//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 - Potential of Armageddon // Story: Tartarus Infernum // by Sunderbraze //------------------------------// ********** “Let’s try again, Fluttershy,” Cadance instructed. “You’ve gotta feel for it… I know it’s an inanimate object, but… Hmm…” The young princess paused, trying to think of a way to explain it. “Sometimes, memories or imagination can bring out the necessary feelings. Imagine the mirror is one of your critters. He’s hurt, and you have the power to help him…” Fluttershy took a deep breath and stared into the mirror in front of them. Her reflection gazed back at her, as well as that of Cadance next to her and Pinkie Pie several yards behind them. “Ready?” Cadance asked. Fluttershy gulped and nodded slowly. Little beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she tried to focus her feelings. Cadance lifted her hind legs and bucked them forcefully into the mirror, causing it to crack and partially shatter. Startled but determined, Fluttershy imagined that the mirror was Angel, and that he had twisted his ankle again. The Element of Kindness around her neck began to glow, emitting a stream of pink energy. It traveled towards the mirror, lifting its fragments from the floor and slowly guiding them back into place. “Not bad!” Cadance exclaimed as Fluttershy exhaled and stopped herself. “Did I do it?” Fluttershy asked quietly, looking at the mirror. “Oh no…” All of its pieces were back into place, but not all of the cracks had sealed. “Aw, don’t worry about it Flutters!” Pinkie interjected cheerfully. “You’ll get it next time!” Cadance nodded in agreement as she cast her own healing magic, sealing up the remaining cracks in the mirror with a cyan wave of energy. “You make it look so easy,” Fluttershy breathed, wiping her forehead with her hoof. “Trust me, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Cadance remarked, smiling. “I’m just using healing spells. The Element of Kindness can do much better than that!” “Wait, there’s a difference?” Pinkie asked curiously. “I thought the Elements were magic!” “It’s a different kind,” Cadance explained. “See, I’m casting spells… any unicorn could learn to do that if they took classes for a few years like I did. But the Elements… They can turn the strength within your heart into something much more powerful than regular magic!” “I’m not very strong hearted, am I…?” Fluttershy sighed doubtfully, looking at the ground. “With kindness, you are,” Cadance said sincerely, tilting Fluttershy's head up with her hoof. “There’s more kindness in your heart than anypony I’ve ever met!” “Oh! So like, Rainbow’s heart is strong with loyalty, and Applejack’s heart is strong with honesty!” Pinkie figured. “Exactly! That’s what gives them the strength to do what they do,” Cadance confirmed. The three mares paused to watch Rainbow Dash training with Luna in the air above and behind them. Using her magic, Luna had suspended a large wooden chair in midair. “I’m ready, princess!” Dash declared, hovering in place. Luna nodded, and launched the chair at her with great speed. She bared her teeth and held herself steady. “I’m protecting my friends,” Dash thought to herself; the ruby lightning bolt on her necklace lit up. Raising her two front hooves to block the chair, it shattered into pieces upon coming into contact with her--the force of the strike barely moved her. “Woo-hoo!” Pinkie cheered. “Rain-bow Dash! Rain-bow Dash!” Luna nodded at Dash and conjured another chair, repeating the process with Applejack. She stood strong, turning her shoulder to absorb the brunt of the strike. When it hit her, she didn’t flinch. “It’s like havin’ a thick suit ‘a armor on,” Applejack said heartily as her friends cheered her on. “Barely felt a thing!” “Oh, princess, can I go next?” Pinkie asked, excitedly turning to Cadance. Cadance nodded and used her magic to materialize three additional mirrors, placing them all around the pink pony. “Ready, sport?” she asked. “I was born ready!” Pinkie replied, forming an intense smile. Cadance’s horn began to glow bright blue, and it emitted a shrill screeching sound that caused each of the four mirrors around her to crack. Pinkie closed her eyes and thought of the funniest thing she could think of, starting to giggle as her sapphire necklace shone brightly. It emitted a stream of azure energy, which enveloped the mirrors and spread throughout the room. Slowly, the little cracks in each mirror began to liquefy and melt away. Everyone in the hall started to feel an irresistible urge to smile as the energy spread through them. “That’s amazing, Pinkie,” Cadance sighed. “That even made miss serious business over there crack a smile!” Luna shot an annoyed glare at her niece, who couldn’t help but giggle. ********** “C-can I have another try?” Fluttershy asked, feeling more confident as a side effect of Pinkie’s power. She had decided to use a memory instead of imagination. “Of course,” the princess replied, using her magic to push away the other mirrors. She planted one of them directly in front of the pegasus. “I’m ready,” Fluttershy declared, gazing intensely into the mirror. As soon as Cadance bucked it, Fluttershy closed her eyes and welled up a memory from many years ago. In this memory, she was just a filly, and was standing on a cloud at the junior flight academy in Cloudsdale. Her only friend at the time, Rainbow Dash, was soaring through the clouds above her. “That’s it, just fly through each ring, Rainbow…” their teacher’s voice echoed through Fluttershy’s mind. “Don’t need to get fancy this time…” The young Dash grinned at him defiantly, flying through a cloudy ring and somersaulting through the air, taking a dive downwards to gain speed as she tried to perform another stunt. “Watch out!” With a thud that echoed chillingly in slow motion, Dash slammed head-first into a passerby adult pegasus, falling into the clouds below her like a ragdoll. “Everypony step back,” the instructor’s voice echoed. “She’ll probably need to see the nurse again...” Fluttershy’s face began to feel flushed as she recalled the sound of her friend crying out in pain. She would have done anything to help her! Anything! Suddenly, her eyelids shot open, and a burst of energy surged through her. Her eyes were completely white, and they shone brightly along with the gem in her Element. A pink vortex of magical energy started forming around her, sending gusts of wind throughout the hall. Fluttershy’s heartwarming gaze turned towards the damaged mirror—the broken shards vibrated for a second and flew back into place, instantly melding together. “Fluttershy, that’s amazing!” Cadance cheered, galloping over to the other three mirrors down the hall. “Don’t stop there, heal these too!” She bucked each of them, one by one, causing bits of shattered glass to fly across the hall. Fluttershy turned her head quickly, focusing her healing gaze on each one. Each time, before the reflective shards could reach the floor, they were caught by a stream of pink energy, and carried back into their respective mirrors, rapidly mending afterwards. “You’ve done it, child,” Luna remarked in awe. “You’ve harnessed the pure essence of kindness…” Fluttershy slowly blinked, her eyes returning to normal. ********** “Did I do it?” she asked in silent excitement. Everyone in the hall was staring at her in shock. “Oh… was I too slow?” Fluttershy looked at the ground. “That… was... AWESOME!” Dash cheered, her voice cracking in glee as she swooped down and affectionately crashed into Fluttershy. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” Fluttershy exhaled, as Dash patted her on the back and let her go. “Me?” Dash asked in confusion. “What’d I do?” “You inspired me,” Fluttershy replied happily, standing up again. “Whatever it was you did, Fluttershy, continue to do it,” Luna ordered. “The rest of you still have yet to realize your full potential. When you do so, you enter a sort of trance, and your powers are greatly amplified for a short time. It marks the pinnacle of your individual powers…” “Hoo-eee, Fluttershy, yer makin’ us look bad,” Applejack laughed supportively. Knowing her friend all too well, she quickly reminded the apologetic Fluttershy that she was just kidding. “I wonder how Twilight and Rarity are doin’?” Pinkie thought aloud, looking through the stained glass window towards the numerous gleaming towers of Canterlot. “This,” sighed a frustrated Twilight. “Is really annoying!” “Oh, do lighten up darling,” Rarity requested, using her magic to pull another scroll from the shelves. “I can’t find a single spell in here that can counter necromancy!” the annoyed mare exclaimed, tossing aside a stack of books from the floor space in front of where she sat. “I think the coffee’s worn off…” Rarity thought worriedly, raising an eyebrow at her friend. While Luna was busy training Dash and Applejack and Cadance was busy training Pinkie and Fluttershy, they had sent the two unicorns to the Canterlot Archives in search of any known magical spells that could counter the dangerous magic of Darkstar the Crazed—necromancy. “I think you should take a break, Twilight. Allow me to take care of this,” Rarity told her concernedly. “But I…“ Twilight’s sentence was interrupted by a forced yawn. “…can’t sleep at a time like this, when so much’s at stake…” “Twilight Sparkle, I insist that you get some sleep,” Rarity demanded, putting her hoof down. She used her magic to conjure a cushion, and placed it on the floor beneath her friend. “I will take it upon myself to find a spell that can defeat necromancy.” “But-“ “No buts!” Rarity said authoritatively. “Until Princess Luna is ready for us, all that needs to be done is finding a scroll. I’m sure I can find something in this mess. After all, I do pride myself on detail…” Twilight sighed in defeat. “Alright, I’ll take a nap… But as soon as Luna’s ready, wake me up, alright?” “Of course, dear,” Rarity replied, glaring at Twilight until she lied down. Once she closed her eyes, it wasn’t long before she started drifting away. Rarity continued fruitlessly browsing the archives as she fell asleep on the floor. “She is right about one thing,” Rarity thought. “This is frustrating. There’s not a single spell that so much as refers to necromancy! Sure, it’s evil, but… ugh. How can evil be defeated if we know nothing of it?!” Sighing in annoyance, Rarity stepped out of the archives, noticing a guard walking down the hall. “Excuse me,” she called out. “Yoo-hoo!” The guard turned and approached her. “What can I do for ya, miss?” he asked; Rarity began to put on a cute face. “I’m having the most dreadful time trying to find a spell,” Rarity moaned dramatically. “It may not even be in here… I don’t suppose you have the key to the archive over there, do you?” Rarity batted her eyelashes towards a gated area across the hall, which was a restricted section of the archives. It had a sign above it which read “Starswirl the Bearded Wing”. “Oh, uh,” the guard stammered. “The, uh, c-captain said only magic scholars are allowed to, uh-“ “Please?” Rarity begged, looking at him sideways. “I’m not a scholar, but I am working with the princess…” “Ahm… Uh…” the guard replied, unsure. “Ah… Well… I don’t see why not… B-be careful in there, miss…” “Oh thank you, thank you so much,” Rarity exclaimed, kissing him on the cheek. Blushing, the guard’s horn lit up and he unlocked the archive. “L-let me know if you need anything,” he said, stumbling away. “Rarity, you old charmer,” she thought triumphantly, shooting him a thankful gaze. She cantered victoriously into the restricted wing, closing the gate behind her and heading for the reference section. ********** It was almost noon. Princess Celestia nervously paced back and forth in the Royal Hall, mentally preparing a statement that the entire kingdom of Equestria would soon hear. Doubt filled the princess as she recited the words in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she heard the clopping of hooves against the stairs approaching her throne room; Shining Armor opened the door with an aura of violet magic and hurriedly galloped in. “Your highness, everypony is ready for the announcement,” Armor reported, saluting her. “The relay unicorns are ready for broadcast, and every newspaper in Equestria is ready for something to print.” “Very well,” Celestia replied. Her voice was resolute, but her mind treaded the boundaries of doubt. “Seventy-two million Equestrians await my explanation of the explosion from Tartarus…” Celestia thought. “...For four thousand, four hundred and fifty two years I have kept this kingdom safe from the evils of the world… And now, for the first time, I knowingly enter a battle from which I may not return…” “Is everything alright, your highness?” Armor asked, watching the princess gaze at the floor. “Speak freely, captain,” she replied quietly, looking at him from the corner of her eye. “Tell me… How would you inform Equestria that there’s a chance I will not return from this battle?” Though he tried to conceal it, Armor shuddered visibly at the thought of losing her. “M-me, princess?” he asked, unsure. Celestia nodded curiously. “...Well, I know not everypony would take it well… But I’d tell’em the truth. They’re your subjects, they trust you…” “The truth…” Celestia pondered. “There is so much uncertainty in it. All that I am certain of is that three of Equestria’s most dangerous enemies have been freed, all at once… that will be difficult enough to contain…” “But you imprisoned them yourself, your highness,” Armor reminded her encouragingly. “And this time, you have the Elements of Harmony! There’s no way they can stop you!” “…It was not so easily done,” Celestia admitted. “But the known threats of Tartarus are only half of my concerns. Discord, too, used Tartarus as a prison for evils he was unable to control…” “Do we know nothing about them, princess?” Armor asked, looking at the floor. “Nothing at all…” Celestia lifted her head and gazed towards her balcony as their conversation went silent. She could hear the anxious chatter of hundreds of ponies in the courtyard. “It’s noon,” she told Armor somberly. “…Wish me luck.” “Good luck, your highness!” Armor replied supportively, saluting her. She approached the balcony and stepped into the afternoon sunlight, greeted by a cacophony of voices from the crowds below. Her horn glowed brightly, and she cast a spell to amplify her voice. Hundreds of ponies gathered in the royal courtyard, with a crowd of newspaper reporters at the front, holding their quills at the ready. A group of unicorns stood on the balcony of an opposite tower, using their powers to broadcast an image of Celestia across the kingdom. In the sky-city of Cloudsdale, hundreds of pegasus ponies watched as a unicorn in a hot air balloon relayed an image of the princess. Not far from there, in the crowded town hall of Ponyville, Spike was pushing his way through the assembly to try and see the broadcast. Gathering around a massive screen in Tames Square, Manehattan, thousands of ponies watched Celestia step into view. From a clock tower balcony in downtown Fillydelphia, a unicorn was projecting the princess’s image into the sky over the worried city. From the farthest city in the southwest, Mareami, to farthest city of the northeast, Detrot, the citizens of Equestria watched and waited. Celestia took a deep breath while millions held theirs. ********** “Citizens of Equestria,” the princess’s voice boomed. She paused, deciding firmly on what she would tell. I, Princess Celestia, am here today to share with you some disturbing news; Rumors have spread of a cataclysmic explosion in the central east. It is with great dismay, that I must confirm these rumors to be true. The Gates of Tartarus have been blasted asunder by a powerful force of magic. Celestia paused again. The crowds below her began mumble worriedly. As I have for forty-five hundred years, I will continue to defend you, my faithful subjects. I will not be alone. Many brave and powerful allies will stand with me. However, I will not lie to you… This is the single greatest threat Equestria has ever faced, and there is a chance that my allies and I will not succeed… The murmurs from the crowd grew increasingly worrisome. The viewers of the speech were united in a common worrisome thought: How could Celestia possibly be defeated? If we do not succeed, An evacuation order will be given. Obey your National Guard as you would myself. They will keep you safe in light of this crisis. But until that order is given, remain calm, and continue with your lives. Know that your ruler is doing everything possible to protect you. Remain calm, Equestria, and carry on, until my return… Farewell. With that, the princess bowed her head to her subjects, and left the balcony. ********** “Princess, the Royal Guard will fight for you,” Armor reminded her diligently. “Every single one of us would give our lives for you…” “They are to protect the civilians,” Celestia ordered firmly. “If the evacuation order is given, every single one of them will be needed to make for an orderly transition. I’ve contacted the prime minister of the Griffon Kingdoms, and he’s generously offered to accept refugees in the northeast…” “…If I may, your highness, did you ask him if he’d send military aid?” Armor asked. “They have an army of thousands!” “I did not,” Celestia replied. “The foes we face are not the kind that can be defeated with conventional force…” “What are they, your highness? What makes them so dangerous?” “The ones I know of? There is the Nighthawk…” Celestia said quietly. “A bird made almost entirely of shadow energy, able to spawn thousands of minions made of the same energy…” “Thousands…?” “The Zentnor Collective,” she continued. “Twelve mercenaries, protected by nigh unbreakable armor that renders them immune to magic…” “Immune to magic?” “Completely… and worst of all, Darkstar the Crazed… An insane necromancer that raises the dead into an army of mindless skeletons. Foes like this simply cannot be overwhelmed… They must be taken down quickly and effectively, by a small team. I will depart soon to gather more of this team.” “…I understand, your highness,” Armor sighed dejectedly. “I wish there was more I could do…” “You will fight by my side if you so choose,” Celestia offered, causing the captain’s face to brighten. “Your shielding magic is the most powerful in Equestria, and that will be invaluable to our team.” “It’d be my honor,” Armor said excitedly, saluting the princess. “And I thank you,” Celestia replied, smiling. “Tomorrow at dawn, we shall meet here in the Royal Hall with the rest of the team. However, in the meantime, I have a task for you…” ************ Half a mile away, near the front gates of Canterlot, a golden pegasus-driven chariot was arriving at the train station. The two pegasus guards pulling the chariot landed their vehicle on a designated strip of concrete, taxiing into a parking lot with dozens of other golden chariots. The climate around the station was nervous. Swarms of ponies crowded around the ticket booth in hopes of taking the next train north. Amidst the disorganized lines, a lively yellow earth pony trotted out of the chariot’s parking lot. He sported a white cowboy hat atop his messy red mane. His cutie mark was a flying lasso, and he wore a white vest with a white pair of saddlebags, each of them containing a coil of rope. There was no doubt that this well-dressed colt was from the west. “Pardon me, mister,” he asked a nervous high-class stallion that was waiting in line. “Don’t suppose ya can point me towards the Royal Hall, can ya? Haven’t been ta Cannerlot in almost a month! Big cities jus’ ain’t easy to get used to, heh.” “Erm… Follow the brick road into the city, th-there are signs that point the way,” the white unicorn responded nervously. “But surely you do not wish to stay here? Did you not hear the princess’s statement?” “Sure did!” he replied, trotting off. “Oughta be on mah way, thank ya kindly, sir!” Despite the unicorn’s assurance of signs pointing the way, the young pony couldn’t help but feel lost as he cantered into the busy city streets. The city echoed the sentiment of the train station; ponies rushed to and fro, leaving a discontented atmosphere around the visitor. Regardless, the chipper stallion continued his search for signs. “Aha… looks like Ah just gotta take a left here, and uh… couple ‘a rights!” he thought aloud, having finally seen a street sign. He followed the directions, but somehow ended up looking at the exact same sign again. “Huh,” he commented, lifting his hat and scratching his head. “Could’a swore that was it… Did Ah take an extra right or somethin’?” Noticing the confused pony, a young filly tugged at her mother’s dress. “Mommy, is that-?” “Come along sweetie,” the mare urged, hurriedly pulling her daughter along. The western pony noticed the filly and waved at her happily as she was ushered away. “Everypony here sure seems mighty busy,” he remarked, turning back to look at the sign. “Might try askin’ a shopkeep!” The first few shops he came to were so packed full of nervous shoppers that he could barely enter. Shrugging, the stallion decided to try a nearby doughnut shop instead. “A-Ashton Calhoof?” the surprised Donut Joe asked, noticing the cowboy’s entry. “…Is it really you!?” “Sure is!” Ashton replied, walking over and shaking hooves with the star-struck barista. “Five times champion of the Canterlot Rodeo competition,” Joe stammered in awe. “W-welcome to Donut Joe’s! How’s about a cup’a coffee and a donut, champ?! On the house!” “Ahh, normally Ah’d love to have some,” said Ashton. “But ya see, Ah’m here on some mighty important business—none other than Princess Celestia wants to see me! Ah was hopin’ ya could point me towards the Royal Hall...” “Whoa,” replied the donut connoisseur. “Ah… sure thing! It’s uh… Wait, what d’you guys want?” Ashton looked behind him; two Royal Guard had just walked in. Both of them were white-pelted; one was a unicorn, the other a pegasus. “Ashton Calhoof?” the pegasus guard asked in a serious tone. “That’s me!” he replied. “We’ve been sent to pick you up. Come with us,” the unicorn guard informed him. He led the way, and the unicorn guard stood by, motioning for Ashton to follow. “Well, it was nice’t meet ya!” Ashton called back to Joe. “Ah’ll come back ‘n have a cup with ya after Ah’m finished up with the princess!” “Thanks!” Joe called out, scowling at the guards as they nudged Ashton out of the shop. “…Darn! That would’a been so good for business… Ashton Calhoof! In my shop!” The two Royal Guards hurriedly escorted Ashton through the bustling streets of Canterlot, approaching the Royal Gardens. Once they were away from the crowds, they stopped and held him there. “We’ve been told to bring you here and wait for further instructions,” the pegasus guard informed him. “The captain should be here shortly.” “Beggin’ your pardon, gentlecolts, but Ah’m supposed to meet with the princess real soon,” Ashton informed them. “She sent me a letter herself this mornin’!” “These orders come from the top,” replied the unicorn guard. “…Don’t know anything about the princess… but, uh…” He paused for a moment; the pegasus guard raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh come on, corporal, the cap’n didn’t say we couldn’t ask!” the unicorn guard suddenly protested. To his comrade’s annoyance, he telekinetically pulled a quill and paper from the pockets in his armor. “Can I have your autograph while we’re here!?” Ashton laughed and bit down on the quill, signing his name onto the floating piece of paper. “Is it true that you lassoed a dragon to the ground and hogtied him?” the admiring guard asked, while the corporal rolled his eyes. “’Twas just a young‘un,” Aston replied humbly, handing the autographed paper back to him. “Teenager, if Ah can recall. Red scales, ‘n a orange crest on his head. Started tearin’ up mah best friend Braeburn’s apple orchard, searchin’ for gems or somethin’. Hah! Not on mah watch!” “What’d you do with him?” the unicorn guard asked, carefully rolling up the paper and placing it into his bags. “Did you… did you eat’em for dinner?” “Hah, eat a dragon!” Ashton laughed heartily. “That’s crazy talk. Ah just carried him down to Drackenridge ‘an let ‘em go. He was jus’ a ‘lil guy after all. Well… ‘lil by dragon standards, Ah reckon.” “Drackenridge?!” gushed the unicorn. “I’ve heard that’s like, dragon city…” “Wasn’t nothin’ special,” Ashton chuckled. “Hop skip n’ a jump from Appleloosa!” “A hop, skip, and a jump?! You can’t be serious, Drackenridge is almost a hundred miles from there!” The corporal had had enough of this. “That’s a bunch of hogwash,” he interjected in disbelief. “Nopony can lasso a dragon in flight, that’s just ridiculous!” “Maybe somepony exaggerated the tale a ‘lil bit, but Ah sure did lasso ‘em down,” Ashton replied honestly. “That part ain’t a lie. It’s jus’ what Ah’m good at!” “I think it’s all a big hoax,” the naysaying corporal huffed. “But it ain’t!” the rodeo champ replied, slightly hurt. “Ah’m many things, but Ah ain’t a liar!” “I bet he can prove it!” challenged the unicorn guard. “I bet if you fly at top speed over the gardens, he can lasso you straight down!” “Hah!” scoffed the pegasus guard. “Ten bits says he can’t, private.” “Oh, you’re on!” They shook hooves. “Ashton, d’you think you can make a believer out of this jealous colt here?” “Well… uhm…” Ashton started, scratching his head. “Ah’ve never wrangled a pegasus without their permission, so Ah suppose Ah’ll do it if ya say Ah can.” “Ha, ha!” the corporal laughed. “I give you permission to lasso me, or whatever it is you think you’ll do. I’m one of the fastest in the Royal Guard! You won’t even come close.” “Well, if ya say so,” the champ replied, pulling a coil of rope from his saddlebag, rolling it around his hoof skillfully, and biting down on the very end. “Fly wherever ya like, Ah’ll give ya a head start. Ten seconds.” The corporal roared in laughter and took flight, circling high above the gardens. “You’ve got this, Ashton!” cheered the private. Ashton nodded at his fan, and tilted his hat upwards. Squinting his bright green eyes, he carefully studied the movement of the corporal, counting the seconds in his head. As soon as he counted to ten, Ashton tossed his coil of rope upwards, manipulating it carefully into a flying lasso. Seconds later, he jumped high into the air, landing on the shoulders of a statue, which he jumped off of and threw the lasso towards the corporal, coiling the rope tightly around his hind leg. “You’ve gotta be k-“ The pegasus guard’s disbelieving protest was interrupted as Ashton pulled him straight down into the garden, causing him to land in the grass with a heavy oof. “Amazing!” the private shouted excitedly, stamping his hooves on the ground. “I’ve never seen anything like it!” His rejoice was abruptly silenced as Shining Armor entered the gardens, walking up to the bound corporal with a concerned expression. “Ah… Captain.. Um, sir-“ “You made a bet,” Armor told him, grinning. “Pay the stallion.” Ashton laughed heartily as he untied the corporal, who shamefully pulled ten bits from his armor pocket, handing them to his comrade. “Now the two of you, get back to patrolling,” Armor ordered them sternly. “There’s a city full of panicked ponies out there, and we need to keep order.” With a quick salute the two guards cantered away, the corporal sporting a slight limp in his hind leg. “Ashton Calhoof, I’m Captain Shining Armor of Princess Celestia’s Royal Guard,” the blue-maned unicorn introduced himself, offering his hoof. “Mighty fine ‘ta make yer acquaintance, cap’n,” Ashton replied, shaking hooves. “But might Ah ask what’cha need from me? Ah’m almost late for a meetin’ with the princess!” “That’s what I’m here about,” Armor explained. “Princess Celestia needs to see you, but since she made her speech, she can’t appear in public without getting bombarded with questions and concerns from the citizens. She ordered me to use the Royal Guard to find you.” “Ah see,” the rodeo champ said, smiling as he realized he wasn’t in trouble. “I’ll take you to see her now, if you’ll follow me this way,” Armor offered, trotting out of the gardens. Ashton nodded, following along. Armor led him through a set of streets and into the castle courtyard, with the Royal Hall in the castle just opposite from them. “Aha! If the signs had said somethin’ bout a courtyard, Ah’d have been here already!” Ashton commented. “Were you lost?” Armor grinned, leading him into the castle and heading towards the stairs. “Ayep,” Ashton admitted cheerfully. “Wonder if the princess sent the guard after me ‘cause she knew Ah’d get lost? After all, Ah’ve gotten lost almost every time Ah come here for a competition… Darn near delayed a few of ‘em, hah!” “Well, the princess will probably have somepony guide you to your accommodations after the meeting,” Armor laughed, raising a hoof at the guard unicorns in front of the door to the Royal Hall. They saluted him and opened the doors with their magic. ********** “-assure you, governor, as soon as I get the slightest hint we may not prevail, I will give the word for evacuation,” Celestia’s voice was saying as Armor and Ashton slowly entered the hall. The princess’s horn was glowing with a golden aura, and she was looking into a mirror. Ashton cocked his head curiously to get a better look at the mirror—it didn’t show Celestia’s reflection, but rather that of an older white unicorn stallion wearing a black top hat and neck tie. A golden monocle covered his left eye, and his mane was grey and well-styled. “I have utmost confidence in you, your majesty, I am merely echoing the concerns of my people,” replied the governor. His voice was very high-class and nervous, and it carried through the mirror. “Everypony in Fillydelphia saw the explosion, and they’re very worried about what it could bring…” “Fillydelphia will be the first to receive word should we succeed or fail,” Celestia told him. “I recognize its proximity to Tartarus, and it will be given careful consideration as we continue our planning.” “Now, I must go,” she continued, noticing Armor from the corner of her eye. “My appointment has just arrived, and assembling my defense team is of the highest priority.” “Of course,” replied the governor of Fillydelphia. “I think I can speak on behalf of my entire city when I say good luck, your majesty. We shall be rooting for you!” With that, Celestia’s horn stopped glowing, and the image of the well-dressed unicorn in the mirror faded away. The princess turned to face the captain and the rodeo champ. “Ashton Calhoof, I thank you for coming on such short notice,” Celestia said, walking up to the yellow earth pony. He humbly removed his hat and bowed at her. “Ah got on the earliest flight outta Appleoosa as soon as Ah got yer note, yer highness,” replied Ashton. “I thank you for your haste,” she said appreciatively. “I’ve summoned you here to request your help.” “As you have likely heard from my public address, the Gates of Tartarus have been destroyed,” Celestia continued. “I’m assembling a team of the strongest and most skilled ponies in all of Equestria to fight with me as we face this threat. You are among them.” “…Fightin’s not somethin’ Ah enjoy doin, yer highness…” Ashton admitted quietly. “But for Equestria, Ah’ll have’t make an exception!” “None of us enjoy it,” Celestia sighed, looking at the floor. “It is shameful that it’s come to this, but it is what has to be done…” “What’ll ya have me do, yer highness?” Ashton asked. “For tonight, just rest,” replied the princess, lifting her head and gazing at him. “I’ll have Captain Armor lead you to your accommodations. Tomorrow morning at dawn, I’m holding a meeting here with everypony I’ve chosen to be a part of our team.” “Sure thing, princess!” Ashton told her happily. Celestia nodded at him. “Thank you very much,” she said, smiling at Ashton as he placed the hat back onto his head. “Farewell for now. Captain, if you will.” The captain saluted her and led Ashton out of the Royal Hall as Celestia took wing and teleported away in a flash of golden light. “D’ya think ya could stop by tomorrow mornin’ and lead me back here?” Ashton asked him as they exited the royal hall. “Ah’m afraid Ah might get lost again, y’know?” “Of course,” Armor replied, smiling at him. “If I can’t, I’ll have one of my boys come and get you. The princess has summoned me to join her too, so it looks like we’ll be working together.” “Is that right?” said Ashton. “Hoo-eee! Ah can’t wait to see who else the princess is gonna bring! Ah’ll bet there’ll be some mighty tough ponies with us!”