Just when he thought all was set and done with the pain he's endured with finding and defeating the Origami Killer. When he thought that all would be forgotten once he could leave the city surrounded with corruption. The tables have now been turned one more time by needing to finish one more case. This time around, the line between reality and fantasy is blurred, but for the better or for the worse?
(This story contains spoilers from Quantic Dream's video game Heavy Rain, although playing the game is not required to understand this story. This is NOT a HiE story.)
It was a harmonious night in that unforgettable Sunday. The moon, along with the stars shined its rays of beaming blue brilliance to the now quiet part of Philadelphia; after the tedious rain has finally been put to an abrupt halt a few hours back. Individuals now slumber in their tidy adequate homes or the homeless ones whose restless sleep on the street’s filthy sidewalks. The air consisted of a hybrid of a pure, rich scent of rainwater with the despicable scent of oil coming from the constant use of vehicles and factories.
Thankfully, there was not a single car that night to disturb the loving silence and poisoning the lungs of those who aren’t as lucky to have a quicker means of purchasing a handful of daily products for the night. There were no audible sounds of small crowds of people strolling down the streets with their lovebirds or families strolling in a steady pace, where one can hear the obnoxious clattering of their shoes making contact with the pavement with each step.
He wasn’t so sure if his luck hasn’t run down the drain yet, this might have been a day of silent celebration, or maybe he was at the right part of the city, it didn’t matter much if the end result was at least positive one for once.
It should’ve been a delight for him to grab some peaceful shuteye for once after all of that. But no matter how much his mind was willing to convince him that the events will fade in quick time, no matter the dose of heavy medication he could insert to his system, no amount therapy, not even the amount of tense training he’d underwent through would help after those events. Any person, relative, or his superiors could’ve told him countless times “Don’t fret so much about it; you just need some time off and you’ll have your head set straight again.”
The truth was to stay, he wouldn’t forget the horror. Not ever, and this might be the tip of the iceberg of his career.
That one event will most likely haunt his mind, giving up his own sanity and protection for the greater good and justice of this harsh world, the very few things out there that can still keep us the few beings out there to make us feel truly human.
That one case
A case that was conjured by the devil himself for his sick enjoyment of suffering of humans, a case he just made it out alive by his own wits, knowledge, and luck. It was a case he triumphed in the end run with little to no true assistance regardless of those that stood against him due to their sheer ignorance which almost destroyed the life of an innocent father and son. It was a nightmare that will haunt his life with until he lies upon his death bed when his time comes be it as an old man or from some “other” means that would never go on public eyes or ears, due to bringing a sense of humiliation to his head administrators that this man would die in such a way. It was truly the blight of his life.
It was the dreadful case of the notorious “Origami Killer”. The killer turned out to be an overweight man with short gray hair who was living his mid-40s. Whose words serve as a deceiving pestilence that went into the ears and hearts of innocent individuals who took heed of his kindness, for of his kindly nature in such a depressing and maddening state the city was a brief moment of relief for these few people. Little did they know that thanks to the killer’s kind expression, led these people unknowingly help the very man that murdered their young ones.
They gladly handed him the evidence after a bit of trust was gained, he burned all of the evidence in a small garbage can; inside his office. The killer would then observe each bit of evidence for the last time, recalling the process on collecting it, and would then lightly toss it into the basket slightly raising it flames with each bit of evidence gone.
A perfect killer he was compared to those who rushed too far into the realms of murder, eventually leaving those tid-bits of evidence behind. A cautious, patient, smart, and silent killer he was that attracted high levels of media attention with his only victims being young boys.
Twelve young boys who were found dead with mud hiding their faces, with a little origami figure (The Pajarita or “Murder Bird”) tightly grasped on their left hand knowing there fate before passing on, along with a white orchid laying on their chest as some sort of meaning of peace from the killer. These lives now lie beneath the earth’s muddy soil whose mothers are now widows and forced to accept the reality that their children’s death were set in stone by the killer. No one knew who the killer’s true identity was until the father Ethan Mars, stepped in into the realms of hell to save his last son.
It was a long tale to speak off but in short terms. This case could be summarized in a news headline as the following; “Father Ethan Mars overcame 5 tormenting trials by the Origami Killer himself, who was willing to offer the address to Ethan to find his last son Shaun if he suffered through them in haste. After enduring the last trial, the killer sends him the remaining letter of the address on a phone provided by the killer on mail. The address leads him to a warehouse with almost no roof covering; which was filling up a well inside the warehouse to critical levels. Father Ethan Mars manages to save his son. The police finally brought down the killer whose true identity known as Scott Shelby, a mid-40 year old former police lieutenant disguised to be a private eye for the families of the murders.”
It was a relief that the case was finally closed. Granted there was no fairytale happy ending one would see in a childhood cartoon. It was safe to say, that the parents will breathe a little easier now.
Say for one of the true heroes of this case, who really stopped the killer and solved his complex puzzle.
The truth was that the Origami Killer; after a dangerous and long fight to the death against a determined FBI profiler his mid-30s on a slow-moving conveyer belt that was at a great height. The Origami Killer fell to his own gruesome death by falling on a rusty yellow operating waste crusher at the end of the conveyer belt, tearing apart his whole body. The profiler stood on an iron platform beside the end of the belt, seeing his target leaving behind nothing more than traces of fresh blood and flesh attached to the handful bits of trash on the rusted blades.
The FBI profiler by the name of “Norman Jayden” was the true American hero but like most true heroes these days, most people would usually offer someone 15 minutes of fame, this man was no exception. It didn’t matter to him though, he proved to be efficient at this case by himself, which was an impressive feat considering the force’s “help” would’ve only gotten Ethan on bars or buried on a lone grave, leaving his own son alone in a world of death, corruption, and deadly excitement.
To be more specific on the thorn of justice during the case who purposely harassed suspects with multiple blows, numerous taunts to those unlucky innocent victims clueless on the situation, was the main cause of almost killing Ethan Mars. Police officer “Lieutenant Carter Blake” was the man Jayden worked in the field when he was sent to help out the Police with the case.
A shame that little did Jayden know, that Blake was nothing more but a violent hound whose abilities to scent well have long faded ago.
Blake’s actions proved nothing more to Jayden as a “psychopathic asshole” as Jayden stated to him due to his sheer ruthless nature of harassing clients just to collect for even the vaguest of clues that lead nowhere or for nothing. Blake would then take Jayden’s statement as some form of a compliment, after he told Jayden to pack up with a false sense of pride.
Now with nothing more to do than wait before his superiors send him a ticket back to good old Washington. Jayden spends his time usually by himself to enjoy the peace at his own apartment, finishing any “paperwork” with the use of ARI (Added Reality Interface). A pair of slick-looking black shades used by FBI agents, which illuminates a blue faint glow beneath the inside of the lens when powered on along with its needed companion, a right-handed black leather glove. Its ability to scan DNA, footprints, or any possible evidence with little trouble thanks to visual enchanting the area proved a valuable asset for Norman during the case.
Despite ARI’s use as a fun little distraction for the wait, what kept popping into Jayden’s mind was the tedious wait to leave the city. He didn’t appreciate the thought of leaving early since the apartment Jayden stayed in during his time was not some sleazy motel with a creepy receptionist who’d would flash a disturbing grin on his face, he felt to it was wiser bet to not flush his superiors money down the drain for the services they have provided for Jayden.
“Just two more days in the city, finish the leftover paperwork, give my regards to the Police department and that asshole Blake and tell him that I’m glad this “partnership” is over. I’d felt like I had a lifetime amount of migraine just seeing the guy act out like he’s a hot shot. After that, I’ll go back to Washington and everything will go down smooth again. Especially when my superiors are most likely going to give me promoted. It’s all I can really ask for now.” Norman ponders as he sat on the rear end of the bed still wearing his dark grey suit from a talkshow he attended for his actions, bending his back a bit, exhausted but not drowsy enough to snooze off. Jayden then lifts up one of his hands to reach his forehead, rubbing it in a steady pace to cool down a small burning sensation on his head.
Everything seems to be going so dandy and normal now but Jayden felt disturbed of his experience. Normally Jayden could usually shrug of bad moments and move on from his past work to more important. This was not a normal disturbance that would fade away as he would’ve drifted to sleep as he hoped; he didn’t have to do anything to keep his total focus on. Norman started to recall those moments of the Origami Killer case, the children’s lifeless bodies, and his battle to the death with a violent black man commonly known as “Mad Jack” who was crushed to death by his own bulldozer at his junkyard. Jayden even encountered the killer once while the killer concealed himself, Jayden almost losing his life to him.
It didn’t help either that Jayden received no rest for nearly two days and just as if he thought he could gain his rest, it felt as if insomnia suddenly had took its toll on Jayden. He’d taken several pills of sleeping medication he purchased no less than an hour ago when he made it back to his apartment , hoping it would put him to rest. The medication didn’t aid Jayden much to his dismay. All it seemed to do was blur his vision a bit more by the hour, his thoughts were starting to become scattered, and gave him an nauseated feeling in his stomach. He had pressed one of his hands gently against his stomach to keep a grip on his vowels.
“There’s no reason to worry. I just had a rough day, that’s all. Try…. Try not to think much.” Norman reassured himself nervously to keep himself in control, but the more he tried to keep his vowels in place, the more intense the burning sensation in his stomach grew.
Jayden then feels his hands shaking in a violent, uncontrollable manner as if they were freezing out in the cold harsh winter. His body starts to shiver, his own eyes feel as if they have bloodshot scribbled all over them. Jayden urges his own arms to now hug his shoulders, rubbing himself down in a frantic rate to keep out the chill and ease the pain crawling all over his nerves.
Suddenly, Jayden couldn’t hear his breath or his hands rubbing down his body temperature.
Jayden notices his room, the brown walls concealed by the night, the large plasma TV in front of him, the empty bottle of vodka, slowly fading away to a new environment. It appeared to be the middle of a forest, presumably to be the time of autumn with this many leaves on the ground. Violent bursts of wind began to shake the shake off the trees bright honey colored and yellow fading leaves, as they float away in a fast, rotating, uneven pattern.
Jayden stops his frantic attempt to calm his own nerves; he didn’t feel the pain or the nauseas feeling in his stomach anymore, he felt as if he became at peace with himself. The forest now appears perfectly for him to view. He cannot hear the rustling of the leaves or the violent gusts of wind blowing directly at his face for that time, as if his own ears heard nothing but dead air or was now a death man. All he felt like doing do at the moment was look fixedly at this unnerving sight, like a bloodied soldier who stood in the bloody battlefield, as if he went into a 1000 yard stare into an abyss.
It was a brief illusion of pleasure that seemed to last an eternity, for Jayden was unaware of that he was now lying on the floor slowly losing conciseness, his body sweating as if it were a hot summer heat but his insides freezing like stored cow meat in a freezer.
Jayden quickly was brought back to reality.
“I can’t make a sound! My insides are killing me! I think my vocal chords are tearing apart!” Jayden panicked, frightened that the day after the killer’s death may be the day a new hero was to die.
“No! Don't think like that.. I need to.. try to stand..” Shot into Jayden’s mind, firing up his will to live.
As Jayden struggles to regain his ground as a baby would taking their first steps, determined to walk again. Jayden’s own mind knows what it craves, what can rid of the temporary burning pain succumbing him for a while, what rids of his blurred vision as if he was drunk.
Jayden takes a reluctant look at a small wooden cabinet, noticing a small glowing container he placed at in case of any problems. Jayden proceeds to stumble as if he were intoxicated like a drunk to grab hold of his “temporary cure”.
“One little sniff won’t hurt me..! I can’t keep resisting it for long.. The pain. Has to go.. away!” Jayden’s mind urged in agony as he struggles to near the container, just a few feet away before he could extract the pain.
“What if this one sniff kills me? What then becomes of me in the papers, my dignity, and my superiors? I can’t toss all of that to waste for this. Try. Just… TRY to find a quick way to ease the pain like before. There’s no way I’m doing this again!” Jayden’s mind rushes as if someone just slapped him on the back of his head, miraculously reminding him of another alternative. His mind however, urged Jayden to at least go to the "temporary cure" before his second option, it coul be his saving grace.
Still struggling to keep his balance thanks to his feet feeling as if they fell to slumber, Jayden finally reaches the minute container.
Jayden’s hand quickly grasps the container, as Jayden attempt to open to lid. He soon realizes that his own hands barely can keep themselves at command, making this simple little task seem like a battle to the death.
“C’mon… OPEN!” Jayden shrieks in a muffled tone, agitated as his own eyes struggle to keep a good view of what he actually was doing, along with his fingers struggling to open the small cap, wishing the vile wasn’t so resistant to physical damage or else he would’ve been done by then.
Jayden’s tight hold for the vile was too much for it to stay in place for long, for it flew upwards and landed with a minute thud in a random place.
“Shit! Why does this have to me happen.. now!?” Jayden’s mind panicked, now knowing his only real option left was to distract the pain which slowly was starting to feel like the burning sensation of digesting numerous amounts of coal set in flames.
With the last bit of strength Jayden had to keep himself from dying in agony, Jayden limped his body to the left to a white door leading to the bathroom, thankfully near to the cabinet Jayden was at.
His sweating hands hardly could hold still well enough to grip the iron door knob, but with a string of luck he managed to quickly twist it and push the door to enter, only for his left leg to feel an intense pain to disrupt his already weak balance and fall hard on the floor in agony. He couldn’t even find the breath to scream at the top of his lungs to calm the pain down.
“SHIT!! I need.. to hurry!” Jayden mind fuels with a determined will to use every last bit of strength he had until the lights were out for him. Jayden pushed his right leg as a means of reaching his saving grace, along with his arms pulling alongside the floor to reach closer the inside of the bathroom.
Jayden finally managed to pull his entire body to the inside of the bathroom. The bathroom lights detected the presence of Norman. Illuminating the dark muddled objects to a now a semi clear view of Jayden of what was what.
Jayden stopped crawling, and then fixed his eyes to the left. Noticing closely to him was a shower stall.
With every bit of strength his arms and right leg had, now being drained rapidly along with a small clutch amount of hope gained, Jayden began to crawl again to reach the shower.
As Jayden reached the inside of the shower stall, there was an abrupt deafening sound, just outside the bathroom of what sounded like a explosive had just detonated.
“Jayden… Raise your arm.. hit the switch.. and then I won’t hear THAT again.” Jayden thinks sarcastically, assuming he lost his marbles.
As he reached to the end of the shower stall, Jayden’s left arm reached to hit a button of a white box, triggering the shower to release its supply of pure, refreshing water to finally bring an end to Jayden’s mental breakdown.
A stream of water poured onto Jayden, soaking his soul with the feeling of comfort and perfect harmony. Jayden’s back rested upon the wall with his legs laid in curved position, as the remedy began to process its dose of natural medication to Jayden’s nerves.
Jayden halted any other thoughts in his mind outside of the current situation; he felt a sense of satisfaction that he finally gained a sense of relief. It was oddly, enough to make him feel drowsy. The water was cold enough to calm his nerves down vastly; his mind barely had the energy to think besides a few sets of words at the moment.
As Jayden’s eyes slowly blinked him to sleep, he suddenly notices a small looking figure that was just a few feet away from him. It resembled some form of a small animal that he couldn’t make up of its textures or even its face. All that he notices was its body and head along with its color; pink, purple, or maybe both.
The figure tilted its head to the left, staring at Jayden as if it he were a puppy.
“Guess my time is… up” Jayden thought, too relaxed to be even the slightest anxious. Maybe the afterlife wouldn’t be such a bad idea in the end.
With these last thoughts, Jayden’s eyes gradually began to close.
It was a peaceful morning in the small town of Ponyville. The residents of this town would continue on to their daily jobs and tasks as normally. Parents would be walking their children to school soon, and then would continue the rest of the day to earn a living and find ways to better their lives with small but important things in the lives of both their children and themselves.
Soon the Ponyville weather team; consisting of nothing but Pegasus ponies continuing to make sure any and all clouds would not be blocking the view of the glorious sun their highness has provided for today’s morning. As the time would slowly go by the hour, the sun would eventually be set down by their royal highness, only for her sister to raise the moon to let the ponies know night was upon them.
It was all a rinse and repeat cycle, with the occasional festivity or two as the seasons passed. There were times where maybe even a hideous beast made up of other beasts which lived a life of anarchy had to be stopped to maintain the common peace.
Worries still persisted that a ruthless queen with her army of love hungry servants will come back to feed on the pony population.
Even the occasional trouble the residents might cause unintentionally out of paranoia of the new had to be dealt with, tactfully at least.
There was a monster however, that couldn’t be stopped dead on its tracks. A monster that couldn’t be destroyed with armies of soldiers ready to die by their highness’s side with their last breath, or reversed with powerful unicorn magic now forbidden to all but say only the most dedicated to the princesses, and especially not with any form of politics or laws to frighten this creature back into its cave.
That monster was progress itself.
The royal princess of the sun known as Princess Celestia by her beloved residents has been worried over what be the start of a slow attrition to the wealth, power, and even safety of Equestria. Every morning that started, any and all ponies were bombarded with papers on how the Griffins continue to discover the means to surpass their own natural limitations with new inventions. At first, this was nothing new or frightening to Celestia. After all, good progress can mean the best for every being out there. There was no reason to impede what nature would see most fit for the lives of every creature out there.
That was until these inventions proved to be utterly useless to the Ponies benefit.
Ever since the unearthing of a new element yet to be named by the griffin race, it uses have been plentiful and useful. It was said to be a special element that has enough power to start up complex parts of mechanics which were normally thought to be impossible to power up.
Inventions of mechanical unicorn horns which could allow non magic users the ability to complete simple tasks. Mechanical wings which could now allow the flightless to fly for short periods of time. Advances in machinery has led to more useful medication to fight off even the most deadly of all diseases, and even a new rumor circulation on weapons that could be equipped as armor with slow firing projectiles that could make Celestia’s own army lie dead with inferior weaponry carried on their backs.
The element has only been located at near griffin territory. Pony miners have yet to find any discovery of this element on their own land. Even when the brightest inventors of Celestia have tried numerous times to find alternatives to power the new machinery without the need of the unknown element, their efforts have all been fruitless.
It was all a matter of time, before these inventions can be sold for an affordable price in the market for every griffin and pony, causing a boom to the griffin’s economy. Sooner or later, the griffin’s bitter leader will finally break the peace treaty which has sustained itself for a hundred years, to conquer territory the leader believes his race is entitled to. It was all a matter of just when it will happen. Celestia herself had neither the cold brutality to suppress her people from buying products from the Griffin market. Neither did she have the resources or power to combat what new advances the griffins have been making. The leader refused to acknowledge even a compromise between both the ponies and the griffins.
All of Celestia’s willpower to find answers was all but lost. Neither her kind, nor herself felt as if there was enough time to find the right solution. She believed the upcoming doom her kind was sealed in fate, and all her for her left to do, was to accept the fate of her ponykind and watch her land become conquered by the griffins.
“This can’t be happening. Not like this.” Celestia mutters to herself as she lay on her bedding, stuffing her face on the sheets to let them soak up her tears.
“The safety of the ponies.” Celestia croaks up once the tears have started to dry “They trusted me; I have let them down… We have no…”
“Hello! Princess Celestia, may I come in to talk with you?” A faint voice rings across Celestia’s door.
“I have let them down, let them down, let them…” Celestia repeats to herself, unaware of Twilight’s presence.
“I’ve spoken to Princess Luna about what’s happening. We can find a way to work this out. Please Princess Celestia, I don’t want to make this hard for any of us one of us! I’m worried sick about you!” Twilight cries out.
“Down… Down… Down..” Mutters Celestia, continuing to lose her grip of reality.
“Princess Celestia! I need you to come out right now for us! You don’t want me to make it hard by…”
“Move aside royal guards. Princess Twilight… I’ll handle this.” A stern voice behind Twilight interrupted. Twilight quickly spun her head to see that the voice was none other than Celestia’s sister, Princess Luna, who was focusing her gaze towards Celestia’s locked door.
“Your highness!” A guard says as he kneels down to show the proper respect to Princess Luna. “Princess Celestia has refused to open access to her chambers; we have yet to come up with a proper solution to the problem.” The guard reports
“I see...” Princess Luna responds, still focusing her gaze upon the door.
“All of you.” Princess Luna commands, with every guard positioned showing the utmost of attention “I would recommend you to cover your ears as best as you can.” Princess Luna advises, still focusing her attention on the door.
Every guard then used two of their hooves to block out the hearing as best they can, not wanting the risk to lose their possible hearing soon.
“Princess Luna!” Twilight pleaded to Luna. We should still be more tactful. Celestia isn’t doing so well, and I doubt that going full on would even…”
“Haven’t you once brought up the concept of say… “Tough love” to the quiet one who goes by the name of Fluttershy when caring for the Phoenix, Princess Twilight?” Luna responded in a somewhat slightly smug tone, giving Twilight a brief smile.
“How did you even..?”
“I found out in one of your dreams” Luna Interrupted “I too, would understand that one such as yourself would find guilt in this torture”.
“Tough love is not the same as…”
“Enough. Stand back Princess Twilight.” Luna interrupted once more, not wanting to stall the breakthrough.
“Sister!” Luna shouts sternly. “I speak in the name of all those who are beside me at this moment. We shall ask you once more in a polite manner. Open the door for us, right now.” Luna stated politely, though mildly annoyed at this point.
As they waited for what was to be a minute, Luna let her head down and sighed in disappointment.
“I’m afraid I have no choice.” Luna said as she begins to focus her attention on the door once more.
“ALLOW US TO HELP YOU RIGHT NOW!” Luna shouts in the royal voice, shaking the whole place with a strong vibration.
The proper amount of strength of the royal voice forced through the door, just enough to break off the door’s bolts and forcing them to come down without flying across the room.
“Guards… You may now finally stop covering your ears off.” Luna responded as she made way to the inside of Celestia’s chambers.
As soon as every guard let loose of guarding their ears and stopped feeling the harsh sensation for being in that state for such a long time, the dust settled away and Celestia was visible for everypony. What was once a glorifying, regal, and upstanding figure has been reduced to a sorrowful sight to see. Celestia’s mane once brimming with life, was now lifeless as the leaves at autumn. Her once bright white coat has been covered with that of filth from lack of bathing, that left a grey toning to her coat. Her face was still to be visible, but the sight could only be guaranteed as being even more pitiful.
Her chambers didn’t fare any better for the eye. Everywhere to be looked around Celestia’s chambers was a mess. What was once a clean, well lit, and comfy place has been reduced to nothing but a mess of papers and a room surrounded with darkness thanks to the dust settling at the windows. Everywhere to look was scattered papers about news and news of the griffins and what must have been blueprints of their inventions in Celestia’s hopes to find the answers herself, when all else failed. It was impossible for anypony to walk around a few steps without crunching papers, or spotting dust at every corner. The only place that remained remotely clean was Celestia bedding, and even that was a stretch for one to say.
Despite Princess Luna’s rather forced entry, and the sounds of hoofsteps leaning to Celestia’s way. She remained muttering to herself unintelligibly.
Princess Twilight rushed towards Celestia like a lost foal who just found her mother.
“Princess Celestia! Please respond to us!” Twilight pleads to the princess as her hooves push her alongside Celestia’s body
Celestia did not respond to Twilight aside from muttering even more unintelligible wording.
“How could this have ever happen to you? Don’t lose us like this!” Twilight weeps alongside Celestia’s coat, as Luna walks towards Twilight.
“I do not understand this either Twilight. My sister has been acting rather different lately but this is… Different.” Luna remarks nonchalantly
“And you did nothing to help!?” Twilight shouts towards Luna, enraged towards her inappropriate reaction to the situation.
“There was nothing I could do until now.” Luna politely but firmly responds to Twilight. “She would spend day and night working on the griffins work, refusing to respond to any of us. I seen it as her simply being over focused on her duties, until now.”
“Apologies if I my tone came across as cold to you.” Luna continues as she walks around Celestia’s chambers, eyeing the filth and the wondering the amount of work it would take somepony to clean it. “Somehow I feel this punishment is suitable for my sister due to my lack of sleep. I wouldn’t mind this actually, maybe I can reclaim power as the rightful..”
“You better not have any ideas.” Twilight snapped back angrily as she faced Luna “Remember that the Elements of Harmony can still defeat you”.
“I was simply being “sarcastic” as ponies would call it, Twilight.” Luna remarked in a jokingly manner. “I for one would wish to make sure my Tia is brought back to her old state.”
“At least show some urgency in the situation. You’re starting to irritate me”. Twilight responded as she finally got up from Celestia’s bedding, wiping away her tears and small traces of filth collected from Celestia's coat .
“In that case. I would suggest you to find some answers for this.” Luna advised to Twilight
“Guards!” Luna shouted “Return to your positions at once. I shall escort my sister back to my chambers in order to care for her. In the meantime, do not allow anyone to come in here say for Princess Twilight, her friends, and any help she wishes to bring with her. Understood?”
“Yes your royal highness!” The guards shouted as they all went out of Celestia’s chambers, avoiding making any more of a mess on the floor along the way.
After the guards left, Twilight began to ponder while walking back and forth, devising a plan.
“I should start by finding a doctor for Celestia… But I’m not sure how the Kingdom would react to this; this is way different from a disappearance. Maybe there are some books on this matter. Maybe there are no books on this matter. Maybe Equestria is doomed… Maybe we aren’t… Maybe I have no idea how to handle this whatsoever!” Twilight shrieked in fear.
“Twilight!” Luna snapped back at Twilight
“Sorry... I’m just shocked about seeing all of this. I’ll get down the finding a good doctor for us, and letting my friends know what’s happening.” Twilight said, leaving Celestia’s chambers, still chilled on the current situation.
After Twilight is out of her sight, Luna’s horn began to glow a blow aura, focusing its energy towards her sister’s body. With just the right amount of force, Luna manages to lift up Celestia’s body, and gently carries her out while making sure she’s positioned well enough to not discomfort her at her rambling state.
“Oh Tia… What could have ever happened to you be in such a condition this time?”
“Woah… Woah… Woah… really… Woah. You telling me and my friend that the Celestia is somehow stuck in cuckoo land, and there’s nothing you or any other doctor can do about it?!” Rainbow Dash yells out, giving a cold stare towards the one and only Doc Heart.
“At the moment, that happens to be the case with the current diagnosis. Now please understand miss, once again…”
“The name’s Rainbow Dash, not miss.” Rainbow Dash snapped back angrily, while in standing in a rather aggressive stance, eyes piercing towards the doctor.
“Well then… As I was saying…”
“No, no, no… Just hold up for a sec.” Rainbow Dash hastily interrupted, much to Doc Heart’s annoyance. “You are the guys that are getting paid to be Celestia’s personal doctors, the finest of the bunch, and now you trying to make me and my friend buzz off from watching over Celestia just outside her second room, which is inside another room?!” Rainbow Dash angrily argues back at Doc Heart, feeling she has cornered the doctor.
Doc Heart continues to maintain a calm, emotionless expression towards Rainbow Dash. Albeit his gray coat began to feel as if it were growing sharp needles, ready to be used as a weapon against her. His trainee, not wanting to interfere out of fear, slowly backs away a few steps from Doc Heart without making a peep.
“We are doing this in the best interest of our royal highness to make sure she is in a comfortable, quiet, and safe environment in her own chambers without the need of taking her to a public medical facility to attract unneeded attention, as Celestia herself ordered us when we were assigned as her personal doctors.
“She’s inside a private room, and we are outside her private room, which is another room smart guy. What makes you think any one of us would make any trouble if we are just outside her private room?”
“Regardless if there were multiple rooms that are inside to one another, we have been assigned to make sure Celestia is allowed to rest peacefully, with only a select few allowed to be in here to care for her. You have no proof to believe that we are doing this to make you or your friends “buzz off”, as you eloquently express it.” Doc Heart explains, starting to feel his patience running dry.
“Wait… Are you trying to make me look stupid now by twisting my words?” Rainbow Dash questions, not looking any more pleased with Doc Heart or his response.
“That’s not the case at all, Miss Dash. I’m just using what Celestia has given me, on what ponies would call a “tongue”.” Doc Heart responds to Rainbow Dash, as he diverts his attention into his mute assistant, giving him a quick nod as an order to him to gather back Doc Heart’s tools and place them into his medical bag.
In quick time, the mute assistant came back in with the bag, with its strap hanging around his neck. Doc Heart gave the assistant two more nods of his head, letting him know that it was time for them to leave.
But just before the doctor was even half way across the exit door, Rainbow Dash makes a cough that was meant to clear up her throat to say something clearly. Before Doc Heart could ask what Rainbow Dash still had on her mind, Rainbow Dash slowly walks up to him, giving him a condescending look.
“You know… If it were any more obvious, I bet both of you guys are plotting against Celestia with the griffins, maybe even Discord if he’s gone back to no good.” Rainbow Dash says in a surprisingly calm tone at Doc Heart. Doc Heart stood there with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
His assistant soon try to pull the doctor so they can leave as quickly as possible, but not before Rainbow Dash got even closer, only a few feet away from them.
Yeah, you heard me say it! I bet they made sure to make it worth it for you for a while, and plan to make you their overlord supervisors once Celestia is a goner! So why not save yourself the trouble before I find out what you’re planning and stick your evil plans right up your…”
Rainbow Dash continued before feeling something like a hoof covering her mouth behind her.
“All of us are without a doubt, the most grateful for your doing the best you can with Princess Celestia’s current condition.” Rarity bursts, smiling towards Doc Heart.
“Now if you excuse me, I’m sure we all can allow Celestia to have a bit of rest to make it easier on her current condition. Isn’t that right, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity says while giving a brief glare at Rainbow Dash, while still covering her mouth with her hoof.
“mhdabjn…cwioeiociced….wjewehwuieo!” Rainbow Dash muffles angrily, struggling to let out one of the words.
“She’s saying that she really does appreciate you men upholding your duties as best you can, and she will do her best to make sure Celestia isn’t disturbed for the mean time.” Rarity says, with her cheeks blushing in embarrassment to the situation.
“Who are you exactly miss? I wasn’t expecting more than one pony to come by.”
“Oh! Mind my manners! I am Rarity, and I have come here by Princess Luna’s order, here’s the approval for being allowed temporary entrance to Celestia’s room.” Rarity explained as she levitated out a small paper from her bag, and handed it to the doctor.
I’m dreadfully sorry for arriving here late, duty calls in my job. And I surely guarantee you my friend didn’t mean being a bit, “uneasy” with you.” Rarity sugarcoated, still struggling to prevent Rainbow Dash from yelling at Doc Heart.
“I assure you it was nothing to worry about Miss Rarity. I should advise you that its best to allow the Princess to rest as often as she possibly can, without anypony inside Celestia’s private room or outside. We’ll send in a trained nurse to look after her basic needs like food, water, bathing, etc. in a few hours.” Doc Heart responds, sounding much softer than before.
“We really can’t thank you enough for responding to this as soon as possible.” Rarity says, maintaining her best smile despite feeling disgusted by the bits of Rainbow Dash’s saliva running across her hoof.
“It’s not every day we have a chance to save the life of a Princess. My assistant and I will come back ourselves as well, every day for an hour to see if any differences occur with her condition.” Doc Heart says with a small smirk, while gently shutting closing the doors leading to Celestia’s second room inside her chambers to let her rest peacefully.
“Once again, we really do appreciate the work men such as yourself have done. Perhaps I and my friend can both fix up something quick to eat, perhaps maybe a simple drink would suffice after doing such a magnificent job with Celestia? Granted this isn’t our home, but it’s the least we can do right now for taking the time to stay and tend Celestia herself.” Rarity offers to Doc Heart, oddly feeling more of Rainbow Dash’s saliva running down her hoof.
“I’m just doing my best to help her out. And I appreciate the offer, but I still have a few clients I must meet up to.” Doc Hearts says, now heading towards the exit with his assistant. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?” Rarity asks with a hint of worry in her tone.
“In a job like this, going on a full stomach is the worst thing anyone can do, miss Rarity.” Doc Heart jokes as he prepares to exit Celestia’s chambers.
“Well then, I’ll do no more to stop you for performing your duties. Best be on your way then.” “Take best care of yourself Miss Rarity. And to your friend right there.”
“Pwik!” Rainbow Dash attempts to retort one last time in her muffling, just before Doc Heart leaves
“Goodbye Doctor!”
“Goodbye” Doc Heart says before turning his face back to the exit and proceeds to leave, along with his assistant, shaken a bit after the ordeal.
With Doc Heart and his silent assistant gone, Rarity lets out a sigh of relief and looks at Rainbow Dash’s irritated face. Not to make Rainbow Dash any more upset if that were the case, she hesitantly releases her hoof wrapped around Rainbow Dash’s mouth.
“Yuck!” Rainbow Dash quickly spits out with a disgusted expression, spitting out bits. Y’know Rarithee, you couwld have at leest had a warnith sign that lets ponees know your hand taste like perfum and face poweder.” Rainbow Dash half-heartedly advises Rarity, while removing bits of powder with her hooves.
“Mind you that you should know the Princess is a critical condition, and the least you can do is show respect to the men who are doing their best for Celestia, I can’t believe I had to rush in and stop you from acting like a child!” Rarity scolds Rainbow Dash like a mother would to a child who stole a few too many from the cookie jar, while flinging off bits of saliva that ran across her hoof.
“Now a part of me worries that the Doctor won’t step a hoof here if he had to deal with you all by myself, thanks to you behavior.” Rarity says with a saddened look in her face. “And part of me thinks that he’s your new special somepony.” Rainbow Dash teases, with her tongue sticking out for a moment with only a bit of white powder left in her tongue.
“Such nerve to speak to a lady with a tongue like that, and to show it as well!” Rarity scoffs at Rainbow Dash’s remark, with her cheeks slightly turning red. “The doctor is here to help the Princess and nothing more, speaking realistically. We will no longer dive into this type of inappropriate discussion any further. What we do need to dive into, is how you need to display proper behavior the next time somepony is here to help.”
“Like you covering my mouth with your hoof in the heat of a moment I was totally gonna beat him at his game just before you came rushing in!” Rainbow Dash moans in disappointment. “Your argument wasn’t too convincing. I was watching the whole time”.
“Wait… Your saying you just stood there, doing nothing the whole time, and all of sudden, you think that putting your hoof across my mouth was a genius way of dealing the situation. Are you even feeling ok?”
“Nothing a little soap and water can’t wash off and besides… Stopping you at the last second does make for a rather good use of a dramatic effect.” Rarity says, smiling a bit at her own remark.
“I can see both of you are handling the situation quite well.” A voice speaks behind just outside Celestia’s Chambers as it approaches the room at a steady pace. Rarity and Rainbow Dash turn their heads around to see that it’s Princess Luna, walking towards them with a neutral expression.
“Well your royal highness. There’s a good time to mope around in public and a time that isn’t. Not to sound careless or ignorant so pardon me, but I believe that a royal princess like Celestia wouldn’t let a few troubled thoughts get the best of her. A strong, magnificent, elegant leader like her is to most certainly rebound from troubles such as these.” Rarity tells Luna politely; not wanting to upset her if she might have came across as heartless.
“Yeah! I get that Twilight and Celestia are close to one another and stuff, and that Celestia ain’t looking so good, but I don’t think something like that can stop her. We’ll find a way to help Celestia out, and it will turn out well like always.” Rainbow Dash says confidently with a cocky smile on her face.
“I am sure Twilight will appreciate the support you’re willing to offer.” Princess Luna says, making a small smile at how optimistic the attitudes were of both Rarity and Rainbow Dash.
“Ahh… No biggie. We’re here to lend a hoof for her anytime, even though we were the first ponies she saw.” Rainbow Dash says with a small bit of cockiness in her tone.
“Speaking of Twilight.” Rarity adds in to the conversation “Would you know where she is currently at, Princess Luna?” “As a matter of fact, she’s on her way right now.” Princess Luna assures Rarity, as she walks near a counter, lifting up a cup of tea from the counter to bring it into her lips.
“How is our dear Twilight doing? It’s been quite some time ever since we had a chance to see her. ” Rarity says, approaching a few more steps forward to Luna’s direction.
“Y’know its been only a couple days Rarity.” Rainbow Dash says behind Rarity, with a bit of confusion.
“Well I say that in circumstances like this, a “few days” would be an eternity if I say so myself.” Rarity replies, posturing in a royal manner towards Rainbow Dash.
“If that rocks your boat Miss Drama, then I got nothing.”
“Apologies for my interruption due to Rainbow Dash being a bit difficult.” Rarity says turning her direction to Luna, rolling her eyes towards Rainbow Dash’s rude behavior.
“It is nothing to be of much concern about. I understand that both of you must feel stressed out from today, but I can assure you Twilight is doing well to say the least if you’re worried.” Luna reassures Rarity, now noticing Rainbow Dash with a cringing expression.
“Uhh… Are you sure about that, cause Twilight doesn’t look so hot right now.” Rainbow Dash chokes out, pointing behind them.
Rarity and Princess Luna turn their heads around to see what was with Rainbow Dash’s shocked expression, only for them to have shock expressions as well. Twilight Sparkle was standing just outside the doorway, her lavender coat covered with dust particles and spots of ink, bits of her mane seem out of place or even slightly torn up, both her eyes were bloodshot along with eyelids barely keeping themselves open.
Surprisingly, Twilight Sparkle was smiling, a smile that gave off an uncomfortable feeling towards Princess Luna, Rarity, and even Rainbow Dash.
“Twilight! You look dreadful my dear! We must tend to you right away; we can’t allow you to wind up like Celestia too!” Rarity cries out as she rushes to Twilight, attempting to take her to an empty room to help her gain some rest.
Despite Twilight’s worn out appearance, she was surprisingly able to hold her ground, resisting to move anywhere from her spot. As Rarity attempts to move convince Twilight to go find a place to rest, Rainbow Dash briefly jogs towards Twilight’s direction to get a closer look at her. Approaching Twilight, Rainbow Dash notices that Twilight’s expression has not budged an inch when she noticed her outside the door. If anything, it almost looked like Twilight was a worn out statue of herself.
“Hey Twilight! Can you hear me? Twilight wake up already!” Rainbow Dash speaks up to Twilight louder than Rarity’s pleads.
Just then, Rainbow Dash notices one of Twilight’s ears twitching.
“I know you can hear us now, Twi! Would you mind letting us know what’s going on!?”
“Rainbow Dash! That is no way to speak towards…”
“I found the answer…” Twilight interrupted rarity, her voice bearing a raspy tone.
“I beg your pardon?” Rarity asks surprisingly, shocked at Twilight’s response
“The mirrors. Celestia, me, and all of us. The answer lies in the mirrors.”
“Mirrors? All of us? Twilight, are you feeling fine?” Princess Luna asks with a suspicious look, as she walks towards Twilight.
Now with all three ponies looking at Twilight, her smile still not budging an inch, she nods her head and opens her mouth.
“Get everypony here.” Twilight says, her voice getting raspier by the each passing moment. “What do you mean by all of this, dear!? You are making us worry to death right now!” Rarity cries as her body is shaken from looking at Twilight.
“I know what Celestia needs.” Twilight finally utters with all of her remaining willpower, just before she collapses on the floor.
