Stuck In The Middle

Stuck In The Middle

Things Go From Bad To Worse

Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy (well, maybe not Fluttershy) glared at Rarity, awaiting an explanation.

Rarity pretended not to notice them and turned to go.

"Hold up, sugarcube, just what exactly is goin' on?" Applejack said.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, dear," Rarity replied, without turning around.

The farm pony stomped her hoof. "Consarnit, Rarity! We're Twi's friends too, we deserve to know what happened! Now tell us."

"Shan't. I am sworn to secrecy. Pinkie will back me up on this, won't you, Pinkie Pie?" the ivory friend snorted.

All eyes shifted to Pinkie Pie.

The pink, party based life-form shrugged, rather non-committally. "Well, as Twilight's friends we should know why she got the super awesome party with sirens and everything, but we don't and Rarity says she can't tell nopony, so she can't tell us. That's the rules."

"Thank you, Pinkie. Now, let us go about our business until Twilight gets better-"

"Not so fast, Rarity!" Rainbow Dash snorted and flew in front of her, blocking her view. "You know something, don't you?"

Rarity's lips stayed shut and she turned away from the pegasus barring her path. Dash quickly moved and pressed her face into her friend's.

"Don't you?!"

"Dash, ah think y'all better lay off for a while. Fluttershy's gettin' upset," Applejack said and tapped her leg.

Fluttershy, meanwhile, was quivering, murmuring very quietly, "Oh please don't fight, oh please don't fight..."

Rarity sighed. "Fine, let's not fight, but Twilight made me promise. And I shall never reveal another friend's secrets. Ever," she muttered, mainly at the brazen, cyan pegasus before her.

The butter yellow pegasus slowly removed her hooves from her face and looked around. "Um... I think I know what happened..." she whispered.

Nopony heard her, and she was grateful for that, but something nagged at her as she watched her friends bicker and squabble.

Tell them what you think.

Oh, but what if I'm wrong?

And what if you're not?

But I will be...

Just do it. Be assertive for once in your life, Fluttershy. And do it right this time.

"Excuse me," she said, rather loudly, for Fluttershy anyway, and made all her friends stare at her. "But, um, I think I know what happened..." As eyes fell on her, she felt herself shrink and shrink.

Dash leaned forwards. "Oh yeah, Flutters? What happened then? Why did Celestia carry Twilight into the hospital, from the boutique, on her back?"

"Now, now, let's be reasonable, Fluttershy, sorry but you couldn't possibly know what... happened. You weren't there, she never spoke to you, else she would have told me and we would have all discussed it together," Rarity said, feeling the seat form on her brow.

Evidently, Rainbow Dash saw it too, and pointed an accusing hoof at her. "Aha! Go on Fluttershy, tell us what you think happened?"

Fluttershy squeaked something out. "Um... Celestia is in love with Twilight."

Her friends, minus Rarity, who paled even further and rang her hooves together, leaned in. "Uh, sorry 'Shy, could y'all repeat that a bit louder?"

"Celestia is in... love... with... Twilight..." the terrified pegasus repeated, slightly louder this time.

Again her friends leaned in and huddled around her, almost pressing their ears up to her mouth to hear.

"Say again, Flutters? I thought you just said Celestia loves Twilight," Dash chuckled.

"Celestia. Loves. Twilight," Fluttershy repeated, feeling hot and flushed at them not listening.

"Once more, sugarcube?" said AJ.

"Celestia loves Twilight."

Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack stared at her for a few moments, then fell about laughing.

"Aw shucks, Fluttershy, y'all had us goin' there for a sec, "Applejack chortled.

"Yeah, heh, good one, Flutters. Celestia loves Twilight, pffft," Rainbow snorted.

Pinkie just giggled and began to sing. "Celestia and Twilight, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

Fluttershy cringed and glanced at Rarity. Her sullen expression and cracked lips seemed to speak thousands more than she could ever say.

"It's true," Rarity croaked.

Their friends stopped laughing and looked at her.

"Seriously?" Dash asked and tilted her head. "No, you're bluffing to get out of the real thing. C'mon, what actually happened?"

Rarity glared at her. "Fluttershy's right. They are. And not just Celestia. Luna too." She clamped a hoof over her mouth at the sudden outburst. "Forget that!" she cried and glanced around. Thankfully, nopony seemed to be in earshot, so she could breathe once more.

Applejack whistled. "Wow, uh... wow."

Pinkie shook her head. "Silly Rarity, Twilight doesn't two-time, that's what a big ol' meanie pants would do. Not Twilight. Twilight's a little, young, nicey-pants!"

"Yeah, cheating's for uncool, dumb... buckers, and Twilight isn't a cheater. Or dumb," Rainbow Dash declared.

"Yes, we know that, Rainbow, thank you, but it's true. She made me swear to tell nopony, but now she's in hospital because of it," Rarity sighed and sat down, placing her head in her hooves. "If only I'd told somepony! We might have gotten this sorted before it even started!" she wailed.

Applejack coughed nervously and helped her up, trying to ignore the looks from the hospital staff. "C'mon, Rares, let's get you home, then y'all can explain it to us. Then we'll come back and help Twilight."

Rarity sniffed and nodded. "Sorry.... but it's been bottled up for both of us for so long..."

They all murmured in a stunned agreement and followed Rarity to the boutique.

~~~

Luna paced in front of her sister in an empty room in Ponyville General. "Well?" she snorted.

Her sister eyed her suspiciously. "Well, what?"

"What were you doing with Twilight that put her in hospital?"

"I wasn't doing anything, and I don't see how it is any of your concern. She is my student, Luna. Not yours. We all remember how yours turned out, don't we?" Celestia responded harshly.

"How dare you?" Luna hissed. "That was your fault, once more! if you hadn't-"

"Enough!" Celestia shouted and slammed her hoof down. "Enough with the petty squabbles, Luna. We shall speak later, not here. Not in public. Now, I'm going back to tend to Twilight. I suggest you leave."

Luna's nostrils flared with indignation. "I may be younger than you, Celestia, but that does not mean you can boss me around like you do your subjects!"

"Enough," the Sun Princess repeated. "Luna, enough of this. Go home. Go back to Canterlot, before she comes back."

The Night Goddess snorted and stormed out. She soon came to another empty room, seemingly having gone in a large circle. "What am I doing?" she muttered and leant against the wall, sobbing quietly, eventually slipping down and letting her rump hit the floor.

Her ears pricked up when she heard approaching hoofsteps, and heard something slide down the wall next to her.

A white foreleg formed around her shoulders, cuddling her in a sisterly way.

"I'm sorry, Tia. I didn't mean..." she murmured.

"Shhh," Celestia whispered. "I'm sorry too. Things have been tough lately. Perhaps I should come clean with you."

Luna sniffed. "Me too."

"I'm in love with Twilight Sparkle," they both said, and frowned at one another.

The Night Pony nodded. "You first."

"No, no, you go first," Celestia said.

Luna nodded and took a deep breath. "I'm in love with Twilight Sparkle. We've been secretly seeing each other for about six months now. We didn't know how to tell you, and what your reaction would be, she being your student after all."

Celestia flinched and clenched her jaw. Oh I should have gone first. "Well, Luna. That is very... interesting. truth be told, I felt there was somepony else," she murmured.

The younger pulled back. "What do you mean somepony else?"

The elder hung her head. "I've been... seeing her too."

Luna's eyes grew wide and her jaw fell open.

"Yes, I know. I have actually known about you two, or something of that calibre, for a while. And I had my suspicions it was you. I was testing her, to see how strong her relationship bonds are. Apparently, she is willing to please both of us, and that takes great courage and determination to keep her friends happy. Wouldn't you agree?"

"You lie..." the Night Alicorn hissed and stood up.

Celestia frowned and placed a hoof on her shoulder, "Luna-"

"No! Get away from me! She wouldn't do that! She couldn't do that!"

"Luna please, calm yourse-"

"Shut up! Shut up!" Luna screamed and lashed out at her sister.

Celestia caught her hoof before it struck her. "That's enough, Luna. It's true. Calm yourself."

The baby sister lashed out again and again, struggling to free herself from her sister's icy grip. "Let me go! Liar! You lie!" her voice started to breakdown and sobs racked her body. "She wouldn't... she loves us..."

The Sun Goddess frowned. "Us?"

Luna reared her head back. "Yes. Us. The Mare in the Moon. You caused this!" she bellowed as her coat began to turn the deepest shade of black, and she grew about a head in height, as high as her sister. Her pupils changed colour and shape, taking on a green, cat-like appearance, and her mane became more of an essence, less corporeal and more like a strange mist.

Celestia's lip quivered. "No... not again... please, Luna. Don't make me do this again, I don't want to lose you again," she murmured and clasped her sister's hoof in her own.

"Spare me your begging, Celestia," Nightmare Moon hissed and wrenched her hoof out of her sister's. "You deserve everything you get. As of now, we are no longer sisters." And with that, she turned and sped down the corridors, towards Twilight's room. The shrieks and cries of the hospital staff, and a few patients, made Celestia scramble out the door, fighting back tears.

"Oh what have I done?" she murmured, and chased after her 'former' sister.

~~~

Luna's life shattered in that moment.  She and Twilight were deeply in love, she was certain of it. Why would she claim to love both of them? It made no sense. Celestia couldn't be telling the truth. She just couldn't be. It had to be some awful prank that got out of hoof.

As she raged through the hospital, scaring the living daylights out of the staff, she came to a stop at Twilight's door. Her green eyes cast a glare around, and she bared her fangs at any who stared at her.

They immediately fell to their knees and begged for mercy.

"Luna!" her sister's voice called from somewhere behind her.

She spun around and lowered her horn at the white alicorn. "Leave us, traitor! We seek our beloved, and you shall not stop us!" she bellowed.

Celestia didn't even try to defend herself as a dark blue lightning bolt struck her in the chest. "Luna... please..." she whimpered and fell backwards.

Nightmare Moon snarled and kicked the doors open. "Twilight Sparkle! Celestia declares you a cheater and a cheap harlot! Is this true?" she raged to the room.

No answer.

"Is it true?!" Moon demanded and charged over to the bed. She tore the covers off and stared down in disbelief. Neither hide nor hair of her little love was in the bed. "What?" she murmured and searched around the room.

She felt herself shrink and return to normal size, heart racing in fear and anxiety.

Celestia staggered over to the room and peered inside. "Luna?"

"Where. Is. She?" Luna growled and stared at the bed.

Her sister blinked and followed her gaze. "Twilight?"

Nothing except the whimpers of the terrified hospital workers answered her.

Both sisters turned to one another, fury in Luna's eyes, a great sadness in Celestia's.

"Luna... I do not know where she is. I truly do not."

Luna's heart beat increased. Does this mean it's true? Had she decided to flee her problems rather than confront them? Did this mean that she and the princess were nothing? Nothing but a game? A fly in a spider's trap?

"I... need to go..." Luna muttered and spread her wings.

Celestia moved towards her, extending her neck for nuzzles.

The younger forcefully pushed her away and galloped out, tears flowing from her face. The crowd parted and darted out of her way, whispering amongst each other.

The elder sister stayed and stared at the empty bed. She flared her horn up and cast an essence of magic detection spell around the room and bed. Sure enough, a few crystallized bits of magic formed around the latter.

"Oh Twilight... I'm so sorry..."

The doctor quivered behind her. "Um... princess? Wh-what's going on?"

She rounded on him. "One of your patients has gone missing, doctor. Gather up some ponies and find her immediately. She is in a vulnerable state."

He jumped up and nodded. "Of c-course, princess, but what about... Nightmare Moon? Has she returned?"

Celestia blinked. "No. At least, I think not. I shall speak to her, go out and find Twilight Sparkle. Hurry!"

He jumped again as she shouted the last word. "You there, get the message out: Twilight Sparkle is missing. We need to find her immediately. Move it!"

The princess sighed and heaved her chest. "I'm so, so sorry. To both of you."

~~~

"Extra, extra! Twilight Sparkle vanishes from Ponyville General! Anypony with any information is to report to Celestia immediately! Located in Town hall!" the paper boy cried as the crowd surrounded him, forking over bits left, right and centre.

"Hey, kid! How much for a newspaper?" demanded Rainbow Dash.

"One bit, ma'am," he replied and held a paper in his mouth.

She snatched it from him and flung a few bits his way. "Keep the change," she muttered and darted her eyes back and forth. "Oh... buck, Twilight... Guys!" she cried and sped towards Rarity's house. "Everypony! Get up off your lazy flanks and move!" she yelled as she barged through the door.

Rarity scowled. "Rainbow Dash, I do not appreciate it when guests call my flank 'lazy' or when they reference to it in anyway."

The pegasus flung the newspaper in her face. "Twilight's vanished! We need to go find her! Like, now!"

"Hold up, sugarcube, what the hay do you mean,Twi's gone missin?" Applejack drawled in her southern accent. "She's still in her hospital bed-"

"No. No she isn't," Rarity mumbled and showed her the paper. "It says here that Nightmare Moon raged through the hospital, declaring Twilight a 'cheater and a cheap harlot'. Then after a few moments of silence, it was revealed that Twilight Sparkle has vanished without a trace. Celestia is waiting in Town Hall for anypony to come forward with news."

The five friends gaped.

Fluttershy began to cry, burying her face in Pinkie's shoulder.

Pinkie frowned. "That doesn't sound like Twilight. That sounds very... meanie-pants..." she murmured as her eyes filled with tears and her mane drooped.

Applejack flicked her hat. "Well, what're we waitin' fer?" she cried and stood up.

Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, why are we still here I'll go tell the pegasi to look for her, Fluttershy, you go tell your animal friends and see if they know anything."

Fluttershy wailed and nodded her head vigourously.

"Pinkie Pie and Rarity, y'all go to Celestia. Ah'll check up on Big mac an' fill him in. He'll get some of his buddies to look," AJ declared.

They all nodded in agreement and made for the door, which was now obscured by a large, winged unicorn.

Princess Luna glared at each of them in turn, each falling to their knees in fear.

"...I want to find her..."

The five friends nervously looked up, and saw the tears streaming down the princess's face.

"Uh, sure, princess, you can..." Applejack murmured and scratched her head. "You can..."

"You could... ch-check the Everfree?" Fluttershy squeaked in terror.

Luna nodded and sniffed. "Yes... perhaps the castle..."

Rainbow Dash slapped her forehead. "And Zecora! We could get Zecora to help look. Twilight might have gone there."

They murmured in agreement, and Rarity noticed the princess's shuffling.

"You go on ahead, I'll speak to the princess about... this..." she murmured.

Four heads nodded and quickly left the room. Leaving Luna and Rarity alone.

"Princess? Are you alright?"

Luna sniffed again. "What do you think, Miss Rarity? Our - my... little... Twilight has gone missing... and we - I... think it's because she.... she..."

Rarity winced as the princess broke down in tears. "There, there, princess. We'll find her. And if it helps, she really does love you. She told me herself."

She squeaked as Luna rose up before her. "She spoke to you of our relationship?" she growled.

"W-well, she said she needed an ear, what with Celestia-"

Luna roared in anger and flung a chair out the way. "So it is true! Twilight is nothing more than a common whore! Did our love mean nothing?!"

The white unicorn dove under the table in sheer terror.

The princess sighed and sank back into a depression. "I am sorry, Rarity... we - I did not mean to... scare you."

"Scare is an understatement," Rarity muttered as she crawled out from under the table. "If I may, princess?"

Luna nodded and stared at the floor.

"Twilight really does love you. She was thinking of confronting Celestia about it a few day ago, but now..."

"But now she fears we will hurt her for... cheating..."

"Exactly. I think you all need to have a talk. The way you are reacting, it's most reasonable, princess."

Luna blinked in confusion. "What do you mean? Almost killing my own sister is reasonable now?"

Rarity winced again. "Well, maybe not that. But distraught she's gone missing. That's true love, Luna."

The princess looked up and stared into those crystal blue eyes. "You assume I'm distraught because she's missing?" she murmured, on the verge of growling.

The ivory unicorn cringed away. "Well, I-"

"I am furious that it is true she is... intimate with both myself and my sister-"

"Was. Was intimate, princess," Rarity interrupted. "After today, I don't think she may love again, not after all the worries it's caused her."

Luna blanched. "Worries? What worries?"

Rarity stared at her. "She's been frantic about not letting the two of you know, frantic about working to appease both of you, and extremely worried what should happen if she found out."

The princess quivered. "Perhaps... she was just protecting her own interests..." she murmured, defiantly.

"Hmmph. If she was protecting herself she would have ended it with one, or both of you long ago. Princess, very few times have I experienced love, but what Twilight has for you and Celestia-"

Luna snorted and inspected her hoof.

"And Celestia," Rarity continued, "is something far greater than mere fairy tale romance. I believe she was trying to keep both of you happy, because she just cannot choose between her two princesses. Would you say no to yourself, if you were Twilight?"

A few moments of silence.

"No..."

"And could you say no to Celestia? if you were in Twilight's position?"

"...No... by the Moon... what have I done?" Luna murmured and suddenly stood up. "Thank you, lady Rarity, but I must find my love. And apologise to my sister. When we get her back, we shall all talk about this, and resolve it. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you," she cried and hugged the advice giving unicorn.

"You're welcome, princess. Now go, go find Twilight. Bring her home." Rarity smiled and patted her on the back.

"At once."

Luna released her prisoner from the hug, and sped out the door, flapping away with powerful wings, laden with love.

Rarity smiled and quickly went to the Town Hall, where Celestia was frantically pacing outside, with Pinkie Pie yapping away about something.

"Rarity, please tell me you have news. Miss Pie said that my sister visited you? I apologise if she hurt you, this is a difficult time for her," the princess said, cutting off another one of Pinkie's rants about the metric system.

"So I said metric? Are you crazy? Oh, hey Rarity."

Rarity nodded to her friend. "Don't worry, princess. Your sister and I talked, and I think she has forgiven you."

Celestia turned away miserably. "She will never forgive me."

The unicorn sighed and sat down next to her pink friend.

The princess turned her head towards her. "So you have no news?"

"Luna is looking for her as we speak. I suppose we just wait and see what happens now."