Shunted

Beep… Beep… Beep… Twilight began to stir. She opened her eyes and slowly looked around. She saw the various machines and light blue walls around her.

    “Ah, Ms. Sparkle,” said a voice. Looking for the source, Twilight landed upon a colt at the foot of her bed. Rushing to her side, the colt flicked his stethoscope on and listened to Twilight’s heartbeat for a moment. “Tell me, how do you feel?”

    “I…” Twilight trailed off and put a hoof to her head. “What happened?” she asked, looking out a window. “Why are we moving?!” she asked, springing up slightly.

    The doctor pushed her back onto the bed, replying “Ms. Sparkle, please try to relax. We’re taking you to Canterlot General. We’re not exactly sure, what can you remember?”

    Twilight laid back, closing her eyes for a moment. Her brow remained scrunched up for a while, before relaxing and looking to the doctor. “I was trying out the Manipulator. Everything was going well, and then… feedback?” she asked herself, eyes darting around as she continued “No, it couldn’t have been that. The nexus was designed in such a way as… Maybe…”

    Twilight looked to the doctor at her side. “Why am I going to Canterlot instead of Ponyville?” she asked.

    “Princess Luna thought it would be best to treat you with their expertise. Given the extent of your injuries, we agreed it would be for the best.” He said, motioning around Twilight.

    Twilight stopped for a moment and looked over herself. Burnt patches of fur and bandages covered her body, and a dark soot seemed to be spread throughout her coat. Seeing the doctor motion, Twilight looked up. “My horn!” she yelled, seeing the chipped and blackened end on her head, the end covered in gauze.

    “Yes, the end of your horn was as brittle as chalk when you came in,” the doctor said, looking at the chart in front of him. “I’m afraid it will be a long while before you can do any magic at all,” he continued, looking Twilight in the eyes.

    Twilight cast her eyes downward and sighed. “Well…” she started, “At least it was just me. Nobody in town was affected, were they?” Twilight asked, looking to the doctor next to her.

    “Not… exactly,” he said, looking at Twilight’s worried expression.

Princess Luna looked at the door to her sister’s hospital room, and then to the six ponies before her. Standing there were five of the elements of harmony and Sky Scryer, the pegasus with Celestia right before it happened.

    “Twilight is being transported here by train,” Luna said. “In the mean time, let’s try to figure out what happened,” she said, staring at the group.

    Scryer looked nervously at the ponies in front of her. She shied away from the famed elements of harmony and stared at Princess Luna. “Celestia, what if I hurt the princess? I was the only one around her when it happened,” she thought, eyes open wide and downcast. “I… I don’t… Elements of harmony…” the thought, her mind racing as she stared at the ponies surrounding her.

    Pinkie looked at the pink pegasus and asked, “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

    Scryer stared at Pinkie, and began to start shivering. “I-I didn’t… Y-You won’t…” she stammered, jumping when a pair of yellow hooves hugged her from behind.

    “Ssh,” came a soft voice. “It’s okay, just relax,” Fluttershy said, feeling the mare calm down.