Everywhere Cadence looked soft white clouds filled her vision, the bright blue sky a constant backdrop. Zooming between the fluffy obstacles, her wings feeling stronger than ever, body almost weightless.

She dove through one of the clouds, bursting out the other side shaking with laughter. The sky seemed infinite, no matter how far down she flew the ground never came within sight, just a never ending sea of blue and white.

“Get up you two.”

The voice came from nowhere, shocking Cadence to a stop as she glanced around her. Darkness occupied the edges of her vision, slowly closing in as the sky before her faded.

“And wash yourselves before we leave, you smell like the tavern.”

Hoofsteps echoed around Cadence as her eyes fluttered open, an expanse of white fur shifting up and down before her snout. Her groin was throbbing as she lifted her head upward to find Shining still asleep underneath her.

“Wake up Shining,” She whispered, pressing her lips into his. “I think Cloud and Skylight want to leave.”

He groaned as she pulled herself off of his shaft and stepped over him, eyes searching the cave for their belongings. “Just a little longer,” He murmured, rolling onto his belly.

Rubbing sleep from the corners of her eyes, Cadence chuckled. “I’m as tired as you are, but we need to get up, Cloud and Skylight are waiting for us.” She magically gathered their things as Shining slowly climbed to his hooves, groaning with each movement.

The sunlight washed over their bodies as Shining and Cadence stepped outside, the pegasi pair waiting for them, packed and ready. “You two really went at it last night,” Skylight said with a smile. “Cloud and I could barely get to sleep.”

Red blossomed on both perpetrators’ cheeks, their eyes sharing an uneasy look. Shining broke the stare first, stepping forward and looking up the mountain trail. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today, so we shouldn’t just be standing around here talking.”

The stench the cloaked both Shining and Cadence grew throughout the day until both ponies were choking on the thick air that surrounded them. “When are we going to find another river?” Cadence questioned as they stopped for an afternoon break, the sun’s heat too much for all for to continue traveling.

They had found the shade of a monstrous boulder atop an incline to rest under, the landscape of light-brown rock stretching out till the horizon before them. Skylight pushed her sweat soaked mane back with a hoof, trying to ignore the offensive smell of sex that emanated from the other pair of ponies. “You found a spell for water last night, now we need it.”

“Of course,” Cadence nodded. “I completely forgot about that. Just give me a moment to find it again.”

Both pegasi fanned themselves with their wings as Cadence flipped through page after page, murmuring to herself. Shining was left panting like a dog, lying as still as he could as not to produce any extra heat.

“Found it!”

Stashing the remainder of the pile away, Cadence held the piece of paper before her eyes, muttering the ancient incantation. “Ahh!” She yelped as cool water splashed onto her head before giggling. “I guess I need to point this at something, does anyone have a container I can fill?”

“Why don’t we just make a small pool here?” Cloud gestured downward, drawing their eyes to the stone bowl they sat inside. “Then we can all wash this smell away.”

Cadence shook her head, “As good as that sounds, I still have no idea how much water I can produce with this spell, and how much of my energy it drains. We wouldn’t want to have me falling unconscious. Can you just pass me one of the bottles Skylight?”

Taking the wooden container from Skylight’s wing, Cadence lit her horn once again, this time focusing the spell inside the bottle. She squealed as water hit her face once more, the excess from her spell shooting out of the bottle’s opening.

“Well, it doesn’t feel too draining,” Cadence noted as she handed the container back to Skylight. “But just to be safe I’ll save making a pool for when we stop tonight, I’ve underestimated the side effects of spells before. For now filling everyones bottles should be enough.”

All four of them drunk at least two casts of the spell each, Skylight and Cloud from their standard issue bottles, Shining and Cadence borrowing a bowl from Cloud to hold their water. By the time they stood to leave all thoughts of thirst had left their minds, replaced instead by a mix of joy and dread for the journey ahead.

The landscape slowly flattened out as the day wore on. Underneath their hooves cracks snaked through the brown stone, loose stones causing Shining to trip more than once.

Their pace slowed as the blue sky darkened, the ground underneath growing more treacherous with each step.

“Ouch,” Shining winced as he tripped again, Cadence’s magic catching him just in time.

She shook her head, a small smile on her lips. “You need to watch where you’re going, otherwise you’ll end up smashing your snout on the ground.” Helping him up, she glanced out at the cracked plains before them, the sinking sun above. “I think it’s about time we stopped for the day.”

Thump! The ground shook behind them. Thump!

Turning, Shining and Cadence found the pegasi pair, the neutral expressions on their faces out of place from their usual post-flight joy. “We should stop here,” Cloud announced without meeting Cadence’s eyes, instead looking out onto the plains behind her.

“Well we were just about to do that.” Following Cloud’s line of sight, Cadence found nothing but rock and sky in the distance. “But why are you two calling for a stop? Usually you want to stay up there long into the evening.”

Cloud and Skylight shared a look, bright blue hair bouncing as Cloud nodded slowly. His shoulders lifted with a deep breath before he spoke. “All four of us are going to have to rest well for tomorrow, we’ve got a tough flight ahead of us.”

“Flight?” Shining looked up from searching through his saddlebags, a cloth parcel suspended in magic above his head. “You don’t mean I have to fly, I told myself I’d never have to fly again.”

“We don’t have a choice.” Skylight drew the attention of all with her hard words. Eyes downcast, she shook her head as she spoke again. “There’s a sea of lava a short flight from here, we flew as far across it as we could but didn’t see the other side.”

“Can’t we just walk around it?” Silencing his horn, Shining allowed the bundle of food to fall to the ground, his hooves holding his head as he stared downward. “What if there is no end? What if we fly to our death?”

Cloud spoke up, “There isn’t a way round it.”

A shiver ran through Shining’s body, “How do you know?”

“I studied dragons a lot as a foal,” Cloud explained, eyes unfocusing, staring straight through Shining. “I read every book I could get my hooves on, learnt everything. This sea of lava is the border of The Dragon Lands, we have to cross it at some point.”

“We’ve got until tomorrow to prepare.” Shrugging her backpack off, Skylight forced a smile to her lips. “But don’t think about it tonight, you’ll tire yourself out. Just relax.”

Their camp rose slowly that evening, Cadence constantly interrupting Cloud and Skylight with questions as they set up their tents. Shining sat by the fire, mind filled with images of bubbling hot orange rising up to meet him.

Don’t think of it, just relax, He thought, pushing pictures of his favourite food into his head. Within moments he was up and all smiles, muzzle hopping from Cadence’s saddlebags to his and back again as his snout searched for food. Eventually he settled on a mix of sweet lemon tarts and caramel chocolate slice.

“Do you think Shining and I even have a chance of making it across?” Cadence questioned Cloud and Skylight as the three joined Shining by the fire, taking their share of food. “Flying down the side of that mountain was probably the longest flight of my life, and Shining’s even weaker than me.”

“Think about it tomorrow,” Skylight said through a mouthful of lemon curd. “Working yourself up won’t help. Just relax.”

“Why don’t we play a game then?” Digging into the bag beside him, Cloud pulled out the wooden box. Taking a moment to stare at the monsters intricately carved in the side before opening it. “Cards always helps me relax.”

The activity distracted them from the pressure of the day to come, but the effect it had on the four was quite the opposite of relaxing. They chose different decks this time, Skylight eagerly snatching the changeling deck Cadence used previously for herself. It took only a few turns before Shining and Cadence found themselves experiencing the same frustration Skylight had the night before.

“Is there no way to get rid of that card?” Shining groaned as Skylight’s Changeling Queen stole another one of his minotaurs.

“It’s something you have to defeat early on.” Cloud held his hand before his snout, eyes flicking between it and the table constantly. “The Changeling Queen only grows stronger as more creatures fall under her spell.” Turning back to Cadence, he raised his brow. “Have you decided what to play this turn Cadence?”

She shook her head before laying her cards out on the table. “Well there’s nothing I can do. You two have won again.”

Sighing, Shining laid his hand out as well. “I don’t get it, how do you always manage to make it work Cloud?”

A small smile touched against Cloud’s lips, his eyes glazing over briefly. “I told you, this was the only game I played as a foal.”

Two more games followed that night, Cloud and Skylight managing to come out on top no matter what decks they were playing. Shining sat slack jawed after the final game, eyes moving back and forth over the table, mentally tallying up the effect of each card.

“I didn’t even know you could do that, beat someone in one turn,” He breathed as he shook his head. “And I still don’t think I understand how you did it.”

“I just managed to channel enough greed into my Dormant Dragon through high level quests that one fireball of his instantly destroyed your castle. It’s a tactic my father always used against me.” A yawn punctuated Cloud’s explanation, his eyes closing and tongue extending from his mouth as he allowed the breath to escape. “And that means it’s time to get some sleep.”

“Yes.” Skylight stood as she spoke. “We all need as much sleep as we can to cross the sea of lava.” Her muzzle touched against Cloud’s softly, whispering, “Good night,” Before the pair split up and crawled into their own tents.

Alone, Cadence and Shining’s eyes met, smiles forming on their lips as they silently shared each others desires. Unable to resist any further, he leant into her, tasting her tongue with his as the pair shared a soft moan.

“You know we can’t Shining,” Cadence whispered, glancing at the nearby tents. “It’ll be impossible to not wake them when we’re sleeping so close.”

“Why don’t we,” Shining stole another kiss, eyelids falling shut as he inhaled her overpowering scent. “Why don’t we go for a little walk? I’m sure we can find somewhere silent, far away enough that we won’t disturb them.”

The suggestion lit a soft fire in Cadence’s loins, her lips spreading wide as she looked one last time as the cramped army tents. “Lead the way.”

The cracked and loose stone proved more difficult than the pair could dream in the dark. Their hooves constantly losing their way, slipping to the side and throwing the ponies they carried to the ground.

After falling enough times to leave his rump sore, Shining decided against standing and simply sat on the stone, chuckling. “I think this is far enough Cadence. Any further and I’ll break a leg.”

Sinking to the ground beside him, Cadence pressed her lips into his while her horn lit with blue. “Just let me set something up first,” She said as their muzzles broke apart.

Shining felt the rocks beneath him soften, the cracks filling with a silky material. Looking down he found a blue ethereal mattress lifting Cadence and him from the ground. He wrapped his foreleg around her neck, pulling her close as her horn fell silent. “Why haven’t we been doing this every night Cadence?”

Her mouth opened to answer, but another voice spoke for her. “Because you’ve been too tired.”

Turning, Cadence and Shining found Skylight standing some distance behind them, the expression on her features disapproving. “Get back to your tent, you need to sleep.”

Shining’s head fell as he made to stand, Cadence’s hoof holding him back. “Please Skylight, can we just have this one night together?” She said, fidgeting as the want between her legs pulsed throughout her body.

“You had last night, and if how tired you were today tells anything I can’t let you spend yourselves tonight. Now up.” Without waiting for another word, Skylight turned and headed back to camp, leaving the unsatisfied pair to follow sullenly.

Morning came suddenly for Cadence, the sun’s light seeming to wake her the moment she fell asleep. Stretching and yawning, she glanced around the camp while rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Skylight sat by the fire, her back to Cadence as she nibbled on a slice of pie.

Lifting Shining’s foreleg off of her, Cadence’s jaw stretched with another yawn before she rose and stepped out from their tent. “Good morning Skylight,” She said as she sat beside the pegasus.

Blue eyelids opened slowly, Skylight eyeing Cadence for a moment, snout wrinkled. “Morning, are you ready?”

“Ready?” Question lined Cadence’s face briefly before the last moments of the previous day flooded back into her mind. “Oh.” Glancing down at her wings, Cadence’s cherry smile faded. “I’m not so sure, and if I’m uneasy Shining must be scared for his life.”

“We’ll make it over, even if I have to carry both of you.” A small smile tugged at the corner of Skylight’s muzzle, her eyes comforting as they held Cadence’s.

The pair sat in silence for a few moments, Skylight finishing the last morsels of her pie, Cadence mulling over the trial to come. “Should we wake the other two?” She questioned, eager to clear the sickly nervousness from her stomach.

Skylight shook her head, staring back at Cloud’s tent. “Give them a while longer, they need all the sleep they can get.”

Cadence had eaten once, then twice, by the time Skylight decided they should wake the stallions. Cloud’s eyes snapped open in an instant, kissing Skylight lightly on the cheek as he sprung from his mattress.

“Come on Shining.” Standing over him, Cadence prodded the slumbering unicorn with her snout, receiving less of a response from him than she would from a rock. Eventually she resorted to holding him in the air by his hind leg and soaking his white coat with multiple bursts of water.

Dripping and dizzy, Shining finally woke, the world upsidedown as looked around. “Let me down Cadence,” He grumbled, eyelids falling closed once more, threatening to send him back to sleep.

A few morsels of chocolate mixed with a blueberry pie cleared any grudges Shining held, a smile spread wide across his brown and blue stained lips as he chased the food with a long swig of water. “Where are we walking to today?”

Shining’s good mood faded as Cadence reminded him of the nightmare that was waiting for him.

“Are you sure there isn’t another way?” He pleaded, pushing his bottom lip out and widening his eyes. “I’ll never make it across if the lake of lava is as large as you say.”

Pulling him close with her foreleg, Cadence brushed her cheek against his. “Don’t worry, Skylight said Cloud and her can carry us if we can’t make it ourselves.” Her words were for both of them, trying to convince the butterflies in her belly to leave.

The tents were taken down and packed away faster than Shining would have liked, still wishing he could settle down on the ground and hide away in the dark depths of sleep.

His jittery unease couldn’t have been further from the moods of the two pegasi. Cloud and Skylight waited with bags strapped to their backs, flexing their wings and jumping from hoof to hoof, eager to leave.

Cadence methodically slotted everything back into her saddlebags, checking and double checking, any excuse to delay the flight. We’ve got to face this some time, She thought eventually, lifting her saddlebags over her withers, carefully fastening them in place. “Well, let’s go.”

Two blue and white bolts shot into the air the moment she spoke, corkscrewing round each other as they did every morning. A little bit below the clouds they slowed their pace and flattened out, dancing lazily through the air toward the sun, Cadence and Shining left to follow.

Cadence squinted through the bright sunlight to watch Cloud and Skylight, the pegasi pair stopping before too long and spiralling toward the ground. “I guess that’s where the lava starts,” She noted.

They felt the molten sea before they saw it. The air around Shining and Cadence slowly growing hotter than the morning sun until it they were wrapped in its burning embrace, their eyes meeting the bubbling mix of orange and red and black.

The pair of pegasi stood far from the edge, waiting for Cadence and Shining. “Are you up to flying?” Skylight asked as they neared. “If you’re not we can carry both of you.”

Meeting Shining’s eyes, Cadence found the same uncertainty in them that she felt. She shook her head, “I think it will be safest for all of us if you carry us from the beginning.”

Without word, Skylight shrugged off her pack and bent down before Cadence, Cloud doing the same for Shining. Cadence mounted the pegasus awkwardly, unsure of where exactly to put her legs. Looking across to Shining, she found him with his forelegs wrapped round Cloud’s neck, rear legs hanging round his belly.

She mirrored the position after taking the pack Skylight handed her and strapping it to her own back. “Hold on tight.” Cadence heard the pegasus beneath her say before lowering her body close to the ground.

The speed they took off at was unlike any Cadence had experienced before. Her stomach slammed hard against her ribcage, the pie she had eaten earlier threatening to escape. Slowly, the feeling eased. Once her stomach almost settled, Cadence opened the eyelids she didn’t recall closing.

At first all she could see was blue. The sky? Cadence thought before realizing it was missing one important object, the sun. Blinking, she studied the surface before her, feeling her eyelashes brushing against something.

“Nuzzling my neck like that won’t help you hold on any tighter.” Skylight’s words swept past Cadence’s ears, taking a moment to sink in.

Oh. Cadence lifted her head, the vast sea of molten rock and bright blue sky above filling her vision. Looking back, she found they were already a great distance above and away from the shore, Skylight’s ever beating wings carrying them higher.

The clinging heat faded as they climbed above the clouds that surrounded them on all sides, Cadence feeling almost cold as the wind whipped past her limbs, sending her mane into a crazed dance.

The booming beats of Cloud’s wings were all Cadence could hear through one ear, the sound reaching both as she turned her head. Shining clung to the white pegasi much like she had, snout buried in his side, eyes clamped shut.

So this is what flying is really like, Cadence thought, facing forward once more, eyes squinted against the wind. The thick white smog below them hid any signs of their progress, Cadence forced to wait patiently as they soared through the air.

She chose to lower her neck back against Skylight’s and shut her eyes, allowing her mind to drift. Celestia’s plan for the months to come floated into her thoughts.

After The Dragon Lands they were supposed to travel even further into Equestria’s depths and find the minotaur cities, high in the mountains.

After that venture came the griffons, who resided in an yellow expanse marked on the map as The Raging Desert. Of course Celestia had planned for them to visit the countless towns and villages along the way, A princess must know ponies from all walks of life, she had written.

The heat broke Cadence from her thoughts. Opening her eyes, she found herself blinded by white, the clouds only allowing her to see the length of her muzzle in any direction. “Why are we going down?” She whispered into Skylight’s ear.

“To see if we’ve reached the other side,” The pegasus shouted back.

When they were beneath the smog, Cadence glanced around, nothing but bubbling orange meeting her eyes. “How can you even tell where we are going?”

“Cloud and I follow the sun.” Skylight ascended once she had confirmed they were above nothing but molten rock, shaking her head at Cloud as they rose above the clouds.

The day continued in the same way, Cloud and Skylight taking turns to dip below the clouds, every time coming back up with the shake of a head.

After some time, the monotonous cycle rocked Cadence into a half-sleep, only opening her eyes when Skylight dove below the clouds to check for land.

Feeling the body beneath her veering sideways, Cadence lifted her head, hoping for sight of land to relieve them.

To her surprise the thick white blanket was still below them, Skylight’s movement had closed the gap between her and Cloud. The two pegasi shouted over the wind that rushed by, their words twisted and torn by the time they reached Cadence’s ears.

“What were you talking about?” Cadence said, lips pressed into Skylight’s ear, as she pulled away.

“Cloud’s getting tired,” Skylight grunted back. “Didn’t know how hard it would be to carry a pony. Can only last till mid-afternoon at best.”

Cadence squinted up at sun, It’s only mid-morning, She judged. That gives us plently of time to reach the other side.

Unstimulated, Cadence’s body drifted back to the realm of sleep, her mind with one hoof in the door and one out.

As they continued she could’ve sworn the time between each of Skylight’s dips was shortening, Maybe I’m just falling asleep?

A lurch in her stomach shocked Cadence back awake, her legs instinctively wrapping tight around Skylight.

“Not so tight.” The pegasus pulled at Cadence’s hooves with her own until the panicked princess loosened her grip.

“What’s happening?”

“Don’t know, but Cloud stopped. He’s hovering a little way back.” Skylight twisted her body round, wings propelling them forward once more.

Leaning sideways, Cadence spied the white pegasus straight ahead of them, his monstrous wings beating slowly, just enough to keep the two stallions airborne. As they grew close she noticed his tongue was hanging from the side of his mouth, cheeks red and chest heaving as he panted.

“What’s wrong Cloud?” Skylight called as she pulled up next to him, words holding the barest hint of concern.

“I’m getting, quite tired. If we could, go a little, slower, that would help.”

“I,” Skylight gazed up at the high noon sun before looking back to Cloud, a hopeful smile on her lips. “Okay, I’m sure it’s not much further.” The two pegasi returned to their flying, this time slowing the pace of their wingbeats, taking more time to glide on the wind.

Cadence grew sleepy atop Skylight’s back once again, her limbs numbing from hanging so long, eyes drooping as the rhythm of Skylight’s wings slowly lulled her to sleep.

“Finally!” The cry woke Cadence from her slumber, the wings on either side of her head beating as quick as a dragonfly’s as they shot back up through the clouds, Cadence barely having time to tighten her grip.

“Land!” Skylight shouted at Cloud as she drew alongside him, smile wide on her muzzle. He looked at her with question for a moment, almost as if the word was foreign to him.

Realisation sparking in Cloud’s eyes, he shared Skylight’s joy, the corners of his mouth spreading. The pair of pegasi dove back into the clouds, circling as they descended, searching for a safe spot to land.

Shining’s eyes shot open the moment he felt Cloud land, leaping off of the pegasus once he confirmed they were no longer above the molten sea. “We made it! I can’t believe we made it.”

Cadence and Skylight landed shortly afterward. Giggles bubbled from Cadence mouth as she watched Shining press his lips into the stone they stood upon, hugging against the ground as if it were a long lost friend.

“I don’t know if our flight is over,” Skylight said, taking note of their surroundings. The shore they had landed upon curved away sharply, giving the appearance they were situated on a peninsula. “I’m going to have a look round.” Cloud followed as she leapt into the air, zooming up to meet the roof of white above them.

Standing still for a moment, Cadence watched Shining happily throw the packs off of his body and roll across the warm, brown-orange stone. She stood nearby, smiling at his antics briefly before pulling him upward with her magic. “While they’re finding out where we are, we should get walking. There’s still a long way to go still we reach Rockholm.”

Sighing, Shining piled his and Cloud’s bags onto his back. “Where to now?”

The sound of wings interrupted Cadence’s reply, both ponies glancing toward the sky. Cloud dropped softly to the ground, panic written across his face. “Skylight was right, we’ve still got more of the sea of lava to cross.”

“What do you mean?” Cadence questioned, Shining’s face fading whiter than white, his legs shaking with unease.

“We just flew along the shore, and it seems like we’re on an island of some kind. There’s molten rock surrounding us on all sides.” Cloud’s shoulders slumped, muzzle tilting toward the ground. “I do hope that we’re close to the other side now, I don’t know how much more flying my wings can take today.”

“Don’t worry,” Cadence reassured, shifting beside Cloud, lifting his chin with a hoof. “We can stay here the night if you’re not feeling up to it. Better to lose half a day than two ponies.”

Skylight landed some moments later, confirming what Cloud had told them. “I think this is a resting spot for travellers crossing the lava. There’s a building in the centre of the island.”

“Was there anyone inside?” Shining questioned as he handed Cloud his pack. “Maybe they’ll be able to take us in for the night.”

“I didn’t look, but we should stay here for the night, out of sight of anything inside.”

All three ponies looked at Skylight with confusion, wondering if they had heard her correctly. “Why?” Cadence said, speaking for them all. “There’s nothing dangerous about a building is there?”

“It’s not the building, it’s the dragons that’ll be inside it. We’ll be safer if they don’t see us.”

Cadence chuckled, a wide grin pushing her eyes closed. “I’ve told you Skylight, we’re at peace with the dragons.” A pink hoof silenced Skylight’s retort. “No buts, now lets go have a look at where we’ll be staying tonight.”

The island was smaller than Cadence had thought, her eyes able to spot the distant shore as they climbed the nearby hill. That was not what her eyes were drawn to however, the single structure that squatted in the centre of the island captured her attention.

Red and black, yellow and orange, the colors patterned the walls of the single storey building. Its walls and pointed roof were rimmed with black, the tall double doors embedded into the side black as well.

As they neared Cadence noticed the ripples in the walls and roof, like waves rolling across the colored surfaces. Stepping up to the door first, she knocked against the solid stone with a hoof. “Is anyone there?”

When no answer came, Cadence knocked again.

“Just open the door,” Skylight said as Cadence raised her hoof to knock as third time. “No one’s home.”

Nodding, Cadence pushed her hoof against the door with no success. The smooth stone surface resisting her touch. Again she pushed against it, this time with both hooves, and then a third time with her shoulder, leaning her whole body into the door. “It won’t budge.”

“Let me try.” Skylight stepped forward as Cadence backed away, the pegasus bracing her shoulder against the stone. She grunted and snorted, but pushed the door just as far as Cadence had. “It must be locked from the other side.”

A chuckle sounded from behind the four, all of them turning to find its source a lizard that towered over them, his head shaking with glee. He spoke nasally, accentuating each each letter. “Silly ponies, that’s not how you open a door. Let me display the proper way.” Three of them stood wordless, shocked at the sight of another creature that could communicate with them.

Skylight’s instincts reacted for her as she stepped forward, wings flaring. “Don’t you take another step dragon, what are you doing here?”

Another chuckled bubbled from the dragon’s lips, a small puff of smoke leaking from his nostrils as he held his belly. “Do not fear pegasus, I am not here to hurt you. I am just spending the night at the Travellers Hovel, same as you.”

A pink hoof touched against Skylight’s shoulder, Cadence stepping up next to her. “He’s right Skylight, he’s given us no reason to be scared, just let him open the door for us.”

“Thank you princess.” He bowed his head slightly before stepping forward. On two legs he stood, the black scales that covered most of his body glowing dully. A heavy tails hanging from his rear kept his body in balance. Small grey spikes lined the top of it, their tips deliberately smoothed into a curve. At the end of his tail was a barbed spike, its points also ground flat.

At the end of his thin forelegs were five claws with which he gripped a knob on the edge of one of the door and twisted. “See,” He said, pushing the door open with ease. “Just twist the handle and the doors open easily.”

Cloud stepped up beside him, staring at the circle of black stone he cupped his claw around. “That’s a handle? I thought it was just some decoration.”

The dragon’s face twisted in a smirk for a moment before a chuckle burst forth. “Don’t tell me you ponies have never seen a doorknob before.”

“Well, I have,” Cloud admitted, squinting his eyes at the handle. “But in in all the places I’ve lived all the doorknobs are long and thin, so they’re easy to push on with your hoof. Not a ball like that thing.” He pressed his hoof to the other door’s handle to prove his point, attempting to turn it but failing.

The dragon nodded slowly, “I can see your problem, but that does not matter now. Let us gather within the building. I do wish to know what four ponies are doing crossing the molten border.”

They followed as he strode inside, Cadence a few steps behind, the breath taken out of her throat. How did he know I’m a princess? She closed the door behind her before turning to trail the others, her jaw dropping at what she saw.

Inside the building was much larger than it had looked from the outside, the flickering flames that dotted the walls leaving the soaring roof above in shadow. As she followed the clopping of hooves against the pitch black marble floor, Cadence marvelled at the orange and red carvings that fringed the identically black walls.

Pulling her eyes away from the hallway’s beauty, Cadence dashed after the her friends as they rounded the corner at the end of the hall. She blundered into Shining’s chest as she skidded round the corner, knocking both of them into a heap on the cool stone.

“Sorry,” He said with a laugh, untangling himself from her. “I was just waiting round the corner to scare you.”

Cadence giggled herself, a smile spreading her lips. “Well it looks like I was the one doing the scaring.” Behind Shining, her eyes caught sight of Cloud and Skylight looking back, waiting for them at the next corner. “We should hurry and catch up.”

They scampered ahead, sliding to a halt before the others.

“You ponies are lively aren’t you,” The dragon commented, his eyes lit with laughter. “It’s a shame I’ve never been able to meet one of your kind before.”

“So you’ve never met a pony before?” Cadence questioned as they returned to their slow stroll through the halls, as a full party this time.

“No princess. There is still much bad blood between ponies and dragons, even if our war was settled decades ago.” The dragon clasped his claws together, sighing deeply. “But it would be a shame to ruin our meeting with such dreadful talk. Please, enlighten me on why four ponies are flying into dragon territory.”

“Well-” Cadence stopped herself, He did it again, called me princess. “Before that, how do you know I’m a princess?”

He chuckled, shaking his head as if the question were absurd. “Why you have wings and a horn, perhaps I’m not completely up to date on pony anatomy, but I believe that makes you a princess.”

Cadence nodded slowly, “That’s right, I just surprised a dragon would know that.”

“Most dragons would not, their knowledge spans little more than physical activity and fighting skill.”

Skylight’s lips upturned at the dragon’s words. “They don’t sound bad after all.”

He smiled, chuckling softly once again. “Yes, even if you are wary of our kind, you will fit in well with our culture where physical strength is highly prized. However, not all dragons are the same, I prefer to spend my time pursuing knowledge. That is why I have the pleasure of meeting you here, I have just returned from a great journey to the minotaur mazes.”

An impact with a door ceased the dragon’s speech. His eyes blinking with shock for a few moments before he recovered, smiling and rubbing his snout. “It seems my weak grasp on the world has led to another blunder. It would be best if we continue this conversation when we have stopped, to prevent any further bruises.” He chuckled at his own joke, only Cadence and Shining joining him.

The charcoal black door led into a vast room, stylized in the same way as the halls before it.

Cloud’s eyes popped wide open as he stepped into the airy space, “This place must be big enough to hold even the largest dragons.”

“Why of course,” The dragon responded. “It is built specifically for our kind after all.”

Looking at the two legged reptile with unfocused eyes, Cloud compared him with the mental images he had. “Oh yeah, I, I.” He paused for a moment, gathering his words. “I always imagined dragons as massive creatures, that walked on all four legs. Large enough to destroy villages as if they were playthings, but you seem, uh, smaller than that.”

He chuckled, the soft noise echoing round the room, amplified by it. “As I said before, I am not as physically focused as other dragons are, so I am considered small in comparison to my kind. You will meet the dragons of you dreams however, there are many behemoths that ponies once feared still living today.”

Clapping his claws together, the dragon cut off Cloud’s coming words. “That is enough talk for now however. I am famished from my long flight, and I am sure you are two. Please wait at the table there, I will prepare the meal.” His outstretched foreleg gestured toward the centre of the room, where a dull orange and red table sat, long enough to seat their group a dozen times over.

Three of the ponies sunk into the plush pillows that surrounded the table, content to wait until food arrived. Cadence trailed the dragon into the kitchen, like a duckling behind its mother. The room was no less spectacular than the others. Walls of red and orange and yellow crystal surrounded one expansive polished cream marble island in the centre, its surface scarred with black scorches.

“Do you wish to help prepare the meal princess?” The dragon questioned once he noticed Cadence in the kitchen with him. “Wouldn’t you prefer to relax after such a long journey?”

“Well, I didn’t actually fly over the lava,” Cadence admitted, her eyes lowered slightly. “I’m not exactly confident in my flying, so I rode on Skylight’s back.”

“She is the one with the white coat, correct?”

Cadence nodded. “Yes. So I’d really like to help with the cooking, it’s something I love to do, and I’d also love to see how dragons cook.”

The dragon chuckled slightly, stepping across the room as he spoke. “I do apologize, but I don’t believe you will be able to help with the food preparation.” A door popped out of the wall at the touch of his claw, its surface blending so seamlessly with the crystal around it Cadence had failed to notice it sooner. He stepped half inside, forelegs moving beyond Cadence’s vision.

“Why not?”

“Because princess,” He grunted, backing out of the storage space with a white sack between claws and chest.. “We dragons cook all of our meals with fire.” The sack dropped from his grip and fell to the marble benchtop with a meaty slap.

Cadence’s eyes widened as she took an instinctive step backward, heat beating so heavily she could feel it in her throat. Surely he knows we can’t eat meat. This can’t be happening.

A grey claw sliced through the white cloth, revealing the bloody red surface underneath. “I know it is barbaric, but this kitchen lack any oven, and any wood to feed the oven as well.”

Opening her mouth to speak, Cadence felt and heard herself choke instead. The back of her throat boiling with bile as she turned away. Yet the sight stuck to her mind, crimson and wet. She felt her neck clench, stomach stirring and forelegs shaking as she tried to block the horror from her thoughts.

The dragon abandoned his meat and stepped beside her, bending over to look at Cadence’s face. “I know it isn’t the most high quality meat, salted and old, but isn’t this an overreaction princess?”

Cadence choked audibly again as the stale stench of blood on the dragon’s claws met her nostrils, her whole body shivering as she squirmed away from him. “You don’t, understand,” She breathed, gritting her teeth as she drew another breath. “Ponies, don’t, eat meat, this is the, first time I’ve ever, seen so much, blood and flesh.”

Gasping, the dragon’s claws slapped against his cheeks, “Oh, oh, oh no. You must forgive me princess. It completely slipped my mind that ponies don’t consume the flesh of other animals.” He rushed back to the bench and scooped the lump of meat back into his forelegs, making for the still open cupboard as quickly as he legs would carry him, the whole time repeating the same phrase, “Please do forgive me, please do forgive me.”

With the sickening scent gone, Cadence found strength back in her legs to stand straight and open her eyes. “I don’t want this difference to come between us,” She said, her voice still weak. “And I’d like you to not tell the others about this, especially Skylight. Ponies are quite ignorant to the, brutalities that other races in Equestria perform.”

“That I can see quite well.” The dragon stood well back from Cadence, his claws resting on the marble island, clicking as they nervously tapped against its surface. “What do you wish for me to prepare for you, we have some food stores besides the salted meat.”

No,” Cadence shook her head, voice stronger than before. “I would like to make my friends their meal myself. If you could show me to these other foods that will be enough.”

Across the room from the meat cupboards was another hidden door, its position revealed easily with a touch of the dragon’s claw. “The freezers wait down those stairs,” He gestured into the darkness with a foreleg, an uneasy frown still on his muzzle. “They are filled with few fruits and berries, for the dragons who find distaste in eating the flesh of other creatures.”

As Cadence made to step into the wall of shadow, he called after her, “Are you sure you wish to go alone, it is treacherously dim down there. A touch of fire will help light the way.”

“Yes,” Cadence breathed deeply, lighting her horn with a blaze of blue, the dragon shying away from the display. “I’ve got something far more useful than fire.”

She dulled her light as she stepped further into the depths of darkness, the magical roar from her horn proving too bright for her eyes. I shouldn’t have tried to scare him like that, Cadence thought, the dragon’s frightened eyes still fresh in her mind. Even if he did sicken me, it was an accident.

The stairs continued downward at an easy slope, Cadence too distracted with the recent occurrences to count the number. How long have I been walking? She wondered after some time, the light of her horn finding no end within sight.

Eventually she felt the air around her cool, a shiver that shook her body making her aware of the fact. Feeding more energy into the spell once again, Cadence noticed the black walls further ahead were tinted with white, Ice?

The chilling touch against her outstretched hoof confirmed her suspicions. Soon she could hear it crunching underneath her hooves as well, the expansive hallway opening up into a cavern of blue-white not long after.

Her breath was white and misty before her as she slowly walked between the towers of cubed ice. The contents of each cube were easy to see through their sides, berries of black and blue and red, oranges and bananas as well. Further down she caught glimpses of red flesh hanging from stone hooks and turned back immediately, her stomach squirming.

Cadence decided on a slab of raspberries, a smile on her lips pushing the images of meat aside as she planned her meal.

“Do you have any chocolate, and maybe some pastry?” She called up the stairs as she neared the top. Hearing no response, she called again as her eyeline rose above the top step, “Do you have any choco-”

The face that met her eyes caused Cadence to choke on her words, “Skylight? I thought you were just going to wait out at the dining table.”

“You took too long, so I came in here to make sure Ignius hadn’t eaten you.” Skylight’s eyes flicked sideways to the black dragon who sat a few steps away, his tail curled round his legs and head in his claws.

“Ignius?” Cadence questioned, her brow creased for a moment before realization struck her. “Oh, is that you name, dragon?”

He nodded slowly, tight cheeks showing the gritted teeth underneath. “My manners have abandoned me princess, I should have told you earlier. I apologize dearly. In my excitement to see ponies I made myself a fool.”

Stepping across the room, Cadence dumped the slab of frozen raspberries on the marble bench before moving to stand beside Ignius. “Don’t worry about it, not knowing you name has been the least of my troubles. Now if you could tell me where you keep your pastry and chocolate I’d be thankful.”

“Chocolate? We do not keep this, chocolate, but pastry... You do not wish to hear the answer to that.”

Cadence smirked, shaking her head, “It’s down in the freezer isn’t it?”

The second journey back down seemed to pass by quicker than the first, the icy air feeling warmer for Cadence with Skylight beside her. She was careful to avoid the meat, taking the lead and backtracking whenever she sighted swinging chunks of red ahead.

“Why did I have to come with you?” The pegasus grumbled as Cadence plucked a few solid sheets of pastry from a stack.

“Well, I did want some company, but mainly I wanted to keep you from harassing that poor dragon. I hope you didn’t interrogate him too harshly.”

Skylight chuckled as she followed Cadence back up the stairs. “All I did was ask questions. He was already a shaking mess when I found him.”

“How did you find out his name then? Is that part of your questioning as well?”

Skylight nodded slightly, “Yes, standard procedure. If you know the subject’s name they feel vulnerable.”

“Did he tell you about the-” Cadence stopped herself before flesh could pass between her lips. If I ask her that there’ll be no way to hide it. best just to forget about it.

“About the what?”

“Uh, I forgot what I was going to say.”

Back up in the kitchen Ignius seemed in much better shape. He had gathered the other things Cadence had asked for, a plate for each of them and a bowl for the cooking, and arranged them on the marble island. The frozen slab of raspberries was also defrosted and piled into its own bowl.

“Did you find what you were searching for princess?” He said when he noticed them at the top of the stairs. Cadence’s head bobbed, “Good, I can't wait to try this chocolate you speak of, and mixed with these berries,” His eyes twinkled with delight as he popped one of the dripping red fruits into his mouth. “My mind can’t even begin to comprehend the flavour.”

Cadence took the smooth obsidian bowl in her magic and recited Celestia’s spell for fire, forming ghostly blue flames before her. “Skylight, can you go grab my bag?” She said without looking up, taking the bowl of berries that was nestled in Ignius’s forelegs and levitating it over the fire.

The pegasus shot Ignius a glare before stalking toward the door, reappearing a few moments later with Cadence’s bags between her teeth.

Taking the bag from Skylight, Cadence fished out a half-eaten bar of chocolate, unwrapping it before she broke it into the other bowl, both now held over the fire.

As she worked Ignius slowly crept along the edge of the bench until he was crouched beside Cadence, his eyes flickering with blue as he watched her magic swim through the air. “I have seen the great scorchers of Ember prepare meats with their hundred color flames, but I have never seen someone cook so beautifully.”

Cadence felt her cheeks warm with a soft blush as she grasped the solid sheet of pastry and held them over the fire to defrost. “Well, this is how I always cook. Though usually the bowls look different, and I don’t usually use a magical fire but-”

No,” Ignius cut her off. “It is not the tools your are using that captures my attention, it is the way you handle them with such grace.” He inhaled deeply, eyelids sinking closed. “And the aroma that wafts off it, so sweet to my snout. That smell must be the chocolate.”

“Uh, yes,” Cadence responded absentmindedly as she worked the now softened pastry into pie shells. She gently browned them over the flames, filling them with molten chocolate as she did so. The hot berries came next as she topped each pie off with a dollop of red before setting one on each plate.

“Are they complete?” Ignius’s jaw hung slack as he eyed the steaming pastries. “I can not resist their aroma any longer.”

Nudging the dragon’s looming snout away with her hoof, Cadence grasped the five plates in her magic before snuffing out the fire. “They are, but you have to wait. They’ll be too hot to eat for a while.”

She dumped the dirty bowls on the marble bench as she stepped past it, Ignius and Skylight trailing behind, the pegasus watching the dragon’s slack, drooling mouth suspiciously.

Shining’s head was slumped on the table as she stepped from the kitchen. Placing on of the steaming treats in front of his snout, Cadence watched with a smile as the scent roused him. “Is that chocolate?” He breathed in deep, muzzle splitting wide with a grin.

“Mmmhmm,” Cadence nodded, spreading the remaining plated along the table. “I made everyone a fresh raspberry pie with a chocolate base.” She seated herself opposite Shining, Skylight beside her.

Ignius floated around behind them, following his snout to the remaining pie that rested beside Cloud. “May we indulge in these fine flavours finally?”

“Yes.” Cadence left her own pastry before her to cool, and watched as the three opposite her sunk their teeth into their own.

The reaction was instant, Shining and Cloud’s eyes widening and cheeks burning red as they dropped their pies, fanning their tongue with hooves and wings. Ignius devoured the treat with one bite, eyes closed as if he were dreaming for more.

“Don’t you find it hot Ignius?” Cadence questioned, waking the dragon from his pie-induced sleep.

Lifting his eyelids, Ignius stared at Cadence with a smile on his lips. “Hot? Princess, that scrumptious morsel felt as cool as ice on my tongue compared to dragon fire.”

It was some time before the ponies braved the piping hot temperatures of their own sweets.

Ignius chuckled as he watched their faces squirm with a mix of pain and delight. “You ponies are such funny creatures, but I cannot help but appreciate your food.” He commented as they were finishing. “You must cook me something else tomorrow princess, I so dearly wish to taste more of that chocolate.”

Shining looked to the dragon with question lining his brow. “You’ve never had chocolate before?”

“No. Throughout my travels of Equestria I have never encountered the substance. Not with the griffons, nor with the minotaurs and we dragons lack it as well. It must be a unique pony food.”

“Not, even, a, little,” Shining said, slowly, his face frozen with shock as the words dripped from his lips.

“None at all. I can see you will miss the taste, but do not worry, we have many other fine foods. The best meats-”

Cadence magically snapped his jaws shut, locking her eyes with the dragon’s golden pair and shaking her head. “The best meals, right Ignius.”

“Yes,” He murmured through closed lips eventually. “Many stupendous meals.” Silence fell over the table for a few moments after that, Ignius nervously tapping his claws against marble. “Ah,” He announced, breaking the silence. “Why don’t you ponies show me what you have in the way of after dinner games.”

Eyes lighting up at the words, Cloud quickly turned and dug into his saddlebags, producing a wooden box. “We usually play cards.”

The four ponies played as Ignius watched carefully, his grin growing wider and wider as he watched Cloud’s dragons triumph in battle over both Shining’s changelings and Cadence’s Everfree monsters.

“This brings back memories of when I was a young dragon,” Ignius said after Cloud finished of the remains of Cadence and Shining’s castle with a meteor. “The games my brothers and I used to play always fueled my mind with adventure. It is what first ignited my passion for travelling and discovering Equestria. I would love to watch another game.”

Shining met Cadence’s sensual stare and faked a yawn. “I’m actually getting quite tired, I think I’ll head to bed.”

Stretching her jaw sleepily also, Cadence rubbed the corner of her eye with a hoof. “I think I need to as well. Are there any rooms for sleeping Ignius?”

“Yes, I will show you to them myself. Best you don’t get lost in these halls, there are some things you would not like to see.” He rose and strode down the dining hall, Cadence and Shining gathered their bags from the floor and trailed behind, the pegasus pair taking some time to pack Cloud’s cards away before following themselves.

The ceiling crept in closer as they entered a dim hallway, lit only by the light leaking through the doorway behind them. Ignius breathed a slow stream of fire along one wall and a dozen bright torches sprung to life, revealing door after coal-black stone door along the other wall. “These are rooms for the smaller dragons,” He explained. “I believe you will find them more than large enough.”

A wall of darkness met Cadence as she pushed open the door.

“Forgive me,” Ignius called over her shoulder. “The rooms themselves still need to be lit.”

Cadence stepped before him, blocking the dragon’s path into the room as she lit her horn. “We’ll be fine thank you.” She dumped her saddlebags beside the wall before stepping back out into the hall. “Good night Cloud, Skylight. I hope you’ll be ready to fly again tomorrow.”

“It’s Cloud we’re resting for,” Skylight replied, chuckling. “I could fly all night.” She shepherded Cloud into their room before he could speak.

“A good rest I wish you as well.” Ignius bowed his head at the disappearing pegasi before turning back to Cadence and Shining. “I will see you tomorrow, princess, Shining.” He dipped his head before swinging his body around and strolling back toward the dining doorway.

“Aren’t you going to sleep in one of the rooms as well?” Cadence called after him.

“No. I will sleep in the dining hall. It would be a sorry tale if another dragon stumbled into your room as you were sleeping, one that is not as accepting as I. I shall rest outside your door to make sure that will not occur.”

Cadence watched him disappear around the corner before turning and joining Shining in their now lit room. He lay stretched out atop their ethereal blue mattress, eyelids lowered slightly, bottom lip between his teeth.

After looking at him for a few moments Cadence couldn’t help but smirk. “Is that supposed to be seductive?”

A frown overcame Shining’s features as he shifted back into a sitting position. “Yes, what about it was so funny?”

Noticing the wounded look, Cadence replaced her smirk with a small smile, “It wasn’t the position that was funny, something was missing from you.” She stalked across the room, circling him like a lion does its prey before stepping onto the mattress and pressing her lips into his ear. “You weren’t a cute little mare.”

She felt his body shiver underneath her touch, shaking the soft expanse below. “Don’t you find stallions attractive anymore?” Shining replied sullenly.

“Of course I still do,” Lifting his chin with her hoof, Cadence met Shining’s blue eyes with her pink pair. “When I talk about you being my little mare I’m just joking, most of the time.” She muttered the last few words.

Pink lips cut off Shining’s retort, his wide eyes relaxing as he pushed back against Cadence, his foreleg curving around her neck to pull her closer. “I’ve got something no mare can offer,” He breathed as they broke apart.

Cadence smiled with her eyes and lips, stealing a glance between Shining’s legs. “I could always find a spell, I’m sure a magical cock will satisfy my little mare just as well as the real thing.” Sinking backward onto her haunches, she allowed her hooves to dance down his body, from neck to hips, until they found their way to his hardening member.

Shivers ran through Shining’s body as Cadence’s hooves brushed along his sensitive length. “How about tonight I play Celestia,” She whispered as her horn lit with blue, the aura soon enveloping her whole head.

“No,” Shining put one of his hooves against the now white cheek of the mare before him, brushing the illusion away. “Can’t we just have one night where we lay together for hours like we did during our first time together? Just holding and kissing each other, whispering words of love into the others ear.”

A wounded look overcame Cadence’s features, “I thought you liked the crazy things I think up.”

“I do, but they’re with you, and that’s what I enjoy about them. I’d hate for you to pretend to be another pony when we make love, it would feel like betrayal.”

“Well, if you don’t like that, why don’t-”

Shining’s hoof cut off Cadence, his eyes pleading as they stared into hers. “Tonight, can we just be together, plain and simple?” Falling gently onto his side, he gestured with a hoof for her to do the same.

They lay muzzle to muzzle, eyes locked as they inhaled each others breath. Shining’s foreleg crept over Cadence’s back, pulling her body closer to his. “I don’t know what I’d do without you Cadence,” He said after some time.

Cadence, still in a playful state of mind, froze for a moment, unsure of what to say. Just like he said, She reminded herself. Holding and kissing, whispering words of love. “I, um, I, I. I love falling asleep with you beside me, it makes me feel safe.” The words came to Cadence without thought, her brow creasing as they left her lips. Did I just say that?

Slowly stroking her mane, Shining continued to stare into her eyes without responding. Cadence stared back, her body itching with discomfort, Should I say something else? I never remember these times being so uncomfortable. Parting her lips, she felt Shining’s muzzle press into hers, the kiss cutting Cadence off before she could breath a word.

The contact was soft and gentle, unlike the greedy and lustful kisses she was so accustomed to, simply a connection between their bodies. Unsure of what to do, Cadence found herself kissing back, grasping Shining’s bottom lip with her pair and tugging tenderly, like a foal suckling sleepily on its mother’s teat.

As Shining ran his hoof down her neck and along her spine, Cadence felt memories of their times together flowing through her mind, a slowly river of faded images.

The uneasy look on Shining’s face when they finally gotten Twilight into bed after an exhausting night of babysitting. The guiltiness in his eyes whenever she caught him glancing at her. The laughter and joy his features held as they entertained Twilight before bed.

Up and down Shining’s hoof ran from the base of her tail to the top of her head, his gentle touch and soft kisses relaxing her body. Cadence felt her eyelids drooping closed, Shining’s face slowly fading into black.

And appearing once again, this time many years younger, his eyes a mix of excitement and nerves. He sat a few steps from her, hooves tucked into his body as if they were fearful of coming closer. Breathing in deep, Cadence’s nostrils tasted the overwhelming scent of perfume that Shining had drowned himself in, his mother’s she knew. Lavender.

Staring over his shoulder, the skyline of Canterlot met her eyes. Windows lit with yellow light formed a trail of fireflies all the way to the palace. Shining averted his eyes as she tried to meet them with her own pair.

Shuffling closer Cadence lifted his chin with her hoof and smiled, “What are you afraid of?” She realised her own stomach was swimming as well. I don’t remember being this nervous.

“You’re just, just so beautiful, and, princess, I-”

Pushing her muzzle forward, Cadence felt the warmth of his lips against hers and a blossom of joy that quelled her slickly stomach. She saw his wide eyes briefly before she closed her own, enjoying the unexplored wonders of such a simple contact.

Reopening her eyes, she found Shining lying before her once more, once side of his face lit up bright blue by the ethereal mattress it rested upon. “Oh Shining,” Cadence felt herself choke back a sob, the edges of her vision blurring, cheeks growing wet as she smiled. “I’m so glad you finally took that chance and asked me up to your parent’s balcony that night. I don’t know where I’d be without-”

His lips pressed into hers, cutting Cadence off as she had done to him years ago.

Wrapping a foreleg over Shining’s back, she locked their bodies tight together as their lips twisted against each other. Cadence gasped softly when they broke apart, “I want to stay like this forever.”

“We’ve got all of tonight.” Smiling, Shining nuzzled his snout against hers, his heavy eyelids falling closed.

Stealing one final kiss, Cadence allowed her eyes to shut as well. Shining’s embrace as comfortable and familiar as her bed in the palace as the dull weight of sleep overcame her body, a blanket of shadow over her mind.

The blanket was only down for what seemed like an instant before it dissipated, Cadence’s eyes snapping open and ears standing on end as she searched for the reason for her awakening.

Rustling.

Pulling out of Shining’s grasp she swung her head toward the sound, a large, winged shadow hunched over in the corner filling her vision. Cadence lit her horn, revealing the pitch-black scaled back of a dragon. “Ignius?”

The dragon sucked in a breath as he swung round, the usual look of courteous composure on his features replaced with a crazed terror. “Princess, things are not as they seem. I was simply searching for that divine food you call chocolate.”

“Chocolate?” Cadence felt a chuckle burst between her lips. “You were looking through my bag for chocolate? That’s the worst story I’ve heard, and trust me, fillies make up some wild tales.” Her features hardened. “What were you actually doing?”

“You must believe me, I am telling the truth.” Allowing his head to fall into his claws, Ignius shook it gently, soft sobs echoing off the stone wall. “Oh what a fool I have become, to allow myself to be enslaved to a flavour.” Looking back up at Cadence, he clutched his claws together. “Please you must have some more, even just a crumb of that sweet taste. I do not know if I can live without it a moment longer.”

Cadence felt a touch on her shoulder, Shining’s sleepy voice in her ear. “Don’t worry Ignius, it gets easier to resist after a day or two,” He reassured.

“Does that mean I will be free of this terrible want some day? How long will it take to purge my body, a week? A month?”

Laughing softly, Shining shook his head. “If my experience with chocolate is anything to tell, you’ll never forget the taste. Even a few years without it and I was always wanting more.”

Ignius sighed as he stood, shoulders slumped. “I do hope I am not cursed with the same affliction as you have been. I am sorry for interrupting your sleep princess, I have truly made myself the fool tonight.” He dipped his head deeply before stepping toward the door.

“What just happened?” Cadence asked once the door clicked shut, her face creased with question.

“Don’t worry about it Cadence.” Shining yawned as he fell back onto the mattress, eye closing. “It’s just chocolate.” His breathing slowed as Cadence curled up beside him, a small smile on his lips.

“I love you Shining,” She whispered into his ear, the dark heaviness of sleep overcoming her body and mind once more.