//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: The Journey to your Heart 
// Story: The Castle 
// by Sliver Swirl 
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Jack looked down at his wings. Wrapped under his wing was Cadance. It felt nice to no longer be alone. To have a family. 

He swore that this time he would protect his family, he would protect Cadance. Jack had a rough idea of what Cadance was planning. If she continued down this path trouble would be waiting for her. 

Jack had heard rumours of the newest Royal. A winged unicorn who was distant relative to Princess Celestia. He had assumed it was Cadance. For he had never seen another pony with both wings and a horn. 

Many wanted a piece of newest royal. To manipulate her, to have a piece of her crown. Jack had even heard grown stallions and mares proclaiming their love for the newest princess. 

Now that Jack was sure Cadance was the Princess he knew she was in way over her head. Cadance was still a filly, she was a mature filly but she still a young filly. 

Cadance didn't even have her cutie mark or her fully grown Pegasus wings or Unicorn horn. He wanted to watch over her, to be the big brother she deserved. But he was scared that he would fail. 

Was it worth taking the risk? He looked at the little filly wrapped in his wings and decided it was, Lady Dance was worth everything.

Jack had made his choice and he would change everything to be with Lady Dance. He would join her in Canterlot and make life there with her. 

His dreams for his future and his sister was ruined, by the sound of his stomach grumbling. Damn, he thought. Jack carefully moved away from Cadance and reached for his saddlebag. He opened it and searched for food. But he found none, this caused him to have a realization. 

Jack had forgotten food, he had been in such a rush to save Cadances father. That he had forgotten the most important item. 

Now he had to go and fetch breakfast for them. Once Jack was sure Cadance was cormfortable and asleep, he glided down. He hoped Cadance wouldn't wake up before he got back.





Cadance began to feel cold, she was having an amazing dream about getting bits to save her father and her mother. Then she dreamed, her father decided to adopt Jack. She wished it was reality, then Jack could stay with her forever.

Cadance knew her parents had always secretly desired more children. But had never wished to bring them into the village life. Where they might go hungry or be without anything. 

Jack would be the perfect new family member he was funny, kind and already was family to Cadance.

Cadance still hadn't opened her eyes. She didn't want to for, she knew reality would be very different from her dream. But she knew she had to, Cadance didn't want Jack to have to wake her up. 

She streched her wings and legs and opened her eyes. "Jack?" Cadance called, but he wasn't there. Had he left her? Was he behind on his travelling and had to leave to make up time.

Cadance felt upset, but Jack was her brother  and she would respect his decisions. Her mother had told Cadance, that it was important to respect ponies decisions. 

She didn't want to leave, she wanted to wait. But Cadance didn't know how long her family could last without the money. Her father could be on his deathbed. 

Cadance couldn't afford to wait. She leaped off the cloud and spread her wings. But her wings were not preened which meant they were not clean and flexible. 

She could not fly with unclean feathers and she began to crash land. "AAAAHHAHAH" Cadance screamed. 

"JACK!! MUM!! DAD!! SOMEONE HELP!!" Cadance screamed. She closed her eyes and saw her life flash before her eyes. Her father young and healthy, her mother happy with no stress evident on her face and Jack her brother teaching how to spread her wings for the first time. 

Cadance thought it was all over and began praying for Celestias help. But then Cadance felt her body be pulled, she wasn't sure how to explain it. But she felt sick and different and no longer felt as if she was failing. 

"It is alright, you're alright miss." A voice said, he sounded kind and gentle like an angel. 

Cadance opened her eyes and looked up. There was a stallion, he was quite tall and had a dark green coat and a brown mane. "T....th-thank y-..you" Cadance stammered, why was she stammering she wondered. 

"What is your name, miss? Or do you perfer me to call you miss." 

"M-m... My........ N..na-m...me i..s Cad...." 

"Cad? That is not a nice name for a young lady. May we give you a nickname." 

Cadance nodded her head, not trusting her voice. It was acting strange.  "I see, then how about Candy? How does that sound miss?" 

"Grrrr......grrrrr." 

"Grr? Are you sure you are alright miss? We can help you if you need to. We are on our way to Canterlot if you would care to join us." 

Cadance nodded her head, they had strength in numbers. 

"Great, lets move out." 

Cadance followed him and realised he had never introduced himself. She walked in front of him and pointed at him, "me? What is it Candy? What about me?" 

She couldn’t speak to him, not with her voice acting all weird. So she wrote it in the dirt, but because limited education in the village. It didn't come out quite right, WAT IS NAM?

"Wat is nam? Do you mean what is name?" Cadance nodded her head, she felt embarrassed. Did she really spell it so wrong? "Well, my name is Oro Rock. My friends call me Roco though, you can call me Roco too miss. If you woukd like and this is Scarlett Cry." He said pointing the blood red Pegasus, "and this is River Cry." He said pointing to the other Pegasus. "They are siblings. But you can call Scarlett, Lett and River, Ri. If you would like." 

Cadance nodded her head again, nicknames were nice. She continued to follow them, never looking back. 





Jack flew back to the cloud where he had left Cadance. He had spent the entire morning looking for food and had managed to find a few apples. 

He hoped Dance hadn't moved but Jack doubted that she would sit still. Cadnace was determined to get to Canterlot and save her family. 

The cloud where he had left her was abandoned and had no remains except for a few broken pink feathers. Jack immediately followed them, he had forgotten to preen her wings last night. Cadance must have fallen. 

This was all Jacks fault, he should have just preened her wings. Why did he have to forget. He was a horrible brother, it hadn't even been a day and he had already lost her. Jack searched the forest, she had to be around here somewhere. 

He would search this entire area and if he did not find her. Jack would go to Canterlot to search there. If Cadance was not in Canterlot either, Jack would demand an audience with the Princess. He would then convince her to find Cadance. 

Jack had everything under control. He thought, but then he flew into a net and blacked out. 





Cadance was so happy that the group she was travelling with were was so nice. They were prepared too, as the had tents and everything. She would miss sleeping in the sky, but Roco was a unicorn. She couldn’t expect the group to leave him on the ground while they slept in the sky. 

Mum had always said not to expect too much from a male if you weren't related. So she couldn't expect anything of Roco, that would be rude. Cadance would do this herself. 

While Cadance was thinking, Roco, Lett and Ri had set up the tent."Umm Miss? Miss? I am going to turn in for the night. You might want to set up your tent soon, it will start raining soon." Roco said, walking 

What? Wasn't he going to offer her his tent like every other male she had known would have. But every other male she knew was family. She had no family with her anymore, this meant she could only rely on herself from here on out. 

"Of course, I am going to sleep on a cloud." Cadance said, hoping she sounded excited. She didn't want to rely anypony, that wasn't family. 

"I see, good luck with that miss. We will be leaving at dawn." He said, before he walked into his tent. Lett and Ri quickly followed him. 

Cadance was scared after they left, she had never been so alone. She had always had something around, even if it was just her bird friends. 

But Cadance couldn't allow herself to dwell on the negative. If she did, she would never achieve her goal and never make it to Canterlot. 

She spread her wings and took off. Cadance landed uneasily on a cloud, she still hadn't preened her wings. It was a miracle she had made it on the cloud at all. 

Cadance couldn't deal with that right now, she had to get some sleep. Cadance was glad she had grown her hair long. It could get cold, during the winter. Sometimes there was not enough blankets for everypony. 

She had always given her blanket to either her parents or one of the smaller foals.  Tonight was one of those nights, Cadance used her long hair to feel safe and not alone. 





Jack felt dizzy and light headed. His head badly hurt. Where was he? What was going on? 

He tried to remember what had happened. He had remembered, trying to find Cadance and then blacking out.

"Are you awake?" A small filly asked, "are you okay?" 

Jack looked at the filly, she was a purple unicorn.  "Sir?" 

"I'm awake. Do you know where we are?" Jack asked the filly gentely. 

"No,I...I just appeared here and then I met these nice and they brought me here. They said I owed them. I'm scared." 

"Its is going to be okay, what is your name? I am Sir Jack, traveller of the world and protector of cute fillies like yourself."  

"If I tell you, will you promise not tell my mummy that I spoke to a stranger." 

"I promise." 

"My name is Twilight Sparkle." 





Cadance couldn't sleep, there was too much going on in her head. She was worried about Jack and her parents. Why was she is such a hurry to leave? She should have waited. 

It was all her fault, if she hadn't left. She wouldn't be alone. Cadance would be with Jack and he would tell his funny stories. Or he would preen her wings and they would dance. 

"Hurry up!" A voice yelled, it spooked Cadance and she pulled her hair over her eyes. She should just ignore it, then it would be somepony elses problem. 

Cadance had bigger issues. "What about the brat on the cloud." 

"Leave 'er, lets deal with the unicorn filly tonight. She will make us rich." 

Filly? What were they doing with the filly? Cadance wondered, maybe she was a friend of hers. Maybe she was going to help them. 

But Cadance couldn't help but wonder, was that filly in danger. Could she help? Should she help? She remembered what it was like to be a filly and nopony would help you. 

Cadance never wanted anypony else to go through that. She glided down with her damaged wings and managed to land safety. 

She saw Lett and Roco walking side by side, deeper into the forest. "So what treasure, are we gonna go after first. I'm thinking the Canterlot Diamonds." 

"I like your thinking, what do we tell River?" 

"Tell him we are trying to return the fillies and colts home." 

"But won't he be supcious when we return with them." 

"We will have no choice but to say we couldn't find there homes. So they are gonna stay with us." 

"What about Candy?"

"We can either treat her the same as the foals or trade her for more loot. I'm sure somepony will want to trade, something good for her." 

Cadance couldn't believe what she was hearing. Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding. She continued to follow them, but she couldn't hear anymore of the conversation. 

They soon approached a hut and knocked on the door. While Cadance watched from a safe distance. What was this place? 

They opened the door and entered the hut. Cadance ran and quickly entered after them. Inside the hut was small and there were many doors. Cadance couldn't tell which door they had entered, she was too slow. 

She decided to enter the closest door. Cadance opened the door using her hoof and looked inside. She saw a small unicorn filly sitting in the middle of the room. She was being asked questions by Roco and Lett. 

"We helped you, so you help us. That is how the world works sweetheart."

"But......but, I just want to go home." The unicorn said. 

"You do this for us, we will do that for you. We will help each other, thats what friends do." 

"Do you promise? Are you really my friends?" 

"Of course, we are sweetheart." 

"Now, you read all the books in this room and then figure out how to do the magic." 

The filly nodded her head and had a determind look on her face. Lett and Roco walked towards the door, Cadance quickly closed and ran outside. She made a silent promise to herself that she would help that filly and find out the truth.

Cadance dived into the bushed outside th hut and waited. Once she saw Lett and Roco walk past her hiding spot. She crept back into the hut and opened the door again. 

Inside the filly is crying. Cadance approached her and tapped her, "Why are you crying?" She asked in her kindest voice. 

"Because I can't figure how to do this and if I can't they will take me home." The filly said. 

Cadance wanted to help, but she didn't know how. She knew what always cheered her up, a song and dance. 

She began to make up lyrics. "Sunshine, Sunshine. Ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake." 

"Wow. You are such a great dancer." The filly said, "I wish I could be as good as you." 

"I wasn't always that good of dancer. I only became good because if the encouragement of my brother. He even nicknamed me Lady Dance." 

"Do you think you could help me become good at something." 

"Of course, my name is Cadance." 

"I'm Twilight Sparkle. Your name is amazing, my name isn't even original. My mum is called Twilight and her mum is called Twilight." 

"Don't worry, I am positive you will sparkle brighter then the rest." 

"Thanks, Cadance."

"Now come on, we have got to go." Cadance said, pushing the filly out of the room. 

"Wait! There was this other pony. I can't leave him behind." 

"Of course." 

Cadance followed Twilight, who led her through a stream of corridors and halls. Until they finally stopped infront of a brown shabby door. "This where I was staying. He should be in here." 

Cadance nodded her head, not sure what else to say. She opened the door and followed the filly in. "Jack!" Twilight said, running in. Could it be?

"Light welcome back." 

"Come and meet my friend Cadance." Twilight said, pulling a pony into her line of sight. 

"Jack?" Cadance said.

"Lady Dance! Where were you? Did these ponies kidnap you like they did Twilight?" 

"No......I'm sorry Jack. I left because I wanted save my father, I am a horrible sister. Then I fell and I met these ponies and they said they would help me." Cadance said, crying. She was such a fool. She felt Jack use his wing to bring her close. 

"Hey, you're not a horrible sister and its not your fault. If anypony is horrible it is me. What kind of brother loses their sister in a day. Don't worry Lady Dance." 

"Yeah, Cadance. Without you I would still be crying. You make everypony feel better." Twilight said, smiling. Cadance pulled the young filly into a hug. She then felt her brother pulled her and Twilight into a group hug. Cadance felt love and happiness flow through everypony.

"Cadance, look." Twilight said, pointing her hoof. Cadance followed her hoof and saw her flank glow. She was lifted the air and seperated from the others. Cadance surrounded by a white glow. 

When Cadance was placed back on the ground she saw a cutie mark in place of her blank flank. "I have a cutie mark! I got a cutie! I got my cutie mark!" Cadance said,  picking up Twilight and spinning in a circle.

"Cadance, your squishing me." Twilight said. 

"Sorry Twilight, I'm just really happy and without you and Jack. I wouldn't have my cutie mark." Cadance said, releasing the purple filly. 

"What is it?" Twilight asked, staring at her flank. 

"I'm not sure." Cadance said, joining the filly in staring at her flank. It was a blue crystallized heart, with two golden swirls. 

"A cutie mark is linked to a ponies talent and destiny." Jack said, pointing to his own. His cutie mark was a cart with a mask hanging out. "This is symbolising my gift with trading and my destiny of being a merchant. My also was believed that my cutie mark had something to with my wandering habits." 

"What about the mask?" Twilight asked, now staring at Jacks flank. 

"I'm not sure. Cutie marks are not a simple as they seem. It takes years for some ponies to understand their cutie mark. I still don't completely understand mine. But yours probably has something to do with the love and kindness you share with everpony. It is believed that some ponies personalities are connected to their cutie marks. I guess Lady Dance cutie mark is related to her loving personality." 

"Hes right. I mean you cared about me and made me feel better even though, you had just met me." Twilight said. 

Love and kindness......that did sound right, but Cadance didn't feel she deserved that title. 

"Hey, everything will be alright. Now let us get you to Canterlot." Jack said wrapping his wing around her.

"Ohhh, isn't this sweet." Said a familar voice. Cadance turned around and froze, she wasn't ready to face him.