Three Ruined Nations

Three Ruined Nations

Written by BubbleBuster

Chapter 2 - A Canterlot Catastrophe

The Mane 6 had stepped out of the train with their suitcases and were looking at a grand hotel with a swimming pool in the back. Celestia had insisted the six friends to stay in a special royal suite, but Twilight had politely declined the offer and had instead paid to stay at a four-star hotel on the outskirts, near the train station, but still making it easily accessible to all of the standard Canterlot luxuries for the group of friends.

They were admiring the view when they remembered they had to check in to the hotel by two, and it was half past one. The friends trotted at a steady pace, well except Rainbow, who flew overhead at the same speed. They had walked through a beautiful garden on their way there, Fluttershy looking at all the plant life and the tiny insects. They had also saw a squirrel or two, and what a pleasure this garden was to behold. They eventually made their way to a steel black arch with the words "Horseshoe Hotel" engraved in gold across the arch. Pinkie Pie took this in with a gasp of appreciation, bouncing for a few seconds before returning to her normal posture. The friends were then looking upon the hotel. A short, wide path adorned the ground, on which the ponies walked up to the door.

Rarity sped past the others up to the door, opening it and letting the others through. "Allow me."

Rainbow Dash landed on the ground before entering after the rest of her best friends. Twilight checked in and the mare at the counter asked if she wanted royal attention; of course she said no. The mare introduced them to the hotel and dropped the keys into Twilight's hoof, and Twilight gripped it in her magical aura. They were to stay in room 62 on the second floor. The six made their way up to the room, Twilight letting them in, and had all flopped on one of the six beds, laying down their suitcases on the brown carpet. The walls had a pale brown wallpaper on them, with a flower design. A simple lamp hung from the ceiling and each simple bed had a table next to it, each one with a lamp on top. The ceiling was white and there was a large window covered by white curtains, sharing the same design as the wallpaper.

Everypony was happy and Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity were all sprawled out on their beds. The other three, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were all gossiping. Rarity's blue magical aura enveloped the curtains covering the window and pulled them apart and everypony got up to look outside. What was outside was a massive waterpark! One pool was large, and one was smaller. The large one had colourful slides all around it, ponies of all shapes and sizes having fun. The smaller pool had a tiny foal-friendly slide. Not as many ponies were there, but foals and their parents waded around in the shallow waters. Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide at the sight of the waterpark and she looked the happiest she had been since she was a filly. "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Guys! We have to go there! Just for a bit!"

Her pleading continued as Rainbow Dash's filly side showed and her tough demeanour was ruined, something only Fluttershy had ever witnessed prior to that moment. "Come on, guys! Look at how fun it looks!" Rainbow Dash was now kneeling on her rear knees, her forehooves clapped together in a pleading pose. Her puppy eyes could steal the heart of any. It was one of the cutest things Twilight had seen from Rainbow Dash, and she smirked at the sight of it.

"Of course, Dashie!" Pinkie Pie chipped in out of nowhere. The party pony was greeted by a tight hug from her best friend in the world; even she had never seen her in a state like this. Pinkie did want to go to that waterpark too, nearly as badly as Rainbow, but not quite there. Then Pinkie added, "Pinkie Pie Promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Pinkie Pie accompanied her claim with the actions, remembering to close her eye this time as she clapped a hoof over it.

"Thanks, Pinkie, you're the best," the rainbow-maned pony replied, finally releasing the hug and sighing as she did so. "Dashie" got back up onto all fours and as her friends watched her, she blushed at her little episode, "Heh..."

Rarity's hat was now on her bed as she responded, "I never knew you had such a foalish side, Rainbow my dear. You are good at hiding things, but I think you dropped your guard." This was accompanied by a smirk.

"Rarity!" Rainbow's face went a shade of red equal to the one in her mane.

Twilight watched all of this in thorough amusement, opening her suitcase with magic and pulling out a checklist, "Well, first up is the visit to the castle, girls. Let's go!"

It was now night and the Elements of Harmony were stood outside of the castle walls, two unicorn guards on the sides of the grand gates into the gardens. One had told them that the princesses would be with them shortly, and so they waited. After about five minutes of waiting, the unicorns casted a spell in unison. The gates opened and there stood the two royal sisters, looking regal but at the same time looking inviting and welcoming. Princess Luna's lips were curled into a faint smile as she said, "Come in, we welcome thou to our castle."

The friends were lead through the gardens and examined it closely, butterflies making their way around the flowers and bumblebees collecting nectar. Eventually they came upon the castle entrance and, with a swift sweep of her magic enlightened horn, Celestia opened the door. There was a long, tall, grand hallway in front of them in which stood two thrones. The larger one belonged to Princess Celestia and the smaller to Princess Luna. "Well, my little ponies, I welcome you to the throne room... except now, we're not in an emergency. Ask me or my dearest sister anything about our roles in Equestria or the enemies we, and maybe you, have faced. Afterwards, I am to show you to a... very special room. I trust you all enough now."

Princess Luna looked at her sister as if she was mad and whispered into her sister's ear, just low enough for the Mane 6 to not be able to hear, "Tia, that room is dangerous to yourself and your fellow ponies."

"Trust me. I have faith in them... Just watch and learn."

"But Ti-"

"Lulu. Just let me do what I want to do."

"Yes, Tia. You know best."

The two came out from their huddle and the lunar princess began to speak, "We will speak of that later. Now, does thou wish to ask us any questions?"

And they all asked away.

The solar princess looked at the visitors, "Now that we are all finished with the questions, my sister and I want to show you something. But... don't touch anything, no matter what."

The ponies walked through winding hallways around the castle until they reached a small staircase. The red and gold carpet ended at the bottom of the stairs, in front of a large iron door with a strange design engraved in it. There was a hole in it and when Princess Luna channeled magic to her horn and put it in, the blue aura flowed through the engraving like water would through a stream.

It was obviously very old, as the door creaked and groaned in protest as it opened. The ponies walked in in a straight line and found themselves in a stone room with a simple chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a stained glass window in front of them, depicting a dark being overthrowing ponies, griffons, and dragons alike. Princess Celestia's face grew serious at the sight of it.

"K-King Sombra?" Twilight stuttered at the name.

The solar alicorn shook her head, "Worse."

All of the ponies except the royal sisters gasped at the word. "W-worse?!" Rarity exclaimed, dramatically flicking her purple mane, "Sombra was horrid! Let me take a guess. Tirek?"

"Worse." The ruler of Equestria's face turned unreadable and she seemed to be on the verge of tears as she gazed out into the distance, as if she was looking for something.

Her sister, Luna, hung a wing over her elder sister's shoulder, "Shush. 'Tis over now, Tia. Put all of your worries behind you and let it all out."

"I cannot cry in front on my ponies. Especially with him watching."

"He won't cause any more ha-"

"Elements of Harmony... please leave us be for a few moments," Celestia managed to splutter.

The Mane 6 filed out of the room.

"Tia, he can't hurt your ponies anymore. Even though he is watching, he is sealed away."

"He... there is that small chance. That small chance of him returning..."

"Tia... 'tis unlike you. Now tell us, why are you being so negative suddenly?"

The tears flowed and Celestia sat on her haunches, followed by Luna, her midnight blue wing still draped around her sister's back. "Tia's" fur seemed gray and beaten, and her multicoloured mane seemed to droop down as the colours lost contrast.

"Because..." Celestia's voice became low and somber, "I'm scared."

Even Luna was taken aback by this confession, "'Tia... go to your chambers; I will finish the tour."

"Thank you," and she vanished in a flash of golden magic.

Luna opened the door again with her horn, "Come in. Princess Celestia needs a moment and has returned to her chambers," she swallowed, "Apologies for the inconvenience."

The six ponies came into the room, all confused as to why their ruler got upset.

"Uhm... Princess Luna... why did Celestia get upset?"

Princess Celestia was now in her chambers, enveloped in a deep sleep.

1,500 years ago...

Celestia's cry bellowed through her enemy's hall. "Soulter... you need not for this to happen. We can make peace and live alongside each other. In harmony!"

A dark alicorn sat in his throne, dark guards accompanying him. His laugh bellowed around the hall and bounced off the walls. "Harmony? With you two princesses?" He let out another laugh.

Princess Luna looked up at him; her death stare could have murdered a normal pony, "We will have to do this the hard way, then?" Her voice was quiet.

"Maybe we will."

Luna had had enough. She lunged at the threat, but in reality she was terrified. Soulter stood up snarling, as he bared his white fangs at the Moon princess. As she came close to him, Soulter dug his fangs into her neck and threw her aside like a toy. Princess Luna's body slid across the polished ebony floor, and she groggily got up, summoning three of the Elements of Harmony. Celestia knew it was time and summoned the remaining three.

Luna's royal Canterlot voice roared, "THOU SHALT NOT UNDERESTIMATE US AGAIN! IS THIS UNDERSTOOD?"

Before Soulter could manage a reply through his ringing ears, the Elements were used and a rainbow enveloped him. "I will get my revenge..."

Soulter was imprisoned in the stars, leaving a little-known constellation that was planning its revenge, and all it could see was an old, stony room in the castle which had a stained-glass window depicting him on it.

Celestia woke up in a cold sweat. She hated the thoughts of that night and even though he was imprisoned in the stars, his warning rang in Celestia's eardrums like a marching band.

I will get my revenge...

"No!" she managed to yell, covering up her ears. "You will not!"

A guard from outside heard her Highness and slammed open the door, his body in a fighting stance with his wings spread wide, ready to attack any oncoming threats. "Your Highness!"

Princess Celestia exhaled. "Just a bad dream. You are dismissed from this room."

The guard gave a quick salute before marching off and closing the door behind him with a wing.

The princess hated Soulter's voice. It was so familiar, yet so unknown to her. She wanted to destroy him, but she also wanted him back. The solar princess was torn between the two options. Destroying him would result in her ponies being safe, but she had to care for her own needs too. What was she to do?

Just then the cracking of thunder came upon the room. It sounded then stopped for a second or two, then grumbled again. Celestia was sure there wasn't a thunderstorm scheduled today, so why was it there? She rose to her hooves and calmly walked out of her room and through hallways until she reached a grand balcony, where she could see most of her land. It was raining and her fur was dampened. The Moon was blacked out by the storm clouds and the clouds stretched beyond the horizon, none of which were emitting lightning just yet. Celestia's face turned unreadable as she gazed into the skies.

A flash and then thunder told the Equestrian ruler that this was a lightning storm. But this lightning storm was strange. It had appeared more speedily than it should have, and it was not scheduled by the weather team, and she wasn't even sure if all the weather ponies in her kingdom could have made a cloud this big. It also had a dangerous vibe emitting from it, which Celestia took a disliking to. Even though her fur was stained by the rain, she just stood there in the cold. A large bolt of lightning shook everything, and the brightness momentarily blinded Celestia.

The brief cry of "Celestia!" could be heard that seemed to emit from the old castle tower in which her sister and her friends were at that moment. Celestia took action and galloped, before she stopped before a troubled one of her own guard. "P-princess!"

Celestia's worry grew and she started to panic. "What was that yell?!" She demanded.

"Princess Luna and the Elements of Harmony-"

"What happened?!" Celestia snapped.

"They're MISSING!"

The solar princess raced past the guard and through the long, twisted and inconvenient corridors full of monuments and stained glass windows, both old and new, until she came upon the lone tower that didn't fit with the scenery of the castle. The old, worn door was hanging open on its hinges and Celestia hastily galloped in and looked around, covering every inch of the tall tower. No life was found. Celestia sat on her haunches as she had before, except she had nopony to comfort her this time and her heart felt shallow and empty, like it had been emptied. Tears fell to the floor, creating a puddle on the uneven stone slabs.

Her sadness suddenly turned to anger as she stood up and faced the stained glass window, which seemed to be channelling electrical power to itself. Then came the lightning once again and it struck the window, a wisp of smoke escaping from the shattered remains of the window, coming in glass shards, some of which pierced Princess Celestia's skin as she stood up and stared into the skies. The wisp was out of sight, and Celestia knew exactly what -or who- it was.

"Soulter." Her single word told all as it bellowed around the tower, up the walls to the ceiling, and then bouncing back down to the floor before vanishing completely. Her anger then turned to pure fury as her royal Canterlot voice told the words. "SOULTER! WHAT IS THY REASONS FOR THIS?! WHERE ARE THY ELEMENTS AND WHERE IS OUR SISTER?!"

She got no answer and then collapsed in a heap of frustration. The tears flowed once again and she was weak, even though if somepony would have said it she would have denied it as a schoolgirl would her crush. Then Celestia rose to her hooves and flapped her wings, flying off into the chilly night-time air, forgetting about all of her loyal subjects. Princess Celestia rose with grace in her now undeniable sorrow. The rain beat down on her fur, heavily drenching it and letting some glass shards fall out. A lot of these areas of her body hit drew blood, the pain not phasing Princess Celestia.

The princess of the day was now out of Canterlot and facing Ponyville. She ventured into a calmer domain above the storm, where the Moon and the jewel-encrusted sky were both in her field of vision. She sighed as she recollected today's events, nothing seeming out of the ordinary... except from her behaviour. Lulu warned me, and I knew it was dangerous myself. Why would I endanger innocent ponies?

The princess cried into the night. "Luuuuluuu!" And dropped dramatically, looking behind herself after she had levelled below the cloud line. Celestia wished she was somepony else so she could slap herself, but she couldn't do it. She then realised she had a nation to run. As she turned back to the castle, she told herself not to mention the disappearances to anypony apart from Cadance, Shining Armor and her own royal guard. She didn't want to put her country into panic when it could have easily been avoided.

Celestia touched down in the old tower and her sombre face did not shift as she slowly walked out from the wretched thing. She tried so hard as not to cry as she rushed to her chambers and jumped onto her luxury bed, sobbing quietly to herself, not letting others hear.

"No... not again... I thought I had it under control... I thought it would be okay..."

She reverted her gaze from the pillows to the window, watching the rain, the thunder, and the lightning as it overpowered the night sky, ferociously pounding farmland and sports grounds below the castle situated on the mountainside.

"I was wrong."