“You can’t catch me princess!”

Cadence was racing through cobbled streets she knew well, chasing after a blue-scaled body she knew even better. She could hear herself giggling along, but the sound seemed distant, as if she wasn’t in her own body. Yet Cadence’s mind didn’t catch this tiny detail, only the merest bump in the road of joy she was upon.

Still chasing Flo, Cadence saw her skid around a corner ahead, and opened a wing, preparing to do the same. Holding her pink wing up on the inside of the turn, she made the sharp angle without a tiny loss in speed.

Somehow Flo had gotten further from her however. Not letting this setback worry her, Cadence continued forward. She knew what they were about to come upon, the giant descending steps in the centre of Rockholm.

Well, I might cheat a little here. Both wings ready at her side, Cadence saw Flo far ahead, already disappearing down the first step. Moments later Cadence was at the edge of the first step as well, but instead of taking the easy slope downward, she opened her wings and leapt into the air.

She couldn’t feel the wind’s breath beneath her wings, but she still rose as if lifted by it. Dropping one wing to the side, Cadence turned to chase after Flo as the blue dragon fled down the steady slope of the step.

On its quietest days, even in the middle of the night, the great steps of Rockholm never had want for company, on this day however, only Cadence and Flo were present.

Taking no notice of this, Cadence grew closer and closer to Flo, her hooves outstretched to tackle her prey. A moment from impact she saw the blue scales of Flo shimmering, revealing hints of the black shell underneath. The sight filled Cadence’s lungs with a gasp.

Yet no matter how she tried to stop her approach, it was too late. Her hooves were on either side of the completely revealed changeling, snout inches away from the shiny black neck.

Cadence closed her eyes and twisted her head away, bracing for impact, however the only impact she felt was her hooves with the cobbles below. Lifting her eyelids, she saw the cobbles below, her hooves, and a pair of white hooves in front of her.

Shining? She thought, lifting her eyes to find the face she expected, smiling at her. No words were spoken, but they still exchanged greetings as she leapt into his waiting hug.

“Seeing all these changelings,” He said silently, as if placing the words right into her mind. “Doesn’t it make you wonder? Anyone could be a changeling, you could be one. I could as well.”

No, Cadence thought, lifting her head and leaning back to look into his eyes. I know you’re- What her eyes met froze her thoughts and everything around her. Shining’s white snout was no longer before her, instead there was a shiny black snout in its place, glowing green eyes resting above it.

With a soundless scream Cadence threw herself back from him, running in the other direction, up the sloping step. At its peak she could see the wall of white feathers, a ring of shadows lurking behind them. Good, they’re having a meeting.

She burst through the feathered wall into a circle of dragons instead of the griffons she had expected, the abundance of friendly faces comforted her however. Ember, Flo, Obsidian, all of the dragons Cadence had met during her stay in Rockholm. As she looked around the circle, she spied a face that had her running instantly.

Shining! With no thought given to the illusion she had seen moments before, Cadence raced towards his waiting embrace, burying her head in his soft white fur. Oh Shining, something horrible happened. As she rubbed her cheek against his chest, she could feel his fur melting away, the embrace she shared with him growing cold.

When Cadence realised the leg that was holding her was icy, she glanced up to find the shiny black face of a changeling once more. No, this can’t happen. She turned away from him, hoping for the others in the circle to come to her rescue.

Yet every colorful scaled face had disappeared, a legion of greedy black grins replacing them, all of them moving forward. No! Cadence could feel the racing of her heart, each beat wanting to leap from her chest. Sweat soaked her coat, the army of black approaching before her muddling into a blob of darkness.

“Haah.” Drawing in a sharp gasp, Cadence lifted her head, eyelids flickering open to reveal the dim room before her. It was a dream, She told herself, lowering her head once more. Only a dream.

Yet when she sensed Shining’s fur brushing against her neck, she jerked up once more, shifting back from him. But what if he is a changeling? The thought lingered in her head for a moment before she shook it away. No, it really was a dream, there’s no way he could be a changeling, I’ve known him for so long.

No matter how hard she tried to push the thoughts from her head, with little else for her mind to do, they crept back in, threatening to turn the pony beside her into a creature of black. It’s no use sitting here until morning.

With a sigh, Cadence rose and instinctively kissed Shining on the cheek, the contact somehow leaving a bad taste in her mouth. I really need to clear these dreams away. An ache still pained her head from the previous night, a lesson to her excessive use of magic.

Despite the warning the pain gave, she lit her horn, using her blue glow to open the door and light the otherwise shadow-filled hallway. Her legs seemed to know the way, and she allowed them to carry her towards the edge of the ship, the air around growing colder with each step.

When she stood outside, face to face with the unending wind of the desert, Cadence swallowed gulp after gulp of air, allowing the chill to clear her mind and dull the pain. Her wings were heavy, but the fading stars above were too tempting to resist.

Forcing open her limbs of pink feathers, she leant forward, allowing the wind to lift her from the deck and into the air. Soon she was high above the ship, the beast of wood and wings seeming tiny compared to the desert it sailed above.

We’re so lucky we found a ship to pick us up, Cadence thought as she stared out into the endless hills of sand. It must be so easy to get lost out here. Out on the horizon, not a hint of the sun’s glow could be seen. I must’ve barely slept at all.

Her head thumped with pain as if to agree, drawing her eyes back down to where her bed lay. Why did I come out here in the first place? The thought brought flashes of her nightmare to her mind.

Wincing, Cadence tilted her head into the wind as she closed her wings, diving back towards the ship. The rush of warmth within her body and cold air outside chased the lingering horrors from her mind, allowing her to focus solely on what was below.

Several pairs of wings were soaring around the ship as well, what she presumed were guards. As Cadence grew closer to the ship its bulk blocked more and more of the patrolling griffons, until all she could see was a single pair of wings leaving one of the lower floors of the ship.

For a moment Cadence thought she saw holes dotting the black wings, allowing her sight of the sand below, but a blink later her eyes corrected her, picking out ginger feathers in the dim light. I must be imagining things again, I need to get back to sleep.

In her confusion Cadence had missed the deck she was supposed to land upon, and instead was still plummeting towards the sand. She pulled up a few floors from the bottom, eyes finding the steel doors of the prison as she steadied herself, wings half-open.

To one side she could see the still form of the guard, head resting against the wall, spear lying to the side. His chest filled with each breath. He must be sleeping, She thought with a smile, opening her wings a little further to allow the wind to lift her. Like I should be.

“Cadence.” The whisper tickled her ear, as did the lips that intruded with it. “You need to wake up, Bami wants to talk.”

“Well, you’re not a changeling are you?” She replied without thinking, lifting an eyelid to check for signs of black shell.

“What? No.” Drawing back from Cadence, Shining chuckled before rolling his eyes into his head, thinking. “Although, I could be, you’d never know.”

Wriggling a hoof out from underneath her, Cadence kicked him in the shoulder.

“Ow.” Rubbing at the point of contact, Shining shook his head. “What was that for?”

Cadence allowed a smile to creep onto her lips. “I was making sure you’re not a changeling. Every time someone knocked Ceer last night he changed back.”

“You’re right.” Looking towards the roof once more, Shining pondered Cadence’s words for a moment before speaking. “But what if I was a more powerful changeling than Ceer, and I’m able to maintain the illusion even while I’m sleeping? I could have been pretending to be a pony this whole time?”

“Well.” Reaching out her hoof, Cadence tilted his head down so his blue eyes met her pink pair. “Then you're the nicest changeling I’ve ever met.” She placed her lips on his, her tongue roaming his mouth as they kissed. “I know we haven’t met the nicest changelings,” Cadence said after she pulled back. “But that doesn’t mean all of them are evil. I’m sure even Ceer has some goodness in him.”

“What about that changeling we met back at the village?” A shudder ran through Shining’s body at the memories that filled his head. “Did she have any good in her?”

“Of-” Cadence stopped herself as pictures of the twisted changeling’s eyes filled her head, the screeching of Pido’s voice when she was possessed. A belief she had held her whole life second guessed. Does everyone really have good in them?

She heard the changeling’s voice echo through her head, followed by that chilling cackle. I find my pleasure in fear. A shudder ran along her spine. Is it possible? Did she only enjoy the suffering of others?

“I don’t know,” Cadence admitted after the thoughtful silence, allowing her eyes to fall. “I haven’t thought about her at all since we left. It’s not something I want to remember.”

Shining took a deep breath, searching the room for something else to talk about. “Why don’t we get going? Bami wants to talk to us about something that happened last night.”

“Well, let’s go then.” Glad for something to change the mood as well, Cadence rose to her hooves, fishing a pastry from Shining’s bags as she did so. “Have you had anything to eat yet?”

“Noooo,” Shining said, the lie obvious in his shaky voice.

Shaking her head, Cadence retrieved a pie for him as well. “I don’t want you getting too fat with all the walking we’re missing out on. So only this once.” With her already lit horn she pushed open the door, gasping when Mila’s smiling face sprung out from behind it. “Have you been listening the whole time?”

Mila looked from side to side, as if searching for an excuse, before nodding. “Yes, but only because I want to know more about being a princess. I didn’t mean to hear all those other things.”

“Well at least you’re honest,” Cadence said with a glance backward, catching the guilty Shining with pastry crumbs around his lips. “Let’s get going.”

“How did he escape?” Shining asked, eyes wide and head shaking. “There were so many things I wanted to ask him.” A sigh left his lips.

Standing across from Shining, his paper stacked desk between them, Bami looked just as confused. “I don’t know either, no matter how many times I ask the guard who was watching him, he insists there was never a prisoner in there last night. Maybe he’s right, were we all dreaming that madness last night?”

At Shining’s side, Cadence had stayed silent for most of the conversation, thought clouding her eyes. She now spoke up. “No, he was definitely there. I saw him escape this morning.”

Question clouded the features of both Shining and Bami, while all Mila’s eyes held was disappointment. “Why didn’t you stop him?” She asked, voice low, eyes wide and pleading.

Shining nodded in agreement. “Yes, why didn’t you?”

“Well, I don’t know if I actually saw him, but if he escaped this morning, it would explain what I saw.” She rubbed at her head with a hoof, trying to bring back the pair of black wings she had seen, already faint then. “I thought I saw a changeling when I was flying early, but it was only for a moment, and I was tired as well.”

“If he really has escaped, then it would make sense that you saw him.” Shining said, mind still working. “Why were you down by the prison that early?”

The nightmare Cadence had fought so hard to push from her mind flashed to the forefront, causing her to wince. “I had to clear my head so I went out in the sky, and may have missed the platform when I was diving back down. I saw Ceer, and the guard.” She looked towards Bami, panic in her eyes.

Knowing her question before it left her lips, Bami nodded. “He’s fine, the only thing he seems to have lost is his memory. Is that Ceer’s doing?”

“Maybe,” Shining said, piecing together the possibilities in his head. “The other changeling we’ve encountered seemed to be able to alter the memories of her victims, but I’m not too sure how it works exactly, I always thought they needed to be looking into your eyes to do anything with your mind.”

Bami drew in a sharp breath, shaking his head. “Some of our guards can’t resist taunting the prisoners, bullying them. It’s something I’ve tried to stop, but every now and then we find a prisoner who’s been pummelled after provoking the guard.”

The room fell silent as all those in it pictured what had happened, first Ceer calling out to the guard, mocking him through the steel door. Then the guard moved from his post, throwing open the steel door. “That doesn’t make any sense,” Cadence said, breaking into the minds of the other three. “There’s no way that guard could have moved the door himself.”

After a moment’s thought, Bami nodded. “You’re right, even with two of us last night we couldn’t move it. He must have had help.”

“Then maybe Ceer didn’t escape alone?” Shining suggested, a smile on his lips. “Maybe there are other changelings on the ship that helped him escape?”

Bami shuddered, shaking his head. “To think that some of my own griffons aren’t who they think they are, it’s terrible.” He lifted his eyes to meet Shining’s. “Do you really think some on this ship have been deceiving us this whole time?”

“Yes.” A heavy sigh left Shining’s lips alongside the word. “I know it’s hard to think about, but we can’t ignore it. Someone else had to be down there last night to help Ceer escape.”

“She just said she was down there.” The words exploded from Bami’s lips like a breath of flame, full of force and heat. “Maybe she was the one who helped him?” Panting from the outburst, he looked around the room, shrinking back when he found shock in every eye he met.

“Father!” Mila spoke first, her injured voice only adding to the guilt weighing on Bami. “The princess would never do something like that, I know it.” She turned to Cadence, resting her head on a pink shoulder.

“I, I.” Allowing his head to fall, Bami let out a slow breath. “I’m sorry for saying that, when someone accuses my griffons it feels like they’re attacking me. It always makes me so defensive.”

“I can understand,” Shining said as he stepped forward, placing a hoof on Bami’s shoulder. “Placing so much faith in someone only for them to have been against you from the start, it must be hard. They won’t get away with it though, we can find them.”

“Right.” With Shining’s encouragement, Bami lifted his head, a weak smile on his beak. “We’re going to find the one who freed Ceer, and we’ll stop these, changelings?” He met Shining’s eyes.

“Yes, they’re changelings.”

“We’ll stop these changelings and get every single one of them off my ship.” Glancing down at his desk, Bami recalled the plans that were written there. “I need to call off the search for Rorack until we’ve cleaned this ship out.”

“No!” As Bami made to move past him, Shining lifted a hoof to stop his progress. “We need to keep following Rorack, finding him will help stop all of this.”

Bami stopped at the command of Shining’s hoof, but still shot him a questioning look. “How? I doubt Rorack knows any more about these strange creatures than we do.”

“He does though,” Shining said, dropping his foreleg.

“Remember how you’re always saying Rorack’s not the same as he used to be?” Mila continued, still at Cadence’s side. “It’s because he’s one of them. No, I mean one of them is pretending to be him.”

Bami drew in a breath, his eyes wide. “It all makes sense, he’s felt different ever since he came aboard my ship.” Another spark went off in his eyes, his head turning back towards Shining. “Does that mean the ponies who took Abigail?”

“You’re right, I think they might be changelings as well.”

“My ship can only sail the winds so quickly however,” Bami said, nodding. “While we’re tracking Rorack we should clean this ship of those monsters as well. Since you seem to have known much so far, what would be the best way to tell them apart?”

Shining opened his lips, but it was Cadence’s voice that filled the air. “Well, Mila could tell who seemed strange. Maybe with your help and a few others we can trust we can make a list of all those we suspect?”

“Yes,” Still nodding, a smile spread across Bami’s beak. “There is another griffon who hasn’t been himself ever since Abigail was taken. Right after he came back from his holiday in the city as well.”

“Who is he?” Shining asked.

Bami took a step around the pony before him. “Follow me.”

The three of them, Cadence, Bami, and Mila, had found the griffon in question soaring high above the ship, Shining electing to stay on the deck below. “I don’t want to slow you down,” He had said.

Even from far off, Cadence could see the wave of panic that ran through his body when he spied all of them heading his way. He quickly shrugged it away and pretended not to have seen them, beating his wings to head in the other direction.

“Tatus!” Bami called when they were within earshot, waving a claw to be sure he caught Tatus’s attention.

Unable to deny his knowledge of them any longer, Tatus turned towards the three, allowing the wind to carry him their way. “What do you want from me sir?” He asked once he was no more than a wingspan away.

“Will you come down to the deck with us? I have a few questions for you.” Bami motioning back towards the ship with his head.

Tatus twisted his head backwards, searching for an excuse. When he had one he turned back. “I can’t leave my post without a replacement sir. We never know when we might be under attack.”

“You’re right.” Nodding, Bami pointed to Cadence with a claw. “She’ll stay here to take your post, even if an army comes I’m sure she can hold them off.”

Cadence hesitated a moment before nodding as well. “Yes, I’ll hold your post for you.” She moved away from the group, hovering above Tatus. “Go on, no need to worry.”

With no more excuses, Tatus sighed. “Okay, I’m always glad to help my captain.”

Keeping her word, Cadence watched as the three headed down towards the deck, her stomach squirming with worry. What if something bad happens without me? I won’t be there to save them. She forced herself to breathe, pushing the worry filled thoughts away. I’m right here, I can see everything.

They shrunk and shrunk until they were the same size as Shining, their wings folding away. She couldn’t hear a word, nor see their beaks moving, but she could tell by how their bodies moved they were speaking.

Hovering on the wind, Cadence kept her eyes pinned to Tatus, waiting for him to make a wrong move, something that would give her an excuse to join them. With her extreme focus on Tatus however, the movement of of the others blurred into an afterthought. She saw Tatus step back, obviously offended by something that had been said.

Any moment now, he’ll show what he really is, what lies beneath those feathers. She saw Tatus move closer to the three, lifting a claw. He’s attacking! Folding her wings away, Cadence dove towards them, only to stop a moment later.

Tatus’s claw didn’t move any further than his head, merely lifting to brush some of his feathers into place.

Closer now, Cadence could see Tatus nodding along as others spoke. His posture no longer showed signs of offense, instead he appeared almost understanding. Maybe he isn’t a changeling after all? There are other reasons for acting strange.

After a few more moments of speaking, Tatus opened his wings and rode the wind back up towards Cadence. Once he was close enough he called out to her. “Thank you for holding my post.”

Surprise having stolen her voice, Cadence simply nodded before diving back towards the ship. It doesn’t make sense, why would he be so against answering some questions if he’s not a changeling? Maybe he does worry about his duty that much?

When her hooves finally sounded against the wooden deck, Cadence could no longer contain her curiosity. “Well, what did he say?”

“He told us he wasn’t a changeling,” Shining replied plainly, as if that was all that needed to be said. “It makes me wonder if I’m wrong about Rorack as well.”

Bami nodded in agreement. “Yes, just because someone is acting strangely, it doesn’t make them a changeling. We may have overreacted to the one we found last night.” Looking around the feathered meeting area, he opened his wings. “I should be preparing for the search meeting. Mila, let’s go.”

Expecting the princess-obsessed griffon to refuse, Cadence was lost for words as she watched Mila follow her father into the air without saying a thing. Jaw hanging loose, she looked back to Shining, examining his eyes. They’ve changed, all of them. “What do you want to do Shining?”

Shining hesitated, eye twitching before a grin spread across his lips. “Let’s go eat.”

Having carried Shining back from the ship’s uppermost deck, and still sore from the previous night, Cadence’s wings were now aching. Yet as the sound of Shining crunching through a pastry filled her ears, she could think of nothing else but the conversation she had missed out on.

What did he really say? What made them change like this? Maybe he took over their minds? The thought came to her with a gasp, alerting Shining.

“Is something wrong?” His voice was muffled by the mixture of apples and blueberries it contained. It also lacked concern, as if he were not worrying about her but merely noting a fact.

“Well….. Yes…..” Cadence admitted, drawing each word out as she thought. If he is under that changeling’s control, how am I supposed to free him? Images of her last changeling encounter came to mind, the embrace of her lips with Shining’s freeing his mind. A kiss, right. Meeting his eyes, she lowered her eyelids and leant forward. “It’s been a while since we’ve had any fun, hasn’t it?”

“You’re right.” Directing his lips away from her approaching pair, Shining laid a kiss on her neck, and another lower down, wetting a trail along her back.

Feeling his lips taste the base of her tail, Cadence shivered, biting her lower lip. He’s not himself though, I need to kiss him. Her deprived body spoke louder than her mind however, shifting her tail to the side and lifting her rump to allow Shining’s muzzle access.

And even if he was himself, we’re in a tiny room surrounded by so many others. Someone will hear us. Yet all of Cadence’s convincing thoughts were nothing against the force of her body’s want. The warmth of pleasure filling her limbs, shifting her body without thought as Shining kissed at her winking lips.

As his tongue slid inside, exploring the slick flesh within, Cadence’s mind was turning. Well, it’s still him isn’t it, even if he’s forgotten about the changelings. We both need this. No longer thinking of who heard, she allowed a moan to leave her mouth while she grinded her rump against Shining’s now soaked snout.

“Do you want me to go further?” Shining asked, lifting his head from beneath her tail. His body was moving before he even waited for a response, lifting his solid, eager member from the mattress.

Lost for words, all Cadence could do was nod and shift her shivering body to where she knew his shaft hung. A gasp escaped her lips when she felt his burning hot flesh kiss her lips, now soaked in saliva and her nectar.

With a groan Shining thrust forward, driving inside Cadence and pushing another gasp from her lungs. “I haven’t done this in so long.”

“Neither,” Cadence managed to breath as he drew back. “We haven’t-” Another gasp cut her off. “In weeks.”

“No, it’s been longer than that,” Shining said as he leant forward, lips brushing against Cadence’s ear. “It’s been years since I’ve been with a pony.” He bit down hard on the flap of flesh and pink fur, forcing a whimper from her.

Deep in Cadence’s mind, a voice called out. This isn’t Shining, it’s that changeling controlling him. This is wrong, wrong. Yet the overwhelming pleasure of each thrust drowned it out, her body only thinking of the release it had been missing.

“And to think I’m with a pony princess,” Shining continued, the power of each drive inside her growing to the point it was almost painful.

The added sensation only drove Cadence further however, her hips wiggling to increase the movement, inner walls clenching tight, wanting to keep Shining’s member inside forever. She could feel the tension in her loins building, the release she wanted so dearly coming.

And despite it was the changeling piloting Shining’s body, it still had the same ticks. Cadence could sense him growing close as well, the base of his shaft tensing, ready to fill her.

Smothered by her pleasure, the sensible part of Cadence’s mind still survived, placing on thought in her lust driven consciousness it knew she would follow. Kiss him. By instinct her body responded, lifting a foreleg up to wrap around his neck and pull Shining’s lips closer, twisting her head so her muzzle pressed into his.

Shivering from the waves of warmth flowing through her body, the kiss was sloppy, but their lips still made contact before the changeling knew what was happening. Cadence felt the start of a screech fill her mouth before Shining’s body still completely, his green tinted eyes lighting bright blue once more.

“Where am I? What’s happening Cadence?”

“Just finish me,” She breathed, her hips moving back and forth to coax him into motion once more. Although his dazed movements were slow, it only took a few thrusts for the already built up Cadence before she was spasming around Shining’s length.

Moments later she heard Shining groan and felt his shaft pulsing inside her, filling her with his seed. Panting from what had only been a few moments of movement for him, Shining pulled himself out of Cadence and lay down beside her. “What happened?”

Calming down from the pleasure induced high, Cadence’s stomach was swimming with guilt. I betrayed him, all to satisfy myself. “The changeling we went to speak with a little while ago, he possessed you, Mila and Bami as well.”

“What changeling?” Question covered Shining’s features until he realised what Cadence’s words meant, then shock dropped his jaw and widened his eyes. “Does that mean you were…” The last of his question faded away, his lips not strong enough to utter it.

Feeling tears sprouting in the corners of her eyes, Cadence nodded as she dove into his chest. “Yes, I’m so sorry, so, so sorry. I couldn’t stop, my body wanted it so badly. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Cadence.” With a hoof, Shining lifted her head so pink eyes met his blue pair. “You don’t need to blame yourself, you didn’t know the whole time, did you?”

Realising what Shining said was true, Cadence felt a smile come to her lips, albeit a weak one. “Well, no. Once I realised we had gone too far, I couldn’t help myself.” Although the truth, the words left a bitter taste on her tongue. It feels like an excuse, I should’ve stopped the moment I knew.

“You said Mila and Bami are under his control as well?”

The mention of the two griffons helped ease Cadence’s guilt, her mind on other things. “Yes, he could be doing anything if he’s got control of Bami. We need to stop them as soon as we can.”

“You’re right, but now you’ve freed me he knows we’ll be coming for him.” Boring a hole in the wall with his eyes, Shining stroked Cadence’s mane as he thought. “We can’t go for Bami and Mila, we need to go after him.”

“Well, you remember how that went last time.” Cadence shivered as the hazy image of the changeling, head torn clean, passed through her mind. “I don’t want to see that again.”

Gritting his teeth at the memory as well, Shining nodded. “You’re right, but we don’t need to kill him, only put him to sleep. Do you know any magic that does that?”

Cadence’s eyes hovered over the pair of yellow saddlebags that rested behind Shining, tempted to search the stacks of paper within for a spell that would fit. “I don’t know any, and we don’t have enough time to look for one.”

“I thought you’d say that.” A smile touched Shining’s lips. “So I have another plan to put him to sleep.”

“What?”

“A good knock to the head.”

Shining clutching awkwardly to Cadence’s back, the pair rode the wind up to where they had seen Tatus last.

On guard duty, the disguised changeling saw the long before they saw him, but being so high in the sky, it was impossible for him to escape without their notice. The moment Tatus tried to flee away from the ship, Shining saw the pair of wings out of place.

“Over there,” He whispered in Cadence’s ear, a foreleg directing her eyes.

Finding the fleeing griffon against the clear blue sky, Cadence beat her wings, which together with the wind’s strength shot her upwards. The other guards on duty watched in shock as the princess they had heard so highly of chased down one of their fellow griffons. One broke away from his post, trying to wave both parties down with his forelegs.

Yet Tatus, assuming Shining and Cadence’s plans, had no intentions of stopping. He dove down towards the ship, hoping to find a place to hide and change shape inside. He hadn’t accounted for the extra weight of Shining however.

Following Tatus into a dive, Cadence found she was catching, the burden of Shining on her back causing her to drop through the wind faster. She was still a long way behind however, Tatus having a head start on her, he was closer to the ship than she was to him, and far out of the range of her magic.

The gap closing rapidly, Cadence’s horn lit, reaching, trying to pluck Tatus out of the air. She could feel a sharp pain at the base of her horn as she pushed her magic beyond where it had gone before. If I can only grab his tail.

Focusing intently on the tuft of fur that rested at the end of Tatus’s tail, Cadence was aware of shrinking distance between them and the ship as well. A maze of thousands of doors for him to disappear within, one that he most certainly knew better than the ponies.

Got him! Cadence felt her magic close around something, the pressure of her focused magic pinching Tatus’s tail so tightly she heard him yelp over the wind. With a breath she drew him back, away from the ship, and over her back. She heard another sound leave Tatus’s lips, a grunt, as Shining put the griffon to sleep the way guard academy had trained him.

Having caught her target, it took Cadence a moment to realise she was still diving toward the ship, her wings snapping out to stop the fall moments before impact. I wouldn’t want to put us all to sleep.

With gentle beats of her wings, Cadence headed for the shelter of the feathered walls. Once landed inside, she crouched to allow Shining to dismount, but her horn stayed lit the whole time. I can’t let him free for even a moment.

“Oh no.” She heard Shining mutter from behind, drawing her eyes to him. Standing a step from her, his snout was lifted towards the sky, following something. Glancing into the sky herself, Cadence saw a griffon descending towards them. Is he another changeling? I we can’t have another fight with them.

The griffon landed on the other side of the meeting area to them, folding his sandy blond wings away before speaking. “I know you’re that pony princess, but you have no right to forcibly remove a griffon from his duty.” Despite his fighting words, he kept his distance, eyeing the blue glow of Cadence’s horn.

“Well, it does seem like that.” Looking away from the griffon and back to Tatus, Cadence was surprised to still see feathers behind her blue glow. Why hasn’t he changed back yet.

“He’s not really a griffon,” Shining continued for her, stepping forward. “He’s only pretending to be one. Those feathers aren’t real, it’s an illusion. He’s really a changeling.”

“Changeling?” The blond and white griffon shook his head, clearly not convinced. “I’ve never heard of anything like that, do they look exactly like griffons?”

Glancing backward, Shining saw Tatus still held his griffon form, even though he showed no signs of consciousness. “No, they’re like pegasi, but with a shiny black shell instead of a coat. Their limbs are filled with holes as well.”

Lifting a claw, the griffon directed Shining’s eyes to Tatus once more. “A shiny black shell, I don’t see anything like that. Now can you let go of my friend and allow him to return to guard duty, or I’ll have to do something about this.”

As Shining searched for an excuse, he found his eyes drawn to the sky by movement there. What he saw had him gritting his teeth. We need to do something soon.

The remainder of the guard was coming down to join their fellow griffon, making a total of five he had to stand against.

Swinging his head backward, Shining looked to the only one who was on his side. “Cadence? Do you know any spells to remove a changeling’s illusion?”

Seeing the panic in Shining’s eyes and hearing it in his voice sent the same emotion rushing through Cadence’s mind. “No, I don’t,” She managed to say through the storm of thoughts that filled her head. One stuck at the forefront of them all, We need to do something now. “But I’ll try think of one.”

With steady breaths Cadence slowed down the torrent of panic flowing through her mind, trying to pull the few spells she knew by heart to the surface. Yet all she could think of was one. Heal him, heal him, heal him. Images of all her healings joined the thought, Cloud’s wing, Moretur’s wounds, both physical and mental, and her own leg.

All of those were things they didn’t want though? How will a healing remove Tatus’s second skin? Looking back to Shining, she saw he had a hoof held up, his head shaking, desperately trying to ward off the approaches of the griffons before him.

“Look, I know this seems like we’ve hurt your friend, but he’s really not what you think. He’s been tricking you this whole time.”

“If he really is this other creature,” One of the five griffons said back. “Then why does he look like the griffon we’ve always known?”

“That’s because he’s hiding under the illusion of a griffon. If you wait-”

Clenching her eyes shut, Cadence blocked out the words, her mind focused on the only thing she could do. I need to heal him. Focusing her magic, she sent it surging towards her horn, and unseen to her, a jet of blue burst forth from the tip, heading towards Tatus’s still body.

In her complete focus, Cadence couldn’t heard the gasps of five griffons as they watched a beam of ethereal blue pierce their friend. She couldn’t hear the ring of Shining’s horn as he fought to keep their initial rush forward back, at the same time conjuring an blue tent around them. The cries of the griffons, cut off from one they had known so well, she couldn’t hear them either.

Her mind was focused on glowing blue beam that cocooned Tatus like a caterpillar, hiding his body completely from sight. With no knowledge of how she was doing so, she could feel the feathers breaking down beneath her magic, revealing the truth of the one who lay inside.

It’s done, She knew once she felt her magic retreating, its duty complete. The beam of blue retreated to her horn, hiding within for when it would be needed next, leaving a dull blue still glowing around it.

Still facing the griffons and their claws scratching the ethereal walls between them, Shining saw none of this process. Only once he heard a laboured breath leave Cadence’s lips did he turn around to see a changeling lying beside his princess. She did it! What would I do without her?

Turned away from the griffons now, Shining expected to hear them quiet down to murmurings, yet their protests continued in full force. “We’ve given you long enough,” One of the griffons called through the ethereal wall. “Set Tatus free.” A murmur of assent ran through the other four.

Hearing that the griffons outside their glowing walls were still blind to the changeling lying before them, Cadence looked to Shining. “Why can’t they see him?”

Hoof massaging his head, Shining searched his mind for a reason. As he thought, another griffon landed behind the original five. “What is all this noise about?” The griffon called, his voice lifting Cadence’s heart.

It’s Red, She knew. Hopefully he’ll be able to convince them.

Stopping their assault on the ethereal tent for a moment, the griffons turned to face Red. “They captured Tatus a little while ago,” The blond and white feather griffon said. “And they’re holding him prisoner inside this magical thing.”

“The princess and prince, holding someone prisoner? I don’t believe this.” Red stepped up beside the griffons, stopping before the tent so he could look inside. “Do you mean that black thing inside there? Beside the princess?”

“What black thing? He’s lying right next to the pink one.”

A mixture between a laugh and sigh left Red’s beak. “I don’t know what you five are seeing, but I can’t see Tatus at all, only some strange black creature.” Lifting his voice, he called to Shining. “What is that?”

Red’s voice broke Shining from his thoughts. “A changeling,” He answered without thinking, the true meaning of Red’s words coming to him moments later. “Can you see it?”

“Of course. It’s like one of you, but black, and full of holes. What else should I be seeing?”

Watching Red, the blond griffon stepped towards him. “Are you with those ponies? Pretending you’re seeing something that’s not there.” The other griffons had soon turned to Red as well, eager to have a target they could reach.

Reading the aggression in the griffons, Red took a step back before holding up a claw. “Hey, I’m not pretending anything. I’m only saying what I see.”

“I’ve seen you with those ponies before,” One of the griffons said, stepping forward from the group. “You seemed pretty friendly with them then.”

“I am somewhat friendly, but the doesn’t change anything here.” In response to the group of griffons’ advances, Red took another step backward. “There’s no need to turn on me for this.”

Shining had moved to the edge of the tent as he watched the conflict, thinking of a way to aid Red without putting himself in danger. Observing Red’s backtracking, he noticed a ginger feathered hind leg poking through the ethereal wall. He can get in. “Red, come inside, you’ll be safe.”

“What?” The moment Red looked towards Shining’s voice, one of the five griffons leapt towards him.

On instinct Shining lit his horn, wrenching Red out of the way of the attacking griffon and into the safety of the tent. “Sorry about all this, we really rushed into it without thinking.”

Looking from the once again rioting griffons, to the sweating Shining, to Cadence and magic encased changeling beside her, Red nodded. “You sure did. This is one of the most insane things I’ve seen in all my years of living, the only thing to rival it is some of Jern’s relationships.” He chuckled to himself.

“It is crazy.” Shining shook his head. “I should have thought this through a little more, but I don’t understand why they can’t see Tatus for the changeling he is.” Drawing his a gasp, Shining’s eyes widened. “That’s it.” Turning, Shining stepped towards Cadence.

Following him, Red chuckled again. “Are you going to explain what you’re thinking? I’m still trying to understand the basics of this.”

“I’ll explain it all later.” Shining crouched beside Cadence, who was breathing in and out slowly, trying to recovering her strength from the healing. “Cadence, do you think you can heal a few more griffons?”

“Well…” Cadence’s eyes cracked open, her tongue still as she processed what Shining had said. “A few more? I can maybe do one more, but I think I’d be falling asleep by then. Did someone get hurt out there?”

“No.” Shining looked back at the five griffons, turned away from the tent now, explaining their side of the situation to a pair of newcomers. “At least not physically, but I think Tatus planted something in the minds of those griffons, they still see him as a changeling.”

“You want me to heal all five of them?” Jaw hanging loose and eyes wide, Cadence tried to imagine how exhausted her body would be after such an expenditure of magic. “I can try, but I need you to hold Tatus, in case he wakes up.”

Nodding, Shining lit his horn and surrounded the still unconscious changeling with his magic. “Of course, now can you do this quickly, please. The longer those griffons are like this the more trouble they cause.” Looking back outside the tent, Shining saw the five were now arguing with the newcomers, claws pointing every which way.

With a deep breath Cadence rose, silencing her horn. I need to preserve every bit of my energy for this. As she moved towards the edge of the tent, she thought over the exact process. I doubt they’ll stay still if I try to heal them, so I’ll have to hold them, and I don’t want to pass out after just one. Another breath entered her lungs, following the one that had just left. So I’ll do them all at once.

Noticing Cadence approach, a few of the five griffons turned towards her, two raising their voices, the other backing away when he saw the ringing of her horn. I hope they don’t struggle too much. Careful not to pick up anyone else, she scooped up the five griffons, holding them in midair as she lay down.

Their weak movements fought against the power of her magic, a mere tickling compared to the ache Cadence knew would be coming. Eyes closed, she took inhaled and exhaled, calming herself, blocking out all sound, every sensation. Moments passed and she could no longer feel the mattress she lay upon, nor feel the air entering and leaving her lungs. She could no longer sense her body, only the struggling griffons and her monstrous sea of magic.

Cadence recited the spell, but not with words, she could see the symbols painted out before her, as if she were looking directing into her mind. With the last syllable of the spell, she watched the symbols shimmer, and shatter into a thousand pieces.

The glowing blue sea within her rumbled, rippling for a moment before a snake of magic leapt through the surface. It widened as it moved towards the five suspended griffons, draining her pool of magic at a speed that sent a shiver of fear through Cadence. Yet in her complete focus, she took no notice of the emotion.

An instant away from the griffons now, the ethereal serpent opened its mouth, so wide it would easily swallow the five whole. Screams everyone on the ship heard filled the air, the snake snapping its jaw shut over the five before twisting to the side.

With its prize inside its belly, the glowing blue snake wound itself round and round, coiling into a ball. As it twisted and turned each segment melting into one orb, so bright, like the sun without heat. It flashed brilliantly, blinding all those watching, before crumbling away, leaving the five griffons suspended in midair.

Her sea of magic only left with a few drops now, Cadence felt herself falling, sensations leaking back into her consciousness. First the overbearing sound of dozens of voices yelling and screaming, then the sensation of a kiss on her cheek, then blackness, nothing.

“Mmmm.” The moment she felt the pain, Cadence groaned, but the disturbance of her vocal chords only made it worse.

“Are you awake Cadence?”

It was Shining’s voice, she knew. A small comfort against the claw of agony that was crushing her head. Despite the pain, she tipped her head, the closest to a nod she could manage, and even that made her want to scream.

“Here, have something to drink, you’ll be thirsty.”

Cadence felt something cold press against her lips. Her tongue felt as if it were no longer living, but more of a rock for the cold water to flow over, down the desert of her throat.

Swallowing, an instinctive reaction to the water, Cadence felt a pain that drowned out all the others, as if she were trying to drink a cup of stones rather than cool water. Yet she managed to push it down, her throat feeling better as the pain faded to a dull ache.

Feeling the wet wood touch her lips once more, a trickle of water flowing from it, Cadence swallowed another small gulp, her mouth wetting with want for more. Despite the pain it took to lift her head and swallow, the relief it brought her was worth it, each moment flooding the desert of her mouth into a lake.

As she drunk and the pain in her mouth faded away, a few thoughts dribbled into Cadence’s mind. Why does everything hurt so much? She wanted to push the thought to her lips, but they were occupied, and even if they weren’t, Cadence didn’t know if she could bear the pain she knew speech would cause.

Looking across the dry, throbbing landscape of her mind, Cadence searched for an answer from her memories. One came to her, Shining’s face full of confusion, his body mounted atop her. A wave of pleasure came with it. Well, at least we did that. She felt the slightest of smiles come to her lips at the picture.

“It’s good that you’re feeling happy Cadence,” Shining said, seeing the tiny curl of her lips. “You’ve been through a lot, and it’s going to take a lot to recover from this, from everything.”

Hearing a hint of what could have been sorrow in the last of Shining’s words, Cadence’s brow creased, bringing pain with it. What do you mean a lot to recover from? What happened? The inability to verbalise her worry only fed it, bringing the dull throbbing in her head to that of a dragon’s stomping.

“I know you want to know everything, but it’s best if you don’t think too much now.”

Cadence lifted her head to protest, but even a tiny movement filled it with a burst of pain, as if a rock had fallen onto it from high above. He’s right, She thought, relaxing, letting her head fall back into whatever cushioned it. I need to rest, wait till this pain goes away.

She sensed Shining stand and take a step backward. He stood watching her for a moment before sighing and walking away.

Why does he sound so sad? Cadence wondered. I need to know what happened. Ignoring her need for sleep, Cadence fished the hazy depths of her mind for memories, but the harder she tried, the murkier the waters became. There has to be something I remember. I should start at the beginning, where am I?

Head a mess of meaningless color, Cadence relaxed, an easy task for her tired mind, the hardest part was staying awake however. When she let go of her mind, she could feel it slipping in the warming darkness of sleep, a sensation her aching body desperately wanted. I have to at least remember where I am.

A blindingly bright blue sky hanging over a sea of sand leapt into her head, so vivid it sent a jolt through her body. Wincing at the slight movement, Cadence focused on the image, her mind’s eye looking to the great structure of wood and feathers soaring in the centre. The ship, She knew, another image following the one she had just seen.

With the second image came a light giggle and a white feathered face. Mila? The word felt like it fit, but she had no idea why, though there was little time to wonder as another image pushed the giggling griffon aside.

This one was of a pair of griffons, sitting across a tiny table from her. One was dressed in white and ginger feathers and the other white and chestnut colored. These ones came with no names, but once again Cadence felt a connection, like she knew them from somewhere.

Slowly, in drips and drops, memories entered her mind, some images, some sound, some simply sensations. She managed to piece a few of them together, but the entire puzzle was still unclear. Her aching head and body’s want to sleep only slowed her thoughts, each one taking longer to arrive than the last, until it seemed like the stream had stopped altogether.

I still don’t know why I hurt so much, She realised once the thoughts had stopped, the blackness of sleep threatening to swallow her mind once more. Maybe it will be clear once I’ve had some rest.

Taking a deep breath, she allowed her tired body to overcome the worries of her mind, sleep drowning her thoughts in a calming blackness.

Water broke against Cadence again and again, tiny waves somehow forming in the shallow pool she lay within. Looking around, she could see nothing but darkness, darkness and the water that wet her sides, so blue it seemed to glow.

For as far as she could see the pool stretched out, yet it did not seem very large, like there was still a lot of room for it to grow. Cadence had no worries of where she was or why, it felt natural to her, as if this was a place she knew well.

A sound echoed throughout the blackness around, a muffled voice, but one she knew well. Celestia. With her realisation Cadence felt a drop hit her head, the wetness sliding down her face and neck before finally reaching the pool below.

Drop after drop, soon a light drizzle was pitter pattering in the pool about Cadence, causing its level to rise. It didn’t just climb her body however, she could sense it spreading as well, the pool growing and growing.

Celestia’s muffled, indiscernible words filled the space around Cadence alongside the light rain, calm and motherly. They filled her chest with a warmth she had not felt in years, since she was only a young filly, one she had forgotten how much she missed.

Closing her eyes and listening to the drops falling around her, Cadence allowed the warmth to spread through and comfort her body. It assured her nothing could go wrong, that she would always be safe in its presence.

Then Shining’s voice joined the wordless mumbling, it did little to the rain above or pool Cadence lay within however. The only thing it brought was another warmth, one far stronger than the safety net of Celestia, one that spread her lips wide with a grin.

She lay there a while longer, relishing in the sensations she knew well, feelings that were long lost now returned. Why did I ever let these things go? Everything was fine.

A crack of thunder rang above, shocking the thoughts from Cadence’s mind and her eyes open. Expecting the light drizzle to have grown into a storm, she was surprised when she saw the glowing blue drops still falling at an easy pace.

The voices around her were changing however, Celestia’s was fading, the protective warmth with it, but Shining’s remained still strong. Searching for the comforting glow of Celestia inside, Cadence was relieved to find it still there, albeit distant.

In her thinking, Cadence noticed she could no longer clearly see the edge of her glowing pool, not that it had grown out of sight, but the rain was now hiding it from view. It seems to be falling harder now.

Another crack rang, this one bringing with it a torrent of rain. The wall of water around Cadence so thick she couldn’t tell where the rain started and the glowing pool ended. With it came more voice, a pair she knew well. Cloud and Skylight.

As their names filled her mind the rain slowed, but it was still falling faster than before, a hazy prison that blocked off her vision of the darkness behind. Looking down, Cadence noticed the pool had risen, now lapping at her chest where it had previously barely covered her legs.

I wonder if I’ll drown? Despite the morbid nature of the thought, it brought no alarm with it, but was merely an observation, simply a possibility being noted.

The sky cracked again and again, this time the strikes coming in quick succession, bringing with them waterfalls of rain. Cadence could feel it flowing down her back and wetting her mane, the pool coming up to touch her muzzle. She had no fear of the glowing blue water overcoming her however, it brought a warmth with it similar to Celestia’s, and assurance of safety.

Husky voice came and faded away, all alongside those of Shining, Skylight and Cloud. They’re dragons, Cadence knew, able to put names to some of the voices, others seemed foreign. The dragon’s voices soon faded away altogether, and with them the words of Cloud and Skylight, leaving Shining as her only companion.

The rain slowed as well, but by now Cadence could no longer see it, the pool of water far above her head. She glanced up and could still see the ripples it made of the surface of the glowing water.

By now the bounds of the blue pool around her were out of sight, seemingly limitless. With that knowledge came a great calm. I can do anything. The words floated through Cadence’s head, not a thought, yet it still seemed to come from her, somewhere deep inside.

High above the pool, voices of more dragons joined Shining’s, these ones not as welcoming as those previous. The thunder cracked again and Cadence could see the pool’s surface splashing as water overflowed into it.

Even with the great amounts of water, she knew something was wrong however. In all the other times she had never noticed the pool falling, but now it was coming back down to meet her. A great pressure came with it, a weight so heavy it seemed to be on the edge of tearing Cadence apart.

She felt her heart quicken with panic, body shaking, and even tears forming in the midst of all the water around her. Yet through all the pain and pressure, she Shining’s wordless voice was there, the sound comforting her enough to slow the falling water as her muzzle broke its surface.

A few breaths of the darkness filled her lungs before she felt the pressure fade away, and the torrent of water slow. The pool rose above Cadence’s head once more, higher than it had ever been before, so high she could no longer see its surface.

Once again the calm filled Cadence, the knowing that she could combat anything. Even though she could not see them, she could sense the edges of the pool still spreading, so wide she felt them touch another.

Celestia’s voice flashed through her pool for a moment, and with it the soft voice of another. Twilight. As quickly as they had come they left, and Cadence’s pool continued to expand, filling the limitless space around it.

A rumbling crept into the air, so gradually Cadence could not tell when it appeared, but she knew it was growing louder. With it came a sensation of unease, and also the a few voices that were only fresh to her. Mila…

Before she could try naming the other voices a crack rang out through the rumbling, and water flooded into the pool from above. Yet with the great increase of water Cadence felt the horrible pressure once more. It’s sinking.

It was a long while before she saw it, but the surface of the pool was falling towards her once more, and falling fast. It dropped over her body in a moment, taking the pressure with it, every voice as well, leaving her alone in the blackness.

The comfort of Shining’s voice, the comfort of the pool, even the dull comfort Celestia had left, it was all gone, only Cadence’s drying coat was left. All the water soon faded from her, taking the pink fur with it, leaving her bald.

The pink skin underneath faded as well, revealing the skeleton underneath. Every drop of life was sucked from her, leaving Cadence a dry pile of bones covered in dust.

I’m so thirsty, Was all she could think, her non-existent tongue craving something to wet it. I need a drink.

Eyelids fluttered open revealing the dimly lit room Cadence lay within, a mattress underneath her extending to the wooden wall. She took none of this in however, only one thought filled her head. Water, I need water.

Rolling over, she bared her teeth at the pain that throbbed at the base of her horn, eyes searching for any sign of a drinkable liquid. On the other side of the mattress Cadence spied a carved wooden bowl with a shimmering surface inside.

Wanting to drink from the bowl, Cadence focused on the base of her horn, intending to light it. Instead of the ringing she expected, pain exploded through her head and cascaded down her body, ripping a cry from her lips.

Darkness swarmed into Cadence’s head, the comforting blackness of sleep, there to take the pain away.

“Cadence?”

The voice came with a hoof touching her cheek, gently shifting her head into a more comfortable position. Movement brought Cadence back from her pain induced sleep. Pink eyelids fluttered open to reveal Shining standing over her, a weak smile on his lips. “Are you okay?”

Allowing herself to be put back into a sleeping pose, Cadence opened her lips to reply, only to have her barely living tongue stick to the bottom of her mouth.

“Oh,” Shining looked to the bowl of water beside the mattress. “Were you trying to get a drink?”

Managing a weak nod, Cadence watched as Shining picked up the bowl between two hooves and brought it to her lips. She drank and drank and drank, until the bowl was empty, yet her lips and mouth were still left wanting.

Cadence clenched her mouth shut once all the water was gone, balling up as much saliva as she could on her tired tongue. Concentrating, she forced her lips and tongue to go through the motions she wanted, ignoring the pain as their dry surface cracked. “More.”

Hearing the croak of a word, Shining stood instantly, nodding. “Of course, there’s as much water as you need on this ship.” With the bowl clutched between his teeth, he moved out of the room, Cadence listening to his hoofsteps faded away.

On this ship. Cadence went over the words again and again in her head, trying to deduce their meaning and learn her location. Are we on a boat? Creases formed in her brow. No, we were nowhere near the ocean.

While she tried to pick out a location from her scrambled memories, Cadence heard steps coming closer once more. Shining, he’s back. Ignoring the aching weight, she lifted her head slightly to watch him come.

There was an unease in the way he walked, the way he glanced over his shoulder every few steps. What is he looking out for? Cadence wondered. Are we in danger?

“Here, I’ve got some more water,” Shining said once he was standing over Cadence. As he crouched he glanced back over his shoulder once more before meeting Cadence’s eyes. Finding a questioning look there, a smile spread across his lips. “You’re wondering why I’m so watchful aren’t you?”

With the bowl pressed to her lips, Cadence avoided nodding for fear of spilling the water, instead she murmured. “Mmm.”

A long sigh left Shining’s lips, one that carried weight more weight than one his age should bear. “Then I should explain a few things to you.” Staring over Cadence’s shoulder, his mind worked. “But I don’t know where to start. Do you remember where you are?”

Having drunk the entire bowl by now, Cadence shook head head slightly, careful not to agitate her extremely sensitive horn.

“Then I should tell you that first.” Shining placed the empty bowl beside him before continuing. “You’re on a griffon ship.” Seeing confusion creep into Cadence’s face, he probed his mind for a better explanation. “Like a flying city, made of wings and wood.”

An image sprang into Cadence’s mind at the words. A great structure of wood and wings, soaring over a sea of sand with the blue sky behind it. Her eyes widened as it clicked into place in the puzzle of missing memories.

“I see you remember.” Shining breathed out laughter, shaking his head as he did so. “Then do you remember landing on the ship with, uh, me, on your back? Your leg wasn’t so healthy after that.”

Another piece fell into place, bringing a few more with it, slowly rebuilding Cadence’s shattered mind. Rorack and Ilcit, Mila was there as well. Then Red and Jern carried us somewhere.

“Then two griffons took you to your room.” Shining continued the story piece by piece, waiting patiently in the moments Cadence’s mind took longer to recovering. He was her eyes and listening for sounds of recognition before moving on.

“And then you fell asleep,” Shining finally finished, a sigh following the last few words from his lips.

Her mouth a little wetter by now, Cadence managed to utter two words. “How, long?”

“A long time.” Head falling, Shining kneaded at his forehead with a hoof, as if he were punishing himself for the answer. “We’ve almost crossed the whole desert now. We’re almost at,” Pausing, he bit his tongue to still the words about to come out. “Almost at the place where Abigail is held.”

The whole desert? Cadence’s eyes glazed over as she thought back to the image of the ship, flying high above the sandy sea that seemed to have no end. It must have been weeks, that’s why I was so thirsty.

“Anyway, I have to go, there are things I need to do.” As Shining rose, Cadence’s heavy foreleg lifted after him, begging him to return to her side. “I’ll be back tonight, with more water and some food. You should rest.” Taking the bowl between his teeth, he moved out of the room, steps fading away once again.

What would he have to do on the ship? Is he finally putting his plan to work? Although her heart hurt, Cadence felt a small smile on her lips. Well it’s good to see him finally using his talent.

With Shining gone, Cadence felt lost. Her body to weak to do anything, all she wanted was him at her side to talk with. So shut closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, hoping the time would simply disappear and Shining would be at her side once again.

Yet her long rest seemed to have answered any cravings she had for sleep, and after what seemed like an eternity of counting her breaths, she opened her eyes again. Maybe a little walk will help me fall asleep.

Rolling onto her stomach, Cadence ignored the throbbing pain beneath her horn and tried to push herself upward. Her muscles were still tired however, and by the time she was upright all four of her legs were shaking. I’m so weak. A smile touched her lips at the thought. This must be how Shining felt when we came to the griffon lands.

Cadence lifted one of her hooves, testing the strength they held. After holding it in the air for some time, she moved it forward and placed it on the ground. It’s like I’m a foal again, taking my first steps. With complete concentration, she took another, and another. Soon she was off the mattress and standing on wood.

Lifting her head, Cadence looked into the hall outside her room, and was surprised to see no one there. I’m sure the ship was full of griffons before I fell asleep for weeks. Not letting this sway her, she moved out into the dark hallway with slow and shaky steps before looking left and right.

One end of the hallway stopped in a wall of wood, the other leading directly out to the sky. A pair of griffons stood, guarding the sky entrance. Wow, they even set up a guard to watch over me, Cadence thought as she turned towards them, almost toppling over when one of her shaky hooves slipped.

The slip pulled a gasp from her mouth, drawing the attention of both guards as Cadence regained her balance. “Princess?” One of them called. “You’re in no condition to be out of your room yet, you should be resting.”

Cadence’s opened her lips, protest on the tip of her tongue, but she held her breath. Even though her wings tingled with want for flight, they were also weighed down with aching. “Yes, you’re right, I can’t, sleep.” A yawn painful broke her cracked lips. “This walk, tired me.”

“I can imagine,” The other guard said, standing beside his comrade. “Being asleep for that long must take a toll on your body. Do you need anything to eat, or drink?”

Despite the pain in her stomach, Cadence shook her head, wanting to share a meal with Shining. “No, I’ll sleep.” The guards watched as she made a shaky turn and stumbled back to her room. She could hear them walking back to their posts once she had settled on the mattress once more.

Where on the ship am I? Cadence wondered as she tried to find a comfortable position with her aching body. It never looked like anywhere on the ship went right out to the sky, there was always a few doors in between. Searching through her limited memories of the ship, she tried to find one that fit the room she had just seen.

Well, maybe there are things I’m still forgetting, I’ll ask Shining when he gets back. Even though her walk had been no more than a few dozen steps, Cadence felt exhausted once more, sleep dancing around the corners of her mind, waiting to close in. Allowing it to embrace her, her mind slowly drifted away from the world.

“Cadence, I brought you something to eat.”

As the voice entered her ears, a delightful smell entered her snout. Cadence’s stomach growled, crying out with pain for the food. Opening her eyes, she found Shining setting a wooden plate and bowl beside her, a still steaming loaf of bread sitting atop the plate.

Despite the saliva pooling in her mouth with want to eat, she held back, licking her lips before speaking. “What happened, to pies?”

“The pies?” Question creased Shining’s brow for a instant, snapped away by a smile a moment later. “Oh, I threw them out, they had gone bad.” He glanced down at the loaf with concern before looking back to Cadence. “Don’t you want bread?”

“I do.” Even though her mouth was full of saliva, Cadence’s tongue and throat still felt too dry to swallow, so she looked to the bowl of water. For a moment she thought of lighting her horn, but it was still throbbing from the last time she had tried. Easing herself gently onto her stomach, she shuffled round to face the bowl before taking it between shaking hooves.

“So I heard you went for a little walk,” Shining said as he watched her drink, chuckling a little. “It’s best if you don’t push yourself too hard, I’ll be here to take care of you.”

Cadence nodded along to his words, drowning herself with water as she did so. When she had finished she gasped, placing the bowl back down. “I know, I feel useless.”

“No,” Shining said, glancing out of the room before continuing. “You did so much healing those griffons before you passed out, after something like that it makes sense that you’ll have to rest a bit.” His voice seemed weak though, as if he didn’t completely believe in the words that came from his lips.

Yet in her still half-asleep daze, Cadence failed to notice, simply thankful for some encouragement. “I know, still feel bad.” She expected him to lean in and kiss her, comfort her further, instead Shining remained silent, his eyes paying more attention to what lay outside the door than her.

Ignorant to his lack of attention, Cadence gave into her hunger’s need and took the bread between her hooves. The taste in her mouth made her stomach twist with pain, as if it were trying to reach up her neck and snatch the bite from her tongue.

Unable to control her stomach’s craving for food, Cadence swallowed the barely chewed bite, trying to force it down her still sore throat. Oh no. She felt the wet clump of bread stick to the back of her throat, blocking her breath. Pink eyes went wide as they looked to Shining, hooves motioning towards her neck. She tried to call out but only a choked gargling left her lips.

Turning towards the sound, Shining gasped when he saw the state Cadence was in. He stepped towards her, one hoof raised weakly, as if it had no idea what to do. After a moments pause, seeing Cadence’s eyes bulge from their sockets, he stepped around behind her. “Sorry, but I have to do this.”

Cadence felt his hooves around her neck, rolling up it in a quick motion before tugging at her throat in one hard jab. The ball of bread leapt from her throat and a breath of air entered. Falling from her lips, the bread landed on the mattress. “Thank, you,” Cadence managed between ragged breaths.

“It’s alright, I could never let anyone die like that.” Stepping out from behind Cadence, Shining moved round to face her, his eyes scanning over the gasping pony before him. “Are you fine now? Do you need some more water to help you swallow?”

“No.” Cadence smiled and shook her head softly, careful not to cause too much pain. “I simply got a little too eager for something to eat. Hopefully I’ve learnt to slow down.” Leaning forward, she made to kiss him as a thank you.

Confusion filled Shining’s features for a moment before he realised what she intended. He leant down towards her, offering his lips, the creases in his brow and tightly closed eyes seeming almost fearful to Cadence.

Seeing this, Cadence scrunched her own brow up with confusion. “Is something wrong?”

Shining drew away from Cadence, the mixture of fear and worry on his features now obvious. He glanced out the doorway before leaning close to Cadence and whispering. “Can you fly?”

“Well, I can barely walk.” Trying to open a wing, Cadence found herself unable to extend it all the way. “So I don’t think I could fly. Why? Is there somewhere we need to go?”

“Yes, no.” Shaking his head, Shining glanced out of the room once more. “I can’t tell you right now, but when you feel strong enough to fly tell me. I’ll be here everyday.”

Noticing the hints of terror in his face, Cadence lifted a shaking hoof to touch his cheek. “Why can’t you tell me Shining? What is happening?”

“I,” Shining began before stopping himself. “I can’t tell you right now, the less you know, the less, the less anyone else can know. No one else can know, so I haven’t told you this, okay?”

Cadence opened to her lips to protest further, but the fear in each of Shining’s quick glances to the door and back made her pause. He looks like he’s under enough stress already, I shouldn’t trouble him. “Okay.”

“Good.” Sighing, Shining’s shoulders deflated as he sat. “Now why don’t you eat something, and make sure you chew it properly this time?” He offered Cadence a comforting smile.

Allowing her pink eyelids to flutter open, Cadence felt a sinister grin spread across her muzzle. She turned to Shining, who sat on the expansive captain’s bed with her, staring obediently into her eyes. “It seems someone has a little plan.”

“What are you going to do about it?” Shining responded with slow, evenly paced words.

“We still have a few weeks before we reach our destination.” Cadence’s grin spread wider as a chuckle left her lips. “I think this might be just the fun I need to pass the time.”