//------------------------------// // Rainbow Dash 11 // Story: Unwell // by HazamaBrony //------------------------------// “Twilight!” I yelled as I saw her collapse on the ground. I leapt into the air to rush to her side… And found myself unable to move. I was being held in place by a golden aura. “Let me go!” I yelled at Princess Celestia. “Twilight needs me!” “Do not touch her,” the Princess said in a stern voice. “Her leg needs medical attention, and moving her might make it worse.” I calmed down a hair. That was a good point. “Fine,” I said, “but I’m not leaving her side.” “I may need you to, in order to find out what happened here,” Princess Celestia said. “In the meantime… Captain Stone Wall!” “Yes, Ma’am!” Stone Wall barked, standing at attention and saluting. “What do you need?” “I assume that one of your guards is medically trained, correct?” When Stone Wall nodded, the Princess continued, “Have your medic check Twilight’s leg to determine the extent of the injury, and have your fastest courier fly to the hospital. Tell them that we have a pony that is injured and will be unconscious for at least the next twelve hours.” “Yes, Ma’am!” the captain said again, then turned and began barking orders at his guards. I shot a glance at the Princess. “Twelve hours? Was that long really necessary?” Princess Celestia sighed. “It may have been a tad more powerful than absolutely necessary, but I did not want her waking up on the way to the hospital. Not in her current state of mind.” “I guess that makes sense,” I said grudgingly, looking at the pony delicately checking on Twilight’s leg. Eventually, he stood up and made his way over to the captain and exchanged a few words with him. Stone Wall shook his head, then made his way over to where the Princess and I were looking on. He started to open his mouth, but then he paused, looking at me. “Um, you may need to leave, Rainbow. I’m unsure of the protocol in a case like this, seeing as how Twilight has done nothing illegal except resist arrest, but we aren’t allowed to disclose the details of injuries to a pony in the guard’s custody to anypony but family.” “But I’m her marefriend!” I protested, feeling my anger rise again. “But you aren’t married, correct?” Stone Wall said calmly. I opened my mouth to protest, but Princess Celestia spoke over me. “As the High Princess of Equestria, I hereby give you permission to share the details of Twilight Sparkle’s injuries with Rainbow Dash. Now, captain, how bad is it?” “Um, well,” the captain stuttered, suddenly looking very nervous. “Her leg is, well, broken. It was a clean break, however, so it should heal with no complications.” Princess Celestia went very still. “How did this happen, captain?” she asked, her voice simultaneously soft and icy. “I believe that the newer submission holds were designed to prevent this.” Stone Wall winced. “You see, it was Officer Steel Shield that tackled her. He is… not a fan of the newer submission holds, he believes that they are too easy to escape. After all, normal ponies don’t struggle so much in that sort of grip. It just plain hurts too much.” “Well, then, see to it that he is properly disciplined and made aware that he should use the recommended procedure next time. Are we clear?” the Princess asked, and the last three words were so cold they could have frozen ice. The captain was shaking in his horseshoes. “Yes, Ma’am! Right away Ma’am!” he stammered out with a wavering salute, then turned and hurried back to his recruits. Celestia sighed again, and she looked incredibly tired. “I should have gotten here sooner,” she said, staring at Twilight. “I should have known something was amiss when I got Spike’s letter. It wasn’t sealed like all the others, so I should have known. I shouldn’t have finished listening to the court’s proposals before coming here…” I suddenly felt extremely awkward, standing next to her. “So, uh, what did you need me for? If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather stay with Twilight.” Celestia blinked at me, as if she had forgotten that I was there. “You will be able to go to her side in due time, Rainbow. The doctors won’t let anypony in while they splint her leg, after all. First, however, I would like to know what occurred. Spike’s letter was sorely lacking in information.” “I see,” I said. That was another good point. “Well, it started when Twilight got sick a few weeks ago…” When I finished telling her what had happened, Celestia’s eyes were blazing with fury. “Somepony gave her the wrong medications?” she hissed. “I will find whoever is responsible, and I will personally oversee their trial.” I took a step back. The air had suddenly jumped up a degree or ten. “Um, well, what if it was just a mistake?” I asked. “Reckless endangerment of equine life, and mishandling of a controlled substance,” Celestia said, her voice icy again. “Now then, Rainbow, I would like you to show me to where Twilight has her prescriptions filled.” “Well, there is one thing that we should do first,” I said, then I nearly wilted under the weight of the Princess’s stare. “Yes?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow. “Stone Wall said something about another pony overdosing on magic suppressors. I mean, it could be unrelated, but…” “I see. Captain Stone Wall!” The captain looked pale when he stood in front of Celestia, not that I could blame him. She was scarily calm. “Yes, Ma’am?” “Rainbow has told me that you may have a potential lead on a pony that overdosed on magic suppressors. I would like to see all the files and evidence on that,” Celestia said. “Right away!” Stone Wall said. “All the files are at the police station, however.” “Then lead us there,” Celestia said, her tone irritated. “Right!” With that, the captain turned and began to trot back into town with the Princess and I right on his tail. “Miss Files! Do you have that report ready?” Stone Wall called as soon as we entered the guard station, with the Princess having to stoop a little to keep her horn from scraping on the ceiling. “Right here!” the secretary said, placing a plain white box on the receptionist counter. The captain reached for it, but before he could touch it, Celestia’s golden aura enveloped the box, and all of its contents flew over to the Princess. “Allow me, please. I have quite literally been reading guard reports since before you were born,” she said, as the papers and various knick-knacks in the box hovered in front of her face. “Um, Princess, shouldn’t we do that someplace more private than the front room of our station?” the secretary asked. “This will only take a minute, and I am feeling impatient,” Celestia said dismissively. Apparently, nether Stone Wall nor Miss Files wanted to push the Princess any more, and both retreated to behind the receptionist desk. I, meanwhile, was fidgeting while watching the Princess scan the files in front of her face. I really should have been with Twilight, but what could I do? I had no medical knowledge that could help, and she would be unconscious for next twelve or so hours. Still, going to her side felt like the right thing to do. But on the other hoof, I really wanted to find out why this had happened, and I just knew I would tear myself to pieces just sitting and watching Twilight sleep. So I guess helping the Princess get to the bottom of this was my best choice for now. “I see,” Celestia said, shaking me from my thoughts. “Allow me to review what happened with you, Captain Stone Wall, just to be sure that I have all the details correct.” “Yes, Ma’am,” Stone wall said, hurrying back towards the Princess. “First of all, the victim in this case was Green Hoof, a local earth pony gardener who had recently fallen on hard times. His business had gone under, and he had been arrested multiple times for public intoxication and disturbing the peace. He was also suspected of taking illegal substances, but nothing concrete had ever shown up. “However, about a week ago, early in the morning, he was discovered unconscious in an alley in the center of town, and was unresponsive. When taken to the hospital, a preliminary blood scan showed that he had taken a massive amount of a magic suppressor commonly known as Merlinite. Medical examination has shown that even if he ever wakes up, he will have lost his connection to soil,” Celestia continued, and her voice grew hard as she said the last sentence. Celestia took a deep breath before continuing. “Among the trash that was littering the alley, three prescription bottles were found, all with the tags torn off. One of them was empty, but the other two still had medication inside. Matching the serial numbers on the pills revealed them to be a mood stabilizer and an atypical anti-psychotic, both in rather powerful doses. Is this correct?” “Yes, Ma’am, that is all correct,” Stone Wall said, nodding furiously. “Very well. I would like you and a squad of your stallions to come with me. I believe that I know where Green Hoof acquired those pills,” the Princess said, then turned and strode out of the guard station, leaving the captain scrambling and calling for a squad to join him. I flew out of the station and joined Celestia, but I didn’t land beside her. She may not have looked like she was in a hurry, but she’s so large that even a fast walk for her was a slow gallop for an average pony. “Rainbow, I assume that you know where Twilight has her prescriptions filled, correct?” Celestia asked, and a look of satisfaction flickered over her face when I nodded. “Very well, lead the way.” “Sure thing Princess, but can you tell me what’s going on? I guess that that Green Hoof pony ended up with Twilight’s pills, but how? I mean, did he steal them?” I asked, confused. “First things first, Rainbow. I can confirm that Green Hoof did indeed have Twilight’s medication. I have long since asked Doctor Hooves to keep me posted on Twilight’s condition and medications, with her permission, of course. I may not be completely up to date on A.C.M.S. itself, but I do want to know the symptoms and side effects of the medication, as such to better help Twilight if needed,” she said. “However, I do not believe that Green Hoof stole them, or even what they really were. He had no access to the medications or the placebos that Twilight’s meds were switched with, nor would he have any reason to overdose on the magic suppressor. Magic suppressors are not pleasant to take, ruling out recreational use, and there are much easier medications to overdose on, ruling out suicidal intent. “However, the fact remains that he did overdose on Twilight’s medication. That means that somepony with access must have given them to him without telling him what they were or what they did. That in turn tells me that this is not just a mistake,” Celestia said, her tone grim. I was having a bit of difficulty keeping up with her train of logic, but one thing stood out to me. “Not a mistake? Do you… do you mean that somepony did this to Twilight on purpose?” I asked, feeling anger bubble up inside me. “I suppose it could have been somepony covering up that they made a mistake filling Twilight’s prescription, but I find that unlikely. When word of this gets out, the reputation of the pharmacy will plummet, whereas if they had just contacted Twilight, nothing would have happened and their reputation would remain untarnished. So yes, Rainbow, I do believe that somepony did this to Twilight on purpose,” Celestia replied, and I could hear and echo of my own anger when she spoke. The rest of the journey to the store was in silence. Luna must have been lowering the sun, because it was beginning to get dark by the time we reached the pharmacy. “So, what do we do now? Do we wait for the guards to catch up or do we…?” I started to ask, but Celestia just strode right into the store without so much as a look back. I hurried in right after her, and saw her ring the bell that was on the front counter. “Just one moment!” called a stallion from the back of the store. After a second or two of rustling sounds, a green unicorn stallion with a pill for a cutie mark trotted out of a closet. “How can I help—Your Highness!?” Celestia ignored his exclamation, her face emotionless. “Hello, my little pony. I need to speak with whoever last handled Twilight Sparkle’s prescription.” “I… but you…um,” the stallion stuttered. “Now,” Celestia said, and the word came out cold enough that the stallion paled. “Right, right! I think that was Inspiring Script. He works here while he tries to get published, you see—“ “Then I would like to talk to him. Do you know where I can find him?” “He’s in the back right now, so—“ “Then go get him,” Celestia commanded, and the stallion scurried away as quickly as his hooves could move him. Celestia didn’t move a muscle, but her eyes followed him until he rounded a corner and disappeared from view. I, meanwhile was torn between demanding answers myself, and not wanting to get in the Princesses way. In the end, however, I guess that the Princess would do a better job of getting to the bottom of this than I would. Also, I think I would be bad for my health if I annoyed her right now. After a moment, there was a cry of “Just get out there!” from where the green stallion had disappeared to, and a pegasus, just a shade darker than I was with a lighter blue mane and a scroll cutie mark, stumbled into our view, rubbing his flank. “Are you Inspiring Script?” Celestia asked. “Um, yeah. How can I help you, Your Highness?” Script asked, trembling a little. “I would like to know about when you handled Twilight Sparkle’s prescription. It was a few weeks ago now. Was there anything unusual about—“ “No! It was a perfectly normal, um, thing! There wasn’t anything strange about it!” Script blurted out, his eyes shifting from side to side. Wow, I never thought that I would meet a worse liar than Applejack, but here he was. To be fair, however, I would like to see even the best liar come up with a convincing lie with the Princess glaring at you like that. “Listen, my little pony,” Celestia said, her voice very soft, but trembling with rage, “one pony is comatose, and another has been injured thanks to somepony tampering with medication that came from this pharmacy. If you know anything at all, tell me before I arrest you and everypony that works here for obstruction of justice!” “All right. All right! I’ll talk!” Script said, cowering. “Twilight came in to fill her prescription, but she didn’t want to wait in the store like she always did. She said that she was going for a short walk with her marefriend. Anyways, right after she left, this mare came in and said that she was running a pharmaceutical trial, and that I should switch her medications for placebos! I—“ “What!?” the green stallion yelled. “What in Equestria made you think that she was legitimate? You know that all requests for changes in medication have to come through me, and I never would have allowed that, not with what Twilight was taking!” “She looked like a scientist! Besides, she, um…” Script trailed off, muttering something under his breath. “Repeat that, please,” Celestia commanded. “She paid me two hundred bits, all right?” Script said. “I really needed the money to pay my agent, okay? I’m not proud of it, but I needed to do it! You understand, right?” “Yes, I do understand,” Celestia said, so quietly that I needed to strain to hear her. “I understand that instead of working honestly, you decided to take a bribe and commit a crime. Because of your selfishness, two ponies are now in the hospital, one of whom may never recover.” At that moment, the doors to the store burst open, and Captain Stone Wall and a group of other guards burst into the room. “Just in time, Stone Wall. I would like you to arrest this pony here. He is the one that tampered with Twilight Sparkle’s medication,” Celestia said. “Wait!” Script protested. “You said you wouldn’t arrest me!” “I never said that,” Celestia replied coldly. “However, I can argue for a lighter sentence, if you tell me who bribed you to switch the medications.” “But she didn’t tell me her name!” “Then describe her!” Celestia said furiously. “Okay, okay!” Script said, and he looked like he wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and disappear. “She was red with a brown mane. She had on this weird coat with a lot of pockets, and she was constantly fiddling with her glasses. Her cutie mark was—“ “A drop of blood between two slides?” I asked, already knowing who she was talking about. When Script nodded, my vision turned red. “Blood Work!” I hissed. “You know who she is?” Celestia asked me. “Yeah, Blood Work is a competitor for that contest Twilight was in. She was always rude to Twilight, something about not wanting to be second best. I didn’t think that she would do something like this, though.” “Very well, guards!” Celestia said, and every guard in the room stood at attention. “I want you to find this Blood Work, and bring her to the guard station. I will interrogate her personally.” The room filled with a chorus of “Yes, Ma’am,” and all the guards save for one bolted from the pharmacy and scattered in every direction. The last guard approached Inspiring Script and pulled a pair of wing restraints from his saddlebags and put them around him, before leading him from the store. Celestia sighed. “I always hate arresting one of my little ponies, but sometimes it is inevitable. Come, Rainbow, let—“ “Princess!” called a pony, and the Princess and I turned to see Doctor Hooves gallop into the store. “What’s going on? The guards won’t tell me anything about Twilight! I am her doctor, they should let me know!” Celestia sighed again. “Yes, yes, they should let you know. Come, I will tell you what happened on the way to the guard station.” By the time we reached the station, Celestia had just about finished telling Doctor Hooves what had happened. When we got to the part about the magic suppressor, Doctor Hooves stopped short of actually entering the guard station. “She tried to push through the magic suppressor!?” he asked, an alarmed look on his face. Celestia instantly stopped as well, and turned to face the doctor. “Yes. Does that mean anything to you?” “Well, you know A.C.M.S. is mainly because of an overdeveloped and under shielded magic lobe, right?” Celestia shook her head. “I did not, but I do now. Please, continue.” “Well, with her summoning so much magic, and with the magic suppressor preventing the magic from going anywhere, it is possible that, well…” “Well, what?” I snapped, not in the mood for anymore dancing around the issue. “Keep in mind that this is only a theory. I mean, nopony has seen a unicorn with as much magic as Twilight before, so I don’t actually know if this has happened, but…” He took a deep breath before continuing. “It is possible that there was a magic backlash in her brain. When she wakes up… her symptoms could be even worse than before.” I fell out of the air, my wings suddenly unable to support me.