Confrontation of The Emerald Witch

A soft breeze drapes over the calm school grounds of CHS. It was the end of yet another peaceful day and nearly all of the students had left for home or whatever obligations called them away. There was, however, one last student that remained seated atop the roof. Riddled with bandages and a prominent cast and sling on her left arm, Sunset stares out at nothing in particular as she contemplates on the events that had happened nearly one week ago. She lets out a tired sigh as she diverts her gaze to the peaceful setting sun before her.

With Sunset recovering from her injuries, the rest of the Rainbooms would explain what had happened just a day before to Principal Celestia and V.P Luna. They weren't surprised as to what was behind it all, but neither of them had suspected it to be Wallflower. ( Celestia had barely any recollection of having any students with that name.) With this new information in tow, an announcement was made to everyone who was a witness to the events at the Cup and the temporary stop to the competition was lifted. With the Emerald Witch being absent from the tournament, Sunset was declared the victor of the Cup and would be awarded her prize as soon as she recovered; a beautiful golden trophy with the title of "Duel Champion" embossed on it. Sunset, however, was more interested in finding Wallflower after her disappearance. Despite their best efforts, the girls couldn't find any trace of Wallflower. After a few days of tireless searching, all the girls managed to find was the damaged remains of Wallflowers rose shaped duel disk and the three cards created by the Memory Stone, now grayed out and petrified. Whatever power or dark aura the cards held was no longer present as the girls held them. Sunset continued her own search for the damaged girl after she was discharged, with little success of her own.

Life went on, and the girls slowly began to move past the events at the garden. With some persuading from the girls and some help from Derpy, Roseluck, and the other students, the school garden was restored and the new Gardening Club was formed. Sunset had hoped that Wallflower would return once her garden was restored, but days passed with no sign of her return. Time passed and with no sign of her return or any chance to speak to her, Sunset stopped her search and merely reflected on what she would have said to the former witch. She knew that whatever hatred Wallflower had for her and her friends could be quelled with friendship and forgiveness. The words that Wallflower spoke had touched a chord with Sunset, as she once felt the same way. Time and time again, Sunset's mind wandered as she reflected on the duel that happened days ago and hoped that Wallflower had recovered from the physical and mental toll the duel took from them both.

" Wallflower... " Sunset mutters to herself. " Wherever you are, I hope you're doing better. Celestia knows i'm not doing too hot."

" Guess we're both worse for wear, aren't we?"

Startled by this sudden response, Sunset turns swiftly around to face the voice. Standing before her was Wallflower Blush, the Emerald Witch. Wrapped tightly around her head was a worn, stained bandage that looks like it hadn't been changed in days. Covering her body was her tattered, scorched cloak that only served to hide her bandaged arms. Despite this, more bandages could be seen through the tears and holes that riddled her damaged sweater. Most notable of all was her eyes. Red, tired looking, and glossy, Sunset knew it was the result of excessive crying. She looked tired; as if she would collapse from exhaustion at any moment.

" Wallflower! You..I..." Sunset stutters as she finds herself at a loss for words.

" It's okay Sunset. I just.... came to apologize. Ever since what happened before, all I could feel was... shame." Wallflower says lowering her head. " When I first found the Memory Stone, I only erased little things; awkward hellos, saying the wrong thing, and literally any public speaking. Soon, I found myself going completely overboard and erasing all kinds of memories. I was so wrapped up with erasing memories, I didn't realize that I was causing my own problems... It's all my fault."

Wallflowers glossy eyes slowly begin to fill with tears as she attempts to hold them back, clenching her fists tightly as she struggles. Sunset slowly walks up to the miserable teen and carefully gives her a warm, comforting hug with her only working arm and pulls her in close. That was it. With this act of kindness from the one person she felt so much hatred for, Wallflower bawls bitterly as she returns her act with a hug as well. Sunset slowly pats her back and lets her cry on her shoulder.

" Shhh, it's okay...I'm sorry too. I was never nice to you in the first place. Not being mean to someone isn't enough and it took me so long to realize that. I don't blame you for doing what you did. Everyone has their moments of feeling worthless and forgotten, and I couldn't see you suffering. I know how you feel."

" B-but.. that's no excuse for what I did! Everything I did... I... I'm so sorry." Wallflower blubbers as she releases Sunset from her hug.

" It's ok. I'm just glad you're back. All this time, i've been looking for you so we could talk. Me and my friends helped fix your garden, and your Gardening Club is really taking off! We want to help you recover from whatever it is you're going through."

" Oh... gosh. Thank you." Wallflower sighs as she wipes away her tears and smiles. " I've missed them. My plants, I mean.... that.. sounded weird. I'm sorry. I guess I have so much on my mind right now."

" It's ok Wallflower. I understand. If you aren't ready to talk about this, we can always do this some other day. Maybe with the rest of the girls?"

The warm smile on Wallflowers face slowly fades away as she stares down with a forlorn expression. While she did stop her crying after listening to Sunsets words, she could feel her misty eyes begin to water again. Wiping away her tears, Wallflower pulls down the hood of her withered cloak as she looks and faces Sunset once again.

" ...no. I can't. I'm afraid that won't happen...The reason i'm even here at all was to say i'm sorry... and goodbye."

" What?!" Sunset exclaims. " What do you mean 'goodbye?' "

" Sunset... look, I get it. You and your friends want to forgive me for the horrible things I did, but I don't deserve any of this. That day... after the duel, I felt something deep down inside me, as if whatever hatred I felt for you had just faded away. Guilt. That was all I could feel. Everything that I did, I did to myself. You didn't deserve to suffer because of what I did, and on that day I realized that no matter what you or anyone says, I will never be forgiven for what I did, especially if I can't forgive myself. I think its best if I just disappear. Honestly, I kinda hope everyone forgets about me."

" Don't say that! I know it hurts now, trust me, but talk-"

" Sunset, please!" Wallflower speaks up, nearly yelling at her. Noticing Sunset wincing nervously, she continues in a calmer voice. " I'm sorry, I really am, but this is just something I have to do. You've done so much for me, and i'm forever grateful for that. I was wrong about you, and I couldn't see it. I let my emotions get the better of me, and now I have to pay for it. I just need to get away from all this"

Sunset was at a loss for words. All this time, she believed that Wallflower had finally come to terms with whatever internal hatred she felt. Instead, all of the guilt and shame she had felt during these days had only intensified and festered within her. While Sunset mind dwelled on this revelation, Wallflower turned away from her and begins to walk away as she pulls the hood on her beaten cloak back over her head. Halfway across the rooftop, she feels a warm hand softly grab her shoulder.

"Wallflower... I..." Sunset begins as her hand trembles. She sighs and shakes her head. " I'm sorry. I know I can't change your mind no matter what I say. I just want you to know that me and my friends do care about you. We'll all be here for you if-... when you come back."

Wallflower turns and gives her a weak smile. The feeling of guilt and shame would always persist, but there was something about Sunset she had always admired. There was something about her empathy for people like her that brought about a smile on her face, despite what she was feeling. " Maybe if things had been different... If I had spoken up sooner..." she thinks wistfully. Flustered, Wallflower resumes her stride to the edge of the roof as Sunset stares at her. With one last smile, she steps off of the edge and vanishes from Sunsets sight.

" WALLFLOWER!" Sunset screams as she bolts to the edge. Her heart races as she looks over the edge and prepares for the worst. Much to her surprise, there was nothing. No body, no movement, nothing. All that she could hear was the brisk wind rushing over the treetops behind the school. Recovering from the sudden shock that hit her, Sunset peers over the edge and stares at the woods beyond.

" Goodbye Wallflower... " Sunset whispers with misty eyes. As she turns back towards the door on the rooftop, something flutters out from her sling and slowly floats onto the floor; a card. Puzzled, she reaches down to pick it up and she examines it. Her eyes widen as she grips it tightly and slides it into her pocket. She takes one last look at the setting sun as she leaves through the door.

Writing with one hand had been a challenge for Sunset, even if she was ambidextrous. Perched on a pillow on her bed, Sunset scribbles away at her journal as she delivers yet another message to Princess Twilight. She had kept the princess updated on the situation with the search for Wallflower and her subsequent disappearance. Twilight had been uneasy about the whole situation, but she trusted Sunsets choice to help Wallflower. Naturally, Sunset knew she would be disheartened to hear about Wallflowers decision to leave CHS, but hoped she would understand why. Sometimes friendship couldn't save everyone. With one last movement of her hand, Sunset places her pen and journal back onto her nightstand along with the card she pick up back on the schools rooftop. She rolls over onto her side and thinks on the message she wrote to Princess Twilight as she slowly slips away into her dreams. The soft glow of Sunsets journal slowly faded away as the image of Black Rose Dragon on the card sinks into the dark of her room.

Dear Princess Twilight,

It's been a long week, hasn't it? With the Memory Stone gone, things have gone back to normal, for the most part. I'm still not in the best of shape, but i'll manage. Me and the girls have been looking for Wallflower this whole week with little success. That is, until yesterday. I found her Twilight ,or specifically, she found me. She came to apologize to me, and to say goodbye. Ever since that duel, she's been feeling nothing but guilt and shame to what she did to me and the girls. She's gone, and I don't know when she's coming back. I don't know if i could have said or done anything to help her. She told me that she can't forgive herself for what she did, and until she does, she won't return.

Honestly, I don't know if I did the right thing. I haven't told the girls about this, less they go on a wild hunt for her. She's not looking for friends right now and I doubt the girls could say or do anything that would help her. I've always thought that friendship could help anyone recover but maybe she needs more than just a hand on her shoulder and friends behind her. Maybe she really does need more time. I hope I did the right thing. Still, thank you for all of your help. Give my regards to Princess Luna and, of course, my second best teacher Princess Celestia.

Make sure she knows you're kidding when you say that.

Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer