Chapter 3

"Feeling Her Pain"

Once Twilight and Cadence left to get their vaccinations for Shingles, Luna walked into the room where Celestia was being held, lying on a table with IV's stuck into her body. Her hair was no longer flowing and the sounds of squeaking came from the mouth of an alicorn who screamed in pain from the internal virus that made her suffer. On Celestia's back, the red rash had produced several welts filled with the Shingles virus.

"Oh, sister," whispered Luna, stroking her sister's mane. "I can't believe after all these years that your illness has returned. If only I hadn't caused you so much stress."

Normally, Luna would have tears forming in her eyes, but she didn't. Instead, she looked up and nodded at a shadow like creature who floated in front of Luna for a second before quickly disappearing.

"There is only one way for me to pay for putting you in this situation," she whispered, continuing to stroke her mane. "And it is something that you cannot do."

Luna continued to stroke Celestia's mane for a few more moments, but then she heard Celestia struggle to raise her head, before sharply placing it back down on the table.

"Don't blame yourself, little sister," groaned Celestia. "It's not your fault that Tirek did what he did. I make a mistake and I am being punished for it."

"By sending Discord?" remarked Luna, who stopped stroking Celestia's mane. "Don't blame yourself, big sister. He deliberately disobeyed us and deserves to be punished for what he did."

But, it seemed that Celestia didn't want Discord to be punished for his actions. After all, Discord was sorry for what he did and was even willing to atone for his actions, beginning with restoring Twilight's coronation window to its original glory.

"He is not like that anymore, sister," moaned Celestia, feeling a sharp pain on her back. "I know he was brainwashed by his family."

Celestia then let out another sharp yelp as Luna glanced to see that the rash had spread to her sun cutie mark, causing it to be blanketed under the red rash. Luna wanted to help Celestia, but she felt powerless to do anything. All she could do was raise the moon and help her subjects with their dreams, while at the same time hide her own demons from those that were close to her.

"I wish that Discord was hear right now," cried Celestia, tears once again forming in her eyes and then only light sobs came from her. "I wish he was here to be with me."

Luna was amazed to hear this coming from Celestia. She was calling a creature that had betrayed Equestria and yet was still on their good side. But at the same time, Luna could see that the pain caused by the Shingles virus had clouded her mind and left her unable to think straight. Despite her continual ill feelings towards Discord, Luna felt that she needed to do whatever it took

"Sister," said Luna, trying to calm Celestia down. "When we return home, we will personally summon Discord to be with you. If he makes you comfortable, despite all that he did, then so be it."

Just then, the doors opened and Cadence and Twilight walked in with Twilight still wincing in pain from the needle that was used in her vaccination.

"How is she, Aunt Luna?" asked Cadence, worriedly. "She seems weak."

"I think we need to get my sister home where she belongs," said Luna, firmly. "She cannot last for very long in this hospital."

It seemed that the doctor also agreed with Luna as he also joined them in the room. He had a clipboard and several pieces of paper in his magical aura.

"Indeed she can't," said the doctor, filling in the forms. "There is nothing else we can do from this point on. As I said before, this is a virus and we must let it run it's course. However, there is something I had forgotten to ask you in my office."

"What is it, doctor?" asked Cadence.

"Aside from the recent events with that escapee from Tartarus," said the doctor, who shuddered at the thought of what had just happened. "Is or was there anything in Celestia's life that made her feel stressed?"

There had been many stressful moments in Celestia's life, but up until that moment, Twilight through that the stress had come from being the ruler of an entire land, but there could have been something else that brought Celestia to this condition.

"As a matter of fact, doctor," sighed Cadence, walking over to him. "We were imprisoned in Tartarus by Tirek during his takeover of Canterlot. I think the stress of being there may have gotten to Celestia as well as all of us."

"I see," said the Doctor, considering the matter. "Given the fact that you are princesses, I thought you would be better well protected against somepony like the Tartarus escapee."

This didn't sit well with Luna, Cadence and Twilight, knowing that the royal guard was affected by Tirek's rampage as much as they were along with all of Equestria for that matter.

"They couldn't fare any better against Tirek," said Luna, sharply. "Princess Twilight and her friends were the ones who ultimately stopped them. But, the royal guard did their best, so watch what you say, doctor."

"Aunt Luna, please," cried Cadence, holding her back. "We have enough trouble as it is."

Cadence then looked back to the doctor, who quickly shook off the abuse that Luna had given him.

"I am not attacking the royal guard in any way," protested the doctor, taking a deep breath before continuing to speak. "But, what I am saying is that maybe you experienced had triggered Celestia's immune system to weaken. What is important is that you keep Celestia's stress level down at all times."

"But, what about raising and lowering the sun?" cried Twilight, realizing that Celestia would not be able to do her duties.

"Raising and lowering the sun is also a stress causer," cautioned the doctor. "Unless if one of you would be willing to fill in for Celestia, then I am afraid…"

But, Twilight stamped her foot and silenced the doctor from saying another word. After all, she knew what he was talking about as she had been given the task of raising the sun and the moon when the princesses placed all their magic into Twilight to keep hidden from Tirek until she found a way to defeat him.

"I can do it," said Twilight, firmly. "I know how it feels to raise the sun and the moon, doctor. If it means to help Celestia feel better, then I will do it."

Both Luna and Cadence gave each other blank looks over what Twilight had just said. However, they both had to trust Twilight as this was the pony who had protected Equestria from creatures that even they couldn't defeat.

"Twilight," moaned Celestia weakly. "I can't let you do it. You have been put at enough risk, my faithful student."

"You have to let me do it, Princess," sighed Twilight, placing a hoof on Celestia's hoof. "I want to do whatever it takes to take the pressure off of you. Besides, I can't stand to see you suffer like this. You need to rest."

So, with the uncertainly hovering over them, Equestria's four princesses left the hospital later that day for Canterlot, determined to keep Celestia relaxed in an effort to slow down and eventually cure Celestia of the Shingles Virus that tormented her body and her soul… Next Chapter: Returning to Canterlot Estimated time remaining: 37 Minutes