“Twilight.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath and rolled from her left to her right side.
“Twilight!”
She felt a hoof shake her shoulder, and heard murmuring. She licked her lips and let out a low groan.
“What’d ya want?” she mumbled as she pulled a wing up over her face.
“Twilight, please wake up!”
She half sat up, half propped herself against the back of the couch and buried her face in her hooves: “Shit. My head…”
“I’m sure it hurts your head to think / soaked as it is in potent drink!”
Twilight cracked her eyelids and peered at the blurry black-and-white striped mane hovering in front of her: “Zecora? What are you doing here?”
Celestia stepped into view: “I asked her to come talk with us to see if she had any insight into your troubles.”
Twilight coughed and retched a little into her mouth. Her throat and sinuses burned: “I’m sorry Princess! You shouldn’t have to see me like this!”
Celestia levitated a chalice of cool water to Twilight and sat in front of her on a low stool: “It’s fine, Twilight. I spoke with Discord last night, and I understand why you came back here and tried to wash away the pain.”
Twilight choked back a sob: “I killed that poor mare! Discord was right--I thought I knew better!”
Celestia smiled sympathetically and shook her head: “While I may agree with Discord’s ultimate conclusions, I don’t believe you were motivated by pride. I believe you acted on instinct: you saw a pony in distress and terrible danger, and acted decisively, as you have dozens of times before.”
“It was a cruel twist of Fate / that brought you to Sureshot too late!”
Celestia nodded: “Yes. You made a split-second decision--”
“And I made it wrong.”
“All those who lead, who must act, to whom are given great tasks, may make mistakes. I have, on more than one occasion.”
Twilight looked up with tears welling in her eyes: “Did your mistakes kill anypony?”
Celestia straightened up, and her expression hardened: “Do you not recall Green Streak and Top Cover?”
“I-I’m sorry, Princess…”
Celestia’s sad, soft smile returned: “I know you are, and I know you’re sorry about Wild Sage. I’ve already made arrangements to visit the families tomorrow to discuss what happened, and to express our deepest condolences.”
Twilight choked down a mouthful of water: “Thank you, Princess.”
Zecora stepped forward and held out a vial in front of Twilight's face: “Quaff this potion right away / your head will clear without delay.”
Twilight took the vial with her magic, tipped her head back and poured its contents down her throat in a single shot.
She sat the vial down next to her on the couch and rubbed her eyes: “How long before it takes effect? I feel like death--and I actually do know what that feels like!”
“A minute, maybe two at most / it depends greatly on the host.”
Twilight nodded gingerly: “So, again, from the top, please: why is Zecora here--other than to provide a hangover cure?”
Celestia summoned over a small side table and tray of scones, placing them next to herself and in front of Twilight: “I spoke some with Zecora yesterday, and she thinks she may be able to help you get a handle on what’s causing spirits to wander off and become entrapped.”
Zecora pulled up a large cushion and sat down next to Celestia: “My forest home, as you well know / is a place where dark things grow.”
Twilight nodded: “I’ve always assumed it’s haunted. Maybe there’s some lingering malevolent influence due to the Sisters’ ruined castle.”
Celestia paused between bites: “I’m sure that’s a piece of it, but Everfree Forest and its darkness pre-date Luna and me.”
Twilight furrowed her brow: “Do you think the malign influence, or whatever it is, is radiating from the Forest?”
Zecora shook her head: “I do not think that’s so, per se / but it may serve as a model anyway.”
Celestia nodded: “We think that Zecora’s long experience dealing with some of Equestria’s shadowier, less-corporeal denizens may be of some help in your situation.”
Zecora swallowed a sip of tea: “Spirits and wraiths, I’ve known my share / enough to aid in your affair.”
Twilight took a long drink of water and reached for a scone: “That would be greatly appreciated! I’d really like to know if there’s a pattern to the places I’ve had to hack and burn my way through. All I know is, so far they’ve all been in Equestria.”
Zecora smiled: “I think I can help you sort your thoughts / and shed some light on the darkest spots.”
Twilight stood unsteadily and stretched her wings: “I’ll have to teleport you, Zecora. It’ll take too long any other way. And I’ll likely ask you to help me hunt down some missing spirits. I know more ponies have died in Equestria in the last few weeks than I can account for.”
Celestia waved over her secretary: “What can I or my staff do to help, Twilight?”
Twilight rubbed her muzzle for a moment: “Please compile a list of all the reports of ponies who’ve died in the last three weeks: name, date and place. I’ll check it over later and cross off all those ponies I’ve already resolved.”
Celestia nodded as her secretary jotted down notes and instructions on a scroll.
Twilight swung her head around in a long, slow circle, stretching and popping, then stopping and furrowing her brow: “Umm, thanks for the elixir Zecora--it really did the trick, but if you and the Princess will excuse me…”
She trotted briskly across the room to the adjacent bathroom, and slammed the door shut.
Celestia watched her go and shook her head: “Please do what you can, Zecora. I fear this role she’s been forced to take on may grind her down.”
Zecora picked up Twilight’s flask and sniffed it: “Her retreat to drink has dulled the pain / I doubt I can cause her to abstain.”
“Maybe not, but anything you can do to take off some of the load will help. Last night clearly left her very shaken, and we all need to help her through this rough spot.”
Zecora and Celestia glanced toward the bathroom door as Twilight’s groaning and sounds of distress grew more insistent.
Celestia raised an eyebrow: “What did you give her?”
“It is a purgative most stout / Quite rapid, though it leaves one wrung out.”
The door opened as Twilight stumbled out and slumped down on a pile of cushions behind Celestia: “Ohh, Zecora! That is nasty stuff!”
Zecora smiled and tossed another vial at Twilight: “Now down this potion in one hit/ It will kill the urge to shit.”
Celestia chuckled, and Twilight rolled her eyes wearily, but did as Zecora instructed. She swallowed, took a deep breath, then quickly summoned a full carafe of water, which she drank to the bottom without taking another breath.
She dropped the empty container on a pillow next to her, fell back heavily, and panted.
Zecora closed up her pouch and dropped it back in her shoulder bag: “In what place shall we first seek / to strip away your plight’s mystique?"
Twilight summoned a chalice of cider, took a swig, and grimaced as her stomach churned and gurgled: “Well, there was a pegasus who died a couple of days ago on the outskirts of Dodge Junction.”
Celestia leaned forward: “Nothing out-of-the-ordinary, I hope.”
“No, she was old and had been pretty sick for a while.”
“A passing, then, bereft of trauma / that should have spawned no matching drama.”
“Exactly. And again, I found her spirit not close-at-hoof, but hundreds of yards away, beneath an old tree stump in a rock cleft. It took nearly an hour to find.”
Celestia furrowed her brow: “But you’ve been cleansing these spots as you’ve gone along, yes?”
“Yeah, but not in this case. It’s kind of in a tight space, and I was in a hurry.”
She stood, adjusted her sword, cloak and bag, and picked up her flask, dropping it in her bag as she stepped up beside Zecora.
Celestia raised an eyebrow: “Do you really think it wise to take that stuff with you, Twilight?”
Twilight smiled weakly: “It’s OK, Princess--I’m pretty sure I’ve had my fill of the strong stuff for a while. I promise to be good!”
Her eyes filled with pain for a moment: “I just really needed to forget for a little bit. I’m better now, I really am, thanks to both of you!”
Celestia leaned forward and gave her protégé a hug: “We’re all here for you, Twilight! If there’s anything any of us can do to help, you need only ask. Don’t try to keep it all inside!”
Zecora nodded: “Your task, it concerns us all / We’ll do our best so you don’t fall!”
“I know you will. I know you all will--I just wish Luna and Reaper’d get back home so I could put all this behind me.”
Twilight tipped her head down, and she and Zecora disappeared in a pale magenta flash.
Celestia sat down heavily on the couch and looked sadly at Twilight’s empty cider cup: “So do I, Twilight…”