“So, what kind of things do you like doing for fun?” While we wait for the two adults, Sunset and I resume our game. Well, I try to.
“Besides reading? Nothing.” My eyes fall down to the table as Sunset falls silent, trying to find a topic that will be easy for me to talk about. The silence lasts for about five minutes until the door opens, drawing our attention.
“Lily! How did things go with Posey?” As she hurries inside, I can tell something is off despite her usual bubbly personality. “What happened, Lil? Who hurt you?”
Her smile grows even wider as she carefully hugs me. “No one Moon, I just had a flashback this morning and….. I had to tell Posey about….. what my parents did to us. At least, the basics.” I just stare into her eyes for a minute before relenting and returning her hug. “I spent the night at Chrysalis’ house last night. She may seem hard and unapproachable, but she’s really nice, sweet and caring. She even bought me this outfit and two others.”
“Don’t trust too easily Lil, I know it’s a part of you, but please don’t. You’ll only get hurt in the end when the person you thought you could trust breaks it.” Once we break apart, I look over at Sunset Shimmer. “Lily, this is Sunset Shimmer, I’m apparently staying with her while I heal up. Sunset Shimmer, this is my friend Lily Bloom.”
As the two shake hands and share a smile I just look on. Please Lily, you know I’m just trying to protect you. The door opens again and in steps Celestia and Posey, both of them smiling.
“Are you sure you want to go and stay with Celestia and Sunset, sweetie?” Posey asks after she finishes going over some paperwork while standing by the foot of the bed.
“Yeah, mostly just to get out of this place.” Posey stares at me in an admonishing way while Celestia looks a little saddened. “But I promise I will give them a chance, Posey.”
“Well, it’ll have to wait till tomorrow so we can get the room and house ready for you as well as adding a second bed for you, Lily.” Celestia gives Sunset a hug as she looks at the two of us.
“Well, we need to go and fill out some papers, and I’m going to need to talk to the both of you. Plus I think it’s time we leave Moonshade be, she looks tired.” The last line comes as I try and stifle a yawn. Before I can argue to at least let Lily stay, my partially shut eyelids finally snap close without a prayer to reopen.
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
“So Moonshade, how do you like living here?” I look over at Celestia and shrug as best I can with one shoulder in answer to her question. “What about you Lily? Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Yes I am, very much. Thank you for letting us stay here. And don’t worry about Moon, she’ll come around eventually.” With a roll of my eyes at her response, I glance over at the doorway. Something about it is bothering me, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“Lily, we need to go, now.” What the? Why….. when did I become a mute?
“Oh, I hope you girls don’t mind, but I invited a few friends.” At Celestia’s words, the door opens and to my horror, the first two people to enter are Aeris and Cloud Shifter, the last two people I thought I would see again. Behind them are Sunset’s friends, Chrysalis and Luna.
“NO, YOU….. YOU CAN’T….. YOU PROMISED YOU’D PROTECT US!” both myself and Lily scream as we try and get up, but find ourselves pinned down by a smiling Celestia and Sunset. The room changes immediately and it now looks more like a dungeon. As I close my eyes, I fight to drown out the sounds of screams, yelling and moans along with the sounds of something slicing through the air and striking skin, hard. “NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!”
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
“NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!” I can feel my heart wanting to escape from its cage by beating hard. My hair sticks to my face, which is covered in sweat as I’m on the verge of passing out due to hyperventilating. My shoulder is screaming in pain as I’m sitting upright, though nearly about to roll off if it wasn’t for the rails. As I look around in panic, my parched throat attempts to drag down what saliva it can in an attempt to lubricate. At this time, I notice another sound keeping time with my wild heart and the feeling of tears starting to pour down my cheeks.
“Are you alright, Moonshade?” The question comes from my right somewhere and as my breathing begins to slow down, my vision also begins to clear up some.
For who knows how long I just sit there, body trembling as I’m given a cup of water and drink. Eventually I find my voice again and how quietly the words that come out surprise and worry me. It sounds like I’m imitating Sunset’s friend, the shy one with pink hair. “I….. I had a nightmare.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” The nurse comes into view and carefully sits on the edge of the bed, using a towel to wipe off the sweat and drying tears. No I don’t, I just want to forget it. Not trusting myself to say those words I just shake my head, though not as vigorously as I’d like.
“Alright Moonshade, but if you have any more of these nightmares please talk to someone ok.” Again, I only nod in response, causing the nurse to leave with a dejected look on her face.
The next day I wake up after finally getting back to sleep, though it wasn’t very restful and was continuously interrupted. As I look about the room I notice that Lily, Celestia, Sunset and Posey are waiting with a wheelchair. “Well Moony, are you ready to go?” Lily’s cheerfulness after last night seems like a dream.
“Yeah, as ready as I’ll ever be.” As the two adults help me out of the bed and into the chair I glance at the multicolor-haired woman. “If I’m going to be staying with you for a while, think we can make a quick stop? There are some things I want from the house I was planning on staying at.”
“Sure thing, Moonshade.” Once the paperwork is finished and the last minute stuff gets handled, I’m wheeled out to the waiting car where Chrysalis is waiting with Luna.
Once again I find myself being handled as Chrysalis and Luna get me into the back seat and buckled, the wheelchair is broke down and placed in the trunk as the others make themselves comfy. Chrysalis and Luna get on a bike and speed away.
“This is where you were planning on living? For how long?” As we stop in front of the building Celestia only looks at it in shock as Lily gets out and goes inside before the other two can.
“Yes, as for how long….. as long as I needed to.” I’ll need find a new place to lay low now if it comes down to it.’
“Well hopefully, we can help show you that you don’t need to rely on that anymore.” Sunset says as she turns back to face me with a smile.
“I won’t hold my breath.” I mumble to myself, though not really caring if they heard me or not. Lily nearly skips back to the vehicle with a smile and carefully hands me the worn out bag I’ve been using along with one of the two pop bottles from my second day here. The other one is in her hands and she just smiles as Celestia gives us a curious glance. “Thanks Lil.”