Cadence knew if anyone had answers, it would be Twilight, that silly filly always did have a strange fasnication with knowledge. Right now, she was relying on that, it might be the only way to save Shining Armor. She couldn't think like that, but it was hard...to ignore the possiblity of it, and what it would mean, not just for her, but for her people too... She landed down in in front of Twilight's castle. It was eerily quiet in the town, which she wasn't sure was a good sign or a sign of ill will news to come...she prayed for hope and she knew she had to be strong...he would be strong in her hooves. She took a deep heavy breath as she hurried in to find Twilight.

She wasn't used to the interior of her castle quite yet, but she knew where the main library was. She rushed in to find Twilight Sparkle running back and forth between three piles of books on the floor, as Spike was seen, gathering more books from the upper bookcases. There was no doubt...she knew.

“Cadence!” spoke Twilight.

Cadence opened up her arms as Twilight came running over to her. She wrapped her hooves and wings around her in a soft, loving embrace.

“I've missed you so much...Twilight. We really need to see each other in less stressful times.” she spoke with a heavy sigh. Twilight looked towards her with a droop of her ears.

“I heard about my brother...I've been spending every second I could, trying to find anything that could be of use. Of course my knowledge is vastly limited, I'm not a healer, and who knows if Mage Meadowbrook would even know how to cure this! If there's a cure...He's my brother. How did this happen?” she questioned.

She had every right and reason to be upset, just as much as I was saddened, yet horrified at the news. Twilight was probably taking this even harder than me, because she was Shining Armor's little sister. She could only imagine how much stress she was under right now. She had saved Equestria many times, but if she wasn't able to save her brother, Cadence was sure she would think she was a failure. Cadence didn't plan to let her think that, or even want to believe that notion. She shook her head back and forth. No...there was no time to waste.

“What books have you looked through? Is there anything I can do to help?” questioned Cadence. Even if it was simply reading, or gathering books like Spike was, or even taking notes. Anything she could do to speed up the process, because if the nurse was indeed right in her own knowledge of comas, Shining Armor didn't have long yet to live, and the only thing tying him to this world right now was the nurse's magic and knowledge of what was going on.

“I've poured through most of my collection of medical remedies, and I have yet to find anything that useful. Though, it says here in this book, that there's an old potion that could wake up a comptosed patient, but it's only a fifty fifty shot of it even working, and even then, the only one that knows potion making, is Zecora. Perhaps we should go see her.” suggested Twilight.

“A potion? What kind of potion, could have that kind of impact though? I've never even heard of such a thing, myself.” replied Cadence, though in the pit of her stomach, she hoped such a potion did exist, but yet Mage Meadowbrook's book, hasn't lead to any leads as of yet, but perhaps...

“Yes, a potion. It looks rather complex though. I certainly wouldn't want to try my hooves at it. I'm no potion expert. I think it may be best for you to go talk to Zecora. I could go with you, but I think my time is best spent here looking for anything that might be helpful.” spoke Twilight with a sad gleam in her hues.

Cadence used her magic to look over the book, as Twilight handed it to her. Hmm...it did have potential. Though...she couldn't help but have this sinking feeling, Zecora was good, but was she this good? There was only one way to really know. She had to go see her, even a small glimpse of hope, was worth a look.

“Thank you, Twilight. I do hope I can bring back good news with me. Shining Armor is counting on us. Please, don't blame yourself. None of this is our faults, if anyone is to blame...it's me for letting him go.” spoke Cadence trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

“Cadence...Shining Armor is my brother, I know him just as well as you too, and I know he wouldn't want this. He wouldn't want you to burden yourself with blame. It was an accident, it could have happened to any pony, even ourselves.” spoke Twilight.

Cadence knew Twilight was right, she took a deep breath, lifting her hoof up to her chest, her breathing technique to calm her nerves. She then embraced Twilight in a soft hug. “Thank you, Twilight, I couldn't have asked for a better sister in law.”

“You're welcome, now go. We have a lot of work ahead of us.” smiled Twilight.

Cadence nodded and made her way out of the castle. She wasn't about to give in to the thought that Zecora could heal him, but she wanted to believe it was possible. She knew Zecora would be able to tell her more about this potion, and if it was real, then they had to make it, Shining Armor needed to live...She needed him, just as he needed her now. She bumped right into Starlight Glimmer on her way out of town.

“Oh sorry, exuse me.” spoke Starlight trying to be polite.

“Oh no worries dear, I'm in a hurry. You're fine.” spoke Cadence and without another word, she left Ponyville, to head into the Ever free Forest. She never did understand why the ponies of Ponyville feared this place so much. It was a rather adventerous place, sure it seemed scary, but there was more to it than that. It had a certain character, and she did enjoy getting out of the palace, though she had hoped to visit Zecora with more pleasant news, rather than the news she currently had. The fact that Twilight hadn't been able to find anything in her books didn't look good...but Twilight's library was massive, and Twilight was still pouring through her books when she had arrived, so she would keep hope alive. Keep fighting, my love. I'm coming...

She knocked on the door, politely with the first few taps, and then tapped a little harder again when she didn't hear an answer. What if she wasn't home? She had to be home. After what seemed to her like a few minutes, Zecora came to the door.

“Cadence, you seem troubled, what can I do for you?” she questioned towards her with a concerned look on her face. Of course Zecora allowed her inside.

Cadence sat down across from where Zecora had decided to sit, as she took a deep breath, and explained the situation to her of what she had heard, and how that her only hopes, might rest in her making a potion.

Zecora took a look at the potion and seemed to mutter to herself, before looking back towards Cadence.

“A simple potion may be key, in order to save him indeed, but there is no guartnee of it's success. You really want to try and have me brew it? Know it's history, it may have terrible side effects, be careful of the mixtures you brew for you never quite know what it might do.” spoke Zecora.

“I understand, but things are rather dire right now. Please, we have to try, I can't lose him...not when I was just about to tell him...about us...” she whispered to Zecora as she leaned her forehead against hers.

“He knows not of our bond, does he?” questioned Zecora, Cadence had mentioned another lover, she hadn't yet said who. Of course Shining Armor only had one question, if he was going to be involved, and of course Cadence said yes, she loved Shining too much, to give him up for a simple one night stand, but it was so much more than that with Zecora. After she had assisted her with Flurry Heart, she began to feel the same way about her, that she did about Shining.

Zecora, wrapped her hooves around Cadence, simply holding her against her form. Zecora would do her best, Cadence knew that, but she also knew that it would take a miracle to save Shining Armor, she could only hope for a cure.

"Rest now, Cadence, I shall see what I can do, for you." spoke Zecora.

Cadence nodded her head, and allowed Zecora to work, she knew she'd just get in the way.

Author's Note

Duh, duh duh! I hope you guy/gals are enjoying this. I am excited to write this idea now, and yes we are getting into the meat of our plot now.

Do you think Shining Armor will live, or is his fate tragic? Let me know what you think.
And yes I know it's an odd ship, but hey I was inspired, so I just went with it. xD.