Cadence had seen Jai fight before the changelings were abducting her. She felt their fear mixed with her own, but she didn’t quite understand why they were scared. That was until the two of them were navigating the gem mines below Canterlot. She watched as he eviscerated and interrogated any changeling that they came across.

“Please! Spare me! I’m just following ord- AGH,” A changeling pleaded before Jai put a dagger through the roof of his mouth. Cadence winced and averted her eyes. She was spiteful that she was foal napped but now she felt bad for any pony unfortunate enough to cross him.

“This blows, none of these guys have a key!, ” Jai yelled angrily. Although the situation was reminiscent of the changeling hive. He didn’t have the time to study the surroundings and map out everything.

“Is there anything I can help with?” Cadence asked weakly. Her ability to feel the emotions of those around her was something she had lived with her whole life. She had seen anger, well she thought she had seen anger before. However what she felt from the human in front of her was deeper anger. What Cadence saw was no longer the sarcastic, easy going, and curious human, but a monster.

“Not really. You can’t use magic and if you get hurt I don’t have first aid,” Jai said, shaking his head. He knelt and looked into a few of the saddle bags the changelings had. He found the usual crappy hardtack, daggers, and canteens.

“Did um…any pony notice that it wasn’t me up there?” Cadence asked, unable to bear the heavy silence that had fallen. Jai hesitated to speak as he continued to see if any of the changelings had the key to the cuffs.

“Yeah, Twi did,” he said, standing up. The shadows around him expanded down the paths that surrounded them. Cadence still hadn’t gotten used to seeing magic she thought exclusive to Umbrum.

“What about Shining?” Cadence asked, hopefully. Jai shook his head and stood up after taking a canteen.

“Twilight noticed. Something's wrong with your hubby, and everyone else is wedding crazy,” Jai said, walking over to her and setting down a canteen of water for her.

“Oh that's…,” Cadence said, going into deep thought. Jai let her rest while he expanded the radius of his shadow magic. It was hard to do with the restraints on but this was all he could feel in his metaphorical tank.

“Wait a damn minute. Who needs a key when I can do this,” Jai said, recalling the shadows from the paths around them.

“Um, what?” Cadence asked, after setting down her canteen.

“Who needs a damn key,” Jai asked, rhetorically. Using the shadows around him he knelt to the ground and used them inside the lock. Jai focused as he tried to precisely pick the lock.

Click~

A faint click brought a smile to the humans face as the cuffs fell to the ground. Pumping his fist he approached Cadence and stared at the lock on her horn.

“Hmm. Yours is different,” Jai said, touching his finger to the lock. Shadows permeating the lock. He couldn’t use his own magic on this one, and upon further inspection the material used was oddly familiar to him.

“Well I’m sure the key to mine is around here somewhere right?” Cadence said, trying to sound optimistic.

“Mhm. Anyway, since I can use magic again I’m gonna black this area off and rest for a bit. Pretty sure we have a day to spare,” Jai said, waving his arms. As he did, crystals from the walls blocked off the tunnels around them.

“That's um... ok,” Cadence said, looking down.

“Mhm,” he responded, sitting against the wall and passing out.

“Oh man, I was half kidding when I told him to disappear," Spike mumbled, as he walked around the castle with Twilight. He did not actually think that the human would just straight up vanish for days. He was just really jealous that he had Rarity’s attention and not him. As Spike followed Twilight he did his best to cope that he was not the reason Jai went missing.

“Spike, are you listening to me?” Twilight asked, as the small dragon ran into her.

“I uhh, …yes?,” he said, rubbing the back of his head and averting his gaze. Twilight glared down at him, making the small dragon sweat.

“Spike, you do understand this is important right?,” Twilight asked, sighing as she began to repeat what needed to be done.

“Twi, please I understand we need to find him and all but…,”Spike said, trailing off. Although he hoped he didn’t have anything to do with the human’s disappearance. Didn’t mind not having to walk on eggshells walking around the castle.

“But what Spike? No pony else sees anything wrong,” Twilight said, impatiently stamping her hoof on the marble floor and rambling about what could be happening.

“BUT I DON’T LIKE HIM! He’s-He’s rude, selfish, arrogant, and dangerous!,” Spike spat out, his face turning red as he raged about the human. Twilight snapped her full attention back to the small dragon. She hadn’t seen this side of him since, well ever really.

“Spike? Is everything alright?” Twilight asked, kneeling in front of the frustrated dragon.

“NO! Ever since he showed up, everything is about what he wants, or does. I’m sick of it,” Spike ranted.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner how you felt?” Twilight asked, her ears flattening on her head.

“I tried! No pony listened. It’s whatever lets go find this stupid human,” Spike said, grumbling as he pushed past Twilight.

“Spike, wait!,” Twilight called after him. Spike kept walking down the hallway as Twilight caught up with him.

“We don’t have to do this now Twi,” Spike said, trying to hold himself together.

“Spike, I think we should,” Twilight said softly as she stepped in front of him again.

“No Twilight please let's just do this. I feel better now that I got that off my chest,” Spike said, wiping the tears from his eyes and sniffing. The two locked eyes and nodded, heading towards their destination.

“What are we even looking for Twi?” Spike asked, as Twilight picked the lock on Jai’s room and entered.

“Any clues. He just disappeared last week and the wedding is tomorrow and-,” Twilight froze looking at the sword vibrating on the floor.

“Is that um…normal?,” Spike asked, concerned that the humans room was haunted.

“She did move when he spoke to her so maybe it is,” Twilight said, unsure as she approached Dusk.

“Her?” Spike asked, confused.

“That's what he said, and her name is Dusk,” Twilight said, levitating the shaking sword over to her and spike.

“Today is full of surprises, I guess- WOAH!,” Spike yelled, watching the sword jerk around in Twilight's magic, almost bonking the small dragon on the head.

“Woah um…Dusk do you know where Jai is?” Twilight asked, not expecting an answer. Dusk however stopped thrashing around for a moment. To Twilight's surprise the sword began to point out the window of the room towards the cliff.

“I don’t know why we didn’t come here sooner Spike,” Twilight said, as she smiled and trotted out of the room.

“Maybe it was the unusual guard presence outside and inside the room, remember?” Spike said, rolling his eyes following Twilight out of the room.

“It isn’t this way either,” Cadence said, as the two of them found themselves at yet another dead end. Jai grunted in frustration as they walked back the way they came. He had no clue how long they had been walking since he woke up.

“I should have spent more time learning to use these damn shadows,” Jai said, as he sifted through the saddle bag he had taken. Pulling out his canteen he took a big swig of water then capping it he returned it to the bag.

“Umm, what spell did you use to move them? Maybe I can help,” Cadence asked, looking at the unkempt human next to her. He had bags under his eyes, his white t-shirt had holes around the hem at the bottom. His jeans were covered in dust, and soil, along his boots that were beginning to tear around the laces.

“Spell? I have not once learned a spell of any kind. I just think and do and it happens,” Jai said, shaking his head. Cadence opened her mouth then closed it. Every great magic user in Equestria made spells to use powerful magic. At least that was what she was taught growing up. Most had to say the spell out loud and more advanced users of magic could do it mentally.

“In all this time, you have not learned a single incantation?” Cadence asked. The human was still so full of surprises. She thought maybe he would remember a spell to get them back to the surface. Auntie Celestia always remembered a spell when it mattered.

“You say, ‘in all this time’ like I’m- Oh right time difference,” Jai said, sarcastically throwing his hands up.

“Time difference?” Cadence asked, confused what he meant by that.

“Yeah- shhh,” Jai said, putting his hand over her mouth.

“Mhmph,” Cadence mumbled in surprise, through his fingers. As the two stopped walking they crouched and heard hoof steps and whispers. Jai readied his magic and waited at the the corner of the intersecting paths as the steps grew closer and closer until-

Crack! Swish!

The sound of rocks breaking and dirt sifting aside as Jai raised crystal from the ground around the corner.

“Eep! Spike no!” The voice yelped. Jai knew that voice, but he couldn't let his guard down yet. Before Jai could say anything he turned to see Cadence missing. He frowned and rolled his eyes and he peered around the corner.

“Twily! I missed you!” Cadence said, throwing herself at the purple Unicorn.

“Wait, how do I know you're the real Cadence?,” Twilight asked, breaking free of the hug and igniting her horn. Dusk still in her sheath pointed at Cadence. Jai nodded in approval as he was relieved that at least Twilight was on guard against changelings. Even if the sword wasn’t drawn at least the mindset was there.

“Twily its me, your foal sitter. You know…Do a little shake?” Cadence said passively as she performed the little dance she did for Twilight as a filly.

“Oh thank goodness! The wedding is today and we can find Jai and stop the changelings!,” Twilight said, her voice full of hope.

“Right here,” Jai said, finally coming out from around the corner. He released the magic trapping the small dragon and smiled at Twilight.

“Um, here you go,” Twilight said, floating Dusk over to the human.

“Good job Twi. Ya did good,” He said, grabbing Dusk with his right hand, and approaching Twilight. He gave her a few pats on the head, eliciting a sigh from her.

“Ahem! I lead them here. Took them long enough to come get me,” Dusk said, irritated.

“Yes, you too Dusk. Good job, now let's get out of here and wait Twi did you see anything on your way in?” Jai asked, as the cave shook around them.

“Um no actually Spike and I just walked right on in,” Twilight said, furrowing her brow a bit.

“Wait so if no-one’s here then-,” Jai said as he was abruptly cut off by the cave shaking around them. Dust fell as the tremors continued for a few moments. The sounds of rocks cracking, and gems falling filled the cave system.

“That doesn't sound good, Twi,” Spike said, looking up at Twilight.

“No, It doesn’t. Come on, let's go!” Twilight said, turning and trotting back the way she came.

“I wonder what it is this time,” Jai mumbled as he followed behind the trio out of the cave. The sun temporarily blinded him as he exited the cave. He winced as his eyes slowly started to adapt to the light once more. He wasn’t happy with what he saw once he got his vision back. The Canterlot barrier had been deployed around the walls. There were countless changelings and Umbrum banging at the barrier. He saw smoke rising from somewhere in the city, and the panicked screams and shouts in the distance made him remember what happened to the Crystal Empire.

“How many times do I have to repeat that day,” Jai thought as he continued to follow Twilight into the city.

“What do we do?” Spike asked as they approached the chaotic streets.

“Take Cadence, get that magic inhibitor off her and get Tia or Luna,” Jai said, grimacing at his surroundings.

“What are you going to do then?” Twilight asked.

“Citizen evac, damage control, and whatever else I think might keep this place in one piece,” Jai said, drawing Dusk from her sheath and turning her into a spear.

“But-” Twilight tried to stop him.

“Twi, use your head. If THIS is happening now that means the shit went sideways topside. You said the wedding was today, right?” Jai said, trying to keep his cool. Twilight's eyes went wide in realization as the humans words clicked.

“Ok, be safe! Cadence this way!” Twilight said, sprinting towards the castle with Spike on her back.

“What she said. Please don’t do anything stupid,” Cadence said, as she followed after Twilight.

“No promises. Stupid seems to be my middle name,” Jai said, laughing to himself.

“There is no ‘seems’. You are stupid,” Dusk said, sarcastically.

“I missed talking to you too,” Jai said, smiling as he began to make his way through the streets.

“Where's Sombra?” Dusk asked, curiously.

“Haven't seen him, Dudes been oddly silent for something I can feel in my magic,” Jai replied, as he moved debris out of the way with his magic for an elderly couple. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy but then again when was his time here ever easy. As he moved with the couple, in the distance Jai saw a familiar dark, and menacing shadow approaching the castle walls.

“Oh for the love of please don't be what I think that is,” Jai thought to himself. It was like the world was trying to give him a stroke before he even had a chance to fight back.

Author's Note

Wonder what Sombras up to, he's not yapping away for once and its... ODD Oh well at least Spike got his frustration out. Hope the lil guy feels a bit better :3

Yes its only 2k words, yes I am working on longer chapters. Love yall enjoy the suspense (or dont) and stay safe. I am going back to working on Sols not from here now lol.