//------------------------------// // Memories // Story: Sibling Revivals // by PhoenixSoul91 //------------------------------// "BOTHER?!" all of the girls except Twilight shouted. "Yeah," Sunset nodded sheepishly. "Ya mean your brother from Equestria?" Apple Jack asked looking out the window at where her own brother was running water from the hose over his head. "No," Sunset said shaking her head sadly. "His counter part here in this world. My brother is dead in the world of Equestria." "Oh, Darling," Rarity who was closest to her besides Twilight reached out and placed a hand on her other shoulder. "I'm so sorry." "The thing is," she took a ragged breath. "From what Twilight was told after I ran away....." "The Sunset Shimmer of this world passed away as well," Twilight said softly when it was clear that Sunset could not bring herself to say the words. Before Sunset could think all six of her closest friends swarmed her. The warmth of their love for her filled her with strength. The tears that had started to run down her cheeks stopped and she wiped them away with a smile on her lips. After several more seconds of hugging the girls pulled away. "Thanks, everyone," Sunset smiled at them all. "You're welcome!" Pinky cheered. "Seeing him though," Sunset looked up at the ceiling her heart thumping against her chest as memories flooded back. "It reminds me of a lot of things." "Do you want to talk about it?" Fluttershy asked softly. "I mean I understand if it's too painful to talk about, but I know that sometimes it helps to talk about painful things." "Yeah," she sighed and took a deep breath. "I think I want to. The memory that keeps coming back the most is the last time I ever spoke to Shining Light." -years ago in Equestria- "Good morning, Sunset Shimmer," Celestia said warmly to the young filly she found writing a on a piece of paper by the school fountain. "Oh, Princess," Sunset stood and bowed. "Good morning." "What are you doing up this early?" Celestia asked chuckling a little. "I only just raised the sun." "I'm writing a letter to my older brother," Sunset answered matter o' factly. "I'm letting him know how my first week here at your school has been." "Oh that's wonderful," Celestia said moving closer to the young filly. "What have you told him so far?" "I told him about the really neat classes, the nice teachers, and the other students." "That's nice," Celestia said with a smile and nod. "Though I think you might be forgetting something." "What do you mean, Princess?" "Oh about how the Princess herself was so impressed with me in this first week that she's decided to take me on as her own personal student." "What?" Sunset looked up in disbelief. "That's right," Celestia nodded with a warm smile. "I've been watching you since your entrance exams, and I do believe you have a lot of potential. Starting at the beginning of the week you will be receiving additional lessons from me besides your regular classes." "Really?" Sunset asked her eyes wide. "Really," Celestia answered. "Though now that I think about it. This kind of information should be told face to face not in a letter. Why don't you travel home this weekend and give him the big news?" "Oh, can I?" "Of course." "Oh, thank you, Princess," Sunset squealed and hugged Celestia before letting go and appologizing then running off to the student dorms to pack a few things. "Such a sweet child," Celestia thought allowed as she headed towards the throne room. -hours later in Hoofington Village- "Sunset Shimmer?" a large black stallion with a white mane and tail called out to her as she walked by his stall. "Oh, hello, Mr Dust," she responded with a wave of her hoof. "We weren't expecting you so soon," Mr. Dust said as he made his way around the stall. "Why we only just sent the letter this morning." "Letter?" she asked cocking her head to the side. "What letter?" "You mean you didn't get it? Then how are you here?" "I came here because I got some really big news this morning for school, and I wanted to tell Shining Light face to face." "Oh dear," Mr Dust placed a hoof on her shoulder and turned her towards a different direction than the one she had been headed in. "We best be making for Dr. Tender Hoof's then." "Dr. Tender Hoof's?" Sunset asked in bewilderment. "Why?" "Well," Mr Dust had started, but shook his head. "Just come along." "Hey, Shimshim," Shinging Light said in a soft voice when he saw Sunset enter the room he was occupying. Their coloration was nearly identical. The fur of their bodies were the same warm amber color. Their manes and tales both a mix of yellow and red. Though his was more yellow than her's. The smile he gave her was full of the warmth it always was, but it was obviously weaker than usual. "Shinshin?" Sunset whispered softly as she moved closer to him. "Didn't expect to see you this morning," he started to chuckle softly, but it quickly turned into a coughing fit. "Shinshin," Sunset moved even closer putting her hooves up on the bed to get a better look at him. "How's school?" he asked still smiling at her. "School?" everything had been forced from Susnet's mind when she saw her brother lying there before her. "Yeah," he nodded. "You know that place you got into for being so awesome at magic." "Oh," she smiled a little as he reached out a hoof and ruffled her mane. "It's really nice." "Tell me all about your first week," Shinging Light said as he shifted a little in the bed to sit up more, and look at his little sister. Sunset nodded, and started telling him things. She told him about the teachers and what classes she had. The different fillies and colts that were in them. The different lessons they had tried out so far. Then when she got to the big news she stopped. "But," she started looking at him. "But what?" Light asked her still smiling. "Why are you here?" she asked softly. "Oh no big deal," he said shrugging a little trying to hide a wince of pain. "Just a little accident at the mine." "Oh, ok," Susnet said trusting her brother. "There is one more thing, and it's the reason why I'm here right now." "Oh?" Light smiled even more. "What is it?" "Princess Celestia has decided to take me on a her very own personal student." "Really?" for a brief moment Light's smile was the same just as bright and strong as always. "That's great, Shimshim!" "Yeah?" Sunset asked blushing at her brother's reaction. "Of course," he reached out and ruffled her mane again. "I always knew you were special, destined for greatness." "Really?" she giggled as she pushed his hoof away fixing her mane back to normal. "Of course," he winked at her. "You were always great with magic. A lot better than me." "Shinshin," Sunset looked at her brother who winced again this time not being able to hide it from her. "Are you sure you're ok?" "Of course," he smiled at her. "Now stop your fussing, Shimshim. You just need to focus on your studies. I want you to grow up and be the best." "I know," Sunset nodded. "I know you'll do great things," he said before he started coughing again. "Shinshin!" Sunset pushed herself up as his coughing grew louder. "Just remember," Light said between coughing before Dr. Tender Hoof and Mr Dust came into the room. "I'm proud of you." -back in the present- "That was the last thing my brother ever said," Sunset said her voice ragged as tears ran down her cheeks. "Mr. Dust pulled me out of the room as Dr. Tender Hoof tried to take care of my brother." The rest of the girls sat there in various states of sadness. "What my brother called a little accident was actually a very nasty cave in," Sunset said after a few moments. "He'd managed to get a few of his fellow workers out of the way of the collapse, but by the time they dug him out it was too late. The injuries he sustained were too severe. They'd sent a letter to me to come as quick as I could. They knew he wasn't going to make it. If Celestia hadn't found me that morning and sent me on my way I would have gotten the letter too late. I wouldn't have been there when he passed." "Sunset," Twilight said softly placing a hand ontop of her's. "I'm so sorry." "Thanks," Sunset smiled weakly back at her. "Though looking back, I don't see how my brother could be proud of the way I turned out." "Don't say that!" Fluttershy shouted to everyone's surprise. "How could he not be proud of you?" "Yeah," Rainbowdash demanded. "You're awesome!" "Awesome?" Sunset asked with contempt in her voice. "I took the last words he spoke to me, and twisted them. The pain and anger I felt at losing him. It made me choose all the wrong ways of being strong, great, special." "Now, Darling," Rarity said sweetly. "Yes you've made some booboos, but you're different now. Or rather the same now. After the last few months I'm sure he'd still be just as proud, if not even more proud." "You think so?" "I know so." Just then Big Mac walked in from the outside. Apple Jack moved towards her brother and threw her arms around him in a big hug. After a second of shock Big Mac hugged her back. Sunset smiled at the two of them, and around at her friends all smiling as well. "Uh, AJ," BigMac said after five minutes. "Shush," Apple Jack responded. "Just give me a few more mintues. -Canterlot Central Park- "So you gonna talk?" Armor asked as he and Light played one on one basketball. "About what?" Light asked as he dipped under Armor's gaurd and snatched the ball. "Oh, I don't know," Armor blocked his move to the basket. "Maybe what's been eating at you since the Burger Barn?" "Nothing's been eating at me," Light said roughly as he jumped back and shot the ball. "Oh, really?" Armor asked as the ball bounced off the underside of the rim. "Your aim says different." Light muttered something under his breath, and walked over to the benches where their water bottles and towels were sitting. He wiped off his face before taking a drink of water. After Armor did the same he sighed before running his hands through his hair and let out a growl of frustration. "Well?" Armor asked with a smirk as he sat down. "Fine," Light groaned as he dropped down beside Armor and took the basketball in his hands and rolled it around. "I've been thinking of the day Sunset....my sister died." "Oh," Armor said almost dropping his water bottle. "Yeah," he nodded. "It was my fault." "What?" Armor gasped this time droping his water bottle. "Yeah," he set the ball between his knees holding it there as he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. "If it wasn't for me she'd still be alive!" -Years Ago- "Shinshin," Sunset called out to her older brother who was a distance away with his friends throwing snowballs back and forth at each other. "Wait!" "I can't believe you brought the midget along," said one of his friends. "She's my little sister," Light replied slaming a snowball in his face. "Not a midget." "Still lame," said another. "Whatever," Light said as his friends headed down the trail while he waited for Sunset to catch up. "Shinshin," she said smiling. "Hey, Shimshim," he said ruffling her hair. "You staying warm?" "Yes," she said hugging her stuffed unicron. "Twinkle and I are warm." "Good," he took her hand and started down the path following his friends. They reached his friends at the pond who had started sliding around some on skates others with just their shoes. They were all laughing and throwing snowballs. They called out to Light as he drew nearer. He smiled and knelt beside Sunset. "Alright," he smiled at her. "Now you just play over here ok." "Ok," she smiled at him and gave him a hug then sat in the snow and played with Twinkle. Light spent several long minutes playing with his friends. They laughed and threw snowballs at each other, and he didn't pay attention to what Sunset was doing. He didn't see when Sunset go up and walked over to the edge of the pond. It wasn't until he heard her cry out as the ice gave way under her that he paid attention to her. "Sunset!" he cried out as he saw her fall through the ice. "Shin!"she cried out before her head went under the water. Light slid across the ice and thrust his arm into the water. The instant he didn't find her his heart stopped from fear rather than cold. The tips of his numbing fingers found her jacket and he reached in further putting part of his face into the water to get a good hold. He pulled her out and held her against him. She was shivering horribly. He stripped her wet jacket off and tossed it asside before pulling off his own mostly dry jacket and wrapped her in it keeping the wet sleeve off of her. HIs friends called out to him and followed as he ran back up the trail with her in his arms. He called out for help as he ran. He didn't know if anyone was around, but he knew he had to get her help as soon as possible. "What?" he asked looking down at Sunset in his arms her teeth chattering. "I'm sorry," she said in a small voice. "Shimshim," he said softly rubbing the side of her freezing face. "Don't say that." "I'm sorry, I didn't listen to you, Shinshin." -Present Time- "Light," Armor started to say, before Shining light stood up and slammed the basket ball hard into the ground. "SHE WAS APPOLOGIZING!" Light roar in anger. "LIKE FALLING INTO THE POND WAS HER FAULT!" "Bro," Armor stood up and placed a hand on Light's shoulder. "You couldn't have known that was going to happen." "I SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO HER!" "You can't watch everything!" "SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN OUT THERE IN THE FRIST PLACE!" Light roared whirling on Armor as if he were about to attack him. "I WAS SUPPOSED TO WATCH HER, BUT MY FRIENDS WANTED TO HANG OUT IN THE SNOW! I TOOK HER WITH ME! IF I HADN'T BEEN SO SELFISH IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!" "Light," Armor said softly seeing the pain in his friends eyes. "my fault," light groaned as he collapsed to his knees. "all my fault." Shining armor knelt beside his friend and rubbed his back. It was strange to see this usually hard and rough man acting so broken. He wasn't sure how to comfort him so he just stayed with him. After what felt like hours Light took a steadying breath. "Sorry, bro," he said looking up at Armor with a small grin. "Guess I lost my cool a little." "A little?" Armor asked with a chuckle. "Ok a lot," the two started to laugh. "Don't let it bother you," Armor said as he walked over to the where the ball had landed. "Come on. One more game. Loser buys dinner." "You're on," Light grinned as he took a deep breath feeling better after that outburst.