Tempest Tossed

I stop, and Cadance speaks. "So tell me when
You first became convinced that breaking laws
Was somehow right for any citizen?"

"Forgive me, please." I snort without a pause.
"I thought that love and mercy intertwined,
That virtue weighed for deeds despite their flaws."

"There's virtue?" Cadance asks. "Unless I'm blind,
I can't imagine seeing this as that!
You're twisting everything that's good, I find!"

"By stepping up?" I cry. "You autocrat!
Except for death, you never truly care
About the mortal world! I'm just a gnat!

"If love had any place within your heart,
You'd celebrate! Instead, you pick apart!"

"Relax! Relax!" It's Discord puffing air
And words into my ear. "You'll get her riled!"
Indeed, her mane's assumed a reddish glare.

"The impudence!" She stomps. "It makes me wild!
You think you know from love? You haven't got
The first idea! Less than any child!"

"Responsibility!" I shout. "Allot
A friend to foul perdition? Mine's the fault,
And mine's the force to counter deadly rot!"

She sighs, and anger smooths its rough assault
Upon her face. "The love in letting go
Remains as hard as cracking any vault.

"And yet? Essential, vital, deep, and pure:
The path of nature's sad but always sure."

"Unless," I say, "the means to overthrow
The path of nature lies within the grasp
Of one determined, one who seems to know."

She blinks with wrinkled forehead, gives a gasp—
And turns to Discord. "Keep your solemn vows!
You swore you'd not undo the mortal clasp!"

I turn to Discord, too. His spiky brows
Engorge and fidget. "Me?" A halo pops
Between his tangled horns. "My pledge allows

"Assisting friends! Requires it! Nothing stops
Me lending paw and talon cautiously!
Besides, the quest is hers! I'm background props!"

With aching knees, I turn to Cadance. "True.
You want a fight, my hoof's prepared for you."

She shakes her head. "You're empty, Dash, a flea
Extending meager pinches, tiny bites.
Beyond this point, you'll smash to fine debris.

"The universe is set against these flights
Of fancy, won't allow you bringing out
Decedents lodged therein. They haven't rights

"Of immigration once they're here. To flout
Established law? Impossible! It's done."
She sighs. I grin. "I sense a bit of doubt.

"Besides, to push the limits? Perfect fun.
To question basic common sense? Superb.
Sublime. And, well, I finish once begun."

"You'll die," she says, "a pointless, needless waste.
But fine." She steps aside with clear distaste.