The voice shattered the images before Cadence, her dreams fading back into dust, memories of them gone before she realised.

“Cadence!”

The shaking of a hoof against Cadence’s side caused her eyes to flicker open, the glowing blue of their tent filling her vision. In an instant the previous day’s memories overflowed into her consciousness, alarm coming with them.

Pushing herself upright, she glanced around, eyes wide. “What is it? Have they come?” Her heart raced in her chest, limbs burning with adrenaline.

“No.” The whispering of Skylight made Cadence realise how loud her own voice was, bringing her hooves up to cover her lips. “It’s your watch.” Skylight rose as she spoke, passing the ethereal barrier between each tent.

Silent, Cadence watched as Skylight disappeared into her and Cloud’s shared tent. The flap fell shut, leaving her alone in wakefulness. Shining’s soft breathing kept her company as she gathered herself, taking in the room about her.

It was the same as it had been before she fell into sleep. What did I expect? Cadence thought as she stood. A room covered in bodies and blood? The image flashed through her mind for a moment, bringing a wince to her lips. No, not that, but I expected something.

Arching her back, she allowed a monstrous yawn to leave her lips before stepping through the glowing blue lining of their tent and towards the still open balcony door. Curled up against her tail, Flo still rested in the centre, back rising and falling.

“It’s like nothing happened at all.” The words left Cadence’s lips like a breath as she gazed out over Rockholm, still cloaked in shadow. High above, the moon watched over her, its twinkling friends falling asleep one by one.

Her voice seemed to rouse Flo, the dragon shifting in her sleep. “Princess,” She mumbled under her breath, Cadence’s ears barely catching the words.

“Yes Flo?” Stepping towards the blue dragon, Cadence crouched beside her only to find the eyelids of sapphire still closed. Oh, she’s still asleep. Stealing a stroke from Flo’s neck, she rose and took one last glance over the city before turning back inside, the chill chasing her.

To Cadence’s surprise, Shining woke first. His eyelids starting open the moment sunlight hit them. Seeing her, a sleepy smile broke across his lips.

“I’m so happy you’re safe Cadence,” He said, moving forward to wrap her in his forelegs, his lips tasting hers. As he broke away Shining shook his head. “I had the worst dream over and over last night. I woke just in time to see Ember bite off your head.”

“Shining,” Leaning forward, she comforted him with another kiss. “You know Ember would never-”

A hoof against her lips silenced her. “I know, I know. I guess my mind just doesn’t know what these Whispering Wings look like. So Ember is what I go to.”

They sat for some time in silence, Cadence cradling Shining’s head to her chest, kissing at his ear and stroking his neck. A murmur from the tent beside them lifted their eyes to catch Cloud lifting the flap, Skylight following him.

“Did anyone see anything?” Skylight questioned while extending her wings, stretching every bit of sleep from her feathers.

“No.”

“Nothing at all.”

Cadence shook her head. “Same as those two, I watched Shining sleep most of the morning.”

“Thought so.” A groan left Skylight’s lips as she folded her wings back into her sides. “I’m actually disappointed.”

Lifting his head from Cadence’s caress, Shining glared at Skylight. “Really? You wanted killers to come for us last night?”

Skylight held up a hoof. “Not that. I wanted it to be over with. Beat them on the first night. Now we lose more sleep.”

“I guess you have-” A yawn caused Shining to pause. “A point.”

Laughter lightened the mood, smiles filling the lips of all four.

“Well why don’t we fetch breakfast?” Cadence suggested, gesturing towards the door. “That should keep you awake.”

“Ahh,” Releasing a content sigh, Shining allowed himself to fall back onto the cool obsidian floor. “These dragon chefs never stop amazing me with their creations.” Smudges of chocolate stained his lips, flakes of pastry completing the evidence.

Smiling at him, Cadence shook her head as she bit into the final quarter of her pie. “And you never stop amazing me with how quickly you eat them.” Laughter followed her words, causing a burst of pastry crumbs to leave her lips.

“I could beat him.” Skylight’s challenge lifted Shining from the floor into a sitting position, his eyes finding her pie dish still holding a sliver.

“Watching how slowly you eat, I doubt you could even finish half a pie before I do.”

A breath filled Skylight’s chest, lifting her shoulders, causing her wings to flare. “Lunchtime, I’ll beat you.”

Cadence met Cloud’s eyes and found the same thought there that filled her own mind. Why do these two have to do this now? Clearing her throat noisily, Cadence spoke. “Pie eating contests are fun, but we have more important matters to worry about right now.”

The words broke Shining and Skylight’s confrontational stare, drawing their eyes to Cadence. “Right,” Shining said, his features growing serious once more. “We should be thinking about how to keep you safe for the coming days.”

“Mmhmm.” Cadence nodded, rolling her eyes into her head. “I was thinking of asking Ember about The Whispering Wings, if anyone knows how to stop them it’ll be him.”

“I’m not so sure.” Cloud’s words drew the attention of the other three to him. “While Ember may have been the been the monster of this city for a long time, I don’t think he knew of anything else going on. He seemed to attack and leave. I have a feeling he won’t know any more than Flo on The Whispering Wings.”

“Well,” Cadence sighed, her shoulder slumping. “If no one has a better idea I’d like to see Ember today anyway, he worries me sometimes.” Silence was all the suggestion Cadence received, the other three ponies giving her blank stares. “Meeting with Ember it is then.”

Rising to her hooves, Cadence stepped towards the balcony, expecting to find Flo still resting there. Instead she found only grey stone. “Flo?” She called, worry tightening her stomach, causing her voice to shake. “Flo where are you?”

Cadence’s heart thumped in her chest, her overactive imagination conjuring images of shadowy dragons stealing Flo away. No! She cried out in her head, recalling what Flo had said the previous night. She said they’d only come for me. I thought they were only coming for me.

Beside her, Cadence felt Shining’s hoof on her shoulder, kneading at the tense muscles there. “I’m sure she just went for a walk, she’ll be back soon.” The tone of his voice failed to match the sureness of his words, worry residing there as well.

“Why would she leave without telling me though?” Cadence felt her voice slowing, throat tightening, the tops of her cheeks wetting with tears. “Surely she knows how much I’d worry if she just disappeared like this.”

On her other side, Cadence heard Skylight’s wings open. “I’ve got a better idea.”

The gesture brought a smile of Cadence’s lips, her tears quickly sniffed away. “Ember will have to wait.”

“No,” Cloud stepped up beside Skylight, stretching his wings also. “Another pair of wings will be a great help, and it’ll give Flo something to look for in the sky.”

The cobbles were familiar to her claws, every one an old friend greeting her as she raced through the city.

The princess will worry.

No matter how many times Flo shook her head she couldn’t rid her mind of the ever nagging thought. Everything will be better later, She mentally called back at it, hoping to convince herself. I’m doing this to keep her safe.

Still the thought prevailed, the knowing that her pink princess was soaring through the air right now, calling for her.

“Flo?”

Stopping in her tracks, Flo lifted an ear towards the sound. Did I hear that? Shaking her head, she forced herself to continue. No. I’m crazy. She isn’t calling for me.

Feeling the stone she was waiting for, chipped at a certain point, she swerved into an alleyway, Cadence’s voice chasing her.

“Flo, where are-”

The final words were drowned out by the walls tight on either side of her, giving the sickly sensation in Flo’s stomach some rest. This is for her, She reminded herself. I’m doing this for the princess.

At the end of the alley a tall wooden door waited for her, solid looking to the unfamiliar eye, but to those who knew it well completely open. A touch of a talon to the lower corner and a small hatch opened in the bottom, granting her entrance.

Flo felt the wood scratching at her scales as she squeezed through, darkness greeting her on the other side. I’m not small anymore. Feeling on all sides with her claws, she breathed relief when she felt the familiar wooden walls less than a leg’s reach away. It’s all still the same.

Scuttling on all fours, Flo moved forward until another flap of wood greeted her snout with a bump. Right where I remembered. Pushing with both claws, she lifted the wood, allowing the a flickering light to leak in.

“Astral?” The husky voice she knew well questioned her coming, the scraping of scales against wood signalling movement in the room beyond.

“Ah.. It’s me,” Flo called back after a short pause, one of the names she had grown so unaccustomed to now feeling unfamiliar.

A chuckling filled the room as Flo crawled into it, followed by the creaking of wood as weight fell back onto it. “Who else would it be, you’re the only one who knows that door, besides me. Where have you been Astral?”

“Hiding.” Picking herself up from the cobbled floor, Flo moved towards a barrel a few steps from her entrance. She climbed atop it and sat, the surface too small to curl upon as she once had. “Ember’s been crazy the last few days.”

“Hiding?” Another chuckle followed the word, gruff just like the dragon it came from. “I’ve heard tales about a hatchling your size and color keeping company with that pony princess. That doesn’t sound like hiding to me.”

Settled on the barrel, Flo lifted her eyes to take in full view of the room. Wood, She thought with the shake of her head. It looks like Drip has more. He had always been been wild about the stuff, claiming it enhanced the taste of his ale beyond the stone caskets his competitors used.

“You know how I survive.” Flo forced the words from her lips, every one tasting like betrayal. “Take what I can. Why would I refuse a pony?”

The excuse seemed to be enough for Drip however, his smile cracking open into a grin, another chuckle filling the air. “I knew it would be like that if it were you. Always after a bite to eat and some place safe to sleep under the stars you are.”

A deep breath ended his joy, features hardening as he leant forward in the wooden throne he had fashioned for himself. “I’ve heard she took Ember’s life and brought him back as her pet. Some dragons say they say him following her yesterday.”

“That’s not true. I didn’t come here to share talk though.” Flo shifted in her seat, glancing at the other entrance to the room, a door of dark mahogany, before looking back to Drip’s coal eyes. “I came for a favour.”

“A favour?” The words caused Drip to lean back in his seat, eyes widening and shock filling his features. “I never thought I’d hear that from you Astral, you never take more than you need.”

“This isn’t for me.”

A smile returned to Drip’s lips. “Is this for your new pony friend?”

The corner of Flo’s eye twitched, her gaze flicking down to the ground for an instant.

The smile on on Drip’s muzzle widened, his husky chuckling joining his words. “It is for her isn’t it? I never knew you’d be one to fall for a pony Astral.”

“It’s not like that!” Flo jolted after the shout left her mouth, surprised by the volume of her voice. Taking a moment to breathe, she continued with softer words. “I’m paying her back. She helped me.”

Holding up his claws, Drip shook his head. “Okay, okay, I get it, you don’t want to talk about it.” His forelegs came down to rest before him, eyes meeting Flo’s with curiosity. “So what is this favour you need?”

“Who is Flo?” Ember stared down at the four ponies standing before him, wary of their urgency.

“Oh,” The question sparked realisation in Cadence’s mind. “You’ve never met her have you. Well, she’s a dragon about as tall as I am. Her scales are blue, like sapphires.”

A smile crossed Ember’s muzzle. “Princess, that fits countless dragons in this city. I don’t think I’ll be of much help with your search. Besides, there must be a reason why I have never seen her, she will be afraid of me like so many others.”

“Yes, but,” Cadence bit a her lower lip, trying to form the storm of thoughts that filled her mind into a clear picture. “She’s been taken by The Whispering Wings, and we have no idea where they are.”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Cloud cut in. His eyes gazed at the sky over Ember’s shoulder, tracing the wisps of clouds that loitered here and there.

Looking back at him, Cadence nodded at the statement. “Yes, we don’t know they’ve taken her for sure, but who else would it be?” Turning to face Ember once more, she found him nodding slowly.

“Your friend does make a good point, what if Flo had simply chosen to disappear again? She did when I visited.”

Shoulders slumping, Cadence glanced from Cloud to Ember before allowing her eyes to fall to the ground. “You’re right, but I can’t help but worry for her. What if she has been taken by The Whispering Wings? What if she’s crying out for help right now? I can’t not look for her.”

“The Whispering Wings?” Drip hissed, rising from his seat and striding towards the door. Grasping the knob with his claws, he opened it a sliver to see before closing it once more. Heavy chains were lifted across the handle, holding it closed.

“You know my influence with The Whispering wings is shaky at best.” He whispered as he moved towards Flo, sitting on the floor before her. “To call off a target isn’t something I could do Flo.”

“You have to.” Flo felt the claw around her heart closing, each breath seeming more difficult. “I’ve done so much for you. Can’t you do this one thing?”

“I’m sorry Astral, I truly am.” Drip’s shoulders fell, his eyes leaving Flo’s and looking at the barrel below her. “But I prefer staying alive, and the only thing that would happen if I tried to stop this attack would be my death.”

Feeling tears coming to the corners of her eyes, Flo swung away from Drip and leapt from the barrel she sat upon. “Goodbye then,” She said with her back to him, unable to mask the tears in her voice, before disappearing through the way she had came.

A dark crawl and she burst back out into the alley, wiping streams from her cheeks with the back of a wing as she ran. Don’t cry, Flo told herself, sniffing back the tears. You’ll keep the princess safe. She’d do the same for you.

Leaving the alley she turned back onto the street, dashing through the twisting stone maze of Rockholm once more, each and every building familiar to her. A bakery flashed by, one who gave her leftover bread if she came. Another bakery passed on her other side, this one giving her only shouts and screams.

More and more familiar places passed her by, blooming flowers of fond and horrible memories in Flo’s mind, all blown away by the storm of worried thoughts. The princess is worrying about you. You left her behind and now The Whispering Wings killed her. Go back she wants you with her. You can’t save her.

Casting them aside, Flo focused on her goal, holding her mental torch high and fighting back the shadows that crept in on all sides. I’ve got to stop The Whispering Wings.

The cobbles beneath her claws rang with clicks as she ran, sensitive scales feeling each stone, telling Flo exactly where she was in her mental map of Rockholm.

Here, Flo knew the moment she felt a certain stone beneath her, so smooth it almost calmed her frantic mind. Swinging her body sideways she found another dragon in her path, his orange-yellow scaled side a step from her.

Unable to stop, she dove downward, scraping her scales against the cobbles below, wings tickling the dragon’s belly, before leaping back up and disappearing down the alley.

“Hey!”

The cry faded as Flo turned another corner, brushing the close encounter to the side and concentrating once more on her destination. Two deep scratches, she felt them in a cobble below and slowed to a stop.

A stone door stood beside her, identical to the dozen others that lined the alley, but for the cobble that marked it. Turning and stepping towards it, Flo traced the pattern in the door’s side, two scratches, each one followed by a click.

Nudging the stone open with a shoulder, she slipped inside, allowing the door to close behind her. The flicker of a flame lit up the hallway before her, leading her towards its light. At the end of the hall Flo found a dim room, a pit of fire at its centre.

Beside the fire lay a dragon of pitch black scales, curled up with a tail that seemed to be made of coal. An eyelid flicked open when Flo took a step forward, revealing a brilliant star of purple underneath.

“Silhouette?” The feminine voice was one Flo knew well, wary, always expecting the worst.

Stepping further into the light, Flo nodded. “It’s me Silvia.”

A smile split the black lips of Silvia as she sat up, gesturing towards the fire with the claw. “Long time no see my shadow. I don’t recall asking you here, why did you come?”

“I need some help.”

“Flo!”

Clutching tight to Skylight’s back, Cadence glided above the streets of Rockholm, her words made louder by the magic at her lips. Head nestled into Skylight’s shoulder, she scanned the city below, heart leaping at the sight of each blue scaled dragon.

One of a color almost identical to Flo’s stopped beneath them, lifting its head to meet Cadence’s eyes. Cadence’s heart sprang to life, filling her chest with frantic beats until she realised the eyes she was gazing into were emeralds instead of the sapphires she expected.

Feeling her heart sink, Cadence opened her lips and called again.

“Flo!”

Behind her Shining echoed the cry, his voice lacking the desperation hers carried, the force of longing not pushing his words across the city.

Cadence’s thoughts roamed as she strained her ears for a response, her conversation with Ember coming to mind.

Choosing to stay outside the city, Ember he scan the city walls. “I think it’s better if Rockholm has a break from me for a while,” He had said, a sigh chasing the words from his lips. “But I will do my best to search for you friend from out here. I’m looking for sapphires, right?”

“Princess!”

The cry cut Cadence’s memory short, her eyes lighting with joy as she looked for its source.

“There Skylight.” Pointing with a hoof, Cadence directed her pegasus mount towards one of the many streets below, where a dragon of sapphire scales stood. “It might be Flo.”

As they grew nearer Cadence’s chest tightened. It’s not her. Crestfallen, she almost called for Skylight to pull up, ignore the dragon in search for the one she really wanted. No, Cadence told herself, restraining her lips and forcing a smile to them. This dragon could be in need of your help, or maybe they know where Flo is?

“That isn’t her,” Skylight announced, stopping their descent a short distance above the ground. “Do you want to move on?”

“No.” Still looking down at the dragon below, Cadence pulled a foreleg away from Skylight’s neck to wave. “This dragon might know where Flo is.”

Shaking her head, Skylight dipped her wings and allowed them to drop the final distance to the ground, the click of hooves on cobbles filling the air. The sound of Cloud’s hooves followed soon after, he and Shining joining their mares.

“Oh princess.” The dragon stepped forth as Cadence dismounted Skylight, meeting her with begging eyes. Dressed in the same blue scales Flo wore, she towered a head and a half above Cadence, larger eyes and a smaller snout marking her as a dragoness. “I’m so thankful you came, I need your help.”

Wanting nothing more than to get right back on Skylight’s back and leave, Cadence gritted her teeth, forcing the weak smile on her lips to widen. These dragons need you too, you can’t abandon them now. “What happened? Has someone attacked your home? Stolen one of your foa-, I mean hatchlings?”

“No,” The dragon shook her head before turning her body sideways and motioning behind her with a claw. A fountain chiseled from smooth obsidian stood there, underneath an open window on the storey above. “I’ve heard you’re very strong, and I can’t manage to lift this fire fountain into my home.”

Turning back, she held Cadence’s widening eyes with begging ones once more. “Can you help with my troubles princess? I would be ever so grateful.”

Gritting her teeth even tighter, so tight they hurt, Cadence resisted the urge to scream in the dragon’s face. The urge release the flow of tears wanting to escape from her eyes and fall back into Shining’s grasp. She wasted our time for a fountain? How could she do such a thing? Flo’s out there all alone right now. How could she do this?

Instead she shook her head once before forcing calm words from her lips. “I’m sorry, but there are dragons in worse situations who need my help right now.” Oh Flo, please be safe. Images of Flo bound in chains flashed through Cadence’s mind, a shadowed mouth of teeth closing around her head.

The dragon huffed as Cadence violently shook the thought from her mind. “I see you aren’t the kind princess I thought you were after all.” A snort of warm air pushed back Cadence’s mane before the dragon turned and stepped away.

Lifting a hoof after the retreating dragon, Cadence’s lips opened to call after her, but she found herself lacking the energy to speak.

Stepping up beside her, Shining caught the hoof with his. “Just let her go Cadence, you did the right thing by refusing her. You can’t please everyone.”

“I know.” Cadence met Shining’s eyes with her own moist pair. “But that doesn’t help me from feeling any worse.”

Pulling on her hoof, Shining brought her into a hug, allowing his muzzle to brush and kiss at her neck. “Why don’t we just forget about her and keep looking for Flo?” He felt Cadence’s shoulders lift at the suggestion.

“Well, that will take my mind off of it.” Cadence’s shoulders fell once more as she sighed. “I hope she’s not in any danger right now. I hope they haven’t hurt her.”

“Silhouette, you’ve been a great help over these years, but The Whispering Wings?” Silvia shook her head as she laughed, the sorrowful sound ending in a sigh. “What have you gotten yourself into?”

“I told you. It’s to save the princess,” Flo responded as if that explained everything.

Another wave of laughter left Silvia’s lips. “I know it is Silhouette, but would you really have me risking my scales to save another?”

Flo’s head was nodding before Silvia had finished speaking. “It’s the princess. I can’t let her die.”

The smile on Silvia’s lips spread further as she lifted a claw to rest on Flo’s head. “This princess means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”

Noticing the accusation in Silvia’s tone, Flo pouted. That’s just what Drip said. “It’s not like that. I just have to save her.”

A sharpened claw roamed over Flo’s head, tracing the lines between each scale. “Flo, if she means enough that you’d ignore my advice, she must mean the world to you. I always assumed you thought of me somewhat as a mother, but I guess this princess is the one you want.”

Flo’s breath caught in her throat at Silvia’s words. My mother? Blurry shapes and muffled voices came to her mind, memories so old she barely knew they were there. Yet the warmth that came with them was still strong, as fresh as it had been on the day those memories were made. The same warmth Flo felt when Cadence held her.

“Is that why I need to save her?” Flo thought aloud, forgetting Silvia, forgetting the room she was in completely.

“I think it is.” Silvia’s voice drew Flo from her mind, bringing her back to the fire she stood before, the claw still tracing patterns across her head. “And as jealous as I am, I might help you with this.”

“You’ll stop The Whispering Wings?” Flo’s eyes lit up at the thought, a smile splitting her muzzle. Moving forward with outstretched forelegs, Flo wrapped Silvia in a hug, rubbing her head against black scales.

“Hey.” Wedging a claws between Flo and her chest, Silvia chuckled as she pushed Flo back a little. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll talk to the right dragons, maybe I’ll be able to help.”

Looking up at Silvia’s small smile, Flo’s lips widened into a grin. “I know you’ll be able to do it. You can do anything.”

“Don’t trust in me too much Silhouette.” Holding Flo by the shoulders, she pushed the smaller dragon backwards, turning her towards the door. “Now why don’t you run back to your princess? I’m sure she’s missing you.”

“Flo! Flo!”

On Skylight’s back once more, soaring over the city, Cadence felt her throat growing sore with each shout. Above them the sun was falling from its peak, heading back towards its rest in the horizon.

Shining’s shouts echoed her own, the pair of stallions flying behind them.

“Why don’t we head back?” Skylight suggested as she turned down the hundredth street they had soared over that day. “She might be there.”

Parting her lips, Cadence held back the instinctive No, and took in Skylight’s words. She’s right, maybe Flo had just gone out for a walk and came back? The thought brought hope to her mind, washing aside the horrible nightmares of Flo’s confinement. “Yes, maybe she is.”

Underneath her stomach, Cadence felt Skylight’s muscles shift as they swung through the sky to face the palace once more. A flick of the pegasus’s wings and they were rocketing towards it, the wind causing Cadence’s mane to dance behind her head.

The heavy thumps of Cloud’s wings soon followed them, growing closer and closer with each sound.

Closing her eyes against the wind, Cadence allowed her mind to drift back to their palace room, images of Flo greeting them as they descended filling her head.

“Where were you princess?” The imaginary dragon asked as Cadence wrapped her in a hug, squeezing the sapphire scales tight against her coat. “Did you go see Ember again.”

“No.” In her mind Cadence’s voice was choked, cheeks glistening with tears. “We’ve been looking for you all day Flo. I thought you’d been taken by The Whispering Wings, I thought, I thought.”

Flo’s features twisted with confusion. “You’re crazy princess, I’ve been here all day.”

“But where were you this morning?”

The lips of Cadence’s imaginary Flo parted, but only the click of hooves against stone came out.

“We’re here.” Skylight’s voice tore Cadence from her fond fantasy and into reality, opening her eyes to the empty balcony before her.

Climbing from Skylight’s back, Cadence burst through the door and into the room beyond, swinging her head from side to side like she was trying to shake it from her neck. “Flo?” She called at the empty room, hoping to see blue of Flo’s scales peek from somewhere. “Flo are you here?”

No response reaching her ear, Cadence allowed her rear to fall to the ground, tears welling in the corners of her eyes as the nightmares of Flo came back to her mind. She’s been captured, She told herself, unable to see any other reason for Flo’s disappearance. She’s been taken because of me.

Unknown to the grieving Cadence, the door at the room’s far end clicked open, allowing the click of claws on stone to enter. “Princess!” The cry lifted Cadence’s head towards its source, her eyes meeting the charging Flo.

“Flo.” Lifting her forelegs, Cadence caught the oncoming Flo in a hug, bringing her close and cuddling at her neck. “Where have you been all day? I’ve been so worried.”

“I’ve been,” Flo paused, thinking back to the dragons she had met with today. Do I want the princess to know about them? “I’ve been walking around Rockholm.”

“Oh Flo, you should tell me next time you’re going out on your own. I thought you had been captured.” A image of Flo lying still, surrounded by a pool of dark liquid flashed through Cadence’s mind. Or worse.

A smile spread across Flo’s lips. “I’d never let the bad dragons catch me.”

One hoof running down Flo’s neck, the other curled around her back, Cadence sighed relief. “Well, that’s good to know, but I want you to stay close to me while The Whispering Wings are after us. I can’t risk losing you. I love you too much.”

Nodding, Flo allowed herself to relax in Cadence’s embrace, warmth tingling across her back with each stroke of Cadence’s hoof. I love you too princess.

Hoofsteps behind Cadence signalled Shining’s approach. “Was she really here all day?”

Cadence shook her head. “No, she just came back. She said she’s been walking around the city all day.”

“Strange,” Shining said as he looked at the dragon cuddled up against Cadence. “I wonder what she was doing down there.”

Pretending she couldn’t hear, Flo burrowed her head deeper into Cadence’s grasp. I’ve been saving you.

The growl of Shining’s stomach pulled his eyes away from Flo and up to Cadence’s. “I think it’s well past time for lunch. Can we go get something to eat?”

To celebrate Cadence asked for an extra pie for the five to share. A mixture of chocolate and berries, red and blue, was kept together by a sweetened shell of pastry. Shining managed to devour both his pie and a slice of the chocolate one before Cadence was barely halfway through her first.

Lying on his back, Shining groaned as he held the tight bulge of his belly.

Looking down at him, Cadence shook her head. “No matter how many times it happens you never learn do you?” She giggled when he groaned in response, rolling onto his side to look up at her with wide eyes.

“Maybe a little more pie would help?” Lifting his lips, Shining attempted a grin but the shift in his stomach soon twisted his features with pain.

“No.” Cadence tapped his snout lightly with her hoof, causing Shining to blink. “I’m sure you’d eat yourself to death on pies if you were left alone.”

Shining’s eyes glazed over, his jaw opening and allowing a string of saliva to fall from the side as he mumbled, “It’d be worth it.” His words filled the air with laughter, Cadence feeling her nibble of pie catch in her throat.

Turning away from the circle, Cadence coughed into her foreleg, dislodging the food. As she lowered her leg she found herself staring out the balcony door at the city beyond. I wonder how Ember’s doing? The thought came to her mind with alarm as she realised he would still be searching the city walls.

Leaving her pie on the stone floor, Cadence stood, meeting Skylight’s eyes. “I forgot about Ember. He’ll still be out there searching for Flo.”

A pout came to Flo’s lips as Skylight rose to her hooves, planting a kiss on Cloud’s cheek as she did so. “The mean dragon was looking for me?”

Lifting a hoof, Cadence placed it on the head of the dragon who sat to one side. “He’s not a bad dragon anymore Flo, I’ve told you this.” She met Skylight’s eyes once more. “Are you ready to go?”

Extending her wings as she walked towards Cadence, Skylight nodded. “This’ll only take a moment.”

Cadence’s stomach tightened at the words, forelegs instinctively tensing. You just have to relax, She reminded herself, taking a deep breath. “Well, let’s go.”

They found Ember some distance out from the city wall, flying over the natural ditches and hills that surrounded Rockholm with his eyes pinned to the ground.

“Ember!” Cadence called for what seemed like the dozenth time, her cry finally lifting his eyes towards them.

Seeing the pair of ponies, Ember tilted his wings and angled his body towards the ground. A cloud of dust lifting into the air as he landed. Descending to meet him, Skylight touched down a few steps in front of him before allowing Cadence to dismount.

“Do you have news of your friend?” Ember asked once Cadence was standing. “I have not seen her out here.”

“Yes.” Cadence nodded as she spoke, a smile on her lips. “She came back to us a little while ago. You were right about her leaving for a while.”

Ember’s features eyes lifted, curiosity in them. “Did she say what she was doing?”

“Well yes,” Cadence thought back her conversation with Flo. “And no. She said she was walking.”

“Walking.” Ember’s lips moved with a smile. “She is the blue one I saw with you at the festival, right?” At Cadence’s nod he murmured to himself. “I feel like there is more to her than it seems.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh.” Shaking his head, Ember lifted a claw to shoo the question away. “Nothing really, just thinking aloud. Anyway, was there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

Rolling her eyes into her head, Cadence thought for a moment before looking back to Ember. “No, but I’d like to meet with you tomorrow, if we manage to survive this night that is.”

“Still frightened of The Whispering Wings?”

“Well, a little. We’ve made sure we’re as safe as possible, but knowing someone is hunting gives me a strange feeling in my stomach.” As if to emphasize her point, Cadence shivered.

“I could stand guard if you wished me to.”

Cadence shook her head as she smiled up at the dragon. “Thank you for the offer, but I wouldn’t want to be responsible for another life.” Seeing an eagerness still in Ember’s eyes and pose, Cadence waved a hoof at him. “Trust me, I’ll be fine, Celestia’s protecting me.”

“If you say so princess, I will see you tomorrow.” Unfolding his wings, Ember lifted himself into the air with a thumping beat, bringing a swarm of dust with him.

Climbing atop Skylight’s back once more, Cadence allowed her mind to drift as they flew home, picking apart Ember’s words. What did he mean by there’s more to Flo than it seems? She dwelt on the thought for a few moments before dismissing it, mind moving onto preparations for the coming night.

“Do you want me to take the first watch again?” The four ponies sat in their glowing tents, Flo on the balcony outside. Shining looked from Skylight to Cloud and back, searching for a response.

“Having the same order would be best,” Cloud said eventually. “That way everyone grows accustomed to the missed sleep.” Nodding in agreement, Skylight settled down beside him, pulling Cloud closer with a wing.

“I’ll wake you when it’s time then Cloud.” Turning from the pair of pegasi, Shining looked to his side and found Cadence’s eyes waiting for him.

They came closer as she leant forward, her lips embracing his for a moment. “I’ve been missing our times together with all that’s been going on.” Cadence’s whispers sent a shiver down Shining’s spine. “We need to find a way to have some time alone.”

Returning the kiss, Shining nodded. “I’ll try to think of something during my watch, you just get some sleep.” Another kiss joined his lips and hers before Cadence lowered herself to the ethereal mattress below, curling her body up around Shining’s.

Lifting a hoof to stroke at Cadence’s mane, Shining gazed out beyond the balcony where Flo lay, and into the night beyond. The twinkling of stars in the sky met his eyes yet his mind barely registered their glow, instead it drew images of he and Cadence together from his memories.

Cadence’s ideas, while almost frighteningly crazy at the time, became bursts of warmth in his body as he remembered each of them. A smile spread across Shining’s lips as his eyes closed, the brain behind them dreaming of where they could go and what they could do in the coming days.

If only we could find a way to distract the other three, He thought as his mind relaxed into the soft embrace of happy memories, sinking deeper and deeper.

“Princess!”

The voice shocked Shining from his half sleep, jolting his head upright and eyelids open. Breath left his lungs as Flo dove into his chest, knocking him over as another cry leaving her lips.

“Princess!”

The cry seemed to stir Cadence also, murmurs leaking from her lips and her body shifting, trying to snuggle closer to where Shining had been sitting. Finding nothing she curled closer into herself, forelegs grasping at her tail.

Climbing from Shining’s chest, Flo moved to Cadence’s side, grasping at her shoulder and shaking. “Princess, you need to wake up. They’re here.”

Still groggy himself, Shining rolled onto his stomach and shook his dream from his head. What does she mean they’re here? At the thought memories of the previous day hit him like a kick to the chest, filling his lungs with a gasp. I was supposed to be on watch. Did I fall asleep?

Bolting straight upright, Shining glanced around. First his eyes found Flo sitting over Cadence, shaking her awake, then Skylight and Cloud’s tent, untouched. Looking out to the balcony, the sight that waited for him widened his eyes and tightened his muscles. It’s them.

Two dragons stood at the open balcony door, their bodies long and twisting, more like snakes with wings than any dragon Shining had seen. In the dim light their scales appeared to be the same color as the stone below their claws, pitch black.

Yet glints of moonlight on their scales revealed to Shining their true colors, one the murky green of a swamp and the other blue like the night sky. Nostrils flared, they moved on all fours, seeping in through the door as if they were mist.

Eyes still glued to the pair of dragons, Shining slid across the mattress to where Flo sat over Cadence. “Is she awake yet?” He whispered, the sound of his voice drawing the snake-like dragons’ muzzles to him.

Looking more closely at their heads, Shining found the space normally set aside for eyes was covered in scales instead, their nostrils large enough to make up for the lack.

“I’m awake Shining.” Cadence’s voice calmed Shining’s tensed muscles, the grasp of worry on his mind loosening. “What’s happening? I thought Skylight was supposed to wake me?”

Tearing his eyes from the approaching dragon for a moment, Shining looked down to Cadence and found her rubbing at an eye with her hoof. Breathing deep, he kept his voice as calm as he could manage. “She was, but something’s interrupted our schedule.”

With a hoof he motioned outside the tent where the pair of dragons now stood, sniffing at its surface. Shining caught Cadence as she moved backward in fright, holding her in a hug. “It’s alright,” He said as he nuzzled at her neck. “I’m right here, I’ll keep you safe.”

At the sound of his voice one of the dragons stepped towards the tent, only to be beat back by its outer wall. Growling at the ethereal material before it, the dragon tried again, stepping back before charging forward. Its assault was met with just as much force as it held, throwing the dragon to the floor.

Flo and the pair of ponies watched the battle with wide eyes, Shining pausing his affectionate touches to simply stare. The tent to their side rustled with movement, Skylight’s white mane poking out from its door.

Her head swung halfway around the room, stopping when her eyes met the draconic pair outside the ethereal walls. Looking away from the intruders, Skylight met Shining’s eye. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Without speaking, Shining gestured her closer with a foreleg. Skylight nodded, disappearing back inside her tent for a moment before reappearing with Cloud. The two moved gingerly, eyes on the snake-like dragons the whole time.

Once atop the mattress, the pegasus pair sat, half facing the other three they shared the mattress with, half facing the intruders. All five watched for some time as the other dragon joined its partner’s assault, launching itself at the ethereal wall, only to be fought back in the same way.

“What are you going to do?” Flo questioned, her voice breaking the air of screams and grunts.

Not taking her eyes off of the scene before her for a moment, Cadence allowed her hoof to rest on Flo’s head, stroking slowly. “Watch Flo, Celestia’s power has saved us again.”

In silence the five watched the dragons grow more and more enraged with each failed attempt to breach the tent, their success unchanged no matter what angle they chose. Their snarls loudened until they were deafening, Cadence folding her ears away.

Eventually strength faded from the dragons’ charges, their bodies heaving with panting breaths. One snapped at the other, snarling and turning towards the balcony. Green wings opened and the dragon launched into the air, a snake of blue scales following it.

Relief left Cadence’s lungs as a breath once she could no longer see the dragons, Shining’s forelegs catching her as she leant back. “Well we survived.”

Skylight’s chuckle filled the air. “They’ll be back tomorrow.” Beside her, Cloud nodded in agreement.

“Highly trained killers won’t give up after just one attempt. We’ll still have to be wary, but at least we can sleep easy now.” Lifting a hoof, Cloud allowed it to pass through the ethereal wall beside him. “These tents seem to stop them.”

Yawning, Shining nodded also. “I think I might get some sleep then.” Easing himself backward, he shifted from behind and into the centre of their shared mattress, stretching himself out and yawning again.

Smiling at the already sleeping stallion, Cadence looked back to the other two ponies. “Yes, it will be best if we are well rested.” Waving goodnight to the pegasi, she turned to Flo. “Are you going to go back out to the balcony to sleep, or stay here?”

When no response came, Cadence looked more closely at Flo and found she was shaking. Shifting around in front of the dragon, she lifted Flo’s fallen head with a hoof. “Flo, what’s wrong? The dragons are all gone now, it’s okay.”

Meeting Cadence’s concerned eyes, Flo’s pair widened as if she were just realising where she was. A deep breath and the shaking stopped. “I’m fine princess.” Rising, she took a step forward before looking back to Cadence. “I’ll sleep outside. Someone has to protect you from the mean dragons.”

Feeling a burst of laughter leaver her lips, Cadence waved after Flo as she left before moving to Shining’s side. She lay down beside him, her back to his side, eyes still watching Flo settle on the balcony.

I wonder what she’s scared of? Cadence thought as Flo sat beside the balcony railing to stare over the city. She knows I’ll be there to protect her right?

The thought rested in Cadence’s mind as Shining’s foreleg curled over her shoulder, the stallion instinctively cuddling against her even in his sleep. Still watching Flo, Cadence felt her eyelids sink, shadows falling over her vision.

If I can’t make one dragon feel safe, how will I help the rest of the city?

Click.

The sound of claws against stone pierced the weight of sleep in Cadence’s mind, waking her eyelids open. Her eyes found the blue of Flo’s scaled legs passing by. Where is she going?

Shifting slightly in Shining’s grasp, Cadence angled her head so she could follow Flo’s movements, across the room and towards the door. Is she leaving again?

Sleep still heavy in her limbs, Cadence untwisted from Shining’s grasp gently, as not to wake, and rose to her hooves. Lifting her eyes, she found Flo was already at the door, looking back as she stood half inside the room, half out.

“Princess?”

“Yes, it’s me Flo.” Moving across the mattress, Cadence stepped down onto stone, shivering at its cool touch against her hooves. “Where are you going?”

“I.” Flo twisted her head to look outside, before glancing back at Cadence again. “I.” Turning her whole body this time, Flo ran, the sound of her claws against stone echoing down the hallway and inside the room.

On instinct, Cadence ran after her, her hooves on the obsidian below seeming deafeningly loud in her ears. When she reached the top of the stairs, she found Flo was already halfway down, skipping every second step.

Opening her painfully tight wings, Cadence spread them wide before leaping, gliding down the stairwell overtop of Flo and landing heavily at the bottom. Wincing at the pain in both her hooves and wings, Cadence looked up to Flo. “Why are you running away from me? Will you tell me what’s wrong?”

Cadence saw Flo’s cheeks glistening as she dashed past, running down the hallway behind and into the throne room. What happened to her? Cadence wonder as she turned and continued after Flo, folding her painful wings away as she did.

Out past the throne room, through the entrance hall and into the gardens beyond Cadence followed Flo, gaining on the dragon bit by bit. Her mind was a river of thought as she ran, rushing with every possible thing that could have caused Flo to run. Did I hurt her? Maybe she’s terrified of those dragons? What if she doesn’t like me around Ember?

Cadence mind ceased as her chase ended, Flo pinned against the closed palace gates, body shaking as she tugged at the bars with her claws, trying fruitlessly to open them. Slowing her trot, Cadence approached with soft steps, stopping a short distance from Flo.

Silence joined the two for some time, only the sound of Flo’s sniffs piercing the air as she continued to tug at the palace gates. Her struggles slowed with each tug, body sinking to the ground, sniffs turning into choking sobs.

Once Flo’s movements had stopped but for the rise and fall of her back and the shaking of her limbs, Cadence moved forward to sit beside her. Wrapping her forelegs over the dragon’s shoulders, she nuzzled at Flo’s neck, comforting her without a word.

Cadence felt Flo’s ragged breaths calm, her shaking slow to a stop, still she did not speak. Only stroking at Flo’s chest with a hoof, pressing her pink fur into sapphire scales. She’ll tell me what’s wrong, Cadence knew. I just have to give her time.

Possible problems sprang to mind once more, but Cadence pushed them aside and instead focused on the movement of her hoof against Flo’s scales. She’s right here in your grasp, no need to worry about what could have happened. I know she’s safe for now.

Listening to Flo’s soft breathing, Cadence lifted her hoof to touch cheeks of blue scales and found wetness there. “Princess?” Flo’s voice was so quiet Cadence was barely sure she had spoken.

So different to how she normally is, Cadence thought, opening her lips to speak. “Yes Flo?”

“She’s dead.” The pair of words came out as a breath, hanging in the air for only a moment before they were strangled by Flo’s gasping sob. “She’s dead. She’s dead. She’s dead.”

Suppressing the rising worry in her stomach, Cadence continued to brush the fresh flowing tears from Flo’s cheeks, continued to nuzzle at a blue scaled neck with her lips. “Who’s dead Flo?” The words felt strange in Cadence’s mouth, too calm, as if she were asking a foal what they wanted for breakfast.

“A dragon you don’t know.”

Cadence more felt Flo’s words than heard them, her chest pressed so closely against the dragon’s back she could feel Flo’s breaths. Ignoring the confusion that flitted at the corners of her mind, Cadence pressed forward. “How do you know she died?”

“Because. They came.” A shiver passed through Flo’s body alongside a laboured breath. “She said she’d stop them. She failed.”

Flo’s words filled gaps in the puzzles Cadence’s mind held, allowing her to see the picture more clearly. “Is that what you were doing yesterday? Asking someone to save us? Save me?”

The only response Cadence received was another heavy breath of Flo’s, causing her to fear the dragon had not heard. Her lips opened to repeat the words, but she bit at her tongue. She heard, just give her some time to answer. This must be hard for her.

After a few more breaths Cadence felt Flo shift in her grasp, breathy words filling the air once more. “Yes. She told me this might happen. I only thought about you. Thought about myself.”

In Cadence’s mind more questions replaced those Flo’s words had answered. What does she mean only thought about herself. Feeling Flo shift once more, she pushed the thought aside. “Well what if she didn’t ask yet?”

“No. Silvia was always crazy fast. She’d never take this long.” A breath left Flo’s body, the dragon deflating like a balloon, falling limply back into Cadence’s embrace. “Why does it hurt so bad?”

“Well, I,” Cadence paused, pondering Flo’s question. What am I supposed to tell her? I have no idea how she feels. This has never happened to me before. Instead of allowing her worried thought to take over, she dove deeper into Flo’s words. Why would losing someone hurt?

She thought of Shining, her nightmares of losing him coming to mind, the hopeless fear and gut wrenching sickness they brought giving her a taste of Flo’s pain.

“I think it’s because when someone is so close to us, they become almost part of us, and when part of us dies.” Cadence winced at the image of Shining that flashed through her mind, lying still in her forelegs. “It hurts. The more they were a part of us the more it does, but eventually it heals.”

Silence echoed Cadence’s words, only the sound of the two’s breaths filling the air for a moment. “So it will stop hurting?” Flo questioned eventually.

“Well,” I don’t know for sure, but. “It should stop, eventually.” Cadence felt Flo shifting in her grasp, scales tugging at her coat as Flo cuddled closer.

Just as quickly as it had fled from their voices, quiet joined them once more, filling Cadence’s ears with the barely audible sounds of night. The rustle of leaves in the garden behind them, one skipping across the cobbled path. The whisper of wings above.

Wings? Cadence lifted her head and felt Flo do the same, both bodies sharing a shiver at the sight they saw. Descending down from the starry sky were two snakes with wings, the green and blue of their scales barely visible in the moonlight.

“I’ll protect you princess” Unwrapping herself from Cadence’s hold, Flo rose to stand before her.

With almost soundless clicks of claws, the snake-dragons landed and slithered towards their prey, nostrils flared wide.

Feeling a familiar numbing panic rise in her chest and spread through her limbs, Cadence lit her horn. I can’t be scared of dragons forever. Breathing deep she formed her spark into a barrier before Flo.

One of the dragons struck it moments before the other, releasing a cry which caused the other to stop. Opening its nostrils even wider, the dragon in green sniffed at the barrier in front of it before snarling loudly.

They snarled and spat at each other for a few more moments before splitting up and moving alongside Cadence’s barrier.

Splitting her magic, Cadence formed a blue wall between both snake-dragons and Flo, mirroring their movements. Every few steps one dragon would attempt to dart towards them, only to find its path blocked by a scentless, ringing wall.

Each attempt grew more and more vicious as the dragons paced back and forth before Flo and Cadence, throwing themselves at Cadence’s magic by their dozenth pass.

Cadence was feeling the force of their blows in her horn, each one coming on more rapid succession than the last, giving her less and less time to recover. I don’t know how much longer I can hold them off.

The scuttle of the snake-dragons’ claws against the cobbles and the ringing of her magic were all the sound Cadence knew for what seemed like eternity. Her mind feeling like someone was pushing a stake deep into the base of her horn.

A gasp filling Flo’s lips had Cadence’s mind racing, her eyes flitting from the pair of snakes to Flo for an instant. With eyes on the sky above, a smile spread across Flo’s lips, Cadence unable to look as she fought off charge after charge. She could hear however, hear the whisper of wings.

Did Skylight realise I’m gone? Cadence thought, a smile touching at the corners of her mouth. I hope she can save us. Unable to help herself, she stole a glance upward at the approaching flier and felt her heart sink when she saw the jagged wings of a dragon. Or has another come to finish us off?

She was allowed little time to ponder the thought as the dragons on the ground launched another assault, this one straining Cadence’s magical walls till she thought they would break.

A snarl filled the air along with the sound of scales against stone as one of the snake-like dragons was tackled to the ground. Black scales writhed against green, the newcomer wrestling one of the attackers to the ground.

“Silvia!” Flo called, a smile lifting the corners of her lips as she took a step towards the dragon she had thought dead. “You’re still alive.”

Sitting atop the snake of green scales, Silvia swayed back and forth like a rodeo rider. The smile on her lips matched Flo’s as he met the young dragon’s eyes. “You didn’t think I’d let them stop me that easily di-”

Silvia’s words were cut short by a guttural sound, half choking, half gurgling. Purple eyes widened and the smile fell from her lips, forelegs hanging limp.

Looking closer, Cadence realised a snake of blue scales suddenly stood beside Silvia, one of his claws held up to her neck. How did he get- She didn’t have time to finish her thought before a sickening sound filled the air, one that caused her to grit her teeth.

The body of black scales swayed in the air for a moment, like a blade of grass in soft wind, before falling forward onto the cobbles with a crunch. Cadence mind was lit with the spark of horror at the sound and sight, one she had never known before.

Unable to recover for even a moment, Cadence found the blue scaled snake charging towards her, zipping from side to side with its nostrils flared. She felt the spark spreading inside her, starting a fire, a burning deep in her chest unlike anything she had felt before. Why can’t they just leave us alone?

Roaring through Cadence’s body, the spark erupted from her horn as an inferno of blue, light the gates behind her so bright it seemed they were bathed in daylight. A step or two from making contact with her, Cadence caught the snake of blue in a magical pouch, lifting him from the ground as he twisted and snarled.

Slithering like the snake he was, the dragon tried to slip from Cadence’s hold, half the length of his body free before her grasp tightened around him till he could barely breathe.

Glancing past the body spread out at her hooves, Cadence found the dragon cloaked in green standing shakily, moonlight glistening off the streak that ran down his side. Ignoring the dragon’s pain, she took him up in her hold as well, gripping both in the air before her.

Horn still blazing with power, Cadence turned to the palace gates behind her and found their bars tempting her eyes. The thought didn’t even pass through her mind, but went right from eyes to horn, the dragon-snakes soon finding themselves floating between glowing blue bars.

Her body alight with so much magic, bending the bars was as easy as twisting the stem of a flower, her cool blue snakes soon wrapping around the two dragons.

Satisfied with her work, Cadence allowed a breath to leave her lungs, the same one she had been holding ever since Silvia hit the floor. The inferno of blue at her horn was doused in the same moment, her ears open to the buzzing of sounds around her once more.

“Princess.” Cadence felt the warmth of dragon’s scales hit her, Flo’s forelegs wrapping around her neck. “That was crazy princess. Why didn’t you say you’ve been able to do that this whole time?”

Returning Flo’s embrace, Cadence allowed the dragon’s weight to pull her to the ground. “I didn’t know,” She admitted as she stared up at the destruction she had caused. The once straight bars of the palace gates broken and twisted toward two points of focus. Moonlight dimly lit the scene, flickering shadows hinting at the dragons’ struggles above. “It’s so, terrible.”

Pouting, Flo glanced between Cadence and the twist of bars above. “What do you mean princess? It’s awesome. The way you beat those two up. You didn’t even need to touch them.”

Nodding along to Flo’s words, Cadence found her mind reliving the past few moments, the emotions that came with them like that of another pony. Eventually her mind brought forth a picture of purple eyes and a wide smile sitting below them.

Did that even happen? Cadence thought as she twisted around to where she had last seen the fallen dragon. Did I really see her die?

Unable to help herself, Cadence winced at the sight of still, black scales, barely visible against the cobbles. She felt her throat tighten, stomach wanting to empty itself. Forcing the feeling back with a swallow, Cadence turned back to Flo.

“What do dragons usually do with their dead?” She asked.

“What do you mean princess.” Confusion filling her features, Flo gaze up at the writhing dragons above. “Those mean dragons aren’t dead. I wouldn’t help them anyway.”

Pressing a hoof to blue lips, Cadence silenced Flo. “I’m not talking about them.” Unwrapping one foreleg from around Flo’s back, she motioned towards the still body. “I’m talking about her.”

Looking over Cadence shoulder Flo frowned. “Are you crazy princess. There’s no-” A gasp cut off the last of Flo’s words, a shiver running through her body. “Silvia.” The name came from her lips as if she were just realising the body was there.

All breath left Flo’s body, deflating once more into Cadence’s embrace, drying the corners of her eyes against a pink coat.

Wrapping both hooves around Flo’s back once more, Cadence held her close, running one hoof down Flo’s side. She felt the warm wetness of tears against her coat as she pressed her lips against the top of Flo’s head. Let it all out Flo, just let it all out.

“Princess?” The word met Cadence’s sleeping mind alongside the sensation of a claw on her shoulder. “What happened here princess?”

Lifting one hoof from the scaled body that leant against her, Cadence rubbed at her eyes with it, the motion helping to wake her. The sight of a grey scaled dragon in guard’s armor sent a jolt through her body, waking her eyes wide open. “Why are you in our room?”

Taking a step backward and sideways, the dragon allowed Cadence to see the scene before her. The two snake-dragons were still twisted in the great bars of the palace gates, though they hung limp, bodies still but for the rise and fall of their backs.

“You’re not in your room princess, but the palace courtyard.”

Glancing from side to side, Cadence found what he said was true, the green of gardens greeting her on either side, dimly lit by the moon’s last light. How? She wondered for an instant. before the events of the previous night returned to her mind. I wish I had not remembered.

Still staring at the silent princess, the dragon waited until he could no longer hold his tongue. “Will you tell me what happened here princess?”

The words pulled Cadence from her grieving thoughts and refocused her eyes on the grey dragon. “Terrible things I don’t want to remember.” Twisting her neck, Cadence peeked backward to find the body she had been dreading, a pool of crimson staining the cobbles around its neck.

“W-what happened to her princess?” The dragon’s voice was shaky, as if he feared the worst.

Meeting his eyes once more, Cadence shook her head before lifting a hoof towards the ensnared snakes above. “It was them.”

As he followed Cadence’s gesture, the dragon nodded. “The Whispering Wings I assume? There has been a tale travelling the guards that you are their target.”

“Not their only one it seems.” Cadence shifted Flo from her grasp and lowered her gently towards the cobbles, as not to wake.

Despite her best efforts, Flo’s eyelids flickered open to reveal the sapphires beneath. “Princess, why ar-” The breath caught in Flo’s throat when she realized where they were. “Tell me it was a dream princess.”

Opening her lips, Cadence was tempted to lie to Flo for a moment. No, that would only make it worse. “I’m sorry Flo, but you remember correctly. She’s gone.”

Standing out of Cadence’s grasp, Flo looked past her to the still black scales beyond. “Silvia,” She whispered, legs shaking so violently Cadence feared she would collapse.

“You know this dragon then princess?” The guard’s eyes were on Cadence as he spoke, yet he found Flo’s nod answering him. Turning to Flo, he continued. “Do you know her wishes then?”

Flo nodded once more before taking a shaky step towards Silvia’s body. “She wants to disappear.” Another step, another and she stood over the still form.

What does she mean, disappear? Cadence thought as she watched Flo tilt Silvia’s muzzle skyward and press her blue lips against black. What is she doing? Suppressing her urge to voice her thoughts and break the trance, Cadence bit her lip and studied Flo’s movements.

A deep breath lifted Flo’s back and lowered her eyelids, making it appear as if she were sharing a deep kiss with a lover. The world stood still for a moment, the world around so quiet Cadence was unsure if it was still moving.

Staring closely at Flo, Cadence could see the glistening of tear running down her cheeks and falling onto the cobbles below. A shiver ran through Flo's back before it shrunk. Air leaving her lungs as half breath, half roar, lighting up the black scales of Silvia until she was glowing bright blue.

Is she breathing fire into her? Cadence wondered, only to have her questions confirmed by the sight before her. Silvia’s black scales were engulfed by the lick of blue flames, her whole body becoming alive one more.

The form of blue twisted into one flame as Flo lifted her head, allowing the mix of ashes and fire to leap from her lips into the dim sky and flutter away.

That was beautiful. The thought cut through the concoction of other emotions filling Cadence’s mind, warming her chest with a small flicker of joy. It was like she was alive again. Lowering her eyes back down to Flo, she found the dragon shaking once more.

Stepping forward, Cadence brought Flo’s head to rest in her shoulder, wiping tears away on her coat. “Let’s go back to our room,” She whispered, gathering Flo under her wing.

“What do you want done with the other two?” The guard questioned.

Lifting her eyes towards the pair tangled in the gate, Cadence felt rage flashed across her mind, tempting her into lighting her horn. No, She thought, pushing back the memories of horror the two had given her. “Do whatever you usually do with criminals.”

With that said Cadence moved with Flo back towards the palace doors, through the throne room and upstairs into the room. Their door still hung open as she had left it, the ethereal tent still standing tall as if nothing had happened.

Stopping a step or two before their mattress, Cadence turned her head towards Flo. “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?”

The balcony door held Flo’s attention for a moment before she met Cadence’s eyes, nodding.

Stepping as softly as she could, Cadence moved across the ethereal mattress to lie a short distance more Shining, Flo curling up against her. “Goodnight Flo,” Cadence whispered. “I hope you have peaceful dreams.”

“I hope I don’t dream at all.”