Cadence rubbed her eyes and yawned. Celestia was mumbling in her sleep again. She had been all day. Cadence knew because that was where she’d spent the last six hours – by Celestia’s bedside. She didn’t have to stay so long, but she wanted to. Because things were bad and couldn’t be allowed to worsen. And although Cadence was no doctor, even she understood the significance of what appeared to be the mother of all fevers. She mopped Celestia’s brow.
Cadence had suffered a conflict of interest that day. One half of the world wanted her to fill in for its absent monarch, and the other demanded she leave Canterlot and focus on the problems affecting home. Shining Armour, for example, had messaged her earlier, with more bad news. A small yet growing number of imperial subjects feeling mistreated had thrown an anti-despotism demonstration in an outlying village. Her presence, Shining Amour kept saying, was required. But she couldn’t go. Not now. Not when Celestia so obviously needed help.
She plunged into T-Kam. Tirek and Luna looked up.
‘Any change?’ asked Tirek expectantly, and his face fell when Cadence shook her head.
‘She’s lying in bed, muttering to herself. Delirious. And she’s burning up – a fever the likes of which I’ve never seen. It isn’t pretty.’
Luna seemed to crumple. She stumbled momentarily, then righted herself.
‘It’s up to me, then,’ she said hoarsely. ‘There’s a spell . . . I’ve been thinking about it today. It requires pre-meditation and preparation.’ She gulped. ‘And it isn’t simple. It’s very taxing. But . . . I think it’ll heal her, and that’s what we want.’
Cadence shook her head. ‘Absolutely not. You know your sister would never allow you to put yourself at risk like that – not for anypony’s sake.’
‘Cadence,’ said Luna stubbornly, ‘you will not stop me. I’ve made my decision.’
Luna made ready to pull out of T-Kam, but Tirek shouted, ‘Wait!’
He frowned. ‘Taxing, you say? Well, I’m a magical being too, you know. There isn’t anything I can’t mess around with – and if this spell needs a bit of extra juice . . .’
‘No!’ said Cadence, stomping. ‘You won’t! Neither of you! Have you lost your minds? It’s not as if she’s dying!’
‘But what if she is?’ retorted Luna angrily. ‘You know better than most the state she’s in! Come on, do you honestly believe this is normal? If her affliction is magical, then we require magic to cure it. And I’m willing to take whatever risk comes with the territory.’
‘I can’t believe I’m saying this,’ muttered Tirek, ‘but so am I.’
‘Wait!’ said Cadence desperately as Luna stretched out a hoof. ‘Wait! Don’t go! Not yet! Let’s – let’s talk about this! Please!’
‘What more is there to discuss?’ said Luna with exasperation. ‘I’m going now!’
And her likeness fizzled and vanished.
‘Great!’ Cadence stomped again. ‘Just great! And what do you think you’re doing?’
For Tirek was reaching for his tankard.
‘Well, I’m having my tonic.’
‘Seriously? Now?’
‘Celestia would want me to.’
‘She’s trying to kill you!’ said Cadence, and she let loose a giggling sob. ‘And yet you still wish to drink it?’
Tirek nodded, his eyes glinting passionately. ‘Yes.’
He downed his tankard and wiped his mouth, breathing heavily.
‘Best get up there now,’ he said, ‘and stop Luna. Go on.’
Still shaking her head in disbelief, Cadence pulled out of T-Kam. Just in time too, for the doors to Celestia’s bedroom were flung open and Luna marched in.
‘Don’t!’ said Cadence, holding up a hoof.
‘She’s my sister!’ snarled Luna. ‘I’ll do as I please!’
‘Luna . . .’
Both Cadence and Luna blinked. Celestia was awake.
Luna shoved past Cadence and kneeled beside the bed, shaking. ‘Sister?’
Celestia coughed and managed to croak, ‘I had the most peculiar dream . . .’