//------------------------------// // Guilt // Story: It’s not easy // by Reactception //------------------------------// Celestia’s POV: Before I knew what had happened, my phone slid out of my hand and down to the floor of my car as Luna looked at me just as stunned as I was. Why would Sunset…. I questioned running through all my encounters with her for the last month my brain having trouble even processing the idea she could try to take her own life. Tears even threatened to fall from my eyes as I continued to drive to nowhere in particular. NO! now is not the time to breakdown. I-I have to stay strong so I can be there for Sunset when she wakes up. “Sh-shall we he-head to the hospital sister?” Luna asks turning her head so she’s looking at me. I didn’t reply or even look over at her my eyes just remaining on the road as we drove in silence. Sunset, Sunset, Sunset, just keep thinking about how much she’s gonna need me and I’m going to help her. I thought to myself over and over as I drove towards the hospital. After about twenty minutes of just repeating my new Sunset centric mantra in my head as we enter the hospital parking lot. Slowly I drive the my Mini Cooper into a small parking spot, which wasn’t hard to find considering it was already past midnight. As put the gear shift into park Luna asks, “Sister are they sure she really tried to kill herself?” They might not be sure but I know it’s true. I don’t even know how I know but it’s true. “Yes sister, they’re sure.” I reply simply finally looking at her for the first time since we got the call from the hospital. I was shocked to see tears streaming down Luna’s face. Luna was usually so detached from the students, especially troublemakers like Sunset, but here she was silently crying in a hospital parking lot. “It-It’s m-my fault dear sister!” Luna suddenly exclaims thrusting herself over the empty cup holders separating us and hugging me tightly. “No Luna it isn’t you’re fault it’s mine.” Despite my efforts to keep the tears back I finally break down and wrap my own arms around Luna hugging her back just as tightly if not more. Now I’ve hurt my sister and failed to protect one of my students I really am a screw up of a sister and a principal! “You’re not the one who….” Luna starts to say only to stop and squeeze onto me tighter her sobbing growing louder every minute. Who what? I mentally question. But I didn’t ask Luna what she had done, or what had happened, instead I just continued to let her hug me for dear life. And the hugging and the sobbing just continued for another half an hour until Luna finally calmed down and slid back into her seat. Luna wipes away what’s left of her tears and calmly says “We should head in and figure out how Sunset is right?” I look at her and nod using my left hand to open my car door. We both open are doors and step out of the car into the brightly lit parking lot of the hospital and begin to walk towards the front doors of the hospital. Luna was slicking her hair back into a ponytail pulling the scrunchie she always kept under her shirt sleeve and pulled it into the hair on her hair. Luna even wiped her eyes as I pushed the front doors open. *Sigh* Luna trying to look strict and orderly again before we she Canterlot high students. She is always so tough when we’re at work, but she’s so caring and kind when we’re alone. I just don’t understand how she’s able to switch so easily. When we walked into the waiting room I realized just how serious the situation was. Pinkie Pie was sitting in a corner her usually poofy hair flat and hanging down. Across the way from her was Fluttershy sitting and sobbing into her hands. Rarity was also crying but not nearly as violently as Fluttershy and instead of her hands she was crying into Applejack’s shoulder. Speaking of Applejack she was the only one who didn’t look distraught in fact she looked down right pissed off. But she seemed distracted holding the crying fashionista in her arms. Wait where’s Rainbow Dash? I wondered glancing around the room for the rainbow haired athlete. Only to see she wasn’t anywhere to be found. Who should I talk to? I wonder looking around at my students. But before I can decide Luna walks straight up to Applejack and asks “What is the situation Ms. Applejack?” Applejack immediately looks up at Luna and begins to speak gently putting Rarity down into one of the waiting room chair. “We-well Sunset uhh….” Applejack suddenly stops speaking her eyes darting around at her distraught friends. “Since she did you know what has been in the emergency room and we haven’t been able to see her because we ain’t family apparently.” Applejack’s getting angrier and angrier as she speaks her country accent getting stronger the more heated she got. I watch as Luna continues to interrogate Applejack their voices fading into background noise as my brain kicks into overdrive. What if Sunset dies? What if she’s reverts back to her old ways at school? What if Sunset becomes catatonic because she wanted to die? I feel my panic rising as a scream begins to bubble up in my throat only to be halted by Luna angrily yelling, “What do you mean Ms. Dash is in surgery?” Suddenly Applejack’s and Luna’s voices reappear no longer background noise in my head as Applejack says “She saw Sunset jump and she dove in after her.” As soon as Applejack says “Sunset jump” Rarity and Fluttershy’s sobbing gets louder and more violent while Pinkie Pie seems to become a liquid and melts further into the corner. “Look I appreciate y’all’s concern but ya just making this worse by asking so many questions.” Applejack says sternly talking down to Luna. Luna looks at Applejack very offended and loudly yells in her “GAMER VOICE” as she calls it at home. “WELL I’M SORRY FOR CARING MS. JACK!” As soon as Luna yells at Applejack she turns around and rushes out the doors of the hospital very agitated. “I’m sorry for my sister Applejack she isn’t feeling like herself today.” I say turning to face Applejack as I speak. Applejack looks up at me and replies “It’s fine principal Celestia, I don’t think none of us are feeling like ourselves right now.” Is their anything I can do to help Sunset? “Is their anything I can do to help out?” I ask trying to sound calm and concise but clearly sounding more frazzled and anxious by Applejack’s look of concern immediately after I asked. Applejack grabs my arm comfortingly and in a surprisingly calm tone reply’s “Ain’t nothing ya or any of us can do but pray they make it.”