a few moments coming to mind. Maybe it would be best if I told them myself? “Like how we smuggled Flo into our rooms?”

“Yes!” Brazen looked up to Cadence, surprise filling his features as he realised who had spoken, a frown and a creased brow chasing it away. “Hiding a dragon without the king’s knowledge. Why would you do such a thing?”

Bringing the memories of Flo to mind, Cadence felt a smile spreading across her lips. “She was all alone, and frightened Ember was going to hunt her down. I couldn’t just leave her.” Looking up to Obsidian, she noticed his features hard once more.

“It is true they should not have done that without my knowledge.” He glanced to the ponies that stood beside him. “But how does smuggling a hatchling have a thing to do with a plot? Your accusations hold little sense.”

“Yes, but,” Looking from side to side, Brazen found nothing but an empty room. “They’re planning something, I know it.” Still glancing from side to side, he backed out of the room, meeting Cadence’s eyes before he disappeared.

When he was gone, Cadence heard Obsidian sigh, his eyes falling.

Stepping towards him, Cadence raised a hoof to place on one arm of his throne. “Isn’t that the same dragon you were talking with the other day? Why does he seem so, crazy?”

Obsidian sighed again, tilting his hung head to meet Cadence’s eyes. “He is not the most sane dragon, but he knows more about managing a kingdom than I could learn in all my years. I need him. He often comes up with crazy imaginings of plots however.”

“Well,” Cadence said, storing the king’s words away in her mind. “Why don’t we return to the topic of love?”

“Um.” Cadence felt Shining touch a hoof to her shoulder. Turning, she found his eyes full and quivering. “Can we get something to eat before we continue?”

Feeling her own stomach growl, Cadence looked to Obsidian, questioning him with her eyes.

He dipped his head, a slight smile on his lips. “It is never good to discuss matters on a empty stomach.”

“I think I could easily learn to eat like you ponies,” Obsidian announced after the final bite of his colossal raspberry pie had passed between his stained lips. “These sweet pies are far more satisfying than any meat ones I have eaten.” His pie dish, easily able to fit all four ponies, still contained enough crumbs to make another batch of pies for them.

Smiling, Cadence took another small nibble at her own pie, her muzzle still clean of the blackberries filling it. Flo lay curled up against her, the blue of berries barely visible against her sapphire scales. “They sure are tasty.” Taking another bite of her pie, she licked away the drip of juice that had caught on her coat before looking back up to Obsidian. “I’m glad you’re going to give this a try.”

“Yes.” Placing the massive, empty dish on the ground, Obsidian glanced at the throne beside him. “I have not even thought of such things in so many years. Where do I begin?”

“Well.” Cadence gazed around her, Shining lay to one side, his muzzle stained with the same red as Obsidian’s. Some distance behind them, Cloud and Skylight sat with their wings cuddled over each other, silently sharing words. “I don’t know much about this city, but where do you like to go for fun?”

“Fun?” Obsidian questioned, as if the word were new to him. “A king has no time for fun, I have had little self-enjoyment over the last decade. Spare time is little to none.”

Cadence’s head sunk slightly. “Well, we could always find something, or maybe I could ask Flo.” Her eyes shifted to the blue dragon snuggled up against her before returning to Obsidian “What was your favourite thing to do? When you did have free time.”

Gritting his teeth, Obsidian sucked air between them, shifting his focus out to the empty room before him. “I always enjoyed-” He paused, furrowing his brow. “No, it is not right for a king to do such silly things. My kingdom needs me to set the example.”

Feeling her lips light back up with a smile, Cadence lifted her head. “What is it? If it really is too shameful we’ll find something else.”

“I do not think it would be wise to reveal the regretful things of my past. What would my subjects think of me?”

“Nothing bad, I promise. Even if it is something to be ashamed of, none of us would share it.” Cadence swung her hoof around the room. “Whatever you say stays within these walls.”

“If you think so.” Obsidian glanced around one last time, making sure there was no one else to hear. “I used to enjoy, dancing.”

The word spread the smile on Cadence’s lips far wider than she thought was possible, before laughter broke through, filling the room with echos.

Obsidian frowned at the sound, his eyes lighting up with a tint of fear. “I knew it, my past is too juvenile to ever utter. I do not know if I can continue this folly.”

“No,” Cadence breathed, struggling to contain herself. “I wasn’t laughing because dancing is shameful, far from it. It’s just dancing is something even Celestia herself enjoys, why would you think it was shameful?”

“I, I,” Obsidian paused as Cadence held his gaze. “It is an act that is always met with laughter in the dragon culture. Something only hatchlings, dragonesses or those not sane practice.”

“But,” Gently, Cadence eased Flo’s head from her side to the floor before standing and stepping towards Obsidian. “Dancing is such a beautiful thing, why do dragons mock it?”

Sighing, Obsidian’s shoulders slumped. “In a species of warriors it is seen as weak. The few mad dragons I have seen dance during the past few years have been drowned in laughter.”

Spinning as she stepped, Cadence found herself circling Shining. “What about when you used to dance? Did they laugh then?”

A smile came to Obsidian’s lips, his eyes glazing over for a moment. “Some did, but it did not matter. I was dancing with her, the dragoness who gave me Ash, and died doing so. If only I still had her, she was everything to me.”

Studying his features, the memories held in his eyes, Cadence felt warmth blossoming in her chest, a twist of sadness in her stomach. I haven’t even thought about that. He’s lost two loves already, it must be so hard for him to think about finding another. Glancing backward, she found Shining’s sleepy form. Would I be able to if I lost Shining?

The thought stopped Cadence in her tracks, pinning her to the ground and her eyes to Shining. How could I even go on if I lost Shining? She felt the twist of sadness creeping up her neck and into her eyes, leaking out as a small drop.

“Princess? Are you still alright?”

Turning back to Obsidian, Cadence wiped away the moisture under her eyes with a hoof and forced a smile to her lips. “I’m fine, thank you. We were talking about dancing, right?”

Obsidian nodded, a smile on his lips as well. “I can see my sorrowful memories are bringing you down also. Why don’t we stop here, I will think more of this idea of yours, finding love again...” As his voice trailed off glossiness washed over his eyes once again, taking him back to days long past.

I hope those memories can convince him, Cadence thought as she pulled Shining to his hooves, the stallion wiping his bleary eyes.

“What’s happening?”

“I finished talking with Obsidian, so we’re going back to our room.” Swinging her body round, her lips opened to call Cloud and Skylight, but only empty air met her eyes. “They must have already gone up.” Shrugging, she cradled the still napping Flo in her blue glow before heading towards the door.

“Are you sure about this?” Cloud said, glancing back down the mountainous obsidian stairs. “I don’t know if it’s the right time yet.”

Skylight walked before him, her sky-blue hips swaying from side to side, tail of white flicking frantically back and forth over them. Looking back to him, she nodded, bottom lip clutched tightly between her teeth. “I can’t wait any longer.”

They had been cuddling inside their conjoint tent for many nights now, Cloud content to take it slowly, allowing her every touch to send storms of buzzing warmth throughout his body. Skylight wanted more however.

Each night her grasp pulled him closer, kisses lasted longer until Cloud thought their lips would never again separate. The tips of her wings and ends of her hoofs grew more daring, exploring every bit of his body, and prodding his to explores hers.

I wonder if we’re taking this too quickly? Cloud thought as he followed Skylight through the door to their room, his heart racing inside his chest. Tingling warmth flooded his body, the feeling of sweat forming underneath his coat one hard to ignore.

It was a thought that came to his mind most nights, after Skylight had fallen asleep in his forelegs. He could not deny his enjoyment of her touch, but often he found himself feeling out of his depth, the thought of going further almost too good.

Almost wrong. The words were pushed into the back of his mind as Skylight pulled him into their tent, stealing a long kiss from his lips. His body felt numb, as if he were no longer the one controlling it, but merely along for the ride.

Something this good must have a downside, Cloud continued to think in the only part of his mind still functioning. Skylight’s lips were still pressed into his as she pulled him down to their shared mattress, wrapping her wings around him.

He had always been taught that the extreme pleasures of life came with long lasting downsides, and this instinct still rested in the back of his mind as he felt his unbearably hard member pressing into Skylight’s ever so soft belly. With too many sweets came bad teeth, with too much food came extreme weight, and those that sipped rainbow.

A shiver passed through Cloud’s body at the memory of broken ponies in the alley, seeming more dead than alive.

“Are you alright?” Unknown to Cloud’s haze of a mind, Skylight had pulled her lips away from his, and was now staring up at him, concern in her eyes and voice.

Blinking rapidly, Cloud felt himself regain control of his body once more, the hardness of his shaft feeling strange beneath him. “I’m fine, I was just thinking , and I can’t find anything wrong with this.”

“Why would there?”

Realising how strange he was sounding, Cloud rolled his eyes into his head. “It’s just with anything that feels this good, there’s always a downside, right?”

Meeting his lips, Skylight took them in hers with a soft kiss, her smile pushing onto his muzzle. “You think too much. This is all good.” Taking his lips with hers again, she pulled him down towards her, wings moving down his back and playing with his tail.

Allowing himself the pleasure of the kiss, Cloud drank in the feeling and taste of her as she did the same, the back of his mind still working. When they broke apart, he spoke again. “What if you get pregnant?”

The words slowed Skylight’s constant touching and stroking to a stop, her eyes opening once more to look into his. “I haven’t told you this before, but, I can’t.”

Cloud’s features twisted in confusion. “What do you mean? I thought all mares could-”

The end of a blue wing on his lips silenced him, Skylight glancing to the side. “Can we talk about this later? All you need to know is I can’t.”

“But-”

Once again Cloud was quieted, but this time by Skylight’s lips, her hooves reaching underneath him to play with the throbbing length of muscle there. The burst of sensation drove all thought from Cloud’s mind, a flood of pleasure overcoming his limbs and causing them to move by themselves.

Cloud felt Skylight rolling, pushing him over so he was now the one underneath, her atop him with a giddy grin. The fur on her groin now pressed against his member, rubbing, teasing it. A little further and it was her warm lips pressing against it, their surface already moist with her juices.

“Are you ready?” Skylight whispered, locking Cloud’s lips with a kiss before he could even reply. Her hips slid down a little further, lips encapsulating the burning pink tip of his member, wetting it with her sweetness.

Connected to Cloud with both pairs of lips, Skylight pushed her hips down slightly, instantly moaning into his mouth as pain came with it. Is it supposed to be this painful? She thought, wincing as she pushed even further still.

Tearing his lips away from hers, Cloud looked up at her with concerned eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay? It sounds like it’s hurting you.”

The tip still barely inside, Skylight wiggled her hips, scrunching her eyes up at the tearing sensation that came with it. “I’m, fine,” She managed through gritted teeth, her heart and body knowing this was what she wanted, but her mind begging to stop.

“If you’re sure.” His shaft afire with all sorts of sensations, the tightness of Skylight, almost so much it was painful. The pinpricks of excitement that dotted over the rest of his body as well, the nearly irresistible urge to thrust himself upward. Yet Cloud managed to keep some hold over his mind, and carefully watch for her tells of pain.

Again Skylight tried to ease herself down, the pain now burning so bright it felt as if she would tear in two. This can’t be right. She felt a wetness coming to her eyes, a tightness swelling in her throat as she fell forward onto Cloud’s chest. “I can’t,” She cried, voice choked and breathy. “I want to so, so much, but I can’t.”

Her limbs felt numb, groin still crying out for pleasure through the now dull ache of pain. Is this what failure feels like? A sickness swirled in her gut, a knowing that no matter how hard she tried she wouldn’t be able to. It’s too painful.

Holding her close with his forelegs, Cloud stroked Skylight’s short mane, nuzzling her cheek with his muzzle. “It’s okay. There’s no need for you to rush. We’ve got our whole lives.”

Swallowing away the choking feeling in her throat, Skylight lifted her snout, eyes meeting Cloud’s. “But I want this now, so badly.” A shiver ran along her spine and up through her neck, causing her eyes to scrunch up and a breath to leave her lips.

Cloud smiled, still gently dragging a hoof down her neck. “Maybe this means you’re not ready yet, we’re not ready yet. I love you so much Skylight, I want this moment to be perfect, for both of us, not painful.”

“Isn’t it always painful?” Skylight questioned, eyes gazing past Cloud into the wall behind him. “That’s that the mares at the base said.”

“I don’t know much about these things, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be that painful.” Skylight’s tearful cries still echoing in his ears, Cloud winced. “Why don’t we ask Cadence about it, surely-”

The tip of a wing silenced Cloud, Skylight’s eyes lighting up with awareness as she glanced backward, pleased to find a still empty room. “No, we can’t let her or Shining know we’re doing this.”

“Skylight,” Cloud whispered gently once her wing had lifted from his lips. “I know you don’t like sharing this kind of thing with others, but,” His hoof moved from her mane downward, reaching the base of her wing, rubbing gently at the tense muscle there. “Is it so wrong to get a little bit of help with this?”

Skylight’s eyelids lowered as Cloud continued to massage her weak spot. “No, but it’s personal. I don’t want them knowing we’re, doing this, any more than I want to know what they’re doing.”

“I know that, but why not this one time we ask for some help?”

The sounds of laughter and hooves against stone filled the air before Skylight had time to answer, her free wing instantly snapping back and pulling the thin fabric door across the opening of their tent.

“Skylight? Cloud? Are you in here?” Cadence’s voice filled the air, the pronounced clops of her and Shining’s hooves and the softer clicks of Flo’s claws beside her.

Still pressed against each other in their tent, Cloud and Skylight stared intently at each other, both unsure whether they should speak. The steps grew closer and closer, the trio clearly heading for their tent. Eventually Cloud moved his lips.

“We’re here.”

The sound of movement halted instantly, a soft murmuring filling the air, indiscernible to Cloud and Skylight.

Cadence’s voice filled the air again, a mixture of joy and laughter filling it. “Do you want us come back later? I’m sure Flo can find something for us to do.”

Silence followed, Cloud conscious of how loud his breathing seemed, how even a whisper from him would be heard by the others in the room. The sound of Skylight’s voice filling the air flooded his mind with relief.

“No. We were napping.” She called back, deception barely noticeable in her words. “Today’s flight was tiring.” Slowly, she climbed off of Cloud, turning before pulling the tent door aside and stepping out onto the obsidian floor.

Cadence’s muzzle was pulled tight with a grin, Shining’s holder a softer smile. Glancing between Skylight and the two, Flo’s features held a frown. “What’s so funny?”

Turning to the dragon, Cadence reached out a hoof to stroke her neck. “Don’t worry about it Flo, this is something you’ll discover when you’re older.”

When Cadence looked back up, Cloud had stepped out of the tent as well and was standing beside Skylight, a tint of red warming both ponies’ cheeks.

“Well, how was the nap?” Cadence said, barely able to contain the laughter in her chest. “Did we wake you halfway through or were you able to have a sound sleep?”

Skylight’s eyes drifted of the the hazy window beside them as he cheeks blazed even brighter. Shifting on the spot, Cloud glanced at her before looking back to Cadence and Shining. “We were only just falling asleep.”

“Oh,” Cadence took a step backward, meeting Shining’s eyes. “We’re sorry. I hope we didn’t ruin something you had planned.”

“No, there was a pro-” The touch of Skylight’s wing against his side stopped Cloud in his tracks, his mind scrambling for something else to say. “I, we’d rather not talk about it.”

Still frantically flicking her eyes back and forth between both pairs of ponies, Flo lifted Cadence’s hoof from her head. “What is going on?”

Looking back down to the sapphire blue dragon, Cadence felt her grin softening into a smile. “I said not to worry Flo. It’s something personal that they don’t want to talk about, so let’s move onto something else.” Lifting her eyes, she gazed at Cloud and Skylight. “Why don’t we play some cards to take your minds off things?”

The afternoon passed by quickly as myriad of griffons, dragons, Everfree monsters and changelings battled against each other. Castles were pulled down by strangling vines, blasted to pieces with fiery shots from the mouths of dragons and blown away by great sandstorms.

Flo sat in the middle of it all, eyes alight with the imaginary clashes of claws and wings, vines and hooves. The sky outside darkened and the stress in Skylight’s mind washed away as she lost herself in the competition.

“Is it my turn?” Skylight questioned, looking at Cadence as she eyed each of her cards carefully. Eventually the alicorn nodded.

“Well, there’s nothing I can do. Why don’t you finish this?”

The small smile on Skylight's lips widened until the glint of her teeth could be seen. “I attack you with my Vine Beast.” She pushed the card forwards, along with the weighty pile of counters that had accumulated upon it. “We win.”

Stretching and yawning. Shining gazed outside as Skylight observed her victory, counting all the creatures she had slain. “I think that’ll be the last one,” He said, the growl of his stomach echoing his words. “I’m getting hungry.”

Skylight opened her muzzle to protest, but Cloud spoke first, his hooves packing away the cards before him. “I think that would be the best idea. My stomach’s feels like it’s eating itself.”

Nodding, Cadence murmured her agreement, “Mmhmm.” The deck of griffons she had been using already neatly stacked in front of her.

Huffing, Skylight shuffled her own cards into a pile before handing it to Cloud. “Pies again?” The frown on her lips twisted into a smile.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of those.”

Lying on his side, Shining licked at the sweet red juice that stained his muzzle, staring dreamily at the empty pie dish that rested before him. Beside him lay Cadence, her lips clean of any evidence that she had shared his pie.

“Neither,” Skylight agreed, her and Cloud resting a short distance away from the other couple. A yawn broke her lips, the blue stain around them looking more like part of her coat than berry juice.

The other three ponies echoed the yawn, a chuckle leaving Skylight’s lips as she watched them. “Time to sleep?”

“I think so,” Cadence said, her voice distorted by the yawn. “Hopefully we don’t wake up to another scream tomorrow.” A smile touched her lips as she met Skylight’s eyes, the pegasus smiling back.

“I wouldn’t mind, saving that dragon was fun.”

“Really?” Cadence’s features twisted in surprise, the near death moments from their rescue filling her thoughts. “We almost died in there.”

The smile on Skylight’s muzzle spread even further. “That’s part of the fun.” Another yawn washed her grin away, eyes closing and wings shifting as the breath left her lips.

Beside her Cloud lifted his wing from her back before folding it away. “I think we should head to bed now.” Gently, he shifted out from behind Skylight, both of them rising together. “Good night.”

“You too,” Cadence called after them as the pair turned and headed towards their tent, the soft murmuring of their fading voices barely reaching her ears.

Turning back to Shining, she found his eyelids half-closed, head resting on his hooves. Smiling to herself, she prodded him awake with her own hoof. “Can you set up the mattress? I’m going to say goodnight to Flo.”

Another yawn left Shining’s lips as he nodded, lighting his horn. The ringing echoed behind Cadence as she stepped towards the balcony door, the cool nip of the night air causing her to shiver.

“Flo?” She whispered as she stepped out onto the grey stone, her eyes finding the a dull curl of sapphire scales beside the railing.

“Princess?” The scales shifted, a pair of blue gems greeting Cadence in the darkness. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Stopping beside the dragon, she lowered her muzzle and kissed the top of Flo’s head. “I just came out to say good night.”

A smile spread across Flo’s lips as she lifted her snout and nuzzled Cadence. “Thank you princess. I know I’ll sleep good now.” Lowering her head, Flo curled back into herself, tail touching cheek. “You have a good night too princess.”

Feeling warmth fill her chest, Cadence petted Flo’s head before turning and heading back inside.

Shining had conjured a glowing mattress beneath him and was now curled up in the same way Flo was, eyes closed tight and back shifting with each breath. Feeling the weight of sleep suddenly overcome her limbs, Cadence stumbled towards the mattress, meaning to sink into its gentle embrace.

“Cadence.”

A voice sounded from beside her, an irritation to her tired mind. Barely thinking, Cadence ignored it and slid across the mattress towards Shining, wanting nothing more than to-

“Cadence? Can we talk?”

There it was again, that annoyance, that voice. However this time it penetrated the wall of her subconscious and woke her already asleep mind. Cloud? Forcing open her eyes, Cadence swung her head around and found the white pegasus standing some distance away.

“Did something happen?” She asked. What would be so important that it couldn’t wait till morning?

“No.” Cloud glanced back at the conjoined tent he and Skylight shared. “I want to talk about, uh.” One of his hooves pawed at the black stone below, his eyes flitting around the room. “About, uh, something that Skylight and I were doing.”

The tone of Cloud’s voice cleared the mist of sleep from Cadence’s mind, a smile lighting up her lips. “Well I already knew what you were doing, you don’t have to tell me about the details, it’s something between just you and Skylight.”

Cloud shook his head. “I didn’t want to talk about that exactly, well I did, but not just that you see.” Wary of his babbling, Cloud looked to Shining, a sigh of relief escaping his lips when he saw the unicorn was still asleep. “Skylight found it painful.”

“Oh,” Painful? The word lifted Cadence’s head, her body feeling light once more, unaware of sleep. “What exactly was painful? You may have been doing something wrong.”

“Uh, when she,” Cloud gritted his teeth, and unfolded his wings from his sides, gesturing crudely with them. “Uh, tried to put, it, in. I could hear her pain, she was almost crying, it was horrible.”

Nodding along to Cloud’s words, Cadence painted the scene in her mind. “Well there always will be some pain, especially if you two aren’t accustomed to each other yet. You just need to take it as slowly as you can, and let her ease herself on.”

“I, we, she did that, Skylight was doing it all herself, but it still hurt for her. Is there something else that could be wrong?”

“Well,” Cadence rolled her eyes into her head, thinking back through of her experiences with Shining. There had been times when she had been aching afterwards, Shining’s thrusts so frenzied they almost hurt, but never had it been so painful when mounting him. Eventually she sighed. “I don’t know of anything. I’ve never experience that kind of pain before. Hmmm, were you rushing?”

Thinking back to the hazy, sensation driven experience, Cloud nodded. “A little. She wanted to start as soon as she could it seemed.”

“Ahh, that could be it. Maybe she was too tense and that tightened her to the point that nothing could enter. Why don’t you try starting on her with your mouth tomorrow? Try to relax her before you move onto the next stage.”

“Tomorrow?”

Cadence’s smile grew into a grin as she winked. “I’ll make sure to give you two some time alone. Now why don’t you go back to bed? I’m quite tired my-” A yawn stopped Cadence from finishing, Cloud nodding before stepping away.

As she snuggled back into Shining’s side, Cadence heard the hoofsteps of Cloud fading away. The soft warmth of pride filled her chest, a sleepy smile on her lips. I’m so proud of those two.