“Pido?” Standing at the still wide open entrance, Cadence called for what felt like the dozenth time. “Are you there Pido?”

“Maybe we should just go in? She might not be able to hear too well.” Shining took a step towards the cave entrance as he spoke, only to find Cadence’s outstretched foreleg blocking his path.

“No, it would be rude to go inside without her knowing, and without her home.” A shiver ran along Cadence’s back as she thought back to Flo’s recount of their intruders. The frantic search for what had been taken, and the uneasy sensation of insecurity. “Pido?”

“I’ll be-” The voice, a far higher pitch than Cadence remembered, stopped itself. A cough echoing through the cave before it spoke again, this time sounder much more akin to the memory Cadence had. “I’ll be right up, I was simply napping.”

“Oh.” Turning away from the door, took a step back. “We can go away if you want. I wouldn’t want to disturb someone’s sleep.”

“Yes g-” Pido’s voice halted once again, a low moan coming from inside the cave. “No, I love to have guests any time of the day. Please come in.”

Moving first, Cadence stepped into the dim cave, Shining’s hooves and Qui’s claws soon following. Once inside, Cadence saw the shadow of a dragon moving towards her from deeper within the cave, its claws closed around something.

With an easy breath Pido blew fire onto the black rock held in her claws before placing it in the centre of the room. Her eyes lit up when she saw Cadence. “Oh, it’s you. I’m sorry for what happened the other night, she was, I was quite scared.”

Lowering herself to the ground, Cadence nodded, recalling the frantic words of Pido from some nights ago. “Yes, you said that there was a spirit outside. That’s why we’ve come. We want to know if there’s anything else you can tell us about the spirit?”

Pido took a breath, her lips opening but closing a moment later, leaving Cadence wondering if it was simply the flicker of the flame before her. After some thought, she eventually replied. “What do you want to know?”

“Well, I don’t know how to say this best but,” Turning her head, Cadence met Shining’s eyes, hoping for him to help.

“We’ve heard that the spirit isn’t exactly what everyone thinks it is.” As the words left Shining’s lips as sigh of relief left Cadence’s. “Someone told us that the one taking the lives of every dragon in this village is you.”

“What!” Pido screeched, her voice many octaves above what it had been previously. “How dare the-” The anger that had momentarily been in Pido’s features fled, replaced with fear. “I’m sorry. I mean, why would they think that?”

The jaws of Shining, Cadence and Qui hung loose at Pido’s outburst, their eyes wide.

Cadence managed to recover first, but her lips seemed to stumble over any words she formed. “What, who, you. What did you say?”

“I said, why would they think that?” Pido replied, her voice showing no signs of the frightening fury it previously held.

Did I imagine that? Turning to look at Shining and Qui, Cadence found shock still in their features. Reassured the few words from Pido’s lips were not a conjuring of her mind, Cadence looked back to the dragon in question.

“No, I mean before that. You said, how dare they, and you seemed so, angry.”

A smile spread across Pido’s muzzle as she cocked her head to the side. “Are you crazy.” She giggled, the lighthearted sound only confusing Cadence more. “I remember saying anything like that, what does that mean anyway? How dare they?”

Flicking her eyes from Shining to Pido and back, Cadence found her mind was swimming in thought. No matter how she tried to find a reason for what she had just witnessed, only more questions came.

“Pido, that wasn’t you speaking?” A shudder ran up Qui’s body as he spoke. “That can’t be you, in all the time I’ve heard you speak, nothing close to those words has come out.”

Seeing the confusion growing in Pido’s face, Shining held up both of his forelegs. “Why don’t we just forget it? It’s clear she has no idea what you two are talking about.”

Qui’s lips parted to protest before reason overcame horror in his mind. “You’re right, I have seen this one other time with Aere. An hour of questioning and I finally concluded the outburst had been my imagination, but this…”

Still watching Pido’s features closely, Cadence saw annoyance flash into the dragon’s eyes for an instant before disappearing. Or am I simply seeing things? “Yes, we must have imagined it.” Despite her best efforts, she could not conceal the doubt in her voice. “What were you saying Pido?”

“I-” A snort of laughter left Pido’s nostrils, her head bowing forward as she giggled. “Are you three playing some kind of trick on me? You all look so funny.” Another round of laughter overcame her, shaking her whole body from tail to snout.

“Yes, that’s right.” Cadence felt herself smiling as well, the overflowing joy from Pido contagious. “We were playing a joke, but about the disappearing dragons. Someone told us you’re the killer.”

Concern overwhelmed the laughter inside Pido, showing in the lines forming on her brow. “But why would they think I’d so something so horrible? I just want to help everybody.”

“Well,” A sigh left Cadence’s lips. It feels like I’m asking the wrong dragon. She seems so different from when I last met her. Thinking back to that night, she recalled the borderline madness in Pido’s voice, like the ravings on one not sane compared to the innocent foal Pido was now. “Do you know anything about the spirit that could help us stop it?”

“Hmm.” Pido rolled her eyes up into her head, tapping a talon against her cheek as she thought. “No. I don’t think there’s any way to stop it.” The smile on her lips and joy in her eyes did not match the words that came from her mouth.

It’s like she barely knows the spirit exists at all, Cadence thought, allowing another sigh to leave her. “We’ll leave you the-”

“Can we take a look around your home?” Shining butted in, much to Cadence’s shock.

Placing her hoof on his, Cadence drew Shining’s eyes to hers. “Shining, don’t be so rude.” Turning back to Pido, she apologised with a nod. “I’m sorry Pido, you don’t have to show us if you don’t want to.”

“No, I would love for you to see my cave. It’s not the nicest of places, but it’s home.” With a wide smile still on her muzzle, Pido rose and picked up the burning rock in her claws. “Just follow me.”

Shining and Cadence shared a look, both of them surprised at Pido’s willingness. “Well, we can’t refuse your offer,” Cadence said, standing as well, Shining and Qui following.

Seeing everyone was standing, Pido turned and headed into the depths of her cave, talking as she went. “We were just in my welcoming room, it’s usually messy because of all the dragons I have inside.”

As they moved from the first room into a narrower passageway, Cadence felt her hoof kick on something, almost tripping her if not for Shining’s steady foreleg. “Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek as he lifted her back upright.

“I’m always glad to help my princess.” Lighting his horn, Shining directed the blue glow at the floor, searching for the obstruction. Three deep gouges ran along the stone floor beside Cadence’s hoof, forming a small hole at their midpoint. The stone around the hole was much darker than inside the hole itself, like it had been dug recently.

“Watch out for this hole Qui, you don’t want to trip as well,” Shining warned.

Halfway down the passageway already, Pido turned back to wait, an apologetic smile forming on her muzzle. “I’m sorry for that, some of my guests are rather wild, and I forget to clean up afterwards.”

Looking at Qui, Shining saw his lips open, brow creased as if he had a question on his mind. “What is it Qui?”

“Nothing important. I simply forgot to do something.”

Once everyone was following again, Pido continued to move forward, her voice so cheery it seemed to make the darkness a little lighter. “And now we’re coming into my kitchen, I’m sorry it’s still a little messy as well. I haven’t cleaned up after lunch.”

The rank smell of flesh crept into Cadence’s nostrils as she moved forward, wetting her eyes and forcing her to turn away. “Sorry,” She managed to choke out as she lit her horn, blocking her nostrils with magic. “I can’t stand the smell of dead things.”

“Oh no, I should be the sorry one.” Moving towards the benches carved of stone, Pido held the fiery stone in one claw while scooping everything into a stone bowl with the other.

Out of the corner of her eye Cadence caught a flash of a glistening red slab, similarly colored strings hanging from it. Her eyelids squeezed shut at the sight, sickness brewing in her stomach.

“Okay, it’s all gone,” Pido called, her voice sounding as if it were in another room. “Sorry about that.”

Slowly opening her eyes, Cadence noticed a claw-sized scar along the wall before her, just like the hole she tripped on it was lighter than the rock around it. Dismissing the thought, she turned back to the room, glad to see the benches clear. “No, I should have realised what would be in here.”

“Why don’t we keep going, there’s a room I really want you to see.” With a small skip in her step, Pido moved into the next passageway.

Following the dragon, Cadence kept her horn lit, its light picking out more scratches on the walls of these next passageway, these in rows of three.

“Down that way is where I sleep.” Pido pointed her claw down another passage that came off the one they were on. “And the next room is the best room of all.” She made to turn away, but Cadence’s voice stopped her.

“Well, what’s in it?”

“It’s a surprise, but I know-” The words coming from Pido’s mouth ceased as a violent shiver ran through her body, features twisting and eyes widening with fear for a moment. Joy soon covered the fright up as the shiver passed, her smile returning. “You’ll love it.”

Stepping forward, Cadence placed a hoof on Pido’s shoulder. “What’s wrong? Did something happen to you?”

Cocking her head to the side, Pido replied with a smile. “What are you talking about? Nothing happened.”

Looking back to Shining, Cadence saw his features contained the same concern she felt. It’s like before, she can’t remember what happened. “Well, let’s keep going then. Show us the surprise.”

With a nod, Pido turned and continued forward, humming merrily to herself.

Cadence stood in her place, allowing Shining to squeeze alongside her in the tight tunnel before whispering in his ear. “What do you think is wrong with her?”

“I don’t know,” Shining whispered back. “It’s like she really has lost her mind.”

“Are you all coming?” Pido had turned back to wait for them, a grin still on her lips. “I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the surprise.”

“We’re coming,” Cadence called ahead before turning her lips back to Shining’s ear. “We can talk about it later.”

A few steps and Cadence easily caught up with Pido, Shining and Qui close behind. The four continued through the cave, their way lit by the blue glow of both Shining’s and Cadence’s horns, and the fire in Pido’s claws.

Sensing the passageway had been going for some distance, Cadence glanced backward to find the room behind them lost in the bend. “When does this tunnel end?”

Pido froze in place the moment Cadence stopped speaking, her body shaking even more violently than before. Body still shaking, she turned her head back to face her company, fear alive in her wide eyes and quivering lips. “G-”

A smile cut off whatever Pido had been about to say, the shaking stopping and joy returning to her as it came. “Are you ready for your surprise?”

“Well, was that it?” Cadence questioned, her stomach feeling sick from the pain she had just seen Pido in.

“No crazy, it’s just up ahead, come on.” Turning away from Cadence, Pido continued through the passageway, so full of joy she was almost bouncing.

Before she could take a step forward Cadence felt Shining’s breath in her ear. “I think we should leave now Cadence, I have a bad feeling about this.”

Glancing back at him, Cadence couldn’t hide the concern on her features. “No, she looks like she needs help. I need to talk to her more.” Without waiting for a response she followed Pido’s steps, heading deeper into the cave.

Shining took a deep breath before continuing as well. I’ll give it one last chance, but it looked like she wanted to tell us something, something terrible. As he stepped forward, he realised he could not hear the sound of Qui’s claw behind him.

Flicking his head back, Shining’s saw his ears told the truth. He chose well. Turning back to the tunnel ahead of him, she rushed after Pido and Cadence, ignoring the warning of his gut.

“-surprise is right down there.” Shining managed to catch Pido saying as he rejoined them, her claw pointing to a wooden trapdoor in the ground.

“Down there?” Confusion filled Cadence’s voice as she looked carefully at the trapdoor. The stone that bordered it was much lighter than the rest of the floor, setting of a spark in her mind. “Did you dig this recently.”

Pido opened her lips to reply, but nothing came out. Her face was almost frozen, only slight twitches around her eyes and lips showing it was not completely still.

“Pido?” Cadence waved a hoof before the dragon’s eyes, hoping she would come back. “Are you there Pido?”

As the echos of Cadence’s words faded, silence joined the three, only broken by the ringing of magic and crackling of flames.

Turning back to Shining, Cadence could not contain the fright in her voice. “What do you think happened to her?” Without a word, he simply directed her eyes back to Pido with a hoof.

Waves of shudders were running up and down the Pido’s body, so wild it seemed as if her legs would give out underneath her. Yet through it all her lips moved, albeit slowly.

“Go,” She managed. “Leave this cave, leave this village. You’ll die, she-”

The wide grin returned the moment the shaking left, seeming almost sinister now. “Don’t worry about what I just said, sometimes I go a little crazy myself.”

“Pido, what did you mean when you said we’ll die? How? Why?” Cadence made to step forward, but Shining’s foreleg held her back, his voice speaking over the joyful tone of Pido.

“We need to go now Cadence, it isn’t safe here.”

“But, what about Pido?”

After a thinking for an instant, Shining replied. “Grab her with your magic and bring her with us, we want to get away from whatever this surprise is.”

With a nod Cadence surrounded the confused looking dragon with blue, the confusion twisting into rage as Pido realised what was happening.

“Put me down,” She screeched, writhing in the air as Cadence hurried after Shining, the pair of them leaving the cave with her floating behind. “I won’t just kill you, I’ll force you to eat each others flesh if you don’t put me down now.”

Shining breathed a sigh of relief when he caught sight of the cave exit, the sunlight streaming inside quickening his pace. “We should get her back to the tent,” Shining said once Cadence also stood at the exit to the cave, Pido still held behind her. “Quickly.”

As they raced through the town Shining managed to catch the low hum of voices underneath the sound of Pido’s screams, now calling for help instead of threatening with death. Coming into the centre of the village, where the well stood, he saw many dragons grouped around Qui.

Every eye in the group was directed at them, some filled with wonder, and others anger, but most held fear. “What are you doing with her ponies?” Qui called out as they drew closer, taking a step as if to block them.

Already past the crowd by the time Qui had finished speaking, Shining glanced back to make sure Cadence was still following. Her brow showed lines of strain but her lips held a smile. “We’re going to help her.”

Now beside Cadence, Shining continued to move towards their tent with her, the hum of voices trailing at a slower pace.

Cadence pushed Pido inside first before stepping through the ethereal walls herself, Shining soon following. The moment Pido’s body was completely enclosed by the magical tent, her screeching stopped, the movement of her body stilling.

The hum of voices ceased at the same time, every dragon waiting, watching, wanting to know what was happening.

“Pido?” Cadence lowered the now still body to the ethereal mattress below before stilling her horn. “Pido?” Is she still alive? “Pido, can you hear me?”

“Who is it? Please, leave now, she’ll kill you if you go down there.” Eyes snapping shut, Pido curled up into a ball upon the mattress, her whole body shaking.

No voice filled the air for some time, everyone watching the shivering ball of black scales. Eventually Cadence spoke. “Pido, it’s all right, she, she can’t hurt you in here.”

“Don’t say that, she’ll hear you.” Ragged and uneven breathing was mixed between Pido’s words. “She’ll hear you and everyone will be gone.”

“Who is she Pido?” Qui asked from outside the tent, his voice half full of question, half fear.

“The spirit, she, she,” A shiver ran through Pido, Cadence feeling the shaking run through the mattress below. “She won’t like it if I say anything else. Bad things will happen.”

Lifting a foreleg, Cadence moved her hoof in slow strokes along Pido’s back, hoping to calm the shaking dragon with the touch. “You’re safe here Pido, safe from anything or anyone who wants to hurt you. You don’t have to be scared any more.”

“I’m never safe, never.” Pulling her claws up from her chest, Pido clutched at her head with them. “She’s inside my mind, no way to get her out. I’m hers, forever. No one can escape.”

“She’s clearly mad.” The voice sprang forth from the the crowd and with it a dragon.

“Aere?” Qui turned towards the dragon with question still in his eyes. “What do you know about all this?”

Aere’s features twisted with thought for a moment before returning to their previous confident state. “I know little of this dragon and what has caused this, but listen to what she is saying. The spirit is inside her head? It’s madness.”

A few murmurs of agreement rang from within the crowd, yet Qui shook his head. “Of all the absurd claims I have heard in my life about spirits, this is not one. Spirits possessing bodies is some well known to be within their power. If only Asker were still here, he would know how to handle times as strange as these.” His last words were said quietly, as if to himself.

“You need to stop living in the past Qui.” The new voice belonged to Rale’s mother, strained with worry. “You need to deal with this crazy dragon right here, she’s a danger to everyone in this village.”

“Atigo?” Qui turned his head to the new speaker, the question on his face twisting to confusion. “This isn’t like you, you’ve always been a friend to Pido have you not?”

Atigo’s eye twitched and lips curled, a slight growl coming from the depth of her throat, as if she were in pain.

Watching the scene unfold, Shining’s mind churned, placing every detail into place with hopes of solving the problem. Only one thing was missing. “Pido, what was down that trapdoor? The one you were leading us to.”

“She was,” Pido’s voice was half-choked with tears by now, Cadence’s free hoof moving to wipe them from her cheeks. “She wanted to take you as well, like she took those two, like she took others in this village.” A black-scaled claw lifted to point towards Atigo and Aere.

“What do you mean, take them?” Shining continued with slow words. Should I really keep asking her questions? She seems so hurt, maybe she needs to recover first?

Despite his doubts, Pido answered with her shaking words. “She wanted to get inside your heads. Use you like she used me.” Pido choked back a sob. “She used me, she used me.”

Qui turned away from the shaking mess of black scales towards the two freshly accused dragons. Feeling the pressure of Qui’s eyes and knowing his thoughts, Aere protested.

“You can’t think anything she say is true, can you?” Anger had leaked into his features by now, into his voice as well. “She’s a mad dragon trying to lay the blame on others.”

“It is mad to think as I am now, yet it would explain so many things over the past few months, ever since the spirit started tormenting our town.” Qui drew a sharp breath and wiped at the corner of his eye with a claw, suppressing the sorrow inside. “There are times when you aren’t the Aere I’ve always known, like someone else is speaking for you.”

Before Aere could answer, Cadence lifted her voice. “I know it’s frightening having your friends under this spirit’s control, but arguing with them won’t help, we need to stop this at the source.”

Cadence rose from where she stood, Shining with her. “We need to find out who she is. Hiding in Pido’s home.” The pair stepped from their tent only to have Aere move to stand in their path.

“How can we trust two ponies with this? If anyone should go it will be a few from the dragons standing here.”

Face to face with Aere now, Cadence recalled a question she had from before. “Qui, what color are Aere’s eyes?”

“Blue, why do you ask?”

“Well, they’re gree-” Cadence gasped as the color of Aere’s eyes changed, from a deep emerald to a pale sapphire, their owner drawing a breath as well. “Aere, are you there?”

“How did I get here?” His eyelids fluttering, Aere glanced around, question clear on his face. “Why am I so close to you?”

Whoever it was, they’re gone now. Cadence felt a smile forming on her lips, yet worry was still held in the crease of her brow. “Aere, what do you last remember?”

“I was in the crowd.” Aere rubbed his head as he spoke, turning back to the group of dragons behind him. “Now I’m here, did something happen?”

Coming up alongside Aere, Qui placed a foreleg over his shoulders. “The spirit has been in control of you I assume, speaking against the two before you. It is good to have you as yourself again.”

“What did I say?”

“You were calling Pido mad,” Qui answered, joy clear in the smile on his lips. “That a spirit possessing her was absurd.”

Aere’s eyes widened at Qui’s words. “Why me, why was I the one who was taken over?”

“She, I.” The shaky words came from the shivering Pido, who now sat upright, watching the crowd with teary eyes. “You visited me, and she made me, made me take you to her. I didn’t want to but she, she forced me.”

Turning back to Pido, Cadence felt herself smiling. “Don’t worry yourself Pido, no one will blame you for doing things you couldn’t control. You should rest while we sort the spirit out.”

The pony pair made to step past the crowd once more, only to have Qui stand in their way this time. “When you encounter this spirit, what is it you’ll do?”

Cadence’s lips parted to answer, but only a sigh came out. Seeing this, Shining answered for her. “We don’t really know, but we will do our best to stop whatever this spirit is. Hopefully once we are done you will never have to worry about it again.”

Nodding, Qui moved from their path. “I do not understand why I am doing this. Trusting the fate of this village with two strange beings I thought only this morning were a danger. Good luck.”

“We don’t need luck,” Shining replied with a smile, both he and Cadence moving towards Pido’s home now. “The power this one here has is greater than anything you’ve ever seen.”

“What do you think this spirit actually is?”

Cadence’s voice filled the air as she and Shining moved from the first room of Pido’s cave into the passageway beyond.

“I don’t know.” Shining was leading, the light of his horn picking out every detail with blue as they moved forward. “But it must have magic of some kind, to be able to control dragons like that.”

“Do you think it will be able to control us?” They were in the second room now, the faint smell of flesh still hung in the air, but not enough to choke the two. Apart from the ring of their horns, the cave was deathly quiet, as if lying in wait to surprise them with some horror.

“Once again, I don’t know.” They were within the next passageway now, the tension in Shining’s stomach building with each step. “But I hope not, if it could somehow turn us against each other.” A shiver ran down his spine at the thought.

“Well, that would never happen.” Squeezing alongside Shining in the tight passageway, Cadence laid a kiss on his lips. “We love each other too much to ever fight like that. Even if it did have control, I know our love would be stronger.”

Returning the kiss, Shining nodded. “You’re right, nothing could ever turn us against each other. We should keep moving though, the longer we take the longer this spirit has mess with the minds of those outside.”

Turning away from Cadence, Shining continued down the tunnel, past the exit to Pido’s sleeping quarters and towards the trapdoor at the end. Shining drew in a gasp when he stepped into the room.

“It’s open.”

“Does that mean its expecting us?” Cadence suggested at a whisper, so her words would not fall on unwanted ears.

“Maybe.” Taking another step forward, Shining leant over the pit of shadow, his horn doing little to reveal what lay inside. Yet he could make out a few steps below. “Or maybe its no longer here. The spirit could be trying to lure us in there and trap us.”

“Well, what if it is hiding down there? We can’t let it control this village from inside the cave.” Cadence could feel the concern straining her voice, fresh memories of Pido’s pain at the forefront of her mind.

A deep breath filled Shining’s lungs before he released it slowly, his thoughtful eyes focused on the wall the whole time. Once it had finished he inhaled again before speaking. “Then I’ll go down and check, you sta-”

“No!” Pressing her hoof to Shining’s lips, Cadence cut him off. “You can’t go down there by yourself. You’re not…” Her voice trailed off when she saw the confusion in his eyes.

“I’m not, what?”

Biting her lip, Cadence lowered her eyes, staring at the floor as she spoke. “You said it before, I’m the only way we’re going to beat this spirit. If you go alone she’ll take you, as Pido said.”

Shining opened his mouth to respond before realising the truth in what she said. Stretching out a hoof, he lifted Cadence’s chin so her eyes met his. “You’re right, if anyone should face this spirit, it’s you. I’ll make sure we aren’t trapped.”

Stepping aside, Shining gave Cadence room around the hole. Stepping forward with her horn lit, she bathed the inside of it in blue. “There’s quite a drop. can you help me down?”

“Of course.” Observing the drop himself, Shining lowered his belly to the ground. “Although maybe you don’t need me, if you lie on the ground you’ll be able to slide in I think.”

“I’ll try that.” Mimicking Shining, Cadence lowered herself till she was lying down, hooves dangling over the edge of the hole. She moved forward bit by bit, until she could touch the first step below. “There, I made it.”

“Good, now be careful down there, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Cadence could hear the worry in his last words, the pain that Shining’s wild imagination was causing him. It filled her stomach with guilt. I would feel the same way if he was the one coming down here. One of us has to make the sacrifice.

Like the passageways before it, the staircase was a tight squeeze for Cadence. Would both of us have been able to fit down here? She cast the thought aside, and took the first step forward, stomach filled with angry butterflies.

Blue light allowed her eyes to walk to the down the staircase till it stopped, Cadence unable to see past a turn.

“What can you see?” Shining called from above, his head poking into the tunnel.

“Well, nothing but stairs right now, it looks like it keeps going however.” Cadence glanced back at Shining, holding his eyes for a moment. “I’ll see you in a little while.” Turning back to the stairs, she continued downward.

“I’ll be waiting for you. I know you can do this.”

Shining’s words in her ears, Cadence rounded the corner tentatively, unsure of what her blue glow would reveal. She’s going to try control me, how do I stop it? Unable to bring any plan to mind, Cadence took the final step, hoping Shining’s suspicion had been correct.

What her eyes found brought a sigh of relief from her lips, and settled the squirming of her stomach, but only for a moment. The empty cave sent her mind into a frenzy of thought. If she’s not here, then is she up there with Shining?

“Shining!”

“Cadence!”

Both ponies called out in the same moment, both voice filled with fear.

“You need to get back up here, I can hear something moving in the cave.”

Cadence heard Shining’s horn light, his hooves take a step or two across stone. A cackle filled the air an instant after. “Say goodbye to your lover.” The words were smug, dripping with confidence, as if she knew Cadence would never see Shining’s face again.

With Shining’s groaning in her ears, Cadence rushed back up the tight steps, calling out the whole way. “Don’t give into her Shining, our love is stronger than this, remember?”

“Hah! You think love, such a weak emotion, can win out against the fear that fills every ounce of his body?” The cackle rang through the air again, so sickening, Cadence felt the want to retch in her throat. “He’s the one locking you away.”

Around the corner now, Cadence could see the outline of the hole, lit by the glow of her horn. Yet with every step she took the hole shrunk, the trapdoor coming down to close it. The wood slammed down a moment before she reached the top of the stairway.

Seeing the slab of wood close in her face, knowing who had done it, Cadence felt her legs give out underneath and allow her to fall to the steps below. Shining, slammed the door on me. She heard the sound of a heavy rock on wood from above. And locked it shut.

She felt the guilt returning to her stomach as the light of her horn died away. I should have let him go down. It was so obvious she wasn’t in there, but would I have even been able to stop her? Releasing a heavy sigh, she shook her head. But at least he wouldn’t be under her control.

Taking in a deep breath, Cadence lit her horn once more, if only to see her tears forming spots on the stone. I thought our love would be stronger? Celestia always said it was the strongest emotion of all. She wanted desperately to curl up and cry herself to sleep. What’s the point of doing anything else without him?

Sobbing echoed around her, her only companion in the tight blue tunnel. What would Shining do if I was the one captured? Cadence’s mind sprung to life with an image of Shining bursting forth from the trapdoor before racing down the tunnel and breaking her from the spirit’s control with a kiss. I can do that too.

Brushing her tears aside, she stood and felt her horn collide with the wood above. “Ouch,” She winced, lowering her head while she rubbed at he sore spot. After a moment of recovery, she focused her magic on the trapdoor, lifting with only a slight strain.

Hearing the rock slide back and collide with the wall sent the warmth of encouragement surging through Cadence’s body. I can do this, I can rescue him. Lifting her head, she lit the cave above with blue. Now how do I get out?

The ledge was level with her eyes. Maybe I can climb up? Rearing backwards, she placed both hooves on the ledge and tried to pull herself up. Yet her legs were too weak, or body too heavy, either way all she managed to do was strain her muscles. I need to be higher.

An idea sprung into her mind, causing Cadence to smile. I can use my trap as an escape. Reaching out with her magic, she grasped the boulder that had previously secured the trapdoor and lifted it into the tunnel with her. By stepping upon it she was able to get her chest upon the ledge, and eventually wiggle her way up. No I need to kiss him.

Cadence moved through the passageway before her, past the tunnel to Pido’s bedroom, past her still stinking kitchen and into the final room. The sunlight streaming inside lifted her spirits. I’ve almost got him back.

As she got closer to the exit the louder the sounds from outside grew. Screams, shouts and a cackling laugh ran through the tunnel, filling Cadence’s mind with worry and quickening her pace. What’s happening out there? I hope it isn’t taking control of dragons again.

The sight that met Cadence’s eyes as she stepped from the cave into the late afternoon sun caused her to stop in her tracks. I can’t believe I left them alone.

In the centre of the village, next to the well, stood Qui and a few other dragons she didn’t recognise. Surrounding them in a circle was the rest of the village, green obvious in each of their eyes. Yet this was not what drew Cadence’s eyes.

Standing before all the dragons was a form similar to that of a pony, but there was no fur covering its body. A shiny black material, almost like a shell, covered the creature from the tip of its twisted horn to the base of its hole ridden limbs. Only the green of its eyes and the glistening of saliva dripping from its lips broke the black.

A changeling, Cadence knew, recognising it from Cloud’s game of cards, yet it was different in a way. Instead of a pair of tattered wings like most of the changelings she had seen depicted, this creature only had one, if the twisted stump of flesh even counted. It all makes sense, the changelings in Cloud’s game always had the power to control other creatures. I should have realised sooner.

Seeing what was standing before the changeling, Cadence felt a mixture of guilt, from the green in his eyes, and joy, knowing he would soon be free.

“Are you scared silly pony?” The voice that came from the changeling caused Cadence to gasp and her eyes to widen. Akin to the screech of a bat, a sound that would send shivers down anyones spine. “I can taste your fear from here.” A tongue of deep purple flicked from the creatures lips before retreating back inside.

Forcing the surprise from her face with a determined look, Cadence took a step forward. “I’m not scared, only sad. Why would you kill so many dragons, completely destroy a village like this? Why would you..”

“Take him? I’m a changeling, this is what we do.” As she spoke a few of the dragons left the circle behind her, moving to her sides.

“But can’t you see you’re hurting all these dragons? Doesn’t that make you feel at least the slightest bit sorry?” Cadence grit her teeth, trying to resist the urge to plead for Shining. “Isn’t there anything you love?”

The changeling’s eyes went wide with glee, her voice an even higher pitch as she spoke. “Funny you should ask pony. You might not know, but most changelings find their pleasure by sapping the love of other. I was made a little different. I find my pleasure in your fear.”

Leaving the changelings mouth again, the purple tongue tasted the air, writhing in the heavily scent of terror around it. “But as fun as it would be to watch you cry, you’ve been too much mischief already.” The green glow of the changeling’s eyes grew, focused completely on Cadence.

A terror crept into Cadence’s limbs, an old enemy of hers, one that visited every so often in her nightmares. I know how to deal with this. She tried to close her eyes, but found them pinned open. No, she really can control me.

“Yes pony,” The changeling’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, body shuddering as if she were climaxing. “Give me all off your fear, let it flow through your body.”

I can do this, Cadence thought, forcing herself to take a shaky breath. I didn’t freeze up when a monster of a dragon stood before me, I won’t do it now. Yet no matter how hard she tried, her horn would not light, her eyes would not close.

“Mmm, please keep resisting pony, it only makes your terror all the sweeter.” Licking at her lips, the changeling inhaled deeply, every bit of the air around her thick with fear.

As frozen with fear as she was, the movement Cadence could see in the corner of her eye gave her a hint of hope. Shining’s coming to save me. Bit by bit, somehow without the changeling’s notice, he moved towards her.

Before she knew it he was standing before her and her chest was alive with the beat of her heart. His head leant towards hers, lips at her ear, the touch alone enough to send the tingling of nerves throughout her body. Is he still under her control?

“Cadence,” Soft in her ear, Shining’s voice came with a kiss. The hot sensation fought back against the cold hold of fear in her body.

Seeing Shining’s kiss, the changeling screeched. “I never allowed you to move you filthy unicorn.”

Cadence felt Shining’s muzzle withdrawing from her ear, the hint of a tear forming in her eye as the warmth left. Despite being under the changeling’s will, he managed to force a few words from his lips.

“Remember what we said, we love each other too much.”

The words tore the terror from Cadence’s features and replaced it with a smile. Yes, no matter what we go through, or who controls our minds. We will always love each other more than anything.

Like a tiny spark, the thoughts ignited a warmth in her chest, a fire that melted away the icy grasp of fear. Cadence felt it moving up her body along her cheeks and to the tip of her horn, lighting it with blue.

Yes, Cadence couldn’t help the tears that flowed from her eyes as her blue glow reached out, surrounding the changeling.

“How?” A screech rang through the air, the changeling backing away from the magic as if it were boiling lava. “You shouldn’t be able to move.” She squirmed as she rose into the air, green eyes pulsing. “It doesn’t matter, you won’t live long.”

The dragons that had previously surrounded the changeling moved forward, teeth bared and claws raised.

“Kill her now!” Qui’s voice called from far behind, yet Cadence only backed away.

I can’t kill her, that would be. Cadence swallowed hard as a picture of the changeling entered her mind. Twisted out on the red-brown rock, a pool of deep red staining the ground around her. No, if I did that I could never live with myself. What would Celestia think, what would Shining think?

Ignoring the approaching threat, Cadence’s eyes searched for her prince. Yet instead of the blue color she hoped for in his eyes, they were a sickly green. The warm tears of joy that had been flowing from her eyes previously were washed away by those of sorrow. I thought you were free.

Looking back to the suspended changeling, Cadence saw a smile on her glistening back lips. “Even your precious lover is against you. It doesn’t matter how close you think you are, fear conquers all.”

“No, you’re wrong,” Cadence called back, wiping the tear from her cheeks with a hoof. “Even through your strange controlling spell, he’s still Shining.” One step, then another and she stood before him, meeting his dead green eyes with her own watery pair. “You’re still there, aren’t you?”

A cackle moved through the air in time with a swing of Shining’s foreleg, both aimed at Cadence. She managed to step back from his hoof before it collided, but it still left her mouth agape.

No... he’s, She shook her head, pushing the doubting thoughts aside. He simply needs a little more coaxing.

Moving forward, Cadence dodged another swing before pressing her lips into Shining’s, uncaring of the dragons approaching close behind. This will reach him. She felt his lips harden, feeding the fear in her mind.

Yet after a short moment they softened, responding to her kiss in full force. Meeting his eyes, she saw they were blue once more, the green taint gone from them.

“Freeing one from my control won’t matter, you’re still dead.” The changeling followed her words with a cackle, but sureness she had before was missing, her words seeming empty.

Tearing her lips away from Shining, Cadence turned to find what the changeling said was about to come true. One step from them stood Aere, his eyes lit up with green and jaw hanging loose, saliva dripping from the stained teeth inside.

Their eyes met, minion and meal, both knowing the other was seconds away from making a move. Aere leapt forward while Cadence lit her horn, stealing him out of the air with her blue glow.

As she lifted Aere towards the sky Cadence saw three more dragons behind him, their eyes in a similar state. All three dove forward with snarls, and all three were scooped up in Cadence’s blue and lifted.

By now the weight on Cadence’s horn had her deep and steady breaths shaking somewhat. The struggling of those above causing sweat to form on her brow. How many more are there? I can’t hold this many forever.

Noticing the strain held in Cadence’s composure, Shining stepped forward as another dragon approached. Lighting his horn, he readied himself to encapsulate the enslaved beast with his magic, but before the dragon even leapt the blue of Cadence’s power surrounded it.

“You can’t hold them all up in the air pony,” The changeling called out, forcing a mocking tone into her voice, and failing. Uncertainty was clear now in the changeling’s shaking words and glowing green eyes, yet she still kept sending her minions forth.

Watching as Cadence lifted another two into the air, Shining nodded. I need to stop her somehow. Reaching out with his magic, he caged the changeling in a suit of blue before lifting her into the air, hoping the disturbance would disturb her control.

As Shining had expected, upending the changeling caused her eyes to flicker for a moment, the glow around some of her dragons’ eyes flickering, but not fading altogether. Once her movement through the air had settled, the green of her eyes flashed, sending the last of her minions forth.

Once again they were lifted upward by Cadence’s magic, rendered useless in the air above.

Moving forward, Shining stopped once he was face to face with the changeling, close enough to see her quivering eyes. “Please don’t kill me, just let me go and I’ll never bother this village again.”

Shining stared hard back at the changeling’s fear-filled eyes, not allowing a hint of emotion to enter his. I doubt she’d leave this village alone, and even if she did, there’d be another one she’d find. What do we even do with her?

“Shining?” Cadence’s strained voice came from behind, drawing Shining’s eyes away from the changeling and towards her. She was lying on the ground now, eyelids screwed shut and whole body shaking. “Please, quick.”

Nodding, Shining turned back, only realising the worry now in his features once it was too late.

“I’m not afraid, it’s just wrong.” Shifting his eyes away from the changeling’s, Shining saw Qui and two other dragons behind her. Guarding the three were the last two of the changeling’s enslaved dragons that were still groundborne. He could see confusion in Qui’s eyes.

“Wrong?” The changeling cackled again, her smile growing. “You don’t know the meaning of wrong pony. Maybe inside your precious little palace at home you thought killing was wrong, but out here, you need to be able to kill to survive.”

“No, there’s another way. I’ve seen monsters like you changed. Changed into friends.” Bringing a hoof up to his head, Shining thought back through what little he had seen of Ember’s reformation. And Moretur too, until… He winced at the memory, shaking it away and looking back to the changeling.

The smile on the changeling’s lips was growing still, her yellow-stained teeth and purple tongue showing. “I see those friends left you with some good memories. Even if you could change me, which you can’t, you don’t have the time to.” Looking over Shining’s shoulder once more, she directed his eyes towards Cadence.

Holding a dozen and a half dragons high in the sky, Cadence was now shaking uncontrollably, tears running down her cheeks.

“I’ve never seen one as strong as her,” The changeling continued over Shining’s shoulder. “So I’ll give her till sundown before she’s out. She’ll be half-dead by then, and a weakling like you can’t take on all those dragons, can you?” Seeing a shiver run through Shining’s body, the changeling cackled. “I thought so.”

“Kill her now!” Qui’s voice rang over the village centre, followed by a grunt as one of the dragons guarding him pummeled him to the ground.

Turning away from Cadence and towards the sound, Shining found himself meeting the terrifyingly excited eyes of the changeling once more. “A weakling like you could never kill me, you can’t even help your precious lover.”

“There’s always a way.” Shining forced the words from his lips while his mind worked, hoping for some sort of miraculous idea. What would Cloud say? Kneading the side of his head with a hoof, he brought and image of the pegasus to mind.

It’s a battle you’re fighting, There will always be casualties. Sometimes lives have to be lost to keep evil at bay. Cloud had repeated the words over and over after the battle, in various forms but the same essential meaning. You have to kill her Shining, you’re a guard.

Looking back up to the changeling, Shining stilled the shaking in his limbs and allowed his spark of determination to show in his features. “Don’t be so sure you’ve won this.”

Terror leapt back into the changeling’s eyes upon seeing Shining’s. “You can’t be meaning to.”

“If it will save her, if it saves this village. You have to go.” Shining drew in a deep breath, thinking of the easiest way to perform the task. If you have complete control over your target, breaking the neck is quick and clean.

The words sprang forth from his now faint memories of guard training. Words that had seemed so simple at the time, just another fact to know for the test, never heaped up with emotion like they were now.

Releasing the breath he had held, Shining glanced back at Cadence once more. The shaking that had previously ran through her limbs was now gone, but her features were still lined with pain. I need to stop this now, He knew.

Looking back to the changeling, he found her fighting against his magic, kicking the air, but getting nowhere. “You don’t have the guts to do this,” She screeched at him, yet her words lacked conviction, and the fear in her eyes told the true tale.

“I’m sorry, but if there really is no other way to do this…” Shining’s words trailed off into a sigh. “Then I’ll do what must be done.” Closing his eyes, he focused his magic around the changeling’s neck and shoulders.

“No!”

“No.”

A scream and a whisper filled the air at the same time, one of pure terror leaving the changeling’s lips and the other strained, coming from Cadence.

Picking up the hint of Cadence’s voice amongst the high pitched screech of the changeling, Shining opened his eyes and flicked his head back to his princess. “What do you mean Cadence? If I don’t stop her now it’ll be over for everyone.”

“Not, this,” Cadence managed, pushing through the pain she held to lift her muzzle and meet Shining’s eyes. “Another, way.”

“I,” All words escaped Shining as he took a step towards Cadence, the want to shed tears caught in his eyes and throat. She’s right, what was I thinking? I could never kill someone, no matter how evil she is.

“Watch o-” The words were cut off by a grunt and the sound of scales colliding with scales.

Turning towards the sound, Shining found one of the dragons that had been guarding Qui and two others now stood a step from him. One more spring of his legs and the dragon was flying through the air towards Shining, claws outstretched and jaw wide open.

Time seemed to slow for Shining, his eyes suddenly picking out every detail of the scene before him. The terrifyingly wide eyes of the dragon leaping towards him, the smug smile on the changeling, still suspended a few steps away, and the shadow pouncing down from above her.

His mind only had time for one thought however, safety. With the last reserves of his magic, Shining sent forth a burst of blue from his horn, aimed at the approaching dragon. A screech filled the air in time with his bolt of magic colliding with the dragon, stopping its leap midair and causing the purple-scaled body to fall.

I hope I didn’t hurt him, Shining thought as the limp form made contact with the ground. Looking more closely at the dragon, he noticed its eyes lacked the green glow they had previously held. What happened?

Lifting his eyes towards where the changeling had been suspended only moments ago, Shining saw she was no longer there. Instead a pair of spread wings took the changeling’s place in the sky, leading Shining’s eyes down towards their owner.

“Pipa?” Shining called as he took a step forward, his eyes not yet taking in the full picture.

Pipa turned towards her name, a sickening tearing filling the air along with the movement. The ginger feathers around her beak were dripping with dark green, the liquid trailing down her chest and to her claws.

Following the dark streak with his eyes, Shining felt a sickness forming in his stomach when he saw what lay at the end. Crushed beneath Pipa’s forelegs was the changeling’s neck, or what was left of it. The head he had been speaking with moments ago was now only held onto its body by a few strands of torn green flesh.

Choking back the want to retch, Shining turned his eyes away from the scene. “Does that mean she’s gone?”

“The demon is no more,” Pipa answered before lowering her beak to what was left of the changeling’s neck. With one quick movement she tore the whole head free, splattering warm green over the stone before her. “I will assure she never returns.”

Taking the head in one of her claws, Pipa leapt into the air, catching the wind in her still spread wings and soaring high into the air above.

His breaths shaky, Shining stared at the dust beneath him, trying not to think about the remains of a body only a few steps away. He wanted to cry, he wanted to empty his stomach, he wanted to lay down and forget it had ever happened, but most of all, he wanted Cadence.

The craving for her touch reminded Shining of the pain she was in. Picking himself up, he crossed the short distance to her in stumbling steps, placing his muzzle in her ear as he lowered himself beside her. “You can let them down now, it’s over.”

Upon hearing his words, the inferno of blue that surrounded Cadence’s horn shifted, bringing those who hovered high above down to the ground. A heavy sigh left her lungs once she was free from their weight, her eyes lifting to meet Shining’s. She found a terror there, like that of a foal who had woken from a nightmare.

“What happened?” The words that left Cadence’s lips were weak, barely more than a breath.

Without speaking, Shining wrapped his forelegs tight around her, drawing her close and inhaling her scent. After a few moments of simply holding her, breathing, Shining finally spoke. "She’s gone.”

Cadence drew in a sharp gasp, pulling back from Shining far enough to look into his eyes. “Did you?”

“No.” Shining shook his head, trying to push the image of Pipa from his mind, dripping with green, the same green that flowed from the changeling’s open neck. “It was Pipa.”

Hearing the griffon’s name, Cadence responded with a questioning look. “Who’s Pipa?” Her head tipped to the side as she spoke, eyes scrunching closed and a wince escaping her lips.

Leaning forward, Shining steadied her head on his shoulder. “You need to rest Cadence, we can talk about everything else in the morning.”

“No, I’m fine.” Up-righting her head, Cadence rubbed at the base of her horn with a hoof. “I simply need something to drink.”

“I can be of help with that.”

The unexpected voice right behind Shining caused him to jolt before turning to face it. He found Qui standing behind him, Rale and his mother at his side. “You don’t have to.” Shining raised a hoof to brush the offer away. “We have plenty of water ourselves.”

“No.” Qui stepped forward, the grin on his lips seeming out of place. “Something must be done to repay you. Saviours cannot go unrewarded.”

Saviours. Shining averted his eyes when the words reached his ears, a small sickness stirring in his stomach at its sound, I’m not a saviour, I barely did a thing. Despite his feelings, he lifted his eyes once more. Cadence needs a reward though. “If you could give us water to drink, that would be good.”

Qui nodded before turning away. “Water, we need some water.” Within moments of his call a dragon was working the well, drawing the stone pail up.

Listening to the conversation, Cadence felt as if she were watching from afar, not one of the two ponies, but someone else. Many times she felt her head swaying, eyelids drooping and mind begging for rest, but she bit her lips to fight off the weariness. Stay awake until you’ve had something to drink Cadence.

Thankfully the dragon collecting the water held far more energy than she did, his strong forelegs pulling the pail from deep below within moments.

“No, let her drink first,” She heard Shining say before cool stone was pressed against her lips. “Are you ready?”

Cadence managed a slight nod and felt the water trickling over her lips, a gentle stream flowing down her desert dry throat. “Mmm,” She moaned, the cool liquid waking her slightly as it spilled from the corners of her mouth.

After a few moments a just filling her mouth and swallowing, Cadence felt her lungs growing tight with want for air. Oh no, I need to breathe. She drew her lips away and gasped, moaning once more as the chill of the water kissed her chest.

Her body now completely satisfied, Cadence felt herself drifting off once more, this time she allowed it to happen. Muffled voices swum through the air around her as she tipped sideways, a ring of magic the last thing she heard.