Her Broken Childhood

by girasol

Nine: The Bathtub

The group could not believe what they were seeing: The small girl’s back was covered in black veins, starting from the two long gashes on her back, branching out across her back and moving both downward towards the girl’s waist as well as going upwards towards her shoulders.

Twilight stared in frozen shock at the sight. The two long gashes are most likely due to the events of the Fall Formal, but she’s never seen anything like this. What caused this? Was it the Elements of Harmony?

Twilight looked up at her friends who were all with the same aghast expressions. She looked to Fluttershy, who was still holding the bloody rag in her yellow hand. Twilight could see that Fluttershy was now slightly trembling as she met her gaze.

Rainbow Dash eyes were wide, trying to process what they were looking at. Yeah sure, she was used to a little gore here and there from video games and from playing sports, but never like this. Never with... whatever those black things were on Sunset’s back. I think I’m gonna puke. She managed to gulp down her nausea, “Wha—“

That’s when she was interrupted by a whimper from Sunset, who was still on the floor, clutching on to Twilight, “Twilight? What’s w-wrong with me?”

Twilight glanced at her, not wanting to meet her gaze, “N-nothing honey. We’re just—” Twilight shook her head. She knew it wasn’t right keeping things from her but she didn’t want the girl to get scared, “Sunset does it hurt all the time?”

Sunset shrunk at her gaze. Her lips started to quiver as her eyes filled with tears again. She sniffled before nodding slowly, not wanting to meet her eyes.

Twilight sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. Why didn’t she tell her? Or anyone? Okay. Stay calm. Calm down, calm down, calm down... don’t yell, don’t yell. Yelling would be bad. It would make her feel worse. She sucked in another breath before opening her eyes, “Sunset...” she said softly, hoping her tone wouldn’t cause another panic attack, “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

Sunset chocked back a sob, “I’m-I’m sorry. I didn’t know I-I... I deserve this...” Sunset gave an exhausted cry, “I’m sorry.”

Twilight held the girl in her arms, trying to free her of both her emotional and physical pain, “Sunset... don’t ever say you deserve pain. No one ever does. Why do you think you deserve pain?”

Sunset wrapped her arms around the older girl and she continued to cry, “B-because m-mother and father told me. T-they said... they said that I deserve pain and that I-that I deserve to suffer.”

Twilight’s heart broke at Sunset’s response. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Yes, she knew that her parents would treat her badly, but she didn’t know the full extent of it, “Sunset. Listen to me,” she took the girl’s face in her hands and wiped away her tears with her thumb, “Those ponies who told you that, are wrong. You do not deserve any kind of pain. Please, don’t every say that again.”

Sunset blinked. She was not expecting Twilight to say that. Her parents were wrong? How can that be? Her whole life she’s been told that she deserves pain and suffering. Her whole life has been pain and suffering. When Princess Celestia found her, she took that pain away. But she always feared that one day, the princess would turn on her too. That is why she would push everyone away, but... maybe... maybe, she was wrong. Maybe not everyone wants to hurt her, “Okay,” she finally said before tightening her hug on Twilight.

Twilight sighed, returning the girl’s tight hug, “I promise you, we’ll find out what’s going on. And I’ll make sure you never feel any kind of pain again. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again.”

Sunset looked up at her and smiled. Twilight returned the smile and ran a hand through her red hair, “Come on, we should get back to bed,” she glanced towards Fluttershy who had just finished up re-bandaging Sunset’s back.

Slowly, Twilight helped Sunset up from the floor and they walked back across the hall to Pinkie’s colorful bedroom.

While Fluttershy decided to stay behind to clean up the bathroom mess, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack were already back in their sleeping bags, waiting for them to finish up.

Twilight helped Sunset into her red sleeping bag as she settled down in her own.

“Can... you leave the lights on? Please?” Sunset pleaded, clutching her Phoenix plush.

Twilight smiled at her, “Of course we can leave the lights on.”

Sunset’s shoulders relaxed a little, though she seemed to be hesitant on something. Finally, she took a deep breath, “Twilight?”

Twilight nervously tensed up a little, worried about what the child was going to tell her. She cupped the small girl’s face in her purple hands, “What’s wrong, Sunset?”

“Can... you please stay with me?”

Twilight have Sunset a light kiss on her forehead, “Of course sweetie. What ever makes you feel more comfortable.”

Sunset smiled and finally laid down in her sleeping bag. She reached for Twilight’s purple hand and she clenched her beloved Phoenix plush with the other.

Twilight smiled down at the girl, relieved that she was finally getting some rest. She began humming a lullaby as she caressed Sunset’s red and gold hair.

...

Soon, Sunset was finally asleep. Twilight on the other hand, could not bring herself to sleep. She could not stop thinking about the black veins on Sunset’s back, and what was the cause of them. She thought back to the night of the Fall Formal. After Sunset came to, she was more concerned that she was a child again than whether she was hurt or not. She remembered coming back from Equestria and Rarity saying that she was in pain.

Twilight sighed, trying to clear her mind. She looked over to Sunset, who was still fast asleep. Twilight reached out a hand to fix Sunset’s blanket. Twilight realized that even in sleep, Sunset looked scared and in pain.

“Can’t sleep?”

Twilight turned to see Rainbow Dash with her arms crossed across her chest, sitting up in her sleeping bag.

Twilight nodded, “I can’t stop thinking about what those black veins are.”

Rainbow stood up and sat down next to Twilight, “We’ll figure it out.”

Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, “It’s all my fault.”

Rainbow Dash exhaled, “It’s not your fault Twilight.”

Twilight lifted her head to face her sporty friend, “Yes it is. I went overboard with the magic. I didn’t mean to. I’m supposed to be the Element of Magic, I’m supposed to be an expert in magic. I’m Princess Celestia’s student. I’m the Princess of Friendship! I—“

Rainbow shook her head, “Stop. Stop blaming yourself. You couldn’t have know this would happen.”

Twilight sighed, “I’m sorry. I just... I don’t know how to help her.”

The pair sat in silence for a while before Rainbow’s eyes wandered down to where Sunset was sleeping. She couldn’t help but remember what the young girl had said earlier, “Twilight...”

Twilight looked up at her friend and followed her gaze downwards towards the sleeping girl.

“What do ya think she meant when she told us her father was gonna “make another punishment” on her?”

Twilight furrowed her brows at that, bitting her bottom lip, “I... I’m not sure... I hope it’s not—“

Both Rainbow Dash and Twilight exchanged petrified expressions, realizing what the small girl had meant.

“I-I...” Twilight teared up, “Rainbow, you don’t think he...?”

Rainbow’s eyes went wide before she narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists, “How can a father do that to his own daughter? I—“ Her angry expression broke, leaving her with sullen eyes.

“We don’t know that for sure. I know it’s going to be hard for her, but I’m going to talk to her about... whatever it is she went through, and her parents. Maybe it’ll help her,” Twilight looked back down at Sunset, who stirred uncomfortably in her sleep.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t pull her eyes away from Sunset’s scars. They hide so much pain and suffering. She thought of the Sunset before the Fall Formal. She was a bully. Even though she was never violent, she made people fear her very presence. The Sunset who a little more than a week ago was terrorizing the school, is now long gone. Now she was vulnerable. It’s something she never thought she’d see.

In a way it made sense the way Sunset had acted before. She had a wall built up around her, not wanting anyone seeing her scars. She used her anger to hide those emotions; and she had built up an empire to erase those memories that have haunted her entire life.

Rainbow’s eyes were then opened up to see Sunset in a new way in that very moment. She now saw her for what she truly was: a scared child who had to grow up too fast and had to deal with the trauma her own parents gave her on her own.

A determined facade was now on Rainbow Dash, “Yeah. We’ll help her get through. I won’t let her down.”

---

The following morning, Twilight jolted awake. She blinked and looked around the room, spotting the blond farmer already dressed for the day. Much like her pony counterpart in Equestria, it seemed as though she always wakes at the crack of dawn.

“Mornin’ Twi!” Applejack greeted.

Twilight rubbed her eyes, sitting up in her sleeping bag, “Good morning Applejack.” Twilight glanced over at Sunset, who was still next to her sleeping in her sleeping bag.

“Sleep well?”

Twilight nodded, “Yeah... I have a meeting with Principal Celestia.”

Applejack furrowed her brows in confusion, “When did ya plan that?”

“She messaged me in the journal after you girls handed it over to her. You said you found Sunset’s journal correct?”

Applejack nodded, “Yeah Principal Celestia told us ta clean out her locker since... well you know... Yeah we foun’ her journal, Pinkie was the one who realized it was magic. Ah didn’ believe it really worked ‘til you replied.”

“I should probably get Sunset’s stuff back to Equestria,” Twilight said, “I just need to make sure she doesn’t see them,” Twilight paused, remembering a question she’s been meaning to ask, “Hey do you happen to know where she lived?”

Applejack furrowed her brows, scratching the back of her head in concentration, “Can’t say that Ah do. Ahm sure Principal Celestia or Vice Principal Luna might—“

Applejack paused when she saw Sunset suddenly started stirring in her sleeping bag.

Twilight turned to where Sunset was, also noticing how the girl was now quivering as if she was in pain. Twilight quickly glanced back at Applejack, who was now looking very concerned, “Hey, Sunset? Sunset?” Twilight lightly shook the smaller girl’s shoulders to wake her.

The girl did not wake. Instead her breathing became heavy. Then she started to hyperventilate as tears began to slip down her amber cheeks.

Twilight shook her shoulders a little harder this time, hoping this would bring her out of her misery, “Sunset! It’s okay! Wake up! Wake up, Sunset!”

Finally, Sunset woke up with a scream, quickly sitting upright. Her eyes darted around the room as she was still shivering from her bad dream. She was gripping her sleeping bag, her amber hands turning white.

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, “Sunset...” Sunset turned to look up at her. Twilight noticed that her cyan eyes were bloodshot, fear still evident in them.

Sunset wrapping her arms around Twilight as she continued sniveling. Twilight returned the embrace, caressing Sunset’s red hair.

“Don’t leave me,” Sunset choked out.

“I won’t. I promise. I’m right here,” Twilight held her tighter.

Sunset’s eyes widened at the tighter touch, feeling a shot of pain along her back. She screamed out in pain, making Twilight retract her arms.

Sunset was now on her side, clutching her knees to her stomach, breathing heavily.

Twilight glanced around the room as she tried to calm down her own breathing. Her friends were all awake now, they all stared at Twilight, waiting for what to do next. Turning back to the small girl, Twilight gently put a hand on Sunset’s amber hand.

“Sunset?” The girl slowly looked up at Twilight, tears dripping off her face and onto her sleeping bag, “Did I hurt you?” Sunset hesitantly nodded.

Twilight closed her eyes, feeling guilty for causing more pain towards the fragile child, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!“

Sunset closed her eyes and she hugged her Phoenix plush to her chest.

“I’m going to check your back okay?” Not waiting for a response, the purple teenager slowly lifted the girl’s shirt. Twilight chocked back a gasp. The black veins have grown. They have now reached her shoulders, and the veins that were there from the previous night have thickened.

Twilight motioned Fluttershy to come closer to her so that she can check out what she was seeing.

Fluttershy bit her lip, her eyes wavering as she brought her gaze towards Twilight.

Applejack also moved closer to look at Sunset’s back. She sucked in a breath. She noted that there wasn’t a big difference from last night, but there was an obvious change in the form of the veins.

Rarity held her pale hands to her mouth to suppress a gasp.

Pinkie Pie’s hair deflated once more as she hugged Rainbow Dash for comfort.

Twilight gently lowered Sunset’s shirt and faces her. The girl was still sweating, but didn’t seem to be in pain anymore, “Does your back still hurt?”

Sunset shook her head, “Is it worse?”

Twilight hesitated, “No. No, honey it’s not worse.”

Sunset blinked at the older girl. She knew she was lying. She knew that she was just trying to make her feel better, so she nodded anyway, not wanting to make Twilight feel guilty about lying.

“Come on, we should change you out of those pajamas,” Twilight helped Sunset up from her spot on the floor, “Pinkie do you mind if we use your bath?”

Although she still looked a bit down, Pinkie’s hair re-inflated, “Sure thing Twilight.”

Twilight smiled, “Alright, we’ll be back,” Twilight took Sunset’s hand and they walked towards the bathroom across the hall.

Twilight reached over the bathtub to turn the knob. Twilight quickly tested the water to make sure it was warm, “Come on sweetie,” Twilight told her, extending a purple arm out towards her, “Let’s get you washed up.”

Sunset watched in frozen fear as the white bathtub filled with the warm water, not hearing a word Twilight had just said. She stared at the pool of water in front of her.

Drip...
Drip......
Drip..........

Her breathing had started to quicken, suddenly feeling as if she could no loner breathe. She whimpered, clutching her pajama top.

Drip......
Drip..........
Drip.................

Suddenly, she couldn’t see anything else besides the pool of water. Sunset’s breathing had started to quicken even more the longer she started at the water. Soon, she began to tremble furiously. She felt like she needed to throw up, she felt like she was going to throw up.

The substance seemed to be getting bigger, and bigger with each passing second, taunting her. It was coming for her... it was going to snatch her in the water... it was going to drown her... she was going to die... she was going to die...

”Get in the water.”
”No!”
SPLASH!
”No! No NO!——Please mother d-don’t! I’m sorry! I’m—”
“I-I can’t——breathe! Mother! Stop! Mother ST——“

“......unset! Sunset!”

The purple teenager was shaking the small girl, trying to bring her out of her panic attack.

Sunset was trembling in frozen fear, sweat pouring down her face, pure terror filled her cyan eyes as she was starring off into the distance.

Twilight wrapped her arms around Sunset in a tight embrace, hoping that would get her to react, “It’s okay Sunset. It’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe. Breathe... breathe with me Sunset.”

Sunset suddenly let out a strangled cry as she fell to the floor, wailing as Twilight touched her injured back.

Twilight flinched at her cry, making her recoil, “Oh my gosh! Sunset, I’m so sorry! Here let me see your back.”

Twilight gently lifted her shirt again, not expecting to see any change. Her back was bloodied once again, and the veins spread out about half an inch to her shoulders.

Twilight took several deep breaths before the door to the bathroom bursted open to reveal the rest of the teenage girls, all with a mixture of confusion and worry on their faces.

Fluttershy rushed over to Twilight’s side, trying to help calm down the panicked girl, “Shh... it’s okay,” she gently ran her fingers through Sunset’s hair.

Twilight sighed, gently putting her arms around the girl, carefully avoiding the gashes on her back, “Are you okay?”

Sunset began to softly cry, “I’m s-sorry. I... I’m sorry.”

“Shh...” Twilight wiped the weeping girl’s tears, “Do you want to talk about it? You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Whatever makes you feel better.”

Sunset glanced at Fluttershy, who was still next to her. She knows the animal lover just wants to help her, but she still didn’t feel fully comfortable around anyone besides Twilight.

Seeing the girl tense up at the sight of her, Fluttershy stood up from the floor and walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She understood what Sunset wanted and didn’t want to make the girl uncomfortable.

Sunset sighed then looked up at Twilight before taking a deep breath, “My... m-mother, s-she wanted me to d-drown in the bathtub. She-she wanted me to die!” Sunset began to cry again as Twilight tightened her embrace, careful to avoid her bandages.

“Shh... it’s okay. That woman is never going to harm you again. I promise. You’re safe here. I won’t ever leave you alone.” Silent tears ran down Twilight’s purple face. She tried to drown her own daughter? How can anypony do that? Oh Sunset... Sweet Celestia I just caused Sunset to have a panic attack... She was probably remembering... “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. If you were scared of the water, you should have told me.”

Sunset winced, “I-I’m sorry... I thought you would say that I was lying.”

Twilight looked down at Sunset, who was now looking down at her hands in defeat, “Sunset, I would never call you a lair. I would’ve believed you. I believe you now,” Twilight ran a hand through Sunset’s hair, “Did you ever tell anypony about your... parents?”

Sunset sniffled but nodded, “I-I told my teacher that father would lock me in the c-closet and would... would...” Sunset whimpered, “She didn’t-she didn’t believe me. A-and the other ponies at school made fun of me.”

Sunset let out a sniffled cry, “Princess Celestia says to make friends, but I don’t want to be friends with them! They’re so mean! They bully me! They-they always call me a freak and make fun of m-my-my face! They always call me a m-monster...”

Twilight held the girl a little tighter, “I’m so sorry they’re mean to you, and that your teacher didn’t believe you,” Twilight frowned. Did Princess Celestia know about this? If she did tell her, did she believe her? Twilight was afraid to ask, but she needed to know, “Sunset, did you tell Princess Celestia this?”

Sunset shook her head, “I-I was afraid she wasn’t going to believe me either. And my parents said that if I tell, they’ll kill me, and-and that everypony would think that I’m just making it up... they... they were right.”

Twilight sighed sadly, stroking the girl’s hair, “Sunset, promise me that you’ll tell Princess Celestia everything when she comes back, okay? It was wrong of your teacher to not believe you. And no, those ponies are wrong, I believe you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Really?” Sunset inquired, wiping her still running tears from her wet amber cheeks.

“Really,” Twilight responded, kissing the top of Sunset’s head, “I promise.”

Sunset sighed in relief. Maybe she was wrong. When she first met Twilight, she instantly trusted her. Something in her gut told her she wouldn’t do her any harm, just as it did with Princess Celestia. It was her mind that told her not to trust Twilight. She tried hard to push it away, to fight the toxic feeling she felt every time she met someone new. But now, now she sees that Twilight can be trusted fully, and she will never do her any harm. Twilight can be trusted...

Sunset cringed, “I still have to get washed up don’t I?”

Twilight cocked her head in thought, “Do you take showers in Equestria?”

Sunset nodded, “I don’t like the bathtub.”

Twilight stood up, “Alright then. Come on, it’ll make you feel better afterwards.”

Sunset groaned and stood up from the floor. She knew she had no choice, she’s been long enough without a shower, now it was time to get it over with.

Comments

[HeBogin]

...

[Skyblazer9]

Poor Sunset, no child should ever have to endure what she had.

[HB_DS2013]

Child abuse on that level... No child should have to experience that.

[CjShimmer]

...holy crap! I didn't think it would get to that level!

[DuskBreeze4]

What did Sunser mean by her father would "make another punishment" on her? Maybe I've just lead a very sheltered life but I'm completely clueless as to what this could refer to.

[Theresahall]

10621040
I like to know too. The only abuse that hasn't been mentioned in the story is the kind that involves private parts. And I wouldn't put it past such awful parents who did everything horrible that you could imagine.

[raven618]

10632709
I wouldn't put it past a scumbag like that. But there isn't a non-con tag on this story, so I don't think that's the case.

[EncoreP]

Rainbow’s eyes went wide before she narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists, “How can a father do that to his own daughter? I—“ Her angry expression broke, leaving her with sullen eyes.

Wait, what- oh....

*internal seething intensifies*

10632709

You mean, the "r" word??

[Speedingninja]

10747576
HOLY S**t that just snuck in
In other words I'm going to try not to think about that