“Ahhh!”

A scream pierced the dim dawn sky, a cry of terror and loss that echoed throughout Rockholm. The desperate sound came in through the high balcony window of the city’s palace, reaching the sleeping ears of Cadence.

Still curled up beside Shining, she shifted her body slightly, the sound doing little to stir her from the dark clutches of sleep.

“Princess.”

The voice flowed right into Cadence’s ear as a whisper, accompanied by a pair of claws on her side, shaking her awake.

“Princess, wake up. The dragons need help.”

Slowly but surely, the constant movement brought light into the deep nothing of Cadence’s sleeping mind. Her body registered the feel of scales against her coat, the warmth of a voice in her ear. Cracking open her eyes, she found the sapphire blue body of Flo hunched over her.

“Flo?” Cadence’s jaw felt slow and sticky as she spoke, as if her mouth were full of tree sap. Her eyelids were sore, like they had been pried open against their will.

“Princess, you’re awake!” Springing up from the mattress, Flo grasped at one of Cadence’s forelegs, pulling her towards the edge. “Come on, you’re the only one who will help.”

Mind still hazy with the fuzziness of dreams, unsure of exactly where she was, Cadence gently pulled her hoof from Flo’s grasp. “First, what time is it? It looks like it’s still night outside.”

“That’s because it is.” Leaping away from Cadence’s side, Flo dashed towards the door before glancing back. “Some dragon just screamed. It sounded like Ember scared them.”

Concern creased Cadence’s brow as the memories of the previous day flooded back into her mind. Oh no, please tell me he didn’t take another. Energy filled her limbs, giving her the strength to stand, kiss Shining on the cheek, before following Flo.

The stars greeted Cadence as she stepped out onto the balcony, some had faded away in the lightening dawn, but many still remained, reminding her of how tired she still was. “Are you sure you heard a scream Flo? Maybe you were just dreaming?”

“I wasn’t dreaming.” Pointing with a talon, Flo directed Cadence’s eyes to one of the few sky reaching tower that rose above Rockholm. “It came from over there, The Topaz Tower.”

“I heard it too.”

Turning, Cadence found the voice belonged to Skylight, the pegasus stepping towards them.

“It was loud enough to wake you up?”

Skylight smiled at Cadence’s question. “Military training makes you a light sleeper.” Glancing backward, her smile grew. “It didn’t change Cloud though.”

“So are you two going to help them again?” Flo looked at both ponies with wide eyes, a grin spread across her muzzle. “And this time you’ll beat Ember so bad he never does it again.”

“Well, maybe not the second bit, but,” Cadence met Skylight’s eyes. “Do you want to rescue another hatchling?”

Breathing deeply, Skylight extended her wings, moving her forelegs back and forth and twisting her neck. “I’m always in for action. Let me warm up first though.”

Watching her, Cadence noticed the stiffness in her own limbs. Lifting one of her forelegs, she felt a pulling pain for a moment, before it faded, the warm flow of energy replacing it. She lifted another, relishing the feeling.

“Okay, get on.” Now crouched low against the grey stone of the balcony, Skylight motioned towards her back with a wing, white tail flicking from side to side.

Another scream rang through the city as Cadence mounted Skylight, drawing all eyes towards The Topaz Tower. He wouldn’t have taken another one, would he? Cadence thought while speaking, “I’m ready, let’s go.”

As they launched into the air, Cadence felt her body instinctively tense, ready for the force of flight. Instead Cadence found that her stomach was almost comfortable, the wind rushing through her mane seeming like a gentle breeze compared to the previous day. Skylight’s still tired, She realized.

The thought of sleep made the aches of sleep in Cadence’s limbs become known to her once more. The rush of adrenaline covered it for the most part, but if she concentrated on the aches, she could feel them, like there were tears in her body stitched half-shut.

Ahead of the The Topaz Tower grew and grew until it dominated the sky. Even in the dim dawn light Cadence could spot the gem which it was named for, orange-yellow fringing the balcony railing and a stripe of the same color down the side.

Another scream sounded from below them, pulling Cadence’s gaze down just in time to spy a dragon of bright crimson scales leap into the air and fly toward the city wall. Underneath her she felt Skylight’s muscles work, sending them speeding after the dim shape. The familiar feeling of pulling overcame Cadence’s body, forcing her eyelids closed.

Pressing her muzzle into Skylight’s ear, Cadence whispered. “Let him go for now, we already know where he’ll be.” She felt the body underneath her slow before rumbling with speech.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’d be better to see what was taken first, we might need to ask Cloud to help.”

Circling around, Skylight headed back for The Topaz Tower, descending into the streets that surrounded it.

Despite the time, the area was swarming with dragons. The choking sound of sobs and soft whispering filled the air alongside rough cursing. Yet all voices joined as one to echo the dragon who first spotted Cadence and Skylight.

“The princess. Skylight.”

Feeling a smile spreading across her lips, Cadence pushed her muzzle back into Skylight’s ear. “Well it sounds like you have some fans.” She felt the pegasus chuckle as they landed.

“As long as they don’t swarm me like they do you.”

The moment they landed a pair of dragons stepped forth from the crowd, Cadence able to make out the differing shades of blue that were their scales in the dim light.

“Please princess,” One said, the baritone of his voice marking him as the father. “You must help us, our only son has been stolen from us. Will you help return him as you did the other hatchling?”

Nodding, Cadence smiled. “We’ll try our best.”

Another pair stepped forward, one dressed in ruby scales, the other emeralds. “Will you rescue our niece as well?” This time the dragoness spoke, tears obvious in her voice. “She’s the closest thing we’ve ever had to a hatchling of our own.”

Cadence felt her smile growing wider and heart heavier. Before we came all of these foals would have been gone forever, no one to save them. “Of course we’ll rescue them.”

The pair nodded, stepping away with small smiles on their tear stained muzzles. As they melted away into the colors of the crowd another dragon stepped forth, this one’s scales the fiery orange of molten rock.

“Please, my son was taken also. Will you bring him back.”

“I will bring back any of your young ones that were stolen,” Cadence promised, her words lifting the lips of the dragon before her into a smile.

“I wish you a safe journey.”

Nodding thanks to him, Cadence moved her eyes across the rest of the crowd. “Is there anyone else who was stolen?” When no answer came, she waited a moment before speaking again. “Then we will be leaving. I hope we can bring your foals back to you soon.”

Her words sent a confused murmuring through the crowd, every dragon looking around for an answer. Eventually one spoke up. “Princess, what do you mean by foals?”

“Oh, sorry.” Cadence felt a kiss of warmth coming to her cheeks, her grin so wide she thought it would spit her muzzle in two. “I meant hatchlings. Foals are young ponies.”

Satisfied, the crowd cheered for her as she mounted Skylight, the encouraging noise following the two as they lifted into the sky and headed for the city walls.

“We’ve got to be careful this time,” Cadence whispered to Skylight. “He’ll expect us to be coming, so I’m sure there’ll be traps of some kind.”

Without meeting her eye, Skylight nodded, gaze fixated on the soft yellow glow that grew and shrank on the cave wall ahead. “There’ll be more dragons to protect also.”

“Yes, that’s why we have to be extremely careful, I don’t want any of them getting hurt.” Silence fell over the already almost noiseless room, only the sound of bubbling and their soft breathing entertaining their ears.

Wordlessly, Skylight stepped forward, Cadence following her. The two crept towards the corner, eyes scanning ahead for anything that would make a sound, ears pricked up, listening for any sign of Ember.

Why is it so quiet? Cadence thought as they continued, wincing every time her hoof scraped over a rock, or whenever a breath seemed louder than ordinary. There’s no way Ember could keep this many hatchlings quiet. An image flashed through her mind, causing her to stop in her tracks.

No, it couldn’t be. She tried to push the thought from her mind, but it remained. The picture of three young bodies scattered across the stone floor, their eyes closed, no breath lifting their chests. All dead. A tightness overcame her throat, her eyes flooding with tears, blurring her vision.

Ahead of Cadence, Skylight was still moving, unaware of Cadence’s stop until a sharp breath rang through the tunnel. Turning, she found the alicorn sitting, staring at the shadowy ground, body shivering as drops fell from the end of her muzzle into the dust.

“Cadence?” Concern made Skylight forgetful of the situation they were in, her voice ringing out full and loud. Wincing at the sound, she glanced backward before stepping towards Cadence, wing outstretched. “What’s wrong?”

The warmth of a wing closing over her back, Cadence couldn’t help but smile at herself, a shaky giggle coming from her lips. “Nothing, I’m just thinking too much.” Wiping the tears from under her eye, she sniffed noisily. “Ember knows we’re here for sure now.”

“Yes.” Lifting her eyes, Skylight gazed at the tunnel corner with confusion. “Let me talk to him.”

Following the pegasus with her eyes, Cadence watched her disappear round the corner, expecting a roar to follow soon after, but nothing came. No sound but the continued bubbling of lava. “Skylight?” She called out, rising to her hooves and walking after her.

“Boo!”

The moment Cadence stepped round the corner Skylight jumped out at her, instinctively making her fall backward onto her haunches, a cry escaping her lips. When she realised it was Skylight who had surprised her, a smile came to her muzzle, followed by a giggle. “Oh Skylight, you had me worrying you were gone.”

Turning back to the stream of lava, Skylight shook her head. “No way I could. There’s no one here.”

Gazing around the cave as well, Cadence found she was right. There were no lifeless bodies of hatchlings as she had imagined, no Ember waiting to eat her up, just stone and the hole his head had been trapped in the previous day. Splintered and torn open.

“How did he escape?” Skylight said, pointing the tip of her wing at the hole. “He was trapped tight in there.”

“Well,” Cadence felt a guilty smile touching her lips, eyes lowering to the ground. “I helped him.”

“What?” Skylight swung around, a touch of annoyance in her eyes, wings ruffling, flaring outward. “Why?”

“I couldn’t just leave him there.” Thinking back, Cadence pulled the image of Ember’s body into her mind. Struggling impossibly against the wall to free himself. “He would have died of hunger, or thirst. It would have been torture.”

Taking a deep breath, Skylight tucked her wings away before sitting on the stone below, facing Cadence. “I know you want to change him, but if he wasn’t here none of this would have happened. Some aren’t worth the effort.”

“No,” Cadence whispered to herself, half-convinced by what Skylight had said, half wanting to rebuke her. Instead she chose another path. “What about Cloud? When we first met you said he was terrible, just one of the rest. Was he worth the effort.”

Not answering for a moment, Skylight leant backward, wings supporting her as she sighed at the roof. “You’ve said this before, he’s said this before, but I told you, it’s different.”

“How?”

“How?” Pushing herself back into sitting position, Skylight met Cadence’s eyes with passion. “When I met Cloud was he threatening to kill ponies? Was he spreading fear throughout a whole city? Did he almost bite your head off when he first met you?”

Silence fell over the two as the echos of Skylight’s words dropped away, her heavy panting joining the bubbling lava to fill the room with soft sound. Still staring into Skylight’s eyes, Cadence found a fire there.

She held the stare for what seemed like an eternity, watching the fire fade away into a small spark as Skylight dropped her gaze.

“Sorry for yelling, but, if Ember wasn’t here, wouldn't the world be better?”

Reaching out a hoof, Cadence gently lifted Skylight’s chin till their eyes met once more. “It’s alright. I know how much this means to you. It means just as much to me.” Smiling, she watched as her smile spread to the pegasus. “Maybe you’re right, maybe we would be better off, but I can’t bare to watch a frightened foal be killed.”

Confusion creased Skylight’s brow,” What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about Ember. Have you ever looked into his eyes?” Cadence locked eyes with Skylight as she spoke, the pegasus’s blue pair staring right back. “If you do you’ll see a young dragon still terrified of this world, so he uses anger to hide his fear.”

Skylight’s features shifted as Cadence’s words sank in, the creases on her brow softening, lips forming a small O. “Just like I did, and still do.”

“Well, you weren’t that bad, but in a way, yes.” Cadence’s hoof moved down Skylight’s neck and over her withers, brushing back the few locks of her short mane that rested there. “And what changed that?”

“Cloud.” A smile tugged at Skylight’s lips as she spoke his name, eyes lighting up with memories. “Love can change Ember.”

Nodding, Cadence felt her smile overflowing her lips, pulling so tight her cheeks hurt. A touch of wetness forming under her eyes as she pulled Skylight into a hug. “Yes, Im so glad you realised it. I’ve seen it happen in you two, so why can’t love change everyone for the better?”

Caught off guard by the contact at first, Skylight’s body tensed up, instinctively wanting to push Cadence away. Instead she decided to return the hug, gingerly wrapping her wings over Cadence’s back.

The two rested in each other’s embraces for some time, Cadence feeling the warmth of joy filling her body and overflowing out as tears. Wiping away the wetness from her snout, she drew away from Skylight, the glistening streams still visible on her cheeks.

“Why are you crying?” Skylight questioned, confusion returning to her features once more.

“Because I’m so happy. Now we can truly work together, two ponies with one goal.” Looking up, Cadence gasped, as if realising for the first time they were in a cave. “Speaking of that, we need to find those hatchlings.”

Standing alongside Cadence, Skylight nodded, the two of them walking back through the cave towards the pinprick of light at the end.

“Where would he be?” Skylight asked as they were walking, her mind searching the mental images she had of the surrounding mountains. “In another cave?”

“Maybe, but which one?” The mountainscape the surrounded Rockholm filled Cadence’s mind also, going on and on until the horizon. “We wouldn’t be able to search every cave today. It would take weeks, maybe longer. Especially if they’re as deep as this.” Lifting her hoof into the air, she made a sweeping gesture, drawing Skylight’s eyes from one end of the cave to the other.

“We can try.” The dim blue glow of Cadence’s horn lit up Skylight’s smile.

“We can, can’t we.”

The two walked in silence till daylight met their coats, the rising sun catching their eyes and forcing them to squint. Spreading her wings, Cadence caught a look from Skylight.

“Aren’t you going to ride me?” The pegasus questioned.

Cadence shook her head in response. “No, if we’re going to be flying all day I’d rather not be a burden to you.” A gasp punctuated Cadence words, the previous day’s flight leaving her wings tense and sore.

Raising her brow, Skylight smirked at Cadence. “You need rest, let me carry you.”

Sighing, Cadence begrudgingly closed her aching wings before climbing atop Skylight. “Oh, if we’re going to spend the whole day out here we should go tell Shining and Cloud first.”

The flight back over Rockholm filled Cadence’s stomach with sickness, her eyes wandering over the buildings that surrounded The Topaz Tower. What if we can’t find their fillies and colts? I don’t even know what I’d say to them.

Her train of thought was quickly broken by Skylight landing and Shining’s voice calling to her. “Cadence!”

He ran to her, a foreleg helping her from Skylight’s back. “What happened? Were any hatchlings stolen? Did you find them?”

Opening her lips, Cadence found herself lost for words, unsure of how to word the news. Flo’s face peeked out from behind Shining, a wide grin on her lips.

“Did you beat Ember up again?”

“Well, no, it didn’t actually turn out as planned.” Oh, how do I say this.

“We didn’t find Ember,” Skylight finished for her, allowing the breath Cadence held in her chest be free.

Concern instantly worked itself into Shining’s features, his brow furrowing and eyes questioning. “Why, I thought you found his cave?”

“We did, but,” Looking over Shining’s shoulder, Cadence met Skylight’s eyes, almost obscured by Cloud’s mane as he hugged her tight. “He wasn’t there, so we have no idea where he is.”

A gasp escaped Flo’s lips as she stepped back from Shining and Cadence. “Then why aren’t you out looking? The bad dragon’s not going to beat himself up.”

Smiling at Flo’s statement, Cadene extended one of her sore wings, gritting her teeth as she patted the dragon’s head. “That’s why we came back here, to get some more help.” She felt Shining groan in her arms as Cloud’s wings flared out slightly.

“We’re going to hunt Ember down?” He questioned. “All four of us?”

Skylight nodded. “That’s the plan.”

Pulling away from Cadence’s grasp, Shining glanced back at the pegasus pair. “Can we have breakfast first? I’m starving.”

The growl of a stomach filled the air, all eyes looking to Cadence, causing her to smile. “Well, that’s a yes. We should also pack something for lunch, I don’t know how long we may be out there searching.”

Fastening the flap of her saddlebag with her magic, Cadence glanced up at Shining, his lips still dotted with sign of his last meal. Stepping towards him, she licked away the worst of it, giggling. “You never seem to eat cleanly, do you.”

Shining pouted, eyes full of humour. “I could if I wanted, I just can’t control how quickly my horn pushes the pie inside.”

Behind him Skylight and Cloud stood on the balcony, warming their wings up with long slow strokes, watching the sky above. Flo stood at the edge of the balcony, eyeing Cloud’s massive wings with awe.

“Are you ready to leave?” Cadence called at the couple as she dropped the bags over her withers, shifting her wings until they were comfortable.

Looking back to them, Skylight nodded, folding her wings away before lowering her body towards the ground. “You’re the one we’re waiting for.”

Stepping out onto the balcony, Cadence met Flo’s eyes. “Will you be alright here by yourself? You know where the food is right?”

A grin spread Flo’s blue muzzle wide, showing the bright white teeth behind. “Yes. When you find Ember make sure to beat him up a little extra for me.”

Reaching out with a hoof, Cadence touched it to the underside of Flo’s muzzle, rubbing gently. “Flo, you know I don’t want to injure him, I just want to talk with Ember.” Flo’s grin twisted into a pout as Cadence climbed onto Skylight, Shining tentatively mounting Cloud in the corner of her eye.

“Can we go slowly?” Shining questioned as Skylight and Cloud were readying their wings for take off. His teeth were gritted, forelegs wrapped as tightly around Cloud’s neck as he could without choking the pegasus. “I want to keep my stomach inside me.”

Looking sideways, Cloud met Skylight’s eyes. “I guess we could, we have all day and it’s not a long flight.”

A smile turned up the corners of Skylight’s lips as she glanced into the sky before looking back to Cloud. “Race you.”

The words barely reached Cadence’s ears before she could feel the body underneath her leaping into the air. The now horribly familiar feeling of her insides being torn out hit her, causing her forelegs to close tight around Skylight’s shoulders.

Behind her, Cadence heard the thumping beats of Cloud’s wings chasing them, and catching quickly. Glancing backward, she realised her eyelids were shut tight, the tearing claws of wind against her face and mane the cause.

Cadence opened one of her eyes slightly, just enough to see the image of Shining clutching to Cloud’s back the same way she was. The monstrous wings of Cloud had him closing in, only a few more beats until he was side by side with Skylight.

“You know you can’t win.” Cadence’s ears barely caught Cloud’s words before they were torn away by the wind, but the change in Skylight’s flight was noticeable. The two pegasi slowed down until Cadence felt her stomach settling, the sound of wind rushing past no longer deafening.

Thank you Cloud, She thought, opening her eyes to see they were slowly soaring above the city, dodging between the tallest towers.

The mountain range met them sooner than Cadence had expected, one moment it seemed a day’s walk away, the next right before her eyes. They looped between the peaks for a few moments, searching for holes in the mountains to land inside.

Leaning forward, Cadence pressed her muzzle close to Skylight’s ear, speaking softly. “What about that one?” Her hoof pointed out a pinprick of black below, barely visible in the side of the mountain.

She felt Skylight shake her head. “It’s too small, I’ll show you.” A tilt of her blue wings and they were plummeting downward, the pinprick of black growing larger and larger until it was almost the size of Cadences head. “See, too small.”

Beating her wings, Skylight lifted herself back up to meet Cloud with ease, as if the weight of both her and Cadence’s bodies was nothing. “Found anything?” She called once they were within earshot of the white pegasus.

Cloud shook his head. “There’s a lot of caves down there, but the biggest ones are only enough to fit a pony or two. Nothing that Ember could hide inside.”

The two continued, circling around each mountain slowly, all eyes searching for a hole large enough to fit a dragon of monstrous size.

After what seemed like hours Cloud called out, “I think I’ve found one!”

Cadence felt her stomach tighten as Skylight’s wings became like those of a hummingbird, rocketing them towards the white pegasus. Below was a sizable circle of black, its edges jagged and a small lip peeking out from it.

Circling downwards, Cadence watched as the hoof-sized hole became a cavern, the mouth of a great beast lying open, waiting for its prey to step inside.

“This could be it,” Skylight announced as she landed, folding her wings away before Cadence dismounted.

Staring into the shadowy entrance, Cadence nodded. “This one’s bigger than the last cave Ember made home.” She felt the grasp of legs take her from the side, Shining’s muzzle burrowing into her neck.

Giggling, Cadence twisted her head to return the contact. “You still haven't gotten over your fear of flying have you?”

Shining lifted his head out of her neck, glancing back at Cloud and Skylight as they smiled at each other. “Not with those two flying so fast my breakfast’s trying to escape.”

Another giggle left Cadence’s lips. “Well at least I know how you feel now. I’d be afraid too if that was all my flying experience.”

“Are you two coming or not?” Skylight’s voice came from the cave entrance, the hint of uncertainty in it.

Breaking apart, Shining and Cadence trotted toward the other couple, standing on the edge of the cave’s shadow. Meeting Skylight’s eye, Shining grinned. “What are you waiting for, go right ahead.”

“We’re waiting for some light,” Skylight huffed, frowning back at Shining.

Taking a deep breath, Shining sparked life into his horn, casting a cone of blue light down the length of the cave. “Go on, it’s almost sunny in there.”

Skylight took a tentative step forward, eyes gazing up at the still shadowy roof that soared high above her.

“Shining, you know Skylight’s not very comfortable with caves,” Cadence said before Skylight could make another step. “We’ll lead the way.”

A small smile met Skylight’s lips as Cadence stepped before her and Cloud, horn lit up with blue. “Thank you Cadence.” The words came softly from her lips, so quiet no one but Cloud heard them.

Dashing ahead, Shining caught up with Cadence, walking alongside her. “So how deep do you think this cave will go?” Behind them the hoofsteps of the pegasus pair followed, indiscernible murmurings passing between them.

“Well, I don’t know.” Cadence shut off her horn before squinting at the darkness ahead of them. “I can’t see any light ahead of us, so it could be a long, long way, but hopefully it’s no longer than Ember’s previous hiding place.”

“At least it means less flying.”

As they continued little but the sounds of hooves against stone and the ringing of Cadence’s horn filled the air. Cloud and Skylight whispering between themselves every so often, words unknown to Cadence and Shining.

Shining spent most of the walk glancing up at the cave’s roof, listening closely to the changing tones of their echoing steps. “I think the cave’s getting smaller,” He said after some time, lighting his horn and looking back at the roof behind them to confirm his suspicions.

“Don’t say that,” Skylight growled, her wings twitching at her sides.

“I’m not joking, look.” Shining pointed out the sloping roof behind them with a hoof before swinging his horn around and lighting up the roof ahead. “The roof’s getting lower and lower.”

A shiver ran through Skylight’s body as she stared up at the jagged rock above. “We should leave then, it’s going to be a dead end.”

“No,” Cadence turned to face Skylight, the bright light of her horn blinding the pegasus. “Oh, sorry.” Dimming her horn, she continued. “Even if this is a dead end, we have to go all the way to the end. Those foals could be down there and if we give up now we’ll never know.”

Turning back around, Cadence lit her horn brighter than it had been before and returned to walking, the others following soon afterwards.

As Shining had predicted the cave’s roof continued to lower, the walls on either side of them creeping closer and closer as well.

There’s no way Ember could have fit down here, Cadence realised after a while, the roof within touching distance for her wings. Yet she continued walking, the want to save the hatchlings driving her.

“We should turn back,” Skylight said a few moments later, the sound of her wings brushing against the stone above filling the air.

Sighing, Cadence reluctantly turned to face the pegasus. “You’re right. There’s no way Ember could’ve fit down here, although I can’t help but think,” She glanced back into the tightening cave behind. “What if those hatchlings are down there, what if we’re leaving them all alone?”

A hoof crept over Cadence’s withers, drawing her eyes to Shining as he came up beside her, squeezing her close. “I know you might think that Cadence, but it’s impossible, you said it yourself.” He gestured with a foreleg, sweeping it around the cave. “Ember could never fit in here.”

“So we’re going back?” Skylight’s voice was filled with joy as she spun on the spot, running towards the spot of blue light in the distance without waiting for an answer.

Cadence heard Cloud chuckle as he slowly stepped after her, “Maybe one day I can help her overcome her fear of caves like you two helped me.”

When they stepped back out into the light of day the sound of wings on wind greeted them, Skylight looping through the sky above the cave entrance. Spotting them, she came in to land with a thud, a grin wide on her muzzle. “Ready for more flying Shining?”

Cadence heard Shining swallow hard as he looked to Cloud, already crouched, waiting for him to mount. “Maybe we could stop for a snack? I’m feeling hungry.”

Still feeling the weight of breakfast in her stomach, Cadence shook her head as she stepped towards Skylight. “Come on Shining, it isn’t that scary,” She said aloud, the uneasiness welling up in her throat and thoughts filling her head telling a different story. I’ve got to set an example for him, show him there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Despite her encouraging thoughts, Cadence still found herself clinging on tight as she mounted Skylight, her whole body tensing, preparing for the rush of air.

“I know you’re afraid also,” She head Skylight whisper, the pegasus shooting a smile back at her. “But relax. Let your body flow with the wind, it’ll feel like you’re flying yourself.”

Cadence felt her muscles loosing a little at the advice, her lungs filling with deep breaths, attempting to calm.

“Are you ready?” Skylight called to Cloud, waiting for him to nod back before speaking again. “Let’s go.” Her legs extended at the words, shooting both mares into the air and catching the wind underneath her wings.

The pulling sensation filled Cadence’s gut, causing the grip of her forelegs to tighten. Just relax, She thought, breathing as evenly as she could from the river of air rushing past her lips. Slowly, she allowed her hold to loosen, and was surprised to find she wasn’t torn from Skylight’s back, but instead seemed to stick to the pegasus. Like I’m flying myself.

Above them the sun gradually rose as they continued their search for Ember’s potential hiding place. Crossing mountain after mountain off the list as they inspect each one closely. By noon they had checked a quarter of the range around Rockholm, finding many and more dead end caves, and even one that went straight through a mountain.

“Can we please have lunch after this one?” Shining pleaded as the four were nearing the exit of another cave, this one ending quickly, a heap of fallen rocks blocking their path after turning one corner.

Felling a niggling in her own stomach, Cadence nodded. “Well, it is around midday. Skylight, Cloud, are you two hungry?” Ahead of her Skylight stopped, turning to Cloud for an answer.

His mind far away from thought of food or drink, Cloud pushed the heroic fantasies from his head and thought of his stomach. “I guess now is as good a time as ever.”

Daylight met them after a dozen more steps, Cadence magically pulling the saddlebags from her withers as Shining stood beside her, eagerly waiting. At the edge of the rocky lips they rested upon, Skylight stood gazing out at the numerous mountains they had yet to search, her wings twitching as she thought of all the possible caves that could twist through their insides.

Turning back to the other three, she stepped towards them, voicing her thoughts aloud. “What if Ember’s not in a cave?”

Looking up from the bag she was unpacking, Cadence cocked her head at Skylight. “Even if he isn’t, where else do we search? This is the best idea we have.”

Skylight sat down beside Cloud, facing Shining and Cadence across the small rocky area they shared. “It’s too slow. We’ve spent half a day searching already and there isn’t a sign of Ember.”

“I know,” Cadence nodded. “I’m just as worried about those foals, I mean hatchlings, as you are, but do you have any other ideas?”

Lowering her head, Skylight shook it, “No.” She pawed at the ground with a hoof, still shaking her head. “I should have followed him.”

“This isn’t your fault Skylight, none of us could have known he’d change his hiding place. All we can do now it hope we find him before night falls.” Cadence glanced up at the sun, the ball of bright yellow at its peak in the sky, heating their coats and the rock they sat upon.

“Why don’t we ask the guards?” Cloud’s suggestion lifted the other three’s eyes towards him, bringing a smile to Skylight’s lips.

“Yes, they must have seen him.” Standing, Skylight spread her wings before leaping into the air and zipping away.

Her eyes following the shrinking blue form as it dissolved against the sky, Cadence heard Cloud climbing to his hooves as well.

“I should go after her, make sure she’s safe.” One beat of his wings and he left them with a cloud of dust in his place.

“Well, maybe we won’t be searching these mountains all day,” Cadence said as she turned back to Shining, only to find his lips stained with the red of raspberries, half of a pie protruding between them. His eyes were unfocused, dreaming as he chewed. “You didn’t even hear any of that did you?”

Awareness flickered into Shining’s eyes as he looked to Cadence. “Hmm?” The murmur that came from his mouth caused Cadence to giggle.

“Don’t worry yourself about it, just eat your pie.” Feeling an emptiness in her own stomach, Cadence grasped one of the pies for herself, the blue of the berries showing through small holes in the pastry.

The sound of Shining’s chewing was drowned out by Cadence’s thoughts as she nibbled at her own pie, the taste barely registering on her tongue. It wasn’t Skylight’s fault, it was mine. The faces of those dragons who had put their faith in her that morning filling her mind. If I had have just let Skylight follow him, we would know where he is.

Unconsciously she swallowed, eyes staring at the red-brown rock before her but seeing nothing. What if we don’t find him? What of we don’t find those foals? The dragons’ smiles and tears twisted with anger, all of them swelling up in size, scales reddening till her mind was filled with dozens of Embers What will they think of me if I fail?

“Cadence?” The sound of Shining’s voice and the touch of his hoof on her shoulder pulled Cadence out of her thoughts, a gasped breath filling her lungs. “Are you okay?”

Rubbing at her eye with a hoof, the world flooded back into Cadence’s vision, her pie still floating before her, only the tiniest nibble missing from it. “Oh, I’m, I’m. I’m scared Shining.” She felt his foreleg sliding over her withers, lips pressing into her cheek softly.

“Are you thinking about Ember again?”

“Well, yes, but it’s not him I’m scared of.” Cadence sighed, her shoulders slumping and eyes falling. “I’m scared of failing. What if I don’t find those hatchlings today? What will I say to their parents? Sorry?”

Silence met her questions, Shining doing nothing but slowly running his hoof along her back, the sensation calming. Eventually he spoke, “You might have to. No matter how much you want to be a hero for this city, you’re still a pony, you can only do so much. Everyone has failures sometimes, this might be one of yours.”

“I know but,” Sniffing, Cadence swallowed back the choking feeling in her throat, blinking away the tears trying to form in her eyes. “Whenever I’ve failed before Celestia’s always been at my side, always giving me another try, but this time if I fail lives might be lost. Dragons as young as Twilight could just disappear if I fail.”

“Twilight.” The name brought a smile to Shining’s lips, memories to his mind. “I wonder how she’s doing.”

The thought of that lavender foal brought a smile to Cadence’s lips also, the overwhelming pressure to succeed subsiding as fond images filled her head. “She’ll still be at home, going to school every day. I wonder if she misses us?”

“Mmm.” Shining nodded, a longing to mess his sister’s mane filling his hoof. “She’ll be graduating soon, moving onto an academy to study astronomy.”

“Or maybe magic?” The smile on Cadence’s muzzle spread even wider as she recalled the unicorn’s shaky first attempts, and how quickly she had progressed. “She was getting quite good before we left.”

The soft sound of wings drew Cadence’s eyes to the air, a pair of blue wings was speeding through the air towards them, loping a short distance behind a massive white pair. “It looks like they’re back.” The memories of Twilight were washed from Cadence’s mind as their current task filled her thoughts. I hope they found out where he is.

A miniature earthquake ran under their bodies as Skylight landed, skidding to a halt on a step or two before them. Her muzzle was plastered with a grin, wings still extended as she spoke. “It took some helping, but we found which way Ember went.”

Beside her, Cloud dropped to the ground like a dancer landing after a perfect leap, his hooves barely making a sound. “The guards said they saw him flying straight out over the road that leads to the main gate, before diving into the ground.”

“We followed their directions and found an entrance.” Skylight crouched as the words came from her lips, gesturing for Shining and Cadence to stand with a wing. “Let’s go.”

“Don’t you want something to eat first?” Cadence pointed to the pair of pies laid out atop her bag.

“No need. I want to stop Ember now.”

Nodding, Cadence packed her barely touched pie into her saddlebags alongside the other two, fastening the latch before placing them upon her back. “Okay, I’m ready.” The nauseating dread of flight was far from her mind, an eager want to rescue the hatchlings filling her belly instead.

Beside her, Shining still sat upon the ground, barely having moved since the two pegasi landed.

“Shining?” Cadence questioned, waving a hoof before his eyes. “We’re going.”

His eyelids flickered, head shaking as he looked up to her. “Sorry, I was just thinking.” Eyes still somewhat hazy, he stood and moved towards Cloud, climbing atop the pegasus without a complaint.

He must miss her more than I do, Cadence thought as she mounted Skylight herself. It would be great if there was some way we could talk with her. The idea filled her mind as the body underneath her took off, wind streaming past her as they sped towards the city walls.

“So this is it?” Shining asked, staring up at the boulder that towered above the four. A small crack opened the earth beside it, leading to darkness beyond. “How could Ember fit down here?”

He stepped towards the entrance, putting a hoof into it and finding he could barely move without bumping against the sides.

Stepping up beside him, Cloud eyed the tight gap with confusion. “This can’t be right, there was a massive hole here before, and this boulder was over there.” With a hoof he gestured to the left of the colossal rock. “It was, wasn’t it Skylight?”

“Yes.” Skylights voice sounded from behind them, moving to their left where the boulder had supposedly sat. “It’s been moved.” Extending a wing, she brushed the white tip against the scrapes and scratches across the red-brown dirt. “Could you shift it back?”

The words were directed at Cadence, who still stood back from the three, watching the situation. When three pairs of eyes turned to her she moved forward as well, eyeing the boulder, imagining its weight. “Well, maybe, but it’d be easier if Shining helped.”

Nodding, Shining lit his horn, surrounding the rock with his blue glow as Cadence did the same. “Which way?”

“Back to where it was, right where Skylight is standing.”

Taking the hint, Skylight moved away from the trails of movement, back to Cloud’s side. They both watched as the ringing of Cadence’s and Shining’s horns grew louder and louder, their blue glow around the rock so bright they could no longer see the red-brown surface underneath.

“Ready?” Cadence breathed, her eyes closed and legs spread, braced to exert the full force of her magic.

“Yes.”

“Okay. Three, two, one.” Both horns flared with blue as the last words left Cadence’s lips, the boulder before them screaming for a moment as it scraped against the lip of the cave.

Silencing her horn, Cadence glanced to the side where she expected the great rock to be, but instead she found nothing. “What happened?”

A thump in time with the earsplitting sound of rock cracking answered her, drawing all eyes off into the distance where the rock they had just flung rested in pieces. Long shards of the red-brown stone sat in the rough shape of a bowl.

“That did seem a little light,” Shining commented, a smile coming to his lips. “Maybe we should have tested how heavy it was before shifting it.”

“Who cares, let’s go.” Standing at the edge of the opening, Skylight stared down into it, wings half-open.

Stepping up beside her, Shining eyed the pegasus with a smile. “Aren’t you scared? We’re going deep underground.”

Lifting her eyes, Skylight met his smile with a smirk. “Barely, this cave is big enough to fly inside.”

Gazing into the hole for the first time, Shining saw what she said was true. The cave dropped off suddenly into a great ravine, shadows covering the bottom, the walls wide enough to hide a city inside. “Don’t tell me we have to fly.”

Ignoring the smirk on Skylight’s nodding head, Shining turned towards Cloud who was already crouched a few steps behind. “You’ll be fine Shining,” He said. “You’ve flown so many times now you must be growing accustomed to the feeling.”

As he climbed over Cloud’s back to wrap his forelegs around the pegasus’s withers, Shining grimaced. “Barely. I still feel the same pulling in my stomach.” Looking across to Cadence, he found a smile on her lips, the small thing helping to relax his limbs.

Just think of Cadence, Shining thought as he felt Cloud’s muscles moving underneath him, testing his wings. Cadence and chocolate. Black washed over his vision as eyelids closed, the dream world he drifted off to coming into focus.

Cadence kept her eyes open as Skylight dropped into the cave before pulling up, hovering in place.

“Can you give me light?” The pegasus asked, a wall of shadow before her.

Nodding, Cadence lit her horn, flooding the darkness with bright blue, chasing the shadows back to their hiding holes. The sight set out underneath them caused her to gasp, walls of the deep ravine they hovered above were speckled with twinkling lights. Gems.

The wings of Skylight shifted, sending them spiraling downward into the sea of tiny crystals, the slow beats of Cloud’s wings following. Most of them appeared to be the red of rubies, tinted to purple by Cadence’s blue light, but the green of emeralds made itself known here and there also.

Cadence barely noticed the tugging of flight at her insides, her focus taken up entirely by the beauty of the tiny gems. Ahead of them the walls of stars continued, turning downwards into shadow that Cadence’s magic had yet to reach.

Another movement of Skylight’s wings and they were diving downward, into a tunnel that came from the ravine. The tunnel was more of its own cavern than a tunnel itself, wide enough for both Skylight and Cloud to fly side by side.

The gems embedded into the rocky walls thinned out here. Cadence seeing less and less as Skylight dove deeper into the tunnel until there were only one or two rushing past them each moment, the blue lit tunnel walls taking over.

I wonder how deep this goes, Cadence thought, the ravine they had left now far out of sight and the end of the tunnel nowhere to be seen. Underneath her Skylight’s muscles tightened, shifting blue wings slightly to slow their dive.

Around them the tunnel walls were closing in. Slowly, but was noticeable to Cadence when she glanced backward and found Cloud’s wings nearing the rock on either side. Closer and closer still they came, Skylight’s wings slowing their descend even more, until it seemed like they were merely strolling down the tunnel.

“Brighten your horn,” Skylight grunted back at Cadence. “I need to see further ahead.”

“Okay.” Focusing on the spark in her horn, Cadence twisted the magic from a radiant light into one solid beam of blue. She directed the light downward, revealing the end of the tunnel below and the floor of the cavern beyond it.

“Good.” With that Skylight tightened her wings back against her sides, angling back into a dive.

As they descended Cadence shifted her spell back to the aura of light it had been before, lighting Cloud’s way for him.

The moment they popped out of the tunnel Cadence felt Skylight release a heavy breath, muscles in her relaxing. These things barely registered in Cadence’s mind however, her focus completely captured by the bright green glow that greeted them.

A gem wider than Cloud’s wingspan was embedded into the rocky wall ahead of them, glittering like a lake under the moonlight of Cadence’s horn. It’s beautiful, She thought as they slipped underneath it, continuing deeper into the cave.

Ahead of them the cavern walls were lit up like the night sky once more, rubies and emeralds accompanying them. The cavern twisted and turned around them, directing them further and further into the earth.

With little to do but gaze at the beauty that surrounded her, Cadence found herself focusing on the movement of Skylight’s muscles against her stomach. The slow push and pull as she beat her wings, the slight adjustments she made to turn as they were gliding.

It seems like she barely has to move at all. The thought came to Cadence as she compared Skylight’s easy movements with her struggles at flight. Her wings feeling as if they would break off at any moment, the muscles in her back screaming for rest.

What was that? A cry broke Cadence from her memories, only a faint sound over the whisper of Skylight’s wings. Shifting her neck forward, she held her muzzle beside Skylight’s ear. “Did you hear that?”

“Yes, this is the place.” One quick stroke of Skylight’s wings and they were rocketing through the darkness at greater speed, another glow meeting Cadence’s blue on the cavern walls.

A twist of the cavern and it met Cadence’s eyes, a flattened ledge to land upon, rocks glowing hot red lighting the darkness. As they came closer more and more of the ledge became visible, a jagged doorway cut into the stone at its end.

The clicks of hooves against stone signalled Cloud and Skylight’s landing, one after the other. Climbing from Skylight, Cadence strolled around the ledge, stretching the slight numbness from her legs. Better than my wings aching with pain.

“Is everyone ready?” Cadence whispered as Cloud woke Shining from his dreamy nap, a drop of drool hanging from his lips.

Skylight met Cadence’s question with a grin, her wings puffed out slightly, legs spread, ready. “Let’s help him.”

In two pairs, Cadence and Skylight, Shining and Cloud, they crept through the stony doorway, the room that followed lit by the same heated rocks as the ledge. Another doorway waited for them in the far wall, this one leading to a wide open cavern, a spiralling stairway of rock taking them downward.

Around and around a pillar of stone they descended, darkness on one side, the glowing hot rocks on the other. Some jutted out of the wall, so close to Cadence she could feel the heat’s touch against her cheek.

At the bottom another doorway met them as well as another cry, this one piercing Cadence’s ears. “Mother!”

The word drove Cadence into a sprint, her legs carrying her forward into the next room where Ember sat, the three hatchlings chained up behind him. He blinked as she lit her horn, holding a spark there, ready.

“You managed to find me again princess,” Ember shook his head as he spoke, glancing back at the hatchlings every so often. “It does not matter though, I have another plan.” Reaching out with a wing, he grasped one of the hatchlings, bright red scales tightening around dull blue.

Watching, Cadence’s eyes widened as Ember lifted the hatchlings head towards his muzzle, opening his teeth around its neck. Beside her the hoofsteps of the other three stopped, Skylight and Cloud on one side, Shining on the other. “What are you doing?” Cadence cried.

“Bargaining.” Ember’s voice was distorted by the body held delicately between his lips. “I’ll give you these hatchlings back. The city celebrates your victory and then you leave Rockholm, and never return, or.” Taking the hatchling from his mouth, Ember bit down on air. “I eat all three.”

Cadence felt her legs locking up, her mind racing as she met the quivering eyes of each hatchling. I have to save them, but to leave Rockholm. Looking back to Ember’s eyes, she found the fearful dragon hiding there. Everything would go back to the way it was.

Beside her, she sensed Skylight shifting closer, the pegasus’s muzzle closing in on her ear. “Say we’re going to leave. Take the hatchlings and stay in Rockholm.”

A smile came to Ember’s lips. “If you think you can trick me, taking the hatchlings and breaking our deal, think again. If you do I’ll eat three hatchlings tomorrow and then take three more, each day until you leave.”

No. Cadence’s body suddenly felt heavy, her legs unable to support her as she sunk to the ground, eyes falling.

“Giving up so easily?” Ember called across the room, a chuckle following his words.

“No.” Cadence’s voice was soft, barely more than a whisper, yet it filled the room, silencing Ember’s laughter. “I’m disappointed. This isn’t you Ember. I know I haven’t known you for very long, but I can see it in your eyes, this isn’t you.”

The words hit Ember like cold water, pushing the breath from his lungs, the wing that held a hatchling lowering to the stone below. His golden eyes glazed over, resting on Cadence yet looking not at her, but through her.

“Mother,” The word left Ember’s lips as he choked back a sob, his shoulders sinking, whole body deflating. “She always said those words, whenever I did something wrong.” A sob broke through his lips, the wing that held a hatchling releasing its grip, allowing the dull blue hatchling to slip onto the stone.

“I’m disappointed. This isn’t you Ember.” He repeated the words, shoulders shaking with another sob. “She always made everything better.” Silence followed Ember’s voice, every eyes watching the great red dragon as tears rolled down his cheeks and over his lips. “But now she’s gone.”

Straightening up, Ember’s eyes refocused, wing grasping the hatchling before him once more. “She’s gone and now I’m a monster.” Tilting back his head, he held the squirming body above his open lips.

“She is gone,” Cadence’s voice was still soft, her eyes rising to meet Ember’s. “But she wouldn’t want you to be a monster, would she? What would your mother say if she saw you now?”

Another breath caught in Ember’s throat, his wing lowering the hatchling back towards the ground. “I’m disappointed. This isn’t you Ember.” He sighed deeply, body deflating once more. “This isn’t me is it? I don’t want to be, this.”

Standing, Cadence took a step forward, and another, and another, until she stood before Ember, outstretched hoof touching against one of his forelegs. “You can change, you can be a prince everyone loves, one all of these hatchlings look up to. Just choose that path.”

Stretching out both his wings, Ember gathered the three hatchlings before him and struck their chains off with a talon. “Take the hatchlings, and go. I need time to think about this.”

Freed, the hatchlings quickly untangled themselves before scampering away from Ember, to the three ponies who stood at the far end of the room.

Staring up into his downcast eyes, Cadence smiled. “I know it will be hard for you to change your life, but I want to be there to help you. Why don’t we meet somewhere tomorrow?”

Lost in his own thoughts, Ember took a moment to register Cadence’s words. “Yes, I would like that. Why not at the entrance to this cave, I don’t know if I will be able to face the city yet.”

Cadence nodded as she turned, stepping back towards Shining. After a few steps she twisted her neck back, “Remember Ember,” She said. “You’re not a monster.”

The words seemed not to disturb the thoughtful dragon, unconscious to the world around him as memories flickered past his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks.

The other three met Cadence with smiles when she joined them, the three hatchlings watching Cadence with wide eyes as Shining wrapping a foreleg over her withers, bringing her close. “You did it,” He whispered into her ear, unheard by the others. “I’m so proud of you.”

“It’s not over yet.” Skylights words drew Cadence’s and Shining’s eyes towards her. “How do we get these hatchlings back?”

“What do you mean?” Cadence questioned, glancing over the five that stood before her. “We fly th-” Realisation struck her when she totalled the amount of wings they had against the bodies they had to carry. “Shining and I can wait here. You take the hatchlings back first.”

Looking over Cadence’s shoulder, Skylight motioned towards Ember with a hoof. “Can’t he help us?”

“I’d rather fly back myself than have him take me,” One of the hatchlings declared, the blue scaled one who had been held in his wing like a toy. “He’ll take us somewhere and eat us.”

Meeting the hatchlings eyes, Cadence smiled softly. “He’s not like that anymore, Ember’s changed. You don’t have to be afraid of him.”

A frown twisted the hatchlings features as he glanced between Cadence and the great red dragon behind her. “No dragon changes like that, he’s still bad. You’ll see tomorrow, he’ll take more hatchlings like us.”

The hatchling’s high-pitched protests seemed to reach Ember, the sound of leathery wings against stone filling the air as he shifted, lifting his head towards the group. “I’m sorry young one,” He said gently, a wince following his words, face creasing with pain, as if he had just been run through with a spear. Through the pain he continued, voice little more than a breath. “I’m sorry for what I did to you, taking you from you mothers and fathers.”

“Will you help us then?” Skylight called back at him, ignoring the uncomfortable shifting of the hatchlings behind her.

“I would, but,” Ember sighed, clutching at his side, lines of pain of his face tightening, the imaginary sword in his chest being twisted. “It seems the hatchlings are still uneasy about me, I can not blame them.”

Nodding, Skylight turned back to the group, her eyes falling on Cadence. “Can you carry one?”

Looking up at the question, Cadence opened her wings, stretching out the aches and pains they held. “Well, I don’t know. Let me test my wings.” Pushing through the air gently, it felt as if she were trying to fly in water, her wings as weak as a foals. Maybe I need to be in the air for them to feel better?

Stepping towards the door, Cadence moved through it to the base of the stairs beyond, the light of her horn lighting up the darkness. At full strength the blue of her magic still failed to reach the far wall, the roof above and ground below covered in shadow also.

Knowing she had plenty of room, Cadence leapt into the air, expecting her wings to catch her. What if I can’t fly? The thought passed through her mind the moment her hooves left the stone, mind too drunk on joy to think of the dangers.

Pink wings flapped weakly against the warm cavern air, Cadence quickly realising she was falling, her end waiting somewhere in the darkness below. This was a terrible idea, She realised moments before a chest slammed into her side, Skylight’s strong forelegs scooping her out of the air.

“First Shining, now you,” Skylight said as they climbed back to the ledge she had leapt off, a smile on her lips and the hint of laughter in her voice. “One day you two will pay me back.”

Cadence found herself chuckling despite the situation. “What would he and I do without you two?”

Back on the ledge, Skylight deposited Cadence before heading back through the roughly hewn doorway. “Alright, you, onto his back,” Cadence heard her barking orders as she followed, the largest of the hatchlings atop Cloud when she entered.

“You,” She pointed to the blue scaled hatchling, the second largest of the bunch. “Onto my back.”

“I don’t want to ride such a mean pony,” He glanced sideways, Cadence filling his eyes. “I want to ride the princess.

Stepping between him and Cadence, Skylight met the hatchlings defiant look with a smile. “It’s me or you’re staying with Ember.”

The threat had the hatchling quickly scrambling for Skylight’s lowered back, the pegasus shifting her wings uneasily at the sensation of scales against her coat.

One hatchling clutching onto her neck, the other standing beside her, Skylight turned back to Cadence and Shining. “You two are fine here?”

“We’ll be fine,” Cadence answered, Shining’s worried hoof stroking her mane. “You two go, make those parents happy.”

Nodding, Skylight turned away from the couple and towards the door, Cloud already stepping through it as she followed.

Cadence cuddled into Shining’s neck when Skylight’s white tail disappeared behind rock. “Well, today turned out great after all,” She whispered. “We found the hatchlings, and managed to break through with Ember.”

“And maybe we can have a little fun together before Cloud and Skylight get back.” The sound of Ember’s scales scraping against rock reminded Shining that they were not alone, drawing both ponies eyes towards the dragon that rested behind them.

“Are you okay Ember?” Cadence called out, pulling away from Shining’s embrace.

Spread out across the stone floor, Ember stared at them with closed eyelids, pain creasing his face. “Don’t worry about me, this pain is nothing.” Inhaling, he winced, shifting where he lay once more.

Concern filled Cadence’s features as she stood, stepping towards the squirming dragon. “Are you sure? You’ve been acting like this ever since you freed the hatchlings. Did they hurt you somehow?”

A smile crept across Ember’s lips, kept small by the pain that still rested there. “No, this is my own fault. Realising what I’ve been doing all these years, how wrong it was, how I could have avoided it all. It hurts.” Twisting on the spot, Ember clutched at his stomach with a claw, wincing.

“The part of my mind that still holds the monster is fighting this, trying to regain control,” He continued. “Telling me I’ve come this far, there’s no going back.”

Now at Ember’s side, Cadence reached out with a hoof, pressing it against his scales. “You know there is going back, right? Forgiveness will be hard for the dragons of Rockholm, but if you show kindness to them it will come.” Ember twisted again, a shudder passing along his body. “Would you like a little magic to help?”

“No,” Ember shook his head. “I’m not a weak dragon. This is a pain I need to face.”

Unsure, Cadence lowered her hoof. “Well, are you sure. Hard times are always easier with someone there to comfort you.”

The smile on Ember’s lips widened, the lines of pain on his face fading somewhat. “The memory of my mother is all I need to get through this. Go, be with your friends.”

“Well, if you’re sure. I will see you tomorrow Ember.” With that Cadence turned and stepped toward Shining, pressing her muzzle into his ear when she neared him. “Let’s wait at the top of the stairs, give Ember his time alone.”

“Princess!” Flo’s cry rang across the afternoon sky when she caught sight of Cadence. Waiting on the balcony edge, she had her claws resting on the railing, following the bodies through the sky with her eyes.

“Oh Flo,” Cadence said as she dismounted Skylight. “I’m so sorry we left you alone all day. Our search for Ember took longer than expected, but-”

Barrelling into Cadence’s chest, Flo knocked the rest of the alicorn’s air from her chest. “It doesn’t matter. You came back safe.”

Cadence felt wetness as Flo nuzzled at her neck, the young dragon sniffing back tears. “Flo, there’s no need to cry, everything’s alright now.”

Stepping back from Cadence, Flo wiped the streams from under her eyes with the back of her claw. “I’m not crying. I,” Glancing around the balcony, Flo looked for something to change the conversation. “Um, Did you beat up Ember real good?”

“Well.” Cadence thought back to the dragon prince, a squirming mass of scales they had left him. I hope he’s okay. “He is in pain, but it wasn’t our doing.” The cock of Flo’s head urged Cadence to continue. “He gave us back the hatchlings freely, and said he wants to change. Apparently the decision caused him great pain.”

A frown creased Flo’s features. “So no crazy fighting with magic and claws?”

“No,” Reaching out a hoof, Cadence patted Flo’s head. “Something much better than that, we made a new friend, hopefully.”

“Are you back from your journey?” A tapping came with the deep voice from the other side of the room, the sound of claws on stone. “I wish to discuss certain matters.”

“Obsidian?” Cadence questioned back, stepping around looking towards the door.

“Yes, it is I. Do you have time for talking?”

Glancing around at the others, Cadence found Skylight and Cloud sharing a look, Shining nodding back at her while Flo’s frown twisted even further. “Well, I do, but could we speak in your throne room? I think some here want their privacy.”

“Understandable, I will see you down there shortly then.” The clicks of Obsidian’s claws on stone faded into silence, Flo stepping forward to hold Cadence’s forelegs once more.

“Don’t go princess. You don’t need to talk with big meanie.”

A giggle bubbled from Cadence’s lips as she untied herself from Flo’s grasp. “I don’t need to, but I want to. Hopefully I can help him be less of a meanie. Now, do you want to come with me, or stay here?”

Rolling her eyes into her head, Flo stroked the underside of her muzzle with a claw for a few moments before answering. “I’ll come with you.” A sigh sounded from Skylight. “You need someone to protect you against that old meanie.”

Looking to the pegasus pair, Cadence smiled, knowing in her eyes as she met Skylight’s. “I assume you two are staying here?”

Red touched at Skylight’s cheeks as she averted her eyes, Clouds cheeks flaming with pink also. “Yes, we’re, tired,” Skylight responded. “You three go.”

Hopefully Cloud takes my advice, Cadence thought as she stepped from the balcony inside. “Well you two have fun, we’ll see you when the sun’s behind the palace? Later?” Celestia’s prize currently rested just in sight of the balcony, only a little longer before it would be hidden.

“That should be enough.” Skylight held up a wing to cover the glow on her cheeks.

“Alright.” Cadence nodded, her lips swelling with with a grin she couldn’t help, chest overflowing with warmth. “Let’s go Shining and Flo.” Moving behind the two as they stepped past her, Cadence shepherded them towards the door before turning back and calling, “Good luck you two.”

“Are they gone?” The deep stone click of the door shutting answered Skylight’s question, the breath she had been holding escaping freely from her lips. Turning to Cloud, she moved her muzzle close to his, their lips brushing against each other gently. “Let’s try again.”

Locking Cloud’s lips with hers, Skylight pulled him inside, one of her wings curling around his back.

Standing his ground, Cloud broke away from Skylight with a gasp, causing surprise to fill her features. “What are you doing?” Her voice was soft, vulnerable, almost hurt.

“Before we begin, I want to ask you something.” Pulling his eyes away from Skylight’s, Cloud glanced around the room, from one blank wall to their other that supported their tent. How do I say this? “Can I lead this time?”

Skylight stood silent for a moment, holding Cloud’s eyes with question.

“I, I think I know how to lessen the pain,” Cloud quickly added, a smile filling Skylight’s lips once more.

“Go ahead.”

The words hung in the air, Cloud’s mind not processing their meaning briefly. “Oh, me?” At Skylight’s nod he moved his muzzle forward, taking her lips in his. Gently, he led her towards their tent, allowing her to pull him inside and onto the soft mattresses they slept upon.

Her wings pulled him close, a deep breath inhaling his scent. Pushing back from Skylight, Cloud loosed his lips, trying to recall what Cadence had told him through the blinding rush of excitement that filled his mind. Start on her with your mouth.

Moving downward, Cloud found himself nuzzling at Skylight’s belly, planting soft kisses here and there as she shivered against his touch.

“What are you doing?” Skylight’s voice drew Cloud’s eyes up to meet hers, the eyes of a filly, full of wonderment and anticipation, something he rarely saw in her.

Forcing a confident smile across his lips, Cloud ignored the thoughts rushing through his mind. I have no idea what I’m doing. “Just let me lead.”

Satisfied, Skylight smiled back, watching him as he continued down her exposed belly, towards her hips. A scent greeted his snout as it moved closer to her lips, one that Cloud had smelt a few times, when they cuddled close in bed, but never of this strength. The scent of her desire.

It was not repulsive, nor explicitly sweet, yet Cloud found his muzzle drawn toward it, his lips brushing against Skylight’s lower pair. He heard her moan and felt her shiver, the response encouraging Cloud, his mouth opening, tongue extending to taste.

Skylight’s entrance opened itself to him, the bud of her pleasure pushing out to touch the tip of his tongue. A gasp filled the air as flesh made contact with flesh, Skylight’s rear legs squeezing at Cloud’s head, willing him forward.

Obedient, Cloud ventured closer with his still open mouth, his lips contacting hers in a passionate kiss, tongue roaming inside instinctively. Wings came up over Cloud’s head as Skylight’s moans filled the air, the feathered force pushing him deeper.

Squeezing, Cloud felt it around his tongue and snout, Skylight’s insides tightening around the intrusion. Drops of her nectar ran down his tongue, the taste bittersweet, one that Cloud wanted more of.

Against the weight of Skylight’s wings Cloud drew back, till he could see the pink of her flesh before him, glistening with both his saliva and her juices. Mind absent of all thought he drew his tongue across her winking lips, tasting her entirety and sending a violent shiver up her spine.

“Cloud.” He felt and heard Skylight’s voice, the contact of his body against hers causing the gasping sound to fill his muzzle. “I want you in me.”

Pulling back from his lapping, Cloud lifted his eyes and found Skylight’s closed, her teeth biting hard against a lip as pleasure sparked along her body. “Just let me lead,” He responded, feeling his own length hard and wanting, pressed against the mattress.

She needs a little longer, He knew somehow, her lower lips still holding a tension, not relaxed, not completely open to him. So he dove back inside, his tongue tasting at Skylight’s inner flesh, muzzle spreading her wider as she tried to tighten around him.

Cloud felt a deep breath fill her lungs, her back arching, hips pressing into his touch. “I can feel something Cloud.”

Now. Drawing himself backward, Cloud gently untangled his head from her wings and the strands of her tail that had somehow looped over his ear. Heat throbbed through his member as he moved his body upward until his head was in line with her neck, the tip of his shaft resting against her nethers.

“Are you ready?” At the sight of her nod, Cloud moved forward, Skylight’s lips parting for him easily, her juices coating his length as he slowly filled her. The sensation dominated his thoughts, her flesh so close against his it was as if they were one.

A gasp met Cloud’s ears as his hips met Skylight’s, their muzzles side by side, chests pressed against one another. He could sense her heartbeat all throughout his body, feel the timing of her breaths, in sync with his own.

“Take the lead Cloud.”

Skylight’s words drew Cloud out from the river of sensation he was riding, instinct coursing through his muscles once more, drawing his hips out, and back in again. At each of his movements she gasped, squeezing so tightly around him Cloud feared his strokes would cease.

The juices constantly flowing from Skylight made sure his fear never became reality, flesh sliding easily against flesh, the sensation causing a tension to grow in Cloud’s groin. Wanting to release the tension, Cloud continued to thrust, his moans filling the air as he felt his shaft preparing for release.

“Cloud, I’m almost-” A gasp cut off Skylight, her inner muscles clenching tight against Cloud, so tight he could no longer move, before relaxing, Cloud’s member free once more. Skylight’s body twisted, her chest pushing into his and muzzle cuddling close into his neck.

The spasm that followed surprised Cloud, his shaft unable to move inside the muscles that pressed around it. He felt Skylight’s breathing quicken against his chest, her heart beat like the wings of a hummingbird, so frantic he feared it might burst.

His groin grew tighter and tighter in response, the feeling of something wanting to leave making itself known to him. I can’t do this inside. The thought flashed through Cloud’s mind before he recalled what Skylight had told him the previous day. She can’t.

Mind satisfied, Cloud returned his thought to the sensation of Skylight around his shaft, her inner spasming weakening with each movement, the pressure in his groin growing and growing.

“That was, better than I could dream.” Skylight’s whispered words barely reached Cloud’s mind, his whole body tensing up, readying itself for release.

“Skylight,” Was all he managed to utter before he felt a movement work its way up his length, a hot jet of his seed filling Skylight. Again and again his groin pulsed, the sensation of emptying himself one Cloud wished would never stop, but could feel coming to an end.

In response to his climax, Skylight shifted her hips a little, moving along Cloud’s spasming shaft as she felt him filling her. “I love you Cloud.” Her declaration came with the last of his twitches, his shaft unmoving inside her once more.

The words spread a smile across Cloud’s lips, his body feeling heavy, spent. “I love you too, ever since I first saw you. I can’t believe we’ve made it this far.” He felt his shrinking shaft fall from Skylight’s nethers, releasing a flow of his seed onto the mattress.

“We’ll clean it later.” Skylight’s words sounded as sleepy as Cloud felt, his eyelids lowering until he was blind. The sound of the tent door closing the last he heard before the weight of sleep overcame him.

I wonder if they’re still going? Cadence thought, the sound of hooves and claws on stone filling the air around her. She had been distracted during her talk with Obsidian, wondering what was going on up above.

Slowing her step, Cadence thought back on what Obsidian had told her, at least what she had paid attention to.

“I have decided to follow your idea princess,” He had said, words slow and measured, the decision clearly one he had thought much about. “If this is what I need to, show love, then I will gladly do it. For the sake of the city, they have been terrorized by Ember more than enough.”

Cadence had chosen not to tell Obsidian of his son’s apparent change. They’re not ready to meet each other yet. They both need so much more work.

“You mentioned dancing,” Obsidian had continued. “An activity that brings back the fondest of my memories, but I have lost my grasp on the whereabouts dragons gather for such things. I know it is much to ask with the city still new to you-”

A smile had spread across Cadence’s lips at the king’s nervous ramblings. “Leave it to us, we’ll find our way eventually. Besides, it’ll be good to explore the city some more.”

“Thank you princess.”

Their conversation had drawn out longer, Obsidian divulging his fears, Cadence just nodding along, mind on other things.

I hope we don’t disturb them. She stood before the door now, Shining on one side, Flo on the other.

“Why are you smiling princess?” Flo asked, looking up at Cadence with confusion lining her features. “Is something funny?”

Try as she might, Cadence couldn’t suppress the grin on her lips as she turned to Flo. “Well, no, nothing’s funny. I’m excited, excited to see what might lie beyond this door.”

Looking deep into Cadence’s eyes, Flo found no humour there. “Princess, you’re crazy. We’ve been into this room heaps. Nothing has changed.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Cadence said as she swung her head to the other side, meeting Shining’s eyes. “The room will still be the same, but I have a feeling something will be different.” Unable to wait any longer, she pressed her hoof into the cool stone before her, allowing the door to swing open.

Slowly, she stepped inside, trying to keep her hoofsteps as quiet as possible, wincing at each clop or click of Shining and Flo’s steps. “Are you two still here?” She called out once she reached the centre of the room, eyes catching no sign of movement.

Beside her, Shining whispered into her ear, “They’ll be in their tent.” His hoof gestured towards the canvas home leaning against the far wall. “Sleeping most likely.”

“Mhmm.” Cadence felt her smile stretching her lips till they hurt, the corners of her eyes growing warm with want for tears. “I’m so proud, our little flower is blooming beautifully.”

Looking between the smiling couple, Flo shook her head. “You ponies are crazy sometimes.”