Chapter 9
Sunset Shimmer sat at her seat, scribbling away as her teacher taught the latest magic lesson. For her life was good. 12 years old now and working hard as Celestia’s star student. Becoming the best of the best was perfect! Soon she would be on the track towards princesshood! She was close and she knew it.
“And that is how-” Her teacher was cut off as the school bell rang throughout the room. Sunset’s ears twitched at the sound before she closed her notebook and started to place it in her saddle bag. “Okay everypony! Read Chapters 10 and 11 in preparation for tomorrow’s lesson!” The teacher ordered. Many groans filled the air by students, others just silently accepted their fate and packed their bags.
Once she was set, Sunset shouldered her bag and followed her classmates out the door. Many turned and headed for their next classes. As they dispersed through the halls of Celestia’s school, Sunset had a different destination in mind. She quickly traversed the halls before opening the doors and leaving the building behind.
Many would look at this as her skipping class.
But as the Princess’ personal student, she was given certain freedoms, one of them being that her private lessons are taught at the castle and not the school right next to it. She walked a single block down the street before approaching the castle grounds. By now, she was well known throughout its halls. The two guards guarding the gates glanced her way. The one on the left greeted her. “Welcome back Miss Shimmer.”
“Hello,” she replied happily with a wave. The second guard opened the gate and held it for her as she entered. With a head tilt, she silently thanked him as she passed by. At this point it was well practiced. She entered the large building, wandered down the halls and up several stair cases before she headed for Celestia’s personal study where she would sit for the rest of the school day.
As she traversed the last step and into the final hallway that lead to her destination, her mind wondered. She recited math problems and remembered key spells for a later date. The closer she got to her destination, she simply moved via muscle memory. Two guards posted next to the door stood at attention, paying little mind to the teen. As she came to a stop in front of the door and between the guards she raised her hand, ready to knock.
“Princess Celestia is out,” The guard to her left spoke, causing her to turn her head. Sunset lowered her hand a moment later.
“Where is she?”
“This way,” the guard said as he stepped away from his post. He turned to his left and down the hall. Silently, Sunset followed the stallion as he lead her down the hall. The pair stopped several doors down, confusing the shorter mare. The stallion knocked three times before he waited silently for his order.
“Enter!” came the muffled voice of the princess from the other side. Sunset was still confused as to why her teacher was in a guest room several doors down and not in her personal study. The stallion opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Sunset to enter the room. She glanced at him with some silent hope that he could answer her various questions, but maybe it be best to enter.
Sunset stepped through the threshold and searched the area for a moment before she froze in her tracks. “Sunset!” Celestia beamed. She was donned in all her usual golden jewelry and white dress, but that was not what Sunset was looking at, no it was the female balancing on the two larger wheels of her wheelchair.
Raven paid little mind as she bit her tongue, concentration evident as she wiggled back and forth in her seat. After several seconds, she landed on all four wheels, ending her little balancing act, and glanced at the filly nearby. Said filly wore a pair of blue jeans, a white shirt hidden by a partially zipped up black hoodie, she had bright blue eyes and bright yellow and what was either red or orange hair. Just like everyone else here, she was covered from head to hoof in fur, her color being bright orange.
“Sunset,” Celestia greeted as she approached her student. “How are you?”
Sunset’s eyes moved to her teacher, before back to the filly… who was getting out of the wheelchair? She watched in awe as Raven pushed herself up on shaky legs before she stood fully. Grabbing a cane that was sitting on the bed, Raven approached slowly with a limp. Her legs had improved so much since her very first day being out of the pod, and relying on her Warframe to carry her.
Her frame…
A puppet on Tenno strings. An avatar controlled by her will. If she had another ‘frame, she would study it, see how she could control it. It would be a very long time, maybe even never, that she would see ever a Warframe again. Once she was close enough, she stood next to Celestia right in front of the new face.
“Who is she?” Sunset asked, confused, with a point of her finger. Thoughts of being replaced filled her mind. Was… was this a new student? Was she not doing good enough? Was she being cast aside!?
“This is Raven,” Celestia introduced, knocking Sunset from her internal panic. “She’s my new daughter.”
…
Daughter!?
Who in Tartarus is the father!? Celestia never took a suitor! Who did Celestia do it with to create such an interesting filly! And somehow be able to hide her for so long!?
Wait…
“New?” Sunset asked, even more confused. “I… I am really confused…” she admitted with a drop of her head. A slight throb started to form, giving her a headache. There was so much information here that was making her young mind tie itself in what was slowly becoming, a very intricate knot.
Celestia giggled. “Sunset,” she said softly, placing a hand on the filly’s shoulder and taking a knee. “Raven is here because she needed somepony to love her and I decided to do it myself. I love her just as much as I love you!”
Sunset lifted her head and looked Celestia in the eye. “So…?”
Celestia seemed to know what she was asking, because she rolled her eyes. “No, you are not being replaced. I was just spending time with her and lost track of it.” Celestia rose to her full height. “But this is a perfect time for you two to get to know each other!”
“But what about today's lesson?” Sunset asked.
“Well…” Celestia started with an uncertain tone. She glanced over at Raven, who just stared back blankly, waiting silently, before glancing back to Sunset. An idea came to mind. “Perhaps we forgo the lesson for today? Perhaps you two could get to know each other?”
Sunset was torn. She was never much for friends, all she really wanted was to learn. Learn everything she could about magic and the world. Friends just got in the way of everything. If she was going to ascend like Princess Cadance, she was going to have to work hard. Sunset’s ears splayed back in uncertainty.
But then again, this was the princess and her teacher looking out for her. All she wanted was for Sunset to make a friend with her… ‘daughter’. The mysterious filly that fell from the sky. Sunset sighed and closed her eyes. “Okay…”
“Wonderful!” Celestia beamed with a large smile and a clap of her hands. “Just so you know Sunset, Raven can understand most, if not everything we say, but you need to be patient when she speaks. Apparently, translation into verbal speak is still a work in progress. Help her if you can, hmm?”
“...Okay. I think I can handle that.”
Sunset looked to her left, only to see nothing there. Both her, and Raven’s eyes quickly moved to the door, where only the top half of Celestia was showing. “Okay have fun you two. I love you Raven by girls!” she said rapidly before slamming the door to the room shut, leaving the two in awkward silence.
***
Sunset, Raven, and Princess Cadance wandered the halls of the castle with no destination in mind. After Celesta left Raven and Sunset behind to become more acquainted they decided to head for the castle dining hall for an afternoon snack before they ran into Cadance on the way. The two mares and one human sat down for a midafternoon snack and laughs. Raven did her best to talk, but like always, it was broken, but she did enjoy some of the stories and jokes Sunset and Cadance shared.
But like many conversations between teen females -and no matter what galaxy they are from- it moved onto boys. Sunset admitted to liking a young stallion in one of her magic classes. She said he was rather handsome and had a cute flank. That received a snort from Raven. From there the conversation moved to her and her crushes. Their only response to the question was a shrug, clearly there was no one that grabbed her eye. She hadn’t met many young stallions, and any other male -which was very clear to her now- could have been female behind their Warframes.
All Raven ever knew in men was the armor and names she saw and met. She knew nothing until that day she literally found herself.
Cadance, being the last in the group, admitted to liking a certain stallion that she had her eye on for some time. Sunset did her best to pursue more information, but Cadance went silent with a blush. When Cadance glanced at Raven though, she did receive a rather knowing smirk before Raven looked away. Cadance had a feeling this was going to go down a very embarrassing road.
When they finished, the three parted into the castle. The two mares traveled slowly to compensate for the forming limp from Raven. She powered through though. The trio just passed a duo of passing guards on patrol before they rounded a random corner into another hall.
A snort soon grabbed the attention of the girls. Just in front of them stood a young teenage stallion, close to, if not the same as Cadance. He wore a fancy black suit and light blue bow tie. His pearl white coat, bright blonde mane and tail were combed to perfection, and his light blue eyes screamed disgust.
“Ugh, if it isn’t that filthy thing that auntie calls a child,” he all but spat. The other member of the royal family. Well… not really ‘member’ as he claims. More like long distance nephew. The Blood Family is a long descendant of the princess’ aunt, who had passed away almost a thousand years ago. Blueblood's family lineage has become so diluted over the last millennia through his family tree with different members that married into the family, that he is pretty much only related to Celestia by what would basically be a single drop of blood.
Though he flaunts six ways to Sunday.
Even though he has a house of his own and lives with his parents, he is in the castle just about every day. Celestia purposefully kept him away from Raven. Yes, she foresaw this exact incident occurring in her mind. He may be family, but he is a massive, self-centered stallion that looks down on anypony not born of royal or pure blood.
Cadance growled as her anger and stress levels grew. “Oh, shut up Blueblood!” she spat. “You can be a real jerk, you know that!”
The young stallion rolled his eyes at the remark. “You’re one to talk, you winged pest!” Though his tone was professional, his words carried their weight. Cadance reeled back. Yes, she may have been a pegasus before her ascension but she didn't deserve to be treated like anything less than a pony. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Yes, any reference such as featherhead/brain, winged pest, flying rat, pigeon, anything representing a bird that was focused towards a pegasus, was very insulting. They, and earth ponies alike, were looked down upon before the unification of the tribes by unicorns, even then, some still looked down on ‘mud ponies and winged pests’.
Blueblood was no exception…
“Hey!” Sunset shouted while taking a step towards the stallion and holding up a clenched fist. “You’re a real ass! You know that!?” Not the best comeback considering Cadance used the same line with 'nicer' wording. She may have been smarter than the average filly, but Sunset needed some work on the defense department.
The stallion snorted as his nose wrinkled. “Do not compare me to those ugly things that call themselves worthy of living here. They all need to be taken from the land and dumped with those cat things across the pond.”
Griffons…
There would be war if a single griffin ever heard that sentence.
“And don’t get me started on those filthy inbreeds they make with ponies!” he continued. “I wish auntie Tia would just banish them all!” He turned his attention back to Sunset. “Oh, who am I kidding you filthy ingrate! Thinking you are worthy of my aunt’s time! You should just go back to your mother! Oh wait…” Sunset gasped loudly, her jaw dropping as tears welled up in her eyes. All Raven could do was listen in horror as he finished his statement. “...She’s dead. Too bad.”
Raven watched the two crying mares, her two crying friends with bated breath and a limp jaw. She had to do something! Her jaw clenched as a memory seemed to creep in.
***
Voices. Insults as she laid strapped to a table, her drugged up mind twisting what she was hearing. “They are nothing but animals. Demon spawn of the Void,” a voice spoke. Male. “You saw the recording, Margulis. They are nothing but animals!”
“They’re children,” a second replied. Female. “They need someone to love them! Haven’t they been through enough!?”
“They are nothing but monsters,” the male voice replied. “Either make the Ten-0 work. Or you will pay for your insolence, Margulis.”
Footprints faded away as Raven turned her head to the right. A young boy, what appeared to be a few years older than her, struggled against his binds. He yelled and screamed in defiance, but no words came to her ears. She rolled her head to the left, looking back into the blinding light in front of her. A shadow of a human appeared. “Do not worry, you are safe with me…”
***
Raven was already moving before she knew what was happening. She approached the stallion with a purpose. Blueblood watching her with little interest. “And what do you want you hairless-” Raven silenced him by smashing her cane into his right knee. The stallion screamed out in agony, his leg buckling as he reached for it with both hands. Before he could land on the floor, Raven grabbed him by the horn. He yelped when she lifted him by the appendage. “Release me you freak! Wait until auntie-”
His breathing hitched in his throat. Stoic, Raven examined his light blue eyes with her one good, white one. He wanted to look away, he couldn’t look away. All he could see was horror, pain, suffering… and death.
He screamed. He screamed at the top of his lungs at the sheer horror that lived inside this child. His hands wrapped around Raven’s, his legs kicking wildly in an attempt gain a footing in an attempt to flee. All of it in vain. He was terrified beyond recognition. An inner, primal fear overtook him and it screamed for him to run and hide. Ponies outside the castle, several stories and blocks below stopped to listen at what sounded like a virgin filly achieving her first orgasm.
Clearly not the case to the two mares watching the panicking stallion.
Each breath released a scream. He had never, in the entire history of Equestria, witnessed so much death and suffering. It paled in comparison to his mocking insults. It was pure, unadulterated horror. He saw faces, names, bodies and the blood they shed upon the earth upon their death. It was nauseating and gruesome. Tears rolled down his face like a raging river he was crying so hard. He wailed out in fear, begging the gods above to take this demon away!
When she felt like he had suffered enough, she released her grip on his horn. Blueblood landed on the floor, limp as a sack of potatoes, immediately curling up into a ball.
Bending down, Raven pushed the whimpering excuse of a stallion onto his back. She removed his ridiculous tie and started working. To add insult to injury, Raven used his tie to gag him before she grabbed his tail and tied it to his horn. When she finished, she looked to Cadence and Sunset, both of which had watched in awe at Raven's display, even though she didn't do anything but stare the stallion into submission.
“Tape?” Raven requested.
After several seconds, the two girls regained their composure and Cadance closed her eyes and magicked a roll of duct tape forth. Raven took the tape and finished her work.
***
Celestia hummed a happy little tune to herself as she walked. Two guards and her personal assistant, Notepad, a young earth brown colored unicorn mare with a light grey mane following close behind. The day was coming to an end, all that was left was dinner, some paperwork, and Celestia could be off to bed. “How is your daughter doing, Notepad?” Celestia asked, breaking the silence.
The mare in question lifted her head from the clipboard she was examining. “You mean Raven? She’s doing wonderfully actually!” Notepad beamed with a smile. “She is looking forward to taking over for her mother.” She chuckled. “Makes me feel old…”
Celestia smiled at the thought. Raven Inkwell -not to get her confused with her Raven- was getting up there and ready to be an apprentice, and Notepad had already thought about retiring in the next ten or so years. Inkwell was a sweet girl, Celestia would be proud to have her on.
“She has been helping me at home with some of the simpler paperwork we have,” Notepad continued happily. “She really enjoys it! She keeps begging me… to… what in the world!?” Notepad yelled, her jaw dropping. She blinked once and widened her eyes.
Next to her, Celestia was under equal amounts of shock and horror, same with her guards. Just above them, hanging from a single piece of rope tied to one of the many lights in the hallway, her nephew, Prince Blueblood swung in a slow, counterclockwise circle. His eyes were red and cheek fur matted by tears. His tail was tied to his horn, his bow tie shoved in his mouth as a makeshift gag, and to top it all off, his legs and arms were hogtied behind his back with duct tape.
And a sign hung from his neck saying ‘I am a huge dick!’ in big bold letters.
Celestia immediately turned to her guards. “What are you waiting for!? Get him down!” Both stallions dropped their spears and tossed their shields, rushing to the young stallion’s aid.
***
“I am extremely disappointed in all of you!” Celestia boomed in the Royal Canterlot Voice at the three girls sitting in front of her. Once Blueblood was freed, it took some coaxing, but she was just barely able to get something out of him. Enough to figure out who did that to him. He was taken to the medical ward to be checked out, while Celestia stormed her way through the castle, gathering her student, niece and daughter and depositing all three of them in her room.
And… she… un… corked…
The tips of her mane and tail were alight with tiny flames and her eyes were slitted and bright orange, like some demonic cat or dragon. In a nutshell, she was pissed. Sunset and Cadance were terrified, both of them knew Celestia would never raise a hand to hurt them, she wasn't like that, but they were scared. Raven, for her part, just kind of sat there. She had been in worse scrapes. Even though in recent weeks that seemed to be a different case. Eh...
But she had killed for a lot less in the past.
To her, Blueblood got off, very, very, lucky.
She blew a man's leg off once because he seemed to know something. As she would find out, he knew nothing and was a waste of a mission to grab his sorry Grineer ass.
She shot him for having no use to her. So far in her life she had only been scared a few times in her life. Waking up the first time under the gaze of Captain Vor and his relic hunting team. The second was when Stalker pinned her to the floor, full intention of killing her, the fall before she landed in Celestia’s arms was next, and finally, when Celestia took her pistol.
Now that she thought about it, where was that thing?
Celestia slammed both her hands on her desk, the sound of the wood cracking and buckling. “How could you do such a thing!?” Sunset and Cadance flinched back, their eyes closing and ears splaying back. Both were actively sobbing. Celestia spun around. “How could you do that to your cousin Cadance!?”
“I-I-I’m sorry!” Cadance whaled.
“He… he insulted both of us!” Sunset choked out between sobs. “He-he…”
Sunset was unable to finish. The loss of her mother hit her hard and she never talked about it. Celestia was about to yell yet again before a soft, calm voice spoke out.
“Me…” all three heads snapped to Raven, who sat on Celestia’s bed. She showed no fear, no worry. All three examined her, waiting for a response. “Me. Idea.” She pointed at herself. “Me.”
Celestia’s temper seemed to state itself. The flames of anger on her mane died out and her eyes returned to their normal, round, magenta coloring. Even though Cadance and Sunset had participated in Blueblood's suffering, it indeed, was her idea. She cracked her cane on his knee and tied him up. It was all her idea. Celestia crossed her arms.
“You're grounded,” she finally said. Raven furrowed her brow and tilted her head. What does ‘you're grounded’ even mean? She didn't receive an explanation, Celestia had already turned to the other two fillies. “I’m sorry for acting the way I did. But I am very disappointed in both of you. Cadance, you're grounded for a week. Sunset, go home. I will inform your father and you will spend all of tomorrow writing an apology to Blueblood.” Celestia turned her attention to Cadance. “You too little missy.” Cadance’s gaze fell to the floor before she wiped her eyes with a sleeve.
“You may go…”
Cadance rose and stepped forward, hugging her aunt, who returned it before leaving. Sunset followed right behind her as they left the room, leaving mother and daughter to talk in private. Once they were out, Celestia turned to Raven. The larger mare stared down at the child, who in turn, just stared up. “You need to apologize to young lady!”
Raven furrowed her brow again and looked around the room for an answer before she leaned to the side, looking past Celestia. Rising from the chair she wandered over to Celestia’s desk and grabbed a sheet of parchment and quill. Raven quickly scribbled down her answer as best she could before holding it towards Celestia for her to take.
The mare stared at the sheet with an accusing eye before taking it gently.
I wil apoligise for the cane. Othervise I regert nothing.
Celestia reeled back, and no, not because of the horrible spelling, she was shocked. “You of all fillies should know respect by now!” she chastised.
Raven shrugged before taking the sheet again.
Ony when deseirved.
Celestia sighed. What was she going to do with this filly? “Only when deserved huh?” she quietly asked. Raven only nodded. Trust and respect were one of the only binding forces that Tenno had left. Whether it be clan-mate or a random, they were brothers and sisters in arms.
Honor, as a way of life.
It showed here. Blueblood lacked respect, meaning he deserved none. Treat her friends like pigs, you deserve to look like one. The mare rubbed her face with her hand. “Unfortunately, I foresaw this. I will talk to your nephew, but I do expect you to apologize.” Celestia released her face with a light groan. A long day just continued to get longer and longer. “You are still in trouble though. But we can discuss your punishment tomorrow. For now, we’re going to get dinner and you are going to go to bed. We have a long day tomorrow.” Celestia pointed at Raven. “And you have a doctor’s appointment in the morning!”
Raven tensed up. She was not looking forward to that at all!
***
Raven's eyes fluttered open. She was greeted by the white ceiling of her room. Drowsy, she groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. The sheet fell from her upper body and landed on her lap as she looked around the room through blurry eyes. Once she rubbed the sleep away she yawned loudly.
“Ah, you’re awake!”
Her yawn hitched in her throat. That voice, it sounded very familiar. That female voice! Where had she heard it before!? Slowly, she lowered her arms and turned her head to the right. In the doorway, of what was not her room at the castle, stood a feminine figure. She was draped from head to toe in bright white and golden silk garb. Panic welled up Raven’s chest. “Celestia?” she asked. “Where are you!?”
The figure stepped into the room, followed by two other figures, both in long white lab coats. All the faces she saw seemed to be blurred out, like a censored video. But that matter little, where was Celestia!? Where was mom!? “Celestia!? Where are you!?” she screamed, turning in every direction for the fur covered woman.
A hand grabbed her shoulder from behind, causing Raven to turn and look at it. She stared at it for several seconds before slapping it away and turning towards the figure. “Get off of me! Where is my mother? Where is Celestia!?”
Silence permeated between Raven and the three figures. For several seconds, no one talked.
“...Dead.”
Raven gasped. What? No, it couldn't be true, it wasn’t true! Raven lunged forward and grabbed the female by the collar of her dress. “What did you do to her!?” A prick to her shoulder forced her to look down.
A large needle attached to a syringe of something slowly emptied into her body.
She felt lightheaded as the drugs took effect. Her grip weakened and faltered as she released the figure. Raven was grabbed from behind by someone or something and pulled backwards, her limp body unable to resist. All she could do was watch the ceiling as the doctors -no, her captors- worked.
They strapped her to the bed before wheeling both her and the bed out of her bedroom. She watched as light after light passed overhead for who knows how long.
Her drug fueled mind was unable to process anything but what she saw. Her head rolled to the side when a large, round door opened. As she was wheeled through, all she could see were tools, medical tools.
Instruments of death…
Passing through the threshold, she could hear the screams of the tortured and the tormented. All around her children screamed out in agony. Many were poked and prodded with needles while others were dissected like a frog. The stench of death graced her nostrils like a plaque. She felt sick. Horrified even. Boys and girls screamed for their parents, begged for their freedom, and wanted nothing more than for the pain and suffering to end.
She came to a squealing halt before she was lifted, bed and all onto another table. She glanced down at herself, she was in her one piece Zaramin outfit. Two straps holding her down, one across her chest and arms, another binding her legs.
She needed to get away.
But the drugs running through her system made her dizzy and weak. She went to lift an arm, but the strap held firm. A hand laid itself on her chest, seeming to halt her poorly attempted escape. Looking up, she saw the same, blank canvas of a face looking down at her. “I’m sorry Raven,” she said softly, apologetically. “But this has to be done.”
As the figure backed away, a large metallic arm took her place. Raven stared at it with confusion as it came closer, the light blinding part of it. But once it came into view, Raven went stiff. She struggled against her binds in a panic, any attempt to free herself was all in vain. She grunted and groaned, tears welling up in her one good eye. “No… NO NO NO!” The arm continued its advance. “Please!?” her pleas fell on deaf ears. The end of the arm was about to reach its target. There, on the end…
Was a very large needle.
Attached to the needle was a vial of blue and orange fluid. It was disgusting. Whatever it was she didn’t want that in her body! Raven screamed out in agony when the needle pierced her skin. She could feel the needle drain into her body, the cold, viscous fluid entering her bloodstream. She felt like she was going to vomit. The needle emptied itself after several seconds before pulling away, the now warm steel of the needle leaving her skin with nothing but a small puncture hole lift in its wake. Next, she could have never predicted...
Pain, unbearable pain…
She passed out not long after…
***
“Princess! Wake up! Princess!” Raven’s eye snapped open and she shot up like a bat out of hell. Out of reflex she clenched her fist and threw a punch at the voice, her knuckles connecting with the muzzle of the guard trying to wake her. His head reeled back as he grabbed his muzzle. Raven gasped and covered her mouth with both hands, shocked by what she did.
The stallion groaned as he clutched his muzzle, trickles of blood oozing from between his clenched fingers. “What is going on in here?” a female voice called from the door before a grey unicorn guardsmare stepped through. She gasped when she saw the stallion with the bleeding nose. Glancing at Raven, the girl just shook her head side to side. The mare turned her head to the stallion. “What did you do!?” she yelled.
He groaned. “I think she was having a nightmare,” the stallion admitted, his voice muffled and nasal sounding. “She punched me out of reaction… I guess I had that coming…”
She continued to watch the stallion before she sighed. “...Let me see.”
As the two worked, Raven noticed that she was soaked in sweat. Her sleeping tank top and light pink panties were slightly darkened and moist from all her sweating. She was going to need a shower…
The stallion soon got his bleeding nose under control with the help of his partner while Raven took a quick shower. When she was dressed, the guardsmare and her toilet papered partner escorted Raven to the medical wing. When she saw the familiar area, she was shaking like a leaf in the wind. Her nightmare was fresh in her mind.
What set that off? And why did that place and that voice sound so familiar? As her mind wandered, she failed to see how much she was shaking. Her legs were shaking so much that they buckled. She fell with a yelp. But no pain came when she stopped just a foot from the floor.
Slowly and gently, she was lifted back to her feet. A seconds later, she was wrapped in a white blanket of fur. Looking up past the bosom of the owner, she was greeted with the worried face of Celestia.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She had never been so grateful to see her mother in her entire life! She buried her face in her mother's cleavage and chest fluff as she sobbed loudly. She didn't want to be here, she wanted to go anywhere but here! “No! Nonono! Leave!”
Celestia was shocked. Here was her child, sobbing, begging to leave. What happened? Confused, she did the first thing that came to mind, which was comfort Raven. Both her wings unfurled as she wrapped herself and her child with them. “What happened?” she asked her guards.
The two guards glanced at each other. The stallion -who still had toilet paper in his nostrils- spoke. “She appeared to have a nightmare.”
“Judging by the reaction,” the female guard added, looking away from the stallion and towards Celestia. “I think she has a healthy fear of the doctor.”
Celestia sighed…
For the next hour, Raven received a less than pleasant checkup. Her vitals were checked, she received x-rays and various other tests that she didn't like. She was stripped to her underwear and checked over by Doctor Cross. Her weight and height were taken, she got a cold stethoscope to the abdomen, her reflexes were tested again, and she had a thing attached to her arm that constricted it and made it go numb for several seconds. But what came last was the one thing she did not want.
A blood sample.
Raven was so afraid of the needle and blood bag that she held Celestia’s wing between her and Doctor Cross. After what happened the night before, she soon learned that she had a healthy fear of needles. It took a lot of coaxing and convincing from both the doctor and Celestia but Raven finally relented and handed over a half a pint of blood, being told that further testing was needed.
“Alright, Doctor Ray and I will take a look at this tonight,” Red Cross said as she removed the bag of blood from the stand before looking at Celestia. “We’ll look and see if her medication is working." She turned to Raven, who was droopy-eye and borderline losing consciousness. “I’ll have the results here real soon.”
“Thank you Cross,” Celestia said. She lifted Raven with her magic and placed her in her arms bridle style. As soon as Raven felt she was safe, she curled up a little tighter and held firmly onto Celestia's dress and arm. “I’ll see you when I see the reports?”
“Most likely.”
Celestia nodded in affirmation before turning and leaving the room. “I think it's time to a nap sweetie.”
Raven nodded lethargically.