The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

           Ch.28 The Foal Mountain

Going north of the White Tail Woods to reach the Smokey Mountain was no longer an option for the Fellowship, for Nightmare Moon's spies: the crows, patrolled the area in search of intruders. This left only one choice for the mismatched group: to go around Canterlot, and through the Foal Mountain. Five days were spent tracing their steps back to Ponyville, where their quest began. Another week was then wasted making their way to the alpine peaks of the Foal Mountain.

The Fellowship trudged their way through the Foal Mountain. The snow was hip-high, and the air cold and thin, almost stifling. Rover lead the pack, his tall form allowing him to easily overstep the high snow. Following was Rainbow Dash, who labored excessively to keep herself afloat in the thin atmosphere. Behind Rainbow were Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, followed by Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike. Shining Armor strode ahead of Twilight, Applejack and Apple Bloom, the two mature mares helping Apple Bloom make her way through the snow.

Apple Bloom was a harder worker than most ponies, and should've been leading the pack as the Ring-bearer. But her fragile frame floundered under the weight of The Ring, which became heavier with every passing day. And with each day, Apple Bloom fell further behind, usually having Applejack and Twilight to accompany her. In the deep snow, Apple Bloom's condition took a distressing turn, her short legs unable to step over the snow. But everything can get worse, and it did: Apple Bloom tripped.

The incline of the mountain plane caused Apple Bloom to roll a considerable distance, before Twilight's magic could stop her descent. Applejack raced to assist her sister, and on the filly Earth pony was recovered, Apple Bloom checked herself, to find The Ring missing. But before she could voice her concern, Shining's voice echoed in her ears, "Is this what you're looking for?" asked the Royal Guard, the chain which carried The Ring wrapped around his hoof.

The members of the Fellowship stared at Shining Armor; the Unicorn stallion examined The Ring, a zealous flame in his eye.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing." remarked the transfixed guard. His other hoof went towards The Ring, ready to place it around his wrist.

"Brother!" yelled Twilight, her impressive volume stirring Shining from his trance.

"Give The Ring to Apple Bloom." commanded Twilight, wary of Shining's intentions.

Shining Armor stepped cautiously down the mountain, alert of the slippery slope. Shining handed The Ring to Apple Bloom, who quickly snatched The Ring from his grasp, and placed it around her neck, out of the corrupted Guard's reach. Shining Armor looked back to his sister.

"It's okay, Twilee. I have no intention of keeping it." Shining's pet nickname for Twilight did nothing to wane the dense tension occupying the thin atmosphere.

Shining Armor stomped back up the mountain, cursing under his breath. Applejack ushered Applebloom on when Shining was at a safe distance; the Earth mare's grip loosened around her sword. Twilight's gaze never left her suspicious brother. She feared The Ring has already corrupted Shining, and if so, it would mean Apple Bloom's life would be in even more danger than it was at the moment. And if this was true, Twilight would be forced to take the most extreme measures to protect Apple Bloom from her brother.

***

In the mechanical pits of Isengard, hammers cracked against metal, and furnaces melted steel into a molten stew. The Changelings were hard at work; no rest, no breaks. They were to create an army more massive than anything Equestria had ever seen. But every army needs weapons, and their army would have tools allowing them to crush any opposition in their path.

The arrival of a murder brought another set of sounds to the cacophonous array of noise which swept through the mine. The crows flew throughout the pit, finding their master waiting for them on a bridge. The crows caws changed into a dialect older than Equestria itself, a language Nightmare Moon had mastered many centuries ago. The crows relayed whatever information they bore, then retreated back to their patrols.

Nightmare Moon, the tall, ebonic Alicorn was pleased by what news her crebain spies brought to her from the west. Nopony had been spotted anywhere near the White Tail Woods, which meant Twilight's troop were either: masters of stealth, or more plausibly, taking another route to the Smokey Mountain.

"So, Twilight, you try and lead them through the Foal Mountain. And if that fails, where then will you go? If the mountain defeats you, will you risk a more dangerous road?" questioned Nightmare Moon.

***

The Fellowship was caught in a blizzard, as they tried to traverse a precarious slope on the Foal Mountain. Twilight led the troop, her magic melting what snow lay in her path, but the blizzard's fierce wind met her magic with its natural force. Rover fell behind, his long arms wrapped around Spike and Sweetie Belle. Applejack fell behind, supporting Apple Bloom, and Pinkie Pie was behind Applejack, carrying Scootaloo. The rest of the Mane Six followed Pinkie Pie, not even Rainbow Dash willing to fly in such treacherous conditions.

The wind whistled, and a fell voice swept through the mountain. The voice grew louder, and the weather worsened in response.

"There is a voice on the air!" yelled out Rarity, her hair now as white as her coat.

"It's Nightmare Moon!" Twilight responded.

A sudden crack was heard above the Fellowship, causing them to direct their attention upward. Massive boulders dislodged themselves from the mountain, and smashed the slope five feet away from the nearest pony.

"Twilight!" screamed Rainbow Dash, drawing Twilight's attention to her, "Nightmare Moon's trying to bring down the mountain! Twilight, we must turn back!"

"NO!" responded Twilight. She knew what awaited for them if they couldn't beat the mountain, and the reality of it frightened her more than a Hydra.

Twilight pushed herself onto a high rock, ready for the vocal contest which was about to ensue.

"Losto Foal Mountain, sedho, hodo, nuitho I ruith." yelled Twilight, hoping her magical words could calm the maelstrom which assaulted the Fellowship.

***

Nightmare Moon stood on the roof of her palace in Isengard, chanting in the Changeling tongue, the dark words pooling even darker clouds towards the Foal Mountain. Her volume increased exponentially, drowning out the pitiful cry of Celestia's student. Nightmare's speech reached its climax, and swept through the sky, voluminous enough for all ponies to hear throughout Equestria.

***

The effects of Nightmare's thunderous cry were felt by the Fellowship, as the maelstrom took an even darker turn. Lightning flashed in the sky, striking the mountain with a destructive surge of electricity. An avalanche of snow dislodged itself from the peak, and fell to the vulnerable group below. The Fellowship threw themselves into the mountain, fortifying themselves with the help of the mountains immovable exterior. The snow smashed over their heads, and went sliding down the slope.

Snow occupied where the Fellowship once was; no signs of life present under the crushing snow. The snow did not stir for a minute, until a desperate hoof dug itself free of the oppressive cold substance. Rarity's popped out of the snow, her hooves going straight to her ruined hair.

"My hair is ruined! How could this get any worse?" whined Rarity.

A flurry of snow was sent flying towards Rarity, smacking her face and sending back under the dense snow pile. Applejack bucked herself an opening large enough for everypony; her strong legs easily pushed away any snow. The Fellowship now accounted for, they took a break to decide on their next course of action.

"We must get off the mountain!" yelled Shining Armor, first to speak, "Make for Ponyville, and take the north road to my city!"

"Canterlot takes us too close to the Black Gate!" remarked Rainbow Dash, standing behind Shining.

"We cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it!" hissed Rover, his assertion a premonition which Twilight feared he would follow through.

"Let us go through the Mines of Moria." finished Rover, his option now stated.

Twilight remembered her studies under Celestia. One such lesson, regarding Moria, Twlight reminisced on.

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Celestia, the Alicorn with the flowing prism mane, gestured the young filly, Twilight, to a globe of Equestria in her private library.

"Hello, Princess Celestia, are we going to begin today's lesson?" asked Twilight, carrying her saddlebag, which was filled with anything and everything a filly such as herself would need for school.

"Yes we are. Today, I'd like to focus on one Equestrian location: Moria." instructed Celestia.

Twilight joined Princess Celestia near the globe, and drew her attention to where her teacher's hoof was pointed: at the Foal Mountain.

"But Celestia, that's not Moria, that's the Foal Mountain." alluded Twilight.

"A very astute observation, but Moria is a very special... and dark place. It lies under the Foal Mountain." responded Celestia.

Upon further investigation, Twilight noticed the presence of a peculiar archway located at the base of the mountain.

"So, what you're saying is, Moria is a mine?" remarked Twilight, a hint of doubt in her conclusion.

"Quite right you are, what a smart student. Moria is in fact a mine... and a place you should never go to, Twilight." Celestia's sudden shift to a foreboding gloom surprised her student. But Twilight was a curious pony, and pressed on about the matter.

"Why shouldn't I go into Moria?" asked the curious filly.

Celestia levitated a book from the library shelves, a massive tome both incredibly old and dusty.

"Because the Diamond Dogs, caretakers of its halls, are greedy creatures. They delved too deep in search of Mithril, the strongest material known to all pony kind. And in their digging, they unleashed a creature of shadow, and flame."

Celestia opened the tome, and found the page which illustrated the horror which resided in the stone halls of Khazad-dum. The Regal Alicorn shared the picture with her student, the illustration both curious and terrifying to the tiny pony. The illustration showed a roaring fire, which surrounded the shadowy outline of a demonic being. In the flame's core, two eyes burned bright, staring out into the soul of any unfortunate pony who gazed upon the demon's form.

"What is it?" asked Twilight, still curious as to the true nature of the painting before her.

"It is a Balrog of Morgoth, a demon of the ancient world." Celestia's response was followed by the closing an indexing of the book.

Twilight felt Celestia's magic force her neck to turn. Twilight then found herself staring into the eyes of her teacher, and noticed a raging flame burning in the eye of her greatest friend.

"You are to never go into Moria, Twilight, for if you do...you'll never leave!" finished Celestia, before abandoning the traumatized filly to her thoughts.

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Back on the mountain, Twilight prepared herself for the most regrettable sentence she would ever utter.

"Let the Ring-bearer decide." Twilight despised giving Apple Bloom the choice, knowing full well what her answer would be. The tiny filly wasn't educated enough about the deep places of the world, and this lack of knowledge would most likely be their downfall.

Apple Bloom shared a glance with all her companions, noticing the chilled expression which represented their freezing exteriors. She knew they could not stay in this cold, it would be the death of them. And while Canterlot was safe, she didn't want to be in a situation where the suspicious Shining Armor was in a position of power. No, there WAS only one choice.

"We shall go through the mines." Apple Bloom delivered her verdict, her conviction in her decision present in her tone.

"So be it." responded Twilight, "May Celestia help us all!"