“Princess Luna, wake up.”
Luna rolled over on her side, her head was pounding and she had just fallen asleep.
“Hurry up! We don’t have much time.” the voice was more urgent.
“What is it?” Luna groaned, turning her face towards a vague sea foam shape, which was dressed in black instead of hospital whites.
“We don’t have much time. Redheart is almost dead.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Not. Here.” Luna was suddenly aware that her leg was being unlocked and it was the last one. What was happening?
“But, Cadence.”
“We’ll come back later. I can only get you out now.”
“She’ll be in trouble if I leave.”
“Trust me. She has a very good reason for not leaving. Come on.” the nurse urged. Luna carefully stood on her four hooves. She hadn’t walked in months and her legs were sore just from standing.
“Can you fly?” the unicorn asked.
“I...I don’t know.”
“Well, follow me...We just need to walk a couple of meters and then you can rest. Can you do that?”
“I’ll try...” Luna said and forced her hooves to follow the unicorn. Luna tried to not make any noise as she walked towards the exit but her hooves were clumsy and felt like they were waking up after the circulation had been cut off. She was also growing more and more lightheaded with each step. Just a couple of meters...
The doors whooshed open noiselessly. Somepony must have oiled them. There were so many questions longing to burst from Luna’s muzzle but she held them in as she followed the Nurse Heartstrings. She would ask them when she knew she was safe.
Hopefully Luna would be all right.
The unicorn stopped by a door marked “Custodial” and forced it open with her magic before beckoning Luna to go inside. Why was she being taken here? Luna soon found herself crowded with the unicorn, who locked the door behind them.
“Now why...”
“Shh... I need to find the gem.”
“Gem?” a teal glow lit the closet as it’s owner ran her horn up and down Luna’s front leg. It stopped when a small kite shape lit beneath her skin on her fetlock. The nurse had a few choice words. Luna felt something tear the flesh in her leg and bit her lip to keep herself from screaming. Her hoof was bleeding profusely as a small crystal dropped out of her leg.
“They track you that way.”
“Nurse Heartstrings...”
“Call my Lyra. I’m losing my title after this. Good riddance.”
“Lyra...”
“We can’t talk now. I need to get you out of here. Can you stand on your hoof?” Luna tested it and while her leg was in considerable pain she nodded. “All right then, follow me and let me know if it hurts too much.”
“They’ll know what happened if we leave evidence...”
“Good. They need to know. In fact, we need to leave a trail too, so I’m not wrapping your leg until we get to the forest.”
“What?”
“Ponies everywhere have immortality on demand and they still are scared of a bunch of trees and monsters...” Lyra mused to herself, “Come on. Follow me.”
Luna followed her somewhat unsettling rescuer out of the custodial closet. Hopefully she could have some answers soon. Her fetlock stung every time she stepped but the pain kept her head from spinning nauseously. She almost missed the safety of her hospital bed and warm blanket. Being out in the open hospital sterility like this felt so cold. However, it was notable, if not odd, that guards were not patrolling heavily in the space between them and the exit.
Lyra pushed open a heavy door and Luna stepped into the hospital lobby.
The entire wall of the lobby facing the outside was glass. Thousands of glorious, beautiful stars welcomed Luna, calling her to be among them and take the moon on it’s nightly journey. How long had it been since the moon had risen? She eagerly followed Lyra to the door and the first burst of fresh air seemed to heal her. Her headache was still there but it lessened considerably as she closed her eyes for a moment and took a long breath of the outside air. Her legs were still clumsy and sore but being outside again seemed to help somehow.
After her initial rapture, Luna observed her surroundings. There was a small market that was closed a few meters from the hospital. The whole atmosphere felt...eerie now that Luna was paying attention. How late was it anyway? Why weren’t more ponies out? Why had her escape been so easy?
“Princess Luna, Can you conjure any magic at all?” Luna felt her horn on top of her head with her hoof and stumbled to her knees. “Nevermind then, in another week or two it should be back.”
“Where is everypony?" Luna asked.
“Hiding.” Lyra explained, helping Luna stand.
“Why? What are they hiding from?”
“They call her the pony with one wing. They’re terrified of her. Children are warned to look out for her and be good or else she’ll take them and eat them. Teenagers try to find her and are arrested for...some charge or another. Adults avoid her and pass on stories about how dangerous and evil she is.”
“Really? They’re hiding in their houses because of a legend?”
“Legend, myth, superstition...propaganda, all are powerful forms of control. However, tonight it finally works to our advantage. We have to keep moving.”
“Why don’t you believe the stories?” Luna asked
“I do believe the stories.” Lyra said after a pause, ”I know for a fact the pony with one wing exists. I’ve met her.”
“Wait...so, who is she?” Lyra turned her head around with her mouth opened but closed it and grew pensive.
“All I can say now is that she is Somepony who is still loyal to the time when you and your sister ruled Equestria, but is powerless to do anything. Princess Luna, I cannot urge enough how important it is for us to keep moving.”