The Brighthallow Crisis

"Is this everpony?" Twilight gazed disbelievingly at the assembled ponies. Of her friends, only Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike were present in the tree library. Pinkie had accompanied a crestfallen Spike and an anxious Twilight back from the market before being sent off to collect the other four of Twilight's friends. Now she had returned alone, save for Fluttershy, who lurked behind Pinkie, nervous as to why Twilight sounded so worried.

Fluttershy nudged the door shut behind them as Pinkie began talking, "I started off going to Rarity's but she was really, really busy trying to get an order ready for an important client in Vanhoover so she couldn't come and even when I told her it was really important s said this client could make or break her career so-" Pinkie took a deep breath, "so then I went to Applejack's and Big mac was there and he said Applejack had gone with Granny Smith to Apple Loosa to pick up something from Braeburn and wouldn't be back for three days so then I went to see Fluttershy who agreed to come and she flew up to see Rainbow Dash but Rainbow wasn't there because she was getting water from Neighagra Falls up to Cloudsdale for the rain so it was just Fluttershy and me so we came here right away."

Pinkie collapsed to the floor, breathing in and out deeply while Spike rushed to get her a drink. Twilight stomped her hoof on the library floor, "I guess it's just us three then. Fluttershy, you-"

"Four, Twilight. I'm coming with you guys too." Spike had returned with the water and was staring at Twilight with defiance, willing her to oppose his choice; but, to his surprise, she simply nodded.

"Of course, Spike. We need you, especially if the other girls aren't coming. Plus it was your gem, so you have a right to come. Now, where was I?" Twilight gazed out of the window a moment as she collected her thoughts. "Ah, yes! Fluttershy, you know what's going on?" Fluttershy nodded and mumbled the affirmative. "Good, then we'll set off for Canterlot right away to see what the Princess knows about the voice at the market and Brighthallow Cavern." Twilight turned lazily to the spot by the door where her saddlebags were lay, horn glowing purple as she used magic to bring them to her feet. Slowly, she frowned, then began panicing as the saddlebags refused to move. Scrunching her face up in concentration, she tried harder to bring the saddlebags to her.

"Twilig-!" Spike yelled as he flew across the room and hit into the side of Twilight's head, dazing her. he continued across the rest of the library and slammed into a bookcase, which promptly tilted towards him, spilling books everywhere. Twilight scrambled to her feet and gazed in horror at what had happened as Fluttershy rushed to help Spike out from under the books and Pinkie began giggling.

A shrill scream from outside silenced her, however. Twilight and Pinkie rushed to the window to see what was happening as Fluttershy continued to assist Spike. Outside, smoke was rising from the hospital across Ponyville, billowing across the sky.

"Okay, Spike, you should be all fine now." Fluttershy turned to the others and made her way to the window, "Wh-what's going on? Is everything alright?" Fluttershy frowned in confusion at the look on both of her friends' faces. Twilight shook her head, still gazing out across the town. Fluttershy, having reached the window, turned to see the event that had both ponies transfixed. "Oh, my..." she trailed off as Pinkie bsuddenly turned and bolted for the door, followed closely by Twilight, who had gone very pale and was muttering under her breath.

It took them a few minutes to reach the hospital, despite having not rested once on the way over, and when they arrived they joined the back of a crowd of ponies gathered to watch the blaze, which still hadn ot been extinguished. The hospital was a husk of its usual self, the second and third floor windows had vast, unending trails of dark grey smoke pouring out into the sky, while the floor of the fixth story had caved in on the fourth story, hurling debris out in front of the hospital.

"Twilight! Oh, Twilight, thank goodness you're here!" The four of them turned to see Rarity heading towards them, looking quite perplexed.

"Rarity! Weren't you supposed to be doing work for somepony in Vanhoover?" Twilight's eyes darted from the hospital to Rarity, trying to view the fire without looking as though she was ignoring her friend.

"Yes, of ocurse, and I shall continue to do so the moment this mess has been sorted out."

"What happened, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked, wings folding and unfolding in nervousness.

"Apparently a doctor set three floors on fire whilst performing surgery on a pegasus after a tree fell on her this morning."

"A tree?" Fluttershy squeaked, concern radiating from her voice. Rarity nodded.

"Something went dreadfully wrong at Sugarcube Corner is all I've heard, I'm sorry Fluttershy."

Twilight shook her head, trying to get the conversation back on track, "What about the hospital? Why would a doctor set the hospital on fire?" Rarity didn't answer, however Pinkie gave a gasp and turned to Twilight.

"Don't you remember right before we went to the window and saw the smoke, Twilight? You made Spike fly across the room and hit you in the head, remember? Remember?"

Rarity gazed in disbelief at Twilight, who blushed, "I'm sorry, it was an accident. I didn't plan for a dragon to hit into the botany section of the library and disorganise it, did I?" Twilight focused on Rarity, "You haven't had anything go wrong with your magic today, have you Rarity?"

"No, of course not." Rarity replied in a shrill voice, eyes fixed upon a point above Twilight's shoulder.

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked, certain Rarity wasn't being entirely honest. Rarity half-opened her mouth, but didn't speak. Twilight frowned at her though, and she shook her head, avoiding Twilight's gaze.

"It's not worked all morning." Rarity whispered, turning her gaze to Twilight again. Twilight recoiled slightly; Rarity's eyes were wide and tears were dripping down her cheeks. Fluttershy also saw this and hurried over to Rarity, placing her foreleg around Rarity and smiling reassuringly at her. Rarity smiled back at her, but it was a feeble smile, with no happiness behind it.

Pinkie joined Fluttershy in comforting their friend, as Twilight heard her name called. She twisted around, expecting the voice from earlier, but instead was greeted with the sight of Spike rushing towards them, holding a piece of parchment in his claw. Twilight headed across to meet him, worried by the events of the day and the look on Spike's face.

Spike gasped for breath, holding out the parchment for Twilight, who used her magic to hold the scroll in front of her. The wax seal of Princess Celestia was emblazoned upon it, however it had been broken, presumably by Spike. Twilight unravelled the scroll, convinced what was happening to Ponyville must also be happening in Canterlot, and that was why the Princess had wrote. However the words on the scroll, written hurriedly by a pony who Twililight knew couldn't be her mentor, were much worse than she feared.

Twilight, come to Canterlot right away, the city is in chaos and nopony knows what to do. People outside the castle are demanding to know what's going on, and some parts of Canterlot are burning. Princess Celestia was injured badly attempting to restore order, and asked that this be sent to you.

Shining Armor.

"What does it say?" Fluttershy asked, having joined Twilight and Spike while she was reading. Twilight wiped her hoof against her cheek and turned to Fluttershy, who could see she had been crying.

"We need to go to Canterlot right away."