//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Steam Equestria // by StellaSteam //------------------------------// Twilight’s head was pounding, her eyelids were heavy. She struggled to open her eyes, and let out a soft groan from the pain in her head. There was sunlight filtering in through a window, she rolled over to try and stop the assault on her eyes. She found that she couldn’t really move all that much, slowly, she opened her eyes. Blinking a few times to help protect her eyes from the blinding light. She tried to move her body, but something or rather some pony was stopping her. She looked up to see an ashy grey earth pony mare wearing goggles with a few magnifying spectacles that can move. She had a stern look upon her face, her black mane pulled back into a tight bun. “Hold still, you have some slight head trauma.” She stated, looking into Twilights eyes. “Wha-what happened?” Twilight croaked, her throat being dry and scratchy. “You were found out in our hospitals ally, you as well as five other ponies, however what surprised us was a young purple dragon. Do you know him? He claims to know you.” She stated, as she checked the bandages on the lavender alicorn’s’ head. “Yeah, that’s my assistant and my adopted little brother. I hatched him when he was an egg for my entrance exam.” Twilight answered, before asking “May I have done water?” “Of course, he would like to see you so I will show him in after you answer a few more questions.” She stated then continued “I’m nurse Ash Heart.” “I’m Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight answered after chugging down her glass of water. The nurse paused, frozen in mid-step towards the charts at the end of the medical bed. Her light sapphire blue eyes widen and shrunk in. Her head slowly turned to look at the thirsty alicorn. “E-excuse me?” The nurse stammered. “Uh, I’m Twilight Sparkle? The Princess of Friendship? The embodied Element of Magic?” Twilight answered, confused, but trying to see if any of the titles rang a bell to the strange looking pony. “You’re the one of the lost Princesses.” Nurse Ash Heart murmured. “What?” Twilight asked, tilting her head to the side. “You're one of three lost princesses AND one of the lost element bearers.” Nurse Ash Heart answered slightly louder, still in shock. “Wait, one of three? Lost princesses? What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “Then those five other ponies are-!! Princess do you know how long you’ve been gone?” The nurse asked, concerned taking hold of her voice. “No, actually. What’s going on? How long HAVE we’ve been gone?” Twilight replied. “You have been gone for over 3,000 years! You’re practically legend! A living legend! Here! And I’m taking care of you!” The ashy pony gasped with excitement and astonishment. “3,000 years? But I was just there, we were just there! What’s going on? How is this even possible?” Twilight asked, urgency rising in her voice. The nurse opened her mouth to answer, then there were banging and thuds followed by someone calling out Twilight’s name. Twilight struggled, but successfully, sat up from her bed just as the door slammed open to reveal a familiar orange mare with a yellow mane pulled into a low pony tail. White freckles dotted her cheeks, and a dusty brown hat sat at the top of her head. It was Applejack. Just then Applejack leaned back into the hallway where she came from. “She’s in here!” The cowpony called out, before trotting in and going to twilights side. “Wait just a minute, you can’t be in here! You need rest too!” Nurse Ash Heart stated firmly while stopping her left front hoof. “Well ah’m sorry, but ah had to see if Twi was al’right.” AJ answered calmly to the nurse. “Twilight, you’re alright!” A soft voice chimed in, it was Fluttershy. Rarity was right behind her as they both walked in, making their way to the other side of the lavender alicorn’s bed. “As soon as we woke up, we asked where you were. Soon as we didn’t get an answer, we went to find you. Although the nurse uniforms are quite, er, interesting to look at, the nurses were no help at all!” Rarity stated, while giving a once over look to the ashy nurse. “There you are!” Shouted a fourth voice, followed by a pink blur pouncing on top of Twilight, giving her a bone crushing hug. Above Twilight was Rainbow Dash, and the blur was Pinkie Pie. Then Twilight notice that they all were wearing a creamy teal hospital gown. Obviously Rarity had a problem with it, but still, Twilight was happy to see that all of her friends were alright. Then there was a firm ‘ahem’ coming from the foot of her bed. “If you all are quite finished, I would like to continue my conversation with my patient.” She stated, while pointing to the door. “Well whatever question you have to ask her, you’ll have to ask us too!” Rainbow stated in defiance. “Very well. What is the last thing you remember, Princess?” The nurse asked, while taking a flashlight to do a routine inspection on Twilight. “I remember these dark creature attacking the party, and Princess Luna told us to find a journal. After that everything else is blank before waking up in the room.” Twilight answered with a thoughtful look upon her face. “Well then, I should have you schedule to meet the council. You’ve missed so much, and you’re just want equestria needs. However I must go over a couple of things to help you get caught up on what’s going on here nowadays.” Nurse responded, glancing at every other pony around. “Council?” Echoed the lavender alicorn. “Yes, the council. They are in charge of home, they choose who-“ Nurse Ash Heart began until... “Nurse Ash Heart and Dr. Bandages please report to room 342. Nurse Ash Heart and Dr. Bandages report to room 342.” The speaker announced over the intercom, cutting off the nurse, she began to head out the door. She paused and turned back to say something, however she turned to head out to where she head to. “Well that was strange.” Fluttershy stated as she glanced at Twilight. “Yes, she was a bit strange, she was gonna tell us something about this council.” Rarity replied. There was a knock on the door. “Hello, I’m Dr. Heart Strong, this is my intern Appleblossum. I’m here to check your friend’s charts, and vital signs.” Tan unicorn with an electric blue mane and tail, wearing a doctor’s coat trotted in, followed closely by an orange filly with blonde mane and tail. The filly had blue eyes, and her fur faded to red from her legs down to her hooves. Her cutie mark was an apple with a bandaid on it. Applejack froze as soon as she saw the filly, a smile crept onto her face. “Hello, I’m Twilight, this is Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack.” Twilight stated with a kind smile, causing the filly to perk up. “Applejack? Like THE Applejack? The Element of Honesty?” The filly squeaked, staring at the orange mare with widen eyes. “Ah sure am, sugar cube! You must be ma’ brother’s great great great great grandchild!” Applejack stated cheerfully as she trotted over to her brother’s descendant. “I am!” The filly beamed happily.