Disaster Strikes
It was a lovely weekend morning in the city of Canterlot. Wanda Young emerged from the house of Twilight Sparkle and breathed the fresh air. Abigail ran up to the man’s cub from right behind her.
“Wanda.” Wanda turned around to see Twilight Velvet emerging from the doorway. “Remember to pick up some apples from Bright Mac today.”
“I will, Miss Velvet,” Wanda said. “That was the plan today. Besides, I’m looking forward to enjoying some delicious apple pie.”
Twilight Velvet smiled as Wanda and Abigail ran off in the distance of the quiet city. Night Light emerged from behind Twilight Velvet and watched as Wanda disappeared into the city.
“I can’t believe we’ve been entrusted to look after the princesses of Equestria,” Night Light said.
“Princess Wanda and Sunset are as precious to Princess Celestia as our little Twilight is,” Twilight Velvet said. “They also mean a whole lot to us.”
“We’ve taken up a lot of responsibilities in looking after not just our own younglings,” Night Light said. “But also Starlight Glimmer and Golden Lace. And now we have all of their friends as well.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Twilight Velvet said. “Shining Armor and Princess Cadance have chosen to pitch in to help us out with the kids. So that’s less to worry about.”
“I hope you’re right, honey,” Night Light said as he adjusted his glasses.
“But what’s also surprising is how Little Wanda became the first non-pony to earn her cutie mark,” Twilight Velvet said. “It felt like history in the making the moment she showed it to us.”
“No kidding,” Night Light said. “Never in my wildest dreams would I see a human from another world become a part of this equine family. Especially one who now carries a cutie mark of her own.”
As Night Light and Twilight Velvet looked out the window, Princess Cadance stuck her head out from behind the doorway.
“Mr and Mrs Sparkle,” Princess Cadance asked. “Where did Wanda go off to?”
“We sent her to pick up some apples,” Night Light said. “For the apple pie for later today, remember?”
“Ohhhhh.” Princess Cadance replied. “I almost forgot about that. Better get ready for that.”
Down the street of Canterlot, Bright Mac has already set up his apple stand for various ponies to purchase his delicious, juicy apples. A couple had just walked away from Bright Mac with a bag of apples in their saddlebag, and Bright Mac began to look over his merchandise.
“Uncle Bright Mac.” Bright Mac looked downward to see Wanda and Abigail staring up at him, carrying some bits in her hands.
“Wanda,” Bright Mac said. “I heard you and Sunset are staying at Twilight Velvet and Night Light’s house for the time being. But I also heard rumors about you earning a cutie mark.”
“It’s true, Uncle Bright Mac,” Wanda said as she turned around a bit and held up her shoulder. The big stallion laughed with joy as he looked at Wanda’s Cutie Mark: The two plumeria flowers.
“Wow,” Bright Mac laughed. “I can’t believe it with my own eyes. The first non-pony to earn her cutie mark. That’s history in the making.”
“Yeah,” Wanda said. “Even I couldn’t believe I got one.”
“Well I also take it you came here for some apples for Light and Velvet,” Bright Mac said.
“Yeah,” Wanda replied as she held up the bits in her hand. “It’s for making apple pie”
Bright Mac held out his hoof and Wanda placed the bits on top. Bright Mac drops the bits into a small bag before pulling out a cloth bag.
“Well I know some good ones for that apple pie,” Bright Mac says as placed a good amount of Honeycrisp apples into the bag.
“Been obsessing over pie at this time, Princess Wanda?” Wanda looked to her left and saw Chancellor Cinch hovering over her, causing the young lady to freak out.
“Miss Cinch,” Bright Mac said in a deep tone as he raised his head while carrying the bag of apples in his hoof.
“No need for hostilities, Bright Macintosh,” Chancellor Cinch said. “I only came here to check up on the man’s cub since Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are out of town.”
“I’m aware of that,” Bright Mac said as he lowered the bag down so that Wanda could grab it.
“Then there isn’t much that I have to say,” Chancellor Cinch said.
“Well I am trying to be careful, Miss Cinch,” Wanda said as she held up the bag of apples. “And I’m trying to be a responsible lady like what Aunt Woona said to me.”
Suddenly, Wanda lost her footing, screamed and tumbled backwards, falling down on her rear as the apples spilled over. Cinch, Abigail and Bright Mac ran up to the young lady as she struggled to get up.
“Are you alright, dear?” Cinch said as she reached her hoof out. Wanda grabbed onto it and pulled herself up as Bright Mac gathered up all the apples.
“I’m fine,” Wanda said as Abigail ran up next to the human. “I don’t want you to worry about me.”
“Believe me,” Cinch said. “Ever since the Windigo’s Guild decided to invade La Maresa during the fair, I have been more worried about your well-being. And unfortunately, the travesty at Mount Aris by the Storm King only made things worse.”
“The Storm King?” Bright Mac said as he placed the last apple in the bag. “I heard legends of that horrible monster. But not in this day and age.”
“It was fortunate that they didn’t run into that brute,” Chancellor Cinch said. “But I can only imagine what would happen if the Storm King did invade Canterlot.”
“I’m not afraid of the Storm King,” Wanda said. “If we could take on the Windigo’s Guild and win, then the Storm King would be a piece of cake.”
“The Storm King is not as foolish as Coldnelius Snap or his Windigo’s Guild,” Cinch said as Bright Mac handed the chancellor the bag of apples. “He’s a master of deception and a cold calculated chess master who stays one step ahead of all of us. The last thing I need is for that monster to kidnap you or your sister. Do you promise to never face that brute?”
Wanda looked up at Cinch square in the eyes and reluctantly said “Yeah. I guess.”
Cinch hands the bag of apples to Wanda, who held onto it as tightly as possible. The chancellor said “This isn’t just for your sake. But for all of Equestria. You’re a princess. It’s time to show the nation what you are capable of.”
Wanda bowed before Chancellor Cinch before she held onto the apples and walked off in the opposite direction with Abigail following behind. But before Wanda could take a few steps further, Bright Mac yelled out “Wait,” causing Wanda to freeze in place.
“Uncle Mac?” Wanda said. “Why?”
“Because I’ll be back as soon as tomorrow,” Bright Mac said. “And I’ll be bringing some friends from La Maresa to visit you and the rest of your friends. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Trixie and Ditzy Doo will all be in the city tomorrow.”
“Really?” Wanda said.
“That’s right,” Bright Mac said. “So you better be on your best behavior, because they are excited to see you and your friends again.”
Wanda bowed before Bright Mac with an excited look on her face. She turned around and ran off, holding the bag of apples in her hand and with Abigail running right behind them. Bright Mac and Chancellor Cinch watched as Wanda disappeared into the crowd.
“You think the Grand Galloping Gala will go off without a hitch?” Bright Mac asked.
“After the problems in La Maresa and Mount Aris,” Cinch replied. “This is the one thing that will at least keep the spirits of Equestria alive.”
Sometime later, Wanda was slowly moving through the streets of Canterlot City with Abigail walking right behind her. Her usual perky tone has slowed down a bit as she looked up at the sun. Sweat was pouring from her forehead as Wanda panted for a bit.
“Wow,” Wanda said. “Where the hay did this heat wave come from?”
Abigail meowed at Wanda, causing the Man’s Cub to face her cat companion.
“I know Abby,” Wanda said. “But we’re almost there. I can taste that apple pie that will come out of the oven.”
“Almost might be an understatement.” Overheard those words, Wanda looked left and right and saw nothing. She looked up and saw Cozy Glow sitting atop a roof.
“I know you,” Wanda said. “You're that new friend of Golden Lace. What was your name again? I….forgot.”
“Cozy Glow,” The curly-haired pegasus mare said as she flew down to Wanda’s level. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well,” Wanda said as she held out her hand.
“I don’t do hoof or hand shakes,” Cozy Glow replied.
“Oh sorry,” Wanda said as she lowered her hand back down to her side. It’s just that it felt like a long walk, and I’m about to make it home.”
“A long walk, am I right?” Cozy Glow said as she pointed down the street. Wanda turned around and saw Twilight Sparkle’s house only a block away.
“Oh, right,” Wanda said as she blushed. “My bad.”
Wanda slowly held the apples up and walked towards the house with Abigail following right behind her.. The man’s cub coughed to the side and let out a mild sniffle. Cozy Glow took notice and flew closer to Wanda.
“Here,” Cozy said as she grabbed the bag of apples from Wanda’s hands. “Let me do the hard task for you.”
“Wait,” Wanda said. “I got this.”
Cozy Glow flew the bag of apples over the street and placed them on the steps of Twilight’s house. Wanda and Abigail walked up to the house as Wanda felt short of breath.
“Wow,” Wanda said as she was catching her breath. “What has gotten….into me?”
“You don’t look so good,” Cozy Glow said. “Are you getting sick?”
“I’m not so sure,” Wanda replied as Abigail sat right next to her. “I’ve been sick before. But I don’t know if it was like this.”
“You might want to rest up and take it easy,” Cozy Glow said as she knocked on the front door. “Trust me. You don’t want to overdo it.”
“Thanks,” Wanda said as she wiped the sweat from her brow. “I appreciate it.”
Cozy Glow flew off as the front door opened. Wanda faced the opened door to see Princess Cadance, who approached her younger sister with a smile on her face.
“You got the apples, sis,” Cadance said.
Wanda giggled as Princess Cadance rubbed her younger sister on the head, before Cadance suddenly lifted her hoof off of Wanda’s head.
“Err,” Princess Cadance said. “How long have you been in the sun? You’re feeling hotter than usual.”
“Only for a short while just to get the apples,” Wanda said as Princess Cadance lifted the apple bag off the ground with her magic.
“Well come on in,” Princess Cadance said. “All I need are these apples for the apple pie.
Wanda cheered as she and Abigail followed Princess Cadance into the house.
Meanwhile, in Saddle Arabia, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Majordomo Kibitz are following King Myrrh and Prince Hoofar through the city streets. Many ponies who make up the citizens of the capital of the desert, cheered on the royal group who walked through.
“You seem to have a lot of ponies praising your rule,” Princess Celestia said.
“As king of Saddle Arabia,” King Myrrh explained. “I am bound by a creed to watch over the well-being of my people. It has been this way even before my grandfather came to be.”
“Sounds alot like how our mother used to watch over our people before we breathed our first breath,” Princess Luna replied.
“But as the King of Saddle Arabia,” King Myrrh said. “I am also responsible for the injustices that occur within this sacred city. From the petty thieves who steal from the humble villagers, to the monsters who take every bit from the ordinary. We share a lot in common, Princess Celestia.”
“That’s only partially true,” Princess Celestia said. “The one thing I’m envious of you not having, is a corrupt political system that chains me and my sister down.”
“I’ve actually been hearing reports about Senator Twinkle Wish getting the approval of a new border wall without a majority vote,” King Myrrh said.
“It’s something I was forced to do,” Princess Celestia said as she turned her head away in shame, causing Princess Luna, Majordomo Kibitz and Prince Hoofar to look at her with a deep sense of concern. “It’s only one of the many reasons why Equestria has corrupt political system.”
“I do question your senators back in Equestria,” King Myrrh said. “But at the same time, even I can’t rule a nation by myself. We do have our own political system to keep track of the needs of our people. But we ensure that money is not used to poison real justice.”
“It’s a real shame what our political system has to put up with compared to Saddle Arabia’s,” Majordomo Kibitz whispered to Celestia. “And right now, I do point my hoof at the Banks for their corruption.”
Suddenly, a little filly in the crowd loses control and tumbles in front of Celestia and Myrrh, causing the entire group to stop. Celestia looks down at the earth pony filly, who seemed confused by the loss of her balance.
“Are you okay, little one?” Princess Celestia asked as she extended her hoof out.
The filly looked up at Princess Celestia and began to back up in fear. King Myrrh approached the youngling and placed his hoof around the girl’s head.
“It’s alright,” King Myrrh said. “She’s a friend from Canterlot.”
The little filly got up and looked at Princess Celestia. She turned to King Myrrh, who nodded his head in assurance. The filly turned back to Celestia who once again reached her hoof out. The little one slowly, but surely, tapped Celestia’s hoof with her own.
“What is your name, little one?” Princess Celestia asked.
“Jasmine,” The filly replied. “Jasmine Bloom.”
“Little Jasmine,” King Myrrh replied. “Where are you parents?”
Jasmine Bloom turned her head away and said “They’re….they’re gone.” Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, King Myrrh, Majordomo Kibitz and Prince Hoofar gasped as Jasmine’s words.
“This isn’t what I think this is,” Princess Celestia asked.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t the first incident here in Saddle Arabia,” King Myrrh said. “We’ve been getting reports of younglings losing their parents and becoming orphans. Even worse, we have yet to locate any whereabouts of the older ponies.”
“Just seeing something this horrible breaks my heart,” Prince Hoofar said. “And it has been going on for the past month.”
Princess Celestia looked down at Jasmine Bloom and placed her hoof around the youngling’s face. The child’s face beamed a bit as she rubbed her cheek around Celestia’s hoof.
“Tell you what, Jasmine,” Celestia said. “How would you like to accompany us down our own journey?”
“That would be a splendid idea,” King Myrrh said. “After what she went through, a little kindness will lift her spirits.”
Jasmine Bloom got up and went alongside Princess Celestia as the older alicorn, along with King Myrrh, Princess Luna, Prince Hoofar and Majordomo Kibitz walked down the path with the crowd watching in awe. Majordomo Kibitz approached Luna and paced his muzzle around the moon princess’s ear.
“Call me crazy,” Majordomo Kibitz whispered. “But there’s a part of me that thinks the Banks might have some slight involvement.”
“I don’t think you're crazy,” Luna whispered back. “In fact, I think that theory might hold some water. But in a scary way possible.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Kibitz whispered.
Back in Canterlot, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, Abigail, Spike, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell and Golden Lace were at the table, stuffing their face full of apple pie as Princess Cadance and Shining Armor were enjoying both each other’s company and their respective slice. Wanda just sat there as she barely took small bites of the pie.
“Boy is this good or what?” Pinkie Pie said. “The cakes would be jealous of your cooking skills, Princess Cadance.”
“Yeah,” Starlight said as she gulped down what’s left of her pie slice. “I haven’t had this great food since our time in La Maresa.”
“Well don’t thank me,” Princess Cadance replied. “Twilight Velvet helped out.”
“Well you gotta hand it to my mother,” Twilight said. “She sure knows how to….”
“Bake a mean apple pie?” Shining Armor replied as he gave Twilight a noogie on the head.
“Hey, knock it off, brother,” Twilight giggled. “That tickles.”
“You know,” Golden Lace said. “Most of the stuff I’ve had were boring hor d'oeuvres. This feels like something I’ve been missing out on.”
“That’s what life is all about,” Sunset Shimmer said. “It’s about trying out new things, and seeing if you enjoy them or not.”
“Yeah,” Danged Spell said. “When it comes to life, it’s as easy as pie.”
“Uggh, Danged Spell,” Most of the younglings said in a collective groan as Danged Spell laughed.
But Wanda paid no attention as she slowly ate another small piece of pie. Twilight Velvet arrived from the kitchen and saw the way Wanda was eating her pie.
“Wanda darling,” Twilight Velvet said as she approached the man’s cub. “Are you alright dear?”
“I...I’m fine,” Wanda said as she paid little attention to Twilight Velvet.
“You don’t look like you’re enjoying the pie,” Twilight Velvet said. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
Twilight Velvet put her hoof on Wanda’s forehead. Then she immediately removed her hoof as her face turned to shock.
“Oh dear,” Twilight Velvet said. “You’re getting sick.”
Those words caused Sunset Shimmer, Princess Cadance and Twilight Sparkle to jump out of their seats and look at little Wanda, who eyes started to look a little watery.
“Wanda’s getting sick again?” Sunset said.
“I’m afraid so,” Twilight Velvet said as she got onto her two legs and lifted Wanda out of her seat with her hooves. “Come on dear. We’ll let you rest up and hope you feel better.”
“Mom,” Twilight Sparkle asked. “How bad is it?”
“I don’t know,” Twilight Velvet replied. “But if things get worse, we may have to take her to the hospital to get her checked out.” Before she walked off, Twilight Velvet asked. “I was wondering if she could use your bed to nap in so she could recover.”
“I planned on camping out down here,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “So yes. Make it so.”
Twilight Velvet carried Wanda out of the dining room and up the stairs, carrying Wanda in her arms while Abigail ran off after them. Sunset Shimmer, Princess Cadance, Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Shining ARmor, Pinkie Pie, Moondancer, Sunburst, Danged Spell, Spike and Golden Lace watched as Twilight Velvet took Wanda out of the room.
“That doesn’t sound real good for Wanda,” Moondancer said.
“It’s not the first time she’s gotten sick,” Sunset Shimmer said.
“That’s right,” Sunburst replied. “She got a cold not long ago from being in the rain over concerns for a baby bird.”
“But this is far more serious,” Sunset Shimmer replied. “Mother stated that Wanda is not protected from the hay fever virus.”
“The hay fever virus?” Golden Lace said. “But aren’t we all protected from that?”
“We should be,” Sunset Shimmer said. “But from what mother told us, they tried to inject Wanda with the vaccine when she was a baby. She got a nasty case of the hives, and only a small portion of the protection.”
“Was it an allergy to the vaccine?” Starlight asked.
“We don’t know,” Princess Cadance replied. “But we can only hope that if it is the virus, that it’s not doing any grave harm to Wanda.”
The younglings began to mutter with each other with a bit of nervousness in their tone. Shining Armor looked at the ground and clapped his hooves in the air, attracting their attention.
“I think right now,” Shining Armor said. “We shouldn’t let this drift in our mind for a while. Perhaps a few shows on television will help out.
“I think Shining’s right,” Princess Cadance said. “Worrying won’t help out. I think we should take it easy.”
Later as the evening turned to night, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Pinkie Pie and Golden Lace were watching some shows on the television with Shining Armor and Princess Cadance snuggled together on the couch. Twilight Velvet and Night Light stood in the hallway entrance. Though the group seemed content, Night Light and Twilight Velvet felt nervous.
“Do you think it’s okay for them to worry about Wanda that much?” Night Light said.
“They chose to not think too much about Wanda’s illness,” Twilight Velvet replied. “Wanda is sick. But I have hopes that she’ll make a recovery. I even have some medicine ready for her, just in case.”
“We’re already under pressure to make sure the princesses will do fine,” Night Light said. “What would happen if one of them perished?”
“Honey,” Twilight Velvet replied. “It’s going to be okay. Wanda may not be a pony. But she’s as important to this kingdom as the rest of us.”
Suddenly, they heard meowing from the floor. Twilight Velvet turned to her lower left and saw Abigail meowing and rubbing her paw on Velvet’s hoof.
“Is that Wanda’s cat?” Twilight Velvet said.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Night Light said.
Abigail turned and ran up the steps with Night Light and Twilight Velvet running up after the little one, catching the attention of Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and the kids.
“Oh no,” Princess Cadance said. “Little sister.”
“You think she’s gotten worse?” Sunset asked.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Princess Cadance said as she jumped off the couch. “Come on. Let’s check up on her.”
Upstairs in Twilight Sparkle’s room, Twilight Velvet opened the door and turned on the light, gasping at what she saw. Wanda Young sat next to one of the beds, looking even worse than before as Abigail came up, meowing desperately. The cutie mark on her shoulder flashed brightly, catching the eyes of Twilight Velvet.
“Wanda,” Twilight Velvet said as she ran up to the sickened man’s cub. “You’ve gotten worse than before.
“Where’s mommy?” Wanda said as she struggled to lift her arm into the air.
Outside, Cozy Glow looked inside the window as she saw Wanda laying there, helpless. She turned away from the window and closed her eyes.
“I’ve got to get someone over there,” Cozy said. “And fast.”
Cozy Glow opened her eyes and saw Chancellor Abacus Cinch walking down the street. An idea floated in her head.
“I recognize her,” Cozy Glow said. “That’s the one who usually keeps an eye out on Wanda. Cinch was it? I’ve got to tell her.”
Cozy Glow flew down towards Chancellor Cinch, alerting the older mane in the process.
“Young lady,” Chancellor Cinch said. “What is the meaning of this?”
“There’s a problem at one of the houses,” Cozy Glow said as she pointed to Twilight Sparkle’s house. “The one you call a man’s cub isn’t feeling very well.”
“Princess Wanda,” Cinch said to herself. She looked at Twilight’s house, then directed her attention towards Cozy Glow and said “Thank you for alerting me to this warning, young lady. I’m afraid the worst case scenario is playing out.”
As Chancellor Cinch ran towards the house, Cozy Glow said to herself “I sure hope Wanda will be alright.”
Inside on the second floor, Twilight Velvet held the sick Wanda in her arms as she sat on the bed with Abigail right by her side. Sitting across on the other bed was Night Light, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Spike and Starlight Glimmer, watching helplessly as Twilight Velvet cradled Wanda in her arms. Near the entrance to the room were Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, holding hooves as they could do nothing but watch with worry on their face. Next to them were Sunburst, Golden Lace, Moondancer, Danged Spell and Pinkie Pie, watching helplessly.
“Miss Velvet,” Sunset said. “Is my sister going to be okay?”
“I don’t know,” Twilight Velvet replied. “I remember Twilight Sparkle being sick like this. But I don’t think it was this serious.”
“Please don’t tell me this is the worst case scenario for Wanda,” Princess Cadance said. “Even though she’s not a pony, she’s still my sister.”
“The kid’s gotta make it,” Shining Armor said. “She’s got to be strong. She’s got to be tough.”
“Is she….” Starlight said as her eyes became watery. “Is she going to die?”
“I don’t know,” Twilight Velvet said.
“I finally accepted you in friendship,” Golden Lace said. “And now one of you may end up...dying?” Golden Lace sighed as she added “Why does life have to be this cruel?”
Suddenly, they heard the sound of hoofsteps running through the hallway. Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Golden Lace and Pinkie Pie moved out of the way as Chancellor Cinch ran into the room.
“What’s going on here?” Chancellor Cinch said. “A pegasi filly told me about what happened and..”
Chancellor Ciinch looked at Wanda resting in Velvet’s arms and she gasped in shock. She ran up to Wanda and placed her hoof on the man’s cub’s head. Immediately she removed it as the fear in her face was made even worse before turning her heads towards the rest of the group.
“GET HER TO A HOSPITAL,” Chancellor Cinch yelled. “THIS INSTANT!”
“Oh no,” Sunset Shimmer said. “Don’t tell me this is what I think this is.”
“I fear it might be true,” Chancellor Cinch said. “I’m afraid your sister might have the hay fever virus.”
To Be Continued in….
Fading Life