//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: "After the Procedure" // Story: Princess Celestia gets a Colonoscopy // by twilightsparkle3562 //------------------------------// When Celestia opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by curtains in a large recovery room. But, she wasn't alone. "Sister," she heard a voice that belonged to Luna calling out to her. "Sister! Wake up! It's over." "Where…where…?" Celestia tried to say in a groggily voice thanks to the anesthetic. "Shh, lie still now," Luna whispered. "The procedure is over. You've just been brought here to recover. Dr. Crohn's should be here any minute with the results." At that moment, the curtains pulled back and Dr. Crohn's came inside with several folders in his aura. Celestia weakly raised her head upon him entering. "Princess Celestia," he said in a tender voice. "How are you feeling?" "Tired," she whispered, still feeling groggy due to the medication. "It's going to take a few hours before the anesthetic wears off," he said. "So, I've got some good news and bad news for you. The good news is that we had found some pre-cancerous polyps in your stomach that we managed to remove." Hearing that there were pre-cancerous polyps in Celestia's stomach sent a chill down Luna's spine, despite the fact that they were removed. "The bad news is that we found that you do indeed have irritable bowel syndrome," he continued. "So, what I have decided to do is to have you start taking these every 30 minutes before every meal." He then proceeded to write up a prescription on a piece of parchment, handing it over for Luna to take. "What I have prescribed for you is what is called Hycocomine Sulf. These pills will help you in prevent stomach cramps and allow you to eat normally. But, I also recommend you find a way to control your stress levels, Princess Celestia." "How…do…you…" "Remember what I said to you about having us take a break at some point?" reminded Luna. "That's actually not a bad idea," suggested Dr. Crohn's. "I personally think that might do you some good in the long run. I would start planning right away and let somepony else fill in for you, maybe Princess Twilight, perhaps?" "That's what I suggested," replied Luna in a somewhat firm voice. "In the meantime, I think we should we schedule a follow up. What do you think, Dr. Crohn's?" "I think we should schedule one in a few days," he suggested. "I'd like to see how you are doing with the medicine and I would also recommend possibly having a colonoscopy every couple of months in case any more polyps form in your stomach." "Don't worry, we will be back," said Luna, looking over at Celestia. "In the meantime, I'll take my sister home." So, Celestia was escorted from the hospital and brought back to Canterlot castle. Once she arrived, Celestia was confined to her room. However, despite the fact that her sister did indeed have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Luna was still trying to comprehend the fact that Celestia had precancerous polyps in her system. … A few hours later, Luna went to check on her big sister, who was now clear of the anesthetic. "I see you're back to your normal self, Celestia," Luna remarked as she walked into the room. "How are you feeling?" "Glad to be over the hump," said Celestia, who took notice of the distressed look on her little sister's face. "You seem troubled, Luna." "Well, Dr. Crohn's discovered that you had…" However, Luna couldn't finish her sentence. "That I had what?" "Sister…you had precancerous polyps that were discovered in your stomach," said Luna, nervously. "I just can't help but think that…" Hearing this also brought a chill down Celestia's spine for she had no idea that there was cancer inside of her. "Luna, are you sure that I had cancer inside of me?" "Yes. You were too drugged by the anesthetic to hear properly, but you did have precancerous polyps that Dr. Crohn's was able to remove. Now, I hope you begin to see why I wanted you to get a colonoscopy, but you didn't listen to me and…" Luna couldn't finish her sentence as Celestia began to realize just how stubborn and how foolish she was. She tried to ignore the warnings that her body was giving her and that had she listened to her body sooner, then the outcome would have been a different one. "Luna," she sighed, motioning for her sister to come forward. "You were right, I should have listened to you, but I didn't. I just…I just didn't want to cause any unnecessary panic amongst our subjects, that's all." "But they would have panicked had you not gone through the colonoscopy, Celestia," cried Luna, stamping her foot down in frustration. "Don't you see, Celestia? Did you want our subjects to discover that you had cancer? What would the reaction have been like then, huh?" The more Luna rambled, the more foolish Celestia felt of her actions. "I..I guess you are right to be angry with me, Luna," she said, admitting her guilt. "I'm…just somepony who doesn't really take care of herself all that much. In a way, I feel…relieved to know those polyps had been removed from my stomach." "And you should feel relieved!" Luna retorted. "Sister, we've…been separated for 1,000 years and if you hadn't been treated, then it could have gotten to the point where we could have been separated forever." At that moment, Celestia rose from her bed and pulled Luna close to her, looking at her right in the face. "Luna, I want you to listen to me very closely," she said firmly and calmly. "This whole experience has been an eye opener for me that I need to start being aware of my overall health. I should have listened to you, but I didn't. Next time, if you feel like something is wrong with me and I am in denial about it, then you have to tell me and I will listen. I can't change the past, but I want you to know that I am sorry for not listening to you. I love you with all my heart, sister." Touched, Luna felt tears streaming down her and the younger princess of the night collapsed in her sister's forelegs, sobbing for relief and sobbing for being grateful that because of the colonoscopy, Celestia was in a much better situation than she could have been. … THE END