//------------------------------// // Chapter 16, Fitting Back In // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 3 -- Follow the Equestrium // by shysage //------------------------------// It was pretty late after Equestria pony Summer Rain shared her last thoughts about the role of everypony present in Summer and Shysage's life, and their amazing trip. The lamps were soon dimmed, and everypony was settling down for the night, next to their Twin. Summer couldn't sleep however, and so her Twin was having trouble too. Nopony needed to tell Equestria Girls Summer what was going on. She said softly "Twin, feel free to go to him... I know he is amazing, and he's probably hurting as much as you are. You both need each other now... I'll be fine." Equestria pony Summer was crying quietly as she hugged her Twin, then she headed out of the Library, down the hall, to the front door of the Castle. Summer quickly found Shysage... He was laying on one of the steps of the Castle, crying softly. Summer put her head down and rubbed Shysage's nose, then said quietly "Shysage, your house is our home now -- lets go home." Shysage got up and together they went to 'their home', and collapsed together on the floor in 'their room', which used to be Summer's room. Summer and Shysage were soon facing each other, as ponies, hugging tightly, and crying together. They tried to keep their hind-quarters apart, but neither were too worried about this right now. They both just hurt a lot and needed each other close. They both cried like that for maybe two hours, then fell asleep that way. The next morning in the Library, everypony guessed where Equestria pony Summer was, and why. Everypony would probably be surprised if she was still here. Still, Princess Celestia mentioned that she needed to talk to everypony, as soon as all the Twins were awake. She didn't feel the need to rush this, but felt some things needed to be said in mom's absence. In maybe half an hour, everypony else was spread around Cel and Lu, who had not put their crowns back on yet. Cel spoke softly... "I want to start by saying that I am not talking to you as subjects... You are all trusted, beloved friends. "There is a lot about mom and dad... (Summer and Shysage to you precious ponies) ...that I still don't understand. "But the very first night the Portal threw them together into the past, dad proposed to mom, and she officially accepted the next day, and they both immediately pulled Lu and I into their new family. "And by the way, any court in Equestria would find that proposal the binding basis for marriage, and would also view that first committment as superceding any following ones, so I don't know... "Still, Lu and I never saw mom and dad fight, or quarrel... They never even disagreed... They were simply and completely devoted to each other and to us... This was all so clear... "When we all first 'met' Fluttershy's sister Summer Rain, maybe seven months ago, her main focus was true friendship, and the 'putting others first' that made that happen. And it was already clear to me that the 'Canterlot Recorder' lived exactly the same way. "While raising us, mom and dad never mentioned true friendship. But they so clearly reflected it in everything they did and said, for Lu and I and between themselves. And I have no idea why Lu and I never made the connection... "I never dreamed that Lu and I would ever get our mom and dad back, but that has become our reality, and we are so thankful... "But I know they are both hurting a lot now... And this is maybe compounded by obligations Shysage feels from his past in the Equestria Girls world, which will probably just make everything harder. "But our mom and dad's 'family' is made up of you... ...the rest of the amazing girls in this room... They are living among you now... Please take care of them for us..." Both Lu and Cel were crying at this point, and everypony else just gathered around them and hugged them and cried with them. They were all 'family' now... They would all do their best... They were all in this together now too... And after this, Cel and Lu put their crowns back on. Summer and Shysage woke early the next morning, the same way they had fallen asleep, and both immediately began crying again, and just hugged each other tight. After maybe an hour, their crying slowed, and Summer suggested maybe flying some. Shysage said very quietly "Summer, I really don't want to move away from you here... But I realize that you should head back to the Castle at some point. You decide how you want to do that, and I will make it work." Summer replied, also softly "Shysage, I suggested that because I am feeling very pulled... I really want you closer to me... I can't hel--" and she began to cry again... "Oh, Summer..." Shysage said quietly. He thought for a minute, then asked "Can you lay next to my chest and neck? Will that be a problem?" "That will be less of a problem, I think..." Summer said as she rolled over, then climbed up under his front legs "Still, Shysage... I just love you so mu--" and she was crying again... Shysage hugged her tightly, and she put both her front legs over his, and hugged him back... Summer said through tears "Shysage, I'm sorry... Everything hurts, and I think you're the only pony that can help me right now..." "Summer, have I ever told you that I will love you no matter what?" Shysage asked softly. "Oh, Shysage... I need you so... Please just hold me..." Summer replied. For maybe half an hour more, Shysage held his Mare, and they wept softly together. During that half hour, Shysage likewise began to feel 'pulled'... "Summer, maybe we should go flying now. I'm feeling it too..." Summer rolled out from under his front legs, and got up, then Shysage got up too. They sat facing each other, and rubbed noses briefly, then Shysage said "Mare..." Summer just answered softly "Yes, Stallion..." They were both looking into each other's eyes at this point. Shysage said "We need to try to avoid 'messing up', whatever that means... But Summer, I won't love you any less if it happens. Neither of us could have planned on all this..." Summer pulled Shysage close and hugged him tightly, trying not to cry... It was quiet for a few minutes, as they hugged each other tight. Neither wanted to let go during that time. Then Shysage backed away a little, then looked into his Mare's eyes again. "Summer, do you remember our first year with Cel and Lu?" Shysage asked quietly. "You laughed a lot more... I love your laugh, and I really miss that..." "Well, the second year was a lot harder... And then coming back..." Summer said quietly. "Still, I miss wandering around Ponyville, making new friends, too... Or meeting new girls at my Twin's school, that was just amazing..." Summer and Shysage both sighed at the same time... "Maybe we can get back to living like that soon..." Shysage said softly... It was early, and Shysage and his Mare were soon up in the air flying lazily around Ponyville together. They had missed that too. What they both really needed was time... They wouldn't get it... ... The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 4 -- Fury Run