The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

           Ch.35 The Bloody Mirror

In Celestia's tent, snores echoed in the massive chamber as the assorted members of the Fellowship slept peacefully in their beds; all except Apple Bloom. The golden Earth pony couldn't sleep, as nightmares of Applejack's lifeless corpse, and Twilight's fall into the abyss of Khazad-dum clouded her sleeping visions. The work of Nightmare Moon no doubt.

Even facing the wall, Apple Bloom still heard the gentle clopping of Princess Celestia. Apple Bloom rolled over, and found the Royal Alicorn quietly walking past the filly's bed. Seemingly unaware of the filly's consciousness, the Princess strolled by, not even affording Apple Bloom a passing glance. Curious about where the Princess would be off to at so late an hour, Apple Bloom snuck out of bed, and quietly stalked the Ruler of all Equestria.

Passed her friends, and even the multitude of sleeping guard ponies, was Apple Bloom led by Princess Celestia. Into the forest Apple Bloom entered, to the west of the camp, as the little filly remained determined to follow the Princess at such a ridiculous hour. Eventually, Princess Celestia reached a cleared area of forest, in the center which stood a pedestal. On the pedestal rested a bowl of shining silver, but only filled with air. Remaining undetected, Apple Bloom snuck behind a tree, only peering around the massive living beast to observe the Princess conduct her strange ritual.

Towards the edge of the cleared area, flowed a waterfall. Towards the water the Princess proceeded, where she drew a mass of water; Celestia's horn, and the water glowed gold as the Alicorn deposited the liquid into the central bowl.

"Do you know why I brought you here?" asked the Princess.

Apple Bloom fully retreated behind the tree's body. The Princess' question couldn't have been directed towards her.

"I know you're there, Apple Bloom." stated the Princess.

Apple Bloom revealed herself from behind the tree; a countenance of shame reflected on the filly's face.

"Don't be ashamed Apple Bloom. I knew you were awake, and so I drew you out here." assured Princess Celestia.

Apple Bloom studied her surroundings, looking for an exit, in case the Alicorn, who had earlier intruded into her mind, meant this meeting to be of a terrible aspect.

"Why did you bring me here?" interrogated Apple Bloom.

Celestia gestured toward the bowl of water before she answered, "For you to see the mirror."

Apple Bloom glanced towards the mirror. The Earth pony gambled a second to look at the shining water, before she refocused her attention on the imposing Alicorn.

"What will I see?" questioned the cautious filly.

"Only Sombra can tell. Princess Cadence gave this to me after her return from the Crystal Empire. Its purpose is not known, and I require a test subject...you." answered the Princess.

Apple Bloom's heart raced as her gaze betrayed towards the pool, not on her account, but the Princess'. Apple Bloom was surrounded in a golden aura as the Princess levitated the filly into the air above the mirror. The filly squirmed to get free, but her effort was in vain; nopony could match the magical skill of the Sun Bringer.

"STOP, Princess! PLEASE!" pleaded Apple Bloom. Princess Celestia slowly lowered the frightened filly towards the mirror.

"It's for your own good." stated the Princess.

Celestia's eyes glowed a dark green, the envious light flared out like the hood of a cobra. The Princess' horn became bathed in dark energy, the alabaster shaft now black as a Changeling's hide. A malicious blast of energy erupted from the horn, and struck the bowl. The pool of water shifted radically, the once shining pool now glowing red like the eyes of an angry beast. The golden aura around Apple Bloom faded away, and the helpless filly fell into the Bloody Mirror.

Apple Bloom awoke, not in water, but in Moria. Balin's tomb lay destroyed before the filly's eyes, as the bodies of dead Changelings and the the corpse of an Ursa Minor littered the chamber. Apple Bloom's gaze shifted to the right, and the corpse of Applejack came into view; a pool of blood seeped into the orange fur of the brave pony. Apple Bloom tried to avert her gaze; the filly wished not to see the failure of her inaction. But some ethereal force forced Apple Bloom to gaze on her sister's dead body, and a shrill shriek filled the chamber. Changeling's rushed into the tomb, and began to sort through the bodies of the countless dead, until they came upon the corpse of Applejack. Starved of love, the insectoid beasts ravaged the only piece of meat within the entire mine, with Apple Bloom forced to watch.

The scene shifted: Ponyville now stood in flames. Strange dragon-like beasts ravaged the burning town, and brutally murdered anypony that came across their path. Screams could be heard from the red schoolhouse as Cheerilee and her students were burned inside the wooden building. Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were ripped into pieces; the parents forced to watch as the Dovakniik swallowed their children whole. Sweet Apple Acres became a flaming field, as trees planted by the Apple family since the founding of Ponyville were transformed into massive torches. And no matter how much Apple Bloom tried to turn her gaze away, the same sadistic force forced her to look upon the carnage.

Finally, the Eye of Sauron encompassed Apple Bloom's vision; the burning wreath radiated unbearable heat on the defenseless filly. Black Speech emanated from the malicious being. The Ring levitated towards its master, but the chain it was attached to, and wrapped around Apple Bloom's neck, slowed the golden band's advance. Apple Bloom could feel her hooves drag towards the burning eye, as The Ring moved onward towards its creator. Apple Bloom grabbed The Ring in her hoof, and pulled. The action broke the pool's magic, and the filly was expelled from the Bloody Mirror, surprisingly dry.

Apple Bloom's breathing was as erratic as before she entered the Bloody Mirror, but she felt her heart beat had become random; no coordination of the vital muscle could be felt by the filly. Apple Bloom felt like she could cry, but the tears never fell; too traumatized was the filly for tears. Slowly, the filly's heartbeat regained rhythm, and her breaths flowed in and out like her regular self. Apple Bloom looked up, and found the Princess' gaze fixed upon her.

"I know what it is you saw," stated the Alicorn, "For it is also in my mind."

Apple Bloom returned to her hooves, ready to depart this nightmare the Sun Briger had brought her into. The Princess' lips failed to move, but the Earth filly could still hear Celestia's voice in her head, "It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The Fellowship is breaking. It is already begun. He will try to take The Ring. You know of whom I speak."

Shockingly, for Apple Bloom, the filly did know of what the Princess implied. The Earth pony turned in the direction of the camp, and imagined Shining Armor as he slept on his comfy bed, plotting Apple Bloom's demise. Apple Bloom turned towards the Princess and held out her hoof. The Ring rested in the filly's fingerless embrace.

"If ya want this Ring, then by all means, you can have it." offered Apple Bloom.

Celestia's eyes widened at the offering; a familiar zealotry clouded the Alicorn's gaze like so many before her. The Princess reached a hoof out towards The Ring, ready to receive the mighty artifact.

"I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this." said Celestia, the Alicorn's hoof closing in on The Ring.

"In place of a Dark Lord you would have a queen..." Celestia's frame radiated a blinding white; the demon's red eyes glared down at Apple Bloom once again.

"Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of Equestria! Equestria would be mine...ALL MINE!" roared Celestia.

The Alicorn's rage retreated, and the Ruler of Equestria regained her regal form. Shame clouded the Princess' countenance, and her gaze averted from The Ring.

"I pass the test. I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Celestia." remarked the Princess.

"But I cannot do this all by myself." pleaded Apple Bloom, desperate for somepony to trust in these dark times.

Princess Celestia turned towards Apple Bloom; compassion occupied the regal Alicorn's complexion.

"You are a Ring-bearer, Apple Bloom. To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone." stated the Princess.

Celestia lowered her chin, which revealed a Ring of Power nestled at the base of her horn.

"This is Mulad, the Ring of Light. And I am its keeper." continued Celestia, "This task was appointed to you. And if you do not find a way, nopony will."

"Then I know what I must do. It's just," Apple Bloom paused, "I am afraid to do it."

Celestia smiled at the anxious filly, and kneeled down to Apple Bloom's level.

"Even the smallest pony can change the course of history." assured the Princess.

Apple Bloom gazed down at The Ring, before she placed the metal chain around her neck once again. Apple Bloom knew what she had to do now, and she would have her friends to do it with.