24 - Aftermath
“I don’t know Twilight, but I will find out,” Celestia said to the trembling mare. A mix of sorrow and fury coursed within the ancient alicorn, sorrow for those who fell defending Twilight, and unrivaled fury for those who had attempted to harm her.
To harm her daughter, or at least the closest thing to a daughter she had ever had.
Celestia fought back all her emotions and placed her regal mask back on as she approached Captain Carduus, who was already talking with a fuming Longshot. Gone was the usual witty smirk he would wear on his face; Celestia had never seen the sergeant like this.
“Carduus, where did they go?” Longshot asked Carduus.
“Longshot, I don’t know, they blinded us momentarily.”
“Captain,” Celestia addressed. “Can you explain to me what happened?”
“Princess Celestia, of course. We were on our way to the meeting hall when we came to this corridor, everything was normal, five guards were stationed here going about their duty, or so it seemed. When we passed… they jumped us, along with five more who were hiding in the courtyard. Honestly, if it wasn’t for those extra guards you placed with us, and for Princess Twilight ignoring my request for her to stay out of the fight… we wouldn’t be talking right now.”
“I see,” Said Princess Celestia. “Now was there-"
“Hey!” Longshot suddenly shouted in alarm as he reached for his weapon.
Celestia shot around, horn charged.
And then her world shattered.
Something whooshed past her towards a Pegasus fleeing the scene. However, she barely noticed any of this; time slowed down as Twilight swayed on the spot, and began to fall.
Time sped up again as Celestia leapt forward and grabbed her student before she hit the ground. Celestia examined Twilight, and her eyes were first drawn to the dagger in Twilight chest. Celestia quickly removed the blade before casting a powerful healing spell on the wound, which caused it to close immediately, albeit with a nasty scar. Celestia looked up into Twilight’s eyes hopefully, and yet her condition didn’t improve.
The blade was poisoned.
And Celestia’s spell didn’t affect it in the slightest.
“Twilight… please...” Celestia resorted to begging, unbelieving at what was happening. “Not now, not like this.”
Twilight tried to say something, but nothing came out, the fear in her eyes began to shift into something more… peaceful. Her body began to slowly go limp.
And then her eyes closed.
Celestia’s eyes widened, tears threatening to explode from the dam, before a blue hoof brought her head upwards.
“You shouldn’t have to live this again, sister,” Luna said gently. “Wake.”
…
Celestia awoke with a start, the morning sunshine creeping through the curtains. Celestia didn’t remember much from the previous night, aside from locking herself away and crying herself to sleep, away from the public eye. She was certain however that she didn’t raise, or even lower the sun.
‘Luna must have done it for me,' Celestia concluded.
Sighing, Celestia made her way out of bed, and with a wave of her horn the sheets straightened out and set themselves neatly back down onto the mattress. When she did so however she noticed a book shaped lump sticking up in the middle. Carefully extracting the object, she could confirm it was a book, a photo album to be exact.
‘I must have fallen asleep with it.’
Celestia opened the album to a creased set of pages, there was a single picture on each page. One was when Twilight had just passed her first major exam at Celestia’s school, having received top marks of course. The other, was one that Raven had snapped. It was of Celestia; she was sleeping peacefully in front of a fireplace, with a lavender filly tucked up safely beneath one of her giant wings, she had been comforting Twilight after a particularly bad nightmare the filly had endured. Tears stained that page in particular, recent tears.
“Reminiscing, are we?” another voice asked.
Celestia dropped the book onto the bed and swung around, tearing open the curtains as she did so, the sunlight eliminating a previously shadowy corner at the far end of the room.
“Tell me, Celestia,” Chrysalis started spitefully. “Why shouldn’t I burn this pathetic city to the ground?”
Celestia examined Chrysalis, and found not malice on her face. Instead all she could see was the visage of a broken mare.
“How did you get in here?”
“Oh it wasn’t hard; your methods of detecting changelings are child’s play for any infiltrator worth their salt. And believe me, my changelings have notable skill; remember the army surrounding the city, hidden in plain sight? They can attest to that. You know, if diplomatic relations between us had succeeded we could have shown you far more effective means of detection, but I suppose it’s far too late for that, isn’t it.”
“No Chrysalis, it isn’t.” Celestia maintained.
“MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD!” Chrysalis exploded. “I felt her mind go silent. And she was killed by a pony! One of your most trusted guards no less. Your kind took the singular most precious thing I had, I-"
Chrysalis looked away momentarily, trying to compose herself. “So tell me again Princess Celestia,” she choked. “Why shouldn’t I burn this pathetic city to the ground?”
Celestia realised that Chrysalis was hysterical, not thinking was a rational mind but rather that of a grieving, vengeful mother.
Celestia gave Chrysalis a meaningful look, and what she said next shocked Chrysalis into submission, and wiped away any hostile plans from her mind.
“She’s alive.”
Vladimir, Longshot and Carduus sat in a bar, not far from the Canterlot central hospital from where they had just come. They sat around a small table, pints sitting before them. The two other guards to survive defending Princess Twilight sat at the bar itself, deep in discussion. This wasn’t the usual bar where the royal guard would meet, but when they had been attacked by their own, that was the last place they wanted to be. Carduus wasn’t at the hospital himself, but he had a large bandage around his torso with small holes cut in to it to make room for his wings. Once he had been discharged by the doctors he had intended to get some sleep, but the others had convinced him he needed a drink.
Longshot took a swig from his glass before slamming it down onto the table. “I should have done something. I knew there was something wrong with the ‘Commander’, and I did nothing. That bucking traitor.”
“Longshot,” Vlad started. “You can’t blame yourself for this, there is no way you could have truly known this was going to happen. And there is no way you could have incriminated Broad Sword on a hunch.”
“Was there any sign of him?” Carduus asked.
Vladimir sighed. “I’m afraid not, according to the two who perused him, it’s like he just vanished. Though, they think he may have had something to do with the missing guard, and the maid.”
“They think he killed them.”
“They likely came across his plans, so he disposed of them.”
“Sweet Celestia,” Longshot muttered. “How about Luna, did she find any others working with him?"
“Those we know we can trust are doing a full sweep of the guard; so far we have found no others among us working with them. However, several guards apparently have been doing some suspicious activity, but the Commander had been using his position to cover for them. Those guards included the ones that attacked you, Carduus. Not only that, but the others included have not been reporting for their shifts as of late, once again any incidents were covered by Broad Sword.”
“He could do that?”
“He is… was Shining’s second in command, he had access to all the reports, rosters etcetera.”
“Damn,” Carduus said, picking up his own glass and drinking from it.
“I’m sorry about your friends by the way,” Vladimir said apologetically to Carduus. “Soldiers are soldiers, and they gave their lives in the name of duty. I respect that.”
“Sorry? Yeah, so am I. Served with all of them for years, I would have died for any of them. Instead, it’s they who perished, and I have to live with that.”
“It’s never easy losing those under your command, let alone friends. I’ve already made a request to have their names recorded and honoured.”
“Thank you, my friend, thank you.”
Throughout the entire back and forth, Longshot had been thinking to himself, oblivious of the other two, until he was struck by a revelation: “Guys,” he caught their attention. “Did any of you hear what Broad Sword whispered to Twi before he… you know.”
“He whispered something?” Carduus asked in surprise.
“What, you didn’t hear anything over that hive voodoo crap you do?”
“Hive mind. And no, none of us did. The Queen only found out who did it when I told her after, and in fact she only knew the attack was going on when ‘it’ happened, she can’t listen in all the time.”
“What, you didn’t think to tell her right away?”
“Don’t you dare criticize me sergeant, I was rather busy trying to keep Twilight and the diplomats alive.”
“Shit I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry Carduus, alright.”
After a few moments of silence, Longshot spoke again. “I can only imagine how Chrysalis feels, and you all saw Celestia. I never believed I’d see the day our Princess broke down. Has anypony told her pony parents yet?”
“Luna did,” Vladimir confirmed. “Shining Armor has also been informed, he did not react… well.”
“You blame him? What must be going through that stallions mind… especially after what happened between them.”
“I can’t even imagine, but I can tell you this. If Broad Sword believes he and his followers can hide for long, then he is a fool.”
Nurse Red Heart sat behind the reception desk of Canterlot Central, she had been visiting some old friends when news of Twilight Sparkle’s horrific injury flooded in, and since she had dealt with Twilight’s medical needs back in Ponyville she had immediately offered her services. Now she sat behind the desk sorting through files relating to Twilight’s medical history, when shouting reached her ears.
“Where is she?!” Shining Armor shouted as he burst into the room, bolting straight to the reception desk where a startled Red Heart sat. A flustered Princess Mi Amore Cadenza followed shortly behind him.
“You m-must be Shining Armor, right?” Red Heart asked.
“Where. Is. My. Sister?!”
“Sir, I’m afraid she’s not taking visitors right now and-"
“It’s OK, you can tell him,” Princess Cadance assured.
With the Princess’ approval Red Heart told him. “She’s in the royal wing, in the room normally reserved for Princess Celestia should she ever need medical attention.”
Shining Armor bolted off immediately, leaving Cadance to be the one to say “Thank you” to the mare, before she quickly followed him.
Red Heart looked after the two ponies in shock, before regaining her faculties and continuing her work.
“Not dead… how is that possible? Her mind is silent in the hive, I felt her succumb…” Chrysalis' voice slowly descended into a whisper.
“She was left on the precipice of death. Broad Sword’s blade was coated in a poison engineered specifically to resist any magical means of healing, but I was able to keep her heart beating long enough to get her to the hospital where the doctors were able to rid Twilight of the foul poison within her.”
“Then, why is she still silent?”
Celestia looked downcast, and continued with a sad sigh. “The poison had already done considerable damage despite our best efforts, there was only so much we could do. She has been left in a deep coma, one which..."
Now it was Celestia’s turn to look away. “One which she may never wake from.”
Chrysalis slumped to the floor. “But there is a chance, right?”
Celestia looked back to Chrysalis’ pleading form, and slowly nodded in confirmation.
“Then it is a chance you gave her… I feel I must apologise. My previous threats were unnecessary, and wholly unwelcome.”
“You have nothing to apologise for Chrysalis, I know what you are going through, more than you realise.”
“No, I think I have a pretty good idea why," she stated. "I had changelings in place in case hostilities began, and have now told my forces to stand down; but I would request I keep a smaller force around the hospital in disguise, watching for any more traitors who would wish to do my daughter harm.”
“I agree, having them there will take a weight off of my shoulders, considering how devoted they are to her protection.”
“Indeed, now please… can you take me to her?”
“I was planning to visit her myself, and I would be honoured to have you accompany me.”
“Thank you Celestia, but… one last thing.”
“Oh?”
“When we find this Broad Sword… he dies. No arrests, no court cases. Equestria doesn’t hold the death penalty, and imprisonment simply won’t do. He dies, and you will not stop me.
The first real smile graced Celestia’s face that day, but it wasn’t a smile anypony would ever want to see. “Oh Chrysalis, who ever said I was going to allow him to live?”
Chrysalis seemed genuinely surprised. “Hold on, just like that? No concern about how ponies would view you because of it?”
“I will cross that bridge when I come to it, but Broad Sword nearly killed somepony who I greatly care for, and love. Not to mention royalty.”
“Then it would appear he will have the full wrath of the sun to contend with, thank you… my friend."
The hospital was getting closer, larger, and more oppressive as five mares walked towards the looming building.
“It’s not fair!” Fluttershy squeaked, of all of them the timid mare looked the most ragged, none of them had gotten much sleep the previous night, “Why did this have to happen.”
Pinkie, whose mane was vastly more deflated than usual spoke next, “It was that meanie, if I ever get my hooves on him… I have a special dungeon with his name on it.”
Of course she didn’t really, yet – her party planning basement had room for expansion.
“Ah would certainly rough him up somethin’ fierce, that no good backstabbin’…”
“How do you think he’d taste as a cupcake?” Pinkamena asked.
Rainbow shouted in frustration. “Does it really matter, any of us making all these plans? The deed’s done, Twilight’s hurt and where were we? Enjoying ourselves out and about! We should have been there, we should of…” Rainbow trailed off.
“There’s nothing we could have done sugarcube, none of y’all could have seen this coming.”
“She is right, none of us expected the fiend to do what he did. All we can do now is be there for the poor dear, and let the princesses and the guard deal with this,” Rarity added.
“Aww, but I really wanted to use the dungeon!” Pinkamena complained.
“Can we… um… please stop talking about it now?” Fluttershy meekly asked.
“She’s right, Twilight needs us now so we can’t simply stand around thinking about what ifs, come on girls, let’s get moving,” Rarity agreed.
The two guards outside the royal wing in the hospital momentarily reached for their weapons as they saw two figures steaming towards them, until they saw who they were.
Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, with Shining Armor heading straight into the only occupied room, and with Cadance stopping just short, catching her breath.
As Shining entered the room he came to a dead stop at the sight that awaited him. Twilight lay in the hospital bed, mask over her muzzle and with various medical machines all connected to her, each one undoubtedly keeping her alive.
“T-Twilight?” Shining called out softly, receiving no answer.
Slowly her approached the bed, and pulled up a chair to sit on.
“Hey LSBFF, I came as soon as I could. Our parents will be visiting shortly, as will the others I’m sure.”
Shining Armor looked down on his sister’s peaceful face, his own showing much regret.
“I’m sorry Twily. I wasn’t there for you, and I don’t just mean with what happened yesterday. All those things I said… I was so, so wrong. And I didn’t mean any of it, Faust knows I didn’t really mean any of it. I lashed out and now you’re here on this bed and-“
Shining took a deep breath.
“I love you Twily… you will always be my LSBFF, whether you’re a pony or a changeling it really doesn’t matter in the slightest, I will always be here for you."
Shining gently nuzzled his sister affectionately, before his attention was caught by his fiancé standing by the door watching the display, five mares standing closely behind her.
“Come on in,” Shining called out.
Nodding her head towards the element bearers Cadance entered the room with the others following shortly behind, all taking up positions around the bed to keep Twilight company, all of them wishing for one thing.
Wishing Twilight would just wake up.
The photo
Stats
Page generated in 0.023 seconds
Total duration
1,041 users online
1,422,371 hits today, 1,822,946 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
By the throne....
The feels...
Ggngnnn!
She's in a coma now. Damnit. So she can't tell them it was Crudelis right away, information Celestia and the guard really need to know.
You've set up a nice little plot conundrum: well done. The chapter only felt like it took 30 seconds to read, so I'm still very much wanting more.
Looking forward to the next!
.........
For chrysalis line about burnign down the city, Celestis could just kill her. And most of her changelings. She has luna.
I repeat the issue that they would have become ubber suspciious when two ponies died.
Also Celestia reaction is just..... Doesn't fit her in the slightest. She wouldn't be so willing, or smiling, about having someone put to death, even a murderer. She would take it with absolute seriousness, and would not be so petty as to say that it is because of twilight being royalty and dear to her. She would have that personal reason, of course, but it would be something she would do even if someone far lesser in stature was attacked.
Not to mention that Celestia would want answers from him. She should be trying to figure out his motivations and such, not just blindly saying 'kill him' like Emperor palpatine or something.
Also, Luna could have her wake up. She is in a coma, and people in comas can and do dream.
Excuse my language, but Broad Sword, you just fucked up man!
tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Mf2377185a2fbe298bfba9f0adb54d6c2H0&w=269&h=188&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.1
Too much?
How deliciously moist.
Not going to lie; revenge is bad. I'm not saying this guy shouldn't be punished, but through law, not by lynching. Otherwise, they'd become the same monsters they've been fighting against.
godamn it tom you got me feel their sadness
I am a Dyanian and I want to oppose the threat of war on crudilis or what ever her name is.
Snipers prepare the snipers we will make this slow and painfull.
Pinkimina, good to see again.
him?"
Also, have a d'aww on the picture.
Thirdly: Shining Armor, Celestia, Chrysalis, Pinkie... you have my full support. Kill the hut'unn.
Hey Tom, that last scene of this chapter reminds me of the cover image of another story here on Fimfiction.net: Comatose by ladyanaconda
6973198 You're kidding? You're kidding, right?
Well i know what is going to be said in my mind when the big baddie named Crudelis show up.
:Crud.
What the hell? I was sure i thumbed and faved this one an i somehow missed 3 updates. This site can be weird sometimes. ????
Great chapter. Crudelis is in trouble when Twilight wakes up.
Looking forward to the next chapter.
6973172 Maybe with a side order of Crudcakes as well. deep fried of course.
Mhmmmm deep fried Crudcakes.
...
...
...
...
....Urp.
I wonder what will happen when he finds out the truth ! that the royal guard had been captured and sostittuita by a changeling of rival queen chrysalis , the two will be a real HEART ATTACK !
I hope that declare WAR hive crudelis .
I apologize but I studied English anke if nn I write very well .
ps : I am Italian , and write x use a translator of google chrome
6973165 There's such a thing as emotional shock. In a very real sense, for her childhood and adolescent years, Twilight was a daughter figure to Celestia. Yes, Chrysalis popped her out, but Celestia was -there-.
When one experiences a catastrophic emotional distress, like say, seeing the most precious being on the planet nearly murdered in front of you, irrational actions are to be expected. Yes, this is absolutely out of character for Celly, on a good day. This is not a good day. She's a royal of one of the most powerful countries on the planet, and essentially a physical god in terms of power, now the Mama Bear instinct's been let out.
Whole nations have been burned to the ground and the earth salted in the real world for less than this.
6973283 which is why celestia would have more control here. especially since she has lived so long and ruled so long.
twilight would hurt as much as the first pony she lost, but twilight was not that pony.
Most sad fact is about true Broad Sword. Because of changlings intrigue he became traitor so great, that its probable that his family will suffer from this for generations and despite of his innocence he will be remembered as one of truly disgraced ones. This all, of course if said intrigue will not fully discovered in future.
It'd seem that the other Queen's plan didn't go entirely right... And the feels.
6973170 no not enuf
knew she woud live
So, the hivemind was too distracted by the attack to hear what was whispered to Twilight...bummer. Well, I hope Twilight remembers it when/if she wakes up. I'm also so glad to hear that 'Broad Sword' now has a death warrant out on him. I just hope they don't find the real Broad Sword and kill him instead.
6973295 I don't recall offhand whether the real Broad Sword is dead or just still tied up somewhere, but either way I'm pretty sure they'll find him, and he'll likely be exonerated because of him having wounds or being dead that predate the time of the assassination attempt where "Broad Sword" is in perfect condition. At the very least the condition he's in will raise questions about changeling infiltration even if some ponies also suspect he did it to fake being impersonated for some reason, or got killed by co-conspirators.
6973292 You do make a very valid point.
6973341 And here is trouble. They (Celestia + Chrysalis) can neverly find true Broad Sword, because dead body under 2 meters of dirt in middle of forest is difficult to find. Or they can find his body with slit throat in some dirty alley of some town. This would suggest that he get killed by his principals, when he was no longer needed (of course if there is no way to feel residues of changling mind magic on dead body - Crudelis will know if is).
Excuse me.
t09.deviantart.net/4VcP-Ufnp2gZFSZK7kgOfomhOE0=/300x200/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre09/711f/th/pre/f/2014/309/0/9/pinkie_and_the_fandom_2_by_freepi-d85e70y.png
Better...
Lets continue.
How poignant!
I'm so glad that she didn't die ... but in a deep coma? This fimfic is getting very emotional and I'm quickly running out of handkerchiefs, really. 
Crudelis, you just signed your death warrant: seriously you were an imbecile. 
At last, Chrysalis and Celestia has got something that they can bond over: they both consider themselves mother figures to Twilight and love her very much. 
Referencing Pinkamena and Cupcakes, are you?
Well, is Pinkamena going to take part in fighting the bad hive? 
6973292
Yea, but she has planed to turn Twilight into an alicorn up until the wedding. So she may have not closed off her heart as much as normal with Twilight.
After the wedding she learned that Twilight would live a very long life without being an alicorn (I may be mixing up the twilight is a changeling stories on how long they live). So even not become an alicorn did not mater.
In the end she set herself up to not worry about Twilight dying for a long time. Luna was likely the last time she almost lost someone so close to her.
I have a head-cannon that after Luna's banishment to the moon Celestia did not react well. There may have been ponies that were happy about Luna's banishment; till Celestia burned them alive for making Luna feel unloved. That is why there is so little information from that time. Who would want to write about Nightmare Moon when Celestia would burn you alive for talking bad about Luna?
So I could see Celestia putting down heavy punishments for attacks on changelings after this. "You threw a rock at a changeling and call him a 'stinking bug that should be squashed'. 2 years in the dungeons. The dungeons of the hive as a living battery."
Ah #2003 you are awake. Oh yes I should just say I made sure you can't move tho as you can tell you can still feel every that is going on. Now you must be curious as to why you find yourself in a glass tank well I keep beetles in that tank. Beetles you say what could they do and you would be right nothing however their young feed on the flesh of dead animals well normally the ones I raise like their meals a bit more lively. That is why you are in the tank as it's feeding time for the young grubs. *sits down smiling in front of the tank* I do enjoy watching them eat oh don't worry the gem well get everything so relax #0 I sure will enjoy the play back of this one.
We say they should give this Broad Sword asshat to Pinkie.
Sentence that bastard to cupcakes.
6973390 I doubt he had time between his guard duties and his plotting to go very far with the body. It's in Canterlot. If they find the body 1 day after the attempt, and it's 2 days old...
6973462 ........ really dude? celestia murdering ponies so blatantly?
6973165
not always.
6973187 The law and Courts have their place, but this is a situation where the situation has become personal and the pony who the courts WORK FOR has been attacked indirectly, so yes maybe in lesser situations such as a mare getting stabbed to death in an alley the courst have the right to persecute and properly judge the convict, but in a monarchy, even a Diarchy. The courts are over ruled if the situation is bad enough to go over their head.
6973170 nope
img02.deviantart.net/c0e7/i/2013/197/b/0/pinkie_with_a_chainsaw_by_dachickendog-d6dp436.png
YOU SON OF A BITCH YOU SCARED ME!
6973556
AGREED!
6973223 If I was kidding then my men wouldn't be on a gunship circling Crudilis Hive, you know what I am kidding, to heck with sniping we will just use a payload of 200 some hydrogen packed rods, BRILLIANT
Oh hey... Someone is going to die without a trial o anything like that. That's the way I love.
When Twilight wakes up, or Luna visits her via dream magic, Chrysalis is going on a major warpath, with Celestia playing second fiddle only because it's Changeling business.
Oh god. They're gonna accidentally kill the real Broad Sword, and not Serpens. Aw geez.
Things are about to get messy real quick.
You went there.
i think Pinkie/Pinkamena's mania has turned into psychosis.
6973556 I read this in the Mentally Advanced Series Pinkie Pie voice.
6973165 People/ponies act irrational when the ones they love are threatened or hurt so you can't know for sure.
6973556