Twilight awoke suddenly, her ears twitching at the sounds drifting through her shut door. Ponies talking, and was that Celestia speaking as well? Twilight quietly got out of bed, bringing Smarty Pants with her. Once the talking died down, and Twilight could hear ponies moving away, she crept out of her room, and listened intently.
Twilight could hear Celestia's soft voice, but couldn't make out the words. Twilight could also hear faint...coughing? Twilight sighed, and tip-toed to Marjoram's door. It was half open, allowing her to peer in.
Marjoram was laying in his bed, wheezing heavily for breath. Celestia sat at his bedside, facing the door, using her magic to drape a cloth over his forehead, above the horn. Marjoram coughed weakly once again, tilting his head towards Celestia, when the cough turned wet. Celestia's horn glowed brighter, and Twilight heard liquid fall into a metal container.
Marjoram's head fell back onto the pillows, his head lolling over to face the door. Twilight froze, unsure if they had seen her-
“Come in, Twilight,” Celestia called quietly, “It's alright.”
“What's wrong?” Twilight asked quietly, trotting over the carpeted floor, “Is he going to be okay?”
Celestia's wise eyes looked down at Marjoram, filled with sorrow, “I do not know, Twilight. This happens sometimes, but it has been years since he's had an attack like this. If he survives the night, he'll pull through. Marjoram here is strong, stronger than many ponies give him credit for. He will fight.”
Twilight nodded, “What happened?”
Celestia sighed, “The workload. I should have realized we were asking too much of him. Between you, his research, and his job, I should have known he wasn't going to take care of himself.”
“He's been really busy at the morgue,” Twilight whispered, “I didn't even think that he could get worse.”
Celestia sighed, “it's not your fault. You should go to bed Twilight.”
“But-”
“I assure you, Twilight. If something happens, you will be the first pony I inform, alright? I'm going to stay with him.”
Twilight's eyes widened, “Really? All night?”
“All night.”
Twilight bit her lip, then, took Smarty Pants, and gently set the stuffed donkey on the bed beside Marjoram, “There. Now he's the safest pony in the world, with both you and Smarty looking after him.”
Celestia smiled, “Yes. Thank you Twilight. Now, go on.”
Twilight stumbled back to her room, yawning as she did so. She crawled into bed, and despite the discomfort of being without Smarty, she soon fell asleep.
When Twilight went to her first lesson the next morning, held in Celestia's private library, there were several things that she noticed. The first was Marjoram, sitting on one of the many plush chairs, fast asleep. He looked exhausted, even in sleep, and still quite ill, but he had lived through the night. The next thing Twilight noticed, was that Spike, the dragon she'd hatched, was quietly playing with some toys on the carpet. The last thing Twilight noticed, was Celestia, who was reading a book near the fireplace. She looked content, and peaceful, despite the dark circles under her eyes.
Twilight entered the room, and sat herself beside Celestia, who smiled at the young, purple filly, “No lessons today, Twilight. Please go play with Spike. He's missed you.”
Twilight nodded, hopped off the chair, and joined the dragon in his games.
(LINE BREAK)
When Marjoram woke from his nap, it was because he could no longer ignore the incessant giggling erupting from Twilight and Spike alike. Marjoram cracked one eye open, noting that Celestia was only pretending to read, and was in fact, trying not to laugh at the antics of Spike and Twilight.
Spike was only a few months old, but he's a dragon. His mind is vastly different then that of a pony. He could already speak simple sentences, and was already learning how to read and write, as well as other basic education topics.
Marjoram looked over to see Twilight laughing at the pile of drawings, giggling and talking to each other. The sight was odd, a young filly playing and laughing with a baby dragon. Marjoram felt his lips twitch, and despite how sick he still felt, some part of him wished he could join them on the floor.
After all, he was only eighteen.
A yawn forced him to reconsider his stance. Marjoram snuggled deeper into his chair, allowing his heavy eyelids to close. Once again, he fell asleep, safe and warm.
(LINE BREAK)
Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, months into years. Time passes, and Twilight works hard to control her raw magical power. With Celestia and Marjoram both teaching her, Twilight finds herself knowledgeable about many things that many ponies would see as macabre, unnecessary, or just plain overkill. Twilight became skilled in anatomy, mathematics, research, literature, and science. She learned magical concepts and spells so quickly it was a struggle to keep her from becoming bored.
Twilight had seen both the best, and worst of ponykind. She'd been around the morgue enough that she knew that ponies would kill others, poison them, or worse that lead to death. She'd also seen the tearful parents, widows, siblings, and children of those passed, trying to process what had happened. She'd seen ponies take care of their loved ones until their last breath, but in the same day, she'd seen a wife murder her husband over a misunderstanding.
This was a good part of why Twilight found other ponies not worth the effort of creating a relationship. Ponies can be fickle things, unpredictable, unlike the sciences and magic she grew up with. Another part, was that she was an odd pony: special student to Princess Celestia herself, as well as Marjoram the mortician. Twilight had a dragon for an assistant, even if he was just a baby, and Twilight could recite facts, mathematics, and the like with little or no prompting. Twilight was incredibly intelligent, but socially stunted.
Twilight felt she didn't have time for other ponies, felt that she didn't need any friends beyond her immediate group: all of whom she'd known since child hood. Other ponies tried a few times, but Twilight always turned them away. Twilight was friendless, she had no one her own age to talk to.
Marjoram had had many good days and many bad days in the years since Twilight had become his student. He'd found a combination of herbs that eased his pain, and made his sleep easier. However, his health was beginning to flag, robbing him of weeks, sometimes months of potential work. Bedridden, feverish, and coughing up blood, Marjoram had been reluctant to try Twilight's hurried cures, but tried a fair number of them anyway.
Some worked relatively well, returning Marjoram's appetite and strength, until he overworked himself or forgot to take care of himself. Then, he was bedridden again. Some had no effect, and some made things quite a bit worse. It was a mixed bag, but Marjoram was honoured Twilight would go out of her way to help.
Celestia was...Celestia. She was wise, kind, always with gentle words and a kind smile. She was all sunlight and flowers. Ready to lead if needed, but more than willing to follow as well. She would correct with a kind word, a correction that Twilight would drill into her own head without prompting. Debate and discussion solidify readings and lessons, where Twilight can voice opinions and questions without worrying about interrupting too much. Celestia was calm, and peaceful, only giving hints at what she was truly feeling because Equestria's eyes were on her all the time.
Marjoram on the other hoof, was sharp angles and an acerbic tongue. Corrections come swiftly, and he was more than willing to do the drilling himself. Marjoram would make Twilight fight for her correct answers, making her think and use her head, making her use her magic until she thought her horn would fall off. Bickering was their constant companion, explaining and showing off their respective wits at the same time. Marjoram tended to hide the majority of his emotions, usually using exasperation and sarcasm to drive his lessons home. However, the occasional crooked smile would tell Twilight she was going in the right direction, if she had argued her case enough, or if Marjoram was just in a good enough mood to show how much he cared.
One morning, a week before the Summer Sun Celebration, Twilight and Spike were in Marjoram's lab; pouring over an ancient book of legends. Marjoram was beside them, sipping his tea and reading as well. The stallion's breathing is uneven and wheezing, but he ate earlier, and he could stand on his own: both good signs considering how harsh the winter had been.
Twilight looked up at her teacher, taking in his more-haggard-than-normal appearance, and wondered if he slept the night before. Marjoram steadily meets her gaze, “Good book?” he asks, his voice hoarse and rasping.
“I was looking into the constellation patterns, and no one has ever seen those four stars near the moon like this before. One of the reports I was reading mentioned the Mare in the Moon story, and Spike wanted to read it, so-”
“Here it is!” Spike jabbed a talon at the book, careful not to impale the fragile pages with his razor sharp digits.
Twilight pulled the book closer, and Marjoram closed his own book, listening intently to the young mare as she told the story.
“Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters that ruled, and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest sister used her magic to raise the sun in the morning, and the younger brought out the moon at night. Thus, the two sisters brought balance to their kingdom and their subjects.
But, as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies played and danced in her sister's sunlight, but slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger sister refused to lower the moon for the coming dawn. The eldest tried to reason with the youngest, but the youngest refused to listen. The bitterness in her heart had turned her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon!
She vowed to shroud the entire world in her night, for eternity. Reluctantly, the eldest sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponykind: the Elements of Harmony. Using this magic, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently to the moon. The elder sister took on the responsibility for both the sun and the moon, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria ever since.”
Twilight finished the story, flipping back through the book, barely glancing at the beautiful illustrations within. She looked over to Marjoram, who had a peculiar look on his face.
“Where have we heard about the Elements of Harmony before?”
Marjoram set his mug down, sighing, “I don't remember. We should go find out, I have a feeling it'll be important.”
Twilight smiled, stood up, and shut the book, “You up for a trip back to my rooms? I'm pretty sure I've got a book there that'll help.”
Marjoram sighed, then got to his hooves, “Of course. Let's go.”