The news had spread fast throughout Ponyville, and as soon as the arrival had been confirmed, everypony was on their hooves and making their way as fast as they could to the centre of town. Mare or stallion, young or old, everypony in the area wanted to be there, to greet their monarch and await the festivities of the Summer Sun Celebration. Naturally, the street just outside the town hall became increasingly cramped as the local populace tried to gain entry. Royal guards, stationed at the entrance to the place, kept a watchful eye on all who passed them, but for the most part, this was a time of excitement and smiles. So it was too for Twilight, who, of course, had managed to find herself there long before anypony else. While it was still a full day before the celebration proper, she was nevertheless eager to see her beloved mentor presented to the ponies here, to be greeted with praise and cheer just as she always had.

"Pretty packed, eh, Mom?"

The sound of her son's voice snapped Twilight out of her thoughts, and she looked down to him with a confident smile.

"Yes it is, Spike. But then, how often would these ponies get to see royalty?"

Spike chuckled.

"Yeah...guess it's easy to forget that most don't get to see her like we do, right?"

A look of slight pride crossed Twilight's face at that, as she acknowledged her young ward's point. Seeing her leader was indeed an everyday occurrence for her, and yet, seeing just how eager these other ponies were to see her, it was a fresh reminder of just how otherworldly the Princess must seem. But, for the time being, her focus was instead on the state of the hall around them all. As her previous inspection had shown, there had been plenty of expertly-placed decorations and banners. One looked at this place, and they saw a party of class and respectability.

"Pretty sweet, right?"

Turning, Twilight now gazed upon the one who had spoken; Pinkie. The party planner looked pretty pleased with herself, gesturing to the vast room around them.

"When I was told I'd be asked to sort this kind of thing out, I'll admit, I was a little nervous. But, I'd say I've done pretty good, right?"

Twilight looked to her, then to the surrounding decorations, then right back to Pinkie, clearly seeming impressed.

"You did this, Pinkie?"

Pinkie nodded, looking at her work as Twilight continued to appear happy from this.

"What you did for me and Spike earlier was good...but this? This is spectacular!"

Pinkie chuckled to that.

"Oh stop! You're gonna make me blush!"

Both mares laughed to that, but it was a sound that was becoming increasingly drowned out as more and more ponies began to make their way into the hall. Among them, Twilight could recognise many of the faces that she had become acquainted to since arriving here, including Applejack and Fluttershy. There was an air of both nervousness and anticipation as almost everypony here looked upwards, to the interior balcony that, at this moment, bore a set of fancy-looking curtains. The young unicorn knew, just beyond those curtains, her Princess was waiting for the moment when they would be pulled back, and she would be presented in all her glory to the adoring public below. Twilight smiled at the thought, and just for a moment, she could have sworn she saw movement up there.

"Princess Celestia has done this a thousand times...literally. It never gets old."

Pinkie smiled to her, as indeed did Spike, who seemed just as excited as she was at this point. But, all three of them, along with everypony else now began to grow more and more quiet. For just then, their attention turned to one who now stood atop the balcony above them. Mayor Mare, clearly trying to look as composed and formal as possible, stood at the edge of the balcony, looking down to all of her fellow Ponyville residents, before clearing her throat and starting to address them.

"Mares and gentlecolts! There have been many places of prestige and renown who have hosted this beloved celebration over the course of our history. But today? Today, it is the turn of Ponyville! And I think I speak for everypony here when I say that we are truly honoured!"

Leaning closer to Twilight, Pinkie brought her voice down to a whisper.

"Look at her. This is probably the most important thing she'll ever do in her whole career."

In spite of herself, Twilight couldn't help but giggle to that, though she did her best to hold it back, given the circumstances. As for the Mayor, she had not noticed, and instead carried on as before.

"And of course, to usher in this great tradition of our people, we have with us today, newly-arrived from Canterlot, our beloved monarch herself!"

Turning, the older mare gave a sweeping gesture to the curtains behind her.

"Please, let's give a warm Ponyville welcome to the mare of the sun...Princess Celestia!"

And of course, the moment those words were spoken, everypony's hooves were being beaten against the ground, giving a loud and almost-deafening sound of applause. Through it all, Twilight watched eagerly, her face bearing a wide smile at the thought of seeing her teacher yet again. So, the curtains rolled back, and back, and back, until they were completely open, revealing the one who all knew was there behind them.

And then the screams began.

Twilight's smile vanished, as did everypony's there, and the applause ground to a halt, replaced instead with gasps of shock and squeals of fear. Princess Celestia, the beloved and respected leader of Equestria, the Mother figure of all those of ponykind, now lay upon the ground. She did not stand. She did not speak. She did not even seem to be moving at all. Nopony there, from the Mayor, to the citizens, to even the guards nearby, seemed to know what to do. There was a clamour as several in the crowd began to panic, and the aforementioned guards rushed to their monarch's side, looking over in a vain attempt to try and help her. But they could do nothing but stand and watch, utterly helpless to what was now going on. But Twilight? She was not so paralyzed.

"Mom?" Spike called to her.

But she was off already, rushing forward as fast as she could, unceremoniously pushing past everypony she met, before eventually finding herself at the door that she knew from memory led upstairs. Though many looked to her as she did this, none of them followed, and instead, Twilight found herself alone as she rushed up the stairs and onto the balcony. At her arrival, several of the guards instinctively stood between her and the fallen Princess. But one of them, an older stallion from the looks of it, spoke up, his face bearing clear recognition.

"Stand aside, you idiots! That's Celestia's apprentice!"

Immediately, the lower-ranked guards stood to one side, allowing the unicorn mare by. Her face was one of obvious concern and worry, and she was soon kneeling beside the regal pony before her. Celestia remained unmoving, with only her breathing giving any sign that she was still alive. Calmly, Twilight placed a hoof upon her neck, and soon could feel her pulse. It was steady, which only caused further confusion.

"What...what's going on?" she asked to nopony in particular.

The sound of footsteps caused her to turn, and she saw Spike rushing behind her, his expression a terrified one.

"Mom? What are we going to do? Is she alright?"

But all Twilight could do was shake her head.

"I...I don't know, Spike."

He was scared, that much was obvious, but all the young Mother could do was look yet again to Celestia. Leaning closer, Twilight began to whisper, her tone a pleading one.

"Princess Celestia...please...say something!"

No words came. At least, not clear ones. For here, Twilight's ears perked up as she began to notice just the tiniest movements of the alicorn's lips. She seized upon this chance, knowing in her bones that her mentor was trying to communicate. Twilight brought her ears close, doing her best to drown out all other noises and distractions, focusing only on the sounds that now came from her teacher's mouth.

"What...are you saying, Princess?"

Almost in response, the sun-mare's lips moved again, but it was as if even this was as much as Celestia's meagre strength could allow. And in spite of the panic around them, Twilight could make out what was being uttered, though only just.

"T...Tan...Tanta...bus."

Twilight moved her head away, looking to the still-unmoving Princess, and shook her head in dismay.

"T...Tantabus? Wha...what in the name of Equestria is a Tantabus?!"