//------------------------------// // Meeting the Princesses // Story: Fly Like You // by Jinzou //------------------------------// "Feeling better?" Spike asked, concerned, as Twilight sleepily brushed her hair in her vanity. It was extremely shoddily crafted, and was supposed to resemble her cutie mark, but looked more like a miserable blob. It was Shining Armor's gift for her for her birthday after making it into Celestia's school, made of course with both their parent's help. "Mmmn." Twilight replied, half awake. Truth be told, she had barely slept last night, and when she did, she was tossing and turning endlessly. At some points, she had even unconsiously kicked Spike, curled up in a ball at the end of the bed, clean off. Noticing Twilight's apparent turmoil though, Spike elected not to bring it up. "I'll take that as a no." Spike figured. "Want to talk about it now?" Spike had seen Twilight getting frantic over seemingly small things, but usually she looked better in the morning, or after several hours spent pacing and plotting. This Twilight just looked... dead. She had bags under her eyes, her mane and tail were at an unprecedented level of unkempt for her, and her gait had turned more into a shuffle, as if she was swaying on a boat. "Mnn nmm." Twilight replied. There came a sudden knock on the door. "Twi, you in there?" Called Rainbow Dash through the door. "We're all ready to head out when you are!" Twilight didn't respond, just turned to regard Spike with bloodshot eyes. "Uh, we'll be out in a minute, guys! Twilight is still getting ready!" Spike called out in response. He then turned to Twilight and after a moment's consideration, grabbed the slow moving brush from her and quickly smoothed out Twilight's mane and tail for her. "Mmfhanks." Twilight mumbled. "Listen, I'll make sure the room is set, why don't you go splash your face with some water and try and wake up a bit more?" Spike suggested. Watching Twilight slowly amble out of the room, Spike got to work tidying up the room. They hadn't brought anything with them, so making the bed was the only real thing Spike had to do. Five minutes later Spike and Twilight, who was now looking far more awake and speaking complete words, made their way downstairs to say their goodbyes to Night Light and Twilight Velvet. "Geez Twi, you look awful." Rainbow joked as the alicorn made her way into the kitchen with everyone else. Twilight looked down. "Thanks, Rainbow." "Oh..." Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "I was just joking Twi, are you okay?" "I feel like a million bits." Twilight snarked dryly, then yawned. She went over and pulled her parents each into a hug. "Thanks for having us. It was great seeing you all again." "Twilight, honey, are you-" Velvet started, only to be stopped abruptly by a look from Twilight. "Is it about... Oh. Oh. I'm sorry dear. Do you want anything? A muffin? Coffee?" Twilight opened her mouth to refuse when Spike butted in. "I think she'd love some coffee." Twilight turned to glare at Spike, but lacked the energy to put any actual anger behind it. Instead she just walked over to the table and slumped onto it. Velvet nodded smartly and began brewing some coffee and a snack for Twilight as everyone else stood around awkwardly, not knowing how to approach this. Spike scratched his head and walked over to Scootaloo, nudging her and gesturing to Twilight with his eyes. Scootaloo shrugged and Spike gestured again. "Twilight... what's wrong?" Scootaloo put on her best sad face as she walked to the mare. Accosted unfairly by the filly's puppy eyes, Twilight's face softened and she gave off a small smile. "It's nothing Scootaloo. I just didn't sleep well last night. Nothing's wrong." Twilight lied. Scootaloo seemed to believe it though, as she gave off a relieved sigh. Velvet levitated a steaming cup of coffee over to Twilight, who grabbed it, blew on it gently, and took a sip. She let off a sincere smile and straightened up. "Okay, so the sun was just raised recently, and since Luna wanted to meet us, we should probably get to the castle soon before Luna retires for the day." Everyone else smiled, seeing Twilight returned to somewhat of her usual state. Turning to Scootaloo, Twilight continued. "Scootaloo, do you know why Princess Luna requested to see you?" To everyone's surprise, Scootaloo let out a giggle. "I have an idea, but I don't want to ruin the surprise!" Rainbow Dash and Twilight gave each other confused glances. Three ponies and one dragon made their way to the throne room, where Celestia stood regally. Everyone but Twilight bowed. Twilight happily yelled out "Princess Celestia" and went to embrace the older alicorn. "Twilight! It's wonderful to see you! But what are you doing here?" Celestia queried. Rainbow Dash and Twilight shared looks. Sure, Luna had requested them, but surely she would inform her sister? It would surely be something that involved both of them? "I believe I can answer that, sister." Came a voice from behind everybody. Everyone turned to face Luna, a small smile on her face. "I called them here." "Auntie Luna!" Scootaloo gasped happily and flew over to the princess, throwing her a hug, which Luna gladly returned. "Scootaloo! How is my favorite filly?" Luna beamed. "Auntie Luna?" Twilight mouthed to Rainbow Dash, who just shrugged, as clueless as Twilight. "I'm great!" Scootaloo chirped. "Any luck with that thing we talked about?" "Much luck! Everything is so much better now!" Luna exclaimed. "And before I forget, I have things to show you!" Luna gently nuzzled the base of her mane. Twilight and Rainbow Dash jumped slightly as an opposum crawled out and up Luna's neck, grabbing onto her horn and regarding Scootaloo curiously. "Meet Tibbles! Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?" Luna let out a small squee. Scootaloo blinked a couple times. "He sure is!" She smiled. "OH!" Luna gasped, eyes lighting up. "Speaking of which, I made you something!" Luna charged up a teleportation spell, and teleported a mass of metal to the area in front of Scootaloo. It looked like... armor? "I wanted to make something to show you I was in a much better headspace regarding the whole Nightmare Moon thing after getting some help, so I... well... made you a Nightmare Night costume of her made with the actual armor." Luna rubbed her foreleg with her other foreleg. "Do you like it?" Scootaloo's jaw dropped. She got to work putting the costume on. There was a headpiece adorned with a fake horn, a chestplate with fake wings, and horseshoes. It fit perfectly. Scootaloo stared up at Luna with big wet eyes, absolutely speechless. "I'll take that as yes?" Luna chuckled. Scootaloo nodded slowly, still working with the fact that she was personally awarded a gift by the Princess of the Night. All she had done is offer her hoof in friendship to somebody who clearly needed it. She wasn't expecting this. Snapping out of her daze, she bound over to Twilight and Rainbow Dash, showing off her new costume. "Rainbow, Twilight! Check out what Luna made me!" She beamed. Staring down at the excited filly, Twilight had to cover her mouth with a hoof to prevent an audible "aww" from escaping. You know, maybe today is gonna be much better than I thought it would be. "Good morning! Ready for today's session?" Ice Pack chirped, swinging open the door telekinetically. She blinked rapidly as she regarded the seemingly empty room. But... Thunder Chaser couldn't walk yet. Did he get moved to another section? No, she would be alerted if that had happened. Had somebody taken him against regulations? Her racing mind was put at ease as she felt something forcefully strike the side of her head from behind. Crumpling to the floor, Ice Pack was out like a light. Thunder stepped over her body and left the room shakily. Unfurling and folding his wings experimentally, Thunder grinned. Due to the hospital wing he was in being reserved for ponies that couldn't get around on their own, the prison had never bothered installing bars on the windows. And due to a little ploy, faking the recovery coming much slower than it realistically was, he had just cemented a way out. Eyeing the inside of the room he had come to call his own, he noticed a wooden chair the doctors would often sit on to talk to him. Perfect. He grabbed the chair in his teeth and hurled it at a nearby window until it broke with a resounding shatter. This is going to be even easier than I expected. With a huff, a leap, and a flap, Thunder Chaser took off into the night.