“Are you sure you don't want anything? I can get you a burger.”
“Mom, stop being so stubborn...” I groan, gripping my phone a bit too hard. “I'm in the hospital, and if they didn't let me eat Applejack's pie, I'm sure they won't let me eat what you bring me.”
“Please, Lemon, you aren't allergic to anything. You are bedridden, and you need to eat!” mom continues. “You are pretty much skin and bones.”
“I don't NEED to be bedridden, mom. I told you already, doctor says I'll be able to go home once you are back,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “And besides, I've been eating with Pinkie whenever we hang out, if anything, I'm probably gaining weight.”
I get silence for the following seconds, until my mom finally speaks again.“A salad it is, then!”
“I'm hanging up,” I say, and with a swift swipe, I cut the call. “I swear, for someone as smart as her, she can have her silly moments.”
“Problems with the parents?” I hear a voice, which makes me turn my face to see Flash, coolly standing by the door for no reason.
“Oh, hey, Flash,” I greet him as he enters the room, keeping my eye out for the girls behind him… but they aren't there. “Huh...”
“It's only me, Lemon,” Flash explains, catching my gaze.
I give him a disapproving look. “I'm sure you caused that, how did you even get rid of them?”
Flash smiles, pushing the room's door closed. “Pinkie is currently at Sugarcube Corner, baking you a 'get well' cake, and get ready, it's going to be big.”
I chuckle. “Of course, but that begs the question of how you got rid of Trixie,” I ask him intrigued. “If anything, she would be very suspicious if you tried coming here on your own.”
He smiles again, pointing out the window of my room.
I raise a brow. “Yes, that's a nice window.”
“She is at the children's hospital, putting on a show for the kids,” he explains, which could have been a good thing to say BEFORE his dramatic pointing.
“Well, she certainly has improved,” I note.
“Yeah, the videos you sent me suggest that, her magic act has gotten much better.”
“Oh, Flash,” I look over to him with a knowing smile. “That's not what I meant.”
We stare at each other silently, feeling the tension of the sudden quietness. If someone were to look at us now, there would be thoughts of sexual tension. Maybe that's just my brain thinking dumb stuff.
“So, why the hell are you here on your own then, Flash?” I ask, straight to the point.
“You sure are direct,” he takes a deep breath. “But I'm sure you already know why I'm here, don't you?”
“Of course I do,” I sigh. No breaks on this train.
“I know it's bothering you, but I told the cops you and Sunset were talking while we waited downstairs, and since I didn't know what to add, I think you should fill me in as to what happened.”
“If you lied, I could see them taking you into custody,” I laugh, trying to gather my thoughts. “Well, buckle up, bud, because it's a bumpy ride of a story.”
I tell him as much as I can remember, but it doesn't take me long, finishing my tale in three minutes or so, since parts of when I talked to Shimmer are a little fuzzy. I get the feeling his questions will take much longer to answer.
“Equestria...” Flash says, looking thoughtful.
“What? Don't you believe me?”
“Well, Sunset was never known for her 'magical prowess' or anything of the sort, you know? She's just normal!” he hangs on the final word, again, looking thoughtful. “Actually, something that you said sounded familiar...”
“Was it the part where I was answering her questions without any sort of resistance?”
Flash looks surprised. “How did you know?”
I knew it. “A guess, based on what you told me when you dated her. I'm sure you haven't forgotten, right? That was the reason you broke up with her.”
“R-right,” he smiles very suddenly, giving me a wide eyed stare. “So does this mean you finally believe me about what happened before?”
I shrug. “I moved on from that months ago. You need to stop living in the past, Flash,” I say teasingly. “But forget about that, I would like to know something, too.”
He looks at me intrigued. “Yeah?”
“What was your deal?” I preface by reminding him of how he acted today. “You were kind of a jerk when we visited Shimmer. Care to elaborate?”
He snorts. “There is nothing to elaborate on, I just wanted to talk to her.”
“Doesn't explain the attitude, buddy,” I continue, pointing to the dodged question.
He shrugs. “Bad day?”
“Flash.”
“It doesn't really matter now, does it?” he groans in a low voice. “Besides, what does it have to do with anything? And what do you care?”
I shrug back. “Guess I'm just worried about you, man,” I say without realizing it. “Um, I mean...”
“Huh?” he looks at me as if I went insane, blinking repeatedly. “You? Worried about me?”
Um… Dammit.
“Yes! I saw how you ended up after Shimmer talked to you, and I just wanted to give you someone to listen to, okay?” I say without holding back. WHY am I not holding back!?
“You mean that?” he asks, staring at me like I'm some sort of stranger.
“W-well, I mean, it's not like I hate you, or anything!” oh my god, did I just sound like one of those anime archetypes?
This is the tipping point, as he bursts out laughing on the spot, covering his mouth to avoid being too loud, holding his stomach with the other. “Lemon, do you realize how sappy you just sounded?” he says, breathing heavily, barely unable to hold it in.
And I can't say anything, so I simply lay down on my bed, and pull the covers over me. Maybe I'll die forever.
“Oh, don't be like that,” he says, still chuckling.
Oh, I'll be that forever.
“Lemon?”
No, just go away.
“… Lemon, I was asking her why she broke up with me.”
I process what he just said, but I remain silent, hoping for him to continue.
“Yes, you heard that right, she was the one who broke up with me,” he adds, ending with a sigh. "The worst part is that I didn't even learn why."
At this point, I abandon my covers to look at him. “Then, why did you lie about it back then? What was the point of it?”
He chuckles amused. “Come on, would you have believed me about what she did if that had been my go-to explanation?”
“Huh...” come to think of it, I don't really think I would have done that (anger being my primary emotion at the time) I probably would have told him to buzz off, or maybe I would have punched him in the face. “I guess not, but was that really all you asked? You guys took some time.”
He sighs again. “No, it wasn't.”
…
Okay… “Flash, I don't mean to be rude, but was there another reason?”
“Damn it,” he curses, kicking the floor. “I was trying to see if Sunset, at least as I knew her back then, was in there somewhere, and if what we had meant something — I'm sure you can guess what happened next.”
“Oh...” an 'ouch' would just be rude at this point, so I decide to change up the conversation. “You know, there is one thing that really confuses me about what happened back there.”
He seems to recover from his slump, and looks over to me curious. “And what is that?”
“Where did that fire come from? It had already started the moment I woke up,” we share a similar expression of 'thoughtful hand on chin' as we try to think up of ways the fire could have started, but we both end up coming up short.
Short enough to simply be shoved aside for the time being.
Unless… “Flash, you know how Shimmer is doing, right?”
“Why do you ask?” he asks, looking suspicious.
It's my turn to eye him weirdly as I reply. “You know why.”
“Lemon, you...” he bites his lip, and takes a long gulp of air. “Can you walk?”
I easily jump off the bed, ignoring what little pain I'm in, and grab my phone. “Can you remember the room?”
He holds back a laugh. “You sure you wanna go while wearing that?”
I look down at myself, realizing that I'm still wearing the hospital gown, and show my irritation towards it, but I'm not gonna let it stop me. “Just take me there.”
We head out the room together, only briefly stopping by the floor's counter to talk to the nurse that had been in charge of me, who seemingly playfully asks Flash to keep an eye out on me, being surprisingly lenient on letting us go.
Sometimes this world has its advantages.
Walking the down the hall, it doesn't take more than a few seconds to reach the hall which Flash suggests to have Shimmer's room in… except it turns out that her room is apparently protected by the tallest son of a bitch this side of a Big Mac.
“Shit… Well, we are out of luck,” I groan annoyed. “Why is it always when the answers to questions are so close, something keeps popping up to stop me from getting any... answers?”
“Don't overreact,” Flash scoffs. “I'll go distract him, and you can go talk to her, alright?”
“Huh, that actually sounds like a good plan. But wait, don't you wanna talk to he-” I try to say, but he is already gone, and talking to the man who smiles at him the moment he notices him… Do they know each other? “Whatever! I'll just wait for him to take him away, they should be done at SOME point,” I whisper, and as in by my word alone, they finally move from the door, leaving it open for the… opening. That was terrible, even for me.
But no time to dwell on my failure! Because instead of going away like he suggested, they are both coming towards me! What in- “The fuck, dude?” I say out loud, as he and the old guy stop right by me.
“Lemon Lime, correct?” the old guy says to me.
“Oh, great, and he knows my name too!” I say, looking to reprimand Flash. “What, did you also tell him my favorite type of ice cream? You snitch!”
“Lemon, shut up, and listen,” he orders, to my shock. “Sir?”
“Son, if you want to see Sunset Shimmer, you are welcome to. Follow me,” he says calmly before turning away.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I need to back this up a bit here. “Just like that? Don't I need permission from the parents or something like that?” I ask, following after him.
“Don't you worry, you have permission to talk to her,” he replies, pointing at the door.
I give the door a wary look before turning to the guy. “Okay, what's the catch?”
“That you tell me what happened, you are the person who was with Shimmer when it happened, or so I'm told,” he answers, looking at Flash, who in turn, stares at me.
Talk about being on the spot.
“Well...” I think of telling him the truth, but then, I figure that telling him that a girl who might know about some sort of alternate universe about talking ponies was able to make me say what she wants by using something that closely relates to magic before I simply passed out and woke up to a fire greeting me wouldn't be such a good idea.
Yeah, screw that, I'll just let Shimmer handle the heat. “No, sir, I don't believe I can recall, my mind is really fuzzy on that end. I just remember sitting down, and nothing after that.”
He gives me an unnerving stare, but thankfully, sighs in defeat. “I see, well, I appreciate you at least trying.”
“I still don't understand why you are letting us see her, then,” I tell him, more than a little curious to the question.
“You'll find out the moment you enter the room,” he explains, opening the door, and pushing me inside. "I'm hoping you can have an effect on her."
Effect? "Ah, hey! Watch it!” I complain, as I'm pushed inside. Hoping to see Flash say something, he instead stays outside. “What about Flash?”
"He said he'd rather stay outside," the guy answers quickly. "Sunset?"
“Huh?” the sound of a familiar voice reaches my earholes, and it's no surprise, I guess, seeing how Shimmer is sitting on the only bed in the room with a book in hand, looking at me with a puzzled expression, which I wouldn't fault her for. I would also be surprised to see me if I was an evil asshole.
“Sunset, this young man here would like to talk to you,” the guy tells her, closing the door and sitting down on a chair near it. Okay, he is staying, so this means subtle Patrick will have to do.
“W-what? Why?” Shimmer asks, looking scared. What's with the timid schtick?
“Don't worry, he isn't going to hurt you,” he says, giving Shimmer a patient smile.
“Is he a cop, too? I just don't get it...” she whispers, shivering, and dropping the book she has in her hands. “Who is he, dad?”
“Dad...” I whisper. Guess that answers the question about the permission, but it just leaves the one still unanswered one open for picking, because it's bloody obvious as to what it is. “You don't know who I am? What?”
Shimmer's dad sighs, struggling to find the words. "Lemon, it turns out that Sunset is suffering from some sort of amnesia."
And you are going to suffer from a very mental 'you are full of crap' look. “What? Are you serious?” in my disbelief, I turn to Shimmer herself. “Come on, you really don't recognize me? It's me, Lemon Lime!” seriously? How much more cliche can she get!?
She replies with a very subtle shake of her head. “I-I'm sorry, I just...” I'm caught off guard by her overall demeanor, as she hides behind the covers of her bed, looking more than a little unnerved.
“You...” I can't help but being angry. This isn't fair! I was finally going to get some answers! I was finally going to be able to learn what her deal is! Why she did all that she did! How she knows about Equestria! After the crap she pulled last year, to nearly killing me today, and all the stuff she has pulled to get her way, she is going to get away with a supposed memory loss?
And no, I'm not falling for this one.
“Well, it seems you didn't have an effect on her,” her dad sighs wistfully. “Thank you for trying, though.”
“Sure,” I answer, barely holding a shout, stealing a last glance at Shimmer before walking off. What a waste.
“Wait!” she calls after me. “Please, Lemon?”
I turn, curious as to what she has to say. “Yeah?”
She plays with her fingers, trying her best to say what she is trying to say. “I- I was wondering… Are you my friend?”
“Friend?” the question feels wrong, coming from her. It's like a fish telling me how to cook him for the best taste, it just doesn't happen.
“A-are you?” she continues, urging me to respond. “I mean, if you know me, you have to be, right?”
“Um, I mean,” I freeze on the spot, not knowing what to say. It feels like I'm talking to a completely different girl here.
“I-it's okay if you aren't,” she says in a low voice. “It's just that I haven't been visited by anyone. Dad told me that I went to school, but none of my school friends have come to visit me, and I just thought...”
…
…
…
God, damn it. “Sir? Permission to do something out of the ordinary,” I look over to Shimmer's dad.
The guy nods. “Sure, just don't step out of the line.”
Taking a huge breath, I walk over to Shimmer, and kneel down. “Hey, Shimmer?”
“Huh?” she mumbles, looking down to me and giving me the cutest expression.
“I'll be honest, we weren't friends before all of this, but,” I pick up the book, and hand it to her. “That doesn't mean we can't start now, right?”
Because I'm going to keep an eye on you... You are not getting away with this.