Celestia of Equestria's tonic experiment

by Acologic


Day XI

Celestia was tired – so very, very tired. Her nose burned, her body ached, and her brain was pulsing horribly, like a high-speed heart inside her head. These last few days had been miserable. Cadence had done her best, as had the doctors. But no matter how hard anypony tried, Celestia’s condition wasn’t improving. She was close to death, apparently. Well, she didn’t think so, but the way Luna looked at her . . . she could almost believe it then. She smiled. All would change, however, for she knew now how to recover.

‘Tirek,’ she said at once after plunging into T-Kam. Tirek, Luna and Cadence all stared. Celestia blushed. She supposed she looked quite silly – her likeness was complete with bed and sleeping cap.

‘Celestia!’ Tirek sounded . . . happy. Happy to see her. Celestia frowned. Cadence looked close to tears, and Luna was pale as snow.

‘What?’ said Celestia.

‘Really, Tia,’ said Cadence, wiping her eyes. ‘We’ve missed you! We thought – well, we thought –’

‘I’m fine,’ lied Celestia. ‘Don’t worry about me.’

She glanced at Luna, then looked away. Luna had reached her edge – Celestia could tell. Despite all the feisty horn-measuring, Luna was a sister who cared perhaps too deeply about her kin. And Celestia felt guilty – she felt hers was the fault that Luna was the way she was. She hastily cleared her throat.

‘Tirek,’ she said again. ‘I know what’s causing my illness. Your drink . . . you’ve got to –’

She winced, then turned to Cadence and Luna. ‘I had the dream again – and this time I remember.’

‘And?’ said Luna anxiously. ‘What happened? What did you see?’

‘Warehouse fifteen,’ said Celestia, and Cadence gasped. Tirek raised a brow.

‘Isn’t that where you keep Granny’s tonic under lock and key?’ he asked uncertainly.

Celestia nodded, her cap flapping. ‘Exactly. And on the containers there are graffitied the words “Torment” and “Celestia”.’

There was a long pause.

‘Now, I know what you’re going to say. I know it was just a dream, but –’

‘You think it’s a vision,’ said Luna, ‘and you want us to check it out. Cadence? Let’s move!’

‘Not so fast!’ said Celestia, touched that Luna had believed her so readily. ‘That’s not all that I saw. In the dream I walked past one container filled with leaflets – heaps and heaps of papers jumbled together.’ She licked her lips and continued, ‘I don’t know how I know, but I do – one of these papers speaks of a totem ritual.’

Cadence gasped so audibly that her likeness flickered. ‘You – you can’t be –’

‘Certain,’ said Celestia. ‘Yes. This is no ordinary sickness. You know what this vision is. You know what a totem ritual means. I should have known.’

Tirek looked flummoxed.

‘What the heck are you on?’ he said. ‘What’s a totem ritual? What’s this all about?’

Celestia did not respond. ‘Cadence, please go. Warehouse fifteen. Second crate from the back. You’ll know it when you see it.’

Luna stepped forwards. ‘I’m going too.’

‘No!’ Celestia shook her head. ‘You’re staying here. I need somepony to take care of me, after all.’

Luna’s expression softened.

‘But,’ said Celestia, and Cadence faltered. ‘Before any of us goes, Tirek must have his tonic.’

‘What?’ said Cadence and Luna together, just as Celestia had predicted they would.

‘Sister, you know perfectly well what this is!’ snarled Luna. ‘This is black-market-magic! Are you mad?’

‘Perhaps,’ said Celestia. ‘But you forget we’ve a bet on – and I shan’t be losing, Luna, let me tell you.’

‘The bet’s off,’ said Luna at once. ‘You win. I quit.’

‘Request denied,’ said Celestia, smiling. ‘We’re sisters. This is how it works. Tirek?’

Tirek pushed his tankard to the edge of his FoodRock and sat down, crossing his arms and legs. ‘I won’t touch it until you tell me what’s going on.’

Celestia sighed. ‘Look, Tirek, just drink the tonic. I promise I’ll tell you everything – just not right now.’

‘When?’

Celestia turned to Cadence. ‘How long will you take?’

‘For this?’ said Cadence. ‘A day at most. I will fly as fast as possible.’

‘Good. There’s your answer, Tirek. Tomorrow I will explain everything – so long as it works.’

‘So long as what works?’ said Tirek furiously. ‘What’s going on?’

Celestia’s patience snapped.

‘Just drink it!’ she bellowed.

Tirek stared at her long and hard. Then he raised his tankard and drained its contents, smacking his lips. Celestia winced. Both Luna and Cadence looked more worried than ever.

‘Good,’ wheezed Celestia. ‘Excellent. Luna, with me. Cadence?’

They shared a look.

‘Good luck.’

‘To you too,’ said Cadence, nodding. ‘I will not fail.’

All three princesses pulled out of T-Kam.