The Ruin of Rule

        “Where… where am I?” Celestia looked through hazy eyes as she began to awaken from her deep slumber. She blinked twice then rubbed her tired eyes as she began to see the room much clearer. To her right, there was a large window that allowed her to view the city and what lied beyond it. Across the room, there was nothing except for the wall that enclosed the room. But to her left, there was another bed with nopony in it, the door, and… somepony sitting next to her?

“Morn’n, hope yer feel’n alright!” the mysterious pony said. Celestia quickly jumped upright in her bed, startled by the unexpected visitor. “Wh-who are you?” she asked. The yellow-coated stallion gave her a warm smile and a tip of the hat. “Name’s Braeburn, glad ta meet ya miss…” He began to look at her, questioning for her name.

She caught on to what he was trying to say. “Celestia… Princess Celestia that is…” Braeburn’s face went blank as he tried to process what he had just heard. He then began to bow and apologize. “Ahm really sorry yer highness, ah didn’t know that ah was in the presence of royalty!” Celestia chuckled.

“It’s alright my friend, you couldn’t have known. I have never visited Appleoosa before, so it doesn’t really bother me that you wouldn’t have known.” She gave him a warm smile. Braeburn sat in his seat once more, giving a thankful smile once he did. “So… where in Appleoosa are we?” she asked. Braeburn began to laugh. “Excuse me yer highness, but I reckon ya’ll take another look out that there window!”

Celestia hesitated for a moment, giving the stallion a strange look. She then turned her head to face the window. “Wait… why are we in a city? I thought Appleoosa was nothing but farmland. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.” Braeburn chuckled in amusement. “Yep, it sure is! But this here ain’t Appleoosa. It’s the big city of Manehattan!” Celestia’s face became stricken with terror.

“M-M-M-M-Manehattan?” she asked. Braeburn nodded in response, not noticing her panic-stricken face. The world went black around Celestia as her thoughts began to take over her mind. No no no no! We can’t be here, it’s too close to the Empire! Manehattan’s just on the southern half of Equestria! As she began to panic even more, Braeburn interrupted her thoughts. “Hey, ya’ll do’n alright there?” he asked.

Celestia looked up at him, annoyed by the fact that he’d bring her closer to the enemy. “No, I’m not alright! I’ve been thrown out of my own home by an evil stallion, I can’t defend my kingdom, and worst of all…” she began to cry as the dreaded words escaped her lips, “...I probably lost my beloved sister.” Celestia was in tears, the only thing she could think about was losing her sister yet again. Her sister had always been by her side ever since Nightmare Moon was defeated by Twilight and her friends. Braeburn placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Ya’ll don’t have ta worry bout that, yer sister’s here in the hospital.”

Celestia’s face became enlightened by hope at the mere mention of her sister’s well-being. Quickly, she placed a hoof on both of Braeburn’s shoulders and shook him rapidly as she asked, “Where’s my sister? Is she ok? What did they do to her?” Celestia wanted to ask more questions but was stopped when Braeburn placed a hoof on her mouth. “I’ll tell ya, but ya’ll will have to calm down now ya hear?” Celestia nodded as Braeburn took his hoof away from her mouth. “Ok from what ah know, yer sister’s do’n fine. But… the docs say that she won’t be fer long. Som’n bout a darkness slowly kill’n her. They tried do’n what they could ta cure her of it, but whatever’s ail’n yer sister is be’n more stubborn than a bear not want’n ta wake up from hibernat’n!”

Celestia sat there staring at him in shock, devastated by the news of her sister’s welfare. “N-no, you can’t be serious! There’s just no way! There’s gotta be some-” Braeburn placed a hoof on Celestia’s shoulder as he looked at her in sympathy. “Ahm sorry fer y'all's predicament. I hope there’s som’n ah I can do to help ya’ll through this.” Celestia hid her face in the shadow of her mane as her eyes still carried tears. “What about the child, was she able to deliver or…” she stopped herself, feeling the tears wanting to flood once more.

Braeburn sighed as he looked at the floor and crossed his front legs. “Are ya sure ya’ll want ta hear the news on the young foal?” he asked. Celestia slowly nodded, her face still shadowed by her mane. “The docs say that the labor was a success, however…” he tipped his hat, which now hid his face, “... they say the young colt’s got whatever’s plauge’n yer sister. ‘Cept it’s gonna cause him to become dark-hearted when the young'un gets older. They fear that if this happens, we’re gonna have two Sombras at one time. Nopony’ll be safe from their grasp.” Celestia was heartbroken, she couldn’t believe that the innocence of a mere foal could be taken away be the evil that came from the mad king. As she began to cry, she lashed out and wrapped her front hooves around Braeburn.

Braeburn began to blush at the unexpected hug, but he welcomed it and wrapped his hooves around her. “Ahm sorry fer all this… nopony should have ta witness such horrors and have ta feel so much pain.” Celestia began to sit back up on her bed as she cleared away the tears from her eyes and sniffled. “I’m sorry, it was rude of me to commit such a familiar act without consent.” Celestia said. Braeburn smiled sympathetically. “It’s alright, ya’ll just needed a friend ta turn to. We all get like that sometimes, so don’t worry yer pretty head bout it. Alright?”

Celestia nodded as she smiled faintly. “Thank you Braeburn… you’re a true heart indeed.” Braeburn nodded as he smiled in response. Then an awkward silence took place between the two as Celestia began to think about the absence of the Empire from Manehattan. “Pardon me Braeburn, but why hasn’t the Empire tried to take over the rest of Equestria? I mean, I don’t wish for this to happen, but I’m curious nonetheless.” Braeburn snorted as he looked annoyed at the question.

“Ah really have no clue yer highness, but ah reckon we do som’n bout that there King Sombra.” he said. Celestia looked down at her bedsheet, pondering the thought of how to remove the mad king from his throne. When nothing came to mind, she began to wonder if there was a way to cure both her sister and the young colt of their dark ailments with the power of light. “Braeburn, what if light could be the cure?” The yellow-coated stallion looked at her questioningly. “What’re ya’ll up to?” he asked.

Celestia looked back out the window towards the city of Manehattan. “Maybe I can cure their darknesses with light magic. If not, then maybe I can neutralize it.” Braeburn leaned back a bit as he looked at the ceiling in thought. “It could work… then again, maybe not.” Celestia looked back towards Braeburn. “Well, it’s worth a try isn’t it?” she asked.

When Braeburn didn’t answer, she asked him if he could take her to Luna and her child. Braeburn gave her a stern look. “Are ya sure ya’ll can move without fall’n over?” Celestia gave him an annoyed look. “If you’re implying that I am fat, then I am most certainly not!” she said angrily. Braeburn flinched as if he had been struck in the face.

“No, that’s not what ah was say’n at all yer highness, please forgive me fer be’n so poor with mah word choice!” Celestia kept giving him the same look for a few moments before relaxing a bit. “Alright then, I forgive you.” She then held out a hoof. “Would you care to help me up? I’m afraid that my pregnancy will keep me from doing it on my own.” Braeburn got up from his seat to help her stand.

“Of course princess, ya’ll shouldn’t be try’n ta stand on yer own in this state that yer in!” He smiled at her as he accepted her hoof. “Thank you Braeburn.” she said. Braeburn nodded in response. When Celestia began to place her hooves on the ground, her legs began to wobble from the weight being placed on them. Ugh, why does standing even have to be a chore?

She had a frustrated look upon her face. Braeburn looked at her concerningly and asked, “Ya’ll ok, do ya need ta sit back down?” Celestia gave him a warm smile. “No, it’s ok. I can do this!” Just then, one of her knees gave out on her and she began to fall. Braeburn quickly grabbed her before she hit the ground.

After Braeburn helped Celestia regain her balance, he looked at her and asked, “Are ya’ll ok?” Celestia nodded slowly. “Yes, I’m fine… just a bit dizzy is all.” Braeburn was a bit unsure of her words. “Are ya sure ya’ll can continue?” he asked. Celestia nodded slowly once again.

“Yes braeburn… I am fine… just go ahead and continue forward.” She gave him a weak smile. Braeburn gave her an uneasy look. “Here, if ya want me to, ah can let ya’ll hitch a ride on mah back. We earth ponies have strong backs afterall!” Celestia gave him a weak look and slowly nodded at the offer for help. He positioned himself underneath Celestia rightside-up.

“Alright, ya’ll ready?” he asked. Celestia nodded in response, too weak to even say a word. “Alright, let’s do this in 3… 2… 1… hrng!” He began to lift the weak princess onto his back as he started to rise to his full height. “Whew, yer heavy than ya look!” Celestia was annoyed by the comment but was too weak to even care.

“Alright let’s go visit yer sister then, shall we?” he asked. Celestia weakly smiled as the stallion began to slowly trot forward, being crushed by the weight of both Celestia and her unborn child. I must rest… I need to save my energy for when we arrive. Celestia looked at Braeburn who was busy focusing on not being crushed. You’re a true friend Braeburn, despite your accidental mis wordings. As Celestia began to rest her eyes, only one thought came to mind, If everypony in Equestria survives this disaster, then I would like to start a new life. One with love and passion. A new life with… him.