//------------------------------//
// CHAPTER 1: Behold the First Gate - Part I 
// Story: One Pony Death Punch 
// by Sol Nemesis 
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In darkness Cadence sobbed. The only light to guide her were the eyes of her captors. Changeling eyes glow an ethereal green, reminiscent of luminescent fungi. Their faded, deathly glow accompanied by angry hisses and sharp jabs spurred her forward, deeper into the depths of Canterlot Mountain. Cadence obeyed without resistance. How could she do anything else, they would kill her if she tried to escape, and that would mean never seeing Shining again. 

Cadence forced back a whimper as her captors lead her deeper and deeper into the dark pausing only to torment her once more. 

Hard, uncaring hooves shoved her into a wall before another set of chitin hooves bucked her in the gut. Cadence doubled over onto the ground, this time unable to choke back her cries of pain and despair. More chitin hooves railed into her as she once again pleaded for them to stop. This only goaded on the changelings and she could feel the magic of her love drain away. This was her routine, this was her life now. Every few minutes or so, this draining of Cadence's despair and the love for Shining Armor. Controlling her feelings were impossible, even if she knew that they were feeding her captors, making them stronger. She couldn't just forget him. What made it worse, was the very thought of Shining Armor marrying that wicked queen instead of her. It made her angry, it made her want to lash out. A set of green eyes narrowed before the changeling struck Cadence across the muzzle. She struggled, attempting to get on her own four hooves, but was struck in the gut again causing her legs to buckle before she fell once again. Laughter. Wicked laughter. 

"Cadence! I'm coming to rescue you!" came the voice of her prince. Cadence winced in pain, no one struck her but it hurt all the same. She pinned her ears back, trying to ignore their mockery. The changelings had toyed with her feelings before, but it would not work again. Cadence was determined to make sure of that. Cadence curled into a protective ball. Trying to ignore the voice of her beloved. Shining Armor's voice whispered sweet nothings, reassurances, one of her captors even dared to attempt flirting with her

"Go away." She said angrily and received another swift kick in the gut as a response.  Cadence curled tighter, for the first time in her life, with all hope abandoned, she wished she would die. 

At that moment, a sharp noise cut through the dark causing the wicked laughter to cease. It sounded like... whistling?

Cadence kept her eyes firmly shut. Was this a new tactic? Trying to improve her spirits? Get her to cheer up only to drain that cheer away? It wouldn't work. It sounded like the kind of whistling a pony would do on a mid-morning stroll. Hardly something that could lift her darkened spirit. Suddenly, Cadence felt something long and sharp press against her throat. It drew blood but the cut was shallow. Cadence tensed waiting for the end, cold steel slipping into her soft fur and tissue, spilling her life blood all over the ground. It didn't come. 

The whistling grew louder, accompanied by a new noise. Hoof steps, and a light tapping sound. Her captors were dead silent. Cadence risked opening her eyes as she noticed that every single one of her captors were looking away from her at, what she assumed, was the direction of the noise. The sharp object dug deeper into her neck, drawing more blood, but only slightly, making it clear that she would die if she tried anything. For a moment, Cadence considered shoving her neck willingly into the tip and ending it all, but the thought of never seeing her love again, stopped her. All she could do, was wait in despair.  

*Tap*

*Tap*

The tapping grew louder. So were the hoofsteps. Something was coming

*Tap*

*Tap*

Changeling reinforcements? Why would they need more than the dozen or so changelings to keep her captive? Maybe it was the changing of their guard. That had to be it. But if so, why were the changeling's around her so tense?

*Tap*

*Tap*

There was some chattering between the changeling guards and from what Cadence could make out, two of the rear changelings left to investigate the noise. They cautiously peeked around a corner before disappearing down a passage that led to the upper levels. The tapping ceased. There was a muffled sound of something distant. It sounded disturbingly like snapping bone.

*Tap*

*Tap*

The tapping resumed. The changelings started to argue amongst themselves. Some formed a defensive perimeter while the two standing directly next to Cadence argued about whether they should kill her or not. Cadence's ears perked up as the changeling drone in charge argued that the Princess of Love was to remain alive by the Queen's orders. Before his compatriot could retort, a new voice broke into the hushed discussion.

"Finally found you." 

Cadence's eyes widened, her ears swiveled to the newcomers voice. It was a stallion from what she could tell. He sounded relieved, cheerful even, but it was nopony she recognized.

"Thank goodness. I almost lost you there for a second."

The changelings that formed the defensive perimeter around Cadence all hissed in unison as they encircled the interloper. The sharp object was removed from cadences throat, from the dim light of the changelings eyes, she could tell that the object was a spear and it was now being held by the drone in charge, pointed out in a defensive posture. Her attention turned to the many sets of eyes encircling the dim outline of a stallion. The drone in charge barked an order to attack, and the changelings all leapt in unison.

There was a *WHIP-CRACK* and one of the sets of changeling eyes went out. Cadence watched in morbid fascination as the dancing lights of changeling eyes blinked out of existence and melded into the void. Every once in a while, Cadence saw the outline of a hoof or a leg. But it was all over too fast to make anything out. The last set of eyes disappeared with the explosive sound of shattering wood. The drone in charge stepped back almost tripping over Cadence's curled form. The Drone barked a challenge but his set of eyes disappeared as Cadence heard a sickening crunch and thump somewhere above her. The clattering of a fallen spear signifying the end of the fight. 

For a short moment all Cadence could hear was heavy breathing, clear signs of exertion.

"Horse feathers. Joints still feel like stone..." The stallion grumbled. There was a series of popping noises like something was aligning back into place. It sounded painful, causing Cadence to wince, even as her own joints popped and muscles ached as she tried to stand. 

"Hello? Who's there?" She timidly called out.

"Forgive me madam, do you maybe have a light? My staff seams to have shattered."

"I'll try." Cadence responded as she gathered what little magic she had left. It took a few tries, but soon the tunnels were lit in a dim pink glow, revealing an orange earth pony with shoulder length silver white mane,tied in a knot. He Was sitting on his haunches. Remnants of a shattered staff held tightly in his hooves. She was shocked to see him. Another pony. After so long. Her feelings of gratitude and relief were hampered somewhat at her rescuers own, very different, reaction.

"AH! WHAT IN TARTARUS? GAH! BY THE EARTH AND PLAIN, WHAT ARE YOU?" He screamed in surprise leaping backwards and tripping over the form of a downed changeling. He screamed again backpedaling from the bodies. "WHAT ARE THEY?!"

Cadence looked at the stallion quizzically not sure if she should feel grateful or offended.

"My name is Princess Mi'Amore Cadenza...an Alicorn?" She added hesitantly.

She could feel his eyes dart between her horn and her wings and back again. His expression went from shocked to curious before melting into concern.

"Madam. You're hurt." He recovered from his shock and moved over to inspect her wounds. His eyes lingered on the bleeding cut of her neck then scanned the bruises covering her body.

"Yes. Yes I am." Her voice quivered after hearing the concern in his voice. It felt like an eternity since she felt somepony's sympathy. Real honest to goodness sympathy. She launched herself at her rescuer. The stallion tensed at first, but he relaxed when he realized that the mare in his hooves was crying. Hesitantly he placed a hoof on her back and carefully rubbed her back to comfort her. "Excuse me miss..." He began but Cadence leapt away from him suddenly frantic.

"The wedding! We have to stop the wedding!"

"What wedding?" The stallion asked Raising both hooves to try and settle the frantic mare down. Cadence wandered around the tunnel in a circle frantically looking around. 

"My wedding. That queen is going to hurt my Shining Armor! And...maybe worse!"

The stallion watched Cadence's frantic movements as she mulled over her fears for only a moment before stomping his hoof down. The whole tunnel shook with the Force and Cadence flinched in surprise. The stallion's firm gaze catching her attention. "Whatever it is madam it'll have to wait. You're injuries aren't too bad, but that cut could get infected if we don't find you a healer." Let's get you out of here miss...er...Alicorn. Follow me." 

Cadence blinked and after a short pause nodded her agreement. She motioned a hoof signaling the stallion to lead the way.

In the pink light she could see him nod and survey the area. Taking up the spear that was responsible for the cut on her neck, he broke off the tip and blunted the broken end by jabbing it into the ground. After inspection he tapped it to a large boulder and stood, to Cadence's surprise, on his hind legs.

"Watch your step." Her rescuer said and started the long climb up a narrow passage that would hopefully lead to the surface. 

Cadence followed warily, unable to shake the feeling in the back of her mind that this was all another trick. Some elaborate ploy to build up her hopes before dashing it to dust and sucking it dry. A feeling of dread threatened to envelop her heart until the light from her horn came upon the unconscious bodies of the changelings around her. She gaped in awe at one particular changeling, the drone in charge, who was stuck like a stalactite in the cave ceiling, it's leg twitched violently every other second or so. "Coming alicorn lady?" Came the voice of her rescuer from further up the cave. Without another moment of hesitation she gingerly stepped over the bodies of the changelings, pausing just enough to buck one across the face and followed.