Hi, it's me, Summer Rain.
The Canterlot Recorder is asleep on our couch. I feel really bad for him, the account of 'PonyRos' Takeover' has become such a complicated research project. He tries really hard to get the details right; that's his job. But details are the hard part at this point.
The main issue is details about Star Dusk.
Zecora was able to help some. The fact that Star Dusk accidentally wore the Alicorn Amulet briefly was certainly an ominous portent.
He also ran into Trixie in the Canterlot Library, and he took a long shot and asked her if she knew Star Dusk. Trixie sheepishly admittedly she spent quite a bit of time 'around her', and she may not have been as kind to Star Dusk as she should have been.
Well, reading between the lines, maybe things were a little worse than that. Evidently, Star Dusk felt the need to try and avoid Trixie, which was not good...
Still, Star Dusk's life and death was a tragedy, and the Canterlot Recorder knew that there had to have been more pressure than that, in order to 'push her over the edge' (his words).
Oh, and we also walked last night with Princess Twilight. We all really enjoy doing that together, and, as the Fury Run showed, we need to try to stay vigilant around our little town as best as we can. Our Princess really is amazing. I thanked her for actually getting us up last night. We both enjoy sharing this task with our Princess.
So my Stallion, the Canterlot Recorder is asleep.
Well, one of my official titles is 'the Canterlot Recorder's Assistant', so I can do this too, right?
I am not very good at the 'detached, descriptive third person' like the Canterlot Recorder is, but he assured me I would do fine. We always go through our work together anyway.
While the Canterlot Recorder focuses on trying to piece together Star Dusk's life, I am just trying to keep up with what is going on in the lives of our amazing friends, on both sides of the Portal. We both dearly love them all...
Actually locating the Canterlot Recorder's Twin was amazing, and seemed to happen at just the right time for my Twin as well.
What my Twin (Equestria Girls Summer Rain) had been exposed to during PonyRos' takeover, just seemed to overwhelm her, in so many ways. Well, it overwhelmed some of the rest of us, too.
And, with my Twin, thankfully, this didn't surface in her, until everything started to get back to normal, and we could actually give her the attention she needed. I love my Twin, she is amazing.
My Stallion is amazing too; he was leading us to his Twin even as my Twin was slowly spinning out of control.
And I don't know if this came across, but the actual working out of the first, maybe 30 minutes after Equestria pony Shysage walked up, with the four of us, together, as two sets of Twins, was just absolutely amazing. I guess you need to understand the Twins for that to make a lot of sense.
The Canterlot Recorder's Twin fixed a lot of things in my Twin; she was actually waiting for him in many ways. But we all realized that he had a huge amount of learning to do. His first destination was the Equestria Girls world, which was a totally new world for him.
The first night we all got back together with Princess Twilight and her girls, us mares all spent the evening together, and it was an amazing time. It was just so relaxing, since everypony realized that their friend, Equestria Girls Summer, was doing so much better.
Evidently, that same night, Shysage and his Twin spent hours together talking, as my Stallion tried to explain as much as he could about the Equestria Girls world. It is a lot more dangerous than Equestria. Clearly, after all those hours, he had barely scratched the surface.
My Stallion mentioned to me that he was trying to make life easier for my Twin, once they were in her world, and I told him I really appreciated that. Well, I think I kissed him too. He knows things like that mean a lot to me.
The next day, we all went through the Portal to the Equestria Girls world.
Princess Twilight and her girls headed to the bleachers behind the High School, and the Rainbow Dash Twins jumped together and immediately into Soccer practice, since it was maybe mid-morning. They were late, but just blended right in.
My Twin had us get her Shysage quickly over to Fluttershy's apartment.
Well, right off, she gasped loudly when she saw him for the first time in her world. His 'Equestria Girls' form took my Twin's breath away; she realized he was very handsome here.
Once to Fluttershy's apartment, he changed into some 'toned down' clothes to replace the flashy clothes the Portal gave him. My Twin didn't want any other girls to 'get any ideas', whatever that meant.
Well, a Tan Sweatshirt, White T-Shirt, Blue Jeans and Blue sneakers -- My Twin had already picked this stuff up 'just in case'. I had to laugh at that.
Equestria pony Shysage picked up walking quickly, and he and my Stallion just relaxed on both sides of our group, keeping an eye out for everypony while us ladies just sat and talked, for about two hours.
Some High School ladies wandered up too, and talking to them was amazing. I really miss that...
After Soccer practice was done, we all headed back to the Portal wall for tearful, but not too difficult goodbyes. I made it a point to hug all of the Equestria Girls, they are all so amazing, too.
My Stallion and I told my Twin and her Shysage we would ask true friend to help them both. My Twin really appreciated this.
Then my Stallion and I came back through the Portal last, and together as we usually do.
It was good to be home again. The Canterlot Recorder and I could actually relax. I think we were both hoping that life could get back to 'normal' for us, whatever 'normal' is.
Well, we could relax when he wasn't trying to figure out Star Dusk. He is not very 'detached' as a historian, and is increasingly taking a personal interest into what actually went wrong in her tragic life. He hoped this might help others, at least...
And we still have not been asked to record this account, but consider it just a matter of time.
That afternoon, my Stallion asked for some time alone so he could think through some things about Star Dusk.
I didn't think twice about this, and hugged him tightly, then sent him off. I think he headed to the meadow to the East.
I wandered into town, then played Checkers for a while with Derpy. Well, it had been a while since we visited together, too, and I really missed that. She beat me every game of course, and I did really try. Derpy is just very good at Checkers.
The whole time we just talked. We chatted about what was going on in our lives, in Ponyville, in Equestria, things like that. I didn't drag up any details that I knew about, but just spoke in very general terms. I was more interested in what she had to say.
I gave her a big hug as I headed to the door. I told her I really enjoyed our visit, and hoped to not be such a stranger.
Derpy teared up and said "Summer, why are you doing this?"
I didn't have to think very long. I said quietly "Derpy, you are my friend. I try to do anything I can for my friends. And I really enjoy our time together."
"Thank you, Summer, you made my day" Derpy said, also quietly.
I hugged her again, then headed off.
I wandered slowly through Ponyville, to the East meadow to find my Stallion. He was still laying on his belly on the hill there.
I thought through some things I could do as I walked up. I really love him a lot. Rather than do any of those things, I just lay next to him and said softly "Shysage, I love you."
"Summer, I love you too" he said immediately. I appreciate that he always makes time for me, no matter what he is doing or thinking about.
It was quiet for a minute.
"Summer, I have a theory about what may have been weighing so heavily on Star Dusk's mind and heart. I am just not sure how to test it." He said slowly.
"Well, lets eat and fly. And I'll ask true friend to help you" I replied with a smile.
We ate some Oats, walked to the lake for a drink, then flew for a while. Rainbow Dash joined us for some of that time. It was just amazing to be in the air with friends.
Near dusk, we stopped by and visited Princess Twilight at her Castle. We bowed, then both hugged her. I asked if she had any errands that she needed us to run for her.
Princess said "Oh, Summer..." then gave me a hug again. Then she said "Not today, but ask me again tomorrow because you never know..." then she smiled.
I love our Princess.
Then we went home.
My Stallion held me close, and we fell asleep.
The next day was so completely unlike any other day we have ever had together.
I spent most of the day with my sister, and that is always amazing.
But what my Stallion did...
The details of this amazing day are recorded elsewhere. We decided together that it really should get it's own 'volume', since it wraps so amazingly around Chapter 2 of the first Chronicles.
Since the first chapter of the first Chronicles is sort of a 'cinematic overview', chapter 2 is actually the first 'real' chapter, and details my initial experiences with Princess Twilight and her girls.
That chapter still makes me cry... And the Portal sending my Stallion back two years to get me that amazing book... It just so amazingly sets the stage for what happened in chapter 2.
And I did remember that day, and I would never have thought that 'dumb Pegasus' was my Stallion...
We both cried a lot, together, that day...
Early the next morning, my Stallion and I got up together. We ate some Oats in the meadow, drank some water, then flew around Ponyville for a while. Fluttershy and Rainbow joined us, it was just an amazing way to start our day.
We headed back to our house, and spent a few minutes rubbing noses.
The Canterlot Recorder then moved some blank sheets of paper, some quills and ink, and his 'clip' thing -- into his shoulder sack.
Then we flew to Canterlot in a relaxed sort of way. It took about an hour.
Before doing anything else, we found Cel (Princess Celestia) in the Audience Hall. She was waiting on an appointment, and we spent some time hugging together. Lu (Princess Luna) joined us as well.
The Canterlot Recorder explained what he was doing, and Cel assured him that she would fund such an effort. She also added, that she did indeed want dad to put this account together, and she thanked him for getting it going already.
Cel's appointment showed up, and Lu clearly needed some sleep.
We headed out the door of the Audience Hall, then walked quickly to the Library.
My Stallion made two signs, that read the same:
Canterlot is researching Star Dusk's tragic life.
Any stallions with information, please come to
the Library Lobby for an interview, and 5 bits.
Well, 5 bits for just an interview was a LOT. Still, the Canterlot Recorder knew it would probably take that much to get the kind of information he was after. Cel agreed.
We posted the signs on the board next to the Audience Hall doors, and on the board in front of the Library, then we went into the Library Lobby, and waited. Well, the Canterlot Recorder sat in front of a table where he could take notes, and I walked into a nearby room, found a book, and just read.
We didn't need names.
'Stallion A' came in first. He evidently spent some time with Star Dusk maybe four months ago. They got along fairly well, but their interests were largely divergent. He was a Pegasus.
'Stallion B' was next. He was brash and conceited. He said clearly that Star Dusk was attractive, but she just didn't want to 'play' at all... The Canterlot Recorder gave him his bits and sent him off...
"Stallion C' complained that Star Dusk had put him to sleep, in the middle of a nice time together, then she left. Boom, right out of nowhere. He never saw her again. He was asked why Star Dusk put him to sleep, and he just shrugged. He was asked what he had said right before Star Dusk put him to sleep. This stallion looked down immediately and a minute later mumbled something that couldn't be understood. The second time he said a little louder "...I asked her to roll over..." The Canterlot Recorder was supposed to be collecting information, but this...
'Stallion D' and 'stallion E' sounded a lot like 'stallion B' with minor variations. Well, 'stallion E' mentioned that Star Dusk didn't like being touched.
'Stallion F' spent some time with Star Dusk, in the Audience Hall, AFTER PonyRos' takeover, and the Canterlot Recorder would have ordinarily dismissed this as not a part of what he was looking for. Still, this stallion got a hearing, and his bits. This stallion mentioned that he and Star Dusk spent a lot of time together in the Audience Hall just talking, on a number of occasions, and Star Dusk seemed to really enjoy that. This stallion said that she seemed really troubled. Well they did other stuff too, but he didn't feel he could say no to that, at the time.
No other stallions showed up for the next hour, so my Stallion came and got me, and we retrieved the signs, and we were done. He was very quiet, and I could tell he was fighting his emotions...
At one point, he said, very irritated "What do we expect a mare to do, if no stallions want to take the time to be her friend..."
That was all I needed to hear. I led him out 'somewhere' into the Commons lawn, then I stopped him, and we hugged. He was soon crying loudly on my shoulder...
This really was a tragedy. And I had seen the same thing 'first hand' at the High school in the Equestria Girls world too...
I also knew where these tears belonged. I had led him to Star Dusk's grave. We cried for her, together, there, for a while...
The next few days were calm at any rate.
In the mornings, my Stallion 'worked'; well he was writing.
I usually wandered into town and visited, or else spent time with my amazing sister, Fluttershy. One morning when Sis and I were together, I told her about that day in Cloudsdale when I tried to 'fall off' the clouds, and that I realized I just couldn't do that to her. We cried together for a while... It's just hard to explain how much I love Fluttershy...
One of those mornings, I ran into Snips again. I asked him if he was selling anything, and he looked at me like I was crazy. I guess he had changed. He was helping weed someponies' yard.
The Canterlot Recorder started in on the text for PonyRos' takeover. The opening chapter was just hard. My Stallion really felt bad for her...