//------------------------------//
// By The Edge Of The Forest : Part 2 
// Story: Cadence Unbridled (Sections 1 & 2) 
// by Flikaline 
//------------------------------//

By The Edge Of The Forest : Part 2

Arachne and Lamia were standing by a rather unusual tree and must’ve’ been casting spells at it. They looked rather worn out and had obviously been at it for some time.

‘That the Tree of Harmony!’ Cadence spluttered and couldn’t help thinking that Arachne and Lamia were a bit out of their depth. 

Still, she couldn’t allow them to continue their attempts to damage such an important plant. Besides, without the elements themselves, the tree would be weaker than it should be.

‘Stop trying to harm that tree!’ Cadence demanded, trying to ignore the grins on their faces and trying her best not to remind herself that they worked for Raven Mocker. Arachne and Lamia starting giggling and Cadence gave a shudder.

‘What’s going on?’ Big Macintosh inquired.

Once Steamer and Shining Armor had caught sight of Arachne and Lamia, they instinctively moved closer to Cadence.

‘Do you know these two?’ Big Macintosh asked.

‘They’re dangerous,’ Steamer said stiffly, glancing at Cadence.

‘We have to stop them,’ Cadence exclaimed, ‘we must protect that tree!’

Cadence realized she had been right. The odd behavior of the timber wolves must be a side effect of the spells Arachne and Lamia had been aiming at the tree. The others looked rather blank.

‘It’s important,’ Cadence insisted.

‘Maybe we’ll stop,’ Arachne sneered.

‘If you come with us,’ Lamia hissed though a nasty smile.

‘Not a chance!’ Cadence snarled, ‘Now get away from that tree or I’ll make you get away from it!’

Arachne and Lamia started giggling again. Without warning, Cadence had launched herself at them. The other three ponies raced over to help her.

‘Was this one of Raven Mocker’s ideas?’ Cadence asked through gritted teeth.

‘Of course not!’ Lamia replied in a superior tone.

‘We came up with this one ourselves!’ Arachne added.

‘You’re not going to get much respect when he finds out you’ve gone and failed,’ Cadence retorted as they tussled, ‘not that you’ve ever respected anypony.’

Arachne and Lamia stopped for a moment and glanced at each other. It was a meaningful glance, Cadence realized, almost a momentary weakness. 

‘Don’t tell me there is somepony you have respect for,’ Cadence exclaimed, taking the opportunity to catch her breath.

‘Was,’ Arachne muttered.

‘A lot like you,’ Lamia mumbled.

Arachne kicked her.

‘Sorry,’ Lamia murmured, ‘she did ask.’

‘Well you didn’t have to tell her,’ Arachne snapped.

Cadence stared. For a moment, there had been a sense of loss in their eyes that was so unlike Cadence had known in them. 

Arachne and Lamia’s sudden attack took Cadence completely by surprise and she wondered if it had been planned this way. The three colts tried to pull Arachne and Lamia off Cadence but they were very strong and formidable fighters.

‘We’re going to take you back with us, Princess,’ Lamia hissed.

‘Then it won’t look like such a big failure,’ Arachne added, ‘not to Raven Mocker anyway.’

Cadence struggled harder and managed to take them by surprise, kicking them off her with her back legs, but sending herself backward. She hit the base of the tree.

‘Sorry,’ Cadence murmured, before realizing apologizing to a tree was a bit silly. 

She got to her hooves, leaning on the tree trunk slightly. As she looked down at the hoof that had been touching the tree as she got to her hooves, she realized it was glowing. She stared. The three colts rushed over.

‘What’s happening?’ gasped an alarmed Shining Armor.

‘You’re appearance is changing!’ exclaimed a gawping Steamer.

‘Eyep,’ added Big Macintosh.

Cadence’s whole body was glowing and her appearance was changing.

‘I think,’ Cadence began, ‘I think the tree is lending me some of its power.’

The glow disappeared, leaving Cadence with a slightly altered appearance and a surprising amount of strength. She glanced at a now terrified Arachne and Lamia. Cadence had been secretly almost certain that she couldn’t win before, now, Arachne and Lamia were completely certain they wouldn’t win. They were still going to put up a fight though, Cadence realized. They weren’t cowards. As Cadence prepared to fight, a rainbow of hearts encircled her. 

Unknown to Arachne and Lamia, Cadence allowed them to attack first. As they neared her, Cadence took to her wings, avoiding their grasp, and cast at them. Cadence didn’t even know what she was casting; it seemed to be some sort of powerful energy or force. 

It only took a few hits to push Arachne and Lamia into submission. As soon as the brief fight was over, the glow returned, and Cadence returned to normal. Cadence hurried over to Arachne and Lamia. She couldn’t help but worry that she had hurt Arachne and Lamia more than she had intended or needed. Lamia gave a loud groan.

‘Oh, shut up,’ Arachne murmured.

Cadence looked down, not quite sure what to do with them. She knew very well if she let them go they would only run back to Raven Mocker who would probably just replace them if they didn’t return. For an instant, she felt sorry for them. The three colts stood some distance away. 

Cadence knew it was unlikely they knew anything, but she thought she might as well ask Arachne and Lamia.

‘Do you,’ Cadence began carefully, ‘do you know anything about souls?’

Arachne and Lamia’s eye widened.

‘Should’ve known she’d somehow find out,’ Lamia muttered.

They knew? How did they know about her mother’s soul? Cadence seized the opportunity.

‘If you can tell me where she is,’ Cadence told them, ‘I’ll let you go and I won’t let anypony else know you told me.’

‘Even Raven Mocker?’ Lamia ventured. 

Cadence nodded.

‘She’s underwater!’ Arachne blurted out, ‘she’s been down there for so long!’ 

Cadence thought Arachne was exaggerating a bit but what she said made perfect sense.

‘Thank you,’ Cadence whispered so no-pony else could hear her, ‘thank you so much.’

Cadence let them go. With once last glance at her, Arachne and Lamia hurried away.