The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

Ch.14 The Prancing Pony Inn

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Spike's journey downriver was without delay, and when they arrived at Horseshoe Bay in the dark of night, no Nazgul was in sight. The four friends departed their raft and started for Baltimare. At the southern entrance of the city, north of Horseshoe Bay, resided a wooden gate ten meters high. And just like Canterlot, a single, but experienced, Gatemaster was dedicated to determine whether a pony would enter or withdraw from the steps of Baltimare. The four friends approached the surly stallion; the Gatemaster's alabaster complexion, white with age, was spotted by asperous hairs, a consequence of weeks of unkept hygiene and constant duty.

"What do you want?" inquired the Gatemaster bitterly. The stallion's acknowledgment of the four juveniles was quick to the point, a strategy Apple Bloom chose to adapt.

"We're headin' for the Prancing Pony," answered Apple Bloom. The three ponies and the dragon shivered in the monsoon which cascaded cold aqueous; the water exaggerated the freezing sea breeze of the sea past Baltimare's coast.

"Out of Ponyville by your talk, eh? What business brings you to Baltimare?" interrogated the Gatemaster. The stallion swung a lantern before the coterie, shining an uncomfortable upon the distressed syndicate.

"We wish to stay in the inn. Our business is our own," Apple Bloom answered again. She withheld privy information, for who knew where the spies of Sauron resided.

"All right young miss. I meant no offense. It's my job to ask questions after nightfall." The Gatemaster apologized, and unlocked the gate. He then moved aside to let the three fillies and the dragon through the open wooden barrier.

"There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful." After Spike entered the gate, the Gatemaster closed and locked the portal. 'Hopefully these four companions would be the last visitors to arrive till the morning' thought the exhausted stallion.

The tall Baltimare ponies loomed over the nervous little fillies and the tiny dragon as Apple Bloom, Spike, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo made their way through the compact streets. Tall buildings, testaments of contemporary engineering, manifested in glass and steel, towered above them. However, the colossal structures were denied the awe deserved from the quartet, who were otherwise occupied with the legion of driven stallions and mares. Baltimare, as a metropolitan city, attracted a population five times that of Ponyville, all within the relatively same space as Ponyville. But, as if Celestia's godly powers were her own, Apple Bloom persevered through the crowd, and eventually found herself before the angelic neon sign which advertised the Prancing Pony Inn.

The four drenched friends entered the Prancing Pony, and warm, dry air greeted them more hospitably than any of the busy ponies in this city. Laughing resounded throughout the establishment, and drinks of hot cider and cold ale were passed around to thirsty customers. Apple Bloom approached the front desk, which was a head taller than her.

"Excuse me," called Apple Bloom, hoping to catch the attention of the desk clerk.

An aged Unicorn beckoned to them; gray fur and white hair emanated an air of experience.

"Good evening, little ponies. What can I do for you?" greeted the elderly Unicorn, very unlike the many ponies passing through Baltimare's streets.

"If you're seeking accommodations, we got some cozy colt sized rooms available. Always proud to cater to the young folk, Miss..." The clerk's speech dragged on, prying for the identity of the golden filly with the sanguine mane.

"Pineapple. My name's Pineapple," stated Apple Bloom; a second's hesitation betrayed the fraud of her false identity.

"Pineapple...yes." The clerk nodded, repeating the name to himself. But even with his suspicions, he dared not to inquire further to the group about their true identities.

"We're friends of Twilight Sparkle. Can you tell her we've arrived?" Apple Bloom hoped above all else that Twilight was here. She'd hate to have made this journey in vain.

"Twilight? Twilight?" the old pony repeated to himself; his brow furrowed in confusion.

The corners of Apple Bloom's mouth curled into a disappointed frown. Had Twilight Sparkle not made it to the Prancing Pony on time as she had promised? Had this entire journey been made in vain like she feared? All these questions were reflected upon the filly's tense exterior.

"Oh, yes! I remember. Young mare. Lavender fur. Pointy horn." The clerk listed the characteristics of the Unicorn. The clerk's remembrance brought a smile to Apple Bloom's face. Maybe Twilight had made it after all.

"Not seen her for six months." Apple Bloom's young mind couldn't grasp the concept of Twilight not being punctual. The one Unicorn who could teleport all over Equestria couldn't make it in time for a rendezvous at a simple tavern.

A myriad of emotions swelled up inside Apple Bloom. She felt hurt because her friend had lied to her. She felt sorrow, knowing her trip had been in vain. But she was also worried: maybe her friend hadn't lied. Maybe her friend was injured, and couldn't make it to the inn. If only Apple Bloom had known how close she was to the truth, it would've boggled her mind.

Apple Bloom turned to Spike, whose countenance shared the same worry as her.

"What do we do now?" asked Spike. The worry in his voice was palpable, and even Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle felt demoralized at the failure which was set before them.

***

The Prancing Pony was dimly lit tavern, fetid from a blazing log fire and crowded with a mixture of stallions and mares, many of which were drunk, hammered to the point of near unconsciousness. Apple Bloom, Spike, and Sweetie Belle reserved a table against the wall, clearly trying to remain quiet and inconspicuous, unlike Scootaloo; the orange Pegasus conversed with the wretched residents of the establishment as she waited for her cider. The lack of hope for the quartet seeped into the air, an entity in its own right. The angst manifested in Spike most transparently: the dragon kept casting nervous glances around the lounge. Apple Bloom knew she had to say something to calm her friends' dread, or she may not find any of her companions in the morning.

"Don't worry, Spike. She'll be here. She'll come." Apple Bloom's words of inspiration fell on deaf ears, as her own tone preluded to the hopelessness of their situation.

Many of the more sober stallions gazed at the table which Apple Bloom sat. They all recognized her, but from where? Where had they all seen that particular filly before?

Scootaloo rejoined the table, grasping the biggest mug of cider any of her compatriots had ever seen.

"What's that?" asked Sweetie Belle, simply astounded by the size of the massive goblet.

"This, Sweetie Belle, is a pint," answered Scootaloo, who zealously beheld the massive mug of apple cider before her.

"It comes in pints?" Sweetie Belle's question was rhetorical, and it only elevated the curiosity of the little Unicorn.

"I'm getting one," stated the filly Unicorn, who stood up and made a beeline straight for the bar.

"You got a whole half already!" Spike yelled after Sweetie Belle, which did nothing to stop the departure of his curious friend.

Spike paused. Following Sweetie Belle's path to the bar led his gaze to the cloaked pony in the corner of the inn, who did nothing but stare at their particular table.

"That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived," said Spike, pointing at the brooding stranger who sat in the corner of the room.

Apple Bloom risked a glance at the 'fellow' Spike referred to. There wasn't much to see, but a lot could be guessed at, based on the form of the pony. The cloaked frame was that of an adolescent stallion, or a matured mare. The travel-stained covering outlined a lean, winged form, the result of intense labor and possible training. From what she could see under the hood, the Pegasus had what looked like cyan fur, but the pony's mane was undetectable, so Apple Bloom couldn't conclude the identity of the individual.

The desk clerk was passing by, levitating two mugs to some thirsty customers down the aisle. Apple Bloom nudged the old pony slightly, drawing his attention to her.

"Excuse me. That pony in the corner. Who is he?" Apple Bloom asked, guessing at the sex of the stranger.

"Well, she's not a 'he', but she is one of them Junior Speedsters. Dangerous flyers they are, as far as I've heard. What's her right name is, I've never heard, but around her, she's known as Rainbow." The clerk departed quickly, as not to invoke the wrath of the mysterious Pegasus.

"Rainbow." Apple Bloom repeated the name to herself. She knew a Rainbow, who was also a Pegasus, and a female. But the term 'Rainbow' was most likely being used by this particular pony as a codename, nothing more. Resigned to the enigmatic identity of the Pegasus, Apple Bloom resolved to focus on it later, for other business needed to be attended to.

Apple Bloom twirled The Ring in her hooves; she could feel the ambient energy within the golden band vibrate her frame. She closed her eyes, to focus more on the potency of The Ring's power. Its flawless surface twirled effortlessly in her hooves, and she perceived the voice of The Ring.

"Apple. Apple. Apple," whispered The Ring. The world melted around Apple Bloom, and all that was left was The Ring's voice, "Apple. Apple, Apple, Apple." The Ring's voice grew hurried; the speed at which it repeated her name hastened. That's when Apple Bloom realized that it wasn't The Ring calling her name.

"Apple? Sure I know an Apple. She's over there: Apple Bloom," announced Sweetie Belle from the bar. The alabaster Unicorn pointed her hoof over towards Apple Bloom, revealing the Earth pony's true identity to the sordid residents of the inn.

Apple Bloom rushed to Sweetie Belle. She had to stop her, or her mission would be in even more jeopardy than it already was. Apple Bloom grabbed Sweetie Belle's hoof, and shook it; consequently, Apple Bloom spilled Sweetie Belle's cider.

"Sweetie Belle!" yelled Apple Bloom, hoping her friend would take the hint.

"Be careful, Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle's free hoof swung out and smacked Apple Bloom in the face, knocking the Earth pony backwards.

Many of the bar's clients took notice to the squabble happening between the two fillies. Apple Bloom tripped over the leg of the pony behind her, and she fell to the floor. The Ring slipped from her hoof, and launched into the air. The other ponies eyed The Ring as it reached its apex, and descended back to the ground again. Apple Bloom's hoof reached out for it, but The Ring slipped over her foot, and she disappeared into thin air, to the great astonishment of the guests.

Spike looked from where Apple Bloom was a moment ago to Scootaloo, the orange Pegasus herself shared the same worry as the baby dragon. Sweetie Belle looked down at the ground where Apple Bloom was, and only one thing crossed her mind, 'Did I do that?'

***

The Nazgul, who wandered aimlessly within Equestria's eastern hemisphere, turned sharply towards Baltimare. They could feel The Ring call to them, an obvious sign that some unfortunate pony wore the sacred artifact.

***

Apple Bloom opened her eyes, but all she saw was a shifting dark cloud, like a photograph where the picture was of negative quality. The cloud took on the forms of the bar members around her; distorted voices emanated from the ghoulish creatures, and they moved in slow motion, conducting the same actions as their counterparts in Equestria.

"You cannot hide." Apple Bloom heard Sauron's voice before she saw him. She turned, and she saw the Great Eye: cat-like, and wreathed in flame.

"I see you." The Eye moved closer to Apple Bloom, enveloping the shadowy forms of the ponies around her. She backed away, hoping to escape the advancing Dark Lord.

"There is no life... in the Void." The Great Eye was almost upon her; Apple Bloom's progress was stopped by an invisible barrier.

"Only... Death." Apple Bloom tugged The Ring from her hoof. The nightmare faded, and the real world infiltrated her vision.

Apple Bloom gazed around. She was in a secluded corner of the bar, hiding under a table. Relief washed over her. Not only had she escaped Sauron, but she was undetectable to the inn's other patrons... or at least she thought she was. A cyan hoof gripped her ear, and forcefully ripped the filly out from under the table.

"You draw far too much attention to yourself, 'Ms. Pineapple'. That's my job." The cyan Pegasus' brash voice was intrusive to the Earth pony's hearing. The Pegasus grabbed Apple Bloom's ear again, and pulled the Earth filly upstairs into what Apple Bloom guessed was the mysterious mare's room.

"What do you want?" asked Apple Bloom, literally forced into a corner by the unidentifiable Pegasus.

"A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry." 'Rainbow' shut the door behind her, and went to the window.

"I carry nothing," stated Apple Bloom. This 'Rainbow' couldn't know anything about her mission or The Ring.

"Indeed." The Pegasus' sarcasm was itself a knife, which stuck deep into Apple Bloom. How could this stranger know so much about what she carried?

"I rather enjoy the spotlight. But if I don't want to be seen, I can avoid detection by others. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift," stated 'Rainbow'.

The stranger blew out the flames by the windowsill, and then turned to Apple Bloom. She pulled off her hood, revealing an unmistakable rainbow mane.

"Rainbow Dash?" Apple Bloom was astounded by the appearance of another friend on this hopeless mission. She ran up to the cyan Pegasus, and wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash in a hug.

"It's SO good to see you!" exclaimed the Earth pony, as tears welled in her eyes.

Rainbow Dash returned the gesture, and softly stroked the filly's crimson mane. Their embrace was interrupted by the door being bashed down. In the broken doorway stood Spike, claws ready to scratch and maim. Behind him stood Sweetie Belle who held a chair, and Scootaloo, who held her pint glass from before.

"Let her go! Or I'll have you, Lo--" Spike ceased his threat after he realized the identity of the pony before him.

"Rainbow Dash? NO WAY!" called out Scootaloo, ecstatic at finding her longtime idol before her.

"Hey squirt. How's my biggest fan?" Rainbow tussled Scootaloo's hair, then gave her a hug.

"It's great to see you again!" exclaimed Scootaloo, a huge smile plastered on her face.

"It's great to see you too. But now is not the time for ceremony," stated Rainbow. She turned back to Apple Bloom. It was now apparent that whatever Rainbow Dash had to tell the Earth pony, it wasn't good news.

"You can no longer wait for Twilight, Apple Bloom. They're coming," confirmed the cyan Pegasus.

***

The Gatemaster stood inside the barracks, cozy and warm by a fire. He heard the sounds of fast-approaching hooves; he groaned, "Who could be here at this hour?"

The Gatemaster proceeded to the gate, and opened up a viewing port to discern who would interrupt him at so late in the night. The massive gate fell over him and crushed his body. Four Ringwraiths galloped over the fallen timber, and into Baltimare, seeking The One Ring. Soon, The Ring would be theirs again...

Soon, Sauron would cover Equestria in a second darkness...

Soon...