//------------------------------// // Chapter 2, Distant Echoes // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 2 -- Homecoming // by shysage //------------------------------// It had been maybe three weeks since the Equestria ponies had come back from the Equestria Girls world. Everypony missed their Twin dearly. This was hard to understand until you actually spent time with your Twin. It was amazing. After maybe two or three days downtime, everypony seemed to get back into the 'swing of things'. The last few months had been extremely hard for all of Princess Twilight's circle. Summer Rain had been at the center of it all... Still, Summer tried to gently put it all behind her. Summer worked at re-establishing the life she had lived in Ponyville before her initial trip to the Equestia Girls world. Summer loved making new friends, and spent a lot of time wandering through Ponyville. Summer also spent as much time as she could with her Princess and five dear ponies. She dropped by the Library at least once a day to see if Princess needed anything. Summer and Rainbow played together in the sky too. Summer spent a lot of time with her sister, and Fluttershy really appreciated that. Summer was also spending quite a bit of time at Shysage's house. They were working on her story, and both thoroughly enjoyed that. They just seemed to work together so well. Well, they enjoyed just being around each other too. Working through some of the chapters proved difficult, but it had to be done. The details about the trip Summer and the Equestria Girls had to make back to ultimately face Sunset Shimmer were hard, especially the appalling manner Discord had killed Princess Twilight and her friends. During that dark journey, Shysage had used his 'scope' thing to actually record some of these events. Watching them again was very disconcerting. Even so, when they wrote the chapter about bringing Princess Twilight back from the dead, Summer was again sobbing... Summer loved Princess Twilight so much... By Princess Celestia's decree, it all needed to be recorded. While crying together a lot, they worked on getting the account right. Both Shysage and Summer's Twin were very concerned about Summer on the last days the Twins were all together. But it seemed to Shysage at least that Summer was doing better. He wasn't her Twin, so he really couldn't and didn't know for sure. Chapter 35 changed all that. Summer was abducted that night. Well, Shysage knew more. She was repeatedly raped and extensively photographed by two of the vilest men on his planet. Shysage was glad Summer was unconscious for all this. Even so, they planned to kill her when they were done. Shysage still knew, that in her heart, Summer thought she had been ruined. She had said so herself. Shysage told himself he should have known better that to let her help with this chapter. But they were just making good progress, and this event crept up on both of them, and was showing on the 'scope' before they knew it was coming. As soon as Summer saw the Cake's shop, the soda... ...she got up quickly, ran to her room, lay down on her belly on the floor, and started weeping quietly. Shysage followed her, lay down next to her and said quietly "Summer how can I help you?" He was crying too. After a minute Summer said very quietly "Just don't ever leave me..." Shysage replied just as quietly "Summer, I don't ever want too..." They both lay there on their bellies on the floor for maybe ten minutes. Shysage sighed, then said quietly "Summer I need to go save our work and turn stuff off. But I'm not going to get up until you say it's ok." Summer said quietly and quickly "That's fine, I'm just coming with you." Shysage got up, went into the main room, turned everything off, and it was dark in his house. Shysage lay down on his belly in the middle of the floor. As he suspected, Summer came and lay down right next to him. Shysage didn't mind. He didn't mind at all. Trying to think through the brokenness he suspected she felt, he said simply "Summer, you are just amazing... I really mean that. I hope you know that." Then Shysage put his head down on the floor in front of him. Summer lay her head next to his and said softly "I love you Shysage." In a few minutes it was quiet. Summer asked quietly "Shysage can I stay here with you tonight? I really don't want to be alone right now." Shysage replied quietly "Summer, I feel like that's the least I can do for you... You have already been through so much... I just wish I could do more for you..." "Shysage, you have already done a lot..." Summer replied quietly. They slept there that night, laying on their bellies next to each other in the middle of the floor. Nothing else happened. Summer woke first in the morning, but didn't move. She was simply amazed at how much better she felt, just from spending maybe 8 hours sleeping next to Shysage. Shysage woke up soon too. He looked at Summer, and began to cry. Through his tears he said "Thank you for staying. I don't like... ...waking up alone... ...it just... ...hurts..." Summer realized that maybe he needed her as much as she needed him. After a few minutes, Shysage asked "Summer can we go flying some? I try to exercise every morning if I can. We can go together, and maybe find some Oats in the meadow for breakfast." They were soon off. The morning air smelled so good. Summer just shadowed Shysage. It was clear he loved to fly as much as she did. He wasn't blazing fast, but he was skilled, and enjoyed every minute in the air. This was also the first time she actually looked at Shysage in his pony form. His coat was a little darker than hers. His mane and tail were a little darker too. Other than that they looked very similar, and Summer didn't know why she didn't realize that before. Maybe it didn't matter before. His Cutie Mark was simply an open book. He was a Canterlot Recorder. They soon landed, and enjoyed some Oats from the meadow. Then they just sat a few minutes next to each other and stared out across the grass. Rainbow found them like this, and landed next to them. "Hey you two!" Rainbow said with a smile. "I'd ask if you want to play Shadow some, but Princess Twilight sent me to find both of you. She wants to talk to you, something about a trip." The three of them were quickly in the air heading to the Library. Both Summer and Shysage decided that a trip through the Portal was probably happening soon for them. They were both right. Shysage and Summer followed Rainbow in, and then bowed to Princess Twilight. Shysage would need to get used to this. He had worked mainly with Princess Celestia, and he bowed conscientiously for her. He needed to work to rememeber the same for Princess Twilight. He knew Summer always remembered to bow to her dear Princess. "Please arise both of you." Princess said calmly. Even so, Summer jumped up and hugged Princess Twilight briefly. "Shysage and Summer, when it is convenient, I would like for you to spend maybe a day with the Equestria Girls, and see how they are doing. If I am not mistaken, it has been maybe three weeks, and we have heard no word. I just want to make sure everything is going well." Shysage bowed some and said "Of course Princess." Summer asked if Fluttershy could come. Princess Twilight thought for a minute then said "I think that would be fine, but I want her to stay with you two at all times." "Of course, and thank you Princess" Summer said with a smile. "Please find out from Fluttershy if she is coming, then let me know which day you wish to go, then I will arrange for an Air Coach to pick you up in the morning." In the middle of this conversation Fluttershy walked into the Library, looking for Summer. Summer was excited, and asked Fluttershy if she wanted to visit the Equestria Girls with she and Shysage. It would only be for a day however. Fluttershy said that would be very nice, and they decided to go tomorrow. "Spike, take a message..." Princess Twilight began, and the plans were set. "Summer can you come help me with some cleaning around my cottage? I think it has been stacking up, and could use your help." Fluttershy asked. Summer looked at Shysage, and he just smiled and nodded yes. "You are her sister Summer" he said softly. Summer hugged Princess Twilight then Shysage, and the sisters headed off for a day together. After they were gone, Princess Twilight asked what was on her mind. "How is she doing Shysage?" Shysage answered honestly "I am not sure. I am not her Twin, but she seems to be doing ok. "Last night was very tough though, we accidently got into the chapter where she was abducted. I'm glad she is with Fluttershy today, I will try to get that chapter done and out of the way. "I also think maybe time with her Twin might be good right now too. "I just don't know. I wish I could do more..." "Shysage" Princess Twilight said quietly "Please remember that it is only because of you that she is even alive today." "Thank you Princess" Shysage said quietly while lowering his head. "It was the monsters that surfaced this in her. It just scares me that she may need more than I can give... I just don't know what I would do..." Shysage did finish the three chapters that included the bulk of Summer's abduction, on that day. It was hard for him too, but it needed to be done. Still, the results of that tragic night impacted Summer for a number of days... ...and beyond... ...even now... The next day was their trip, so there would be some time away from it anyway. As he wrapped up his work, Summer and Fluttershy dropped by. They were having an amazing day together, and Summer wanted to spend the night at Fluttershy's. "Summer" Shysage said with a smile "I want what's best for you, and your sister is amazing too. Just remember to be at the Library tomorrow morning for the Air Coach." Shysage was soon laying on the floor in his empty house. Shysage really did want what was best for Summer. That's what true friends do. But he also wanted to be able to do more... That would have to wait he thought... Shysage didn't like that thought. He sighed. The trip was a blur. The three of them got through the Portal ten minutes before the last bell, and just walked over to the bleachers and waited. Just like clockwork, all seven Equestria Girls were soon there, and crowded around Summer and Fluttershy for any news. Everypony on both sides of the Portal seemed to be doing ok. Still, Summer knew something was bugging her Twin, but that would need to wait till later. They enjoyed dinner at the Cake's, then returned to Fluttershy's apartment, then just talked a while. They had all spent last weekend at the Apple's farm, it was a lot of fun. Twilight had transferred back to Equestria High too, so she was always close. Equestria Girls Summer was trying to continue what Summer herself had started. She had seen the videos of all her talks. Still Summer had real homework now, and it was challenging. Equestria Girls Fluttershy was just so happy to have her sister back. Too soon, it was very late, and everypony had to leave. They all stood up and hugged, and cried together, then Summer and Fluttershy hugged everyone as they left. As soon as it was just the two Summers, the two Fluttershy's and Shysage, the two Fluttershy's soul-linked immediately, and were quiet. Summer didn't even wait for the link. "Twin I'm having the same problem you are..." She began to weep softly. "I was gang-raped maybe two months before the wreck. While I was Corn I didn't even remember. But now... I just can't get it out of my head... And it seems like it is just getting worse... I just don't know what to do..." Equestria pony Summer just held her Twin as she cried. "I'm broken too Twin" she said softly. They were soon crying together... ...and at the same time... Both Fluttershy's were out of their link now, and said together "Sis we both love both of you very much. Just let us know if there is anything we can do..." The four of them just hugged all together, and cried a while. Shysage cared deeply about everyone in this room. But he felt so helpless... Huge needs... No resources... It was very late. They were soon standing in front of the Portal, still crying. Fluttershy pulled herself away, and went through... Summer pulled herself away and went through... Equestria Girls Summer hugged Shysage. "I wish I could do more for both of you" Shysage said quietly. "It will work out" Summer said quietly. Shysage went through the Portal and was soon back in Equestria. Shysage was used to this, he threw himself forward at the Equestria end of the Portal tunnel. He looked around quickly, Summer wasn't there. Fluttershy was there. Princess Celestia was there. "Did Summer come through already?" Shysage asked. Fluttershy answered... ...by falling to the floor in tears. "Where's my sister..." she cried. Princess Celestia interrupted both of them and asked curtly "What is going on Shysage, where is Summer Rain?" Shysage walked over to Princess Celestia and bowed. He was thinking as he talked. "Princess I saw Summer go through the Portal ahead of me. "I know she is back in Equestria. "The Portal must have placed her in a different time. "Whether future or past we have no way of knowing." Shysage stopped choking back tears at this point, and cried loudly. He walked over to Fluttershy, and lay next to her and cried with her. After a few minutes, Princess Celestia walked over to them both and said quietly "This will hurt no two ponies in the realm more than you two... I am so sorry... When you are ready there is an Air Coach down below to take you both home. Then Princess Celestia left, weeping softly herself. Shysage tried to stop crying. It mostly worked. "Fluttershy please sit up a minute." She slowly did. "Fluttershy please... I am not your sister, but please let me be your brother and take care of you until your sister comes back. I don't want to leave you alone. You don't deserve that..." Shysage was pleading at this point. Fluttershy just threw her front legs around Shysage's neck and sobbed. They both did. Their Summer was gone. Neither remembered how they made it to Flutershy's cottage, but they woke up the next morning to Princess Twilight gently asking Fluttershy of she wanted to come stay with her. It was clear Princess Twilight had been crying. Shysage realized everypony probably knew now. After they left, he flew unsteadily to his new house, walked in the door, and collapsed on the floor where Summer had last slept next to him. "Summer please come back..." then he wept Shysage had Summer's story to finish, by himself... Volume four of Princess Celestia's Commentaries... He didn't even want to get up off the floor. Somehow he did get up, and he did get back to work. He was a responsible pony. But everything around him increasingly became... ...distant... ...echoes... His nightmare had begun. Princess Twilight, and her girls; their nightmare had begun. Equestria's nightmare had begun.