Everything hurt but Sunset didn't want to rely on the pain medicine that the doctor prescribed since it made her feel as if she was covered by a mental fog so she tried to lie completely still on the couch, only moving when she absolutely had to. The TV was playing something in the background though the former unicorn wasn't paying much attention to that at the moment.
Instead, she had her eyes closed, trying to figure out why she kept feeling something odd. It's almost like magic...No...It has to be some kind of magic. But what kind of magic feels almost like water rippling? Or smoke? It has too light of a feeling to be compared to water though it feels just as cold as a natural spring or something. She wondered, wrecking her brain trying to make sense of what she was feeling.
“How are you feeling?”
Sunset glanced up as Celestia walked into the room, half wanting to roll her eyes since the woman had been acting like a mother hen ever since they had gotten home from the hospital.
“I'm alright. Can you just relax? I swear you're making me nervous checking up on me every little bit. I have a broken arm, not a concussion.” Sunset stated, wincing as soon as she realized that was probably the wrong choice of words.
“Sorry. I know you're just worried. I...I guess you were probably just as scared as I was.” she added quickly, glancing down in embarrassment.
Way to go Sunset. Say something stupid like that again.
“I was.” Celestia agreed as she took a seat across the room so that the girl wouldn't have to move from where she was laying, though she would have preferred to be next to the girl for the next part of the conversation that she was going to bring up.
“When you were waking up you said you were afraid that I would have left and you would have been alone. Did someone do that Sunset?”
The fire-haired teen's eyes widened as she glanced down. What am I some stupid foal? I wasn't this clingy with the princess! She berated herself as she turned her attention toward Celestia.
“yeah...Once. I had been put in the hospital overnight for what you could call magical burnout because I was so young that they were worried it would affect me in some way. My aunt had promised me she'd be there when I woke up from the spell they put me under so they could do the exam without freaking me out. But Sunburst got his cutie mark that day and evidently celebrating your son is more important than the daughter of your harlot sister.”
Sunset recalled this so calmly that Celestia wasn't sure what to think.
“Sunset...”
The teen cut her off before she could finish.
“I know I shouldn't talk about my birth mother like that because I didn't know her but that's what a lot of the people in town said.” Sunset said, fiddling with the edge of the cover that she had around her.
“I wasn't about to say that Sunset. Though you do speak...rougher...than I would like.” Celestia said, choosing her words carefully since the girl would obviously be in a fragile state of mind. “I was going to ask how often that sort of thing happened.”
Sunset shrugged, not risking to look up. “I was alone most of the time. I just thought that if I was as smart as Sunburst that my mom and dad would pay more attention to me. Was that wrong? Was I being selfish for wanting either them or Princess Celestia to actually just...Spend time with me?”
Celestia hated the hurt that was obvious in the teen's tone. Had someone told her she was being selfish? Had someone actually had the gall to tell a child who was desperate for any kind of positive interaction that wanting to be near someone was wrong?
“No Sunset, the ones who were wrong were the ones who made you feel like you weren't worth their time. They should have realized that a child so young needed them to be there in more ways than just one.” Celestia answered, feeling the anger that had been present earlier that day rise up again inside her.
“Everyone needs a support system, no matter what age.” she added after some thought, wondering if she hadn't just discovered what made Sunset think she had to act tough, to begin with.
“That is one of the reasons Luna and I offered you a place to stay with either of us. Not only did you need stability but you needed someone there for you when things got tough.”
The principal's words took Sunset off guard, causing her to look up. Maybe that dream I had earlier meant something...Maybe it meant I was finally somewhere I won't be treated differently just because of who I am. Maybe Celestia really does think of me as more than a student. She thought although she wouldn't dare ask.
“I can't thank you enough for everything you and Luna have done for me. No matter what I've done or what has happened...You never gave up on me.”
Sunset was prepared for Celestia to say one of her usual responses, however, as the woman walked over and knelt on the carpet in front of the couch she saw something she didn't expect. Tears had gathered in the woman's eyes.
She could never remember the princess ever showing any emotion besides her three main modes: Neutral, strict anger, and the more childish side she had witnessed her share with Cadence and Twilight Sparkle. Why does she look ready to cry? Did I say something wrong? Does she care that much?
The last thought made something she hadn't felt in a long time rise into her chest.
“Sweetheart, you don't have to thank me for that and no matter what happens I won't give up on you. I know it's been only a few weeks but I love you too much to even consider that. I know I must sound like a broken record but I will repeat it until you understand that it's true.”
Sunset didn't even think about her injured ribs and bruised body as she sat up, carefully wrapping her good arm around Celestia and hiding her face against her shoulder. I am so afraid I'm going to mess up if I say this but...I need to know if she is serious about not just leaving if something happens that she doesn't approve of. I...I need to know if she'll react like the princess did when I slipped up that day. But can I handle it if she does? I wish I could just pretend...
She couldn't stop the sob that escaped her, though she tried her best to hold back the tears.
“I love you too...Mom.”