The hospital receptionist sat at her desk, flicking through her magazine. A sudden bright flash of light and she fell off her chair. After the light fades seven ponies are found deposited in a heap on the floor.
“What in Celestia’s name…” yells receptionist, climbing off the floor.
“NO TIME!” yells Applejack, getting off the floor and rushing to the receptionist, “We got two ponies that need help right now!”
Receptionist looks over at the other ponies and her eyes widen. Twilight, tears of pain gathering at the edges of her eyes, clutches at a large hole in her leg trying in vain to slow down the blood that pours into a spreading puddle. Another pony lies on the floor, unmoving, a small trickle of blood streams out her mouth. The receptionist slams the intercom’s button.
“WE HAVE TWO PONIES AT RECEPTION! ONE BLEEDING PROFUSELY FROM THE LEG AND THE OTHER INTERNALLY BLEEDING, BOTH NEED EMERGENCY TREAMENT, STAT!” she yells into the intercom.
Within seconds there are two groups of ponies wheeling two gurneys.
“It’s going to be alright, Princess,” a nurse says, as they help her on one of the gurneys.
Twilight would feel comforted if it isn’t for what they were saying about Shepard.
“It looks bad!” ones says, as they very carefully move Shepard onto the other gurney.
“It looks like a strong force might have caved in her chest,” one says, scanning over her with magic.
“We need to prep her for surgery,” one says, as they start to push Shepard away.
They were about to push Twilight away as well when Twilight stops them.
“What’s wrong Twilight? We have to stop the blood!” says one of the ponies tending her.
Twilight ignores the pony and weakly waves Pinkie over.
“What’s wrong Twilight?” asks Pinkie, confused.
“Go with Shepard,” asks Twilight, weakly, “Help them remove the armour.”
Pinkie nods and gallops after Shepard. They start to push Twilight away again. The worlds starts to blur for her and blackness starts to creep over her vision once more. Soon she falls unconscious.
Twilight woke up with a splitting headache. She in a hospital bed, hooked up to a blood pack and her leg is wrapped in bandages. She lay there until a nurse walks in.
“Oh, Princess Twilight Sparkle, you are awake!” she says, bowing.
Twilight internally cringes, she hates being treated like this. “How am I?” she asks.
“You should be fine,” the nurse says, smiling, “You just lost some blood. Although you won’t be able to walk on your hoof for a while until it heals properly.”
“What about Shepard?” Twilight demands, sitting up.
“Who?” asks the nurse.
“The other mare that came in with me!” snaps Twilight, angrily.
The nurse looks nervous, “I don’t know much about her, all I do know is she got out of surgery.”
“Well, get me somepony who can tell me about her!” Twilight asks, glaring at her.
“Yes, of course!” stammers the nurse, rushing off.
Twilight rubs her sore forehead. She knows she shouldn’t have yelled at the nurse, but she needs to find out about Shepard. After a while she hears the sound of more hoofsteps. She looks up and sees a tall stallion standing in the doorway. His long black mane is tied behind his head in a ponytail, he has a well-kept bread and thick eye brows. His coat is white and his eyes are blue. He wears a doctor’s uniform.
“Greeting, Twilight, I hear you’re being a bit mean to our nurses?” he says in a thick Shetlandish accent.
“Um, hello?” replies Twilight, nervously.
“The names Highlander,” he answers, picking up Twilight’s chart, “You’re lucky that the projectile missed everything important and went through the soft part of your leg, otherwise you could have been crippled.”
Twilight sighs in relief.
“Hmm,” he says, now frowning, “But you wanted to talk about the other mare, Shepard, I believe she is called.”
“Yeah, that’s right,” answers Twilight.
“She will survive,” replies Highlander.
Twilight sighs in relief, a weight lifted off her chest.
“Luckily she was wearing that armour or she would have most likely died,” he continues, “Also it was luckily that pink one knew what she was doing or we may have never got that blasted armour off and that armour might has well have killed her.”
“Her name is Pinkie Pie,” adds Twilight.
“She also told us to ask for help from Shepard wrist,” Highlander says, ignoring her, “It was most helpful.”
“That’s good,” replies Twilight, guessing that they meant Harbinger.
“But now it is my turn to ask some questions,” he says, fixing Twilight with a strong glare.
“Oh?” Twilight says, nervously.
“None of your friends would tell us how you and Shepard became injured or what the hell is going on with this Shepard?” he says annoyed.
“What do you mean?” Twilight says, now confused.
“Shepard has more metal in her body than a soldier with a shrapnel wound. Her bones, muscles and skin seem to have a lot synthetic material in it, making them as strong as a dragon would be. We had to bring in special tools in order to deal with them. Her healing factor is off the chart, the bones started to heal as soon we put then back, we almost didn’t really need to graft them and last we saw her stiches have almost already healed,” he lists off.
Twilight can only listens slacked jaw as the doctor continues. Can anypony heal that fast?
“Her body is also filled with other things as well that we don’t know what they do but her wrist said that they are very important and to leave them be. An x-ray also showed that they are also all over her body,” he finishes, taking a deep breath he adds, “What the bloody hell is going on? Is she some sort of super soldier?”
Twilight hangs her head, advoiding eye contract. “I’m sorry it is secret Princess business.”
He frowns shows annoyance. “I supposed how you two got the injuries is also secret Princess business?” he says sighing.
“Yes. Sorry,” she answers.
“This going to be hell on the paper work,” he says, frowning, “I’m going to need you to sign somethings.”
“Alright,” she answers, then remembering something, “Could you also keep all this a secret?”
He just sighs again, “I guess we can. But that will mean even more paper work.”
“Also I want to see Shepard?” asks Twilight, also dreading the mountain of paper work in her future.
“I guess I can organized that,” he says, scratching his chin, “She might not be awake though, she kept trying to wake up during the operation so we had to resort to a sleeping spell. She seem to have a high resistance to sleeping medication.”
Twilight nods, if she knows Shepard she is awake by now.
“I would like to see Shepard now,” Twilight asks.
Highlander raises his eyebrow. “Are you sure? She may not be awake yet and your friends are eager to see you,” he asks.
“They will have to wait,” Twilight says firmly, “I need to see Shepard!”
“Fine, well I will get someone to help you,” he says, walking off and leaving the room.
A few minutes later a nurse with a wheelchair comes and picks her up, taking her to Shepard’s room where she seems to be sleeping quietly.
“I would like to be alone,” Twilight asks the nurse.
The nurse nods and quickly leaves. Twilight wheels the wheelchair next to Shepard. Most her chest has been shaven and a visible scar can be seen. Her red glowing device on her hoof is there, most likely meaning it is working.
“Shepard? I know you are awake,” Twilight says softly.
Shepard eyes open and glares at Twilight. She starts to sit herself up, Twilight is about stop her but stops when she is sees that Shepard is in no visible pain.
“What do you want, Twilight?” she asks, angrily.
“I want to say I’m sorry,” Twilight says, hanging her head.
Shepard looks momentarily shocked before glaring again, “What?”
“For doing this to you and also for treating you so wrongly before,” Twilight explains.
“Really?” Shepard says, distrust clear in her voice.
“I also want to help you as well,” Twilight says, trying to avoid Shepard’s gaze.
“Help with what?” Shepard says, already guessing what.
“With what’s happening to you,” Twilight says, breaking down, “Fluttershy heard from Spike that you have been having these weird attacks and then you tried to kill yourself before!”
“Hmmm,” Shepard responses, turning her head towards the window.
“Is this my fault?!” Twilight cries, all her guilt now pouring out.
“It isn’t your fault,” Shepard replies, coldly, “This is a problem that I have been dealing with since I first came to Equestria.”
“Does this have to do with all the other Shepards in your head?” asks Twilight.
“Yes,” replies Shepard.
“But I thought they were just making you forget things and also making you act very aggressive?” asks Twilight, confused.
“How little you know,” says a familiar voice.
“Harbinger?” Twilight says confused.
“We haven’t told you everything about the other souls,” Shepard adds.
“What do you mean?” asks Twilight still confused.
There is silence for a while, while Shepard seems to think. She then shrugs and Harbinger speaks.
“The other Shepards will kill Shepard in around two weeks.”
“WHAT! How!?” Twilight says shocked.
“A body should only have one soul,” Shepard says, turning back to her, her face sad, “I have many.”
“Each soul wants to controls her. The one in control now is her own. But it is slowly getting weaker and weaker as it like Shepard can’t remember herself, soon another soul will take control displacing her own.”
“It sounds like she will just get possessed,” comments Twilight, “But how will that kill Shepard?”
“Beside the fact that it won’t be me anymore,” Shepard says, bitterly.
“Oh right, sorry,” Twilight says, embarrassed.
“If another soul takes control her Omni-tool will self-destruct, destroying Shepard’s body and me along with it, effectively killing Shepard.”
“Are they supposed to do that?” asks Twilight horrified.
“No, but they are not meant to hold Reapers AI’s either, this Omni-Tool is unusual,” states Shepard.
“Can we stop it?” asks Twilight.
“Only if we find out Shepard’s first name that will unlock the Omni-Tool locked files that will hopefully remind Shepard of herself.”
“But how will we find out her name?” asks Twilight.
“I don’t know. We cannot give names to her to see what will happen for her other souls may respond to them and weaken her own soul lessening the time we have.”
“But how can I help then!” Twilight cries.
“You can kill me.”
Twilight stops crying and looks up to see Shepard looking at her.
“What?” Twilight says confused.
“You can kill me,” Shepard repeats, unblinking, “End the voices before they can steal my body.”
“No, I can’t do that,” Twilight says, shocked.
“Then I will,” Shepard states.
Shepard lifts up her hoof with the Omni-Tool on it. Suddenly a red glowing blade forms at the end of it. She moves it towards her neck.
“WAIT! Stop, Shepard!” Twilight cries, trying to stop Shepard’s hoof.
“I don’t want the voices to take control!” Shepard states, “I want to die in control of my own body!”
“Stop! I can help get your name back!” Twilight cries.
“I doubt it, it is impossible there are millions of names out there!” Shepard says, the blade getting ever closer to her neck.
“Give me a chance!” Twilight yells, tears streaming down her face. “Please, if I don’t find your name in the next two weeks I will kill you myself like you asked!” she yells, hoping that Shepard doesn’t really want to die.
Shepard freezes. So does Twilight after thinking about what she said.
“Is this a promise?” asks Shepard, unfreezing.
Twilight stays quiet for a long while and then finally nods, “Yes.”
The blade disappears. “Fine, but you have to kill me if I start to lose control even before the two weeks are up,” confirms Shepard.
There is another pause before Twilight says, “Alright.”
“I will able to leave the hospital tomorrow with the rate I am healing,” explain Shepard, “Harbinger has been using Medi-Gel to speed the healing.”
Twilight looks down at Shepard’s Omni-Tool which is still glowing. She wonders what Harbinger thinks about all this.
“Now please leave, I need some sleep,” asks Shepard.
“Oh, alright, goodbye,” Twilight says, wheeling the wheelchair to the door, her head hanged low. At the door she stops, “Shepard?”
“What?” Shepard says annoyed.
“Why did you escape before instead of killing yourself then and why do you want me to kill you?” asks Twilight, sadly.
“I escaped because I’d rather die free than in a prison and I would rather die by someone else’s hand then comment suicide,” answers Shepard.
“I see,” Twilight says, sadly, before heading out the door leaving Shepard alone to her sleep.
Twilight goes down the hall. Her head hang low in guilt. ‘I should have tied to be nicer to Shepard sooner. Shepard might have told me sooner if she did. I might have already found out her name sooner. It is all my fault!’ Twilight thought, threating to burst into tears.
“Twilight?” comes a voice from down the hallway.
She looks up and sees her friends standing down the hallway.
“Girls?” Twilight says, her voice quavering.
Her friends rush to her side and start hugging her.
“Twilight, we were so worried about you!” says Rarity squeezing her.
“You lost so much blood,” says Fluttershy.
“I will be fine girls,” Twilight says, returning the hug.
“That great!” Pinkie says, happily, “What about Shepard?”
At mention of Shepard the dam broke. Twilight starts to cry.
The next morning
Twilight stands on the ground, getting used to the leg harness equipped to her leg while Doctor Highlander complains.
“I know you need to leave, but surely you can wait until we finish making sure you are truly alright?” he says, frowning at the Princess.
“I am sorry but what I have to do is too important to wait,” she explains, taking a few experimental steps forward.
“I see,” he says, sighing again, “But must you take Shepard? I know she is walking again and all her injuries seem to have healed, but she did almost die.”
“No, I need to watch over her,” explains Twilight again.
Highlander mutters something that Twilight guessing she is glad she didn’t understand. “Just make sure you two come back if anything goes wrong,” he warns.
“We will… and thank you,” says Twilight, as she leaves the room.
Twilight walks down the hall until she hears some noise behind her. She turns and sees Shepard walking down the hall towards her. A doctor and a nurse were fussing over her. She pushes them aside and walks pass Twilight.
“Lets go,” she says, as she passes.
“Ok,” Twilight responds.
They walk down the hall leaving the annoyed doctor and nurse behind. Soon they reach the reception area. Twilight smiles at her friends that were waiting for them.
“Twilight!” yells Spike, as he runs up and hugs Twilight, “I was so worried when I heard that you were hurt.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Spike,” Twilight says, placing a hoof around the dragon.
“Must you two leave?” asks Rarity, worried.
“I must, I don’t have much time,” Twilight says, looking at Shepard, who stood away from them looking out the window.
The six girls who were all told about the deal with Shepard look at her with a mix of sadness and uncertainty. They don’t have much time to help Shepard and soon if they don’t find her name the only way to help her is to kill her.
“Oh, I brought this for Shepard,” Spike says, unaware about the deal he holds out a bag.
Twilight pulls out a hoodie from the bag. She recognizes it, it was the hoodie they found in the space wreck that carried Shepard here. Twilight felt there was something important about the hoodie or was there something else?
“Twilight, are you ok?” asks Rainbow Dash, as Twilight spaces out.
“Is this not any good?” asks Spike, “I was told to bring something for Shepard to wear to cover her shaven parts and this looks like it would fit.”
“What? No, this will be fine,” Twilight replies, returning from her thoughts.
“That good,” Spike says, sighing in relief, “I would hate to run back to get something.”
“Wasn’t there something else with the hoodie?” asks Twilight, trying to remember something.
“What do you mean?” asks Rarity, looking confused. The rest of her friends look just as confused.
“Oh nevermind, I guess I was just imagining things,” Twilight says, giving up and walking over to Shepard.
Shepard turns to face her. “Are we going yet?” she rudely asks.
“Soon we just got this hoodie to help you cover up and keep warm,” Twilight says, ignoring the rude tone and passing over the hoodie.
Shepard’s brows frown in concentration as she looks over the hoodie, she turns her slightly as if she is listening to someone, she then turns back and takes the hoodie.
“Thank you,” Shepard says.
“You’re welcome, but Spike brought it for you,” replies Twilight.
“Thanks Spike,” Shepard says, now with a gentle smile.
“Don’t worry it was nothing,” Spike responds, smiling, “It suits you too, look it has your Cutie Mark on it.”
“Yeah it does,” Shepard says, frowning again. She then put it on. It fits perfectly… well as much as a hoodie usually does, which is slightly baggy.
Twilight sighs. She slightly hoped that the hoodie might help her memory, but it seems to just confuse her.
“Lets go everypony,” Twilight says, heading for the door. Her friends and Shepard soon follow her. “And don’t worry Shepard, I will find out your name before two weeks are up,” Twilight says, hope in her voice.
“I hope so, Twilight,” Shepard responds, doubt in her voice, “For both of our sakes.”