02: The homeless child. (Re-edit)
Chapter 02: The homeless child
It was late.
The mall was on its slow way to closing down. People had started to clear the premises as thunder cracked loudly in the distance,as it made its slow approach. Sunset could barely hear the approaching storm over the noise of the busy mall. Even her friends were talking loud enough that it mixed in and become indistinguishable from the noise made by the crowds.
“So Ah was thinkin’ our openin’ act should be Awesome as Ah Wanna Be.”
“Why not Shake Your Tail? I think that’d be a more appropriate start.” Rarity suggested.
Sunset in the meantime tried to hear them, but through all the noise that was hard enough. She sped up and got behind the both of them, and could finally listen to them as they passed by the stores closing down around them, and when the suggestions hit her eardrums she would roll her eyes.
“The school festival is a few months away, Rainbow will call a band meeting to discuss this when the time comes,” Sunset said to remind the girls.
Pinkie let out a loud whine, pouting to her friends. “Band meetings are boring sometimes…”
“Ah think Rainbow shares that same opinion, Pinkie.” Applejack replied. She then paused to see a sandwich shop, still open with plenty of people lined up to order. She motioned for the girls to stop and one by one they came to a halt..
“Hey, mind waitin’ here? Ah’m just gonna grab us a few subs, be back in a jiff” said the apple farmer as she turned and jogged over to the sandwich bar, leaving her friends to wait up for her.
“I’ll have a salad sub, thank you!” Rarity shouted as Applejack took off.
“And I’ll have mine with marshmallows!!!” Pinkie shouted as well, earning confused looks at her friends standing next to her.
“What?” Pinkie asked with a shrug.
Following that brief moment, Pinkie Pie and Rarity proceeded towards what looked like the eating area belonging to the sub shop. They put down their shopping bags and took some seats, sighing as they stretched their arms and legs . Sunset, in the meantime, continued to stand and look around the large space. She seemed to look anxious, perhaps hoping to walk home before the storm hit.
“Why don’t you sit down, darling. You’ve been walking around all afternoon. Surely your feet must be tired.” Rarity suggested.
Sunset blinked twice looked over at Rarity. “Huh..? Oh… yeah, just a little” She set down her own bags and sat down beside them with a deep sigh.
Pinkie Pie bent down to look at the bags of clothes Sunset carried. She couldn’t help but smirk and scooch closer to Sunset until she could lean against her shoulder.
“So what happened to not spending so much, hmm?” She wore a very smug smile. Her chin dug into Sunsets shoulder.
Sunset shrugged Pinkie off. “I didn’t get time to try on two of those. I hope to try them on when I get home, if they don’t fit I can bring them in and get my money back.”
“That’s rather impractical if you ask me,” Rarity remarked.
“You’re both just as guilty!” Sunset retaliated.
“Now that’s enough out of ya’ll! ”Applejack called out to quell the fighting. She was walking back over to them, sandwiches in hand. “Here ya go, fresh sandwiches for the girls who rock minus two!”
The girls took a sandwich each, and tossed a grateful thanks to Applejack.
“Twasn’t a problem, Ah’m happy to help out. Now, we’d best not dawdle anymore than we already have. Let's get going,” Applejack said, already prepared to go.
“Yes, we mustn't tarry. I wouldn’t want to be locked in after dark after all.” Rarity chuckled to herself, nervous, perhaps a little too concerned.
“We're not going to be locked in, Rarity. We'll be alright. And besides, they do a mall check just in case there are people hiding before locking up completely,” Sunset said reassuringly.
“Yeah! So stop being such a worry wumpus!” Pinkie giggled.
As the sub shop started to close, Sunset put her half-eaten sub back in its wrap, than away in her bag, and like the others, she stood up, just as the thunder roared with a tremendous clap. Pinkie’s hair frizzled up, while the others jumped and Rarity squealed.
“That storm’s getting awfully close.” Rarity remarked as she looked up to the ceiling.
“She ain’t wrong, girls. We ought to hurry on out’a ‘ere.” Applejack started to walk in the exit’s direction, all the girls but Pinkie pie following behind.
Pinkie watched them go, aware of her dawdling she quickly scarfed down her sub and licked her lips in delight. “Mmm-mmm! That was a goood sandwich!” She exclaimed before fixing up her hair.
Rarity turned around and motioned to Pinkie to follow. She grabbed her bags and followed behind the group with a light skip. By the time they had exited the mall the clouds were just about ready to unleash their tear drops of icy water.
“I guess I should get a move on before it starts coming down,” Sunset sighed.
“Walk? With the sky like this?” Rarity asked, flummoxed at the very thought. “Darling, I’m sure Pinkie Pie would be more than happy to give you a lift.”
“Yeah!” Pinkie exclaimed, “wait right here!”
With a quick spin and a jump, Pinkie Pie hurried out into the car park and disappeared amongst the brightly colored vehicles that dotted the often cramped area. Applejack, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer looked out to see where she was but not one of them could see her, that was until she came driving out between cars and over speed humps toward the group in her brightly colored vehicle.
With a smile on her face, she rolled down the window and leaned out like some Applewood celebrity. “Anyone need a ride home?!” she shouted with a grin.
“I would like a lift if that's no trouble, dear,” Rarity beamed.
Pinkie was elated and opened the door. “Hop on in,” she beckoned.
Rarity turned to look at Sunset who looked to be deep in thought, perhaps concerned about the storm moving swift and sure. Rarity couldn’t tell, but Sunset’s mind was turned toward something innocent and no doubt lost.
“Sunset, will you be accompanying us?” Rarity asked.
Sunset blinked and looked at Rarity. It took a moment for Rarity’s words to register, but when they did she put on a modest smile answered thusly; “No, thank you for the offer. I can walk home, there's no trouble really.”
Sunset’s suggestion was off-putting to Rarity, who couldn’t beleive Sunset would even want to walk in the soon to come downpour. “R-really? Are you really sure about that? W-well, alright. But if you're going to be walking home in this weather, you might as well carry this.” She reached into one of her bags and presented Sunset with an umbrella.
Sunset took the umbrella and thanked Rarity, who brushed it off as merely generous help. She patted Sunset on the shoulder and walked around to the other side of Pinkie's car,and got in beside her.
“Are you sure you don't want a lift home?” Pinkie asked, “those clouds don’t look friendly.”
Sunset nodded. “I’ll be fine, girls, don’t worry. Besides, you don't live down my way so It wouldn't be practical for you to take me there.”
Rarity glanced over at Applejack then back to Sunset. “Applejack lives further down your way, I’m sure she could offer you a ride.”
“Sorry girls, Big Mac and Ah got some things t’ do before we head back.”
Thunder rumbled once more in the sky and lightning flashed in the distance. A cold wet wind blew around the teen’s legs and blew their hair around. Sunset Shimmer put a hand on her cheek where her hair was longest to pull it over her shoulder, and with one eye closed she looked up at the gray clouds as a shiver rippled through her skin.
“Are you really, really certain, dear?” Rarity pressured, “I’m sure it's no trouble, really.”
“I'm positive, I’ll just walk and hope it doesn’t rain before I get back, don't worry.” She smiled reassuringly.
“Well… if you’re sure about this… Get home safe, Sunset.” Rarity smiled.
“I will, Rarity.” Sunset replied, slinging her bags over her arms and waved to Pinkie Pie and Rarity as they drove off.
Sunset watched them until they were out of sight, sighing once they were before AJ placed her hand on her shoulder.
“Are you really sure about this, sugarcube? Big Mac and Ah would be more than happy to give you a lift home once we’re done.”
Sunset turned and faced Applejack, taking her hands into her own. “Thank you for the offer, Applejack. But I really just want to go home and get some rest. I’ve had a lot on my mind since this morning. Something sensitive came up and I really just want to be alone to think about it if that’s alright.”
Applejack gave an assuring smile and let go. “It wouldn’t be any trouble.” She said as she pat Sunsets shoulder and looked over as a truck pulled up along the sidewalk. “Well, Ah better get going. Be safe, and don’t get wet.”
Sunset gave a slight nod and watched as Applejack hurried over to the car, Big Macintosh sitting behind the wheel and watching her get in. They drove off and with a heavy sigh, Sunset began the long walk under the dreary sky which colored the white pavement in a depressed steely gray.
On her way the water from the heavy clouds started to patter down lightly in small sprinkles which forewarned the coming rain fall soon to flood the streets and fill the drains with a wave of sky water. Sunset hopped across some raised stones to the next sidewalk path. She stepped along the stretch of concrete that lead to an even longer walk home through the countryside.
It was at this moment that she couldn’t help but think about the rumour of the mysterious little girl that was supposedly hiding around in the area. Sunset felt pity for the little girl, to be alone and abandoned, with the whole world against her. She knew what it was like to be alone, she remembered being betrayed by those she trusted.
“Celestia…” Sunset whispered under her breath.
She shook her head, hoping to get those sorrowful thoughts out of her head. She than looked to her surroundings. There weren’t many other people walking along the dark street. Cars drove past, splashing up cold puddles, freshly made as the rain came down harder. Each time sunset would jump back, her umbrella open with rainfall pattering upon its canopy. She never expected it to start pouring so soon.
She breathed a heavy sigh then looked out onto the road and watched many cars pass as the thunder rumbled overhead and the lightning flashed. Sunset looked at the sky when it happened, her mouth became crooked to one side and she appeared irritated at the state of the weather.
“Don’t you worry, Sunset,” she told herself, “No rain, nor thunder bothered anyone”
She sighed and groaned, not very assured and continued to move. Her shoes made slight splashing sounds on the wet path, in sync with the tapping they made on the concrete. The thunder was louder now, but by that time Sunset had come a sizeable open space near a large alley. She paused to look at the long dark corridor housing unseen shadows between a large chain link fence and an old run down store, the wall and ceiling of which had since collapsed and fallen into disrepair.
By the broken and crumbling brick wall were boxes, stacked up with their openings turned frontwards like little doors and windows. They were wet, some of them had pieces torn away exposing the cardboard beneath.
Closer to the alleyway was a large box with a torn cloth above the entrance, held up by two steel bars that seemed embedded into the ground; which all together formed a kind of crude canopy . It was a curious sight to Sunset who paused to look at it for a moment.
She thought it was quite peculier something like that would even be present, actually she thought it was odd that there would be so many boxes littering this small area. She quickly glanced around at the mess, keeping pause for what was seen as a few minutes before she turned to move on. She would have kept going, following the dark path along the the dark street, when another flash of lightning and a clap of thunder forced a terrified scream which caught the girl unawares. Sunset paused right on the spot once more and strained to hear what sounded like whimpering, though faint and almost inaudible through the downpour
She turned her attention back to the boxes and stared out toward them. She knew ashe heard something, and now it tugged at her curiosity. With all the noise the storm had made she had barely given a thought to the little girl, however now it started to ebb at her like Timberwolf eating her up.
“I’m probably hearing things,” she told herself, in an attempt to turn her thoughts away from the clutter, only her curiosity continued to tug at her so much it was almost overwhelming.
She stayed paused in place, undecided and paralyzed. After a brief moment of conflict Sunset set her bags inside one of the side-turned boxes which now shielded the contents from the rain. She whipped out her phone and turned on the flashlight feature to find her way through.
Taking not another moment to remain still, Sunset stepped into the field of boxes, half expecting the source of the sounds to be a rat. She stepped over rotten cardboard, flat and blackened on the ground. Meanwhile, the sounds grew quiet, and the rain poured soft, breaking down its wall of sound.
Sunset looked around at all the boxes and strained to hear for anything more. Then came another flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, accompanied by more of the frightened whimpers of a child hiding among the clutter.
Sunset took a few more steps, accompanied by a second set of footsteps. She heard the sounds of running and splashing,it couldn’t have been a person, there was no one around. Slowly a tense feeling crept up on Sunset until caution ruled her every motion.
Sunset's eyes darted all around in the darkness. She aimed her phone and shone its light in every direction. The whimpering stopped and all became still. She aimed her light at the ground during her search. When she drew close to the farthest boxes pressed against the wall, she could make out a shape in the darkness, and feel the stare of frightened eyes cast upon her.
“H-hello? Is somebody there?” Sunset drew closer, and as she did, a small form draped in darkness darted quickly from behind a large box and pushed Sunset over with its weak arms.
The teenager merely stumbled back, only to slip in a puddle and fall to the wet ground, dropping her phone and umbrella in the process. Sunset screamed which only frightened her assailant and made them run. She rubbed her forehead and looked around for her phone which lay beside her. She picked it up and turned its light to the alleyway entrance to see a large plume of flowing purple hair vanish around the corner.
Quickly gathering her wits, Sunset got up and started a clumsy pursuit of what she had deduced was a little girl, dangerously running on the wet concrete at a quickening pace. The fence beside her had barbed wire at the top, though she took no time to notice how it was sagging the further along it went, as if one end of it had broken away and fallen onto the ground.
“Wait, please! It's dangerous out here!!” Sunset called out to the girl, gaining more speed as she ran. Her shoes became slippery and would surely force her to slip.
Half way down the alley there was a loud shriek, and the sound of wire twanging and moving as if an animal had been trapped. Sunset came to a stop and felt her stomach churn as bad thoughts raced through her mind.
She hurried herself further into the alley, shining her light forward until it shone on a little girl, tangled in the barbed wire. Sunset stood and stared at this child, struggling to get free and cutting her legs, arms and hands on the sharp metal spurs which grabbed at her rags and tore them bit by bit. The thunder roared overhead and the girl let out a frightful cry and covered her ears, curling up and cutting herself further.
“Stop, please, you're only going to hurt yourself even worse,” Sunset said in a gentle tone as she made a slow approach.
The little girl watched as Sunset got closer to her. Her eyes were filled to the with fear and pain, fear that Sunset Shimmer would do her harm, and pain as the metal spikes dug and tore at her skin.
“I'm going to get you out, okay? But you must promise me you won't move unless I say so, okay?” Sunset asked, pleading to the frightened loner.
The little girl could not reject her help, she was stuck and she realized that she wasn't going to get out, she stopped struggling, accepting the stranger’s aid with much reluctance. Sunset put her phone down, leaning it against the wall to give her some light while she carefully removed the barbed wire from around the girl's arms and legs, being mindful of her while she waited, trapped within its coils.
However, when Sunset went to move the girl’s legs to pull them free, the girl winced and cried out in pain. Sunset recoiled at the child’s agonized cries and realized that this wasn’t going to be easy. She could have easily summoned one of her weapons, or used her powers to melt the wire, but then she risked heightening this girl's terror, and at worst burning her. She squatted down, rain pouring over her while she thought desperately for a way to get the girl out. Maybe she could lift her straight up? No, the wire around her legs was too thick and hard to bend, not to mention difficult, she would need to avoid getting cut herself while simultaneously stopping the wire from wrapping around again.
She looked at her phone in the hope of calling Applejack but the thunder and lightning made that risky, if not difficult. She looked at the girl long and hard and winced at the sight of the steel prongs digging into her soft flesh. It became ultimately clear, she had to cut the wires. The little girl looked up at Sunset with her crystal blue eyes, pleading for help, but fearing it at the same time.
Looking around for something to use, Sunset spied a shape in the darkness, over by the wall. She picked up her phone and aimed its light over to wall to reveal a door frame, the door itself appeared to have been removed already. Some small glimmer of hope sparked within Sunset, she looked down at the nameless child and told her calmly: “I’ll be right back, don’t move.”
She left the child and stepped into the broken down and desolate store. The floor was water logged, the second floor had given way and sloped at the the store front. Sunset walked down the small hall, passing two rooms before she came to the old and decayed countertop.
It appeared to be a hardware store,quite convenient that it should be right beside Sunset and the child when one was needed exactly. She quickly searched through the fallen wood and under the counter for wire cutters, the odds of finding a pair were against her. Only after a minutes search did she happened upon a pair in one of the backs rooms she passed on her way in, hidden beneath a few fallen floorboards and rusted nails. They weren’t pristine, they were rusted, the blades had chips in them as if the metal had corroded here and there, but Sunset had no other choice.
With the cutters in hand she returned to the girl and repositioned her phone. “Now I need you to remain as still as you can, I’m going to cut through now.”
The girls eyes fell away from Sunset and she looked ahead to the end of the alley. Meanwhile, Sunset opened and closed the cutters against one of the wires around the girl's legs which snapped in half upon the third snip. When it had come loose she grabbed the loose wire and bent it back, freeing the girl’s legs and allowing her to get off, only with the help of her savior.
The teen picked up the small figure and held her, but she struggled like an animal, desperate to get free. Sunset couldn't hold onto this wild child who leaped from her arms and onto the ground, the child looked back at Sunset for a moment before attempting to run, only for her legs to give out and make her fall with a cry.
“Don't run, you'll hurt yourself!” Sunset cried out, “You can't run, not without your hurting yourself all over again.”
With the knowledge in mind the child started to crawl away, whimpering helplessly while Sunset slowly approached and took her in her arms, holding her still so that she would not run again.
“Please! Let me help you... please,” Sunset pleaded.
The little girl ceased to struggle after only a few moments then looked at her bleeding legs. She stared at them for a while then turned her sight back up to Sunset and sniffled. As the rain started to pick up once more and pelt down Sunset and the child in doses of cold water, Sunset held her hand out to the little girl. The child looked at Sunset’s hand and didn’t know whether to reach or not.
She moved her hand to take it, but she was apprehensive. She looked into Sunset’s eyes again and she saw she had no other choice. Stay out there alone to die in the cold, or go with this strange girl someplace she could find warmth and food. She didn’t have to like it, and the expression she wore as she took Sunsets hand could not express the mounting displeasure she felt.
Sunset smiled with gratitude and helped the little girl up. The child leaned against Sunset who supported the child. The girls legs shook and shivered in pain, she could hardly walk properly, but Sunset fixed that. Gently she lifted the girl up and over her shoulders, giving her a piggy back.
“Come on, I’m taking you home with me. I’ll fix you up.” Sunset smiled and did exactly that, she returned to the umbrella and shopping bags, and continued on the long two hour walk back home.
~~~
The walk home was wet, and depressing.
Sunset walked down a narrow path beneath overhanging trees, the little girl held onto sunset tightly. She was alarmingly light for a girl who couldn’t look older than twelve, an equally alarming contradiction to what Flash had said. Her arms were skinny, bony and thin, a sign of malnutrition and anorexia. The child’s legs continued to bleed, but had been bandaged crudely only to last the walk home.
The girl winced and whimpered, crying at the pain in her shredded calves. Sunset could do nothing to calm her which was frustrating to no end. In time, they reached a long stretch of mountain road that lead to Sunset’s cliff side house, a beach was down in the valley below beside a massive lake that shined crystal blue on sunny mornings.
“Just a little longer,” she said in as soft and gentle a voice she could muster.
It took no longer than a few minutes at a quickened pace to get there. Sunset hurried herself to open the gate and unlock the front door, her concern was the child's legs which by this point, bled slightly less. She unlocked the front door of the house and stepped inside, ducking to avoid hitting the girl’s head on the door frame.
Once inside she set the girl down against the wall and turned on the lights, and in a flash the foyer was illuminated. The sudden flash hurt the girl’s eyes. The child closed them tightly and held her hands to them, gritting her teeth and shaking from it.
“I’m so sorry!” Sunset cried out, and got down on one knee. “I didn’t mean to do that honest.”
The child didn't respond, she simply frowned and removed her hands to gave Sunset an irritated look in response. She blinked, and squinted. Meanwhile, Sunset inspected the girl’s legs and couldn’t help but cringe at the sight of them.
“Those look really bad…” Sunset said with a tremble. “Wait here, I'll run you a bath.”
Leaving the girl for a just a few moments, Sunset proceeded upstairs and set up everything necessary for a bath, taps were turned and water flowed freely, the tub was filled shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, with her bony fingers clinging to the rail, as if trying to prove something, the nameless girl stepped up the individual platforms, shaking like a leaf as waves of stinging pain coursed through her legs. She had made it halfway up before crying out in agony and collapsing on the sixth step up. All of her efforts to move had been in vain and she hated it.
“Let me help you.” Sunset said to the girl, in a way she pitied her and felt responsible for the pain the girl was forcing upon herself. She picked her up, propping her up on her back and made sure to keep her hands away from the cuts. “The bath's ready. Let’s get you out of that old dress and clean you up, okay?”
The girl started to glare once more and reluctantly nodded. Sunset carried her her up the stairs and shortly thereafter into the bathroom. The girl didn’t fidget or struggle, she was still and obedient, to Sunset this was likely out of fright, but to the girl it was for lack of another choice. The room they entered was alien to the girl but carried some form of familiarity which perked her up a bit. White walls and a tiled floor, a large mirror at the center of the back wall and a white tub and sink which completed the set. Maneuvering her carefully, Sunset set the child down on the counter top. She was light so she didn’t have too much trouble moving her. But now under the bathroom lights, Sunset could see just how bad this girl looked.
Her eyes were shrunken into her skull, her arms, legs, hands and feet were bony, barely any fat was there to be seen; she was malnourished and starved. The rags she wore was gray and ripped, practically shredded and torn. Her hair was long and messy. It was tangled and covered the girl’s face at times. Her body had scratches, healed wounds, bruises and her face and back bore evidence of recent abuse, although Sunset speculated that they may have been a result of that night’s encounter. Speculation aside, all of this made Sunset guess with dread at what the girls past must have been like.
Sunset stared at the girl in utter disbelief, her shock only magnified once she removed her rags and saw how emaciated she truly was. Gathering her wits, she set the rags aside and helped the little girl into the tub. The girl sat in the water and held her legs close to her chest, hugging them tightly as her body was warmed by the shallow water which clashed with the chill of her cold skin. Sunset got some soap and a small towel and started to scrub off all the dirt that seemed glued on the girl’s body. She used a cloth soaked in disinfectant and cleaned out the wounds as well, and occasionally triggered winces of pain from the girl.
“You don't talk much, do you?” Sunset sighed and started to wipe away the thin layer of dirt on the girl's face. “I bet, under all this dirt is the face of beautiful little girl.” Sunset smiled and lightly rubbed under the girl’s eyes, which closed each time she got near.
Sunset took a long look once she was done. It became easier to spot the brown and dried dirt that covered the little girl’s dark skin. Satisfied, Sunset started pouring water it into the girl's hair, wetting it and washing the filth from her hair. The little girl shrugged and glanced at Sunset with an annoyed look about her. She started biting her lip, as if to say something only to hesitate, but for the time being, she elected to keep quiet and soon turned her gaze from her.
“So... do you have a name?” Sunset asked while she tended to the long purple hair which seemed brittle rather than bushy to the touch.
“Nyx…” came a sound as if it were a whisper. Sunset paused for a second then looked up at the girl in stunned silence.
“E-excuse me..?” Sunset said at last. She didn’t expect to hear a voice out of the child but she didn’t disapprove of it.
“My name....” the girl said with slight frustration. “M-my name is... is Nyx…” she repeated in a low voice that sounded as beautiful as a bell bird, and chimes blown in the wind.
Nyx… Sunset recalled the name from a book of historic figures at the Canterlot High Library and smiled, and in turn was reminded of an old Equestrian folktale from her world. “Like Nyx of the Night, a historical warrior who protected villagers from wild animals. She lived five hundred years ago, famous for defending a village from monsters. It's a lovely name. My name is Sunset Shimmer, it's a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled.
Nyx just stared at Sunset in confusion. She didn't understand what it was Sunset was saying. Words like ‘warrior’ and ‘folktale’ were alien to her. She turned her head away as if trying to shut Sunset out.
Sunset didn't know what to do, gaining Nyx’s trust would prove to be a long and arduous task for certain, but at the very least she trusted Sunset enough to provide her name.
“Stay right here, Nyx. I'm going to find you some clothes.” Sunset turned and left the room.
Meanwhile, Nyx remained still, moving only to look at her hands. She was used to the sight of her skeletal fingers by this point. They shook and shuddered then she quietly rested her head on her knees and tried to remember her life before being cast out, to no avail. It was like there was nothing to remember. During this time, Sunset dug through her wardrobe until she found suitable garments Nyx could wear in the absence of proper clothes befitting her age and stature.
“These'll do the trick,” she said with a smile.
Sunset left her bedroom and returned to the bathroom. Nyx glanced up at her and shuddered as a cool chill came over her. Sunset put the cloths on a nearby hamper and grabbed a towel off of a rack on the wall.
“Let’s get you dried up.” She held the towel up in Nyx's view.
With some help Nyx stood up and stepped out of the bath. Her hands were held by Sunset and her legs rattled. She was quickly dried off and dressed with Sunset help. While this happened, Nyx's wounds reopened on her arms and legs. She whimpered and shed tears from the pain. Seeing this, Sunset knelt down and opened up a small cupboard under the sink. She pulled out a first aid kit, it was colored white with a dark pink cross on the center. She put it on the table, then sat Nyx on top of the counter just beside the sink.
Sunset at first set about sterilizing the wounds. She dripped antiseptic into them then set about bandaging them. They oozed red plasma like fresh dripping water. Nyx’s face became twisted with pain as it stung, but it was worth it, if only to stop the bleeding which plagued her so. When they were bandaged, Sunset cleaned Nyx's legs, wiping away the trickles of blood with a wet cloth to both their welcomed relief.
~~~
Nyx sat in the kitchen as Sunset made dinner. Nyx’s health had become lodged in the back of her mind, compounded by her pale complexion and her shaky movement. She was weak, malnourished, her body was emaciated and even now as Sunset prepared something soft for Nyx, she wondered if her body could handle it. And she hoped it could. She pulled out her uneaten sandwich and offered it to Nyx, who looked at it curiously, tilting her head and sniffing it, almost like a curious animal before she reached for it with a trembling hand and took it.
Meanwhile Sunset watched from the counter where she watched as Nyx examined the sub. She turned it in her fragile hands and peeled away the paper to see what was underneath and sniffed it once more. She then raised it to her lips, and opened her mouth to bite it, only she couldn’t, and instead of wasting it, she put it back on the table and continued to sit there, hunched and exhausted.
She didn't do much. Aside from saying her name, she hardly said a word. Occasionally she would wipe tears from her eyes, sniffle and keep her head down. It was pitiful, pathetic and sad, but Sunset did not see it that way, she was empathetic to Nyx’s plight, having no family herself, she felt it was up to her to give Nyx somewhere to belong. Sunset looked down at the floor then to two bowls of soup which had just finished boiling. She turned her back to Nyx and started stirring the pot, in it was a mix of orange and yellow colors, with bits of meat and vegetable in small amounts, Sunset assumed it would be good for the little girl to have some, and it would certainly be easier for her to digest.
She scooped up some of the brew in a ladle and poured it into two small bowls then turned her attention back to the little girl. Nyx sat like a statue. Her hair had been brushed over her left eye while her hair at the back was made into a ponytail. She remained motionless, unsure of what to do here in this new place. Nyx, in her motionless stare, seemed to squint and blink frequently. Her vision seemed to blur which frustrated her, although she didn’t show it.
“Hey…” Sunset spoke in a calm and gentle voice. Nyx glanced at her, she saw the stranger’s smile and felt it was warm, but it could not thaw her cold exterior and chilling glare.
Sunset put the bowl of soup in front of her, the steam trail carried the smell which graced Nyx's nostrils. She looked at the bowl and regarded it with curiosity.
“It's chicken and celery soup, it's a little different from the celery soup my teacher used to give me. I thought you’d like some.” Sunset smiled to the child while she poured herself some soup and joining Nyx at the table.
Nyx moved a shaking hand over to the spoon and grasped it lightly by the handle. She scooped up a little of the soup and tried to bring it up to her mouth, but her fingers loosened like they had a will of their own and she dropped the spoon which struck the floor with a metallic ding. The top she wore as a dress became stained, and what soup which poured as the spoon fell burned her leg aslight. Nyx clenched her fist lightly, tears welled up in her eyes and she let out a light audible hiss.
“It's okay,” Sunset said. “Here let me help.” She picked up the spoon and placed it back on the table. “I'll feed you, you need all the help you can get.” She smiled.
Nyx didn’t give a reply, nor her consent to Sunset, but she wasn’t going to complain if Sunset took the initiative. Sunset cleaned the wet soup mess off of the dress and Nyx’s leg before feeding Nyx herself. The child opened her mouth with little fuss and took in what was offered to her. She chewed and swallowed the celery which was soft and was easy to bite into, and chicken pieces which was hard and hurt her weakened teeth. She found the soup, mushy and watery to be quite pleasant. Sunset was careful not to be too quick, nor to hasty when feeding Nyx. Seeing her as almost a skeleton was heartbreaking.
“How old are you?” Sunset asked, as she was feeding Nyx the last few spoon fulls of the soup.
Nyx didn’t answer immediately. She glanced around the room then finally at Sunset, before shifting her eyes to look down to the floor. Sunset didn’t coax an answer out of her, and she did she pressure her Sunset took Nyx's bowl and walked around to the sink to put some more soup in it.
“Seven…” Nyx whispered with barely enough volume for Sunset to hear.
The teen paused and turned back around to look at Nyx. The child was quiet again, her arms in her lap and her head facing away, showing the side of her face covered by long purple locks, which curled around each other like snakes and hung low below her shoulders.
“Sorry, Nyx. I didn’t quite catch that.” Sunset looked at Nyx the same way she looked at Twilight on the night of Pinkie’s sleepover, although it wasn’t quite so sympathetic. Warm and inquisitive were words which came to mind when Nyx glanced toward it fleetingly.
Nyx’s voice became shaky as if she had started to cry again. “I-I’m seven!” Nyx at last shouted.
Sunset flinched and looked at the girl, shaken up from the sudden rise in tone. She thought to herself quietly, and remarked on how much younger Nyx appeared to be than her stated age. She took Nyx’s bowl and poured some more soup into it before placing it back down again.
“Here. You mustn't have had a decent meal in forever. Have as much as you’d like.”
Nyx nodded slowly and stiffly. She glanced up at Sunset then the bowl in front of her and sighed as if resigning herself to her circumstances. Reluctantly, Nyx ate what sunset fed her, all the while fearing that she would be a prisoner to the seemingly larger teen. It was a slow start to her recovery, and Nyx knew Sunset wanted to help her more than anything else.
~~~
Nyx's bowl rested in the drainer, cleaned with the spoons, pot and ladle drying beside them. Sunset prepared the spare bedroom for Nyx to stay in. Her jacket rested by the bedroom door while she put a cover on the mattress, the color of which was a dark navy blue. The bed sheets that would follow had stars on it,, the star-burst symbol of magic decorated a large portion of the covers center, while other artistic symbols and constellations decorated the remainder of it like fantastical art.
“All done.” She wiped sweat off her brow and sat down, leaning against the end of the bed with a satisfied sigh. She glanced up at the window and saw it was raining again, thunder and lightning cracked and streaked in the distance and seemed to be moving in the direction of Canterlot City. Sunset groaned.
“The weather here is so unpredictable…” She put her hand to her forehead and relaxed for the moment.
The door squeaked as it moved slightly ajar,, Sunset moved her hand and looked up to see Nyx standing under the arch-way. She looked down at Sunset with her one visible eye then looked to the bed. The various patterns and shapes interested the child, who walked limply over to the bed and touched its smooth, un-creased surface. Her eyes scanned it, she took an interest in the starburst at the beds center which she looked to recognize but didn’t say what it could be. It filled her with emotions she didn’t know she had, with an almost incomprehensible rage building in her chest at the sight of it.
Sunset stood up and stretched, tossing a smile in Nyx’s direction. “Do you like it? This will be your room.” Sunset spun around, motioning to the entirety of the room which left Nyx reasonably surprised.
She looked at Sunset then glanced down to her right toward the bed in silence.
“Shall I tuck you in? I don't have any pajamas for you so you'll have to wear the clothes I’ve fashioned for you. I'm sorry it has to be that way.” Sunset let out a nervous chuckle, as if everything was coming apart when the reality was in contradiction to her own perception.
Nyx pulled the sheets back and slid her bandaged legs under the covers. Sunset set about pulling the blankets over her and making sure the child was comfortable in her place. The teen smiled at Nyx and looked into her only visible eye.
“I know you don't trust me, but I want you to know that I want to help you.I think our meeting was an act of fate.” Sunset chuckled. “You can trust me. I promise, I won’t hurt you.”
And with that, Sunset moved away from the bed and over to the door. She turned out the light and bade Nyx goodnight, right as the thunder roared and split the night. And to the winds howls and the storm's wrath, Nyx shrank down under the blankets almost out of sight. Sunset pulled the door shut, and tended to a few more things before she retired for the night.
Soon the home was quiet, save for the patterning of droplets on the roof which soothed the former Equestrian to slumber, but kept Nyx wide awake. She shut her eyes and willed herself to sleep, only to reopen them as a flash of lightning briefly revealed a shape flying by her window, searching.
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This is heartbreaking see Nyx like this.
You monster, how dare you hurt Nyx like this. *hugs her*
Though, now the questions are starting to arise, what is the difference between this Nyx an the one we know? Why does she recognize Twilight? Is the past sins world in cannon?
This must be AU! Nyx. Wait, isn't Sunset Shimmer a bit young to be a mother in this universe?
This is good, I like it.
I also have two theories about this paragraph:
I'm thinking that either:
1) Nyx has amnesia or has suppressed memories.
2) Nyx is from Equestria
I think 1 is more likely, but these are just two of my theories.
soooooooooooo cute
Mmmm interesting,very interesting indeed. I look forward to where you would take this story
I wonder if Twilight will find oit about Nyx. If this is an alternate universe that means past sins never happened?
My head hurts!
Anyway great story!
Oh I hope this doesn't begin to annoy me.
I think it might be about to...
Wow. How can one so young see this? That's a really deep level of perception. Of course this could all be part of your plan, but for now I'm skeptical.
I don't think it is, actually. What it was was you conveniently declining the ride with AJ back to your place even though it was raining.
Rough as this is, I want to read on. I want things to get better for Nyx.
Also, Sunset has clearly learned a lot about the Kindness side of friendship. So what happens tomorrow? Will Sunset awaken to an empty bed, or will Nyx still be there?
Hmmm. Onward!
So she would have put her bike into Pinkie's car? Which Pinkie somehow had despite walking into the city with her friends.
I feel like there is a lot of unneeded detail. We don't particularly care about how Sunset gets to bed and so don't need a paragraph describing her going downstairs and tidying up her things.
6156535
I know what you mean, the concept is interesting but I feel it can slip easily into being bad or good.
OMG!! Your actually recreating the original! I had the id ea you were, but I didn't actually would! BEST. NYX. STORY. EVER!!
Poor Nyx.
There is only one thing for it.
pre07.deviantart.net/9631/th/pre/i/2013/258/6/4/i_can_eat_all_these_cookies__by_filpapersoul-d6mfvaw.png
You are gonna share those with Nyx right?
6156535 Okay, I am breaking my rule to not reply to/or comment on my stories to ask: How can I have Sunset discover Nyx without her friends being present for it? I am doing the rewrites for this chapter as of now and would like to hear how I can remove this convenience without differing too much from the established chapter, even though the rewrite will be totally different (it'll lack the whole arcade thing). I highly suggest getting back to me ASAP, these rewrites don't take long to do and I can easily write the wrong thing to make this story a bigger mess.
Update: I think I might have answered my own question...
But still, to help me out, I'd like to know.
6120392 I say there is a human counter part to nyx like there is a pony one
I see a Aliens reference right here.