Half a day earlier...

"Please, don't get up! You are not properly healed yet!"

"Do you have any idea who I am? My father could fire you if I just say a single word! Now scram!"

The nurse looked disapprovingly at the dark pink mare, but left the room nevertheless. The earth pony's face had a triumphant look, as if driving away the nurse was her greatest achievement in life. This small hospital room was not fit for her... at least, that was what she would have thought a week ago. Now there was only confusion. Losing her... no, not friend, more like 'lackey'; has been harder to accept than she ever expected it to be. Even though Silver Spoon expressed her interest in leaving her and becoming a fashionista, or an art critic; even though the gray pony told her that she was tired of being her shadow, Diamond Tiara never wanted her to die for her... well, small betrayals are betrayals, too. She wanted to leave her against the Cutie Mark Cretins on her own!

Those three foolish mares... It was long since all three of them got their cutie mark, so their little skirmishes were about the ex-crusaders never finding a job (even though Tiara had none as well, because her father kept her supplied with money). Well, it was no surprise. Despite that they were teenagers, nearly reaching a mature pony's full size, they clung onto their childish dreams. Scootaloo followed in the footsteps of Rainbow Dash, trying to become a Wonderbolt... which is quite ironic, given the circumstances of her death. Applebloom was working on their farm, and part-time as a repairpony, and Sweetie Belle...

She glanced around the room. It was empty, save for five beds and corresponding drawers, but only two of them were occupied. Well, actually, three of them were occupied until this morning, but that wacky blonde, grey-coated pegasus with the wobbly eyes took Dinky away as soon as the doctors let her, claiming that the hospital is a 'danger-zone'. Tiara shrugged. What that mare does is her own business, but... Because Dinky was taken away, she was left alone with her.

Indeed, she occupied the other bed, half of her head covered in bandages, her white coat seemingly paler in comparison to her usual self. Curiously, her sister was missing this time, even though she barely left the room three days ago. But when she did leave, she never came back again... Tiara briefly wondered if she was held up, but then she tossed away the thought. Why should she care about a pony whom she never had a proper talk with? No, that's not right. She felt her conscience reprimand her. The unicorn lost her two friends, and wasn't even visited by her family, because they were far away, at least that is what she could tell from overheard tidbits.

Finally, she came to a decision. The noble Diamond Tiara will not kick this mare when she's so down. Instead, she will descend to her level, and bedazzle her with her amazing conversational skills. Oh yes.

She trotted to Sweetie's bed, and cleared her throat.

"Hey, uh, Sweetie Belle," she said.

The unicorn locked her gaze with Tiara's own. Her voice came out strange, raspy and deep, unlike her usual bright and high-pitched tone.

"Go away. I don't have time for your stupid bullying, as I am now."

The earth pony lost her cool. "I didn't come to pick a fight, you moron! I just wanted to say something nice, but I guess you're too stupid to notice!"

That seemed to at least surprise Sweetie.

"Nice? You? Are you a changeling? Because the Diamond Tiara I know would revel in my sorrow."

"Maybe your misfortunes, yes, but this is serious business." Tiara corrected. "We were in a life-or-death situation... and lived through it. At least, who counts."

"Who counts?! I lost two of my friends! And your precious Silver Spoon is dead, too!"

Sweetie Belle was boiling with rage. Diamond Tiara looked indifferent.

"For your information, she wasn't really my friend. But if it makes you feel better, I apologize."

The unicorn snorted.

"I'd prefer you died than them."

That seemed to hit a nerve. Nopony spoke to Tiara like that before; all snarky remarks from the three friends usually ended in them wishing she would leave them alone. Outright claiming that she should die? She couldn't handle that. In her sheltered life, she never encountered true hatred... and now, when she finally did, it frightened her. She slumped over to her bed, and stared at the ceiling blankly. Silence loomed over the two, until finally a doctor showed up. Unlike the one who was attending to their wounds, this pony was much more... gruff, so to speak. He seemed like a bouncer, rather than a genuine doctor. His cutie mark was covered by his white scrub, but his orange mane was rather attention-grabbing. Every single thread of hair seemed to point to a different direction; his whole appearance gave off an overworked look. He went to Sweetie's bed without hesitation, and addressed her surprisingly quiet, given his stature.

"Miss Belle, my name is Forward Word. I am responsible for communication between hospitals, and patient's relatives. I am afraid I have some very bad news."

The pink pony peeked at the petrified patient paling at the proclamation. She couldn't help, but get a foreboding feeling about the whole way he presented it.

"Just this day, we received a report from eastern Manehattan. I am afraid there have been a terrible accident..."

"No..." Sweetie whispered, barely audible.

"I regret to inform you that your parents have been involved in it, and suffered fatal injuries. They passed away this morning."

The unicorn broke out in tears; however, the doctor spoke up again.

"I am sorry, but there is another issue we must discuss. Your sister—"

"NO! NO,NO,NO,NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"—has been the victim of murder yesterday. My deepest condolences."

Diamond Tiara watched dumbfounded as the doctor backed out of the room. He just rubbed everything in Sweetie's face, and then simply left? Is the only thing he cares about getting the job done?

"Why would you care, hm?" a voice in her head asked. "You were always enemies with her, why would you care now?"

She wondered briefly about this. The answer came quick and clear.

"It is pointless to continue bickering any longer. Most of us are dead, and... she seems so vulnerable..."

She slowly stood up, and walked beside the crying unicorn. She hesitated for a second, but then extended her front hooves, and tried to embrace her. Sweetie resisted at first, but her resolve was quickly broken by the weight on her shoulders. She let herself be pulled into a hug; Tiara slowly caressed her back with her hoof, patting and rubbing it gently.

"I am sorry." she whispered, and this time, she meant it.

"What the bucking buck?! Get away from her, ya freak!"

Both mares recoiled from the sudden sound, quickly pulling out from their embrace, and looking at the entrance. A sturdy, brown earth pony mare arrived, with deep pink mane, and seeds as her cutie mark. She stormed between them, and faced Tiara antagonistically.

"Babs, wait!" Sweetie cried.

"Don' worry, Sweets, I got dis." She roared at the pink earth pony. "Don'cha dare hurt her!"

"I-I didn't..." Tiara stammered.

"Just stop it, both of you, please." the sad voice of the unicorn came. The other two immediately stopped their stand-off, and took places at the two sides of Sweetie's bed. Babs took her hoof in her own hooves.

"I'm sorry, Sweets. I heard what happened to your folks. I came as fast as I could."

"Thank you." The unicorn shot a smile through her tears. Tiara hesitantly took her other hoof, surprising both the others and herself.

"Listen... I know we haven't exactly been on best terms since ages, but... I'm willing to put it aside, I mean..." She exhaled, a bit irritated. "Look, all I'm saying is that I'm sorry too, and if you need me, I'll be here."

Sweetie slowly nodded, and squeezed both their hooves.

"For now, I just... I just feel like crying. Don't leave me all alone, please!"

The two earth ponies exchanged glances. They weren't exactly on friendly terms, but one look in each other's eyes estabilished a silent contract between them; they were going to help Sweetie overcome this. They silently sat beside the unicorn, consoling her through her pain.

What neither of the three noticed, was a tall figure watching them from the door. It was no surprise, because she cast an invisibility spell to hide her presence. It took her this much time to finally escape from her duties, and give Sweetie Belle a visit. She knew about her parents' accident, and immediately ordered local police forces to investigate. They found no signs of tampering, no magical residue, no hoofprints... it seemed like the unicorn just had incredibly bad luck, losing her parents the same time as her sister and her friends. Now, on the other hoof... It seems like she is in good hooves. Maybe she will come back later, if time allows.

Celestia slowly backed from the room, and sneaked around the hospital. Sure, her illusions were nothing like her little sister's... but to fool a bunch of whitecoats, they were enough.

"What kind of ruler is the one who keeps secrets from her subjects?" she thought bitterly. A sober, realistic part of her replied immediately.

"A living ruler."

She didn't feel satisfied with that response. She kept deep secrets from everypony, because she had to. Then she had to lie to everypony because of her secrets. And now, she can't trust a single soul in this world with Luna gone again. She felt that agreeing to her crazy request of banishing her made Celestia look like a puppet in the hands of the nobles, who started getting more and more arrogant, demanding various positions long since dissolved to be reinstated, and of course putting more and more pressure on her about 'ending' the blue problem.

Her plan was ready, and already in motion for that. A couple of days, maybe a week, and it will be finished. That is the only way. She wove to keep her subjets safe; so now she has to fulfill that oath; even with lies, deceit, and drastical means. Her reasons, however, will not be made public... so it will cause an uproar when she acts. No matter. That is the burden she accepted when she became a princess. Her decisions are her own, and the responsibilities are hers, too.

Finally leaving the gloomy hospital behind, she spread her wings, feeling the wind under them. Flapping them a few times, she ascended quickly, and flew away toward her chambers in Canterlot Castle. Whatever tomorrow brings, matters little now. She needs rest to be fully alert tomorrow, to try and make things right again.

Because no living soul can make sense of this mess, that is for sure.

Author's Note

Just threw this together today, it actually didn't exist in my script up until now. Have a chapter.