//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Enter Tragedy // Story: Equestria in Ruins // by Eclipse Shine //------------------------------// It was mid-day when the Sun hit the gemstones that were infesting the once divine kingdom of crystals. Our figure reflected on them like complexions upon a pool of oil; we had changed a lot since we first started our journey even if it had only been around a week since the eclipse struck the mountaintops of Equestria. Something inside us was different although the change was far less evident in Shining Armor and Scootaloo but was still present. We trotted for around half an hour until we were in front of the remnants of the Crystal Castle where Shining Armor and Princess Cadence once lived in happiness. What happened to this place? Very few parts of the castle were still intact, pierced by the dark crystals that King Sombra casted upon this frozen empire. Sorrow shadowed Shining Armor’s face as we met him. “She’s locked inside of a chamber hidden deep within the castle. It’s time for me to clean out my closet. Sometimes forgetting about the past brings even more pain. I can’t think about the good times I had with Cadence without the awful ones eclipsing my thoughts.” Regret clouded Shining Armor’s eyes as tears froze in the merciless Arctic. Only this time they weren’t liquid pride; they were solid shame. “You did what you had to do.” Scootaloo tried to console the hurt stallion. “But I didn’t do what was right.” He replied, Scootaloo’s barely making him feel better. “Let’s pay her a little visit.” “Are you sure you’re okay? I mean we could always turn back and come another day?” Unity spoke with a hint of concern. “What better time than now?” He started to trot into the castle that was barely held together. The skyscraper leaned on itself and the crystals it was trapped within. ~ Stumbling through the desolate castle, we went down several sets of stairs leading to the lower chamber where Celestia remained captive. The temperature of the building started to warm up drastically. “Why is it so damn hot in here?” Starshard was panting along with the rest of us as we reached yet another flight of stairs. “I honestly don’t know…It’s quite unusual to say the least.” Shining Armor continued to lead us deeper and deeper into the heart of darkness. It was dark, really dark, sort of like one of my dreams. A flash of light appeared as Unity and Shining Armor lit up their horns. I could hear heavy breathing coming from down below as we kept trotting; we finally hit the bottom of the treacherous castle. The breathing continued but it wasn’t any of us; it was something much more ominous. Kicking up some kind of object underneath my hoof, I felt something wake within the huge room. Heavy breathing intensified as mountains of dark crystals were exposed by the light emitted from the horns of the two unicorns that stood beside me. The devil himself greeted us. An avalanche of crystals crashed as the dark mountains started to tremble as if tectonic plates were shaking them at a very high magnitude. I saw a flash of purple and then a flash of green followed by a loud cry. Running for cover, we watched in horror as the beast woke within the depths of the heart of darkness. A full grown dragon growled, sending waves of crystal crashing about the room. Like a fish out of water, it struggled to mobilize itself after hibernating for decades. “Spike!” Scootaloo screeched in dismay as she covered her mouth with her hoof. “Quiet.” I whispered to her but it was too late; the dragon was heading directly for us at a quickening pace. Emerging from the shadows, Scootaloo shouted. “It’s me Spike, Scootaloo! Don’t you remember me?!” She was met by a loud growl from the very depths of the dragon’s body. It advanced towards her, oblivious to her desperate cries. “Please Spike remember…Remember Ponyville, remember the Cutie Mark Crusaders…Remember Twilight.” Scootaloo tried to plea with the dragon but was only met with more fury. “Please don’t hurt them Spike, we’re only here to help…Celestia damn it! Come to your senses!” She growled these last words as the dragon lashed at her; barely missing the orange mare. “Scootaloo get away from him!” Shining Armor yelled, almost leaping at these words as adrenaline raced through his veins. “No…I can’t. I can’t just leave you to face him alone. You need to run now clever colt. I’ll take care of Spike as long as you promise to take care of Equestria.” “No!” Shining Armor galloped towards the hellfire beast but it was too late; Spike was already in hot pursuit of Scootaloo, completely ignoring his surroundings. “RUN!” Scootaloo screeched as she flew across the room into a wall, Spike’s tail swatting the air as if she was merely a weak fly. She now laid dying on the crystalized ground and there was nothing I could possibly do to help her; so I ran. I ran as fast as fast as I possibly could along with Shining Armor, Unity and Starshard. I ran from the world as it started to crumble all around. I ran into a hall, not thinking as I let my limbs carry me through the insidious castle. Tears streaming through my eyes made my vision even worse as I ran through the abyss. ~ Finally reaching an ill lit room, I opened my eyes that were still drowned by the torrent of tears that flooded them seconds earlier. Collapsing to the ground, I wept for what seemed like centuries. “I…I could…I could have saved her!” My voice was constantly getting cut off as my lungs ached when I breathed; racing with my heart. “No you couldn’t.” Shining Armor had wept enough that day; he met me with a sorrowful expression. “Spike would have killed us all if it wasn’t for her. She joined the Royal Guard to help keep society in its place, she promised to serve with her life; knowing that the day may come when she would have to put it on the line. She had made her decision. An unimaginable decision. She gave her life so that we could save Equestria. She gave us a second chance.” “I just wish it was me instead…” I was cut off by a blood curling laugh in the distance. “What was that?!” Starshard screeched in dismay as she leapt backwards, almost falling over in the process. “How sweet, four little ponies learning a life lesson together!” The strange voice chuckled as we started to simultaneously trot towards its origins. “A knight in shining armor and three little fillies lost their way…Oh you must be here to rescue me!” The voice continued to chuckle, pausing for a second or two. “By the way, Shining Armor how’s your wife?” “You bucking bitch!” Shining Armor galloped towards the voice, nearly crashing into the bars that trapped it within its lonely little cage. “Don’t act so surprised my darling, what did you expect?” Her face finally revealed itself as Shining Armor lit his horn for all to see. Princess Celestia!