The garden was as beautiful as ever, the flowers and bushes taken care of extremely well and the Discord statue looking just as odd yet beautiful as it always did. The shade from the statue giving Sunrise some refuge from the sun's rays, though it really wasn't that hot either. In fact if she had a swimsuit with her, she may have changed into it and even bathed in the sun's rays.
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice echoed from somewhere, seemingly coming from far away.
"Trixie doesn't have to explain herself to you, but Trixie...will. The Great and Powerful Trixie wanted to...see if Sunrise Shimmer is okay. And Trixie also brought...gifts." Another voice said, sounding even more familiar as it echoed around Sunrise who sat up and shook her head to clear it from whatever dream she must have been having.
"Who said you were dreaming?" Another voice asked, only this one seemed right next to her. Turning to look she found a pony sitting right next to her. It looked so familiar, especially the fire styled mane and the sun cutie mark on her flanks.
"It was just a day dream." Sunrise said rolling her eyes, climbing to her feet. For a moment she felt a sharp pain in her gut, but it quickly vanished when she tried to push it out of her mind. Looking up she met a pair of eyes that were larger than hers, yet at the same time was the same. "Just like I'm dreaming now obviously. Just having a daydream about talking to you."
"Well, you are right, this is a dream...and at the same time it isn't." The pony said, "You are in your very own subconscious because you don't want to wake up."
"No, I'm in the gardens trying to get a little peace and quiet. Not to talk to some figment of my imagination." Sunrise huffed, refusing to listen to the stuff this talking pony was spouting out.
"I should be the one there instead of her!" Another voice cried out, sounding completely devastated. Almost as if whoever said it was crying. Sunrise could almost see an image in her mind's eye of who the speaker was, but it just eluded her barely. The face melting away into shadows in her mind.
"Does that sound like a dream?" The pony asked, arching a brow at Sunrise as the human girl shook her head.
"Just...figments of my imagination. Just...who do you think you are anyways?" Sunrise demanded as she glared at the unicorn mare who sadly shook her head.
"I am you, or more accurately, your conscience." The pony said giving a cocky grin up at Sunrise who snorted and turned to walk away.
"I don't care who you are, I'm not sitting here to listen to this." Sunrise snorted as she stomped across the field as the grass melted away to smooth marble, her canopied bed and furniture filling the room of the palace. Digging out her favorite bikini she quickly stripped her clothes off and slipped into it before retiring to the balcony where she could escape that annoying pony. Dropping into a lawn chair, she reached to the side where a small table melted into reality to grab some lotion before starting to rub it into her body.
She wasn't going to listen to this figment, as she knew that was all it was, as she enjoyed the warmth of the suns rays washing across her body. She had a great view of Equestria from the balcony, one of the highest rooms in the palace. Only the Princess and a few unused rooms were any higher...rooms that the Princess wouldn't let anyone into for some reason. Something about them being reserved for the return of somepony.
"If I'm a figment of your imagination, and this is real, why are you in Equestria?" The pony asked from beside Sunrise once more making the girl growl out.
"Why can't you leave me alone?" Sunrise growled out, "You. Are. Just. A. FIGMENT!"
"I. Am. YOU!" The pony growled out, glaring at Sunrise who finally broke eye contact and looked away. "This is a dream, a dream you need to wake up from."
"This isn't a dream!" Sunrise screamed as she jumped to her feet and walked to the edge of the balcony, her bikini melting off her as a dress took it's place. It was one of the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen, one that she had wanted to buy for...something...but she couldn't afford it. Yet she was the Princess's student so that didn't make sense.
"Please wake up, I...I love you, I need you to wake up." Another voice echoed making Sunrise spin around looking for the voice. She was in the middle of the market square in Canterlot though and there was no pony around. There was no pony who could be saying these things anywhere close by.
"Please come back to us...I need you...I need my daughter back." Another voice said, the sadness in the voice striking a chord in Sunrise's heart.
"They need you." The pony said from behind Sunrise making the girl spin around to face the pony who looked up sadly at Sunrise. "Do you really want to abandon them?"
"I'm not abandoning any pony, this is all a dream." Sunrise said, though she could feel her resolve cracking a little.
"You aren't a pony! Look around you, this is a world of ponies and you aren't a pony anymore." The pony snapped out making Sunrise take a step back as she looked around her.There was something odd about the place, the market square was always full of ponies at all hours of the day. Shops that catered to clients during the day as well as those who were up all night.
"This...is my home..." Sunrise said slowly, tears slowly starting to trail down her cheeks as she shook her head.
"No, this was never our home and you know it. Our home is with our mother and auntie and Fluttershy...all of who love us." The pony said, hanging it's head. "Sunrise, don't abandon them."
"They are the ones who will abandon me! It always happens!" Sunrise sobbed out slashing her hand in a negative motion. "I'll always be alone and unloved! They...They're better off without me anyways."
"That isn't true!" The pony gasped out.
"It is true...and...it's my fault. I make them stop because...because I don't deserve them. I don't deserve any pony." Sunrise sobbed out as she spun around and ran again, the town square melting away into an evil looking forest. She ran trying to escape the voices she kept hearing. She ran to escape the pony who wouldn't stop following her. And she ran to escape the truth she didn't want to admit to because then...then she's have to admit that she was scared.
She was scared that this was a dream and if she woke up she would be back with Celestia and Luna...and Fluttershy. She was afraid that they would realize how pathetic she was and dump her just like the Princess had. She was scared of losing the only happiness she has had in years.
"Please...I need you to wake up...I need you so much Sunrise. I love you so much." One of the voices from earlier sobbed out as Sunrise fell to her knees to look up. She could almost see a ghostly image of a pink haired girl in the sky. A human girl and not a pony...
"I think it's time you went home, Sunrise." The pony sighed as she stopped next to Sunrise.
"What if they reject me? I...I don't think I can take it if they do." Sunrise sobbed as she hugged the pony and buried her face in the mare's neck. "C-Can't I just stay here in peace? Can't I just spend my last days here where I can at least pretend to be happy?"
"You can...but why pretend when you can have real happiness out there with people who care for you?" The pony asked nuzzling Sunrise.
"I'm scared." Sunrise sniffled as her will to fight and deny everything faded away.
"Everyone is scared at some point, human and pony alike. Face your fear and fight for what you want, for the love and friends that you have. Don't give up, wake up and fight for your life." The pony said, sniffling a little to. "I know you are scared, so am I, after all I am you."
"What do I do?" Sunrise asked, wiping her tears away as she looked up into the sky.
"Wake up, please." Another of the voices from earlier sniffed as the ghostly image of Principal Celestia filled the sky. As...her mother's image filled the sky with a sad look on her face. Closing her eyes, Sunrise took a deep breath before opening them again.
Everything felt so stiff as the bright lights overhead shone down upon her, She wanted to cry out when a surge of pain shot through her as the pink haired girl grabbed her in an excited hug as the older woman gently pulled the girl back.
"I'm so so sorry!" The pink haired girl sobbed out after realizing what she did.
"Ish okhay." Sunrise said, her tongue and mouth feeling like cotton as she tried to talk. Though words came out, they seemed slurred.
"Shhh, honey, just relax. You're in the hospital." The older woman said, leaning over to kiss Sunrise's forehead. Sunrise managed to smile up at the woman, her mother Celestia and...her girlfriend Fluttershy. Seeing their excited faces made Sunrise smile more at them as they both hugged her gently, making sure to avoid her injuries.
"Are you thirsty?" Fluttershy asked holding a cup of water with a straw to Sunrise's lips as she greedily sucked down over half of the cup's contents.
"That's a lot better." Sunrise managed to groan as Celestia got up.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to have the nurse page Kim." Celestia said as she hurried out of the room.
"I'm so happy that you are awake." Fluttershy sniffed, wiping her eyes as Sunrise looked around the room as all of the decorations.
"Sheesh you guys went overboard." Sunrise tried to giggle, but the flash of pain made her reign it in.
"These...aren't all from us. Most of the kids at school sent this stuff." Fluttershy said, fidgeting a little.
"Sooo...are they telling me I should drop dead?" Sunrise sighed, a little surprised when Fluttershy shook her head.
"Nope. Even though I...I didn't want to trust them at first, they all seem genuinely worried about you. You did an incredibly stupid but brave thing...and they consider you a hero." Fluttershy explained.
"I'm not a hero." Sunrise snorted, "I just did what was right. That brat Gilda would have beat those three into a pulp."
"You're a hero in my book, Shimmer." Rainbow Dash said as she came in the room followed by Scootaloo who was both carrying two trays of food each.
"Mine to." Scootaloo said, putting the trays down on the only surface that wasn't filled with gifts which was a small table where a water pitcher and glass sat. The young girl moved over to the bed, shaking a little as Sunrise reached out, hissing as she had to change hands as she realized an IV was in the one and took the girl's hand squeezing it. "I'm sorry you got hurt."
"As long as you three are okay, it was worth it." Sunrise said giving a smile.
"Okay you three, you have to step out so I can examine Sunrise here." Kim said as she came into the room followed by Celestia. "Don't worry, it will only be for a few minutes."
Fluttershy sighed as she followed everyone out to stand just outside the room waiting for Sunrise's examination, worried when she looked up to see her mom coming down the hall. Even before Posey reached them she knew something was terribly wrong.
"You okay Shy?" Rainbow asked softly, reaching up to squeeze her shoulder half expecting Fluttershy to shrug it off.
"Y-Yeah...I'm so sorry I...I was so mean today." Fluttershy sighed as her mom joined them.
"Don't worry about it, we know you have a lot on your mind." Rainbow Dash said, Scootaloo hugging Fluttershy from the otherside.
"I'm just glad she's awake." Scootaloo sniffed as Fluttershy held her close.
"Hi girls, so she's awake?" Posey asked, her voice cracking a little when she looked at Rainbow and Scootaloo which filled Fluttershy with dread.
"Y-Yeah mom, she just actually woke up." Fluttershy said, reaching up with one hand to squeeze the hand on her shoulder belonging to Rainbow Dash while holding Scootaloo with the other. "Mom...what's wrong?"
"We should wait until later when we get home." Posey said, urging the three girls to drop it.
"It's about dad, isn't it?" Rainbow Dash sighed, "Are you sending us back?"
"No! I refuse to let you go back to that monster!" Posey hissed out, shaking her head. "I need to find you girls another place to stay or give up your case. I'd much rather find you girls another place to stay than give up your case because...someone who is lazy or uncaring may get it and then they might send you back."
"Why?" Fluttershy asked, shaking a little.
"Because...they're calling it a conflict of interest." Posey sighed as Kim came out of the room giving them all a large smile.
"You all can go in, but please keep any noise down. There is only supposed to be three people at a time, but as long as you all are quiet I'll speak to the nurses and see if they can't overlook it for now. She'll probably be heading home Saturday or Sunday then you can all hang out all you like." Kim said, already having permission from Celestia and Sunrise to tell them. "If you all need anything, just page a nurse and have them contact me."
"Thank you, Doctor Possible." Posey said with a thankful smile.
"You are very welcome dear, I have a few more patients to see so I'll see you all later." Kim said before hurrying down the hall leaving the small group to go back into the room putting on a happy front even if they were worried about Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo now.
For the next hour the group sat around Sunrise's bed just talking, Posey having to admit that while neither her husband or herself were really thrilled with their baby girl falling for another girl...Posey had to admit that she was glad that it was Sunrise. They would be good for each other, and getting to know the girl let Posey know just how badly she misjudged the girl at first.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Fluttershy said sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully hugging Sunrise before she started to get up. She was a little surprised with herself when she stole a quick kiss on the lips from Sunrise who looked a little shocked, yet happy at the act as Rainbow teased the pink haired girl as they filed out though Sunrise caught Celestia's hand asking her to stay a few minutes.
"Honey, I'm not going anywhere." Celestia said, sitting on the chair by the bed and kissing Sunrise's forehead.
"You don't have to stay all night mom, you need to get some sleep." Sunrise said, squirming a little to get comfortable. True she hated drugs, but for once she was happy for the painkillers they had her pumped full of. "I just...I just wanted to talk about something."
"What is it, are you okay?" Celestia asked with worry.
"I was just wondering something, mom." Sunrise said, almost losing her nerve over this. Maybe it was the drugs making her do this after all, it was crazy. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo didn't even really like her a whole lot really did they? Sure they were really nice the last hour but...was that just for FLuttershy's benefit? No, this was the right thing to do anyway she looked at it. "Mom...I was thinking...I love the house and all...but...it does kind of feel kind of lonely."
"Lonely?" Celestia asked arching her eyebrow.
"A little..." Sunrise said swallowing nervously as Celestia kissed her on the top of the head.
"I'll see what I can do." Celestia said smiling.