Heartache: Cursed Destiny {Book the Second}

Twilight held the letter in front of her face, her eyes darting back and forth as she read the paper.

My Most Faithful Student,

I had heard news of you ending up in the Ponyville Hospital. Because of your title of princess, everypony in Equestria had heard news about you and they have started to fret. I do not know why you were in the hospital. Once you recovered, immediately report to the Canterlot Castle. Bring your friends along. They might help you explain everything. Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and I would like to hear everything you got to say. We have a feeling that a simple letter wouldn’t explain everything.

~Princess Celestia

Twilight had received this letter on her first day at the hospital. Ever since, she reread over and over. She was tempted to write a letter back to the princesses explaining everything, but she knew that her mentor was right. So much had happened during their adventure that a letter wouldn’t do. It would be faster if the story was spoken. It could be possible if she send several letters explaining the story, but she didn’t want to push Spike that hard. Besides, he had been too tired to draw up his fire to send anything. Twilight reread the letter one last time. She was ready. After a few days at the hospital, she was ready.

“Let’s go everypony,” she said, glancing at her friends with a serious look on her face. Noticing how solemn she looked, they nodded. They stepped onto the Friendship Express. They took their seats and waited for their arrival at Canterlot.

“Hello princesses,” Twilight said as she bowed down in respect in front of the three princesses. Her friends bowed down to the princesses as well. The other three alicorns returned Twilight’s bow with their own. Celestia stood up straight.

“Hello Twilight,” she said, a bright smile on her muzzle. Yet, her tone was dead serious. “It is a pleasure to see you and your friends.”

Twilight smiled and laughed somewhat nervously. “Yes, it is indeed a pleasure to see you, all of you.” She glanced back at her friends. They were staring at her strangely, as if wondering why she was so anxious.

Princess Luna pounded the floor with a forehoof. “Princess Twilight, I demand you to explain everything!” she said in a particularly loud voice.

Twilight flinched at Luna’s volume. “Er, yes, I know, but can you please lower your voi-”

“YOU WERE IN A HOSPITAL!”

Everypony jumped. Celestia took a small step away from her sister.

“I must apologize for my sister’s attitude,” Celestia said, eyeing her sibling. “She had many long days and nights, and she kept saying about...something.”

“Yes,” Luna whispered, a drastic change in volume. “One time, though I don’t know when it was, perhaps a few days ago, something strange happened. I fell asleep, but it didn’t felt like it. At the same time, I didn’t fall asleep, yet it felt like I was dozing away. I had dreams, at least I think I did, yet it felt like I hadn’t. I couldn’t do anything. That part was the only thing I’m certain about. It was almost as if time had stopped for me, as if I had been knocked unconscious, as if I had been put to a deep sleep….”

The Mane 6 glanced at each other. A deep sleep?

Princess Cadance decided that the strange, awkward moment was best to be shattered into pieces. “So, Twilight,” she said, smiling at her sister-in-law, “I believe that you had something to tell us about. I don’t exactly know what, but it must be extremely important if Princess Celestia had asked me to leave my family and my kingdom just to hear what you got to say.”

Twilight cleared her throat. She started to explain a long story between her friends and the Nightmare, all the while her friends helped her answer questions. It was hard for the princesses to stay quiet for long. Twilight’s words were beyond what they expected to hear.

The seconds turned into minutes, and the minutes morphed into an hour or so. Eventually, the Mane 6 finished up their story and waited for the princesses’ replies. The alicorns were staring at them, their lips slightly opened. They glanced at each other, then stared back at the Mane 6. Twilight smiled nervously.

“Well,” Twilight remarked as they walked out of the castle and stepped onto the Friendship Express.

“Well?” Rainbow Dash replied, raising her eyebrows as they sat down.

“W-” Twilight started.

“Well, that was a great and fun conversation!” Pinkie yapped happily. “I mean, did you see the faces on all of the princesses? They were priceless! I had to use everything I had to keep myself from laughing, and it actually worked! No giggle, no expression that gave it away! Also Twilight, why were you so anxious?”

“I was anxious because-” Twilight paused. “I have no idea. But at least the princesses accepted my explanation and things returned to normal. That is what I’m happy and grateful for.”

“Yep,” Dash said. “But Twilight, why do you get anxious so often? I mean, remember the time with Smarty Pants?”

“Shush,” Twilight groaned.

“Do you have, like, an anxiety disorder, or something?” Dash continued.

“Why,” Rarity exclaimed, “Rainbow Dash, do you think you’re being a bit...rude?”

“Hmm? Well, maybe, but you had to admit-”

“Shut up.” Twilight moaned, jabbing her front hooves into her forehead. “I rather not speak of my...anxiety.”

“Why are we talkin’ about Twilight’s anxiety all of a sudden?” Applejack asked, joining in the conversation.

“Nopony knows,” Pinkie squeaked, clapping her front hooves together above her head before forming an imaginative arch by sweeping her hooves through the air. Her friends were sure that Pinkie had created something in the air with her hooves besides an imaginative arch. However, normal air was present, nothing out of the ordinary. A moment of silence passed before the six, young friends shared a small laugh.