It must have been morning. The birds were in full choir, while the sun ungraciously pried its way through. Twilight tried to open her eyes. Wanted to lift her head. But her body would not comply. What time was it? What day was it? Did she even remember falling asleep? The air was delicate and gentle; her pillow wondrously soft and inviting. If she could just sleep another...
A hint of stale oats tickled her nostrils. A platter of food beside her bed, that she didn't quite remember putting there. Somewhere in the back of her mind was a little voice. A voice that begged her to wake. Reminding her of something important, some kind of plan. Some kind of meeting. A promise made to Fluttershy. But that voice was fading. Frail. Gone.
"Twilight?"
"Wha..."
"Twilight."
"Huh?... Whaaa'ht?"
"Twi, are you ok?"
"Y-yeah. Just. Just give me a..."
"Twilight!!"
The mare snapped to her senses, primal instincts raging. Something was shaking her vigorously. Something was pulling at the covers.
"WhhhhhaaaAAAAATTTTT?!" Bloodshot eyes sharpened a murderous gaze upon a cowering dragon. Twilight's horn twitched and glowed, itching to release. "Spike! I told- I told you to just give me a minute." Twilight Sparkle gasped, coming down hard off a panic. "What in Celestia's name is so important?! Why can't I have a single moment to wake up and come to my senses?"
"Twi..."
"What?!"
"T-that was hours ago, Twilight. I-I came back up to check on you again, and you weren't moving this time."
A cold breeze drifted through the open window. A corner of her bed lay painted by glowing moonlight that filtered through. The tray of oats was missing; in its place a stagnant soup. Twilight stared at the milky red broth, wondering how long it had been sitting there.
"Fluttershy dropped that off for you today."
Twilight lowered her eyes in shame.
"And uhhh... Pinkie made this card for you. I think it lost half it's streamers already though. She really packed them in there!"
"Pinkie? Card? Spike, what's going on here?"
"Nurse White doesn't know what's wrong. She says you seem just fine."
"Nurse White?! She's been here? In my room? WHILE I WAS SLEEPING?!"
"Twilight... we're all worried about you. I've never seen you this way before."
"What way?! Has everypony gone crazy? I'm just- I'm just tired!"
"I... I don't even know when you last ate, Twilight. You didn't touch anything we left for you."
"I ate last night! With you, Spike! You had those left over gems that you and Rarity found, and I had some apples from the farm. We even-"
"Twi... That was four days ago."
Twilight's eyes glazed over. Vacant and dilated.
"Bu-but you're up now! That's good! How are you feeling?"
A smile curled itself around the corners of Twilight's mouth.
She chuckled.
She chortled.
Purple lips burst apart before a wave of giggles and laughs.
"You can come out now, girls."
"Twi..." Spike took a step back and glanced around nervously.
"I don't know how you did it. But this was a really great prank!"
"It's not a-"
"Getting spike in on it was perfect. You really had me believing!"
"N-now that you're up, maybe you should eat?"
"Come on, girls. It's over now. You had your fun."
"And have some water. You've got to be thirsty."
"Pinkie?"
"Just... Oomph! Come on Twilight, sit up!"
"Dash?"
"Use your hooves! You're like ten times bigger than me!"
"... Anypony?"
"Maybe... I-I know! I'll get Nurse White! She can help! And she'll want to know you woke up. Just-"
Twilight sighed and fixed her attention on the little bundle of noise and energy.
"Oh Spike, stop fussing. I'm fine."
"Bu-but, but Twilight!"
"I'm not hungry. I'm not thirsty. I'm just tired. I've got a little bit of a headache, and I've got a purple dragon pushing on my rear!" Twilight's glare softened. It was difficult to feel cross when such genuine concern was written all over the baby dragon. "Look, thank you for watching over me and caring. I appreciate that. But there's nothing wrong with me. And if half of what you are saying is true, then I have a lot of work ahead of me. If I was out that long, then the backlog must si-"
Twilight's muscles locked in place. Through a blur, she barely saw the ground spiral toward her.
"Oh, my head.."
Twilight opened her eyes and tried to assess the situation. She didn't. Feel. Damaged. Nothing felt bruised or broken. Everything was surprisingly comfortable. Spike wasn't scrambling about, yelling, pushing, prodding. Spike was just...
Not there.
Twilight was alone. In her bed. Under the covers.
A dream?
But... there was an ice bag on her head, and Pinkie's card was on the table.