The Great Equestrian Journey

I have no idea how I got here.

I know where I am, the caves beneath Canterlot. I know that I've been walking aimlessly for about an hour now, taking random turns. I don't know how many lefts or rights. I've come to a straight passage now.

The thought that keeps echoing through my mind is turn back and find that wretched thing.

But I don't. For some reason, I don't. I have no intention of facing anyone soon. Besides, my return should be a long time in the future, where there's no suspicion still.

But what if that thing totally changes my kingdom? Takes over as king?

Still, I walk.

I don't know what's wrong with me. What is keeping me walking away from my destiny, keeping me from tearing his head off?

Maybe saving my kingdom is hopeless. Maybe I need to find Cadance and Shine Whoever and kill them.

Maybe it's rage making me walk. Okay. From now on, I'm taking note of how many turns I take. I just need to walk until I sustain my anger. And wait. Maybe another week. No, scratch that.

I can't wait.

I turn the other way and adrenaline surges me forward. I'm going back. I'm going to kill Starlight instead.

That's right. I'm doing it.

I break into a sprint, unleashing all my anger and depression into one mean storm. As I charge down the passage, I let out a scream. And I just lose it.

I crack up.

I don't know why. I don't know crap about things besides the fact that I am very lost and very angry and possibly turning insane.

It takes forever to get over the sudden laughter attack, and when I'm finally done, I think I've laughed everything out. This makes me laugh more. Everything's funny. I'm kneeling, tears in the corner of my eyes. I think of Thorax and giggle.

Why am I even laughing?

So many questions.

I get back up, and the feelings from before the Laughter War sink back in. I hate it. I hate hate. Haha.

I've truly gone mad.

Forget it. Let's just focus on getting out of here. My cheeks hurt, I'm feeling like I had a hangover, and I need to accomplish something.

So I go straight back. And I go.

It takes forever. I find nothing, no turns. Did I take a turn somewhere and forget? How am I lost again? There has to be a fork somewhere. I think I remember a clearing, or whatever you call them when you're in a cave.

I experience what they call loneliness. Crap. I'm in trouble. Guards are probably down here, they'll find me, I won't kill Tho-

The thing, I mean.

_____

Yep. I'm dirt.

Oh nononono. I have been walking for what feels like hours. Hours on end. I. Need. A. Break.

I think of the thing, and hate flares up in me again. It's his fault! He chased me here. He turned my own species away from me. Normally, this would fuel me, but my legs and head ache so much that I finally lean against a wall.

I'm shaking with anger right now. I am about to explode. Why me? I should be the one watching over the changelings-my changelings-not some amateur. I seethe, breathing out angry sighs through gritted teeth.

A flicker catches my eye.

It's up ahead. It's civilization. Somebody is down here and they started a fire. I'll just shift into a pony and ask them the way out, posing as an explorer. Easy.

I'm propelled to my hooves and onward by this newfound hope. And I'm nearing it, I've shifted-

When the flicker disappears.

"No," I whisper. I yell, "Wait!"

No reply. I break into a run.

It's sudden when I break into a wide room with three tunnels. Great.

I skid to a stop. Choose. Where was the flicker? Was it more to the...I drop the disguise, discouraged.

Can't give up. I take a wild guess and choose the farthest right. Of course. The flicker was definitely over here. Definitely, right?

I tentatively enter the tunnel. No, this is stupid. I should abandon hope. No, I shouldn't, if this happens to be where the flicker is-

WHY AM I THINKING SO MUCH?!

Yup. I'm mad.

I continue down the tunnel. Now I get more and more convinced that this is dumb. But, wait; there's something different in the air. Have I entered new territory?

Yes. I enter a room, about as wide as it is tall. In front of me is a platform spitting out of another tunnel ten meters above my head. I just have to find a way to get up there. I look around the room for any rocks I can push. There's a medium-sized one by the corner. I rush over and nudge it a little.

With a rough groan, it moves. I keep on pushing. Freedom is here. Soon enough, the rock is underneath the platform's ledge, my shoulder burning from rubbing against the rock. It's not quite tall enough, but I can probably pull myself up with my front hooves.

I stand back for a moment to rest, wondering why I'm dumb enough to not have used magic. If I had, this would have been resolved a whole lot easier.

And then it happens.

The flicker catches my eye again. I try to summon my disguise, but I can't. Because now I know who's behind that flicker.

She emerges onto the platform, tall and too familiar-no. I can't. I'm rooted to the ground, I can't do anything.

She carries the torch with her magic. She leans it against the wall and surveys the room. For a moment, I think she doesn't see me.

Now she does. Why didn't I just change? I try to think of ways to get out of this, but her name keeps popping up.

She looks at me with astonishment, I look at her the same way.

Then she turns to run. And stumbles.

And now she's grappling, struggling to stay on the platform-

Cadance falls onto the rock I pushed, hitting it with her back. She releases an audible gasp. I cringe, both at that and the sight of her.

She tumbles off the rock and hits the ground with a THUD.

If you could hear my shock, it would sound like an earthquake.

My eyes are frozen wide, fixed on her. My first thought: Cadance. Is. Here. My second thought: she's not opening her eyes.

I could end it all now. I could kill her. Better yet, I could keep her prisoner. It will would only take draining her emotion while she's knocked out. The last option seems fun; it's best when the victim can wake up to struggle to no avail. I consider dragging her back where I came.

So I trot towards her, get ready to feed.

I see her twitch.

Never had I been scared of a sleeping Cadance.

Get it together. You're a queen.

So I do get it together. And it's when I'm a step from her and my guard lets down when she cocks open one eye and says, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."