9.
When Twilight woke again, it was late afternoon. Mayor and Rarity were gone, and though the plaza still had a number of ponies passing to and fro, it was much less crowded than before. Still, everyone had clearly been busy. The huge pile of logs—almost two stories high—resting near the plaza’s center attested to that, as did the hundreds of lighted candles and torches placed at regular intervals on the area’s perimeter. In the sky above, Twilight could hear the flutter of pegasi, and nearer in a few unicorns were discussing how best to illuminate the depths of Hush Hoof Alley.
As Twilight sat up, she found that someone had thrown a blanket across her shoulders. She also saw that she was not alone; a very familiar pony was resting in a nearby chair, her forelegs crossed and a tan cowboy hat pulled low over her face.
“Applejack!” cried Twilight. “When did you get here? What did I miss? Where—”
“Whoa there, sugar cube,” said Applejack, as she pushed back her hat. “Hold your horses and breathe for a minute. You feelin’ okay?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, I can’t answer that, but I admit we were all a little worried after you passed out. Mayor told us to let you sleep, though. She said you were plumb tuckered, from so much magic and fancy organizin’.”
“I still should have stayed awake. Has anything happened?”
“Nope. It’s been downright quiet. Nopony’s seen the stallion and we’ve kept on gettin’ ready. I came into town when I heard the bells and helped haul in logs for the bonfires. It’ll be brighter than a nest full of phoenixes in Ponyville tonight.”
“And Princess Celestia?”
“Ain’t been no sign of her.”
“What time is it?”
Applejack told her and Twilight made some quick calculations.
“Rainbow Dash should be almost to Canterlot by now,” she said, “if she hasn’t gotten there already.”
“Could be,” said Applejack. “She does fly mighty fast when she has a mind to. But it’s still a long way.”
Twilight nodded and sat quietly, fidgeting with the hem of her blanket. Then she took a deep breath.
“Applejack, t-there’s something you have to hear. About Big McIntosh…”
“I already know. Rarity told me.”
“He saved my life.”
“I know that too. And if I stop to think about what happened to him, I’m gonna break down and bawl like I ain’t done since we lost Grandpappy Smith. But what keeps me together is knowin’ we got us a fight to win. Besides, Mayor said you figured on bringin’ every disappearin’ pony back.”
“I… can’t guarantee that’s still possible. Not after learning more about the stallion.”
Applejack’s reply was cut short by a sudden cheering. Twilight threw off her blanket and both ponies rushed out from under the canopy. What they saw made Twilight smile with relief and Applejack toss her hat in the air and cry out, “Princess Celestia!”
It was true; there was no mistaking the sleek golden-winged chariot, pulled by two pegasus stallions wearing gold-plated armor. The stallions were some of Canterlot’s famous royal guards, and they were taking the chariot on a direct route to Ponyville Plaza. It landed smoothly, its wheels rattling over the cobblestones as each guard decelerated. When all was stopped, Princess Celestia stepped gracefully to the ground.
She was very tall, more than twice the height of any other pony, with legs both long and slender. Her rainbow-hued mane and tail were constantly flowing, as though a breeze billowed around her, which Twilight knew was actually the echo of her tremendous magical power. The princess’ wings were tucked to either side of her white coat and her horn spiraled high in the air. Her cutie mark was a golden sun.
All of the townsfolk bowed as she disembarked from the chariot. Princess Celestia returned the greeting by rearing up. Her horn flashed and a burst of magic welled outward. As it touched the assembled ponies, their weariness fell away and a new strength moved into their limbs. For Twilight, the magic did even more, smoothing her battered coat and healing the wounded muscle in her leg.
“Thank you all!” said Princess Celestia. “I’m sorry to have such troublesome times be the cause of my visit. But, with your help, I’m certain everything will be put right.”
She glanced at the chariot and a blue treasure chest inlaid with rubies and emeralds floated out of its rear compartment to hover beside her. Twilight recognized the chest as the resting place for the Elements of Harmony, some of Equestria’s most precious artifacts.
“I had a feeling these might prove useful,” said Princess Celestia. “And, of course, there is something even more important, which belongs here in Ponyville.”
Once again, she faced the chariot. This time it was a pegasus who was lifted up by her magic. It was none other than Rainbow Dash, blissfully napping, though she came back to life as Princess Celestia set her on the ground.
“Ah!” she cried, jumping up and glancing about. “Are we there yet? I wasn’t really asleep!”
Twilight and Applejack had already moved forward. Both of them bowed to Princess Celestia, after which Twilight turned to Rainbow.
“You did it!”
“And I didn’t even break a sweat!” replied Rainbow. “Well, maybe when those shadows grabbed me. But only a little!”
“Rainbow Dash did an excellent job delivering her message,” said Princess Celestia. “I believe she may even have set a new record for the shortest time from Ponyville to Canterlot. She wanted to fly back alone, but I used magic to hasten our journey, and I thought it best she ride beside me.”
“Thank you so much, Princess,” said Twilight. “Do you really think we’ll need to use the Elements? Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy aren’t here now, but I’m sure we can find them. And Rarity should be with Mayor.”
For the first time, Princess Celestia looked grave.
“I hope it won’t come to that,” she said, “but I agree we would do well to be prepared. Please take the Elements, find your friends, and stay on guard.”
Twilight nodded, while Princess Celestia magically lowered the treasure chest onto her back.
“Now,” continued the princess, “for the moment, you may leave the rest to me. Our foe has been magically shielding his presence, but I can sense him now that I’m closer.”
“I bet he’s hidin’,” said Applejack cheerfully. “With you here, your majesty, I bet that varmit ain’t got half the courage to face us!”
“Then please allow me to prove you wrong.”
For a second time that day, the deep voice arose from nowhere. Twilight froze, as did the others. Only Princess Celestia did not appear to have been surprised.
“Very well,” she said, “come forth! The sooner you meet me, the sooner this will be over.”
“Indeed…”
A stone’s throw ahead of Princess Celestia, the ground began turning black. It was the same as in Trixie’s wagon, and when enough shadows were intertwined, the black stallion rose out of their depths. His eyes shone icy blue and his silver crown cutie marks had become weirdly distorted, as though they were melting into his flanks.
The ponies in the plaza and the pegasi above it gave back, though none of them ran. Twilight readied her magic and stepped a little closer to Princess Celestia. Applejack remained where she was and Rainbow Dash actually moved forward.
“You?” she said. “You’re what everypony’s been afraid of?”
The stallion turned to face her.
“Rainbow Dash,” he said. “The most talented flyer in Ponyville. Trixie hated you almost as much as she hated Twilight, something about eclipsing her popularity. Personally, I’d like to thank you; the princess will go a long way in sating my hunger.”
“I didn’t ask the princess to come here for you, ink brain,” said Rainbow. “I asked her to help us, and she’s going to kick. Your. Butt.”
“Strategy is obviously not your forte. Perhaps you should consider the reason Twilight’s spell was able to rescue you from my shadow cloud. Perhaps you should ask why she succeeded in that case, when she was unable to fight me before. The simple answer is that I wanted Twilight to win. I knew she had tasked you with flying to Canterlot after I blocked your letters. I arranged your ‘escape’ so you would go faster, and the princess could arrive here before nightfall. Two alicorns at once are too much until I grow stronger. But now Celestia is here alone, and I can destroy her without any interference from her night-commanding sister.”
Celestia’s royal guards landed in front of her and to either side.
“You seem very sure of yourself,” she said to the stallion. “If that’s true, a conflict between us is inevitable. But, in fairness, I will give you one last chance to release your captives and depart in peace.”
The stallion’s eyes flashed. Twilight felt sure he was silently laughing.
“Poor Celestia,” he said, “you still haven’t realized who I am. I suppose I can’t blame you. After all, it was Star Swirl and Silver Mane who imprisoned me. You and your sister never could work up the courage.”
“Oh, that is it!” said Rainbow Dash. “Put ’em up! Nobody insults the princess while I’m around!”
She raised her front hooves and prepared to charge. With some difficulty, Applejack restrained her. While they struggled, the stallion glanced at the treasure chest on Twilight’s back.
“Ah,” he said, “I see you’ve been preparing. I’ve been doing the same myself; stopping your letters to keep you from getting more help was only the first step. The next was taking something away, without which your precious elements become mere chunks of gaudy jewelry.”
Twilight felt a shiver move over her spine. The black stallion lifted one hoof and threw forward a tiny object, which bounced across the pavement until it came to rest in front of the princess. Looking down, everyone saw an unwrapped candy, a lily lemon sucker from the royal Canterlot sweet shop.
“Pinkie Pie!” cried Twilight.
“Well done,” said the stallion, “you finally noticed. A pity you didn’t also notice that sociability and laughter are nothing before the power of shadows. Neither is kindness. Which reminds me of another one of your friends, a pesky little pegasus who almost spoiled everything by finding my night pool on the first day. Still, she wasn’t much of a challenge; all I had to do was threaten her animals and she stayed perfectly quiet while I took her in. I simply love how easily you ponies confuse selflessness with stupidity.”
“ENOUGH!” Princess Celestia’s voice cut through the air. A golden light flared around her horn, and the fluttering of her mane and tail redoubled in strength. “You will cause no more harm.”
She began walking toward the stallion. Twilight knew better than to follow, and tried to ignore the sound of her madly thumping heartbeat as she watched the princess. When Celestia was a dozen feet from her enemy she paused and glanced skyward. A shaft of sunlight fell from the heavens—sparkling white and almost impossible to look at, because of its incredible brilliancy. The stallion cried out as it touched him. Before he could move, the sunlight enveloped his body and he melted away.
For a moment, there was silence. Applejack cleared her throat.
“Was… was that it? Did we win?”
She was still looking about when a pool of darkness blossomed under each of the royal guards. Both of them leapt away to fly, and just as quickly they were grabbed by shadowy tendrils and pulled out of sight. Princess Celestia’s horn sparkled with light. The shadows disappeared as a pair of sunbeams struck them, leaving the now-unconscious guards behind.
“Having trouble, Celestia? Or are you unable to spot such an obvious diversion?”
Another pool of darkness formed, this time beneath the princess herself. Unlike her guards, she did not try to leap clear. Instead, she stamped her left forehoof. There was the noise of a fiery whiplash and the darkness rippled and faded.
“Not at all. And your diversions leave much to be desired, both for trying to surprise me and for shifting attention from your true hiding place.”
She faced one of the nearby plaza planters, whose maple tree threw a dark shadow onto the ground. The stallion surged out of it, landing heavily on the cobblestone.
“So be it,” he said. “I wanted to have fun, but I suppose you’re right; it simply isn’t polite to play with one’s food.”
He smiled and faced the princess. Celestia stared calmly back. The stallion broke eye contact first, but only because he had turned to look at Twilight.
“Your student is precious to you,” he said. “I was hoping you might have had children, so that I could make you watch while I consumed them. But she will do in their stead.”
His eyes flashed and Twilight felt a piercing cold under her hooves. A shadow pit opened beneath her, but much different than those she had seen before. This one was more like a whirlpool than a simple conglomeration of darkness, and it swirled upwards to cage her inside.
Twilight tried to teleport, but the darkness doused her magic as soon as she summoned it. Through the spiraling shadows, she saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash hurry to reach her, along with a dozen other ponies. None of them could pass the barrier, and the fear in their eyes said plainly that no one knew how to help. When Twilight glanced down, she found her hooves sinking into the ground.
And then Celestia was beside her. Twilight had never even seen the princess move; it was as if she had been there all along. A gentle warmth came with her, banishing the chill of the stallion’s magic.
“Your life will not be extinguished here. And always remember, Twilight, when all seems lost, you should look to what you love for guidance.”
Celestia glanced upwards, her long horn shining like gold. The shadows threw themselves around it, and Twilight knew, with terrible certainty, the princess was being sacrificed to rescue her.
“No! Please, you can’t!”
Her words fell in vain. Princess Celestia lowered her head and allowed the darkness to cover her body. In the next moment, Twilight was cast backwards, onto the solid ground of the plaza. She heard a low rumbling and realized the stallion was laughing. When his whirlpool faded, the space inside it stood empty.
Princess Celestia was gone.