A shortness of breath. A sharp, twisting pain. An icy sensation. Then it was over. But Starswirl could still see. It hadn't completely removed him just yet.

When he opened his eyes, he saw everything in enhanced colors. The cell that imprisoned him was open, revealing the entirety of his first target. Starswirl climbed to his hooves. His head snapped in the direction of the Unicorn mare.

"It is done?" Starswirl internally shivered at the voice that was not his voice.

"Yes, Great One."

Starswirl nodded, a noticeably unpleasant smile forming on his face. "Very good, Clover the Clever." He stepped out into the soft heat of sunset. "In less than a day. How appropriate."

Clover smiled widely, reveling in the moment. "Are you ready for the final stage, Great One?"

"I am ready," Starswirl turned his gaze to the hills just past the village. On the other side of the island was a sandbar he knew led to something which would make his parents hysterical. "Round them up."

~~~

Rainbow Dash groaned. She was... okay. Sore, and maybe the slightest bit woozy, but A-okay. She turned over to face the sky. Oh, what a welcome sight! Buck it, tight spaces is going on the list!

Rainbow Dash had feared that her final moments had come. When the shield had shrunk to the point that it just barely covered the two mares, they had latched together, balling up to inhabit the space as long as possible. Then Twilight had whispered, "Hold... on!"

Rainbow Dash's entire life flashed before her eyes in a matter of milliseconds. In that span of time, Twilight dropped the shield, allowing the stone to crash down on where they were trapped. Rainbow Dash hardly noticed Twilight’s magic enveloping her, until she heard a burst of magic.

She raised her hooves, kicking and screaming in a very unheroic fashion. After about a minute of this, Rainbow dared to open her eyes. She was met with a homely light from the sun. Rainbow Dash giggled in shock.

"Oh, oh my gosh." Rainbow Dash began laughing. "Omigosh, omigosh Twilight, we're alive!" Rainbow Dash sprung up, doing a victory dance in the air. "Oh, smell that air! Talk about cuh-razy! Can you believe it? Two hours ago we were still stuck on-"

Rainbow Dash stopped when she realized she was celebrating alone.

"...Twilight?"

Rainbow Dash's relieved smile faltered. She looked around. Nopony accompanied her in the field. Eyes widening, Rainbow Dash zipped up. She whipped her head in every direction. When she saw no purple egghead lying about randomly, the realization hit her.

Rainbow Dash zoomed back down, launching into the cave at full speed. She scraped her sides on the cave walls as she navigated her way through. Finally, she came to the remains of the doorway, blocked with large chunks of rubble.

"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash began desperately digging. She pulled out heaps of rock, only for them to be replaced with larger pieces. The boulders pieces wouldn't budge at all.

"No, no, no, no!" Rainbow Dash pounded on the rocks, grunting in aggravation when they wouldn't give way. "Twilight!" She screamed in vain. The entire time she tried to force her way in, the room on the other side had been silent.

Rainbow Dash panted, collapsing against the rock pile. She began shaking. From fear, anxiety, and an internal pain. After a few minutes, she stood back up.

Rainbow Dash stalked out of the cave, moving slowly and purposefully. Her body still quivered, but not from any combination of the former factors.

Now she shook with fury.