***
Twilight's chest rose softly, her wrinkled brow and clenched lip betraying the calm her sleep would otherwise exude. Celestia stood by her side, her hooves cradling Twilight's own delicately.On the other side of the bed stood the Element Bearers, each of them dealing with their anxiety in their own ways. It was a packed hospital, with ponies in various states of unease. Celestia vaguely noted that Cadance and Shining armor were by the door, and that Spike was pressing up against Twilight's side.
"They were starving when they attempted to attack." Cadance said, her voice hollow and tired. "Once we took their leader hostage, the invasion started to break down."
Shining Armor chimed in from beside her, his words slurred and uncertain. "We're negotiating their terms of surrender with their second in command right now."
"What happened to their first?" Applejack asked, a sudden anxiety creeping into her tone.
"She attempted to assassinate Twilight in order to prevent her from interfering in her plans, which we have yet to fully deduce, save that it required her to impersonate Cadance." Celestia interjected, her voice a thousand miles away. "I intervened shortly thereafter."
Twilight stirred in her sleep, a moan ringing out through the room. Celestia cradled Twilight, Spike and her fellow Element Bearers drawing closer. "...Elem...Cadance?"
"Twilight?" Spike said, concern edging into his voice. Celestia tuned out the rest of the conversation that ensued, simply hugging Twilight alongside the rest of her friends and family. She clung to Twilight as though there was a chance that her hooves and only her hooves were holding the scholarly unicorn together, and she might dissolve should Celestia let go. She held her even as she explained the failed invasion in a voice full of false comfort to a confused, exhausted Twilight. She at last relinquished her grip when Twilight wanted to speak with her friends alone, and sat examining the floor.
It was rare for that she brooded, a dim part of her mind noted, but now a single phrase taunted her mercilessly as though it were Discord himself released from his prison of stone.
You have a lot to think about.
And she did. Not wanting the concerns of her niece and soon to be nephew to be leveled upon her, Celestia decided to inquire after their safety, and speak with them about the arrangements for a second attempt at a wedding.
After a small eternity the room began to drain of ponies, until at last it was only Twilight, Celestia and Spike still there.
"Spike, dear?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you be so kind as to make sure that your friends know where their rooms are? I am certain your familiarity with the castle will be a boon to them."
"Right!" And so the little drake was off, most likely steaming towards a certain ivory unicorn at full speed.
Twilight looked at Celestia's expression, which had taken on a decidedly un-princessly tableau of remorse. "Princess? Is something the matter?"