trans_9 | Suddenly, Princess Celestia! [Open]

Celestia had lived a long life, but the past few days were the strangest she had ever experienced. She had awoken from a pod in a strange chamber, only to find herself whisked away to a strange maze soon after.

This maze had had her most concerned - as Princess of all Equestria, she had duties and responsibilities, after all. She could only hope that her sister Luna was managing on her own, and do her best to escape this maze and return to her beloved subjects.

Escape came unexpectedly though, when Celestia found herself suddenly dropped from the mess hall ceiling, where she landed on top of one of the tables with a thud, her hooves sending plates and trays and cutlery flying in all directions. Have a rather elegant pony - or perhaps a horse? - with a long horn on her forehead, graceful wings adorning her back, and a mane and tail that was a multicolour and gravity-defying sight standing on your table, diners, looking rather bewildered.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I hope I didn't ruin your meal," she said, with a chuckle. Then she looked around at her surroundings, her expression turning concerned. "Now this doesn't look at all like Equestria..."

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"A war? Applejack, what is this?" Celestia asked, now very concerned. Equestria was not at war with anypony, and hadn't been for a long time. Celestia was always very diligent about doing everything she could to ensure that any disputes were resolved diplomatically.

Celestia hopped down from the table, coming to stand in front of Applejack. "Applejack, I would like to know what you have learned about this situation," she said, her voice tinged with royal command.

Has Applejack yet mentioned that she really, really hated her position just then? It was bad enough to be a princess whose subjects got into all kinds of trouble, worse when herds of them might be...dead and the whole planet is just rubble, dust in the wind.

How did you tell the ruler of a land that it was lost? Applejack would have to try. She bowed her head, sitting back on her hind legs and holding her old dirty hat over her chest.

"That's right. That maze snatched you up before anypony could tell you what was going on, didn't it?" From the sound of her voice, it was obvious that something was very, very wrong with the universe.

"Everypony here was chosen by this plantboat, Miss Stacy, to be rescued from the Ohm. They're massive bug-critters that come in swarms---just imagine parasprites the size of ponies. Acid-spitting parasprites with claws and sharp teeth. They tear everything to shreds, even whole planets."

She paused for a moment, gathering up the strength to meet Celestia's eyes. The longer Applejack talked, the more the horrifying implications set in. She couldn't stop herself from tearing up a little, at the thought of what happened, guessing at how many had died. The only ones she could guess with certainty were alive were Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Princess Luna. So many more had probably perished.

"They took Equestria. It's gone now, nothing but dust. The same happened to everypony else's worlds. We're all here 'cause there's nowhere else for us to go. Not 'til we beat the Ohm."

Celestia listened carefully, a deep and all-encompassing sense of horror growing the more she heard. Perhaps from anyone else, Celestia would have paused and wondered at the truth of this - but this was Applejack, one of her student's friends, and her beloved subject. She knew that Applejack would not lie to her.

She had thought that nothing could ever be worse than the loss of her own sister, 1000 years ago, when Celestia had been forced to banish her to the moon. That nothing could ever cause her more sadness or regret. But even that was eclipsed by this - but the loss of Equestria, of her dear little ponies and all the creatures that lived in her land...this was a pain beyond even that.

But not everything was gone. Here, in front of Celestia, was one small part of Equestria, along with Rarity and Pinkie Pie. She had to be strong, to be there for them, and lead them through this awful time.

"Oh, Applejack," she said, lowering her head to rest it behind Applejack's neck - a kind of pony hug. "I am so sorry."

"I should be the one saying that," Applejack whispered, her heart aching for her princess. Losing a family and being separated from best friends was one thing. Losing an entire kingdom of wonderful creatures that looked up to you was quite another.

She leaned her head against Celestia for a few moments, taking the time to ground herself before speaking again. When her eyes were dry, she stepped back and continued explaining.

"They said Miss Stacy grabbed up as many Equestrians as she could. She would've needed a group of friends, they said---that's why I know Twilight's safe down there. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash too. And I'll bet anything Princess Luna's in one of those pods. We just don't all wake up together 'cause Stacy can't control it."

So they would have to wait, and that was hard. But they had plenty to do in the meantime. That was her next point.

"Stacy's gonna take us where we need to go to fight these Ohm-critters. It'll be one heck of a ride, but when we win, we get Equestria back! Those Ohm know how to put things back too. Don't you worry, Princess, it ain't over yet."

That was the conviction driving her forward these days. It was all going to be okay in the end.

Celestia held the embrace for a moment, giving Applejack the support she knew the young pony needed, before pulling back to look down on Applejack with tears in her own eyes. "The loss of Equestria was not your fault, Applejack. It's protection was my duty, and mine alone."

Perhaps Celestia could not have prevented it - after all, she couldn't even remember it's destruction. But it was nonetheless her responsibility, and she had failed.

"I am glad to hear that you and your friends are safe, and my dear sister Luna," she said, smiling sadly. She had only had her sister returned to her a short time ago, and yet it seems fate had decreed that once again they would be parted. "And as long as you are here, Equestria lives on in you and all my little ponies. Know that I will do everything that I can to protect you, dear Applejack, and to restore Equestria. I only wish that you did not have to fight in this as well. I had hoped to keep all of you safe from the pain of war."

Things were starting to look up, Applejack thought. The ponies had always felt safe knowing that their princess was watching over them, and that was more true now than ever before. The ponies had each other in this strange world, as she'd said, all parts of Equestria.

"I couldn't stay out of it, Princess. Equestria's part of all of us, just like you said. It's my home to fight for too," she insisted, standing tall and putting on her bravest face. "With all of us, I reckon we've got a chance. And I'm gonna take it!"

"I'm proud of you, Applejack," Celestia said. "You are indeed a strong and brave pony."

She just hoped that all of her ponies would get through this all safely. She had already lost so many of them - she did not want to lose even one more.

Suddenly, Princess Celestia! [Open]

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