//------------------------------// // Missing Friends, Old and New // Story: The Queen's Revenge // by Listener //------------------------------// Twilight slept. Her body slept while her mind whirled with thoughts of what had happened. ‘If I’m dead, why does it hurt?’ It did hurt. Everything hurt. Her legs, her chest, her horn. It all hurt. But nothing hurt like the gaping hole in her heart. ‘If I’m free, why am I trapped?’ She was out of the hive, wasn’t she? She couldn’t feel her captors anymore. They were finally out of her head. Her mind was her own once again, yet she felt... empty. She was free, but in freedom had lost something she never knew she had, or even wanted. ‘If I can’t be me, who can?’ She wasn’t who she was anymore. She could never go back to being the simple mare that she was. Oh, how she wished she could. To never have been in that nightmare. ‘If... If what? There could be no if. There only was. This was happening. There was no going back. ‘When did my life go to hell?’ It went to hell the moment that the queen decided she wanted Twilight. That... That... She slipped, back into the blackness. --- Celestia stood over Twilight’s bed, watching her as she lay catatonic. “Will she be okay?” She asked the doctor softly. “We don’t know Princess. She’s just... given up, it seems. Her body is shutting down, and we’re only reading the barest of cognitive thoughts.” “How do we help?” Celestia asked, looking over the changeling that she had become convinced was in fact her student. “I... I honestly don’t know. We’ve only had a few cases like these, and even then they weren’t this severe, this... degenerative this quickly. The only thing we can suggest is gathering her loved ones. That seems to help, but I don’t know how much good it will do here.” “How long?” Celestia asked the question she dreaded the answer to. Haywick looks towards his unaware charge and sighed. “If she continues to get worse, we could lose her within... forty-eight hours.” Celestia gave a small sigh. “That quickly?” “Yes. I’m sorry Princess. If it’s any consolation, at least she’s her, with loved ones, instead of back there.” Celestia nodded. “I’ll gather up her friends and family. They deserve to be here.” Doctor Haywick nodded, and left the room, leaving Celestia alone in her thoughts. Her horn lit up, and she started to write a letter. 000 Spike ran into Sugarcube Corner, waving a letter above his head. “Guys, guys.” He started, only to put his hands on his knees and pant hard. “Give... me... a... moment...” Rarity and Pinkie waited for Spike to catch his breath. “They... Twilight! They have Twilight up in Canterlot. Shining Armor and the others made it back. “Let me read this letter Spike.” Spike gave the letter to Rarity, who read it aloud to Pinkie.         Dear Spike, Shining Armor and the others were successful in their mission, but there were some... complications. I will explain more upon your arrival in Canterlot. Please bring Twilight’s friends, and Scootaloo’s parents.                                                 Celestia “Is that it Rarity?” Pinkie asked. “Yes. But they have Twilight, don’t they?” “Well, that was Shining’s mission, but the Princess did say that there were complications, which could mean a lot of things. Com'on Rarity, we need to gather up the girls!” Pinkie said, grabbing Rarity and pulling her towards the door. “Spike!” “Yeah?” “Go grab Scootaloo’s mom! We’re catching the next train to Canterlot!” “You got it Pinkie!” “Rarity! First stop is Applejacks!” “Pinkie, wouldn’t we go faster if we split up?” Rarity asked. “Ohhh... Good point Rarity! Okay, I’ll grab Applejack! You go grab Fluttershy and meet us at the train station, okay?” “Okay Pinkie.” The ponies went their respective ways, some hope in their step that they hadn’t had in a long time. 000 “What in the hay are you doing Pinkie. You’ve just been jumping up and down there for the past three minutes.” Applejack said, her head bobbing up and down with Pinkie’s bounces. “Oh, that. Well, I don’t really know, but it could be that I’m super excited!” “About what?” Applejack asked. Pinkie still threw parties, but not as often. They had just had a birthday party for Rarity just the other day. They had missed Dash’s. “Spike got a letter!” Pinkie said, still bouncing. “Spike gets a lot of letters sugarcube.” “Yeah, but this time it had news! The Princess wants us all in Canterlot!” Applejack sucked in her breath. “Pinkie. What exactly did that letter say?” “Oh! Shining Armor and Dashie are back with their group! And the Princess wants us in Canterlot!” Applejack sighed. “And you didn’t tell me of this first why?” “Welllllll, this dirt is really bouncy for some reason!” Applejack resisted the strong urge to facehoof. “Come on Pinkie. We have a train to catch.” 000 “Fluttershy dear, we’re going to Canterlot. The Princess has requested our presence.” Rarity was standing outside of Fluttershy’s cottage, while Fluttershy held the door open. “Th-the Princess?” “Yes dear. There has apparently been news with Twilight and the others.” “Twilight? Give me a moment Rarity, I need to make sure that my animals will be okay with me leaving for a bit.” Fluttershy asked. “Of course.” 000 “Tickets for five.” The teller said, pushing the tickets through the small hole in the window. “Have a nice trip.” “Thank you.” Rarity said, taking the tickets in her magic and wading back through the crowd to her friends. “We have the caboose to ourselves.” She said, passing out the tickets to each of the girls and Spike. “Have you had any more letters Spike?” Applejack asked, looking back at Spike who was riding on her back. Spike sighed. “No I haven’t Applejack. I’ve been sitting here the whole time since the last time you asked.” Applejack smiled sheepishly. “Sorry Spike. Ah’m just worried about Twilight and Dash.” Pinkie gave Applejack a hug out of nowhere. “Don’t worry! I’m sure they’re fine, otherwise my Pinkie Sense would have gone off!” Rarity smiled while rolling her eyes. “And besides, I’m sure if anything had happened, the Princess would have put it into the letter. She isn’t one for keeping secrets.” “Thanks girls.” The group nodded as one, as they all began to board the train. In just a little bit, they would be reunited with their friends. But they all worried deep down; What if...?