“So was that griffon standing beside you the captain?” Shining asked once they were settled in Mila’s room, he and their host snacking on colored pebbles of sugar. “He doesn’t look like I expected.”

A frown crossed Mila’s face. “I know he doesn’t look like a captain, but in here.” She pointed a claw at her head, before shifting it to her heart. “And here, he’s a captain. That makes him more of a captain than any other griffon.”

“You’re right.” Shining smiled to himself, dropping another piece of candy into his mouth. “I just always thought of a captain as someone tall, and strong. That was what I always wanted to be, but I don’t think my body made it that far.”

Cadence opened her lips to reassure Shining, but Mila spoke first. “Didn’t you hear what I said?” A frown still on her face, she wiggled towards Shining, so their eyes were only a breath apart. “It’s not what you look like, it’s who you are inside.” Still studying his eyes, she shook her head. “You’re not a captain though.”

Shifting back from Mila a little, Shining felt question creasing his brow. “What do you mean, I thought you just said it’s not the outside, but that inside that matters?”

“I did.” Mila inched closer, until she was uncomfortably close to Shining once more. “But I can see it in your eyes, they’re not the eyes of a captain. You’re planning, always, your eyes are a general’s.”

Red blossomed in the white of Shining’s cheeks as he moved back from Mila once more, looking to Cadence for help.

Seeing the uneasiness of Shining’s look, Cadence reached out the tip of her wing and brought Mila’s head to face her. “Why don’t we talk about something else for now?”

Mila hesitated for a moment, her cheek pushing against Cadence’s feathers, wanting to turn back to Shining. Yet a moments thought had her eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s right, you said you were going to teach me how to be a princess!” She stood and moved to Cadence’s side before sitting.

“Well, there’s no harm in trying.” Looking back to Shining, Cadence saw his eyes were lost in thought once more, oblivious to his surroundings. He has been thinking a lot recently. “What do you want to know about?”

“What type of candy to princesses eat?” Lifting a wing, Mila pulled a cane from one of the strings above. “Do you like sour or sweet, and what do you think about fizzy things?”

Cadence rolled her eyes, trying her best to suppress the giggle that wanted to escape. What makes her think candy is such an important part to being a princess? An images of Celestia’s icing rimming muzzle burst into her mind. Well, Celestia was always eating sweet things. “Let me think.”

Time flew by with strange question after strange question, Cadence answering each one with mixed degrees of confusion. Mila chewed through what seemed like an unending supply of candy during the interrogation, her eyes lit up with foalish excitement.

“-that’s why I prefer sleeping on my belly.” Cadence finished, shaking her head as she thought back to the question. What position do I sleep in? Why does she want to know these things?

Mila drew in a breath of awe, seemingly encapsulated by what Cadence thought was a mundane story. “I’m going to try that tonight, it does sound like how a princess would sleep. Now,” Mila puffed out her cheeks and rolled her eyes upward, thinking.

Watching the griffon, Cadence felt the smile on her lips spreading. She really is the cutest griffon I’ve seen. She raised a hoof, pressing it against one of Mila’s inflated cheeks. “A princess doesn’t puff out her cheeks like that.”

“What?” Lifting a claw to her other cheek, Mila poked at the feathers there. “I thought I stopped doing that a long time ago. Everyone says it makes me look like a chick, not a princess.”

“Well, it makes you look very cute.” Tilting her head upwards, Cadence roamed the candy filled room with her eyes. And I’m sure that’s not the only reason they think you’re a chick.

“I don’t want to be cute.” Mila pouted, causing Cadence to giggle.

Then doing that doesn’t help.

“I want to be a princess.” Drawing in a deep breath, Mila met Cadence’s eyes with a wide grin. “Do you think if I do everything the same as you my horn will start growing soon?”

Cadence’s lips opened to joke back. Of course, She wanted to say. You can be anything you want. Yet she took a little longer to study Mila’s eyes. She’s serious, isn’t she? “Mila, you do know a griffon can never grow a horn, there are some things you can’t change. What we are born as-”

“You’re wrong.” Despite how soft Mila’s words were, they silenced Cadence. “The world isn’t that mean. If I can’t be a princess on the outside, why am I one in here?” She lifted her claw to her chest, right above her heart.

Breath left Cadence’s lungs in a soft, slow stream, her head turning to the side, wanting to find Shining’s eyes, but he was still lost in thought. It’s always easier to talk with him at my side. “Shining?”

His eyes responded in an instant, lighting up and looking to Mila. “You are a princess Mila, outside and in.”

Turning to face Shining as well, the fear on Mila’s face was replaced by question. “What do you mean? I don’t look anything like her. I can’t save the world.”

Shining responded with a chuckle. “Pony princesses aren’t the only kind. You might be a griffon, but you’re still a princess.”

Forming her lips into a pout once more, Mila huffed. “But the princesses in stories always used some amazing power to save everyone. I can’t do that, all I can do is sit around and eat candy.”

The smile on Shining’s lips grew. “Don’t be so sure, there’s something you might be able to help me with. Do you know all the griffons on this ship?”

Mila’s face scrunched up. “Of course I do, it’s my father’s ship, but what does that have to do with saving anyone?”

“More than you know, but I don’t want to explain anything until I’ve figured it all out.” Shining shot a glance back over his shoulder, eyeing the door for a moment. Turning back to Mila, he continued speaking. “Can you just tell me if there are any griffons who are new to the ship, or anyone who’s acting strangely?”

“Hmmm.” Mila stared back at Shining, irritation obvious in her eyes. “You’re acting strangely, asking me all these questions. It’s not fun.”

Sighing, Shining met Cadence’s eyes and silently pleaded for help.

Taking notice of Shining’s need, Cadence reached out and placed a hoof on Mila’s shoulder. “Can you please answer the question properly Mila, that’s what a princess would do.”

“A princess?” The word jolted Mila to attention, her frown replaced with a smile. “What was the question again?”

“Is there anyone on this ship who seems strange?” Shining repeated.

Mila blew out a slow breath as the smile faded from her beak, eyes full of thought. After a moment she spoke. “There was Rorack and his two meanies, but everyone says they’re gone now. Then there’s that old griffon, Ilcit. I don’t like her, but my father says she’s close with the chief and that means I have to be nice.” Her features twisted in a grimace.

“Mmm.” Cadence nodded in agreement. “Ilcit’s absolutely crazy, even if she is in charge of so much.”

Ignoring their complaints, Shining continued to verbally prod Mila. “Is there anyone else you can think of?”

“Hmmm, there was this one other griffon. He came the day after Rorack arrived. Father said he was a new recruit who was interested in helping the search. I think his name was Ceer.”

Shining opened his lips to probe further, but a faint gasp made him pause. “Where did that come from?” Climbing to his hooves, he turned and moved towards the door, the fading clicks of fleeing claws in his ears. When he opened the door he found no one.

“Well, was there someone there?” Cadence was at Shining’s side, staring out into the dim hallway as well.

“There was. Ceer, it must have been him.” Closing the door, Shining turned back to Mila, who was still sitting, and returned to his previous position. “What makes you think Ceer is suspicious? Is it just because he’s new?”

“No, there have been a lot of new recruits with Abigail missing. Most of the griffons on this ship are new. Ceer’s weird because he never talks with anyone, the only times I see him he’s sitting by himself, watching a group of others.”

“Well maybe he’s just shy?” Cadence offered, not wanting to condemn the griffon so easily. “Maybe he wants to talk to the other griffons but doesn’t have the courage to?”

“Maybe, but even so.” Shining shook his head. “That doesn’t explain why he was outside Mila’s door, listening to us.” Lifting his eyes, he met Mila’s pair. “Do you know where his room is? I want to have a talk with him.”

“No.” Mila’s head fell, before rising a moment later, excitement in her eyes. “In my father’s room there’s a map of the whole ship. It has where everyone sleeps.”

“Could we look at it?”

Flicking her eyes between Cadence and Shining, Mila shook her head. “The princess might be look good enough to make it into his room, but you’re too shabby.”

Shining’s jaw dropped, protest on his lips, before he saw the teasing in Mila’s eyes. “A princess doesn’t joke around like that.”

Looking to Cadence, Mila found the pink pony giggling. “Are you sure Shining? I love playing jokes on you.”

Groaning, Shining stood, eyeing the door. “Fine, you’ve had your fun. Now can we take a look at this map?”

“Of course.” Mila rose as well, but instead of moving towards the door as Shining had expected, she headed deeper into her room.

“Where are you going?” Shining asked, following without waiting for an answer, Cadence at his side.

Glancing back at Shining, Mila’s beak held a smile. “You didn’t think I’d have to take the soldier’s way to get to my father’s room? He made this ship especially for this.” Standing before a wall now, she lifted a claw and tugged on a metal ring embedded there, revealing a door.

Behind the door was a room covered in pillows blankets and shadows. “This is my bedroom,” Mila explained, moving inside. “My father’s bedroom is right above it, so whenever I want to see him, all I have to do is go up.”

At the edge of the room now, Shining and Cadence right behind her, Mila lifted her wing and pressed the tip against part of the roof. With a strained breath she pushed the piece upwards, allowing light to stream in from above.

Shining watched the whole process with awe. I wonder how many secret passages this ship has? He saw Mila glance back at the two of them, a possible smirk on her beak, difficult to tell with the little light.

“You’ll have to stay down here prince, it seems like the shabby one can’t come after all. Your wings should be small enough to fit princess.” With that she leapt towards the hole, using her claws to lift her the rest of the way.

Placing a hoof on Shining’s shoulder, Cadence reassured him. “Don’t worry, I’ll lift you up afterwards.” She took a step forwards while unfolding her wings. A quick beat in the tight space sent her flying upward, wincing as some of her feathers scraped against the edge. Maybe I should have let Shining lift me up.

Pushing aside her pain, she quickly turned to look back down the hole where Shining stood. “Relax,” She called out. “I’ve lifted heavier things than you.” Lighting her horn, she surrounded him in her magic and tugged upward, lifting him easily through the hole.

“I thought he wasn’t coming?”

Shining now standing beside her, Cadence turned to see a hint of sadness in Mila’s eyes. “Well he’s the one who needs to know everything.”

A sigh left Mila’s lungs. “I thought we were going to have some time alone, two princesses.”

“Maybe another time,” Shining answered for Cadence, stepping forward, his eyes taking in the room around him. “Now where’s this map?” The sight that his eyes found had him pause.

Dozens of candles filled the room with light and the faint smell of wax, chasing away any shadow wanting to hide between the bookcases that bordered the room. In the centre lay an expansive bed, easily large enough to fit Shining and Cadence a dozen times.

“Not in this room.” Mila’s voice drew Shining’s eyes away from the bed and towards the door she was pushing open. “It’s in his office.”

Both her and Shining following the griffon closely, Cadence couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. “How do you know we won’t run into your father? He won’t like us intruding on his private quarters would he?”

Glancing back at Cadence, Mila smirked. “It’s a little late to be worrying about that, and I know we won’t. He’s busy making sure his ship is running until late at night.”

The room they moved into was a great deal smaller than the previous one, although the giant desk in the centre didn’t help with the space. It’s surface was sparse, most of the paperwork organised into the shelves behind.

Moving past the desk, Mila tugged open one of the draws underneath it, sifting through the paperwork until she found what she had been searching for. “Here it is.” She lifted a tightly folded piece of brown paper from the draw, opening it as she placed it on the desk.

Shining’s eyes bugged out as they came to rest on the puzzle of floor outlines, each one filled with a scattering of notes. “Do you know how to read it?”

Letting out a breath, Mila looked up at Shining and shook her head. “I thought you were the one with the plan? All I know is where my room is, you’d have to ask my father for anything else.”

“Can you show me?” Shining leant over the table as Mila’s claw pointed out a ballooned up room on one of the levels, far bigger than those around it. “Mila Bourne?” He chuckled at the name, shooting the griffon it belonged to an amused look.

“It’s a very noble name,” Mila countered, screwing her face up at him. “Fitting of a princess. Anyway, do you know how to read the map or not?”

Looking back down at the map, Shining studied the numbering in the corner of each outline. “Give me a moment.”

As Shining’s eyes roamed the map, Mila turned to Cadence, her features filled with awe. “Your name’s Cadence, right princess?” At Cadence’s nod, she continued. “Do you have a second name like me?”

“Well.” Cadence felt a red warmth coming to her cheeks. “Cadence is actually my second name, or Cadenza is. My full name is Mi Amore Cadenza.”

Mila’s jaw dropped at the name, and Shining looked up in question. “What? You’ve never told me that before.”

“I know.” Pink cheeks on fire now, Cadence smiled at Shining. “It’s the name my parents gave me, they took it from some book they were obsessed with. I never liked it too much however, Cadence is so much simpler.”

“Your parents?” The map no longer on his mind, Shining shook his head. “I thoughts you never met them?”

“No, before Celestia found me, I had two pegasus parents, but I don’t remember them.So it’s easier to say I never met them. ”

Jaw hanging loose now, Shining looked from Cadence to the map back up to Cadence again, searching for something to say. Eventually his tongue caught hold of a thought. “Why haven’t you told me about them before?” Excitement was in his eyes now. “I’d love to meet them.”

“Well, that’s because they don’t want to see me anymore” The blush fading from her cheeks, Cadence allowed her head to fall. “They gave me up because they didn’t want a foal like me, Celestia’s been the closest thing to my mother for the longest time.”

“Oh.” His excitement fleeing, Shining looked back down at the map, hoping the foreign language of numbers would suddenly make sense. “I should keep looking for Ceer’s room.”

Listening to every word, Mila’s eyes widened at the one thing she gleaned from the ponies’ exchange. “You weren’t always a princess?”

“That’s right.” Glad for the distraction, Cadence turned towards Mila, forcing a smile to her muzzle . “Without Celestia there to teach me, I would have never have come close to being a princess. Sometimes, I still don’t feel truly like one.”

“That means I can become a princess as well right?” Opening her wings, Mila winced as one struck the table. “I’ve got wings, and you’re teaching me. All I need to do is grow a horn.”

Cadence sighed. If only there was a way Mila, I would be so glad to tell you. “If only it were that easy. I don’t know if it’s possible for a griffon to become a pony princess. There a stories of Celestia before she had wings, but she was a special case. To be a princess you need to have overwhelming amounts of the magic that is within all ponies.”

“You can give me some of that magic, can’t you princess?” Mila looked at Cadence with pleading eyes, each quivering pupil filling Cadence with guilt.

Oh why does this have to be so hard. Why isn’t there a way? “Well, I could try.” Cadence bit her tongue, but the words had already escaped. Did I really say that? I’ll try putting magic inside her? I could hurt her so much if I did anything wrong.

Yet Mila didn’t seem to notice the terror in Cadence’s eyes, instead she stepped forward, wrapping the pony in a hug. “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. I’ll be the best princess there ever was. I can’t wait.”

Cadence returned the hug warmly, but her mind was a rush of frantic thoughts. You can’t do this, you have to tell her that you won’t. Her lips wouldn’t move however, unable to crush the overflowing joy of the griffon before her.

“What floor do the would Ceer have his room on?” Shining asked, his voice bouncing of the map he was still studying.

Breaking away from the hug with a low growl, Mila turned back to the map, studying the outline of each floor. After a few moments she pointed out one. “That’s where all the new recruits sleep. It’s the smallest floor of the ship.”

“Thank you.” Shifting his eyes towards the set of rooms Mila had directed him to and continued his search for the four ink letters.

“So can you do it now?” Mila asked as she turned away from Shining, excitement springing into her face once again.

“Well…” Say you can’t do it. “I can’t do it.” Seeing Mila’s face fall, Cadence quickly mended her words. “Right now, but if you give me till tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be able to find a way.”

Mila drew in a deep breath and released it. “Okay princess, I can wait one more day. One more day and then my dreams come true.” She let out a squeak of excitement, her grin so wide Cadence thought it would escape her face.

“Okay I’ve found it.”

Glad for the distraction of Shining’s voice, Cadence took a step so she was beside the table, focusing her eyes on the outline Shining’s hoof was pointing to.

Eyes on the same place, Mila nodded. “I know where that is, come, I’ll show you the way.” She bounced from the office back towards the bedroom before Shining’s voice stopped her.

“Shouldn’t we put the map away?” His horn lit, Shining was already folding he expanse of paper into its previous size. “You just need to show me where it goes.”

Moving back to the desk, Mila took the paper in her claw, pulling out a draw with the other. She slotted it inside before rushing back to the doorway. “Now no more of this waiting around, the faster we get this done the faster tomorrow comes.”

Cadence could feel a lump in her throat as she followed behind the two. I have to tell her before the night ends.

The quarters of the new recruits was near the bottom of the ship, only accessible by flying out into the cold night air before looping back inside. Begrudgingly Mila carried Shining, yet nothing seemed to put a dent in her mood.

She was bounding down the hallway by the time Cadence landed, eager to get to their destination.

“You should stay with us,” Cadence said when she met up with Mila at the end of the hallway. “We’re investigating this griffon for a reason, you don’t know what kind of griffon he might be.”

“Don’t worry.” A giggle escaped Mila’s lips. “I can already feel my princess power flowing through me, I could take on anything right now.”

Cadence giggled back, but hers lacked the joy Mila’s held. “Well you’re not a princess yet.” And you never will be. Guilt filled her stomach at the thought. What if there is a way? I shouldn’t be putting aside my hope already. Maybe there was a spell Celestia gave us? Yet in the time she had spent searching Celestia’s writings that day, no such spell had caught her attention.

“Okay.” Mila still leading the trio, she stopped at a door. “This is it.”The tag on the door confirmed her words, ‘Ceer’ carved into a sheet of wood.

Nodding, Shining looked back at Cadence. “Can you keep me safe from out here? I’m going to go inside first.”

It took a moment for Cadence to realise he was speaking to her, guilty thoughts burdening her mind. Pushing them aside, she responded. “Mmhmm, try to be safe though, I can’t bring you back to life.”

“He was just spying, I’m sure he’s not dangerous.” Seeing worry in the lines on Cadence’s brow, Shining quickly followed with a few more words. “I’ll still be careful, and with you behind me I’ll be safe.”

A door behind Cadence swung open with a squeak, a voice coming from inside. “What are you-” The eyes of the tired looking griffon who stood in the doorway bugged out, his jaw dropping. “Ponies? Ponies aren’t allowed on this ship.”

“They’re with me,” Mila said, drawing the griffon’s bright blue eyes towards her. “Now can you be quiet or you’ll let him know we’re coming.”

“Everyone in the hall knows!” Another voice called from a door further down. “If you want to sneak up on someone try whispering and not waking everyone up!”

“Sorry,” Cadence whispered back, before turning to the griffon in the door. “I’ll make sure we’re quiet. Can you tell us if Ceer’s in his room?”

“Uh.” The griffon scratched the white feathers on the side of his head with a claw. “I don’t know, I think I heard his door open and close before, but he might have been going. Just knock.” With that he closed his own door.

Shaking his head at the whole ordeal, Shining lit his horn. “I’ll just open it.” He surrounded the door knob in blue, turning until he felt resistance. Taking a deep breath, he put more force into the motion, the knob soon snapping off under the pressure. Yet the door would still not move.

“You have to push on the door,” Cadence explained. “Like this.” Lighting her own horn, she surrounded the whole door in blue, filling the air with the sound of splintering wood as she pushed forward. “There.”

Muttering under his breath, Shining stepped into the room. “I really need to practice my magic.” The blue of his horn lit up the small space before him. One half of the room had a mattress embedded into the floor, the other half holding an open cupboard and a shivering, walnut-brown and white griffon.

As he heard Mila and Cadence entering the room behind him, Shining saw the Ceer’s eyes go wide, whether it was with surprise or fear he could not tell. “We need to ask you some questions.”

Ceer froze for a moment, only his eyes moving, flitting over the three before him before whispering. “Can you please close the door, I don’t want anyone to disturb this.”

Glancing down at the splintered door she stood upon, Cadence felt a sheepish smile coming to her lips as she looked back up. “Well, sorry about that, but it won’t close anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter who hears,” Shining said while taking a step forward, Ceer moving back to match him. “What I want to know is why you were listening at our door?”

Taking another step backward, Ceer’s tail hit the wall. “I-I, I wasn’t listening at anyone’s room. I’ve been, uh, been here all night.” His eyes roamed around the room, searching for more to add to his excuse. “I’ve been cleaning my cupboard.”

Cadence glanced sideways to the still open cupboard door, taking in what lay inside. Her eyes found several stacks of paper, all neatly ordered. “Well it looks like you did a good job.

Looking towards the paper as well, Shining smiled. “Yes, it is clean in there.” He took a step away from Ceer and towards the cupboard, picking out the topmost piece of paper with his magic. “You won’t mind if I read some of this, will you?”

“No, don’t!” The two words that came from Ceer’s mouth sounded nothing like those he had spoken before. Instead they were guttural, like those of some monster rather than a griffon. “I mean, please don’t, they are very personal.”

Without having read a word on the page before him, Shining lifted his eyes. The smile on his lips had grown. “I won’t read them, if you answer my questions truthfully. Why were you listening at our door?” From behind he could hear Mila whispering to Cadence.

“What was that voice he did? It sounded like the one Ilcit used to put on when she read me stories.” Came Mila’s inquisitive voice.

Cadence’s followed. “I don’t know, but it reminds me of something.”

Ignoring the chatter of the two, Shining pressed Ceer with his eyes, waiting for the answer he knew was true.

“I wasn’t listening, I was-” Seeing Shining’s eyes lower towards the suspended page once more, Ceer quickly held up a claw. “Okay, I was listening at Mila’s door, but it wasn’t because you two were there, it because I love Mila.”

Only half-listening to the conversation, both Cadence and Mila looked towards Ceer, Mila speaking. “I didn’t hear what I think, did I?”

Ceer’s eyes picked out the disgust in Mila’s screwed up face. “No, it wasn’t that.” His eyes moved away from Mila, searching the room for another excuse. All he found were Shining’s heavy eyes. “I mean, that’s right. I do love you.”

Confusion softened the horror on Mila’s face, but only for a moment. Her features were hard, hiding all emotion as she spoke. “You know what the rules are on this ship?”

“Yes.” Looking from Mila to Shining, Ceer tried to take another step backward, but only felt the wall pressing harder against his rump. “What do the ship’s rules have to do with this?”

“One of the rules is no one tries anything with the captain’s daughter, me, unless she had shown interest first. That includes confessing your love.”

Ceer’s beak opened and shut a few times, waiting for something to come from his mind. Eventually his tongue produced an excuse. “Forget I said that, I wasn't spying on you three, I was cleaning my cupboard.”

Allowing a sigh to escape his lips, Shining brought lowered his eyes to the page still suspended beneath his muzzle. “If you won’t tell the truth I’ll have to search for it myself.”

“No!” Ceer barked in the guttural tone that had leaked into his voice before. Taking a step forward, he forced Shining’s chin upward with a claw, causing their eyes to meet. “You didn’t hear me listening. You don’t even know I’m on this ship.”

Gazing over Shining’s shoulder, Cadence saw Ceer’s eyes glowing in a green that brought memories to the forefront of her mind. Another one? Here? Pushing her questioning thoughts aside, she lit her horn meaning to force Ceer back from Shining.

Yet before she could Shining’s foreleg lifted and kicked at Ceer’s chest, albeit weakly. It was enough to disrupt Ceer’s charm however, pushing him back a step. Not wanting to take any chances, Cadence surrounded the off balance Ceer in her magic, lifting him into the air.

“Ahh!” A pained growl rang through the room as Ceer’s head struck the low roof.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise the room was so…” Cadence’s voice trailed off and her jaw dropped at the sight before her. Ceer’s feathers were shimmering, slowly fading away until a shiny black shell could be seen underneath.

Seeing the changeling took Shining’s breath away as well, but he recovered first. “I was having some doubts about this, but I think this confirms all of my suspicions.”

“Let me go!” Ceer screeched, struggling in mid air. “You ponies don’t want to be involved in all this, you should let me go and forget it.”

Next to recover, Mila took a step forward, so she was at Shining’s side. “What is that? Some kind of monster?”

Finally finding her voice, Cadence spoke up. “Well, yes you can call him that. He’s a changeling and-”

“Can you be-” Came a voice from behind Cadence, a gasp cutting it off.

Ceer still held in her magic, Cadence turned to find a griffon of blue and white feathers in the doorway, every part of him looking asleep except for his wide brown eyes. “What is that?” He managed to say.

“It’s Ceer,” Shining said, turning away from the changeling as well. “Or what was pretending to be Ceer all this time while spying on the ship.”

Through his sleep slowed mind, the griffon found his training reaching him. “We need to tell the captain about this, bring him with me.” The griffon spun back towards the hall, but Mila’s voice stopped him.

“Go back to sleep Curis, I’ll take him to my father.”

Twisting his head back, Curis’s eyes widened even further. “M-Mila? Sorry, I didn’t see you there. Of course you can escort them yourself.” Thankful to be relieved of his duty, Curis moved back into the hall before disappearing behind his door.

Mila stepped towards the hallway as well, before glancing back at the still unmoving Shining and Cadence. “Let’s go, my father will want to know about this.”

“Sure,” Shining said, gathering the stacks of paper from Ceer’s cupboard in his magic before following Mila and Cadence.

As they moved through the hallway to escape into the night air Ceer remained silent, his struggling stopped, as if he had resigned to his fate. At the edge of the ship, Shining mounted Mila while Cadence spread her wings, readying herself for the flight.

I’ve got to concentrate, She told herself, taking in a deep breath. Make sure you hold onto Ceer while you fly. Sensing Mila at her side, Cadence turned her head. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yup.” Mila nodded before spreading her wings and leaping into the sea of wind, Cadence following her.

Focusing on keeping Ceer held in her magic, Cadence was thankful for the lift of the wind beneath her wings. She only had to beat them once or twice as they climbed the side of the ship. Soon she was standing beside Shining and Mila on the captain’s deck.

“He should be back in his room by now,” Mila said as she moved towards the closed door that separated the deck from her father’s rooms. Lifting a claw, she knocked. “Father, are you there?”

“Mila?” Came a voice from within, muffled by the wood its owner was behind. “Why are you out there at this time?”

Moving towards the door as well, Cadence answered for Mila. “There’s something we need to show you captain. We’ve found a spy on your ship.”

“Who’s out there with you Mila?” A hint of panic was in the captain’s voice now, the sound of his steps moving towards the door.

“It’s the princess father.”

“Oh.”

Cadence heard a bolt slide back and the door opened to the smiling face of the griffon she had seen earlier, his lack of size even more obvious now she stood eye to eye with him. “It’s good to finally meet you captain.”

“Please call me Bami, and the pleasure is all mine princess.” Stepping back from the door, Bami motioned for them to move inside with a claw. “Please come in, I want to hear about this spy.”

Taking a step back from the door as well, Cadence moved Ceer into full view, the changeling having changed into a griffon some time while they were flying. Yet in place of the walnut colored feathers that had covered his body before, he was clothed in the same silver as Mila. Ceer’s body even seemed to have shrunk to match Mila’s size.

Seeing an exact replica of Mila held in her magic stole the words from Cadence’s lips, all she could do was stare. She sensed Bami poke his head out the door and heard a gasp leave his lips.

“Please father, help me.” The voice that came from Ceer’s beak sounded every bit like Mila’s, so much so that Cadence glanced at the Mila beside her, making sure the griffon she held wasn’t the only one. “These horrible creatures captured me.” Fighting through the magic, Ceer pointed a claw at Mila. “And that one is pretending to be me.”

Bami looked from Mila to Mila and back to Mila. “What is this? Is this some kind of cruel trick?”

Still standing at the edge of the deck, Shining took a step forward and reared up on his legs, kicking the suspended Mila in the side. She let out a pained gasp before her feathers shimmered, fading away to reveal the shiny black underneath. “It is.”

Watching his second daughter morph into a monster, Bami’s eyes widened. “How long has this thing been on my ship?”

“This is Ceer,” Shining answered, moving to take his place beside Cadence. “One of the new recruits on the ship.”

“He’s been here that long.” Bami’s eyes dropped, his head shaking. “Can he change into anyone?”

Shining glanced back at the suspended Ceer before blowing out his breath slowly. “As far as I can tell it seems like it, but we’ve only seen him change into two different griffons.”

Still shaking his head, Bami looked back inside. “Ilcit will want to know about this right away. Give me a moment.” His body turning to match the direction of his eyes, Bami disappeared back into his room.

As she heard Bami’s steps fading away, Cadence looked back at the suspended and fearful Ceer. “I wonder what they’re going to do with him. Mila, what does your father usually do with spies?”

“He’s not as bad as some captains, I’ve heard they drop them off their ships with their wings tied.” Mila grimaced, her eyes alight with imagined griffons plummeting to their doom. “He locks spies up until anything they heard doesn’t matter any more.”

“He isn’t just a spy though,” Shining added. “A changeling with like this one will be a constant annoyance to griffons everywhere, but at least he wasn’t as bad as the last one. We’d have a ship of dead or possessed griffons.”

“The last one?” Question filled Mila’s eyes as she looked at Shining. “Is there more than one of them?”

Shining nodded. “We met, or rather fought, another one a few days ago. She looked very different to this one however.”

“So there could be other ones on this ship, and they can copy anyone like he did to me?” Seeing Shining’s nod, Mila continued to speak. “Does that mean Rorack and those other two mean griffons with him could be fake? Everyone says Rorack’s changed so much since he came to the ship, and those two with him seem to weird, like they’re not griffons at all.”

Hearing a gasp come from behind him filled Shining’s lips with a grin. “If you want to be a spy,” He said as he looked to Ceer. “You really need to work on controlling your mouth.” Turning back to Mila, he nodded. “It seems like someone else figured it out.”

“Well how long have you known this?” Cadence asked. “Is this what you’ve been keeping from me the whole time?”

“This is part of it.” Eyes unfocusing, Shining gazed off into his distant dream land. “But a few more things need to fall into place before I know for sure it will all work.”

“I figured it out?” Mila whispered to herself before looking to Cadence. “Is that something a princess does?”

Cadence couldn’t help but giggle as she nodded. “Of course it is, princesses are very smart, at least the only other one I know is.” Her words brought a smile to Mila’s lips and lifted a claw towards her head.

“I think I can feel a horn growing already.”

The joy on Mila’s face reminded Cadence of the duty she had to perform, tearing the smile from her lips. “Mila, you need to know one thing.”

Hearing the sorrow in Cadence’s voice shrunk the smile on Mila’s lips. “What is it?”

Bami’s steps filled the air before Cadence could speak, his voice soon following. “I spoke with Ilcit, she said we should lock him away until tomorrow, and she’s right. It’s getting late, decisions like this are best made with a clear mind.” Stepping out onto the balcony, Bami spread his wings. “Follow me.” He leapt into the air, Mila following him before Shining could mount her.

“Take Ceer and follow them,” Shining said after a moment’s thought. “I’ll wait for you here.”

Leaning towards him, Cadence laid her lips on his before spreading her wings. “I’ll seen you soon.” She took off after the two griffons, soon finding them waiting in the sky above.

The three sailed down the side of the ship, heading for a deck underneath the one recruits slept upon. On landing they were greeted by a massive door of steel, the most Cadence had seen on the ship so far.

Posted to one side of the door, a griffon guard opened his beak to call out, but paused when his mind registered who stood before him. “Captain? What are you doing down here at this time?”

Bami lifted his claw to the griffon held in Cadence’s magic, who now resembled himself. “We’re locking this spy away until morning.”

“Please, stop them,” Ceer called out from his cocoon of blue. “He’s impersonating me, they’re trying to take over the ship.”

With two Bami’s in his sight, both possessing identical voices, the guard lowered his spear. “Which one is real?”

Imitating what Shining had done earlier, Mila leapt into the air and swiped at him with a wing, drawing a grunt of pain from his lips. “This one’s fake.”

Seeing the silver feathers around Ceer shimmer to reveal his true nature, the guard lifted his spear once more. “I’m sorry captain, I should have known you were the true one.”

“It’s alright.” Taking a step forward, Bami placed a claw on the guard’s shoulder. “He fooled me before as well, I couldn’t tell him apart from my own daughter. Now please open the door.”

The guard nodded while lifting his wing, revealing a key concealed within it. Setting aside his spear, he placed it in the centre of the door and turned before tugging on one of the handles embedded there.

Grasping the same handle, Bami leaned into it with the guard, both of them moving the door bit by bit, grunting with each step. After a moment’s watching them, Cadence lifted her voice.

“Do you need some help?” Her words caught her a questioning glance from Bami.

“Are you sure? You don’t look like you are built for work like this.”

Looking down at her slender legs, lacking the muscle that rippled through the bodies of both griffons before her, Cadence smiled. “Well, I’m not, but I have something that might help.” Pushing more magic into her horn, she surrounded the door both griffons had managed to open a crack.

A deep breath and she forced the door back, the sound of steel grinding against steel filling the air. “There,” Cadence gasped as she allowed her horn to settle, only having the strain of holding Ceer upon it once more.

Both of the griffons that had the handle ripped from their claws stood still, beaks wide open. “Princess,” Bami managed to say after a pause. “I’ve heard Ilcit proclaim your great power before, but I didn’t think it was anything like this.”

Still panting, Cadence waved a hoof before her, dismissing the praise. “Well there isn’t much else I can do. Now can be put this changeling away? I need to rest.”

Noticing the sudden exhaustion in Cadence, Bami nodded, stepped into the dim room beyond the steel door. “Of course, doing something like that must surely take a toll on your body.”

As Cadence stepped slowly into the prison, Ceer suspended behind her, Mila bounced along at her side. “See father, that’s what I want to be when I’m older, a princess just like her.”

Cadence held her breath and stopped walking, her eyes focused completely on Bami, who had stopped before on the the half-dozen barred cells. Is he going to tell her? Tell her it’s not possible? Part of her hoped he would. Then I won’t have to break her heart.

“That’s nice Mila, I’m sure all the ponies back where she lives want the same thing as well.” Bami allowed the guard space to unlock the cell as he spoke.

Hearing his words, Cadence released the breath she held and continued forward, placing Ceer inside the now open cell. Well it makes sense, what father breaks his daughter’s heart? I’ll be the one to do it.

With Ceer was inside the guard stepped forward and locked the cell, all four of them moving towards the door. Once outside Bami looked towards Cadence. “Do you have enough strength to shift the door again?”

Nodding, Cadence lit her horn, surrounding the door in blue once more. The sound of screaming steel filled the air as she shifted it, but beneath it all she was sure she heard sobbing. It pulled at her heart. He has feelings too, even if he was spying on the ship. I wonder why he was doing it? I’ll have to ask Shining.

When the door finally rested in the place it had started, Cadence felt her legs shaking underneath her weight.

Noticing this, Mila was soon leaning against her. “Are you alright princess?”

Thankful for the support, Cadence nodded. “Well, mostly. I get a little tired when I use my magic like this.”

A smile on her beak, Mila spread her wing that wasn’t pinned between her and Cadence. “Do you need me to fly you back?”

Cadence’s lips parted to refuse, but the ache in her head and sleepiness running through her veins stopped her. “That would be great if you could.”

Her smile widening. Mila left Cadence’s side to crouch before her, waiting for the princess she adored so much to climb onto her. Once Cadence was securely mounted, Mila leapt from the deck, her father a wingbeat behind.

The ship seemed to pass by in a blink for Cadence as the griffon she rode rocketed up the side of it. Well, I still have a lot of practice to go before I can reach speeds like this. A breath left her lips and another entered, she could see Bami’s deck below, Shining standing upon it.

After Mila had landed and Cadence dismounted, Shining moved across the deck to join them. “How do I know one of you isn’t Ceer in disguise?” He asked, features filled with mock concern, as Bami landed to on side.

Cadence shook her head before leaning in and placing her lips on his. “Don’t joke like that, I thought you were serious for a moment.” As she broke away from the kiss Cadence stumbled forward, Shining there to catch her.

“Is something wrong Cadence?” Lifting her foreleg over his shoulder, Shining allowed her to lean against him.

“Well, not really. I used a little bit much magic, so we should get to sleep soon.” Turning her head, Cadence looked towards Bami. “Do you know where our rooms are? We still don’t know our way around the ship.”

After a moment’s thought, Bami nodded. “You’re in one of the smaller rooms aren’t you? I’m so sorry about that princess, but our ship is almost full. It was the best….” A smile spread across his beak. “Actually, with Rorack gone that frees up a few rooms. You can take his if you wish.”

Cadence and Shining shared a look for a moment, deciding with their eyes, before they both nodded. “We’ll take it,” Cadence said. “But right now I don’t have the energy to shift our things. Can you show us where our old room is?”

“Do you want to show them Mila? I still have a few things to finish before the night is over.” Seeing his daughter’s nod, Bami continued. “Good, they’re on the north west corner of the guest deck.” Moving past them, he stepped inside. “I’ll see you three tomorrow.”

A skip in her step, Mila moved after her father, stopping at the door and glancing back to make sure the ponies were following. Seeing they were, she continued through her father’s room and into the hallway beyond.

For Cadence’s tired body the journey back to their room seemed like the passing of a year, the want to collapse into sleep growing with each step. She could hear Mila speaking, but couldn’t discern her words, only the excitement in her voice.

After the eternity of slow steps, Cadence felt Shining’s lips in her ear, the soft breath of his whisper. “We’re here.” She heard him say goodbye to Mila and the door before her open. They moved forward together and the door closed, her body floating towards the floor as Shining let her down.

Eyelids falling under the spell of sleep, Cadence saw their darkness dropping over her vision as Shining’s horn rung through the air. She wanted desperately for the warm haze of sleep to take her away, but something kept her from accepting its embrace.

There’s something I’m forgetting, something I needed to do before I went to sleep. Forcing her sleepy mind to work, Cadence searched through the day’s events, looking for what was troubling her.

“Mila!” The word left her lips as her eyes opened, startling Shining.

Having finished setting up their tent for protection, he crouched down beside Cadence. “She already left Cadence. Was there something you needed to tell her?”

“She can’t be a pony princess.” Saying the words aloud filled Cadence’s stomach with a sickly guilt. “Can she?” Eyes blurred by the need to sleep, she looked to the muddled white form of Shining.

“So you’re worried about the promise you made her?” Lying beside Cadence now, Shining ran his hoof down her mane and along her back, knowing the motion would help to comfort. “I wouldn’t think that a griffon could become a pony, but who knows, Ceer seemed to be able to change into anyone.”

The idea broke Cadence from her fall into sleep, eyelids snapping open and eyes alight once more. “Do you think that would work? If we could figure out how the changelings change forms, we could do that for Mila?”

“Maybe.” Seeing the new found excitement in Cadence’s eyes, Shining didn’t want to disappoint. “But you saw how weak the illusion was, it broke the moment he was put off balance. I doubt it’s more than something you can look at as well.”

Hearing Shining’s argument stilled the burst of excitement running through Cadence’s body, keeping her awake. Sleep soon took over her body again, clouding her mind and weighing on her eyelids. “You’re right,” She mumbled, resting her head on his neck. “But we still have to try.”