The Great Equestrian Journey

I'm back in the tunnel when Cadance's face changes, and the roaring in my ears say why.

Oh.

I twist my head back to see.

I need to get to Cadance's tunnel.

We both make a mad scramble towards it. Since she's lying right by the rock under the tunnel, Cadance gets on it first. No way. I'm not about to be left for dead.

Cadance is struggling to get on the platform when I reach her, getting on the rock as well, then looking behind me to see a mess of rocks and dust and chaos. No, please no.

Then something goes wrong. The rock can't support me and Cadance's weight, apparently, without rolling. I'm on the side of the direction the rock is rolling, so I go down first.

Nonononono. This is not happening. I am going to die. We are going to die, me and Cadance together.

I throw my weight behind me so the rock can't roll on me, but my leg catches Cadance and we fall together, Cadance screaming. The roaring is so loud it might as well make my ears explode. I land flat on my back, and the wind is knocked out of me, leaving my heart hammering and my lungs bursting for air. Now I know how Cadance feels.

I try to move, but I can only roll over--just to see the rocks falling from the ceiling about ten meters away. Dust clouds my vision, and I clamp my mouth and eyes shut. Beside me, I hear Cadance moving. I don't make a move to go after her. This is fate. I'm going to--

Survive?

The rumbling stops, and I pant, exhausted. Only my tunnel has caved in, and some of the rocks have spilled into the room. The dust starts to settle, and the only sound in this room is me and Cadance's labored breathing.

"Are you okay?" Cadance asks. I look over to see that she's sat up. Huh, she's kinder than she was.

For some reason, that causes me to simmer. "You think?"

Cadance rolls her eyes--another non-Cadance thing. I really wonder what's wrong with her. I think it must be a changeling who's playing a trick on me. If so, I'll wring the life out of it.

I turn towards Cadance, who's slowly rising to stand. I try to be strong instead of the weak Chrysalis that I've been. I sit up--slowly, trying very hard not to wince from the pain. "I'm going to ask again. Are you Cadance?"

Cadance stands above me, a full head taller since I'm still sitting. I try to give her my death stare as she opens her mouth to speak, but that doesn't stop her icy sarcasm. "Yeah, I'm a changeling. I'm totally capable of facing a tyrant that caused me to be the most despicable creature ever. I am so glad you're here." Her face is all rage now.

Oh, I'm all about rage. "Nice, Cadance, always knew you were such a jerk. What happened to you?"

"What happened to me?!" Cadance shoots back. "You happened. And how are you so defenseless one moment and then all--" Cadance waves a hoof in the air "--angry the next?"

I don't know why I'm so weak. Maybe it's because I'm still shocked. So I need to muster up the strength to overcome it.

But before I can come up with a witty comeback, Cadance huffs and trot towards the center of the room, blahing on and on about the fact that "You're such an undeserving idiot; but you definitely deserve what happened. You don't know the trouble you've caused me. You don't know anything about who I am. You shouldn't have a say in what I do."

She stops there, and I intervene. "I deserve being with you? Doesn't that mean--"

"You're so dumb!"

Cadance wheels around to face me, her face scrunched up and a slight twinge of red. I jump back in surprise of her suddenly loud voice.

"You just...you're dumb, you know that? Dumber than me. You don't even acknowledge that I'm taking a stand. You want me to be locked away in a tower like a damsel, do you? Well, I'm not okay with being that kind of pony now. I'm only concerned with you." Her words become hurried and fast, so fast they literally blur together and I can only pick a few words out, but the one word that sticks with me is dumb.

I think I am dumb. Dumb not to knock her out with my magic.

Oh. Forgot. Can't use magic down here. I am dumb.

Grr. I'm going to get Cadance.

And I waste no time. I trot towards her, getting ready to feed. I can still use this kind of magic.

Cadance's face comes closer and closer in view. She stands defiantly, which makes me angrier with each step I make. How dare she defy me. I'm three steps from her...two...my revenge is right here. I light my horn.

Its when I'm a hoof from her when her limb swings back and connects with my face.

In a nutshell, it makes my head explode and every single part of my body tingles. Tears erupt into my vision. Stupid. Stupid! I am so dumb.

And Cadance certainly isn't.