Celestia made her way to the crowd of people; both civilians, and paramedics, looking for survivors. She scanned over the medics working on the injured, but didn’t see Sunset. Not yet anyway.
Where are you, Sunset? Celestia thought, watching the two men sift through what was Sunset’s building.
Just then one of them called; “Hey! I see someone!”
Three paramedics ran over past Celestia to assist the two men. She wanted to help but she knew she’d just get in the way but still staying within ear shot. So, as nerve racking as it was, she waited chewing her lip impatiently, praying Sunset wasn’t…no, she couldn’t think like that.
She kept her eyes on the men until one of them spoke loudly over the sirens; “It’s just a kid!”
Celestia’s heart stopped, Sunset.
He nodded, “Careful now, don’t move her head”
When Celestia finally saw the person, they were lifting; her fears were answered. She placed a hand over her mouth, tears now streaming from her eyes. It took all her willpower to not break down on her knees then and there
She walked to where the paramedics carefully set Sunset down.
One of the medics with orange hair checked her pulse and shook his head, “No pulse.”
“Starting compressions.” Another green haired man said, as he performed CPR.
When Celestia got closer she gasped. Sunset’s face was covered in blood, a large gash on the side of her head. There was so much blood, it was hard to tell where it started and ended. She had blood on her shirt and her clothes were torn. Her left leg wasn’t fairing much better. Still, her main concern was whether or not she was alive.
The green haired man stopped after a minute and shook his head. Celestia knew what that meant.
She carefully approached the men who looked at her questionably.
“Miss?” the orange haired man questioned.
“Her parents are out of town.” Celestia said numbly, her voice breaking.
“We’re sor-” The man tried but was cut off.
“Move!” A blue haired man ordered.
They all moved out of the way and he resumed compressions.
“Armor, she’s-” The green man tired but the blue haired man was having none of it.
“Defibrillator!” he ordered, “NOW!”
The green haired man went to the ambulance while Armor ripped open Sunset’s shirt. When he returned; he put the pads on Sunset’s chest and charged, “Clear!”
She convulsed but nothing.
“Again!”
Nothing.
“One more time!” He said.
“Shining,” The orange haired one said, “She’s gone!”
He glared at him, “Just one more time!”
He rolled his eyes but did as he was told.
Sunset convulsed then, unconscious, she coughed.
Shining smiled, “See, told ya.”
Celestia smiled and uncharacteristically hugged the man, “Thank you.”
“Get her into the ambulance now!” Shining ordered.
The two men obliged, “Are you her mother?”
“No,” Celestia said, “Her parents are out of town.”
He nodded, “What’s her name?”
“Sunset Shimmer.”
He nodded then rushed to the truck, “Thanks. She’s in good hands!”
Celestia nodded and they drove away, sirens blaring.
She rushed back to her car and started heading for the hospital, I’ll be damned if I let her go through this alone.
***
When Celestia got to the hospital, the nurse told her Sunset was in surgery. So, she called her sister who had been texting her nonstop.
“Hello? Tia!” Luna said from the other end, “I was getting worried. You have a cellphone for a reason!”
“I’m at the hospital.” Celestia said in monotone.
“Are you alright?” Luna practically yelled into the phone.
“Yes, Luna, I’m fine.” Celestia gulped, “It’s Sunset.”
The other end grew silent for a moment before Luna responded. “I’ll be right there.”
Celestia thanked her sister and hung up the phone, looking around the waiting room. It was packed. Sunset wasn’t the only one in critical condition form the earthquake. Since arriving, six families had left in tears. She prayed she wouldn’t be one of them.
She felt fresh hot tears in her eyes again. If only I had taken her in earlier… no, I can’t blame myself. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. No one could have predicted the earthquake.
The woman pulled herself from her thoughts when she noticed Luna walking towards her, immediately enveloping each other in a tight hug.
“Now, tell me what happened.” Luna said.
Celestia explained how Sunset’s building had been leveled by the earthquake and she had been inside. Then, she went into striking detail about watching them carefully pull her body from the rubble.
“You should have been there, Luna.” Celestia buried her head in her hands, “She was just...covered in her own blood. She was essentially dead for who knows how long! They were going to give up but this one man…he refused.”
Luna tried to put on a brave face for her sister but she too had tears brimming her eyes, “What’s going on now?”
“She’s in surgery but…they aren’t sure if she’ll make it through the procedure.” Celestia explained as she cried harder.
Luna embraced her sister, “Sunset has fought to survive this long. I highly doubt she’ll let this get the best of her.”
Celestia managed a small smile and nodded.
They sat in silence as the waiting room steadily emptied. At one point, Luna went to get a couple sandwiches from the hospital canteen but they never got eaten. Eventually, it dwindled down to the two of them and three other families.
Luna was half asleep when a green skinned nurse walked in.
“For…” She checked her sheet, “Sunset Shimmer?”
Celestia immediately shot up, dragging a groggy Luna behind her.
“The paramedic who brought her in said her parents were out of town?” She questioned.
Celestia nodded, “I’m her emergency contact and this is my sister Luna.”
“Is she OK?” Luna asked eagerly.
The nurse smiled slightly, “Miss Shimmer is and extremely lucky girl.”
A wave of sweet relief washed over the two women.
“I am obligated to tell you that she did flatline on the table for one minute but she is now in stable condition.” She looked at her papers one more time, “Please, follow me.”
They followed the nurse through the halls until she stopped at a door, “This is Sunset’s room. I have to say, she’s a bit of a rock star here since she was brought in. Not many teenage girls have a building fall on top of them and live to tell the tale.”
Celestia peered into the room. It was dark save for a dim light over the bed that lit up only the sleeping girl in the bed. Sunset’s face was void of the blood form earlier but there was a large gauze pad taped to the side of her forehead to just before her ear and they could see that her face ad arms were covered in small scrapes and bruises. Her left arm was in a cast and a sling and her left leg was elevated and wrapped in bandages. They had her hooked up to a respirator that was held in place by a strap around her head and face. The sight broke her heart.
“The respirator will come off when we are confident she doesn’t need it or when she wakes up.” The nurse explained.
“When will she wake up?” Celestia asked, her eyes never leaving Sunset.
“I’m not sure.” She admitted, “It’s common after incidents like this for the patient to be in some kind of coma. It could last anywhere from a few days to a few months. It really depends on the person. I believe it depends on one’s will to survive.”
“Well, she sure has the will.” Luna commented.
The nurse smiled, “I better get going. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, just don’t be too loud.”
They nodded as the nurse walked off.
Celestia immediately walked to the chair on the right side of the bed then planted herself in place, studying Sunset’s sleeping form. She frowned at the thought of what had brought them to this point; Sunset’s fear of herself.
“On the bright side,” Luna said, pulling up a chair to sit next to her sister, “At least she has somewhere to go after this. Somewhere she won’t be alone.”
Celestia smiled, “Yes, you’re right.”
“Should we tell her friends?” Luna asked.
Celestia nodded, “I’ll do it on Monday.”
Luna frowned and shot Celestia a look of disbelief, “Oh no you don’t. If you think you are going to work with Sunset in the hospital, you are sincerely mistaken.”
“But I-” Celestia tried to argue, despite her better judgement.
“No but’s.” Luna said adamantly, “I’ll tell them and handle things at the school.” She gestured to Sunset, “Right now, you are the closest thing to a parent Sunset has and probably will ever have. She needs you right now, more than the school does. So, come Monday, you are going to be right here waiting for her to wake up.”
Celestia smiled at Luna. Sometimes she forgets that Luna is the younger sibling, especially in times like this where she needed a firm hand and someone to support her.
Could be worse. Reading the occasional dark tagged story has shown it can always be much worse.
Thanks for the chapter and you sir are one evil clever bastard! The fluff just before this as setup was a smart move to make the feels hurt even more!
8886492
Thanks! Thats EXACTLY the reaction I wanted!
I literally thought for a second you were going to have her be dead
Great chapter though
8886527
well, she WAS for a minute there. Go Shining Armor, right? and thanks!
after reading the comments about each chapter I will wait until this story is finished before reading it. I have great hopes for it though but I fear it might get to close to dark/depressive tag and thus can´t risk reading it right now:P (I am a depressive person my self and avoid things like that... mlp and cute animals are the other half of my meds)
8886548
Shining armor...
I feel for Celestia and Sunset. But at least Luna is stepping in and handling things at CHS while Celestia helps Sunset. Though I think that there might be more to why Celestia cares for Sunset so much that hasn't been revealed yet.
Poor Sunset!
I'm glad that she's okay! She's extremely lucky that Celestia and Luna cares so much about her and that she got revived by Shinning Armor. I bet her friends is gonna flip when they found out what happened to her.
Oh boy.
Here I am, doing a comment for your story (brace yourself xD).
Not really, because I won't say too much.
Aside that when a story is as great, well constructed as this one, where there is fav pony girl, having insecurites (sad but she'll go out of it better) , where Principal Celestia is acting concerned Momlestia, all the while with her friends being so supportive, facing problems piling on themselves and her own guilt (I hope you'll make things for Sunset going better from now), that's a complete favourite, in a top of my favourites (yeah I have so many but if I think about it your story is into without hesitation), then I am satisfied. I mean it.
Way better, it's not finished yet so I'll enjoy reading new chapters and because of that, waiting for the next ones are so worth it, as they're becoming better and better.
So keep going, take as long as you need, and all this praising? Glad I've said it this way for a great story and it's author, 'cause I intend to keep up with until the end.
Plus one thing, I don't know if that's good to mention other stories or authors, not that I want to compare or insinuate anything, but Scars Of Our Past looks like Full Circle. Truly both of your stories are great and that's why I'm loving them so hard, the way you're depicting Sunset's life after the Fall Formal.
OOOoooooh dang
When the paramedics said she's gone and wanted to stop I wanted to scream NOOOOoo
Can't wait for the next one !!!
You better be nice to Sunny after this >:v
8886610
THAT was perfect!
8886931
Thank you so much! I had a grin on my face While reading this comment! I dont mind you mentioning another one, who's the author, I might take a look at it! Always looking fof good stories to read. You'd be surprised to see how little stories do redemption like this.
Im glad to see you're sticking with me!
8886958
haha, please, I dont go around killing my main characters...most of the time. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
8887701
Try usa
8887094
I am with you on that
I really hate you.
But thanks too, i guess.
8932686
Haha I knew SOMEONE would say 'I hate you' because of this chapter, it means I did it right. And your welcome. 😁
God damned television: defibrillators are used to correct an erratic heartbeat. They don’t do anything for someone with no heartbeat. You don’t shock a flatline.
9061436
Yes I know.
I didnt make it clear that she was actually in cardiac arrest but paramedics often mistake it for no heart beat. It's a common mistake. I actually plan to fix it eventually. I didnt realize until my friend pointed it out to me and I had to explain it to him. It's why Shining said "see, told you"
Shining Armour you are a bloody hero!
This gave me sooo much anxiety. Good job!
10511192
Awesome! thank you!
I have read stories where shinning is a cop, a soccer coach and, now a paramedic.
Shining armor ladies and gentlemen patron saint of paramedics
Curse you Past JWolfSilver! Causing us pain even in the future!!
Thank goodness she's alive. And it's all thx to shinning armor for not giving up on her. 😭
Thank god.
Yep, something you don't see everyday.
Yep, with that apartment building no more she'll have to move in with them.
I'm with Luna on this one, you should stay with sunset and let Luna handle things at school because like she said celestia is the closest thing to a parent for sunset.
Wish I was in a coma right now.
Sunset!
10976598
Ah even now, 6 years later I just got a pained comment on wattpad for last chap a few days ago
"Consider yourselves lucky. Not many first year students, can take on a fully grown mountain troll, and live to tell the tale."
That was the vibes I got.
Great work mate!
Hope you'll be updating the sequel at some point, it's not been read yet, but it sounds great. Especially if it's like this.
11002415
Dude. You've been negative the entire bloody time. Just shut up already.
10615435
A few more, and we got a bingo!