The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

Ch.31 Balin's Tomb

The Fellowship strode through the city of Doggendelf; Twilight's light illuminated the surrounding pillars, which dwarfed the Fellowship like anypony compared to an ant. The Fellowship's awe of the Diamond Dog's craftsmanship worked in their favor: they were kept quiet, allowing them to avoid detection from the Changelings which had cleansed Moria of Rover's fellow Diamond Dogs. Marching past hundreds of pillars the troop came upon an indentation in the stone wall, which led to a door...which was surrounded by the bodies of many rotting Diamond Dogs.

Rover stood transfixed at the scene, and noticed a light which emanated from the room. Rover gave a bark, and galloped into the room, much to the surprise of his companions.

"Rover!" yelled Twilight, who quickly covered her mouth as her voice was carried throughout the massive hall.

The Fellowship followed their distressed comrade, to find him kneeling before a stone coffin, a light shining on the inscription which occupied the top of the crypt. Rover hugged two dead bodies, both fresh victims of the murderous shape-shifters. The bodies belonged to none other than Spot and Fido: Rover's dearest friends.

"No! Oh, no!" cried the despairing Diamond Dog, tears dripping to the floor like a rain of salt water.

Twilight passed Rover, and noticed the inscription on the stone sarcophagus, written in a language only Diamond Dogs, or an educated pony like Twilight, could read.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fudin, Lord of Moria." translated Twilight. The news of his cousin's death brought an even stronger tide of tears which rained from his eyes.

"He is dead, then." Twilight relieved her cap, and lowered her head in respect for the passing of the Morian Lord.

"It's just as I feared." continued Twilight, regaining her composure, unlike the still despairing Rover.

The Mane Six, other than Twilight and Rarity, joined to help soothe their forlorn companion. Rarity, stood back, the stench of rotting dog trespassing into her nostrils, her strength of will keeping her from adding another sickly substance to the already deathly scene before her. Twilight keeled, but not in respect. From the dead body of a Diamond Dog, she retrieved a massive tome, dusty from stagnation, and scarred from battle. Twilight opened the book to its last entry. Dirt and ripped pages fell from its thick contents.

Twilight examined the text, which was, like the tomb, encrypted in the native tongues of Diamond Dogs... an easy translation.

"They have taken the bridge and the second hall." translated Twilight, drawing the attention of her companions, all except Sweetie Belle.

"We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long." shivers spread through the Fellowship as they imagined the once-living inhabitants of this room waiting for the Changelings to breach their defenses.

Sweetie Belle, however, did not hear Twilight. Her attention was diverted to the corpse of a Diamond Dog, which sat on the edge of a well.

"The ground shakes. Drums...drums in the deep." Now the Fellowship hallucinated drums. They imagined the Changelings ever violent battle-score as it flooded the mine with its ever increasing tempo.

Sweetie Belle moved closer to the dead dog, noticing a hole in the corpse's rib cage.

"We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark." The mention of the 'Shadow' sent chills through Twilight's frame, as she was the only one to realize the true danger which was concealed behind the cryptic term.

Sweetie reached the corpse, and curiously examined the hole which occupied the dead dog's chest.

"We cannot get out. They are coming." Twilight finished her translation, which was followed by a massive clang from behind her.

Sweetie Belle's hoof was currently occupied the cavity which existed in the dog's corpse's chest, and in her clumsy nature, she managed to knock the head off the body with her horn. Twilight descended onto the tiny filly, who quickly pulled her hoof from the Diamond Dog's corpse. Sweetie Belle, in a rush to evacuate her hoof from the corpse, knocked the remnants of the dog's sternum, which caused the body to fall over into the well, which composed an even louder echo than the head. A chain jingled behind the dog's corpse, which dragged a bucket into the well as well, adding another instrument into the echoing orchestra which emanated throughout the mine.

The Fellowship necks craned in multiple directions, trying to locate the source of the echoes. Sweetie Belle winced with every successive percussion, and Twilight just stared at the clumsy filly in shock. The impacts did eventually end, the echoes conclusion instilling a sense of relief to the Fellowship...all except Sweetie Belle. Twilight smashed the tome's pages shut, and an expression of fiery rage occupied her countenance.

"Stupid foal! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" insulted Twilight, the lavender Unicorn ready to vaporize the foolish filly at that moment.

Twilight turned her back to Sweetie Belle, ready to depart the miserable tomb, until a drum beat reverberated through the mine. Twilight again turned to Sweetie Belle, finding the white filly staring into the depth of the well. The drum beat gradually increased in tempo. The drum's cadence eventually reached its climax. An increasingly loud buzz accompanied the drums, signifying the approaching of Changeling wings.

Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor turned towards the door, ready to evacuate if need be. Spike looked at Apple Bloom, and noticed a blue glow which emanated from Sting's sheath.

"Apple Bloom!" resounded Spike, drawing the filly's attention to her glowing blade.

A loud screech could be heard from the hall, signifying the Changelings were now VERY close.

"Changelings! Oh, how dreadful!" whined Rarity.

Shining rushed to the door, and grabbed both handles, ready to close off the Changeling advance. Two bolts of green magic impacted the door mere centimeters from Shining's face, causing him to jump back. He shut the door, and Rainbow Dash joined him. The pair worked to barricade the door with the weapons of countless dead Diamond Dogs.

"Quick, get behind me!" ordered Applejack, readily armed to defend the fillies.

A bestial roar was heard from outside the reinforced gate, which Fluttershy was quick to identify,

"That sounds like a BEAR!" screamed Fluttershy, finding a spot to cower behind Applejack.

Twilight ushered Pinkie and her party cannon to the front line as Rainbow and Shining Armor rejoined them. Twilight and Rarity readied a blast of deadly energy, and Rover found himself a spot on top of Balin's tomb. The Diamond Dog was foaming from the mouth, his hatred towards the murderous army outside only matched by his devotion to protect his cousin's grave.

The Changeling's impacted the reinforced gate, and depressed the door towards the Fellowship. The fillies behind Applejack unsheathed their blades; they were ready for whatever was to come through those doors.

"Let them come! There is one Dog in Moria who still draws breath!" barked the enraged Diamond Dog, his claws ready to rip through chitin hide.

The Changelings kept smashing into the door, bashing the Fellowship's last defense more so with every impact. Soon, black horns and holes started to appear in the door, as the Changeling assault grew more frenzied and desperate. Rarity and Twilight maintained their concentration, ready to unleash deadly magic when the time came. With one last push, the door gave way, and a compacted front line charged the Fellowship.

Rarity and Twilight unleashed a potent magical blast on the Changeling army, incinerating multiple Changelings in the ensuing explosions. Pinkie Pie let loose a cannon ball, which smashed multiple Changeling bodies as the projectile penetrated its way through multiple enemy lines. But the Changelings were numerous as they were identical, and as their brothers fell, more of the horrid shape-shifters moved in to replace their fallen comrades.

The Changelings advanced on the ready Fellowship, their vampiric fangs ready to engorge on pony flesh. Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor were the first to intercept the wave of charging Changelings; their swords cutting down swathes of Changelings. Twilight and Rarity stood back-to-back, vaporizing Changelings as they came into range. Pinkie Pie relocated her party cannon to an area with only one entry point, and fired away at any Changeling in range. Applejack kept the blood-thirsty Changelings from the cowering forms of the ponies and the dragon behind her, but she wasn't enough. Applejack was a skilled apple-farmer, but not a sword-pony, and as wave after wave of Changelings were cut down by her blade, she began to tire out, for even the strongest pony is powerless against the waves of a raging sea. She eventually made a fatal mistake: she swung her sword at a Changeling...and missed. The armored beast tackled the orange Earth pony, its fangs held at bay by her failing forelegs.

"Run, ponies! Run!" screamed Applejack, as her tired hooves gave way, and the Changeling sank its fangs into her neck, and sucked all her blood from her carotid artery.

The cowering ponies screamed in unison, as the murderous beast turned on them. Spike, in an act of daring, breathed in, then let loose an incinerating flame, turning the Changeling into a pile of cremated ash. As the other Changelings were occupied with the other fighting ponies, Fluttershy, the CMC and Spike gathered around Applejack's cold body. Tears developed in the eyes of the ponies, and Apple Bloom, in respect, closed her sister's lifeless eyes.

"Rest easy sis'. You kept your promise." acknowledged the mourning Apple Bloom; tears now flowed freely from all those in attendance.

Apple Bloom looked up, noticing the brawl which played out around their hasty funeral. Even though the Changelings were cut down by the dozens, still more came in to replace their fallen brethren. Apple Bloom also noted Rover, whose massive claws swept down on any passing Changelings, ripping huge gashes into the Changeling's chitin frames. Apple Bloom understood his pain now: knowing that your entire family was wiped out in a murderous spree, and you, being too insignificant, couldn't do anything about it...except revenge. Revenge is always an option.

A blood-curdling scream arose from Apple Bloom, and with Sting in hoof, she rushed into battle, ready to rip through those beasts who would dare to hurt her friends. Spike, and the rest of the CMC soon joined her, except Fluttershy, who was even more scared than before, and decided to hide in a better spot. The CMC and Spike cut themselves a path through the Changeling line, their small forms unnoticeable in the confusing array of battle. Spike made it through first, finding himself at the door of the tomb. There, he observed the owner of the bestial roar from earlier enter the room: an Ursa Minor.

The great bear smashed its way into the room, a chain wrapped around its neck like a guard dog. The creature's transparent blue frame, which was dotted with the constellation of its namesake, occupied the majority of the chamber, and so sealed off the nigh-endless Changeling reinforcements. The Ursa's gaze fell upon Spike, and it raised a claw to smash the tiny dragon. Before the bear's paw could collide with Spike, Twilight teleported her assistant to a more secure location: right between her and Rarity.

The Ursa Minor found Spike once again, and advanced towards the well-guarded dragon. Predicting the monster's target, Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor made their way towards the Changeling who held the monster's chains, and slew it. Rainbow and Shining grasped the interwoven iron brackets, and pulled the Ursa towards them. The Ursa Minor was forced back, and eventually took a bipedal stance to compensate. The monster turned to face its new master, to find only Shining Armor holding his chain, while Rainbow occupied herself with the remnants of the Changeling assault. The Ursa wrapped the chain around its paw, and whipped Shining into the far wall, knocking the Royal Guard unconscious.

Rainbow turned to find Twilight's brother regain consciousness, and a Changeling charge the defenseless Unicorn. Rainbow, choosing a nearby Changeling corpse, ripped off its horn and flung it at the dominating Changeling. The chitin horn found its way into the shape-shifters neck, killing the Changeling on impact. Shining recovered, and his gaze met Rainbow Dash, a silent thanks shared between the two.

The Ursa Minor, now done with Shining Armor, turned towards yet another opponent: Rover, the Diamond Dog. The beast lifted its great form onto its two back legs, and smashed down at Rover. Rover leapt out of the way, to have the Ursa smash Balin's tomb upon impact. However, the Ursa still pursued Rover, and swiped at him. The Diamond Dog dodged the monster's wide blows, which instead collided into Changelings who were also set on slaying the last Diamond Dog.

One swipe however, was lucky, and sent Rover into the nearby wall. The Ursa Minor charged, ready to bring about a brutal end to the annoying dog. The beast was stopped though, as Rarity, noticing the peril of her comrade, shot a magic bolt at the Ursa's neck, the surprise of the blow knocking the creature over.

The CMC, realizing they were outmatched now that the Ursa Minor entered the fray, hid themselves behind a set of pillars in the back of the chamber, unlike the unaware Spike, who torched any Changeling which came into range of his fiery breath.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this." announced Spike, before roasting yet another group of eager Changelings.

Tired of a challenge, the Ursa Minor made its way to the back of the chamber, its attuned sense of smell locating the cowering fillies. The Ursa tried to smash the tiny ponies, but only succeeded in separating the CMC: Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hiding behind one pillar, and Apple Bloom hiding behind another. Rainbow Dash noticed the plight of the Ring-bearer, and made her way towards Apple Bloom.

"Apple Bloom!" called the cyan Pegasus.

The Ursa maneuvered its head around the pillar, seeking out Apple Bloom. But Apple Bloom was quick, and so she moved around till the beast's neck couldn't pursue her anymore. The Ursa tried to intercept Apple Bloom the other way around the pillar, but Apple Bloom moved again so the beast couldn't find her. The Ursa retreated, seemingly unsatisfied with its search. Apple Bloom, suspecting the beast to move around the pillar again, relocated to the opposite end of the stone obelisk.

Apple Bloom, seeing that the Ursa wasn't following her, allowed herself to relax...big mistake. The monster's head poked around the pillar, and roared at the unsuspecting Apple Bloom, knocking the pony over with the power of its voice. The Ursa Minor opened its foul jaw, and gnashed its teeth around Apple Bloom's midsection. The beast whipped the pony around in its massive jaw, and finally flung the limp form of Apple Bloom to the floor. Rainbow, making her way to Apple Bloom, found the Ursa Minor send the filly's limp boy to the floor, and then move to devour the seemingly-dead pony.

Rainbow bravely jumped in the beast's path, and stuck her sword into the monster's eye. The Ursa roared, and swiped at Rainbow, sending the cyan Pegasus into the wall, knocking the brave pony unconscious. With Apple Bloom apparently dead, and Rainbow Dash unconscious, the last of the Cutie Mark Crusaders: Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, jumped onto the back of the Ursa, stabbing wildly at the beast's skull. Their blades cut the creature's fur, spilling rainbow blood, but had no effect on the skull, as that is the thickest skull in a bear's body.

"For Apple Bloom!" yelled the tiny fillies as they futilely tried to kill the beast.

At the mention of Apple Bloom's name, the other Fellowship members turned to find the limp bodies of both Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash. Knowing now what the the brave fillies implied, the rest of the Fellowship flew into a blood-drunk frenzy, as they scorched, cut and incinerated any Changelings which remained in the chamber, all in the name of Apple Bloom. With the last of the Changeling's dead, the Fellowship turned on the Ursa Minor, attacking the beast with everything in their arsenal.

"Pinkie Pie! Ready the cannon!" yelled out Twilight Sparkle.

"Okie Dokie Lokie!" responded Pinkie, her cannon now aimed at the Ursa Minor.

Scootaloo stabbed the Ursa in the neck, causing the beast to flail around in agony. During its wail, the Ursa Minor turned towards Pinkie Pie and her cannon. Pinkie fired off a cannon round, which smashed into the creature's eye, and drove Rainbow's blade into the brain of the beast, killing it instantly. The Ursa Minor wobbled in a somewhat drunken manner, and fell to the ground, the impact knocking the last breath from its lungs.

The remnants of the Fellowship recovered, and moved to possibly assist Apple Bloom and Rainbow Dash. The Fellowship found Rainbow, now conscious, crawling to the seemingly dead Apple Bloom.

"Oh, no!" cried Rainbow Dash, who bowed her head in respect for yet another fallen Apple.

Most of the Fellowship turned away from Apple Bloom's corpse; It hurt too much to look. Pinkie Pie, her hair now as buoyant as her present grief, fell into Fluttershy's arms, both comforting each other as they cried softly. Spike embraced Rarity, her gossamer fur drying his tears as she caressed his scaly head. The Fellowship bowed their heads for the passing of Apple Bloom, and possibly the end of the Apple line in Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash rolled Apple Bloom over; even if Apple Bloom's funeral was destined to be hasty, she still deserved a proper one. Instead, Apple Bloom coughed in Rainbow's face; the filly recovered her breath. Shock, surprise and joyous uproars arose from the Fellowship, as they swarmed the living Apple Bloom, their many faces occupied by bliss. Even Pinkie's hair returned to its naturally inflated state.

"I'm okay. I'm alright." announced Apple Bloom, clutching her chest, as her many friends hugged the breath from her lungs.

"You should be dead." responded Rainbow Dash, shocked at how the tiny filly had survived, uninjured, from the Ursa Minor's bite, "That monster's bite would've crushed a Minotaur."

Twilight moved in on the scene, an appeased smile occupying her complexion.

"I think there's more to this Pony than meets the eye." remarked the lavender Unicorn.

Apple Bloom looked down to her chest, noticing how her CMC cape covered her body. She grasped the fabric in her hooves, and pulled it back, revealing a shirt of Mithril which Granny Smith had given her before her departure. The Fellowship stood in awe of the shining vest, all of them entranced by the angelic light which radiated from the shirt.

"Mithril!" acknowledged Rover. The Diamond Dog's surprised expression was exchanged for a comforting smile.

"You are full of surprises, little pony!" proclaimed the joyous Diamond Dog.

Suddenly, more Changeling screeches could be heard outside the chamber, as even more Changelings moved to assault the exhausted Fellowship.

"To the Bridge of Khazad-dum!" ordered Twilight.