//------------------------------// // Chapter 27: Aftershock // Story: Scars of Our Past // by JWolfSilver //------------------------------// Celestia made her way to the crowd of people; both civilians, and paramedics, looking for survivors. She scanned over the medics working on the injured, but didn’t see Sunset. Not yet anyway. Where are you, Sunset? Celestia thought, watching the two men sift through what was Sunset’s building. Just then one of them called; “Hey! I see someone!” Three paramedics ran over past Celestia to assist the two men. She wanted to help but she knew she’d just get in the way but still staying within ear shot. So, as nerve racking as it was, she waited chewing her lip impatiently, praying Sunset wasn’t…no, she couldn’t think like that. She kept her eyes on the men until one of them spoke loudly over the sirens; “It’s just a kid!” Celestia’s heart stopped, Sunset. He nodded, “Careful now, don’t move her head” When Celestia finally saw the person, they were lifting; her fears were answered. She placed a hand over her mouth, tears now streaming from her eyes. It took all her willpower to not break down on her knees then and there She walked to where the paramedics carefully set Sunset down. One of the medics with orange hair checked her pulse and shook his head, “No pulse.” “Starting compressions.” Another green haired man said, as he performed CPR. When Celestia got closer she gasped. Sunset’s face was covered in blood, a large gash on the side of her head. There was so much blood, it was hard to tell where it started and ended. She had blood on her shirt and her clothes were torn. Her left leg wasn’t fairing much better. Still, her main concern was whether or not she was alive. The green haired man stopped after a minute and shook his head. Celestia knew what that meant. She carefully approached the men who looked at her questionably. “Miss?” the orange haired man questioned. “Her parents are out of town.” Celestia said numbly, her voice breaking. “We’re sor-” The man tried but was cut off. “Move!” A blue haired man ordered. They all moved out of the way and he resumed compressions. “Armor, she’s-” The green man tired but the blue haired man was having none of it. “Defibrillator!” he ordered, “NOW!” The green haired man went to the ambulance while Armor ripped open Sunset’s shirt. When he returned; he put the pads on Sunset’s chest and charged, “Clear!” She convulsed but nothing. “Again!” Nothing. “One more time!” He said. “Shining,” The orange haired one said, “She’s gone!” He glared at him, “Just one more time!” He rolled his eyes but did as he was told. Sunset convulsed then, unconscious, she coughed. Shining smiled, “See, told ya.” Celestia smiled and uncharacteristically hugged the man, “Thank you.” “Get her into the ambulance now!” Shining ordered. The two men obliged, “Are you her mother?” “No,” Celestia said, “Her parents are out of town.” He nodded, “What’s her name?” “Sunset Shimmer.” He nodded then rushed to the truck, “Thanks. She’s in good hands!” Celestia nodded and they drove away, sirens blaring. She rushed back to her car and started heading for the hospital, I’ll be damned if I let her go through this alone. *** When Celestia got to the hospital, the nurse told her Sunset was in surgery. So, she called her sister who had been texting her nonstop. “Hello? Tia!” Luna said from the other end, “I was getting worried. You have a cellphone for a reason!” “I’m at the hospital.” Celestia said in monotone. “Are you alright?” Luna practically yelled into the phone. “Yes, Luna, I’m fine.” Celestia gulped, “It’s Sunset.” The other end grew silent for a moment before Luna responded. “I’ll be right there.” Celestia thanked her sister and hung up the phone, looking around the waiting room. It was packed. Sunset wasn’t the only one in critical condition form the earthquake. Since arriving, six families had left in tears. She prayed she wouldn’t be one of them. She felt fresh hot tears in her eyes again. If only I had taken her in earlier… no, I can’t blame myself. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. No one could have predicted the earthquake. The woman pulled herself from her thoughts when she noticed Luna walking towards her, immediately enveloping each other in a tight hug. “Now, tell me what happened.” Luna said. Celestia explained how Sunset’s building had been leveled by the earthquake and she had been inside. Then, she went into striking detail about watching them carefully pull her body from the rubble. “You should have been there, Luna.” Celestia buried her head in her hands, “She was just...covered in her own blood. She was essentially dead for who knows how long! They were going to give up but this one man…he refused.” Luna tried to put on a brave face for her sister but she too had tears brimming her eyes, “What’s going on now?” “She’s in surgery but…they aren’t sure if she’ll make it through the procedure.” Celestia explained as she cried harder. Luna embraced her sister, “Sunset has fought to survive this long. I highly doubt she’ll let this get the best of her.” Celestia managed a small smile and nodded. They sat in silence as the waiting room steadily emptied. At one point, Luna went to get a couple sandwiches from the hospital canteen but they never got eaten. Eventually, it dwindled down to the two of them and three other families. Luna was half asleep when a green skinned nurse walked in. “For…” She checked her sheet, “Sunset Shimmer?” Celestia immediately shot up, dragging a groggy Luna behind her. “The paramedic who brought her in said her parents were out of town?” She questioned. Celestia nodded, “I’m her emergency contact and this is my sister Luna.” “Is she OK?” Luna asked eagerly. The nurse smiled slightly, “Miss Shimmer is and extremely lucky girl.” A wave of sweet relief washed over the two women. “I am obligated to tell you that she did flatline on the table for one minute but she is now in stable condition.” She looked at her papers one more time, “Please, follow me.” They followed the nurse through the halls until she stopped at a door, “This is Sunset’s room. I have to say, she’s a bit of a rock star here since she was brought in. Not many teenage girls have a building fall on top of them and live to tell the tale.” Celestia peered into the room. It was dark save for a dim light over the bed that lit up only the sleeping girl in the bed. Sunset’s face was void of the blood form earlier but there was a large gauze pad taped to the side of her forehead to just before her ear and they could see that her face ad arms were covered in small scrapes and bruises. Her left arm was in a cast and a sling and her left leg was elevated and wrapped in bandages. They had her hooked up to a respirator that was held in place by a strap around her head and face. The sight broke her heart. “The respirator will come off when we are confident she doesn’t need it or when she wakes up.” The nurse explained. “When will she wake up?” Celestia asked, her eyes never leaving Sunset. “I’m not sure.” She admitted, “It’s common after incidents like this for the patient to be in some kind of coma. It could last anywhere from a few days to a few months. It really depends on the person. I believe it depends on one’s will to survive.” “Well, she sure has the will.” Luna commented. The nurse smiled, “I better get going. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, just don’t be too loud.” They nodded as the nurse walked off. Celestia immediately walked to the chair on the right side of the bed then planted herself in place, studying Sunset’s sleeping form. She frowned at the thought of what had brought them to this point; Sunset’s fear of herself. “On the bright side,” Luna said, pulling up a chair to sit next to her sister, “At least she has somewhere to go after this. Somewhere she won’t be alone.” Celestia smiled, “Yes, you’re right.” “Should we tell her friends?” Luna asked. Celestia nodded, “I’ll do it on Monday.” Luna frowned and shot Celestia a look of disbelief, “Oh no you don’t. If you think you are going to work with Sunset in the hospital, you are sincerely mistaken.” “But I-” Celestia tried to argue, despite her better judgement. “No but’s.” Luna said adamantly, “I’ll tell them and handle things at the school.” She gestured to Sunset, “Right now, you are the closest thing to a parent Sunset has and probably will ever have. She needs you right now, more than the school does. So, come Monday, you are going to be right here waiting for her to wake up.” Celestia smiled at Luna. Sometimes she forgets that Luna is the younger sibling, especially in times like this where she needed a firm hand and someone to support her.