//------------------------------//
// Idiosyncratic Medicine 
// Story: Intension 
// by MadMan 
//------------------------------//

Twilight opened her eyes. A white, unadorned ceiling. She tried to turn her head and look at the rest of her surroundings, but a sharp pain that arose at the base of her neck kept her from moving. She closed her eyes and let the pain subside.

An indeterminable time later, Twilight decided to open her eyes again. This time, she turned her head very slowly to avoid provoking the pain again. Slowly, a wall came into her field of vision, and a single window overlooking a calm countryside view. Slowly rotating her head even more, Twilight discovered that her entire left side was walled by medical equipment. Memories of what had happened hit her like a brick, and she realized where she was and why she was there. 

Axion... The Amaranth..... My wings.... MY WINGS!

Twilight immediately began to turn and see when state her shoulders were in, but in her haste turned too fast and received another shocking bout of agony as her reward. She involuntarily cried out and closed her eyes, trying in vain to hold back the tears forming already. She heard a voice, muffled, as if outside a door.

"What was that? Was that...?"

A door opened, then closed again, and Twilight heard hoofsteps on tile floor approaching. Opening her eyes, Twilight saw a pretty young nurse leaning over her.

"Good morning, dear! It's so nice to see you awake. How do you feel?"

Twilight groaned and gave the most honest answer she could, using an old euphemism she once heard a farmer say after a night of heavy drinking.

"Like hammered shit."

The nurse visibly flinched at Twilight's colorful language, but didn't comment. Instead, the nurse turned to some of the machines that had colored wires running to various places on Twilight's body and studied them. Apparently, what she found was encouraging, because she turned back to Twilight with a smile.

"You had us worried, dear. You lost a lot of blood, but it seems that you will be fine. I encourage you not to move. However, if you feel up to it, Princess Luna is outside, waiting on you to wake up. Would you like to see her?"

"Of course!"

The nurse walked out of Twilight's sight, and again Twilight heard the door open.

"Princess? She's awake."

Twilight heard a loud gasp, then the sound of a gallop heading her way. Barely a second later, Luna was leaning over Twilight, tears in her eyes.

"Twilight! I'm here. How are you?"

"Well, I've definitely been better."

"I would say. The damage was.... Extensive. I was so worried that you..... You lost so much blood........ You......"

Luna's sobs had made her talking stuttered and halting, and at the end she gave up talking for sobbing, her head hanging low next to Twilight's, tears leaking from the Princess's eyes onto the pillow. Twilight tried to lift a foreleg to embrace her distressed lover, causing the pain to flare in her back, but nothing would discourage her. Clenching her teeth, Twilight left like she was ripping her back open again, but finally she was able to rest her hoof on Luna's back.

When the worst of the tears had run their course, Luna leaned up again to smile through bloodshot eyes at Twilight, who had suddenly realized how drastic the bags under Luna's eyes were.

"How long have I been out?"

"It is noon of the third day."

"And how much have you slept?"

"Uh.... About six hours?"

"Unacceptable! You need sleep! Let Celestia handle the moon for a night and you get rest."

"I'm fine. Really. I just want you to be fine."

"Luna. You are clearly exhausted. Please, just try to get a little rest."

"I've tried. Hospital chairs aren't renowned for their utmost comfort."

Twilight glanced around the room, seeing nothing that the Princess could sleep on. She was sure the nurses would be more than happy to bring up a bed for Luna, but then Twilight had a better idea.

"Come around here, on my right side."

Luna did as requested, clearly confused by the demand.

"Now, lay here beside me. Ever so gently, if you please."

"Oh, Twilight, I would love to, but your condition-"

"Is as good as it can be. Now, you need rest, and I want you near me."

"Fine. One thing, first."

Luna walked over to a nearby desk and scribbled a short note, then blasted it with magic, sending it.

"A letter to Celestia, asking her to handle the moon tonight."

Less than a minute later, a reply floated in front of Luna. She opened and read it, smiling.

"She says she'll do it. She knows about your injuries, and understands."

"Alright then. You, bed, now."

Submitting to the demands, Luna finally laid on the bed next to Twilight. They were pleased to discover there was just enough room for Luna on the bed, and so the Lunar Princess cuddled up next to Twilight, draped a wing and a foreleg over her lover, and promptly fell asleep. Twilight lay awake for a time, listening to Luna's slow breathing. Her thoughts were unruly and wild, but eventually she was able to push them all away just long enough to fall asleep as well.

Twilight woke before Luna, and glanced out the window to see the sun barely peeking over the western horizon. Carefully calculating the angle of the shadows, Twilight summarized that she had only been asleep a few hours, a hypothesis further reinforced by the clock hanging just above the window that Twilight had previously not noticed. She looked to her right, at Luna, who was sleeping peacefully. Her lips were curled in a gentle smile, and her wing and right leg were still across Twilight's chest as the Princess snuggled the one mare in all the world that had caught her fancy. Twilight felt love swell in her chest as she thought that happy thought, and the bad thoughts were banished far away for a little while longer.

A few hours later, just after night had fallen, Luna woke with a start. Twilight flinched, causing a small spasm of pain in her back.

"Luna, what is it?"

"Something is wrong..... "

"What are you talking about? Everything is dark and quiet, like most hospitals are at night."

"It's............. It's dark! Too dark!"

Luna carefully climbed from the bed, but once on her hooves she ran to the window and looked about wildly, as of searching for something dreadfully important. Twilight had no clue as to the Princess's behavior, but it was starting to concern her.

"Luna, what's the matter?"

"The moon!"

"What about it?"

"It's not there! It's supposed to be nearly full tonight, but it's not there!"

"Luna, I'm sure that there-"

"I have to go to the castle now. This is an egregious breach of protocols than cannot be tolerated!"

"I'm sure that the ponies of Equestria won't go into a panic over a single night's missing moon."

"It's more than that! The moon is the source of tides, it regulates uncountable animal's circadian rhythms, it helps various bats and birds navigate, not to mention it's my moon!"

Swirling her horn in a clockwise circle, Luna summoned to Moon Stone to her, which appeared in a glittering haze around her neck. She prepared to cast a teleportation spell, but Twilight had a sudden thought and interrupted her.

"Luna, what if it's...... Axion?"

Luna stopped, and a sudden look of fear crossed her eyes, but only for a moment.

"Then I guess we will see exactly how powerful the Amaranth really is."

Twilight tried to think of something, anything, that she could say, but she knew that Luna had to go. One way or another, something had happened which caused Celestia not to raise the moon, and Luna had a duty to find out why. Instead of further words, Luna walked over and kissed Twilight on the forehead, right next to her horn. One moment, Twilight was staring into Luna's amethyst eyes, and feeling her soft mane ripple gently over her skin, and the next all Twilight could see was a dark blue haze, and an empty room. Tears gathered in her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to keep them at bay.

What was that old saying? 'Hope for the best, expect the worst.' Right. So I'm supposed to hope that Celestia simply decided to take a nap and overslept, but expect Luna to bring news that Axion has invaded Canterlot. Great. 

Twilight leaned back into her pillow and settled down for what she felt was going to be a long wait. She glanced at the clock, but every time she did she got more and more frustrated with it's lack of progress. Eventually, Twilight gave up on the clock and tried for sleep, and when that failed, meditation. Her mind refused to cooperate, however, so Twilight ended up laying in her bed, listening to the clock tick, and growing more and more anxious. After only half an hour, however, Luna reappeared, looking more haggard and distressed than when she had left. Twilight was surprised, but hoped that her expedient return was because the whole worry turned out to be for naught.

"Well?"

"Axion."

With the single muttered word, Twilight felt her heart sink.

"What happened?"

Luna sat on the edge of the bed, and began her story.

"At an hour before sunset today, Axion appeared in the palace throne room, where Celestia was holding afternoon court. No pony knew who she was. Axion walked to the front of the room and began to address the crowd, telling them that dark days were coming, and anypony who wanted to survive should join her. Predictably, they all thought she was a loony, and a handful of guards attempted to escort her out. Well, as soon as they got near her, they exploded. Simple as that. Blood and flesh splattered all over Celestia, and several prominent council members. Obviously, all of the guards in the room immediately attacked, but one by one, they all exploded. Celestia finally decided to act, casting a magic spear at Axion, who deflected it. Deflected it! A spell cast by Celestia herself, one of the most powerful beings known! Axion finished her speech by saying that in six months' time, she would return, and Canterlot would fall. Then she simply disappeared again. Not a teleportation, which would have a magical flash or haze, or any other reaction, but simply faded out of existence. Of course, all the witnesses were told not to speak of what happened, and of course they all told every pony they knew. All of Canterlot is in chaos, and come the morning papers, the rest of Equestria will be, as well. We have a proper emergency on our hands, Twilight, and I don't know what to do."

"Well, first things first, I need healing, and fast. Doing it at nature's pace isn't good enough anymore."

"But, Twilight! Magical healing is much more risky than letting the wounds heal on their own time! I won't have you worse off than you are now."

"Time we don't have! I would be stuck in here for months, maybe even years, while we asses the damage, let it heal, and the physical therapy itself would take eons! No, I'm willing to take the risks, which are minimal compared to the reward."

"Okay..... Well, I'll go get the doctors, and we'll see what they have to say."

"Luna, just ask them about my wounds. If they find out we're planning magical healing, they'll throw a fit. No, simply be very interested in the exact extension of my wounds."

"If they aren't going to heal you, who will?"

"You will."

Luna visibly flinched at Twilight's suggestion.

"What? No, I... No, it's been too long since I.... Something could go wrong-"

"Luna, I've read many medical textbooks. Honestly, I probably know almost as much as some of the doctors here. You can use the Moon Stone to power the spells, and I will simply guide you. Easy."

"You can be very shrewd sometimes."

"Well, Equestria itself might be in danger. It's not a time to worry about the little things."

Luna didn't answer, instead grumbling and kissing Twilight on the cheek before roaming out into the hallway to find a doctor. It didn't take long, and soon she returned, a doctor on tow. He was a middling shade of brown, with a slightly darker brown mane. He smiled at Twilight as he entered.

"Good morning, Twilight. I understand you suddenly became very concerned over your injuries."

"Yes. I have received some distressing news, and I would like an assessment."

The doctor sighed, and walked over to a table to the left that Twilight couldn't see behind the machines. He picked up a clipboard and began to read out loud.

"Severe lacerations to the back and shoulders. Several snapped tendons, multiple broken and fractured bones, and severe blood loss. You're in a bit of a bind Twilight. I hope the news wasn't dreadfully important, cause you're going to be here awhile. Well, unless you heal fast. Well, maybe not that long. Wait, you're not part Atraxi, are you?"

The doctor squinted at Twilight, who had no idea what this doctor was talking about.

"Uh, what? What is Atraxi?"

"Never mind, not important. Well, unless they come back, which they shouldn't, if they're smart. Which I think they are. Anyhow, the matter at hoof. Whatever happened to your back, which we have been forbidden knowledge of, was pretty bad. It'll take about six months before we can let you walk around, let alone leave."

"That is far too long. I need to leave soon."

"Soon? How soon? Next month soon, or now soon?"

"Now."

"Uh, let me see, nope. No can do. You're barely out of critical condition, and simply sitting enough would cause you enough pain to pass out. Most likely. I think."

Twilight looked at Luna, who was looking very confused. The Princess gazed at the doctor with an expression of slight suspicion.

"Who are you, doctor?"

"Who, me? I'm the doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"That's the question, isn't it?"

The doctor looked out the window with an odd expression, something Twilight would call sadness, mixed with longing. However, after a second his melancholy mood passed, and he turned back to smile at Twilight.

"Right. Well, if my guess is right, and they tend to be, you're going to attempt magical healing."

"Uh, no doc-"

"Nope, don't deny it, I can see it on your eyes! Now, if you wish to proceed, I'm going to need to leave, because if the doctor on duty finds out I allowed this, he's going to be very upset."

"What?"

"Twilight, listen to me."

Twilight was surprised by the doctor's sudden change. The entire time he had been in the room, he had been smiling and joyful, almost as if he was glad she was there. But now, he turned somber, addressing Twilight very seriously.

"Yes?"

"I know what you're planning, and why. I just want to give you some advice. The source of Axion's power, you will never separate from her. You must find another way."

"What!? How do-"

"Remember what I said! You did it once, you can do it again!"

"Do what again?"

Luna walked over to the doctor and loomed over him, her wings outstretched and her horn glowing.

"Doctor, you had better tell me why and how you know information that was kept at the highest level of secrecy!"

"Sorry, can't. Everything has it's place in the universe, and mine is no longer here."

A small buzzing came fro the doctor's hoof, where a small green light blinked. Twilight barely saw a glimpse of something small and metal around the doctor's hoof before the lights abruptly died, casting the room into solid darkness. When they came back on, the brown doctor was gone. Twilight looked about in confusion, but Luna simply stood where she was and grinned.

"Luna, what are you smiling at?"

"Well, if that's who I just realized it might have been, we had best remember what he said."

"Who was that?

"The doctor. Who else would know exactly what they're not supposed to? Now, we know what's wrong with you, as he was kind enough to leave the clipboard behind. Do you want it?"

".....Yes."

Her mind still reeling from whatever had just happened, Twilight took the clipboard offered to her. The list was much longer than what the doctor had told her, but Twilight felt that with the Moon Stone, they had the capabilities to heal most of the damage.

"Okay, so, first thing is we need to remove the chips of bone, then repair the broken bones. I remember some spells that should do the trick, so if you will come over here, place your horn there.........."