“Well, this is goodbye then.” Cadence looked from Skylight to Cloud, the sad smiles on their lips matching hers and Shining’s. Behind the pegasus pair was the balcony she knew well, cracks still lining its grey stone. The noon sun hung out of sight, bathing the balcony and city beyond in its golden glow.

Beside her Shining nodded. “Will we ever see you again?”

Cloud and Skylight shared a look before turning back to the ponies in front of them, the smiles on their muzzles growing. “If you don’t come visit us, we’ll visit you,” Cloud said. “You live in Canterlot right?”

“We will.” Eyes unfocusing, Cadence thought back to the city she had came from, the white palace walls fuzzy in her mind. “But it’ll be a long time till we get back, Celestia’s planned a lot of travel for us.”

“Without these you’ll be walking forever.” The smile on Skylight’s lips twisted into a smirk as she opened one wing.

“Well,” Cadence turned her head to the side, meeting Shining’s eyes as he did the same. “We have plenty of time to walk.”

A light chuckle ran through the four, slowly fading into silence. Each pony looked from one to the other, unsure of what to say. Eventually Cloud broke the quiet as he stepped towards Shining and Cadence.

“I’ll miss you two, and I’ll never forget what you’ve done.” He spread his wings and wrapped the pair in a cocoon of feathers.

Skylight took a step towards Cloud, but stayed back from the group until he had retreated. “I couldn’t forget you two if I tried.” She reached out a hoof to farewell Cadence and Shining only to have her neck wrapped in a pair of pink forelegs.

“I’ll miss you too Skylight.”

A third leg looped around Skylight’s neck as Shining joined the embrace. “I will as well.”

Skylight endured the contact for as long as she could before easing the pair off of her with a wing. “Go,” She said with a nod. “Everyone’s waiting.” With the tip of her wing, she motioned towards the door behind Shining and Cadence.

With stiff movements, Cadence half-turned towards the back end of the room she had grown to love. Glancing back at Skylight and Cloud, she felt her smile fall away. “I wish we could stay.”

“No,” Cloud shook his head, shooing the pair before him away with a hoof. “You need to keep travelling. With what you’ve done for this city, I’m sure there as so many other places out there that need you as well.”

Taking Cloud’s words, Cadence nodded. “You’re right.” With a sigh she turned away, forcing herself to move towards the door, Shining at her side. Half in the hallway, half still inside their room, she looked back again, giving Cloud and Skylight one last wave before disappearing.

Stepping slowly down the hallway, Cadence rested her head against Shining’s neck. She tried to push Cloud and Skylight from her thoughts, hoping the tugging in her stomach would cease. Think about all that’s ahead, She told herself. The griffons and minotaurs, all the towns and cities filled with others you can befriend.

The thought only caused her to sigh again. “Is this what this journey will be?” She said, hoping Shining would tell her otherwise.

Meeting Cadence’s eyes, Shining’s brow was creased with confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Well, what’s happened over this past year. Meeting ponies, or dragons, or whoever, becoming friends with them, only to never see them again.”

Shining took a deep breath before turning to the stairs, mulling over Cadence’s words as they decsended. “Maybe it will be, but don’t think about never seeing them again. We had so many good times with Cloud and Skylight that they’ll always be with us in our memories.”

“But, we’ll never be able to do those things with them again.”

A few steps from the throne room door now, Shining stopped and turned to Cadence, the smile on his lips wide enough for both of them. “That’s why we find new friends to do new things with.”

Seeing the smile Shining wore, Cadence couldn’t control her own lips as they mirrored his. “I hope you’re right.”

“Trust me.” Turning back towards the door, Shining straightened himself up. “Now are you ready for this?”

Also straightening herself up, Cadence nodded. “It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to all these dragons as well.”

“Mmm.” Shining took a step forward before stopping and glancing at Cadence. “And be ready for Flo and Cali. Cloud said they were planning something big.”

“Oh, I hope it doesn’t turn out like their last surprise for me.” The smile on Cadence's lips spread even further as she thought back to the pair of young dragons’ birthday gift for her. They had decided to order her an enormous pie, large enough for both of them to fit inside.

Shining licked his lips, fondly remembering the belly ache he had suffered after forcing as much of the raspberry pie down his throat as he could. “I hope it is like their last one. I’m feeling a little hungry.”

Nudging Shining’s side with a hoof, Cadence let out a giggle. “Next time we’re cleaning it up a different way.”

Both ponies shared another round of laughter, Cadence’s eyes coming to rest on the door before her as her chest stilled. The sight of it reminding her where they stood and who was waiting. “Well, we should get out there. No need to keep them all waiting.”

Taking a step forward, Shining pressed his hoof to the stone of the door before them. A voice greeted them as it swung open, like the rumbling of an earthquake.

“Princess, prince.”

Cadence and Shining stepped forward as Obsidian spoke to find a small crowd gathered in the throne room.

“I was beginning to worry you were going to slip away without saying goodbye.” There was a hint of humour in Obsidian’s voice, a small smile on his lips.

“I told you she would never leave without a farewell.” Another voice came from Obsidian’s side, this one rivaling his deep rumbling.

Still moving forward, Cadence saw Ember standing beside Obsidian, a smile on his lips but sadness in his eyes.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” Cadence said, addressing the whole group before her. “We were finding it difficult to say goodbye.” Familiar faces greeted her eyes as she gazed around the room.

Belle stood on the other side of Ember, Obsius beside her and Curid beside him. The three century commanders had decided to stay in Rockholm after the loss of Millennium, each of them soon finding positions among Obsidian’s army that had been vacated by the battle.

To Cadence’s surprise it was Belle who spoke, her words widening the smile on Ember’s lips. “It’s fine princess, we know how hard it is for you to say goodbye, we’re saying goodbye as well.”

The words caused Cadence’s breath to catch in her throat, her eyes widening a little. I never thought of that. “Well, Im sorry we can’t stay. We need to keep moving if we’re going to complete our trip in time.”

“We understand,” Ember spoke this time. “A princess has duties she must attend to.”

He’s sounding more and more like his father, Cadence thought as she nodded.

“I’ll miss you princess,” Ember continued, waving a claw around the circle of dragons. “We all will.” The five nodded at his words, murmuring assent in their own ways. “You should be going now, the city wants to say goodbye as well.”

Still nodding, Cadence met each dragon’s eyes with a smile before moving down the courtroom towards the door. At the door a stumpy dragon they had grown to know well met them, a pair of saddlebags in each of his claws.

“Princess, Shining. I have stuffed as much as I could into your bags for you,” He said, holding the bags towards each pony.

“Oh, Adicus.” Cadence took the yellow pair of bags in her magic, shifting her wings to hang the bags at her sides. “I had almost forgotten we asked you to do that.”

Adicus smiled, his claws now free. “Understandable with all that I’m sure is on your mind. I hope to see you two again someday, no one here appreciates my pies quite like you Shining.”

A red warmth touched at Shining’s cheeks as he looked back up from adjusting his bags. “I’ll miss you as well Adicus, I don’t know if I’ll ever taste pies as good as yours again.”

Cadence felt a chuckle shaking her chest as the two shared an embrace, Adicus like a bear hugging the foal that was Shining. “Who knew a dragon and pony could come so close over pie.”

Both Adicus and Shining looked to Cadence with serious eyes, Shining speaking for both of them. “Food is something that everyone can enjoy together, no matter who or what you are.”

Unable to help herself, Cadence chuckled again, this time louder. “There’s parts of love I still don’t understand,” She said to herself, watching the two before her break apart.

Joining Cadence once more, Shining glanced back to Adicus as they moved away. “I’ll visit you again Adicus, and I hope you have new pies to surprise me with then.”

Lifting his claw, Adicus waved them off before turning and moving back towards his kitchen.

At the doors to the palace gardens now, Shining looked to Cadence. “We need to make these pies last, we don’t know when we’ll be able to get more like them.”

Expecting his words to be about their departure rather than food, Cadence allowed another chuckle to escape her lips. “Well, I doubt they’ll last very long with you around.”

A guilty smile crossed Shining’s lips, his eyes moving back to the doors before them. “Are you ready?”

Cadence took a deep breath, and then another, she could already hear the murmur of voices through the door, like the buzz of hive. “I think so, it sounds like the whole city is out there.”

“Yeah,” Shining lifted a hoof and placed it against the door. “This is going to be loud.”

With the power of both his magic and his body, Shining forced the door forward to an eruptions of cheering, the solid wave of sound causing the pair to stop in their tracks.

“This is a lot more than I expected,” Cadence whispered into Shining’s ear.

“Mmm.” With a nod Shining took the lead, moving forward with Cadence a step behind him.

On either side of them them guards rowed the stone path down to the palace gates, each of them nodding their heads as Cadence and Shining passed. A few of them Cadence recognized, Zorent and Seten, a pair who often caught Flo and Cali making mischief around the palace.

The smile on Cadence’s lips widened at the sight of the two guards, fond memories of them bringing Flo and Cali back to her room filling her thoughts. I hope they don’t cause Zorent and Seten too much trouble when I’m gone.

As they moved down the path the sound of cheering only grew, Cadence and Shining forced to stop completely. Outside the gates a horde of dragons filled the streets on either side, each yelling words of their own to contribute to the indiscernible din in the air.

Cadence raised a hoof with hope to quiet the noise, only to have the cheering grow louder. Sighing, she placed her lips at Shining’s ear. “Should we let them have their fun?”

Nodding, Shining lit his horn and plugged his ears with magic, Cadence doing the same.

The pair walked through the streets with wide grins on their muzzles, the noise around them dulled to a quiet hum by the magic in their ears.

Looking from side to side, Cadence found she could not take in the amount of faces presented on either side. So many of them foreign, her eyes picked out the few she had seen before, but her mind could not match names to them.

I don’t think I’ve even spoke to most of the dragons here, She thought, chest humming with the sound that surrounded her. Yet they’ve all come out to send me off. Moisture gathered in the corner of Cadence’s eye, threatening to run down her cheek.

Through her mind flashed the faces of all the dragons she was leaving behind, each one adding to the warmth building in her chest. The tear finally let go of her eye and ran down pink fur when her mind rested on Cloud and Skylight, the pair leaving so many memories in her mind.

The touch of a claw on Cadence’s shoulder drew her from her memories, the barest hint of a word leaking in through her deafened ears. “Princess.”

Glancing to her side, she found the blue eyes on Flo waiting for her and Cali’s golden pair beside Flo. With the ring of her horn she opened her ears, the previously overpowering cheering having now died away to a much more comfortable volume.

“What did you two do this time?” Cadence asked, her muzzle stretching with a smile once more.

Flo pouted at Cadence’s question, her claw still tugging at a pink shoulder. “We can’t tell you now. You have to come and see it.”

Looking up from Flo, Cadence saw that the movement in the crowd had slowed and their cheering had grown softer, all eyes on the four in the centre of the path. “Okay, lead the way.”

With a grin on both of their lips, Flo and Cali raced away, leaving Cadence and Shining to follow at a walk.

The noise of the crowd picked up once again as the continued to move, but it was barely a whisper compared to their previous deafening sound.

Her ears clear of any magic, Cadence could head murmurs running through the crowd underneath the cheers. Some of them brought warmth to her cheeks while others caused her smile to shrink.

“Look Azure, it’s the pony who saved you from Ember.”

“It’s so sad to see her go, she really brought a certain something to this city.”

“Good riddance, she finally leaving. Now Rockholm can return to normal.”

The last glimpse of conversation sent a shiver down Cadence’s spine, a sickly feeling tainting her stomach. Will this city really turn back to the way it was if I leave? Faces filled her mind as she thought, the faces of all the kind friends she was leaving behind. No, they’ll make sure this city only gets better.

“Princess it’s over here.”

A gap had opened up in the crowd to one side of the street, Flo sticking out of it, her claw waving Cadence over.

Shaking the thoughts from her mind, Cadence moved towards Flo, Shining at her side. The street they followed Flo down was empty of any other dragons, although some of the crowd soon followed her steps.

After a short walk the street widened out once more, Flo holding her claw before Cadence’s eyes as it did so. “Don’t look yet princess. Wait till I tell you to.”

Closing her eyes, Cadence felt the smile on her lips widened into a grin so wide her cheeks hurt. The sound of metal scraping against stone filled Cadence’s ears as she stepped forward, her mind racing to decipher what the surprise could be.

“Open them now.”

Lifting her eyelids, Cadence found herself staring into her own eyes. The reflection of her and Shining in the silvery metal before her distorted by its shape. Her brow creasing with confusion, she tilted her head to the side. “What is it?”

From her side Cadence heard a sigh leave Flo’s lips. “It’s you.”

“Take a step back Cadence,” Shining said from behind her. “I can see the shape much better from back here.”

Following Shining’s advice, Cadence moved back to where he stood and gazed at the shaped piece of metal once more, her eyes finally able to pick out features. A head twice as large as her own was attached to the body by a neck as thick as Cadence’s chest.

Tracing the sculpture with her eyes, Cadence found a horn coming from the head, its point as sharp as a claw unlike her own rounded tip. The legs that held the sculpture upright were as straight as the bars of a gate, and a few lengths of metal erupting from the back seemed to form a tail.

Despite the roughness of the gift, Cadence felt her smile growing wider than she would have thought possible, her eyes welling up with tears once more. “Oh, you didn’t have to do this Flo, Cali. Did you two make it all yourselves?”

Flo grinned, pointing to her own chest with a claw. “Cali showed me how to change the metal. I did all the rest.”

“I can see.” Cadence shifted her eyes to the orange-scaled dragon beside Flo and found a smile on Cali’s lips as well.

“She’s not too bad for a first timer.” Reaching her claw towards the sculpture, Cali tested the sharpness of the horn against her scale. “Flo only cut herself twice.”

“Oh, no, Flo, are they bad?”

Lifting her own claw, Flo displayed the side by side pair of slices in her scales with pride, the edges holding a hint of red. “Nothing bad princess. I didn’t even feel them.”

“Good.” A sigh left Cadence’s lips as she studied the supposed replica of her for a few more moments before looking back to Flo. “Thank you so much for this, both of you, but we should be leaving now.”

Hearing Cadence’s words, Flo abandoned her cool attitude and leapt forward, wrapping Cadence in a hug. “You don’t have to go princess. You can stay here forever.”

Over the previous few months Flo had grown, and now Cadence looked up to the dragon when they embraced. “I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me as well, but Shining and I have to keep travelling. There are others out there that need our help just as much as this city did.”

Flo opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Blue eyes quivered as tears formed in their corners, Flo’s muzzle lowering to bury itself in the pink of Cadence’s coat. “So I’ll never see you ever?”

Stroking her hoof along Flo’s neck, Cadence felt her still wet eyes blooming with tears once more. “Well, not for a long time, but I promise I’ll see you again.”

The pair shared the embrace for some time, silently shedding tears in each others grasp. Beside them Shining and Cali shared a look and nodded, giving the two the time they needed.

Eventually Flo and Cadence broke apart, drying their eyes with hooves and claws. By now the crowd had leaked into the street behind them and were watching with murmurs.

Glancing back at the growing crowd, Cadence let out a sigh. “Well, we should be going. I’ll see you again Flo, one day.”

With a small smile on her lips and cheeks glistening with tears, Flo nodded. “If you don’t I’ll visit you.”

“I’d like that.”

One final wave and the pony pair turned to move back through the crowd to the main street. In Cadence’s chest something tugged at her heart, bringing the faces of all she was leaving behind to mind once more.

The streets seemed to shorten as they moved, the tall, obsidian gates of Rockholm soon standing over them.

“Well,” Cadence said, turning back to the city. “This is it.”

“Mmm.” Shining turned as well. “We might never see this city again.”

“Oh don’t say that.” With a sigh, Cadence lifted her eyes to the sky. “But you’re right, if princess duties back in Canterlot get out of hoof this will be our last goodbye.” Lifting her eyes even further, she spotted two pairs of wings descending towards them from high in the sky, one pair dwarfing the other. “Everyone else knows that too.”

The sound of wings soon drew Shining’s gaze to the sky as well, a grin cracking his lips wide open when he shared the sight. “One goodbye wasn’t good enough for them, was it.”

“We thought we’d fly you the first little bit,” Cloud said as he and Skylight landed with the sound of hooves on stone.

Cadence’s found her vision blurring and cheeks growing wet once again, the smile on her lips hurting. “One last flight?”

“Then you’re on your own.” Skylight lowered her body to the ground as she spoke. “Those flying lessons better not be wasted.”

Climbing atop Skylight’s back, Cadence nodded. “After all you’ve shown me I could never give up flying.” Warmth filled her chest at the familiar sensation of Skylight’s strong muscles beneath her belly.

His grin still wide, Shining climbed atop Cloud’s back and held on loosely. The position one more of calm than fear for him now. “Let’s go.”

On Shining’s word the pair of pegasi leapt into the air, mane whipping backward and their passengers tightening their grip as not to be thrown off. The clouds above came down to meet them, all four closing their eyes as they burst through one and into the erie space above.

Cadence’s breath was stolen from her lungs as she took in the sight. Cloud’s stretched on forever, like islands of fluffy white. “Is it always this beautiful up here?” She asked once she had recovered her breath.

Slowing her speed with a beat of her wings, Skylight shrugged. “Only when the sun’s out.” With another beat of her wings, she shot forward, catching up with Cloud as he raced ahead.

Allowing a deep breath to fill her lungs, Cadence loosened her grip around Skylight’s neck and closed her eyes, focusing on the wind playing with her mane. Despite the calm around her, she couldn’t ignore the sickly feeling growing in her stomach. I wonder what’s going to happen next?

She had read through Celestia’s plans over in the days leading up to their departure, following the trail of small towns up to the wide expanse of land marked as Griffon Territory. Will their cities be in as much danger as this one was? She had thought, the image of a fire-breathing griffon attacking the walls of Rockholm filling her mind.

Shaking the strange creature her mind had concocted from her thoughts, Cadence focused on the sky before her. Holes were opening in the clouds, revealing the red-brown plain below. Looking up, she found the mountains were approaching quickly, their sight bringing many old memories to mind.

In Cadence’s head Ember stood across the cave from her, a small scaled form bound in chains behind him. She winced at the memory, clearing her mind once more. I won’t have to deal with another Ember, will I?

All Cadence had to base her predictions on were the cities and towns she had visited in the past. Canterlot and Ponyville brought warmth to her thoughts, yet her picture of them was blurry, the memories so old they felt as if they had happened in a different lifetime.

The last two places we have visited have not been in such good shape, Cadence thought, recalling the army base where she had met Cloud and Skylight, remembering the state Rockholm had been in when she had arrived. What if it gets worse the further we go?

A jolt broke Cadence from her thoughts, the unexpected landing knocking the air from her lungs. Briefly stunned, her eyelids fluttered as she took in her surroundings. “Oh, is this it?”

“Yes,” Skylight nodded as she spoke. “Unless you want us to race to the bridge.”

The jab brought a smile back to Cadence’s lips, her stomach illy recalling the past times it had experienced Skylight’s top speeds. “We’ll pass on that one.” Once on the ground again, she moved to stand beside Shining, the two couples facing each other.

“I guess this is goodbye, again,” Shining said, unsure of what else he could ease the strange tension with.

Cloud nodded at his words. “Yes.” A sigh left his lips, eyes flashing with months of memories in an instant. “I know we might never see each other again, but this has been the best year of my life. I’ll never forget you two.”

“I won’t either.”

“We won’t either.”

“We won’t either.”

Skylight, Cadence and Shining spoke in unison, all three sharing glances before chuckling.

“We’ll see you again, someday,” Skylight said before opening her wings and turning to Cloud. “Race you back.” The pegasus pair erupted into the sky with a cloud of dust and the sound of laughter, leaving Cadence and Shining behind.

Following the pairs of wings into the sky, Cadence’s smile shrunk slightly. “Well, this is it.” A heavy sigh left her lips, pink eyelids dropping a little.

“We should get walking.” Placing his hoof on Cadence’s neck, Shining turned her away from the last sight of the friends and towards the plain before them. “Looking back will only make you miss them more, make it harder to keep moving forward.”

Wiping the hint of a tear from the corner of her eye, Cadence nodded. “You’re right. I should be excited about everything that waits for us ahead.” As she stepped forward a gust of wind met her head on, its touch lifting her mane into the air. “And this land won’t do the walking for us.”

They moved across the plain while the wind played with their manes and tails in short gusts and long breaths. With each step its grew bolder and bolder, the time between its greetings lessening until it was a constant breeze along their coats.

Thankful for the cooling embrace of the wind, Cadence took a deep breath of its sweet air and squinted at the burning sun above. It was nearing the horizon, about to kiss the mountain range that lay in the distance far ahead.

“Where are we going to take shelter tonight?” She asked Shining while gazing across the featureless stone and dust plain that stretched out until the mountains.

Turning to look upon Cadence’s face, Shining shrugged. “I’ve been thinking the same thing myself, and it looks like we’ll be sleeping out in the open unless a cave pops out of the ground.”

No such cave came, and the pair were forced to construct their ethereal tent and mattress in the open, its glow easily visible from anywhere on the plain.

“I wonder what the griffons will be like,” Shining said as they settled down to eat, each taking a pastry from the selection Adicus had provided. Apple for Shining and raspberry for Cadence. The stone beneath them still held the heat the sun had soaked into it all day, leaving them with no need for a fire.

Swallowing his first mouthful, Shining continued. “Do you think they’ll have massive stone castles like the dragons?”

“Hmmm,” Cadence nibbled at the edge of her of pie as she thought, trying to recall anything she had learnt of the griffon culture. “Well, I haven’t read too much about them, but won’t they be similar to pegasi? Maybe they have cities built in the clouds?”

Having fit almost half of his pie into his mouth by the time Cadence had finished speaking, Shining swallowed hard before opening his lips. “I don’t think so, the only reason the pegasi can make those cloud cities is because of their magic right?”

After a moments thought Cadence nodded. “Mmm, you’re right, but I don’t imagine them building with stone either. Maybe they have wooden houses like us?”

Shining glanced at their surroundings before shaking his head. “Unless there’s a forest over that mountain range then I don’t know where they get the wood from.”

“Well, we have no idea what’s on the other side of that mountain.” Turning her head, Cadence looked towards the shadows of peaks in the far off distance. “But it was marked as desert on the map.”

A smile lit up Shining’s lips. “Then it’s probably a desert.” His meal now finished, he kissed Cadence’s cheek with sticky lips. “But instead of worrying about what’s ahead, why don’t we enjoy this time we have alone?” His lips moved towards hers, tasting the raspberry flavour that filled her mouth.

Feeling a warmth fill her chest, Cadence drunk in Shining’s kiss, grasping at his neck with a hoof, pulling him closer. Their lips shared the embrace for some time, both uncaring of the world around them and focused solely on their partner.

After a while Shining lifted his hoof to stroke at Cadence’s mane, before moving it down her back a few moments later. Along her spine and towards her tail his hoof travelled with soft massaging movements, Cadence moaning into his lips and twisting her body towards his.

As he made to move down her rump Cadence broke from the kiss. “I know you’re eager, so am I, but in a place like this we don’t know who’s watching. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

Shining moved his head back, meeting Cadence’s eyes before moving forward once more to kiss at her cheek. “I know what you mean, it feels like almost anyone could sneak up on us while we sleep.”

Glancing to the tent behind them, Cadence’s lips lifted with a smile as she turned back to Shining. “Celestia’s magic will always protect us, no matter who tries to break in.”

Looking back at the ethereal tent as well, Shining smirked. “Unless Cloud and Skylight decide to surprise us in the middle of the night.”

The mention of the pegasus pair drew Cadence’s smile even wider. “Well, I wouldn’t mind that.” A yawn broke her lips as she finished speaking, distorting the final word. Once the yawn had faded, she lifted her pie to her lips. “Why don’t I finish this and then we can get some sleep? We have a lot of travel ahead of us.”

With each day they spent walking the strength of the wind grew and grew until it was whipping up small storms of dust, tinting both ponies coats with red-brown. The mountains ahead kept Shining and Cadence moving, a goal that came closer with each step.

After a few days their supplies of water were exhausted, Cadence forced to produce it magically to keep thirst at bay. As she worked Shining watched their surroundings with lazy eyes, a hoof held up to shelter them from the glare of the sun.

“I wonder why we haven’t seen anyone since we left Rockholm?” He said, thinking aloud. “It’s almost like we’re the only two between those mountains and the ones we left behind.”

“Well,” Opening her eyes and silencing her horn, Cadence corked the now full gourd of water, one of the two Skylight and Cloud had given them for their travels. “It isn’t the nicest of places, most would avoid travelling through it unless they have to, like us.”

“Yeah.” As Shining spoke a gust of wind scooped dust into his mouth, causing him to spit and gag. “I can see why. We need to get out of this place as soon as we can.”

Looking to her side, Cadence lifted one of her wings with a smile. “We could always try flying, I’ve gotten a lot better with Skylight’s help.”

Pushing the grimace from his lips with a smile, Shining lifted a hoof to rest on Cadence’s shoulder. “I know you have, but we’ve tried this without our bags on and you know how that went. It’ll be a while before you can carry both me and the bags.”

“Mmm,” A sigh left Cadence’s lips before she rose to her hooves, magically lifting her bags over her withers. “Well, why don’t we keep moving? The more we walk the less time we have to spend with this dust.”

Sleep came slow for Cadence that night. Despite her heavy limbs her eyes refused to stay shut, the stars and moon soaring high above holding their attention. Beside her Shining slept with heavy breaths, his belly in the air and a satisfied smile on his lips.

Tearing her eyes away from the soft light of the stars, Cadence turned to watch the peaceful Shining, hoping his sleep would encourage her own. She smiled at the end of his mane, caught between his lips, her hoof reaching forward to gently lift it away.

His hair’s gotten far too long. The thought filled her mind as she brushed his fringe back over one ear, careful not to wake him. A picture of his mane when they had departed filled her mind, barely long enough to hang over his eyes, but over the months in Rockholm it had grown unruly, its length rivaling hers.

We should get it cut in the next city we’re in. If I let him grow it too long he might start tripping over it. Cadence smiled at the thought, her minding producing a picture of Shining with a mane down to his hooves, falling face first into the dust.

“Ahh!”

The whisper of a scream broke Cadence from her thoughts and drew her eyes towards the distant range of mountains it had come from. Did I really hear that? Tilting an ear towards the mountains, she concentrated, waiting many moments for another sound, but nothing came.

Maybe I imagined it? A yawn broke her lips at the thought. I am half asleep after all. She settled down beside Shining once more, forcing her eyes closed and trying to find the darkness of sleep in her mind.

As she listened to Shining‘s breathing, the weight of sleep slowly came to rest in her mind, calming her thoughts and lulling her towards the darkness that waited.

“Help!”

Another cry, this one so quiet Shining’s breathing almost drowned it out, pulled Cadence from the warm embrace of sleep. Her head lifted, ears turning towards the sound and waiting. Once again nothing else came.

I must be dreaming these things, She told herself as she curled up beside Shining for what seemed like the dozenth time that night. Scaring myself awake. The weight of sleep came upon her once more, this time swallowing her in shadows.

“Cadence, it’s time to wake up.” Shining’s voice and the touch of his lips against her cheek caused Cadence’s eyes to flutter open.

“You woke up before me?”

Smiling, Shining leant into another kiss, this time on her lips. “I was surprised too, but it seems like you were very sleepy so I left you alone.”

Rubbing at her eye with a hoof, Cadence felt the gnaw of hunger in her stomach as she sat up. “What time is it?”

Shining glanced up at the sky before looking back to Cadence. “Almost noon. I thought I should wake you before it gets too late.”

A yawn broke Cadence’s lips as she tried to speak, her head still feeling heavy with want for rest. “What? Why am I still so tired then?” Kneading the side of her head with a hoof, she tried to bring back any memories of the previous night. “Did we sleep late last night?”

“No,” A hint of worry touched at Shining’s brow in the form of a crease, his foreleg reaching forth to stroke gently at her mane. “We went to bed at around our normal time. Did something keep you up last night.”

“Well,” Another yawn pushed its way through Cadence’s lips. “I can’t quite remember, all I can remember is-” Her eyes widened in an instant, her jaw hanging open. “These strange cries, like someone was screaming for help. I got up and tried to look for them but they only came as I was falling asleep.”

Chuckling lightly, Shining continued to comfort Cadence with strokes of his hoof down her neck. “Are you sure it wasn’t part of a dream?”

“That’s what I thought as well, but it kept on happening, over and over, until I could see sunlight coming up over the mountains.” Cadence rubbed at her eyes again, as if the movement would return her lost sleep.

Worry returned to Shining’s brow as he allowed Cadence to rest her head against his foreleg. “So you got no sleep at all last night?”

“A little bit, but-” A yawn forced Cadence to pause, her eyes blinking slowly. “I feel like I still need more.”

Lowering Cadence’s head back to the mattress underneath, Shining kissed at her forehead. “You should get some more then. We’ve got plenty of time to get to the griffons and I don’t want to push you too hard. I’ll wake you up later.”

“Alright,” Cadence said through another yawn, her eyelids sinking, filling her vision with blackness. “I’ll see you-” Sleep overcame Cadence’s mind before she could finish, quieting her words to uninterpretable murmurs.

Sunlight leaked in through Cadence’s eyelids as they fluttered open, the bright light washing any remnants of sleep from her mind. She allowed a yawn to escape her lips as she sat up, taking in her surroundings through blurry eyes.

“Shining?” She called, unable to find a white and blue blob amongst the hazy red-brown that surrounded her.

“I’m here.” His response came from behind her, along with the rustle of paper. “I thought I’d let you have as much sleep as you needed, didn’t want to wake a tired Cadence again.”

A smile on her lips, Cadence turned towards Shining. “Well, is there still enough time in the day to keep moving?”

Shining glanced up at the sun before looking back down to Cadence. “It looks like we’ve got a little longer still. Are you sure you don’t want something to eat before we go?” At Shining’s mention, Cadence’s stomach let out a growl, causing both ponies to chuckle.

“That would be a good idea,” She said, searching for their saddlebags with her eyes. “We’ll leave once I’m finished.”

“We really should stop Cadence, a stallion needs his rest.” Without waiting for a response from Cadence, Shining lowered himself to the dust below, a yawn leaving his lips. “We can’t walk all night.”

“Wait,” Cadence held a hoof to Shining lips, silencing the sounds of his breathing. Pink ears perked up and her eyes widened. “Can’t you hear that?”

“No, I haven’t heard it once all night.” His voice soft and sleepy, Shining looked up to the stars as he spoke. “And it must be halfway through the night by now. We should both-” Another yawn leapt free from Shining’s mouth, cutting off his voice. “Get some sleep.”

Glancing down at the tired state Shining was in, Cadence felt a hint of guilt swirling in her stomach. “You’re right, I’ve been leading us like a crazy pony all night. We should go to-” Her ears perked up, head jolting towards the distant mountain range.

In time with Cadence, Shining jerked upright as well, his eyes wide. “Is that what you’ve been hearing, like a tiny scream?”

Cadence nodded, a smile spreading her lips that did not match the rest of her startled expression. “I’ve been hearing that all night, and I heard it all of last night as well.”

“I can see why you didn’t sleep then, it sounds like someone’s crying out in pain.”

“Mmm,” Cadence nodded again, her eyes still glued to the shadows of mountains that filled the horizon. “Sometimes there are other screams as well, like someone else is in need of help.”

“Maybe it’s a haunted mountain, and that’s a ghost crying for help?” A smile on his lips, Shining magically lifted his saddlebags from his back and placed them to one side. “Or maybe that’s how griffons speak?”

“Shining, this is no time to joke. Someone could be truly in danger.”

“I know, but they’ll have to wait” Shining responded as he magically formed a tent around them, and a mattress below them following that. “Need sleep.” One final yawn left his lips and his eyelids fell shut.

“Shining?” Touching a hoof to his side, Cadence rolled her eyes. I’ll never wake him now.

“Help!”

The cry drifted through the air again, reaching Cadence ears as a whisper. She shivered in response, mind conjuring images of Flo trapped under a rock, unable to move, voice growing hoarser and hoarser with each call.

No, She shook the thought from her head. It can’t be Flo up there, she’s safe back in Rockholm. Even so, Looking back to mountains, Cadence grimaced. It could be another dragon stuck up there with no one to help.

No one but me. Lighting her horn, Cadence deposited her bags beside Shining before opening her wings. A light tingling danced from base to tip, the muscles along her back begging for attention. I do need some flying practice anyway.

Crouching low to the ground, Cadence spread her wings as wide as she could before leaping toward the sky. With one beat she was rocketing upward, the cool night air obeying the command of her feathers and carrying her higher.

Once at a comfortable height, Cadence directed her strength forward, her eyes set on the mountains that had been her goal for days. Whoever you are, whatever’s wrong, I’m coming for you.

The smile on Cadence’s lips spread into a grin at the thrill of flight filled her body with a warmth that no cold night could steal away.

“Help!”

Another cry sounded, followed by the scream, the pair of sounds tearing Cadence’s joy from her lips. I’m getting closer, it’s definitely on these mountains. With the want to comfort driving her wings, she sped forward at an even greater speed, the wind causing her mane to dance behind.

After what seemed like an eternity of flight for Cadence, gritting her teeth at the tear-bringing cries, the mountains were finally below her. She slowed her pace, descending towards where she had last heard the call for help.

“Help!”

Again the call came, so close this time it felt to Cadence like it were inside her own ears. I’m coming, She thought, resisting the urge to respond with a cry of her own, not wanting to scare the needy soul away.

The wind rushing past her mane whipped it into a storm as Cadence folded her wings against her side, muzzle pointed towards the fading echo of a cry. Faster than she expected, the ground came up to meet her, pink wings barely able to pull out of a dive and dump her roughly on the ground.

“Well, I still need more practice,” Cadence reminded herself as she closed her wings, flexing her now sore legs.

“Is someone there?”

The voice caused Cadence to remember where she was and why she had come. “Yes, I’m here to-” Before she could finish she felt scales press against her muzzle, silencing her while a scaled foreleg pulled her backwards.

A door slammed and bolts slid across wood before Cadence felt the grip release her, a breathy panting filling her ears.

“Wha-” Before Cadence could utter a word her mouth was blocked with scales once more.

“Shhh,” The whisper crept into her ear, barely louder than the sound of her own breathing. “If you make too much noise it’ll find us.”

Cadence felt the scales lift from her muzzle once more, freeing her lips to move. “If wha-” The moment she spoke the scales returned, this time Cadence sensing the tip of a talon at her cheek.

“Quiet.”

One side of Cadence wanted to bathe the room in the light of her magic, throwing the mysterious dragon off of her in the process. This dragon could be meaning well, She thought also, deciding to wait until her company deemed it safe to speak.

Time moved for Cadence like a glacier, her mind left with little to do but worry. Again and again she thought she heard the now familiar cry for help, but the walls around her seemed to drown out any sound from outside.

Whoever it is needs help. Despite her best efforts to push the images away, Cadence mind kept conjuring images of Flo. Trapped under fallen rocks or bound up in chains, each one made her shiver. It’s not Flo out there, She reminded herself.

But it’s still someone, The other part of her mind argued back. Someone who’s desperately crying for help. It took all her might to suppress the urge. The urge to force her way from the confines she was in and move into the night searching for the needy one.

With thoughts of the cry outside pushed from her mind, Cadence’s thoughts drifted to Shining. I hope he hasn’t woken up and noticed I’ve gone. He’ll be all alone. Turning her head, she tried to glance around the darkness for any signs of the coming morning.

How long have I been here? Could it be morning already? Her desire to leave the darkness she waited within grew and grew once more, a tingling running down her forelegs. I need to get out of here.

Just as Cadence was about to light her horn, the dragon who shared the darkness with her spoke. “It’s gone, for now.”

“Why did you bring me in here?” She called out while lighting her horn. Around her was a plainly decorated cave with a wooden door covering what seemed to be the entrance. Before her a dragon stood, black scales appearing deep blue in the glow of Cadence’s magic.

“I was protecting you.” The frantic voice that spilled from the dragon’s lips brought her wide eyes to Cadence’s attention, their purple pupils like pinpricks in an expanse of white. “You were almost taken by the evil spirit outside.” A shiver ran through the dragon’s body as she glanced to the door.

Taking a deep breath, Cadence doused the flame of annoyance growing in her mind, mentally going over her situation with calm thoughts before speaking. “Well, why don’t we start at the beginning? Could I know your name?”

“Pido,” She answered with shaky words. “But that doesn’t matter, you need to leave this town before the spirit comes back for you.”

Standing, Cadence took a step towards Pido before placing a hoof on a scaled shoulder. “Pido, are you sure it’s an evil spirit out there. It sounded like someone in trouble to me.”

Pido’s head turned back to Cadence with jolted movement, the dragon reminding her of a pair of clockwork puppets she had seen as a foal. A shiver ran down her spine at the memory. “That’s what the spirit wants you to think, it draws in travellers like you then it eats you from head to tail.” Pido’s voice seemed to be slightly higher pitched than it had been previously, words leaving her lips at a faster rate.

“Well, have you ever seen it do this?”

With frantic nodding Pido turned her head back to the door. “It was many months ago now, the last time I had a night of sleep. The spirit came into town calling out for help, and one of Ultis’s hatchlings went out to greet it. That poor thing was tackled to the ground and had its blood sucked clean from it before the spirit tossed the used body down the mountain.”

Warning filled Cadence’s features, her mind racing. What kind of creature kills like that. After a moments thought the answer came to her. Bat ponies, but surely one would never come all the way out here, and they’d never attack a dragon.

Still unable to believe what Pido was telling her, Cadence continued her questioning. “Are you sure it was a hatchling the ba- spirit killed? Not some small animal that looked similar?”

“It may have been dark but I know what I saw, and Ultis was missing her hatchling the next day as well. There’s no other way to explain it.” With the flick of a talon, Pido lifted a flap in the door before her, allowing space for her eyes to see outside.

There’s no way to argue with this dragon. Sighing, Cadence moved beside Pido and tried to gaze over her shoulder only to have the flap slammed shut before she could peek.

Pido turned her head with one sharp swing, meeting Cadence’s eyes with pinpricks of purple. “You mustn’t look at the spirit, for if it meets your eyes you’ll be caught in its will.”

“I thought you said the spirit was gone?” Cadence felt her patience with the dragon wearing away and her worry for Shining building. I never told him where I was going. What if he’s woken up to find me gone? I need to get back soon.

“-any time.” Consumed with thought, Cadence only caught the last of Pido’s words.

“Sorry, I didn’t quite hear what you said.”

“I said the spirit is silent when it’s stalking its prey. It only cries when it wants to draw helpless dragons in. It could be waiting out there right now.” The corner of Pido’s eyes twitched before she turned back to the door, opening the flap and peeking through once more.

“Well, isn’t it dangerous for you to look at the spirit as well?”

“Not for me, I have a special ability.” A small smile cracked on Pido’s lips, showing the sharp points of her teeth behind, each one stained a deep crimson. “I can look into the spirit’s eyes without falling under its spell. That’s why I’m the protector of this village, but I’m the only one in the whole village who has this ability.”

Turning her whole body, Pido stepped towards Cadence, the motion taking her so close their chests were touching. “And since I’m the only one the some fall prey to the spirit every now and then.”

The stench of flesh filled Cadence’s nostrils as Pido took a breath, causing her to take a few steps back in recoil. “Well, that’s great, but I really need to go.”

Pido took another step towards Cadence, the smile on her lips growing even wider. “You can’t go yet, you need to wait until sunrise. Otherwise the spirit might catch you. You must stay here and be safe with me.”

There’s no way I’m leaving her politely, Cadence realised, lighting her horn. “I’m sorry for this but I need to go now.” With the ring of magic she lifted Pido into the air and encased the bolts on the door in her magic, wiggling them back and forth with hope to release them.

“You can’t open those without the key,” Despite hovering in midair, Pido’s voice rang with glee. “You’ll have to stay in her all night after all.”

Shaking her head, Cadence swallowed the whole door in her blue glow. “Sorry about this, I promise I’ll pay you back.” With a deep breath she tore the door from its hinges, the sound of splintering rock filling the air.

Still holding Pido in her magic, Cadence dashed through the door, leaving the suspended dragon inside.

Outside it was silent, the only the ring of Cadence’s magic and a light breeze filling the air. Taking a moment to listen, she waited for the cry. Nothing came but a strange cackle from Pido’s cave.

I can’t wait here all night, I need to get back to Shining. Cadence silenced her magic as her wings lifted her into the air, her lips moving with a whisper. “Sorry Pido, I’ll help you fix everything later.”

Color flooded into Cadence’s eyes as her eyelids flickered open, the sound of teeth biting through pastry filling her ears. “Shining?” She whispered as she sat, wincing at the uncomfortable weight of her head.

Turning away from the pie suspended before him, Shining smiled at the sleepy Cadence. “You woke up earlier today. Did you get more sleep last night?”

“No,” Pressing a hoof to the side of her head, Cadence tried to rub away the pain, but her efforts only worsened its sting. “Even less I think.”

The smile on Shining’s lips fell away, his eyes turning towards the saddlebags open before him. “Would some food help wake you up?”

“I-” Meaning to say no, Cadence clutched at her belly, where a stab of pain had come to her notice. “I think that would be best.”

She wolfed through one, two, and part of a third pastry before stopping herself. “You can have the rest.”

Shining’s eyes lit up at the offering. Leaning forward, he made the pie vanish from mid air with a single bite before looking back up at Cadence. Concern lined his features. “Did that voice keep you up all night again?”

“Well,” Cadence glanced backward, her eyes finding the seemingly close mountains clear in the mid day air. “You could say that.” She took a deep breath, collecting memories of the previous night in her mind before speaking.

“I went looking for whoever was crying out last night, and I think I found out who, or what it was.”

Eyes wide, Shining followed Cadence’s words with slight nods.

“I met, well more like was captured by a dragon up on that mountain. Pido was her name. She seemed terrified of the cries for help, saying it was a monster trying to lure in victims to kill or something.”

Shining’s jaw dropped, his foreleg lifting to hold Cadence as he shuffled closer. “Did you see the monster?” He felt her lean into him, finding comfort in his chest.

“No, she his both of us in a cave until she said it was gone, but I don’t think it was a monster out there. I asked her about it and Pido said she had seen it drink its fill of blood from a hatchling before throwing it down the mountain side. It sounded like a bat pony to me.”

“Are you sure?” Shining rolled his eyes into his head, recalling what make believe tales he had heard about the little seen race of ponies. “I know everyone made bat ponies out to be terrible monsters, but they’re supposed to be quite selective with what they drink. They only drink from animals they’ve raised themselves.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought as well. Maybe Pido had seen the bat pony snacking and mistaken its meal for a hatchling.” A shudder ran through Cadence’s body. “She said she was sure it was a hatchling however, and that others had been killed by the same monster.”

Holding Cadence tight against his body, Shining buried his muzzle in her mane. “Maybe there is a rogue bat pony up on that mountain, killing dragons, or maybe it’s not a bat pony. There might be a type of dragon that feeds the same way.”

“Mmm, you’re right. It might not be a bat pony but a monster, or evil spirit I think she was saying.” Drawing her head from Shining’s chest, Cadence gazed back at the mountain range once more. “I can’t help but wonder if it is someone in danger, someone who really needs help.”

Following her eyes, Shining stared at the mountains for a moment as well. “When we get there we can both find out together, but until then can you not go there on your own? For my sake.”

“But,” Looking back to Shining, Cadence met his eyes with pain in her own. “What if it really is someone in danger up there? I can’t leave them all alone.”

“I know how much you want to help, but it makes me worry so much when you go off alone like that. At least when you went after Ember you had Skylight, but now, you’re by yourself. I don’t want to think about what could happen, especially if there is a monster out there.”

Leaning forward, Cadence pressed her lips into Shining’s, the two sharing the contact for some time.

Eventually she pulled away and stared up at his worried eyes. “Shining, I know you care for me a lot, I know how dangerous this could be and I know you would feel if I went off alone again, but I have to. I can’t leave whoever it is out there, calling for help with no answer. I need to save them before it’s too late.”

Shining stared back into Cadence’s eyes, watching her pink pupils quiver with fear, with determination. After a long silence he sighed. “If you really must go, if you really must help, then go. I don’t want to hold you back from the calling in your heart.” Even as he spoke he felt the twisting of his gut, a nervous sickness brewing in his stomach.

At Shining’s words a rush of warmth filled Cadence’s chest, but a pang of guilt joined it as well. Oh, I’m so selfish. Despite her want to apologize, her want to assure the sorry looking stallion before her that she would not put herself in any more danger without him, the cry for help filled her mind. Someone needs me more, I think.

“Why don’t we start walking anyway?” Shining suggested, breaking the tense silence. “Maybe we’ll be able to reach the mountains before night.”

A small smile touched Cadence’s lips. “Well, we can try.”

The heat of the day passed with little words shared between the two ponies, both of them mulling over thoughts in their minds.

Every so often Cadence would turn to Shining, open her lips as if she were about to speak, only to take a breath and turn back to the mountains before them. Inside her head raged a battle of guilt and duty.

How would I feel if I was him? She thought, her mind conjuring images of Shining heading into a deep dark cave alone, unsure of what waited for him at the end. Screams and roars echoed from the cave in her mind, causing her to wince.

The thought brought a sickness to her stomach. I could never let him go on such a dangerous venture alone, but, Looking to Shining, Cadence sighed. That’s what he’s doing for me, letting me go.

Her lips opened, mind tempted to tell Shining she had rethought her plans. I can always wait a day or two, then he can come with me.

No, The other half of her mind argued back. Whoever it is up there, they’re in trouble now. If you wait even one more day it could be too late for your help. Biting her lip, she turned back to the mountain once more.

“Cadence.” Shining’s voice drew her eyes towards him, to the knowing smile that rested upon his lips. “I know you’re worried about what could happen tonight. That if something goes wrong it’ll be all your fault, that you should just stay with me.”

Stilling the movement of her legs, Cadence turned her whole body towards Shining. “Well, some what, but that’s not-”

A raised white hoof silenced Cadence after Shining took a step towards her. “I know you can do it, I believe you won’t fail. Even if there is a monster up there waiting to drink your blood. You can beat it.”

As Shining’s hoof fell away from her lips, Cadence’s jaw dropped with it, the words she had previously formulated forgotten by her tongue. After a moment of staring at Shining she managed to speak. “I, thank you.”

With Shining’s help, one half of her mind won the war, a smile spreading across her lips as a result. “I’ll save whoever it is, or beat that monster, tonight. I won’t let you down, I won’t let either of us down.”

A fresh energy running through her veins, Cadence turned back to the ever growing mountains range and continued walking, the sound of Shining’s hoofsteps following her.

“Goodnight Shining.” His tired eyelids were already falling closed as Cadence kissed him to sleep.

“You can do it.” The words fell from Shining’s lips as a mumble while his eyes shut, the weight of sleep locking them tight.

A nervous sensation swirling in her belly and running along her limbs, Cadence stepped from the tent before opening her wings. Her eyes found the moon above, and the first few stars joining it.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Cadence perked her ears high, listening for the cry that had rung again and again the previous night and the one before that. Yet no sound came but the soft steps of the wind dancing across the plain.

Maybe someone helped them last night? Maybe they don’t need help anymore, or maybe? Cadence shivered at the thought, pushing the image of a limp and deflated Flo from her mind. I have to go anyway, they might be too tired to cry any more, at the point where they need help the most.

She flexed her legs before leaping into the air, allowing the light wind to take her higher with a few flaps.

The ground they had covered that day allowed her to arrive at the mountain range before the moon had finished its climb in the sky. Still no cry. Gazing down at the shadow below her, Cadence felt worry twisting in her stomach. Something must have gone wrong.

Folding her wings against her side, she dove towards the ground, pulling up long before she should have. Skylight would have not been happy with that. A small smile touched Cadence’s lips at the thought of the pegasus. I wonder what they’re doing now?

Cadence shook the thought from her head as she landed. I can think about them later, right now I need to focus. Her wings folded away, she tilted one of her ears skyward, testing the air for the cry that had consumed her thoughts for the past two days. Again, nothing came.

Well, I might be on the wrong mountain. Light her horn, Cadence bathed her surroundings in blue. Rocks were scattered on either side of her, forming a tight path up the mountainside, behind was a similar sight, the rocks growing larger as her eyes moved downward.

This is the wrong place. Taking another look, she found no sign of Pido’s door, or rather the hole that would be left after she tore it away. Cadence’s lips found a grimace as the thought crept into her memory. I hope she doesn’t hold a grudge for that.

Reopening her wings, Cadence lifted herself into the sky once more, this time using the light of her horn to guide her way. She glided slowly along the range, bathing familiar looking caves in a more focused beam of her light, but finding nothing.

By the time the moon had risen to its peak in the sky, Cadence touched down on the ground again. Why can’t I find it anymore. A mix of worry and frustration was churning in her stomach, her mind conjuring all sorts of nightmarish images of what could have happened in the time she had wasted. I need the cry to lead me.

The whispers of the night, previously drowned out by the ringing of her horn, flowed into Cadence’s ear, widening her eyes and dropping her jaw. There it is. Like the barest tickle of a feather she felt the cry come to her, almost indiscernible from the breath of the wind.

Not wanting to lose the sound she had been searching for, Cadence took a gentle step towards it, keeping her ear high in the air. With her step the sound seemed to move however, now coming from behind her.

What? I’m sure it was, Shaking the bud of annoyance away from her mind, Cadence once again turned towards the sound and took a step forward.

Where did it go? Her eyes widened and ears stiffened to points, the wings at her sides stretching out, ready for flight. I can’t have done all this to fail them. With the spring of her legs she leapt into the air, racing towards where she had last heard the whispering cry.

Between the beats of her wings Cadence pricked her ears up, drawing in every sound that rushed past them. Why did I wait this long? She felt worry overflowing from her stomach and filling the back of her throat. If I had have searched more last night I could have saved them sooner.

Even with the sense of failure weighing down her limbs, Cadence continued to fly, hoping that she would chance upon the needy one’s location.

“Help!”

The sound caused Cadence’s wings to freeze, her head flicking back and forth as she glided soundlessly downward. Where did that come from? Did I even hear that, or did I just imagine it?

Her hooves made contact with the mountainside without another cry reaching her, Cadence’s legs collapsing and allowing her to fall to the stone below. Why can’t I find them? Why is it so hard to help someone?

She sat for a few moments, mind raging with thoughts of failure. Eventually she shook her head, freeing herself from the questions that weighed her down. I can’t give up now, they’re still out there, somewhere.

All that filled her ears was the shaky sound of her own breathing and the scratch of her hooves against stone as she rose. Lifting her eyes, she took in the moon above, painting the sky bright with all its children. I wonder if they can even see the moon.

A shiver ran along Cadence’s back and through her limbs at the image that sprang into her head. It was of Flo, staring at her with empty sockets where her sapphire eyes should have been. No, don’t think like that. Someone might have come to their rescue.

Yet no matter how many times she told herself the best had happened, the lump in her stomach and painful silence in her ears would not flee. I need to see them for myself, but how. How will I find them?

I’ll call for them. Cadence’s lips were moving as the idea came to her, willing to try anything to know the fate of the mysterious voice.

“Hello? Is anyone out there?” Her shout shattered the silence so harshly it hurt her ears. When no response came she called again, this time softer, as not to hurt her delicate senses. “Are you hurt? Do you need help?”

In the echo of her cry a whisper came to Cadence’s ears, bringing the hint of a smile of her lips. “I want to help you, just call and I’ll come for you.” Again she heard the response, barely audible above the fading sound of her own voice.

Leaping forward, Cadence moved towards the sound, calling as she went. “Don’t worry, I’m right here. You don’t have to be alone any longer.” To her surprise the response grew louder with each step, each widening the smile on her lips.

I knew I would be in time to save them, Cadence thought as walls of rock on either side were opening, her past doubts left behind. A smile was strapped to her muzzle as she stopped at the end of the walls.

A wide bowl opened up before her, its sides rising high into the sky. Now where is this one who’s been crying? Taking a step forward, Cadence jolted when she heard the sound of a hoof on stone coming from the other side of the bowl.

She lifted her eyes towards the sound with a warming smile on her lips, but her body prepared itself for the fight, legs bent and ready for quick movement. The base of her horn was filled with magic, difficult to see from the outside but if examined closely a blue glow would be found under her coat.

Despite how real the sound was to her ears, Cadence’s eyes could not find a source, only blank rock littered with shadows. I’m sure I heard a hoofstep. She narrowed her eyes, hoping that the added focus would reveal a lurker from the dark when combined with the light of her horn, but all she found was red-brown rock.

“Is anyone there?” She called out, a hint of fear shaking her voice.

The garbled and indiscernible reply that returned to her was shaking as well, it’s tone almost identical to Cadence’s.

Question furrowed her brow as she stepped forward. Are they trying to copy me?

Standing in the centre of the stone bowl now, Cadence called out again. “I’ve heard someone calling out for help the last few nights. Is that you? I want to help.”

Fright drove Cadence’s legs to lift her into the air as the garbled and poorly copied reply returned yet again, but this time from all side of her. Her wings unfolded as she swung her head around, expecting to see a sizeable group approaching her from all sides.

I’ll wait for them to come out, She decided, lowering herself into what appeared to be a relaxed position, but her folded wings were still ready for flight. Dim horn ready to light and fight.

A long moment passed, two, yet still Cadence had heard no sound of steps, no whisper of wings to signal the approach or departure of anyone. Only the metronome of her breaths filled her ears, always a half-beat ahead of what sounded like muffled breathing of whoever was lying in wait.

How are they so perfectly in time? Wanting to listen to the breathing of her mysterious company, Cadence stilled her breaths, only for the world around her to fall silent as well. A shiver ran along her spine at the lack of sound, her head flicking from side to side, expecting someone to jump out at her.

Her breathing restarted with a gasp, her echo timing the opening of their lips perfectly with hers. “Why are you doing this?” Cadence called out, her voice strained with frustration and weariness. Her head swum from the mixture of lost sleep and breath, her blurry eyes distorting her surroundings. “I only want to help, why do you have to hide and play with me like this?”

She felt tears welling up in the back of her throat, threatening to shake her voice and leak from her eyes. No, I can’t cry, I have to be strong for the one who needs help.

But you’re too late, they’re already gone, A small part of her whispered back. You’ve failed and let another one die, just like that guard, just like all those in the battle you slept through, just like Silvia.

“I didn’t know they would die.” Cadence’s breathy cry hissed inside the stone bowl, repeated back at her by the unseen mocker who shared the place. “I won’t let anyone down again. I’ll find whoever was calling for help.”

With the warmth of determination filling her chest and limbs, Cadence rose with one sharp movement, opening her wings as she did so. A leap and she was climbing towards the sky, high enough to survey every bit of the hole she had sat inside.

But you did fail another, The voice continued, its words like pins against the shield that was her burst of willpower. And now you’ve been hiding in a hole, scared of your own echo and shadow.

Her eyes glancing back down the bowl of stone below her, Cadence found what the voice said was true, every bit of it was empty. The realisation hit her like a boulder dropping from above, sapping the energy from her wings and sending her plummeting towards the ground.

The moment before she hit Cadence managed a flap, just enough for her shaky legs to take the rest of the impact. Tears were streaming down her cheeks before she realised they were forming, their warmth pooling underneath her muzzle, the only warmth left in her body.

“I’m so foolish.” Cadence allowed her legs to fold and her body to fall towards the ground, a small drop of her sorrow hitting the dust in time with her. “I thought I could save everyone, but I can’t.”

During their months of relaxation in Rockholm, Cadence’s mind had been overwhelmed with worry, worry over the past. How can I become a princess if I let all those dragons die, some of them right before my eyes. The thought had visited her often in the draconic city, and it returned to her now.

“What will Celestia think of me?” She whispered to herself, lowering her head to the ground, allowing the tears to fall freely from the tip of her muzzle. How can I be trusted as a princess when I can barely keep one city safe. I can’t even keep one dragon safe.

The tears leaking from her eyes continued to paint the stone below with wetness as pictures of those she had let down flashed through her mind.

“But think of all those you’ve saved.”

Cadence turned towards the voice to find no one but shadows behind her. “Shining?” She called out, longing for his comforting embrace, his hoof to wipe away her tears. When no response came she turned back to the puddle of tears she had made, like a stain of blood on the ground.

He always said that, didn’t he. A smile touched at the corners of Cadence’s tight lips at the thought of the stallion she loved. Even though I couldn’t save a few, there were so many lives that remained because of me.

The excited face of Flo crept into her thoughts, pulling her lips even wider. You saved her again and again, A voice from somewhere deep inside reminded her, bringing with it hazy scenes of Flo’s near misses. The times when a wave of blue magic had swept the danger away.

But you let her down as well, The other voice fought back, pushing a picture of Silvia’s still body into Cadence’s mind, Flo’s crestfallen face with it. The growing smile on her lips paused, the sickness in her stomach threatening to spread once more.

She knows that isn’t your fault. Soft and kind, the second voice brought one final image of Flo to the forefront of Cadence’s mind, the smile that had been on Flo’s lips the day she had seen her last. She’s happy, she doesn’t hold anything against you.

She doesn't, Cadence realised, the smile winning out and filling her muzzle, her wings spreading as she rose. Even if I’ve let some down, even if I will in the future. I shouldn’t stop trying, because the ones I do help matter the most.

Energy was buzzing through her limbs as she leapt into the air, wings catching the wind and pulling her higher. By the time Cadence was soaring through the sky all of the knots in her stomach had been loosed, her mind focused on one thing only, Shining.

The fading stars above encouraged her wings to beat faster, wanting to reach their camp before sunrise. Maybe I can get some sleep tonight. A blue glow caught her attention, filling her chest with a burning warmth and her still wet eyes with tears once more.

It’s only been a night, but I miss you so much Shining.

When Cadence’s hooves came to rest a few steps from the ethereal tent it took all of her willpower not to throw herself forward and wake him with a hug. He needs his rest as well. Folding her wings away, she took soft steps to Shining’s side before lowering herself to the mattress.

“Thank you Shining,” She whispered as she curled up beside him. “Your words helped more than you can imagine.

Light leaked through the cracks in Cadence’s eyelids, causing them to flutter open. Through the ethereal blue roof above her she could see the sky was darkening. It’s almost night again. Her head felt light, free from the tired weights that had distorted her thoughts the previous night.

The sound of paper rustling came to her ears as she tilted her head upward to find Shining’s back to her. A smile spread Cadence’s lips at the sight. Let’s see how good of a guard he is.

Rolling from her side to stomach, Cadence sprang upright before leaping at the unaware Shining, tackling him onto his side.

“Hey,” Shining’s head snapped back to find a grin wide on Cadence’s muzzle, the sight causing him to chuckle. “At least tell me next time.” Specks of pastry flew from his mouth in time with his muffled words. “I nearly choked.”

Planting a kiss on his lips, Cadence tasted apple. “Oh, sorry.” The excitement on her features faded somewhat, a hint of sadness joining it as she recalled the previous night. “I’m just happy to see you.”

Shining’s lips parted before pausing, confusion creasing his brow for a moment. “We just saw each other yesterday.”

“I know, but,” A heavy sigh left Cadence’s lips, her eyes looking past Shining’s shoulder and to the mountains bathed in orange beyond. “I thought a lot last night, and I wanted to say thank you.”

“For what?” Shining’s words were still slowed by the storm of questions swirling in his mind, each movement of his burdened by ten times as much thought. “Did I do something special last night?”

“Well, yes, and no.” Leaning towards the dumbfounded stallion before her, Cadence laid her lips on his once again. When she drew back her smile shrunk away, her eyes dropping for a moment before coming back up to meet Shining’s. “I thought a lot last night, about all those I let down in Rockholm, all those dragons that died because I couldn’t save them.”

“But think of-”

“All those I’ve saved,” Cadence interrupted, finishing what she knew Shining would say. “I know, you’ve said that so many times. That was what got me through last night.”

“Last night…” Shining’s breath escaped him as he recalled what Cadence had planned to do the previous night. “I guess you didn’t find whoever was calling out for help then?”

Cadence’s head fell, “No, I thought I did, but I ended up following my own echo.”

Stepping towards her, Shining placed a foreleg over the withers, pulling her close. “Don’t worry, I know we’ll find them when we get there.” He placed a kiss on Cadence’s cheek before looking up at the ever darkening sky. “Speaking of getting there, we should probably leave soon if we want to make it anywhere today.”

Lifting her head, Cadence nodded, a fresh smile on her lips as she dispelled the magical tent behind her and lifted her saddlebags onto her back. “Well, let’s get going.”

“Shouldn’t you-”

Before Shining could finish the crunch of pastry cut him off, Cadence giving him a smile filled with blueberries. “I can eat on the way.”

“Is this it?” His horn lit with blue, Shining bathed the open space on the mountain before them with light. The spotlight of blue caught a small fountain ahead of them, the only thing that discerned the place from another lifeless part of the mountain.

“Well, I can’t tell.” Turning her head from left to right, Cadence searched for any wooden doors or open caves that could be the entrance to Pido’s home. “I don’t recognize anything, but it looks like someone lives here.”

“Mmm.” Shining took a step forward, another, Cadence following at his side. “I wonder if anyone here is awake at this time?”

Glancing up at the moon, high in the sky with a sea of stars holding it there, Cadence shook her head. “I wouldn’t think so. We should find somewhere to set up camp till morning.”

Continuing to move through the open space, Shining searched for someplace to shelter under with his magic.

After walking the short stretch of land and finding none, Shining sighed, his legs heavy and body wanting sleep. “Why don’t we just set up our tent in that corner there? I’m-” A yawn cut him off, pulling a giggle from Cadence’s lips.

“Well, I can see you’re tired, so let me get everything ready, you just lie down.”

Shining planted a soft kiss on Cadence’s cheek before moving towards the corner in the rocky wall. With the last energy in his horn he formed an ethereal mattress barely large enough to catch himself as his legs gave way.

The smile on Cadence’s lips spread when she moved across to join and found Shining’s eyes already closed. “I should get some sleep as well,” She whispered to the now deaf stallion, gently removing both his and her saddlebags with her blue glow.

Keeping her horn lit, she stretched the mattress Shining lay upon so both of them could fit before forming their magical shelter overtop. As Cadence lowered herself down beside him she kept her ears pricked up, hoping to hear the cry for help that had fallen silent.

All that reached her ears was silence tainted by the slight ringing of the tent around them. I guess I really was too late. With a defeated sigh she forced her eyes closed, snuggling up close to Shining.

It’s like everyone on this mountaintop disappeared after I left. What if it was all a dream of mine? Cadence shook her head softly, dismissing the thought. Shining heard the cry as well, it must be real.

As she mulled the thought over, sleep seeped into Cadence’s mind, pulling the warmth of darkness down over her thoughts.

“Help!”

The sound sent a spark of fright along Cadence’s body from tail to snout, causing her wings to flare out, neck to straighten up and eyes to spring open. “Where are you?” She called out, holding her breath while she waited for a response.

Her lungs were hurting with want to breath before any sound came, Cadence’s chest heaving as she rose from Shining’s side, calling once more. “Hello?” Voice breathy, she took a step through the ethereal wall of their tent, desperately hoping to find someone outside.

“Do you need help?” Tilting one ear upward, Cadence waited for a sound, any sign of response. Time seemed to crawl by her, as if it knew her worry and was simply tormenting her.

When silence answered her call for the third time, Cadence sighed, moving back towards the tent. Maybe I dreamt it? It was as I was falling asleep after all. With heavy limbs she sunk down besides Shining once again, resting her head atop his back.

At least I can sleep easily tonight.