Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 15 - Making the Connection

The time: One month after Malphorious got an attitude adjustment from Fluttershy.

Nightmare Moon trots past Princess Luna with Malphorious on her back.  The shadowhawk regards the princess of the night with a coo.

P.Luna: WOW!

N.Moon: He's cool when he behaves.  *Malphorious screeches*  Don't you screech at me, birdbrain.  YOU know what you did.  You behave or we're going to see Fluttershy again, comprende?

Malphorious cowers a bit and Princess Luna blinks.

P.Luna: Fluttershy?

N.Moon: Long story.

The Mare in the Moon sighs, trotting to her quarters.

N.Moon: WHY didn't I just get a dog like Applejack has?

Princess Luna laughs.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Business is booming at Sugar Cube Corner as cupcakes and muffins are piling up.  Nightmare Moon heads in, sniffing the air.

N.Moon: SOMEthing smells GOOD!

P.Pie: All these cupcakes and muffins are for the picnic we're planning!

Just then.....

?????: MUFFINS!

Pinkie Pie swipes a tray of muffins away just before a gray pegasus fem with blond hair and bubbles for a cutie mark crashes down where it was.

P.Pie: Sorry, Derpy, THESE are for the picnic.

N.Moon: Pinkie Pie, that's not a nice name to call her.

D.Hooves: No, miss, that IS my name, I'm Derpy Hooves, I'm the mailpony.

N.Moon: Oh!  I see.  My name's Nightmare Moon.

D.Hooves: Pleased to meet you, Miss Moon.

N.Moon: *chuckle* Likewise, Derpy.

P.Pie: Daw!

D.Hooves: MUFFINS!

Derpy Hooves tries to dive at the plate again - only to hit a force field put there by Twilight Sparkle.

T.Sparkle: We'll invite you to the picnic if you want, Derpy.

D.Hooves: OK, Twilight.

The mailmare flies out of the bakery.  That afternoon, the picnic is underway, the princesses and changelings joining them.  Prince Shiftshape has some exciting news.

P.Shiftshape: I just found out something.

T.Sparkle: What is it, Prince Shiftshape?

P.Shiftshape: Our castles are on opposite sides of the same mountain.

P.Morphina: It's how our mother was able to attack during the wedding.

T.Sparkle: Oh?

P.Celestia: Indeed.  Prince Shiftshape wants to build a tunnel between our castles, so each can keep an eye on the other and respond quickly to the others' problems.

R.Dash: Sounds like a big job!

P.Shiftshape: It is, but it'll be worth it.

Applejack: That's the right thinkin', Your Highness.

The changeling murrs happily, enjoying himself with his new friends.  Later on, in Transforma's capital city of Shiftopolis, Prince Shiftshape outlines the plan for the tunnel to Canterlot to a crew.

P.Shiftshape: OK, men.  Here's what we need to do: We have to make this link with my throne room and Celestia's.  That's the best way to contact her should we need help from her or the Bearers of Harmony.

Changeling M Near the Back: Either that or you love Princess Celestia.

A wave of laughter spreads through the crew as both royals blush.

P.Shiftshape: Can you blame me?  I mean, have you HEARD of her kindness?

P.Morphina: And how she forgave us after Nightmare Moon socked our mother around.

P.Shiftshape: I REALLY want to help them how she helped us, and this is one way to ensure we CAN.  Shall we begin?

Crew: YEAH!

The prince and princess oversee the building of the tunnel.  Meanwhile, in Canterlot, another crew is assembled to build a tunnel in the opposite direction.

P.Celestia: This tunnel will ensure that our friends in Transforma can contact us whenever needed.

Crew Member M: Plus, you can visit Prince Shiftshape.

P.Celestia: *nervous laugh and blush* OR he can visit us.

Crew Member M: Gotta watch YOU two around Hearts and Hooves Day.

Laughter ripples through the pony crew, even after Princess Celestia playfully douses the pony with water.

P.Celestia: OK, OK, my feelings aside, this tunnel is further proof of the partnership between our two lands.  From now on, we will have nothing to fear from or about the Changelings.

Ponies cheer as they get to work.  Large, burly earth ponies kick at the wall of rock while unicorns carry the rock dislodged away with magic.  On the Transforma side, the changelings are using magic to both dislodge the rock and carry it out of the tunnel, tiles for walls and a floor being prepared nearby.  Prince Shiftshape was overseeing construction on his side.

P.Shiftshape: Our mother would NEVER do this.

Up walks a changeling about 1-1/2 times his size, it was Captain of the Guard Imitato.

CotG Imitato: She WOULD, but not for the reason you're doing it.

P.Shiftshape: *nod* I know.  If Nightmare Moon HADN'T smashed my mother how she did.....

CotG Imitato: *nod* Say no more, I understand.  Equestria probably would've been over-run.

P.Shiftshape: Fortunately, our mother's command over the army was terminated before she attacked during the anniversary.

CotG Imitato: Frankly, I dunno which was the bigger head-shakingly bad move: Trying again to invade Equestria, or trying again to invade Equestria without the army.

???: Neither.

Both changelings look to see Princess Luna, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity walk up.

R.Dash: Invading Equestria without the army and WITH Nightmare Moon acting as Princess Celestia's protector - THAT was the dumbest move of all!

CotG Imitato: *chuckle* So I've heard.  Is this Nightmare Moon REALLY that powerful?

P.Luna: She WAS responsible for Equestria constantly being under darkness eternal.  Since her latest run-in with the Elements of Harmony, she's been working her hooves to the bone trying to make things right.

CotG Imitato: VERY commendable.

P.Pie: EVERYpony thinks so, Captain.

R.Dash: So, YOU'RE Imitato, eh?

CotG Imitato: *chuckle* Yeah.  YOU must be Rainbow Dash.

R.Dash: Indeed I am!

Rarity: We were sent here to monitor the construction of the tunnel from this end.  *She blinks as she notices the tiles*  What're these?

P.Shiftshape: They're sis' idea.  She didn't think everyone using the tunnel would appreciate just going through a plain tunnel carved in the mountain.

Rarity: Well, let me see if you have the colors right.

The fashionista trots over to the tile workers.  Back in Equestria, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy and Applejack look over the tunnel to Shiftopolis.

Applejack: Good work, ya'll!  Keep it up!

Drinks are passed out as the ponies work hard.  Several hours later, progress is on schedule as the workers on both ends take a break.  The next day, tunnel construction kicks up as the two keep digging through the mountain, but there was one small hitch:

R.Dash: Why in the wide world of Equestria have we not met the other team yet?

CotG Imitato: Beats me.  Maybe the mountain's wider that we thought at this point.

Rarity: Well, we seem to have enough tiles to cover all this dreadful dirt.

P.Shiftshape: *chuckle* Real appearance-conscious, eh?

Rarity: *nod* I ALWAYS try to help my friends look their absolute best, no matter what or where.

P.Shiftshape: Can't wait to see what you have planned for US.

Rarity: It'll be a challenge, but I'm always up to it.

P.Shiftshape: *smile* That's the spirit!

The two brohoof as they continue digging.  Checking back with the other team, Applejack has the same concern as Rainbow Dash.

Applejack: C'mon, we HAVE to be more than halfway through this mountain.

T.Sparkle: Hmm..... *takes out a map of the mountain*  .....This IS odd.  How in the world are we not meeting up with the other tunnelers?

Fluttershy: I can't even hear them digging.....

P.Celestia: It must just be because the rock here is dense or something.

The ponies shrug as they continue on, a cross-section showing the two tunnels as the teams dig parallel to each other, passing each other without knowing it!  Back with Prince Shiftshape's team, humming is heard as Rarity keeps helping lay tiles.

CotG Imitato: How wide IS this mountain?

P.Shiftshape: I'm not sure.  No one's ever dug into this thing before - from EITHER end.

The Captain of the Changeling Guard shrugs as work continues.  Some time later, Princess Morphina notices a tapping coming from..... the barracks?

P.Morphina: What the?

Princess Morphina puts the lights on in the barracks just in time to see Applejack kicking her way through the wall!

P.Morphina: Applejack!

Applejack: YEE-HAW!!  We made it!  *looks around*  Hang on, this don't look right.

P.Morphina: Where were you supposed to emerge?

Applejack: I thought we were ta hook up in the middle of the courtyard.  *looks around*  This-isn't-the-courtyard?

P.Morphina: NO!  This is the No.8 barracks!

Applejack: *blush*  I guess we were a bit mis-aligned, Princess.....!  Hold a minute.  If OUR tunnel came out in the barracks, where'd'ya'll's tunnel end up?

Nightmare Moon walks through the hallway near the royal bedroom when she hears a tapping on the wall.

N.Moon: What the?

The Mare in the Moon heads in to investigate.  She is shocked to see bits of the wall crumbling.....

N.Moon: You're kidding.  You're kidding, right?

P.Luna (through the wall): Moon!  *Nightmare Moon startles up straight*  Is that you?

N.Moon: Yeah!

P.Luna: Can you see where the tunnel's gonna end up?!

N.Moon: *looks around*  I'm right by it!  C-Come through and look for yourselves, *camera shifts to inside the tunnel* I promise you, you won't believe it!

P.Luna: OK!

Rainbow Dash kicks the rest of the way through as Prince Shiftshape and Captain Imitato exchange curious glances.  The wall crumbled to the floor and Princess Luna stepped out into the room, squealing like a pig in a full-on laughing fit when she realized where in Canterlot she was!  In fact, the moon goddess was laughing so much, she couldn't complete a full sentence!

R.Dash: Lemme guess: This ISN'T the courtyard?

N.Moon: No!  You dug a tunnel into.....  You wound up in.....

The Mare in the Moon ends up on the floor with Princess Luna as Prince Shiftshape emerges, blushing.

CotG Imitato: So, who's gonna tell Celestia?

That got everyone laughing.  Not long after, the two royals met in the royal ballroom for a gala party celebrating the completion of the tunnel to exchange experiences.  There was, as predicted, a lot of laughter.

P.Shiftshape: Hold on, the No.8 barracks!?

Applejack: *blush* Uh, yeah, Your Highness.  Apparently our castles were kinda off-kelter of each other.

P.Morphina: I heard a tapping coming from the wall and came in just in time to see Applejack kicking out the rear wall.  She had the most adorable look on her face, "This ISN'T the courtyard?"!

Applejack and Princess Morphina laugh, Princess Celestia joining in.

P.Celestia: Well, what about YOUR team, Prince Shiftshape?  Where did YOU end up?

P.Luna: You won't believe it, sis.

P.Celestia: Try me.

P.Shiftshape: Your bedroom?

The ruler of Equestria laughed out loud.

P.Celestia: You're-kidding?  *looks at Nightmare Moon*  Is he kidding?

N.Moon: He's not kidding.

That got the white alicorn laughing more.

P.Shiftshape: No WONDER nobody ever tried digging through the mountain.

P.Celestia: Well, look at it like this: You have a tunnel heading to my room *blush* that you can use whenever you need me, right?

P.Morphina: True, but YOU don't have a tunnel to OUR room.

Discord: *clears throat* Let ME take care of that.....

Discord flies out and smirks as he spots the two tunnels.  He murrs, using his magic to fuse them into one, Princess Celestia's throne room connected with Prince Shiftshape's.  The changeling murrs as he monitors Discord's work.

P.Shiftshape: Why didn't we think of him?

P.Celestia: Good question.

Both rulers laugh as Discord floats back in.

Discord: There we go.

P.Morphina: Thanks, Discord.

Discord: Aw, no problem, princess.

The next day, there was a huge ceremony on both ends as the new tunnel was opened to the public of both countries.  From then on, Transforma and Equestria would help each other and look after each other..... and it was a good thing, too, as seven dark silhouettes were watching the proceedings.  Six small shadows and a larger one glare with red eyes at the partnership between the ponies and changelings.

????? - male 1: So..... When do we attack?

????? - male 2: They seem to be getting stronger faster than we thought.

????? - female: With our powers, their partnerships won't matter.

????? - male 3 - deeper voice: Even so, we cannot take any chances..... We must annihilate them completely..... Elements or no Elements.

Male 1: What do we do, then?

Female: We get stronger.....

Male 2: We ALL get stronger.....

Male 3: MUCH stronger.....

The sinister shapes dissipate into the shadows.

TO BE CONTINUED