“Oooooh.”

The sound touched at the deepest parts of Shining’s sleeping mind, alerting his partially ingrained guard senses to the presence nearby. Want for sleep had more influence over his mind however, his eyelids struggling against his will to lift them.

Eventually he managed to open them enough to let the sun’s light leak in, most of it blocked by the form standing before him. “What?”

The form sprang back at his voice. “You talk? I’ve never seen food that talks.”

Rubbing at one eye with a hoof, Shining pushed himself upright with the other, careful not to disturb Cadence’s head atop his back. “Food?” A weak chuckle shook his chest. “I’m not food.” The growl of his stomach brought his attention to the need there. “But I sure am hungry.”

Lighting his horn, Shining glanced around the tent while a gasp came from the form before him. “You can make fire as well?”

Momentarily distracted from his wish to eat, Shining turned back to the creature standing in front of him. Another rub at his eyes brought a body of orange scales into focus, the dragon before him barely bigger than a foal. “Have you never seen a unicorn before?”

“U-ni-corn.” The hatchling sounded out the word slowly before shaking his head. “No, never. Is that what you are?”

A smile lit up Shining’s lips at the response. “Yes, and you’re going to love this.” His horn still lit, Shining glanced around till he found his saddlebags resting against the rocky wall. Blue surrounded the bags before he lifted them, taking a pie from the flap and biting into it.

When he looked back to the hatchling, Shining found his jaw hanging wide open, bright blue eyes popped out.

The hatchling’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish for a few moments before he finally managed to produce one breathy word. “How?”

“Easy, I’m a unicorn. Almost every unicorn can do this. We call it magic.” Satisfied with his explanation, Shining took another bite of his blueberry pie, the pastry almost half-eaten.

“Where did you come from? When did you get here? Why did you come?” Eyes lit with excitement, the hatchling allowed questions to flow freely from his mind to his lips.

A bite of pie in his mouth, Shining swallowed hard before speaking. “It would take a while for me to explain all of that.”

The hatchling took a glance backward before placing his rump on the stone below. “Mum will never find me here. So I’ve got all day.”

Nodding, Shining finished the final third of his pie in a few bites before licking his lips. “Where did we come from.” He glanced to his side, watching the sleeping Cadence as he thought. “Do you know where Rockholm is?”

“No.” Shaking his head, the hatchling pointed a claw back towards the open space he had come from. “I only know about here, and all the lands towards the next mountains. What is rock home? Is that like a cave?”

A chuckle left Shining’s lips at the hatchling’s remark. “Rockholm isn’t a thing, it’s a place. A massive city past those mountains you can see.”

“Are you sure? Mum says no one live past those mountains.”

Sighing, Shining tried to contain another chuckle. He’s so naive, I wonder if I should tell him about everything beyond those mountains? He seems happy enough as he is. Looking back to Cadence once more, Shining nodded. I’ve got to wait for her to wake up. May as well pass the time.

“I’m sorry to say it, but your mum’s wrong. There’s whole world of other dragons past those mountains. Thousands and thousands of them.”

“Thousands?” The hatchling’s already wide spread even more. “You’re crazy. That many dragons could never fit in the same place.” Glancing backward, he shook his head at the open space behind him. “You’d have to put a hundred dragons in each house.”

“No, every dragon has there own home.”

“But where do they put them all?”

Rubbing his forehead with a hoof, Shining took a moment to construct and explanation from the things he could see. “You see the plain out there, going all the way to the next mountains?” The hatchling nodded. “Rockholm a little smaller than that, and covered in-”

“Rale?” A voice called out over the deserted town in front of Shining, the sound drawing the hatchling’s head towards it.

“That’s my mum,” He said, pushing himself closer to the rocky wall, trying to hide his orange scales in the shadow. “Don’t tell her I’m here, she wants me to fetch water.”

Nodding, Shining gazed out to the well where a blood-red scaled dragon was now standing, her blacker than shadow eyes scanning the rocks around her. “If you’re trying to hide this isn’t the best place, she’s going to see our tent easily.”

Rale shook his head. “She won’t come over, she’s too scared of things like this. Everyone in the town is.”

Still watching Rale’s mother, Shining saw her eyes find their tent and instantly widen, her now shaky legs stumbling backwards. Lifting his hoof, Shining grinned while he waved. I’m not that scary, am I?

Despite Shining’s best efforts, Rale’s mother’s lips parted and a piercing scream left them, causing him to wince. “Ghosts.” He heard her mutter before turning and dashing out of sight. Looking back to Rale, he found a small smile on the hatchlings lips.

“I told you. She jumps when she sees her shadow. If she sees something like you, inside this.” Rale waved a claw over the ethereal walls before him. “There’s no way she won’t scream.”

With question creasing his brow, Shining leant towards Rale. “Why weren’t you scared of me then?”

“I know that kind of stuff isn’t real, ghosts, spirits or whatever Pido calls them. I’ve never seen them so I think she’s making them up.” Rale crossed his forelegs, leaning back against the wall behind.

“Pido?” The name felt somewhat familiar to Shining. Is that the dragon that Cadence met up here. “Who’s Pido?”

“She’s a weirdo dragon who lives a bit down the mountain.” Frustration tainted Rale’s voice and twisted his lips as he spoke. “She has all these weird stories she tells about what’s making those noises at night and everyone believes her.”

Noticing the emotion overflowing from Rale, Shining couldn’t help but let a smile touch his lips. “What do you think of Pido?”

The frustration on Rale’s features fled, replaced with a smile that seemed it had been waiting a long while to be free. “She’s using her scary stories to make everyone do what she wants. It’s unfair.”

“It’s just over there.” A voice said from afar, drawing Shining’s eyes towards it.

He found Rale’s mother standing beside the well once more, this time with a sandy scaled dragon at her side. Both dragons turned their heads and met his watching eyes, a shiver running through Rale’s mother as she did so.

Glancing to his side, Shining found Cadence still sleeping. I guess I’ll have to talk to them alone. Gently, he slid her head from his back and onto the mattress below before standing. “Do you want to come Rale?”

Rale peeked out from the shadows he hid within before shaking his head. “No, if mum sees me with someone like you I’ll be in trouble. Sorry.”

The smile on Shining’s lips widened at Rale’s words. “No need to be sorry, I understand.” Turning away from the hatchling, he stepped from the tent, moving towards the already approaching sandy-scaled dragon.

When he saw Shining moving the dragon raised a claw, his grey eyes bugging out while he shouted. “Don’t move if you want to stay whole.”

Hearing the intensity in the dragon’s words, Shining stopped a few steps out from the tent. “I don’t want to fight you. All I want is to talk, I can explain everything.”

A gasp filled the air and the dragon took a step back when Shining’s spoke. “What are you?”

“I’m a unicorn.” Confusion creased Shining’s brow as he shook his head. Have these dragons really never heard of ponies before?

“Is that some kind of evil spirit?” Courage returning to him, the sandy-scaled dragon took another step towards Shining. “What do you want with our village?”

“Nothing, we’re just passing through. We came from Rockholm and we’re heading for the griffon lands. We don’t want to hurt you in any way.”

“We?” The dragon cocked his head slightly to the side. “Are you in allegiance with that spirit that has been tormenting our village for the past months?”

“No. I’m not a spirit.” Lifting a hoof, Shining sighed as he kneaded his head. What’s with these dragons and spirits? “Wait, did you say a spirit has been here the last few months? The one that calls out at night?”

“Why would I need to answer that question? I’m sure you already know of that spirit’s actions, being one yourself. Now leave this town, we have done nothing to deserve what your kind has done to us.”

The anger in the dragon’s voice caused Shining to take a step backward. “What happened?”

“Don’t stand there clueless,” The dragon’s wings were spread, his chest heaving with passion. “Your kind have killed so many, so many.” He lifted a claw to his forehead, limbs shaking. When he spoke next the fire had faded from his voice, his words a whisper. “My Nia, you took her from me.”

The dragon tried to take a step forward but his shaking legs could no longer could him. With outstretched forelegs he fell towards the dirt, Rale’s mother rushing forward to aid him. Her eyes were pinned to Shining as she helped him stand, her own body shaking with fear.

Reaching out a hoof, Shining pushed the insults from his mind. “Do you need any help? You’re shaking.”

Now standing, the sandy-scaled dragon met Shining’s eyes with anger once more. “Don’t come any closer. You’ve done enough harm just by being here.” The pair backed away slowly, both keeping their eyes on Shining.

Why do they think I’m a spirit? Shining thought as he turned back to his tent, taking slow steps towards it. When he got close his eyes moved to Rale, the hatchling still hiding in the shadows with wide blue eyes peeking out.

“Are you a spirit?”

Shining sighed. “No, I told you I’m a unicorn.” He moved through the ethereal wall of the tent, lowering himself beside Cadence once more. “But I would like to know more about these spirits that have been bothering your village. What have they been doing?” As he spoke Shining felt Cadence shifting at his side.

“Shining?” Came her tired voice before Rale could respond. “Is it time to wake up already?”

Eyes spreading wide, Rale leant forward at the sound of Cadence’s voice. “There’s another one of you?”

Shining kissed at Cadence’s mane before replying to her in a whisper only shared by the both of them. “You can go back to sleep if you’re still tired.” Feeling Cadence nod slightly, he allowed her head to rest against his side before lifting his eyes to Rale. “Of course there’s two, travelling alone would be boring.”

Looking from one pony to the other, Rale twisted his lips in question. “Is she your sister?”

Red sprang up on Shining’s white cheeks as he quickly shook his head. “No, she’s my, she’s a very special friend of mine. Now can you tell me what these spirits have been doing to your village?”

Rale opened his lips to ask another question, before thinking better of it and closing them tight, his eyes rolling into his head as he thought. After a few moments of the hatchling making thoughtful sounds, he spoke.

“No one tells me anything, mum says nothing is happening whenever I ask, but I can see. Dragons have been disappearing ever since Pido said that spirit arrived.” A shiver ran through Rale as the almost whispers of words left his mouth. “I don’t know where they’re going, but Pipa says they’re dying.”

“Pipa?” Shining’s brow creased with confusion at the somewhat familiar name. “Do you mean Pido?”

“No.” Another shiver ran along Rale’s back and down through his limbs. “I’d never go speak to Pido. Only stupid dragons do that.”

“Who’s Pipa then?”

The fear in Rale’s composure shrunk away, replaced with a smile on his muzzle. “She’s my best friend in the whole world. We can go see her now if you want.”

Shining glanced down at Cadence, lowering his lips towards her ear. “Will you be alright here by yourself?” Whether she nodded or simply shifted in her sleep he couldn’t tell, the movement of her head so slight.

Glancing up at the ethereal walls that surrounded him, Shining nodded. She’ll be fine, there’s no way anyone can get her in here. He looked back to Rale. “Sure, lead the way.”

With excitement obvious in his eyes, Rale sprang away from the wall he had been leaning against. “There might be some spots where it’s hard to get through, but this is the best way to go without mum seeing me.”

Skirting the outside of the tent, Rale moved towards an opening in the rocky wall beside it, barely big enough for Shining to fit through. The hatchling sprang through with haste and continued moving, not waiting to see if Shining was following behind.

Stepping from the tent and into the tight squeeze, Shining felt the rock scraping against his shoulders and rump as he eased through. I hope that was the tightest spot.

Following the opening was a much wider passageway leading into a turn. Shining managed to catch a glimpse of Rale’s tail as he dashed round the corner. Pushing aside the worry of getting stuck, Shining moved after him, the passageway providing just enough room for him to gallop.

As he rounded the corner, Shining found the passageway opened up somewhat, allowing a view of the climbing sun above before growing narrow at the end once more. Rale was already at the next passageway, easily slipping through into the shadows beyond.

“Can you slow down?” Shining called out to the disappearing hatchling. It’s times like these that I wish I could fly over the top.

Upon hearing Shining’s voice, Rale backed out of the passageway he was halfway down. He met Shining in the centre of the open area. “Sorry, I just can’t wait to show you to Pipa.”

Brushing the dirt off his shoulders with a hoof, Shining met Rale’s apologetic eyes with a smile. “I can tell, I just don’t want to get lost in tunnels like these.”

“Are you ready to keep going then?”

“Sure.”

With a wide grin spread across his muzzle once more, Rale dove back towards the far passageway, his pace not slowed one bit.

Shaking his head, Shining followed after the hatchling. Looks like I might get lost after all.

“This is where Pipa lives,” Rale said as Shining pulled himself from the last stretch of the tight squeeze he had endured. Looking to where Rale’s claw directed his eyes, Shining found a ledge stretching out before him, with the entrance to a cave at the end. “Come one, let’s go find her.”

Rale sprang forward, Shining with little to do but follow. After a few steps the wall to Shining’s right fell away, only a steep drop in its place. Looking out from the ledge he could see the glow of their tent below, the ledge overlooking the village.

While Rale raced across the ledge without fear, Shining stuck close to the wall on his left, leaning hard against it at times. With each step the ledge grew narrower, Shining’s stomach twisting itself into knots as he glanced ahead.

I’ll barely be able to fit one hoof on there, He thought, seeing the width of the dwindling surface of rock. Trying to forget the drop below him, Shining placed one hoof before the other, slowly inching his way towards the cave, towards his safety.

“Rale?” Shining called out when he was a little more than a leap away from the cave, the edges of his hooves hanging over air. “I don’t know if I can make this, I think I might go back.”

“The only way out of your problem is forwards,” The voice came from the shadows of the cave, too mature to be Rale’s.

Lifting his eyes towards the waiting stone mouth, Shining saw someone moving forward to join Rale at its edge. “You’re Pipa I guess?”

Pipa stepped into the sunlight with her head nodding, the sight of her causing Shining’s eyes to widen, his legs shaking as his mind lost focus. A well placed wing on Shining’s shoulder steadied him before he fell, its soft touch guiding him the rest of the way.

“What is a griffon doing here?” Shining couldn’t help but question once he was safe inside the cave, the white feathers that covered her head and neck filling his vision.

“Where I came from and why are not important at this moment.” As Pipa spoke Shining’s eyes moved across her body, taking in the white feathers of her wings and the gingery orange that covered the rest of her body. “What a pony is doing this far from his home, that is my question to you.”

“He wants to know about the fake spirits Pido always talks about.” Rale’s blue eyes were focused solely on Pipa’s golden pair, his grin wider than Shining had seen it all morning.

Shining nodded in agreement with Rale’s words. “That’s right, I was wondering if you could tell me about whatever has been calling out the last few nights,” The words of the dragon in the centre of the village came back to Shining. “Or the last few months.”

“Ah, this is no spirit you hear, but rather the bait of a far worse demon.” Pipa shook her head as she spoke, eyes looking past Shining’s shoulder and over the village, choosing to stop on a particular cave. “Pido.”

“Pido,” Shining repeated the name now well known to him aloud. There her name is again, it seems like these two have a reason to dislike this Pido. “What does she do?”

A shiver passed along every inch of Pipa’s body at Shining’s words. Tearing her eyes away from the village, she looked down to Rale. “It is not something I wish to repeat in front of the little one.”

Rale met Pipa’s sorrowful eyes with a stern pair. “You’ve told me lots of times before, I can listen to it again.”

“Yes, that is right Rale.” Pipa allowed a slow breath to leave her beak. “Sometimes the weight of Pido’s terrible deeds cause me to forget.” Looking back to Shining, she continued. “Pido uses a poor little pegasus to lure unknowing dragons into her home. The things that happen inside I have not seen, but I have heard screams, and watched as she carries the dead back out.”

“You mean she kills them?” Shining’s eyes were widening with each moment, his mind digesting Pipa’s words. “Why doesn’t anyone else in the town know about this?”

Pipa’s eyes fell away from Shining’s, finding comfort in the cave floor. “She holds all of their trust, they believe she is the saviour of the town, who keeps the monster at bay.” A breath left her beak, half scoff, half laugh. “They don’t know their saviour is the monster herself.”

“But, but,” Shining shook his head, unable to believe Pipa’s claims. “Why hasn’t anyone else seen her doing this?”

“Others have,” Shifting her gaze from the ground to Rale’s quivering eyes, Pipa sighed. “The moment they said a word against the demon, it came for them in the night. This little one knows the truth of this.”

Rale’s lips parted, as if he was going to speak, but he merely took a breath before shaking his head.

Moving closer to Rale, Pipa crouched low to the ground, cupping his face with a claw. “If it is too much of a burden to speak it, I do not wish to put you through the pain of hearing it either.”

“No,” Rale replied softly, determination in his eyes as he met Pipa’s. “I’m strong, I can listen to it.”

“Very well.” Rising once more, Pipa turned back to Shining. “This little one looked on as the demon dragged his father from their home. He tells me his mother would not listen when he shared the tale.”

“She said I was crazy.” Rale’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the air with ease, so sharp it silenced Pipa. “She said, she said talk like that isn’t good for anyone.”

“So many have fallen in the same way as his father. I’ve watched each and every one.”

Seeing the emotion in Rale’s face and hearing his words had convinced Shining, his voice now hinted with frustration. “Why haven’t you done anything to stop her then? You could have saved all those lives.”

“If only it were that easy unicorn. I do not give Pido the name demon for any small reason, she can still your movement. How? I do not know, but to try to fight power like that is pleading for death.”

Shining’s shoulders fell as he sighed. “Then what can we do, just watch and wait till the whole town has been killed?”

A smile touched at Pipa’s beak, knowing in her eyes as she spoke. “I presumed the same until a few nights past. A unicorn with blue glowing bright from their horn managed escape from the demon’s clutches. Is this you?”

“No, but,” Shining’s eyes glazed over when he realised who Pipa was speaking of, Cadence. “I know who that was.”

Excitement sprung into Rale’s eyes as well. “Is it that other one who was with you?”

“Mmm,” Shining could barely contain his smile as he murmured assent. “You think she’ll be able to stop Pido?”

“Of that I cannot be certain, but of all I have seen, she has the best chance.”

“Leave us evil spirit.”

The voice barely scratched the depths of sleep Cadence’s mind was swimming in, yet it was enough to disturb the waters, bring her to the surface.

“If you do not leave we will make you do so by force.”

Again the voice came, shaking the bonds sleep had on Cadence’s mind, allowing her to feel the warmth of the sun on her coat. The slight breeze brushing against her mane.

“We gave you warning.” With the voice the movement of claws on stone could be heard, before the sound of scales colliding with magic filled the air. “This wall is harder than it looks.”

Finally, Cadence’s eyelids cracked open, her jaw stretching with a yawn as she lifted her head. “Shining?” She asked one of the two blurry forms standing outside the tent, a white foreleg rubbing at a similarly colored snout.

“Do not speak spirit.” The white blob dropped its foreleg to its side before straightening up once more. “Leave and no harm will come to you.”

As the form spoke, Cadence’s eyes found their focus, showing her the scales and jagged wings of the two dragons in front of her. Where’s Shining? Glancing around, alarms were set off in her head when she found no sign of her prince. “Where’s Shining?”

The white-scaled turned to the sandy-scaled one beside it, looking for guidance. “What’s shining? Does she mean the sun?”

Gritting his teeth, the sandy-scaled dragon lifted a claw and forcefully turned his white partner’s muzzle back towards Cadence. “Don’t try to reason with the spirit Aere, that will only get you killed.”

“What?” Sleep clearing from her head, Cadence realised the dragons were speaking about her. “I would never kill someone, you’ve got no reason to be scared. Could you tell me if you’ve seen another pony? He’s a unicorn, white-”

“Well will not answer questions from you spirit!” The sandy-scaled dragon shouted back, his chest heaving and forelegs shaking.

Turning back to the sandy-scaled dragon, Aere cocked his head. “Qui, isn’t she talking about the one who you cried in front of-”

A sandy-scaled claw silenced Aere, Qui’s eyes holding a hint of anger as he met Aere’s. “Do not give any information away to the spirit.”

Shaking her head at the strange behaviour of the dragon before her, Cadence couldn’t help but smile. Pido was a little weird as well, maybe everyone from this place is a little different? “So you’ve seen him? Where did he go?”

“I’m right here Cadence.”

Looking towards Shining’s voice, Cadence found his head poking out of a crevice in the nearby wall, the rest of his body soon following with a grunt. He moved past the draconic pair standing beside the tent and stepped inside.

“I’m sorry I left you alone,” He whispered, nuzzling at her neck. “I had to talk with someone.”

“Rale, get away from those spirits.”

Qui’s voice drew both Shining’s and Cadence’s eyes towards him. Slamming a claw against the side of the tent, he continued to call for Rale. “Come out of there before they kill you, just like they did to your father.”

Glancing around the tent, Shining found that Rale was inside its ethereal wall, sitting a short distance from the both of them. The hatchling’s features hardened as he shook his head. “No, they’re not spirits, they’re unicorns, and they’re nicer than you.”

Leaning past Shining, Cadence found the source of the young voice with her own eyes. “Oh, aren’t you such a brave little dragon,” She said, her voice of the same tone she would use when speaking with Twilight. “Is Rale your name?”

Turning away from the constant banging and pleading of Qui, Rale nodded at Cadence’s words, a grin filling his muzzle.

“Don’t listen to the spirit Rale, she will draw you to your demise.”

Cadence sighed at Qui’s words as she turned towards him. It seems like this dragon really is crazy. “Why do you keep calling me a spirit? Is it because of the magical tent?”

“Magical?” Qui breathed, stepping back from the ethereal wall his claw had rested against. “You ask why we call you a spirit then admit to possessing magical ability, your reason is right there.”

Confusion creased Cadence's brow at Qui’s words. “Well, I’m a pony, all ponies have magic in some way or another.”

“I do not need to know what type of spirit you are. All I ask is you return that innocent hatchling and leave this place.” Qui’s grey eyes were quivering as he spoke, staring hard into Cadence’s pair.

“Have you never heard of ponies before?” Shifting her eyes away from Qui’s stare, Cadence looked out towards the distant line of mountains that hid Rockholm. “We live a long, long way from here, but surely you know what a pony is?”

Qui nodded. “You’re all murderous spirits, the lot of you. I watched as one of your kind stole her away, there was nothing I could do. I could barely breath my chest was so heavy. Nia.” Hindlegs bending, he sunk towards the ground, choking back tears. “Why couldn’t you have taken me instead?”

The overflow of emotion caused Cadence to gasp. “I, I’m sorry for your loss, but it wasn’t me who took her from you.” Qui’s outpouring sparked memories in her mind, bringing back the cry of nights past. “Do you know anything about whoever was calling out for help a few nights ago? They did so all night.”

Lifting his eyes from the ground, Qui wiped away the tears forming there before pointing his claw at Shining. “That one asked the same question, why? I thought spirits like you knew the actions of your companions.”

“We’re not spirits,” Cadence assured, her voice soft, longing. “And I want to know about whoever was calling because I want to help them. I can’t sleep knowing someone so close could be in danger.”

“In danger.” Qui shook his head. “That crying spirit is the source of danger. One was lured in by its calls, but never again will anyone in this village be so foolish.”

He sounds almost like Pido. “So, your village is under constant attack from evil spirits?”

Qui’s features twisted with confusion as he heard Cadence’s words, as if he could not believe he had heard her correctly. Yet Aere answered for him. “That’s what Qui always says.”

Glad for the answer, Cadence allowed a small smile to touch her lips. “Is there any way I could help?”

His face so overcome with confusion, Qui’s eye twitched and head tilted to the side. sandy-scaled lips parted and came back together without a single sound leaving them, his head shaking slightly.

“Never.”

“Are you sure?” The hint of a smile on Cadence’s lips fled. “I can see you’ve had troubles with someone or something similar to us in the past, and you’ve lost much more than one should have to bear, but we’re not the same.” Leaning forward, she pleaded with her eyes as well as her words.

“I don’t want to hear your lies spirit.” Rising from the ground, Qui turned around, shaking his head as he walked away.

Aere glanced at the disappearing Qui before looking back to Cadence. “I know he doesn’t want to admit it, but if you could help in any way, he would appreciate it so much.”

“Well, I’d love to.” The smile returned to Cadence’s lips. “But you have to tell me how. I don’t know enough about the problem yet to help.”

“There’s one thing,” Aere replied with a lowered voice before turning to look over his shoulder. When he turned back he took a step closer, wide eyes meeting Cadence’s directly. “If you go-”

Focusing on Aere’s bright blue eyes, Cadence noticed something spark in them the moment he stopped speaking. Did his eyes just turn green? She couldn’t be certain for he backed away suddenly, as if a fire had suddenly erupted from Cadence.

“Don’t try to trick me you wicked spirits.” Aere’s lips twisted with a sneer as he spoke. “I know you don’t want to help. You only want to take every last life in this town.” Turning on the spot, he dashed away the same direction Qui had left, towards the well.

Looking up to Shining, Cadence found the same confusion she felt in his eyes. “Well, that was a little strange, wasn’t it?”

“Dragons around here are always like that.”

Expecting Shining to answer, Cadence was taken off guard by the higher pitch of Rale. “What do you mean?” She asked, turning towards him.

“Like how he just was, nice to you one moment and talking all about spirits the next. Aere, mum, Entum, but Pido’s the worst. She was the first one like that.”

Cadence nodded. “Yes, Pido did seem a little strange when I spoke with her, telling me to stay inside, away from the spirit. She wasn’t mean however, only a little crazy.”

“Pido.” Hearing the name brought Pipa’s words back to Shining’s mind. “I need to tell you something about her.”

Turning towards Shining, Cadence’s brow creased with worry at the urgency in his voice. “Did something bad happen to her?”

“No, she’s that bad happening to this village,” Shining said, Rale nodding along with his words. “That’s why everyone is afraid, because she’s been killing dragons and blaming it on spirits.”

Cadence’s lips parted to reply before the full force of what Shining had said hit her mind, stopping any words from leaving her mouth. Pink eyelids fluttered as she listened to Shining’s words over and over in her head. She’s been killing dragons.

Eventually she spoke, words soft and slow, as if she were checking each one. “What, did, you, say?”

“Pido, she’s dangerous.” Shining sat as the words left his lips, one foreleg moving to rest on her withers. “Pipa said that the night she took you into her home, you were lucky to leave. She said you should have died there.”

Cadence swallowed hard as the puzzle pieces that were Shining’s words filled in the gaps of her memory of Pido. A shiver ran down her spine as the crazed voice echoed through her head. You’ll have to stay here all night after all.

Was she really trying to kill me? Cadence shook her head when she recalled what seemed like an eternity sitting in darkness, Pido right behind her. No, if she wanted to she would have done it then.

“Cadence?”

Shining’s voice drew her from her thoughts, lifting her eyes from the ground towards his. “Yes?”

“Pipa said that Pido has some way to stop you from moving. Do you remember anything like that, and how you broke free from it?”

“Shining, I don’t think Pido is the killer this Pipa says she is.” Allowing a slow breath to leave her lungs, Cadence tracked through her memories one last time, making sure she was correct before continuing. “If she wanted to kill me there she had so many chance to, but she didn’t, and I never felt like I couldn’t move either.”

Brow creasing with confusion, Shining glanced at Rale and found a hint of frustration in the hatchling’s features. “Are you sure Cadence?”

“Yes.” Unable to help herself, Cadence chuckled. It seems like Shining’s gone as crazy as the dragons in this village. “I know what happened, but I don’t know why you’re suddenly so convinced Pido kills dragons. Who is Pipa?”

Looking up at the cave Pipa resided within, Shining pointed a hoof towards it. He lifted the other from Cadence’s withers to shield his eyes from the high noon sun. “She’s a griffon who lives up in that cave, you can see the whole village from up there.”

“Well, why don’t we go talk to her?” Cadence suggested, her belly growling as she rose. “After we’ve had something to eat.”

“If you what you say is the truth breath should no longer be in your lungs.”

Pipa’s words caused Cadence to pause and gaze over the rocky homes before her. The sinking sun caught her eyes as she did so, forcing her to turn away. Her gaze found Shining, sitting to one side of her at the mouth of the cave.

Meeting Cadence's wandering eyes, Shining saw a hint of doubt in the pink and his lips moved to her aid. “I think Cadence thinks that you’re mistaken Pipa.” The smile that spread across Cadence’s lips gave confidence to Shining’s words. “That Pido had so many chances to kill her, but didn’t.”

“This can not be.” A sigh left Pipa’s lips, hers eyes roaming across the village until they rested upon Pido’s door. “I have witnessed Pido’s killings time and time again, she lets no being escape. I would no longer be living if it were not for her lack of flight. This cave is my safety, my prison.”

“But, she has wings,” Cadence argued back, recalling the image of the suspended Pido as clearly as if the dragon were right before her.

“I have seen, they are impotent.” Pipa lifted one of her own wings into the air as she spoke, demonstrating her words with it. “The only task they can perform is a twitch, I can seen a few attempts at flight, but they were failures.”

No matter what I say, Cadence thought. It seems she is certain Pido is guilty. Maybe there’s only one way to know. Taking a deep breath, Cadence fought the fear trying to still her lips. “Well, we’ll have to ask Pido herself.”

Pipa’s wing snapped shut with a crack, her head turning towards Cadence. “This idea is madness. Luck may have been with you once, but it is not a reliable master. A visit paid to that demon will be the end of you.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Cadence stood as she spoke, forcing herself to take a step towards the ledge. “I’ve faced a monster of a dragon before, almost lost my head twice. I can’t sit here and make judgement about someone without giving them a chance.” Taking another step forward, she spread her shaking wings, threatening to leap into the air.

“Cadence.” Standing as well, Shining held a hoof after his princess, his voice full of concern. “I know you think there’s good in everyone, but like Pipa said, you might not come back from this one. Please don’t go alone.”

Hearing Shining’s words, Cadence half turned back to him. “Shining, I hav-”

“I said don’t go alone.” A smile spread across Shining’s lips as he took another step forward. “Let me come with you.”

Standing from where he had sat at the wall of the cave, Rale dashed towards Shining. “If you’re going, let me come as well.”

Cadence looked from stallion to hatching, taking in the eagerness of both pairs of eyes. A smile tugged at the corners of her muzzle as she did so. “Oh, you.” Breath left her lips as a burst, soon turning into a chuckle. “I would love if you can be there to help.”

Taking another step toward, Shining joined Cadence at the mouth of the cave before leaning into to plant his lips on her cheek. “A princess needs her prince to protect her.”

Rale followed Shining, standing beside the stallion as the pony pair embraced. Uncomfortable looking at their display of affection, he turned back to Pipa. “Are you going to come as well?”

“I can not,” Pipa replied with a shake of her head while slowly moving backward into the shadows of her cave. “To willingly walk into death, that is a fool’s path. I am no fool.”

Lifting a claw, Rale took after her step before stopping, his head turning back and eyes finding Shining’s. “Why is she so scared?”

Shining’s lips parted to answer, but he found no words on his tongue. So he turned to Cadence for an answer.

“Well,” Cadence allowed a breath to leave her lips and her eyes to wander the village below as she thought. Her brow creased when she saw Qui darting across the centre of the open space, both claws full of fabric. “Are those our saddlebags?”

Following Cadence’s eyes, Shining found what she said was true. The want to retaliate sent his hooves to the end of the ledge, body half-leaning over the drop below. “He’s taking all our food, we need to stop him.”

Stepping up beside Shining, Cadence closed her wings and crouched low. “Well you should get on, it’s only a small flight.”

With a nod Shining mounted her in the same way he always had mounted Cloud, not realising how different their bodies were. His hind legs hung awkwardly over the end of her rump instead of just above her pair.

Despite the strain on his forelegs to keep himself atop her, he nodded when she asked, “ Are you ready?”

“We’ll be right back Rale,” Shining called over his shoulder as Cadence’s wings opened. “We just need to get out bags back.” The last few words of his were torn away by the wind when Cadence leapt forward, gliding gently towards where she had seen Qui last.

She landed easily, able to take the weight of both Shining and herself with a bend of her legs. Shining climbed from her back the moment she closed her wings, both of them hurrying in the direction they had seen Qui heading.

Their steps soon lead them towards a cave where shifting shadows hid what lay inside.

Cadence halted at the entrance before looking to Shining, unease in her eyes. “Well, do we go inside? What if this is his home, it would feel strange going inside without him asking us.”

“He went into our tent and took our bags, all of our food in them.” Shining could feel his stomach clenching as he spoke. What if he eats all of Adicus’s pies? I’ll never taste one beautiful bit of pastry again.

“Mmm,” Cadence nodded as she lit her horn. burning the shadows out of existence with blue light. “We’ll need that food to keep travelling, but why would he take our bags?”

“I don’t know.” Shining’s head moved from side to side as he moved into the cave, Cadence at his side. “But he did think we were spirits, maybe he thought there would be something in our bags besides food?”

“Well,” A smile touched Cadence’s lips as she thought of Qui rummaging through stacks and stacks of pies until he reached a stack of papers stuffed to one side. “There is the itinerary, we need that so we know where to go.”

Still moving forward, Shining looked from the cave walls ahead of him to Cadence, shock in his features. “How can you think about the itinerary now? Our beautiful pasties have been taken and we may never see them again.”

The smile on Cadence’s muzzle grew when she heard Shining’s words. “There really are only two things you think about, me and food.”

Shining rolled his eyes into his head, thinking for a hint of a moment before nodding. “Of course, I have to keep focused on what’s important.”

As Shining’s voice fell into silence, another sound pricked at her ears from the cave ahead. “Can you hear that?” She whispered, dimming her horn. “It sounds like someone talking.”

Both ponies stopped walking and lifted an ear each, Shining managing to hear the voice after a moment of concentration. “Do you think it’s him?”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out. I hope we don’t scare him.” Cadence took a step forward, and lifted her hoof with intention of taking another, but a voice stopped her.

“I can hear you whispering. Who is it?” The voice was unmistakably Qui’s. Proud. but tainted with fear.

“It’s, uh, the ponies from before,” Cadence said as she continued through the cave, Shining still at her side. While she walked another light came to aid her blue against the shadows, a soft yellow glow coming from the twists ahead.

“Ponies.” The word held a question, as if Qui were trying to recall where he had heard it before. When he spoke again fear shook his voice. “Are you the spirits? Come to take your possessions back and leave the one who took them dead in the dark?”

“No, and yes.” Having now rounded the corner, Cadence could see Qui ahead, his sandy scales lit by a small fire at his side. “We would never kill you, but we do need our bags back. That food is all we have.”

“Why would spirits need food? Do you use it to lure dragons into your traps?”

Cadence’s lips parted to speak, but she realised disagreeing with Qui would get her nowhere. Instead of speaking she took a deep breath and silenced her horn, the fire beside Qui now the only thing casting shadows in the cave.

Seeing the blue light of Cadence’s horn wink out and her chest swell with breath, Qui grasped the bags and backed away. “What are you going to do spirit? Kill me? Eat me alive?” After a few steps he found his tail touching the wall behind, his only escape blocked by what he feared most.

Silence overcame the cave as the echos of Qui’s voice faded to nothing, only the occasional crackle of flame bringing noise to the ears of those around it. Shining watched Cadence as she thought, her pink eyes locked on the fire, following its movements.

“Just get it over with spirit, end this torture already.” Qui’s voice was as shaky as his limbs, each quake that ran down his hind legs looking like it would topple him.

“Nia?” Cadence said after silence drowned out Qui’s voice once more. “Who was she?”

“She was, she was…” A shiver ran through Qui’s forelegs, so violent the bags he held fell to the floor, some of their contents spilling out. “You took her from me, why?

Ignoring Qui’s question, Cadence continued to probe with her words. “Was she your wife?”

Anger flared in Qui’s features as he took a step forward. “I don’t have to tell you spirits anything. It doesn’t matter who she was, she’s,” He gasped, bringing a claw to his eye to wipe away the tears forming there. “She’s gone, because of you.”

“Your daughter? She was your only hatchling, wasn’t she?”

Qui’s eyes widened with surprise for a moment before anger narrowed them once more. “I said I don’t have to tell you horrible beings anything,” He said, taking another step forward as he did so.

“Well, I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose someone so dear to you, but you can’t keep living like this Qui.”

“Then kill me!” Qui winced the moment the shout left his lips, head turning away from the expected destruction. When he realised none came, he turned back to Cadence to find her still staring at him. “Why do you have to bring me pain like this?”

Taking another step forward, Qui was now past the fire, only a short leap from Cadence now.

Watching Qui’s approach, Shining felt his gut twisting with worry. What if he attacks her? “Cadence?” At his question she turned her head toward him, her eyes meeting his. Seeing the steadiness of her gaze, the knowing held there, Shining felt his stomach settle somewhat. I should still be ready though.

Qui noticed the shared look, his head swinging back and forth between Cadence and Shining as the pair both smiled. “What are you two planning? To torture me with these questions before you suck the life from me?”

Turning back to Qui, Cadence allowed her smile to remain. “We want to help you. However impossible to overcom-”

“You want to help me?” Qui screamed, his voice breaking into higher pitches as he took another step forward. “How can the ones who took my everything away help me? Can you bring her back?” Another step and he was within leg’s length of Cadence.

The simple word shattered any emotion that held Qui upright. His legs collapsed underneath him and he fell to the ground, shaking violently. “Nia.” A sob filled the air as he curled up tight, like a foal trying to sleep. “She’s gone, forever. What’s the point of even breathing?”

Closing the short distance between her and Qui, Cadence crouched beside him, her hoof reaching out to touch his shoulder. “She may be gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to die too.”

Qui’s eyes flicked open when he felt Cadence’s hoof against his scales. Sandy-scaled lips curled with anger for a moment, but soon faded into a frown. ”What’s the point of living without her?”

Hearing the hopelessness in Qui’s voice, Cadence felt a tear forming in the corner of her eye. What do I say to him? He’s lost everything that mattered to him, how will my words help?

“Why don’t you worry about yourself for a change?”

Shining’s voice brought a smile back to Cadence’s lips. Yes, you always know what to say in times like these.

“Worry about-” A choked sob cut off Qui, a claw lifting to wipe his wet cheek before he continued. “Worry about myself? I already have plenty of food and the well provides enough water. My home is the best in the village.”

“No.” Shining was sitting beside Cadence now, his eyes locked with Qui’s grey pair. “I don’t mean worrying about your needs. What used to make you happy in life?”

“Nia.”

The whispered name brought a sigh from Shining’s lips, his hoof lifting up to knead his forehead. “But before her, when you were a young dragon. What did you love to do?”

“I...” The hint of a smile touched Qui’s lips, the smallest spark of joy lighting in the back of his eyes. “There was something, but.” Any signs of happiness fled from Qui’s features when annoyance returned. “Why should I tell you spirits about this? It was the wasteful pastime of a hatchling.”

Rubbing her hoof gently against Qui’s tense shoulder, Cadence leant closer to the dragon, her voice a little more than a whisper. “Something that makes you happy isn’t wasteful. Even the smallest joy can keep you together, and without any you’ll fall apart.”

“But,” Qui paused to wipe the drying tears from his cheek. “How can shaping rocks with my claws make my life meaningful? It won’t bring Nia back.”

“No, nothing can, but it will help you.” Cadence sighed, her mind searching for words, some way to reach the hopeless mindset Qui held.

“What if Nia was still here?” Shining asked, Cadence thankful for his help once again, but confused by his words. “Would she rather see you like this, crying, no longer wishing to live?”

The smile on Cadence’s lips grew when she realised the motive behind Shining’s words, her eyes turning to Qui for a response.

Sandy-scaled lips parted, the shut once again, as if Qui was questioning his own thoughts. After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke. “No,” The smile that had previously touched at his lips returned, wider this time, the spark in his eyes bursting into a flame.

“She was always such a bright little hatchling,” Qui continued, his smile growing with each word. “If someone was ever down she would do everything to cheer them up. I think that’s why…”

Oh. Connecting the dots, Cadence felt her throat clench, her hoof that had been kneading Qui’s shoulder becoming still. “It’s a horrible thing that happened to her, but we can make sure it never happens again in this village. We can get rid of this evil spirit for good.”

“Why would you help? I thought you were spirits?” Qui’s voice was more confused than certain now, his eyes looking at the hoof Cadence had pressed against his shoulder. “Why am I not dead yet?”

“Well,” The smile on her lips so wide, Cadence’s cheeks hurt as she chuckled. “That’s because we’re not spirits. I told you when we first met, we’re ponies.”

“Ponies?” Qui’s brow creased at the word, a memory long forgotten. “I’ve heard someone speak about creatures of your kind, I always thought ponies were a myth.”

“No, we live far, far away, in a city called Canterlot. Do you never see ponies around here?”

Qui failed to answer, his eyes focused hard on the wall ahead of him, brow moving with thought.

“Qui?” Cadence asked, giving the dragon’s shoulder a soft shake. When another moment passed without his response, she shook again, harder this time. “Qui, is everything alright?”

“Asker!” Qui’s eyes lit up and a claw of his lifted as the name left his lips. “That’s, who, it was.” Voice softening with each word, his claw fell to his side once more, the momentary excitement fading from his features.

“Who was? Who are you talking about Qui?”

At the sound of his name Qui blinked, his head flicking towards Cadence. “What is it?”

“Well, you said something about Asker. Did something happen to him?”

With a heavy sigh, Qui nodded, his eyes sinking to the floor once more. “Yes, he was an interesting dragon, reading all sorts of books I thought were nonsense. He never told me where he got them from, but then I never asked. Losing so many dragons I barely knew makes me wish I spent more time with them,”

“Did the spirit take him as well?”

“Yes.” Another sigh left Qui’s nostrils before light sprang back into his eyes. “But you said you can rid this village of the spirit, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes.” Cadence turned to meet Shining’s eyes, the pair sharing a nod before she turned back. “But we don’t know if it is even a spirit yet. We were going to ask Pido about it before we saw you with our bags.”

“Ah yes, Pido.” Qui’s voice held a hint of fear as he spoke her name. “She says she’s encountered the spirit many times, and lived. It seems the experiences have left her short some sense, but I don’t know if she ever had any.”

“She knows about what’s been happening though?”

Qui drew a sharp breath, his brow twisting with thought as if he was picking his words carefully. “If you believe her, then yes, and to tell the truth, she is one of the few who have the bravery to talk about the spirit. She claims special powers however, it makes it difficult to believe the rest of what she says.”

“Well, we’re should get going before nightfall.” Gathering her hooves beneath her, Cadence rose. At the mention of leaving, Shining quickly dashed towards the spilt pastries, placing each one back in his bags with the care he would handle eggs. “Do you want to come as well?”

“Are you going to her home?” At Cadence’s nod, Qui continued. “Then I think I will, I have yet to see the inside of that cave.” He rolled onto his side before standing. Grey eyes followed the movements of Cadence’s and Shining’s magic as the packed their bags. “If you aren’t spirits, then what is that strange glow?”

Moving to stand beside Qui, Cadence couldn’t contain her chuckle. “Well, I know it might sound a little strange, but we call it magic. Unicorns can use it to do all sorts of things, such as picking up our bags.”

“Magic,” Qui repeated as he watched Shining tie down his flap with the blue glow before silencing his horn. “It truly is fitting of its name.”

With a few steps Shining soon stood on the other side of Cadence. “Okay, all the pies are safe. Should we get Rale before we go?”

Both the excitement on the hatchling’s features and Pipa’s warning came to Cadence’s mind at the same time. “Well, if Pido is as dangerous as Pipa said she is, then it would be best for him to not be there.”

“Pido? Dangerous?” Qui’s brow furrowed as he questioned Cadence’s words. “What makes you think Pido is a danger?”

“We’ll explain it on the way,” Shining said in time with a step forward. “We want to get this over with before night.”