Chapter 5

October 13, 967 A.F.

Princess Twilight Sparkle

10:17 P.M

"Mmmm, that was delicious," Spike said, popping one last ruby into his maw.

"While that might be the case, now you won't be able to sleep tonight," I said a hint of disproval making its way into my voice.

"You said I could have a night-time snack!" He pouted.

"Yeah, a snack not a dessert." I retorted. "Now, you've had your fill so go back to bed, its way past your bedtime."

"Awww, five more minutes?" He pleaded going down to his knees.

"No Spike, you're still a baby dragon and babies need their sleep."

Huff

Clearly upset and choosing to fight another day, he got up and waddled through the doors leading to his room. Once closing said doors, I brought some tea that was in my grasp up to my face, letting the vapor ease my mind a bit from the rather peculiar and slightly stressful week. After the nice drink was consumed I got up off the soft red pillows that acted as a chair and stretched my wings. 'Maybe a quick flight will make me a bit more tired.' My trip definitely threw me off of my sleeping schedule. I snickered a bit, if my past-self had said something like that no doubt I would be trotting up walls trying to get reorganized. Shaking the thought off I open the glass double doors that lead to the balcony. Taking a deep breath I spread my large alicorn wings, and take flight into the evening air.

Queen Faust

10:20 P.M

The garden definitely smells great, the sweet aromas of the flowers could overwhelm anypony in the scents range. It was enough to block out all the others scents in the area but not to the point where it would give you a massive headache after a few minutes.

"Mother?"

'I really should come here more often, it's always so nice out here. Peace and quite.'

"Mother?"

Snapping my head to the left I look at a large white pony. "Oh, I'm sorry Tia, what is it you were saying?"

"I was just saying that. Well, I never told you this but I'm really happy you're back I really missed you, me and Luna both." She said giving me an honest, happy smile.

"I'm glad to be back, though I'm still having trouble making my way around, having been gone for a long time as you could imagine."

"Well, Luna and I could always show you around. In fact, tomorrow why don't we head out and go about the city. Show you around a bit while we go window shopping or something. It has been quite some time since I've gotten any time for myself or Luna for that matter." She answered, getting drastically more excited as the sentence continued. Unsurprising considering she probably hasn't done anything for herself in a really long time.

"That would be lovely."

"So Mother," Luna addressed quickly. "mind tell us the story with Twilight Sparkle? We never really asked how thou met."

"Of course I don't Luna," I put a hoof on her shoulder only to draw it back a few seconds later. "hmm where to start?"

"Perhaps at the beginning?" Celestia snickered.

"Yes, perhaps that would be ideal." I laughed in return while Luna simply smiled.

"Well," I continued. "It all started with a-"

Crash

I did not scream like a little filly, nope I really didn't...

Neither did Luna or Celestia.

"What was that?" I asked hoping one of them saw the disruption. Looking around we saw the nearby bushes rustle, but it wasn't from the wind.

"Ow."

"Twilight?" Celestia asked without missing a beat. A second later a little purple pony poked her head out of the large vibrant green hedge.

"Celestia, Luna, Faust... What are you all doing here?" Twilight asked rubbing her side with a hoof.

"We could be asking you the same thing Twilight Sparkle, pray tell, what hast caused you to fall from the air?" Luna asked. Clearly concerned for her friend's safety.

"Nothing, just I wanted to tire myself out a bit before heading off to bed, so I took a quick flight, but then I got a cramp mid-flight." Moments later she smiled awkwardly at us hoping that her response was a good enough answer, which it was... at least for me.

"Sorry for umm... scaring you by the way." She continued.

"It's fine Twilight. Are you alright?" I decided to speak up.

"Oh, yes I am. I've been beaten through a mountain, so I'm sure I can survive a short fall... So what are you doing here?" Twilight asked, not even trying to make an attempt at getting off the ground.

"Mother simply wanted to have nice chat and decided to do so outside," Luna said regally.

"Oh, well umm, sorry for dropping in," Twilight smiled sheepishly. Meanwhile, a mirthful smirk graced my lips as well. 'Maybe I should stop hanging out with her so much, she's making puns without even noticing it now. That or it was intentional.'

"It's alright Twilight, in fact now that you're here, would you like to stay and chat with us for a bit? That is if Luna or Celestia mind that is."

"I for one do not have a problem," Luna spoke up.

"Nither do-"

"Your Highness!" A random voice called out, looking around, we spotted a Celestial Guard running towards us he stopped for a brief moment to take a breath before speaking but only to Twilight.

"Your Highness!" He repeated once more bowing to her before rising and speaking. "I was sent to inform you immediately about an incident involving your dragon. Apparently, he stumbled into the medical wing of the castle practically screaming in pain. I'm sorry Princess I cannot give you any more information for it is all I was told."

"What!" Twilight screamed before bolting forth a few feet and taking off in flight. I turned to my daughters a look of concern sitting on my muzzle, after a few awkward moments I took off flying after the distraught mare. They too soon followed foot.

October 13, 967 A.F.

Princess Twilight Sparkle

10:22 P.M

'What' that one word was replaying in my head a million times a second. I had just reached the medical wing of the castle bashing through doors and bumping past ponies. I would have apologized if the situation was different but my mind was understandably focused on other things, that thing being Spike, he was like a son to me and hearing the guard telling me he came into the room in pain scared me to no end. Eventually, I came to a halt at the front desk.

"Princess, Spike is on the third floor, room five eight." The head nurse explained. Nodding my quickly head, I twist my hooves and launch into the air once more. After a few moments of colliding into walls, I finally came across the room. Falling to my hooves I open the door and see Spike sleeping on a bed. Several of the staff immediately take note of my presence, I swiftly raise my hoof to stop them from kneeling.

"What happened?"

"Your Highness, I'm afraid we don't know that much, other than he came into the medical wing complaining about extreme pain, after a few minutes he started screaming and went into fetal position. We didn't know what to do, there is nothing wrong with him that we could find so we gave him some sleeping gas and pain medication." The doctor explained.

'Nothing wrong with him?' My mind was once again racing before a question popped in my head. "Is it possible that wat's happening to him is natural?"

"Natural? I wouldn't know," he answered.

'If only I could get in contact with Princess Ember. She might have an idea on what's going on.' I could try to teleport all the way over there but that's remarkably risky.

"Twilight?" I was lost in thought I didn't realize Faust had walked in let alone, Celestia or Luna. I turned towards them and spoke before any of them could.

"Do you have any way I could get in contact with Princess Ember from the Dragon Lands?" The trio looked at each other not saying a word.

"Apologies Twilight, I'm not sure. You could, of course, send a letter to her via peruses but that would take days as I'm sure you know," Celestia answered.

"What hast happened to Spike?" Luna cut in.

"We are unsure your highness." The doctor from before spoke up. "We have run several thorough tests and come up clean. He shouldn't be in any pain that we know of. But Princess Twilight seems sure what is happening may very well be... natural to a dragon." Faust trotted swiftly out of the room but nopony seem to have paid her any attention except for the nurses, doctors, and of course myself. 'We didn't even tell the public about her yet and it's already been a few days. There are probably tens of rumors out there about her already.'

"All this certainly is strange, we'll have to look deeper into this... conundrum," Celestia spoke out once more. "But I'm afraid it will have to be tomorrow the day has ended and we must all get our rest."

With that, all of the nurses and doctors left the room with Celestia. Leaving Luna and I.

"Twilight you must go and rest your head, you have had a long day and as you are no doubt aware, your sleeping schedule is a mess."

"How can I sleep while Spike in like this?" I snapped but immediately winced. "Sorry I didn't mean to shout at you."

"Tis alright we understand thys frustration and anger," Luna answered.

"Just there's nothing I... We can do, we don't even know what's wrong with him, and it's all so sudden! He was perfectly fine earlier." I hung my head in a very unprincesslike manner.

"Fret not Twilight Sparkle, we will find out what causes Spikes ailment. But for now, I suggest you get some rest."

Sigh "I'll try." I mumbled.

"Umm, excuse me, your highness, I was sent here by some mare saying you needed an urgent letter sent out?"

Luna and I looked over to see a mint colored unicorn mare at the doorway. Then exchanged looks.

"We... I mean me... I mean I, will see you later Twilight Sparkle." Luna blushed a bit at her stumbling of words, she was getting better at her dialect but sometimes she would forget to work on it without noticing, I aways found that quite strange, how do you not realize everypony else around you is speaking differently. Given that, she made her way out into the corridors and I returned my attention to the meek mare.

"Yes, I did. Thank you." Grabbing a piece of parchment and a quill within my magic that she had brought, I scribbled a quick summary to Ember in hopes that she knows something about the enigma. Soon after, the letter is hoofed off and she goes forth to the nearest mailpony. Turning around, I sit next to Spike on a nearby chair, laying my forehead on the railing.

It was going to be a long night.

October 14, 967 A.F.

Queen Faust

11:26 A.M

Knock Knock Knock

"Tia are you busy?" I said while slowly opening the door to her bedroom. "I kind of need a favor from you if you don't mind."

"Hello, Mother." Celestia said when she walked out to the shower room. "What is it you needed help with?"

"Well, earlier today Twilight brought up how we never really introduced me to Equestria and how there's probably hundreds of rumors flying about me right now. So I thought maybe you could help me set up some kind of... Hmmm, what's the word? A symposium?"

Celestia face hoofed "Oh dear, how did I forget something so... simple?" She brought her hoof down and gave a small smile. "Yes, I can help with that. I suppose I was so caught up with everything that I somehow forgot. Still, it's no excuse. How silly of me."

"Don't worry about it Tia, no one is going to be angry at you, and more so I'm sure they'll understand." Placing a hoof on her right shoulder I bring her into a hug, one she happily returned. I'm not sure why I did. I just felt like she needed one after so long. After a pause, she breaks away and continues our conversation.

"I'll set up a public address, that's the word I think you're looking for by the way, later tonight and hopefully by tomorrow morning or later that day we can inform everypony."

"Thank you, Tia," I smiled.

"No problem Mother. Anyway, would you like to come in for some tea, day court doesn't start until another forty minutes or so?" She asked.

"I would love to," I responded, then we walked into the room with gusto.

Dragon Lord Ember

1:30 P.M

"Lady Ember," A servant called out. "a letter from Princess Twilight of Ponyville!"

I look at the drake for a moment expecting some kind of silly prank, one where he 'make me look' but he said no such thing instead choose to simply kneel and offer the letter. 'Letter from Ponyville huh? Why not just send it via dragon fire like always, maybe this one isn't as important?' I take the scroll.

"Thank you, now take leave, I wish to be left alone." He stood up, bowed, and then promptly left the room.

Looking at the parchment once more I unravel it, examining its contents.

Dear, Dragon Lord Ember

Hello, Lady Ember as I'm sure you've no doubt noticed this letter has come to you in a very odd manner, but there is a reason. I would also like to assure you that it is not any less urgent than the rest of the ones we have sent to each other over these past years. Regardless, I have sent you this message because I need help, and I would be very grateful if you shed some light on a very scary situation involving my adopted son Spike. Earlier on the day this note was written (10/13/967 A.F) Spike stumbled into the Canterlot Castle Medical Wing crying out in pain, severe pain that is, but upon inspection by several staff members specifically our best doctors and nurses here in Equestria. They were unable to diagnose him with anything. Currently, at the time of writing, Spike is sleeping purely on powerfully pain medication, therefore, was unable to send this letter himself. So I've written this to ask you a rather simple question. Is there anything you could possibly think of that would cause such an exorbitant amount of pain? If so, is there a cure you know of, or perhaps a more efficient way to ease said pain?

Your friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Wielder Of The Element Of Magic, 3rd Sovereign Of Equestria.

I rolled up the letter, it was indeed a simple question with a simple answer. I grab a parchment and a long white feathered quill, dipping the latter in ink. moving to sit down at a fire enchanted oak desk and chair, I write my response as small smirk forms on my mouth.