“Land!” Skylight’s cry woke Cadence from her suspended nap.

Eyelids fluttering open, she could see nothing but a blanket of white fog below and blue sky above. The white cloud came up to meet Cadence as Skylight dove downward, an expanse of brown-red land appearing beneath.

A boom sounded behind the pair and Cloud shot past them, Shining atop his back, forelegs wrapped tight around his neck. They raced toward the ground, Shining leaping from Cloud’s back the instant he judged it safe.

Cadence shivered as she felt a shadow pass overhead. Looking upward, she spied the ash grey underbelly of Ignius as he soared some way past the stallions before spiralling downward.

“It looks like everyone’s faster than you,” Cadence teased as Skylight slowed her pace to a standstill above Cloud and Shining. She felt the pegasus chuckle underneath her.

“It’s unfair if I carry the heaviest load.” The ground came up to meet them slowly as Skylight fluttered downward, Cadence face still twisted in a frown as she dismounted the pegasus.

Shining stepped toward Cadence as she was passing Skylight’s pack back to her, his hooves closing round her in a hug. “I’m so glad we finally made it, no more flying.”

Meeting his hug with a kiss, Cadence giggled. “We still have to fly back across it when we leave.”

“Can’t you let me have just one moment of relief?”

Another giggle passed through Cadence’s lips as she stared up at the sky, hoof shading her eyes. “Well it looks like we’ve still got some time before sunset. We should get as far away from this lava as we can before then.”

Shining took one look back as the bubbling and churning lake of molten rock and grimaced. “I think that’s the best idea. I wouldn’t want to be near this thing if it gets higher.”

Stepping toward Cloud and Skylight, Cadence studied the pair for a few moments, her lips turning upward as she watched the couple press their lips together tentatively. “Are you two ready to keep going?” She called at the pegasi, sending a jolt through both of them.

Blue cheeks glowing bright pink, Skylight pulled away from Cloud and stared at Cadence, her face stern. “Yes, we just needed a moment to rest.” She spread her wings and leapt into the air, only to drop back down and retrieve her pack moments later.

Cloud followed Skylight as she took off again, the pair looping and spinning into the sky.

“We should talk to Ignius before we go, see what his plans are,” Cadence said once the pegasi were dancing far above.

The dragon had offered to carry both Shining and Cadence across the river, but Skylight instantly refused, claiming she still didn’t trust him with the lives of ponies. Cadence wondered what Skylight would have said if she had known about their surprise visitor the previous night.

“Princess,” Ignius bowed his head slightly as Cadence and Shining neared, the exuberance in his voice a stark contrast from the shakiness it had carried the night before. “I am pleased to see you had a safe flight, it seems the blue one, Skylight is it? She is much stronger than I would have guessed.”

“Yes.” For a moment Cadence felt as if she were back in the air, the expanse of muscles that was Skylight’s back rippling underneath her stomach. “That strength has been very helpful, but I didn’t come to talk about Skylight. I was wondering if you are going to continue to travel with us on our way to Rockholm.”

Ignius sighed, his shoulders deflating. “As much as I would delight in your continued company, our path will not let that happen. You see, Rockholm lies westward.” Gesturing with his claw, he pointed away from the lake of lava, toward the setting sun. “And I am heading north, back to my home town. There is a dragon there I have not seen in years. I hope she misses me as much as I do her.”

That’s so sweet, Cadence thought, her heart filleing with warmth. “Well, good luck with her. Maybe we’ll see you again some day.”

Spreading his wings, Ignius looked back to Cadence, a smile on his lips. “It would be my joy to visit you in Canterlot when your journey is over. Simply tell me a date now and I will make it to your great palace on that day.”

“Well,” Biting her lips, Cadence met Shining’s eyes for a moment. “We’re actually supposed to be traveling all around Equestria for five years, so it will be a while before we’re back in Canterlot.”

“I will be there on the sixth year then. I pray you have many tales to tell.” Bending his legs, Ignius nodded at Cadence one final time before leaping into the air, the great sails that were his wings carrying him higher and higher.

Cadence stood still for a moment, watching as the dragon faded into a black smudge on the horizon.

“We should probably get going,” Shining said eventually, touching her on the shoulder with his hoof.

“Yeah, Skylight will be getting impatient.”

The land before them was completely flat, as if a flood had washed away every hill and mountain, something Shining’s shaky legs were thankful for after the long flight. In the distance however, cloaked in white mist, loomed a wall of brown.

“I hope we reach Rockholm before those mountains,” Shining said as they stopped for camp, measuring the distant mountains against his hoof. “My legs have done enough mountain climbing over the last month to last me a lifetime.”

Skylight looked up from unpacking her tent, a teasing smile on her face. “Stop complaining about nothing, if you really want to know feel tired why don’t you try carrying yourself for two days?”

Looking down at his belly, Shining eyed the expanse of white with a frown, retaliation on his lips. Breathing deep, he felt the excuse fading from his thoughts. “Yeah, that would be a challenge. Thanks for going through that for me Cloud, and you too Skylight. I don’t know how we could have gotten here without you.”

The smile on Skylight face shrunk, her brow creasing with confusion. “Yes, how would you have gotten here without us?”

Turning, Shining met Cadence’s eyes, “I don’t know, did the itinerary have any details about how we were supposed to cross the lava?”

“I,” Digging into her memories, Cadence thought back through all the times she had studied Celestia’s writings over their trip, a smile spreading her lips as she did so. “I may have forgotten something.” Her lips burst with laughter, eyes lighting up as she allowed it to rock her body.

“Don’t tell me you misread something again.”

“No, I just forgot.” Breathing heavily, Cadence quelled her laughter, wiping the hint of a tear from her eye. “It was the night I was looking through the itinerary for a water spell, and I recall reading that if we follow the shore west we’d eventually come across a great bridge. We were supposed to cross there.”

Shining fell backward, his rear thumping as he sat. “You’re saying that we risked our lives when we could have just crossed a bridge?”

“Mmhmm.”

“At least we all made it in one peice,” Cloud said softly, hoping to add some cheer to the conversation.

Cadence smiled, “Yes, and if we hadn’t have flown across we never would have met Ignius. Now why don’t we have something to eat, I’m sure everyone is starving after that flight.”

Shining straightened up as if he had been struck by lightning, his eyes lighting up and jaw opening. “That sounds like a great idea.”

That night sleep came slowly to Cadence, her body seemingly unable to find a comfortable position as she squirmed next to the unconscious Shining. Eventually she settled on her stomach, eyes closed tight and legs curled underneath her as she willed herself to sleep.

Just concentrate on your breathing. One, two, three, four. Feeling faded from Cadence’s body as she gently slipped into the pool of sleep. The slight sensation of her limbs against the magical mattress below shifted, moving up her body and toward her back, a steady rhythm of pushing and pulling making itself known at the base of her wings.

Blue, a hint of the color peeked into the corner of the black expanse before her, stretching across until it formed a sky, wisps of white scattered across it. Gazing downward, she saw a great city below her, its streets extending out past the horizon, buildings more numerous than she could count.

Gradually another feeling spread across her back, a light burden resting beneath her wings. Straining her neck sideways, Cadence first noticed her pink wings, larger than her own body. The slightest movement of them sent her rocketing high into the air.

Looking further, she spied as scaled foreleg curled tight around her belly, its claws dug deep into her fur. Instinctively her mouth opened to scream, but she heard nothing. In response to her shock, the claws dug deeper until she could not longer see them, just the end of emerald scaled limb plunged deep into her belly.

Rain? Cadence sensed a drop against her ear, followed by a sob. Who was that?

Stretching her neck even further round, she watched as a whole body grew off of the leg, coated in the same emerald armor. Great yellow-green wings curled round the scaled body, and a spiked tail extended from the end of it.

She heard another choking sob and felt another drop as she twisted her neck until it could go no further, the neck of the creature just visible out of the corner of her vision.

No matter what way she turned her head or strained her eyes, Cadence could never catch a glimpse of what lay at the end of the neck. The endless city continued to pass underneath and the tears continued to wet her head as she tried and tried again, unable to settle until she uncovered the mystery of what lay atop her.

Another gasping whimper, this time a higher pitch, and from a different place. Twisting her head again, Cadence spotted another scaled body resting on the one that clutched to her. Smaller, this one was curled tight, tail between teeth, its scales a fiery red..

As its body shook with another sob Cadence felt the tremendous weight of the dragon atop her at once, like an anchor pulling her toward the ground. Desperately she beat her wings, only to find they were no longer at her side, all she could do was fall.

Looking downward, she noticed what they were heading for, a coal black palace in the centre of the city. Its tall towers reached for the blue sky above like great claws, their rooftops soaring high above any heights the palace in Canterlot could dream of.

Passing between the towers, Cadence spied a similarly colored entrance hall. The doors that granted access formed of great grey crystal. As they neared its roof opened up like a gaping mouth, its edges rowed with dull red spikes. Teeth, She thought before the shadows swallowed her whole and her vision faded.

Opening her eyes, Cadence found she was lying face down on an obsidian floor, the weight on her back gone. A quick glance at her surroundings told her that she appeared to be in the hall they had plummeted into.

Orange and red and yellow lined the centre of the hall in the form of a carpet. Pairs of grey crystal doors waited at either end of the material, one so tall it climbed high into the shadows that cloaked the ceiling, the other no more than twice the height of Cadence.

The ground beneath her shook as the tearful mother and hatchling dropped to the floor some distance from Cadence. She watched fearfully as the emerald beast dissipated before her eyes, leaving only the mewing baby curled up on the carpet.

He looks so lonely, Cadence thought as she stepped towards him, meaning to cradle the hatchling in her arm. Each step took her further away from the dragon however, the carpet underneath her hooves seeming to extend out until the baby was but a dull red speck at the far end of the hall.

Stretching out her hoof, she felt it press against something before her. Stepped backward, Cadence realised she was trapped behind the monstrous pair of crystal doors, their surface transparent when she stood close enough.

Pressing her muzzle close against the doors, she eyed the dragon, still curled up, its body shaking every so often with sobs. If only there was something I could do for him?

Out of the corner of her eye Cadence spied a falling shadow. The end of the shadow sharpened itself into a spike as it fell, heading straight for the hatchling. Oh no.

Cadence instinctively closed her eyes as the spike neared the baby, wincing as she heard it burrow into flesh, the dragon’s yelp echoing throughout the hall.

Opening her eyes slowly, she shivered at what she saw. The hatchling was still curled up on the carpet, but its tail was pinned for the floor with a sharp shadow longer than its length from tip to snout.

In desperation Cadence pushed her body against the crystal before her, scrabbling at it with her hooves in attempt to dig through. Another shadow fell, this one piercing a dull red claw and holding it to the floor.

With one last futile push Cadence threw herself at the door, only to bounce back onto the floor. Defeated, she simply sat and stared at the dragon as a hailstorm of shadowy spearheads rained down on him until every inch of his skin was filled with a point. His coat of dark rubies now seeming to be more made of onyx.

Why? Cadence cried inside her head, choking back her tears. What did he do? As she stared at the hatchling she noticed a flutter of movement behind the limp body. Lifting her eyes, she saw there was another dragon in the same situation as she, held captive by the smaller set of doors as the end of the hall.

He was much older than the young one who lay pinned to the carpet before him. Scales of grey coated his limbs and back like a suit of armor, his belly the dull white of dirty snow. His claws were wrapped around his head as he stared at the hatchling before him, his body shaking every few moments.

He’s crying as well, Cadence knew.

Tearing her eyes away from the older dragon she returned them to the younger, surprised to find that the shards of shadow had shrunk. Or has he grown? Jaw wide open she watched as the hatchling grew and grew until she could no longer see the older dragon behind him, the scales of his coat now bright red, as if they were raging with flames.

After some time he was at a size where the spikes were but splinters to him. His red hot eyelids snapped open, revealing monstrous eyes within, as large as Cadence’s hoof and crimson with hate.

Standing, he arched his back and unleashed a vicious roar, sending the needles of black that pricked his scales shooting back up to the shadowy ceiling above. Breaths of fire spewed from his lips as he strode around the hall, burning the carpet until it was all black, indistinguishable from the obsidian floor that surrounded it.

Behind the raging beast Cadence spied the elder dragon once again, his claws pressed flat and jaw moving up and down, but no sound came out.

“Look outside.”

Cadence felt the whisper as if it had been breathed into her own ear, but when she swung her eyes round she found no one. Outside? As she thought, Cadence studied the room behind her, another pair of crystal doors waited at the end, and great glass windows sat on either side, giving her a view of what lay beyond.

A lengthy sandstone path led out to the city Cadence had seen before she crashed into the hall. Surrounding the path was a garden full of wilted flowers and strangling thorns, but still very much alive.

It was filled with hundreds of dragons. their coats seemingly made up of every rare stone imaginable. Rubies and emeralds, sapphire and topaz, there was a dragon for each one and much more.

They all wandered aimlessly as Cadence watched, passing each other but never meeting eyes or exchanging words and not one of the dragons even glanced toward the palace.

Curious, she stepped forward and waved out to them. One or two looked up, but none dared to look her way. They seem almost afraid.

“Open the door.” Another whisper, like a breath from behind her ear, the voice almost familiar.

Without hesitating Cadence obeyed the voice once more, her magic wrapping around the door handles and pulling. White flooded into her eyes, forcing Cadence to squint, blinking rapidly as she tried to stare through the light.

The blaring brightness proving too much for Cadence to overcome, she twisted her head to the side and felt her whole body roll with it as well.

Opening her eyes, Cadence found she had rolled into Shining’s side, her muzzle pressed into his neck. It was just a dream, She realised. I’m back in the tent with Shining, we’ve still got weeks to go till we reach any dragon cities.

She shifted away from Shining carefully as not to wake. As she rose Cadence heard the sound of crunching pastry filling her ears.

“Morning,” Skylight’s voice greeted her, muffled by a mouthful of food. “Did you sleep well?”

Stepping from the tent, Cadence rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she yawned. “Just the same as always, but I had the strangest dream.”

“What about?”

“Well,” Straining her mind, Cadence tried to bring back images of the room she had stood in only moments before, but only blurs of color and garbled sounds came to mind. “I actually can’t remember.”

Skylight shook her head, chuckling softly, “Then it can’t have been too strange.” She finished her pie with a final mouthful and brushed crumbs from the tips of her wings before rising. “Now that you’re up we should wake the others. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Mind still occupied with the dream that swum just out of her reach, Cadence stood as if she were a statue, eyes set straight ahead and chest barely moving until Skylight’s hoof brushed against her neck.

“Cadence? Are you still sleeping?”

“Oh, no.” Blinking rapidly, she shook the nagging thought from her head. “I’ll go wake Shining.”

The stallions were both out of bed a few moments later, albeit Cloud walked on his own hooves while Shining had to be lifted. When Cadence finally set the slumbering tangle of limbs before the fire it only took a whiff of a fruit tart before he exploded awake.

“So is it just more walking today?” Shining questioned between small mouthfuls of tart as he savoured the tiny portion Cadence allowed him.

“No, today you’re learning to fly,” Skylight teased, wings bursting from her sides. “First we’ll start with something simple, a leap into corkscrew.”

Shining’s eyes popped from their sockets as he watched her shoot into the sky like a spinning top drops to the ground, wings and legs a blur around her.

“She’s joking right?” Looking to Cadence for reassurance, Shining found a warm smile and a soft hug.

“Of course Shining,” She replied before leaning close, her muzzle pressed into his ear. “As long as you’re willing to be a obedient little mare tonight.”

Both of the mare’s giggled at Shining as his face paled beyond its natural white, the tart once held by his magic dropping to the dirt.

Eventually common sense broke through his sleepy haze of belief, the look of horror on his features fading into an irritated pout. “Let’s just get walking.”

The flat rocky landscape before them left little to the imagination, only small pockets of lava every now and then breaking the monotonous walk. By mid-morning the sun was beating down on the walking pair with its unending heat, the two pegasi faring much better with the wind rushing past their bodies for cooling.

Around noon Cadence was shocked out of her thoughts by the sound of Skylight smashing against the ground and the tremors it sent through her body. Looking to the side, she noticed warning on the pegasus’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Dragons,” Skylight blurted as Cloud landed much more delicately beside her. “We need to hide.”

Glancing around, Cadence’s eyes found nothing but flat land. “Where?”

“Can’t you do some kind of spell?”

Shining joined them as Cadence trawled through tomes and tomes of spells she had memorized, searching for one that would be of use. “What’s going on?” He asked.

As Skylight flicked her eyes back up at the sky, Cloud answered. “Skylight spotted some dragons in the distance, so we’re looking for a place to hide.”

“Why?”

The single word broke each pony out of their instinctual panic. All of their eyes fell upon Shining. “Why are we hiding from the dragons? Ignius was kind enough to us, what makes you think these ones will be any different.”

Stopping her mental search, Cadence nodded. “That’s true, why are we trying to hide? Ponies and dragons are at peace, there’s no reason for us to fear them.”

A whisper of wings drew the group’s attention to the sky. Green and grey, a pair of dragons shadowed all four of them as they flew overhead without even a glance downward. Wings many times larger than Cloud’s blew up a dust storm around the ponies, forcing their eyes closed.

By the time Cadence could no longer feel specks of dirt raging around her, the sound of wings was gone as well. Looking to the sky, she could barely see the dragons, merely a smudge of dull color in the distance.

“See, they didn’t even notice us,” She said as she extended her wings and shook the brown-red from her pink fur.

Brushing herself clean as well, Skylight scowled at the the sky. “We just got lucky. Next time we better be prepared or we’re free food.” Without waiting for a response she leapt into the air, blowing up another, much smaller cloud of dust.

Trailing the pegasus with her eyes, Cadence shook her head. “Why does she hate dragons so much?”

“I’ll talk to her about it,” Cloud said before spreading his wings and following.

Turning to Shining, Cadence found him tongue hanging from mouth, hoof scraping the coating of brown from it. Feeling her gaze, he looked up. “Are we going to have lunch soon, I could do with another on of those tarts.”

Cadence giggled, shaking her head. “Did you really just not hear any of that?”

“That dragons flying over? I heard that.”

Another giggle burst through Cadence’s lips. “You are oblivious sometimes Shining, let’s just keep walking.”

To Shining’s disappointment they didn’t rest until the sun was hidden below the horizon, only its golden glow peeking over the mountains ahead allowing them to see.

When they finally halted Shining had both their ethereal tent set up and fire lit before Cadence could even shrug off her saddlebags. “Please can we eat now?” He begged, eyes wide and glimmering with moisture, lips pushed out in a pout.

“Sure.” Cadence felt her own stomach growl as she searched through her saddlebags for something to silence it. Settling on a pair of chocolate and caramel slices, she passed one to Shining before relaxing beside the fire with her own.

Cloud and Skylight soon set up their tents and joined them, pies cradled in their wings.

“Well, why don’t you like dragons Skylight?” Cadence questioned, earning herself a glare from Skylight.

“They’re monsters who kill ponies,” Skylight responded with a huff. “What is there to like about them?”

“Skylight, dragons killing ponies is a thing long in the past. You met Ignius, you saw those dragons fly overhead today. Dragons and ponies are at peace now.”

“Politics doesn’t change a dragon’s instinct, they’re still killers on the inside.”

Throwing up her forelegs, Cadence sighed. “Why do you think that though? You’ve never met a dragons before a few days ago and all we’ve seen of them has been positive. Why do you hate them so much, and if you do why did you choose to come with us into the Dragon Lands?”

Skylight’s brow flared up as she took a deep breath, ready to release a torrent of words back at the alicorn. A touch of Cloud’s wing on her side drained the fight out of her features, her shoulders slumping and eyes falling to the ground. “I don’t know.”

The meek words surprised Cadence, her own eyes falling as she realised how aggressive her questioning had been by comparison. “I’m so sorry, I just got frustrated over not knowing why and I somehow thought that making you admit you were wrong would make everything better. Sorry?”

“I’d be frustrated if I had to put up with myself as well.” Breathing deeply, Skylight looked up at Cadence warmly. “I’m just confused right now. After talking with Cloud on our first date I realised how much I hated that base, and I just had to get out. You and Shining were the only excuse I could find, but now I’m imagining going into a city full of dragons and living with them. I’m scared.”

Cadence rose and stepped round the fire before lowering herself beside Skylight, a pink wing over the pegasus’s withers. “Why would you be scared though Skylight. Dragons seem to be a kind enough species to me.”

Turning her head, Skylight looked to Cloud. The pair sharing a silent conversation before Skylight turned back to Cadence. “Before I was born, before even my parents were born my grandparents lived on that mountain top. It was said to be one of the greatest pegasus settlements of its time, but the dragons changed that.”

A scream rang through the even air as if to emphasize her story, catching the group’s attention. Glancing around, Cadence spotted a tube of bright orange fire in the distant sky, directed at a dim winged figure that barely dodged it.

Averting her eyes, Skylight looked back to the ethereal flames that flickered before them. “I don’t know exactly how it happened but I know that the dragons ruined that town, turned it into the pit it is today.” Another jet of flames shot back toward the origin of the first, lighting the horizon up with a sickly green.

“All of the ponies living there had to leave, my grandfather and grandmother included. They lived a normal life in Cloudsdale, where my father was born, but when he was still a foal my grandfather was called to war. They said his platoon was ambushed on the way to the mountain, first day out of training.”

Two more blasts of fire shot from the distant dragons, this time colliding, lighting the sky such a brilliant yellow it was as if the sun had risen from its slumber for a moment. Back and forth the pair shot green and orange at each other as they danced across the sky.

“My father’s tale wasn’t much different. He knew my mother from a young age, my grandmother encouraged him to spend time with my mother, said they reminded her of how she was when she was younger, their lives were too similar it seemed. Soon after my mother became pregnant with me my father was drafted into the military as well.”

“Did he die in his first battle as well?” Cadence broke in, her eyes still pinned to the fire fight that raged in the sky far away.

“No, he made it to his second before he was caught by a stray ball of fire as he helped his injured friend.” Looking back out to the distant flashes of green and orange, Skylight shook her head. “See, all dragons want is violence. That’s why I sat at that outpost for so many years, to stop them from causing any more suffering.”

“But those dragons out there aren’t fighting,” Cloud explained, drawing all eyes to him. “I remember reading about this, one of the dragon’s mating rituals. They dance with their partner through the sky, mock fighting with colorful bursts of fire. It’s supposed to be quite enjoyable.”

As he fell silent, the other three followed Cloud’s eyes as he continued to trace the path of flame and shadows through the evening sky. The pair pulled up face to face, hovering in the air for a moment before shooting straight for the moon above, corkscrewing around each other and blasting a constant stream of flames before them. A golden arrow of fire flying across the black backdrop.

“It’s just like when you and I play,” Skylight realised, her words breathy as she watched the dragons pull away from each other, quenching their flames. “They just look much scarier.”

A smile on her lips, Cadence turned back to Skylight, wrapping a foreleg tight around the pegasus. “See, dragons are just like us, they may fight, but they also love. I’m sure after spending some time among them you’ll forget all of your fears.”

“I guess.” Exhaling heavily, Skylight’s whole body deflated. “That still doesn’t change what they did to my father, or what they did to his father, or what they-”

A pink hoof silenced Skylight. “I know the dragon wars were a terrible time, and I’m sure they regret their past, but you can’t go looking for revenge for something long past.” Lifting Skylight’s chin with her hoof, Cadence smiled as their eyes met. “Just let it go, we have peace now. Instead of trying to start another war why don’t you just celebrate the lack of it?”

Pursing her lips, Skylight held Cadence’s stare, silence settling over the group for some time. Eventually she replied, “I’ll forget it for now, but I’ll still be watching every dragon we meet, and if there’s one slip up, I won’t hold back.”

Shaking her head, Cadence chuckled inwardly as her eyes somersaulted. I never can win with you can I? “That’s good enough for me. Now why don’t we have something to eat before bed?” At the mention of food, Cadence realised she was no longer holding the caramel slice in her magic. Looking across the campfire, she found Shining staring back at her guiltily. “You better not have.”

A cheeky grin sprouted across Shining’s muzzle before he produced the caramel slice, still intact, from behind his back. “I was just joking.”

The following days passed with little surprise besides the occasional dragon that crossed their path, which Skylight still panicked about. The ground beneath rose up and down at gentle, almost unnoticeable inclines.

Ahead of them the tiny streak of brown-red peaks grew with every step until they were looming overhead, an impenetrable wall of stone.

“I can’t believe I’m thinking this, but I might actually ask Cloud and Skylight if they can fly us over these mountains, they look even bigger than the last ones.” Standing beneath the slopes, Shining’s eyes traced the treacherous climb up the mountainside.

Cadence stood behind him, setting up their tent, the pegasus pair still exploring the sky above. “It does look like quite a journey,” Cadence agreed once she joined him, staring up at the monster of stone that stood before them also. “I’ll ask them when they land.”

Peeling away from Shining, Cadence sank down beside her saddlebags and rummaged through them magically. Looking back, she saw he was still standing still as a statue, neck craned upward. “Why don’t you stop looking at the mountain and come have something to eat?”

Life ran through Shining’s body at the mention of food, shoulders and ears perking up as he dashed to Cadence’s side. “What are we having tonight.”

“Just the same as always, some sugary treat,” Cadence said as she picked through the dwindling stores of food left in her bags. Strawberry tart? No, we had that last night. What about-

A thump cut off Cadence’s thoughts, her eyes lifted towards the source of the sound. Before her Cloud and Skylight stood, tucking their wings away, a small cloud of dust settling around their hooves. “Have you two tired yourselves out?”

Skylight huffed, grinning at Cadence playfully. “I’m still getting warmed up. We came down because we found some caves.”

“They’re the homes of tunneling dragons,” Cloud explained, his eyes alive with excitement. “Squat dragons that lack wings, so they live underground. I’ve always wanted to explore some of their tunnels, apparently they’re full of treasure.”

Giggling at Cloud’s foalish ambitions, Cadence looked from pegasus to pegasus, the exuberant white-coated one and the moody looking blue. “Well, an hour or two explore a cave won’t slow us down too much,” Cadence decided. “I think we can make a detour.”

The irritated expression on Skylight’s features found itself joined by a frown while Cloud’s wings flared outward slightly, his eyes glazed over with dreams of their coming adventure.

“Oh, there’s one other thing I need to ask.” Looking to the side, Cadence watched Shining’s hoof clasp firmly over her lips.

“We want to ask for your patience as we slowly climb over these mountains,” He said quickly. “Even though we know it’d be quicker to fly both Cadence and I don’t feel up to it.”

Skylight’s face lit back up with a smirk. “Really? I was really hoping to see your face after another flight.” She giggled at her own jest, Cadence pulling away from Shining's hoof and joining her a moment later.

“It’s not that I’m scared of flying, it’s just” Lost for words, Shining glanced around, hoping to find an excuse in the red-brown rock. “I know how heavy I am and I don’t want to weigh Cloud down.”

The mares’ giggles doubled in noise at Shining’s justification, Skylight sinking to the floor as the laughter overcame her body.

“No, I mean.” Sighing heavily, Shining pressed his own hoof between his lips and weathered the joyful storm.

“It’s fine Shining,” Cadence breathed once she recovered enough, her pink cheeks highlighted in red. “Everyone’s afraid of something, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m afraid of getting, overweight, and Cloud was afraid of Skylight and Skylight,” Rolling her eyes into her head, Cadence thought for a moment. “Skylight is afraid of dragons.”

Skylight’s laughter ceased the instant she heard Cadence’s words. Rolling from her back onto her stomach, she straightened her neck and fluffed her wings. “I’m not scared of dragons, I want to protect Equestria from them.”

Eyeing Skylight, Cadence’s grin grew. “Then what are you afraid of then?”

“Nothing. I’m fearless.”

“Really? I’ve never met a pony who isn’t afraid of anything.”

“Now you have.” Looking past Cadence, Skylight searched for something to change the topic. “Why don’t we eat?”

Around the fire the four ponies shared slices of an apple crumble Cloud produced from his bag, before Cadence set up the ethereal table for a game of cards. Cadence’s dragons and Shining’s minotaurs faced Skylight’s changelings and Cloud’s Everfree creatures across the glowing field of battle.

The match started quickly, Cloud able to accrue enough chaos to summon and grow his Vine Creepers while Skylight toughened their defenses. Shining and Cadence on the other had little and less in their opening hands, and were forced to pass their starting turns as Cloud’s creatures assaulted their castle.

“I think you two have already won this,” Shining said after both he and Cadence passed their third turns, unable to play a single card. “We still can’t play anything.”

“Never give up in Kingdoms and Castles Shining,” Cloud responded with a smile as his chaos infused creature grew another stage. “There’s always a way to come back.” Moving the creature forward, he struck at Shining and Cadence’s castle once again, leaving it with one point of life left. “However I can’t imagine a way you’d come back in this game. Your turn Cadence.”

Drawing a card from the top of her deck, Cadence’s eyes lit up when she realised what it was. She played one quest followed by a dragon, two more quests played from her hand shortly afterward, the dragon completing them with ease.

Cloud’s brow raised once he noticed Cadence’s frantic playing of cards. “See Shining, you two might be able to come back here.”

“You’re right Cloud,” Cadence replied, a hint of laughter in her voice. “There’s always a way to win.” Two cards left in her hand, she placed one on the table and pushed it forward. “Unmatched Anger, reduce all castles in play until they are equal to the lowest.” A smile spread across her lips as she placed her final card down. “Breath of Flame, deal one damage to a creature or castle.”

Looking back and forth between Cadence’s cards and the pegasus castle, Shining blinked rapidly, his mind blank for a few moments. Eventually he spoke, “Did we just win?”

“You finally managed to get you first one.” Cloud clopped his hooves slowly. “It’s great to see how much you’ve improved Cadence, single handedly winning the game yourself.”

“I helped.”

The other three ponies laughed at Shining’s defensive comment, causing his cheeks to redden.

Standing, Cadence stepped round the fire to sit next to Shining, wrapping a wing over his withers. “Don’t worry Shining, I’m sure you’ll win some games as well.”

“I know, it’s just I was so much better when I played with my family. It feels like I’ve gotten worse.”

“I’m sure it’s because you’re not adjusted to this particular set of cards,” Cloud reassured, packing the decks back together. “You’ll get used to it in time.”

Noticing Cloud tidying the table up, Cadence raised her hoof. “Why are you packing the cards away? I thought we usually have two games.”

Cloud smiled back at her. “I know we usually do but-” A yawn ceased his speech, stretching his jaw wide. “Skylight and I are pretty tired. So we’re going to sleep now.” Behind him Skylight was already pulling a tent from her pack.

“Ah, I get it,” Cadence said, a sly smile spreading across her lips. “You’re tired. Well, have a good sleep.”

Bright red blossomed across Cloud’s face as he rapidly shook his head. “No, no it’s not like that. We’re actually tired from all the flying we did today.”

Quelling her smile, Cadence nodded. “I know, I was just joking. Good night.”

The cards packed away, Cloud stood and slotted the wooden box into a pocket of his pack before pulling the tent out and setting it up beside Skylight’s.

A yawn broke thought Shining’s muzzle once the two were alone. “I’m tired as well, do you think we should go to sleep?” A sultry smile on his lips, he leant his head forward, snout nearing Cadence’s.

Fending off the assault with a hoof, Cadence giggled. “You know we can’t do anything with those two so close,” She whispered, rising to her hooves. “Lets just get some rest, I’m actually quite tired myself.”

Cadence strolled toward their tent, Shining a few steps behind. He stopped before the entrance to stare up at the wall of shadow that loomed over them.

“We should have asked them to fly us over,” Shining said once he lay beside Cadence. “Those mountains are taller than anything I’ve ever seen, I don’t know if my legs will be able to handle it.”

Cuddling up close to him, Cadence kissed his ear. “I’m sure we’ll be fine, but if you really don’t think you can make it, ask Skylight tomorrow.” Closing her eyes, she snuggled her head into the curve of his neck.

Eyelids still wide open, Shining stared up the the dim outline of mountains above. Am I really that scared of flying that I’d waste so much of our time and put Cadence through so much pain to avoid it? Closing his eyes, he felt a smile spreading across his lips. I think I’ll ask Skylight tomorrow.

The night passed like a breath of air for Shining, the instant he fell into blackness Cadence was tugging at his leg, a hint of chocolate on her breath.

“Come on Shining, wake up. We need to leave soon if we want to get anywhere today.”

His thought process still slowed by sleep, Shining rolled away from her, hoping to steal a few more moments of the oh so satisfying darkness. Her breath smell like chocolate. The thought passed through his mind as Cadence called for him again, this time pressing her lips against his snout. Eventually realisation came, That means I get to eat chocolate for breakfast.

Springing up from the mattress, Shining shot out of the tent like a puppy chasing a ball, tongue lolling from his mouth, eyes wide with excitement. “What’s for breakfast?” He questioned once he reached the campfire, only to realise Cadence was still back in the tent.

A pair of chuckles sounded before him. “I told you chocolate would be a good way to wake him,” Cloud called past Shining.

Stepping up next to Shining, Cadence pressed her lips against his cheek. “It works well, but I think it’s a little cruel exciting him for nothing.”

Shining’s shoulders deflated at Cadence’s words. “You mean there’s no chocolate?” Donning his favourite begging face, her stared at her with pouted lips.

“Aww.” Cadence glanced down at her bags briefly before looking back up, a wide smile on her lips. “Just this once.”

Sitting at the campfire, Shining noisily nibbled at his treat, sucking thirstily at every bite, savouring the flavour. The other three watched with varying states of enjoyment, all having eaten their breakfast already.

“Eat faster Shining,” Skylight said eventually. “We won’t make it over these mountains today if you never finish eating.”

Shining downed the remainder of his chocolate at the order before his mind caught up with the rest of Skylight’s words. “Make it over the mountain? Today?” Glancing at the monster of stone that stood above them, he swallowed noisily. “We’ll never be able to walk that far in one day.”

A soft chuckle came from Skylight’s lips as she stared at the dread on Shining’s features. “That’s true, you can’t walk that far in one day.” Her wings snapped open with a crack, the sound making Shining jump, evoking another chuckle from Skylight. “That’s why we fly.”

Squirming where he sat, Shining looked to Cadence for support. “I thought we weren’t flying, we told them that yesterday right?”

Rolling her eyes into her head, Cadence pulled the previous day’s conversation back into her head. “Well we did tell them, but Skylight or Cloud never said yes. We just started talking about how you’re scared of flying.”

Shining’s body deflated as he looked once more up to the peaks of the mountains before them, barely visible in the soft cloud that cloaked them. The terrifying feeling of wind rushing past his body came back to him, along with a sickness in his stomach. “What if we run up, I’m sure we can make it in a day?”

“I know you’re scared of this Shining,” Cloud said as he stood, stretching and testing his wings. “But there’s no need to be afraid. You and Cadence helped me overcome my terrible fear of Skylight, why shouldn’t you be able to beat this fear of flying?” Tossing his pack to Shining, he bent back down again. “All you have to do is hold on, I’ll do the rest.”

With a shiver Shining rose to his hooves and looked to Cadence for comfort again, only to find her already climbing atop Skylight’s back. I guess there’s no way out of this now. Tentatively, he loaded both his and Cloud’s bag onto his back, another shiver running along his spine as the familiar feeling brought back memories of his last flight.

The white expanse of Cloud’s back in front of him, Shining lifted a hoof, meaning to climb onto the pegasus. A flash of the gut wrenching sensation that Skylight had introduced him to on his first flight stopped him.

He back away, panting and shaking his head. “No, I can’t do this again. I’ll climb the mountain instead and catch up to you three later.”

Hooves traced circles over his body and warm lips pressed into his ear as Shining stepped backward. “Don’t be afraid Shining.” Cadence’s voice, barely as whisper as she kissed at the edge of his ear. “You’ve done it before, three times. I know you can do it again.”

“But those times were different.” Shining swallowed the queasiness that was bubbling up his throat. “I didn’t know how horrible flying really was until I was in the air for almost a day.”

Burying her muzzle deeper into Shining’s ear, Cadence allowed her hooves to roam underneath his belly, brushing at the tip of his shaft. “Just close your eyes and imagine you’re riding me, it’ll get rid of all your fears.”

Shining felt the sickness in his stomach fade as he met Cadence’s warm smile. Breathing deep, he looked back over to Cloud. “I think I can do it.” Slipping from her grasp, he stepped toward the still crouched pegasus and climbed atop him, wrapping all four limbs tight.

“Finally we can leave.” He heard Skylight mutter before the sound of wings on wind filled his ears and his stomach dropped, the ground beneath falling away.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Shining pushed away the sensations of wind playing with his mane, stroking his coat, the feeling of uneasiness in his stomach. He thought of Cadence, the way she had smelt earlier that morning, Chocolate.

Slowly, the images in his mind twisted, Cadence’s pink coat replaced with one of rich brown, the magical tent around them forming itself of the same substance. Stepping toward the chocolate princess, he made to kiss her lips but bit into them instead, an explosion of the sweet flavour filling his mouth.

Grabbing greedily with his hooves, he pulled her body closed to his and found himself holding a giant slab of chocolate instead. Undeterred, he bit into it again and again as the landscape around him melted into waterfalls of chocolate.

The constant rush of liquid chocolate soon formed a hoof deep pool around Shining, unnoticed by the stallion as he devoured the seemingly endless bar of goodness. By the time he was halfway through he realized the pool was leveling with his back, soaking his coat in chocolate.

Still clutching the slab, he fell sideways, relishing in warm liquid that splashed over his face. “Shining?” A mouth appeared in the brown sky above, lips and teeth made of the same substance.

“Yes chocolate?” Shining murmured through the liquid that surrounded his whole body.

“Shining get off of Cloud, we’re here.”

A shake ran through the chocolaty world that surrounded his, its rich brown color fading to white as he felt his eyes flickering open.

“Chocolate?” He questioned before he realised where he was. Unwrapping himself from Cloud, he glanced around, the cloud that had once covered the mountains’ peaks now impairing his vision of the ground. “Is the flight over?”

“The first half.” Skylight’s voice drew Shining’s eyes toward her, and toward the expanse of black that loomed behind her. “We’re going on a caving adventure.” A grimace flashed across her face before being replaced by her usual hard look.

Beside Shining, Cloud stood filled with excitement, the pegasus barely able unable to keep his head still as he looked from the cave to Skylight and back.

“Well we should get going,” Cadence said, stepping toward the cave. “We need to be in and out of here quickly if we want to make it to the other side of the mountain by tonight.” Another step and half her body was hidden inside the shadowy mouth before her horn sparked and lit.

Cloud bounded quickly after her, leaving the antsy Skylight to follow, Shining a few steps behind her.

As he stepped into the darkness, Shining felt his chest bump against something soft before him. Lighting his horn, he found Skylight blocked his path, her body unmoving but for the slight rise and fall of her breaths. Ahead of her the light from Cadence’s horn disappeared into the darkness.

“Are you okay Skylight?” Shining asked as he moved alongside her, lighting her features with his horn. He caught a glimpse of her strained cheeks and wide eyes before a stern expression replaced them.

“I’m fine, I was just making sure you don’t get left behind.” Briskly, she strode forward, Shining trailing behind until they caught up with Cloud and Cadence.

The pair had paused at a junction, four different tunnels split off, all quickly meeting a corner that led downward. In the centre of them all strange symbols were carved into a smooth piece of the stone wall.

“It looks like there’s an arrow pointing to each tunnel,” Cadence thought aloud. “But I have no idea what the symbols next to each arrow mean.”

Stopping beside Cloud, Skylight eyed the carvings in the dim magical light. “That one looks like a sun and clouds. Why don’t we try it?” Excitement spiced her voice, as if the prospect of leaving the caves was her greatest dream.

Staring at the symbols himself, Cloud frowned. “But that looks like the sky, it most likely leads to the surface. We want to go deeper.”

Still behind the three, Shining noticed Skylight shiver at the word deeper. What is wrong with her? He thought. She’s never been this shaky before. Not wanting to make Skylight even more uncomfortable than she appeared, he kept quiet as Cloud decided on the most exciting arrangement of symbols.

“What about this one?” With the wave of a hoof, Cloud beckoned the others closer. “It’s a crown and a gem, I think that’ll be the royal chambers.” Without waiting for the others he bounded toward the specified chamber, lips full of a grin.

“Wait.” Cadence caught him with her magic, causing the pegasus to skid to a halt. “Wouldn’t it be a bit rude to just barge into the royal chambers? I know we’re at peace with the dragons, but I don’t think they’d take that too well.”

A chuckle burst from Cloud’s lips as he stared at the confused faces of the other three ponies. “Didn’t I tell you? Tunneling dragons are extinct, these tunnels have been abandoned for a long time.”

“Oh.” The corners of Cadence’s mouth lifted with a smile as she nodded. “Well why don’t we go see what they left behind?” Looking over her shoulder she beckoned Shining and Skylight with a flick of her head before dashing after Cloud, her wings shifting with eagerness.

As Shining made for the tunnel, he noticed Skylight wasn’t behind him. Looking back, he saw her disappearing through the entrance marked with sun and clouds. “Skylight?” The pegasus didn’t respond, instead she continued into the darkness of the tunnel before her, blind. “Skylight?”

Backing away from the junction Cloud and Cadence had chosen, he bounded after Skylight, stopping her with the touch of a hoof. “Skylight? Where are you going? Cloud and-” A gasp ceased the rest of his sentence when the light from his horn lit up her face.

Lip tight between her teeth and ears folded back, Skylight stared at the ground, shaky limbs barely able to hold her weight. She looks like she needs a hug, but it’s Skylight. She’d throw me to the ground if I tried to hug her. Moving away, Shining took a step back toward the junction, meaning to leave Skylight alone.

He looked back at the pegasus, almost a statue if it weren’t for the slight shaking of her legs. She’s still just a pony though, every pony has fears. Slowly, he moved alongside Skylight once more, his foreleg tentatively sliding over her withers. “Skylight, why are you scared? Cloud said there aren’t any dragons down here, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of.”

Laughter burst from Skylight’s lips, Or is she choking back tears? Shining couldn’t tell.

“I’m not scared of dragons, I heard what Cloud said.” Another choked chuckle burst from Skylight’s mouth as she lifted her head, glancing at the darkness that surrounded them. “It’s these caves, I can feel them pressing in on me, like they’re choking me.”

Looking at the cave walls as well, Shining found himself laughing. “You’re afraid of the cav-”

The impact of a hoof hard in his stomach knocked the breath out of Shining.

“I love the sky, it’s natural for me to hate being trapped inside. Somewhere I can’t fly out of.”

Rubbing the pain from his belly, Shining inhaled deeply, regaining his breath before he spoke. “I guess that makes sense.” He glanced back toward the junction. “We should probably catch up with Cloud and Cadence though, they must be wondering where we are.”

“You go, I’ll wait for you all.” Straightening herself up, Skylight took a step deeper into the cave before looking back. “Go on, catch up with them.”

Eyeing the darkness ahead, Shining shook his head. “I can’t leave you, without my magic to light the cave you’ll get lost. How do you know this leads to the surface anyway?”

A chuckle echoed through the cave as Skylight gazed up at Shining’s glowing blue horn. “I wasn’t really thinking, fear makes you do crazy things.”

“Shining!”

“Skylight!”

Two voices rang through the tunnels, meeting the ponies in question moments before their sources did.

Panting, Cloud and Cadence dove at their partners, wrapping both confused pegasus and unicorn with tight hugs.

“We need to get out of here,” Cadence breathed after squeezing the life from Shining.

“Why?” Shining felt his question slip behind him as Cadence grasped him in her magic and carried him toward the exit, the hoofsteps of Cloud and Skylight close behind.

Sunlight blinded the four momentarily as they exited the gaping black mouth.

Once Shining’s vision returned to him, he found he was standing once more, Cadence hugged tight against him, her mane and ears brushing back and forth across his neck. Thoughts rushed through his mind, What happened down there? Did they see a dragon? Where is it now?

Suppressing the urge to question, Shining instead chose to return the contact, kissing the end of Cadence’s horn, stroking the ends of her mane with his hoof. After some time he heard Skylight speak up.

“What happened?”

Shining looked up and found the pegasus pair cuddled in a similar position, wings wrapped over each others body. Bright pink lit up Skylight’s cheeks as she met Shining’s eyes.

“We, we found something, horrible.” The words dribbled from Cloud’s lips as he buried his eyes into Skylight’s coat, as if trying to rub the images away.

“It must have been a dragon,” Shining heard himself think aloud, a desire to battle the foe who had frightened his friends welling in his chest. He felt Cadence’s head shift from underneath his neck.

“It wasn’t any creature we met,” She said, ears twitching and wings shifting as she glanced back toward the cave. “It was what we found. We were walking through the cave, my magic giving us enough light to see which way the tunnel turned, but not to see what was at our hooves.” Shining felt Cadence swallow hard, her body cuddling closer into his.

“After we went down a small incline I felt something strange and sharp beneath my hooves,” Cloud continued. “Accompanied by the sound of crunching.” A shiver ran through his body, the pegasus squirming in Skylight’s embrace.

Silence fell over the four. Shining could hear each of Cadence’s breaths against his chest, deep and drawn out, as if she were trying to sooth herself. After some time she picked up where Cloud had left off. “I directed my horn downward and lit up what was below us. At first we were confused, it was a scattering of dirty white chips, some stained with brown. Then we realised what it was.”

“Bones,” Cloud choked on the word. “We were standing in a pile of bones. I looked up the tunnel, as far as Cadence’s magic lit, and all I could see were broken skulls, splintered legs and the outlines of wings. They all seemed to be from dragons.”

“That was when we turned around and realised neither of you were behind us. We tried to run back up the tunnel, but something stopped us.” A shudder ran along Cadence’s spine. “The ground beneath us was bones as well, ancient and brittle things heaped up to fill a ditch. When our hooves pushed against it, the bones gave out, dropping us into a pile of them.”

“It was horrible, being scratched by things long dead. I just had to get out.”

“So we scrambled out of the pit, bones cracking underneath our hooves, their broken ends clawing at our legs.” Shifting on the spot, Cadence brushed her forelegs together, wiping away the imaginary splinters of bone. “Eventually we made it out, and ran up the tunnel to find you and Skylight standing there.”

A stillness came over the group as the story sunk in, both Shining and Skylight’s thoughts filled with murky imaginings of the scene. Only the sound of wind rushing past the sheltered cliff, and the shifting of fur against fur filled the air.

“So that’s why the tunneling dragons are all dead,” Shining whispered eventually. “Something killed them.”

Cloud nodded. “Yes, the tunneling dragons were excellent thieves, digging into other dragon’s treasuries during the night and stealing it all. They were hated by all dragonkind because no one knew where they lived. Until someone discovered the tunnels up here in the mountains, apparently it was a slaughter.”

Pulling away from Shining’s grasp, Cadence glared at the pegasus. “You knew what was down there? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

Curling closer to Skylight, Cloud nodded once more. “Yes, but when you read of ancient wars as a foal it’s just words on a page, and maybe an exciting picture or two. I never thought of all the dragons that died, or what would be left in the cities.”

“Dragons really are killers,” Skylight said with the shake of her head.

A warm smile spread across Cadence’s lips. “No, you’ve got it wrong. Dragons aren’t like that anymore.”

“You fell into a graveyard and you’re defending the ones who made it?”

“Well, no. The dragons who did that, thing.” Cadence shivered slightly. “They were monsters, but that happened a long time ago. I doubt any dragons we meet would have had any part in it.”

“Why don’t we just put this behind us?” Shining suggested, hoping to lighten the dark mood. “What happened was terrible, but thinking about something we can’t change will only make our day worse. Why don’t we just keep travelling?” He bit his lip the instant he spoke, realising what travel meant.

Cheekiness sprang onto Skylight’s face in the form of lowered eyelids and a grin as she rose, backing toward the cliff edge. “That’s a great idea Shining, why don’t we get back to flying?” Her wings twitched once or twice before they burst out to full spread.

Cloud stood as well, the terror on his face replaced by a small smile. A few flicks of his wings and turned to Shining. “Are you ready for the second half of the flight?”

Glancing over at Cadence as she climbed atop Skylight, Shining nodded slowly, suppressing the queasiness in his stomach. Gingerly, he climbed onto the pegasus’s back, clutching him tightly as a foal would its favourite toy.

Just think of chocolate, Shining thought as he felt Cloud leaping from the ground.

“Shining?”

The world of molten chocolate faltered before Shining as the voice broke through. The falls of the liquid temptation fading out into brown-red stone, the slab in his forelegs becoming Cloud’s body.

“Shining, the flight’s over, I think Cloud wants you to get off of him.”

Lifting his eyes, Shining found Cadence standing before him, her features lined with confusion. “What’s wrong with you Shining? You’ve been in a daze after these last two flights.”

“Oh, I’ve just been thinking about things,” Shining replied as he loosened the grip he had around Cloud, quickly climbing from the pegasus.

Cadence waited until Cloud left them before leaning into Shining, her lips gracing the edge of his ear. “Have you been thinking of me?”

“No.” Red warmed Shining’s cheeks as he thought back to the land of milky brown he had left. The glorious falls that washed over his body as he lay beside his slab of chocolate, nibbling at the corners, allowing himself an over eager bite every so often. “It’s been a mix of things, like I’m dreaming.”

Cadence raised her brow, but said nothing more on the subject. Turning away from Shining, she looked to the sky where the pegasus pair looped around each other, the sinking sun behind them. “We should look for a place to set up camp,” She said eventually. “It’s going to be a long walk to Rockholm.”

Watching Cadence as she stepped away, Shining noticed the smudge of color in the distance, barely visible through the glare of the setting sun. “Is that Rockholm?”

Stopping in her tracks, Cadence twisted her head back toward Shining. “Where?”

Once he was alongside her, Shining gestured ahead of them with his hoof, eyes squinted as he tried to make out more of the vague colors. “Straight ahead of us, I can see a line of grey and black dots.”

Following his hoof, Cadence fought against the sun to pick out any details in the distance. “Well I can’t see a thing with the sun right there, but it must be Rockholm. It’s the only thing ahead of us on the map.”

Their magical camp rose quickly, Shining’s stomach so eager for food they ate as they worked, a pair of hoof-sized apple fritters each. Cloud and Skylight danced in the sky above until the sun’s golden aura was almost gone from the horizon.

“How long till we reach the city?” Skylight questioned as she sat across the fire from them, Cloud still setting up his tent behind her.

Rolling her eyes into her head, Cadence searched through her mental copy of their itinerary. “According to Celestia’s writings it should take a month from here, but she’s given us more than enough time so far. I think it should take only a couple of weeks.” Allowing a smile to spread her lips, Cadence met the pegasus’s eyes. “Are you wondering how soon it is because you’re excited about meeting more dragons?”

Skylight shivered at the prospect. “More like how long I have left.” She chuckled at her own joke.

Chuckling herself, Cadence nodded. “I’m actually quite nervous myself,” She admitted. “I really do hope everything I say about dragons is true, that they actually are peaceful now.” Glancing at the horizon behind Skylight, her eyes found Rockholm, alive with bright orange light. “What will we do if they aren’t?”

A grimace twisted Skylight’s lips. “I’d prefer to know that before we enter the city.” Looking up, she met Cloud with a smile as he sat. “We could fly over the city a day before we arrive.”

“Why would we do that?” Cloud questioned, passing the some of the apricot pastries he had brought with him to Skylight.

Looking to Skylight for an answer, Cadence noticed her mouth was full. “To make sure the dragons are as peaceful as we thought.”

Pausing halfway through chewing, Cloud swallowed hard. “I thought you said the dragons were peaceful now? Why would we need to check?”

Cadence shrugged. “They could have started planning another war against ponies today, we don’t know, but I doubt it’s necessary. Surely Celestia would warn us if she feared anything would happen.”

Talk ceased as Cloud nodded, the air alive with a mixture of chewing and swallowing, as well as Skylight noisily stretching her wings every now and then.

“Do you two want to play some cards?” Shining asked once he had nibbled through the last of his fritter, the last to finish.

Cloud and Skylight shared a look, a tinge of pink coloring both pegasus’s cheeks. “Skylight and I are quite tired after such, such, su-” Cloud faltered, sighing deeply as he looked back to Skylight. “I can’t do it, I can’t lie-”

A sky-blue hoof silence him as Skylight quickly rushed to drown out his words. ‘Carrying you two today was tiring, so we’re going to sleep earlier.”

A grin filled Cadence’s muzzle, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “I’ve used that excuse enough to know it when I hear it. What’s really happening tonight?”

“Not what you think.” The pink on Skylight’s cheeks grew into a brilliant crimson as she lowered her eyes to the ground. “We’re just tired.”

Trying to suppress her laughter, Cadence shooed them away with a hoof. “Alright you two, go and sleep. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Cheeks burning brighter than ever, the pegasus pair rose and walked to where their two tents had been set up into a much larger one. Skylight glanced back at Cadence and Shining as she pushed Cloud inside before following herself.

With the other ponies gone, Cadence felt Shining cuddling up close to her, his lips planting warm kisses along her neck. “They’re probably just kissing and cuddling in there,” He said. “Away from your watching eyes.”

Nodding, Cadence felt a rush of warmth in her chest, her sly grin fading into a small smile. “I know, it makes me so happy to see their relationship grow. It reminds me of how we were.”

A yawn broke through Shining’s jaw as he pulled away from Cadence, meeting her eyes with his. “With those two distracted, why don’t we have a little fun of our own tonight?”

Cadence stole a glance at the mismatched tent beside her. They'll hear us for sure, One side of her thought as fantasies of what Shining and her could do filled her head. But they’ll be so distracted by each other they’ll never know. The other side of her argued.

Eventually she lowered her eyelids, a leant into Shining to steal another kiss. “I’ve been craving some fun. What do you have planned?”

Shining’s lips parted for a moment before his brow creased with question. “I’ve actually got nothing, you’re usually the one with all of the crazy ideas.”

The smile on Cadence’s lips widened. “So you’re open so any of my crazy ideas?”

“Ye-” A soft nagging in Shining’s head stopped him. She nearly had me there. “As long as it doesn’t involve me becoming a mare, or either of us transforming into something we’re not. Just the two of us, together.”

Cadence pouted, the excitement in her eyes fading as she cast away dozens of ideas that had been swimming through her mind, leaving only one. Eagerness spread her lips with a smile once more as she examined the thought. “How would you like some chocolate?”

Blue eyes lit up as Shining’s jaw dropped. The desire for Cadence muddling with his want for chocolate, images of both swirling in his mind until he was left with a picture of a milky brown mare. “I’d love some,” He said, half to Cadence, half to her sweet mental counterpart.

A giggle came from Cadence’s lips as she eyed the dazed stallion before her. I wonder if he has any idea of what I’ve planned. Grasping her bags magically, She searched through the depths of its pockets, underneath the dwindling supply of pastries and pies, until she found what she was after.

Shining’s eyes bugged out once he noticed the slab of chocolate hovering before his snout. Thicker than both his forelegs put together and just as long as one, the monster was covered in what appeared to be multiple different chocolate wrappers. “Where did you get this from?”

“Well I made it, some what. It’s a mix of all of the bars I had saved for you as treats. They melted in the hot weather, so I molded them into one big lump and enchanted it with a cooling spell.”

Looking closer, Shining noticed the metallic packaging of the chocolate was indeed tinted with blue. He stared at it for a few moments, allowing his nose to explore the overpoweringly rich aroma, before shaking his dreamy thoughts away. “What does this have to do with,” He looked up at the conjoint pair of army tents. “Fun?”

Cadence’s smile widened until it almost stretched across her whole head. “Well, you’ll have to wait and see.”

“Can I look yet?” Shining had his hooves over his eyes, muzzle pressed down into the ethereal mattress.

“I’m nearly done.” Straining her neck, Cadence checked and double checked every inch of her body, making sure she had managed to complete her intentions. Satisfied, she nodded. “You can look now.”

Lifting his head, Shining blinked rapidly before resorting to rubbing his eyes. Am I dreaming? Surely this can’t be possible. Before him stood Cadence, as she had in many of his dreams, coated from snout to tail in chocolate. The only other colors that showed were the pink of her eyelids and the pink, purple, and cream of her mane and tail.

“Do you like it?” She spun as she spoke, giving Shining a full view of her coated body. Along the milky brown curves of her back, down the roundness of her rump, flashing a hint of pink as she lifted her tail.

Looking closer, Shining noticed the chocolate moved with Cadence, rippling as her limbs moved and rear bounced ever so slightly. “It’s beautiful,” He breathed. “Better than I could ever dream.”

“What are you waiting for then? Why don’t we have some fun?”

At the invitation Shining dove forward, grasping Cadence’s lips greedily between his own. The taste of chocolate mixed with the roughness of her tongue and the scent of her coat. Amazing, He thought, before diving in deeper.

When he pulled back a splatter of pink showed through Cadence’s brown coat. Realising she could feel the cool night air on her muzzle once more, she lifted a hoof to confirm her suspicions. “Sorry,” She said, working her magic to shift the chocolate back into place. “It’ll be-”

Shining pressed his hoof against her lips, stopping the slow stream of chocolate from covering the color of her coat. “Don’t, just leave it the way it is.” Leaning forward, he replaced the hoof with his tongue, clearing the chocolate off of her muzzle. “I’ll eat it off of you bit by bit.”

Nodding, Cadence closed her eyes as she felt his lips moving down her neck, nipping and lapping at the sweetness that covered her along the way. Along her back and down her thigh he continued, leaving a trail of pink connecting one set of lips to another.

Tentatively, she felt him tasting at the nectar underneath her tail, his tongue cautious, as if it were tasting her for the first time. “Shining,” She gasped as he entered, stretching her lips with a swirl of his tongue.

Another breath escaped Cadence’s lips as he left, this one holding a hint of sorrow. She stood as still as a statue as Shining’s muzzle swept over her rear, criss-crossing and circling through the chocolate until both of her pink cheeks were visible.

Satisfied, he moved back to her nethers, pulling softly at her lips, rubbing the roughness of his tongue against her nub. This time he stayed for longer, bracing his hooves against her rump and lapping at the sweet flesh and juices inside.

Cadence felt a familiar tightness between her hips building up. Each stroke and swirl of Shining’s tongue inside her raising the tension to another degree. She bit her lower lip, clenching her inner walls slightly to aid in his stimulation.

A sharp gasp pierced through the night air as Shining took one long lap against her lips, the feeling between Cadence’s lips about to burst forth. She gasped again as he drew away, leaving the tightness just below its climax.

Shining, please finish me, She thought, wanting to speak, but only managing to produce an incoherent breath with her shaking lips. Desperately, she flicked her tail up, trying to grasp as Shining’s head, pull his rough tongue back into her lips once more. In her state all she only managed to flail it, brushing over his muzzle lightly.

She felt Shining grin behind her, a chuckle rumbling through his chest as he tasted her chocolatey coat. Unable to do anything but hold her body upright, Cadence squeezed herself around nothing as his lips moved along her back, hoping to find enough stimulation to push herself over the edge.

Another gasp broke through her lips, this one tainted with frustration, when Cadence realised her attempts were futile. Shining’s muzzle was climbing her neck, nibbling a trail through the thin layer of chocolate toward her lips.

When his mouth graced hers she met his eyes and found humour there. She tasted the strong flavour of chocolate mixed with the bitter sweetness of her nethers on his tongue, the taste of herself causing a shiver to run along her spine.

“Please,” Cadence breathed as they broke apart. “I’m so close, just a little more.”

Wordless, Shining smiled, kissing at her lips again before moving down her neck once more, paving a trail of pink through the milky brown.

Yes, She thought when she felt the subtle warmth of his tongue against her dripping wet lips. No, She cried inwardly as she felt him retreat, her tail flicking hopelessly, searching for his head but finding nothing.

“Don’t worry,” Cadence heard him say as she felt the weight of hooves pressing against her rear. “You’ll love this even more.”

She felt a breath catch in her throat as his burning hot tip pressed into her nethers, shifting slightly, feeling for the entrance before plunging inside.

The breath she had been holding was punched out of her as his fiery length drove inside, cooled instantly by the overflow of her juices. Squeezing her inside tight around him, Cadence felt at his length, He’s almost finished as well, She realised.

Out and back in Shining drove, only needing a few swift strokes before Cadence felt herself nearing the end once more. With one final grunt she felt him cease inside her, the hardness of his shaft relaxing slightly.

Before throbbing wildly, the warmth of his seed flooding her insides, the final push Cadence needed for her to fall over the edge. Her lips tightened around his shaft, locking Shining inside as her inner muscles spasmed around him, drinking in every drop.

Panting and spent, the pair stood still locked together, a mixture of his white seed and her clear juices dripping from her opening. Patches of chocolate still coated Cadence’s body, the ends of Shining’s hooves lathered in the substance.

“Somehow,” Cadence breathed once she had recovered to the point where her lips and tongue would move. “That was, better, than the spa.”

His muzzle roaming the areas of Cadence’s body still coated in the milky sweetness, Shining swallowed before speaking. “Really?”

Cadence’s brow creased as she twisted her head back to face Shining. “Yes. Do not think so?”

“I definitely think it was better,” Shining leant down and scooped a mouthful of chocolate off Cadence’s back with his tongue. “But I can’t see how you had so much fun without eating any chocolate.”

A smirk slowly spread across Cadence’s lips until it burst forth as a giggle. “Oh Shining, sometimes I forget how much you love that food.” Stepping forward slowly, she eased herself off of his now softening shaft, wincing at the loud splattering of Shining’s seed against the rock beneath. “I hope Cloud or Skylight didn’t hear that.”

“If you were worrying about being heard then that sound wasn’t the one which would have woke them.” He grinned wide as he met her eyes, a tint of brown covering his teeth.

Wincing again, Cadence thought back to her cries as she climaxed before returning Shining’s smile. “Well, the worst they can do is complain tomorrow.” Her shoulders sunk as thoughts of sleep entered her mind, a yawn breaking the smile on her lips. “We should get some sleep now, there’s a lot of rock between us and Rockholm.”

Shining nodded, looking up at the brightly lit city in the distance before sinking to his haunches and spreading out on the mattress beneath him. A white hoof patted the ethereal expanse beside him, motion for Cadence to join.

“It looks so beautiful from here, doesn’t it,” She commented as she magically drew the remaining chocolate from her body, hardening it with a spell before tossing the small slab toward the door.

A blue glow caught the chocolate. “Why would you throw away good chocolate?” Shining’s features were painted with horror, the brown bar held close to his chest.

“Well, I didn’t think you’d want it, after it’s been all over my coat.”

Smiling once more, Shining gently pulled her down beside him, kissing her in the process. “That only makes it better.” Gathering the packaging with his magic, he rewrapped the bar before depositing it within Cadence’s bags.

She stuck out her tongue, “Remind me not to eat that.”

“Of,” A yawn ceased Shining’s speech. “Course. More for me that way.” Another yawn pushed between his lips as he lowered his head onto the mattress, eyelids sinking shut. “Good night Cadence, I love you.”

Feeling the weight of sleep herself, Cadence brushed her lips against his cheek before curling up beside him. “I love you too.”