//------------------------------// // Chapter 51: The Wild Cat that Came Back // Story: The Lost Shimmering Sun // by Pinkie Pie Sweets //------------------------------// After a two weeks of the cold weather and three days of a harsh storm, the City of Canterlot is now a sunny afternoon and feels fresh from the rain. During the storm, there has been trees fallen over, and some of places have been flooded. At Canterlot High, everyone are doing their assignments and talking among friends and siblings. In the CHS library, Sun is busy doing a research project for one of her classes. She's been working on it since yesterday and she's really getting into the project. Her project in her Equestrian History class, is to do a research project on a culture of and history on the city of their choice. Sun decides to do Canterlot City's history and can see a lot of interesting information from last night and today. Just as Sun continues to do her research, Rarity walks into the library hoping to talk to Sun about something. She then turns to see Sun typing and reading some books, suspecting that she's busy with her project for her history class. Rarity walks over to Sun and asks, "Hi Sun, how is your project going?" "It's going well. I'm already go a lot of information," Sun answers while working on the computer. "Already! Sun, you just go the assignment yesterday," Rarity says surprisingly. "I did a lot of research at home," Sun replies. Sun continues to get some of her information on the computer and writes some notes from her books. Rarity can understand that Sun is a very hard worker on hr assignments, it's no wonder why Sun is a very smart girl. She even help Rainbow Dash with her classes. Just then Rainbow Dash comes in and screams, "Hey guys." Ms. Cheerilee comes up to her and quietly says, "Ssshhh! You're in a library." "My bad," Rainbow replies while her cheeks are blushing. As Rainbow Dash walks in, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie follow her inside the library to see Sun and Rarity. They can see that Sun is busy with her homework assignments and not in the mood to talk much. "Howdy y'all, can see that our busy bee is busy with her assignment," Applejack says with a smile. "Yes. Sun is working very hard on her project," Rarity replies. "That's our Sun, a hard worker," Rainbow Dash adds. Sun can hear her friends compliments while she is working. She admits she is a busy student once she has an assignment to do for her class. In fact, once Sun starts on something she is determine to get it finished. Just then, Sun turns around to face the others and says, "So guys, what are you up to for this weekend?" "Doing some homework and working around the farm," Applejack answers. "Homework and babysitting the twins for me?" Pinkie replies. "I'm working on some nice outfits for a special spring like and of course, some of my homework assignments," "I'm going to the park with Angel and also some of my home works," "Of course we all have homework to do, but I also need to practice for a big soccer game against Appleloosa. I'll tell you Applejack cousins are tough." Rainbow answers. Applejack smiles and says, "They maybe tough, but you're as tough as they are." "Thanks," Rainbow replies. Sun simply smiles and continue to work on some research for her projects. Just then Sun notice a news article that has come out just recently. The other see the article and are wonder what the article is saying. "What this?" Pinkie asks while clicking the mouse. When reads the recent news article on the news website, they are shocked to see a picture of lifeless Iriomote cats. From the looks of the picture, they all look very soaked and looks like they have bad bruises and scratches as well. "Oh, they're dead wild cats," Applejack replies. "More like Iriomote cats," Fluttershy remarks in concern. Rarity takes a look on the article and says, "According to the news, a giant storm washed their home away and them away." "That's terrible," Fluttershy replies sadly. Sun looks at the picture very carefully and feels like they look familiar. She then starts to remember about her little friend, Nina the iriomote wild cat. After close examination these wild cats look kind of like her. Sun says with concern. "They… they look like Nina." Her friends her Sun saying her statement and look at her with concern. "I have a feeling they might be Nina's family," Sun adds. "When did the incident happened?" Fluttershy asks. "It happened during that storm we had," Sun answers in concern. Pinkie gulps with a nervous look and says, "Is she…" Sun shakes her head and calmly says, "No. This photo has all of the wild cats from the preserve, but none of them is her. However, it said that the last one is missing." Rainbow looks at the computer and asks, "Think your cat friend is missing?" "It might be, but I refused to believe that she's gone," Sun says with a straight look on her face. "I hope she'll come up soon," Fluttershy replies with a sad look. Sun stares at the computer and says, "Me too." After her day at School, sun is simply sitting in her room and not feeling very happy right now. Sun still can't get over the fact that the wild cats that died might be Nina's family and possible that she is missing. She is wishing to know where her wild cat friend is and hoping she is alright. Sun looks out the window as she says deep in thought, "No matter what, Nina is not dead. She's out there somewhere trying to find help, or able to find shelter somewhere." "Nina," Sun says quietly with a sad expression on her face. During the night, Sun is looking outside of her window and hoping there will be away to find Nina. However, since she loves far away, it might not be possible. Even though Nini might be missing, she still have faith that she will be able to see her again. The next day after school, Sun and Fluttershy are helping Tree Hugger with the animals at the shelter. Sun is taking care of the hamsters while Tree Hugger and Fluttershy are busy cleaning the hamster habitat. As Fluttershy finish cleaning the habitat, she turns to Sun and asks, "Hi Sun, how are the hamsters?" "They're doing fine," Sun answers with a calm smile. Fluttershy and Tree Hugger can see that the hamsters really like to play with Sun. The hamsters seem to be pretty calm around Sun and it's almost like they have Fluttershy doing it as well. Fluttershy smiles and says, "You know, I never knew you were so good with animals." "I don't know about good, but I made sure they have everything they need," Sun says with her cheeks turning a bit red. "I have to agree with Fluttershy. You show kindness and love to these animals and were able to help lots of them find home," Tree Hugger complements. "Thanks," Sun says with a smile. After some time cleaning the hamster habitat, Fluttershy and Tree Hugger help Sun getting all the hamsters back to their long and big house city. Fluttershy looks at the time and see that the animal shelter is going to close soon. She also knows that Sun has been helping them a lot lately. Fluttershy turns to Sun who is cleaning the desk and says, "It's close to closing time, so if you like you can start head back home." "Are you sure?" Sun asks. "We don't mind, you've done a lot today," Tree Hugger answers with a smile. "And we still have that history project to do," Fluttershy adds. Sun smiles and says, "Good point." After agreeing with Fluttershy's suggestion, Sun gather her stuff and backpack so she'll have everything she needs to take home. After saying goodbye to Fluttershy and Tree Hugger, Sun starts to walk back home and notice that it's starting to get late. The sun is setting from the sky and it's going to get dark very soon. Sun decides to take a shortcut so she is able to get some fater. However, her choice ends up making a bad one when a big, wild, and growling dog appears in front of her. The dog is taller than Applejack dog, and looks a bit dirty. It has black and white like fur and showing off his sharp teeth. Sun gulps nervously and scaredly says, "Uh oh!" Sun is starting to get very scared as the wild dog is approaching at her with is growl, mean look, and sharp teeth. Sun tries to step back slowly and trying to make her way out of the alley so she can leave. She accidently slips and falls to the cement and it hurts her arm a bit. The dog scene Sun fear and looks at her with a mean face. The dog barks loud and Sun is getting more scared. Then the dog pounce at Sun so he can attack her. Sun feels like she is going to have a terrible experience with a stray dog and doesn't know what to do. Just then, something jumps right between the wild dog and Sun. The dog stops right in it's tracks and starts to look a bit uncomfortable. When Sun looks to see what is happening, she is completely shock to see who is protecting her. It's her iriomote wild cat friend, Nina. The cat has a some cuts and bruises and looks a bit wet at the moment. Sun says with a shock, "Nina!" The little cat is simply glaring at the dog, not letting it get to Sun so easily. The dog is trying to be brave and face the cat, but it toughness is lost seeing the glare coming from it's eyes. Just then, the small wild cat makes a loud roar and it can be heard from anyone. The dog becomes so scared that it runs away with it's tail betweens it's leg. When the dog runs away, Sun is not sure what to be surprised by more, her old cat friend is here or that she's able to scare the wild dog away. Sun sits up and look to see that her friend is in really bad shape, but she is still able to stand. Sun looks at her cat friends and asks, "Nina? What… what are you doing here?" After Sun asks her question, the cat starts to so weak that she collapsed right in front of her. This scene starts to scare Sun, so she takes Nina in her arms and worriedly asks, "Are you okay?" Sun realizes that the iriomote wild cat is very weak, tired, and from the looks of it, starving and might even be sick. She knows that she needs to get help right away and she knows where. She knows that Fluttershy's house is not far from here and her mom has taken care of Nina before. After a quick run through the neighborhood, Sun finally reaches Fluttershy's house and knows that her mom, dad, and brother might be in the house. Sun comes to the front door and starts to knock on the door multiple times as she says, "Hello, is anyone home?" After a few seconds, the door starts to open and Sun can see Zephyr Breeze at the front. "Hey Sun, how are you doing this evening?" Zephyr asks. "I'm doing fine, but I need your mom right ways," Sun frantically answers. Just then Fluttershy's mom, Nightingale comes to the front and asks, "Zephyr, is something there?" "Yes. It's Sun, she wants to see you," Zepher replies. Sun walks toward her and says, "Nightingale, my cat friend needs your help." Nightingale looks in Sun's arms and is shocked to see the cat with her again. As a vet, Nightingale can tell that the small kitten is very sick and tired, and might also be starving. She takes the cat to a room next to kitchen and start to examine the little kitten. Sun is very worried and hope that her feline friend is alright. However, Sun is having this strange feeling that the cat has come here to see her again. After some observation and closer examination, Nightingale tells Sun that Nina has been badly hurt and hasn't eaten for like two days. But as long as she get some rest and something to eat she will be healthy again. Nightingale suggests that the little cat stays with her for a another day or two and Sun can come visit her tomorrow after school. Sun takes the suggestion and has gone home for the night. As she walk home she says in her thoughts, "I hope Nina is alright, she looks so sick and tired. I hope Nightingale can take care of her." Sun walks home still thinking about her cat friend and hoping will be alright when she comes to see her tomorrow. The next day, during lunch, Sun has explain to her friends what happened yesterday and about her cat friends. Even Fluttershy explains to them about her mom will be taking care of her. The others are surprised about this story. They remember Sun and Fluttershy telling them about the little wild cat, but never expected to come back. Rainbow surprisingly says, "No way! The iriomote cat came back?!" "Yes. She's been staying in Fluttershy's house since yesterday," Sun clarifies. "My mom told me what happened it might take a while for the little kitten to get better," Fluttershy adds. Rarity looks at Sun with a surprised look and says, "I'm surprised it was able to find you, Sun." "I know. It's like… she was trying to find me after what happened to her family," Sun says in deep concern. "I'll tell yeah, that cat is tough," Applejack remarks. Then Pinkie asks, "So what do we do now?" "I'm going to see her right after school and see if she's doing alright," Sun answers. Sun really hops that her cat friend will be okay after what she has been through. During her time in school, Sun's mind seems to be mostly on Nina and the kind of heartbreaking trouble she must have gone through. The little wild cat ost her whole family in a terrible storm and now she turns to Sun, the only one she believes can help her now. After school, Sun and the others have gone to Fluttershy house right away to see how the little cat is doing. They are in the medical room watching Nightingale looking at some last results of the little cat. Sun can see that the small wild cat is sleeping and has a full stomach, but also has bandages on her paws, legs, and stomach, and a collar on her neck. Nightingale turns to the girls with the results and says, "Well, it seems that she is doing well on regaining her health, but she will need to have these bandages and collar on for about a week." "Is there anything I can do to help her?" Sun asks in concern. "Well, you will need to change her bandages every 6 hours, and you will need to help her eat and drink. Usually, I think it would be best to leave her here a bit longer, but…" Nightingale explains but stop as she looks at the papers. "What is it?" Rarity asks. "It seems that Nina really wants Sun, so I think it will be best to leave the wild cat in her care," Nightingale answers. Sun and the others look at the cat with a surprised look. It seems that Nina is find with some people, but mostly feels comfortable with Sun. Fluttershy thinks that letting Sun looking after the small kitten will be the right thing to do. Sun and the other also agrees the the decision. So after getting some papers on what the kitten needs and some extra bandages, Sun and her friends leave to go to her house so they can help get the cat settle in. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie are carrying some of the stuff that Nightingale gives to them for the cat. Sun is holding the cat itself. She does seem happy to see the small cat again, but feels terrible about the hardship her feline friend has gone through. Sun decides right here and now to do her best to take care of the small cat, so she'll do whatever it takes to make sure she is healthy, happy, and loved. Sun says in her thoughts, "Nina. Nina don't worry, I will take very good care of you. I promise." Sun then lets a little tear fall from her face and snuggles the little kitten against her cheek. The small cat simply yawns and meow in reply. The little cat feels glad to be with her human friend, and hope she is able to help her with her problem. Sun is planning on doing her best to help Nina and do whatever it takes to make her happy.