Of Twilights and new Dawns

It has become afternoon of the day after the events. Due to the late time of the events of yesterday, nearly no one else had witness the magic in the sky.

So, it was relative easy to hide the fact that the abducted princess was returned to Equestria. Right now, she was in the care of the doctors in the royal infirmary, who check her.

Celestia may have a stern look on her face and sit still on her throne, but inside she practical shivers for happiness. She has her daily chorus before her, although she set the target to get every few moments she could get to go to Twilight and look at her.

This makes her giggle a bit. “One could think, I’m a mother, whose child lay with fever in the bed.”She giggles a moment over this thought, before she realizes what she just mutters to herself.

The doctors had already give her a preliminary report of Twilights condition. A surface checks up already show some gruesome things. Under her fur the doctors could make up several scars all over the body, also some of her bones seem that they were at least once broken and not fully heal up, more due to poor knowledge of bones, especially her wings.

This makes Celestia trembles in anger, as she can’t really imagine what happened to her former student. She tries to imagine even a small bit and that was enough to fuel her rage inside.

A runner appears before her throne. “Ah, Fast Hooves, what is your message?” the diarchess asks the earth pony runner. He was one of the royal runners, carrying message and reports through the castle. Celestia pull him off his normal duty and had assign him to the doctors how look over Twilight. Fast bows down. “No change, your majesty. She is still unconscious and doesn’t respond to any stimulation from the doctors.”

Celestia nods and sends him back. She frowns at this. Secretly she had hoped that Twilight would slowly show signs of waking, still she was unconscious. The doctors already had told her that this is normal and the alicorn of the sun must follow their order of peace for the patience.

So Celestia sat on her throne and wait for the day to go over, when suddenly a guard run in. “Your majesty, the elements and the dragon are here.”

“Let them in.” Celestia was surprised by this sudden change in her activity. She knew that she had send them a letter asking them to come, but that they will come so fast surprised her a bit. Still she regains her composure on the throne and wait for them to arrive. It didn’t take long and the doors open, revealing the two earth ponies, the two pegasi and the one unicorn of the mane 6, along the purple dragon.

Celestia let her glance wander over them. The year since Twilight’s abducting had been a hard one for them, but all somehow, they had get hold of themselves and prevent each other to fall in Depression or mad Ness.

They all stand at the base of the throne. Before anyone said a thing Celestia smirks at the sign of Spike. She remembers the day, when Twilight had hatched him during her entrance test, so Celestia knows him since he was a mere hatchling. But right now, Celestia could see that the hatchling had matured. Spike had grown into a fine dragon. He was now a bit taller than the normal ponies, but still smaller than Luna, although he only misses mere inches. But what really jump to the eye was the fact that his tail has coiled around the hooves of Rarity. The fashionista doesn’t show any sign of discomfort with that, so that Celestia assume that Rarity was aware of the meaning behind this gesture.

“My dear ponies, for what reason I came to have the honor of all of you coming to me?” she asks. Rainbow Dash was the first one to speak. “Cut It short, where are the bucking …” Before the cyan colored mare could a more a blue magic aura was around her muzzle and muffle her. Rarity had casted the muzzle and speaks now. “Rainbow darling. That was uncalled for.” She turns her head to look at Celestia.

“Dear Princess what is the cause for you to invite us to your court?” Rarity formal asks, show that she poses the abilities to interactive with the royal. Celestia smiles a bit over that. “First of welcome her in Canterlot. I’m pleased that you had come, but also how fast you had come”

“Well princess. We all were together when Spike had got your Message. And the fact that your charoite was there too had made things easier.” Applejack was one how had answered. For a moment Celestia thought about a reason why they all could be together by quickly she remembers and didn’t ask further. “

Celestia takes a short breath before dropping the bomb.“Last night a portal open near Canterlot. The royal guard, my sister and myself move out and intercepted anyone who come through.”

A moment silence lingers in the room before several ponies (and one dragon) takes a breath and shout out. It was a wild chaos out of different voices, which Celestia allowed for a moment before silencing them.

Still before she could tell more, Rainbow, whose maw was free, interrupted her. “What do you mean? Intercepted anyone who come through. Who came through, what came through... did you kick its flank from here to Tartarus?”

All of the other ponies’ simple hushes at her, because Celestia seemingly wanted to give an answer. But the sudden arriving of another pony interrupted the scene.

“Hmm.” He cleared his throat to catch the attention of the solar alicorn.

“Ah Rapid Step. What is the reason of your appearance.” She asked the guard pony. Said pony, a simple brown earth pony with a trail of step as Cutie mark, clears his throat again and then speaks. “Your grace. Midnight send his regards. The prisoner seems to wake up.”

Celestia was a bit pleased by this. So, she gets up and starts to walk to the door. “Well thank you Rapid. I will see him now.” Celestia thanked him and uses her wing in a fluid movement to dismiss him and urge the other to follow her. “Well you can come too. To answer Rainbow’s question. Yes something, no more somepony came through… and yes we kicked his flank from her to Tartarus.” She says with a certain wink in her eyes, drawing a few laughs from the group.

With fast steps, the group walk through the Palace and in no time, they had reached the dungeon. It was an old part of the castle, mostly unused, as the rate of serious crimes had reduced over the years, but the events a few years ago had bring up a few questions how to handle possible prisoners from the other side. So, it had been decided that the dungeon would be remodel and enhanced in his structure, which had lead into the current dungeon, with wall enchanted with several layers of strengthen spells, surveillance and cloak detecting spells and more changes, who wait hidden until time of need.

But right now, the main focus was one of the prisoner cell. Midnight and some guards stands before the cell, weapons ready. “Ah princess, good to see that the Rapid was able to reach you in time. Though he would get distracted and flirt with the maids… again.” Midnight greet the princess, drawing a smile from her, while said guard pony makes a grimace, because the teasing.

The rest of the group the mane 5 and Spike hadn’t put their focus on them, but the prisoner.

He was in the cell, sat on his rump with his back resting against the wall a single chain connects the wall with a collar he wears, effectively chain him to it. The group take in the several details. He was a stallion, a unicorn with a mostly white coat, the color change near the base of his hooves, there his cat became silver. His blond mane was cut short, only a few inches from his neck. Was the most outstanding fact being his flanks, rather the fact that his flanks didn’t show anything… he had no Cutie Mark.

This was enough to set everyone back, as they couldn’t imagine something like this, when Celestia had mention that they had taken a prisoner. Instead of a monster, like or even worse than the golems, he was a pony. A simple stallion, a bit bigger than the average, still a normal looking pony.

Still he was for them an enemy, so they didn’t want to play nice, which Rainbow showed, as she punched against the bars, making a clinking sound. The prisoner seems to hear that, as his front hooves fly to his head, covering his ears. Although this could be a sign that he is awake, Celestia sees the slight lack in his motions, indicating that he was still under the effect of her spell.

But the prisoner surprised her, as he opens his mouth. “Ugh…” he groans. “Whatever hit me… don’t do it again. My inside wants out.” He says with a low voice. Again, he surprised the group, his voice sounded so normal, so pony like and not like a monster.

Rainbow was the first to recover from his speaking… and the first thing she did was punch again the against the bars, recreating the sound again and making him groan. “Why would we give a buck for what you want?” she practical growls through her closed teeth. “Why are you even here?” she finishes her interrogation, as she beat a third time against the bars.

The prisoner inside the cell cringes at the sound again. “Why I’m here…” he interrupts himself for a moment. “My memory is a bit loopy, but I know I’m not here for fighting…” He taps on his head. “I think I was here because I had to carried something…NO…someone.” He begins to nod his head. “Yeah. I had to carry someone through the portal.”

The group had listen so far. But after the last statement Spike leans towards Celestia and talks to her. “Anything true of it?”

The diarchess smiles. “Yes, he carried somepony with him, when he came through.”

The group seem to relax a bit, but only for the prisoner suddenly froze and starts to look up. He let his glance wander through his cell. Then he shifts a bit and start to rise. “Where is she?” he asks with steel in his voice. That was a more than sudden change to his previous state. “I’m asking again… WHERE IS SHE?”

The group and the guards were set back by this. From being a seemingly broken prisoner to a battle-ready warrior in less than a moment… tends to make situation worse. Still Celestia holds her ground. “Come my little ponies let’s leave him in her… if you wish I can show you the pony he carried.”

She walks towards the exit, but before she even had walked a single step, Fast Hooves appears before her. “Thedoctorssaysheseemstowakeupsoyoushouldbeintheinfirmaryverysoon.”He forces out with a single breath, but no one had understood him. The runner was completely out of breath, so in order to retell his message, he was forced to take a few breaths in. But as he didn’t want to let the princess wait, he shortens the message. “Uhh… Docters…said…she…seems…to…wake…up.”

In no time Celestia had catches what he means. “Come on little ones. Our other guest seems to wake up. Let’s go and check her. It would be good for her but also you all.”

So, she leads the group out, leaving the guards and Midnight with the prisoner. “You heard that? Your packet lays in the infirmary and will soon wake up.” One of the guards tease him, especially when he said the word packet. “And can you imagine, how she will react if she sees that the ones who greet her are the princess and the elements?”

The prisoner simply throws himself across his cell against the bars. “Yeah, I can imagine what will happen.” He sticks his hooves through the space of the bars and grabs the guards, as he stands to close. “And if you want to prevent a bloodbath leave me out.”

At this threat, Midnight turns back to him. “What do you mean?” She points her spear at him.

“No time to tell. Leave me out.” He barked at her.

Midnight brings the sharp tip of her spear near his face and repeat her question.“What do you mean?”

But instead of an answer he simply takes a step back. “What I just said. If she wakes up without me at her side… the entire thing will turn into a bucking bloodbath…”

Midnight feels suspicion rising in her, but instead of put pressure on him hoping to get the answer she turns around. “Double the guards and the chains.” She starts to walk out. “Let me in her and people or ponies or anyone will die.” That makes her stop dead in her tracks. She turns back to him, as she stands in the door. But before she could say a word a magic blast shock through the castle, hit her directly and so in a blink she lost consciousness.

Elsewhere in the Castle near the royal infirmary…

Celestia leads the group. Everyone seem to be filled with a long-forgotten feeling. This feeling energy them, filled their minds and bodies, as they walk in a fast pace.

In no time, they arrived at the infirmary. Rainbow was to one who opens the doors for the group, but since she was full of energy, she nearly rips the door out of the hinges. Of cause this started to doctors, who already turned around, seemingly wanting to scream an insult, which quickly died on their tongues. It didn’t really help at the job, if you insult your boss and national heroes.

“Your Highness, we didn’t anticipate your quick arrival and that it has been so…” one doctors speak, but then didn’t find his words, so another jump to his help. “… vigorous.”

Celestia simply waves her hoof, she didn’t want to spend a moment of attention for this little bickering. The doctors are relieved that this was past, so now they all could focus back on the patient.

The Mane 5 and Spike sees their former abducted friend for the first time. They are all shocked about the sheer number of bandages over her whole body. Nearly every bit of her coat was covered by the white of the bandages. She looked more like some sort of mummy. One of the doctor, a unicorn stallion with the name and the cutie mark of a stethoscope, stand near her head, watching how Twilight’s chest goes up and down in a slow but steady manner. As he looked up and sees who is there, he grabs his board tighter with his magic grip.

“Ah your highness, thank you for coming so quickly. It also applies to you all too.” He quickly bows before Celestia and her entourage. “I called for you. She seems to slowly wake up.”

Rainbow flies up to him. “Yeah, yeah. We know, so why is she still asleep?”

She nudges him with her hoof his face, only to get caught by rarity, who levitates her back to them, out of the doctor’s face. “Darling, I think he will tell it, but only if you didn’t stick your unwashed hooves into his face.”

Rainbow sulks a bit. “I don’t have dirty hooves.”

The doctor simply brushes it aside. “Well to your question. She had some kind of potion in her, something strong. We tried to wake her up sooner, but the potion is strong. It was able to block every of our tries.” He explained. Celestia looked at the sleeping form of Twilight.

“Ahem.” Came from the group. Every pony looks at the speaker, namely Fluttershy.

Said pegasi gulps as every ponies’ focus was on her. “Why is she so covered up?”

The doctor looks at her, then at Twilight before he looks down at his board. Then he mumbles something, so quiet like Fluttershy would say. Pinkie jumps at him and starts to shake him. “Come on silly, we didn’t catch a word, if you talk like little Flutter here. Do you need this?” she shakes him again, before she pulls a megaphone out of the nowhere.

Stethoscopes pushes the megaphone away. “Thank you for the offer, Miss Pie. But I think that wouldn’t be necessary.” He takes a breath in. “To answer your question Miss Shy. To help her with her grave injuries.”

Spike starts to growl a bit, as his anger starts to rises. “How grave are her injuries?”

The doctor focus on his board as he continues. “To sum it up. Every part of her is damaged. Several cuts and slashes all over her bodies. Signs that she hadn’t eaten and drink probably. Nearly every bone, her wings, heck even her horn shows signs of begin broken. The marks on some of them shows, that they didn’t even had the time to regrow probably. Her blood is full of unknown substances.” He looked up. “The sheer amount of injuries is awful. The worse part of it, is the fact that they all seem to be the result of numerous torture. But to make matter worse, we don’t have the slightest clue how hard the damage in her brain can be.”

The entire group was setback. Fluttershy hides her face behind her mane and wings. Pinkie Pie looks shocked, like Rainbow, whose rear hit the ground. Applejack spit in the corner out of disgust. Rarity simply puts her hoof on Spikes claws. The dragon himself, simply intensify his growling.

The sun alicorn was less shocked than the others. In her long life, she had witness the darker ages and with them gruesome things, who are now nearly unknown to the modern times. Still hearing that hurts her. But then she puts her focus on the one pony missing. “Wasn’t my sister here?” she asks. The doctor coughs one time before continue.

“Princess Luna was her before. She said that she wanted to see if Twilight dreams. I think she mentions something about gathering intel through them. So, she entered the Dream realm, but after a short time she ceases her efforts to do so. She suddenly left, saying that she wanted to look something up.” He said.

Celestia was a bit confused by this, so she uses her magic and connects herself via telepathy with her sister. “Sister, where are you?”

Quick came the answer. “In the library. I wasn’t able to see her dreams.”

Celestia feel her confusion rises more. “Pardon?”

Luna answers came quickly again. “Something blocks me out of her mind. I wasn’t able to breakthrough. I have a bad feeling about what could be the reason, so right now I try to find a clue, what it could be.”

Celestia absorbs this answer, before speaking again. “Well, hope you have luck. But Twilight starts to wake up right now, so if you want to be here, come quickly.”

Celestia cuts of the connection, but Luna seem wanting to add something. “WHAT? NO TIA, DON’T…” but the rest of her answer was cut off.

The entire group had collect themselves and now stands around the bedside of Twilight. The doctor uses his magic to interact with the IV connected to said alicorn princess. Some fluid starts to flow into it and then into Twilight herself. After a short moment, she interrupts her pattern and coughs. One, then two times.

Then she wakes up. Violet eyes slowly open up. As they were fully open, they wander around, looking without focus, like someone who just woke up. Quickly they seem to focus on the ponies all around the bed. All of them practical radiate happiness, but were lost on words. It came to Celestia to speak. “Welcome home my little pony, Twilight Sparkle.” The alicorn princess seems to be confused for a moment, then her face changes and she opens her mouth.

Celestia had anticipated nearly everything. From words of happiness, disbelieve to be back, over tears of joy, even that Twilight wouldn't say a thing, as she was so shocked. But the Princess of Friendship didn’t do a thing like the princess of the sun had expected….

… Twilight Sparkle starts to scream, but not out of happiness, but simple and utter terror.