Catatonic: Chapter 4
Luna sat on the soft cushion of her bed. Her room was usually kept dark, but this night the curtains were all drawn back. Silver beams of moonlight filled the chamber, pouring in through the ceiling-high windows that dominated each wall.
Soon it would be time to lower the moon, and then Celestia would raise the sun. Just like every other day. The weather was supposed to be beautiful, not that Luna was in any mood to enjoy it. It didn't seem right, seemed an insult somehow, to allow for a bright and sunny day in the wake of this tragedy.
“Why?” Luna asked, looking up at the full moon above. “What did Twilight Sparkle do to deserve this fate?”
The moon, as usual, gave no answer. Cold and impassive, it shone down over Equestria as it always had and always will. There were times when Luna wished that she could be more like the orb she represented, that she envied its detached nature. Times when her emotions got the better of her. Those always ended badly.
Sighing, she turned her attention to the book in front of her. It was one of many that lined those walls not occupied by windows, part of the princess' attempt to learn of all that she had missed in her millennial absence. By and large it was boring, Equestria having enjoyed several centuries of peace interrupted only by minor disputes with the other races with whom they shared this land.
She had, thus far, managed to catch up on significant events of the first five hundred years of her absence. The only true events of note had been the Gryphon Incursion and a quarrel between unicorns mining gems and the native Diamond Dogs. Both had been resolved with minimal violence, although there was still tension between Equestria and the dogs. Their subterranean lifestyle had caused issues with the Stygian ponies, whose mountain caves occasionally proved rich in gems.
Frustrated, she hurled the book aside. It skidded along the floor, pages crumpling and tearing as it went. Why was she burying her nose in some dusty old book when the first pony she truly considered a friend was lying in the hospital? Why wasn't she doing something about it?
The familiar anger rose within her, a burning sensation in her chest. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. The old calming exercise was supposed to repress the kind of urges that had led her to take up the mantle of Nightmare Moon in the first place. As she meditated, she focused on the moon. The cold and comforting presence of the lunar orb resonated within her.
She felt it within her mind, the slow movement of the moon through the night sky. It paused just above the horizon, teetering on the brink of setting. She reached out to it, gave it a gentle nudge with her magic, and sent it on its way to the other hemisphere. Contrary to popular belief, she and Celestia did not in fact move the orbs through the sky. All they truly did was give them the extra momentum needed to continue their cycles, a necessary precaution since the reign of Discord had forever destabilized the two heavenly bodies.
As she pushed the moon over that invisible tipping point, she felt another presence appearing in the East. The sun was beginning to rise, Celestia doing her part in the castle's other tower. As predicted, the day was going to be beautiful.
“Guards,” The princess said, getting the attention of her attendants. “Please send a message to Captain Silver. I require his presence post-haste.” The guards saluted, one rushing off to deliver the message while the other sat, still as a statue. Luna returned to her meditation, focusing to keep the anger from rising in her heart again.
It was only a few minutes before there was a gentle knock on the obsidian slab that served as a door. Luna's magic opened the portal, the door sliding open silently on perfectly balanced hinges.
“You called for me, your majesty?” A voice asked across the threshold. A grizzled unicorn stallion clad in a simple harness, designed to hold only a badge of rank and a sword, stood respectfully toeing the line.
“Come in, Captain.” Luna said, rising from the bed. “I have some matters to discuss with you.”
“It would be my honor, Princess.” He said, stepping in and gently closing the door behind him.
The guards shared a knowing look. Although nopony truly knew what happened in Luna's meetings with Captain Silver, the rumors certainly flew. The fact that he always emerged hours later, sweating and breathing heavily, certainly didn't help.
Inside, Luna and Silver were already getting started. The princess' traditional garb had been cast aside, and her dark blue coat was barely visible in the gloom. The windows, previously open to allow the moonlight to fill the room, were now closed. Nopony was to see what went on in the darkened bedchambers.
They stood at opposite ends of the room, the low pile of cushions that served as a bed pushed aside. Their eyes met, and a crackle of energy seemed to pass between them. This was one of Luna's favorite parts of their sessions: the moment when changing her mind was no longer an option, when all higher thought was banished in exchange for pure instinct.
The moment passed, and it began in earnest. The pair met in the room's center, neither giving so much as an inch. Silver was an soldier, and although his jet black mane was showing the first few streaks of gray he possessed an energy and stamina that stallions half his age couldn't match. His silver coat was marked with the scars of his years of service, each one a badge of honor. Luna possessed the full strength of the moon, and even she had difficulty keeping up with him at times.
The clashing of metal filled the room. Luna's blade, an unadorned length of jet black steel named Penumbra, met the Captain's nameless sword. While mundane in every way, Silver's blade was of exquisite quality. Its shining edge swung through the dark air with deadly speed, only to clash against the dark metal of the princess' own sword. The two held nothing back, swinging and lunging as they would in a true battle.
The upper hoof was traded back and forth, each gaining a brief advantage only to lose it minutes later. They wore no armor, and had cast no spells to blunt the edges of their blades. The only protection that each possessed was their own skill.
Had their been any onlookers, they would have been astonished at how the two mirrored each other. While Silver remained calm and steady, his breath coming slowly and evenly, Luna fought like a mare possessed. She lunged and spun, her blade flashing as she panted and snarled like an animal. It was truly terrifying to behold, a brief glimpse of the madness that had overcome the lunar princess in the past. She swung Penumbra around in a vicious arc, knocking Silver's blade from his telekinetic grip. With her opponent disarmed, Luna went in for the finishing blow. She bowled the soldier over and pinned him down, her blade lightly touching the side of his neck. His amber eyes met her teal ones. It was at that moment that the door swung silently open.
“What is it?”Luna asked, glaring at whomever had so rudely interrupted her. Her glare faded when she saw not a guard, but her sister framed in the light that streamed in. “I mean: Good morning, sister. Is there something you require?” She glanced down at Silver, blushed slightly, and banished the blade. He rose, dusting himself off and taking his leave.
“I am gathering Twilight's friends at the hospital.” Celestia said, eyes following Silver as he made his way past her. “It is time they were told of what has happened.” She turned and began to walk as Luna fell in line behind her. “Afterward I must meet with the guards. There is a small wager that must be settled regarding a certain Captain's 'illicit activities' each night.” She sighed. “I owe Lieutenant Wind Sheer a sizable sum.”
“It seems hardly the time for jokes, sister.” Luna snapped. After the rude interruption it seemed as if all of the tension she had worked out was returning in full force.
“My apologies, Luna. These past few hours have not been easy for either of us.” Celestia looked as tired as Luna felt. Together, the princesses set off for Ponyville, and the meeting that they both had been dreading.
Spike
Spike stood at Rarity's side in the hospital waiting room. The other four sat in front of them, still blinking the last traces of sleep from their eyes and wondering what had brought them here so early in the morning.
“So are we just gonna sit here all morning or are you gonna tell us why you woke us all up?” Rainbow Dash asked, fidgeting in her seat. The impatient pegasus was rarely awake before noon, and between that and being made to sit and wait she was not in a good mood.
“All in good time, Rainbow.” Rarity said. “We are waiting until everypony has arrived.”
“Ooh! Ooh!” Pinkie Pie shouted, bouncing on the rock hard cushion of the chair. “Who are we waiting for now? Is it Snowflake? Cheerilee? Doctor Whooves?” Despite the hour, the pink pony was full of energy. This may have had something to do with the immense cup of extremely strong coffee that she had been drinking while she waited.
“Simmer down Sally.” Applejack interrupted, stuffing a hoof in Pinkie's mouth to silence her. “Ah'm sure we ain't gonna be waitin' too much longer.”
As if one cue, the door opened and Princess Celestia strode in. Luna followed behind her. The two took their places with Spike and Rarity, and the meeting that the young dragon had been dreading began.
“I'm sure you are all wondering why I've asked you here so early in the morning.” Celestia began, looking at the assembled mares. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there has been an incident. Twilight Sparkle has been severely injured, and is currently in a coma.”
The room fell silent. Four mouths dropped open in shock, four mares found themselves unable to formulate even the simplest of thoughts.
“Y'all wanna run that'un by us again, Princess?” asked Applejack, confused. “Cause it sounds like you just said that Twilight is in a coma. And there ain't no way that coulda happened.”
“I assure you, Applejack,” Luna began, stepping forward. “You heard correctly. Early this morning, something attacked her, leaving her in critical condition. The doctors have done all they can, and she is stable, but she has shown no signs of waking.”
Fluttershy shrank behind the pink veil of her mane, eyes wide as she tried to process what she had heard. Pinkie Pie moved beside her and wrapped a foreleg around her friend.
Rainbow Dash took the opposite approach. Anger flared in her eyes as she took to the air.
“So who did it and where are they? They put my friend in the hospital, I'm gonna put them in the ground!” She darted back and forth, punching and kicking at the air.
“We do not yet know the identity of the culprit. And even if we did I would not allow you to chase after them unprepared.” Celestia was calm, but sadness over the condition of her student was clearly visible in her eyes. “Anything capable of such a brutal attack must be approached with caution.”
“Pardon me?” The receptionist said, walking over to the group. “You asked me to inform you when visiting hours began, yes? Your friend is in room number 42.”
“Indeed we did,” replied Rarity. “Thank you ever so much for letting us know.” She turned back to the group. “Well, shall we go and pay Twilight a visit? I must warn you though, it isn't easy to see.”
Resolved, the group began making their way through the halls. Twilight had, in the last few hours, been moved to a larger room in anticipation of the inevitable large number of visitors. She was a well-liked mare, and many ponies considered her a friend. The door looked much like all of the others in the building, a simple windowless slab of wood with a small brass nameplate to the side. Twilight's name was etched on the plate under the room's number. They paused at the door, wanting to be by their friend's side but afraid to see the state she was in. The knob turned, and the door slowly swung open.