Author's Note

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you are all chilling, eating barbecue, and staying healthy! Because nothing spells healthy like high cholesterol and low blood sugar on this lovely holiday! But in all seriousness, I hope you are all keeping safe and taking any measures you can to stay healthy in these crazy times. But one thing for sure is that we're all still here and having fun with one another. I hope you all the best and have a wonderful 4th of July! Enjoy the chapter!

Trauma

Inside her room, Sunset Shimmer was busy with attending to the festival plans and checking over the details twice. She was so stressed with checking the papers and writing the forms that she barely had the time to sleep and she could hardly see to the point that she needed to wear glasses while reading. When she was finished, she rubbed her eyes and felt the need to take a small nap. But just then, she sees her journal glow and vibrate rapidly. Teeming with joy, she grabs her journal and opens it. And to her delight, the message was from none other than Twilight from the human world. After reading her entire message, Sunset proceeds to write her back. It read,

Dear Twilight,

How have you been? How’s everybody back home? It’s been quite some time since we spoke to each other. I am so busy with everything that I forget what it’s like to have fun. Has anything changed in the human world? Is everybody okay? I… It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this. Everypony back here in Equestria is still trying to recover from the Abyssal Invasion ten years ago and now we have to prepare for the 10th Anniversary of that horrendous event. But I’m not sure if it should happen. Princess Cadance has been insistent that we start it. In fact, I’ve been so busy that I have been growing distant from my friends. Whenever I try to speak to them, I just wind up brushing them off and deriding them for being stuck in the past. It’s not like I enjoy being mean, but I don’t want to see them like this. It hurts so much that I wish I was consumed by the Abyss. What do I do? Please give me an answer. I just… I’m just glad that I’m able to talk to you again. If anybody else is listening to this, I miss you all so very much and I wish that I could return to you. Please forgive me for my self-indulgent message to you.

Love,

Sunset Shimmer

When she was finished writing back, Sunset closed the book and she felt herself getting groggy. But just as she was ready to take a nap, she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

“Miss Shimmer, there are planners in the hallway who want to meet you. They said it was urgent.” the guard reported.

Groaning in frustration, Sunset replied,

“Tell them I will be there shortly.”

“Will do, ma’am!” the guard said before leaving.

Rolling her eyes in annoyance before rubbing them, Sunset muttered,

“Just what do they want now…? Next time, Starlight’s taking over this meeting…”

Preparing herself a quick cup of coffee, Sunset downed the mug and left her room, albeit still exhausted. Walking down into the hallway, she was greeted by several business ponies, including Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Heading into the meeting room, Sunset endured an hour of listening to their presentations and trying to pay attention without falling asleep. Which was all the more cathartic when it finished. But then she had to double-check on the plans and attractions for the anniversary and it was never-ending. It followed for the next several hours, but Sunset was finished and was ready to retire for the day. But as she was heading back to her room, she accidentally bumped into Starlight.

“Oh! Sunset? Are you okay…?” Starlight asked, concerned for her groggy friend.

“I’m fine, Starlight… just going to my room.” Sunset answered in an exhausted tone.

“I’ll take you over.” Starlight said as she proceeded to help Sunset.

As they proceeded to walk together, Sunset and Starlight felt awkward walking with one another. Even if they like they hated each other yesterday, Sunset felt remorseful for the way she acted and felt like saying something to Starlight. So she said,

“You know I didn’t mean the things that I said, right?”

Hearing this took Starlight by surprise. Trying to keep her cool, Starlight responded,

“I know.”

“I know what I said yesterday was disingenuous, but I’m worried about you. Every night, I see you sneaking off to visit him. You pretend like nothing bad is happening. I have to take over some of your duties. It’s not healthy.” Sunset said.

“We’re almost near your room, Sunset. You’ll have plenty of time to rest.” Starlight said, trying to ignore her concerned friend.

“Yeah, but… I can’t believe it’s been ten years since that event. Makes you feel old, doesn’t it?” Sunset said, trying to start a conversation.

Deciding to humor her, Starlight responded,

“Don’t remind me. I can’t even look at books without thinking of her.”

“Neither can I. And I still can’t believe she would go this far.” Sunset said.

“I couldn’t imagine if she got her hooves on Flurry Heart. We would be living in a fate that would be far worse than what the Abyss had in store for us.” Starlight said as she started to sweat.

“Either way, we would’ve died if you didn’t destroy that Crystal. And it would’ve been even worse if he didn’t kill her. Just thinking about it just makes my insides tighten up. But everypony’s okay now, Equestria is recovering, and all we have to worry about is the festival.” Sunset said as she yawned.

“Right… the festival…” Starlight said as she felt her heart pound like a jackhammer.

“I know how much he means to you. And you valued him like you valued your old friends. But you need to-” Sunset said before being cut off by Starlight.

“We’re almost there. Please mind the stairs.” Starlight said as she carried Sunset up the stairs.

As Starlight helped Sunset, the latter started to notice that the former’s breathing was shallow, her movement was stagnating, and she was sweating incredibly hard.

“Starlight, are you okay?” Sunset asked, feeling worried for her friend.

“Don’t worry. Your room is…” Starlight said before she started turning her head frantically.

“Starlight?” Sunset asked as the hornless unicorn turned her head frantically.

As the latter looked at the former in a now-scared manner, Starlight started seeing images. Images of the Abyssal Invasion that occurred while she was fighting the Creature. Then she saw various zombified ooze-covered ponies as they slowly walked towards while moaning. Panicking and sweating like a dog in a hot summer’s day, she shouted,

“GET AWAY!!!”

“Starlight!?” Sunset shouted, now even more scared for her friend as it alerted the nearby guards.

“D-DON’T MAKE ME USE THIS HORN!!! I WILL USE IT!!!” Starlight screamed as she charged up her horn.

“Miss Starlight, please lower your magic! Nopony is hurting you!” one of the guards said, trying to calm Starlight down.

“NO!!!!” Starlight screamed as she unleashed a mighty volt of electricity from her horn.

Sunset ran over to tackle Starlight, but the volt travelled everywhere across the hall, creating a hole in the process. The commotion alerted Cadance and Shining Armor, who ran into the room to figure out what caused the disturbance.

“Keep back, everypony! Starlight’s having another episode!” Sunset warned while keeping Starlight pinned down.

“NO!!! HELP ME!!! I’M BEING EATEN!!!” Starlight cried out as she struggled.

“Keep her down, Sunset!” Cadance shouted.

“I’m doing my best!” Sunset shouted back while holding Starlight still.

Cadance slowly moved forward, but she made sure to avoid the lightning bolt that moved across the entire room. While Cadance slowly moved towards Starlight, she started hearing these weird ramblings from her. Cadance could hardly make out what she was saying, but she put that aside since Starlight was in danger. As she got closer, Cadance formed a horn on her head made out of electricity and placed her horn close to Starlight’s. Pretty soon, Starlight stopped moving and slipped into unconsciousness.

“Get Starlight into the infirmary, stat!” Shining Armor ordered.

Following his command, two guards ran over to Starlight’s body and carried her. After she was gone, Sunset turned to Cadance and said,

“This was her third episode this month. After everything that Starlight’s been through, I’m not sure how long she can take this.”

“I know. She’s been getting worse every year now. At this rate, I may have to send Starlight into retirement.” Cadance said, feeling a sense of worry for Starlight’s wellbeing.

Just then, Tempest with Flurry Heart on her back ran into the hallway and asked,

“Is she okay?”

“She’s in the infirmary. But it may take some time until the doctors say something.” Shining Armor answered.

“Take Flurry Heart with you. Me and Sunset need to discuss something.” Cadance said.

“But mommy, what about Starlight?” Flurry Heart asked in a worried tone.

“She’s fine, sweetie. Just go play with Aunty Tempest.” Cadance said, trying to assure her daughter.

“Let’s go play with your toys, Your Highness.” Tempest said, taking Flurry Heart out of the hallway.

After watching them leave, Sunset turns to Cadance and says in a worried tone,

“If this keeps up, Equestria could wind up in an even bigger mess than what happened ten years ago. Garden tending can only keep her sanity intact for so long.”

“Indeed. It’s kept her head in place, but it can only work for so long. Ten years is a record if you ask me.” Cadance said as she looked up at the hole in the castle.

“But right now, we need to worry about the festival. Since Starlight is out of commission, somepony needs to take over chore duty. I will assign somepony. You look tired, Sunset. You can retire for the night.” Shining Armor said, looking at Sunset’s tired state.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will see you tomorrow.” Sunset said as she bowed her head.

Shining Armor and Cadance nodded in response and proceeded to leave the room. Sunset went back up to her room and took a look at her journal. She didn’t receive a response. Sighing in disappointment, Sunset stripped out of her uniform and got into her pajamas. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she wrapped her mane in a bun and collapsed onto her bed. She wanted to help Starlight, but there was nothing that Sunset could do and she was powerless to do anything. That unpleasant feeling sat into her while she was laid into her bed. But she had time to worry about that as she needed to focus on tomorrow. Shutting her eyes, Sunset drifted off to sleep, awaiting tomorrow.