The ponies travelled to Canterlot to query the princess for more information on the subject, after collecting their friends. They left out the details for a full cooperative team, as to fighting the supposed enders of Equastria would make even the toughest of Celestia’s guard quake in their armor and hide. Some things are best left unsaid until the right time comes, they were all given a white lie for their unexpected summon by the Celestia, if the question did so come up. Previously Twilight had sent a scroll informing the Princess of the upcoming threat so she knew that getting to Celestia would quick and effortless.
They soon entered the royal hall, there depictions in stain glass still showing their memories of bravery and victory over Nightmare Moon and, now newly stood, with the sun phasing the colors through upon the ponies, their victory over Discord, the hard times and, the final confrontation. This, shown new hope onto Twilight and Applejack, fighting so much and proceeding victorious this confrontation would only be another stain glass. Pinkie Pie, jumping around getting as close to wach new stain glass to walking into it, hand now stuck to the ground laughing under one certain stain glass.
“Twilight!!”.
She said, cheerfully and with great effort through her own bellowing laughter.
“He’s dancing on your head again!!”.
The ponies looked up to she the stain glass of their first confrontation with Discord in this very hall, and, quite clearly depicted, the stain glass window where Discord was most joyously dancing on Twilight’s stain glass head. Even the glassy version of Pinkie Pie was laughing at it. Some chuckles behind them alerted them of Celestia’s presence, all expect Pinkie Pie who was too caught up in her element.
“Pinkie”.
Rarity gives a distasteful look as she picks up Pinkie, not noticing she has started floating in the air, only calmed down when set besides Rarity and the others. Gleaming like nothing had even happened.
“I must admit, he might have wanted to bring Equastria into chaos. But did have a good sense of humor. It is much needed in this time of woe”.
Celestia had dropped her playful habit to take up her expected role. Once again she stood majestically, her rainbow mane flowing in the non existent wind delicately like the magic flowed through each strand and joined the others in unison, such magic to work nonchalantly and without focus proved her magical strength.
“Time of woe? Excuse me Princess, but we aren’t in some time of woe”.
Twilight had turned to face her friends, now and only now would she have to tell them, it couldn’t wait any longer.
“I’m afraid, yet again, Equastria is in danger”.
The ponies look at each other confused and unsure, after a few eyes to eyes ever pony was focused on Applejack nodding her head.
“I eard it from ma sister, who eard it from Zecora, terrible stallions a comin”.
Celestia went to continue from Applejack.
“The stallions of the Apocalypse are a terrible ponification of four inflictions that are said to drive Equastria to destruction”.
She continued to tell them what Twilight had spoken of from the book.
“Princess, surely you have more information that can help us against them”.
“I wish I did Twilight, but they are a powerful evil that can’t be taken lightly, I could only momentarily seal them away. But there is no doubt, with your friendship, that you can put a stop to them”.
Twilight smiled, taking what the Princess said like it was true fact, she turned to her friends, no longer uncertain of their abilities, but now fully eager to stop this disaster, filled with bold, determined faces, they looked at each other and back to Twilight.
“We’re with you”.
“So am I”.
“I-I guess”.
“This will be fun!”.
“You can’t leave me out can you!?”.
Twilight looked at her friends with gratitude, knowing her friends will never let her down. She turned back to Celestia, the Princess herself knew she could trust her friends also, with the simple smile on her face, it said that they are destined to save Equastria again. Twilight bowed to the Princess and so did the Princess bow back.
“The elements of harmony are locked away safely. You will need them”.
Celestia walks to the door which contains the elements, by her horn’s silver glow, the doors open and give way for her to walk into the room. There is nothing to be heard for a while, but then the Princess gasps echoes out the room and throughout the hall, startling everyone in the hall, they worried if the elements had been stolen again. They edged towards the darkened room which the elements were kept.
“Princess?”.
There was no response to the beckon, they edged closer still. All of a sudden, a great glow from a unicorn horn emerged. The Princess walked out, smile on her face, and from behind her hovered the elements.
“Gotcha!”.
The ponies breath a sigh of relieve as Celestia give them their corresponding elements. In such time of great tension humor lightened their spirits. They wore their elements around their neck, the gems within still shone brightly since their return, and stood no markings of conflict from the encounters of Nightmare Moon and Discord. Celestia bowed to these ponies. As a show of good luck and respect, as they returned back into Canterlot.
Even with the tools required to vanquish the new foes, the whereabouts where still unclear to the group, they knew they were heading to Ponyville, but with powerful enemies that spread death and disease, it was mandatory that they trend no hoof in Ponyville.
“So, where would they be?”.
Twilight asked without turning to her pony friends, as they walked down the street, Rainbow Dash flying overhead. The elements they bared distracted the civilians around them, gossip and whispers spread as it was a sure sign danger was coming, a warning beacon of what’s to come.
“… Maybe Zecora knows where hey are. She did get sick an all”.
“Of course Applejack, they must be near the Everfree Forest”.
“Wait a apple picking minut. We were in the Everfree Forest, and we eard and saw no pony”.
“Well … They must be close enough to make Zeocra sick right!? … Then they got to be nearby”.
“I agree with Rainbow Dash. It is a possibility that they were in Everfree Forest to get Zecora sick, how else would she get sick? I mean, they had to have some connection to her or her sickness just does not make sense”.
“Well, we’ll head back to Zecora’s. She’ll might be able to give use more information about her sickness”.
“… Girls … If they ar as close to Ponyville to be in the Everfree Forest … Could hey hav already attacked Ponyville?”.
The ponies keep moving, now in a worried silence.
“Oh. Don’t worry Applejack, I’m sure everyone’s doing okay”.
“Fluttershy’s right! Now need to get down with a frown. Ponyville will be as great as chocolate rain, or maybe chocolate cake rain, or maybe … CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE RAIN!!”.
Applejack nodded in agreement and the mares kept moving, when Ponyville was near sight worry overtook them and they galloped to a closer view, Ponyville still looked like it’s normal self, normal mares and normal stallions doing their normal, everyday jobs. A few of the mare sighed a sign of relief as the others looked on with smiles that their home was still say.
“What I tell you. They’re all okay”.
Applejack gave a smile of relief to Fluttershy before they continued down the path back home, night was fast approaching, the residents of Ponyville was being to slow down, yawn, and hit the hay. The streets were starting to light up as each lamp flashed on in rhythm from one side of the town to the other. The artificial glow making nearby waters sparkle and glimmer. The mares had a job to do, but they won’t be able to do it with sleepy heads and tired wings.
“We’re going to have to see Zecora tomorrow”.
Twilight gives out a long yawn.
“It’s getting late”.
Even Pinkie Pie’s bouncy personality was weakening in the night’s sleepy, hollow breeze. Leaving just a hop, skip and a jump before she does so again to her house after singing everyone goodnight.
“But but we cant eave it naw! Thos stallions could come in any minute!”.
“I’m sorry Applejack but some ponies still need their beauty sleep”.
“Rarity’s right, as much as I like to stop them now, we won’t be able to do it If we’re tired. Better to be prepared and alert”.
“Yeh, guess your right”.
The ponies disbanded to their quarters, mentally preparing for that which was to come. Applejack so too retreated to her solid, wooden bed and soft, cotton sheets. Regardless of how comfortable these two things were she could to get the sleep she needed, he head was filled to leaking of Ponyville in danger, ponies falling ill, feuding, running out of food, and countless ponies on the ground. Cold and still as stone. Her friends and family among the latter. She opened her eyes and threw off her sheets to the ground.
“I won’t let that happen”.
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