In stories, Sunset would have passed out. Her eyelids would have fluttered for a moment before she keeled over, only to regain consciousness in a hospital bed.
She did not.
No, she had the pleasure of being awake for every moment. Sure, the memories were hazy - circulatory shock does that to you - but she was awake and aware throughout the entire ordeal. It wasn't until the doctors started with the anesthetic before surgery that she finally passed out.
Her life had been saved by one of Princess Celestia's bodyguard - an earth pony member of the Household Battalion who had trained as a medic. While everypony else had panicked, the mare had surged down from the bleachers and to Sunset's side. Precisely what she had done was unclear - Sunset had bigger things on her mind at the time - but there was pressure and there was pain and there was survival. It had bought enough time for Princess Celestia to snap out of her shocked daze and teleport all three of them to Canterlot General's emergency room.
From there? Panic and shouting and surgery, with a quick spell putting Sunset under as the doctors swarmed over her. She came to several hours later with heavy bandages across her barrel and Cadance dozing in a nearby chair.
The wound had been bad - but not as bad as it could have been. Blueblood's strike had pierced her just above the right deltoid, cutting into the supraspinatus before entering her chest cavity. The muscle took the brunt of the strike and only a little had penetrated her right bronchial tube. ('Only a little' was all the doctors would tell Sunset, and imagining how much steel that might constitute made her now unperforated guts writhe.) Battlefield medicine, prompt delivery to the ER, and the kind of medical aggression that only a fearful Princess could cause had ensured the damage was minimized. They said Sunset would be in the hospital for a week and have at least another month beyond that to recover - but she was expected to fully recover. She would likely have a small scar where she had been stabbed but no other long term damage was expected.
The interim would be a little awkward, however. To let her lung heal, she was on a ventilator for several days - which proved the first time in history where something made Sunset Shimmer shut up.
Visits were awkward. Both Princesses came by frequently - Cadance more often than Celestia - but neither was willing to talk about what was going on outside her hospital room. When Sunset had used a piece of paper to demand details, Princess Celestia had gently admonished her with a simple "Concentrate on healing, my brilliant student. The rest of the world can wait." And that did nothing for Sunset's attitude.
After five days, she finally had the tube removed. Doctor's orders were to minimize talking, but the moment Cadance came in?
"Hey." Sunset's first words were croaked out, throat dry and cracked even beyond the deep soreness.
Cadance didn't care. She rushed over to hug her marefriend, wings tenting the hospital bed. Sunset hugged her back, and then there were tears for both of them. They eventually separated but Cadance's look of mixed joy and concern didn't go away. "Do you need anything? Something to drink? You sound parched."
Sunset shook her head and motioned to a cup of ice chips at her bedside. "So. What's up?"
"Um. Classes are going okay, but I don't think that's what you mean." Cadance bit her lip, visibly mulling over just what to reveal. "Okay. I'll tell you if you tell me one thing first. Was this your plan?"
For a moment, Sunset hesitated. She knew she would have to walk a careful line with this and stay truthful. (The truth was easier to keep straight than a lie, after all.) "Being stabbed? No." That was mostly true, at least. "Losing? Yes."
There was relief on Cadance's face, then confusion. "Your plan was losing?"
Sunset nodded before rasping out an explanation. It took her some time - frequent pauses were unavoidable with her current condition. "Blueblood's strength was his status. Nobles follow titles and lineages first. If he had that, he was always going to be dangerous. Nopony wanted to get involved when we were equals. But if I was weak and he was beating me up, opinion would turn against him. The Princess wouldn't protect him, and nopony at court who wants her favor would support him."
The gears turned in Cadance's head as she grasped what Sunset had done. "...So you took him on in a fight when you knew he would beat you badly."
Another nod from the unicorn. "And he looks like a bully. He couldn't help but gloat, which is what I wanted."
'Happy' did not apply to Cadance's expression. But at a stretch, 'accepting' could have. "Well, you'll be pleased to know it worked."
Sunset tried to respond, but it just came out as a rasp.
Cadance levitated her over a few ice chips to suck on before continuing. "Obviously there was an investigation into what happened. Princess Celestia led it herself and I don't think I've ever seen her this determined about something." She paused to lift a few more ice chips - which Sunset declined. "In the end it was decided that what happened was just a terrible accident. If Blueblood did something to the rubber end of his foil, there's no proof. The best guess is that there was a manufacturing defect that made it break, since Princess Celestia analyzed it herself and said there was no evidence of physical or magical tampering."
That made Sunset's heart stop for a moment. She knew - knew - there was no way that the Princess could have missed the melted rubber. Sunset had been careful and any evidence that she'd magically affected the foil could have been excused as her lifting to examine it prior to the match - but for the Princess to declare there was no evidence at all? It meant that Celestia had to suspect what Sunset had done. Or maybe that she thought Blueblood had done it and she was covering for him. Either way? Not ideal.
But Cadance didn't notice that her marefriend had frozen up for a moment. "So no charges. But you were right and Blueblood lost a lot over this. Everypony saw how he was acting and things only got worse when Auntie started the investigation." A brief flash of annoyance crossed Cadance's face. "One of your friends at school, Clear Sky, testified she overheard a confrontation between you and Blueblood a few months ago."
It took a moment for Sunset to remember - then she connected the dots with the pink mare who had witnessed Blueblood threatening Sunset after the harvest festival date. (A little voice in the back of her head scoffed at the term 'friend'.) "Oh, uh, yeah..."
"A confrontation you told me was no big deal," Cadance thunderously reminded.
"It wasn't!" Sunset's voice broke painfully as she reflexively shouted. Any further objection she had was overridden by her now uncooperative throat - she could only grimace and rub her neck to try and soothe the pain.
Cadance took pity and didn't push the subject further. "Add to that your other fights with Blueblood and everypony thought it looked suspicious. He threatened you then provoked you until you lost your temper. Since you challenged him, he got to pick a contest he knew you couldn't beat him in." She hesitated. "Then there was how the pony who taught you how to fence and was your second also happened to be his assistant captain."
"Gliding?" Sunset barely managed the word.
And Cadance grimly nodded. "I know she was only trying to help, but from the outside it looked bad."
Those dots were easy to connect. If Blueblood had coordinated the whole thing, who better to teach Sunset than somepony who knew Blueblood's strengths and was loyal to him? Gliding could easily have taught Sunset bad habits to leave her vulnerable or neglect key parts of the sport to undermine her already poor skills. And as Sunset's second for the match, Gliding could have easily been part of Blueblood's theoretical conspiracy to sabotage the equipment.
Of course she wasn't because the conspiracy was Sunset's rather than Blueblood's, but that was beside the point and not something an outside observer would know.
Sunset tried to say something again, but her still raw throat didn't let anything out but a rasp.
Cadance offered up more ice - which was taken - before continuing. "So there might not have been any evidence that Blueblood did anything, but public opinion found him guilty anyway." She hesitated briefly. "The castle staff have been talking, since it's all the nobles have been gossiping about for the last week. Most of them think he's guilty because it's the sort of thing they would have done."
"Sounds right." Sunset managed, at least, to chuckle normally.
"So Princess Celestia handled it." Cadance frowned. "I don't think it's right since there's no proof he did anything, but she suggested he leave Canterlot while the rumor mill cools down. She set him up as a part of a diplomatic mission to Farasi. He leaves tomorrow." Her voice softened at that, dropping to a near-whisper. "He won't be back for at least two years."
While Cadance seemed sad? It was all Sunset could do not to cheer. (Or probably try and cheer before croaking and hurting herself.) Blueblood was gone. By the time he could return, she'd be a princess.
Cadance caught Sunset's smile - and frowned more. "There's others who suffered, too. Gliding doesn't have Blueblood's connections and everypony's just as suspicious of her." The pink princess fixed Sunset with a piercing glare. "She's gone. She left two days ago. Officially, she's taking a sabbatical for her mental health after the accident and will come back to classes at the start of next year. But I talked with her while she was packing and I don't think Gliding is going to. She's afraid this is going to follow her around and ruin any chance she had for a normal life in Canterlot."
Both the news and Cadance's stare made Sunset grimace. "Did she say where she was going?"
"She mentioned joining the Guard." Cadance's voice was even - too even, in much the same way Celestia's often was when she held her emotions in check. "By the time what happened is forgotten, she's going to be too old to come back to Celestia's School. Blueblood was about to graduate and will probably get his diploma, but Gliding had another two years and now she's lost that."
It was regretful but not unexpected. Sunset had always suspected Gliding would be caught in the fallout. She'd hoped it wouldn't be this bad but reality disagreed. Mentally Sunset made a note that once she became a princess, she would summon Gliding Moth and make a public announcement to clear her name. (Perhaps even give her a position of status, if she had joined the military. Being part of the honor guard of a new princess would rehabilitate any lingering issues.)
"Professor Trilby is gone as well." Cadance continued to frown and lock her accusing eyes on Sunset. "When Princess Celestia was questioning him about what happened, he confessed that he had seen the broken tip on Blueblood's foil before the last point." Something flashed across her face - Sunset couldn't tell if it was anger or pity. "He tried to defend himself by saying both of you insisted on continuing but that just made Auntie angrier. She said..." Cadance paused for a breath, eyes closing at the memory. "She said that the only reason he wasn't being arrested as an accessory was that you were going to heal. But that he was fired and that if she ever heard of him teaching in Equestria again, that she would personally visit anypony who hired him and recount why he shouldn't be allowed near students."
That, Sunset felt significantly less conflicted about. She barely knew Trilby - aside from that he was a weak-willed and unremarkable teacher - but that also meant she didn't care what happened to him. The destruction of his career was barely worth a mental shrug.
But not to Cadance. She paused to take in Sunset's lack of reaction before summarizing things with accusatory intent. "Your plan got rid of Blueblood, and maybe that's a good thing. But you destroyed the lives of two innocent ponies, terrified Princess Celestia and I, and you could have died if you weren't so lucky."
There was a lot to unpack in that sentence: the concern for the danger Sunset had been in; the accusation of what she had indirectly done to Gliding and Trilby; the half-hearted acceptance of Blueblood's fate... But those weren't what struck Sunset first and foremost. It slipped out without her even thinking: "Princess Celestia was terrified?"
And Cadance's tone softened to surprise and pensive concern. "She was, Sunset." She reached out, setting a gentle hoof on Sunset's uninjured shoulder. "She wouldn't say it, but I could tell how scared she was for you. And afterwards she put everything else aside to investigate what happened."
The image - of Celestia pacing in the hospital, awaiting word of Sunset's condition and of her leading an inquisition with fiery eyes - rolled back and forth in Sunset's mind, trying to square itself with what she knew of the Princess. It didn't quite work: Princess Celestia was impassive at the best of times. Her reacting like that had to have been a show. There was no downplaying blood being spilled in a fight between her personal student and her 'nephew', so she had opted instead for the worried maternal route. It made sense. It was politically sound.
But it was still heartwarming, no matter what Sunset's cold calculations said.
That brief heart-flutter went unnoticed by Cadance, however. She had other issues on her mind. "When I thought it was an accident or that Blueblood had caused it, that was one thing. But was this really your plan, Sunset?" There was that even tone again - the neutrality of holding herself back.
Sunset could have reversed course. She could have denied it. Convincing Cadance of that would have been difficult but it wasn't impossible. (Not for Sunset Shimmer.) That was not, however, the path she chose. "I didn't plan all of it. Not getting hurt. Not Gliding." Those parts, at least, were true enough. "But yes. Blueblood had to go. I had to dig out his roots."
"Maybe he did." It spoke volumes that soft-hearted Cadance allowed that much. "And maybe you had to be aggressive to be sure. But you didn't have to hurt other ponies to do it, Sunset."
"Sometimes ponies get hurt," Sunset rasped before she reached for more ice chips.
That did little to placate Cadance. "That doesn't make it right." She bit her lip, caught in hesitation before pulling off the bandage. (Metaphorically.) "And I'm not okay with it, Sunset. I need to think about things."
Sunset swallowed the ice abruptly - it hurt all the way down her throat. "Things?" Her scratchy voice couldn't fully express her concern - more accurately her fear - at those words.
"All of this," Cadance said with ominous vagueness. "Your plan. About the plan when you betrayed your dads, too. What you intended to do, what actually happened, all of it. I need some time to think." She stood, stopping Sunset's heart.
Quickly, the unicorn's mind scrambled to retake control of the situation. "Princess Celestia would have done the same." And it was true - Sunset was sure of that. Celestia had been the one to teach Sunset the brutality of politics, after all.
The accusation-slash-defense got Cadance to pause before the door. She thought on it for just a moment before responding simply. "Then I'll have to think about her part in my life as well."
Then? She was gone.
ok yeah that makes sense I can see how this could lead back to canon
(still hurts btw)
Teenagers should be outlawed from making decisions. Adults should be outlawed from making decisions. EVERYPONY should be outlawed.
That's about where my thoughts are at the moment. Like Cadance, I need time to process. But damnit, Sunset, you had a good thing going.
Edit: God, the descriptions used for Sunset's injury are making me queasy just thinking about it. Good going?
A bit off topic, but I forget, has Cadance met Shining yet? And if not, I wonder if that will happen before or after she and Sunset break up?
When I first read the last chapter I thought she would just have a flesh wound where it didn’t hit anything vital but just got in between some muscle or something. An injury that more scary than dangerous. Did not expect what actually happened.
Cadence being disgusted by Sunsets actions here feel really well earned. Sunset makes me think of Lord Farquad from Shrek. His name was supposed to sound like Lord Fuck-Wad and it fit. The “Some of you are going to die, but that’s a sacrifice Im willing to make” line really comes into play here.
The fact Sunset unapologetically has that attitude and is completely oblivious to how Cadence would have a problem with it seems a bit like a borderline plot hole at first until you take a step back and look at.
She’s smart enough to analyze everyone and everything around her so her not seeing Cadence possibly wanting nothing to do with her after this doesn’t seem like something she would miss until you take into account how warped her view in the world around her is.
Her being extremely self centered and projecting herself onto other people around her makes her mistake more believable. It also makes me wonder if Celestia actually knows what Sunset did or if Sunset if projecting that too.
You are going to end up making Sunset end up in the same place as canon aren't you? I really hope not, too many stories go down that boring path.
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She has not. But we're only ~6 months out from the Rainboom, so that meeting is in the pretty near future.
I wonder if Sunset realizes the irony her comment? No, probably not...
Thereʼs a lot to unpack here, but the thing that I want to focus is, again, Celestia and Sunsetʼs relationship.
What in Heavenʼs good name has Celestia ever done to make Sunset think she doesnʼt care about her? Seriously. Sunset Shimmer goes through a severe injury, a near-death experience and for some gosh darn reason Sunset thinks Celestia would be impassive?
Sunset is an interesting specimen, alright. She craves Celestiaʼs love, respect and approval and yet every time the Princess does something that shows she cares, Sunset immediately dismisses it as an act. Damn.
But what a way to start Act 3! Eagerly looking forward to more.
I did not expect the collateral damage would be that bad. So does Sunset. But her reaction to the news was what made Cadance think. I like how Sunset tries to appeal to Cadance that Celestia would do the same hoping that Cadance would see that there is nothing wrong if Celestia does it too. But Cadance is her own mare, she isn't driven by what others do, only by her moral compass and Sunset doesn't know that or at least believes that Cadance's trust for Celestia could overwhelm her moral compass, this wasn't the case however.
I find it interesting how people get made if someone is "hurt" in these situations, but no one ever seems to care about the bullying victims being "hurt" first.
Not a critique of the writer or story, very much enjoying both, just something I note that feels very real.
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Can i just say I love your avatar?
And then... the next day...
A new guard enters the scene. A familiar face from a different time. A young, all white stallion who Cadence finds a friend in, a confident... perhaps more.
And scene.
I don't know what it is about Cadance romance/tragedy stories but they are always the highest quality drama on this entire site.
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/110642/nothing-is-set-in-stone
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/189816/something-youd-regret
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/139150/what-is-love
Maybe it's just me specifically that they appeal to but when I look back on the stories on this site that gripped me the most, these are always near the top. I both love and dread these fics but they never fail to keep me entertained.
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Ooooh that's very interesting and cool justification, I had not considered that! Also im sorry if that came across as a confrontational "my worldbuilding is better than yours" thing, i really didn't mean it that way i just found it fascinating to read an approach that was so different from mine immediately after having worldbuilt my version.
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Not confrontational at all! Don't worry about it.
Sunset for being a very smart pony you are dumb as hell.
AND GOD!!!! Sunset's callous disregard for consequences for anyone but her finally caught up to her relationship with Cadance, which really was just to be expected wasn't it. Cadance is sweet and kind and at one point there would just have to be an undeniable clash between that and Sunset's whole thing but god does it hurt so much. Poor Gilding too, she didn't deserve this.
I'm not sure if this hurts less or more than if the breakup was some big bombastic fight but I guess there's plenty of time for that to happen too. Aaaaaah everything hurts and im dying at least im caught up so i have a breather before the next chapter (watch as you upload the next chapter as soon as i finish this comment)
God this fic is amazing and hurts in all the right ways
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That's been the bill since the beginning. How... how did you miss that?