The "Princess"

I was awake… though I really, really didn’t want to be right now.

My mind was all foggy and it took a great deal of effort to focus on anything at all. Unfortunately for me, the first thing I was able to process clearly was the fact that my everything ached. My arms were rubber, my legs were stiff, and it felt like there was an enormous weight upon my chest. It wasn’t a constricting weight though; it just hurt whenever I inhaled.

For a long while, I just lay there—warm and somewhat comfortable, given the pain—wishing that I would just drift back off into unconsciousness again. The sweet relief of sleep would be so much better than the discomfort I was currently feeling. Granted, whatever I was lying on was probably the softest material I had ever had the pleasure of resting on, so it shouldn’t be too hard, right? Although, I mused sluggishly, that means whatever I’m lying on is clearly not my bed… which raises the question…

Where was I exactly? And what had happened to get me here in the first place?

Still half asleep, I frowned, my brow furrowing as I fought against the stifling haze that enveloped my mind. What had happened? That was the question, but for some reason I couldn’t remember the answer. Everything was really fuzzy and my thoughts were sluggish… and my brain hurt.

It took some struggling but finally I was able to recall what I assumed was my last memory. I had been running through White Tail Woods for the Running of the Leaves. I had been lagging in last place—no real surprise there—when… when something… something happened involving…

...involving…

…

W-water?

What… what happened?

Unwilling to open my eyes just yet, I instead listened to my surroundings to figure out where I was. There was a gentle beeping noise that filled the air, alongside the graceful chirps of birdsong. If I strained my ears hard enough, I could just make out the muffled sound of talking in the distance. I couldn’t make out what was being said, but it sounded like multiple conversations were going on in different places. Some down the hall, some from outside, and one from… above?

None of that helps me though… I grumbled to myself. The beeping was somewhat familiar, but my mind was unable to place it just yet. I put that aside for later and instead focused on trying to listen in on one of the many conversations. Before I could though, my concentration was broken by the sudden sound of a page being turned, followed by a soft gasp. “Oh… really? Interesting.”

W-wait… that sounded like it came from right next to me...

Reluctantly, I finally cracked open an eye and peered around at my surroundings. To my surprise, I found myself in a hospital room. Or rather, a very expensive looking hospital room. Various machines lined the wall behind my headboard as well as the bed frame itself. The room had a bathroom attachment, completely with a bathtub of immense size. Silken curtains hung beside a large bay window that overlooked a colorful garden below.

And sitting in a plush armchair beside the open window, her nose buried in a large tome, was an alicorn princess.

Blinking in confusion, I stared at her for a moment, her form swimming in my bleary gaze. I had to squint in order to focus, and even then, she seemed a little blurry. “L-Luna?” I winced as my voice came out as a rasping croak.

Luna jumped at the noise and looked up from her book. At first, she looked towards the door, but open seeing it still closed she turned her attention to the bed instead. When she saw me staring back at her, her eyes widen and a warm smile spread quickly across her face. “Ah, good afternoon, Nora. We were wondering when you were going to rejoin the land of the living. You had us worried there for a moment, but we are pleased you managed to pull through.”

Gaping up at her, I opened and closed my mouth before managing to stammer out. “I don’t… where… why?”

Smile still on her face, Luna just shook her head before chuckling. “Although I can see that you aren’t, as the saying goes, all there yet.” Closing her book, she lifted in her magic before it seemed to disappear, not in a flash like normal, but into a void of darkness which then trickled down to the ground like ink before dissolving into Luna’s own shadow.

“Well, to answer your questions,” she said. “You are currently in Canterlot, Nora. Or, to be more specific, you’re in the medical wing of the palace.” She paused before tilting her head to the side. “Or… to be even more specific, you’re in Celestia’s private medical room, being attended to by her personal doctors and nurses.

“As for the why of the situation,” she continued, “well… one tends to need medical attention after one nearly drowns, yes? It tends to be beneficial in keeping oneself alive.”

I blinked. “W… what?”

Her musical laugh filled the room.

“We guess we should start from the beginning, yes?” Luna tittered.

Settling back in her plush chair again, she spent the next few minutes regaling me with what had transpired. It was mostly from Celestia’s perspective, starting with her searching for me around Canterlot—really glad I didn’t use the train station to get home—to her arriving in Ponyville to the start of the Running of the Leaves, and so on up until her journey through the woods to find me.

I listened silently until she got to the part about the clearing. Upon hearing her description of the creature that had bewitched me, I swore under my breath.

“A feckin’ kelpie?” I growled, only to dissolve into a coughing fit.

Luna gave me an intrigued look. “Ah, so you have knowledge of this beast already?”

“Aye,” I said with a wheeze, my chest twinging painfully. “Kelpies… well, kelpies are shape-shifting water spirits from my old world. It’s said that they take the form of beautiful horses and lure lost travelers to their doom. They supposedly lurk around all the ol’ lochs and rivers of the isles.”

“We see,” Luna hummed. “And, pray tell, what exactly happens to their victims when they ensnare them?”

“Well, typically… they’d drown and then eat them.”

“And these… beasts exist in your world, you say?”

“Feck no,” I huffed. “They aren’t supposed to be real! They’re supposed to be a myth. A legend!” Rubbing at my chest for a moment, I then added as an afterthought. “People in the past probably invented the concept of them to explain people goin’ missin’ and stuff. Maybe. I’m not entirely sure about the history of their lore. I just know that they’re typically nasty creatures you need to avoid.”

“Nasty… but fictional?” Luna asked.

“Yes. At least… until now.”

“Curious…” She stared at the foot of my bed, running a hoof over her muzzle as she mused. “Curious… curious..” she repeated before seeming to snap out of her daze. “We… are not entirely sure of how a creature of your mythology came to exist in our world, but from what little we could glean from the beast and its surroundings, this… kelpie… is responsible for your initial arrive in Equestria.”

At her words, I struggled into a seated position, my eyes wide. “W-wait… does… does that mean…?”

Luna shook her head sadly. “We are sorry, Nora, but we do not believe we can send you home. The creature appears to have lived in a realm between worlds, and the flow of magic it used is so chaotic and alien that there is nothing we can do to affect it. It was sheer dumb luck that you ended up in Equestria in the first place. I highly doubt we’d be able to find your home again out of the hundreds of possible exits. It would seem, unfortunately, the means of traveling through the rivers of the realms died with the kelpie.”

“Oh…” I fell back against the pillows, my bangs falling in front of my eyes. “I see…”

“We are truly sorry, Nora,” Luna said. Her ears folded against her head.

Sniffing, I was silent a moment before rubbing my nose. “It’s… it’s alright, Luna. It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.” I sighed only to blink. “Wait… you know all that about the kelpie already?”

It was Luna’s turn to blink. “Yes? We studied it closely, as it was a threat to not only you but our subjects as well.”

“B-but… how long have I been here?!”

“Oh…” Luna’s smile returned. “Not that long. It’s been three days since Celestia pulled you from the beast’s lair. The doctors weren’t sure you were going to survive, what with all the water you inhaled before Celestia rescued you, but after the first day, your condition improved immensely. Fair Twilight and her friends will be relieved to learn that you have finally emerged from your slumber. They have been extremely worried about you.”

“Three days?” I repeated. My brow furrowed before I groaned loudly and buried my face in my blanket-covered knees. “Feeeck me.”

“Nora, are you alright?” Luna asked.

“No,” I moaned, my face still buried. “I’m not. I’m fecking not.”

“Do… do you need us to call for a nurse?”

“No.”

“Well, then may we ask what is wrong?”

Turning my head, I rested my cheek on my knee as I looked at Luna. “I… I missed the fecking Fall Festival. Again. I was so looking forward to it for months… and I fecking missed all of it. For the same reason as last year.” I sighed heavily. “I’m stuck in the hospital. Now I have to wait until next year in order to try and be there again.”

“We see,” Luna said slowly. The corners of her mouth were threatening to creep upwards. “That… might not be entirely true.” When I gave her a confused look, she actually smiled. “You didn’t hear this from us, but it would seem that your friends were aware of your longings, and while they could not delay the festival itself, they have decided to hold their own potluck for you. In order to try and… oh, what was the saying? Illuminate your soul?”

“Illuminate your soul…?” I whispered. A moment later, the corners of my own mouth began twitching upwards. “Brighten your spirit? They… they’re holding a potluck… just for me?” Despite how crappy I felt at the moment, that little bit of information definitely brightened my day.

“Of course.” Luna nodded. “We believe Ms. Pie and Ms. Applejack were both rather adamant about it.” She tapped her muzzle with a hoof. “Although, we think they perhaps just wanted a reason to cook more food.”

“I wouldn’t put it past them,” I said. Leaning back against the headboard, I allowed my mind to wander over the events of the past few days. Or at least, the past few days that I had been conscious. My smile slowly faded and the tightness in my chest returned, although it wasn’t from my near-drowning. After what I had heard while eavesdropping on the Royal Sisters, I was surprised Celestia had gone through all of that for me. Actually, speaking of which…

Swallowing thickly—unsure if I wanted to really know the answer or not—I glanced up at Luna. It took me a few tries to speak, but I finally managed to squeak out something that sounded vaguely like words.

Luna’s ears perked up. “We’re sorry, could you repeat that?”

Licking my lips, I tried again. “Where’s, uh… where’s C-celestia?” It was louder this time, but my voice still cracked at her name. I winced and mentally kicked myself.

“Ah, yes,” Luna said. Leaning back in her chair again, she clicked her tongue. “Our sibling. The last we knew, Celestia is currently attending to certain royal duties that have recently cropped up.”

“Oh… I see…” My gaze returned my sheet-covered lap. I didn’t know why I had asked that question. On one hand, I was supposed to be working on getting over Celestia, but on the other hand, a small part of me had hoped that she would have been here when I woke up. It made sense though when you thought about it. She was a very busy individual and I was just some weird alien in this world. And, if what I had heard was correct, she hadn’t even been interested in me to begin with, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that she was focused elsewhere. Still, it didn’t make the pain in my chest hurt any less.

“Indeed,” Luna continued, oblivious to my inner thoughts. “A certain group of nobles was causing such a commotion that Celestia had to go deal with them posthaste. And of course, it would seem that their grievances had something to do with you, so that makes the matter even more complicated.”

“I… wait, what?” I glanced up. “I’m… what did I do?”

“It’s not what you did, dear Nora,” Luna sighed, “but rather what we—Celestia and I—failed to do.”

“I don’t understand…”

Luna harrumphed. “Apparently, we failed to protect you fully, as seen by the fact you nearly drowned. Although, how one is supposed to protect against such things without denying you your basic right of freedom is beyond our understanding. In order to stop any and all harm from ever befalling you, we’d have to lock you in a room in the castle and never let you out. Unthinkably and completely out of the question.”

I gaped at her. “I don’t… understand… wait. What group is causing a stink over this?”

“We don’t know,” Luna said with a frown. “It’s that Pony Protection Board of Creature Thingy… or whatever the buck they call themselves. It’s a relatively new group, as we have no recall of learning about it upon our return.”

It took a moment for my brain to process what she said, and when I did, my face scrunched. “Are you talking about the Equestrian Committee for Rare and Special Creatures?”

“Ah, yes! That’s the one,” Luna said. “A bunch of them showed up earlier this morning and were making a big stink about your current condition and the clear lack of protection. They’re trying to raise enough support to force us to turn you over to them.”

“I… but… they can’t…” I stammered, holding my head in my hands. “How… how did they even know what happened?!”

“Most likely from the Canterlot Times,” Luna huffed. “That’s were most ponies have heard about the event, we believe.”

“The newspaper?!” My voice had gotten shriller, and I was starting to breathe heavily. “Why… why de feck wus it in de newspaper!?”

It was Luna’s turn to give me a confused look. “Why wouldn’t it be? It’s not a common event for a Princess to neglect their royal duty for three days straight.” She tapped a hoof against her chin. “In fact, we are rather surprised it took them so long to discover the anomaly. We thought for sure they would have figured it out by the end of the first day.”

“You’ve been here for three days?” I asked. That information was oddly touching. I didn’t know Luna all that well, and although I’d say we were friends, I didn’t think she’d go out of her way to watch over me. The fact she had been here for the entire time I had been unconscious was rather swee—

“Oh, by our Moon, no,” Luna said. “We would have gone crazy by the end of the first day. No offense, Nora, but we deal enough with ponies being asleep while we are awake during our own duties. No, twas not us. It was Celestia that was by your side for three days straight, even going so far as to sleep and eat here as well. We just took over for her recently while she went to deal with the nobles. If it weren’t for them, she’d probably be the one to greet you upon your awakening and not us.”

“W-what?” I stared at her with wide eyes. “Celestia was… but I… she didn’t… w-what?!”

Luna watched me attempt to process the information that my crush—and the pony that I had previously thought wanted nothing to do with me—had been by my bedside for the past few days. Slowly, she shook her head. “We might have some idea of what you overheard our sister and us discussing, Nora, but we can assure you, you have the wrong idea.”

Trying to ignore the feeling of my stomach rising in my chest, I swallowed thickly. “I… I know what I heard. You told Celestia that she shouldn’t lead me on. I… I understand, I really do, and I appreciate that she gave me a chance in the first place, but I… she doesn’t want…” I trailed off, blinking back tears. Feck, I really am pathetic, aren’t I? Why can’t I get over this?

“Nora…” Luna was shaking her head. “We… I promise you, despite what the conversation might have sounded like from an outside perspective, you’re wrong. Celestia isn’t trying to… intentionally lead you on.”

“Just unintentionally then,” I huffed.

Luna winced and stomped a hoof. “Yes, but not in the way you are thinking!” I looked away, only for Luna’s magic to grab my chin and gently force my gaze back to her. “Regardless of how you perceive yourself—negative, positive, or indifferent—remember this. Despite how it would appear to you, Celestia has most definitely enjoyed spending time in your company. She might not be the best at showing it, but I know for a fact that she has had fun on your dates.”

“R-really?” I asked, my voice cracking again. In my chest, a small ember of hope flickered to life, and I was unsure whether to smother it or let it grow.

“Of course,” Luna said, exaggeratedly rolling her eyes. “In fact, we couldn’t get her to shut up about the movie you two saw. We didn’t even see the film yet we can still probably tell you exactly what happened and what the popcorn tasted like and how nice you were to Artemis.”

I couldn’t believe it. “She… she talked about it that much?”

“You have no idea…”

“But…” I waved my hands about, unsure of how to express what I was feeling. “It was… it was just a movie!”

“Oh, it was so much more than a movie,” Luna said, throwing a foreleg over her head dramatically. “It was a life-changing experience! Something she had never experienced before! An experience that I’m not sure why I waited so long to try it, Luna, but it was amazing! I’d definitely like to go see more with her in the future There’s supposed to be a sequel! The scene after the credits promised!!”

“S-she… she said all that?” I whispered, the small flicker of hope growing strong despite my best efforts to squash it.

Luna nodded. “Over and over again. Like a little schoolfilly with a crush.”

I bit my lip. “I… but then… what about the conversation you two were having?”

The smile that had been previously growing on Luna’s face now began to fade. Glancing out the window, she was lost in thought for a moment before turning back to me. “We were indeed talking about your relationship together, but you are wrong when you believe that Celestia isn’t interested in you. We assure you, she is very interested, and it’s there where the problem resides.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, but Luna just shook her head.

“That’s for Celestia to tell you,” she said. “As annoyed as we are with her, we won’t go revealing her secrets just yet. However, we will say this. She would like very much for you and her to continue seeing each other.”

I stared at her with wide eyes for a moment before looking away. Letting out a shaky breath, I ran a hand through my matted—and rather greasy—hair. I needed a shower, and some time to process everything I’ve heard. It seemed too good to be true, yet… I really, really hoped…

“Nora?”

Pulled from my thoughts, I looked over at Luna. She was giving me a concerned look, and upon me looking up, she reached out with a wing and gently touched my cheek. Her feathers came away wet and it took me a moment to realize I was crying.

“Nora, don’t cry,” she murmured softly.

“I’m… I’m not. I just need… I need…” I trailed off, unsure of what it was I really wanted. There were just too many thoughts spinning about inside my head, and I needed… I needed a place that was comfortable and familiar, and in which I could think about things without feeling too stressed out. Someplace like… like…

My eyes widened and I gave Luna a pleading look. “Luna… is there any way I can go home?”

Her ears splayed back. “We told you before, Nora, but the creature’s magic is—”

“No, no,” I said quickly, interrupting her. “Like, back to my gaff? Back to Ponyville? I just… I just need some time to… think everything over, okay?” Clasping my hands before me, I pleaded. “Please, is there any way for me to leave and go back home?”

Luna blinked, her mouth forming a small ‘o’ before she smiled. “Oh… yes, actually. Yes, you can. The nurses gave you a clean bill of health yesterday. Despite some possible soreness in your chest and a cough, you should be fine. The water has been removed from your lungs and your vitals are normal. We were just waiting for you to wake up.” Spreading her wings, she stepped back and gave me room to stand. “You are free to leave whenever you please, my friend.”

“Cool, cool,” I said, absentmindedly running my hands through my hair again. “I… I need to go home. I need to think. I just… think. Yes, think about things.” Throwing the blankets back, I stood from the bed, only to sway on my feet. “I just… I just need… feck!” Looking around, I realized a problem. “Luna! Where are my clothes?”

“Ah, yes. They were ruined in the confirmation with the creature,” Luna said. “You do have access to more, correct?”

“Yeah! At home!” Holding up my arms, I motioned down to the hospital gown I currently had on. It barely reached my hips, and the only saving grace I had was the face my underwear appeared to have survived intact. “But I can’t get home to get them!”

“Why not?” Luna asked, her head tilting to the side.

“Oi canny go walking around Canterlot wi’ me arse ‘hangin’ out!” I shouted, giving the hem of the gown a few tugs to try and get it to go lower. After a few seconds, my head jerked up as sudden realization dawned on me. “Oi! I also don’t ‘ave any bits to pay for a train ticket!”

“Train ticket?” Luna placed a hoof against her lips as she tittered. “You don’t need a train ticket, Nora. We have a more effective and instantaneous way to get you home.” At her words, her horn began to glow a soft blue.

My eyes widened and I took a step back. “W-wait! Luna, you know what teleportation magic does to me! I feel crappy enough already without you adding to it!”

“Celestia’s method, sure,” Luna said smugly. “However, there is more than one style of teleportation, and I think you’ll find mine a little more… soothing.” As she purred out the last word, her horn glowed brighter.

I raised my hands in protest, but a sudden wave of shadows washed over me, plunging the world into darkness. Closing my eyes, I waited for the stomach-churning feeling of teleportation, trying to brace myself for the feeling of nausea that was sure to follow. My stomach was most likely empty after days of being unconscious, but that wouldn’t stop it from trying to empty its non-existent contents on the floor.

The feeling never came.

Opening my eyes, I gasped upon seeing that I was standing in the middle of my bedroom. “What the…?” I didn’t have time to look around before a tickling sensation about my ankles made me look down. Small smoky tendrils of darkness were streaming down my legs to disappear into my own shadow. Lifting a foot, I watched in fascination as the shadows maintained my leg’s shape for a moment before collapsing like smoke.

A giggle caused me to look up. Luna was standing in the corner of the room… actually, it was only her upper half, as her flank and hindlegs were hidden in a dark, swirling portal of liquid night.

“You see?” she asked with a smirk, raising an eyebrow. “Our method is much gentler than Celestia’s. Instead of just ripping open the fabric of space and thrusting you through to your destination, we bring the destination to you instead. No movement, no trouble, and no upset tummy.”

“W-what… but… how?” I stammered.

“You aren’t the only one whose insides do not like rough teleportation,” Luna said. The shadows around her began creeping further up her body, consuming her wings and her shoulders. “We shall inform your friends that you are free and home but shall instruct them not to bother you until the morrow. Same with Celestia. For now, relax, sleep and, of course, think to your heart’s content.”

I nodded and she began to slip back into the darkness, only to pause. “Oh, and Nora?”

“Hmmm?”

“We are glad to see you came out relatively unscathed, dear friend,” she said with a warm smile. “We were worried. It’s so hard to find interesting individuals in these modern times.” And with that, she was gone.

The shadow portal melted back into the shadows beneath my dresser, and I was left standing alone in my room. It was exactly how I left it, which reminded me: I should probably open a window before I do anything else. It was a little stuffy in here and some fresh air might do me some good.

Keeping the blinds lowered, I reached behind them and cracked the window open. A fresh breeze trickled in, causing the blinds and drapes to wiggle and dance, and bringing with it the smell of autumn.

Next, I pulled off the hospital gown and tossed it into the corner. I played around with the idea of finding some clothes but decided against it. Instead, I peeled off my underwear and let it join the growing pile of clothing in the closet.

Completely naked, I took a moment to look over my body. Still skinny, still pale, and still covered in freckles, the only new additions were some rather large bruising around my chest and stomach. The purple coloring stood out against my milky skin, the edges already turning yellow. Running a hand over a few of them, I winced when I applied a little pressure. Oh, that’s gonna fun later…

I stood in the middle of the room for a few more minutes, letting the cool air from the window wash over my flesh. Then, with very little ceremony, I flopped face-first onto my mattress with a groan. The soft material felt good against my bare chest and the familiar scent of my own bedding filled my nose. I inhaled deeply, a calm feeling slowly spreading through my tired body. Despite having just woken up after being unconscious for three days, I was exhausted. My troubles and issues would still be there tomorrow. For now, it was time for rest.

The sun was just beginning to sink beneath the tree line as I closed my eyes, and with a sigh, fell asleep.