Waiting. It was the one thing both Twilight and Rainbow HATED with a burning passion. Rainbow a pony full of energy and 'get up and go' spirit groaned as she looked up at the nearby clock. "How long is this going to take?" she asked impatiently.
"As long as it takes." Twilight responded with a bored sigh.
"She wasn't even THAT bad!" Rainbow replied with a groan. "Does it REALLY take this long to make sure an Alicorn is ok? I mean honestly!" she bellowed which caused several sick and injured Ponies to look up with a great deal of annoyance. Twilight noticing the cold glares that was being shot towards Rainbow, yanked hard on her tail pulling her to the soft cushion that was behind Rainbow.
Rainbow yelped as she was forcibly made to sit. "What was that for?" she asked with a very unhappy expression. Twilight simply pointed a hoof at the rest of the Hospital waiting room. Rainbow nervously chuckled noticing for the first time the evil glares aimed in her direction.
Twilight looked in the opposite direction at the rather large door, that above had the words written in black with a red light outline around them saying, 'Operating Theater.' As soon as the two carrying the Alicorn arrived the Doctor's and Nurses rushed her inside. Twilight gave them a simple version of what happened and they simply moved her inside without another word to Twilight or Rainbow.
It had been nearly six hours since they brought the alien Alicorn here and the wait was starting to drive them both up the nearest wall. Rainbow sighed once again as she looked up at the clock. Twilight then gently nudged Rainbow's side with her wing as the light on the sign turned off and the doors opened. The two quickly stood up and started to make their way over. That is of course when a giant white wing blocked their path. Both were surprised at it but then smiled noticing WHO the wing was attached to.
"Princess, thank you for coming." Twilight began before Celestia nodded silently but made a gesture that indicated she wanted silence. Twilight nodded and kept quiet for the moment as the three Mare's slowly made their way over to the Doctors who were slowly removing articles of clothing and protective suits to prevent even more radiation sickness from proximity to the Alicorn.
One Doctor turned and noticed the three walking over and she turned to greet them. "Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash." she said to each with a small bow and nod.
"Doctor Redheart, thank you for tending to our injured visitor." Celestia began.
"Well it was the only thing any sensible Pony would do." Redheart replied, "Unfortunately, she doesn't have much time." she looked at Rainbow and Twilight, "It was wise of you both to bring her here for treatment, but I'm afraid that the radiation has done it's toll. There was simply too much exposure to her body that she's beyond the point of saving."
Twilight's ears dropped hearing that. "But I was so sure that...the capsule was only open for a few seconds..."
Celestia wrapped a comforting wing around Twilight, "Sometimes, there is little we can do. Your heart was in the right place Princess." Twilight nodded, she understood, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"How long does she have?" Rainbow managed to ask, having been silent all this time.
"A few hours? A day at most." Redheart replied, "She's awake now if you want to go and see her."
Celestia nodded, "Thank you Doctor, please, leave the room to us." Redheart nodded and started clearing the room of Ponies that were still in the way. Making room for the trio to enter and close the door behind them.
Twilight gasped at the sight that was before her. The once beautiful Mare that she had carried on her back was now missing patches of the white coat that she had. Her horn was covered in very dark black spots. And from even a far distance as they were, they could tell she was shivering.
"Why is she shivering like that Princess?" Rainbow asked Celestia as they got closer.
"It's an effect of the radiation sickness that is slowly draining her magic and life away. It's one of many things that are happening to her." Celestia replied as she approached the bedside, "My dear, dear Mare from the stars, why did you choose here to land? Equestria is not safe for anyone on the surface."
The Mare looked up towards Celestia, her coat peeling away as she turned her neck, "I had no choice...I am here to deliver a message."
Celestia looked confused, "Message? For who? No one here knows you."
"My name is Astra of Iscandar, Third Princess to the throne." The Mare replied, her horn lighting up and projecting a image of the bright blue water planet. "We have heard of your struggle against the Gamilons. And we, cannot let them succeed. They have conquered many, and destroyed even more. Equestria, cannot be another planet lost." she gasped for air as she choked on her own words. The radiation sickness progressing faster every time she used magic.
Twilight looked as if a part of her was being crushed, to watch a Pony die this way. It unnerved her something fierce, and yet, she kept her eyes glued on the Mare. "But...no pony can save us. Equestria is doomed Princess Astra." Twilight said without thinking.
Astra smiled and extended a very weak wing to wrap around Twilight, "That my little pony, is where you are wrong." she looked up at Celestia, "To save your planet and restore it's beauty. You must travel to Iscandar. There, you shall meet my sister, Starsha of Iscandar, Queen of Iscandar. Where she will bestow upon you the Cosmo Reversing Magic that will clean and restore your planet."
Astra gasped again as she felt great pain filling her body. Celestia smiled and tilted her head in a small bow, "Astra, thank you for this gracious message. Your travel and passing will not be in vain. I promise you that." Astra smiled and nodded.
Twilight too had a small smile on her face, hope was finally given to them. Equestria...green and blooming again...it was more than any pony could have asked for. She bowed in respect to the dying Princess before her. "Thank you Astra...thank you from the bottom of everypony's heart." Rainbow too bowed, her pride beaming inside of her. Oh to see Cloudsdale again, and to control the weather on the surface. Her prayers couldn't have been answered sooner.
Astra nodded her head as best as she could, "Will you grant me one favor?" she asked VERY quietly. Celestia knew it was almost time for Astra to part from this world.
"Anything." Celestia replied looking down at Astra.
"Bury me on Iscandar, on the plains on the northern sea. Remember this, for it is my only request." Astra said slowly, using each breath she had to continue speaking.
"We will Princess, we will." Celestia replied, touching her horn to Astra's. And with a shimmer of light an unbreakable promise formed between the magic of the two. "It is with this light that this promise is made, and with this, I Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, give you comfort in your passing from this world. As a farewell gift to you for bringing us this message. Farewell, Astra, Princess of Iscandar." And with that, a smile formed on Astra's lips as her eye's slowly closed. Her breathing became slow, steady and then no more.
Twilight was in tears now, the passing of such a brave and noble Princess had moved her from sorrow to a bit of joy. It wasn't a meaningless death, it wasn't a painful death, but it was a death none the less. And that small fact, had her tears flowing fresh like running streams. Rainbow, did her best to contain her tears, instead lifted a hoof to her forehead, saluting the Princess before her. At first she didn't trust the Alicorn, but now, her heart was a flutter, full of mixed emotions.
Celestia lifted her horn from Astra's and looked down at Twilight and Rainbow. "This is a true sign that there are those out there that do care. That will do anything to stop the evil that will always rear it's head. Remember, remember her sacrifice my little ponies, for one day, you too, may be called upon to do the same." Twilight and Rainbow nodded in understanding, "Twilight, assemble the Council. Tell them we have news and that we shall share this news once Princess Luna has returned from the frontline."
"Right away Princess!" Twilight said turning on her hooves, "Come on Rainbow, I'll need you to fly the messages out right away!"
"Right! Lead the way!" Rainbow said confidently, an emotion that she had rarely shown since the first days of the planet bombing.
Celestia smiled as the two ran off, then looked down once again at Astra's body, "Thank you again Astra. We owe you a debt that we cannot repay." And with that, the white satin blanket that was covering her body, slowly moved with Celestia's magic, and covered her whole form. And slowly the Princess turned, walked away, and let the doors to the room close quietly.