Zipp lands softly. Her wings are tucked but her eyes are sharp. You are trembling as you lands softly as well,staring into the mist where your worst fears are manifesting as flickering shapes.

Zipp:The mist reacts to your pulse, partner. If you let the fear run the show, it’s going to get a lot more "real" out here.

You look away,unable to speak. You know why the mist is thickening but the secret of Opaline’s spell feels like a lead weight in your chest.

Zipp:I’ve been tracking these shadows all night. I know Opaline is behind the curtain. But I can't find the source of the leak if you're keeping the valves closed. Look at me.

She steps forward,placing a steady hoof right over your heart. You looked at her, noticed her Cutie Mark begins to pulse with a faint,brave light.

Zipp:I’m an Underground Detective. I find things that want to stay buried. But you? You’re my best friend. I’m not here to solve you. I’m here to stand with you. Let’s clear the air.

The music begins with a low,pulsing synth. Zipp paces around you,her eyes scanning the fog like a scanner. She stops, her hooves clicking on the crystalline grass. She slowly sang out her words.

Verse 1:

Zipp:Midnight ink is spilling through the trees. I hear the whispers carried on the breeze. You’re staring at the dark like it’s a wall,waiting for the heavy rain to fall. I see your wings are heavy,pinned to your side. There’s a secret in your eyes you’re trying to hide. The mist is getting thicker with every breath you take. How much more of this silence can we break?

She steps closer,leaning in to look you in the eye, her detective's hat casting a shadow over her determined gaze.

Chorus:

There are shadows in the sky but I’m the storm. I’ll keep you steady. I’ll keep you warm. You don’t have to run from the nightmare’s sting. Just listen to The Courage that the truth can bring. I’m tracking your heartbeat. It’s the only lead I need. Face the ghost. Plant the brave new seed. I won’t leave you behind in the violet haze. We’ll find the light in these haunted days.

Zipp flares her wings wide, the sheer force of the movement pushing back the nearby purple fog. You looks up at the sky,her Cutie Mark beginning to glow with a bright,pulsing cyan light that cuts through the darkness.

Verse 2:

Zipp:Opaline is feeding on the things you fear. But she didn't count on me being here. Every step you take back makes the mist grow tall. But one word of truth makes the empire fall. My mark is glowing. It’s a signal in the night. A detective’s promise. A spark of white light.

She places her hoof firmly on your chest. You can feel the steady strength of her presence. She taps her hoof rhythmically against your chest, matching the beat of the song to your racing heart.

Chorus:

Zipp:There are shadows in the sky but I’m the storm. I’ll keep you steady. I’ll keep you warm. You don’t have to run from the nightmare’s sting. Just listen to The Courage that the truth can bring. I’m tracking your heartbeat. It’s the only lead I need. Face the ghost. Plant the brave new seed. I won’t leave you behind in the violet haze. We’ll find the light in these haunted days.

Zipp leans her forehead against yours,grounding you as the Nightmare Mist screams around you.

Bridge:

Zipp:Don't be afraid that the truth will break the bond. Look past the nightmare,to the world beyond. Friendship isn’t fragile. It’s the ground where we stand. I’m reaching out, so take a detective’s hoof. Facing the shadow is the only way through I’m not just Storm... I’m the one who believes in you.

Final Chorus: