//------------------------------// // Bonus Ch - Twiny's Flu // Story: Celestia's Tiny Student // by CommanderX5 //------------------------------// Celestia’s Tiny Student - Bonus Chapter Twiny’s Flu Seven years before Nightmare Moon's return Celestia walked back to her bedchamber, though it was more of a nervous trot as worry about her student overtook her. Twilight was already fourteen years old, however, the past six years she had spent by Celestia’s side as a tiny student had taught her that Twilight was not only vulnerable, but also prone to getting herself into trouble. Being interrupted from her paperwork by a panicked Steel Blade and being called back into her bedchamber could only mean that something bad had happened, which Twilight was no doubt at the center of. Slowly reaching her bedchamber, she noticed Overwatch standing next to an open door, quickly examining the features of her guard. Her helmet was no longer pressed on the unicorn’s head, her left ear was replaced by a banana, and a long beard was visible under her muzzle. Overwatch’s tail was pasta. The rest of her armor had a few dents and cracks, aside from a half-melted chestplate. Her body itself had a few scratches and burn marks, and smelled of burned hair. While the transformation magic was working only temporarily and never caused any negative side-effects, Twilight’s parents turning into the plants being the first of many examples, the pony responsible would no doubt be Twilight Sparkle under the effect of a powerful magic surge. Not wasting time to ask questions, Celestia stepped into her bedchamber in search for her student, her eyes widening upon seeing the mess. An eiderdown blanket, star-strewn sheets and two large blue pillows were filled with small holes. Some had pieces torn off, some had black burn marks. The carpet on the floor was turned into a jelly. The lamp laid broken on the floor, its parts gathered into a pile with a magical yellow gem on the top. After taking a few slows nervous steps inside to examine her surroundings, her breathing and heart-rate skyrocketed, she noticed small marks of damage on a nearby desk. The thick oak bookshelves and their contents were unharmed, as well as the various paintings. It was understandable that the paintings had survived the magical surge, as these things were irreplaceable and protected by Celestia's personal preservation spells, and kept behind magically enhanced glass. The surprising part was how the thick oak bookshelves and the books thereon were unharmed, not sharing the room’s fate despite lacking any significant protection. She gave Overwatch a quick glance and asked, “Did Twilight ask you to protect the books?” “She pleaded for me to protect them as my top priority, Princess,” Overwatch said with a nod. “Is my student in the medical wing recovering from her magic surge?” Celestia asked. Overwatch shook her head. “Is she hiding, afraid of punishment?” she asked. It wasn’t the first time the little mare hid in embarrassment after causing unintentional damage, though never on such a scale. “She is hiding, but fear of punishment isn’t the only reason,” Overwatch started, pointing at her own helmet lying in the corner of the room. She sneezed before levitating a tissue up to her nose. She blushed and tapped her forehooves together. “She may have… kind of… caught the flu.” “The flu?” Celestia asked before slowly approaching the helmet. She lowered herself and called, “Twilight, please, do not hide from me. I am not going to punish you.” Her voice was as motherly and caring as she could muster. A moment later, her ears picked up a noise of metal shaking on the floor. It was caused by the helmet. She lit her horn to levitate the damaged helmet away, only for it to shatter into small pieces. Celestia blinked in confusion before glancing down at the trembling Twilight, who looked up into her eyes in fear. “P-princess. I’m sorry!” The little unicorn bowed, head pressed against the floor. “Please stop apologizing and tell me if you are hurt,” Celestia said, taking off her gold-like shoe before levitating Twilight, placing her on the softer part of her forehoof. “Are you sick?” Twilight nodded hesitantly, her cheeks and forehead red. Suddenly, her nose twitched before a weak little sneeze escaped her mouth. Much to the alicorn’s surprise, a thin beam shot from Twilight’s horn, hitting the ceiling. Small bits of rubble fell down onto the princess’ head. In an instant, the pieces of the puzzle came together, and she looked around. So that’s what happened. Even after six years of training, she can only control a small part of her magic. Being sick weakens her control. She looked at her student in pity before sighing and shaking her head. It’s not everyday I can say that a fourteen year old filly managed to damage a guard’s armor and ruin my bedchamber... unintentionally… because of the flu… at such diminutive size. I can only imagine the destruction she would cause at her full size. With the help of a few repairing spells, Princess Celestia salvaged both pillows, partially fixed the rest of the bed while the jelly on the floor changed back to carpet. "Um, princess?" Overwatch called, blushing in embarrassment. "Oh, of course." Celestia turned her her attention to Overwatch, bathing her in a soft light. The guard sighed relief as the banana turned back into her ear and the pasta became her tail again. After carefully placing her student on the blue pillow which served the tiny mare as a bed, Celestia glanced at the guard-mare and asked, “What was the cause behind my student’s sickness? Was it result of the cold as she played on the balcony? Or did somepony infect her?” Overwatch rubbed back of her neck, her nose twitching as she smiled awkwardly. “Well… Your Highness…” She took a few quick breaths before sneezing, wiping her nose with a foreleg right after. Upon seeing a suspicious glare, she said, “It may… kind of… be my fault.” “Explain?” Celestia said, taking a comfortable position on her bed next to her student. “There is a flu epidemic in the castle… nothing serious. I probably caught it from others and spread it to Twilight. The symptoms started showing up earlier today, resulting in…” Overwatch’s explanation was interrupted by Twilight’s sneeze as little beam of magic struck the side of the alicorn’s neck, splashing harmlessly against an unnoticeable golden aura. “... that.” A flu epidemic? Now it makes me wonder if my subjects at the castle are prone to hiding their illnesses from me, or am I so focused on paperwork and day court that I’ve stopped paying attention. “Should I call the doctor?” Overwatch asked. Celestia frowned thoughtfully, looking between her trembling student and the embarrassed guard-mare. She placed her wing over her student to warm her. While she’d ensured that the medical wing would be ready for Twilight in case of injury or accident caused by a magic surge, sickness was another story. Spells to cure sickness were rarely used as they weakened the immune system, making the patient more vulnerable for many months. The best solution would be to help Twilight recuperate with some warm soup, basic medicine and care. With doctors most likely dealing with the flu epidemic, she wouldn’t want to burden them with uncontrollable surges of the tiny filly. “That shall not be necessary, Overwatch. I need you to inform the kitchen staff to prepare some carrot soup and hot chocolate,” Celestia ordered before looking at head of Steel Blade peeking from behind the door. “Steel Blade, would you please summon my secretary and the doctor. I will need to ensure more openings in my schedule to take care of Twilight; have instructions of what medicine she should be taking and in what dose.” Both guards saluted and followed her orders, closing the door behind them. If the nobles complain, I can always say that the castle is temporarily closed due to the epidemic. Celestia glanced at her surprisingly quiet student, who had a few feathers rolled around herself and was deep in sleep. A cheerful smile grew on the princess face as she always found her sleeping student adorable, especially if she slept on or under her wing. She cast a quick spell, called health bubble, to prevent any outside force worsening the situation. Now I will need to focus on you, my dear student. As a nearly two millennia old alicorn, nursing you back to health shouldn’t be all that difficult.