"Ma'am, we may have a problem." Mrs. Appleby gasped out as she burst into Celestia's office, a little shocked to find both Principal and Vice-Principal there enjoying a cup of coffee and donuts...while smiling. Sure the two got along well enough when at school, but there was always an air of tension between them. Now they seemed more than happy, eager to be there together. If it wasn't for what was going on, it would be such a nice scene to walk in on. Now wasn't the time though.
"Coffee, Mrs. Appleby?" Luna asked, motioning to the brewing pot on the short filing cabinet. Though she seemed to become more serious, the Vice-Principal still seemed to have a lighter air about her.
"I'm afraid we don't have the time. The crusaders skipped school and Sunrise chased after them...I think to bring them back before they could get in trouble." Mrs. Appleby gasped out, partially out of breath after hurrying all the way from the side entrance to the school where it was the easiest way to sneak out of you wanted.
"I'm sure my daughter will make sure they come back safely." Celestia sighed, rubbing her forehead as she put her mug on her desk. Standing up, Luna followed suit as they fully faced Mrs. Appleby.
"Haven't you seen all of the messages on the school's site?" Mrs. Appleby asked, nervous as she saw the sisters exchange confused glances, Luna giving off a nervous chuckle.
"Well...we kind of spent a long time last night talking and...I haven't really looked yet this morning." Luna admitted sheepishly as she was usually the one who kept up with all of that. There were even rumors that Luna was some kind of computer and gaming genius, though nobody except Luna herself, and possibly her sister, knew for sure.
"You better look, somehow somebody knows who turned Gilda in and they're calling the girls heros for it." Mrs. Appleby said, "If Gilda sees it..."
"Luna, call the police station and ask them to please look for them." Celestia said, her face turning pale as realization of what could happen sunk in.
"Already on it." Luna said, not even bothering going to the main office, or her own, to use the school's phones. Instead she grabbed her own phone out of her purse and began dialing it.
Celestia was about to go for her own phone to try and call Sunrise, but stopped when the phone on her desk began to ring. Hoping that it was Sunrise, Celestia reached for the phone beating Mrs. Appleby to it, she lifted it to her ear saying, "Canterlot High School, Principal Celestia speaking, may I help you?"
"Yes, this is Officer Silver Shot of the Canterlot PD. There has been a stabbing involving one of your students and the victim is being rushed to the hospital. Some witnesses said that we should contact you to get ahold of the victim's parents." Silver Shot said over the phone making Celestia collapse into her chair, shaking a little as she nearly dropped the handset.
"Who is it?" Celestia asked, praying that it wasn't any of the four girls, though she really didn't want anybody to be hurt.
"One of the witnesses said her name was Sunset Shimmer." Silver Shot said, his voice steady though he sounded a little worried. "She stopped three other girl's from being stabbed...she's a hero."
"Her name is Sunrise Shimmer...and she's my daughter. Is...please tell me that she's okay." Celestia begged, letting out a soft sob as the silence seemed to be too long.
"She's...in bad shape. The medics are rushing her to the ER, but they will need somebody there to sign for her treatment. There's only so much they can do without it." Silver Shot said.
"The other three girls...are they okay?" Celestia asked, crying for her daughter while unable to help feeling a little pride that she protected the younger girls from being hurt.
"They're a little shaken up, but fine. We have the assailant in custody." Silver Shot said, making Celestia both happy for that while feeling a little regret that they did...because she wanted to kill whoever hurt her daughter.
"I'm heading to the ER now." Celestia said hanging up, looking up at Luna as she shakily got to her feet.
"Is she ok?" Luna asked worried, Celestia shaking her head no. "I'm coming with you."
"No...please...stay here and take care of things. Get the girls sisters and tell them what happened, then tell Fluttershy that Sunrise is in the hospital. Go ahead and...and...cancel school for the rest of the day." Celestia said, already moving past the two other women there.
"Maybe one of us should drive you dear." Mrs. Appleby suggested, but Celestia only shook her head.
"No, please you two just take care of the students for now. After the school's empty...please come to the hospital Luna. Please..." Celestia said, crying as Luna hugged her.
"She'll be okay Tia, she's strong. We'll be there as soon as we can." Luna said as Celestia nodded and pulled away, rushing out of the office to get to the hospital.
Celestia was a little surprised that she made it to the hospital without being pulled over once, though she knew she was going to get some tickets from running several red lights because of the traffic cameras. It didn't really matter though as her mind was pretty much on one thing at the moment...her daughter. Rushing straight into the the emergency room, Celestia pushed her way to the reception desk as the security guard eyed her warily from the frantic way she was acting despite probably seeing more than one person come running in like this.
"Where's my daughter...the police told me she was brought here." Celestia panted, giving the woman sitting behind the desk a pleading look as she looked up with a sympathetic, yet steady professional expression.
"What's her name?" The woman asked softly, tapping some keys on her computer.
"Sunrise Shimmer." Celestia said, unsure if they would even have her name...or her new name if anything.
"She's still in surgery Ma'am. If you want, go down this hall and turn right. There's a waiting room there and the doctor will be out as soon as possible to let you know what is going on." The woman said, swallowing a little before looking back up.
"Is she going to be okay?" Celestia asked, barely able to get the words out as she felt as if she was going to collapse.
"I'm sorry Ma'am, I really don't know anything other than she has the best doctors we have to offer on her case." The woman said surprising Celestia a little, though if it was true then she was a little more confident that her daughter would pull through, as the hospital's reputation as one of the best in the world was hard earned with it's collection of world renown doctors.
"Please...let me know what's going on as soon as possible." Celestia said softly as she trudged down the hall in search of the waiting room. When she found it she was shocked to see Shining Armor sitting there slumped over in a chair running his hands through his hair nervously.
"Shining?" Celestia asked a little shocked to see him there.
"Not how I wanted to meet my new cousin." Shining joked, his voice low and filled with worry. "I'm glad Silver got ahold of you. I came here with Sunrise to make sure they would take care of her and not wait for you."
"Thank you." Celestia sighed as she sat down next to him, giving him a comforting hug. "How...how is she?"
"It's...doesn't look good. They beat her pretty badly before stabbing her and...she's lost a lot of blood." Shining Armor explained as he began wringing his hands. "A nurse came out just before you got here and let me know that the blade missed any vital organs, but she lost so much blood and she has a head injury that they are worried about."
"What happened?" Celestia asked, tears flowing nonstop now as her worry came back with a vengance knowing all that had happened. What kind of monster would do this to her daughter?
"The judge let Gilda go last night to her parents care without any sort of bond. I swear I'm going to make sure he gets investigated because she should never have been released like that." Shining Armor growled out, "She wanted revenge on those girls who reported her, but Sunrise stopped it and let the girls get away to come get me while Sunrise...she must have faced them and paid for it. One of them apparently hit her in the head with a brick and beat her before Gilda stabbed her with a knife."
"I...I tried to give Gilda so many chances...I try to give all of my students every chance I can to help them...this is all my fault..." Celestia sobbed out.
"No it isn't, you didn't know this was going to happen. And if you gave up on everyone...well...Sunrise used to be Sunset didn't she? She used to be a huge troublemaker as well, but now according to you she's a great daughter and...she possibly saved three lives today." Shining Armor assured her. "If you gave up on her she would never have become the girl she is now. She's...she will be okay, Auntie, I just know it."
"I hope so, Shining...I...I can't lose her. She means so much to me. For the first time in so long I feel like my life has real meaning and a family. She brought Luna and me back together and...and she gave me a chance to be the mother I wanted to be for so long. I really do love her Shining."
"I know you do, and we won't lose her. I'm proud to call both you and her family." Shining Armor said with a smile. "Even if not by blood."
"Blood doesn't make a family, love does." A new voice said cutting in on their conversation. Looking up they saw a woman that neither knew too well, but had met on a few occassions.
"Hello Sheila." Shining Armor said in greeting, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to visit my wife and found out she was taking care of one of my new favorite patients." Sheila said. "Kimmie said that she should be okay, I just came from her office. She is worried a little about her head injury and...Sunrise isn't waking up. She seems to be in a coma...I'm really sorry. They will be moving her to an ICU room soon."
"Will she wake up soon?" Celestia sobbed out, Shining Armor rubbing her back trying to comfort her.
"Physically she is okay, all things considered, but she did sustain a minor concussion. She should wake up anytime...but when she came in she was out despite all efforts to keep her awake." A red haired woman said as she came in the room and took Sheila's hand as if she was seeking support. "She reminds me so much of myself...if not for the golden streaks in her hair she would look exactly like I did at that age."
"You...wait, your Kim Possible, the best brain surgeon in the world." Shining Armor said, realization dawning upon him of the identity of the woman.
"Sorry, I should have introduced myself. I have to admit I'm a little shaken up seeing her come in hurt like she did. When I saw her name though I insisted on taking over her care. I'm not just a surgeon you know." Kim explained. "She'll be in ICU at least twenty-four hours which means you two may see her...but no one under the age of eighteen will be allowed to visit her until she's moved to a regular room."
"What about her girlfriend?" Celestia asked, worried sick about her daughter but knowing Fluttershy was going to be just as upset and want to see Sunrise just as much.
"I'm sorry, I don't agree with it, but it is hospital policy." Kim sighed.
"I can't see her?" another voice asked drawing the attention of the group to an older woman and Fluttershy.
"I'm sorry dear." Kim sighed seeing the crushed look on the young girl's face. "You will be able to spend as much time with her as you want when she's moved tomorrow. She just got through having major surgery and needs the twenty-four hours of observation."
"She'll be okay honey." The older woman said softly, giving the girl a sideways hug as Fluttershy cried into her.
Rarity wasn't too sure what to expect when she opened the door to her little sister's room. Usually she wouldn't go in without permission first, but Sweetie Belle wasn't answering her. Rarity had been scared half to death when Vice-Principal Luna cancelled school for the day and had all of the administrators start calling parents to let them know, and announced that Rarity would need to come to her office along with Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. To be told that your little sister was at the police station waiting to be picked up was not something Rarity ever wanted to happen again.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" Rarity asked, looking across the normally spotless room that now had plushies thrown all over the place instead of being on the neat little perches they usually stayed at. Sweetie Belle sat on the cushioned window seat, hugging a stuffed tiger to her chest as she stared at the window, tear tracks running down her cheeks.
"I knew it was a bad idea, sis. I didn't want to be treated like a prisoner and have everyone watching us just because we turned Gilda in. I knew it was a bad idea to try and get away from it, but I went anyways...and now...Sunrise is hurt all because of us." Sweetie Belle said, sniffling a little as she kept looking out the window at nothing in particular.
"Oh Sweetie, it wasn't your fault." Rarity said softly as she walked closer to her little sister. "Besides darling, why are you so worried about Sunset? All she ever did was bully you girls."
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Sweetie Belle screamed, shooting up from her seat and throwing the tiger at Rarity. "I put up with that from Scootaloo and Applebloom...I won't put up with it from my own sister!"
"What on earth are you talking about, darling?" Rarity asked, catching the tiger with a shocked expression on her face.
"Talking bad about Sunrise...her name is SUNRISE! If any of you bothered to look you could see the changes in her! Fluttershy has...do you trust one of your best friend's judgement so little?" Sweetie Belle demanded, "I could be dead right now...I would be dead if it wasn't for Sunrise! Don't you dare...DON'T YOU DARE TALK BAD ABOUT HER!"
"I...I'm sorry." Rarity said, her eyes watering as realization started to sink in. She really didn't want to trust the girl...but she promised Fluttershy that she would try to give her a chance, yet haven't really even tried giving Sunrise any sort of a chance yet. Was Sweetie Belle right that Rarity hadn't bothered to really look at Sunrise to see the changes? She knew the answer and was ashamed of herself. Sunrise didn't have anything to gain by protecting Sweetie Belle, yet had done so. "I...I'm sorry...I...I owe her a lot just for protecting you."
"Why didn't we just go to school today?" Sweetie Belle sobbed out as she collapsed, causing Rarity to rush to her side and hold her. Not for the first time she found herself cursing their parents. Sure they weren't as bad as Rainbow Dash's father was apparently, but the couple cared more about making money than their children. Rarity was forced to practically raise Sweetie Belle on her own since their parents were always busy with work and ignored them for the most part aside from giving them money and the occasional so called family talk. A talk where their parents would ask a few questions, pretending to be interested though they clearly weren't.
"I'm so sorry Sweetie Belle...but it still isn't your fault. It's...Gilda's fault. I'm sure Sunrise will be okay." Rarity whispered, holding Sweetie Belle tightly while stroking her back. Problem was she really wasn't sure if Sunset...Sunrise would be okay as she really didn't know. She didn't really know exactly what happened beyond Sunrise being stabbed while trying to protect the Crusaders.
Rarity promised that if Sunrise made it through this, that she would give the girl a true chance if it wasn't too late for it. Maybe they could actually get to know each other and possibly...be friends.
Applejack rolled her eyes going up the steps to see Applebloom, once again noting how useless Big Mac could be when dealing with emotional things. Not that she blamed her older brother who she loved dearly, but when their parents died they had to raise themselves. While Big Mac did his best to take care of the farm, that left Applejack to be a mother to Applebloom. True the boy did his best to be there for both of his little sisters, but he could only do so much.
Granny Smith was a wonderful grandmother, but sadly she was sick and couldn't handle any of the farm...and couldn't for years. They had been lucky that she was lucid during any interviews with the state while most of the time they had to take care of her while taking care of everything else. It was the only way they could stay together and they intended to no matter what.
"Hey there sis, what's going on?" Applejack asked finding Applebloom on her bed staring up at the ceiling. Her room wasn't filled with much, none of them had a lot, but it always felt warm and welcoming. Now it had a heavy feeling to it, a sadness that seemed to fill the air making Applejack swallow.
"I didn't want to believe she changed sis...I really didn't...but Gilda was going to kill us. She told us she planned to make us suffer before killing us." Applebloom said softly, "We would be dead if it wasn't for Sunrise. She stopped Gilda from killing us...and she got hurt doing it. Why did she do it sis? Why did she help us?"
"Because..." Applejack said as she sat on the edge of her sister's bed as she tried to figure out why. Sunset Shimmer would never have risked her life for anybody, but Fluttershy had told them that Sunset Shimmer had died and Sunrise Shimmer was a new girl. Of course she didn't mean that literally, they all knew that, but they understood her meaning. None of them truly wanted to believe it though...but after saving her little sister's life, Applejack could no longer deny the truth staring her in the face. Not only had Sunrise Shimmer changed from the cruel bully she once was, she had become a much better person than most of them. "Because...she's a good person. A much better person than I am and...and I promise I'll give her a real chance when she gets better."
"Do you think she will?" Applebloom asked hopefully, wiping away tears as she sat up. Lying was something Applejack was never any good at, so she was finding it hard to tell Applebloom that Sunrise would be okay. She had no idea what happened to Sunrise exactly, but as she thought about it she realized one thing...no matter what, Sunrise was a strong girl.
"Sunrise is very strong little sis, I know she'll make it." Applejack said hugging Applebloom tightly.
"I really hope so." Applebloom whispered, Applejack silently praying the girl would be okay.
"So you decided to ditch school, huh?" Rainbow Dash asked as she sat next to her little sister who was sitting in her temporary bed hugging her knees.
"I felt smothered with all of the attention and knowing the teachers were planning on keeping a close eye on us." Scootaloo sighed, "I never really thought Gilda would do anything to get in more trouble."
"Scoots, never underestimate someone like Gilda." Rainbow Dash sighed. She was a little confused on how to feel, a part of her wanting to be angry that Scootaloo even pulled something so reckless. At the same time she was so relieved that nothing had happened to Scootaloo. Fluttershy had been right last night, it was good to be loyal to your family, but who was her real family? A father who drank despite knowing what it made him do and abuse her or the little sister who looked up to her and needed her to step up. There was no competition there, Scootaloo meant everything to her and and Sunrise had saved the young girl.
"I've done nothing but treat Sunrise like crap, sis. Why...why would she protect us?" Scootaloo asked softly, balling up her fist.
"Because...Sunrise isn't who she used to be. She didn't have anyone to be there for her in so long...and now that she has people to be there she knows what she did was wrong and...she's changed kiddo. Sunrise is...Sunrise is a hero Scootaloo and a far better person than me." Rainbow sniffled as she hugged Scootaloo tightly.