Romance and the Fate of Equestria

Chapter Ninety-One

The six pony friends sat in Ponyville Plaza, talking and laughing with each other. They quickly settled down and fell silent as Celestia arrived on a chariot pulled by her white pegasus guards. The ponies got out of their seats to meet her as she elegantly stepped out of the chariot.

"Ladies!" Celestia said cheerfully. "Thank you for being here to meet me on such short notice."

"Of course, Princess," said Twilight.

Philomena followed Celestia out of the chariot, flying up and perching on Celestia's outstretched arm. At the edge of the plaza, Spike was playing with Peewee, who stood atop his head, weightless despite being several times Spike's size. Philomena spotted them and dropped off of Celestia's arm, hopping toward them. Peewee perked up and jumped to the ground himself. The two phoenixes examined each other, warbling and crooning.

"Peewee?" Spike said in concern.

Philomena exhaled, producing a heart-shaped fireball.

Spike scoffed. "Please, this guy is way too young for you."

Philomena leaned forward, caressing Peewee's face with her own. He crooned pleasurably.

"Peewee, I happen to know that this bird is at least as old as Equestria," Spike said hastily.

Philomena chirped, and Peewee nodded. They both took to the air.

"He's only eight months old, you flaming bird-cougar!" Spike called weakly after them.

"Oh, let them go, Spike," said Celestia. "Age, as they say, is just a number, and that's especially true for phoenixes. They're entirely timeless. I'm sure Philomena doesn't consider your companion to be any younger than she is."

Spike squinted against the light of the sun as he stared straight up, trying to get a good look at them. "And the elaborate and very official-looking courtship ritual less than a minute after meeting?"

"Same basic concept: timelessness," said the princess. "So, ladies, there's something I wanted to discuss with the six of you. You as well, Spike. In a few short weeks, Luna and I will be visiting the Whispering Desert for a major social event called the Gathering of the Goddesses."

Rarity's eyes widened and sparkled. "Goddesses?" she exclaimed breathily.

"That's correct," said Celestia, smiling warmly. "It's an arrangement the Old Gods put into place when they disappeared. Every so often, all of the world's goddesses are afflicted with odd but harmless physical ailments that hint at things to come and, eventually, impart the knowledge of precisely where and when the Gathering takes place—in this case, as I said, the Whispering Desert, the domain of my friend Lady Kolassa, about three weeks from now."

"…Wow," Twilight remarked, marveling at the implications. "How often does this happen? What do you do at a 'Gathering of the Goddesses'?"

"It happens when it needs to," said Celestia. "When there are threats to combat or information we need to know. Essentially, when there are important worldwide affairs that might involve all of us or all of our countries."

"You're talkin' 'bout Mitgaeard," Applejack realized quickly. "You and these, um… other goddesses… you're gonna talk about how to deal with her. Aren't ya, Princess?"

"Indeed."

"What's this have to do with us, Princess?" Twilight said curiously.

Celestia grinned slyly. "Well, traditionally… or rather, just because it coincidentally keeps happening… each goddess at the Gathering brings along an entourage. Usually, I just bring my best royal guardsponies, but I think this time, a more appropriate option has opened up for me." She beamed at the ponies expectantly.

"…No way," Twilight gasped.

"We get to come to the Gathering of the Goddesses?" Rarity squealed.

"If you're willing," said Celestia.

The ponies gasped and muttered as they processed this information.

"Wow," said Rainbow. "Just… wow. I don't even have any idea who the goddesses are, and I'm excited."

"To see all the goddesses in one place," Fluttershy whispered. "That kind of chance only comes once in a lifetime… or less."

"Princess, this is an amazing honor," said Twilight. "I don't even know what to say."

"Think nothing of it," said Celestia, bowing her head. "I'm glad you're all excited. I am too. This may be a somber time, a time to prepare for a looming threat, but it's also a chance to visit with some friends who I haven't seen in person for over a century. I can't wait to show you off to them. You know, I understand that overseas, you six are even more famous than I am."

"Say WHAT?" Pinkie demanded.

"It's true," said Celestia. "Not a lot of creatures wonder why the sun comes up and goes down every day. When the sun disappears for an entire day, then they start asking questions. Your story is told throughout the world. Surely you saw a bit more recognition at the Bazaar than you usually do in Equestria? Just a little? No? Well, it's the truth. Around the world, you are known as the cabal of high priestesses who defeated Nightmare Moon and brought back the sun. And that's not entirely inaccurate. All the other goddesses have a religion. I always discouraged that, so as the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, you're the closest thing to a clergy that Luna and I have. I do like to think of you as the source of all my powers."

"Really?" Rainbow mused. "'Cause it ain't us raising the sun every day."

"Oh, you know what I mean," Celestia chuckled. "The source of my power of friendship! So, do I have the complete set as my entourage?"

Twilight looked around at the others, every one of whom nodded eagerly. "You do indeed, Princess," she said.

"Good," said Celestia. "Spike, how about you?"

"Oh, definitely, Princess," he said, rubbing his hands together.

"That is fantastic. There are a few others I'd like to approach, so, sad to say, I don't have much time to linger." She turned and started to walk away.

"A meeting of goddesses," Rarity said dreamily. "Can you imagine anything more glamorous?"

"Can I bring a camera?" Rainbow called.

"By all means," Celestia called back.

"I always wanted to be a high priestess," said Pinkie.

"Ya did?" Applejack said blankly.

"Well, no, but it sounds so exciting!" Pinkie said gleefully.

"Princess?" Fluttershy called anxiously. "How do we… present ourselves? As an 'entourage'?"

"Just be yourselves and you'll do just fine," said Celestia, turning back to them. "In fact, that's an order: be yourselves. And I know your true selves, mind you. I'll know if you deviate from that in an attempt to impress somepony."

"Of course, of course," Rarity said eagerly. "Ooooh! Shall I design clerical vestments for us?"

"No," Celestia said with irritation. "I want to show you ladies off to my peers, and when I say that I mean the real you. Don't wear anything. Just be the ponies you are normally, and you will impress the goddesses far more than any show of classical religious zeal ever would. Please?" she added in a cutesy voice, pouting.

Twilight grinned. "All right. Message received, Princess."

The princess shrugged. "Sure, if there was one thing I'd do differently, I'd like to display you wearing the Elements of Harmony, but as those are currently embedded in Discord's spine, I'm okay with skipping that part." She looked around. "Where is he, anyway?"

"I, um, I'm sorry," Twilight said awkwardly. "I know I'm supposed to keep him with me all the time, but I can't deal with him all up in my face all day. He's still close by, able to protect me. I just have to say, 'Yo, Discord!'"

In a puff of smoke, he appeared at Twilight's side, standing up straight and tall with his hands clasped behind his back and wearing a pair of mirrored sunglasses. "Yo," he responded. He pulled off the shades and waggled his eyebrows at Celestia. "Hello, Celestia." He sidled up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Did I hear you talking about a god convention coming up?"

"Goddess convention," Celestia corrected gently. "No boys."

"Pfft, 'no boys'," Discord sneered, walking away from her. "Please, we all know I'm the only guy god there is. That rule might as well be 'no Discord'."

"Hey, we didn't make the rules," said Celestia. "Do you have a sticky and itchy sensation in your blood irresistibly pulling you to the exact time and place of the Gathering?"

"Well, no," Discord said, deflated.

"Then I don't know what to tell you, unless you'd like to come as part of my entourage."

He whirled on her, and she beamed.

"Never," he hissed. "Discord is in nopony's 'entourage'. Those days are over. I… I… I don't even want… anything more than I want to come to the Gathering, it would be so much fun to finally meet all those ladies," he mumbled as quickly as he could. "But as part of an entourage? No. Don't want to. Anyway, I have other fun things to do that night. That's when we play poker. Isn't that right, Spike?"

"Uh…" he said nervously.

"What?" Discord demanded. "Oh, don't tell me you want to go to the Gathering too."

"I, uh…" Spike tried to avoid Discord's eye, but found it difficult as Discord was leaning down on him, his face inches away. "You know what? For you, I'll do our poker night instead."

"But Spike, the Gathering!" Twilight exclaimed.

Spike shrugged. "You know, don't worry about the Gathering. I'll catch the next one."

"Spike, the next Gathering may very well be centuries away," Celestia said in concern.

"So? I'm a dragon," Spike said simply. "I'll be there. Just promise me you'll tell me when it's coming, and I promise I'll make absolutely sure I can be there, Princess."

Celestia grinned and nodded. "Okay, Spike. I promise that whenever I find out about the next Gathering, I'll come straight to you, first thing. Okay, so that's a 'yes' from my girl posse, a 'no' from Discord, and a 'next time' from Spike. That leaves me only one more individual I was going to approach about joining my entourage. I'll be seeing you all later. You know how it is, my work is never done."

"Farewell, Princess," Twilight said, beaming.

"Oh, but one more thing, my sweet." Celestia scooped Twilight up, spreading her wings and ushering her away to block their conversation from the others. "I must share how relieved I am that Discord doesn't have the knowledge or symptoms that the Gathering brings about. I don't think it's because of gender, I believe it's his age. He is younger than the Old Gods but predates the current hierarchy of diving beings—a trait he has in common, as I've mentioned, with Sørmur dï Mitgaeard. Luna and I feared that Mitgaeard might show up at the Gathering to slaughter us all, but with this new input, I'm now confident that she won't. If Discord isn't under the Gathering's influence, surely she isn't privy to its magic either. She should have no way of knowing it's even happening, let along where or when. It's kind of a load off my mind, I had to share that."

"I'm glad to hear it, Princess."

Celestia kissed Twilight's head. "It was nice talking with you, Twilight. We'll visit again soon." She started walking off into Ponyville.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Zecora emerged from the Everfree Forest, carrying empty baskets at her sides. She walked down the path toward Ponyville, muttering to herself as she examined the properties of the dirt beneath her hooves.

The back of her neck prickled at the realization that somepony was walking alongside her, somepony enormous. She slowly turned her gaze to the side, taking in the four hooves encased in gold, then following the long white legs up to the thin and graceful curves of Celestia's chest and neck, and finally met the princess's eye nonchalantly.

"My dear Zecora," Celestia said cordially. "Glad I caught you on the day of one of your shopping expeditions. I wasn't sure how regular it was."

Zecora blinked, and smiled slowly. "Now there's something I never thought I'd see. The queen of Equestria, looking for me?"

"That's 'princess', Zecora," Celestia corrected, amused. "And yes, I am indeed looking for you. Can we walk together?"

"I would certainly hope we can," Zecora said eagerly. "If I may say, I am a huge fan."

"Yes, I know you are, and I'm honored. I hear you're a real Equestrian patriot despite your far-off upbringing and your… living situation." Celestia nodded toward the forest.

"The 'living situation' is my own choice, and Ponyville has given me rights and voice," said Zecora. "Even when I stood alone, Equestria has been my home."

"A perfect answer, dear Zecora," Celestia said happily. "Now, I understand you're also a priestess of Queen Okapiopteryx."

They had arrived in Ponyville, and Zecora paused at the entrance to the flower shop. There was a long silence before she simply said, "I am."

"Good," said Celestia, ducking her head to follow her into the shop. "And it brings me to my question. There's a Gathering of the Goddesses coming up, and I'd like you to attend it as part of my entourage."

Zecora frowned thoughtfully as she browsed through the flowers. "Why the stress… on your entourage, Princess?" she asked.

"Well, judging by your expression, you already know that the Four-Winged Queen and I have a strained relationship," Celestia said evenly. "Your presence at the Gathering, as somepony who is unflinchingly loyal to the both of us, might be just the thing we need to bridge the gap and bring about a much friendlier atmosphere between our countries and, well, us as individuals."

Zecora blushed. "Oh… I'd have no influence over her," she said. "I'm not important enough, though I wish I were. I'm much more minor than I seem; I couldn't help you with this dream." Zecora smiled apologetically at Celestia as she paid for the samples of flowers she had collected.

Celestia considered for a moment as they exited the store, Zecora's baskets loaded with blossoms and leaves. "Zecora, why are you lying to me?" she finally said.

Zecora blinked several times before simply responding, "…Huh?"

"I know for a fact that you're very high in your church's hierarchy and that you have a personal relationship and correspondence with your goddess," Celestia said sternly. "Why would you deny it? There aren't many in this world bold enough to try to deceive a goddess."

Zecora hung her head. "I'm sorry."

Celestia nodded in acceptance. "Go on."

"Forgive me, Princess, and this may strike you… she really, really doesn't like you," Zecora said, flinching.

"I know she doesn't," Celestia said softly. "That's why I wanted to show her… I don't know, our fellowship, that she and I can have things in common. But you're saying she dislikes me enough that you don't want her to see you with me." She leaned down toward Zecora confidentially. "What do you fear? That she may disown you? Revoke her favor?" she whispered, with a resigned and pained expression.

"When you put it that way… no," Zecora admitted. "Very well then, I shall go."

"Really?" said Celestia, straightening. "You'll join me at the Gathering? Stand by my side?"

"I will."

"Oh, thank you, Zecora!" Celestia said gleefully. "You've made me very happy, I must say. I hope that Okapiopteryx approves of our newfound connection. If she doesn't, you can be my priestess. I don't have as many of those as she does. It's more special."

"She approves of my life in Equestria," said Zecora, grinning appreciatively at Celestia's flippant remark. "She'll understand my devotion to you, o Celestia."

"I hope you're right. I want to count her among my friends." Celestia pondered for a moment. "I don't suppose you know why she doesn't like me?"

Zecora shook her head.

"No?" said Celestia. "Oh well. The Gathering is in three weeks. I'll send for you when Luna and I are preparing to set off. This is going to be the best entourage ever seen! Farewell."

Zecora and Celestia nodded to each other, and left the flower shop in two different directions, Zecora going back to the Everfree Forest and Celestia returning to her chariot.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Endnotes

So, Zecora's back for the first time in over seventy chapters. You know what the hardest part of writing Zecora is? You'd think it'd be coming up with rhymes, but that's not it at all. The hardest part is resisting the urge to follow every single thing she says by having another character comment on the quality of the rhyme. I have some fun with that in later chapters, but if I was more impulsive, yes, her every line would be followed up by a joke about her way of speaking. Instead of just most of her lines. None in this chapter, thankfully. But, moving on…