//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: Pain: Part 2 // Story: Aftermath Of The Formal // by Shimmeringsun //------------------------------// After their journey from school, Luna finally pulled up to the apartment complex. She parked her car in the driveway and turned off the engine. Adjusting the mirror, she glanced at the sleeping teen through the screen above and let out a defeated sigh. She took a step out of the vehicle and shut her door behind her. She opened the back door, unbuckled Sunset’s seatbelt and carefully lifted the teen into her arms. It took a while longer to reach the apartment door as she was carrying Sunset and opening the locked door had become quite the challenge. She didn’t want to drop Sunset from her grip. Eventually, after a few adjustments, she entered their home and shut the door behind her with her foot. She walked over to the sofa, and placed the sleeping girl down gently to let her get a better rest. With great care and patience in trying not to wake up Sunset, Luna took off her jacket and her boots, and quietly placed them by the door. Walking back to the sofa, she grabbed the throw that was already there and tucked Sunset in, making sure she was warm. When Luna threw the blanket over her she eyed the cuts that were on Sunset’s arm. She grunted, went into the kitchen and got anti-bacterial wipes to remove the dried up blood. Her heart felt heavy as she cleaned over the cuts gently. Her eyes were full of pain and sadness as she studied each line. After the job was done, she tucked the arm back into the blanket. She sat down at the edge of the sofa next to Sunset. She reached over with her hand, placed it on top of Sunset’s forehead and started gently stroking her hair. With a jerk, Sunset stirred at Luna’s touch.  Luna, Not wanting to wake her, pulled her hand away and went into her pocket to grab her phone out to send a quick text to Celestia and Chrysalis to let them know they got home safely. Luna got up and walked around the house in search of any sharp objects that Sunset could potentially use to cut herself. She would never forgive herself if her negligence allowed Sunset to make another attempt. She went into the kitchen, bathroom and lastly into Sunset’s room. Although Sunset would be mad at her for going through her stuff, she’d at least be safe. The whole room was searched top to bottom. Sunset’s closet, drawers, her bed, her desk, everything she could possibly think of as a hiding place where Sunset would keep things. She also sent another text to Celestia to ask her to search Sunset’s locker. Pulling out Sunset’s drawers, Luna found more razor blades and came across pain and sleep medication. Luna gasped as she held the pills in her hand. She sat down on the edge of Sunset’s bed, feeling light headed from reading the description of the medication. Sunset said she was fine but the truth Sunset had kept from her all started to piece together. It all felt too familiar.  Giving herself a moment, she took the pill bottles and blades and placed them in her room. She couldn’t help but wonder why Sunset had pills hidden away in her drawers. She wasn’t planning anything was she? Suddenly, Luna's ears perked up as she heard noises coming from the living room, pulling her away from her thoughts. It sounded like Sunset was waking up as she heard her let out a cry for help. She rushed to the living room and saw Sunset shaking her head and pulling at her hair. “Sunset!” Luna shouted. Total panic filled her voice. She quickly rushed over to the sofa and could see the teen’s lip quiver. With great force, Luna used one hand to keep Sunset’s hands down and then with her other hand she started to shake her shoulder trying to get a response from her, to no avail. Luna’s eyes were locked on Sunset’s face. She kept trying and trying but still nothing. Placing her hand on Sunset’s shoulder she could feel that her entire body was shaking. She could even feel her own hand quiver. Sunset felt warm to the touch, though not feverish. They weren’t simple cold shivers. This looked more like Sunset was beginning to hyperventilate. Something bad must’ve happened during that nightmare. Way worse than the others. She swept Sunset into her arms, trying to calm her down. “Sunset. Please, wake up. You’re okay. You’re just having a nightmare. We’re home now and you’re safe.” Luna said in a motherly voice. Although, she has never felt more worried in her entire life. After Luna spoke she paused for a moment. She could hear Sunset mumbling to herself. “No.” Sunset cried out, her voice small. “I-i dont wanna wake up. No.” More tears began to pour down Sunset’s face. At Sunset’s words Luna noticed that she wasn’t talking to her. Sunset was still completely unaware that Luna was embracing her and was even there with her.  “Sunset! Please! Wake up!” Luna screamed as she shook her again. Luna kept staring at her, hoping she would wake up. Finally, Sunset slowly opened her eyes. Luna sighed in relief. Sunset looked around the room. She could feel a pair of arms around her and there was a sense of serenity in the air. A nice lavender smell filled her nostrils. She recognised Luna by her scent. Luna must be protecting her in her nightmare and at this moment, Sunset felt like she was in bliss. It was so peaceful, so soothing.  Was she finally dead? She was about to close her eyes again when she heard a familiar voice speak to her. “Sunset?” Luna spoke in a quiet soft tone.  Sunset snapped open her eyes, still feeling the warmth of the embrace she was in. She froze in her place for a minute. “Where am I? Why am I here?! I should be dead! What’s going on? I don’t want to be alive!” She screamed out trying to free herself from Luna’s grip but her hold was firm. Luna grabbed the girl tightly but Sunset was pushing against her with all her strength, motioning her arms and kicking her legs in the air. “Sunset! Breathe! You’re back home now. You aren’t dead, Chrysalis saved you.”  Sunset struggled against her even more. “No! This can’t be! I’m supposed to be dead! This isn’t real! This isn’t real...” her voice cracked and her breathing was becoming heavier now, panting hard like a dog.  Luna pushed Sunset’s head closer to her and lifted her up so that she was sitting on her lap. She cradled her like a baby and just soothed her. Afterall, to Luna, Sunset was her baby.  “Sunset, shh. It’s okay, I know you’re shocked right now but please, you need to calm down. Everything is fine now and you’re safe. You’re home with me.” Luna spoke in a gentle tone. She held the girl close to her chest and rocked her back and forth like she did many times before whenever Sunset was having a nightmare. Hoping that this would calm her down.   After Luna rocked her back and forth for a little Sunset’s breathing began to go back to normal. She was still so confused at Luna’s words. Pulling herself away from Luna’s chest, she whispered. “Home? But… I-I don’t have a home?” “Sunset Shimmer.” Luna spoke in a firm tone. She grabbed Sunset by the shoulders, who was still sitting in her lap. “Look at me.” Sunset looked up at her with tired and bloodshot eyes. Her crying had stopped. She was pulling herself together at Luna’s demanding voice. Luna spoke more in a softer tone. “Yes you do, you have a home. Here, in this apartment, with me. This is our home and whatever it is you are struggling with I promise you we will get through it. Together, my child.” “But nobody wants me! That’s what the demons say!” Sunset moved from Luna’s lap, she had a look of denial in her eyes. Luna could feel her heart breaking, as if her heart strings were snapping into two. Luna spoke in her soft voice. “I want you Sunset. Both Chrys and I want you. I thought we’d lost you today until Chrys caught you. We love you Sunset, more than you know. If I had lost you today, I would be heartbroken. To be honest, I don’t know if I could carry on without you.” Her voice cracking a little. Letting a few tears run down her face. “I love you too Luna, I really didn’t mean to do this.” Sunset cried, she wrapped her arms around Luna again and they both cried for a moment. “I know.” Luna comforted her, wiping her tears. When the two of them had calmed down, Sunset realised that it was only the two of them in the apartment. She remembered Chrysalis being at the school and shouting at her to come down from the roof and she caught her, but where was she? Why wasn’t she here with them?  “Luna?” Sunset spoke up as she sniffed. Pulling herself out from Luna’s arms. “Yeah?” Luna asked, looking at her quizzingly.  “Where’s Chrys?” Sunset asked, looking around the room for her.  Luna cleared her throat. “Hospital.” She replied, deadpan. Sunset’s jaw fell slack. “Wait what? Is she okay?” She asked, freeing herself away from Luna’s lap to sit next to her. Luna gave her a small smile. “She’s fine. She broke her arm when she caught you. The impact knocked you both to the ground.”  Guilt washed over Sunset like a waterfall when she heard that she was the one who at caused Chrysalis to break her arm. She came to realise that what she’d done was very stupid. “Luna, I am so sorry.” Sunset hung her head in shame. Luna grabbed the upset teen’s hands. “Don’t you see now? Doesn’t that show how much we love you? Chrysalis and I would risk our own lives to save you. We would do anything just to make sure you’re safe and sound.” She spoke softly, with a hint of concern in her eyes.  Tears fell from Sunset’s eyes again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Was all she could muster as Luna pulled her in for another hug. She held her tightly, not letting go of her. A couple of hours later, the apartment door opened, revealing Chrysalis standing in the doorway with a sling around her arm. With her free hand she shut the door quietly behind her, trying not to startle the two who were curled up on the sofa. She could see Luna was trying her best to focus on the TV but by the way she kept glancing down at Sunset, Chrysalis could tell she was going through some deep emotional pain that was eating away at her.  Standing at the door for a moment, she composed herself and walked over to where her girlfriend and Sunset were huddled up. Placing her healthy hand on Luna’s shoulder, she nearly made Luna jump out of her skin. “Christ! Chrysalis it’s only you. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Luna let out a long breath.  Chrysalis smirked. “Gee, I can’t be that scary can I?” She asked, rhetorically. Luna rolled her eyes. “Hm, debatable. I’ll ask Sunset that one later.” She replied playfully and looked at Chrysalis with a sympathetic look in her expression. “So how’s the arm?” She asked, scooting over a little closer to Sunset to make room for Chrysalis. Chrysalis leaned forward and gave Luna a kiss on the cheek. “Surprisingly, it’s only broken in one place. I have this cast on for about six weeks though.” She tapped the cast and sat down next to her.  After Luna and Chrysalis talked about what the doctors said to Chrysalis, they turned their attention to their own sleeping patient. “She alright?” Chrys asked, glancing down at Sunset. Luna sighed and shook her head remorsefully. “She woke up earlier and freaked out a little after a nightmare. I managed to calm her down and since then we’ve been lying up here. I’ve let her dose off again. She’s exhausted.” She slumped back and leaned against her girlfriend’s shoulder for comfort. Chrysalis wrapped her good arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “By the looks of it, you are too. Do you wanna go for a lie down? I can stay with her. We can get some dinner later.”  Luna shook her head again. “I don’t know if I can get to sleep Chrys. I don’t want to leave her side.” She glanced over to Sunset and reached down to pet her head. Chrysalis sighed. “Babe. No offense, but you’re a mess right now and a nap would probably do you good.” She spoke in her usual bluntness. Shooting up, Luna turned her attention away from Sunset back to Chrysalis, she huffed and blew a strand of hair away from her face. “Wow Chrys. Way to go making me feel good about myself.” She replied sarcastically with a glare. Chrysalis face went a little red at that comment. “Sorry. I just wanna make sure you both are okay.”  “Hm, I guess you’re right. It’s just, I’m terrified, Chrys. I didn’t want this for her. It’s just not fair.” Luna shook her head and closed her eyes. Chrysalis played with her hair. She hated seeing her girlfriend down. “Neither babe. But, everything is going to be okay. We are gonna get her through this as her parents.” Luna gave a morose hum, leaning more into Chrysalis’s touch. “I hope we can Chrys. She’s been hiding so much from us. It’s probably way worse than I thought.” Chrysalis looked at her. “What do you mean? Even worse than it is already?” She asked worriedly.  Luna closed her eyes. “I went into her room. I found more blades and... pills.” She breathed in her words trying to hold back a sob escaping. Chrysalis gasped and snapped her head round to Luna, her eyes widened. “PILLS? WHAT KIND OF PILLS LUNA?”  Luna covered Chrysalis’s mouth with her hand. “Shh Chrys. Don’t wake her. I read the description, they’re sleeping pills. I think she stole them from the bathroom cabinet.” She whispered between them, not wanting to wake the teen. Chrysalis looked over her girlfriend with concern. “Why the hell do you have sleeping pills? You shouldn’t be anywhere near them either!” She raised her voice. A little mad at Luna for even having something like that when she knew she shouldn’t be taking them. Luna looked away from her, staring at the wall, feeling ashamed for having them. “I don’t take them if that’s what you’re thinking. Not anymore. I only had them just in case. I know it’s stupid but some nights I couldn’t sleep when it was just me in this apartment. Especially the nights when you were on my mind.”  Chrysalis felt guilty for not being there when Luna needed her. “Lu, I’m sorry. I don’t want you risking your own life like that again and I certainly don’t want her to do the same. Please get rid of the pills.”  Luna nodded. “I will. And I’m sorry for being stupid like that. This is something we need to talk to her about, but I can’t do this on my own. I need you there.” She said looking up to her girlfriend with a pleading look in her eyes. “Of course. I’ll be there Luna. I’m not leaving you two.” Chrysalis grabbed her hand while Luna rested her head on her shoulder.  A moment of silence washed over them before Luna spoke up again. “Chrys? I’ve been thinking...”  “Yeah, babe?” Chrysalis asked, looking at her curiously. Luna played with Chrysalis’s hand. “I know it might be too soon with us just starting out again and all, but why don’t you move in here? Even for a few weeks? You can still keep the house but this way we both can be there for Sunset whenever she needs us.”  Chrysalis nodded in agreement. “I think for this situation it’s probably the best thing to do.” “I know that’s something we will need to discuss with Sunset. But, I don’t doubt for a second that she’ll be against it and it’s not like we’ve not lived together before.” Luna trailed off. She started to think about the past times of her and Chrysalis living together and how happy they were, a lot of good memories they’d made together, even if some were bad. “We can talk to her about it later. This will be good for all of us if we’re trying to become a family.” Chrysalis said. Luna nodded. Chrys was right, this was something they needed to do as a family. “How long do we need to wait until the adoption papers are ready? Should we tell her? I mean, if we’re becoming a family and if we’re getting through this together, shouldn’t it be official? If she has us as her parents then at least she’ll know that we’re behind her. ” She asked.  Chrysalis hummed in thought. “I can get the papers done in a few days. It might be a struggle with my broken arm but I’ll get them done. Are you sure though? Is this what you want? I don’t want you rushing anything.” Luna moved up closer to her. She had no doubts. “Chrys, I want nothing more. If it would be anyone that I would want to start a family with, it would be with you and Sunset.”  Chrysalis smiled warmly at her and kissed her cheek. “Then I’ll make it happen. For now, why don’t you head to bed for a while? Please? If I’m moving in here I’m going to need to take care of you too.” She poked her shoulder, urging her to go have some rest.  Luna rolled her eyes and jumped back. “I am more than capable of looking after myself, thank you.” She said while getting up. She leaned forward to kiss Chrysalis on the lips then moved to press a kiss on Sunset’s forehead.  Chrysalis smirked at her. “You and Sunset are too much alike sometimes it’s scary. If I didn’t know for sure, she could easily pass as your biological child.” She said slightly chuckling at her girlfriend who left the room rolling her eyes. Chrysalis leaned back on the sofa and took off her slip on boots with her feet. It was a lot easier for her instead of bending forward, as it would be a struggle with only one free hand. Putting her feet up on the coffee table she got comfortable since she was staying to watch over Sunset for the time being. Sunset woke up shortly after Luna had gone to sleep. She stretched her arms and let out a small yawn. She noticed Chrysalis was sitting on the other side of the sofa, glaring at her. Sunset gave a small nervous smile. Chrysalis moved and pulled Sunset in for an awkward embrace, trying to watch her arm. Then she slapped the back of her head. “Ow, Chrys. What was that for?” Sunset said tiredly as she rubbed the back of her head. Still trying to wake up. “Don’t you dare do that ever again! That was beyond stupid and irresponsible! You had us all worried! We thought we’d lost you!” Chrysalis spoke in a firm voice, although she was still holding her in her grip. Sunset pulled away from Chrysalis and slumped further away. “Chrys, I’m sorry okay! I realise that now that I was being stupid.” Her voice wavered a little at Chrysalis.  Chrysalis had her eyes fixed on her. Her usual playful tone was gone and she spoke more sternly to Sunset. “Do you though? Do you realise how stupid you were? Sunset, what you did was incredibly selfish. Luna and I are up in arms with you and were terrified to leave you. Luna’s a mess right now. Did you even think about what would happen if I hadn't caught you? Did you even think about how Luna and I would feel if you were gone?”  Never has she ever had Chrysalis tell her off like this. Truth be told, Sunset hated seeing her like that. When the two were together, they’d usually be bickering about something and having a laugh together. She was used to getting a telling off from Luna. She could handle Luna but not Chrysalis, so the odd occasion of Chrysalis doing so made her realise a lot of things since Chrysalis wasn’t beating around the bush with it. She simply told her as it is. Sunset could feel the waterworks coming on again. It was like Chrysalis was in full control over her and Sunset couldn’t do anything about it.  Not being able to look Chrysalis in the eyes, instead she looked at her hands and hung her head low. “Chrys, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to cause you and Luna any pain. I just wanted to get rid of mine. I’m so tired of feeling like this. I thought it would be better to end it all.” Chrysalis gave Sunset a pained look as if Sunset wounded her. She lifted her chin to look at her and her gaze became softer. “But, by ending it all you may not feel your pain anymore, and that pain gets passed on to someone else. You need to realise, Sunset: Luna needs you and I know you need her. Life would be unbearable for both Luna and I if you were gone. If I hadn’t managed to catch you I wouldn’t be able to let me live with myself.” She admitted to her and used her thumb to nuzzle her cheek.  “Seriously though. I would’ve just jumped right after you.” She gestured to her hand going down. Sunset didn’t react to Chrysalis’s joke, she was used to the woman’s dark sense of humour. So she just smirked at her. “Thank you for saving me and I’m sorry for breaking your arm. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” Sunset said, feeling penitent for what she’d done. Chrysalis shrugged and looked at her broken arm. “Hm, I'll be fine as long as you’re alive. You need to know I will always save you from anything. No matter what. You mean the whole world to me. Luna and you,” she paused, ”you two are my everything.” She spoke in a softer tone. Sunset wrapped her arms around the soot-coloured woman carefully, trying her best not to hurt her arm. Startled, they both looked up as they heard the front door opening to see Celestia coming in. Celestia rushed over after she stepped inside and shut the door behind her. “Sunset! Thank goodness you’re okay. I was worried sick about you.” She pulled Sunset in for a hug just as Chrysalis and Sunset broke theirs. Before Sunset could even speak, Celestia continued, looking over her worriedly. “Why didn’t you tell me? I wish you’d talked to me when I asked you. I would have helped you. I am so sorry if you felt like you couldn’t talk to me. I don’t want you to ever think you can’t come to me.” She bent down to Sunset’s level. All Sunset could do was stare at her blankly. She saw her Principal had tears in her magenta eyes. Those same eyes that resemble the same Princess she betrayed all those years ago. It didn’t make this situation any easier. She had never seen this side of the Princess before and it felt weird to her.  Chrysalis noticed how quiet Sunset was, looked over to her and took in her body language. She could tell she was uncomfortable, sitting frozen in her place.  Chrysalis cleared her throat and grabbed the other twos attention. “Tia, I think you should give her some space.”  Celestia looked at Chrysalis and stood up from her place. She started to fix her herself. “Right. Sorry.” She turned her attention back to Sunset, “Are you okay though?” She paused and shook her head mentally slapping herself, “Stupid question Celestia. Do you um, need anything? Anything at all? I’ll do it.” “Celestia.” Chrysalis warned. You could practically hear the annoyance Chrysalis held through her teeth. Celestia ignored Chrysalis calling her name. She still had her full focus on Sunset. “Have you had dinner? We can order pizza and we can all lie up here, is that what you want?” Celestia asked, unsure of what to say. Chrysalis looked over to Sunset again. She noticed how Sunset wasn’t even looking at Celestia. She was glancing up to her instead. Chrysalis looked up and raised her hand and her voice. “Tia! For crying out loud, you’re making her uncomfortable! I know you’re only trying to help but she doesn’t need you gushing over her right now!” She said, pinching the bridge of her nose. Celestia sat down at Sunset’s side opposite of where Chrysalis was sitting, she hung her head and sighed. “I just don’t know what to do. I know you have Luna and Chrysalis, Sunset. But, I want to play a more active role in your life. I know we’ve only spent a few times together and you don’t know me well enough like you do with Luna and Chrys. From now on though, I promise I will change that.” Sunset gave her a sympathetic look. She knew Celestia was trying but she also knew that Celestia found it hard to understand her the way Luna and Chrys understood her. “Thank you Celestia. I appreciate that.” She smiled at her and she moved up closer to her. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on Celestia’s, allowing Celestia to give her usual warm smile. Celestia looked round the room and then back to Chrysalis. “Where’s Luna?” She asked.  “I told her to go lie down for a while. She’s a little exhausted,” Chrysalis told her. Celestia nodded. “Oh, well why don’t I order pizza for us all? I know food is probably the last thing on all of your minds right now but you should at least have something and we can wake Luna when it arrives.”  Chrysalis returned a nod. “Sounds good, I’ll wake her shortly.”  With that, the three then fell into different conversations. Celestia asked Chrysalis about her arm and what the doctors said and discussed other things before the pizza got delivered.  Luna lay on her bed, trying to get a rest after Chrysalis told her to, but every time she tried to drift off she would wake up in a state of panic at seeing the memory of Sunset falling to her death again. It kept playing in her mind like a broken record and every time she thought about it, it got worse. It was too fresh in her mind and every time she heard the words, “I’m sorry.” Those two heartbreaking final words shattered her heart even more as it played out. The pain she held was heart wrenching. It was as if someone tore her heart out and crushed it right in front of her. It was the worst pain she had ever felt. A pain worse than a knife wound. Worse than surviving being shot in the head. No, this pain was a Mother’s pain trying to reach out to her struggling daughter, yet still feeling this helpless over her as she watched her daughter fall off the ledge.  Feeling completely useless that she wasn’t even the one that could have saved her, Luna thought it was the end of the world. She didn’t know what she would have done if Chrysalis wasn’t there to catch her in time. Her heart was completely aching out for the young girl. She wished she didn’t have to go through this pain. She wished Sunset didn’t need to go through all this. All she wanted was for Sunset to be happy. For all three of them to be happy. Defeated by her thoughts and after all that’s happened with today’s events she couldn’t help but let a few silent tears from her face as she gripped her covers up to her. Gripping onto them as if she was ready to let out a scream of pain but trying her best to hold it in.  Finally, Luna gave up on sleep and sat up on her bed. There was no use. Her mind wasn’t switching off any time soon. She wasn’t going to get a peaceful rest; not unless she had either Sunset or Chrysalis by her side. The tears still fell freely from her face. She felt pathetic crying to herself. It wasn’t going to help Sunset in any way but she had to get these emotions out.  The more she kept thinking about what Sunset had done, the more memories of her past came flooding back to her mind. She glanced down at her arm. Studying the faded scars that she had made when she was Sunset’s age. The guilt was growing bigger in her stomach. She felt terrible thinking about Chrysalis. Not only did Chrys have to save her girlfriend from doing something completely stupid but had to go through it all over again with saving their kid. That guilt only got worse when she thought about her lying to Sunset about her past. The thought alone sickened her. She wondered: maybe if she told Sunset before all of this happened, would Sunset have talked to her more? She knew she had to tell Sunset about it. If they were going to be a family, she would need to tell Sunset what she was getting herself into. Family doesn’t hide stuff from each other, especially something as big as this.  Still looking at the scars on her arm, Luna could remember when she did them and exactly how she felt the days when she made those cuts. She could never forget those feelings of pure self-hatred.  Breaking her from her own world she was brought back to reality when she heard a knock at the door. Looking up quickly, she could see Chrysalis staring at her with a worried look in her eyes. “Lu?” Her girlfriend called, peeking her head in. Luna wiped the tears away from her face while Chrys came closer. “Um babe? Tia’s popped in and she’s ordered us some pizza, she figured we wouldn’t be up for cooking. You wanna come through?” Chrysalis asked. Luna moved to sit at the edge of the bed. “Yeah. Just give me a minute.” She sniffed while fixing herself. Chrysalis sat down next to her. “Did you get any sleep at all?” Luna shook her head in the negative and looked at the floor. “None. My mind seems to not want me to sleep.” “Lu, tell me. What are you thinking? Clearly there’s a lot going on in that head of yours. You’re making me really worried seeing you like this.” She asked with concern in her tone and glanced over to Luna who kept looking down her arm. Luna sighed and traced a finger along her arm where the fades of the old scars are. “I’m going to have to tell her aren’t I? I’m an idiot for keeping this from her. I should have told her from the start but no, I thought it would be too heavy for her! I can’t hide this from her anymore.” Chrysalis grabbed one of her hands. “If you want to tell her it’s completely up to you. If you feel like this will help her then do it. I will be behind you all the way.” Luna gave her a small smile. Even at times like this she was glad that Chrys was here with her. “You’re the best you that know right?” Chrysalis kissed her cheek and wiped her eyes. “Of course I do. I am a Queen afterall.”  Luna rolled her eyes at Chrysalis. She composed herself and put back on her stoic mask.  Chrysalis helped her get up from the bed with her good hand. Luna began to walk towards the door until Chrys stopped her in her tracks. “Wait.” She said, holding up her good hand.   Luna gave her a blank look. Chrysalis pulled her closer to her, she wrapped her arm around her waist and kissed her.  “You looked like you needed it.” Chrysalis said, pulling her lips away from Luna’s. Luna leaned closer to her and nodded into her chest. “I did.”  Chrysalis smiled. “Come on then, let’s go.” She said, holding out her hand for Luna to take hold. They both made their way back to the living room to join Sunset and Celestia, who were sitting on the sofa eating pizza. After Celestia left, Luna, Chrysalis and Sunset sat in the living room before heading to bed. Luna and Chrysalis decided it was time to talk to Sunset and share their concerns with her. Luna locked the apartment door and walked back over to the sofa after saying goodbye to Celestia. She sat down next to Sunset’s side and cleared her throat to get the girl’s attention. “Sunset, I know it’s getting late. However, Chrys and I would like to discuss with you what is happening from now on.”  Sunset sat on the sofa with her legs in a basket, she nodded and gulped hard at Luna’s words.  It was Chrysalis’s turn to speak up. “Luna and I made a decision for me to move into the apartment for a few weeks. We thought this would be easier so both of us can look after you, whenever you need us.” Chrysalis said, sitting across on recliner from Sunset and Luna, she had one leg crossed and one of her arms on the chair rest. “Are you okay with that?” Luna asked as she looked to Sunset.  Sunset nodded again. “Yeah. I don’t mind Chrys moving in.” Chrysalis and Luna smiled at her.  Luna started to speak in a more serious tone, “Good. Now here’s the other stuff that's going to happen. You may not like it but it’s just the way it’s got to be from now.  “I am giving you a week of school. Although, you are not allowed to leave my or Chrysalis sight. When I’m at work, Chrys will be keeping a close eye on you. I will allow your friends to come over and they can bring the school work you have missed. When you return to school, for the first few days you will be in my office and I will teach you myself. If and only if, I feel you are okay to return to classes then I’ll allow it. However, a friend is to be with you at all times even if you have to go to the bathroom. Do I make myself clear on that?” Luna said in her usual stern Vice-Principal voice. “Yes, Luna” Sunset nodded, full focus on her not daring to look away from the woman.  Luna let out breath, scared to continue with the next part,. “And now, for the second thing. I will be making an appointment with the doctors in the morning to get you help and therapy sessions. I know that sounds scary Sunset, but we need to get you better. We need you to open up about your feelings and I know you think you are alone but you’re not. I have made it clear many times before that I will be here for you and Chrys is also here for you too.” Sunset gave a small smile and nodded again. “I do know that and I know that I do need help. I don’t want to feel like this anymore, I want to get better. It’s just that I'm so used to being alone and dealing with things my own way. You and Chrys are the only people who’ve ever supported me like this and it just terrifies me in case I don’t get better.” Chrysalis stood up and walked over to the sofa and sat down at Sunset’s side opposite of Luna, she grabbed one of her hands into her own. “My dear. You will get better, we’re going to get through together. You don’t need to do this alone. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.” Luna then nudged up to Sunset closer, putting her hand over her head. “Sunset, take this from someone who has been in the same position you are right now. Things do get better, trust me. It might not seem like it now but they will. It’s going to take time but with our help, you will get through this. One step at a time, we will fight this. You aren’t alone anymore.” Sunset moved, she caught on to what Luna was saying. “Luna? What do you mean? How do you know how I feel?” She asked, looking at her guardian curiously. Luna had a guilty expression on her face and sighed. “Sunset. There’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t been entirely honest with you regarding my past...”