//------------------------------// // The Kidnapping // Story: A Royal Loss // by LaceySurprise //------------------------------// Cadance and Spike hurriedly read the letter. "If you want to see your daughter one last time, come to the dark cave in the forest region of the badlands. Sign Samro" "Samro? Who is Samro?" Spike asked. "I have no idea. but we better hurry if we want to save Skyla!" I yelled. Spike wrapped his arms around my neck as I took to the skies. All I could think about was saving my daughter. My poor baby needed me! "Can't you go any faster?! We have to save Skyla!" "I'll try!" I flapped my wings harder than ever before as we shot off towards the badlands. "I see them! I see the cave!" Yelled spike. I swooped down to wear he was pointing. We landed with a thud as these dark ponies started to spill out of the mouth of the cave. I had never seen creatures like these! They weren't exactly changelings nor like How King Sombra had looked. But they were some sort of cross between the two. "I'll take the ones on this side, you take the others!" I shouted as I charged at the dark ponies. "OK!" As Spike dashed for the group he was assigned to take down. I bit, scratched, kicked and punched as many ponies as I could. Shooting off magic left and right. They'd come at me with blood thirst in their eyes, and I'd do whatever it took for me to drive them back and mow them down. I glanced over quickly at Spike as I fought my own battle. He was clawing, biting, and burning each one he came across, making more progress then I had. No matter how many I fought, more seemed to be pouring out of the cave. Suddenly I notice the size of the ponies flooding out were shrinking little by little. We were winning! We were actually beating them!! I gave all my effort to kill off the last of the troops. Suddenly, Spike was by my side helping me. "I finished off the ones on my side so now I can help you Princess!" "Thanks!" We stood back to back fighting off everypony that came our way. The I blasted the last one. There were no more left so we went inside the cave. It was quiet. Too quiet. Suddenly we heard a soft clapping noise. As we went deeper into the cave, we heard a voice overhead. "Glad you could finally make it! My name is Samro, son of King Sombra!" "SON?! King Sombra didn't have any children!" I yelled into the darkness. "Oh, but he did. ME! When we were banished from the Crystal Kingdom, he had brought me with him. I was born during the banishment and my mother killed in the process." "What do you want then!" "Where's my daughter!!" "Your Daughter? Ah, yes, I think she's in the back. But it's a dark maze in here. You'll have to find her before time runs out." I used a light spell and Spike grabbed some wood and made a torch. We wandered around, listening for clues but didn't find any. Suddenly we saw small hoof scrape marks near where a bolder stood. I used all my strength to move it. It was only when Spike joined in to help that we were able to move it. What we saw shocked us at the horror we saw. Little Skyla was collapsed on the floor. I ran to her. When I got to her, I saw she dead. I started Crying When Spike saw her, he cried too. Then a voice behind us said, "HA! You're too late! I poisoned her with a red death cloud! She fell dead as soon as she breathed it in!" "YOU MONSTER!!!" We screamed. Then a dark hoof was suddenly as my neck. Holding it tightly, I couldn't breathe! "Now you shall meet a similar fate!" Quicker than he could react, Spike sent a fireball in my direction. It hit a dark area right behind me as the hoof loosened its grip and I was able to breathe again. I whirled around to see a pile of ash. All that was left of Samro. "Are you alright Princess?" Spike asked. "I'll be ok" I said once I had caught my breath. "Thank you for saving me." We walked over to Skyla's lifeless body and just stood there. She didn't even get a chance to find out her cutie mark. I lifted her onto my back and Spike got onto me to hold her steady as I slowly flew home. We arrived home with the limp, lifeless, little princess as the crystal ponies crowded around me asking what happened. Through tears, Spike told them the whole horrid ordeal. Weeks had passed. I now left my room only to attend Skyla's funeral and that was it. Spike would bring me anything I needed. When there was nothing to bring me, e would just sit by my side as we stared off into space together. Neither of us saying a word. "Princess? I miss Skyla. So much. Can I tell you something secret?" Spike said after awhile of staring into nothingness. "Sure." I said flatly. "I know Skyla wasn't my daughter, but I FELT like she WAS my daughter. Is that weird?" "Not at all Spike. You were the first one she saw and you spent so much time with her, at times, it did feel like you were her dad. Even thought Shining Armor was her real father, you were there for her when he couldn't be." Spike's eyes started fill up with tears. Then he hugged me so tight and started to cry on my shoulder. "I miss her! I miss her so much!" He cried. I wrapped my wings around him and whispered "I miss her so much too." Then I burst into tears as we cried in each other's arms. Overcome by sheer emotion we both looked into each other's tear filled eyes. I saw Spike as something else. More than just the baby Dragon who would assist me in raising Skyla. Something I had only seen in one other pony. Something I had only seen in Shining Armor's eyes. Spike had the same look that I felt I must have had. Our head coming closer together, our lips almost touching. I then quickly turned my head and got up. "I must be going to bed." I said. Spike had a half confused, half ashamed look on his face. "I guess I must be going too." He left me to my thoughts. This can't be happening! He's Spike for crying out loud! I would watch him grow up with Twilight! I watched over BOTH of them at the same time! I even changed his diaper once! How in all of Equestria could I feel this way! HOW?! Meanwhile back in Spike's room. Whoa dude, not cool! I can't believe that almost happened! She's the Princess! I'm just her assistant! I've only felt this way towards my beloved Rarity! Would this be cheating on her?! I mean I know we were never an official item and it has been years since I lived in Ponyville. But for some reason, all of a sudden, I feel like Cadance is the most beautiful pony in the world! I can't stop thinking about her! Why do I have to feel this way? WHY? Both Cadance and Spike wandered about their feelings but eventually, they had to go to sleep. THE NEXT DAY Cadance peeked outside her bedroom. Nopony was there. She sneaked to the kitchen to fix herself some breakfast. When she got there, when found Spike cooking Pancakes. The same thing she had made him when he first stayed with her. "I made Pancakes. I know they're your favorite." "Uh, Princess, About last night.." "No need to explain, we were both just very emotionally about missing Skyla." "That's all, no harm done." "OK, then." Spike said. We ate in silence. Sometimes catching each other's eye then quickly blushing and looking away. Afterwards, I went back to my room, and Spike tended to everything else. All was quiet. Except my mind and heart.