Celestia composed herself before looking at Fluttershy. Her chest moved up and down, but very slowly.
“Guards!” Celestia yelled.
Guards by the small dozen came flooding in, some tripping over their own hooves, this had never happened so they were, needless to say. A little rusty.
“Yes Princess!” They all said in time with another, one hoof up on their head.
“Take Fluttershy to the medical room at once” Princess Celestia said trying to keep the guards calm.
Discord was hesitant to let her go, but shakily he laid her down and the guards flooded in and took her away, he raised a paw nervous as to what could happen. He moved towards the direction that the guards were going before Celestia grabbed his shoulder.
“Stay calm Discord, Fluttershy is in the best care now”
These words didn’t pacify Discord in the slightest, the young pony that gave him a chance at friendship when no other would was gone and out of his sight. Without no one really realising it but Discord had taken on such a possessive trait.
“Discord, won’t you follow me?” Celestia said. She moved towards the hallway and Discord, with an unreadable face as Celestia would call it. Anger? Sadness? Worried? Truly it was difficult to understand what his emotion was but Celestia kept moving forward with Discord behind her.
“Discord I must ask once more, do you know what is wrong with her?” she turned her head to ask.
“She has had a persistent cough these last few…” Discord stopped for a moment, “Years…” the sudden realisation that this had been with her for so long, and yet over time it never ticked that it could be something serious. She was so quiet that her cough seemed to quieten along with her.
“Years you say?” Celestia said, confirming his words.
Discord said nothing but turned his head, he couldn’t bear to look at her. It was so obvious and yet never noticed.
Celestia stopped and Discord, to lost in his own mind bumped into her.
“Pardon” Discord said.
Celestia stared at him and giggled, it wasn’t funny, the situation nor what happened but his expression. So empty.
“So unlike him” Celestia thought to herself.
Discord didn’t notice her giggled, “Is this the room?” he pointed to a door with a cross on it.
“Yes. Now I’m not aware of what you might see in that room Discord. It could be distressing so I’m sure Fluttershy would understand if you waited out here”
“Not happening” Discord said before marching past Celestia and opened the door.
“I warned you…” Celestia mumbled.
Discord walked in, the bright lights in the room caused him to cover his eyes so they could adjust. When they did however Fluttershy was sat upright and the doctor looked down her throat.
“Say Aaaa” The doctor said.
“Aaa…- Disword” Fluttershy turned her eyes towards him.
“Hmm…” The doctor looked down her throat, nothing unusual.
He nodded his head and she closed her mouth.
“Oh Fluttershy” Discord hugged her tightly, Fluttershy blushed slightly before rubbing his back.
“Hey, hey I’m alright” Fluttershy cooed.
Discord pulled himself out of the embrace, “I’m not a child Fluttershy”
“Hehe- cough, I know”
“Ahem! Miss Fluttershy, I have some questions to ask of you” the doctor said, he had a board with questions in his hoof and with his magic the pen would write.
Fluttershy turned her attention back to the doctor.
“Right… question one”
As the doctor was asking Fluttershy questions, Discord felt a tug on his arm. Celestia pulled him to the side.
“See I told you she was fine!” Discord said.
“This time.” Celestia said rather boldly, “Discord I’m no medical professional but I believe that there is something wrong with her”
“Duh, hello Celestia in there” he knocked on her head, “It’s a cough, nothing more no less. A little medication and she’ll be fi-“
“Discord! Wake up! Does a person with a cough pass out like that?! Do they practically stop breathing? In fact it’s a miracle that she is still here” Celestia said, “if it wasn’t serious then I believe you wouldn’t have had to come here in the first place.” Celestia calmed herself down, “Stop lying to yourself and see what is happening to her” Celestia said before being called over by the doctor.
“Into my office Princess, if you please”
“Of course” Celestia walked over to the doctor and they went into the room.
Discord moved back over to Fluttershy, she was lying down.
“Oh sorry” Fluttershy sat upright again but Discord laid her back down.
“You rest my dear that was a dramatic performance if I’ve ever seen one”
Fluttershy smiled before coughing again.
“I’m sorry… I’ve caused everyone to worry about me…” Fluttershy said with a frown.
Discord put his claw on her cheek, “Don’t be silly. You’re worth it all my dear”
Fluttershy smiled again before her eyes slowly fell down and she swiftly went to sleep.
“A smile does suit you better” Discord whispered, before kissing her cheek. He then walked over to the office and shrunk down to a small size.
“Is it serious?” Celestia asked.
“It all depends on what condition it is. We need better magic to determine what is causing the illness. Don’t underestimate me Princess, I do have a good idea as to what it is that’s causing it but having evidence can help to ‘the plan’ forward”
“I understand. Someone with an amazing skill at magic I wonder who?” Celestia smiled.
“Right… well I have other patients to attend to, Fluttershy is welcome to return home but be sure to get the magic user to investigate her quickly” The doctor stood up from his seat, “The quicker the better chance she has at survival”
Celestia also stood up and moved towards the door. Discord ran out back through a small crack in the door way and made himself back to normal size.
Celestia, using her magic opened the door.
“Discord. Me and the doctor have agreed that you can take her back to Ponyville when she’s ready”
“Anything else I should know?” Discord asked.
“No” Celestia said before walking out the door.
Discord sat on the chair next to Fluttershy and waited for her to awaken.
“Here I thought that Celestia had changed, guess that I expect too much of her, much like her kingdom”