The Family Cygnet

The letter was not what he expected. He’d ignored the inevitable screaming in the background as Twilight and Velvet got into another altercation. It sounded like Twilight was shouting about how she could keep handling it, likely about the kitchen. Velvet was shouting that Twilight didn’t fully understand how much work it would be. Luckily, Night’s voice rang loudly and they both quieted, allowing Shining to focus on the issue in the letter.

Flurry’s coltfriend had disappeared, seemingly off the face of the Empire. Worse, the spymaster wanted to send larger and more organized teams to investigate.

Cadance had struggled to keep Flurry herself from looking for the colt. There were records of him at the school he’d attended for years but his house was strangely empty.

Shining reviewed the notes again, going over the facts another, almost countless time. The colt had been enrolled at Flurry’s school forever. He was supposed to have a single parent, a mother, who worked at a particular smithy. When the spymaster had sent a pony to investigate, the smithy was concerned about the missing mare.

She’d just vanished.

Their house had no appliances. No furniture. No food in the cupboard. It was cold as ice, and hadn’t been heated for long enough that the pipes seemed completely frozen through—an oddity in the Crystal Heart protected parts of the Empire. The only thing of note in the house was one, oddly frozen, letter from Flurry that was crumpled up in a corner of the room and coated in a fine frost.

The spymaster’s concern was dark magic. Cadance figured the family had left when the mother realized that her son was trying to seduce Flurry and had gotten caught in the process. Flurry was… not being informed. It wasn’t the most genuine or honest interaction for her, but Cadance had deemed it necessary to shield her until the truth was known. Flurry had a bit of a temper, and it wouldn’t do for her to go on a rampage looking for a missing coltfriend. Cadance wasn’t sure if Flurry would feel angry at being abandoned, or worried about something bad happening to her coltfriend.

Either way, Shining agreed with Cadance. He didn’t like the choice, but it was the best way to handle his daughter for the time being. She’d feel betrayed by them when the truth came out, but it was better than the collateral damage that she’d most likely cause in an angry flight through the city.

Ultimately, Cadance and his spymaster had this under control for the time being. He wished he could help, but Cadance had explicitly told him there was nothing to do, and that she’d handle Flurry. His spymaster was trustworthy and effective enough that Shining would likely only get in his way at this stage.

He read the letter again, glancing out the window and realizing that he’d been agonizing over it for longer than he’d thought. It was well into the night again. He groaned, putting the letter aside and shoving the information into the back of his mind to mull over later. He really couldn’t do anything to help. Even if he went back right now.

Cadance had finished her letter by telling him to really think about her points and to properly enjoy his week with his family, a reminder which only made him feel more nervous. She didn’t even mention the supposed paperwork—clearly the weak excuse had been abandoned by both of them.

Shining groaned, worrying that he was too late to talk to Twilight again. He crept out of his room, finding the house dark. Dejectedly, he wandered the house. The papers had been cleaned up from the kitchen. The sitting room where he’d hoped to find her reading a book was empty, devoid of life entirely. As he wandered the dark and empty halls, the only room he noticed any light in was his parents’.

There was a shift in the light from under the door, and a heavily muffled and distorted sound escaped from what was obviously a simple privacy ward. His mother’s charms would have been entirely silent, and not let any light out, so it must have been his father that cast the charm.

Privacy was something that Shining understood and respected, so he decided to retire and get some sleep. He could talk with them some time the next day, and who he really needed to talk to was Twilight.

He could go to the castle—she might still be awake. The guard would let him in. Starlight could show him around. He would have if Spike was around, but his youngest brother was still out adventuring. He occasionally sent letters with the crazy things he got up to.

As it was, Shining figured it was late, and he needed to think about some things. Twilight had been pretty clear about her intentions, and he still had a few days planned in Canterlot. This could wait until tomorrow, and she probably didn’t want to impede on his relationship with Cadance.

He sighed, slightly dejectedly. He was feeling like he could use a hug from Cadance. Swans needed their love. Of course, the more he thought about it, he’d also be appeased with a hug from Twilight.

Maybe a kiss.

Then maybe a snuggle.