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                         Afflicted                         
                   -by Hearts n Hooves-                    
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                         Prologue                          
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Prologue
Few ponies now know of the conditions many suffered before and after my sister and I freed this land from the chaotic rule of Discord. Equestria was bleak and bitter, then; the expanding Everfree Forest had forced many ponies into Canterlot, nopony trusted one another, and my sister and I had no idea how to rule. Celestia thought it logical to first fix the nature of things, which Discord had all but destroyed. My sister took responsibility for the sun, and I the moon. We deemed that the pegasi would be responsible for the weather, and Cloudsdale was built. The earth ponies were tasked with rejuvenating and fertilizing the land for crops, and they spread out across Equestria as the unicorns used their magic to push back the dark forces of the Everfree Forest.
Nature was not the only thing harmed by Discord, however; his magic had caused disorders to emerge in all races of ponies. I believed that they could be helped with magical attention, but Celestia argued otherwise, saying that there was nothing we could do but wait, for Discord’s magic would one day fade. While she rose as the Princess of the Day, I—Luna, the Princess of the Night—took upon myself the burden of giving aid to those in need.
Initially, I only confronted the impaired ponies in their dreams and attempted to comfort them with promises of relief, but in the dreamscape, their pain was extremely raw and unrestrained. It wasn’t long before I took on more drastic measures; I hunted relentlessly for a mage adept in all fields of magic, for I could not succeed with my magic alone. Eventually, I found a young unicorn by the name of Star Swirl. He was a demure, passive stallion, then, but I could easily see his magical potential and compassionate heart. I recruited Star Swirl as my protégé, and we collaborated in perfecting spells of restoration, as well as learning the medical knowledge of the time. Together, we set out to heal every pony that had been harmed by Discord.
My sister disapproved with disdain, warning that the consequences of more magical tampering would be great, and no good would come from our mission. In a way, she was right; by the end, steep sacrifices had been made for the sake of the future of all ponies in Equestria. Celestia and I regret that it had to be so, but we know now that the effects of Discord’s chaotic powers would have rippled and worsened had I not intervened. What was done had to be done.
My involvement, along with Star Swirl’s, in these events is not uncommon knowledge. Every history scholar in Equestria and beyond has read about it in one book or another. The two of us have been portrayed as the heroes, yet we would never have succeeded were it not for a small group of unfortunate, chaos-afflicted ponies who gave up everything for our cause. I would not see their tale forgotten, lest I sentence myself to another thousand years on my moon.

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                         Chapter 1                         
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Chapter 1
Luna ended her extended dreamwalking spell with a heavy sigh.
“Cannot you see, sister?” she asked.
Celestia shook her head, still processing what her younger sister, Luna, had shown her in the dreamscape. She had only walked the dreams of ponies twice before, and the discomfort of infiltrating their minds never lessened.
“Luna,” Celestia said, “your concern for the well-being of these ponies is admirable, but it is misplaced.”
“You’ve felt their pain and sorrow!” Luna exclaimed. “How can you still say such a thing, sister?”
“I know, and it saddens me,” Celestia said. “I wish they could be helped, but the effects of Discord’s magic run too deep within this land. Not with the magic of every unicorn could we erase the damage his chaos wrought. Only time has that amount of power, little sister.”
Luna scowled; she hated when Celestia called her ‘little sister’ like she was still nothing but a filly. “There must be a way,” she said.
“There is no way to change one’s mark of destiny, Luna. We can do nothing.”
Enraged, Princess Luna stormed out of the castle. She rushed by several groups of ponies laboring on the unfinished construction of Canterlot Castle. As she passed, each of them bowed their heads respectfully towards her, but she took no notice. She wished to be free of the dusty air and the cacophony of hard work.
Celestia has such a thick skull, Luna thought with resentment. Why can’t she see reason?
She found herself traversing up the side of the mountain that Canterlot was recently built upon, taking a path she knew very well. Atop was the home of her protégé and friend, a young unicorn with great magical potential.
“Star Swirl,” Luna called as she crossed the threshold. “Star Swirl!”
She found the dark, grey stallion sleeping against a desk that had not been there only a few days before. Thick, white locks of hair laced with black strands covered his face, and he was drooling all over the smooth, reddish wood of the desk. She sighed, slipped off a glass shoe, and whacked the back of his head with her bare hoof. He yelped and cursed loudly as he fell of his stool and onto the hard floor.
“What the hay!” he shouted, pushing his black and white mane out of his eyes. “P-Princess?”
“Star Swirl.”
“Forgive me for my harsh words, Your Highness!” he said, scrambling onto his hooves. “I meant no offense.”
“What did I tell you about taking so many naps?” Luna asked.
“‘Until you can consciously walk the dreamscape, you may not rest during the day. Our cause is far too important, Star Swirl, and we cannot forfeit time for naps,’ were your exact words, I believe,” said Star Swirl.
“You have a fine memory, Star Swirl,” Luna said, nodding in approval. “I chose well.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
“I also told you to call me ‘Luna,’ did I not? That is my name, after all,” Luna said.
“Of course, Princess Luna.”
“Just ‘Luna,’ Star Swirl.”
“...Luna,” Star Swirl repeated hesitantly.
Luna nodded and glanced around the single circular room. Along with the desk, several bookshelves, a large wardrobe, and unusual magical and medical instruments had been brought in. Papers were scattered across the desk, books were cluttered in the shelves, and the tools were piled off to the side. Amongst the mess was a small, very tidy bed that was completely out of place.
“You’ve personalized your new home very... nicely,” Luna commented.
“Erm... Thank you,” Star Swirl said sheepishly. “All of my important belongings arrived yesterday.”
“Do make sure you organize all this, Star Swirl.”
“Will do, Pri... Luna.”
“May I?” Luna asked, pointing at the well-made bed.
“O-of course.”
Luna proceeded to slip out of her shoes and flopped onto Star Swirl’s bed with a sigh of relief. He averted his eyes, feeling a bit uneasy as she wriggled around to face him.
“Star Swirl...”
“Y-yes?”
“You can relax.”
“As you w-wish.”
“I’m not ordering you as your princess, I’m asking you as your friend,” Luna said. “I’ve visited you almost every day for the last four months, yet you still seem to be unnerved at the sight of me. Have I done you wrong in some way?”
“N-no, not at all.”
“Is there something I do not know?”
“No... w-well, yes... I’m obliged to b-be respectful to you, Luna,” Star Swirl admitted. “You’re the Princess.”
“I’m your friend,” Luna said. “Celestia is the Princess. She rules, not I.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ruling is for the hard-headed, like my sister. I want to help the ponies who need me,” she said. “You know that, Star Swirl. It’s why you’re here.”
“Of course.”
Ugh. This stallion is far too subservient, Luna thought. Then, an idea occurred to her, and she mulled it over for a minute before deciding to attempt it.
“Star Swirl,” she murmured, “come sit beside me.”
“Princess?”
Luna patted the bed, smiling. Reluctantly, Star Swirl approached her and sat on the small bed next to her. Lying on her side, she gazed up at him and tried to form an expression of love. When he blushed, she reached her hoof up and pressed it against his cheek.
“Kiss me,” Luna whispered.
“Wh... w-what?”
“Don’t you want to?” Luna cooed.
“I-I... I...”
“Yay or nay?”
“...N-nay,” Star Swirl mumbled.
“I order you to kiss me.”
“P-princess... Luna, I don’t think—”
“I’m waiting,” Luna interrupted.
“I... I don’t feel comfortable w-with this,” he said.
“Please?”
“...Nay, Luna,” Star Swirl said. He took a deep breath, preparing for the worst.
Luna triumphantly rolled off the bed. “I’ve taught you many things about magic, Star Swirl. This, however, was your first lesson about independence.”
Star Swirl stared at her blankly, confused and unsure how to respond.
“You passed,” she added. “Never take orders from somepony if it goes against your instincts.”
“H-how did you know I wouldn’t kiss you?”
“I didn’t,” Luna giggled. “Would you like to take a stroll with me, Star Swirl?”
“...Yes, I think I would.”
“Lead the way, my friend.”

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                         Chapter 2                         
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Chapter 2
“Florette, wake up.”
Her ears heard the voice, yet her mind did not.
“Dream Florette!”
A heavy shove startled her, and she flailed on the floor that was her bed in sleepy confusion. After a few seconds, she realized that she wasn’t dreaming any longer and looked up into a pair of angry green eyes beneath a mess of reddish-brown hair.
“Borderline?” Dream Florette murmured.
“Why must you always drift off when I’m talking to you?” Borderline spouted. “You could at least try to pay attention!”
“Borderline, it’s not my—”
“Not your fault? Right. It’s never your fault,” he shouted. “It’s always me, the ‘moody’ and ‘impulsive’ one!”
“B, you know that’s not true,” Dream Florette opposed. “Please, calm down.”
“To hay with this,” the dirt-brown stallion grumbled, storming off.
Wearily, Dream Florette cast an awareness spell, lessening her exhaustion. She left her small, nearly empty room and carefully made her way down a flight of stairs into the lobby of the hospice she called home.
“Hey, Dreeeam Flooorrette,” another patient greeted; it was Morphine Alarm. He had been the first to welcome Dream Florette to the hospice when she arrived, and they’d become close friends over the years. “Have I ever told you how taaall you are?”
“Yes, Morphine,” Dream Florette answered.
She noticed the indigo unicorn’s horn glowing faintly above his silvery mane; he’d cast his relief spell again, which meant his chest had been hurting again, and that worried her.
“You’re tall... and preeetty, Flower,” Morphine alarm mumbled in his painless stupor.
“Thank you, Morph,” she said, embarrassingly thrilled by his comment. She secretly enjoyed when he called her ‘Flower.’
“Like the sea... on fire!” he said, pointing to her oceany-blue coat and red-orange mane.
“You’re such a flatterer,” Dream Florette said with a giggle.
She caught a glimpse of Borderline glaring at her from a corner at the far end of the room. Rather than smile compassionately in return as she usually would, she met his eyes with contempt, and he quickly averted his gaze.
“Morphine, I need to speak with Nurse Heartfelt. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
“Mhmmm,” Morphine Alarm replied, blearily gazing at her with his brown eyes.
Dream Florette walked through a short hallway that led her to the nurses’ station, where a bored-looking assistant nurse sat on a stool, seemingly daydreaming.
“Excuse me, is Nurse Heartfelt free?” she asked.
“Oh!” the assistant said, startled by Dream Florette. “Uh... yes, she should be in her office.”
“Thank you.” Dream Florette continued down another hallway and knocked on the door at its end. “Nurse Heartfelt?”
“Come in!”
She entered the small office. “Hello, Miss Heartfelt.”
“Dream Florette! Hello, my dear!” the nurse said. “What can I do for you?”
“I’ve come to speak with you about my dreams,” Dream Florette replied.
“Are they bothering you again?”
“No, not like they used to...”
“What is it, dear?” the nurse urged.
“I’ve been seeing somepony in my dreams,” Dream Florette admitted.
“Who?”
“I’m not sure... but she seems so real.”
“‘She?’ How do you know this pony is a mare?”
“I just know.”
“How long have you been experiencing these dreams?”
“A few weeks. I thought nothing of them at first... not until today,” Dream Florette said. “It was different today.”
“In what way?” the nurse asked.
“There were two mares. They... they were like opposites. Black and white. Or... light and dark.”
“Were you able to notice anything else about these mares?”
“Yes... they were sad, I think. They felt my sorrow... or they felt sorrow for me,” Dream Florette murmured. “I can’t tell. That’s all.”
Nurse Heartfelt nodded thoughtfully. “Dream Florette, I’d like you to keep a log of every dream like this, beginning with today’s. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you,” the nurse said. She hugged Dream Florette. “I share your sorrow, dear.”
“I wish Equestria had never been reduced to this... All of these ponies, sick... It’s not right.”
“I know.” The nurse broke their embrace. “It’s a delight seeing you, dear. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come back.”
“Thank you, Miss Heartfelt,”
“Always.”
As she was walking back through the hallways, Dream Florette heard a loud thud reverberate in the walls of the building. She rushed into the lobby and ran into a small group of ponies who were surrounding the bottom of the staircase. Peering over them, she was able to see Borderline crumpled up on the floor, moaning in agony.
Not again, Dream Florette thought.
Having heard the commotion, Nurse Heartfelt galloped into the lobby, followed by the daydreaming assistant nurse.
“What has he done this time?” Nurse Heartfelt asked.
“He hurled himself from atop the stairs,” one of the ponies said.
As the two nurses cleared the cluster of ponies and began assessing Borderline’s injuries, Dream Florette hurriedly searched for Morphine Alarm, but he was no longer in the lobby. After a few frustrating minutes, she found him wandering one of the empty ward corridors, still dazed by his own spell.
“Morphine,” she called. “I need your help. Come with me, okay?”
He nodded with a delighted smile, and the two returned to the lobby. Everypony had gone to other parts of the hospice, preferring quietness rather than the awful sounds coming from Borderline. The nurses were trying to calm him down, but he would not respond.
“Morph, I need you to cast your spell on Borderline,” Dream Florette told Morphine Alarm.
“My spell?” he asked.
“Yes. On Borderline. Can you do that?”
“Hmmm... I suppose,” Morphine Alarm said, seeming confident in his decision to help. He stepped before the nurses. “Mmmay I?”
Nurse Heartfelt looked to Dream Florette, who nodded in approval. The two nurses took a step back, and Morphine Alarm bowed his head towards Borderline, who was still groaning. His horn began glowing, and bright, purple tendrils of magic flowed towards the injured earth pony on the floor. Soon, Borderline ceased his unpleasant moaning, and Morphine Alarm stepped away.
“Thank you, Morphine Alarm,” Nurse Heartfelt said.
“I... think I need to take a nap,” Morphine Alarm mumbled, seeming less disoriented than before.
“You go do that, Morph,” Dream Florette said.
The indigo unicorn bowed, and then he somewhat stumbled towards the bedroom hallways. Dream Florette couldn’t help but feel amused by his unusual demeanor.
“That was very smart thinking, Miss Florette,” Nurse Heartfelt said. “Thank you.”
Dream Florette looked at Borderline, who was watching her in a stupor similar to Morphine Alarm’s. “Friends help each other,” she said.
“That they do,” the nurse said, then looked to her assistant. “Now, let’s get this one to his bed.” The two nurses urged Borderline onto his hooves and helped him limp down the same hallway Morphine Alarm had gone through.
Borderline, you foal, Dream Florette thought. She could feel her own spell wearing off, so she climbed the stairs and entered her cold, empty room. She yawned, suddenly feeling extremely exhausted, and all but collapsed onto the hard floor, asleep before her head even hit the ground.