Suddenly, Princess Celestia! [Open]

[sunlightsister]

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..."

Comments

[sunlightsister]

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."

[appletastic]

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!"

[sunlightsister]

"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.