//------------------------------//
// Rude Weakening 
// Story: Nier: Anthropogene 
// by StardustSprinkle 
//------------------------------//

"Sunset, help..." 
"Fluttershy?" Sunset abruptly opens her eyes: "Fluttershy!"
"Help..." Fluttershy murmurs. 
"I'm here!" Sunset stands up: "What do you need to help with?"
"Water..." the sickly girl opens her mouth.
"Right!" Sunset turned around and poured her friend a cup of warm water. What is it? Sunset thinks to herself as the fan on the ceiling spans slower. It doesn't make sense; Fluttershy passed away ages ago! Due to the White Chlorination Syndrome, a terrible disease that turns people into salt. 
"Here!" However, as she turns back, there's nothing on the bed but salt. 
"NO!" Sunset screams as she drops the cup. 
"NO! NO!" Sunset screams on top of her lunge as wind, coming out of nowhere, blows the salt all over her. She starts to vomit as the room she's in starts to turn into salt. 
"STOP! STOP!" she screams as the world is engulfed by salt.



"AH!" Sunset wakes from her nightmare as cold water was poured all over her head: "Fluttershy?"
"I'm sorry," a woman with grey hair apologizes, handing Sunset a towel: "I heard screaming upstairs and decided to check on you. I tried to wake you up, but nothing else would work."
"It's ok," Sunset replies with a shaky voice, wiping herself dry with the towel: "Thank you for everything."
"Sure," the woman replies: "Can you see me now?"
"More or less," Sunset rub her eyes: "Everything is so blurry, though."
"You woke up from a thousand-year-long sleep just yesterday; I'd say you are doing pretty good," the woman smiles: "You can call me Number 2 in private, but please call Emily when there are others around."
"Number 2, right?" Sunset put the towel aside: "Get it. and Emily?"
"Yep," Number 2 takes the towel: "Can you walk now?"
"Let me try," Sunset jumps out of bed, but her legs are still weak. 
"Wow, there," Number 2 manages to catch Sunset before she falls: "No need to push yourself."
"Sorry, I just don't want to be a burden," Sunset sighs: "Thank you for everything." 
"It's ok, it's ok," Number 2 comforts Sunset while putting her back to bed: "Just sit still for a bit. I'll need to get you another pillow."
"Thank you," Sunset message her legs: "Seems like it's gonna take some time. Sorry about that."
"Hi, no need to worry about anything," Number 2 replies, opening the closet and get a new pillow out: "Are you hungry? Want to eat anything?"
"Not really," Sunset says: "I guess my stomach is still sleeping."
"I see," Number 2 says, tossing the old pillow into a basket: "So are you thirsty?" 
"Not in particular," Sunset says: "You really don't have to take care of me like this, you know? I am thankful for everything, but why are you doing this?"
"Because she's compensating for all that you have done to her?" Accord suddenly appears in the room: "Not to be rude, but we really shouldn't overwhelm Sunset with everything now."
"Accord," Number 2 takes a deep breath in an endeavor to keep herself calm: "What do you want?"
"I want Sunset to recover properly," Accord smiles: "instead of worrying about things that she had no control over."
"Wait, you were the other lady when I woke up," Sunset says: "What do you mean by things that I had no control over?"
"Oh, nothing," Accord replies: "It would be in your interest to not concern yourself with matters like those." 
"But what things, though?" Sunset continues: "Is it bad?"
"Number 2, help me out here?"
"You are the one who keeps talking!" Number 2 takes another deep breath: "Get out of my bakery now before I beat you up."
"You were about to tell Sunset everything, weren't you?" Accord giggles: "Good thing that I stopped you. Unlike androids, humans can take a big hit from that kind of information." 
"Fair enough," Number 2 rolls her eyes: "But I guess you've already said enough."
"Excuse me," Sunset interprets: "Anyone mind to tell me what's going on?"
"We are androids created to serve humans," Accord explains: "I was tasked to keep an eye on the timeline while Number 2 was created to protect humans from harm. Let's just say we travel back in time to create a better future. You will see me doing things here and there because I want everything to go according to plan."
"Ok," Sunset messages her eyes, trying to digest all the information: "So you guys are androids...Should have guessed it from the names! Please tell me humans are still around!"
"Well, Sunset," Number 2 bite her fingers: "They..."
"Are still around," Accord lies swiftly: "But we do need to find one person to make everything perfect!"
"Thank Celestia!" Sunset whispers: "So, who do we need to find again?"
"We'll tell when you get better," Accord pet Sunset on the head: "For now, just rest."
"Of course," Number 2 grabs Accord's wrist and lifts her hand from Sunset's head: "I will protect you from harm."
"Wow, easy there," Accord smirks while trying to break free from Number 2's iron grip: "No one harm you here!"
"Not while I'm around," Number 2 throws Accord's hand aside, her eyes focusing on Accord.
"Now, now," Accord moves her hand around: "Don't you have a gift for Sunset?"
"GET. OUT." Number 2 says through gritted teeth.
"Whatever," Accord shrugs before slowly walking down the stairs. 	
"I'm sorry, Sunset," Number 2 sits down beside Sunset: "She's...a bit weird. But don't worry, she meant you no harm."
"Ok, I'm not going to freak out," Sunset clasp a hand over her chest, where the magic necklace is, and put another hand over Number 2's shoulder: "But tell, what happened to the humans?"
"Um, Sunset?" Number 2 makes a face as Sunset's necklace starts to glow: "I think something is wrong."
"No, nothing is wrong," Sunset replies calmly as Number 2's necklace starts to glow as well: "It's synchronizing with something! From what I know, a magic object does that when there's something similar around."
"What does that mean?" Number 2 ghastly take her necklace off.
"That means magic is abundant in the world!" Sunset responds, her voice full of joy: "I can sense it! Is it...your necklace?"
"Well, yes," Number 2 gazes at the crimson-colored gem on her necklace: "Yes. It belongs to me. I should that the other you in another timeline gave it to me as a symbol of friendship...but yes, it's mine."
"Do you know what that means?" Sunset's eyes widen: "That means we can use Equestrian magic!"
"That is amazing," Number 2 says, eyes still on the gem: "Let's just be careful, ok?"