Chapter 7

"Follow Up at the Hospital"

For the next few days after her visit with Discord, Celestia began to feel her energy return to her body, despite feeling the pains of shingles at certain moments. Soon, she was well enough to take up raising and lowering the sun again, which was a relief to Twilight who was starting to run out of energy as a result of managing Celestia's alicorn magic as well as her own. Unfortunately, the pain of losing the shingles virus also had brought about a new kind of risk for Celestia and it was caused by the anxieties and stress of her position as ruler of Equestria.

"It appears that you are now on the back end of the virus," said the doctor as Celestia and her fellow princesses sat in his office at Ponyville hospital while he examined her back. "The blisters have crusted and you should be able to scrape them off with ease."

"That's a relief, doctor," sighed Twilight, wiping away sweat from her brow. "So, is she out of the woods yet?"

The doctor then sat back down at his desk and a small frown came on his face. This made clear to the princesses that their eldest equal was not out of the woods.

"Yes and no," replied the doctor. "As a result of the shingles virus, you will still feel the pain of where the source was, your highness. The virus has unfortunately permanently damaged your nerves in that area."

Celestia's heart sank upon hearing those words. It seems that being in continual pain was not something that she wanted to do.

"However," continued the doctor, handing Celestia a small stack of papers. "What is important is that you control your stress levels. The effects of the virus can cause you great pain if you are provoked by anxiety."

It was then that Twilight got an idea to help keep her mentor's stress level down. The Grand Galloping Gala was coming up and she thought that helping out with preparing for it would take pressure off of Celestia's shoulders.

"I think I know how I can help out," suggested Twilight. "Perhaps maybe I can help out with preparing for the gala?"

"That's a good idea, Twilight," she said. "I know how good your management skills are, you know. If you could help organize my wedding, then you could manage the gala."

Celestia was surprised to hear this from Twilight. In her mind, she thought that Twilight herself had been put under enough stress by raising the sun as well as lowering it. However, Cadence was delighted with the idea and at the same time, despite her surprise, Celestia knew that she and Twilight would spend time together at the gala.

"Plus," continued the princess of friendship, looking over at Celestia. "We can spend some time together, Celestia. We didn't get a chance to do that at the last gala."

"Well, I am sure to be looking forward to it, Twilight," replied Celestia, who gave Twilight a small smile. "I could use the break from overseeing the gala. I have no doubt that you will help in making this year's gala the most fun in years."

Little did Twilight know however that Celestia had intentions on inviting Discord to the gala as a way of proving to the chaotic creature that she no longer had any ill feelings towards him, as well as making the gala as lively and entertaining as the last one.

"Indeed I will try," said Twilight. "All I want is for you to relax and enjoy yourself for once."

At that moment, the doctor reached over into his desk and pulled out a piece of paper with a bottle of a special kind of medication sending them both to Celestia.

"Now," said the doctor. "This is a cream that you must apply to the site of the shingles virus for the first 30 days of your post-illness. It should be able to bring down the pain."

So, Celestia returned to Canterlot that evening, still thinking of inviting Discord to the gala. While Twilight oversaw the preparations, Celestia sat in her quarters while an older pony servant applied the cream to the site of the shingles virus.

"You'll feel a slight sting, princess," said the servant.

"I'm aware of that," moaned Celestia. "I just need to not get stressed, that's all."

"Indeed," remarked the servant. "Myself and some of the other servants have been worried about you since the events of recent. You should be happy that Princess Twilight is taking over the preparations for this year's gala."

The servant then pulled her hooves away from Celestia's back and allowed her to stretch herself out.

"I know, I know," sighed Celestia as she continued to stretch. "It's just that I intend somepony to the gala that some ponies may have ill feelings towards."

"You mean Discord?" asked the servant. "The creature that betrayed us? Personally, I don't think it is a good idea, but I have been a loyal servant to you, your highness and that I have never questioned your decisions."

Celestia smiled at this and hugged the servant for a brief moment. Once she was gone, Celestia then set about preparing a ticket for the gala while going over the guest list.

"Not everypony may forgive you, Discord," thought Celestia as she looked at the list. "But, I have forgiven you despite what you have done. This is my night too and I know you will make this the most fun gala in years."

Just then, a knock was heard at her door and she opened it to reveal Twilight with a checklist in her aura.

"Everything seems to be going as planned, Princess Celestia," said Twilight, walking into her quarters. "We should be done by tomorrow. How are you feeling?"

"One of my servants applied the cream," replied Celestia. "I should feel fine. By the way, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Princess," said Twilight. "What is it?"

Celestia then took in a deep sigh and looked down at Twilight with a worried look on her face. In her mind, she thought that Twilight would not allow Discord to come, given his history with her and her friends.

"Would you mind if I invited Discord to the gala?" she asked, much to Twilight's surprise.

In her mind, Twilight was not fully trusting of Discord, even if she ordered him freed from Tirek's control when she traded the alicorn magic for his freedom along with that of her friends. Nevertheless, she knew that maybe Discord could keep himself under control, remembering what he learned from the events with Tirek.

"Of course, Princess," replied Twilight, reluctantly. "Most ponies think he is truly sorry for what he did, as do I. We should give him a chance."

"Thank you, Twilight," replied Celestia, happily. "I appreciate your honesty."

So Twilight returned home to her castle, feeling accomplished that she had kept Celestia's stress level down. But, at the same time, she knew that Discord was going to spread chaos to the gala, which in turn would bring Celestia's stress level back up and cause her pain in her back.

Nevertheless, Twilight never questioned her mentor's decisions and she wasn't going to start now. She had to give Discord a chance, despite the risk of the gala being turned upside down… Next Chapter: Night of the Gala Estimated time remaining: 17 Minutes