The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

Ch.34 Princess Celestia; Sun-Bringer

The herbage of the Hollow Shades diminished as Swift Justice led the Fellowship deeper into the looming forest. Sun beams began infiltrating their way through the forest canopy, like street lamps on a Ponyville night. An hour of travel led the troop to a hill, beyond which lay a sweeping collection of tents and targets, where soldiers of the Equestrian army trained or slept.

"Welcome to FOB Aplha." announced Swift Justice, as the entire Fellowship stood in awe of the massive military force which lay below.

"Come then. Princess Celestia will want a word with you." finished Swift Justice. He gestured to a rather extravagantly capacious tent which flew a flag embroidered with Princess Celestia's Cutie Mark: the Sun.

***

Passing through the array of regular tents, the Fellowship received their fair share of curious glances by the troops. Except Rarity; the attractive alabaster Unicorn received an encompassing share of cheers and whistles from the lonely soldiers.

"If any of them touch Rarity, I'll burn them to a crisp." mumbled Spike; his claws stabbed into his palms as he held back a fiery outburst. Apple Bloom, who walked beside Spike, placed a hoof around the dragon's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Spike. Rarity knows she's better than them." reassured Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom's remark got Spike thinking: if Rarity was better than any number of big, strong ponies who would lay down their lives for the safety of an entire kingdom, what did that make a baby dragon who was a book-keeper of a library in one of the smallest villages in Equestria?

"Is she?" responded Spike, in time for the Fellowship to reach Princess Celestia's tent.

Swift Justice pulled back the flap which acted as the door into Celestia's tent; his hoof gestured the Fellowship inside. From what could be seen, the inside of the tent was pitch black.

"Go on in. And don't worry, it's much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside." compelled Swift Justice, a look of worry occupying his features.

Swift's apparent worry sent a wave of apprehension through the Fellowship, delaying their entry into the tent. But, as they realized one after the other, that their party had come to far not to meet the Princess, one-by-one the Fellowship marched into the tent. The pitch blackness within swallowed each member which entered its hold, but not all was what it seemed. Beyond the dark, a portal lay which transported the Fellowship to a massive chamber, streamed with ribbons, and host to a table which could've easily filled the Royal Canterlot ballroom. Such was the Fellowship in awe, they weren't prepared for the assault of light which originated from the other end of the hall.

Caught unprepared, the Fellowship raised their hooves, paws or claws to halt the assault of blinding light produced from the other end of the massive chamber. Loud clops could be heard approaching the Fellowship, who were now unable to protect themselves from the being which offended them with blinding light.

"Don't be afraid; I can feel fear in your hearts." spoke an unknown entity, the origin of which lay behind the light.

The light softened dramatically, which allowed the Fellowship to look upon their oppressor. There, before them, with fur of white silk, and hair of flowing aurora, stood Princess Celestia; the Sun-Bringer. Upon realizing who stood before them, the members of the Fellowship fell to their knees, facing the ground, unworthy to look upon the Princess' legendary regality.

"Rise, my little ponies, and do not fear. I can sense that you have been through much toil in your last days of travel." assured the Princess, a heartwarming smile complimenting her complexion.

The Fellowship rose, but still evading looking upon the Princess. The parties avoidance of her gaze was misinterpreted by the Princess, who thought that the Fellowship was in awe of her chamber.

"You like it?" Princes Celestia gestured to the ceiling of her accommodation, as high as the Treebary in Ponyville.

"Twilight gave it to me for my one-thousand and two year old birthday. Quite fascinating, how it's so much bigger on the inside than the outside. Don't you agree?" Celestia's question fell on deaf ears; the Princess' earlier mention of Twilight brought the Fellowship to a state of profound despondence.

Princess Celestia scanned the group, counting ten members. 'Odd' thought the Princess, 'there should be twelve'.

"I heard that twelve Equestrians left Zecora's for the Smokey Mountain, yet I only see ten here. Tell me, where is Twilight Sparkle and honest Applejack?" asked Princess Celestia, hoping to uncover the reason behind the absence of her personal student, and Twilight's apple-farming friend.

What seemed like hours passed, till Shining Armor summoned the courage to respond to the Princess,

"Both were lost, my liege...in Moria!" answered Shining Armor.

The mention of Moria sent a mortal shiver down Celestia's spine. Moria, the one place that even she feared to tread, and had warned Twilight against doing so.

"How did they die?" asked Princess Celestia, panicked by this unwanted turn of events.

"Applejack died in defense of the smallest of our party," answered Shining Armor; his response sent a pang of guilt through the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"And Twilight, my dear sister, was ripped away by a Balrog." finished Shining Armor, the great captain now reduced to tears.

Silence pervaded the massive chamber, as the occupants of its capacious space took stock of their situation. Finally, Rover burst into a flood of tears, and fell to his knees, as the Diamond Dog cried into his massive paws.

"It was all my fault! Twilight warned us about going into Moria, but I didn't listen, and now, our party has paid the price." impeached Rover, his sobs echoing throughout the massive hall.

Princess Celestia approached the quivering Diamond Dog, tears matting the hair on her cheeks. She raised a hoof over Rover's head, as if to exact a terrible judgement for his arduous crime. The Fellowship turned from the Princess, wishing not to see another member of their party falling before some destructive force.

"I forgive you." The Fellowship turned in surprise of the Princess' forgiveness. Celestia's hoof forced Rover back to his feet, the Diamond Dog's legs shaking with weakness from his earlier fit.

"Twilight Sparkle was a wise pony. If she meant not to go into Moria, then she would've taken a different route. None of you should feel responsible for other pony's decisions." continued the Princess.

"But, without Twilight, the Fellowship stands in peril of failing. Your quest hangs upon the edge of a knife; stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of Equestria." The Fellowship's collective demeanor hopelessly declined, Celestia's words striking at the Fellowship's moral in the worst way.

"Yet, hope remains while the Company is true." Celestia's gaze settled on Spike, the dragon inspired by Celestia's attention.

"Go now and rest, my little ponies," Celestia gestured to a room on the left of her.

"For you are weary from such an abusive trip." Princess Celestia's voice faded in Apple Bloom's ear, instead, the Earth pony heard a soft whisper from an otherworldly source, "Welcome, Apple Bloom of Ponyville..."

Apple Bloom's perception of reality shifted; no longer did the divine Princess Celestia stand before her, but a demon, clothed in white light, its fiery gaze focused on her, much like Sauron's Great Eye.

"...One who has seen the Eye!"