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Time is running out... Just tonight at the strike of midnight, the staff of Ponyville Hospital forwarded the current condition of our dear friend to us. Just this evening, his physical integrity began to spiral downward at a frightening rate. At such a rate, he will not last more than a few more days... What in the world has transpired?

The last few days have been nothing short of a moment of respite. His physical deterioration had simply come to a halt. This bought me some much needed time to scour the royal archives for any traces of what foul magic he may have been exposed to in order to trigger such a horrid state of being. The journals he wrote that Twilight Sparkle has been forwarding to us have given me vital insight into his symptoms and has narrowed down the search. For whatever reason, I feel as if I have some innate knowledge of this degree of magic. I somehow know where to search. I am so close to finding it. I can almost taste it...

Unfortunately, night fell and I had to tend to my duties as the Princess of Dreams and rest for the following day. I would be doing nopony any favors if I ran myself ragged to the point of mental exhaustion. I must pace myself so as to not overlook any details as I have poured over dozens of tomes this past week. Besides, I was eager to see my beloved once more.

I cast my spell before allowing myself to drift off to sleep within my chambers. And soon, I felt the familiar sensation of drifting from the physical realm to the realm of dreams. A meadow of mist and clouds. The usual nexus I often find myself in when debating which dreams to visit. I searched and I felt. And then I found it. The dreaming mind of a human.

I found the portal to my dear friend's dreaming mind. That wall of shimmering mist. However... Something was very different. Even before setting foot inside it, I could feel that twisted presence that had fallen silent on the day that James awoke. It was so overwhelming... Fierce. The portal before me reflected this, almost looking like billowing storm clouds as lightning sparked through it.

Knowing full well what would occur if I tried to force my way through on my own power, I waited patiently for my fellow Princess of the Night to arrive. We would have to tackle this obstacle together if we would have any hope of seeing our friend again.

Minutes later, I detected her approach. Luna soared through the glittering night sky and landed beside me. "Good evening, sister. Shall we venture forth to see our friend?"

"About that... Look at the portal. Does it not feel...familiar to you?" I responded before I turned to look at the ominous rift before us.

My sister looked on in mild shock. "This presence... The same as before, but much more... What in the world is it doing back? It faded the day after he awoke from his coma!"

I scowled at the passage before us, vaguely able to detect that familiar distorted chuckling on the wind. "I know not what has brought about its return... Even so, it is all too obvious that whoever is there is desperate to keep us out."

Silence fell upon us. This wretched curse that has taken hold of our friend... Who or what could be doing this to him? It wants him dead, that much is all too clear to me. And now, with victory in sight, it is doing all it can to insure that no relief reaches him. The relief my sister and I have brought him night after night during these troubled times.

Moments later, Luna stepped forward as she seemed to gather her resolve. "No matter... We have overcome this barrier before and we will do so again. Are you ready, Nightmare Moon?"

"Always, Luna. Onward! He needs us!" I replied as we prepared our magic. No ethereal abomination would stop us from reaching our friend in the realm of dreams that we reign over!

We charged forward in unison, but the resistance... It was unlike before. I felt as if I was pushing against the mightiest gale to ever blow through my mane. Haunting noise which I cannot hope to describe filled my ears. And then...the agony...

Mere seconds after we began our plunge into that nightmare, I felt it. My flesh being split as blood began to flow. I yelped and grunted, but I did not relent. I had to not lose focus, or I would perish in this dream and be forced to awaken. And I could not allow that to happen. However, I could still hear the shrieks from my sister to my right. Her very voice made my skin crawl. "My eyes!"

At those words, I too shrieked as the vision in my right eye suddenly faded. Warm liquid oozed down my cheek. And along my belly... I felt my skin tear as...something began to dangle from the gash. I did all I could to not think about it and press on. However... My focus was all but shattered when I heard my sister scream out, only to be suddenly silenced as a...horrific sound was heard that I could only imagine being flesh rupturing. And then...nothing.

"Luna?! Luna, are you there?!" I called out while continuing to press forward. I heard nothing... Luna was gone. I was alone, facing this maelstrom of evil on my own power.

The resistance was fierce. But with Luna gone, the force upon me became nigh unbearable. It was a struggle to keep moving forward. The pain and injuries continued to grow. I howled in pain as the vision in my left eye soon faded. I was blind!

The pain... How I did not awaken by that point, I will never know. But...my left leg... And then my left wing... All feeling in it disappeared after a burst of pain there. Then my right hind leg... I crawled. I pleaded and prayed that I would last long enough to reach the other side. So that I may see him again... Then, just as my left hind leg was likely severed from my body... The resistance ceased.

I could not see. Agony radiated through my body. I had to be completely still to make the pain that coursed through me at least somewhat bearable. How did I last long enough to reach the other side? The air... It was eerily quiet. I was not near Ponyville at all. Where had my beloved's dream taken him?

Minutes passed before I could muster up the focus to undo the harm that had been done to me in the realm of dreams. My legs returned to me. My entrails were returned to the inside of my body. The gashes in my skin were closed. And lastly, my eyes were restored. I was indeed alone. Luna was nowhere to be seen. And... By the stars, where was I?

Not a sound reached my ears that did not come from me. Everywhere I looked... An empty gray void. There was no sky... No ground... It was difficult to discern where the ground even began. It was...unsettling. I have witnessed many a nightmare, but... This instilled within me a new type of horror that I had not once experienced before.

"James... James?! Where are you?! This is your dream, is it not?!" I shrieked and called out as I felt apprehension settling into my heart. I walked. I ran. I soared, searching far and wide. Yet, no matter how far my legs and wings carried me, I went nowhere. I was on the verge of panic. Confined to this prison without walls. But then, I saw it. A tiny speck on the horizon that stood out against the gray canvas.

"You there! Who are you?!" I called out in fear. I was dreadfully alone and began to crave some form of companionship. It soon dawned on me that whoever was peeking over the horizon was likely out of earshot. I would have to draw closer before I could be heard. I folded my wings before bursting into a gallop.

The sound of my hooves strangely echoed as I ran, bringing with it an unbearable sensation of solitude. But it did not last long. As I drew closer, I was able to see who it was I had detected on the horizon. It was him... My beloved James.

"There you are!" I called out to him as his form became clearer. However... He was seated, hunched forward. Clad in nothing more than the undergarments I had last seen him in when I visited him in the hospital. I approached him from behind, sweet relief cooling my heated nerves. "James... I'm here now. I'm sorry to say that Luna was unable to make it. But I will do all I... James?"

He did not respond to me. Did not even turn to look in my direction. I reached out to him, tenderly caressing his shoulder with my wing while I began to move around to his front. "My friend... It's all right. I am here now. Tell me, what is wrong? Why are you..."

He still drew breath. I could tell that he still lived. But...when I lifted his chin... Made our eyes meet... They were so...empty. So devoid of any of the gentle warmth I had come to know and love in them. He did not even bring himself to speak. He felt...broken.

Gazing into those empty eyes... I felt my heart break. The man I loved was nowhere to be seen in them. Nothing more than a hollow shell. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I held my hoof to his cheek. "My god... What did they do to you...? What has happened since I last joined you in your dreaming mind...?"

He said nothing. He barely even responded to my presence. I could not restrain my heart any longer. I reached out and held him tenderly in my wings. "No... I won't let this go on... Please, just endure it a while longer, my friend... I won't let it end like this..."

My vision blurred, I gazed around at the desolate empty landscape around me. This would not do. I had to bring him to a happier place. I closed my eyes while I focused my magic through my horn. Perhaps if I restored this realm to being Ponyville once more...

My eyes shot open as a new sound reached my ears. The sound of something cleaving through a hard substance. And then... I heard something strike the ground below me. A long dark slender object... My horn lay before me.

Powerful frustration filled me as more tears began to flow. I touched my horn with my hoof before reaching for my forehead, a profound feeling of loss flooding my heart. Indeed, it was gone. Severed from my head just above the base, leaving nothing more that a small stump behind. My wings released my friend while I roared at the blank sky. "What do you want from him?! What are you, monster?! Why can you not just leave us all in peace?!"

I wept briefly in profound desperation. I wanted to bring him relief. To instill at least a glimmer of joy in his fractured heart. But as I looked back at my horn, I saw him moving. My friend crawled to my horn and slowly, yet tenderly, took it in his hands. He gazed at it with eyes still empty and lifeless before, very slowly, he turned to me.

I said nothing. He was beckoning for me to come closer. And I did. I stepped forward and lowered my head to him. Ever so tenderly, he placed the base of my broken horn back upon the stump on my head and firmly held it there. As if he was merely compelled to help in some way. I was doubtful the two halves would be able to function while merely being held together, but I tried once more to cast my magic.

My deep blue aura reached up over both the base and the length of my horn. It was indeed functioning properly. And before I could be interrupted again, I cast my spell. In an eruption of light, the gray ground below us became soft sand as warm sunlight shone down upon us. Lush foliage and palm trees rose up around us. And in the very middle of this sandy patch of earth, a beautiful blue pool of fresh water formed. A literal oasis in this bleak lifeless land much like one I had seen during a visit to Saddle Arabia. "Perfect..."

My friend released his grasp from my horn, allowing it to fall to the sand. I did not pay it much mind. I would not need it for the remainder of the dream. It had served its purpose for now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbIvJNMfbAw

The sound of desert birds reached my ears while I strolled around the pool of water. The boundless expanse of gray still covered everything beyond the edge of the foliage, but the sky above us was a clear blue with my sister's sun shining brightly. The air was calm. For the time being, we were safe from whatever abomination that had been tormenting my beloved. However, he still sat there in the sand. Never moving nor speaking. I had to do something to raise his spirits. Even if only slightly.

"My friend... Look around you. You are safe now." I spoke softly while using my sable wing to shield him from the sun's harsh glare. He barely reacted, casting a lifeless gaze at his surroundings. However, I could see that he was beginning to sweat heavily. The air was hot and dry with the desert's heat. "Come... Let us retreat to the pond's edge."

I led my friend to the pond at the very center of the oasis. With so little covering him, he began to carefully lower himself into the glistening water. I joined him after I removed my armored shoes, stepping carefully into the shallow pool before taking a seat. The water was up to his chest while he reclined against the pool's edge. Even so, that empty stare never left his eyes. If only Luna had managed to join us...

I felt so helpless... I was doing all I could to aid him, yet nothing seemed to lift him from his stupor. Seeing as how he remained silent, I chose to not speak either. I merely draped my wing across his shoulders and pulled him close to me. But it was when I did this that I heard a weak whisper. A hiss from his lips. "Why are you doing this..."

He spoke. And only that once. I gazed down at my beloved while he barely lifted his head to look at me. I could feel tears beginning to build in my eyes as I began to speak. "Because...I cannot lose you... You know not what you are to me, my friend... From the start...you were my guiding light. Without you...I would be lost...

His face showed no response. He was hearing me, but he was not listening. I held him in both wings while I felt my tears finally flow free. "I told you... You saved me. And I must save you. I care not what vile curse has taken hold of you... I will fight tooth and hoof to find a way to save you to the very end. Even to your final seconds...I will never give up on you. Whatever it is that has you in its vile clutches, it is a fool if it thinks I will let you go now..."

I felt him lean against me. Still hearing, but not listening. But ever so slowly, I felt his hand rising to my shoulder before it gripped it tenderly, if not weakly. I saw them. Silent tears flowing down his cheeks as not a sound came from his lips. My tears still flowing, I lowered my head to his and decided that just this once, knowing that nothing I said was reaching him, I would speak my heart. "You are my everything... My light... My treasure... My love... And you always will be... And I will never allow you to be robbed from me without a fight... To the bitter end, I will be by your side... My guiding sun..."

For hours, we stayed right there. Merely soaking in the pleasantly warm waters of the oasis. Not a word was spoken between us, but we never left each other's side. But then, I felt it. The world quivered. The time of awakening was drawing near. I held his head near mine and whispered into his ear while I felt his grasp on me tighten ever so slightly. "I fear I will not be able to see you again in your dreams tomorrow... I only barely succeeded in reaching you tonight. But remember... I will...never surrender you to this evil... You will always have me... Even to the very end."

My vision was filled with a bright haze before I felt the sense of touch return to me. My mattress was below me while the light weight of my bed sheets covered me. I felt groggy and listless, but soon found my drive as I remembered what I needed to do.

Time is running out... His end is nigh. I must do all I can to find the cure for his ailment. I have turned the royal archives upside-down searching for any traces of the symptoms James has been suffering from and a way to cure them. The recent journal entries he wrote that Twilight Sparkle sent us has proven invaluable. No better way to understand what a person is experiencing than seeing it through his own eyes.

I have narrowed down my search, but only a fraction of the tomes within the wing dedicated to Star Swirl the Bearded remains unchecked. Surely he must have documented at least some knowledge of this vile magic...

I cannot falter now. I must remain diligent. I cannot lose him... I just cannot... Not now...

---

I don't even know what's going on anymore. James was doing much better over the weekend. Me and the girls kept coming by to visit and keep him company. He was looking so much happier than before... I thought he was gonna be OK in the end. But when Fluttershy came home last night...

He can't be dying... He was doing fine just yesterday! Why would he start getting worse?! I thought all this was over...

I couldn't even focus in school today... I was so scared for my brother... I mean my dad... I don't care what anypony thinks. He's... He's always been my dad. I just didn't know it until now...

Right after school, I ran right over to the hospital. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were going to wait for me at the clubhouse. But I had to see him first. But when I went to his room... One of those guards was standing right outside the door. I walked up to him and asked, "Hi.. Uh... Can I go see my brother?"

He looked down at me and shook his head. "The patient has requested that no guests are to be allowed in. I can't let you pass, kid."

Why would... Why wouldn't James want anypony to see him? I'm his little sister! I almost wanted to cry. "But... But that's my big brother in there! And... Isn't he dying?!"

"I'm sorry, kid. That's what I've been told and I'm not supposed to allow anypony to disturb him." He said back to me while still looking really stern.

I couldn't stop myself from crying. I hate crying when other ponies are around, but... I couldn't stop it. "Please! You've gotta let me see him one last time! He... He's the only family I've ever had... When he's gone, I'll... I don't wanna think about that..."

The guard actually started to frown and look really guilty. A few seconds later, he looked both ways down the hall and pushed the door open. "OK... OK, get it there. If anypony asks, I never saw you."

I felt so much better and smiled at the guard while I wiped my tears away. "Thanks..."

I got in there just before the guard closed the door. The blinds over the window next to the door were closed, so nopony could see me in there. But... James was still there. He wasn't moving and the only thing I heard was the beeping from that black screen with the green line in the middle. He didn't even look in my direction. And his eyes were covered with a... It's one of those masks some people wear when they sleep. Sweetie Belle showed me Rarity's once.

I was kind of scared. I didn't know what to say to him. Was he asleep? I walked over to his bed and said, "Hi, James... It's me... Scootaloo. Your little sis, remember?"

He didn't say anything. I think he was asleep, or... I just don't know. "Are you OK? Fluttershy said that...you only have a few days left..."

Still nothing. What was wrong with him? He wasn't in another coma... Well... Since this might be the last time I'll ever see him... "James... I... You've always been a great big brother to me... But... I... Since you're probably not gonna be around much longer..."

It hurt so much to say it, but... "Can I... Can I call you...Dad?"

I didn't think he would hear me. But... His left arm slid off the side of the bed with his hand open. It was almost like he was calling me closer. I... I couldn't stop myself from crying and ran over to him and held onto his arm. "Daddy..."

I cried... I couldn't stop crying... He was holding me... He lifted me up to the bed and put his hand on my back. I... I saw a tear trickling down his cheek from under the mask, but he didn't say anything... I held onto his arm. "Don't go... Please don't go... I don't want you to go, Dad..."

I don't want to write anymore... I just... I want to just stay here with my dad...

---

"Morning, Twilight... I made you some tea, just the way you like it." That was the first thing I heard when I finally woke up. I must have cried myself to sleep since it was almost noon and I had a headache. Spike was standing at the side of my bed with a tea tray in his hands that held a teacup and a teapot. I could smell the scent of mint wafting from the spout.

"Thank you, Spike... I'll be fine..." I muttered while I used my magic to pull up a stool for the tray to sit on. Spike respectfully left me alone with a nod and went back downstairs to the library's first floor. The tea was soothing to my tired throat. I just... I still felt so exhausted, though it was more emotional exhaustion than anything.

I looked out the window. The weather was dreary and the air smelled of rain. All too perfect to match my mood. He... Just yesterday... Nothing more they can do for him, they said. For the last week or so, I had been struggling with the fear that we were going to lose him only for that fear to fade when we found a way to get around the problem... And now... He is almost gone... And there is nothing we can do about it!

I had to get out of the house for a while. I left Spike in charge of the place for the time being and walked through Ponyville as rain poured down upon me and my umbrella. At first, I was only wandering. No destination in mind, just allowing my mind to wander.

Eventually, I came to a familiar destination. Sugarcube Corner was just ahead of me. Deciding right then that I should get at least a little food in my belly, I went inside. It looked like they had several customers huddled in the corner while enjoying their wares and staying out of the rain.

"Good morning, Twili... Oh, I guess I should say good afternoon now. What can I get you?" Mr. Cake said from behind the counter while glancing at a clock nearby.

"Yeah, I slept in today... I think I'll have one blueberry muffin." I replied while getting a couple of bits out of my saddlebag.

"Sounds good. We've got a fresh batch coming up in just a few minutes. I'll bring yours out as soon as it's ready." Mr. Cake spoke with a smile while he took my bits.

However, it was while I was at the counter that I felt myself wondering about Pinkie Pie. She was... She did not take the news yesterday well at all. "Say... Is Pinkie Pie here?"

Mr. Cake seemed a little bothered by that question. "Well... She never came downstairs today. If you want, you can head on up and see her. I know she never left the place."

She never came in for work? That definitely is not like Pinkie Pie. She loves her job. Either way, I decided to go upstairs and see what was up. But as I neared the top of the stairs, I heard a familiar voice. "Yeah, the icing cutie marks sound great. Can I get six of them?"

Was that...James?! Hang on... The voice sounded like it had some...static in it? I trotted up to the top of the stairs and found Pinkie Pie standing by a small table. It looked like she had several chocolate drops topped off with colorful icing in the form of a variety of cutie marks. Only... Pinkie Pie did not look herself. Her mane and tail were noticeably...deflated. Not only that, but they and her coat were a bit darker in color than normal. And... Was that a wooden puppet on the other end?

"Uh... Hi there, Pinkie. What's going on?" I asked while approaching from behind. There was an unsettling tension in the air... And when Pinkie Pie looked my way, I found out why. That grin... Those eyes... I felt my skin crawl when she looked at me with that face.

"Hi, Twilight! James and I were having some chocolate drops! Want some?" She sounded way too cheery to be talking about James. And why say that he was there with her?

Either way, I was not feeling hungry enough for more than just that muffin I had only just ordered, so I turned her offer down. "Uh... No thanks, I'm not that hungry. But... What about James? I thought he's still in the hospital."

Pinkie Pie then let out a rather inappropriate giggle at my reminder. "Oh, you silly filly. He's fine! And he's right here! Say hi, James!"

She then reached under the table and pressed...something. And upon doing so, I heard that voice again. "Oh... Hey there, Twi."

"Pinkie, where is that sound coming from? And what is..." I paused when I saw what was sitting behind the tray of chocolate drops. It was a wooden puppet crafted in the visage of a human with blue pants and a green shirt. It was...

"It's coming from James, of course!" Pinkie exclaimed before she went to the other side of the table and gave the puppet a hug. "He's right here! Did you not recognize his voice?"

Pinkie's tone of voice was constantly overly exuberant, even by her standards. It almost even sounded forced. And seeing her proclaiming that a puppet could be talking... "Pinkie... That's...a puppet. James is still in the hospital. You saw him yesterday..."

"Huh? Nah, I'm feeling fine." I heard James' voice speak up again when Pinkie Pie reached under the table.

"See? He's just fine! And he's hungry! You sure you don't want one, Twilight? Five's his limit." Pinkie then added while still keeping up that constant unnatural smile.

Finally, I could not just stand there and play along any longer. "Did you record those?! Let me see that!"

I used my magic to pull out the gray plastic thing that was peeking out from behind the table's leg. It turned out to be a cassette player. And it seemed to still be playing. Right then, I heard James' voice come from the device. "Pinkie, did you put hot sauce on my chocolate drop while I wasn't looking?"

"Of course I didn't! But I still put the icing on it like you wanted." Pinkie Pie replied while looking at the puppet in her arms, even though the voice had not come from its direction.

I pressed the stop button and then set the cassette player aside. Pinkie was...clearly emotionally and even psychologically traumatized with the knowledge of James' imminent passing. "Pinkie... I know it's hard to accept, but... You know that's not him. And...he doesn't have long for this world."

As expected, Pinkie Pie just brushed off my words with another demented giggle. "Hehehee, no he isn't! James is as fit as a fiddle! Right, James?"

Pinkie then picked the puppet up between her hooves and held it while giggling, but then... The head fell off. It just hit the floor and rolled around a bit while Pinkie looked on without saying a word as her face froze with that unsettling smile on constant display.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnzTED4MLeY

"Pinkie Pie?" I asked while keeping my distance just in case she ended up doing something drastic. When she still did not reply, I tried approaching her from behind and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey... Pinkie? It's gonna be OK... Everything will be all right..."

I really was not sure what to expect from her. It just...hurt to see Pinkie Pie living in such utter denial. But just then, she turned around so suddenly that she startled me into backing away. She then all but shrieked at me, "No, it isn't...!"

She was in tears, the puppet having been dropped to the floor. It seemed that she had finally opened her eyes to reality, no matter how painful the truth was. "I never even got the chance to say I'm sorry, Twilight... I can't even say goodbye! What kind of friend am I...?! I thought I was the pony who could be friends with anyone, but... Now one of the best friends I've ever had is gonna be dead soon! And it's my fault!"

I wanted to say something. To do anything to calm her down. But I just could not bring myself to step forward. Finally, Pinkie Pie collapsed to the floor and buried her face in her arms. "I've never broken a Pinkie Promise... But I couldn't keep it... Stupid Discord... Why didn't I keep the promise...?"

I could not bring myself to say anything. I merely stepped forward and gently patted her on the head. "Pinkie... We all share the blame..."

The two of us just held each other in a tight embrace. I too felt tempted to cry as Pinkie Pie started to speak again. "I just want things to go back to how they used to be... The days when we all used to laugh and have fun together... What happened to those days, Twilight...? Why did they have to stop...?"

"What happened...? I think...a piece of the puzzle fell out and we're just trying to cope with the hole that was made... But...I'm not giving up... Not yet." I whispered in reply. I wish there was more I could do for her...

A short while later, I was back home. I was just resting in bed while looking out the window at the rain coming down. It was almost as if the sky itself was weeping...

My moment of peace was interrupted when I heard the little footsteps of Spike coming up the stairs nearby. I turned to look and saw him run across the room before running up the steps and over to me with what seemed to be a small pack of teabags in his hands. "Sorry to bother you, Twilight. Princess Celestia just sent me a message with a bit of a care package along for the ride. She said it's tea to help you relax."

I tried smelling the bags. They had the smell of honey on them. Chamomile tea. "Thank you, Spike... Please let Princess Celestia know it's appreciated."

"Will do. If you need anything else, I'll be right down here sorting those books you needed put away." He replied with a somber smile. I did not ever tell Spike exactly what happened at the hospital yesterday... How will I tell him? Will I ever tell him?

However, while I looked at the bags of tea and thought of who sent them, I felt a sudden burst of hope in my heart. Why in the world had I never thought of it before? With all that has happened... Perhaps the Elements of Harmony could cure him! They purified Princess Luna in the past, so maybe they could cure James of...whatever it is that has him stuck the way he is.

Of course, with the Elements of Harmony being nothing short of the greatest treasures in the world, I knew I would have to secure permission before me and my friends could use them. I immediately reached for a quill and a spare empty scroll before unfurling it and began to write.

"Dear Princess Celestia. I am so sorry for having never considered this earlier, but I just now had a brainstorm on how we may be able to save James. The Elements of Harmony. It is clear that James is not suffering from any ordinary forms of illness or disease. I am certain that the Elements of Harmony will likely purge him of whatever ailment it is that is poisoning him. Please... If you feel this approach is feasible, please let me know right away. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

I was quick to roll up the scroll and call down to Spike before dropping the scroll down to him. "Spike? Would you please send this message to Princess Celestia for me? It's absolutely vital that she gets it immediately."

My little assistant nodded with a smile as he ran over to the nearest window and pushed it open. "You got it!"

With a quick breath of green fire, the scroll dissolved into smoke and quickly escaped out the window. "I'll let you know when she gets back to us on that."

"Thank you, Spike." I then began to brew me some of the tea that Princess Celestia had sent me. With new hope in my heart, I was feeling much better. The Elements of Harmony have never failed to tip the scales in our favor, although I was going to wait for an answer before notifying my friends.

Roughly ten minutes later, I heard Spike suddenly belch. And when I turned to look down at him, he was running up the steps that led to my sleeping spot with a tightly wound scroll in his hands. "I think this is yours, Twilight!"

"Thanks, Spike. I just hope it's good news." I said with a smile while I poured the hot water to steep my tea. While Spike left me to my scroll, I unfurled it and began to read. However, any hope I had at that moment quickly drained away as I was filled with bitter disappointment.

The scroll read, "Dear Twilight, I understand your way of thinking and I do not fault you for believing that the Elements of Harmony may be the key to your friend's salvation. And believe me, if you were to request their use to perform an act that would benefit Equestria, I would grant you permission to access them without a second thought. However, I am sorry to say that I am not willing to allow you to use them for such a domestic purpose, even if it is to save the life of a very dear friend. Your friend is indeed dying from some form of terminal deterioration and the Elements of Harmony, as you suspect, would likely be enough to save him. However, if word were to get out that the Elements could be used to heal anypony suffering from a life-threatening ailment, there would no end to demand for their use. And as you and your friends are the only people on the planet who can use them, the six of you would be nearly constantly hounded by those seeking your help. Furthermore, it has come to my understanding that four of the six bearers of the Elements cannot even get anywhere near your friend without severe complications, rendering the use of the Elements impossible. But more than anything, I fear what the use of the Elements for this case would do to you and your friends' lives and privacy if the public learned of it. If it comes to light that there is truly no other means of salvation for your friend than the Elements of Harmony, I may be willing to grant an exception. But for now, I strongly advise against it. Despite this, have faith. Nightmare Moon is searching tirelessly through the archives for any traces of what sort of magic may be involved here and the information you have provided us has been nothing short of a great help. If she finds anything, I am to inform you immediately. For now... Be strong, Twilight. It is not over yet."

I sighed deeply. It had never even crossed my mind of what using the Elements of Harmony for something so simple would mean for me and my friends. Sure, Rainbow Dash would have just eaten that attention up at first, but she would probably get sick of it after the first month. With a somewhat heavy heart, I used my magic to bring another blank scroll over to me and began to write in it.

"Dear Princess Celestia, I understand what you mean and I am sorry I did not consider such a detail. You are right. I would not appreciate being approached weekly by some random stranger asking me to drop everything and gather my friends to use the Elements of Harmony to help that person in whatever way they need. We have lives of our own and we cannot constantly spend it tending to the needs of everypony else. But Nightmare Moon's assistance is greatly appreciated and I do hope she succeeds in finding exactly what it is that has infected James. My friends and I will be waiting for the news. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

"Spike?" I asked once I closed the scroll. He nodded right away and took the scroll when I dropped it to him before running over to the window and sending it on its way in a plume of smoke. Once again, it was back to the waiting game for us.

A few hours later in the late afternoon, I decided to go for another walk to help clear my head. While I was out and about with rain pouring down around me and the umbrella over my head, my thoughts drifted back to yesterday. The journals I briefly looked into. I had forgotten all about them. I suppose there was little reason for me to want to have anything to do with them, but... I felt a desire to go back and get them. Even if I just wanted to read James' writings again to be reminded of the happier times these past few days.

I went straight to the hospital and left my umbrella by the door. Nurse Redheart was at the receptionist's desk and greeted me with a faint smile. "Good afternoon, Twilight. Can I help you?"

"Yes... I was hoping I could stop by James' room." I replied briefly. However, I was not expecting her response.

"I'm sorry, Twilight. He has requested that he not receive any visitors. We even had to assign one of the night watch personnel to keep visitors away, just in case." Redheart explained while I felt a pit open in my stomach. Not wanting anything to do with anyone... He truly had lost all hope.

Even so, I could not leave without what I went there for. In the hopes that she would believe me, I spoke a half-truth. "I see... Well, may I at least be allowed in to retrieve something? I left something in there yesterday without knowing that visitors wouldn't be allowed in today."

That seemed to work. Redheart hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I don't see any harm with that. Just remember to leave James be. The night watch will have to see you out if you disturb him."

"Thank you... I won't be long." I said quietly before heading down the hall on the left. It was easy to find the room James was still in since I noticed a stallion standing in the hall right outside one of the doors. I approached him and said, "Excuse me. I left something in here yesterday and would like to get it back. I won't bother the patient."

He did not seem to have any problem with my request at all and stepped aside. "All right. Just gather what you came for and don't stay any longer than you have to."

The room was dreadfully dark for that time of day. And silent with the exception of the sound of the heart monitor. The tempo was much slower than before... And there was James on the bed. And...Scootaloo too?

I trotted over to the two of them and saw that Scootaloo was indeed by his side. She seemed to be asleep while James' hand was resting upon her head. I have no idea how she managed to sneak past the guard. He must have allowed her in for a very special reason. And there seemed to be a few pieces of paper and a pencil in front of her too. A journal of her own? Well, regardless of what it was, it seemed to be in her writing, so I left it alone. I had no business prying into a child's diary.

Of course, I knew that James would not mind me looking through those three journals. I gathered the stacks of paper that sat in the cardboard box next to his bed and stuffed them into my saddlebags. One last glance revealed that only one blank page remained. Would he use it before...the end comes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI0FETSHAv4

Before I departed, I looked at James one more time. I knew I was not supposed to disturb him in any way, but... My heart would not let me leave without saying something. "James... Do you remember me? Twilight Sparkle?"

He did not say a word. And I could tell he was not asleep. I know how he sounds when asleep by now. "Please... Just... Hang on a little longer... I haven't given up... We don't want to see you go..." I then reached out and placed a soft kiss on his cheek and left the room in silence. It was time to go home.

Throughout the day, I have searched through any books I could find that might point to any sort of magic with a dark purpose, but found nothing. Not even that copy of 'Supernaturals' I have shed any light on what James' ailment could be. At one point during the week, I even tried to enlist Zecora's mastery over obscure medicines, but even she was baffled by the symptoms I explained to her, claiming it sounded like nothing short of a work of evil that is outside her power. I suppose even she has her limits on what ailments she can treat...

Hours later as the sun set over the horizon, I just wandered around the library's loft with soft candlelight and the occasional lightning flash illuminating my surroundings. I felt so helpless and tired amid the sounds of the thunderstorm that was drenching Ponyville. I just wanted something to do.

It was then I looked over at the three stacks of paper on my table by the window. The three final journals that James wrote. I had been so determined to find a cure in the library that I had not had time to read them. With a deep sigh, I walked over to them and began to look through them in order. Just something to keep my mind preoccupied.

I did not read very far before coming across that first typo again. One extra 'I' where there should have been only one. It is not normal for James to make these kinds of errors in his writing. He is a very good speller. Using a quill filled with red ink, I decided to circle it to make it easier to spot. I then soon found two more, being the exact same type of error where there were doubles of one letter where there should not have been.

However, it was then that I noticed something. "Wait... I...A...M... I am?"

Was it just a coincidence? When put together in the order they were written, the three extra letters spelled out 'I am'. This strange discovery left me intrigued and I began to read on. Not to actually read what James wrote and imagine what he remembered, but to find anymore misplaced letters like some sort of game. At least it was helping distract me from the sorrow in my heart. "Pretty clever, James... I didn't know you could be this crafty..."

One after another, I found more and more doubles of letters that should not have been there while writing down the letters on another small slip of paper in the order I found them. They were fairly tightly packed together, with there rarely being less than two errors on each page. With every typo, I made another red circle. Finally, I found that new typos were not showing up anymore and looked at the line of letters I had written. "OK... What did I wind up with?"

However, when I did, I felt my eyes and my mouth slowly opening as I felt a powerful sense of abject horror filling me. "Wha... What the... This is..."

I A M S T I L L H E R E

I felt my blood chill. These errors...when put together in order, spell out four words. A message... Or a warning. Did James truly not know that he wrote in these?

My thoughts went to the other two journals. And I immediately began pouring through the second one. I did not look long before finding the first error. I soon found that these were more spread out than the last with there being only one on each page. I circled each one in red ink while glancing at the paper with the first hidden message to write down each error in the order I found them. I looked over the journal as quickly as I could, scanning for any word that contained two of the same letters right next to each other. And as soon as I found a page with not a single typo to be seen, I looked at what I had found and felt my heart skip a beat upon beholding what the letters showed.

I C A N N O T D I E

Doing all I could to not lose focus, I moved on to the third and final journal. I was terrified, yet determined. These hidden words had to mean something! And there is no possible way that James was intentionally putting them in! I found the exact same pattern as before, with there being only one typo per page. And once more, I felt my entire body shiver at the message I found.

I W I L L S U R V I V E

"Oh my god..." I muttered to myself. I then quickly divided up the letters, spelling out the words from each entry.

I

AM

STILL

HERE

I

CANNOT

DIE

I

WILL

SURVIVE

These hidden words... What in the world did they mean? Were they written by James? Or by something else? As I read them, I felt as if they were laughing at me... Taunting me. "Who are you?! Why are you doing this?! What do you want?!"

These words... They are the final piece of the puzzle! Nightmare Moon needs to know! I immediately grasped an empty scroll in my magic and pulled it over to me. Without bothering to swap to a quill with black ink, I began to write the message out in red ink.

"Dear Princess Celestia, I found it! I went back to the hospital to retrieve James' journal entries that had been written and read through them for any insight into whatever he may have seen or experienced that may help us figure out what is wrong with him. While I was reading through the first one, I found multiple misspellings that, when removed and lined up in order, spell out a cryptic and haunting message. And I know that James himself was never aware that he wrote this. I am now all but certain that there are dark forces at work. These hidden messages just might be the last clue we need to find the cure. I am sending the journals and the hidden messages I found along with this scroll. Please make sure they reach Nightmare Moon right away. Time is running out and this may be the last hint we get. Praying for the best, Twilight Sparkle."

"Spike! Get up here! Hurry!" I called out down the stairs to the library below. I soon heard the sound of Spike's little feet coming up the stairs before seeing the light from a candle. Spike then came into view with a lit candle set upon a candleholder being held in his hand.

"What's wrong, Twilight? Need more tea?" He innocently asked while looking a bit alarmed. I must have sounded almost panicked when I called for him just then.

"No time for tea. All of this..." I began to explain while using my magic to levitate the journals, slips of paper with the decoded messages on them, and my message over to him and dropped them into Spike's hands. Good thing he set the candle down before he could hold them. "This needs to all be sent to Princess Celestia at once! It can't wait!"

"All of this?! You serious?!" Spike exclaimed while trying to peek around the stacks of paper to see me. I was not surprised. I have never asked him to send such a large load before.

Even so, I tried to make it clear how serious I was. "Yes! This contains information that might be our last chance to help James! Hurry!"

"All right, all right! Just get the window open and I'll send it!" Spike replied while he waddled over to the nearest window. I made sure to open it for him before he breathed a gout of green fire into the stack of paper. Even in the rain, the paper was reduced to enchanted smoke that soon floated away and out of sight. Spike then looked at me and asked, "Do you think that'll really help?"

I was feeling my skin crawl and my stomach churn with anxiety. I was both excited, but also scared out of my mind. What in the world had I discovered? And who or what really wrote that message? Either way, I shook my head in dread. "I don't know anymore, Spike... If this doesn't help...I'm out of ideas..."

"Well... What's really happening with James?" Spike then asked while I closed the window to keep the wind and rain out.

I sighed deeply before motioning for him to follow me to his bed. "Here... I'll tell you everything. He probably doesn't have much time left..."

I am now writing all this from bed while sipping tea to relax me. I cannot believe this clue was right under our noses all this time. But...what is really wrong with James? Will this discovery save him? And...can things ever go back to how they used to be? Please... Please let this nightmare end soon...