During the night, Thomas stirred in his sleep, like he was having a nightmare. He suddenly saw himself in court at Canterlot, and was held in chains. He then saw his mother crying and comforted by Rarity. He then saw his other aunts looking at him angrily, until he saw Princess Celestia walking over. “Thomas Mercer Shy, you have failed us as a citizen of Equestria, and then trespassed into a sacred relic that was strictly forbidden!” she hollered. “No! I only slipped! I didn’t mean too!” Thomas said. “Enough! Since we’ve all found you guilty, a suitable punishment is in order,” Princess Celestia said. “No! Please!” Thomas screamed as he was about to be burnt into his fiery grave, but then he fell.
Thomas then woke up screaming until Starlight hugged him softly. “Shhhhhh... it’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here,” Starlight said, while he laid down on her bare lap and hugged one of her thighs for comfort. “Calm down, sweetie. Tell us what happened,” Sunset said. “I was back in C-Canterlot... and then in court for touching the mirror... and then I was burnt alive in a grave!” Thomas said, until he cried again. Sunset woke up, and then she comforted her nephew by rubbing his back. Starlight sat him up on her lap, and then Thomas rested himself against her body.
“Thomas? I know you’re going through a lot right now, but you’ve got to stand up for yourself sometimes, because that’ll also help you,” Sunset said. “I know... b-b-but... I’m scared,” Thomas said. “Aww, I know, honey. I know,” Starlight said, as he Thomas’s buried his face in her breasts and continued to cry.
“Poor little guy,” Sunset said. “Yeah, but I might can’t say that nopony’s... I mean nobody’s ever had dreams like those before, not even me, except for often times when we have dreams if we’re really afraid of something probably more than normal,” Starlight said in agreement, as she stroked Thomas’s hair as his head laid in her chest.
“He’s probably scared of losing his mother,” Sunset said. “I think you’re right,” Starlight said. “And probably because if we don’t get him home soon, including you, you’ll both be trapped here forever,” Sunset said. “That means you and I, including our friends will have to protect him, and make sure that he doesn’t get hurt.”
“Good point,” Starlight said, until she and Sunset heard soft snoring. “Aww... he cried himself to sleep.” Starlight then kissed him on the forehead, while Sunset kissed him back, and then Starlight handed him to Sunset and then they both went back to sleep.
The next morning, Thomas smiled warmly as he finally had a good night’s sleep, but he laid on his stomach and somehow slept on top of Sunset’s belly, and he curled his arms in massage position. Sunset had her arm on his backside for comforting support, and had her other hand on Thomas’s hand. Thomas was also being hugged by Starlight, who was behind him and gently hugging him with one arm around his stomach.
Sunset then woke up and saw Thomas sleeping on her belly, and then smiled warmly and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Thomas then stirred in his sleep and looked up at Sunset. “Good morning, sleepyhead. How do you feel?” she asked. “Good, but a little bit better,” Thomas said. Sunset playfully rubbed his head, and then she got out of bed, and so did Starlight, so they could get dressed and ready for school.
After finishing putting their clothes on and having breakfast, Starlight got her hair brushed, and Sunset was finishing up packing up Thomas’s lunch for today, which was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and some snacks to go with. When his lunchbox was ready, and his backpack, Thomas grabbed them both, and the three walked over to school together.
While they were walking, Sunset looked down at Thomas, and then stopped for a moment to talk to him, “Thomas? Sweetheart, can you look at me?” Thomas looked up at Sunset, and then she held his hands with both of them for comfort. “That’s better. Now, listen. I know this may be hard for you, Thomas,” Sunset said. “But if you get scared more often, it’ll only make some events worse, because like I said last night, you got to stand up to yourself because it’ll just drift the fear away.”
Thomas nodded, and then Sunset continued. “I know you’ve been mistreated your whole life, but you didn’t deserve that. You deserve to feel loved and that you matter to other people around you. Look, the point is, I know that you’re too shy or scared to speak up, but Thomas...” She placed on hand on his cheek and stroked her thumb on it. “If you ever have trouble trying to stand up for yourself or are just feeling afraid that you’ll feel like you’re gonna get yourself hurt, just come to one of us to talk to, and we’ll take care of it, okay? Because I really don’t like people treating my friends like garbage.”
Thomas nodded, and then Sunset smiled softly, “Come here.” Thomas then went to her for a hug, and then she lifted him up to hold him against her chest as he rested on her shoulder. “How about if I carry you all the way?” Sunset asked. Thomas nodded, and then they continued to walk over to school.