Them

"Let's see if I got everything." Rarity said. "Princess Celestia is not only alive, but also one of them."

"Yup!" said Rainbow Dash.

"And she is right outside Canterlot, trying to get in and kill us all."

"Yes!" confirmed Twilight.

"And Princess Luna is fighting her right now."

"Tha-That's right..." whispered Fluttershy.

"And it's up to us, the Elements Of Harmony, to help Princess Luna and destroy Princess Celestia."

"Ding, we have a winner!" Pinkie said.

Rarity sighed, then nodded. "This is going to be soooo dangerous, but let's go."

"Darn tootin'!" agreed Applejack.

* * *

"Now Celestia is the defensive one now." Shining Armor said. "I hate to admit it, but Nightmare Moon is  being quite helpful."

"Shining Armor!" called a female voice he knew quite well.

"Twily!" he said, similing as he turned around. His little sister and her best friends, all of them with their respective Element Of Harmony. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We need to get out of the city. Luna needs our help."

"Any other day I would have said 'no' without thinking twice, but we really need you right now." he sighed. "Before you all leave, I need to show you something."

The captain of the Royal Guard stepped aside and the bearers of the Elements walked toward the balcony. When they looked up, they all gasped.

"Is that...?" FLuttershy asked.

"Nightmare Moon!" Rainbow Dash said with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Please, understand." Princess Cadence said. "Aunt Lulu had no other option. She needed Nightmare Moon's powers in order to defeat Infected Celestia."

The six ponies looked at each other, then nodded.

"Lower the gates, pardner." Applejack said, adjusting her stetson. "We're goin' out!"

* * *

"How?" Nightmare Moon asked, breathing heavily. "You were no match for me when you were alive. Why are you so strong now that you are dead? ANSWER ME!" she looked at her sister's face and saw something on her lips that resembled a smile. This only made her angrier. "WHO ARE YOU LAUGHING AT, YOU STUPID, FAT-FLANKED WHORE?!"

"Hey!" called a voice from below. Nightmare Moon and Celestia looked down and saw a purple Unicorn flying on a pink Alicorn's back, a yellow Pegasus carrying a pink Earth Pony a cyan Pegasus carrying an orange Earth Pony and a white Unicorn flying with butterfly wings.

Nightmare Moon smirked. "Well, well, well. If it isn't little Twilight Sparkle."

"She might not be herself anymore, but you have no right to insult the Princess." Twilight shouted.

"Whatever, I don't care. I see that you are with your dear Elements Of Harmony. What are you waiting for? Shoot that monster dead!" she said. "Because after one shot the Elements will need some time to recharge, giving me a chance to escape." Nightmare Moon thought, then smirked again.

Infected Celestia growled and flew toward the seven mares. "TWAAAAAARRRHHHHIIIIIIIGHT!"

Nightmare Moon sighed. "Oh, for the love of..." Fluttershy gasped when she saw Celestia flying toward them. Nightmare Moon wasn't stronger, but she surely was faster. She grabbed the former Princess before she could attack them. "Heh, look at me, Luna. Protecting my worst enemies from harm. Two years sealed inside you surely softened me!"

Thank you, Nightmare Moon!" Twilight said.

"Shut up and hurry! I can't hold her in place for much longer!"

Celestia was struggling, trying to free herself from her sister's grasp. The Elements nodded and closed their eyes. The five necklaces started glowing and a seven-colored trail of light connected them with Twilight's crown. She opened her eyes, that were glowing white, and a big rainbow beam coming from the star on her crown hit both Alicorns. The attack produced a very bright light, forcing Captain Shining Armor to cover his eyes with his hoof.

When the light faded he moved his hoof away; what he saw surprised him: there was no Nightmare Moon holding an Infected Celestia anymore, but Princess Luna holding a very hurt Princess Celestia. Both were very weak and fell, but Twilight, Cadence and Rarity levitated them with magic. Shining opened a hole on the shield again and they all went back, landing in the middle of the Canterlot Gardens.

"P-Princess... Celestia..." Twilight said, tears escaping from her eyes.

"Twilight..." Celestia said, smiling.

"You're... You're cured."

"I... Guess so..."

"You need to rest. Meanwhile we'll use the Elements Of Harmony to cure the rest of--"

"It's no use, Twilight Sparkle." Luna said. "It only worked with my sister because she is really strong and could handle all that power, but llok at her. She almost died. For common infected ponies, the Elements are a deadly weapon."

"Oh..."

Aided by Luna and Cadence, Shining Armor placed Celestia on his back and started walking back to the castle.

"Any idea of how are we going to fix your horn and wings, Your Highness?" he asked.

"I have no idea." she chuckled before passing out.

* * *

Celestia woke up with the worst headache of her life. She tried opening her eyes, but the lights of the infirmary would make sure that this task was very painful, so her eyes remained closed.

"No more hard cider..." she groaned.

"Aunt Tia!" called a voice.

"Cadence?"

She felt hooves wrap around her neck. The pain was unbearable, but she didn't groaned nor screamed, just accepted the hug.

"I was worried sick about you. After you were sent to the sun I thought I was never going to see you again."

"I'm glad to see you again too, Cadence, but your affection is rather... Painful!"

Cadence, understanding what she meant, let go of her and let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry."

"It's ok. For how long I was asleep?"

"Five days!"

"Five? Well, still can't beat the eight days after the Second Griffin War." Cadence giggled. "What about my sister, the Elements Of Harmony and Canterlot?"

"Well, Aunt Lulu is finally getting used to staying up 24/7, but she is still grumpy in the mornings."

Celestia giggled. "Lulu being Lulu."

"Canterlot is fine, Shining Armor is doing a great job."

"And the Elements Of Harmony?"

"Well, Twilight is working in the laboratories, looking for a cure. Rarity is taking care of foals in the orphanage of Canterlot, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are working in many hospitals, each one with their own methods. Applejack, since she is no longer in good shape to fight due to... Recent events, is working in the orphanage, cooking treats for the little ones. And there's Rainbow Dash!"

"What about Rainbow Dash?"

"She is famous now!"

"May I know the reason?"

"She is the first mare ever to be invigted to join the Royal Guard."

"That's wonderful!"

"In her own words, 'Since the Wonderbolts are no longer a thing, being a Royal Guard is the coolest thing that a pony can be. Awesome!'"

Celestia chuckled and finally managed to open her eyes, since the light wasn't as painful as before. "That sounds like Rainbow Dash."

Cadence's smiled disappeared from her face. "Now, there are some serious things we need to talk about."

Celestia's smile disappeared as well. "Serious affairs are better solved as soon as possible."

"First, your wings. We don't know how you were flying when you were infected, but we're assuming it was magic, because your feathers are seriously damaged and it will take several weeks, maybe months for them to grow back. Second..."

"Then that's not a problem. I'm more worried about my--"

"...your horn!"

"Me damn it..."

"It's severely damaged. Again, we're surprised you were able to use it when infected. The medics did what they could, your horn will restore properly in time, but the magical connections are weak. You're still be able to use magic, but only simple magic such as levitation, but only in small scales. Unfortunately you will never be able to raise the sun again. At least not without a huge amount of pain inflicted to your brain."

"Oh. Poor Lulu. I know how it feels having to raise both the sun and the moon. Took me many years to finally get used to that."

Cadence smiled again. "Always worrying about the others and forgetting about yourself. That's aunt Tia for you!" Her smile faded and she nuzzled her aunt. "I wish I could do something to help her. I really do."

"I know, Cadence. I know."