//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Calm Before the Storm: The Ponies' Lament // Story: Soul Nomad and the Equestrians // by Devourlord //------------------------------// *More Epic Chapter Opening Music (Read title while song plays)* ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Soul Nomad and the Equestrians Chapter 4: Calm Before the Storm: The Ponies' Lament ____________________________________________________________________________________________ "In the present world, this technological, psychotic, politicised, nonsensical world, you have to believe that the good guys are going to win! That evil will be banished somehow!" - Rufus Wainwright Canterlot Castle, Celestia's Chamber At top of the central tower of Canterlot Castle was Celestia's personal chamber. It was mainly used as an office of sorts, or a place for her to retreat to when she had a bad day. Today was one of those days. On Celestia's oak wood desk was a simply massive pile of paperwork, mostly funeral arrangements and a number of letters of sympathy to the families of the guards who had been recently killed at Revya's hands. After hearing about the slaughter in the desert, the Princesses had dispatched several small recon teams out into the Equestrian countryside to search for, but not confront, Revya. The Royal Sisters themselves sat in front of the fireplace in the room. Celestia had taken a break from the paperwork and was sipping a cup of tea. Luna broke the silence. "Why didn't you allow Twilight to go after that creature?" Celestia sighed, placed her tea cup on its platter and set it down before staring into the fire. "It's not that I don't believe that she can't defeat this creature, it's that I don't know if she's ready for the harsh reality of such a brutal opponent." "But what about the others she has faced?" Luna asked in return. Celestia paused a moment to ponder Luna's question before replying. "This isn't a threat that she's used to, Luna." the Solar Princess said. "Nightmare Moon only desired eternal night across Equestria-" "Which would have killed every living thing on the planet." Luna interrupted. "Well, yes, but I don't think she thought that far ahead." "Fair enough." Celestia continued her list of past threats. "Discord, as powerful as he is, and the fact that he loves to see others miserable for his own amusement, would never take the life of another for any reason. He's about chaos, not killing." "But this creature seems to be about both chaos and killing." Luna replied. "He attacked and destroyed Appleloosa for no understandable reason, and then killed that entire group of guards." "That's exactly why I'm apprehensive to let her go after this thing, Luna." "You're afraid she will be killed by this creature?" "Yes..." Celestia confirmed. "I love Twilight like a daughter and it would pain me greatly to see her killed over a bad decision on my part, but I have to accept that the kingdom's safety comes first." "I see, and about Chrysalis?" Luna asked, getting back to the list. Celestia grimaced at the thought of the Changeling Queen. The fact that Chrysalis was, at the time, powerful enough to overwhelm her in combat made her uneasy. Even if it was though use of Shining Armor's love, the fact she was defeated by another opponent showed that even the immortal ruler of the sun could be brought to her knees by a stronger force. "I don't think Chrysalis really wanted to kill anypony." Celestia replied. "She only wanted food for her subjects, and watching after one's subjects is always important." "I suppose that's true as well..." Luna muttered. "And Sombra?" "King Sombra, I will admit, was a cruel tyrant who enslaved others and was probably willing to kill to get what he wanted, but you felt that creature's aura, Luna." Celestia replied looking at her sister. "I know..." Luna said quietly. "An aura full of dread and terror, one that stank of death and despair." Celestia suddenly frowned and grit her teeth in frustration. "Why am I so powerless to protect our subjects...?" "You aren't powerless, Tia." Luna said firmly. "I know you care for our subjects very much and hate to see them in this state." "I know Luna, it's just that..." Celestia trailed off. "Ever since we lost control of the Elements of Harmony, we've had to send others to protect the country in our steed." "You're frustrated that we don't have a more active role in protecting Equestria?" Luna asked. "Yes." Celestia responded. "I knew that the threats against Equestria would become greater and greater, and it just frustrates me so much that all I can do is send my student and her friends out to handle them, and pray they return safely..." "But we have our own responsibilities sister." Luna replied. "You know that we have to..." "Yes Luna." Celestia replied to her younger sister. "I have not forgotten the thousand years that I had to burden the responsibilities of both of us. The raising and lowering of the sun and moon were the least of my worries. I don't know how you deal with yours all the time." "You would get used to it after a while. And you know we can't keep our other responsibilities hidden from Twilight forever. Eventually, she and her friends will find out the truth. But back to the matter at hoof." Luna said. "Do we even know anything useful about this creature?" "No, we don't." Celestia responded. "Other than the very vague description from Bronze Mace, we don't know anything about this creature. We don't know his name, age, intentions, or generally anything else about him." Celestia said. "But I know one thing Luna." "What's that Tia?" Luna asked curiously. "He's getting stronger." Celestia replied grimly. "I can feel it." Canterlot Castle, The Mane Six's Room The guest rooms of Canterlot Castle were the equivalent of five star hotel rooms in the human world. Apparently, Canterlot got a lot of important visitors such as dignitaries and rulers of other countries that stayed for meeting with the Princesses. The seven friends were grouped together in a one well sized room with six king-sized beds and a small basket for Spike. Plush carpets covered the floor and a fancy oak cabinet sat in the corner. However, the posh conditions couldn't improve the moods of the Mane Six and Spike. The group was sitting around discussing the potential threat that Revya posed to Equestria. "Okay," Twilight spoke up from her seated position on her bed. "Just from what we've heard and seen, what do we know about this creature?" "He's a real meanie pants." Pinkie announced with a frown. "Mean is an understatement, Pinkie." Applejack said with a scowl. "He's seems purty cold hearted if yah ask me." "And he's apparently very brutish and isn't pleasant in any way." Rarity called out. "And you heard what the Princess said." Fluttershy whimpered. "She doesn't want us going after him, thank goodness." "She said 'not yet' Flutters." Rainbow said as she laid on her back on her bed with her eyes closed and her front hooves behind her head. She sat up with a smug smile on her face. "I don't see what the big deal is. We could probably go in and totally kick his sorry butt with the Elements of Harmony and be done with it." "Princess Celestia has to have a good reason for us not to confront him yet." Twilight said in response to Rainbow's brag. "Yeah, well," Rainbow began. "She's never hesitated to send after guys like Discord and Nightmare Moon before." "Well, this guy ain't Discord, now is he?" Applejack said roughly. "Whoa, chill out AJ." Rainbow said nervously. Applejack heard Rainbow's comment and began shaking with rage and turned to Rainbow. "AH CAN'T 'CHILL OUT' RAINBOW! AT LEAST HALF MAH FAMILY'S DEAD BECAUSE OF THAT THING!!!" Applejack screamed in anger at the Pegasus. The room fell silent after Applejack's outburst. Rainbow gulped nervously and backed away from the cowpony who panted angrily. Twilight decided to step in before the situation grew out of control. "Applejack," she said, picking her words carefully. "We know you're going through a lot right now, and you have every reason to be angry at that creature, but yelling at us isn't going to solve anything." Applejack looked around the room at her worried friends and exhaled, relaxing her shoulders as the anger drained away from her. "Ah...ah know Twilight..." Applejack said sadly. "It's just..." "I know Applejack," Twilight said putting a comforting hoof on her friend's shoulder. "If something like this happened to my parents or brother, I would probably be in the same position as you." "All of us would Applejack." Fluttershy spoke up. "We all deeply care for our families and can understand the pain you're feeling." "Ah just..." Applejack began. "Ah just can't understand why he's doin' all of this... What did we do tah him?" "It does seem strange." Rarity said. "We have this obviously very violent and insane creature that seemed to come out of nowhere." "He had to have come from somewhere Rarity." Twilight responded while getting up and heading to the door. "Maybe we should follow Princess Luna's suggestion and head to the royal library to see if we could find any information." "On what?" Rainbow asked folding her hooves over her chest. "If even the Princesses don't know what he is, what makes you think the library will?" "Well," Twilight said opening the door. "You never know Rainbow, maybe Equestria has faced this kind of threat in the past." "Yeah, but-" Rainbow began. "Well, I'm with Twilight." Rarity spoke up as she headed for the door. "It's probably better to search for information rather than sitting here twiddling our hooves." "I'm in!" Pinkie said jumping up and bouncing to the door. "Ah suppose it's a good idea..." Applejack said getting up. "It would be a good distraction." Fluttershy said and glided over to the door. "But- we- Ugh! Fine." Rainbow said exasperated. "We'll go to the library." She followed Fluttershy's lead and glided to the door. "That's the spirit Rainbow Dash!" Twilight said smiling. "And maybe they'll having some Daring Do books you haven't read yet." "Maybe..." Rainbow muttered as the last of them exit though the door. Canterlot Castle, Hallways A single guard galloped wildly through the halls of Canterlot Castle, carrying a note in his mouth. Sweat poured down his face as he cut corners and barely dodged servants and other guards. He burst through the door leading to the castle courtyard and then galloped over to the spiral staircase leading to Celestia's personal chamber at the top of the castle. "Why couldn't I be a damn Pegasus?" he panted to himself as he climbed the stairs. "They've got it so easy with their wings." Two guards stood in front of the double doors leading to Celestia and Luna. They stood and watched silently as the guard stopped in front of them. "State your business here." one of the guards said. "I have important information to give the Princesses." he said panting heavily. "What kind of information?" the other guard asked. "The Princesses said they did not wished to be disturbed while they spoke of important private matters." "It's information on the creature that attacked Appleloosa and then killed the 114th." the guard with the note said a bit irately. "The creature?!" the guards asked at the same time. They exchanged glances and then nodded. "Very well." said the first guard. "You may enter." He pushed the door open for the guard with the note who hurried in. Celestia and Luna had been continuing their conversation when the guard stumbled into the room. Luna looked less than pleased. "We thought we said that we wanted no interruptions." Luna said to the guard. "I'm very sorry for the interruption your Highnesses but we have word from the recon teams you sent out earlier." The Princesses' eyes went wide at hearing the search teams had found something. "What did they find out?" Celestia asked. "They discovered where the creature is headed next." the guard said solemnly. "And where might that be?" Luna asked in return. "He's headed... for Ponyville."