The Twilight Effect

by X3n0heart

The Beginning of the End

Bzzzzt. Bzzzzzt. Was the sound that brought Twilight out of her study session, as she turned her head towards the magical book that her and Sunset would often write to each other. Her eyes lit up, for that could only be one person. Twilight wrapped her magic around the book and levitated it over to her table, opening it to the page that had the new message.

Twilight squeed as she read the message and clapped her hooves together. It was true that their anniversary was coming up, and Twilight had put it in her appointment book for her to spend all day with Sunset. Twilight wrote back a quick reply and closed the book, putting it back on the pedestal where she kept it.
"This is going to be such a fun weekend. Can't believe it has been almost a year now that we have been seeing each other." Twilight beamed with joy as she started to put her books back onto the shelves where they belonged. "Well, can't get distracted too much today, even though it might be a bit hard. Duty calls for now." Twilight giggled to herself as she got up and headed out of her study.
After what seemed to be hours at the summit meeting that Princess Celestia asked her to speak at in Canterlot, Twilight returned to her castle, ready to relax and get the day over with. Tomorrow is going to be the best day ever. As she made her way back to her study, Twilight yawned as she opened the doors with her magic and stepped into her favorite room. Bzzzt. Bzzzzt. Came that oh so familiar sound of her book notifying her that she had a message from Sunset. Grabbing the book with her magic, she smiled, placing the book on her desk and opening it to the new message.

"I do hope she's feeling alright. She probably just over worked herself, getting ready for our anniversary tomorrow." Twilight told herself as she closed the book and replaced it on it's stand. Looking around, she wrapped her magic around another book and brought it down to her desk. She opened it to one of her book marked pages. "I think I'll study for a bit before I head to bed."
It wasn't too long before Twilight's eyes started to droop. She yawned a few times. She was in the middle of a paragraph when her eyes closed, and she laid her head down on her hooves on top of the open book. It seemed like only moments before she was awoken by yet another buzz. Sitting up slowly, Twilight used her magic to levitate the book over to her and opened it up to the new message. Yawning once again she rubbed her eyes with a hoof before turning her attention to the page.

Twilight's eyes snapped open as she read the message. She couldn't believe what she was reading. Was it true? Sunset was sick? Twilight just couldn't believe it and shook her head as she read the message once again. She read it a third time, hoping it would be different this time, but it remained the same.
"No no no no. This can not be. What am I going to do?" Twilight started pacing back and forth, a worried look on her muzzle. It was a good twenty minutes before she finally made up her mind. She headed to where she kept the portal, taking the book with her. Standing in front of it, she hesitated for a few moments before taking a deep breath. Then she stepped through, leaving the book behind, opened to the page with the last message on it.
As Twilight emerged from the other side, she wobbled a few steps before regaining her balance, steadying herself against the Canterlot High statue. "Ugghh. I'm never going to get used to that feeling." Twilight shook her head a few times, clearing it before she noticed Rarity and Rainbow Dash sitting on the steps of the school, almost falling asleep on each other. As Twilight made her way over towards them, it was Rarity who spotted her and sprung to life, knocking Rainbow Dash over.
"Oh Twilight, you came!" she called out as she ran over to her and threw her arms around her in a hug. "It's been a while since I've seen you. I do wish it was on better circumstances, though."
"How's Sunset? Can you take me to see her?" Twilight asked worriedly.
"She doesn't look too good." Rainbow added as she made her way over and hugged Twilight as well.
"Please, I need to see her. Will you take me to her?" Twilight asked again. The girls just nodded, as Rarity took her arm, and all three of them headed towards the hospital. It didn't take them very long, but for Twilight, it seemed to last a life time. So many question ran through her head without a single answer. Stepping into the hospital, Rarity asked to see Sunset. The nurse at the desk said that the visiting hours were over, none of the patients could be seen.
"Shhhh. I'll take you to her room." Rainbow Dash took Twilight's hand and tugged her slowly away, while Rarity distracted the nurse. Making their way over to the elevators, they waited for one to reach the lobby floor.
"What floor is she on? There are so many." Twilight worried.
"Don't worry about it. I know exactly where her room is." Rainbow reassured her friend. As the doors opened with a ding they stepped out onto the 6th floor labeled "ICU". Twilight wondered what that stood for as they made a left down the hall and around another corner. Rainbow Dash led her to room 623 and stopped as she looked at Twilight. It was eerily quiet in the hallway as Rainbow motioned for her to enter.
"I will wait out here for you." she said quietly, as Twilight hugged her friend and said a quiet thank you. She slowly opened the door and stepped into the darkened room. Closing the door softly behind her, Twilight heard all kinds of beeps and smaller noises coming from various machines in the room. She quietly stepped towards Sunset's bed.
Twilight covered her mouth with one of her hands as she made her way to her bed side and stopped, looking down at the sleeping form of Sunset Shimmer. She looked pale and malnourished, with all kinds of wires and tubes attached to her small frame. There was a chair nearby, so Twilight moved it to the bed's edge and sat down, doing her best to fight the tears that burned in her eyes. Taking Sunset's hand in between hers, she noticed how cold she felt.
"Oh, Sunset..." Twilight said softly. "What happened to you? And why now, all of a sudden?" A single tear fell down Twilight's left cheek, followed by another, as she just held her hand. Twilight closed her eyes tightly, trying to make this all go away and make Sunset all better. Knowing that there was nothing she could do, she laid her head down on her bed and cried silently for the one she loved.
There was a slight movement and a groggy voice was heard in the quietness of the room. "Twilight...?" Lifting her head, Twilight saw that Sunset had awoken and was looking at her, a slight smile on her lips. Twilight sniffed a few times and wiped her eyes as she sat up, still holding Sunset's hand. There was barely any strength left in her, but she still tried as Twilight felt what little pressure she applied as she squeezed her hand.
"I'm happy that you're here." Sunset's voice was barely above a whisper as Twilight's eyes watered up again.
"I am so sorry. What happened?" Twilight asked.
"Doctors are saying..." Sunset took a few slow breaths before continuing, "...that it's some kind of rare disease."
"A rare disease? Is there any cure for it?" Sunset just shook her head slowly as the tears started flowing again down Twilight's face. "Please, oh please, there must be something that can be done."
"Twilight..." Sunset brought her attention back to her. "Stay with me..."
"I will not go anywhere, my love." Twilight sniffed again as she held Sunset's hand to her cheek. Her skin was still pretty cool and the worry showed in Twilight's voice as she spoke.
"I'm really happy...that you are here..." Sunset struggled to say as her eyes started to water a bit as well.
"Please, try not to speak. Save your strength and get better, okay?"
"Twilight...I'm sleepy..." Twilight had no words to say and even if she did, she would just choke on them. Tears were now streaming down her face as she watched the one she cared so deeply for starting to slip away from her. The beeping of one of the machines had been steadily decreasing in rhythm this whole time while they had been talking.
Twilight had a mixture of worry and fear written all over her face. There was literally nothing she could do for her. "Please, please, please, please." she said over and over, as she watched Sunset smile for her. With the last of her strength, Sunset squeezed Twilight's hand, and, with her final breath, spoke the last words Twilight would ever hear from her.
"I...love....you....." As the last of her energy seeped out of her body, Sunset closed her eyes as her body went limp, still with a smile upon her face. The machine that was beeping was now making a continuous sound with out any breaks in it.
"Sunset...?" She said quietly as she shook her hand gently.
"Sunset???" Twilight repeated once more, a bit more loudly, as she let go of her hand and shook her shoulder.
"SUNSET!!!" Twilight screamed as she fell upon the bed, breaking down into hysterical crying, clutching the blankets, saying her name over and over between breaths and fits of sobbing. Rainbow Dash came running into the room upon hearing her scream and stopped suddenly, halfway to the bed, as she placed her hands over her mouth. Tears formed in her eyes.
"Oh no..." was the only thing she said, before a bunch of doctors and nurses pushed her out of the way. The rushed towards the bed, trying to get Twilight to move. She was fighting them tooth and nail, not wanting to leave Sunset's side. It was then Rainbow Dash stepped in and took Twilight by the waist, pulling her a few feet back so the staff can get to Sunset. Rainbow just held Twilight in her arms as she continued to break down, not even looking at the pale form of her love. After a few minutes of working furiously, the staff stepped back and some of them started to walk out of the room. One of the doctors picked up the clipboard that had Sunset's information on it and wrote down only one thing: