Twilight's pov.
"Twilight, I know of no other pony more capable to do this spell."
Princess Celestia's voice floods my ears as I gear up for a second try at this blasted spell.
"I know princess, but what if I can't? what is I fail you? fail..... her?"
I glance at my mentor, catching the end of a silent sigh.
"Twilight, you will not fail. For her sake, you cannot fail."
"[sigh] I know. I... I just need to get some air."
I turn away, not looking at Celestia's face, rather the heavy wooden door leading to the corridor that would in turn, lead me to the pony who most needed my help and magic. Unfamiliar voices echo down the corridor so I rifle through my memory, remembering that the newest noble ponies were getting a tour through most of Canterlot castle, minus all four princesses private chambers including mine.
the voices are now closer so I flare out my wings, just as Celestia taught me when I first became an alicorn. Holding them up, I take a quick glance at the newest ponies getting a tour, guided by none other than Flash Century. The first mare my eyes come across has pastel blue fur and an elegantly curled yellow and purple mane. A unicorn. At her side is a stallion, stature very similar to fancy pants's with orange fur and wings and a white mane. I spot their cutie marks, for the unicorn mare, a microphone and the stallion, three drops of rainbow water.
Wait... I know these ponies.....
"Melody amplifier! rainbow drop!"
I call out
Melody amplifier and rainbow drop give me startled looks as my words hit them until one orange and purple maned filly burst out from behind her mothers forelegs and bounded up to me, flapping her small wings, just gathering enough altitude to land on my back, where spike usually sits. I turn my head and twist my neck behind me, giving Scootaloo an affectionate nuzzle.
"Hey squirt, how are you?"
"Hey TwiI'mgreatIcanflynowIgotmycutiemarksodidsweetiebelleandapplebloomhersisanappl...
"Whoa Scootaloo, slow down a itty bitty minute!" I interrupted the pegasus filly from her exited explanation.
Scootaloo drew breath just before Melody amplifier interrupted the filly, causing a frown to appear on the filly's muzzle.
"Scootaloo melody drop! That is no way to treat a Princess! Get down from Princess Twilight sparkle's back and come here!"
Melody turned to me, an apologetic smile on her muzzle.
"I do apologize for my daughters actions Princess, She doesn't think before showing off her flying, Please forgive her."
I chuckle. "Melody, rainbow, please call me Twilight and Scootaloo is no problem to me. Before I became a princess and before I reunited her with you, I discovered she was living in the clubhouse that she shared with Sweetie belle and applebloom, and that she would scavenge muffins from behind sugarcube corner for food. I offered her a place in my home, golden oaks library and provided her with a place to live. Then Scootaloo told me about being kidnapped and returning to ponyville, discovering you had moved away. We got very close and then I heard the singer Melody amplifier was coming to live in ponyville. I guess you know the rest."
I shuffle and fold my wings away, because I had forgotten to earlier, while I am waiting for Scootaloo's parents answer.
Rainbow drop spoke up first.
"So... you are the pony who reunited us with Scoots? forgive me but you don't look like the pony who did that. Well you do vaguely, but.... you must know what I mean."
"Yeah, I bet it's the wings and my mane." I bring my sapphire clad hoof up to my flowing mane that had changed to a style like Celestias and Lunas, except it gradually changed from its usual dark purple to a bright fiery red and yellow about halfway down it.
"So... Scoots... Heard you got you'r cutie mark?"
I walk down the corridor, followed by Melody Amplifier, Rainbow Drop and Scootaloo. Scootaloo was riding on my back and her parents were awkwardly silent.
"and that's how I got my cutie mark"
"Congratulations scoots, nice flaming scooter cutie mark. It suits you... Melody, Rainbow, are you staying in Canterlot?"
"We would like to" replied melody "but we have no place to stay"
"You could stay in the castle if you like."
"Really? we would love that, wouldn't we rainbow?"
"We sure would princess!"
I take a left turn and lead them up the corridor. I stop outside a large door and magically summon a set of keys, which I levitate to Rainbow drop.
"You can stay here for as long as you like. If anypony troubles you, tell them you are a guest of Twilight. If they still deny you, tell them to validate the claim with me. Now, please excuse me, I have some urgent business to attend to."
"Thanks Twilight!"
"You are very welcome Scoots."
Their door closes behind me and the guard taking them round the castle, Flash Sentry, strides along beside me.
"Princess?"
"Yes?"
"May I request an audience with you in an hour? In the private gardens?"
"Of course! May I ask what for?"
"You will see..."
"Ok Flash Sentry."
He canters off, to Celestia knows where and I continue down the hallway to a hospital-kitted room.
I open the heavy doors, revealing a occupied bed with several wires attached to the occupant. A heart monitor beeps steadily and a tall dark figure stands over the bed.
"Princess Luna?"
"Ah Twilight Sparkle. Thou scared us."
"My apologies... where's tia?"
"Kitchen. cake."
"Oh......"
I check the IV and the heart monitor. "She doesn't seem any different from when I checked up on her earlier."
"That is just it, Twilight sparkle. My sister believes she should have changed by now. She is still critical but she isn't getting worse."
"Tia wants me to cast a starswirl spell on her but I am afraid I will fail."
"Thou shall not fail."
"Thank you. I will call Celestia. I will cast the spell."
"Very well."
I reach into my heart, seeking out my strongest magic. I will need it for this spell, as I have no idea where Celestia is. A bubble of magic forms and I guide it up to my brain to fill it. Letter after letter appears in the bubble forming a message. I AM READY TO DO THE SPELL. I send the spell, watching as the magic dissipates after leaving my horn. A memory strikes me of a spell I did long ago on physical magic. It's amazing how magic is like a gel out of the body.
I reach out to the bed with my hoof and draw the sheets and duvet away from the patients face. Yellow ears and pink mane are the only things visible through the bandages covering her entire body. Fluttershy was lucky Applejack found her in time and brought her to my library. That horrible day plays back in my mind once again. Out of control winds found every loose decoration and brought them down onto the streets and sometimes, unlucky ponies. Weather pegasi fought hoof and tail with the clouds and misbehaving elements, only to be struck down again and again. I was in my library, searching for a spell to tame the elements but my books are severely limited when it comes to weather spells. My front door was bucked open and applejack ran in, an unconscious and broken fluttershy resting on her back. My head told me to freeze but I kept moving, levitating Fluttershy onto my bed and covering her in blankets. She was an absolute mess, covered in scratches, bruises and blood with three legs and a wing sticking out at unnatural angles.
"What happened?" I had asked Applejack
"I found her like 'tis in the south field. Ah don't know what hap'ned."
The sound of hooves across marble breaks me out of my stupor.
"Twilight? Are you okay? Can you still preform the spell?"
"Yes Celestia. I'm fine."
"Okay. You may begin."
I once again reach inside of me, seeking out my reserve of magic. As it begins to flow from my horn and turn to gas, I recite the spell in my mind and the magic solidifies around Fluttershy, pumping the magic into her. I have to be careful I don't pump too much magic into her, it could have disastrous consequences for her and me. As the magic continues flowing, I begin to strain. My legs begin to wobble and it takes 90% of my brain concentration to keep me upright.
I finished the spell seconds before I collapse onto the floor, almost unconscious. In the haze, I could see the blurred outlines of the solar and lunar princesses coming to me. A few seconds later I felt the tell-tale gel of magic envelop me and with a sharp stinging shock throughout my body, My eyes opened once again, this time without the blurriness. The magic rolled into small balls before rolling off my coat and dissipating. A dark blue hoof helps me up and I use my wings to steady myself.
"Did it work" I ask the princesses uncertainly
"It seems so. Her injuries are healing faster than they were. I used an xray spell to see through the bandages... well done Twilight."
"Good. She hasn't come out of her coma?"
"No."
"Oh... ok.... excuse me princesses, I have an audience with Flash Sentry in the gardens."
Luna and Celestia give each other a glance, one eyebrow raised.
"Go ahead Twilight" Princess Celestia says to me.
As I leave the room, I swear I heard giggling.