Chapter 21: Greif
Dear citizens of Equestria, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a terrible tragedy that has befallen our kingdom. Prince Dawn Light, my beloved little brother, has fallen victim to a terrible poison and has rendered him sick. I ask that you all pray for him to be well and recover soon. Chrysalis, queen of the changelings and Equestria’s newest ally has taken it upon herself to retrieve the cure for Dawn Light in hopes of saving him. We must all do our part and simply continue on while hoping Chrysalis will return with the cure soon. You’re loving princess, princess Celestia.
A day had gone by since Dawn Light was poisoned. Luna had taken it upon herself to stay by Dawn’s side in the dream world and keep the nightmares at bay. They figured it would be best to keep him asleep so the pain the poison would bring won’t be so bad. Luna lay asleep next to Dawn in his room with a wing draped over his back like a blanket. She was using her magic to keep him asleep and as comfortable as he could be. Because of this, Celestia had to take over the role of raising and lowering the moon as well. Cosma had yet to leave his side. She simply sat on her haunches next to Dawn’s bed staring at him sadly. Her mane had lost its shine and ethereal appearance. Instead of moving about in an invisible breeze, it just hung off her. Her mind was in a fragile state. Tooky was on his perch looking down at Dawn sadly.
Solaris entered the room and approached Cosma, placing a wing on her back. “Cosma, dear, you need to eat something. You haven’t eaten anything since Dawn was poisoned.”
“How can I when my son is suffering so and there’s nothing I can do to help him?” Cosma said, keeping her eyes on her son.
“How do you think I feel? Our son has finally returned to us after being gone for about a thousand years and now we may lose him again. Not eating isn’t going to help anypony. Please Cosma, eat something.”
“….Have the servants send up some food, I’m not about to leave my son’s side.”
“Of course dear.” Solaris nuzzled Cosma. She did nothing in response. Solaris turned and walked out, closing the door behind him. As soon as it closed, he heard his wife begin to cry. He looked back a moment, then continued on to the kitchen.
In the dream realm, Luna was doing her best to help Dawn feel safe. She had created an open field of flowers and a few trees for a calming scenery for Dawn. She and Dawn were lying on the ground together just as in the real world. “Luna, I’m scared. Am I gonna die?” Dawn asked.
Luna nuzzled Dawn Light. “Of course not little brother, Chrysalis has gone to find the cure for you. I promise she will return with it to make you better.”
“I hope so, I want to see my friends again.”
“I know Dawn.” She paused a moment. “Dawn Light, how about I show you my private garden?”
Dawn looked up at Luna curiously. “You’re private garden?”
Luna gave a smile. The landscape shifted and warped till it changed. Dawn found himself in another open field with flowers and a small pond nearby with a little waterfall. Some of the flowers had a luminescent glow. It could be seen because it was now dark.
“Wow, Luna, where are we?” Dawn stood up to look the area over. He looked up and could see the stars clearly.
“Look behind you Dawn.” Luna said.
Dawn turned around and could see a whole planet before him. “What…what is that?”
Luna came up beside Dawn. “That is our world, Dawn. We are on the moon…though, not really. This is the dream world after all. You see, I am able to travel to the moon whenever I want some time alone to relax. I created a little garden for myself on the moon so I wouldn’t just be looking at moon dust the whole time. What do you think?”
Dawn gave a small smile. “It’s very pretty Lulu, thank you for showing me this. Can we stay here until I can wake up?”
“Of course Dawn. I promise not to leave your side until you’re better.” The two retook their previous position as they lay next to each other with Luna laying a wing over Dawn Light. The only sound was that of the small waterfall in front of the pond. Luna gazed up at the planet with Dawn. A small tear ran down her cheek and fell to the grassy ground.
Dawn heard the sound of a drop of water falling. He looked down and started looking back up in time to see another drop fall. His eyes finally fell on Luna’s face and could see tears coming from her eyes. “Luna, are you okay?”
Luna looked down and quickly rubbed her eyes with the crook of her left foreleg. “Yes….I’m okay Dawn.”
Dawn tilted his head to the side slightly. “Why are you crying?”
Luna locked eyes with Dawn. She gave a heavy sigh. “I’m…I’m just scared and worried for you little brother. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Dawn nuzzled into Luna’s barrel. “It’s all right Luna, Chrysalis will get the cure for me. You’ll see, I’ll be better in no time.” He reassured and offered a small smile. Inside, he was scared, very scared. He just didn’t want to see his big sister cry so he tried putting on a brave face.
Luna could see it in his eyes, the fear he felt. That was enough for Luna to break the dam that held back her sorrow. She gripped Dawn in a tight hug and cried. “Dawn, I’m so sorry. I wish there was more I could do for you. I wish….I wish I could make you better.”
Dawn Frowned. He hugged Luna back. “It’s all right big sister, just having you here with me helps. I don’t feel as scared.” The two simply lay there in their hug in silence.
Back in the realm of the awake, Crystal, who had been allowed to stay at Canterlot castle, was sobbing to herself in the room she was provided with. “Oh Dawn, why did this have to happen?” She held her little Dawn Light plushy close to her. “We were going to get married and have children together.” Her tears fell from her eyes to the floor. “*Sniff* Stupid changeling subjects, why couldn’t they see this peace between us and the ponies is a good thing? It’s not fair.” Then, like a sprinkler, her eyes burst with tears and sprayed out as she wept. “WAH HA HAH HAH! IT’S NOT FAIR!” The changeling guards outside the room that were assigned to her could do nothing to console the distraught filly changeling princess.
“AH HA HA HA HAH! AAAAAAAAHH HA HA HA!” Fluttershy was faring no better. She and her six friends along with Spike rushed to the castle as soon as they heard the bad news. Fluttershy was bawling her eyes out at Dawn’s predicament. “I can’t believe somepony would want to hurt him! It’s not fa-ha-hair! AH HA HA HAH!”
Twilight was doing her best to try and calm the distraught sensitive Pegasus. “Fluttershy, please calm down. I know you’re upset, we all are, but we have to be strong for Dawn. And besides, the changelings that fired that poison dart were aiming for the queen, not Dawn. He just jumped in the way to save his mom.” Twilight was trying her hardest to keep it together herself.
“This isn’t fair!” Rainbow Dash declared. “There has to be something we can do instead of just sitting around doing nothing.”
“And what do you think we can do Rainbow Dash?” Applejack asked. “Do you know how ta cure basilisk poison?”
“Well….no…but….there must be something we can do.” Rainbow tried to argue back. “I mean…why don’t we try to go after Chrysalis and help her get this cure?”
“Because we don’t know which way she went.” Twilight answered. “We won’t even know what to look for.”
“True…but…we…” Rainbow wracked her brain to try and think of something.
Twilight practically glared at Dash. “There’s nothing we can do Rainbow! Give it up!” Without realizing it, a couple tears escaped from Twilight’s eyes. “How do you think I feel? Dawn started to feel like he was really part of my family so quickly. He started calling me cousin right away when he found out Cadence and my big brother was married. I was going to be his teacher too. Now….he….he….” Her lower lip began to quiver, her resolve slowly faded. She finally broke down and let her tears flow.
Rainbow Dash relented as she looked at Twilight sadly. The girls gathered around Twilight. Rarity spoke first to try and comfort her. “Twilight, we understand. You want to help too just as badly as the rest of us, but there just isn’t anything we can do.”
“All we can do is be here fer him and support the royal family.” Applejack stated.
In a flash of white, Discord appeared in the room. “Hello girls.” He greeted sadly.
The girls looked up as expected but…saw nothing. They looked down and saw who they expected, but he was smaller, even shorter than Spike.
“Discord?” Spike questioned.
Fluttershy had calmed down enough to speak. “Discord, *Sniff* what happened? Why are you so small?”
“Hoh, I just figured my size should fit how I feel.” Discord answered.
“You feel…small?” Rainbow questioned.
“Of course. I’m a being of chaos. I am capable of bending the very fabric of reality to my will…yet….even I can’t help one of my best friends during his time of need. I just feel so…powerless and small.” Discord slumped as he dropped to the ground on his rump.
Fluttershy walked up to Discord and hugged him. “Oh Discord, we’re all upset about this.”
Pinkie Pie had yet to say anything at all. She sat quietly on her haunches with her back to the others. Her mane and tail had completely deflated and was straight. Her bright pink colors had faded to darker shades. She was feeling just as bad as the others if not worse as she had tears streaming from her eyes.
Discord looked past Fluttershy and saw Pinkie. “Pinkie Pie?” He spoke to get her attention. She just glanced at Discord, and then turned back around.
“She’s been like that ever since the news about Dawn got out. She hasn’t said a single thing or even cracked a smile.” Fluttershy informed.
“We’ve tried everything we could to comfort her, but nothing works.” Rarity said.
“I don’t blame her, I feel like crying myself.” Discord said.
“I think we all do.” Twilight informed. They all fell silent after that.
Rainbow Dash looked to the side as if in thought. After a moment of thinking, she faced forward again and broke the silence. “Girls, I…I gotta go.” Rainbow Dash flew out of the room before anypony could respond.
In Celestia’s study, she was busy with a few documents. Skript knocked on her door. “Princess, may I come in?”
Celestia didn’t take her eyes off the scrolls as she continued working, holding a quill in her magic. “You may, enter Skript.”
Skript walked up to the princess and bowed. “Princess….I….I’m really sorry. It was my job to protect Dawn Light and I failed. Because of me, he’s now been poisoned and could die.”
Celestia ceased her work and looked to Skript. “This isn’t your fault Skript. Those changelings were aiming for my mother and Dawn saw it coming, so he dove in the path of the dart to save mother. You have nothing to apologize….for….” Celestia’s voice cracked at the end. She closed her eyes a moment. “You…have been doing a….a fine job as Dawn’s body guard.” Celestia was trying her best to keep it together. With her mother and father in the state of mind they were in and Luna watching over Dawn in the dream realm, it was up to her to run the kingdom alone. She had to stay strong for her subjects, for her parents, her friends, her sister….her little brother. “I know you are worried about Dawn, everypony is. But blaming yourself won’t help. We….we have to be strong for him. We have to have faith Chrysalis will return with the flower that can save Dawn in time.” Her voice was starting to sound shaky.
Skript could see Celestia was having trouble keeping herself together. He said nothing on the matter. “Of course princess. If there is anything you need, just let me know.”
“Thank you Skript, I appreciate….everything….you….” Her voice slowly fell as she finally broke down and started to cry, her head on her desk with her hooves covering her muzzle. This princess of the sun, the very princess who had to banish her own sister to the moon and ruled over Equestria for about a thousand years on her own was reduced to tears over her little brother.
Skript slowly approached Celestia and placed a hoof on her shoulder. All he could do was be there with her as she cried out. The weight of everything going on had finally caught up to her.
Blue Blood sat sadly on his haunches in his room. It was time for his daily grooming and was dead silent for the most part. The maid taking care of his grooming finally spoke. “Sire, are you all right, you haven’t said a single things since I came in.”
Blue Blood just glanced at the maid, then lowered his eyes back to the ground. “I’m just sad my uncle is suffering so and there’s nothing I can do. Normally I would be barking orders or yelling at somepony before I met Dawn. Now….he…he helped me become a better stallion and more suited to my role as a prince. I feel horrible that I can’t do a thing to help with my title as prince.” He gave a tired sigh.
“Sire, I feel bad about this too. The young prince is such a wonderful pony. He doesn’t deserve to be going through this. He’s been a real ball of sunshine in the palace for everypony.” The maid said as she continued her work combing Blue’s coat. “He’s brought such laughter and joy to the staff and has always made an effort to make sure everypony is happy.”
“I know, which is why I wish I could help him.” Blue Blood said. “I do hope Chrysalis gets back in time with the flower she said could cure Dawn.”
Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire, princess Cadence had fallen into a depression upon hearing the news of her beloved cousin Dawn. She barely eats, hasn’t slept a wink, and mostly stays in her room. Shining Armor entered their bedroom where Cadence was lying on the bed. Her mane was a mess, her coat was looking a bit dirty, and her eyes had bags under them. She wasn’t wearing her usual royal attire. “Cadence, honey, please don’t do this to yourself. I’m upset about Dawn too, but depriving yourself like this won’t help him. What do you think he’d say if he saw you like this?”
Cadence didn’t make eye contact as she responded. “That I look like a mess.”
“Please Cadence, eat something, take a bath, get yourself cleaned up. I know your upset, but we can’t forget we are running a kingdom here.”
Cadence narrowed her eyes and looked at Shining. “Running a kingdom? Is that all you care about? My cousin is suffering and there’s nothing I can do to help! And all you care about is running the kingdom?!” She nearly shouted.
Shining recoiled from his wife. “I didn’t mean it like that. Cadence, please calm down.”
Cadence took a breath and sighed. She closed her eyes and hung her head as she spoke with sadness in her voice. “Your right Shining, I’m sorry. I’m just so worried we may lose Dawn again. He vanished for a millennium, then out of nowhere reappears, now we may lose him again for good.”
Shining climbed onto the bed and held Cadence. She nuzzled into his barrel. “I know Cadence, I’m scared for him too. He’s my little cousin too now after all.” He frowned. “But sitting around here moping won’t do any pony any good. Now come on, what do you say we get you cleaned up and get something in that belly of yours.”
As if to agree, Cadence’s stomach growled. “Yeah, okay Shining.” Cadence finally agreed. She got off the bed and made her way to her bathroom.
Back in Ponyville at the CMC clubhouse, the three fillies sat in a circle with their heads hung and frowns prominent on their faces. “Feel like doing any crusading?” Scootaloo asked.
“Not really.” Sweetie Belle responded.
“Yeah, me neither, not when Dawn is sick. A fellow cutie mark crusader is ill and we can’t do nothin about it.” Apple Bloom said.
“I wish my sister took us with them to the castle so we could be there for Dawn too.” Sweetie Belle said.
“Me too, but they did say we have to be strong for Dawn and hope Chrysalis comes back with that cure.” Scootaloo pointed out.
Apple Bloom’s expression turned to one of determination. “You’re right Scootaloo, we need ta be strong fer our fellow Cutie Mark Crusader. We can’t just be moping around here.”
“Then what should we do?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Apple Bloom’s face fell at the question. “I don’t know.”
There was a knock on the door of their clubhouse. Scootaloo stood up and went to answer it. “Wonder who that could be.” She opened the door to see Rainbow Dash there. “Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here?” She asked happily.
Rainbow greeted Scootaloo with a small smile. “Hey there squirt, I was wondering if we could talk for a bit alone.”
Scootaloo raised a brow at the request. It quickly faded as she smiled again. “Sure, no problem.” She turned to her two friends. “You girls don’t mind do you?”
“Of course not, go ahead.” Sweetie Belle responded.
“Great, I’ll be back soon.” Scootaloo said.
Rainbow Dash flew up and led Scootaloo to a lone cloud up in the sky. Rainbow Dash sat down on her haunches as Scootaloo flew up next to her. Rainbow offered a smile. “Heh, you’re getting pretty good at flying now Scoots.”
Scootaloo smiled up at Dash. “It’s all thanks to your couching Dash.”
Rainbow Dash looked down at her hooves with a frown.
Scootaloo tilted her head slightly as she looked up at Dash. “Rainbow, what’s wrong?"
Rainbow Dash simply glanced at Scootaloo.
“It’s Dawn isn’t it? You’re upset about him being sick too just like us.”
“Yeah, I am. I just wish there was something I could do. But all I’m good at is flying fast and doing stunts.” Scootaloo leaned into Dash’s side. Rainbow looked down at Scootaloo in a bit of surprise. She placed a wing over Scootaloo and held her close with it.
“It’s okay Dash, we just have to keep hoping Dawn will be fine. The princess did say we all need to be strong for Dawn don’t we?” Scootaloo said.
“Yeah, we do.” Rainbow fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Scootaloo, I’ve really started to see you as the little sister I never had. You’re a great filly with a lot of potential. I really enjoy our time together.”
Scootaloo gave another confused look. “Really?” She gave a smile. “I’m glad you feel that way Dash. I really enjoy our time together too, you’re such an awesome pony.”
“I sure don’t feel awesome right now.” Rainbow’s voice became heavy with sorrow. “Scoots, if anything were to happen to you….I…I don’t know what I’d do. I really do care about you like a little sister, and I’d be real upset if anything were to happen to you.” Rainbow nuzzled Scootaloo on the cheek.
Scootaloo nuzzled back. “Come on Dash, you don’t have to worry about that, I’m a tough filly. I can take care of myself.”
Rainbow pulled back from the nuzzling. “I know Scoots, I just felt I needed to get that off my chest. Just remember that if you should need anything, anything at all, you just let your big sis know and I’ll help out with whatever you need.” Rainbow’s voice sounded more lively with that statement.
“Sure Rainbow, thanks.” The two shared a hug with Dash adding her wings into it. After the hug they shared, Dash managed to smile down at Scootaloo.
“I’d better get back to the castle and my friends. I’ll see ya later, okay?” Rainbow Dash stood up.
“Sure Rainbow, see ya later…big sis.” Scootaloo said with a wider smile.
This made Rainbow smile bigger as well. “Later little sis.” She spread out her wings and flew back to the castle.
Scootaloo waved a hoof as Dash flew off. Once she was out of sight, Scootaloo flew down and back to the clubhouse.
A couple days passed and Chrysalis still had yet to return to the castle with the plant that would provide the cure for Dawn’s condition. There were times where Luna would bring Dawn out of his sedated state so he could eat at least but felt the pain from the poison surge through his body. It pained his family to see him like this when he was awake, but it was no better when he was asleep as Luna was the only one that could speak with him. She was focusing all her magic to keep Dawn under and pain free while also keeping the nightmares away. During his time of illness, every pony in the castle seemed to have less energy. It was as if every pony had their energy drained from them and were just going through the motions ever since Dawn fell ill.
It was clear with Dawn’s coming, the castle had grown much brighter than it was before. Now, with him suffering so, a dark cloud loomed over the city of Canterlot; and not just Canterlot, but Ponyville as well and the Crystal Empire for Cadence and Shining Armor. The lives Dawn touched were miserable with him knocking at death’s door. Chrysalis needed to hurry or Dawn wouldn’t last much longer.
A royal guard burst into Dawn’s room where his mother and father sat watching him sleep. “Your majesties, Chrysalis is on the approach, she’s come back.”
After two more days passed, Chrysalis finally returned with a few flowers. Blue flowers with white strips were clutched in her hoof as she flew as fast as she could to the castle with a few of her changelings that went with her. She arrived at the castle and a wave of relief could be felt as it washed over the castle. But the cure had yet to be administered. Chrysalis began work. She knew the cure and how to make this as her changelings would, once in a while, fall prey to the beastly snake known as a basilisk.
Chrysalis mushed the plants into a liquid and brought it before Dawn as he rested. Cosma nudged Luna as a sign to wake Dawn up. In the dream realm, she and Dawn rested in the lunar garden gazing at the planet. Luna gave a small gasp as she sensed somepony trying to wake her. She looked down at Dawn. “Dawn, it is time to wake up again. Are you ready?”
Dawn frowned. “I don’t like waking up and feeling that pain, it’s horrible.”
Luna nuzzled Dawn. “I know, but we can’t have you starving and wasting away, can we? Just be ready for it.”
“Okay.” Dawn braced himself for what was to come when he woke up. Luna cancelled her spell and woke Dawn up. Immediately, he felt a wave of pain course through his body. “AH!” He cried out and curled up into a ball as he shivered. “It…it hurts.” He cried out.
Luna frowned, she didn’t like seeing her little brother like this and felt guilty for waking him up when it would just lead to pain.
“Dawn, I’m so sorry.” Cosma said. She quickly picked Dawn up and held him close to her chest. “Don’t worry Dawn, you don’t have to feel it for much longer. Chrysalis has returned with the cure.” She said with a sad smile.
Chrysalis approached Cosma and looked down at Dawn with the liquid cure in a vile. “Dawn, you must drink this. It will make you better.”
Dawn could barely move. “I…I can’t…move.” His voice was hollow and broken from the pain.
“Here, I’ll give it to you.” Cosma took the vile from Chrysalis with her magic and popped the cork off. She held Dawn’s head and fed him the drink like he was a baby drinking from a bottle. Dawn gulped it down until every drop was gone.
As this was going on, Twilight and her friends rushed to Dawn’s room to see him drink the cure. Discord and Skript joined shortly.
“There, now what?” Cosma asked Chrysalis.
“It will take some time for the antidote to take effect, he should go back to sleep for now.” Chrysalis informed.
Cosma looked down at her son. “Dawn, just a little longer.” She placed him back on the bed next to Luna.
Luna placed a wing over Dawn and used her magic to put him back to sleep.
“Did it work?” Twilight asked.
“How long till the antidote takes effect?” Fluttershy asked.
“Will it be long?” Pinkie asked.
Chrysalis raised a hoof to halt anymore questions. “I didn’t want to say this in front of Dawn, but you all have a right to know. The sooner the antidote is administered, the better the chances of working. My changelings fell ill from having a run in with a basilisk and was lucky to merely escape with just getting poisoned. I have been able to administer the cure to them quickly, so it has always been effective. However, after the course of a few days….I don’t know for sure if the antidote will work. All we can do now is hope.”
Cosma placed a hoof to her mouth. “Dawn.”
Solaris placed a wing on his wives back. He looked to Chrysalis with tired pleading eyes. “Can you at least give us an estimate of how long we have to wait before we know for sure if the cure worked or not?”
Chrysalis hung her head. “I’ve done all I can. We can find out if the antidote worked by tomorrow morning. If Dawn is still in pain….I’m afraid it won’t be a good sign.”
Cosma buried her head in her husband’s chest as she cried.
“Well of course he’ll be fine!” Discord insisted. “He has to be! There are so many ponies rooting for him! After everything he’s been through, he has to make it, he…he just has too.”
The others nodded in agreement. “I agree with Discord, all we can do now is continue praying Dawn will make it.” Celestia’s voice said from behind the group. She had snuck up behind everypony a while ago and heard Chrysalis’s words. She wasn’t looking so good either. Celestia had bags under her eyes as a clear indication she wasn’t getting much sleep. Her mane was a mess, and her coat was looking ragged. Not as bad as Cosma, but she wasn’t looking much like a royal at the moment. All anypony could do now was wait.