Chapter 4: Damage control
Luna landed on the square in front of the castle and immediately caught the attention of the ponies around. She saw ponies using tools, magic and pure strength to remove the remains of the wall that had broken in. She spread her wings and called out with a loud voice.
“Stand back!”
Then her magic rose the pieces of debris and set them aside. She allowed herself a sigh of relief when she found no ponies trapped beneath them and only empty rooms behind.
“Princess Luna! Heavens, it's good to see you.”
The princess turned around and saw a stallion in a white robe of a doctor hurrying towards her. He was about to perform a bow, but Luna simply motioned for him to remain standing
“Please, this is an inappropriate time for such things. Tell me who you are and what happened, Doctor.”
The stallion blinked surprised, but then nodded and explained
“My name is Doctor Morning Breeze, I'm the head of Canterlot Hospital. When the first quakes started, we noticed right away the building wasn't really the most secure spot to be and when the next ones came, we quickly evacuated the hospital. Luckily we don't have too many patients right now, so we managed to get everypony out it time. But as you can see,” he pointed at the destroyed rooms, “we don't have any place for our patients now. Some of our medical equipment took a heavy hit, too. So far everypony is well, considered all circumstances, but we need some place with beds so we can take care of them. Not to mention we can't do anything for the ponies who might gotten hurt from those crazy quakes.”
The doctor frowned just thinking about it, but Luna simply nodded.
“I understand your troubles and you have my full support. The hurt and sick ones need our help the most in these times. The castle turned out to be a safe place for now, and there are beds and rooms as well. I need you to gather as much of your equipment as you can and head to the castle. The guards and I will help your carry your things and transport your patients.”
She turned and addressed the pegasus guard again
“Captain, half of your ponies will stay here and help the doctor and the patients. The hospital has to be our top priority for now. The remain of your flyers should spread out in the city and help those in need. Tell everypony to come to the castle for the night.”
The pegasus guard nodded and turned around
“You heard the Princess! Groups one and two, we stay and help here. Groups three and four, spread out and get a good view. Report back to me in an hour, unless there's any form of emergency that need to be taken care of right away. And one of you return to the castle and call for backup as well as inform Princess Celestia.”
Luna nodded and smiled to the ponies who now came from all directions, most of them to offer their help as well and spreading the word to head for the castle. She addressed the Captain once more.
“There is no need to send somepony back to the castle, Captain. I intend to inform my sister myself.”
With that, she headed to the patients who had been lain down in improvised field beds. Luna closed her eyes and her horn glowed as she carefully picked up about half of them with her magic and flew towards the castle with them levitated behind her. She called out to the gathered ponies
“I'll be back as fast as I can, my friends! Keep helping each other and come to the castle!”
Luna couldn't help but smile when she heard the calls of cheer form the ponies and saw them spread out and find ways to help. No pony seemed to take care of their own first, they were all working for each other and going through this together, just like they had in the castle. It was heartwarming to see them not despair, but only push harder in this troubling situation.
Within a minute, she reached the main entrance of the castle and was greeted by her sister, along with some ponies of the royal staff. She carefully set down the ponies in her magic hold before landing by Celestia.
“Sister, these are patients from Canterlot Hospital. The building is not functional and the doctors have no way to treat anypony back there. I've told them to come here instead.”
Celestia nodded and turned to the staff ponies
“Take them to the guest wing. There should be enough rooms we can use for now. Prepare everything for the doctors to continue their work once they arrive and send all guards we can spare to help them.”
The ponies bowed and went to work while Celestia and Luna stayed behind.
“How bad is it, Tia?”
“Not as bad as we thought initially. The castle seems to be the most durable building in the whole city, no doubt thanks to the magic wards you and I placed in the building. We have broken furniture, messy rooms and some broken glass, but nothing that can't be fixed easily. And, thank heavens, except for some minor cuts and bruises, nopony in the castle got hurt.”
Both sisters sighed in relief, then turned to watch the city. The sun was beginning to set at this point, there would be only three more hours of day before Luna would rise the moon.
“How bad are things in the city?”
“I don't know all yet, Tia. The hospital needs complete rebuilding if you ask me and about a dozen buildings more are down. This town was not build to withstand earthquakes, let alone multiple ones of such power. I dare say unless checked properly, no house should be considered safe right now. I've called the ponies to the castle for the end of the day, but I might have been too hasty with that. I don't know if we can host all of town in here.”
Celestia shook her head.
“We can, Luna. We will use all the free rooms and make space in the larger halls as well: Gala rooms, meeting rooms, the throne room. It might not be the most comfortable, but it will work.”
Luna smiled and gently poked her sister's flank with her wing
“You're being brave for your subjects again sister. I told you, you don't need to pretend around me. Neither do you need to worry about your subjects. What I've seen, everypony is helping out as much as they can. There's no fights or quarrel in times like these and the news that the crises has been averted spreads quickly. The words you said to them already are repeated by every of your subjects.”
“Our subjects. They are sharing your speech as well, Lulu. It was very inspiring and those words mean a whole lot more coming from you.”
Luna fell silent for a moment. She didn't know how much of this was true. Celestia was convinced about it, but that didn't necessarily mean everypony would think the same way.
Celestia stared down at the city but Luna could tell she wasn't really looking at it. Knowing her sister a well as she did, it was not hard to guess what was on her mind.
“Tia.”
Celestia blinked and turned around to face Luna, surprised by her stern voice. When she looked at her eyes, she saw the caring gaze of her sister shining back at her
“You're the beacon of hope our ponies need in a time like this. They throw themselves into the task at hoof, but when it's done they'll need you to guide them. They'll need your wisdom and strength. But they need the real you. Not the you who's pretending and hiding away her fears for the benefit of others. Tia, you can't be the pony they need with guilt and fear clouding your heart.”
Luna gently placed a hoof at her sister's shoulder and nodded firmly
“You have to see her and talk to her.”
Celestia looked away for a moment. When she looked back at her, Luna saw a much younger Celestia before her. She saw the Tia she knew back a thousand years ago, when ruling was new and taking care of a whole nation seemed to be unthinkable. She saw a Tia she'd only recently rediscovered, after switching their roles for some time.
“But... what will I do if she still hates me? She has every right to do so. I failed her as a teacher and a friend. I should have treated her more like an equal back then, I should gone after her when she...”
Her words were quickly interrupted by Luna's hoof on her lips.
“Tia. If that happens, and I don't say it will, but if it happens, it won't be the outcome you hoped for but at least you will have closure on your guilt. You and I both know the importance of it. It is the first step of overcoming your fears and the first step of becoming the Tia all the ponies and I love: The real you.”
Celestia smiled with tears in her eyes and hugged her sister tightly. Luna returned the hug eagerly and wrapped her blue wings around her sister as well.
They held each other for a while longer, then Luna heard some voices and opened her eyes. She saw a group of ponies approach the castle, some of them carrying baskets with food and fruits, the others bringing blankets and pillows and sleeping bags. Luna smiled and released her grip on her sister, but found that Celestia wasn't willing to let her go yet. The group of ponies fell silent as the came close and saw the two Princesses like this. When they were close enough, Celestia released her hug and said loud enough for anypony to hear
“Thank you, Luna. I needed that. I promise I will take care of it right way.”
Luna blinked, but then smiled and nodded. Usually they held those personal moments behind locked doors, but if her sister didn't mind sharing, neither would she.
“I shall go back into the city then, sister. See if I can help some more.”
Celestia nodded and gave her a brief hug again
“Be safe, Luna.”
“You too, Tia.”
They both turned to see the group watching them curiously and smiling at the undeniable love the sisters shared.
Luna nodded and took flight again and Celestia welcomed the ponies and led them into the castle before she headed to a certain room herself.