Three Ruined Nations

Three Ruined Nations

Written by BubbleBuster

Chapter 3 - Memories Don't Burn

Princess Luna woke up to the sound of a crackling fire, and in time she had realised she was not in the castle, or any place she recognised. Her eyes scanned the area to find the Elements of Harmony, huddled up to a fire in the morning light. She appeared to be in a frozen cave, but the Moon princess had no idea to where this cave was. Finally, she mustered the strength to speak. "Where are we?" Asked she, puzzled by what the circumstances were of getting in this strange situation. "The last thing I remember is a bright light, and a flash. Can one of you help me here?" Princess Luna tilted her head in confusion.

Twilight Sparkle replied without hesitation. "Well... your Highness, all of us are not sure to why we are here. I, myself, have figured it may have been a magic incident involving that strange... tower. It gave me a strange vibe, and when the storm came, I was uncertain that we should have been in there."

"Hmm..." said Luna, adding two and two together, "Remember what I told you about Soulter?" The other alicorn nodded. "Well... I am almost certain he has something to do with it. Our best bet is to find civilization that speaks our language, regardless of their species, and find out where we are."

"Are ya implyin'..." Began Applejack "That we could all be farther 'way from 'ome than we'd like? That we could be anywhere 'round the globe?"

"Applejack, Element of Honesty... yes. I am implying that, but when we strike civilization, they should realise who I, and possibly, you are. If they don't, we are further than we would like."

Everypoy shivered at the thought, including Pinkie Pie. "Well, at least we're all together and safe. That's what counts, isn't it?" Everypony nodded their agreement.

"Right then, first things first; we must look at our surroundings. It looks pretty cold out there," she turned to face the snowstorm outside, "And I would not want for you to get cold, so I will set a spell to warm you as you explore, and I will cast it on myself." Luna channelled magic through her horn, but it never seemed to get to her horn. She rose to her hooves and tried again, but she was too exhausted and flopped back down. "I... cannot seem to perform a simple heating spell; I am simply too tired. Are you two with horns as tired as me?"

They nodded. "So, how will we do it?" Piped up Rarity.

Princess Luna scanned the ponies. "We need somepony used to temperature extremes, and who can quicly examine the area before the freezing cold gets to them."

Five hooves pointed at Rainbow Dash.

"Ah, Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, Best Young Flyers competition winner and the only known performer of the legendary Sonic Rainboom, am I correct?"

Rainbow Dash flashed the lunar princess a confident grin."The one and only."

"And you are used to temperature extremes?"

"Yes. Flying as high as me gets frost and ice all over your fur. You get used to it when you fly as much as me."

"Can you evaluate our surroundings and report any signs of life or civilization, or anything else you consider a landmark?"

"Yep." Rainbow Dash gave a sincere salute and took out into the snowy mountainous landscape.

Dash could hardly see as she flew through the blizzard. The mountains were rough and craggy, covered in a thick, white sheet of fresh new snow. She gritted her teeth before racing ahead between the terrain. No civilization, life or landmarks here.

The rainbow-maned pony flew downwards on the spot. When she looked around, she could see the faint, flickering light of the crackling fire. She dashed down to the cave, carefully landing on the frozen rock. "Nothing there, your majesty."

"Luna will do fine, I know you all well enough. And that is a shame. We will conduct a proper search in the morning, when Twilight and I have regained enough power to cast the heat spell. I am still baffled to why all of us with horns have lost energy. 'Tis not important now. Your safety comes first."

The important figures talked for the rest of the day, and they were all concerned about where they would get a reliable food source that could feed them for a good period of time. The blizzard ended and night came and, instinctively, Luna wanted to raise the Moon. But it seemed to travel like a snail, unlike when she rose it. What was Celestia doing all that time, just standing by with the magic working away? But that would certainly kill her, would it not? Using magic for even the usual amount of time took a lot out of the two sisters. How did she cope?

Fluttershy was obviously concerned as Princess Luna gazed at her precious Moon in shock. The butter-coloured pegasus shuffled up to her, gently nudging the princess. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words formed and they let the silence sing between them both. Luna began to speak, which startled Fluttershy at first. "I... am most confused. My Moon has been on this long rise for a long period of time...she paused to swallow the lump in her throat, and continuing with, "D-do you think my Tia's alright?"

These words hit Fluttershy like a ton of bricks. "Well Luna... I've lost somepony very, very dear to my heart before, Pri- Luna."

Luna looked at her subject and asked her to carry on.

"Her name was Buttercream... she was my mother. We lived in Cloudsdale at the time. I lost her five years ago to a fire. She was out collecting a very rare type of flower in the Everfree forest when the mysterious fire ripped through the forest. Nopony knows the cause, and that part of the forest was lost." Fluttershy gulped, her eyes turning moist at the thought.

"I... am sorry for your loss. May I be of any help to you?"

Fluttershy was inconsolable. She just stared at the frozen rock floor of the cave that was ever so slowly melting.

Princess Luna turned her head to the others. "How did you manage to start that fire, anyway? There's not even any twigs around it, so how did you do it?"

Twilight replied in her all-knowing tone of voice. "A simple contained fire spell was all I could manage. Then I was simply too exhausted to do anything else to do with magic."

"Well, all of you get some sleep. You deserve it and, being princess of the night and dreams, I bid you all a good night."

"What about you?" asked Pinkie Pie.

"I will keep watch, and I can't safeguard your dreams if I'm sleeping myself."

"But you can't use magic." Rainbow Dash chipped in.

"This is a different kind of magic which can be used when somepony is in need. It works on its own. Now get some sleep and recharge your magic before we conduct a proper search tomorrow morning."

Twilight had many questions, but they could wait for later. What was important now was that they all got some well-earned rest.

The growl of snoring could already be heard from no other than Rainbow Dash, napping on a small ledge in the cave, much like a cat would. The rest of them giggled and five more ponies fell asleep after her. Princess Luna smirked, facing the ponies. Then she began to sing a lullaby that her "Tia" had always told her.

"Have a good night, little pony,

Have a great night and a rest.

When you wake up the next day,

Throw those worries away,

And be at your very best."

Fluttershy could be seen with tears streaming down her cheeks and this set off Luna's alarm. She was pulled into her dreams in an instant.

Five years ago...

The fire blazed through part of the Everfree forest and Buttercream had abandoned her bags to run. It had crept up on her and she had to gallop for her life and her daughter at the last minute, hoping she would be spared from the blazing inferno that was the fire. Fluttershy watched the scene from the front of the forest, her hoof held to her mouth and her cheeks stained with tears. Suddenly a cloud of smoke appeared and out came the head of Princess Luna, then revealing her body and flying over to where Fluttershy sat.

"Fluttershy... don't look. It's over now. That's all the advice I can give." She then dissipated in a cloud of dust, and Fluttershy could hear the faint cries of "Wake up!" in the distance.

"Wake up!" Applejack called to the sleeping mare. She woke up instantly and saw everypony huddling around her, wondering what was wrong. "Are ya'll alright, sugarcube?"

"She's fine." The voice of Princess Luna came in as she trotted up. "I am guilty for awakening such horrid memories in you. What can I do to regain your trust?"

She rose to her hooves. "I trust you, Luna."

"You do?"

"Of course." A warm smile graced Fluttershy's lips as she spoke, which reassured the troubled pony.

Twilight began to speak. "Now that we're all awake and recharged, we need to start the search. The weather seems to have changed itself, which is strange... I'm beginning to think these lands are like the Everfree. Anyway, the blizzard is gone and Luna or I can cast a heat spell which will keep us all warm, and then the search will begin."

About ten minutes later, Twilight cast the heat spell on the ponies and they all went out. Ones with wings could fly around, ones without had to climb down the craggy, mountainous landscape. After long hours of searching, Twilight found an abandoned house with a path that lead out of the mountain range, landing on the ground. They were all pretty close to each other so she shouted "Girls!" and they all came to where she was. They looked at each other in worry, and began to walk the long path. The snow began to fade as they ventured out and out from the mountains, wondering still where they were going. Trees sprouted and a few birds sang as cheerily as they could manage.

They all walked in deadly silence before Pinkie piped up in a rather worried tone, "So... Has anypony got any ideas to where we are?" Shaking heads came from everypony and this just made Pinkie Pie more antsy than ever. "Do you think that we're far away from home?"

"It is a possibility," said Rarity.

"O-oh..." Pinkie choked on her words.

They came upon another house now, one that probably housed an earth pony. It was small and rusty, with two rooms. The walls were made of stone and, overall, the exterior needed some work. "Stand back and out of the way," said Rarity, waving a hoof at the others. "I will negotiate." Rarity knocked on the door three times before it was answered by a small earth colt. His fur was a light brown and his mane jet black. One of his pale green eyes had a patch around it, and he had no cutie mark. The colt looked up in fear.

"U-unicorn! Mother! Unicorn! Outside!" He began to hyperventilate, waving is hoof at Rarity.

"Hello. What's your name?"

Suddenly a rather rough looking mare came up to where the colt was standing at the door. Her coat was a slightly darker shade than her son's and he eyes were the same colour as his. Her mane was white, and she didn't have a cutie mark either.

"What do you want?! Leave my child alone you filthy unicorn!" and she slammed the door.

"I-"

Rarity was stunned and everypony could her the soft sound of sobbing from inside the house.

"Yah just 'ad to make the kid cry, didn't ya'll!"

"I didn't mean to! I didn't know!"

"Guys, we're not getting anywhere." Rainbow Dash had her front legs folded as she flew above the rest.

Twilight agreed. "Rainbow Dash is right."

They all chatted about the courses of action they could take.

"What should we do?"

"What should I do?" Celestia thought out loud, preoccupied with picking at her bed sheets with her hooves. "You've messed up big time, Celestia. You've messed up big time."

I will get my revenge...

This day was driving Celestia mad. It made her want to kill herself, but what would that leave for her ponies and her nation? She had decided herself to send out a search party, but she hadn't got around to actually doing it. The solar princess wasn't sure how she was going to explain where Luna and the Elements were, and she still had royal visits to attend and the day court to run. And now she had even more responsibility to run the night courts and Luna's royal guard.

And the threats she faced! With Soulter on the run, her ponies were in danger and she couldn't tell them. She would have to stop him, get the Elements and her sister back, and how was she going to do that? She had figured soon enough after the Nightmare Moon incident that Equestria couldn't thrive without those important figures. How she even coped during that millennia puzzled her.

There came a knock at the door and a familiar voice saying, "Auntie Celestia, I'm here with Shining." Celestia grinned as she said that and Celestia opened the door with her golden magic. "You said you have important matters to discuss with us?"

"Yes." The smile faded.

Cadance's face grew slightly weary and she chose her words carefully. "Is it a legal problem? Just a legal problem, right? Or are we trying to negotiate with other nations? I can help with that."

Celestia shook her head.

"No? Then what is it?" Asked Shining Armor.

"Something you probably wouldn't believe, not in a million years, but trust me, it is true."

The couple leaned in closer.

"Follow me to somewhere where we can talk properly, and I will tell you every last detail of the events that transpired yesterday."

They walked to a small, cosy room with red velvet pillows set out on the floor and a white marble fireplace. Celestia lit the fire and began to speak as they seated themselves on the pillows.

"Well... yesterday... we have lost some great figures."

"W-what do you mean by "lost", Princess Celestia?" Shining Armor voiced his concerns.

"They could be alive... or dead. But I haven't a clue where they are..."

"And who are they?" asked Cadance, intelligent as ever.

"H-how do I explain this..."

At the end of the conversation, the couple were stunned into absolute silence. "B-but how? And where is Soulter?"

"I cannot answer these questions just yet, because I don't know. I am sending out the search parties soon. but do not speak of this to anypony except from speaking to each other, and even when you do, keep a low profile. Is this understood?"

"Yes, Aunt Celestia."

"I hate seeing all of you in such a sad state. But it is the truth; only the truth and nothing but the truth. I wish you a good day. Are you staying in the castle?"

"No, Princess Celestia. We must return to the Crystal Empire as soon and as swiftly as possible." Shining Armor saluted and made his way to the door, with Cadance following. "And good luck."

"Thank you Cadance, and thank you Shining Armor. I wish to hear from you soon."

They nodded in unison before opening the door, closing it behind them, then trotting out into the hallways.

"I just hope it's not too late..."

Princess Celestia walked at a snail's pace around the decorated and old hallways of the castle. Guards were around every corner and they, for once, made her nervous. Celestia's gaze was fixated in front of her and it was never moving. eventually she came upon a balcony, the same one that she had stood upon on the night of the disaster. She wanted to turn back, but she was too far now. So she continued walking towards it, slowing and eventually stopping. The afternoon air was cool and refreshing to the alicorn, and it calmed her down.

She looked down on the city below. Ponies were going about their normal everyday business, oblivious to the chaos that was upon the whole of Equestria. The princess of the Sun hated keeping her loyal subjects in the dark, but it was the only way. She just hoped that she could stop Soulter before he hurt anypony, or even better, before anypony even knew about his existence.

Celestia groaned as she looked down. She was thankful that nopony had noticed her, since she had tears forming in her pink eyes that she was finding hard to contain. Can he see me?

I can see you perfectly!

Who said that? How can you read my thoughts?

I'm more powerful than you think, Tia.

Get out of my head!

The voice went and Celestia was grateful. She spat on the floor. "To think I once cherished you..."

She took flight once again, above the cloud line where the frost bit her wings and where she could corkscrew, zero g roll and even loop if she would've liked. Celestia flew towards her Sun as if she were chasing it down, twisting, trying to forget the whole thing; Soulter, the disappearances. she swooped higher, her wings flapping gracefully, and followed a weak current. Even though she had not flew this long for a long while, she knew al the tips and tricks of getting a good flight, some from Rainbow dash herself. Argh! She was remembering it again!

She floated towards the large celestial body with grace and a peaceful demeanour, doing tricks along the way. Then the princess swooped down to just above the cloud line, letting her hooves dangle freely, touching the fluffy blanket beneath her. Celestia wished she had more free moments to swoop and soar through the clouds, then she wouldn't be so uptight all the time. For a moment she didn't care about anything. Princess Celestia may have been the busy ruler, but she had her moments too. Her free moments, her moments of sadness, moments of anger and regret.

Moments like this one.