//------------------------------// // Chapter 5, Running Away // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 4 -- Fury Run // by shysage //------------------------------// I think it had been over two weeks since Shysage had lost his memory. I really wasn't sure, I had lost track of the days. Each day was it's own nightmare for me. As I mentioned, during those weeks, I and others had tried everything we could think of. Princess Twilight and her girls too. (opt:btm4d) Overall, his body seemed to work fine, he just couldn't remember anything... He couldn't even talk... And I really missed even that... I led Shysage over to Dawn's. An anchor for the short rope between my and Shysage's Collars had been added inside the Showroom. When I needed a little break, I would walk Shysage over to Dawns, and Dawn would use her magic to move the rope from my Collar to the anchor. I would leave Shysage there while I took a time-out. Shysage usually just slept. I left my collar there sometimes too... I did that just now, and mentioned to Dawn I might be a while. Dawn said that was fine, Shysage was easy to care for. Water and Oats were all he wanted, and he was happy. I hugged Dawn and thanked her, then left. I took to the air, then flew straight to the balcony outside the Portal room in the Crystal Palace. I wanted to leave, and never come back... I was in the bleachers behind the High School a little before the last bell. I sat facing the back of the bleachers and just cried... The seven Equestria Girls headed over to the bleachers with maybe 10 other girls with them. They were continuing friendships that they and I had started. I was so glad... But when they saw me, they knew their friend needed them. The Equestria Girls all started crying, and explained to their new friends that a very hurting friend needed all of them. They all understood immediately and were soon heading away. Just the Equestria Girls came. Well, they gathered around me, and just hugged me and cried with me, for maybe an hour. I think I needed to cry. I know really needed them... "Girls, I really love you all" I said through my tears. I think I said it more than once... Nopony asked about Shysage. If he was better, I wouldn't be here alone. "Girls, I have a special favor. I dearly love all of you, but can I spend a while with just my Twin and Fluttershy? I am just so afraid of hurting any feelings..." I said this, then started to cry again... Equestria Girls Twilight said really for all of them "Summer, it's fine. We will all help you any way we can, you know that." The Equestria Girls all walked me over to Fluttershy and Summer's apartment, then took turns hugging me, then they left by twos or threes for their homes. When just Equestria Girls Summer and Fluttershy were left, I asked "Twin, Fluttershy, can you take me for a drive?" Equestria Girls Summer and Fluttershy both hugged me tightly and Summer said "Of course..." I climbed in the back of Equestria Girls Summer's new Mustang, and Fluttershy sat in the front with her sister. They were soon on the road, driving away. I said "Just head for the closest freeway..." Equestria Girls Summer asked "Where are we going, Summer?" I started crying, then I said "I don't know... ...just away..." The Equestria Girls sisters just looked at each other. I think my Twin and her sister quickly realized what was going on, and so my Twin headed West. Intentionally. Any freeways that headed West couldn't go very far because of the 'ocean'. I didn't even know what the ocean was. While they drove, I just sat in the back, crying, not really even looking out of the car. Everything just felt so hopeless... The most important pony to me... I hurt him... I lost him... Maybe half an hour later, my Twin eased the car into a parking spot in front of a low stone wall. The sisters got out, and I did too, not really knowing why they stopped. The first thing I saw was more water than I had ever seen in my whole life... Almost in a trance, I walked through a passage in the low wall, then out into the sand maybe half-way to the water. I was awestruck... The crashing waves, and the sound they made... The birds... The light breeze... The Sun dancing off the waves... The boats bobbing up and down further out... The rhythmic sound the water made as it receded and advanced on the shore... I just put my arms up on my head and drank it all in for maybe fifteen minutes... I didn't move... The Equestria sisters were maybe ten feet behind me, hugging tightly. They loved the 'beach' too. Then I said softly "I wish Shysage could se--" Then I stopped, and fell to the ground crying... I think Equestria Girls Fluttershy was waiting for an opportunity like this. Both sisters walked up behind me, knelt down, and each put one of their hands on my shoulder. Equestria Girls Fluttershy said quietly "Summer, if the situation were reversed, how would Shysage respond?" I immediately began sobbing... "He would never leave my side..." Everypony knew this was true... While sobbing, I yelled... "I'm doing the same thing she did..." I sobbed maybe another minute, then stopped crying abruptly. I formed my hand into a fist, and brought it down hard in the sand. "No. I'm not going to do this to Him." Then I said softly "He needs me now more than he ever did..." I stood up. "Twin, can you take me home please?" "Of course" my Twin said. Then the Equestria sisters hugged me tightly, and cried with me for a little while. I really love them both... Then we climbed back into the Mustang, and were soon back at the Portal. "Twin, can we come with you?" Equestria Girls Summer asked. "It is Friday night, so we have a day or two" I began to cry... "That would really be nice.." I said through tears... The three of us were quickly through the Portal, and standing on the balcony as ponies... The trip to Ponyville was quick and quiet. We all flew together. Equestria Girls Fluttershy is not afraid of heights, and so is quickly becoming a very strong flyer. She headed to her Twins cottage. I knew my sister would so enjoy the surprise. It was dusk when us Summer Twins landed outside Dawn's shop. Dawn welcomed both of us. While crying, I confessed that I really wanted to run away. I apologized to Dawn for this. She just hugged me and cried with me a minute or two. Then weeping softly, I looked at Shysage and said "But he needs me... I can't leave him like this..." Dawn helped me get my collar back on, then used her magic to tie the rope back on. Then I leaned on Shysage, waking him up, and put my front legs around his neck, and I hugged him tight for a minute. Then I rubbed his ear with my nose, and said softly "Shysage I'm not leaving. You need me more than you ever have. I'm waiting." Shysage put his head down, then tried to go back to sleep. I got up, and Shysage did too. Shysage had at least learned this much. We all walked slowly over to Shysage's house, well, our home, and were soon inside. Shysage found a spot and lay down. I sat next to him. My Twin and I talked briefly, then the Fluttershy Twins arrived too. Everypony hugged everypony. It was hard not to cry around Shysage and I. We all cried... I was sitting next to Shysage, and wrapped my leg around his. I still loved him. A lot... My Twin started the Soul-Link, and the Fluttershys did to. Then the Fluttershy's included the Summers, and we all relaxed into each other's loving presence. I really needed this... I really did... ... ... ... But soon, we all felt a fifth presence in the link... It was Shysage... I just dove in... I wanted to know... I had to know... I was looking for clues... I needed... We all saw it. His memories were still there -- shining, sparkling... Gold maybe... They were off to the side though... Shysage still loved me deeply. Shysage still carried unthinkable damage from choking down rage and abuse as his family abandoned him for years... All that was still there... His memory was there... Something was just blocking the way, and nopony knew what that was. I broke the link and just sobbed on everypony's shoulders. "He remembers..." I kept saying that over and over... We all cried and hugged together... At least, now there was hope... All four of us spent that night together with Shysage. We all knew what had to happen, we just weren't sure what it was. In the morning, I led Shysage to the Oats, then the lake, and we all ate together. We spent most of the day wandering in the meadow, talking, sitting, thinking... Crying too... I deeply loved everypony around me right now. I told them I appreciated them just being with me, then I cried... We all cried together... But I felt a little better. I was ready to wait. Late in the afternoon, the Equestria Girls needed to go. I took Shysage and walked the girls to Princess Twilight's new Castle, but didn't go in. Instead, I sent the Fluttershys in to see if Princess Twilight could come out briefly. They were soon back with my Princess, and I bowed. Then everypony hugged everypony, weeping softly. "Princess, can you go with the Equestria Girls to the Portal? I really can't go, but don't want them to have to go by themselves." I asked. "Summer of course. I would be delighted to help you any way--" Princess Twilight stopped and cried at this point. I just hugged her again, and we cried some more. I bowed again, then walked off with Shysage. My sister said softly "Wait, Sis..." I stopped, and she walked up to me. "Sis, I want to come with you." Fluttershy said quietly, then she started crying. "You need me now too... I should have come sooner... "In your dream, Shysage volunteered to take care of me until you got back. I want to do that for him..." We both cried on each other's shoulders a little while... Our Twins soon joined us, and Princess did too... I think we all needed this... "Thank you Sis, I think I need you too..." I said. Then my sister and I walked off towards Shysage's house... I really love my sister... (I found this conversation out later and added it.) "You girls are all just so amazing..." Princess Twilight said between tears. Equestria Girls Summer volunteered "She wanted to run away yesterday, but I think she realizes what she needs to do now." Then she started crying too, and said softly "I love my Twin..." Between crying and tears, Princess Twilight said "I have never known such amazing love and devotion... And at the center of it all, they are both deeply devoted, true friends..." Even though it was late, an Air Coach soon picked Princess Twilight and Equestria Girls Summer and Fluttershy up, and they were quickly all hugging in front of the Portal. "Princess, please keep us posted..." Equestria Girls Fluttershy said while weeping softly. The Equestria Girls were soon back in the Equestria Girl's world, snug in their sleeping bags in Fluttershy's apartment. "Sis, I love you. Thanks for helping with my Twin today" Equestria Girls Summer said softly. Fluttershy just got up and hugged her sister, and they cried together a little while... They were soon fast asleep. Fluttershy, Shysage and I came back to our house, and before long, we were laying down next to each other. Shysage fell asleep right away. "However long it takes Shysage." I said while weeping softly. Fluttershy and I were soon asleep too. The next day, we decided to develop a routine. In the mornings, we would walk with Shysage in the meadows. In about the middle of the afternoon, we would leave Shysage at Dawns and go out to a slight hill out in the meadow East of town. I really didn't want to go back to my tree... I fell down there on that hill each day and talked to my true friend. I began to understand Shysage's devotion to him. True friend was all I had left, and I told him so often. Well, Fluttershy always came with me, and lay next to me and cried softly. And she never left my side either... I really appreciated that. I told her that a lot... Besides, I don't think she planned on leaving any time soon... I really love my sister... And right now, I needed her too... Every few days, we would all spend the day and night at Fluttershy's cottage. Fluttershy loved her animal friends, and that was fine. Maybe the variation would help, I don't know... ... Days turned into weeks... ... Weeks turned into months... ... All we could do was wait... ... One afternoon, I actually overheard Princess Twilight and the rest of her girls. They were away from us but close enough I could hear. They were crying, of course. Princess Twilight said at one point "True friend please help them... They need you so..." and she started to cry. That really meant a lot to me...