The Healer, The Thief, and the Painter. Act 1 The Healer

The Healer, the Thief, and the Painter

Act I: The Healer

“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.”

(Hubert. H. Humphrey)

Dawn rose above a sloping hill, slicing through the thick morning fog like a carving knife through tender meat. As the sun rose even higher it illuminated many houses of which many were not even higher than a typical hay barn, with roofs of straw supported by heavy wooden beams. There were about a hundred of these houses arranged in a circle, spiraling out form a huge tower looming over everything. This tower was the embodiment of art itself with flowing arcs of pure ivory, balconies jutted out perfectly flat with rails to prevent anything from falling off and curtains of pure velvet, colors ranging from bright sunshine yellow to a deep, even unnerving purple. It ended off at a peak that was a beacon in the sky.

The serenity of the scene was cut short by a blood curdling scream that echoed from the highest room in the tower. Inside the room was a bed that took up half the space, with a table with scrolls piled upon it next to the bed and with a small pot of ink and an eagle feather quill, and nothing else. The occupant of the bed was a pure white alicorn with ever flowing hair of blue, pink, green, and purple. She again opened her mouth and unleashed a scream of terrified agony with sadness mixed in as well. As this scream faded into the early morning air, the doors of the room burst inwards on themselves and a second alicorn rushed into the room flanked by four guards. This alicorn was a dark blue with a mane exactly like the alicorn on the bed, but hers was darker with shades of purple and blue. The guards were a mix of unicorns, pegasai, and a pony that looked just like a normal pony, except for the fact that the coat color was a shocking electric blue. “Sister“, said the dark alicorn, “how are you feeling today?” “Like this disease has spread.” the bed ridden alicorn replied painfully.

“How can that be?!” questioned the dark alicorn “The medicine that Zecora gave to you should have slowed the spread down to a crawl.”

“Well it didn’t”, replied the light alicorn, “remove my covers and you will see how much the medicine helped.” The standing alicorn motioned for one of the guards to remove the pristine bed sheets that obscured the bedridden patient’s lower half from the rest of the congregation.

The electric blue guard stepped forward and grasped the sheets with his teeth. As he slowly pulled backwards on the sheets, an overwhelming stench emanated from the bed. It was the stench of decomposition that made the guards and even the other alicorn nauseous. The diseased alicorn clenched her teeth and took in a deep intake of breath at the pain that even the slightest touch brought her. As the sheets slid further down a horrifying sight, her skin was an furious red covered with disgusting black scabs that oozed a nauseating liquid that had the properties of blood but was a dark green color that stained the feather mattress beneath her. “How is this possible?” asked the dark alicorn suppressing her gag reflex as was every pony else in the room was. “I don’t know,” replied the light alicorn, “All I know is that this sickness will overtake my body unless you summon him, the only one who will be able to heal me.

“Not him”, replied the dark alicorn, “his time is not ready. His powers will not be fully developed.” “Fetch him little sister,” snapped the larger of the sisters,“fetch the Healer, the one that can heal diseases with ease”.

“Fine.”spat the little sister; “I will fetch Him.” she turned towards the guards. “I want a full 24 hour guard at this entrance, if her condition gets worse, notify me immediately.” "

Yes Princess Luna.” replied one of the Pegasus guards, and followed Luna out of the doorway as she closed it with magic. As Luna left the guards posted at the double doors she descended some stairs and scowled with every sound of her hooves on the ivory steps. “Celestia is so stubborn,” she scowled “she thinks that the Healer is ready, but he isn’t, he could be unstable.” As she reached another set of double doors she sent them flying open with a bang. She had no guards at her doors because she was still able-bodied and able to use her magic, while her diseased sister was sick with an unknown disease, which was corroding her magic and body at an ever-quickening pace, leaving her weak and defenseless.

As she looked around her quarters, windows covered with thick azure curtains so that only small fragments of light fell into the dark room. The ceiling looked like the universe putting on its best show. A dark sky with small stars, comets, and even planets showed in the amazing sight. She approached a large circular bed with shadow blue sheets, as she climbed onto the mattress she laid down with her back legs being tucked underneath her barrel and her eyes screwed up in concentration. She focused on her objective. “Find him,” she said in her mind,“find the Healer as my sister commands, quickly, before she becomes too far gone.” A small tendril of midnight blue magic emanated from her horn and phased upwards towards the universe ceiling, slowly moving until it disappeared in a flash of dark blue light. This action left Luna drained of magical and physical stamina and she tucked her head into the crook of her leg and slowly her eyelids fell. “Please,” she said slowly in her mind, “before it is too late.”