//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Halo: Celestium // by Regis-Th3-Lesser //------------------------------// On the Backhoof Spike huffed while dragging his stubby legs as hard as he could. Even with the world ending, Twilight found a way to bring absolutely everything she needed, and then some. He didn’t see the point when she would strip every last book in the Crystal Empire’s library for study into how the heart is linked to these sentinels the Princesses keep talking about. Ever since she mentioned them, he imagined some super Alicorn robot things…? He didn’t know how to explain it, but it had something to do with an entire army of Celestia and Luna's replacements flying around. Maybe he was more shaken by the last two days than he thought. As they neared the entrance, Rarity came galloping towards them in a flustered panic. Her face was full nude for the first time that either of them had seen. She nearly skidded to a halt before them before gasping, “Twilight! Are you leaving?”, while looking her deep enough in the eye that their snouts nearly touched. “Yes… wait- how did you know?” She tilted her head and flopped one ear over. “I was at the hospital with Pinkie when she just randomly shouted “TWILIGHT’S GOING TO SEE SHINING ARMOR!” before going back to talking with that… macabre and frankly disrespectful Rainbow Ball puppet,” She blinked a bit, knowing how ridiculous that sounded, but in terms of Pinkie it was expected. Twilight shifted her eyes around and down at Spike whose head was the only thing to be seen from under the mountain of stuff. “Twilight… Rarity spoke gently yet firmly as a small frown creased her tired brow. “I know l-losing Rainbow hit us all in different ways… and I know that when something tragic happens, you close yourself off,” She was now glaring angrily directly in her eye. “But how COULD you leave without coming to see us!” Twilight felt the pain in her deep within her stomach as she shied away from Rarity. “We’ve all been worried about you…” “I’m sorry… I-I was just… I was in more pain than I realized and I poured that pain into my books…” She sheepishly admitted while avoiding Rarity’s judgmental gaze.  “And I don’t expect anything different, Twilight…” Rarity relented and gently tapped her shoulder. “But, you should come to see us before you go… we’ve missed you…”  She sniffled, whimpered, and nodded. The walk to the clinic was a sloe anxiety-inducing trek. Spike had already seen Applejack, in fact, he was the one who took her to the doctor. But the others were all together with a mystery to both of them.  They were greeted by the clinic receptionist with a big bright smile. She knew who they were and why they were there. So, she called a young mare to lead them through the halls and corridors to the back where Fluttershy lay on the bed, eyes blank and her fur pale along with Applejack at her side and Pinkie with her Rainbow Ball.  The first one to notice her was the rainbow Ball that eerily sat atop a stick jutting out of Pinkie’s mane. “She is?” Pinkie whipped her head around nearly knocking the ball off before her frazzled gaze fell on Twilight. “She is here!” Pinkie squealed before tackling Twilight so hard they were nothing but a pink-lavender blur.  Twilight’s chest throbbed from the impact, but she let Pinkie hug it out even if her Rainbow ball was staring right into her soul. She tried to avert her eyes, but all she could think of was the swarm and the dreams to follow. Thankfully, she felt Pinkie’s grip relenting as Rarity walked by.  “Let her breathe, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity gently admonished while lifting Pinkie in her magic. Twilight clutched her chest with a choked off cough before rubbing her throat tenderly. “Where have you been?” She squeaked with a happy and nearly broken smile. “Fluttershy was real’lly sick for a few days but she’s better!” She croaked out like a broken squeaker toy. Twilight looked a bit horrified before her expression twisted to a bit of a confused frown. “What do you mean?” “Come this way…” Rarity set Pinkie down. Twilight followed with trepidation and anxiety. The way the spoke about Fluttershy made her stomach lurch with fear. She looked to her dragon for solace but he too marched after Rarity with a deep pit in his stomach.  Once they entered the room, Applejack sat next to her with a scooter to support her casted leg. She was pale but held string to Fluttershy’ hoof. Her ear Twitched when the curtains moved. Whipping her head around she lazily focused on Twilight and smiled as much as she could.  “There y’all are,” She chuckled. “I’m glad to see yer still standin’ strong Twi…”  Twilight gulped a bit, rummaging through what she could say.“I… I— I’m glad to see that you’re all okay. And I’m so sorry I’ve been locking myself away!” She sniffled a bit while wiping her eyes.  “Don’t apologize…” Rarity wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and a reassuring touch up of Twilight’s bangs. “You look absolutely dreadful, Darling,” she teased.  “I have been,” Twilight groaned out. She took a moment to regain her composure until she found Fluttershy’s sleepy turquoise eyes locked on her. “Fluttershy…?”  She perked up a bit and shook her head while pointing to her ears. “Wait… you’re! She’s?” Twilight asked with a whimper.  “Y-Yeah…” Applejack coughed. “That explosion popped her ears. She can’t tell a peep anymore…”  Just like that, the true gravity of the situation hit. Pinkie was whispering to a Rainbow Dash doll and giggling while Fluttershy lay deaf and Applejack seemed waylaid by fatigue.  “This… this shouldn’t be happening…” Twilight shook her head before curling into her haunches.  “Twilight…?” Spike kneeled at her side with a gentle hand to comfort her.  “This is too much…” She whimpered “Why would this happen? How can we win against them!” “You fight!” Applejack coughed out. She slowly scooted over to Twilight and gently moved Rarity aside. “Twilight… you are gonna figure this out. I could never tell how, but you and only you can find a way to beat them nasty little things!”  “B-But look at us! I can only do this with my friends and R-Rainbow—” “Rainbow would be here wonderin’ why were even talkin’ about kickin’ the flood down to size. She’d have flown halfway back to them Changelings by now!” She used what strength she had to lift Twilight up. With a square look in the eye, Twilight took a breath of determination. “Fight, Twilight. Fight for us.” “I will!” Twilight nodded with a flare of her wings. “Are you with me Spike?” “Y-Yeah!” Spike squeaked out. “One hundred and ten percent!” “Dashie said go give them he- oop! That’s a bad word Rainbow,” Pinkie tittered at the ball while Rarity watched with a disapproving yet defeated grimace. “I’ll come with you as well Twilight,” Rarity said while shaking her head at Pinkie. “I’ll be as much help as I can.” “Thank you...  Will you guys be okay?” “Don’t worry Sugarcube,” Applejack waved. “I’ll keep these two in check.” “I love all of you, I promise I’ll fix this,” She nodded her determination steeled and poised to fight back against the invaders who’ve made themselves at home.