Author's Note

Another chapter! YAY! This was delayed a bit, sorry

Enjoy the show!

Chapter 2: Bones of the past

Cadence worried about them every night. Every time the moon seemed slow to rise Cadence was freaking out, despite what ShiningArmor said she just couldn't help it. She had thought about writing them letters, But soon concluded that was stupid. Seeing as they didn't have a mailbox or anything. So she sat in Canterlot, dealing with the nobles and worrying her Hooves off every night.

Furthermore the Princesses were the least of her worries. A Hooded pony was reported almost every night, The murders continued and Cadence was plainly annoyed. He never left so much evidence that he could be found, yet always just enough to tell it was him. They scored canterlot many times and never yielded any results.

The night guard were outside her door every night after the first noble was killed in his sleep, and some nights ShinningArmor stood at her door. While it usually ended without a hitch, he never gave up on his post. Not even when the night guard passed by. Tonight felt like any other normal night. Crickets chirping in the garden, Darkness gently falling in the castle corners. Yet something felt off, almost as a aura was watching.

ShinningArmor took guarding his wife very seriously, Not a single night was went by without him checking on the guards. And this night, it was just him sitting in front of Cadences door. She went to bed hours ago and Shining took it upon himself to keep her safe. But everything was progressing as normal, Crickets chirping fountains pouring water into basins quietly in the distance. And most importantly the eerily quiet hallways. Besides the occasional Passing of a guard nothing went on in the hallway. It was too well guarded.

Tapping broke the silence as Shining’s ears twitch, It sounded like hooves on a cold floor, which meant another guard was passing by. Yet they seemed to be getting closer, and this hallway was not to be entered by any guard without permission from Shining, Did he give anypony permission? he couldn't remember. His head was boggled with different memories and he couldn't seem to sort them out. He squinted into the darkness and felt his heart drop in his chest.

Shinning was about to cry out in alarm, but a flash of metal and searing pain followed after identifying the creature. His voice would not work, Pain rippled up his throat and Shining realized his vocal cords and air tubes where cut. Blood filled his lungs and he began coughing it onto the floor. Yet still no sound left his snout. Shining felt his eyes getting hazy and his life slipping away, with just enough power to use his horn, he drew his sword and flung it at the assailant. The sword stopped in midair, caught by another magical force and Shining felt his power fade.

The doors squeaked open, and Cadence expected to see Shining come through, smiling and telling her everything was fine. But instead stood a pony with a cloak wrapped around it's torso, The hood pulled down and she could see his tan head. The mane was a wreck, and his pupils were dilated, giving him a insane look. Cadence looked down at his hooves, to see blood trickling from the doorway. Her heart plummeted in her chest and Cadence tried to get as far away from the assailant as possible. His smile cutting her confidence like butter.

"Hello, Princess Cadence" It spoke with a dark tone, it's smile growing wider at her light sobs.

"W-who......What did you do to ShinningArmor!" Cadence hoped he was still alive, if anypony could beat this thing back it was him

"Oh, he is none of your concern. Just know he will die if you don't tell me exactly what i want" it stopped it's hoof on the ground, making Cadence shudder in fear.

"A-and wh-what do you w-want to know?" Cadence peeked around the corner despite herself, and saw Shining laying on the ground, blood trailing out of his mouth

"Where are the other three Princesses, and what do they wish to accomplish?" He held a steady gaze, staring directly into her eyes. Which made Cadence even more scared.

"I-i'll never tell you anything to do with the others!" Cadence shouted loud enough for the closest guards to hear.

"You should have cooperated Cadence, now i'll have to kill you to" Metal darts levitated around him, and with a flick of his horn they shot forward closing in on cadence with alarming speed. Metal dug into her coat and she screamed in pain, More and more pain seared through her body. It was torture, The darts never seemed to stop. Until one scored her in the heart. Everything stopped moving and Cadence slumped to the floor a bright light shining overhead. The pain numbed and the world grew dull without color. Cadence felt her life slip away, and she smiled, knowing she would be with ShinningArmor shortly.

Twilight was dumbfounded, Both her brother and Cadence were killed a night before they returned to canterlot. With the castle seeming compromised they planned on heading to Ponyville and disappearing off the grid for a while. But it was hard to dissapear when you had three princesses on one train. They managed to stay undetected all the way to Ponyville, and most of the way to twilights castle. Then PinkiePie had to pop up at that moment.

“HIII~! Twilight!~” Pinkie Pie shouted as loud as she possibly could. Alerting every pony on the street of her attendance.

“PinkiePie! Could you keep it down...please?” Twilight glanced back at the other two princesses, giving them her best reassuring smile

“Ohh! are you on some sort of secret mission!?” she whispered in Twilights ear as they continued to her castle

“Maybe we should go someplace more secluded?” Princess Celestia whispered loud enough for the four of them to hear

“Maybe Fluttershy’s house would suffice?” Luna voiced her opinion and Twilight nodded.

“PinkiePie, go get everyone and bring them to FlutterShy’s house please.” Twilight asked as politely as possible.

“Yes sir!” PinkiePie saluted and was gone in a flash of smoke, How she ran so fast. Twilight could never even begin to fathom. They 3 princesses trotted through ponyville and arrived at FlutterShy’s house, to see the others had already arrived. They were busy talking to that they didn’t notice twilight arrive.

She, luna and Celestia pulled down their hoods and Twilight walked past her friends, knocking on Fluttershy’s door. The door squeaked open and FlutterShy looked cautiously outside. Upon seeing twilight she swung the door open in a hurry

“Your back!” She hugged Twilight closely, then noticed the other two princesses behind her.

“Don’t freak out, but we’ve got a serious matter that we need to discuss, and your house is the only secluded place we can use.” Twilight gave her best smile to FlutterShy.

“Oh, you're always welcome at my house Princesses!” FlutterShy spoke nervously, dashing inside and rearranging a few things then inviting them all in

“We are very grateful for this FlutterShy, we honestly have nopony else to turn to” Celestia spoke in her clear tone, making each matter seem small in comparison

“As you may have heard of Princess Cadence’s…….unfathomable end in canterlot. we simply cannot trusts castles any further” Luna addressed each of them, the other 5 elements of Harmony.

“I’m sure you’ve heard rumors. But i can assure you that we are on top of the problem” Celestia spoke, soothing the others emotions. Twilight however was more worried than ever. What kind of creature can kill an Alicorn so easily?

“We have some books gathered from a certain library far away, that may give us hints on what we are dealing with. We’d like you to help us search through them” Twilight spoke as she hovered the 10 or so books out of each of their pack.

“We understand if you do not wish to help us, we are asking a lot” Luna added, and the three princesses looked at each of them for a answer. They took a moment to process the information, looked at each other with confused looks

“Of course we’ll help you sugercube!” Applejack was the first to speak, and the others nodded in agreement. Each seemed