Assaulted

“TWILIGHT?!”

“Shhh, it’s okay, Lulu,” Celestia cooed, holding her sister tightly out of concern that she would injure herself further.

“Is Twilight alright?”  Luna whispered, as she tried to slow her breathing.

“Yes, you don’t need to worry about her.  She’s sleeping and resting comfortably, as we speak.”

“No more nightmares?”  Luna asked with a glimmer of hope.

Sighing, Celestia let go of her sister.  “She’s had a couple,” the elder sister reluctantly admitted.

Luna tried getting up, to no avail. “I need to go help her.”

“Luna, I’m sorry but, you can’t.”

Luna knew she was in no condition to help anypony, but she still growled before asking. “What happened when I was in the dream realm?”

Looking down at the floor, Celestia tried to think of the best way to explain the course of events.  “We’re not exactly sure. You had started breathing rapidly, then a moment later you and Twilight had started violently spasming.  Before we could get you back into the real world, both of you started having magic surges.”

Now looking her sister in the eye, she could see the terrified look that her younger sister attempted to hide as she continued.  “We tried to get both of you under control, then you started screaming, as Twilight became extremely violent in her thrashing.

Taking a deep breath, Celestia used her hoof to gently lift her sisters chin, so that they were looking at each other.  “What happened to you two?”

        Pulling away from her sister, Luna looked around the hospital room she and Celestia were in, buying time as she tried to figure out how to summarize her ordeal.  “A shadowy creature had scavenged, shredded, and violated our bodies; desecrating them before roasting them over a fire and…” she paused and shuddered, bile rising up her throat as the events replayed. “Please don’t ask for any further details, Tia.  I will tell you, in time.”

        Celestia carefully sat down in a chair next to the bed feeling lightheaded as a sudden wave of nausea washed over her.  The thought of her sister dying was a terrible one, but for one to live through such an ordeal...

        “There is one thing that is bugging me though,” Luna continued, “something had seemed off about the nightmare.  It felt familiar and more lifelike than I am accustomed to with a typical nightmare or even night terror.  I couldn’t put my hoof on it though.”

        “Strange.  Did Twilight say anything?”

        Luna had thought back to her encounter.  “When I had first found her, she was completely petrified. She told me that she couldn’t explain what happened, but wanted you to cast a memory spell, starting the day she went missing.”

        “That would be Sunday, if I recall correctly.”  Luna nodded her head in agreement.

“Do you think you could handle knowing what happened?”

Celestia walked over and wrapped her wings around her younger sister.  “I have to. She isn’t just a fellow princess, or my personal protege. She is my family, as you are.”

“I understand, and I am sorry, but I doubt I have the energy to pull you out if anything shall happen.  As much as I hate to have to put both of you through that, I would appreciate it if you would wait for me. Her physical body is safe and this way it would be safer for everypony,” the younger alicorn implored

“Oh Luna, I’m so sorry,” Celestia sighed, turning her head to look out the window a bird flying by, “this is the first time since they were found that we might have a actual lead. The investigators looked over every inch of the prison and couldn’t find anything helpful. Now that I know I have permission to cast the memory spell we must continue as soon as possible.”

“I do not understand why you had to wait for permission!” Luna finally snapped in frustration.

“I require permission, because it can possibly remove memories from somepony if done incorrectly,”  Celestia groaned.

With a sigh, Luna slowly rolled and stood up from the hospital bed, her legs buckled slightly and she nearly fell until she felt her sister supporting her. “Thank you, Tia.  If you are performing the spell, then I need to be there.”

        “I swear you are more stubborn then Blueblood sometimes, Lulu.”  Carefully, they managed to get to Twilight’s room with Luna only stumbling once. The doctor was checking Twilight’s vitals when they arrived.

        “Princess Luna, how are you feeling?” The doctor asked as he and Celestia helped her lay on a plush pillow.

        “Better.”

        “Good,” the doctor said, almost automatically, while shining a bright light into her eyes. ”You shouldn’t be out of bed yet. You are still very weak.”

        “She is here for me.” Celestia interrupted with a gentle smile. “I am going to cast a memory spell on Twilight.  She had given me permission in the dream realm.

        The doctor walked up to the alicorn, concern clearly visible in his eyes.  “Are you sure about this, Princess?”

        Walking over as gracefully as she ever had and placing a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, she bent down.  “Yes, I’m positive.”

Charging her magic, she bent down and touched her horn to the Twilight’s. The doctor guided her into a seating position as both alicorn's eyes turned white.

        “Another awesome party, Pinkie.”  Twilight slightly stumbled, having a little more hard cider then she was used to. Looking over she saw Rainbow Dash attempting to fly, and falling on her face. “Rainbow, do you want to stay at my place?”

        “What’s that sup’posed to mean? Don’t think I can, I can handle myself?  Hmmm?!   Egghead.” Rainbow stumbled over her hooves, trying to regain her balance as Fluttershy ran up to support her intoxicated friend.

        “Don’t worry Twilight, Rainbow is staying the night at the cottage with me. I’ll take good care of her,” Fluttershy assured her friend, only for Pinkie Pie to start laughing.

        “Cause you can only have fun with Rainbow when she’s had too much cider. Right?”

        “Pinkie, that’s horrible! How could you even suggest such a thing?” Twilight asked bewildered.

        “It’s simple silly, because Rainbow loves it!”

        Looking over to her two pegasus friends hiding behind their wings, one out of embarrassment, and one trying not to loose her dinner, she realized how oblivious she could be sometimes.

 “O-kay... I’m just going to go home and wash my face,” Twilight mumbled as she turned back to her own home.

        “I thought you were the Princess of Friendship!” Rainbow laughed, falling over her own hooves, and not even bothering to get up this time after she chest planted, her rump facing a shocked Fluttershy who whimpered then averted her eyes from what she saw beneath the rainbow colored tail.

        “Yeah, the princess of Friendship; not love. That’s Cadence!”

        Twilight was halfway home as a green smoke engulfed the surprised alicorn. Choking on the strange gas, she noticed herself becoming increasingly tired and her vision began to swim.

Poison gas?!  Attempting to get out of the gas, she galloped what little distance she could, her senses quickly leaving her until the world went numb and black.

        “Welcome back, sleepyhead,” a voice cooed in the darkness.