After a long day of battle, the Crystal Warriors are whisked away back to Canterlot. Celestia and Luna's teleporting power allowed for everypony present to be brought home safely. Celestia magicked away Twilight and her friends with a golden flash of power. Luna took responsibility for the Crystal Warriors and Cadance with a silver aura.
One by one the Crystal Warriors appeared in a warmly lit room. There was a circle etched into the floor, yet the markings were pretty faded over time. As the silver aura of Luna's magic faded from their bodies, the five slumped a little as they sat on the floor. By the time that they appeared, they have all dismissed their cloaks.
As if practiced (which it probably is), several ponies came to aid them. Each had their own attendant for the moment to help them up and into a proper bed. They were gentle, yet strong in helping them along. The Warriors were all beaten and bloody from the fight with one of their own, whose only major injury was to her backside.
"Be at ease, all of you," Luna says kindly. "These good ponies will treat you well."
Luna strode away from the scene, yet watched from a distance as her new comrades were bandaged up. The medical staff inspected them thoroughly and noted any injury no matter how small. A small snicker escaped the princess as Tonya lay with her rump sticking in the air. There was a solid red mark and she could almost read 'ioaY' across it. An icepack would eventually cover it, but not to the pony's liking. Any little touch to her tender tuckus would ignite the pains anew. An amusing thought ran through Luna's head that 'ioaY' would be scarred in.
The mares all lay patiently as the staff pulled on their limbs to check for injuries. For the most part, the five were too worn out to object. Some legs were wrapped in gauze. Kat's scalp was covered, yet tufts of brown hair stick out. Her wings were fine, but Luna overheard a suggestion that she not strain them for a few days--which she agreed to.
"Yeah," she commented. "I can stay on the ground."
"But your head can't..." Tonya added weakly.
"Bite me," Kat snipped.
"I already did... You kicked me in the face. ...Remember?"
"Oh yeah," Kat chuckles nervously. "Sorry about that..."
Luna thinks to herself that the battle could have gone a lot worse. None of the combatants had died, for starters. And four ponies against a fierce dragon? If not for their curiously strong abilities, they may not have escaped with the injuries that they did.
Amanda, for her part tries to refuse the bandages that the nurses are trying to apply. She uses her horn's abilities to ward off the help. "I'm fine..." she says with a groan. "I really want a shower, though!" Luna would try to intervene, telling her that the doctors and nurses know best, but she admires her independant nature. If it were herself, there would be no difference. Worse, her sister would refuse to even be here.
She recalls an incident recently where Celestia had returned to her through an unorthodox method. She had walked out of a mirror-portal and had immediately fallen to the floor in a 'lifeless heap' as she herself pointed out. Celestia was treated then and there and was too weak to refuse.
In the end, Amanda is granted permission to cleanse herself. Their collective room has such a facility off to the side. A nurse helps her along while Amanda limps a little. The nurse, adamanatly trying to help her, continues to offer healing services first. But, the blue unicorn with the short black mane wants desperately to bathe. When she asks the nurse if she can smell, the topic is tabled.
But, before water can run, Amanda sticks her head out the doorway. "Tonya! If you EVER puke on me again, there will be HELL to pay!!" And with that, she secludes herself in the other room while the nurse sits on her haunches in wait. Though it may look like laziness, she is actually standing by in case something happens to her patient.
Under normal circumstances, there may be questionable looks, but the medical staff merely continues their work. Honestly, it isn't their right to pry. It is only their job to make sure none of them are critically injured. That is not to say that they don't quietly wonder to themselves what actually happened. Or perhaps that they have just seen so much that this kind of thing is par for the course.
No doubt this will become an interesting topic around the breakroom.
"How are they doing?"
Luna tilts her head to see Celestia's head sticking out of the doorway. "The blue one is ready to declare war against the once-dragon. She did not appreciate a bath of bile."
"No kidding..." Celestia quietly murmurs.
"Injuries are light. We believe they have had quite the experiences thus far to know when to strike and when to duck."
"Hmmm..." Celestia humms a little. "Their battle reminded me of sibling rivalry. Brought back a couple of memories."
Luna's face falls a little. "Indeed," she says quietly.
"On the bright side," Celestia says, "I never saw any real animosity between them. I think they should all be fine."
"We disagree. We witnessed quite a bit of resentment towards the blue one." Her head turns towards the enclosed showering facility for a moment. "She seemed especially intent on taking her on. Perhaps their friendship still has some dark corners."
"No friendship is ever perfect, Luna. Even Twilight and her friends bicker about things from time to time."
"Ms. Sparkle does not transform into a beast, though."
Celestia snickers a bit.
"Something amuses you, Sister?"
"Twilight can indeed transform into a beast, but not in the way you think. She's been known to cause havoc when she's.... overly motivated."
"Thou twists our words."
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Do not apologize. 'Tis a sign of weakness."
==-==-==
Some time later, Luna and Celestia have departed to give their new friends some peace. The medical staff has also finished their duties and retreated from the room as well. However, one unicorn nurse sits in the corner on a seat. Her white coat is quite reminiscent of a nurse's garb. She has a fluffy pink mane and a white cap nestled within. While she watches the patients with green eyes, she spends her time reading a magazine.
The five are all lightly bandaged and lay in different ways. Kat seems a little worried about sleeping on her back, but lays on her side. She would roll to her back, but returns quickly to her side. Tonya refuses to lay on anything but her stomach. Once her rear touches the bed, she'll feel it!
While the ponies are all friends, there are curtains that separate them all. While it doesn't change much, they all rest a little better not seeing each other's injuries. They can't see what each other is doing, sleep seems to be the preferred 'activity.'
"Tonya....?" Kat asks.
"What?"
"Don't ever do that again."
"I agree," Bobbi says from a couple beds down. "But I couldn't have asked for better training day!"
"What were you thinking?" Casie asks. "You ATE a dragon scale?"
"I don't think she ever thinks things through..." Kat mumbles. "Right, Amanda?"
There's a momentary silence as the group waits for a reply. They all expect her to say something as Amanda had the most recent experience living with her. "Amanda?" Kat asks.
"I think she went back to the shower," Casie offers.
"Again?" Bobbi asks.
"What's this?" Kat wonders. "Her third?"
"Hey," Casie says a little sternly. "You get covered in vomit and see if you don't do the same thing!! Hell, if any of you have ever been nailed by a skunk, you'd never question her!"
"Okay..." Tonya groans. "I get it... I messed up..."
"Bobbi," Kat starts, "weren't you and Casie the ones who MADE her throw up like that?"
"Point taken," the two say from either side of her.
"That's better!!" Amanda says happily as she exits the adjoining room again. The nurse is quick to help her hobble back to her bed with her own unicorn magic. "Thank you," she says in gratitude.
"No trouble," the nurse replies. "But, I have to say I don't notice anything. You smell just fine. If it makes you feel better though, I can go get you some perfume." She helps the blue unicorn into bed and uses her horn to pull the sheet over her.
"That's okay," Amanda sighs. "I think it's all psychological at this point."
"Even if that is so, a dab might help your psyche be at ease."
"Thank you," Amanda replies. "But, I think I'll be alright."
"As you wish," she finishes as she returns to her seat.
"And if she were back home," Kat snickers, "she'd be carrying around a little foam forest."
"Oh, shut it!"
"Hey Casie," Bobbi asks.
"What is it?"
"What was the deal with our tails? How did you know about that?"
"It was something when Tonya escaped the barn the other day. I snagged her tail with mine and I felt.... something. A connection. A sharing or something. I dunno. It was weird. Today? I just remembered that and took a chance."
"Pretty good chance," Amanda adds. "I could feel a sharing between all of us. It felt... Really good. We might have to look into this."
"Tonya?" Kat asks.
"What?!" Tonya growls.
"Geez...." she grits. "Grouchy. I was just going to ask how much you remember?"
"Oh... Not much. I remember being in the throne room. Not controlling my shape very well. Kat being a brat."
"Again," Amanda says with a small smile that the others can't see.
"Hey!"
"Oh?" the nurse wonders. "You want some?"
"Uh, wha--? No, that's fine!"
"Hay is for horses," Tonya chuckles.
Kat quietly sticks out her tongue towards Tonya's voice. But, she retracts it after a moment. "You seemed intent on chasing Amanda. What's up with that?"
"I was?"
"You don't remember?!" Amanda shouts. But, she cautions herself as the nurse gives her a look. "I ran all day from you! You chased me! You flamed me! You puked on me!!"
"Ever gonna let that go?" Casie wonders.
"Not likely," Bobbi answers.
"Tonya's probably got memory loss," Kat wonders, "due to her unusual transformation. What happened was kind of extreme."
"You're probably right..." Amanda sighs.
"Or," Kat continues, "she's just lying to cover her ass!"
"Wouldn't you know that?" Amanda replies. "Telepathy and all?"
"Sorry! Ran out after the battle was over. But, seriously. Tonya, what--if anything--were you thinking? Eating a dragon scale? Did you have any clue as to what that would've done?"
"I dunno," Tonya replies with a smile. "But, I think Spike was pretty happy!"
There's a collective groan as the others are suddenly suggested as to what may have transpired between her and Spike. Mostly, they can agree that she probably used Rarity's appearance, but anything else is speculative. And honestly, it may be better for their sanity if details are left in the dark.
"But I do remember something about Cancun!"
"Ugh..." Kat groans. "We oughta make her pay for the trip after what she just put us through."
"We'd fly practically with the luggage," Amanda groans.
"Eat peanuts... for meals..." Kat adds.
"Camp out on the beach," Bobbi puts in.
"Drink nothing but water," Casie pipes in. "From the ocean."
"OKAY!!! I get it!! I'm dirt poor!!"
"Dear," Amanda offers, "the dirt has more money than you do."
==-==-==
Elsewhere, Celestia prepares her nightly routine as she works to take the sun out of the sky. She looks back on the battle that she witnessed and smiles as the excitement has yet to wear off. "You seem troubled."
"Perhaps," Luna responds from nearby. She quietly walks towards her sister as her own duties to raise the moon will soon be needed. "Those few ponies put up a grand effort. We commend how strong they are. They would have an excellent future here if they cannot return home."
"Bu-ut...?"
"We both witnessed what they could do. The earth pony--Tonya showed that she may be a danger, rather than a boon. If it were not for her friends, she may have caused a panic."
"Yes, I agree. But you should lend her a little faith. I doubt she would do anything... regrettable."
"She already has by meddling with that which she does not comprehend. If it were not for the fact that we were isolated, how many of our subjects would be hurt... or worse? Can we allow such a threat run unchecked?"
"I think that she is in check. That's what her friends are there for."
"Ah, yes. Her friends. The others seem to be quite strong themselves. Like the brown one, maybe a little TOO strong. Their powers are incredible, but what if they do not use them for good? Can the common pony stop them?"
"Probably not," Celestia sighs. "But I trust them. They don't seem the type that would hurt the innocent for their own benefit."
"Maybe not 'would.' But definitely 'could.' That is what bothers us. A part of us worries that returning access to their abilities may have been... foalish."
"IF it comes to pass that their powers are used recklessly, I am confident that the two of us will be able to contain them. For now, I have seen nothing to suggest any problems."
Luna sighs a little. "You are right, Tia. Pardon our concern."
"That's alright, Luna. I confess that a part of me is a little worried as well. But, sometimes you have to roll the dice. Take a chance. Hedge your bets."
"This is not Las Pegasus."
Celestia gives her a wicked sneer. "You would know!!"
"One time! ONE TIME!!"
"It's a good thing I was able to rework Equestria's budget. Nopony else would see how you blew that many bits."
"And you banned us from casinos..."
"Well.... If we lose another four million bits, we'll have to raise taxes. And then we'll have complaints. Riots. Rebellion. All because a princess couldn't keep her wallet shut." But, she sighs. "You worry about our new friends running rampant. I worry about YOU running rampant. Fair enough?"
"We see your point, Sister."
Celestia walks away with a yawn. "I think I should turn in before we have to turn my private chambers over to the bookies."
Luna just hangs her head low with a low groan. "We shall never live that down...."