//------------------------------// // Chapter 24, Road to Recovery // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 9 -- Future Perfect // by shysage //------------------------------// Shysage and I, we could have stayed there in the grass outside Princess Twilight's Castle, and hugged and cried all day with our girls, Cel and Lu, Equestria's Princesses. After maybe 35 years of being mere appendages to a terrible monster, Cel and Lu were cut free and safe. Equestria was safe too. Both monsters had been killed, and a few Sonic Rainbooms had signalled to Equestria's very soul, that it was safe for ponies to return to the kingdom. And devotion had already been restored to Princess Twilight's circle, and that, in and of itself was so amazing... ... After Cel and Lu woke up, maybe mid-morning, we were on the grass, just relaxing together. Lu and I were hugging and crying softly still. I think Shysage and I had no intention of doing anything else. But that had to change... Rose's other Panther friends (Felicia, Dawn and Alyssa) had run off, probably to eat, Fluttershy said earlier. Rose was still very close to me, but not crying much. I think my brave Panther friend felt a lot better. Fluttershy was still a people, right next to me, helping with her. But Rose's three Panther friends brought Rose some breakfast, a large, bloody chunk of some sort of animal. It wasn't part of a Pony, Fluttershy assured us. Still, Fluttershy said we all NEEDED to move a good distance away from Rose as she ate. Magic gently moved Cel and Lu, although Cel probably could have walked. Fluttershy, Shysage and I changed into ponies, and were soon on our bellies, back next to Cel and Lu. Well, we had all moved away so Rose could eat. But I didn't want to move far, because I wanted Rose to know I was still near. Rose was pretty hungry. And after she ate whatever it was, the four of them just napped right there for an hour or two. And, so far, Cel had smiled at her Twin, Principal Celestia, but Lu had not even acknowledged her Twin, Vice-Principal Luna. This didn't surprise me, it was probably still too early for my precious Lu. But it was absolutely amazing that Lu could talk to Cel, Shysage and I. It was hard to not cry at this. The Raritys, Filias and Fionas brought some rags and clean water, and gently tended to the scabs that ran down Cel and Lu's backs along their spine. The sores seemed to be healing ok, and didn't look infected at all. Afterwards, Princess Twilight asked about cleaning the deep cuts on Rose's leg, but Sis (Fluttershy) quickly said that was not a good idea. When Rose was ready to get up and walk, she would. She would be fine. Well, maybe around noon, Rose did get up and walk -- the short distance over to me! I petted and scratched her, as best as I could as a pony, and I talked to her. I really was glad for her help with Phantasma, and I wanted her to know that. Lu was right next to me, and she looked up at Rose. Lu quietly asked me if she should be scared. I began to weep softly, and told Lu that Rose helped us get she and her sister cut away from Phantasma. Lu smiled, and said "Thank you, Rose." I just cried... ... Princess Twilight also declared today to be open season for Sonic Rainbooms, and the Rainbow Dash Twins and Shyna Twins headed off to play in the sky. Playing, in this Equestria... I guessed it had been a while... Watching them as they flew occasionally over Ponyville, near the Castle, it was clear that Equestria pony Rainbow Dash was directing a pretty substantial workout. Later in the day, we heard why. Four individual Sonic Rainbooms, maybe fifteen seconds apart, blasted out across Equestria from Ponyville. These four amazing Pegasi did this a few times that afternoon. ... Camille came to the Castle, by herself, maybe around noon, and was quickly crying and hugging with the Filia and Fiona Twins. Crying with long lost friends... Before heading back to Dawn, Camille got both blankets. With tears in her eyes, she said they already had some new ponies staying at Helping Hands. I just smiled. "Camille, get ready for a lot more..." It was a warm, sunny day, and Cel, Lu, Shysage and I spent most of the day relaxing in the grass, enjoying the warmth. Shysage and I stayed right next to Cel and Lu, and I think none of us really wanted to do anything else. We didn't mind. I think Cel and Shysage talked quite a bit. It was clear that Cel was feeling a lot better. They talked about a lot of different stuff, nothing in particular. Lu and I mostly listened, and I would occasionally say something. At one point, I hugged Lu tightly, and quietly asked "Lu, honey, how are you doing? Lu sighed then said quietly "I think I'm getting better. Phantasma taunted us a lot. At first, when Phantasma fell asleep, Cel and I would talk together, and I knew Cel was trying to encourage me..." Cel and Shysage were silent and listening at this point, and Cel started to cry softly. Lu continued. "...When Phantasma heard us talking once, she said she would kill the other if either of us talked, ever again... Mom... It was just so hard... My sister... And we couldn't even talk..." Of course Lu was crying now too, and I hugged her tightly, and cried with her. I could not even imagine... We cried together for a while. Decades... This must have been excruciating for our girls... Well, at least both were safe now. I didn't think there was any rush with this. I would give Lu as much time as she needed. Shysage asked Cel if she had Twin Linked with her Twin yet. Cel's answer made us all cry again... "Dad, my Twin and I are going to wait until Lu is ready..." We all cried softly together for a little while more. Out of nowhere, maybe, I asked Shysage... I didn't even pay attention who was around, I don't know. We had been talking about Twins, and I was just thinking it, so I asked... "Shysage, where do you think our Twins are? I have been tip-toeing around that question since we first got..." Well, I started crying, and Cel did too, well and both Fluttershys... Shysage moved so he could hug me, and he let me cry on his shoulder for a few minutes, which I appreciated, then he tried to answer, quietly. "Regardless what happened between all of Princess' girls, and on both sides of the Portal, I can't see my Twin ever abandoning Equestria... And, no matter what, I can't see my Twin ever leaving your Twin. That's just... not... possible..." Shysage was trying not to cry himself, and I hugged him tightly for a few minutes. Still crying some, I had to ask what was on my mind. "Well, where do you think they are then?" And I knew this was anypony's guess... Shysage thought a minute, then said quietly "They are probably somewhere here in Equestria, and together. And they probably waited until your Twin's parents died before they came here." I happened to catch Equestria Girls Fluttershy's face as Shysage explained this. Her eyes slowly grew wider... When Shysage was done, she was crying... "My Sis..." was all she could say for a while, as her Twin (my sister Fluttershy) hugged her and cried with her. After crying for some time, Equestria Girls Fluttershy tried to explain what she knew. "Even through the hard times we all had together, my Summer and Shysage never had any problems, and worked hard to help us all just get along... Maybe ten years later, they just disappeared. I guess we suspected the worst, they were always helping others, as our world had become a terribly dangerous place..." Equestria Girls Fluttershy was doing ok, then began to cry pretty hard. She barely got this out... "...But I just realized as you... They disappeared a few days after mom's funeral..." Equestria Girls Fluttershy just cried "I want my Sis..." She said this over and over again as she cried... I moved and hugged her, too... Losing a sister, twice... Still, I think we all hoped that Shysage was right about this. ... After quite a while, we all calmed down again, and Shysage moved back next to Cel, and I moved back along side Lu. As soon as I was back at her side, Lu said this to me, almost whispering "Mom, I have a Twin too, right?" Well, I started crying right away, and I couldn't say anything. And both Fluttershys did too, because I think they knew why... Lu's Twin (Vice Principal Luna) watched this through the Twin Link, and got quickly up, but walked slowly over to Lu. Like the first time Twins meet, the Luna Twins sat facing each other, hugged, and wept softly together, and quickly fell into the Twin Link... I don't know if I have ever mentioned this, but their Aura was very dark Blue. Cel and her Twin soon followed, and Cel and Lu stayed Soul Linked with their Twins most of the afternoon. Shysage and I just cried... The Celestia and Luna Twins came out of the Soul Link at about the same time. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were quickly hugging and crying together. We just left them alone. After thirty five years... They both needed this... Later, Equestria's Princesses asked Princess Twilight over, and the three of them hugged tightly, and cried softly together for a while more. As the Sun headed for the trees, it was clear that Lu, well Princess Luna, was doing a lot better. Whether it was mom time, Twin time or sister time didn't really matter. This was all about Equestria, and Equestria needed these three amazing Princesses. The three of them were recovering well from this ordeal, and watching them cry together... I think this, more than anything else, seemed to clearly indicate that Equestria was on the road to recovery... As this all unfolded around us that afternoon, both Fluttershys and four huge Black Panthers were always close by. As much as she could, Rose spent the afternoon next to me. She hobbled off with the girls to get some food, and came back later. The material Shysage had wrapped around her leg was gone now. Her leg looked bloody, but there were no open, bleeding areas. Fluttershy said Rose would take care of it from here. Well, Rose hobbled back to me when they came back. I fussed over my animal friend. I realized I would need to decide where I would spend the night tonight. I quickly decided a lot of that would depend on Rose... ... Ok, so Sun in the trees meant it would start getting dark soon. Princess Twilight asked everypony to head to the meadows and find some food and water. Cel and Lu were doing a fair job of walking slowly, and Princess led them into the meadow behind the Castle. Evidently, there was a large patch of Oats that Princess and everypony else had been saving... Cel and Lu really appreciated that, and ate well. Shysage and I, both Fluttershys and both Shynas headed past Dawn's to the meadow to the East. Rose was clearly limping still (well I was too), so we went slow so she could keep up. Once to the meadow, the four Panthers ran off (Rose hobbled), and got their own food. Us ponies took our time, ate some and got a drink, then settled down on that small hill together. "Shysage, where do you think your Twin would be here?" I asked. Both Fluttershys and I started weeping softly, right away. Maybe I shouldn't have asked this until Shysage and I were alone... Shysage hugged me then said quietly "Well, he spent most of his life in Manehatten, so I am guessing that they are now, or soon will be in the process of seeing what they can do to help that city come back to life." Shysage thought a minute, then added quietly "It will probably be weeks before we can go try to find them..." Well, an Air Coach was surely out of the question. After almost four decades, new Air Coaches would need to be built again. And the powerful Pegasi that fly them -- there is a lot of training for that. Of course, that made me wonder how Cloudsdale was faring. And this made me think about Fluttershy and my mom and dad, and this made me cry again. I guess my Sis, well, Equestria pony Fluttershy started crying too. We both knew our parents were also long gone... ... Our Panther friends came back a little before dusk, and we all slowly headed back to the Castle. Rose was walking a little better, but was still slow. She rested while I went into Dawn's and hugged everypony for a few minutes. The new ponies staying there, I didn't recognize them at all. It didn't matter. Most of the ponies from Shysage and my present, they were dead now... The Equestria rising back up would be mostly a whole new generation. After I came back out, we finished our walk to the Castle. We left both Fluttershys outside and they got the Panthers settled down, then they came back inside a little while later. ... Everypony else was already in the Castle, in the Library. Well, Cel and Lu both got up and hugged Shysage and I for a few minutes when we came in. Cel and Lu then both returned to their Twins. Princess Twilight, her Twin, and the rest of Princess Twilight's girls were spread out on the floor around Cel and Lu. Cel, well Princess Celestia was very interested in what had happened to the ponies in this circle, leading up to today. Both Twilights did a good job of narrating everything that had happened, starting with Shysage's appearance maybe six months ago, Fluttershy's arrival maybe a month ago, and my time here starting over a week ago. Wow, I've only been here less than two weeks... That made me cry... Still, over a number of hours, and with questions from Cel mostly, we all slowly brought her up to speed on the amazing chain of events... This included Equestria Girls Twilight Sparkle's last six months, and the Equestria Girls meeting, and return through the Portal, killing Eschate Zumulus, the restoration of devotion in Princess Twilight's circle, followed by rescuing she and her sister with Rose's help, then the death of Phantasma. After this was done, most everypony was just crying softly. This really was all about Equestria, and Equestria's hand in all this was so clear... And so much had happened, even in the last week... It was getting late though. Most everypony Soul-Linked with their Twin some, then went to sleep. Well, I couldn't sleep... This was strange, because I had not slept at all last night. Shysage and I were on the outer edge of the group anyway, but I was still working hard to not cry. We moved a good distance away at first, and Shysage asked what was hurting. I just cried, but I think he realized anyway. We were surrounded by eleven sets of Twins. I think I was hurting for my Twin, Equestria Girls Summer Rain. And I was hurting for Equestria Girls Fluttershy; she needed her sister (my Twin) back, too... Shysage hugged me as I cried quietly for a while. I had been putting this fear off since we came here, and I think he knew this was a growing concern for me. We both knew there was nothing we could do about it right now. "Summer, I need a bath..." Shysage said, well, out of the blue... I... This was just amazing... I so love the way Shysage can know how to help me... I don't know. We managed to sneak quietly past four sleeping Panthers, and then, after changing into people, we walked slowly together to the meadow off to the East. The Moon wasn't full, but it was high. We did take a bath together, as people, but we kept our clothes on. They needed a bath too! Then we stood in the meadow and hugged and kissed as people for a while, until our nice Equestria Girls clothes dried out. Then we changed into ponies, and... Shysage made me feel like a princess... I think I really needed that... It was a nice, warm night, and we splashed and played in the lake for a while afterwards. Soaking wet, we climbed out, flopped down in the grass, and rubbed noses a while until we dried off. Then we wandered over to that little hill, laying on our bellies about as close to each other as we could get. Shysage hugged me tightly. We didn't say very much, because not much needed to be said. Well, we thanked true friend together. Still, I love my Stallion. I don't ever want to leave him... Rose hobbled up, and the three of us were quickly asleep on that hill. We spent that night together there.