Princess Celestia pressed her nose against Twilight's neck.
The white Alicorn lay on her side in her chambers, gently cradling her most gifted student in her hooves as she pressed the senseless mare close against her barrel. Taking a deep breath, Celestia once more began to concentrate her thoughts, focusing and amplifying the love and caring feelings she had for Twilight within her.
The Bringer of the Dawn slipped into a trance as she infused the precious memories and feelings into the magical aura that coursed throughout her body, preparing yet another powerful spell. She then drew her magic from her horn and sent it flowing through her, feeling the surge of power washing over between them and around her pupil's body – it's energy seeping into the very core of Twilight's being and keeping it glowing with life for a few precious minutes more. A single, precious tear trickled from Celestia's cheek onto her student's near-monochrome fur as her magic spell took hold, wrapping the fading spark of Twilight's spirit in it's warm, protective embrace in an attempt to shelter it from the ravages of the corrupted enchantment that was engulfing Twilight.
Celestia hugged Twilight close - wishing that she could have shared such a moment of bonding with her favourite student sooner, and taught her more of the magic that was now flowing between them. The Princess couldn't help but smile ruefully to herself as she thought of the inevitable headache and disorientation that Twilight would experience once she woke up, an unfortunate consequence of all the magic that was currently being channelled into her.
Close by, on the other side of the fallen mare Princess Cadence and Shining Armour cuddled together at Twilight's side. Both were fighting tenaciously to help Princess Celestia keep Twilight's spirit going, the white unicorn never letting go of his sister or his wife for a second as he helped Cadence pour every last scrap of love magic the pink Alicorn could muster into Twilight. But even as they fought, the parasitical magic devoured their efforts voraciously - slowly but surely continuing to spread throughout Twilight's subconscious and leeching off her spirit.
And Celestia knew all too well that they could do little more to stop the inexorable slide to defeat.
“Princess...” Shining Armour looked up at Celestia with tearful, pleading eyes.
“She's...she's getting really weak now, I-I don't know how much longer she can hold out...we just can't seem to do any more to counter the drain on her magic.”
There was a sniffle from Cadence, even as she tried to redouble her magical efforts to help Twilight try to fight back.
“Please Twilight...please hang on...” The pink princess's voice was twisted and desperate.
“Yes...I know Shining Armour...we must not lose hope, not now...” Even Princess Celestia's expression was filled with worry and concern, and the Solar Diarch was keeping Twilight's limp body as close to her as she could. But the faintest of spark of hope still shone in Celestia's heart, rekindled by the smallest detail she had heard in one of Twilight's heartbreaking pleas for mercy.
A hope that Luna had succeeded in finding Twilight.
The high Princess rubbed her cheek against Twilight's mane, whispering a silent prayer to her sister.
“Luna...Please hurry...”
The abrupt creaking of a door opening roused the three royal ponies, all looking over to the tower door which had just swung open.
“Thank goodness - Zecora!”
The relief in Celestia's voice was evident as the Zebra entered, dressed in her brown cloak and her back loaded with saddlebags. Behind her, one of the palace ponies wrestled with a large brown sack.
“A terrible tragedy that I see, of service I hope that I may be.” Zecora's flowing rhyme showed no hint of panic, only a cool professional calm as the Zebra examined Twilight. “I am none too soon, that is my fear. Please, tell me your highness what has happened here.”
“I am afraid Twilight has had the misfortune to become trapped within a nightmare imbued with both her and Luna's magic.” Celestia explained. “As a consequence the toxic enchantment is feeding off her fears, draining her spirit - and while we have been doing everything we can to slow it down our efforts have been without much success.” Celestia stroked Twilight's ashen coat with one hoof.
“Only the Elements of Harmony can actually save Twilight, and Luna has already taken Twilight's friends into her dream to try to rescue her. I...feel almost certain that Luna has found Twilight, but I fear that it is also possible Twilight may not realize her friends are with her – and until their friendship is healed the Elements are useless. But most of all...”
Celestia looked down at Twilight's face. “... I dread to think what might be trying to stop them.”
Zecora nodded. “A brew or two, and perhaps a spell; I know - which may help make Twilight well.”
Zecora immediately turned and began opening saddlebags and getting ingredients out as Celestia turned to Shining Armour.
“Prince Armour, would you please see to the fireplace and perhaps find a cauldron for Zecora's potion?”
The prince nodded and got up, going over to the huge engraved fireplace of purple stone to tend to the fire burning in the grate before going to collect the surprisingly large cauldron that Zecora had just produced from the sack.
“Have this filled with water if you please, that should be sufficient for our needs” the zebra intoned quickly, barely pausing in her work gathering ingredients. Shining Armour nodded quickly, levitating the cauldron and steering it out of the room. Zecora closed the sack up again and picked it up in her mouth to move it closer to the fire. Her neck suddenly strained, as if under an unexpectedly heavy load, and Zecora quickly dropped the sack down again in surprise.
“This, I did not think much more it conveyed - seems very strange just how much it still weighs!”
The Sorceress regarded the sack suspiciously, prodding at the opening. “And what is this I do declare?....” Zecora pulled suddenly at the inside of the sack's opening. Instead of pulling the sack, Zecora found herself gripping another, similar bag which had been concealed inside to make it look like the inside of the first. With a snort, the zebra pulled it free and inspected the contents, which were the herbs and bottles she had expected to find in the first sack. Shining Armour reappeared with the cauldron just in time to find the three staring suspiciously at the extra sack lying on the floor, and the mysterious lump it contained.
“Hmm…there appears to be much more than I thought in there...” Zecora cautiously pulled the open end of the sack down - then jumped as it's contents started to wriggle...
”Yini??”
Out popped the three Cutie Mark Crusaders - Applebloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo.
“What in Equestria?!” Even Celestia's mouth fell open.
“Girls??!”
“WHAT the...what are you three doing in there??
Cadence and Shining Armour were staring goggle-eyed at the three fillies as they climbed out of their hiding place, each sporting sheepish grins.
“Er...getting our...cutie marks in...surprise packages...? heh heh...” Scootaloo gulped and fell silent.
“Ooh - I know, I know! We're...checking the mail! Never know where all those missing letters turn up do we?...there could be an evil plot to er...er...read...everypony's magazines? Sweetie Bell's panicked gushing came to an embarrassing halt.
“Ah...would y'all believe we were pony-napped by Windigos, an' they picked the wrong bag after they dropped it in ah fight with ah dragon...?” asked Applebloom, as innocently as the profusely sweating filly could manage.
Celestia fixed the three with a look, and raised a disapproving eyebrow. The Crusaders gulped and bowed down. Appleboom was the first to crack.
“We're sorry Princess...we...”
“We just wanted to help...” interrupted Scootaloo
“And see Canterlot...” muttered Sweetie Bell “Rarity never takes me...”
“Shhhh!”
“So...we...snuck in amongst Zecora's ingredients when nopony was lookin'...” finished Applebloom.
Zecora shook her head sagely. “Your big sisters will not like this news, Applejack is certain to blow a fuse!”
“Please Princess Celestia! Please let us stay and help, we promise we're not after any cutie marks this time!” wailed Sweetie Bell.
“We just want Twilight back too!” pleaded Scootaloo.
Princess Celestia gazed down at the three dewy pairs of eyes looking back at her, then gave a relenting sigh.
“Very well, you may stay, on one condition.” Celestia's expression became serious. “From this moment on you are to do exactly as you are told without question, no matter what. If you are told to leave, you must consider yourselves banished from this room until you are told otherwise - for your sake as much as Twilight's. Do you understand my little ponies?”
The Crusaders enthusiastically nodded their agreement. “We promise Princess.” they chorused.
Celestia nodded regally. “Alright. You may start by helping Zecora prepare her ingredients. Do you have everything you need Zecora?”
Zecora looked down at Applebloom. “This potion may need a bit more power, Applebloom do you remember this flower?” She held up a couple of blooms.
“Ah remember...it's one of the ones ah picked for that herbal bath remedy...”
“Indeed it is, and I have few of these you see – perhaps you might find more for me?”
“Ok Zecora, but...where will ah find these in Canterlot?”
“That flower grows in the castle gardens Applebloom.” replied Celestia. “Go with Shining Armour, he will take you to the guard and instruct them to show you where it grows.”
“Right away Princess.” Applebloom saluted and galloped to the door, the unicorn prince having to trot to keep up.
Meanwhile, Zecora was busy pouring a few drops of something out of a bottle onto Twilight's tongue.
“The errant magic may be slowed by this brew, come Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo – I have work for both of you.”