//------------------------------// // Chapter 21: Back From the Dead? Well Maybe. // Story: Get Him 3 // by Lord Blackraven //------------------------------// Back From the Dead? Well Maybe. Luna was in a panic! “NO. NO. Please Alex! Don’t do this! Not now! Not after all this time!” She nudged his body trying to wake him up. Still he didn’t move. She put an ear to his chest and found a weak heartbeat. His skin was cold to the touch. She knew he was fading fast. His body began to shiver compounding her worry. Luna lit up her horn and levitated his still unconscious body up off the ground and slowly rotated his form in the air looking at all his wounds and magically patching them as best as she could. It was the best she could do with her magical first aid. She would need to get him to a hospital fast. She laid him back on the ground with a blanket underneath him to keep him off the cold floor and then lay beside him spreading her wing over Alexs’ body and using her own body heat to keep him warm. He kept shivering and she knew she needed to get him medical help fast or he wouldn’t make it. Once she was settled and had covered Alex as best she could, she looked through the great hole in the ceiling and her Canterlot Voice rang out. “GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT!” Her voice echoed across the Everfree Forest and throughout Ponyville. In a matter of moments two shadows came through the ceiling opening, landing in a bow before the Princess of the Night. “What is thy bidding your highness?” The bat ponies said in unison. “Night Shade. Shadow Moon. I am in need of your services. Night Shade, fly as fast as you can to the Ponyville Hospital and tell them to send the medical carriage here now! Tell them of the nature of the emergency and have them bring Miss Lyra Heartstrings as well.” She ordered as she lifted her wing showing Alexs’ still shivering body and the wounds he had suffered in the castle battle. In a single glance they both understood the gravity of the situation. ”Shadow Moon, Fly to Canterlot Castle and inform my sister. Tell her of what has happened and bring her to the hospital. Go now!” “We serve at the pleasure of the Moon and the Sun.” They both said again in unison and they were gone. “Hold on Alex.” She said as she nuzzled him carefully. “Don’t go yet. Please stay with me. Help is on the way!” She looked at her mane and tail, willing them to cover any part of Alexs body that her wing did not. -*- Bat ponies were rather intimidating. Their fluffier appearance, longer ears, catlike eyes, and sharp pointed teeth always gave the heebee geebees to the “normal” ponies, so when one burst through the Ponyville Hospitals main doors and strode up to the front desk, it startled the pony receptionist behind the desk, whose pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks upon seeing one enter. Standing tall and imposing Night Shade spoke with authority. “I have been sent by Princess Luna herself to order you to bring the medical carriage, along with a Miss Lyra Heartstrings to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. A very rare sentient creature has been gravely wounded in battle with Diamond Dogs and needs blood and medical attention. Miss Heartstrings knows about this creature and may be able to help. This is my mistress’ bidding. Go now. I will await you outside and escort you back.” With that Night Shade turned and went back out the main doors. -*- Princess Celestia was relaxing in the royal gardens. It had been a rather taxing day in court. Having to solve the nobles whiny problems had worn on her last nerve. Still despite their rather childish behavior, she had managed to, yet again, conduct herself with the decorum and dignity her station required. Centuries of practice and experience had prepared her for this kind of work. She had been very very worried about her sister and how things had been faring with her since she hadn’t gotten word back yet on the situation with Alex. As if on cue, a shadow passed overhead and she looked up just in time to see one of Lunas elite bat pony guard descend and land in a bow before her. “Princess Celestia. I bring word from your sister Princess Luna.” It said. Suddenly Celestia was standing and alert. “Moon Shadow. Speak. What news?” “Your Highness, Your sister is well but, I fear the human is not. He has been severely injured in battle with Diamond Dogs." "Oh no!" She gasped putting a hoof to her mouth. "The hospital carriage from Ponyville has already been dispatched. I am to escort you to the hospital. We must leave now.” Moon Shadow said. “Yes, of course.” Celestia responded lighting up her horn and teleporting the two of them directly to the lobby of the Ponyville Hospital. Meanwhile at the ruins…, The medical carriage, led by two Pegasus ponies, flew to the castle site in record time. Night Shade flying escort all the way. They all landed in the courtyard and were shocked to see the remnants of the fight that had taken place earlier. The medical team rushed through the open and dilapidated door, led by the bat pony guard, to where Luna still lay covering Alex with her wing, mane, and tail. No one gave a look or thought at the unconscious Diamond Dogs that lay in a far off corner. “Princess! We are here!” Let us take a look at him.” The unicorn paramedic said urgently. Luna lifted her wing but stayed where she was as the medical crew began to do their work. As soon as they could, she left her post at his side so they could continue. Lyra Heartstrings giving advice, when asked, because she was the foremost authority on humans available. Once his wounds were seen to and his vitals seemingly stabilized, Alex was then carefully lifted and carried down the hall and out the front door into the back of the waiting carriage via unicorn levitation magic. Once he was secured inside, the medical team boarded and the pegasi took flight carriage and all. -*- “I must leave you here, your highness. Night Shade and I must return to your sister as we were ordered to do. We will leave as soon as Night Shade arrives with the medical carriage.” Shadow Moon said. Just then the front doors opened and in rushed the paramedic ponies with Alex’s unconscious form hovering beside them in the medical unicorns magic glow with Night Shade following behind. Before Celestia could say anything, they were already through the double doors to the emergency room. Celestia turned to the bat ponies and replied. “Yes go now. See that she is well. I will stay here.” “Thank you milady. Shadow Moon and I will take our leave of you.” Giving a quick bow whereupon they immediately turned and left through the hospitals front doors. Back at the ruined castle, once all present were out of site, Luna took a deep nervous sigh looking around her old home and its dilapidated state until she spied the dogs still unconscious. Her countenance suddenly went darker. Luna was very angry! Alex was in good hooves now. She knew this, but the harm these canines, these despicable mongrels, had caused him was unforgivable! Add to that, many of her subjects, whom she deeply cared for, had been subjected into slavery at the paws of these particular dogs. Not just her beloved ponies, but other innocent creatures as well. Soon her two servants came through the hole in the roof, landing almost soundlessly and in a bow to their liege. “Report!” She commanded. “The human is in critical but a semi-stable condition although it is not yet known if he will make it or not.” Night Shade said. "It is too early to tell." “Your sister is there at the hospital as we speak your highness.” Shadow Moon said. “Good. Very good. I know I can always trust the two of you. Thank you.” “It was our honor princess.” They replied. She paused for a moment and turned back to the unconscious dogs still laying in a heap on the floor, the two guards flanking her. Her gaze narrowed. “Call your clan.” Night Shade reared his head back and let out a bat pony shriek that echoed around the hall until it gradually faded away. Luna cast her spell and woke up the mangy curs. Once awake, the diamond dogs all sat up dazed and confused. Luna cleared her throat and got their attentions. All dog eyes turned to her. She fixed her gaze on them and spoke. “Words cannot describe the torment and harm you have caused others over the years, not only to my subjects, but to other innocent creatures of this land. Your actions can not go unpunished.” As she flared out her wings. “We not recognize your authority blue pony! You not our master and soon we will be your masters!” Alpha shouted. You will dig for us!” “It is sad, then, that I must do something that brings my heart great sorrow. You leave me no choice.” She said as she bowed her head and closed her eyes. “See! Even now blue pony bows to us! She know her masters!” They taunted. Luna then jerked her head up suddenly and opened her eyes. Her eyes had become feral and cat like once again as she folded her wings! The two bat ponies hidden behind her wings stepped forward one on each side of Princess Luna. “Leave no trace.” She spoke evenly and perhaps with a little sorrow in her voice, to the two vamponies at her side. Others dropped from the open roof to land behind the first two. “We thank you my princess.” Moon Shadow replied as all the vamponies bowed in unison. Luna then sighed heavily. “I have a sick friend to visit.” She said as she spread her indigo wings and exited through the roof and out of sight. All eyes followed her out as she left then looking down after her departure the vamponies locked eyes with the Diamond Dogs showing them their sharpened smiles. It was the last time these dogs were ever seen again.