The Collected Adventures of Tyro

PART 3

Chapter 1: Twilight's Dilemma

The second day had dawned since Tyro and his friends had sealed away Primus, that great primordial power, using the magic of the Elements. And yet, the unicorn who had risked his life to channel that magic still would not wake. Twilight worried, feeling her inability to truly help her close friend and her... best not to dwell on that.

She cared for his motionless body, mixing milk and honey together to keep him from starving, and giving him water to keep him from thirst. Fluttershy had told her that this would keep his body alive while Tyro's spirit wandered, waiting for its body to recover from the strain.

When she wasn't caring for Tyro, Twilight had singlemindedly searched her library for some spell, some forgotten magic, that might bring him back to her. She found none. As Luna had told her, there was nothing she could do to force him to return. As night fell for the fourth time since his collapse, Twilight wept.

After the fifth day, she had sent a letter to the princesses asking for help. Twilight remembered a time long ago, when a young, purple unicorn had lost control of her own magic, and Princess Celestia had saved her from her own power. Surely she could also help Tyro recover?

There was a knock at the door. No doubt another attempt by one of her friends to make her feel better. Twilight didn't want to feel better; she knew that taking care of Tyro was her responsibility, and if he didn't get better it would be her fault.

"Leave me alone!" Twilight yelled. "I've told you before, I don't need your pity!" She slammed the bolt into the door, so whoever it was would leave her alone.

It didn't work. Twilight had already turned and begun walking away when she heard the distinct pop of a teleportation spell.

"Twilight, you may not want pity, but you do need help," said Princess Luna.

Twilight spun around at the voice. "Luna!" She ran up to the surprised alicorn, hugging her, but crying at the same time.

Luna stood uncertainly, wondering what to do. This was not among the reactions she had planned for. It also was not something Luna really knew how to deal with. Awkwardly, she sat down, wrapping a wing around the unicorn. This seemed to comfort Twilight somewhat, as the tears slowed, and finally stopped.

Luna still didn't know what to do, so she followed her instincts, just sitting with Twilight, a wing wrapped around the unicorn holding onto her with a death grip, feeling her friend  still shaking a little bit. Finally, Twilight let go, abruptly pulling away.

"I'm so sorry, Princess Luna! I didn't—"

This, she knew how to deal with. "Twilight," she said quietly, "that's why I came here. I could feel the pain in your letter, and so I came here."

This seemed to be the right thing to say, as the unicorn fell against her again.

"Thank you, Luna. I remember what you said, but it's so hard..."

"I know, Twilight." The alicorn thought hard for a moment, thinking carefully about her next words. "I've been watching over your dreams, Twilight, and I can see what you must be going through. You feel like you've lost your friend, and you wonder if he will ever come back."

"Twilight, Tyro will return. I told you that before, and it's still true. His body is healing; I can sense that even from here. It is only a matter of time."

"But Luna, can't you help him? Or Princess Celestia? You know so much, there must be a way..."

"I'm sorry, Twilight. With all the magic we have, even we have things we cannot do, and this is one of them. Trying to use magic to fix this would only delay his recovery more. Sometimes, Twilight, we just have to wait and see how things turn out."

Twilight nodded sadly. "I know that, but..."

Luna rose, folding the wing she had held over Twilight. Her horn flared, the bar slid out of the door, and the door opened. "Go, Twilight. Staying here like this does no good for Tyro. I'll watch over him until you return."

Twilight's mind went blank, and she automatically walked outside, the door closing behind her. Only then did her thoughts return. "Luna! What the hay did you do?"

Twilight had no chance for further protest, however, as her neglected friends picked her up and bodily carried her away.

Luna snickered as she looked out a window, watching Twilight struggle ineffectively as her friends trotted off.

And so more days passed, though these were easier for Twilight to bear, with Luna's company. Tyro, however, did not wake.

It was the afternoon of the eighth day when Luna decided that she'd had enough.

"Twilight?"

The purple unicorn walked to Tyro's bedside where Luna stood.

"This has gone on quite long enough already, and Tyro's body is almost fully healed.There is one thing I can do to help, without magic, but first..."

Twilight looked perplexed. "What? But first what, Luna?"

"What I intend to do once would have been a trivial matter, but that was a thousand years ago. Ponies seem to have changed since that time, and so I must ask."

Twilight was getting frustrated. "Ask what? Can't you just give me a straight answer?"

Luna sighed. Ponies used to have respect for her abilities. Alas, how times had changed.

"Twilight, I can't ask Tyro for permission to do this, so I have to ask you instead. I watch over dreams, but I can also change them, even enter them if I wish. I would like to have a word with Tyro, in his dreams, with your permission."

Twilight thought for a moment. "Luna, dreams are indeed a very private matter. What you want to do is difficult for me to agree to, but I think you're right. Tyro has slept long enough. Do whatever you need to do."

"Thank you, Twilight, for understanding. I will go now." With that, the alicorn knelt before Tyro, touching her horn to his head, just as she had a week before. This time, though, she didn't stand up. Minutes passed. When Twilight looked, Luna's eyes were closed. Clearly, this was not so simple a task.