The group entered the main hall of the castle, looking around in what looked like suppressed fear.
Fear of what they didn’t know.
Applejack and Rarity led the way, followed quickly by Fluttershy and a unusually mellowed Pinkie Pie, with Spike tagging along behind them. A guard quickly approached them.
“Elements. The Princess wished to speak with you in her private chambers immediately.” He said, nodding at them.
“Hold yer horses. We’re here to see Twilight!” Applejack said, stepping forward.
The guard shook his head. “The Princess insisted that you talk to her first.”
Applejack opened her mouth to make a retort at the guard, but was stopped by a hoof on her side. “Hold it Applejack. If the Princess wants to see us, we can’t exactly say no, can we? Besides, Twilight may be there with her.”
Applejack nodded slowly. “Fine. But Ah Still want answers.” She said, glaring at the guard. The guard, however, remained impassive. “All I can tell you is that there is some things that the Princess will prefer to explain herself.”
Rarity gave a reassuring smile at Applejack, while Pinkie Pie bounced forward, popping in between the two at looking at the guard.
“Well then, what are we waiting for? Lead the way Mr. Guard!”
The guard, without another word, turned around and started heading deeper into the castle. The multicolor group of friends followed him without a word, glancing around them as they went.
Eventually, however, the group reached Celestia’s room and the guard took his station on the left side of the door, the right side already having a guard there. “The Princess is inside, waiting for you.” He said, before assuming a blank stare.
The five ponies looked at each other for a moment before they moved forward, opening the door and heading inside to the brightly lit room, with Celestia sitting in front of the fire, a pile of letters in front of her.
She didn’t seem to hear them come in, as she was still reading a letter and didn’t acknowledge them.
Rarity cleared her throat softly. “Excuse me... Princess Celestia?”
Celestia started slightly at the sound, before lowering the letter and placing it on the pile.
“Ah, you’re here. I am sorry that I had to call you here with little explanation. I know that you have been worried about Twilight and Rainbow Dash, but they are here now, safe.” She said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Applejack nodded. “Ah’m assuming that you’re going ta explain now?”
Celestia closed her eyes and nodded, breathing deeply before opening them again and addressing the group. “The mission to the badlands was an apparent success. Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash, Lyra, and the unexpected Scootaloo were able to reach the changeling’s hive and grab Twilight and bring her back.”
“They reappeared yesterday ago, each of them malnourished. Shining Armor is still in the hospital, and Scootaloo is... in the ER. The doctors are confident that she will recover fully, given time.”
Fluttershy gave a small whimper in the back of the room, where an unusually still Pinkie was comforting her.
“Rainbow Dash however, has made a full recovery, and is just finishing her final examinations before her release. She will be joining us shortly.”
Celestia paused slightly, trying to think of how to phrase what she knew she had to say.
Applejack shifted in her spot on the floor, uncomfortable with the silence, and with who was left to explain.
“Princess... what about Twilight?” She asked uncertainly.
Celestia sighed. “Twilight’s situation is... complicated. You are aware of how her time in the badlands may have changed her, yes?”
The five ponies slowly nodded.
“Well... she changed more than we thought possible.”
“What I am telling you is going to be hard to believe, but we have tested this, both magically and non-magically. And for all purposes... this is Twilight.”
The group just waited, slightly confused where Celestia was heading with all this.
“But.. it also appears that she is a... changeling.” Celestia said the last word slowly, still unused the idea, but slowly learning to live with it.
As she looked at the element bearers, a shocked silence filled the air.
Pinkie was the first one to break the silence. “What do you mean? It’s still Twilight, isn’t it?”
She paused, and Celestia was silent.
“Right?”
Applejack stood up suddenly after about a minute of awkward silence. “If it’s still Twi, Ah don’t care what form she’s in. She’s our friend!”
Rarity stood up next. “I for one must agree with Applejack. I simply don’t care what she looks like. She’s still Twilight, and always will be! I simply can’t imagine that she would let those brutes win!”
Pinkie Pie stood up with Fluttershy, both letting out two degrees of affirming shouts of agreement.
Celestia smiled sadly. “My thanks. But... there is even more troubling news that I must tell you. While she may be here in body...”
She sighs. “Twilight Sparkle appears to be in a self-induced coma. She is fine aside from that.”
Celestia stopped, taking a shaky breath, before letting it out in a slight rush.
“No. No she is not okay. She is in the hospital wasting away and there is nothing I can do about it!” Celestia said, her usually calm voice shaking with emotion. “For all the power of the sun, and there is nothing I can do to save her.”
She took a deep breath, and recollected herself. “That... is why you are here.”
The four ponies looked confused and upset at this news. Fluttershy was even hiding behind her mane.
“The doctors have given her less than... forty hours to live. I know that you all will... want to spend some time with her.”
Celestia broke off. “I am... sorry. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to see Twilight. Rainbow Dash will meet you there.”
She said this, the group looking at each other and slowly left the room, but not before they saw Celestia started to cry.
Glad to see this still lives, even if it's a short update
You're forgiven...and excellent chapter!
Next part around new year?
Which new year? The 2015 one?
Anyway, nice to see it's back from hiatus.
"Short" doesn't even begin to describe it. "Rushed" is a better word. The pacing is way off, especially towards the beginning. You need a lot more detail filling things in. Some miscellaneous chatter unrelated to anything plot-related might help, too. If something is only a thousand words, you need to go back and fill it out more regardless of how long it's been since your last update. I suggest you at least double the word count without advancing the plot any further than you have already.
This could also use some editing for grammar. I spotted a few tense shifts and some awkward wording in places.
As long as Queen Chrysalis gets royaly owned at the end take your time
3674165
Good point. But at least I don't have to add this to the "Abandoned Stories" group now. One has to look on the bright side of these things.
...
And after finding out Twi has less than two days to live, the cast will need all the bright sides that they can get.
Oh, and 3496747 ? Don't forget about Twilight Velvet and Night Lite. Their little girl has been mutilated and is dying. I think they deserve a cameo soon.
3674388 *nurse bot wheels over to the ponies after Twiling Sparklebug dies* There was nothing physically wrong with her. She lost the will to live.
*Dash groans* Oh bucking manure! Not a Star Wars prequel reference!
3674582
six months.....six months and you leave us with THAT FUCKING CLIFF-HANGER?! you better not disappear again, or i will send pinkamina to your house.
3674248
Haven't seen Bridle Gossip, so they might've
3674165
Haha, I know that's sorta what you'd expect, but no. This New Years~
3675306
I'm not planning on dissappearing again, I promise.
3674217
I know it's rushed. And that part sucks. I'm planning on adding some more detail to it, and finish up the next part and combine the two.
3674388
Nope. This thing is going to get finished, one way or another. ^^ And you make a good point with Twi's Parent's.
3675306
CCCCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRCCCCCCCCCCCCCLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey at least you haven't forgotten about this story!
waiting for more
HOLY MOTHER OF EVERYTHING AN UPDATE
3675306 calm thine undergarments! people have lives and problems outside of the internet
*shrug* even a half chapter every half year is good enough for me. i keep stories on my alert list until the author explicitly declares it cancelled, and often even after that (=^_^=)
It's alive!!!!!
Whoa whoa whoa, What? Nobody future-kills off Twilight and walks away like that!
are you done yet? you said new years mark and yesterday was the start of the new year. i just really want to read the new chapter. you better let twi bucking live!!!!!!
3720651
Woah, woah, woah. I said around the new Years. I'm looking at it coming out around next monday or earlier, if I find time.
3721607 sorryijustreallywanttoreadthenewchapterbecauseit'sgettingexcitingandican'twaitmuchlonger.
but i guess it's also cuz i'm such a fast reader.
i caught up to a story in 2 months which has been posting parts 3 times a week since november 2002. i would have caught up quicker but school slowed me down. btw i started reading it around feb. 2013.
you should read it, you may like it. http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104
3723589
I'm working on it, trust me~
twilight's dead?????
HORRA- *cough*
My condolences to the family
I first found this story when it was... Two chapters long, I believe. So, about 1 and a half year ago? Read later list can be a b sometimes. Anyhow, great story, thanks for an enjoyable read!
4032500
Dang, that was a long time ago~ And anyway, thanks for reading it~ ^^
4034398 yeah it was. And it was totally worth it. Hope to see it complete one day! *hint-hint*
3723607
Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please update soon
More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. More. I want more.
Can we have more please?
Really excited to see what's happening in twilight's mind, hope to see it soon!
Two diferent speakers should be separated.
Also, two thinks:
1) SInce Celestia is the one responsible for killing Twilight, why she didn't told it to main 5?
2) If Twilight have just 40 hours of life, why she is not in hospital room next to her, after all, changelings feed on love, and even her love for her student would be decidive (if she killed Twilight, she should at the very least face the consequences and try to do someting about it rather than shut herself in her room).
ok, I think I have waited long enough to say this
plz update!
4714665
You have, and I apoligize for the unholy as hell waiting period. Work's been an absolute black hole with my time, but I got a two day break coming up. I'll finish it up then, promise!