Princess Celestia lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She hadn't slept at all since returning from Ponyville, but she still had her royal duties to attend to. She'd placed a guard at the hospital to deliver news about Twilight's condition to Spike, who was ordered to send the Princess a letter immediately. But that message wouldn't be coming any time soon. So grudgingly, she got up, raised the Sun, and went to take a shower like she did every morning. She stood motionless as water fell on her head.

"Celestia! You've been in there for an hour! Other ponies have to use the bathroom to, you know!" yelled Luna as she banged on the door.

Celestia paid her no mind as she slowly scrubbed herself in the same spot she'd been scrubbing for the past ten minutes. She came out of the bathroom sopping wet, her mane still dangling out the side of the towel she had on her head. Luna could see her sister was in no mood to meet with ambassadors of foreign countries or look at any new laws.

"Celly, I know Twilight Sparkle is the only thing on your mind right now, but there's nothing we can do to help her. She wouldn't want you to worry about her when you have responsibilities to attend to. The best thing you can do is go on with your day, and visit her once everything is taken care of." Luna placed a hoof on her sister's shoulder, trying hard to make her feel good enough to handle her business for the day.

Celestia simply nodded, and with a sigh she got up, dried herself off and put on her crown, her boots, and chest armor thingy. She met with the Minotaur and Centaur liaisons about a new trading deal between their countries that would reduce cost and increase benefits of bla bla bla bla.....the Princess' thoughts were elsewhere as she mindlessly signed the documents she was given. Later in the day while signing a set of new laws approved by the Equestrian Congress, Luna came bursting through the door.

"Celestia! Twilight is in the hospital, I KNOW THAT, but that is NO EXCUSE to legalize prostitution!" Luna said as she slammed a piece of parchment on Celestia's desk.

"Oh my," said Celestia as she noticed her signature on the document. "When did I sign that?"

"Just now. You're lucky I took it from those moronic guards high-hoofing each other before it was sent out." Celestia just stared at her sister with no excuse for her behavior. Luna had had enough. "That does it! Don't you know I'm just as concerned for Twilight's safety as you are?! I owe her my life, and there isn't anything I can do to help her when she needs it the most! Get out of here, go see Twilight Sparkle. If you stay here, you'll end up causing a war".

"...Thank you Luna." said Celestia with a smile as she galloped off.

"...GET BACK TO WORK!" Luna yelled at the guards that were at their door eavesdropping. "Prostitution, unbelievable..." she grumbled.

"Guards, ready my chariot; we're going to Ponyville." ordered Celestia.

"Of course, Your Highness." several guards responded.

Just as she gave the order however, a sparkly wisp of green smoke came from outside, it sped toward the Princess and stopped just in front of her face before materializing as a letter from Spike. Celesia was caught off guard, what had happened to Twilight? Given the circumstances, Spike's message wasn't a formally written letter, just a notification on Twilight's condition.

"Princess, the doctors decided to transfer Twilight to Canterlot."

That made sense. Ponyville was almost nothing but earth ponies, whereas Canterlot was majority unicorns. The hospital here had much more experience tending to unicorn injuries, not to mention better equipped with magic at their disposal. So Twilight was coming to Canterlot.

"Guard, cancel my chariot and inform Twilight's family that she's being transferred to Canterlot Hospital."

"Yes Ma'am." he responded.

-

Word of Twilight Sparkle's transfer to Canterlot Hospital spread quickly. Shining Armor had gone to get his family and a rotund Princess Cadence. Celestia could see they were all as scared for Twilight's life as she was. Twilight's mother had puffy red eyes as she sobbed in her seat, she had most likely been crying all day. The Princess could feel their pain...

"Your Majesty," said the nurse at the reception desk. "Twilight Sparkle is here, as soon as the doctors are done, you can go in and see her."

"Thank you." said the Princess.

"She says Twilight is here and when the doctors are done, we can see her." Celestia said to the others as she sat down next to them.

"When did she get here?" asked Cadence. She hadn't noticed any activity or noises that could imply they were transferring a severely injured patient.

"They teleported her here." Shining explained to his wife. Hundreds of years before, Celestia herself had established an efficient injured patient transfer system, which consisted of a team of four-to-six ponies either carrying, airlifting, or magically teleporting injured ponies to and from hospitals. The team of unicorns that had teleported Twilight from Ponyville to Canterlot had used a strong teleportation spell, using their combined magic to travel long distances instantly.

Time seemed to pass by slower than ever as Twilight's family waited for any news on her condition. Celestia wanted desperately to push the Sun a little faster, but she knew that wouldn't help Twilight in the slightest. After what seemed like days, the nurse finally called them in.

All of them walked hurriedly to Twilight's room, hoping that she was alright. Celestia and the rest of Twilight's family hadn't seen her since the night of the attack, and they'd been itching to be by her side helping in any way they could. After a maze of corridors and injured ponies, they finally arrived at her door. Through the window, they could see a curtain was blocking Twilight from view. The nurse that led them there opened the door and led them inside, asking them to be quiet, but the only sound that could be heard was a pony's raspy breathing. As she pulled back the curtain, Twilight's mother let out a painful, heart-breaking moan as she sobbed onto her husband's shoulder. Princess Cadence let out a whimper and looked away. Shining gritted his teeth and faced the ground as he felt a lump grow in his throat. And as tears ran down her face, Celestia felt her stomach turn at the pony that lay in that bed.

Her eyes were covered in bandages, oxygen tubes had been inserted into her nose, and a drip slowly fed liquid into her veins. Her mane had been parted away from her horn, and every bandage that held it to her forehead was visible. Celestia wanted more than anything to believe that the pony lying there was not her, but there was no denying it. Sorrow filled the room as they looked down at Twilight Sparkle.