The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

          Ch.33 The Hollow Shades

The Fellowship approached the Hollow Shades from the west; sprinting fast into the forest. Upon entry, the party's speed slowed to a crawl, wary of the dry, yellow leaves which dotted the forest floor. Shining Armor took the lead as the Fellowship traversed through the Hollow Shades; Shining gestured to his companions behind him.

"Stay close, friends, and follow my lead. We're probably walking into an ambush." announced the armored Unicorn.

All Fellowship members other than Shining Armor stopped, as if they walked into a brick wall.

"What do you mean by 'ambush'?" questioned Rainbow Dash.

Shining turned back to his companions, finding them all stuck in their contemplation of the situation.

"What I mean is: because of the recent Changeling invasion of Canterlot, Princess Celestia has ordered the formation of military bases all over Equestria. And the Hollow Shades just happens to be one of those bases." explained Shining Armor, before continuing on.

The rest of the Fellowship soon followed; their necks craned in multiple directions, observing the forest for any sign of ambushing Ponies.

"What a silly notion: being ambushed." laughed Rover; the Diamond Dog's bark carried throughout the forest.

"Be quiet will you! We're not alone in this forest." whispered Rainbow, her head turned to face the Diamond Dog.

"No creature, let alone a pony, could sneak up on me," exclaimed Rover; the Diamond Dog turned to the fillies behind him.

"We Diamond Dogs have the best sight and hearing in all of Equestria. Nothing could sneak up on me!"

Rover's neck turned to so he could face forward...to find the end of a spear touching his snout. A small contingent of heavily-armed guards, camouflaged in paint of a pattern similar to the forest around them, which made all of the guards look the same. Aware of what peril awaited them at the end of the guard's spears, the Fellowship raised their hooves and paws in surrender...all except Shining Armor. An extravagantly armored pony marched through his comrades, meeting Shining mano-a-mano.

Shining was circled by the head guard, scrutinized like a dress being inspected by Hoity-Toity. The guard circled back to face Shining, a small smile forming on both guard's expressions.

"You're lucky you all aren't Changelings; the Diamond Dog barks so loud, I could've speared him in the dark." imparted the head guard.

A light growl escaped Rover's lips as Shining and the head guard embraced each other in a hug.

"It's good to see you, Shining!" exclaimed the head guard.

"You too, Swift Justice!" returned Shining Armor, revealing the identity of the guard.

Swift Jusice looked past Shining, and discerned the other members of the Fellowship, all of which were at spear-point.

"I forget myself. Stand down!" ordered Swift Justice. The guard's spears lifted from the faces of Shining's companions; a collection of sighs resounded from the Fellowship.

"So much for the courtesy of Pony-folk." growled Rover, scanning the surrounding guards, and calculating his chances of escape.

Swift Justice marched past Shining, coming within a spear's distance of Rover.

"I've never seen a Diamond dog in person before. I guess I now know why Ponies haven't had dealings with the Diamond Dogs since the days of Discord's rule." enumerated Swift Justice, a coy smile playing across the guard's features.

Rover stepped towards the head guard, his hunched posture still giving him a head of height over the Pony.

"And you know what this Dog has to say to that," responded Rover.

"Ish cak couwy, I don dognoral!" finished Rover, pronouncing his insult in the language of the Diamond Dogs, which was illegible to all in attendance.

Justice's expression soured, realizing that a Diamon Dog had probably insulted him in a tongue that he didn't understand. Shining, sensing the hostility which grew between Rover and Swift Justice, intervened to halt any more hostile action from occurring between the two. Shining's hoof went between Rover and Swift Justice, creating a barrier between the two warring parties. Shining turned to Rover, a stern expression occupying his features.

"That wasn't very courteous!" Shining turned back to Swift Justice, his expression softened.

"I humbly ask for food and shelter for our company. We have come a long way..." addressed Shining Armor, before being interrupted by Swift Justice.

"I know of what you seek, and I also know of what your party brings." Swift pushed passed Shining Armor. Swift Justice trotted over to Apple Bloom, the guard's stout frame dwarfing the Earth filly.

"You bring great evil here, Ring-bearer." announced Swift Jusice before turning back to Shining Armor.

"I'm sorry, my friend. But I will not endanger the lives of my men over your quest. You can go no further."

***

Some two hours passed as Shining Armor argued with Swift Justice; odd how the Captain of the Royal Caterlot Guard would have to argue with anypony lower in rank. However, little tidbits of discernible words made their way through the mumble of the two arguing guards, words such as: 'Princess Celestia' and 'forbidden'. The rest of the Fellowship lay scattered, each separated by small patrols of spear-armed guards. Apple Bloom and Spike sat together, each silent in contemplation of recent events.

"Hey, Apple Bloom..." Spike was the first to break the silence between the two friends.

"It's not..." Spike choked back his words, a single tear flowing down his cheek.

"It's not your fault you know, for what happened to Applejack or Twilight." A sniffle escaped Apple Bloom's solemn expression, but the tiny Earth pony still abjured from matching Spike's gaze. Instead, Apple Bloom stared at the forest floor.

"And if I knew anything about either Pony, I'd know their deaths wouldn't have been in vain, nor would they want you to lose hope." finished Spike.

Apple Bloom now turned to her draconian friend, only to find their positions reversed: now it was Spike who failed to match Apple Bloom's gaze.

A heavy stride alerted Apple Bloom to the approach of Swift Justice, his argument with Shining Armor seemingly over.

"You will follow me." ordered the lieutenant, before making his way deeper into the forest.