Rarity stood in the shower, letting the warm water cascade down her lightly colored coat. Her eyes were shut, adding to the sensation of the water finding its way in between her fur, her mane tossed about. She brought her hoof to her chest. The pain she felt was almost physical. The guilt was like a knife stabbing her repeatedly. How could she have done such a dreadful thing? This wasn't like her at all. She had so much anger and rage. As much as she tried to justify it, she knew what she did was terribly wrong. Had Twilight deserved what she got? When she asked herself that question minutes before, she would have answered a resounding yes. Now, she wasn't sure. She had never done anything like this before. Taking her hooves and crashing them down onto another. The sensation frightened her. Of course, she had done it before, but that was only for self-defense. This time, it was out of pure unadulterated fury. She stared at her hooves, as the sound of the running water pounded her ears. She could still feel Twilight's body parts on them. Her face. Her chest. Her stomach. These hooves almost beat someone to death. She began to cry softly at first, then louder after she realized no one could hear her.

'Please, Twilight, please be alright!'she thought to herself.

The fashion expert had taken the time to drop her fellow unicorn silently in front of a sleeping guard. Thank Celestia, she was able to hide in time before he woke up. The presence of the mare, especially in the state she was in, badly startled the young stallion. He had picked her up and immediately brought her towards the doctors' quarters. She was able to hide her presence in Twilight's room and clean up after herself. It was a miracle she made it back to her room without detection, especially since it was almost morning. The unicorn began to tremble as the realization of her actions hit her. What would the princess do if she found out? Would she be banished? Or worse? What's done is done, now, however. All she could do was let the water drown out her soft sobs.

-

It was almost time for the changing of the sun and moon as Princess Luna made her way to Twilight Sparkle's old quarters. Her sister had made sure to keep it the same as how her unicorn apprentice left it a few years ago. In an ironic twist of fate, it now housed the unicorn's assistant, Spike. As she made her way to the large balcony, the smile she wore faded. At first, she had been happy to tell Spike of Twilight's return. However, she remembered her last few conversations with the dragon. He had cocooned himself in a cold anger, ready to lash out at the slightest indiscretion. It didn't make things any better that he had a growth spurt as of late. He was now a full head taller than he was when he was in Ponyville. With his size came strength and dragons were very strong, indeed. She knew why he was angry; it was obvious. Hopefully, the news of Twilight's arrival would tear down his walls, and return him to the Spike of old. She landed on the balcony and used her magic to open the ornate doors. She walked in surprised to see Spike cleaning and putting books away. She almost let another smile slip through. Even with Twilight gone, he still did his duty. That was admirable.

"Oh what do YOU want?" He inquired coldly, barely looking in the direction of the entrance.

Luna scowled at the dragon before her. She knew they all had been through much in the past months, but she was still the co-ruler of this land, and her patience was beginning to wear thin.

"I'd thank you to address me properly, please," the princess answered sternly.

Spike gritted his teeth as his eyes narrowed. Her arrogance made his blood boil. He didn't care how much power she or her sister had, because no amount of power could undo a simple truth: if he hadn't been in Canterlot being a gopher for royalty, then the mare who raised him, his surrogate big sister, would still be alive. Besides, he had grown in size and strength, and if they wanted power, he was very close to showing them what a very angry dragon could do.

"Fine. How about this; 'what do you want…Princess?' Is that better, oh ruler of the night?" he said in a mocking tone.

"That's enough! How dare you speak to me in such a manner!" Luna shouted angrily.

She had come so far in her speech since taking back her mantle. This time's language took a bit of getting used to, but she finally got a handle on it after much practice. The same could be said for her Royal Canterlot voice, although she felt she might slip into it if the current conversation got any more heated.

"How dare I?!? HOW DARE I?!?" Spike screamed as he turned to face the alicorn.

"You're the one who brought me here when I SHOULD have been home! I was the one who always brought her back to reality! ME! When she lost it over a late assignment, who was the one to talk her down and alert your sister?!? ME! I WAS THE ONE! IF I had just been there, none of this would have happened! YOU know it, and YOUR SISTER knows it too! That's why she NEVER came to see me! She just stuck me here, since I had outgrown my usefulness! Or is she ASHAMED?!?" the dragon shouted.

Princess Luna had enough. For months, dealing with a depressed sister, trying to run a kingdom, administering aid to the former elements of harmony, and through it all, she had been patient and kind, but even she had her limit. Although he had grown, he was still a baby dragon and he had to learn his place.

"LISTEN WELL, HATCHLING, THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT SHALL BE RESPECTED!!" she screamed in her Royal Canterlot voice.

She was soon floating above Spike her eyes glowing an eerie white, power radiating from her body. Spike stood his ground, however. If this were seven or eight months ago, he would have ducked for cover, apologizing profusely for such an inappropriate outburst. He had changed, however. He had grown physically, and he had started giving in to his baser nature. He had anger and nowhere to put it, so he had begun to give in to his instincts. He didn't care if he would lose this fight- he would instead make sure that the moon princess knew the repercussions of threatening a dragon. He crouched with one leg back, bearing his claws. He clenched his jaws, bearing his razor sharp teeth. He felt the fire well up in his belly, as a yellow glow started to shine through his teeth, like a prism. In moments, the battle would be on. Just as he was about to answer the apparent threat before him, the door burst open, and two palace guards stormed in. Spike and Princess Luna immediately stopped what they were doing and faced the newcomers. There issues were private and would be settled accordingly. As Luna approached the armored stallions, the looks on their faces told her something was wrong.

"Princess, I beg your pardon, but there has been a development. Twilight Sparkle has been gravely injured. Beaten, your majesty," one of the guards said.

Luna's eyes widened, "Where is she? Is she alright?"

"She was found by one of the night guards, and has been taken to the doctors' quarters by the infirmary. She is being treated in the infirmary now by Nurse Redheart," the guard answered dutifully.

"Come, we must tell my sist…" she said before stopping herself and turning towards Spike.

She gazed softly into his eyes, as her frown deepened. She could see he was stunned. His eyes were wide as well and his jaw hung agape. Had he heard right? Did the guard say 'Twilight?'

"I'm so sorry, Spike. I…I came to tell you…Twilight's back. We don't know how, but she's alive," the princess said in a motherly tone.

"She's…alive?" the dragon whispered.

All of the anger and hostility melted away at the dragon's expression. She could see his eyes begin to water. The alicorn walked over to him, and embraced him in a hug. He reciprocated, sniffling softly. Regardless of the bravado, he showed earlier, he was still a baby dragon.

"I'm sorry I was so angry, Princess, I just…" Spike started, but the princess shushed him.

"It's alright, Spike. You were angry, and had every right to be. You were always her anchor, her rock, and I know you could have done something if you were there. I…we…took you for granted, and for that, I'm so sorry," she reassured the young dragon.

She turned towards the guards, "Has anypony told my sister yet?"

Almost immediately, they heard a scream that shook the building, as they saw a very ornate dresser smash through a window on the other side of the palace. They all stared in awe as the dresser crashed to the ground, the wood shattering.

'Well, it appears that answers my question.' Luna thought to herself worriedly.

-

Applejack stood outside the door of Twilight's new room. Of all her friends, she was the only one who came by. The others were too angry or too scared. No one had seen Rarity for over three days, and Princess Celestia was beside herself with worry. At first, she wouldn't let anyone in to see her fallen student except for medical personnel, but finally she opened the room to guests, Princess Luna and Spike being the first ones there. Spike cried himself to sleep in Luna's chest at the sight of Twilight so badly beaten. Luna had found it hard to hold a grudge against the baby dragon in his current state, and did her best to console him. Now, after three days, Applejack found herself staring at the closed clinic door, her feelings torn in a plethora of directions. What would her friends think? What would she think when she saw the broken unicorn? Who had done such a thing? Who wouldn't have done such a thing? She looked away from the doorway, unsure of what to do. She wished Big Mac was here, but his next scheduled visit was days away. As much as she would hate to admit it, she counted on her brother's advice. He had a way of seeing straight through a situation, and attacking its roots directly. She had always admired him for that. He wasn't here, however. Although she felt like she may be betraying her friends, she decided to take a chance. She approached the door and knocked lightly. She heard a heavenly voice state, "You may enter."

Obeying her princess, Applejack walked in slowly, trying hard to stop the door from creaking, in case Twilight was sleeping. She almost laughed aloud at the irony. She was being courteous to someone who had almost beaten her to death. Maybe deep down, she didn't blame Twilight for her actions like the others did. From the first time she saw Twilight in her mutating form, she thought of her unicorn friend as sick. It was as if she had a disease and she couldn't help herself. Perhaps that's how she was able to muster enough concern to come by and visit. As her eyes made it over to Twilight, she was shocked to see that she looked fine. It was as if she was simply sleeping.

"Good mornin' Princess." She whispered, making her way over to the alicorn.

Celestia didn't say a word. She didn't know who to trust. For someone to do this to Twilight Sparkle, even if she had committed horrible crimes, was inexcusable. She had investigated the scene in Twilight's room, and sensed some residual magic, but it wasn't enough to tell her who the culprit was. The Royal Guard investigation had turned up nothing, which incensed her. She couldn't be too hard on them, however- a crime as vicious as this was extremely rare within her country's borders, and agents, even military ones did not have much experience dealing with them. The princess of the sun was fairly certain that Applejack was not involved, given her detection of magic at the crime scene. Perhaps she was involved in another way, but until she had actual evidence to question her innocence, she would continue to be cordial.

"Good morning Applejack," she answered simply.

"Is…is she gonna be alright? She just looks like she's sleepin'. How…how bad was it?" The farm mare questioned.

Celestia frowned as she turned back to Twilight's sleeping form, "It was terrible, Applejack. She had many broken ribs, and it was a miracle that her lungs were not punctured. It is clear whoever did this did so out of rage and anger. This was not the work of anyone with training."

Applejack just nodded, her eyes still locked onto Twilight's sleeping form. With each passing second, she could feel the guilt well up inside her.

"So… are there any clues to who might'a done this, Princess?" she asked.

"Not much. Twilight's room was clean, except for some residual magic. Unfortunately, it was not nearly enough to tell who the attacker may have been," she answered, her scowl growing deeper.

'Magic? Could it have been… Oh, Applejack, that's the most outlandish thing you've ever thought of! There is no way she would do that! She'd probably think it was too uncouth.' Applejack thought to herself.

Suddenly, Twilight's eyes fluttered open, as she began to moan.

"Huh…wha…"

"TWILIGHT!" The princess and farmer exclaimed in unison.

The princess nuzzled her student, "Oh, I was so worried!" she exclaimed in a worried tone.

"Princess?" Twilight asked hoarsely.

"Yer gonna be alright Twi!" Applejack chimed in.

Twilight blinked a few times, and smiled as Applejack came into focus. She was happy that at least one of her friends was worried about her. After everything that has happened, she didn't think she deserved it, but she was overjoyed nonetheless.

"Thanks, AJ," the unicorn whispered.

The princess straightened up as a serious look on her face replaced the look of concern she wore mere moments before. She had questions, and at this point, only Twilight Sparkle had the answers.

"Applejack, I must speak with Twilight alone. Would you excuse us?" She stated.

Applejack complied, giving the princess a quick bow, and Twilight Sparkle a quick smile, she trotted out of the sterile room, being sure to close the door behind her.

"Twilight, I know you just woke up after this horrible ordeal, but I need to know who did this to you," the princess stated seriously.

Twilight shut her eyes, as images of an animalistic Rarity kicking and stomping her invaded her mind. She shuddered, as the sensations returned. She used her right hoof to caress her stomach and chest. Twilight then looked up into the princess's face. She couldn't tell her. If she did, Rarity would be severely punished. She knew her fellow unicorn would never do such a thing if Twilight hadn't begun this whole ordeal with a lapse in judgment made over half a year ago. In her mind, this was still all her fault, and now that she was back, she was determined to do her best to get everything back to normal.

"I…I'm sorry. I don't remember, Princess," the unicorn lied.

Twilight felt her stomach tie in knots. She had just lied right to her mentor's face. If this were seven or eight months ago, and someone asked her what terrified her the most, of all the things she feared, disappointing her teacher mortified her more than anything. After what she experienced, however, other things became more important, regardless of the cost. She was throwing away her integrity to save someone who almost beat her to death. Someone she used to call a friend. A best friend. She looked away as shame overtook her.

"Twilight, I know you're lying. Please, this is serious. What was done to you was not just wrong, but also illegal. The guilty party must be punished. You know that," the princess countered.

"I know, but…" Twilight started.

"Twilight! Tell me who did this to you!" The princess stated sternly.

Twilight was taken aback by the harsh tone, but held her ground, "Please, Princess, I don't really remember."

"You're lying!" The princess shouted, her volume growing with her frustration.

"STOP IT, PLEASE JUST STOP IT!" Twilight screamed, with tears streaming down her face.

She was shaking, as the princess backed away slightly at the outburst. Celestia cursed herself for misplacing her anger. Twilight was a victim of a horrible crime, and she had forgotten that fact, blinded by her desire for retribution. She approached her student again, nuzzling her softly.

"Please… I…I've never asked you for anything…but this one time, I'm… I'm asking you to let it go. I…I just want things to be normal again. I did horrible things. I…I hurt my best friends, and I betrayed you. I deserved this. I don't care who did it, it's over and I'm safe now," she whispered, sniffling into her mentor's ear.

"Twilight, you didn't deserve…" The princess started.

"Please… Let it go...for me," Twilight begged.

Princess Celestia was at an impasse. To ignore this deed went against everything she held dear. It went against order, justice, and her duty to protect the citizens of Equestria from harm. She pulled away slowly, and stared into her pupil's eyes. She almost broke down in tears at the sight of her student. The look of longing Twilight gave her was all she needed to see. She desperately wanted to be normal again. The princess knew she couldn't deny the unicorn a chance to achieve some sense of normalcy.

"Al…Alright, Twilight. I will not pursue the matter further," the princess stated.

"Thank you," Twilight whispered.

Twilight looked away from the princess. She lied and they both knew it, yet the princess, who should have been admonishing her, was allowing it. The pact they made should have eased the tension, but instead it made it more intense. Celestia wore a frown as she trotted slowly towards the door.

"You need your rest. We'll talk tomorrow. Get some sleep, my student," the alicorn said with compassion radiating from her tone.

Twilight Sparkle just nodded as her mentor left the room. Celestia's mind was racing. Even though she promised not to continue the investigation, she was still worried about Twilight's safety. There were too many unanswered questions, and regardless of the deal she made with her pupil, she had a duty to keep her safe. She finally came to a conclusion, as she walked towards the guards stationed at the entrance to the clinic. Since the incident, Twilight's presence had been kept secret. It was standard, albeit rarely used protocol. The princess needed to make an executive decision on the matter, as she faced the guards.

"Twilight's presence here shall not be discussed outside the castle walls. She is never…I repeat…NEVER allowed to leave the castle grounds until such time as I approve she is ready," she stated, as her own Royal Canterlot tone almost seeped through.

"Y…yes, your majesty!" They both shouted in unison.

As the princess of the sun walked away, she heard a shuffling behind her. She turned to see one of the guards had shuffled forward, and he seemed to have a question. He wasn't one of the younger ones. There is no way the first year rookie he was with would dare to approach her with a question after such a direct order.

"But…your majesty…what about…" he started.

"DID I STUTTER?!?" Celestia shouted back, interrupting the now frightened guardpony.

In almost every case, that would have ended the conversation. However, this guard seemed to re-approach her. The forwardness of the action caused mixed feelings inside the alicorn. She didn't know if he was brave or just stupid.

"Your majesty, what about the Captain of the Guard?" he asked softly.

She looked away from the white Pegasus. He did bring up a good point one that she hadn't originally considered. She turned back around, and almost laughed as she saw the sweat starting to form on the stallion's brow. She maintained her composure. She would be sure to give this soldier a personal commendation for his efforts, and his spunk. He needed an answer, and she would oblige him.

"Shining Armor has been at my sister's castle with Princess Cadence looking after things there while Princess Luna attends to the elements of harmony. My original order stands. No one outside the palace is to know of Twilight Sparkle's return. Is that clear?" she said in a softer tone than before.

"Yes, your majesty!" The pegasus shouted, as he stood at attention.

"Good. Now, you will be my messenger. Report my order to all of the squads in the castle, as fast as you can," she ordered.

The pegasus nodded and let another "Yes, your majesty!" out of his throat before taking to the skies.

The Sun Princess watched the stallion take to the air with a pensive look. Even thought she had existed for over a thousand years, she still came to decisions that she questioned internally. She needed to be decisive on the matter, and she did truly believe this was the best course of action, at least for now. There was still a conflict within her, however. Had she done the right thing? That was the one nagging question, which she knew was going to keep her up at night.

-

As Princess Luna made her way down the ornate corridors of the castle, her thoughts drifted from scenario to scenario. She needed to talk to Pinkie Pie about Twilight Sparkle's sudden appearance. However, after that first night, the pink party mare seemed to revert to the state she was when she came to the palace in the first place. After conversing with Celestia and seeing to Twilight's care with her sister, she made a point to visit the other elements of harmony individually to advise them of what had transpired. Their reactions were varied, but not at all surprising.

Applejack's look of horror at the news was expected. Of all her friends, Applejack seemed to be the only one who didn't completely blame Twilight for her transgressions. While she did admit that her former unicorn friend had made a terrible error in judgment that started the whole situation, she seemed to view Twilight as a victim of her own mistake.

Fluttershy cried, Luna supposed not necessarily because of what happened to Twilight specifically. Her reaction to the unicorn's presence earlier in the day showed that the yellow Pegasus truly did not accept her former friend. The princess of the night suspected that it had more to do with the horribleness of the situation itself. Fluttershy hated the general terror that now surrounded her life, and Twilight's beating simply added fuel to the fire.

Rainbow Dash was stunned, but she seemed confused when Luna explained the situation to her. The rainbow-maned Pegasus seemed genuinely perplexed as to how she should feel. She had just asked to be alone with her thoughts. At least now, she was giving her feelings the true attention they deserved, rather than ignoring them.

Rarity's case was curious. She had waited outside the unicorn's door, since she heard the shower running. After many minutes, however, she could still hear the running water. She knew that Rarity strived for cleanliness, but the shower seemed a bit too long, even for her standards. Normally, Luna did not intrude into another pony's domicile without knocking. However, this was an important matter, and she was a princess. It was time to pull rank. When she entered the doorway, she called to the bathroom, after which she heard shuffling and the water turning off. Rarity appeared before her in a flash with towels wrapped around her mane and body. Although she was as cordial as possible, Luna could tell that the fashion expert had been crying. The news of Twilight's attack brought back the tears instantly. Luna did her best to console her, but it was not enough. Rarity finally asked to be alone, and Luna obliged her, slowly making her way out of the room. After the alicorn had made her way to the other side of the hall, she could have sworn she heard Rarity's shower turn back on. She thought nothing of it as she still had one more stop to make that night.

Pinkie Pie had answered the door with a huge smile. It broke Luna's heart to know that in a few moments, she would take that smile away from her. Upon hearing the news, Pinkie Pie collapsed where she was, crying her eyes out. She tried to form questions but they were incoherent through her blubbering. Luna once again was the shoulder to cry on, letting the pink earth pony get out her emotions. The princess of the moon hoped with all her might that Pinkie Pie would not revert to her previous state. She knew they had much to discuss, but it just wasn't the right time. It had been three nights since then, however, and Twilight had stabilized. Now, it was time for answers.

As Luna stood outside Pinkie Pie's door, she hesitated. These types of conversations should be awkward. She should be apprehensive about tackling such a matter, but over the last six months, she had become used to these dialogues. She didn't like the idea that she was becoming comfortable with subjects that were supposed to make her uncomfortable. Perhaps this is what her sister had always meant when she talked to her about maturity. With a sigh, she wrapped lightly on the door. As she suspected, she heard nothing from the other side. The princess would have to take the initiative again. The dark colored alicorn pushed the door open, looking around the quarters tentatively. She soon found the pink party mare sitting on the bed, her head on a pillow, staring out the window. Luna's heart sank, as her eyes seemed to confirm her worst fears. She walked in slowly, announcing her present, "Pinkie Pie? It's me, Princess Luna."

Only a sigh came from Pinkie Pie, her form unmoving. Luna took it upon herself to move closer to the earth pony, sitting next to the bed.

"Pinkie Pie, I know the last few days have been… tumultuous at best, but we need to discuss the circumstances of Twilight's…arrival," she stated as softly as she could.

Pinkie Pie nodded slowly, gripping her pillow tight. She looked like she was going to break down any moment. The princess searched her thoughts, looking for a way to keep Pinkie from closing her off. She finally decided that she would try to make the questions as closed ended as possible. Perhaps then, she could get the earth pony to open up.

"So, were you in your room when you found Twilight?" The princess asked.

Pinkie Pie didn't even look up. She just stared out the window, and let out a long sigh. She shifted slightly as she began to speak.

"I've been thinking about my family a lot over the last three days, Princess," she stated, just slightly over a whisper.

Luna edged closer so she could hear the pink party mare's explanation. She had been so closed off, and even though she was there for a specific purpose, if this was Pinkie's way of opening up, she would encourage it.

"Did you know there was a time when I didn't smile at all? That must sound funny to you, but it's true. When I worked with my family, we weren't even allowed to talk to each other, much less smile. I never understood why, but I never questioned it until the day Rainbow Dash made her first Sonic Rainboom. I was just a filly, but I'll never forget it. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and before I knew it, I had a smile on my face that I never even thought I was capable of. From that moment on, all I wanted was to make ponies smile. But, now, with everything that's happened, I'm starting to think about why my family never wanted me to smile in the first place. I think that… that maybe they didn't want me to start smiling because they knew you can't smile forever. My… my smile is gone, and I know what I had…I just can't bear the thought of not smiling again. Maybe I wouldn't feel that way if I never smiled in the first place," Pinkie Pie said, her eyes starting to well up.

Luna's eyes went wide at the admission. She knew she needed to say something, but she didn't know where to begin. She needed to tread lightly, and be careful not to force Pinkie Pie further down her melancholy path. She stood up and slowly walked towards the pink earth pony, embracing her in a hug as she whispered in her ear.

"After I came back to Equestria, I was so ashamed, I didn't think I would ever smile again either, Pinkie. I just wanted to shut the whole world away, and give in to what I thought was inevitable despair. I kept thinking, 'how could anypony accept me?' I knew my sister loved me, but my mind was filled with so many questions. Did my sister accept me back out of a family obligation, or did she really forgive me? I kept thinking about it over and over again, until finally I realized something. I had been given one of the rarest things the universe has to offer: a second chance. Once I embraced that notion, I was finally able to move past my grief. I know what happened to Twilight makes you sad, but she is alive, and recovering. You have that second chance with your friend. You can smile again, Pinkie Pie. You have to, for her, and for the rest of your friends," she said softly, before pulling away.

When she stared back into Pinkie Pie's eyes, she could have sworn she saw a twinkle of hope behind the tears. After a few moments, the earth pony smiled softly, nodding towards her princess.

"Ok, I…I'll try. Thank you, Princess Luna," she said quietly.

The princess nodded, returning the smile as she sat down in front of the pink mare.

"So, were you sleeping, and then what happened?" The princess said.

"Yes. W…well, I…I woke up to a bright flash, and there was Twilight, on the ground. At…at first I couldn't believe it, but when I rushed to her side, I could tell that she was breathing. And…and then she woke up. I was so happy. I never expected it to work, I thought it was just wishful thinking," Pinkie stated.

"Expect what to work?" The Princess asked curiously.

Pinkie Pie's stomach dropped as she realized her mistake. She had to come up with something quick before the Princess got to suspicious.

"Oh…well…I…I made a wish…every night… that Twilight would come back to us, and that things could go back to the way they were. I guess…my wish came….true," she stammered, the last words trailing off.

Luna nodded at the response, as Pinkie Pie released an inner sigh at the princess's apparent acceptance of her explanation.

"Very well. If there is anything else you can think of, Pinkie Pie, please let me know. For now, get some rest. We will start counseling again tomorrow. Have a good night," the alicorn said making her way through the doorway.

As she heard the door close, Pinkie Pie buried her head in her pillow, breathing furiously. She had lied. She had just lied to the princess. As she had just begun to calm down, she became exasperated again, as she remembered Discord's warning.

"Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it."

She whimpered softly, as she curled into a ball, her eyes staring out the window with worry.

-

As Princess Celestia made her way towards the infirmary, she was in such deep thought that if she hadn't known every inch of her castle, she may have gotten lost by sheer wandering. Her discussion with Twilight two days ago was still on her mind. She was still unsure if she had made the right decision letting the investigation for the attacker's identity lapse. She desperately wanted to keep her promise to her student, but at the same time, she felt her student might still be in danger. She knew that her guards were more than capable of defending Twilight, and she would not leave her unguarded a second time, especially while she was recovering. Perhaps it was just a timing issue. In keeping with her promise to Twilight that she would not pursue the matter further, that contract would be null and void if Twilight herself changed her mind. In time, perhaps with some convincing, she would divulge more information and allow the investigation to continue. The memory for her was too painful, however. It was so fresh in her mind, to keep forcing her to relive the trauma, especially since it was uncertain how much of her psyche was intact since she came back from the dead. The unicorn's return was yet another mystery, one that also needed her attention. However, there were other priorities. The first of which was to make sure that Twilight Sparkle was making a speedy recovery. As she approached the door, she put on her best smile, given the circumstances. It was the job of a princess to inspire her subjects, after all. She walked in and gasped at the sight.

"Oh, good morning, Princess!" Twilight stated cheerfully, standing next to one of the physicians, who was examining her.

Princess Celestia's jaw dropped as she took in the sight. Twilight looked fine. No broken bones, no abrasions, not even a scratch. How was this possible? It didn't make any sense. The doctor who was treating the unicorn turned to face the princess and gave her a very worried look. After a few moments, the princess walked in as she started to speak.

"Tw…Twilight? But… how? Your wounds…" she began.

"Oh, I'm fine, Princess! I'm feeling quite energized actually. Do you think it would be possible for me to head back to my room now? Not that I don't appreciate the treatment, doctor, but it's getting a bit stuffy in this hospital room," she said exuberantly.

"Oh, well, of course, Twilight, I'll have the guards escort you there now," the sun goddess replied.

After Twilight lightly bowed to the princess and began walking out, there was a loud rumbling. Everyone looked at each other for a moment before Twilight started laughing.

"Pardon me, Princess, but I think I'm just really hungry. I haven't really eaten anything in a week," she said sheepishly.

"Well, it is almost lunch time. I can have one of the royal chefs make you a salad…" she stared.

"CAKE!" Twilight shouted excitedly, interrupting her mentor.

The princess raised an eyebrow at her protégé, waiting for an explanation. Twilight never interrupted her before, even when she was a filly.

"Oh! Oh, Princess, I'm so sorry! I… I just have a bit of a sweet tooth is all. Would…would it be alright if I just had some cake for lunch? Please?" the lavender unicorn asked.

"Of…of course, Twilight, whatever you like. Please let the guards outside lead you to your room, and I'll make sure there is some cake sent up to you. Are…are you sure you're feeling alright?" the princess inquired.

"I'm feeling great! Thank you so much!" She exclaimed with another quick bow.

As Twilight trotted happily out the door, Princess Celestia could not help but stare wide-eyed. What just happened?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the physician, "Princess, I must speak with you about Twilight," the unicorn doctor said worriedly.

The princess turned around to face the doctor, "Of course, Doctor."

"May we go to the X-Ray room? I have something I'd like to show you," the physician pony said cryptically.

The princess immediately frowned. Even though she was immortal, she still had enough sense to know that when a doctor asked for a private conversation, it was rarely good. They quickly made their way to the X-Ray room, as the unicorn doctor used his magic to turn on the X-Ray lamps. The room filled with a cool white light as the doctor made his way over to a folder.

"Normally, I would not discuss a patient's state with anyone without their consent, but this is something you need to take a look at," he said, pulling the X-Rays from the folder and up against the light boards.

"As you can see, Princess, Twilight Sparkle was gravely injured when she first came here. This was her first X-Ray. It showed multiple fractures to her rib cage. She also had various cuts and abrasions," he explained.

"Here is day two."

"Day three."

"Day four."

"And finally, today a few moments after you walked in," he said.

The princess's eyes went wide at what she was looking at. In each frame, she could see the wounds disappearing. It was almost as if every day the damage was cut in half. That explained her appearance when Applejack had come to visit. Celestia had assumed that the medical staff has simply cleaned her up.

"Doctor, what does this mean?" She whispered with worry.

"By my estimation, it would normally take a little over a month to heal significantly from injuries this severe. And if you look at the last X-Ray, Princess," he said, pointing to it with his hoof.

The princess got closer and gasped. It was clear. Completely clear. It was as if he replaced the X-Ray with that of a completely normal pony.

"I don't know how, but her metabolism has increased dramatically. Although it seems to benefit her, this seems highly irregular. I thought you should know, Princess," he stated.

The sun goddess nodded her appreciation, turning around to walk out of the room. As she did, she ran into Nurse Redheart.

"Good afternoon, Princess. Is everything alright?" The nurse pony asked.

The white alicorn snapped out of her daze, her gaze drifting towards the earth pony as she spoke.

"Fine, Nurse Redheart. Everything is just… fine."

-

Well, another chapter in the books! I hope everyone enjoys it! Please let me know what you think!