“Come on Cadence, wake up. It’s almost lunch time.”

Cadence felt the words whispered in her ear, like a light tug against the sinking sand of sleep that held her tight. Shifting her head, she tilted her ear away from the annoyance while tightening her grasp of the scaled body between her forelegs.

The heavy black fog that enveloped Cadence’s mind settled once more, the slight spark of consciousness she had fading away into nothing.

“Cadence.”

This time the whisper came with a touch, the warmth of another against her coat feeding the spark into a flame, bringing a dull light to her mind. What’s happening? Cadence thought for a moment, the sensation of a mattress cuddling her side, scales against her belly coming to her.

She felt the presence hovering above retreat, the voice fleeing with it. “Are you ready?” A soft swish of water echoed its words, followed by a feminine giggle.

“Go, I want to see her face.”

In the far reaches of her mind Cadence recognized the voices, half-formed and murky figures entering her pool of thought. The subtle ring of magic, another swish of water and everything clicked.

“Don’t even think about it,” Cadence said, forcing her eyes open to find a bowl encased in blue hovering above her head. Lighting her horn, she took the bowl and flicked its contents on the giggling pair beside her mattress, catching a third in the crossfire.

Mane dripping with water, Shining caught Cadence’s sleepy gaze with a grin. “I was just going to wake you up the way you’ve taught me.”

Staring at his face, a flick of wet blue hair covering one eye, Cadence couldn’t help but chuckle. “I haven't taught you well enough.”

The taste of strawberries and molten chocolate was heaven to Cadence's tongue and lips as she lifted them from the bowl before her, savouring each morsel. Flo ate in a much more rabid fashion, muzzle digging inside the bowl like it was the first food he had seen in weeks.

“So why did you two sleep for so long?” Shining asked after some time, needing something to take his mind off of the food before him. “Did you find out how amazing it is?”

“Well.” Cadence lowered her bowl, wiping the hint of brown from her lips before looking to Flo. Meeting the blue eyes with her own pink pair, Cadence waited for Flo to nod before she continued. “We didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Neither did we. Everyone was woken by those dragons last night.”

“I know, but we were awake longer than that.” Inhaling deeply, Cadence brought the previous night’s events from her memories to her lips, watching the faces of the three before her twist with horror and anger.

“And when they were twisted in the palace gates I stilled my magic, and sat down with Flo.” Silence followed Cadence’s words, giving all of them time to think over Cadence’s words.

Eventually Shining spoke up. “So what did you do with that dragon,” Shining brought a hoof to his head, as if kneading it would help his memory.

“Silvia?”

“Yes, her. What happened to her body? Is it still out there? Actually,” Rising to his hooves, Shining half turned towards the balcony. “Are those two dragons still out there?” Moving towards the balcony, the sound of hooves and claws followed him.

Leaning hard up against the railing, Shining stared down the palace walls, craning his neck to hopefully catch view of the gates. Having no success he turned to find the pegasi behind him already opening their wings.

“We’ll take a look,” Skylight said before leaping into the air, Cloud following her.

With the pair gone, Cadence moved to Shining’s side, Flo with her. “Well Silvia won’t be there, but I wonder what happened to the other two.”

Leaning his head to the side, Shining brushed his cheek against Cadence’s. “Hopefully they’re down in the dungeons.” A few moments and wingbeats later his question was partly answered.

“They’re not in the gate,” Skylight said as she landed, pride forming a smile on her lips. “I saw where they were though.”

“Mmm.” Cadence nodded, lowering her eyes. “I hope it won’t be too hard to fix.”

“Who cares about the gates, I want to know what happened to those dragons.” Already at the balcony doorway, Shining motioned for the other four to follow with a hoof before disappearing inside.

Cadence felt the want to gallop after him filling her legs, but remembering Flo’s presence at her side, she restrained herself. “Shining, can you slow down?” She called when she stepped inside. “I’m still tired from last night.”

Turning back at her voice, Shining met Cadence’s eyes with a smile before retracing his steps to her side. “Sorry. I’m just eager to know if they’ve been captured. I don’t want a chance at putting them behind bars getting away.”

Taking the same steps she had last night, Cadence moved from their room, down a hallway and set of stairs, and into the throne room. Yet this time instead of chasing Flo, she had the dragon at her side.

The sound of voices met Cadence’s ears as she stepped into the throne room, Obsidian’s deep words questioning those of much higher pitch.

“How can it be feasible that no one witnessed it happen? There is always someone watching in Rockholm.”

Moving past the throne, Cadence’s eyes picked out the sandy scales of Brazen standing beside Obsidian. “I do not know king, somehow this scene seems to have slipped all of my many eyes. Something that should not happen, but it is only a bent gate, nothing to worry over.”

“I could tell you what happened.” Cadence’s voice drew both dragons’ eyes to her, Obsidian’s features filled with a smile while Brazen’s were creased with suspicion.

“Ah, princess.” Obsidian dipped his head slightly. “It is good to see you, and you say you bring word of what happened to my gates?”

Cadence nodded, an apologetic smile forming on her lips. “Yes, I bent them.”

Jaw dropping at the admission, Obsidian looked from side to side before meeting Cadence’s eyes once more. “Princess, this does not seem like you. What reason would you have to cause such damage to the palace?”

“Well, wasn’t it obvious when you saw those two dragons tangled up in the gate?”

Confusion furrowed Obsidian’s brow as he held Cadence with a silent stare for some time. Eventually he turned to Brazen. “Were there any dragons tangled up in the gates?”

Brazen rolled his eyes upward for a moment before shaking his head. “Of the many reports I heard, none included any sightings of dragons in the gates.”

The beat of Cadence’s heart quickened, her head turning to the side to find alarm in Flo’s eyes. “Are you sure? I know I tied two dragons up in those bars, two of The Whispering Wings.”

Surprise washed the confusion from Obsidian’s features. “I did not take you for a violent one princess, rather the opposite,” He allowed a deep breath to leave his lungs. “But I believe I understand your motives. These Whispering Wings are the ones you warned me of, correct?”

“Yes,” Cadence’s shoulders deflated and eyes fell. “I’m not proud of it, but I fought two of them in the courtyard last night and bound them in your gates. I left them in the duty of one of your guards, he was grey.”

Looking down to Brazen, Obsidian questioned his advisor without words, causing the sandy-scaled dragon to roll his eyes into his head.

“There is only one grey-scaled guard on duty this morning, Ballenes, but he should not have been anywhere near the gates.” Looking back to the ponies before him, Brazen found Cadence’s gaze wanting more. “I will bring him in regardless.”

“It’s not him,” Cadence knew instantly, the dragon before her standing a head taller than the one she had seen earlier that day, his scales a shade or two darker. I should have asked him for his name. “Are you sure there were no other grey dragons on duty?”

Brazen had a stack of papers in his claws, rustling as he shuffled them back and forth. “I’ve checked and checked again, he is the only grey dragon on duty this morning.”

Feeling her heart sinking as silence filled her ears, Cadence clutched on tightly to the scaled body at her side. Oh Flo, was Silvia’s bravery for nothing. She felt Flo shiver as a scaled muzzle burrowed into her neck, the wetness of Flo’s tears hidden there.

Lowering her own muzzle beside Flo’s head, Cadence whispered words so soft only the two of them could hear. “I know you don’t want to hear about this right now, do you want to go back to our room?” She sensed Flo’s head brush against her coat in the subtlest of shakes.

“No,” Flo whispered back, her voice wet with tears. “I need to be brave.”

As she lifted her head once more, warmth rushed through Cadence’s chest. You are the bravest little dragon Flo. She found Brazen’s gaze waiting for her.

“Do you have any further questions for this guard?” At the shake of Cadence’s head Brazen flicked his claw at Ballenes. “Return to your duties then.”

“Actually,” The baritone that came from Ballenes’ lips drew Cadence’s eyes to him. “There is something I wish to say before I leave.”

Huffing at the delay, Brazen placed his papers on the table behind him before turning back to Ballenes. “You may speak then.”

Ballenes looked to Cadence as he spoke. “There was another grey-scaled guard on duty this morning, Cinna. He opens the gates today.”

“Cinna,” Creases formed in Brazen’s brow as he turned back to his table of papers. “Cinna, Cinna, Cinna. Ah!” Plucking a paper from one of the many piles, he turned back to Ballenes. “It is written here he took the day of for reasons of health. A strained leg.”

A chuckle shook Ballenes’ body. “A strained leg, I never thought I’d hear that. He was always talking badly about the guards who excused themselves for small things like that. I won’t stop guarding till I’m dead he said.” Shaking his head, Ballanes chuckled once more. “A strained leg.”

“Can you tell me what Cinna looks like?” Cadence asked, her words causing the humour to flee from Ballenes’ features, his posture straightening up once more. If he is the one who opens the gates, then that could be him.

Ballenes held a claw up, level with the middle of his neck. “He is about this tall, and his are scales grey like I said, maybe a little lighter than mine. His eyes are orange-red, like there’s a little fire going on each in them.”

Straining her memory, Cadence brought back the few images of the guard she had met that morning. Were his eyes orange though? Placing the color in the mental face she had constructed, she found she could not recall. It doesn’t matter, this is the best hope we have.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Cadence nodded at Ballenes. “Thank you, I think that is the dragon I met. Do you know where he is now?”

Ballenes shook his head. “Cinna was always on guard duty, if he’s not there I don’t know where he’d be.”

“If he has taken up injury this morning then he is most likely being treated in the medical quarters of the barracks,” Brazen explained, looking to Cadence. “If you wish to find him look there princess.”

The confirmation of Cinna’s location settled Cadence’s worryful mind. Finally, someone who can explain what happened to those dragons. Yet in the back of her mind a small voice whispered her doubts. What if he couldn’t control those two? What if this strained leg of his is my fault?

“Will you escort them there Ballenes?” Brazen gestured towards the guard with a claw as he turned back to his table of papers. “And return to duty after that.”

Nodding, Brazen pirouetted on the spot and took a few steps towards the door before looking back to make sure the others were following. “I hope you do not mind a quick pace princess, I have left my post for long enough already.”

An obsidian structure clung to the inside of the palace walls, the lack of splits causing it to appear to be made of the same stone.

“Our humble barracks princess,” Ballenes said, pausing for a moment to direct his party’s eyes to the building with a claw before continuing. The tall obsidian door opened with a light push, squeaking as it swung inside.

As they moved through the stone hallways, closed doors passed them on either side, symbols carved into each one.

Are those names? Cadence thought, trying to discern meaning from the symbols in the short time she had as they passed. “Do the guards live here?”

Glancing back at her, Ballenes nodded. “Of course, we need to be close by to the king if anything happens.”

Cadence thought back to her battle at the palace gates, the ringing of her magic and snarls of the dragons. I doubt they’d even notice. Pushing the thought from her mind, she looked past Ballenes and further into the barracks. At least one guard saw what happened.

They rounded a corner and Ballenes stopped, stepping to the side. “This is the medical quarters princess. If you don’t need me for anything else I’d like to return to my post.”

Looking to the guard, Cadence forced a smile to her lips. “We’ll be fine from here.” Moving beyond Ballenes, she stepped into a long room, beds lining either side. Glancing from side to side, she found no one in the room but a single dragon, this one lacking the armor of a guard.

“Excuse me!” Cadence called, moving towards the dragon. “Has there been a guard in here?”

Meeting Cadence with her eyes, the dragon nodded, a feminine voice leaving her lips. “Captain Vessi left only a little while ago.” Eyes focusing on Cadence, the dragon blinked a few times before a smile broke across her deep purple muzzle. “You’re that pony princess aren’t you?”

Cadence nodded, her shoulders and eyes falling. “Yes, I am.” Taking a deep breath, she looked back up to the dragon. “Have there been any other dragons in here today? I’m looking for one named Cinna.”

A giggle left the dragon’s lips, her claw coming up to cover a widening smile. “No, I haven’t seen him at all today, but if I do I’ll tell him the princess is looking for him.”

“Well, are you sure?” Cadence took another step towards the dragon, the hope in her chest spiralling downward, twisting her stomach in knots. “We were told he’d hurt his leg and that he was in the medical bay recovering.”

Concern raced across the dragon’s features, creasing her brow and stealing her smile away. “No, I haven’t seen him at all, and you say his leg’s hurt. Poor Cinny, it must be quite bad if he left his post.”

Sighing, Cadence bit at her lip. Why is it so hard to find dragons when I try? “Is there anywhere else he might be? If he isn’t here and he isn’t on duty.”

The dragon’s purple cheeks darkened, her eyes finding a sudden interest in the wall. “There is one.” She shook her head, returning her gaze to Cadence. “No, he doesn’t do much but guard. He even works his days off because he loves it so much.”

Cadence’s heart finally hit rock bottom in her chest. How could someone who always does the same thing just disappear? A picture flashed through Cadence’s mind, Flo bent over Silvia, filling her with fire until she faded into dust. No, he would have to die for that to happen.

Another image pushed Flo and Silvia aside, the pair of snake-dragons, one held down by Cinna and the other at his side, claws piercing grey scales. Cadence shook her head, scrunching her eyes tight against the nightmarish fantasy. It didn’t happen, it can’t have happened.

“Is something wrong princess?” Flo’s words drew Cadence from her thoughts, shattering her haunting thoughts and opening her eyes.

Looking to her side, Cadence found Flo’s concerned eyes. “I’m fine Flo. I thought something had happened for a moment, but it’s alright.” She returned her attention to the dragon before her. “Well thank you for your help, if you see Cinna can you tell him I want to speak with him?”

“I will do.” The dragon nodded.

Turning, Cadence found Skylight and Cloud already a few steps ahead, Shining and Flo waiting on either side of her.

“What if you dreamt that dragon?” Shining suggested as they walked, trying to conjure a answer that would settle the obviously stressed Cadence. “You and Flo would have been so tired you’d have been half asleep.”

“No,” Cadence shook her head, recalling the touch of a claw on her coat, his voice in her ears. “He was definitely there, he woke me up.” Flo nodded in agreement.

Breathing deeply, Shining rolled his eyes back into his head and continued to think. After a few moments he spoke again. “That other guard said they all live in these barracks, maybe Cinna is in his room?”

The idea brought a hint of warmth to Cadence’s limbs, a smile touching at the corners of her lips. “Yes, maybe he is.” Turning her head to the side, Cadence studied one of the doors, only a few scratched symbols discerning it from the next. “Which one is his though?”

“Let me look princess.” Leaving Cadence’s side, Flo moved to the nearest door. “I can read some things.” She stared at the symbols for a few moments, lips moving. “Du-sum.” Looking back to Cadence, Flo shook her head. “Not this one.”

They moved past one door, then another and another, Flo declaring the name on each. “Tirsus. Stult. Lecego.”

“What are you three doing?” Skylight’s voice gave Cadence break from waiting.

Lifting her eyes, Cadence found the pegasus pair coming back down the hall to meet them. “Sorry, I should have called you two.” She motioned at Flo with a hoof. “We’re trying to find Cinna’s room and Flo can read more dragon than Shining or I.”

A smile sprang across Cloud’s lips. “I learnt some draconic symbols from a book when I was a foal, maybe I can help as well.” He kissed Skylight cheek before joining Flo in her search, moving even slower than the dragon.

Step by step they moved through the hallway, each name the searching pair called out not the one they were looking for. At the end of the hall they turned and continued down the side, Cadence’s mind with little to do but wander.

Where could Cinna have disappeared to? She wondered, the memory of Silvia’s body burning up in flames still lingering in her mind. No matter how many times she tried to push the thought away it always came back, a possibility she didn’t want to accept.

“Princess!”

A call from the barracks entrance drew Cadence from her idle thoughts and lifted her eyes towards the oncoming dragon.

Studying the dragon, it took Cadence a moment to realise the familiarity. “Ballenes?”

Panting for breath, he stopped a step before her, nodding. “Yes. You still are looking for Cinna aren’t you?” His eyes would not meet Cadence’s, but studied the ground, his tight lips squirming against each other.

Nodding, Cadence felt her brow crease with concern, stomach twisting itself in a knot. Flo and Cloud had noticed the guard by now and rejoined the group.

“I was curious after what you told me, so on my way back to my post I stopped by the gate.” A deep breath lifted Ballenes’ shoulders. “I found this in the garden.” Unfolding his wing, he held out a twisted piece of metal before Cadence.

Looking closely, she saw scratches around the edges, holes curved in a way that they would match a row of teeth. The centre held much deeper scratches, forming two symbols unfamiliar to Cadence.

Touching at the engraving with a hoof, she stared into Ballenes’ hardened features. “This is his name, isn’t it? Cinna.”

Ballenes replied with a nod. “Every guard has their name engraved on the back of their helmet, but this is only a scrap of Cinna’s. It must have been torn off somehow.”

“The Whispering Wings.” Cadence bit her lip once the words left her mouth, realisation rushing to fill her mind. They got away, Silvia died for nothing.

At her side Cadence felt the warmth of scales. “It wasn’t for nothing princess,” Flo said, reading Cadence’s thoughts. “She protected us from the bad dragons.”

Yes. Cadence felt a smile coming to her lips at Flo’s words. “Yes, she did, but we can’t just let them get away with this. They’ve taken two lives, I won’t let them take more.”

“Princess.” Ballenes’ voice brought all attention to him. “If I may say, two lives is nothing compared to all that The Whispering Wings have taken.”

“It doesn’t matter. They’re going to stop killing before I leave this city.”

A sigh left Ballenes’ lips, his wings retreating back to his side, taking the scrap of metal with it. “I’m sorry to say this, but if you stay true to your words, you’ll never leave this city.” He made to turn away.

“How do you know if you don’t try?” Cadence’s words stopped Ballenes mid-turn, his eyes lifting to meet hers.

“Princess, it is every guard’s dream to stop all of the wrong in this city, we’ve all tried, but it’s not possible.” Completing his turn, Ballenes stepped away and out of the barracks. Silence filled the air as his steps faded, everyones tongues held by their own thoughts.

Shining was the first to speak. “How do we know Cinna is dead?”

Twisting neck to the side, Cadence’s smile fell from her lips as she met Shining’s eyes. “Well, those two dragons are gone, and he was the one I asked to take care of them. He’s missing and only a shard of his helmet is left behind, all twisted and torn. I don’t know how he could still live unless he was with The Whispering Wings all along, but I don’t want to think of that.”

“But where is his body? Dragons don’t just disappear like that,” Shining questioned. Stepping up beside him, Skylight nodded, a want for answers in her features also.

“Well, they actually do.” Cadence glanced at Flo before looking back to the two ponies beside her. “I was it this morning. When a dragon dies another can breathe fire into them and they burn up. There would be nothing left behind.”

Both Shining’s and Skylight’s eyes unfocused as they pictured flames consuming a dragon, Cloud moving to stand beside Skylight as they did so. “What now then?”

Rolling her eyes into her head, Cadence sighed deeply. “I don’t know. I want to stop The Whispering Wings, but how?”

A small smile touched Shining’s lips as Cadence’s voice brought him from his thoughts. “You could try talking with them, it worked with Ember.”

“Well, I could try.” The smile on Shining’s lips spread to Cadence’s, her eyes shifting to meet his. “The only problem is finding one to talk with.”

“I’m sure they’ll return,” Skylight said, her gaze distant, eyes filled with memories. “They won’t stop after one failure.”

“Yes,” Cadence nodded, her smile fading and eyes falling somewhat. “Now they know about our tent however, will they try again while we’re sleeping? What if they decide to strike at a different time?” Her words brought silence over the group, Flo shifting from Cadence’s side to stand before them all.

“They don’t attack at daytime,” She said, drawing all eyes to her. “I’ve heard lots of dragons being killed by them. Always at night. Drip said they are scared of the sun.”

The knowledge brought a small relief to Cadence worryful mind. “Well at least we don’t have to worry about them attacking us during the day.” A sigh left her lungs, head turning to look back down the barracks’ hallway. “We should tell that dragon about Cinna. It seems like she cared a lot for him.”

Following the direction of her eyes, Cadence moved down the hallways, two sets of steps following her.

“We might take a little break,” Cloud said, drawing Cadence’s gaze back to where he and Skylight stood, wings half open. “Our wings are itching to fly.”

Smiling at them, Cadence nodded. “Go ahead, we won’t be too long. We’ll see you back at our room.” At her word, the pegasus pair bounded away, Cloud chasing Skylight’s laughter.

Cadence turned back into the barracks, staring at the far wall for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Well, waiting won’t make this any easier.”

“What did you say?” Concern written across her features, the purple dragoness’s shoulders heaving with each panicked breath. Shaking her head, she took a step back from Cadence.

“I know it’s hard to hear this, but we just found out Cinna’s dead,” Cadence repeated. “It seemed like you cared for him when we spoke to you earlier.”

A shiver shook violently at the dragon’s body, her legs collapsing underneath and allowing her to fall to the ground. Still shaking, she lowered her head, nestling it as close to her chest as she could. “Cinna, gone?”

Moving to sit beside the dragon, Cadence opened a still sore wing over the dragon’s scaly back, careful not to hurt herself on the spikes. “I know-” Cadence stopped herself, thinking over her words. I know how much it hurts? Do I really? It was a thought Cadence had found herself returning to again and again during her time in Rockholm. I don’t know what it’s like to lose someone.

Holding her tongue, Cadence sat with the dragon in silence, unsure of what words would comfort her. After a few moments Shining’s voice filled the air, lifting both Cadence’s and the dragon’s eyes towards him.

“At least he died doing what he loved.”

The dragon nodded in agreement, wiping back the streams that ran down her cheeks. “Yes, guarding was always his favourite thing.” Her lips hinted at a smile as she spoke, the shaking of her limbs slowing to a stop.

Turning to meet Cadence’s eyes, the dragon gently shrugged the wing from her back. “You don’t have to stay with me princess. I’m sure you have much more important things to worry about.”

Cadence allowed her touch to retreat and a comforting smile to spread across her lips. “Well, we don’t have anything waiting. We can stay-”

“I do appreciate your kindness princess,” The dragon cut Cadence off, shifting slightly away from Cadence. “But I’m sure you have more important things to do.”

Noticing the dragon’s retreat and the tone in her voice, Cadence stood, nodding. “We’ll leave you then,” Lips open, she paused, studying the dragon’s features. “What was your name?”

“Gloria.” The words came with a smile.

“Gloria. I hope we can meet again, on a better day.”

“I do to.”

Cadence turned at Gloria’s words, finding Shining and Flo facing the door, waiting for her. No one spoke as they moved into the hallway, moving past door after door until the sun’s light greeted them once more.

“Well, what do we do now?” Cadence questioned once they stepped from the barracks back into the palace courtyard. Many thoughts weighed down on her mind, Ember’s recovery, the journey ahead to rebuild his bonds with Obsidian. Most of all scenes of the previous night came to her again and again, reminders of the horror that waited somewhere in the city.

The constant storm of worry in Cadence’s mind consumed so much of her attention that a grumble from her stomach went unnoticed by her. Yet it brought chuckling from Shining’s lips.

“Why don’t we have something to eat?” He draped a foreleg over Cadence’s withers as he spoke, kissing at her cheek. “It sounds like you’re hungry, and I know I am.”

Turning to meet Shining’s kiss with her own lips, Cadence felt a smile spreading across her muzzle, the dull ache of her stomach heard above the noise in her head. “That’s a great idea, we can talk about our plans over a late lunch.”

“We’d have to trap one.” Silence followed Skylight’s suggestion, only the sound of Cloud and Cadence finishing of their chocolate pastries filling the air.

Finishing her mouthful, Cadence brushed the crumbs from her lips with a hoof before speaking. “I don’t want to force one of them to talk. It seems too much like an interrogation.”

“Cadence,” Cloud said, finishing the last scraps of his pastry before continuing. “I know you don’t want to hurt any of The Whispering Wings, but we might have to if we want to stop them. With what little I saw of them last night, it seems like their desire to fulfil their task is their greatest.”

Sighing, Cadence nodded in agreement. “It does seem that way.” Memories of the previous night crept from their nook in her mind, filling it with images of the two snake-like dragons charging again and again at her magical barrier. “They wouldn’t stop, even if it seemed impossible.”

“So it’s decided,” Skylight said, taking Cadence’s silence as an answer. “We’re capturing one.”

“How will we?”

Shining’s question brought a smile to Skylight’s lips, her eyes roaming the room for a moment before returning to the three before her. “Using your tents.” Her words caused Cadence and Shining to share a look, both shaking their heads before looking back to Skylight.

“That sounds like a silly idea,” Shining said, a small smile on his lips as he continued to shake his head.

“Why? They stopped the dragons last night.”

“Yes, but they stopped the dragons from getting inside. How are we going to get one of them inside a tent?”

The smile on Skylight’s lips spread into one of her rare grins, eyes alight with excitement. “Those dragons use smell to find things. We can use it against them.”

From Skylight’s muzzle the smile sprang to Shining’s and Cloud’s, Cadence’s features still holding apprehension. “Well I’m staying out of these plans. I don’t feel comfortable plotting to trap someone like this.”

Turning, Cadence stepped towards the balcony where Flo sat, Shining’s hoof lifting after her.

Cloud caught the hoof with his wing, meeting Shining’s eyes with a smile. “Let her go, it sounds like she’s had enough stress for one day.”

Allowing Cloud to lower his foreleg to the ground, Shining nodded. “You’re right. I’ll be more focused on planning with her as a distraction anyway.” The smile on his muzzle split into a grin as he finished speaking, a chuckle shaking his body. “Who’d have thought you’d be the one giving advice?”

A blush lit the white of Cloud’s cheeks pink, his eyes falling away from Shining’s. “I wasn’t trying to, I simply thought it would be better if she took a break.”

Seeing Cloud’s embarrassment, Shining closed the gap between the two before placing a foreleg over Cloud’s shoulders. “Don’t be worried about it, I meant it as a compliment.”

“Enough you two,” Skylight’s words drew both stallions’ eyes to her. “We have a trap to plan.”

Outside on the balcony Cadence nestled beside Flo without a word, mirroring her position, gazing out over the city. The laughter of the three still inside quickly faded to hushed whispers in her ears.

Watching the activity over the city, Cadence found her thoughts soon drifting back to the troubles that plagued her. Issues that seemed to require her attention every hour of the day to be solved. Taking a deep breath, she tried to push the thoughts from her mind, yet with nothing to fill their place, they returned.

With little left to do, Cadence’s lips moved simply to distract her from the thoughts. “What do you do out here all day Flo?”

Turning, Flo met Cadence’s eyes as if she were first realising the pony was there. A smile touched Flo’s muzzle at the sight. “I watch everyone do stuff.” Extending a claw, she directed Cadence’s attention to a distant flier. “That’s Fumore. He said he would never fly again after Ember stole his hatchling from the air beside him. Yesterday was the first I’ve ever seen him up there.”

Following the dragon with her eyes, Cadence watched as he looped the air before disappearing behind a building. The sight brought a warmth to her heart and the buzz of joy to her mind. I have been helping. She felt her lips spread so wide it hurt, a foreleg lifting to bring Flo into a tight hug. “Thank you so much Flo. You know exactly how to brighten my day.”

Confusion written across Flo’s face, she returned the embrace anyway. “What did I do princess?”

“Oh don’t worry Flo, it makes it so much better that you weren’t trying.” Breaking from her hold on Flo, Cadence turned back to the city. “Are there any other dragons you can tell me about?”

Looking back over the scene herself, Flo’s breath caught in her throat at what she saw. “There’s a big scary dragon coming right for us.” Shifting at Cadence’s side, she clutched tighter to the pony, eyes pinned on the sky.

“What do you mean-” Cadence’s voice was cut off when her eyes found Ember, soaring over the city towards them. “Oh,” was all she could say, but her mind was racing. Why is Ember coming here now? Something bad must have happened. Did The Whispering Wings go after him? A burst of laughter left Cadence’s lips at the last thought. It won’t be that.

Turning to Flo, Cadence lifting the dragon’s eyes to meet hers. “We should move Flo, Ember needs room to land.”

Flo’s lips formed a pout, her head shaking. “I don’t want that meanie landing here.”

A sigh left Cadence’s lungs as she stood slowly, Flo following her lead. “You know Ember isn’t like that anymore. That dragon you were telling me of before?”

“Fumore?”

“Yes, Fumore. He’s out flying because this city doesn’t have to fear Ember anymore.”

The pout on Flo’s muzzle faded somewhat as she moved towards the balcony door with Cadence. “If you say so princess, but I’m watching him closely.” She narrowed her eyes, flicking them from Cadence to Ember and back.

As Ember’s claws clicked against the balcony they were joined by three more ponies from inside.

“Why is Ember here?” Shining whispered into Cadence’s ear as he stopped beside her.

Cadence’s lips opened, but Ember spoke before she could respond. “I am sorry to intrude like this princess, but there is something that needs to be brought to the attention of the king.” He failed to meet Cadence’s eye as the words left his lips, instead choosing the grey stone below to occupy his gaze.

“Well, what is it?” In her chest Cadence’s heart was pounding so fast it felt as if it would explode. “Did something happen outside of the city?”

“Yes,” Ember nodded, his head twisting back to glance at the city wall, eyes unable to find it for all the buildings blocking its view. “I saw what must have been a whole army hidden in the mountains, I think they also saw me.”

“It must be the army one of those dragons mentioned the other day,” Cloud said, bringing a wing from his side to brush at the underside of his muzzle. “I’ve been thinking about them ever since Flo told us, wondering how they’d hide an army large enough to take over the city close to it.”

Still nodding, Ember met Cadence’s eye. “They’re only a short flight from the wall. All of them could be here before sundown.”

Taking a deep breath, Cadence looked first to Shining, then to Cloud and Skylight. “Well what would you do if this happened to your army?”

Shining and Skylight both shrugged, but Cloud only smiled, eyes distant, as if the plan was an old memory. “I would fake a retreat, obviously, but not enough that it looks forced. Then I would skirt wide around the city and wait on the opposite side.” Smile fading, he looked to Cadence. “That, or I’d attack right away.”

“Well,” Looking past Ember, Cadence stared at the dimming horizon, fearing to see an army of black specks against it. “Hopefully they don’t choose the second plan.”

Turning away from group, Ember spread his wings once more. “Can you tell the king? I will go back and watch what they are doing, without being seen this time.” As he bent his legs to take off, Cadence held out a hoof after him.

“Wait Ember, are you sure you want to sleep outside the city tonight? What if that army hunts you down?”

Twisting his neck to look back at Cadence, Ember’s lips spread with a smile. “Princess, I’m strong enough to protect myself. You have your own troubles to worry about.” He leapt from the balcony as the last words left his mouth, cracks forming in the stone to show where he had stood.

A sigh escaped Cadence’s lips as she watched him soar over the city. “Well, we should tell Obsidian. A king needs to know when his city is in danger.”

“More news of this plot.” A chuckle shook Obsidian’s chest as he glanced between Cadence and his ever present advisor, Brazen. “Princess, you must assure me you haven’t been dreaming these things.”

“No,” Cadence shook her head. “I have been told these things by dragons I trust. There is an army waiting outside the city. What Flo overheard yesterday hinted at it, and what,” She bit at her tongue before Ember could leave her lips. “Another dragon told me they saw today confirms it.”

“Another dragon?” Obsidian drew a heavy breath. “Princess, I do trust you greatly, but this story is sounding more and more like one of Brazen’s. Words from mystery dragons proclaiming mystery armies. I need more than that princess.”

Sighing deeply, Cadence chewed at her lip. Should I tell him? With a subtle nod, she decided. “It was Ember who spotted the army. A dragon I have grown to trust over the last few days.”

“Ember?” Obsidian breathed, his eyes growing distant. “My son?” At Cadence’s nod he allowed his eyes to fall. “I had heard tales of you and him together, but like most of the rumors in this city I place little faith in them until I can see them with my own eyes.”

“Well, there is some truth to those rumors. He has visited the city by my side.” A memory from previous days flashed through Cadence’s mind, the terrified Ember jammed between two walls. “But we can talk about that later, right now you need to know there is an army waiting in the mountains.”

“Right.” Obsidian nodded. “As a king the duty to protect my city comes first, and to protect my city there is nothing I can do.”

Shining stepped forward from Cadence’s side. “Can’t you send some scouts out to find out what they’re doing?”

“That would be putting my guards at risk needlessly. We already have knowledge of the army.”

“You could monitor their movements, find out when and if they are going to attack.” Shining shook his head, wracking his brain for what little military tactics he could recall from his guard studies. “Maybe you could send spies into their camp to find out their plans?” Looking back, he longed to find the face of Cloud, but the pegasi had decided to skip this meeting.

From beside the king Brazen spoke up. “These all sound like excellent plans my king. With information on this potential invader we can plan a counterattack. I could organize a few guards to take the duty myself.”

“But that would be putting them at risk,” Obsidian responded, glancing from Shining to Cadence to Brazen.

Cadence moved forward to stand at Shining’s side once more. “Obsidian, your guards are at risk all the time. One of them even died this morning, the one I was looking for, Cinna.”

Turning to Cadence, Obsidian held her eyes for a moment before dropping his gaze to the ground. “I know, that is the reason I can’t let this happen. He died needlessly, pointlessly.”

“He died protecting you!” Shining protested, his cry echoing around the throne room, chased away by silence.

A heavy breath lifted and lowered Obsidian’s shoulders. “Princess, prince. I would like it if you would leave. There are matters I need to discuss with my advisor.”

Nodding, Cadence nudged Shining towards the door before following herself. The moment they stepped from the room a hum erupted behind them, Obsidian and Brazen’s voices battling back and forth in hushed tones.

“I hope Ember can see how much his guards want to help,” Shining said as they moved towards the stairs. “Most didn’t enlist to sit around and watch all day.”

Dinner passed in a chain of thoughtful bites for Cadence, the other three ponies planning without her. Flo sat at her side, head moving to and fro as she followed the conversation.

“Cadence, can we use your saddlebags?” Shining’s voice drew Cadence from her thoughts, lifting her eyes to meet his.

“Well,” Cadence paused, pushing her own thoughts aside and grasping Shining’s words as they flew by. “As long as you don’t ruin them. Celestia gave them to me and I want them to last the whole trip.”

A wide grin on her lips, Skylight nodded for Shining. “We’ll keep it safe.”

Seeing Skylight’s expression, Cadence shook her head at the three. “Well, as long as it’s not torn to shreds I won’t mind. What are you using it for anyway?”

The three plotters shared glances before Shining finally spoke up. “We’re trying to bait The Whispering Wings with it. The use their sense of smell instead of their eyes, so if we can hide your scent and leave the bags in the open they’ll go for them.”

Cadence’s brow creased with question. “What are you planning on doing to hide my scent?” Blushes crept into both Skylight and Cloud’s cheeks.

“We are planning on using Cloud and Skylight’s tent to hide you,” Shining answered, looking to the heap of canvas while breathing deep, a smile touching his lips. “Its smell will easily cover you up.”

“When we see one of The Whispering Wings come inside,” Cloud quickly followed, his eyes downcast and white cheeks burning brighter and brighter. “We’re going to wait till they reach the centre of the room before Shining captures them in one of the tents.”

Nodding along with Cloud, Skylight lifted her eyes to Cadence as Cloud’s words faded, her cheeks returning to their usual blue and a smile stretching her lips. “Then we question them.”

Leaving the cool night air behind her, Skylight moved into their room to find it empty, only a pair of yellow saddlebags disrupting the black sea of obsidian. Bounding forward, she leapt for the lone bags only to have a ringing fill her ear, a tint of blue fill her vision.

“Perfect timing Shining.” Cloud stepped from the tent nestled in the room’s far corner, Shining following him with horn glowing blue. “Though this drill is growing predictable.” He lifted his voice to Skylight, who now stood, Shining’s magical tent dispersed. “Next time you come through try to do something unexpected, we need to test Shining’s reactions to unpredictable things.”

Nodding, Skylight moved back towards the balcony where Cadence and Flo sat, watching the three as they planned.

“Almost finished?” Cadence asked when Skylight stepped onto the grey stone of the balcony.

Glancing back at Cadence, Skylight nodded. “A few more tests and we’re ready.” She moved through the door once more, this time zipping from side to side and stopping a moment before the bags.

“You missed Shining.” Cadence heard Skylight call from inside, a proud smile on her lips.

“Princess?” Flo’s voice drew Cadence’s scene from the drill inside to the dragon who sat beside her. “What are you going to do with the bad dragon you catch?”

“Well, we’re going to ask him questions. I thought you already knew Flo?”

“No,” Flo shook her head like she was trying to remove a crab from her snout. “I mean after you asked everything. What are you going to do then?”

“Oh.” The question stilled the movement of Cadence’s lips, her eyes unfocusing as she thought. What will we do? Let them go free? A shiver ran through Cadence’s spine as memories of morning came back to her, the nightmarish battle she had fought. No we can’t let a killer go free. Twisted bars, empty in the noon sun replaced the previous pictures. Not again.

“Princess?” Still waiting to an answer, Flo touched Cadence’s shoulder, pulling the alicorn from her thoughts.

“Sorry Flo.” Cadence smiled at Flo. “I lost focus for a moment. “

“So what are you going to do?”

Looking into Flo’s waiting eyes, Cadence felt her mind racing to find an answer. I can’t let them go, but we can’t keep them captive forever either. Ember flashed across her thoughts. Will they change as quickly as he did?

Feeling Flo’s touch once more, Cadence shook her head. “I don’t know what we’ll do Flo. I want to change them, but how they looked last night,” Cadence shivered. “And this morning. It will be as terrifying as Ember was.”

“Change them?” Flo pouted. “Why don’t you make them go away?”

“Make them go away? They’d come right back to Rockholm.”

“No,” Cuddling close to Cadence, Flo shuddered against a pink coat, her voice lowering to a whisper. “Make them go away forever. Like they did to Silvia.”

Cadence’s breath caught in her throat, her foreleg wrapping around Flo, pulling her close. “Flo, I know what they did was a horrible thing, but it’s just as horrible to do the same back.”

“So they get away with it?”

A heavy sigh lifted a dropped Cadence’s shoulders, her eyes falling away from Flo’s. “I don’t know, I’ve never had to think about things like this before.” How does Celestia decide what to do? Do things like these happen around Canterlot?

“We’re done practicing.” Shining’s voice lifted Cadence’s eyes and brought a smile to her lips once more. “Cloud and Skylight are going to get some sleep now, I said I’d wake them up later.” Lowering himself to the stone, he sat on the opposite side of Cadence to Flo. “What have you two been talking about?”

Flo looked to Cadence for an answer, as did Shining. “Well,” She said before gnawing at her lip. How do I put this? Every word that came to her lips felt dark, filling her mouth with a bad taste. “We’ve been discussing revenge for killings.” Cadence winced at her own words, the very topic bringing a sickness to her stomach.

The joy on Shining’s lips shrunk away. “Not the easiest thing to talk about.”

Moving her eyes from Cadence to Shining, Flo stared at him with pleading sapphires. “They can’t get away with it.”

“Who?”

“The Whispering Wings,” Cadence answered, her eyes falling once more. “Flo thinks after we capture them, and question them, we should, we should.”

“Make them go away forever,” Flo finished, her voice on the verge of tears.

Lifting her eyes to Shining, Cadence looked to him for an answer. “What would you do with them?”

Shining’s lips opened but no words left them, his eyes rolling up into his head. Eventually he blew out a single stream of breath, its journey highlighted by the cold. “What they’ve done, killing dragons, it’s a terrible, terrible thing, but we have to give them another chance. Ember changed, why won’t they?”

Nodding along, Cadence’s lips spread with a smile, her unoccupied foreleg reaching up to wrap over Shining’s withers. “That’s what I said, I could never send someone to their death.”

“They need to be punished however,” Shining continued. “I know when I was younger I took my mischief too far sometimes, too many times.” His eyes lit up with memories. “My parents sorted me out though, with a very harsh punishment.”

A giggle burst from Cadence’s mouth. “Did they take away your treats?”

Pouting, Shining nodded, his miserable appearance only causing Cadence to giggle harder, a sigh cutting her off when she recalled the topic of discussion. “What would their punishment be?”

“That I don’t know.” Dropping the pout from his lips, Shining lifted his head to stare at the room before him. “I think it’ll be best to let Obsidian decide that.” He glanced back at the night sky before rising to his hooves. “Why don’t you two come inside, it’s getting late. You don’t want to be out here when they come.”

Nodding, Cadence rose and followed until she realised Fo was not. Looking back, she found the dragon still pouting. “Are you coming Flo?”

She stared up at Cadence for a moment, silent. When Cadence made to turn away Flo sprang upright, chasing her inside. “I’m sorry princess,” She whispered as she came in line with Cadence, nuzzling at her soft pink neck. “I’m still so mad at those bad dragons. I’m not mad at you though.”

“Well that’s good Flo, you shouldn’t hold grudges against those who’ve done nothing wrong to you.” Still following Shining, Cadence moved to the far corner of the room where Cloud and Skylight’s tent had been split in two, one with the flap closed.

As she drew near, Cadence felt the stench of the fabric invade her nose. The smell of sweat and lust, stained into every inch of the tent before her. “The Whispering Wings will never be able to smell me over this.”

Blocking his nostrils with magic, Shining turned and nodded, the spell distorting his voice. “At least we finally know how bad we smell afterwards.” Horn still lit, he back himself inside, leaving enough room for both Flo and Cadence.

Trailing Shining, Cadence settled into the tent as well, tempted to copy his spell. Looking back to where she had stood, she found Flo hesitating, one claw on either side of her snout. “Are you going to sleep with us tonight Flo?

”No.” Backing away, Flo moved back towards the balcony. “It’s too stinky in there to sleep. I’ll watch out for bad dragons outside.”

Lifting a hoof after her, Cadence felt Shining’s touch meet it. “She’ll be fine out there tonight,” He said. “After all, she said they’re only going for your smell, and it seems to be true so far.”

Cadence nodded, allowing the weight of Shining’s foreleg to lower the hoof for her. “Well, what do we do now?”

Watching Flo disappear through the balcony door, Shining silenced his horn, wrinkling his nose at the smell. “We wait.” A deep breath followed his words. “It’s going to be a long night, you should get some sleep.”

Shifting her body, Cadence cuddled up close to Shining, resting her head on his neck. “I’ll stay up with you, keep you company.”

Unseen by Cadence, a smile spread Shining’s lips wide. “I’d like that.” Silence chased his voice, joining both Cadence and he in a trio. Only the breaths coming from both ponies lips and their occasional movement against fabric filling the air.

As the night matured, Cadence’s stomach grew queasy, her thoughts roaming to all that could go wrong. “What will you do if something goes wrong?” She whispered eventually, lips unable to contain the troubles of her mind

“I’ve been thinking about that as well, and I guess we just have to protect ourselves and try again another night.” His back lifted Cadence’s head as he breathed. “Though after one failed trap they might realise what we’re trying to do. It’ll make it much harder to try a second time.”

“Mmm.” Rubbing her cheek against Shining’s coat, Cadence allowed the tingle it sent through her limbs to comfort her, his familiar scent a comfort. “Tonight is now or never then?”

“It might be.”

Quiet fell over Cadence’s ears once more, her unease somewhat settled by the slow strokes of Shining’s hoof along her back. She felt the weight of sleep pulling at her eyelids, the white of Shining’s coat before her eyes fading into black. Worries slipped from her mind as sleep spilled into it.

“Cadence.”

The whisper cut through the haze that clouded Cadence’s mind, her eyes snapping open to find Shining’s eyes above her.

“Princess!”

Another voice called for her before she could even form a word, pulling her body upright and eyes to the room outside their tent. In the dim hint of moonlight Cadence saw Flo dashing for her, a snake-like dragon steps behind.

A moment passed, Cadence’s mind filling with panicked thoughts. It’s chasing Flo, why is it chasing Flo? Her breath left her lungs in a gasp, all thought washing away and love taking over.

The dragon was a step or two away from Flo by now, its rear legs bending slightly and jaw opening wide as if it was about to lunge for her. Flo’s sapphire eyes were filled with pure panic, wide and locked on Cadence, not even daring to look back.

Shining lit his horn, but Cadence’s instincts were quicker, her magic scooping up Flo with one wave of blue, and constricting the pursuer with another. Holding the alarmed Flo gently, she brought her inside the tent, placing the bundle of blue at her side before lifting her eyes.

Behind the first dragon-snake she noticed another long form, deep green scales making the body. It paused, frozen in the light that spilled from the balcony door, nostrils alive as it breathed deep.

Looking closer, Cadence noticed slices in its snout that she had not the previous night, a dark liquid glistening down to its lips. Its features twisted with something that might have been fear before a snarl sprang from its lips and it leapt forward.

“I’ve got it,” Shining called, his alight horn encasing the attacker in a blue cocoon.

With both of the intruders secure in magical bonds, Shining stepped forward, Cloud and Skylight joining him from the other tent. “Why are you targeting Cadence?,” Shining said to the squirming pair before him, and only received snarls in reply.

“We should let them calm down.” Cadence’s voice came from the tent she sat in, Flo curled up at her side. “It’ll only make them angrier if we force them into this..”

The moment Shining looked back to Cadence, the dragon held in his grasp took its opportunity. Forcing its wings from its side, it squirmed and flapped with all its might, twisting from Shining’s blue grasp.

Seeing the snake-dragon fall to the floor, and hearing his claws click on the stone, Cadence forced more magic in her horn. Her breaths grew shaky and eyes tightened as the blue fire around her horn enraged, the aura surrounding one dragon reaching out and snatching up the other.

“It looks like we need to be more careful with how we hold them,” Cloud said, taking a tentative step towards their once again captives before looking back to Shining. “Can either of you make a temporary holding from magic?”

Thinking for a moment, Shining recalled their plan. “We were going to capture them with the tent. Why don’t we try that?”

Cloud nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. “Yes, can you make one there.” He pointed to a spot beside the two suspended dragons. “It’ll give us a chance to test exactly how these tents work.”

Lighting his horn once more, Shining formed a magical tent, the spell almost an instinct for him now.

“Quick,” Cadence grunted from behind them, her teeth gritted and horn overflowing with blue.

Seeing the pain in her composure, Shining silenced his horn before stepping aside, allowing Cadence to see the small tent he had formed. “Go.”

Her shoulders shaking, Cadence pulled the pair apart from each other, moving one towards the ethereal tent. Its head struck the side of the tent and stopped, the disruption in Cadence’s smooth movement sending shudders through her body. Her horn flared and dimmed, the swarms of blue surrounding both dragons rippling, the dragons inside squealing with snarls.

“Sorry,” Cadence managed to utter, every eye on her still shaking body.

Moving towards Cadence, Shining stretched out a hoof towards her but stopped short of touching, afraid the slightest disturbance would break her concentration. “Do you need help?” He whispered, lighting his horn in preparation to lessen her load.

“No.” The breath came with a subtle shake of her head. “Make, around, him.”

The instant he deciphered the meaning behind Cadence’s words Shining sprang upright, his glowing horn dissipating one tent and forming another. “It’s done.”

A gasp came from where Cadence sat, the overpowering sound of ringing fading to one much softer, the inferno that once surrounded her horn dying to a small flame. “Thank you so much,” Her voice was still shaky, only a little more than a whisper.

Free from its cocoon-like imprisonment, the green scaled dragon made for the Shining, the closest pony, with a snarl, only to be forced back by the ethereal walls around it.

“Interesting,” Cloud commented, nodding as the dragon charged and charged again into the impassable barrier. “It keeps threats inside just as well as it keeps them out.” With a smile on his lips, he stepped back from the makeshift cage, eyes unfocusing as thought overtook his mind.

“Can you make another?” Still holding one dragon, Cadence opened her eyes to find Shining doing what she had asked. With the second tent formed Cadence allowed her magic to die away into nothing, a sigh leaving her lips as she did so.

Her mind heavy, Cadence felt her eyelids drooping, the scene before her shrinking to blackness. I need to stay awake. The thought was like a fly trying to lift an anchor, her lips too heavy to even utter a word. Darkness overtook her mind for the second time that night, smothering her with sleep.

The sensation of scales against her side stirred Cadence, her mind waking to the back of her eyelids. Wrapped in fabric, her limbs still felt heavy, but moveable. Cracking open her eyelids, she found a murky brown material before her, blue squirming in the corner of her eye.

Where’s Shining? Cadence thought, reaching out a hoof to lift the tent flap. Its absence gave her a peek of the room beyond, two snake-dragons curled up in separate ethereal cages. The sight brought back memories of the previous night, the struggling dragons fighting against her horn.

Gently moving Flo from her side, Cadence rose and stepped from the tent, moving past the captives and towards the balcony. A trio of ponies under the noon sun greeted her eyes, Shining turning at the sound of her hooves.

“Morning Cadence,” A weak smile lifted his lips, dark sacks of sleep hanging under his eyes. “We got you something for breakfast, but it’s a little cold now.” Lighting his horn, he held a criss-crossed pie before her, the dark red of raspberries showing through.

Taking the offer with her own magic, Cadence laid a kiss on Shining’s cheeks as she sat. “You look terrible,” Looking across the balcony to Cloud and Skylight, she found their features in similar states to Shining’s. “Did you three stay up all night?”

Shining answered with a nod, one of his hooves rubbing at an eye. “We were waiting for those dragons to calm down like you said, but when they both fell asleep before stopping. It was morning by then so we decided to not sleep.”

Looking from tired pony to tired pony, Cadence shook her head. “No, you should all get some sleep. I feel terrible knowing I fell asleep without saying anything.”

Swallowing back a yawn, Skylight met Cadence’s worry with a smile. “We’re trained for this.”

“We should be the ones feeling bad anyway,” Cloud continued. “You saved all of us back there with your magic. I think you deserved the rest.”

“Princess!” The cry came from behind Cadence followed by a bundle of blue scales colliding with her side, Flo cuddling close. “Those bad dragons are sleeping inside.”

Cadence met Flo’s terror with a smile, her hoof reaching up to stroke the dragon’s head. “I know Flo, they can’t escape, we’re perfectly safe.”

“They can’t escape.” Flo rose from Cadence’s side and moved inside once more, taking tentative steps towards the ethereal prisons.

“Meanie!” She called at one and found no response, her legs shaking a little from the force of her shout. “You’re a bad dragon.” A choked gasp followed her words this time, Flo sinking to the floor and a shiver running along her back. “You should just go away. Silvia-” Another gasp broke Flo’s voice.

Watching Flo pour her rage and sorrow out at the dragon, Cadence left the others behind and moved behind her, curling her forelegs over Flo’s back, one hoof running soft and slow down Flo’s side. “Please stop Flo. I know you hate this dragon for taking Silvia away, but this wont solve anything.”

Shaking on floor now, Flo allowed herself to roll back into Cadence’s caress. “You’re right princess. Seeing these meanies reminds me of it. The bad thing they did to her.” She buried her snout into Cadence’s chest, pouring her tears into a pink coat.

Nodding along with Flo’s words, Cadence noticed movement at the edge of her vision. Eyes lifting towards it, she found the caged dragon stirring, its nostrils flaring, tasting the air around it. What it smelt filled its lips with a snarl, claw limply lifting to swing at her, only to be caught by the ethereal wall between them.

“Oh, you’re awake.” Cadence met the snarl with a smile, lifting one of her hooves from Flo to wave. “Are you hungry? Tired?” Looking closer, she noticed the same cuts she had the night previous, no longer glistening but dried over with a hard brown-red. “You’re hurt, who did this to you?”

In response the snake-dragon spat at her, its saliva caught by the tent.

“There’s no need to be angry at me, I only want to help.” By now the other three ponies had noticed the wakefulness of their captive and were moving to stand behind Cadence. “Do you want anything to eat, to drink? Do those cuts hurt?”

Hearing Cadence’s words, Flo lifted her head from the alicorn’s chest and looked up at her. “How can you be so nice to a bad dragon?”

“I have to agree with her Cadence,” Shining said from behind. “All this dragon has done is rage at you, try to kill you, and you ask him if he’s hungry or thirsty? Aren’t you even a little angry at him?”

“Well,” Cadence sighed, staring at the face twisted with anger before her. “I am a little, but he’s still a dragon, he has needs, he can feel hurt.” She lifted her lips in a smile once more. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”

Shaking his head, the dragon backed away to the far side of its enclosure. “You can’t fool me.” His words were quick and raspy, like he was struggling for breath. “Pretending kindness so I will talk, I can see through your lies princess.”

“Does that mean you don’t want anything to eat or drink?” At another shake of the dragon’s head, Cadence leant forward. “At least let me heal those cuts on your snout.”

The dragon turned his head away from Cadence, choosing to bury his snout in his hooves instead of facing her.

Looking down at the dragon cuddled into her chest, Cadence kissed the top of Flo’s head. “I’ll be right back Flo.” Gently, she eased herself out from under Flo before rising to her hooves and turning to walk through the trio behind.

“Where are you going?” Shining questioned after her.

With a smile still on her lips, Cadence flicked a glance backward. “To get Celestia’s writing. There’s a spell in there I need.” Beside the tent she had slept within sat a stack of papers, her magic soon scooping them up.

Hearing Cadence’s horn light up with blue, a shiver ran through the wakeful dragon, his head following the sound throughout the room. His nostrils shrunk and tail curled up to his claws as he heard her stop before the ethereal wall once more, flipping through page after page while Flo snuggled closer to her side..

Lifting her eyes and noticing the terror in the dragon, Cadence lifted her lips with a smile. “You don’t have to be afraid,” Her voice was soft, like she was speaking to a foal. “I’m not going to hurt you, I only want to heal your snout.” She lowered her eyes once more and returned to flipping.

Behind Cadence, the other three ponies murmured softly to each other, too quiet for the dragon to hear.

“How do we question the dragon with Cadence there?” Skylight asked, shaking her head as Cadence continued to speak comforting words. “She won’t let us near him.”

Watching Cadence as well, Cloud’s lips were wide with a grin. “Don’t worry, whether Cadence knows it or not she’s going to get that dragon to speak. I’ve read about using this kind of method to extract information from prisoners. While everyone else is mean to him, one shows him kindness unlike the rest, befriends him, gains enough trust for him to spill his secrets.”

Skylight’s shoulders sank as she understood what Cloud said. “We’ve got nothing to do then?”

“Yes, and no.” Pulling his eyes away from Cadence, Cloud met Skylight’s pair. “We could go flying.” Seeing the smile lift her lips and the movement in her wings, Cloud turned to Shining. “Will you two be fine here?”

Looking from one caged dragon to the other, Shining eventually nodded. “We’ll be alright as long as these dragons don’t find a way out of their tents. you two go have fun.”

While Cloud and Skylight dashed for the balcony door, Shining moved to Cadence’s side, his eyes examining the pages before her. “Are you looking for that healing spell again?”

“Mmhmm,” Lips tight and eyes pinned to the paper before her, Cadence nodded. “I forgot how many spells Celestia had packed into here.” Picking one out. “Rapid Growth,” She read. “For use when you need to accelerate plant growth. What would we use that for?”

Shining chuckled at the spell. “I don’t know, but I’m sure The Princess thought of everything. No spell will be in there without a reason.”

Returning to paging through Celestia’s writing, Cadence nodded at Shining’s words.

The caged dragon before her was still curled up in the centre of his enclosure, head shifting at every sound.

“Here it is,” Cadence announced eventually, lifting the page before her eyes and placing the remaining stack beside her. Her mouth moved silently as she read it over a few times. Lowering the page, she shifted closer to the ethereal wall, adopting her comforting voice once more. “This might tingle a little, but those cuts will be gone when I’m done.”

Gathering his claws underneath him, the dragon shifted back from Cadence’s voice. “I don’t want your evil magic.” His tail finding an ethereal wall, he sat, lifting a claw to his snout where red-brown crossed through blue scales.

From behind Cadence, Shining lay a hoof on her back, slowly running it towards her tail. “I think you should listen to him Cadence, remember what happened last time you tried to heal Cloud?”

Rolling her eyes into her head, Cadence smiled at the pictures that filled her mind. “Yes, but that was healing a whole wing, this is only a few cuts.” She looked back to the snake-dragon. “Are you sure you don’t want me to heal you?”

His only response was to curl up once more, a claw covering his snout.

“Well, as much as you don’t want this, you need it.” Taking a deep breath, Cadence closed her eyes, horn flaring a with a brighter light than before. A thin string of blue leapt from the magical flame, piercing the ethereal wall and moving towards the dragon.

As the sound of ringing neared the dragon sprang upright, dodging away from the approaching magical stream.

Hearing claws on the stone before her, Cadence opened her eyes and redirected her magic, chasing the dragon around its enclosure with the spell. “Please, stay still, I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Lies,” The dragon hissed back, bouncing from wall to wall to keep his distance from Cadence magic. “You’ll infest my mind with your evil, force me to betray my brothers.”

Sighing, Cadence shook her head, pouring more magic into her horn while whispering under her breath. “Some foals don’t know what’s good for them.” An aura of blue appeared around the dragon’s body, stopping him in mid air.

His head the only part still free, the dragon shook it from side to side, snarling at the magic that held the rest of his body. “Now you show your true colors princess, forcing me to do your will.”

Ignoring him, Cadence directed the thread of her spell towards his snout, mouth moving with ancient words.

At the touch of Cadence’s magic the dragon’s writhing head stopped, the snarl on his lips fading away. A glowing blue thread danced back and forth across the dragon’s cut, the crusted red-brown crumbling away to reveal fresh scales underneath.

As more and more of his injury was healed, the dragon’s lips moved silently, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Finished its work, the thread faded to nothing, a sigh leaving Cadence’s lips as she lowered the dragon to the ground before releasing him from her magic. “There, your snout is all better now.”

Free from Cadence’s grasp, the dragon lay still for a few moments, only the rise and fall of his back showing life.

“Did you do something else to him?” Shining asked, watching the dragon with curious eyes.

“No,” The dragon answered, surprising all three outside his tent. “She healed me.” His words were soft, like a beast tamed compared to the hisses previous. Lifting a claw, he brushed gently at the scales the had been torn moments before. “She healed me.”

Drawing a rasping breath, the dragon rose and moved forward until his snout bumped against the walls of his prison. “Why would you heal me princess? You’re the greatest evil to ever enter our city.”

A smile touched Cadence’s lips at the dragon’s confused words. “What gave you that idea? I’ve only ever wanted to help this city.”

“The stories they told,” The dragon’s head shook from side to side. “The stories everyone told. You enslaved Ember’s mind with your magic by stealing a dozen hatchlings and sacrificing them to the sun. You’re playing with the King’s mind as well, slowly filling it with your evil. Is this not you?”

“No,” Lifting a hoof, Cadence pushed it through the ethereal barrier and touched the dragon’s snout, pulling gasps from the two beside her. “I haven’t done any of those things. I befriended Ember, helped calm his rage. Obsidian, I haven’t filled his mind with evil, I wouldn’t even know how.”

At the touch of Cadence’s hoof, the dragon lifted his claws to cup it. “So what is the evil in this city then. Why have we been sent if not to purge the darkness from this city?”

“Oh,” Cadence shook her head slowly. “You poor dragon.”

Watching her, Flo pouted, lifting a claw to grasp at Cadence’s foreleg. “What do you mean princess. He’s a bad dragon. He made Silvia go away.”

Looking down to meet Flo’s eye, Cadence laid a soft kiss on her snout. “I know he did, and it was a horrible thing, but I don’t think he sees what he did as wrong.” Drawing her eyes away from Flo, Cadence looked back to the dragon before her. “Do you?”

Releasing his grip on Cadence’s hoof, the dragon took a step back from her touch. “I was only defending my brother as we tried to rid this city of evil, but how can evil be kind? So much more kind than the elders ever were.”

“Is that who cut you?”

“Yes. We deserved it after failing.” The dragon lifted a claw to his snout once more, rubbing it along the scales as if he could not believe it had healed.

Cadence’s breath caught her in throat, a hoof lifting to cover her open mouth. “They did that because you failed once? What would they do if you failed again?”

“Kill us.” The voice that carried the words did not match their weight, like death was a fair punishment to the owner.

Looking from one snake-dragon to the other, still sleeping one, Cadence shook her head, mind still processing what she had heard. Eventually she responded. “Don’t you think that’s cruel?”

“That is how it always has been, but compared to what you’ve done for me. No one has ever been so kind.”

Turning her head from one side to the other, Cadence met Shining’s eyes, then Flo’s. “Well, that’s what friends do.”

“Friends?” Moving the claw from his snout, the dragon lifted it towards Cadence. “How can we be friends?”

“Don’t listen to her Moretur,” Another rasping voice filled the air before Cadence could speak, her eyes drawn to the other ethereal cage. “Remember what Aldior said, she wants to poison your mind.”

Shifting his body to face the familiar voice, Moretur stepped forward until the walls of his enclosure stopped him. “I know we were told that brother, but I not sure anymore. She has been kinder to me in these few moments than any of the elders ever were.”

“She was only kind to you so you would lower your guard,” The other caged dragon responded. “The moment you tell her what she wants it is the death of both of us.”

Watching the two converse, Cadence couldn’t help but smile as Moretur defended her.

“Brother, I know you think that way. Last night I thought like you too, but the way she speaks,” A shiver ran down Moretur’s spine, his claw lifting to touch his snout. “There is nothing but kindness in her voice. She even healed my punishment.”

Green-scaled lips were stilled by Moretur’s words, the other dragon lifting a claw to his snout to mirror his brother before inhaling deeply. “I smell no blood on your snout, but what does a healed wound mean?”

Silence filled the air as Moretur dropped the claw from his snout to his side, shoulders sinking. “Vensol, I know that poisoned gift still wounds your heart, but-”

“It means nothing!” Vensol shouted, interrupting his brother. “I had to learn what the gift of an enemy means.” Lifting his chin, he ran a talon down his neck, over a curved row of indents in the green scale. “I don’t want you to suffer my mistake as well.”

The cries echoed around the room before fading into nothing. No one spoke, only the sound of heavy breathing came from Vensol.

Waiting for either of the dragons to continue, Cadence shifted in her spot, pressing her lips into Shining’s ear before whispering, “Do you think we should leave them alone?” She felt his coat move against her as he nodded.

Nodding as well, Cadence rose to her hooves, lifting her voice so the whole room could hear. “Well, we’re going to leave for a few moments. Do either of you want any food or drink.”

“I don’t want your poison,” Vensol spat back, his words like darts.

“What about you, Moretur, right?” Feeling the hate of Vensol’s voice weighing on her smile, Cadence forced it even wider, uncaring whether if the dragon before her could see it or not. “Are you hungry?”

Turning away from his brother and towards Cadence, Moretur’s head lifted, a smile highlighting his lips for the first time since he had arrived. It looked unnatural, as if his muzzle had never tasted the sweetness of the expression. “I haven’t eaten in days. Anything would be appreciated.”

Touching Flo’s side with her hoof, Cadence met the young dragon’s eyes. “Come on, let’s go.”

A pout on her lips, Flo stood, burying her muzzle in Cadence’s ear. “We shouldn’t leave them alone. The meanies will escape.”

“Trust me, they’ll be fine,” Cadence insisted, nudging Flo forward. “If they could escape they would have done it by now.” Moving forward with Flo at her side, Cadence heard the hoofsteps of Shining follow them to the door.

“I don’t know if I’m comfortable leaving them,” Shining said as they stepped into the hall and headed for the stairs. “What if they find a way out of the tents.”

Glancing back at the already murmuring snake-dragons, Cadence felt the smile on her lips grow. “Well, if they do there’ll still be one left when we return.”

“Are you sure about this?”

Facing Shining on the balcony, Cadence nodded for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. “Yes, I don’t want to keep him here if he doesn’t want to stay.” She gazed back inside and found Skylight’s disapproving stare waiting for her, Cloud’s eyes holding an almost identical look.

Both of them spoke as she stepped inside, Cloud’s voice seeming like the squeaking of a mouse beside the lion’s roar that was Skylight’s. “You shouldn’t do this.”

“I know you both disagree with me,” Cadence said, lifting a hoof to silence any further argument. She had heard both ponies reasons, time and time again over the last few days as they discussed what to do with their single prisoner, Vensol. “But I don’t want to stop him from leaving. Keeping him here will only make him hate me more.”

Stepping past the pair of arguments in her ears, Cadence moved to the trio of dragons that stood in the centre of the room, one caged, the other two not. At the sound of her hoofsteps Flo and Moretur turned to face her, a smile on one pair of blue lips, and sorrow on the other.

“Have you said goodbye?” Cadence’s question was directed at Moretur, the dragon looking from her back to his brother.

“Not nearly enough,” Moretur replied, longing filling his voice. “But he needs to go.”

Rearing his lips with a snarl, Vensol spat at his brother, his saliva caught by the ethereal wall between them. “How dare you act like you care about me. You’ve betrayed us all. When you release me from here I’ll kill you I swear.”

Ignoring the enraged dragon, Cadence lit her horn, encapsulating Vensol in her magic before dismissing the tent around him.

The moment he heard the magical barriers fizzling around him Vensol’s rear legs kicked back as if he wanted to spring forward, but his body did not move. Held fast in Cadence’s magic all his struggle did nothing.

“I thought you were going to free me,” He spat down at Cadence. “I knew you were lying this whole time.”

“Well,” Cadence’s smile fell from her lips as she looked up at Vensol. “I had a feeling you weren’t going to leave peacefully, so I need to make sure everyone stays safe.” Stepping towards the group at the balcony door, she waited for them to move aside before floating Vensol through.

At the end of the balcony she released him, a half-dozen steps from her.

Free at last, Vensol crouched on the balcony railing, his wings spreading from his back. “You fool princess, you should have killed me while you had the chance.” Without waiting for a response he somersaulted backward and dropped down the side of the palace.

“Well,” Cadence said, turning to find Moretur behind her, a foreleg extended after his brother. “At least I got through to one of you. Maybe we can help your brother next time we see him?”

Moretur nodded in agreement, stepping to the balcony edge and dropping his snout towards the dim space below. “I don’t know if we’ll hear from him again.”

Slithering through the streets of Rockholm, Vensol quickly found the darkest alleys, a tunnel-like maze that ran between buildings, unknown to most of the city residents. His steps felt sluggish after being immobile for days.

Despite the dull aches in his limbs, Vensol could still navigate the tight and twisting passageways by instinct, not having to stop and feel ahead with wings like some of the lower ranks.

Soon he realized the change in the air around him, from the fresh outdoor to the thick stench that filled The Whispering Wings quarters. Vensol could smell the guards before him, fresh recruits, barely a splash of blood on their claws.

“Vensol,” One of them managed to rasp, surprise obvious in his voice. “We thought the two of you were dead.” Sensing no one behind the approaching dragon, the guard continued. “Did Moretur play the part?”

“Tell Aldior that Moretur found his way in. The princess,” Vensol spat the word. “Will be dead by tonight.”