//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 - To Grieve // Story: Finding a Place // by Battlecat //------------------------------// Spark and I were standing on the balcony of the palace tower in the Crystal Empire. We didn’t speak as we stood side by side on our balcony. Both of us knew what we wanted to attempt and the mere thought had us both on edge. Finally, I worked up the nerve. I walked over and pulled the balcony door closed. We paused a moment staring as the door slowly changed into a pair of more modern, human-style double doors. Together Spark and I walked forward and pushed them open. On the other side, we found the common entrance of our family’s apartment building in Manhattan. We stepped through and let the door swing shut behind us. I had never noticed how warm and musty the place was; like the ventilation system wasn't working properly. We walked to the elevator, Spark's hooves making an odd clip-clop noise on the floor. Once inside, I pushed the button for the second floor. As the elevator started to move, Spark looked up at me. His wings were tense at his sides. “Are you sure this is a good idea Silver?” “I don’t really know what else to do Spark.” “If you say so but this will just be a memory. It's not real.” “I am aware of that fact Spark. You want to do this as much as me.” “Yes, you're right. That doesn't make me think this is healthy.” The elevator opened and we stepped out into the hallway that had featured in so many of my nightmares. My heart was pounding as fear began to worm its way into my heart but I relaxed when Spark bumped up against me. Two doors away from where we stood was the last place I had called home. Step by step I forced myself to walk down the hall. Then I unlocked the door and pushed it open. Inside was the foyer, exactly as I remembered it before everything had gone wrong. Pushing the thought from my mind we stepped in. I kicked off my shoes just as I always had while Spark wiped his hooves on the mat. We stepped around the corner and into the living room and stopped, staring at the scene. “Welcome back you two,” said Swift Strike. My mother was sitting in the living room on an easy chair. My father, Iron Hammer was sitting on the recliner. “Yes. Come in and take a seat. We need to have a chat boys.” Spark and I automatically walked over to the couch and took a seat across from them before we thought to question their unexpected behavior. I was wracking my brain trying to remember this moment. Spark hopped up and sat on his haunches on the couch and I sat right next to him. I could feel tears standing in my eyes as I looked over at my parents. “You two really shouldn’t be here you know,” mom said. “Though I can understand why you would try on this of all days. Remind me, what Princess Luna told you about regrets.” My jaw dropped at her question and I heard Spark flop down on his belly on the couch. We both knew exactly what they were talking about. Spark was the one who answered first. “What has been done cannot be changed. All we can control is how we use the knowledge and experience we have gained.” “Life has to go on even when we feel like we have lost everything.” I finished. “We just needed to see you in some form, even if this isn't real. I was destroyed when I realized you were both gone.” “We will always be with you, my sons,” replied Dad. “Swift and I; your grandparents; all your more distant ancestors, we all live on with you in your memories.” “How! There’s so much you didn’t teach us,” said Spark in frustration. “So much we didn’t ask about our past and where we came from. Things I thought we would have years to learn.” I could feel tears on my cheeks. “Where do we look Mom? I have no idea where to start. My family is gone.” Swift Strike walked over to the couch. Spark and I made space for her to sit. She wrapped her arms around both of us into a big hug. Spark and I both began to cry as emotion overwhelmed us. This wasn't a memory, this was something different. Ding Dong. Mom kept holding us close. “That feeling is a natural part of your grief. You know more than you realize already. There are more answers out there if you choose to seek them. I promise we didn't leave you empty-handed. No matter what, you must know I’m proud of you both for the choices you’ve made.” “I wish this was real,” I sniffled. “I didn’t get to say goodbye.” Ding Dong. “You’re right. This is a dream you conjured,” said my father, walking over and putting one of his hands on each of our shoulders. “That doesn’t mean this isn’t real enough for today. You two are strong but you will be stronger together. Don't be afraid to find a new place, a new family, and happiness without us. You cannot live in sorrow forever my sons.” Ding Dong. Ding Dong. “Sounds like you're going to wake up soon boys,” said Mom. The walls of the apartment were beginning to fade and turn gray. “We turned off our alarm didn’t we Spark?” Ding Dong. Ding Dong. Ding Dong. “We did. I think it’s the doorbell Silver.” “I think you won’t be alone today,” said mom. “Don’t try come to this place again. We love you but this isn’t your home anymore. It is but a fleeting piece of memory like all things that have come and gone. Remember this as a comfort instead of wasting your nights living in the past. Wake up from this dream and live your life.” My dad smirked at me as the foreground began to fade away. “Give those six cute girls you're spending all your time with our best. Don't forget that princess as well when she visits. Tell them I wish we could have met them.” Mom smiled warmly as her face began to blur. “Yes, give those ladies my thanks for taking care of our son. I'm glad they found you.” I felt tears on my cheeks. “Goodbye, mom and dad. We love you.” “We love you too boys.” “We always will.” Saturday October 15, 2016 Ding Dong. Ding Dong. Ding Dong. I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling as the sound of the doorbell echoed through my house. I was shuddering as the emotion from the dream poured through me. I was nearly overwhelmed when Spark's memories of the experience combined with mine. My eyes were wet and sore from crying in my sleep. I blinked a couple times and turned to look at the clock. The clock said it was 6:00 in the morning. I tried to figure out who would be here this early on a Saturday morning without calling ahead. A muffled shout answered that question. “IF YOU DON’T COME ANSWER THIS DOOR SOON I’M GONNA GET YOUR KEY, COME IN THERE AND DRAG YOUR NAKED BUTT OUT OF BED. GET DOWN HERE SILVER!” Rainbow Dash apparently. Right. And she’d follow through on that threat wouldn’t she? Yup. Sweet Luna, I feel fried. That was something special. It was more than I ever hoped for. Yes. You were right Silver. I wiped my eyes and swung my feet out and sat up feeling surprisingly drained. I grabbed a robe and wrapped it around myself as I slowly walked down the stairs. I pulled the front door open, leaning on the door frame to keep balanced and found Applejack and Rainbow Dash standing there. Applejack's cheeks were red and she had one hand covering her face. She shot an exasperated look at Dash. Rainbow Dash just looked smug. Both of them were wearing running shoes, shorts, and t-shirts. They each had a sports bag slung over their shoulders. “Morning lazybones,” said Dash. “Get yourself dressed. We’re going for a run and a swim to help clear your head. No sleeping in after that stunt you pulled last night!” “Hold your horses there Dash,” Applejack. “You doin' ok there Sugarcube? You looked like you've gone through the wringer.” “Come in and sit a minute,” I replied wearily. I then walked into the living room and collapsed onto the recliner. They followed me, both looking worried now and sat down on the couch. Applejack spoke up before I could figure out what to say. “Pinkie told us why today was important Silver. So there's no need to explain anything if you don't want to. It's the reason we're here today.” “How did Pinkie know?” “It's Pinkie of course,” replied Rainbow. “She has a bizarre sixth sense for these things and has been secretly planning this all week. So is that what's got you all messed up?” “Sort of,” I said absently. “I just woke up from a dream that didn’t work out like I planned. At least I think it was a dream. Looking back on it, I'm really not sure anymore.” Applejack looked confused. “Uh, sugarcube, what do you mean by ‘planned’ the dream? Dreams just happen with no rhyme or reason when we sleep.” You probably should collect yourself before you say anything else we want to keep quiet. I will Spark. I sighed, frustrated that I was going to have to explain my lucid dreaming. But at least I could buy myself some time. “Before I answer that, would I be safe in assuming we'll be seeing everyone else today?” “Yes,” replied Applejack. “They'll be arriving in a while. Why?” “Then I will explain what I said once the rest of them are here,” I said, getting up to my feet.” I don't think I can face telling this story twice and honestly, I was going to have to explain this to all of you eventually.” Applejack just nodded quietly while Dash jumped up to her feet. “So are you gonna mope here all day or do you want to get out and actually exercise. “A run actually sounds like a good idea. I'll go get dressed and be with you in a minute.” “Make sure you have a proper swimsuit this time!” she shouted after me. “We are hitting that lake again Silver and I don't want you to have any excuses to take it easy!” Dash called after me as I walked up the stairs. Getting out and running was exactly what I needed this morning even if my heart wasn't completely in it. Once I was geared up complete with three large fluffy towels tucked into the top of my weighted backpack the three of us jogged off across the fields and out into the cool October air. The conversation was limited as we all focused on our run. After we reached our fourth mile we ran down to the beach and stripped down for a swim. Dash was wearing a dark blue bikini with golden lightning bolts on it and Applejack wore a dark green one-piece suit with an apple on it. I was wearing a pair of black swim trunks this time. They were simple in their design but at least they had a drawstring. The three of us ran down to the lake together and dove in to swim. With proper swimwear on, it went without saying that it was going to be a race. The three of us seemed to be evenly matched in the water though. When we got out of the lake and started drying off before the jog back to the house there was time for a bit of conversation. “Ah'm pretty much finished for the season,” said Applejack through her towel. “Once Halloween is done it'll just be maintenance and preparation for next year. We can start planning out that road in November if that works for you Silver.” “That sounds like a plan to me. Do you want to join me and Dash for these jogs in the future?” “Ah' reckon that'll be doable. Probably even be able to join you during prime apple season if ah plan carefully.” “Good!” said Dash muffled by her t-shirt as she pulled it on. “I missed racing with you when we weren't talking. Now I've got two friends that can give me a challenge.” “Oh, I think you've got me beat when it comes to sprinting Dash,” I said with a chuckle. “I'm pretty sure you're slowing down just to be nice.” “Well yeah, I am awesome after all. You do your best to keep up with me though and better yet, you don't get all grumpy just cause a girl can beat you.” “Ah'd like to see you spar with Silver personally,” said Applejack with a smirk on her face. “I think you’d be singing a different tune after going a few rounds with him.” “No way Applejack,” I said before Dash could retort. “Not unless Dash has some martial arts training she hasn't told me about.” Dash pouted theatrically but she nodded. “Hey, I took a few classes. I guess that probably wouldn't go well for me would it Silver?” “I couldn't say. Your speed would certainly count for something but it probably wouldn't be worth either of us risking getting hurt. I've taken some nasty hits from low-ranked students. Power usually comes before control.” They both winced at the thought as we pulled our shoes on and stood up. Dash stretched her back and smirked. "Ok then. Race you back to the hot tub!” said Dash. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three!” We all took off running as hard as we could across the field towards the house. Puffing with the exertion I quickly fell behind, thanks in part to the extra thirty pounds I was carrying but also simply because I couldn’t run as fast as they could. I didn't mind though. I spent half my attention watching my footing and the other half enjoying the guilty pleasure of watching the flexing muscles of the two girls racing ahead of me. We really do have a group of gorgeous friends, don't we Spark? We really do. They're almost as cute as their pony counterparts. Seriously Spark? Well yeah. I'm a pony for Luna's sake. What did you expect? I'm not actually sure. Weird though. Don't let me stop you. They're still good looking. For humans. Applejack and Dash were already getting into the hot tub when I jogged in. I shrugged the backpack off my shoulders and quickly stripped down before climbing in next to them. I sighed with relief as the heat and jets began to relax my aching muscles. “Not a bad showing considerin' the extra weight you're carrying Silver,” said Applejack. “I agree,” said Dash while she tapped something into her phone. Then she tossed it on the deck and settled back to relax. “I wouldn't have kept up even without the weight. I'm guessing Lightning Dust is a close competitor Dash? I have to escape her with wits rather than speed.” Dash's eyes narrowed at the mention of her name. “Yeah, she's usually a few steps behind me but she is pretty fast. She is driving me nuts now that's she's raging over her hand and detention. The whole running on wall stunt had Gilda nearly frothing at the mouth with fury. I can't believe you weren't even late for class.” “It all worked out well enough. I wish they would just leave me and Sunset alone though.” A minute later I heard the back door open down at the house. I felt my body tense up instinctively but then I relaxed when four familiar faces came into view on the stairs. Pinkie, Sunset, Rarity and Fluttershy walked up in their swimsuits with towels wrapped around their shoulders. I stared in surprise and then glanced over at Dash who was smiling back. “You didn't think they were gonna miss out on a morning hot tub dip, did ya?” I smiled and watched my four other friends climb into the massive hot tub. Sunset was wearing her teal one-piece suit from the other day. Rarity had a slightly more daring purple bikini that matched her hair. Fluttershy had a forest green one-piece suit and Pinkie was wearing a pink string bikini with her trademark balloons on it. Rarity glared at me with playful irritation as she stepped into the pool. “You are a slippery devil Silver. Sunset refuses to tell us where you two sneaks went for dinner last night.” Sunset grinned mischievously as she sat down in the pool next to me. “I wasn’t going to say a word until we were both here. Thanks again for the nice evening Silver.” I smiled at Sunset before answering Rarity. “We considered letting you follow us but decided a private evening to get to know each other would be preferable. So we drove to Eugene once we evaded Dash and Applejack.” “Clever,” she said with a smile. “Even if we had guessed that, it's much bigger than Canterlot. We would never have tracked you down. Oh my, this is divine.” Sunset giggled. “You'd better watch out for Silver. He can drive like a maniac when he sets his mind to it.” “Ah know!” replied Applejack. “I was trying to keep up and I didn't stand a chance.” “Of course you didn't. If you'd let me drive I would have given him a proper challenge,” said Dash. “Not in mah truck you wouldn't!” replied Applejack, punching Dash in the shoulder. “You've still got a provisional license until you turn eighteen. Ah'm not letting you get the family truck impounded.” “You're seventeen Dash?” I asked. “Thanks a lot, Applejack,” she grumbled, pushing Applejack away and floating across the pool to a different seat. “You've still got a provisional license as well.” “Ah know. Ahm' seventeen til December, Dash. Still, there's no way you're driving mah family truck like a nutcase.” In a sudden burst of motion, Pinkie pushed off her seat and quickly swam over to sit beside me. “What day is your birthday Silver?” she asked. “You haven't told me yet. Please tell me I haven't missed it!” “It’s on February 21st Pinkie. I told you I’m eighteen years old right?” Rarity looked surprised. “Wait, you're only six days older than me? My birthday is February 27th.” “Neato! My eighteenth birthday isn't until May,” Pinkie said to me before turning her attention to Sunset. “What about your birthday? Did you figure out how it matches up with our calendar?” Sunset paused for a minute before answering. “My birthday is July 10th in this world. I'm eighteen as well.” The conversation continued around me. I took a deep breath and just listened for a bit as my friends bantered and chatted around me in the hot tub. I felt happier than I thought I ever would again as I just floated there and listened to the animated conversation between my friends. I looked over at Pinkie and raised my eyebrow. She smiled and simply answered the question she knew I was going to ask. “I phoned Mister Steel Rain and asked him which day it happened. You spoke to him using my phone the other day so I had the number. He's super nice.” I smiled sadly. “As simple as that. I would have spent today alone and mourning if it hadn't been for you. Thank you so much, Pinkie.” Pinkie nodded in response. I think she was quite relieved I hadn’t taken offense to her efforts to make today a happier one. I was about to ask Pinkie another question when Applejack cleared her throat. “Ah hate to break up this nice conversation but I'd really like ta know what was going with you on this morning when Dash and I arrived.” Applejack had an apologetic expression on her face so I nodded. “That's fair, I did promise to explain when everyone was here. I do want to warn you, this is going to sound really weird.” “Weirder than us growing wings, tails and pony ears to fight a demon?” replied Dash. Then she looked sheepish. “No offense Sunset.” “None taken,” she said through gritted teeth. I winced at Sunset's reaction but I began my story. “Before the fall formal I was having recurring nightmares about my parent's death and being stabbed. I woke up in a cold sweat or screaming most mornings. That ended after the formal. Over the next week I still had the nightmares but instead each night they began to collapse in on themselves, leaving me floating in a starry void. I started waking up without any disorientation or fear and with full memory of the experience.” The girls were staring at me as I continued my explanation. Confusion was growing on their faces and I was starting to feel a bit nervous about telling them what was going on in my mind. What if they thought I was a freak? I pushed on before fear stopped me from telling the story. “Finally, about a week after the formal I had my last nightmare and I was standing in the starry void absolutely aware I was dreaming. Three days later I figured out how to control the scenery and the setting. I spent the next few days poking around in my memory of the Equestrian side of the portal. Then last night I went back to my family's apartment in Manhattan.” Thank you for keeping me out of this. No problem. “Why would you go back there?” asked Fluttershy in a small voice. “Originally the plan was to relive a happier day and to try to say goodbye to them,” I said as tears filled my eyes. “But when I walked in, my parents were there waiting for me. At the very least they were memories of my parents or conjurations of my subconscious I really don't know. Either way, they greeted me, knowing they were dead and with a conversation that didn’t fit any memory I could think of. So I actually talked with them.” For a moment everyone was quiet while they tried to process what I told them. Rarity looked worried as she watched my face. “What did they say to you Silver?” I looked from one girl to the next before I spoke, finally settling my eyes on Sunset. She needed to know this was for her as well. “They told me some things I needed to hear. They reminded me not to focus on things I can’t change and to not live in the past. I got a chance to say goodbye to them. Before I woke up, they asked me to convey their gratitude to all six of you. Dad said he wishes he could have met you in person and Mom said to thank you for taking care of her son.” The silence in the hot tub was absolute, broken only by a couple sniffles. Sunset’s expression was a mix of sorrow and happiness. I could tell she understood what I was saying. The birds were chirping and the faint hum of the hot tub pump was the only sound in the air. I smiled at them but there was a pain in my heart. “Real or not, I believe they would have really liked all of you. It hurts a lot to think that if they were alive I never would have met . . .” I trailed off as Pinkie pulled me into a wet hug. When she spoke her voice was unusually quiet and serious. “You parents were right Silver. Don't focus on the things we can't change.” Then she smiled broadly and spoke more loudly. “We're here to make sure today isn't all sad for you. Smiles aren't mandatory but being alone is forbidden . . . Ok fine, except for bathroom breaks. I'll let that go.” I started coughing before I dissolved into laughter with all my friends. Pinkie had a huge grin on her face. “Still got it!” She cheered. “Ok, who's hungry?” When we got back to the house I was surprised to discover Pinkie had breakfast all ready to roll in my kitchen. Fluttershy quietly confessed she had let everyone else in after Rainbow, Applejack and I had gone out for our run. I had to reassure her several times that it was quite all right even if this wasn’t the precise reason I’d put the key out for her. My house was quickly filled with the smells of coffee, pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Unfortunately, all I had was the tiny table and four chairs from the apartment. Buying new furniture hadn't made it onto my list yet so most of us were sitting in the living room with our plates on our laps. I put the plate down on the cloth covered crate end table when I finished eating and I shook my head. “It's official. I need to get a proper dining room set if this is going to be a regular occurrence.” “I think that would be a wonderful idea,” Rarity called from her spot at the table. “I do so like to be able to see the people I'm eating with.” “I'll add it to the list Lady Belle,” I replied. “I think I can afford it, I just have to actually go pick one out. Not going to happen today though.” “Ah'd have to agree,” said Applejack. “Life's been way too crazy. Today is a good one to just relax with mah friends.” Dash looked uncertain. “I never did ask what we were doing today. We're not gonna sit around and do nothing are we?” “Of course not silly,” said Pinkie from the kitchen. “We can watch some fun happy movies, relax in the hot tub more or go for a walk! And we brought our instruments so we can even play if the mood strikes.” “Sounds nice,” I replied. “The more I think about it, the more I'm sure they'd prefer I spent my day like this over my original plan.” “So what were your Mom and Dad like Silver? If you don't mind me asking that is.” Rainbow Dash and I were taking Fluttershy on a walk up through my property so she could see what animals lived here while everyone else was soaking in the hot tub again. She was very excited to see how wild my property was getting and pointed out a number of animal burrows and bird’s nests I hadn't noticed. She had flagging tape in hand and was marking locations Applejack and I would try to avoid when planning the work road. I was quiet for a moment as I considered Fluttershy's question. “In my dream, they said they live on in my memories. It would be a disservice to not tell you about them. “My mom was a thin, blonde-haired lady with dark gray skin and golden eyes. They said I had her eyes. She was a warrior through and through. Everything in life was a challenge, from class to a simple game of chess. She was ruthless and gave no quarter, pushing me to learn and to grow to match her. The rare occasions I won against her I knew I had earned it.” Rainbow Dash whistled at the thought. “Dang, I wish I could have trained with her.” I laughed. “If you want a similar experience, join Steel Rain's dojo when he gets set up. The two of them were cut from the same cloth.” “She sounds a bit scary,” said Fluttershy from the ground where she was inspecting an animal burrow. “She could be if you didn't understand her goals,” I agreed. “She just wanted to push the best out of every student she trained. She would never push someone further than she thought they could go. If I didn't succeed she was right there to pull me back up to my feet. It wasn't about being the absolute best; she just wanted everyone to be their best. She's the reason I managed to keep up with my training even at my worst.” “What about your Dad?” asked Dash. “Was he similar to your Mom?” “He had blue skin, lighter than mine, brown hair and brown eyes. He was very tall and strong from working as a blacksmith. He was the gentle mirror to my mother; confident, kind and a bit of a flirt. It never seemed to bother Mom and I never thought much of it at the time.” “My Daddy was a quiet, gentle man who loved the outdoors before he passed away,” Fluttershy whispered. “Mommy is similar but she prefers quiet and being inside. Daddy loved animals and showed me how to care for them before he passed away.” Rainbow Dash looked surprised by Fluttershy's words. “I didn't know you got your love of animals from your dad Fluttershy,” she said. “All these years and I'm still learning about you.” Fluttershy tied a long piece of flagging tape to the branch “He knew so many amazing things, like how to recognize different animal burrows. In this case, you're going to have lots of garter snakes around here next year Silver. You've got a big winter burrow under that tree and they're already moving in. If we bring a nice flat rock up here you'll probably see them sunning themselves.” “Seriously? That sounds really neat. I've never seen a snake outside of a zoo or pet store,” I replied. Fluttershy smiled. “You won't be able to say that when spring rolls around. Daddy was never one to fear any animals simply on appearance. I guess I take after him that way.” Dash was looking thoughtful as we started walking again. “My mother and father support my competitive edge and are behind me every step of the way. To be honest, though, it's my grandma Firefly who I really take after.” Fluttershy stood up and gave Rainbow a serious look. “I never met her, did I?” Dash kicked a loose rock off into the distance and shoved her hands in her pockets. “No, you didn't Fluttershy. She lived up in Seattle. We drove up to see her every couple of months before she passed away. She told me how she always wanted to fly for the Air Force but they weren’t training female pilots when she was in her prime. She served as ground support for years but she was already retired when the first women finally became fighter pilots in the nineties. She never regretted it though and always said she was proud to serve her country as best she could.” “That’s an admirable sentiment,” I said. “She must have been quite the lady.” Dash sighed. “Before she died, she told me I would touch the sky someday. I would never have guessed I'd do it without an airplane. She would have loved to see the wings I get when I play music. It felt like she was with me when I flew into the sky on the night of the formal.” “I know how you feel Dash,” I replied. “I spent ten minutes of my life as a Thestral. When I flew over the Crystal Empire, that was the moment I think my heart began to heal. There's no feeling quite like it.” “I'm scared to fly very high but I tried a bit,” said Fluttershy. “It was nice to feel like a bird for a moment and see a tiny bit of their perspective.” The conversation drifted off as we all stared up at the sky at the sound of an eagle scream. It was odd to realize the impact of our recent experiences. We were just three normal humans who all shared an experience that was indescribable. How do you explain the feeling of having wings on your back and of air flowing over your wings to someone who has spent their life on their feet? After lunch Rarity and I adjourned to the porch for a bit of quiet time. Surprisingly, Pinkie Pie decided to join us as well. We had a large pot of tea and were sitting around the tiny plastic table with our steaming mugs filled. The fall air had been warmed up by the sun making it a nearly perfect afternoon. Everyone else was inside settling in to watch a movie. “You sure you don't want to watch the movie Silver?” Pinkie asked, bouncing on her chair. “It's really fun and all the animals are so cute.” “I've got a bit of a headache. A couple of hours in front of a screen wouldn't do me any good. I'll have to watch it another day. What about you Lady Belle?” Rarity sighed. “I watched it with Sweetie when it came out. While Zootopia was a cute movie that I don't regret seeing, it doesn't rate high on my list of films to watch a second time.” Pinkie nodded emphatically while bouncing in her chair. “I've seen it four times now. I suppose I could watch again but I could also sit out here with you! Why didn't Sweetie go see it with the other crusaders or your parents?” Rarity snorted and took a sip of tea from her cup. “I might as well be Sweetie Belle's mother considering how rarely Mother and Father are actually home. Sweetie never managed to organize her friends for that particular evening for which I am most grateful. The three of them are potential natural disasters when they dive headlong into an idea and my shop has difficulty surviving the fallout.” Pinkie’s hair seemed less puffy than usual and she was subdued when picked up her cup. “Maude is the best sister ever but she's also my legal guardian and surrogate mother. It was the only way to stay here.” She took a sip of her tea while I frowned at her. I was slightly perturbed at her choice to separate from her parents. “Do you miss them?” She shrugged in response. “I do and I don't. I love my parents with all my heart and miss them every single day. Sadly, the way I want to live my life doesn't fit with the way they live theirs. Maude was super nice letting me stay here with her while she goes to college.” My mind was boggled by the idea of her choosing to stay away from her parents like that. I almost said something stupid at that moment, Relax Silver, don't lose your temper. We don't know why she made that choice. I just find it hard to think about. She walked away from her family. They're still here and she left them. Yes, and that's her choice Silver. But . . . Gah. You're right. The girls didn't notice my internal turmoil. Rarity took another sip of her tea and stared off into space. “My parent’s lifestyle is much harder on Sweetie than it is on me. We rarely get to be just sisters. I have to play the responsible adult, be in charge almost all the time. Even when they're home, they don't pay her nearly enough attention. I fear she is going to resent me at this rate.” I put my hand on her free one and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I'm an only child so I don't have experience with siblings. Have you tried talking to Sweetie about the problem? She might feel better about herself and you if you talk about the problem. She’s your sister, not your daughter so you’re in a really tough place.” “It vexes me that you are right about this. I really want to but everything seems so tenuous with that young lady. It scares me sometimes.” Pinkie hopped out of her chair and gave Rarity a big hug. “You just need to make it non-threatening. Go out to do something she enjoys. Sit in a park and talk. It's not like you're planning to be a meanie pants.” “I suppose you two are right,” she sighed. “I will try to make plans to speak with her soon.” Pinkie's voice suddenly transformed as she barked out her command. “Do. Or do not! There is no try!” Rarity and I stared at her in surprise before we both started laughing. She grinned at our reactions and took a big sip of tea while we calmed down. “I had no idea you could do voices like that Pinkie,” I said when I could finally speak again. “I can't really. It only works when it's funny.” I shot a confused glance at Rarity but she just shrugged and mouthed the words 'I have no idea either’. The rest of the afternoon was incredibly relaxing and fun. After we finished our tea, the three of us went in and watched a couple more movies with the rest of the group and ordered in pizza for dinner. Once we wrapped up dinner Rarity had to leave to go pick up Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Dash all got a ride home with her. Sunset had her motorcycle here and Applejack just had to walk a few minutes to get back to her house. Since the sun was going down, Applejack, Sunset, and I came up with a great idea to wrap up the day. “Ah never thought I'd say this but Rainbow was pretty clever convincing you to get this thing working,” said Applejack through the darkness as she floated in the waters of the hot tub. “She didn't just convince me Applejack, she put in a lot of work into repairing it and cleaning this patio up,” I replied before taking a sip from a bottle of fizzy cider. “The stars and the moon in this world are so different from Equestria,” said Sunset quietly. “I've never really looked at the night sky here since I came through.” I glanced over to where she was lounging in the darkness. We had turned out all the lights around the hot tub so the sky was stupendous. The only light came from the full moon that was rising over the horizon but even that wasn't enough to wash out the view. Sunset's shadowy form was facing upwards, gazing into the depths of space. “Twilight actually said the same thing. What do you mean?” “The Equestrian moon is self-illuminating instead of reflecting sunlight light the way the moon does here. We never get new moons and the sky here is even darker on a full moon. Astronomy isn't that advanced yet in Equestria so I couldn't even tell you if the universe is structured the same way. We might actually have epicycles or something equally bizarre.” “Ya mean those things the Greeks came up with to predict where the planets would go when they thought Earth was the center of the Universe?” I saw Sunset turn to face in Applejack's direction. “That's right Applejack. I'm surprised you knew that.” “Just cause' ah'm a farmer doesn't mean I don't pay attention in school,” Applejack replied bitterly. I could hear the sadness in Sunset's voice. “I'm so sorry! I really didn’t mean to insult you. I was just surprised because you’ve never given any indication you were interested in astronomy or ancient history.” “Apology accepted Sunset,” Applejack replied a bit more kindly. “Ah got a bit defensive cause I know some students see me as the 'dumb farmer' just cause I have an accent and don't have parents. That doesn't mean ah don't like to learn ‘bout other things.” Everything was quiet for a moment before Sunset spoke again in a quiet voice. “I forgot you'd lost your parents Applejack.” “Ah'm actually surprised you didn't use that information against me. It would have been a pretty effective way to hurt me.” The water sloshed as Sunset sank down in the water. I heard her sniffle quietly. Her voice was filled with sorrow and a bit of anger. “I couldn't use broken families or lost parents to hurt people even at my very worst. Not when I never knew mine.” I floated over and pulled her into a hug as she started crying quietly. Applejack was beside us a moment later and took Sunset's hand. “Ah had no idea Sugarcube,” she replied quietly. “You're the first people on this side of the portal to know,” she said through her tears. “I don't even know their names. They left me at an orphanage when I was just a tiny foal with a name and nothing else. I was always so angry my parents didn't even leave a way to find them. Now it just hurts that they didn’t want me.” Applejack sighed sadly. “Well it's not quite the same as family, but you're not alone anymore Sunset.” I smiled in the darkness and released my hug but left my arm draped over her shoulder. “That's right. We're all here for you if you need us.” Applejack and I sat close to Sunset while she calmed down. Then she wiped her face and sighed regretfully. “I always felt like I had to prove myself to Princess Celestia after she took me in as her personal student. I was the youngest student she'd ever taken on and she was a comfort to be around. I ruined that when I came here. She'll never want to see me again.” I held my tongue while I listened to how Sunset spoke about Princess Celestia since it seemed like there was more than just a simple student-teacher relationship going on here. I decided to keep my suspicions to myself since she seemed to be hurting quite badly already. Instead, I tried to give a more optimistic plan. “You never know Sunset. When the portal opens we can ask Twilight to help out with Celestia if you'd like.” I could feel Sunset tense up at my suggestion. “Why would Twilight Sparkle ever help me?” she said bitterly. I was taken aback by her odd shift in moods. Understanding women wasn't something I had any talent for so I just answered honestly. “Twilight was worried and wanted to make sure you would be safe before she left you here and I have no doubt she'll help if you want to try to talk to Celestia again. That said, I think we should table this idea for now. The portal doesn’t re-open for a couple years so any decisions can wait.” I could see Sunset’s head nodding although her expression was unreadable in the darkness. “Do either of you know this world’s constellations?” Sunset suddenly asked. "Manhattan is a brightly lit city,” I replied. “I was lucky if I could see any stars at all, let alone the constellations.” “Ah can point a few out to you,” said Applejack. “Mah Pa taught me about them before he passed on. The easiest one to see right now is the big dipper . . .” I listened to Applejack sharing what her father had taught her about the night sky while staring off into space. The loss of my parents still hurt to be sure but that pain seemed just a bit less overwhelming than it had been the day before. I thought about each of my friends in turn and how lucky I was to have them in my life now. Their friendship is a gift Silver. Yeah. I just wish Mom and Dad could be here. Me too. At least we're not alone.