Rhythm and Rhyme

by MyHobby


The Long Goodbye

Andean Ursagryph stood before the front gates of the Ponyville Castle. Two Royal Guardsponies, a crystal stallion and a unicorn mare, bowed at the neck. He rolled his two smooth stones in the palm of his talon, looking up at the towering magical tree. “You say they’re on a walk?”

“Yes, your grace.” Coldstone looked up at the griffon, his brow furrowed. “If you want, I could shoot a message to Commander Skyhook to bring them back.”

“No need, soldier.” Andean opened the doors and walked slowly into the castle halls. “I have no reason to hurry at the moment. And neither do they.”

He stretched his wings to touch both walls. It was a wide corridor, enough for a full-grown dragon. An impressive bit of magic construction, in his opinion. The hall soon led to the central chamber of the castle, which held The Map and the six equidistant thrones, plus a smaller one beside Princess Twilight’s.

The princess herself ran haphazardly through the room, her saddlebags bulging with scrolls and books. She skidded to a halt when she caught sight of him. “King Ursagryph! It’s an honor!” She set about securing her bags with a flash of magic. The gemstone necklace she always wore glimmered with each syllable she spoke. “I’m sorry, but I can’t talk. I’ve got to get to Canterlot immediately with these Encyclopedia Draco excepts. I’ve got a friend there who really needs help.”

Her horn flashed, and a magic mirror dropped into his talon before he could speak. “Here,” she said, her attention anywhere but on him. “This’ll allow you to contact the captain of my guard; Commander Skyhook. He can tell you where the kids are. It’s been a real honor, but I gotta go!”

Her horn glowed white, and she vanished in a cloud of lavender sparkles.

Andean took a seat between the thrones of Honesty and Generosity. He set the mirror on the inactive table and breathed a sigh. No. Let the girls have their fun while they could.

Griffon airships could move faster across the sea than whatever Ahuizotl possessed.

He almost didn’t want to face his daughters. Not with the knowledge he had. Not with what he was about to do. Ahuizotl was mad, to be sure, but if he held the key to saving the world…

Could Andean do less than meet him halfway?

The stained glass—or perhaps pure crystal—windows shifted color as the sun fell. They would be back soon. Then they could pack and set out for home. Perhaps never to return.

Andean would not go to war with Equestria. To go to war with the ponies was to invite death upon all. He had forged too strong a friendship. He had made too stalwart an ally. Hopefully, Luna could bring Celestia to see things that way.

He shut his eyes and rubbed the top of his beak. “Sheesha, if there has ever been a time I was uncertain, it is now. Show me the way to go forward. Reveal to me your perfect plan.”

The room took on a warm haze in the evening hour. Andean sat back and awaited his daughters, singing softly to himself.

Gawrock melchila
Kroota kree Vakelra
Kretchwaugh Vreen
O Sheesha chakii

“Papa Return” in Equish. Awesome and mighty, Friend and Protector, the King with lightning in His wings, O Papa return. A favorite of his queen’s family: the Paw clan. Fayr Paw Ursagryph would sing it to their children each night, from the moment she was expecting, to the moment she breathed her last. He closed his eyes and saw her beautiful smiling face. Feathers tinged with red. Delicate talons cradling their children. A warm nibble behind his ear for when he missed a feather preening.

What would Fayr think of him now?

He fell silent, and wished for all the world to never know the answer.

***

Flurry Heart allowed herself a smile as she drifted on the wind above Ponyville. The lot of them—Corona, Stella, and Twilight Amore—flew through the air, with Silver Lance hitching a ride on Commander Skyhook’s back. The bat pony guard gave him a signal to hold on tight, and followed through with a loop that left the colt breathlessly laughing.

Corona tapped Flurry’s shoulder and pointed. “There’s Scuttlebutt. Looks like he’s with that Glasses pony again.”

Flurry peered at Scuttlebutt, the pony Lance had described as “all wrong,” and Glasses, who had been described as “empty.” The two of them shambled away from the bar, which was strange enough since the evening was just beginning. “Don’t ponies usually drink the night away, not the midafternoon?”

“Search me. My father won’t even let us look at alcohol.” Corona shrugged and thumbed a talon at Skyhook. “Should we mention something to tall, dark, and spooky?”

“I think he’s a teetotaler, but—”

“I meant about Scuttlebutt.”

Flurry scratched her mane. “What would we say exactly? That there’s a weird pony walking around with a teenager?”

“Actually,” Skyhook said, “I’d be pretty interested in whatever you have to say.”

The two of them looked to the Royal Guardspony, one with lips pressed together and the other tapping her beak. Corona sent a quick glance at the other kids, then pointed at the ground. “Since we’ve been here, we’ve been noticing something strange going on around Mrs. Mare and Scuttlebutt.”

Skyhook flicked his feathery ears and peered at the ground. A tiny glow could be seen as magic flashed through his draconic eyes. “The grape vine says that the two of them are courting in secret. Not very secret if the whole town knows about it.”

Silver Lance looped his forelegs around Skyhook’s neck. “I don’t think they’re courting. There’s something scary about them.”

Skyhook’s face briefly looked as though he was about to dismiss the thought, but he held back. He sent another enhanced glance at Scuttlebutt and Glasses. “I think it might be best if you kids let me keep an eye on it. If there is something going on, I don’t want the five of you mixed up in it. Have you told anypony else?”

“Grandma Velvet,” Flurry said. “But she’s… in the Everfree right now.”

“Right.” Skyhook tipped his helmet to Silver. “What kinda scary are you talking about?”

“Scuttlebutt isn’t a pony.” Silver tapped his horn. “And Mrs. Mare is really, really angry. At everybody.”

Skyhook gave Silver a smile. “Your dad said I should trust that horn of yours. Alright. Consider me in on this little investigation.” He sent a severe frown around to the rest of them. “But I mean it, keep your distance. It’s my job to keep you safe, and I can’t do that if you’re running headfirst into danger. Got it?”

“Yes sir,” came the unanimous reply.

His eyes dimmed when he turned his body to face the sunset. “It’s time for you guys to head back to the castle. I’ve gotta talk with Coldstone and Snowcap a sec.”

They landed on the castle’s front steps and bid Skyhook goodnight. The five of them walked quickly but sleepily after a long day playing, investigating, and exploring Ponyville.

Stella paused in midair as they came to the open circle of thrones. “Sheesha?”

The King of the Felaccia hunched over the table, handily dwarfing everything else in the room. The final glow of the sun faded, and the castle’s natural magical lightning took over. It cast the room in shades of blue and green, which glinted against the chandelier hanging above their heads. Andean slipped a mirror away in his bags and held out his talons.

Sheesha!” Stella bolted right to him and hugged his massive beard of feathers. “You came to visit!”

Flurry folded her wings and sat what felt like a safe distance away from the hulking feline-avian. Her brother and sister joined her, neither quite sure how to respond to his presence. His eyes were kind as he turned them on his youngest, and he ran a single talon over her white crest.

“Hello Stella, Corona.” His voice trembled ever so slightly as he turned to Flurry. “Flurry Heart, Twilight Amore, and Silver Lance. I am very pleased to meet you. I trust you five have enjoyed spending time together?”

“Yes, Sheesha!” Stella’s voice was bright as bells, and melodic as birdsong. “We met Pinkie Pie and Applejack and Big Mac and so many other people from the stories! It’s so gawrock! I can’t wait to spend all summer here!”

He held out a talon for Corona. She stayed where she was, her wins slightly spread. “Is something wrong, Father? You didn’t come here for a social visit.”

He lowered his talon and nodded. “I’m afraid we must cut out visit short.”

“What!” Stella’s beak fell open. She clawed at his beard, her wings vibrating against her back. “B-but Sheesha! Kroota vreev! Kroota vreen… Ka chakii?

“I’m sorry, Stella.” Andean turned his head aside. “We are no longer welcome here.”

“You are, too!”

Flurry Heart leaped as her younger sister strode up to the griffon king. “You’re all welcome here, with us,” Twilight Amore said. “And nothing can change that. If you can’t stay in Canterlot, just stay here.”

Corona’s eyes flicked from Amore to Andean. “I don’t understand, Father. Why aren’t we?”

Andean set a tearful Stella down on the tabletop. He stood to his feet, only becoming more imposing. “Because I seek out a way to raise the sun should all the alicorns fall. Celestia does not wish to share the power. Or the responsibility.”

Flurry blinked at the king. There were other ways to raise the sun? She knew that it used to be raised by a team of unicorns, but for other creatures to do it… She didn’t know whether to be excited or scared of the thought.

Scared, she decided. She still remembered the dreams of the horrible monsters that wanted to steal the sun from Celestia. How just after the assassination attempt, every night was plagued from dusk to dawn with bugbears and bêtes noire. How even now she had reason to believe that Merry Mare was one of them.

Her eyes opened wide, and she looked on King Andean Ursagryph in a new light. “That’s what your dreams are about, aren’t they?”

Andean shook his head, most likely out of bewilderment. “I beg your pardon?”

“Your dreams. The ones that leave you screaming. The ones that make you feel sad and angry and hopeless all at the same time.” Flurry Heart brushed at her eyes. Her foreleg came away damp. “I have those, too. I kn—I know they’re real.”

Andean furrowed his brow. He gazed upon Corona, his voice severe. “You knew about the dreams?”

“I don’t know what’s in them, Father,” she whispered. “Only that they hurt you.”

He clicked his beak sharply. “And you told these ponies?”

“She only wants to help you!” Flurry scurried in front of Corona, who stepped back with her wings spread. “We’re her friends, and we wanna help, too! We can tell Princess Celestia about our dreams. Maybe she’ll—”

“We have already had the discussion.” Andean stomped a hind paw; the resulting sound was soft yet firm. “She has refused compromise, young princess. Trust me that it was the expected outcome from the High Princess of Equestria.”

Twilight Amore rose into the air to bring herself to his height. “But that doesn’t mean you all have to go! You guys argued, but that doesn’t mean we all have to stop being friends, does it?”

Andean matched her eye for eye. “It is an argument five-hundred years old. Neither side can or will give way.”

Ka, Sheesha…” Stella’s eyes dribbled freely. Her head feathers fluffed out and back in even as her wings continued to shiver. “Ka kroota chakaa…

Andean hunched his wings and faced the entryway. “Corona, take Stella and pack your things. We leave before the night is done.”

Corona gently raised Stella onto her back. She walked solemnly to the staircase, not sparing her father another look. Flurry and Silver fell into step beside her, while Amore hovered overhead.

Corona frowned. “What are you doing?”

“We’re helping you pack.” Flurry nearly tripped on her oversized wings as she ascended the stairs. “I guess so we can spend a little more time with you.”

Stella wept quietly into Corona’s head feathers. “I don’t wanna go.”

Silver Lance’s short legs pumped to keep up. He sniffled and let his head hang low. “Your dad doesn’t wanna go, either. But he thinks he has to.” He hesitated, his breath checkered with nerves. “H-he needs you now more than ever.”

“But what am I supposed to do?” Corona flapped an irate wing and narrowly missed Flurry’s head. “He didn’t even want to talk about his dreams!”

She blinked rapidly, and Flurry supposed she was hiding tears. “I’m just a kid. I can’t do anything.”

Twilight Amore landed in front of her and walked backwards up the stairs. “How old are you again?”

Corona lidded her eyes. She snorted. “Sixteen. What about it?”

“That’s how old Aunt Twilight was when she fought Nightmare Moon.” Twilight Amore shrugged. “She and her friends did okay. Pinkie was still only fifteen. But they beat an alicorn with only their wits and fashion sense.”

She retuned to the air and circled overhead. “It’s not about age. It’s about being willing to help. Give him a little time. Give yourself a little credit.”

Flurry reached out a wing to gently touch Corona and Stella on the shoulder. “We’ll help, too. However we can.”

***

Twilight Velvet stepped off the small airskiff and onto the front steps of the Ponyville Castle. Just a small stop to get a few things, and she could head to Canterlot. The royal guard skiff took off without her, their own mission taking them elsewhere. Skyhook muttered back and forth with Coldstone and Snowcap, but perked his ears up when he saw her approach. “Lady Velvet. Welcome back.”

“Not that great a welcome,” she said, fighting to keep her voice under control. “I’m here to pick up the kids. The mission went wrong.”

Skyhook shared a glance with his two subordinates. “Is Ahuizotl on his way?”

“Worse.” Velvet scowled. “He’s headed for Felaccia.”

“Interesting coincidence…” Skyhook motioned for Coldstone to open the front doors. He motioned Velvet inside, then followed after her. “King Ursagryph just showed up. None of us knows what he wants, but—”

They nearly ran into the king himself. His daughters followed him through the hall, their heads low and their wings drooping. Andean bowed at the neck and placed a talon over his heart. “Lady Velvet. I am afraid my daughters and I must take our leave. Please give Princess Sparkle my best wishes.”

Twilight Velvet jerked her head back. “Leave? But summer’s just started—”

“If you wish to know more, please speak with High Princess Celestia.” He barely left them room to stand when he walked past them. “Farewell.”

Twilight Velvet narrowed her eyes. “Just to let you know, our intelligence says Ahuizotl is headed to your country. I’d be careful if I were you.”

Andean paused. His voice was low, lacking energy. “For that, too, you should speak with Celestia.”

He left, and the heavy doors closed behind him.

“Is something wrong, Lady Velvet?” Skyhook flicked his ears down. “You seem upset.”

“Upset?” She spun on him and gritted her teeth. “Commander, I literally just lost my best friend and my youngest son is in the hospital! Yes sir, I am very upset!”

She pressed a hoof against his chest, and the force of it caused him to bump into the wall. “Now I just need to collect my grandkids and take them to Canterlot, so we can get this Creator-forsaken day over with!

They made it to the throne room, and all three kids were already waiting. Flurry Heart spoke first. “We heard you shouting.”

“Yes, kids.” Velvet rubbed her right temple. “I-I’m sorry, I—”

“Spike’s hurt?” Silver Lance sounded small, far more delicate than she was used to from the sturdy colt.

“He’s going to be fine.” Her voice sounded way too harsh even to her own ears. “I mean it. We’re all going to see him. Grab something to pack up and we can take the evening train.”

Twilight Amore looked to be on the verge of tears. “Is Aunt Yearling hurt?”

“Hurry, please.” Twilight Velvet shook her head and turned away, staring firmly at the throne her daughter held. “We have to go.”

The kids ran to the stairs, took a right, and used the elevator to ride up to the playroom. Velvet slowly lowered her forehead to the table and breathed a deep sigh.

“Ma’am.” Skyhook retrieved a sheet of paper from beneath his breastplate. “You wanted to know what I found out about Merry?”

Twilight Velvet moaned. She pushed herself upright and grasped the page in a bubble of magic. “What did you find out?”

“It’s what I didn’t find that worries me.” Skyhook stood at attention. “Records exist of her having a husband, but his name and likeness have been scrubbed from the files. All the files. All I’ve been able to pick up from the townsfolk is that his name was Poni. Nobody knew of any family names or otherwise.”

“There’s as many Poni’s as there are Belle’s.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Skyhook worried his lower lip with a sharp fang. “Merry and Poni had a child together, Happy, who died of drowning at the age of eight.”

Twilight Velvet winced, a twinge in her heart going out to the mare. “Well, it might explain the anger—”

“This was twenty years ago.”

Velvet frowned at the page. What would keep fueling the anger for twenty years? It wasn’t unheard of, even understandable, but Skyhook wouldn’t bother explaining it if it weren’t relevant. “And?”

“Shortly after the child’s death…” Skyhook swallowed hard. “The mare who was babysitting Happy at the time, Amber Waves, was found in the Everfree. Poisoned. It was ruled a suicide.”

Velvet raised her eyebrow. Coincidence? Doubtful. “But?”

“But shortly after that, Poni and Merry separated.” Skyhook tapped the top edge of the page with a leathery wing. “Take a look at Amber Waves’ living relations. It took quite a bit of digging to find the right papers, but…”

Velvet looked to the bottom of the page. Amber Waves—Daughter: Ember Waves, student in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Husband: Kiln Stovepipe, known associate of Dr. Poni Caballeron.

She pressed the paper against his breastplate and headed for the exit. “Keep this quiet. After we get back, I’m going to have a very interesting tea with Mrs. Mare.”

He snatched the page before it could flop to the floor. “You think she’ll talk?”

“If she can give us something—anything—on Caballeron or Ahuizotl—” Velvet marched with her head low. “–then that’s exactly what I’m going to get.”

“You haven’t seen the other side of the paper.” Skyhook hurried after her and held the page in front of her face. “Her friend Scuttlebutt—”

“Huh?” The page glowed once more as she took it from him. “What about him? I know I’ve heard the name before.”

“He showed up about a year and a half ago.” Skyhook spread his wings and lifted a few inches above the ground to keep up with her steady strides. “Right around the same time as another Scuttlebutt, Viscount Hammer Dulcimer’s assistant, went missing.”

Velvet pulled a sour face. “Nobody thought to investigate that?”

“We did, but the two Scuttlebutts are two completely different ponies. Different height, build, voice, mane…” He rolled a hoof. “But if Silver Lance’s hunch is correct, and he’s not a pony…”

“What’s my grandson know about it?”

“That his magic is completely wrong.” Skyhook grimaced, like he’d eaten something expired. “Honestly, after spending the last year in Ponyville, I’m inclined to believe him. Scuttlebutt’s a creepy dude.”

Twilight Velvet scratched the back of her head. “What kinda dummy uses the same alias for two different disguises?”

“It takes all kinds, ma’am.”

“Touché.” She tucked the page into the top of his breastplate. “Like I said, keep this quiet. I only trust about five people with the details of this investigation. When the time comes, we’ll question Merry, Scuttlebutt, and Kiln.” She flicked an ear towards the door. “I think we’ll get some pretty interesting answers out of all of them.”

***

Apple Bloom stared at Spike, who lay silent on the gurney. They hadn’t transferred him to a room yet—they were still trying to decide on whether they could do anything for him. They’d applied ambrosia to his wounds via sponges. There was no way to give him any sort of IV drip, so Apple Bloom had helped make him swallow some sugar water.

The ambrosia wasn’t working. The flesh and scales refused to respond to it. The wounds were too big to clot, so the bandages had to be changed regularly. Apple Bloom had seen his shoulder while they were doing it; Ahuizotl’s sword had charred the bone.

A flash of purple shocked her out of her silence. She nearly leapt out of her chair when Twilight Sparkle materialized in the room. The Princess of Friendship skittered across the polished floor to the side of the bed. She examined every inch of Spike’s body, and Apple Bloom could hear every frantic, shallow breath she breathed.

“Princess Twilight—!” A passing nurse drew aside the emergency room curtain. “You shouldn’t just teleport into the hospital! You could—”

Twilight Sparkle ignored every last word he said, instead dropping her overflowing saddlebags on his back. “Here, this is everything I have on dragon health! W-we should make a paste of crushed gemstones in sugar water. Give him an amethyst to suck on. Spike, could you send—” Her face fell, her ears drooping. She recovered as quickly as the hiccup occurred. “I-I mean I need a way to send a message to Dragon Lord Ember. And—and get me a doctor. Somebody with experience treating species besides ponies.”

The nurse looked at the bags on his back. “I think there’s somebody in Manehattan, but—”

“You’re telling me that in Canterlot Hospital, the most prestigious hospital in the entirety of Equestria—” Twilight Sparkle’s voice rose with each word. “—there is not a single capable doctor in the whole building?

“Of course they’re capa—!”

“Apple Bloom took Spike here because she knew—knew!—that he could get help here!” Twilight Sparkle’s wing shot out to indicate her, and nearly clocked Apple Bloom on the nose. “If you can’t help, then get me somebody who can!”

The nurse let out a huff and trotted away, leaving the three of them alone.

A tiny whisper came from Spike’s lips. “Twilight…”

Twilight Sparkle spun around and was at his side in an instant. “Spike! You’re awake!”

“Twilight, please…” Spike’s eyes fluttered. He moved his head with a groan. “Please…”

“Please what?” Twilight reached out to touch his claw. “What do you need?”

“Stop…” Spike cracked the tiniest of grins. “Shouting…”

Twilight Sparkle blinked rapidly. She lay her head on his chest, her voice cracking. “Spike, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry.” Spike sighed, easing his less-bandaged arm over to her. He rubbed her mane with his claws. “I bit off more than I could chew. Again.”

Apple Bloom moseyed over to his side to nuzzle his cheek. “There weren’t no way you could know Ahuizotl was capable of that.”

“No.” Spike wrinkled his forehead. “But I still went off alone.”

His claw fell to his chest. He met Twilight’s damp eyes. “You still wanna send that message to Ember?”

She nodded, and quickly scribbled a message on the hospital’s notepad. Spike took a breath, held it for a moment, and then gently breathed the letter away. The smoke spiraled out the window, headed for the Cauldron and the dragons therein. He let his head rest against the pillow. “Whoa. Dizzy.”

“Just rest, Spike.” Twilight spread a wing to brush at his cheek. “Everything’s gonna turn out just fine.”

“Yeah, I know.” Spike sighed and closed his eyes. “They’re gonna heal me, and I’m gonna go back out there. And Ahuizotl won’t know… what hit him…”

Soft snoring came from the young dragon. Apple Bloom returned to her seat, but Twilight remained where she was, pressed against Spike’s warm chest.

Apple Bloom didn’t know what to think, really. She’d never seen Spike like this. Emotionally vulnerable, sure, but physically? It almost didn’t compute.

“Knock, knock.” A blue face appeared from behind the privacy curtain, then tilted up in surprise. “Oh. Twi, sweet pea, I didn’t know you were already here.”

Twilight raised her head. The breath caught in her throat. “Dad?”

She rushed up to wrap her forelegs and wings around him. Night Light hugged his daughter close, but looked to his adoptive son beyond. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“None of the treatments are workin’, sir.” Apple Bloom’s bow bobbed as she shook her head. “They just sent a message to the dragons, but we don’t know when they’ll get back to us.”

Night Light clicked his tongue. He pulled away from Twilight to put a foreleg on the bed, beside Spike’s arm. “Oh, Creator. Please help Spike.”

Apple Bloom got to her feet, towering over Night Light. He glanced at her, a spark of recognition entering his eyes. “You must be Apple Bloom. I’m Night Light, Spike’s dad. You probably guessed that part.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Apple Bloom bumped hooves with him. “Ah, since they only allow two visitors, I could head for the waitin’ room and let the two of you visit.”

Twilight Sparkle leaned against her dad’s side. “Thank you, Apple Bloom. We’ll let you know when you can come back.”

“Thanks.” Apple Bloom took the short walk past nurses and doctors to the waiting room. Offensively-boring wallpaper greeted her, alongside an ancient coffee maker and uncomfortable couches.

Care Carrot jumped up from one. “Any news?”

“Twilight just showed up.” Apple Bloom waved a hoof vaguely in their direction. “They sent a message to the dragons. Other than that, nada.”

Blankety Blank, his face wearing the white-coated disguise of a pony, curled in on himself as Care took the seat beside him. Apple Bloom sat across from them after grabbing a weak coffee. Blank cleared his throat with a cough. “How long until the funeral?”

Apple Bloom lowered the coffee. She poured three sugar packets in and emptied a creamer single pack. “Whose?”

Blankety’s mouth cracked open, and his voice cracked to match. “Daring is gone.”

Apple Bloom’s cheeks burned. She lowered her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry.”

“They’re holding it later tonight,” Care said quietly. “Just her family and closest friends.”

Blank’s ears flattened against his head. “She doesn’t have family. They’re all gone, too.”

“No, she does.” Care rubbed between his shoulders. “Twilight Velvet and her family. They took Daring under their wings like a sister. You and I’ll be there. Martial, too.”

Apple Bloom’s ears shot up. “D-did anybody tell Dinky?”

“Yeah. Notified her about an hour ago.” Care blew a long, slow breath through pressed lips. “She’s bringing her mom and boyfriend on the next train.”

Blankety Blank gritted his teeth until his jaw trembled. “A-and then we’re going aft-t-ter Ahuizotl again?”

“Until we catch him,” Care said. “Until we stop him.”

***

Martial Paw looked out over the small assembly that had gathered in the Canter Mountain Cemetery. Magilights shined, casting their glow over the footpaths that weaved between the pyres, tombs, and gravestones that dotted the outskirts of Canterlot. He carried a torch in his hand, which held enough light to see the faces of the other mourners.

Twilight Velvet leaned against Twilight and Night Light. The three wore black shawls, simple but effective. The children of Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza huddled between their legs. Their parents stood in the back, their expressions unseen by Martial. A magic mirror displayed the face of Spike the Dragon, who watched from his place in the hospital’s emergency room. Apple Bloom sat beside him, allowing him to lean on her shoulder.

To the left, Dinky Do and her mother Derpy could be seen. A young stallion held Dinky’s hoof; Martial had met him a few times, during visits to Ponyville. Pipsqueak, a member of the fire brigade and a potato farmer. Dinky’s fiancé. Martial and Pipsqueak exchanged a nod of greeting.

In the center, there stood Care Carrot in her dress uniform. Beside her was Blankety Blank, freely wearing his true form as a changeling. He wore a dress uniform as well, the front bedecked with countless medals from secretive missions.

Then, beside Martial Paw, there was the pyre.

Daring Do lay upon it, her eyes closed. She was clothed in her usual attire of a button-up shirt, her favorite pith helmet, and a pocket watch clasped around her neck. Martial’s talon reflexively went to the bag slung over his shoulder. Her watch, the one holding the picture of her and Time, was sitting safely within. Something had overcome him, telling him to switch the two. Perhaps it was dishonest of him, but at the moment, he didn’t really care.

Her coat was a dim gray, the color having drained from it the moment the life went out of her eyes. The magic that had been bursting out of her body her entire existence had been shunted off to the hereafter. The spirit, the soul, the love…

Princess Celestia stood behind the pyre, her face a cloudy, drizzly sky. No sunlight shone from the princess. No quietly remembered happy moments. No soft satisfaction at a life well-lived. Just a bleak sense of moroseness. “You all knew Daring was… not one for long goodbyes. She valued her privacy. Quiet seclusion. But—”

She turned her gaze to the mourners. She nodded to each in turn. “She liked that. But she loved her family. She loved every last one of your with all her heart.”

She bit her lip, searching for words. Martial felt a lump grow in his throat. Princess Celestia; speechless. It was unlike anything he’d seen from the almighty princess. And yet, it suited her, that she would be overcome with love for this one friend.

Celestia bowed her head. “This pyre holds a pegasus soldier; a brave soul who fell defending her princess and her country.” Her throat bobbed. “And her friends.”

She looked up to the stars, which were sparkling at their full shine, even above the light of the torch. “She will be respected by her fellows, and followed in her wing beats. May she forever fly, until the day she returns.”

The princess gave Martial a solemn nod. He tossed the torch onto the pyre. The fire grew fast, touching every part of Daring Do’s body. It obscured her in flames as she was transformed into ash.

Celestia took in a shuddering breath. “Daughter of the sky, return to the wind you were born into. Fly free and remind us how much we need each other.”

The heat from the fire burned Martial’s face, but he refused to back away. A deep, dark anger wallowed in the pit of his stomach. He’d felt it once before; such a potent rage that he nearly felt himself transformed into another being. He stared at Daring as she burned away, his eyes stinging.

Ahuizotl would pay. Dearly. He would know why it was he had to die. He would know which griffon was coming to kill him. He would know that there was nothing that could save him, not in all the world or the worlds beyond.

Martial choked as tears poured from his eyes. Tears of despair, anger, hopelessness. He couldn’t say goodbye, not until his dearest friend’s killer was brought to ruin. He clutched Daring Do’s pocket watch tight, hidden as it was by his bag.

A hoof touched his shoulder. He looked up, every muscle crying out to swat the offender aside. He reeled himself in when he saw it was Blankety. The changeling looked at the burning pyre and said nothing, but stood quietly while the others gradually moved away from the site.

Martial opened his mouth, but stopped himself. Blankety was a changeling. He could taste the emotions in the air, no matter how hidden. He knew what Martial was feeling. Perhaps even what he was thinking. It seemed no amount of dishonesty would sway him.

Once they were the only two at the pyre, after the fire had begun to die down, Blankety Blank at last spoke. “It’s okay.”

Martial turned his head to look the little changeling in the eye. Blank’s voice was as hot as the fire itself.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I feel that way, too.”

He gestured with a wing at the bag. More specifically, at the pocket watch within. “You should hold onto that. You’ve earned that much.”

With that, he walked away and left Martial to watch the last few ashes fly free.

***

Cadence made a beeline for their suite. Even this long out and about had taken a toll on her. She couldn’t think straight. She didn’t want to see anybody. To speak to anybody. To be with anybody. She couldn’t let her kids see her like this. What would they think of her? What would Night Light, or Velvet, or Twilight Sparkle think of her? No. She just needed some peace.

Some phony semblance of peace, in any case.

She rounded the corner and saw the doorway. Her sanctuary. Just beyond, though, she saw something she wanted to see the least of all.

Shining Armor quickly dried his eyes at the sight of her. “Cadence… We need to—”

“I can’t talk right now.” She was at least able to choke out that much. She opened the door with a wing, slid herself inside, and locked it behind her.

It would have been a simple thing for Shining to unlock it. To insist on a conversation. To repeat himself until she relented. He did none of those things. He sat at the door for a moment, shook his head, and walked away.

She almost wanted him to force his way in. Almost. She was in too much pain to be reasoned with. Perhaps he was, too. She almost wanted to open the door and shout for him to come back. Almost.

They needed each other, she knew. More now than ever. Her mind told her as much.

Her heart, though… that couldn’t take it.

She rebuilt her pillow fort, closed her eyes, and willed sleep to come.

It didn’t.