//------------------------------// // Peace // Story: A SciTwi Shimmer Christmas // by pabrony //------------------------------// For the first time in months, woke up in an empty bed as Sunny was still in the hospital. I went through my usual routine; bathing, brushing my hair and teeth, etc. However, I was still concerned about how she was doing. I had not seen her that weak the entire time we've known each other. I tripped over my own hooves while descending the stairs, tumbling down nearly half of them and landing square on my butt. I trotted into the main hall to where Twilight had the Christmas, I mean, Hearth's Warming tree and saw a bright yellow filly digging through the gifts underneath it. I giggled softly as I watched her squeal with glee. Sunfire and Misty Dawn were watching her, making sure she didn't open anypony else's gifts. “It was so kind of your cousin to offer to put us up in the castle,” Misty Dawn said with a smile. “It's kept Dawn's mind off of Sunny's condition since leaving the hospital last night.” “We've actually decided to take Sunny's gifts and a few of ours to the hospital when we leave in a little bit,” Sunfire told me. “That sounds like a good idea. It'll definitely boost her spirits.” “I agree,” said Misty. “You could see the disappointment in her eyes when we had to leave for the night.” “Twi-Twi, this one's for you,” Dawnie said, bringing me a gift wrapped in purple and pink paper. I double checked the tag to verify that was, in fact, for me before thanking her. “Aren't you going to open it?” she asked as I set it to the side. “I will when we go to the hospital,” I said, giving her a hug. “I'd like to open all my gifts at the same time as your sister.” “Even the ones that Princess Twilight and her friends got for you?” Dawnie asked. “Yes, even those ones,” I replied. Dawnie went back to sorting gifts when Sunfire and Misty approached me. “When do you plan to visit Sunny?” Sunfire asked. “After breakfast, because I was planning to take some of Pinkie Pie's holiday cinnamon rolls to her,” I answered. “We were planning to leave as soon as Dawn finished opening her gifts,” Misty told me. While I questioned their decision in my mind, I knew it was their choice and I had no right to try changing their mind. So we talked a little more before I headed to the dining room for Pinkie's breakfast. An hour later, I walked into Sunny's room where I was pleased to see her sitting in one of the chairs talking to her parents. Upon seeing me though, she hopped down and slowly trotted over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “What took you so long?” she asked. “I had to wait until Pinkie was done baking these,” I said, producing a box containing cinnamon rolls with red and green glaze. Her eyes grew wide with excitement as she surrounded the box with a red aura. “Remind me to thank Pinkie for these,” she said before stuffing one in her mouth. I giggled as I watch a few crumbs come flying from her mouth. “So how are you feeling, sweetheart?” I asked. She swallowed the roll in one large gulp before answering. “I'm feeling great. I woke up this morning feeling like I could take over the world. Uh, don't tell Celestia I said that.” “Don't worry. It'll be our secret,” I chuckled. “I was telling mom and dad that I have a good feeling about today,” she said. “How so?” “Shimmy said she’s gonna sneak out if they don't let her go home,” Dawnie said as she paused momentarily from playing with her new dolls. Sunny's face turned crimson with embarrassment when I asked her if it was true. I facehoofed and shook my head. “What am I going to do with you?” I groaned. “Get me a double bacon cheeseburger when we get home,” she whispered in my ear. I couldn't believe what I heard. Did she really ask for a hamburger? I thought. “You okay, Twi?” Sunny asked, tilting her head in confusion. “You literally just whinnied.” I stared blankly at Sunny for another minute before backing away from her and asking if I heard her correctly. “Yeah, why?” “It's just…you…asking for a cheeseburger?” “Mommy, is a cheeseburger the same thing as a hayburger?” Dawnie asked. Misty, in an attempt to preserve her daughter's naivety, smiled weakly and nodded. “Sounds gross,” Dawnie said. “They are,” I lied. “I honestly don't see how humans can eat them.” I then turned to Sunny, whose cheeks were puffed out due to her mouth being filled with more cinnamon rolls, and asked, “What are we doing if you get discharged today?” She held up a hoof before swallowing to answer. “I was hoping to spend a little time with Twilight and her friends before we headed home.” “That sounds-” I was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Well, looks like Pony Claus made a stop here in your room, Mrs. Shimmer,” said Dr. Flank as he entered. “Hehe. Yeah, I guess he did,” Sunny chuckled. “How's everyone doing this morning?” he asked the rest of us; to which we replied fine. “It's good to see you up and about, Mrs. Shimmer. Have you tried using your magic?” Sunny grabbed the nearly empty box that housed the cinnamon rolls with her magic and offered the doctor one the pastries. “Well, since you're up, moving about without any trouble and using your magic with no difficulty, I'll be signing your discharge papers in a little bit,” Dr. Flank said. “However, regarding your test from yesterday, I've got good news and bad news.” [Three days later] “I never realized how hard it is to shop for the girls now that we're out of school,” I said as I helped Sunny load the shopping bags into the trunk of the car. “Yeah, things definitely change when you're not buying ‘nerd gifts’,” Sunny said, giving me nudge with her elbow. “Hey, I resent that,” I giggled as I returned the favor. We barely managed to fit everything in the trunk before having to get our new tree to fit in the back seat. A couple minutes of shifting the seats forward and some fancy finagling of the box, we finally got it in the car so that we could close the car doors. I tossed the car keys to her over the roof of the car before we both got in. Sunny cranked it up and we left the parking lot for home. A couple minutes later, I noticed a pink glow coming from under the tree box. “Uh, Sunny? Did you bring the journal along?” “Yes, I did. I wanted to have it with me the instant Twilight got my results back from the hospital. Why?” “It's glowing under the box.” “Are you able to reach it?” she asked, trying to stay focused on the road. “Yeah, I think so,” I replied. I temporarily unhooked my seatbelt so that I could reach the book. “Got it.” “What's it say?” “Hold on. I have to get my seatbelt refastened,” I fussed. I opened the journal and skimmed over the message. “Well?” Sunny asked as my eyes remained glued to the paper. I quickly shut the journal as my heart began to race. “Um, it wasn't anything, uh, too important. Just, well… do you remember when your last period was?”