//------------------------------// // Questions // Story: I Run from the Monster // by Ruby Revenge //------------------------------// Chapter Three | ~ | "Am I Hearing the Truth, Or Have I Just Been Deceived? Who Can I Trust? Who Can I Believe?" -Am I by Linda - A "So; what are we going to do today?" "Inform, reassure, present!" "What are we going to inform them of?" "Her return!" "How are we going to reassure them? "We have beaten her before!" "What are we going to present?" "The Elements of Harmony and the bearers!" "And?" "Cadance, Shining Armor, the Military, and the Guard!" "And?" "Twilight Sparkle?" "Close enough!" Celestia answered her sister, as she walked around the younger alicorn. They were preparing themselves, both physically and mentally, for their announcement and meetings that were about to commence. "We need to show them that we've been going through a time of prosperity- two new alicorns in such a short time is welcoming, and gives us a better chance. We are one of the most powerful nations, something that will hopefully give our subjects confidence that we will come out victorious," "Ma'am, yes ma'am!" Luna shouted jokingly, and they both erupted in small giggles. They had found that over the ages, mirth is a good distraction from nervousness. "Luna," Celestia began, in a more serious tone than before, "you must make sure that you are fully prepared for the topic. Some may think..." "It's ok, big sister," she said with a smile, "I'll be fine. Last night... I was just surprised is all," "Are you sure?" "Yes, I am sure," "Then I suppose we must get going," she was smiling again. "Yes, let's g-" She was interrupted by somepony knocking at Celestia's chamber's door. "You may enter," Celestia called in her usual formal voice. A Solar guard enter, his green eyes tinged with worry, panting ever so slightly. "Your Highnesses," he addressed them, clearly surprised to see Luna, "The Bearer of the Element of Kindness and Spike the dragon were just found at the outskirts of the city. Neither showed any injuries, except maybe some extended wing use, but it did look as if they had crashed, Spike the dragon being a passenger. They were both unconscious, and were taken to the hospital immediately," "Fluttershy?" Luna asked, taking in the surprising and large amount of information in. "Have they awoken yet?" the elder sister asked, and the guard shook his head, steely expression back on his face, "We must got to them immediately. Send for the rest of the Elements." He gave them a swift nod before dashing away, off to do what he was told. Using her magic, Celestia picked up a cylindrical piece off the wall, and proceeded to speak into it. "Prepare a carriage for Luna and I, we are going out. I need a room prepared for Princess Cadance and her husband, Earl of the Crystal Empire and Captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor. We will welcome them later today, at precisely 4:30." she levitated it back to its post on the wall. "Come, Luna," she said to her sister as she walked out into the hall. Both sisters made their way down to the carriage, Celestia stopping here and there to answer questions and give orders. Luna was also asked a few things, but mostly about her appearance wardrobe for the announcement that they would be making soon. They soon made it to their carriage, the one specifically used for the both of them, with was made up of pure white ivory on one side, and fine obsidian on the other. The ivory was crested with gold and inlaid with diamonds, while the other held silver and sapphires. The four wheels were all identical, each being crafted of iron, and coated in silver and gold paints. The inside was filled with cloud cushions, the finest of Cloudsdale, making it quite comfortable for the two alicorns. This was the carriage of the Two Alicorn Sisters, a relic so rarely used that the Lunar and Solar guards who were assigned to pull it were as excited as four foals with energy drinks in a candy store. But they couldn't show it of course. They were given orders to take the Princesses to the Hospital at once, and they saluted before taking off. Now, you'd think a carriage built almost entirely of metals would be much too heavy to carry, and you'd be right. But the sisters' method of transportation was heavily enchanted with weight deduction spells, balance distribution spells, and spells that increased its over all aerodynamics, making it easier to pull than an empty cart on the ground. Celestia had long since forgotten just how many spells had been cast on the thing. They made it to the Hospital in no time, and the two alicorns stepped out of the carriage and through the doors without a word. This left the guards and carriage to be viewed by the public, a marvelous sight to see. But to some, who knew what it was, they realized that something important was happening. Something big. But the guards were happy. -oOo- Fluttershy awoke with a loud gasp, catching the attention of a nearby unicorn nurse. "Oh.. oh my..." she panted, eyes darting this way and that, trying to figure out where she was. The nurse rushed over, carrying a clipboard with her magic. "You're awake!" she greeted the pegasus cheerily, a bright smile on her face, "It's ok; you're just at the Royal Canterlot Hospital!" "Th-the hospital..?" "Yes, but don't worry; you don't have any injuries or sicknesses or anything. You were just found unconscious somewhere, and your wings showed a little stress," her words sped out quickly, "So, we deducted that you collapsed from exhaustion from attempting to fly here from Ponyville, and that that little baby dragon was just asleep--he woke up right away the little dear--but we left you here just in case!" "Um... thanks...? Ms..." "Periwinkle," she answered, "but you can just call me 'Wink' for short!" she offered, giving her a wink to emphasize. "O-ok, Ms. Wink ma'am," she said quietly, eyes searching for somewhere else to look. This mare was making her quite uncomfortable. Wink gave a giddy laugh as Fluttershy spoke her nickname, and clapped her hooves. "Nurse Periwinkle," a stern voice said from the hallway, causing the said nurse to freeze, "are you bothering the patient?" "N-no Doctor Thin Needle," she called back, slowly scooting away from Fluttershy as she did, "just checking up on the Element Bearer..." "Ah! The Element Bearer! I almost forgot!," a grey stallion walked in, a pegasus, with a darker grey mane. As he walked in, Wink mouthed 'oh my Celestia' in an exaggerated manner to Fluttershy. "How are you feeling?" "Oh! Umm, fine.. " "Thank goodness! When the ambulance brought you he-" "An ambulance?" "Ah, yes. When it broug-" "Why?" "Er, I.. it was an emergency, an I-" "What if somepony else had needed it more than I did?" she stood up on her bed, looking down on the doctor. "Well, erm," "I was only exhausted!" she was hovering above him now, a disappointed expression on her face. "But you ar-" "Yes, I am an Element of Harmony, but that doesn't make me better than everypony else," "I uh.." "Now I know that this may not be your fault, but you will make sure that emergency transportation like this is used correctly in the future, yes?" "What were they supposed to do? Carry y-" "Yes?" "Yes, ma'am," he sighed reluctantly. Lady doesn't know what the hay she's talking about. For all we knew, she'd had a concussion! And I'm not even the one who sent the ambulance! Satisfied that she'd done some good, she floated down to the floor. "Thank you, sir," she smiled, "now, I mean if you don't mind me asking, where's Spike?" "The dragon? Out in the lobby," "Oh, ok," she gave him a thankful nod, and turned towards the door. But before she could even reach for the handle, the door flew open, making way for two alicorns. "Fluttershy! Are you alright?" Luna, who'd been the one to open the door, called out in the Royal Canterlot Voice, holding a look of concern on her face. "Luna, you might want to quiet down a bit; some patients are trying to sleep," Celestia whispered into her sister's ear in amusement, causing her to blush slightly. "I'm glad to see that you are well, Fluttershy," she said, turning to the pegasus, "but may I ask what caused you to collapse like that?" "Well, you see-" "Fluttershy!" the voice of a young dragon yelled, following the dragon himself as he rushed in from behind the Princesses, "You're ok!" "Of course she's ok; she's at the best hospital for miles around! We did everything we could," Thin Needle boasted, bowing to the Royal Sisters. "She didn't need any medical attention," Nurse Periwinkle reminded him, rolling her eyes, "we didn't do anything." "You still want that raise?" he said through his teeth as he kept up his smile. "Yep, we're the best!" "I'm sure you are, my little ponies, but I think we should hear what Fluttershy here has to say," Celestia said evenly. "Your Highnesses," two guards had appeared, one Solar and one Lunar, "We were assigned to accompany you." "Of course," Luna sighed. "..I.. uh.." Fluttershy mumbled. "Yes?" Celestia asked. "The reason I tried to fly here is-" "Princess Luna, please don't touch that... " "Why not? I want to see the x-ray of my body!" "But... I'd better get somepony over here..." "I..." Oh, why won't anypony let me talk? "Ahah! The fun has been doubled!" "No! That's not supposed to work like that!" "Princess Celestia! All the Elements, besides Fluttershy, have been foalnapped!" Spike suddenly errupted, seeing as Fluttershy would probably never get a word in. This exclamation silenced everypony in the room, and all eyes looked to the small dragon. "Did you say foalnapped" Luna asked, returning from the x-ray machine. She was followed by a frazzled Periwinkle with a smoking coat. Celestia had her eyes closed, and seemed to be concentrating. "Yeah, last night... Fluttershy and I were lucky to get out of there!" Spike continued, "She went to all of their houses, and everypony was gone--all our friends I mean--and she took me with her to go check on Apple Jack, and even she had been foalnapped, right under the Apple Family's noses! After talking to Big Mac for a little bit, Fluttershy took off for Canterlot to tell you guys, erm, Princesses I mean. With me riding on her back," "It sounds like she left her house at just the right time..." Luna thought outloud, "Tell me, Fluttershy, what made you leave your cottage at such an hour?" "Well.. I uh..." she fidgeted with her hooves as she started to blush, "Rainbow dash left her modeling magazines and Soarin photos at my house, and I was too embarrassed to leave them there, so I just had to take them to her!" "What?" everpony--except Celestia--in the room asked, her fast spoken sentence to quiet to be heard. "Rainbow left some, ah, important things at my cottage that I just had to return immediately," she revised her previous statement, "but when I got there, her house was a mess! And she was gone..." "And that is when you went to check on your friends, correct?" Celestia asked, opening her eyes again. "Y-yes.. Rarity first, then Pinkie Pie, then Twilight, then Applejack. They were, are, all missing..." "I see..." her tone was steady as she nodded her head, closing her eyes once more. "Sister... could it be..?" "Yes, it seems as if it is," "What, Princess?" Spike asked, looking up to the tall Alicorn. "Fluttershy, Spike; I think it would be best if you came with us," her eyes snapped open and a blinding flash was sent through the room. "They're gone!" Thin Needle exclaimed, seeing as the Princesses, the guards, Fluttershy, and Spike were all missing from the room. "It's called a teleportation spell, genius," Nurse Periwinkle muttered under her breath. "What?" "Nothing,"