Streets
Date: today, time: bright ball showing

*Ki’s perspective*

Dad ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Ki was by Dad’s side, pulling Dad along to boost Dad’s speed. Despite not showing much emotion of Ki’s own, Ki was very well attuned to the emotions of others. Ki could feel the distress and fear of Dad. Ki didn’t know what was going on, but Ki knew enough to know that Dad and Ki needed to hurry. It wasn’t long before Dad and Ki turned into a den Ki didn’t recognize, but the moment the doors opened, Ki recognized the smell of blood. Dad and Ki hurried in, and Dad called for Sunset. Sunset called back, and Ki led Dad to Sunset. Sunset was covered in blood. Ki went over to Sunset and began licking the wound. Dad and Sunset began to talk, but Ki vigilantly continued his work. Sunset was hurt, and Ki needed to make Sunset better. There was another injured human, but Sunset took priority.

Black and blue flashing lights appeared outside the building. Soon humans clad in blue came in. Two of the blue clad humans came over to Sunset with a wheely bed. Ki recognized the uniforms the blue clad humans were wearing. Ki moved to defend Sunset and growled at the intruding blue clad humans. The blue clad humans were not going to take Sunset way in that white box car of theirs. Ki saw humans be taken away in those things, and Ki didn’t see many of them for months. Dad pulled Ki back, but Ki stayed close. Ki must protect Sunset. Dad gave reassuring pets to Ki, but Ki still didn’t trust the blue clad humans. Another blue clad human walked over to them. Ki made sure the blue clad human knew Ki saw the blue clad human and was watching the blue clad human. The blue clad human didn’t come any closer. The blue clad human was obviously wise enough not to challenge Ki. The blue clad human talked to Dad and Sunset, and the blue clad human made black scratches in a notepad with a pen. Sunset pointed to somewhere, and Ki followed Sunset’s pointing and saw a - Ki didn’t know what it was. The blue clad human made some more scratches and walked away. Turning back to the blue clad humans with the wheely bed, Ki saw them helping Sunset up and - ON TO THE WHEELY BED. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THEY TAKE YOU AWAY. THE BLUE CLAD HUMANS WERE GOING TO TAKE SUNSET AWAY. Ki began barking at the blue clad humans. Ki turned back to Dad. Didn’t Dad see what was happening. THE BLUE CLAD HUMANS WERE GOING TO TAKE SUNSET AWAY! THE BLUE CLAD HUMANS WERE GOING TO TAKE SUNSET AWAY! Ki jumped onto the wheely bed to protect Sunset. Ki growled, and the blue clad humans backed off. Sunset petted Ki. Dad talked to the blue clad humans, and the blue clad humans calmed down. The blue clad humans and Dad took up positions around the wheely bed. For some inexplicable reason, Dad and Sunset trusted these blue clad humans. So long as these humans didn’t cause Sunset distress, Ki would let them take and touch Sunset, but only if Ki stayed with Sunset. Ki decided that, for now, Ki would only glare at them. Ki did Ki’s best to mimic Pumpkin’s glare. Pumpkin was a bastard of a cat, but Pumpkin could also be a kind cat. Either way, Ki learned everything about glaring that Ki knew from Pumpkin. Ki was sad Pumpkin was gone.

The blue clad humans and Dad brought Sunset to one of those white box cars. Ki wanted to lash out and prevent Sunset from facing whatever fate those other humans faced, but Sunset wasn’t distressed and was still petting Ki. Ki wondered why Sunset and Dad weren’t fighting. Did they know something Ki didn’t, or were they unaware of what happens to humans once they enter the white box cars? Humans do seem to miss a lot of things. For now, Ki merely readied Ki’s body and mind for a fight. If Dad said the word, Ki would fight and kill to protect Sunset. All these years of training would be used to protect Ki’s pack. The blue clad humans loaded Sunset into the white box car, and Dad climbed in after them. The white box car had several chairs with a lot of black straps mounted to the inside walls. The wall closest to Sunset was covered in clear cabinets filled with - healing stuff? Dad and a blue clad human buckled into two of the strap chairs. The other blue clad human didn’t climb in the white box car. The white box car started moving. Ki took this chance to examine what the blue clad humans put on Sunset’s wound. Ki recognized it as a bandage. Ki had needed several bandages after Ki was attacked by a mean dog 2,555 bright ball and cool ball showings ago. Ki wondered if these blue clad humans were healers. If the blue clad humans were healers, why did people disappear for months after being taken away in the white box car? Either way, Ki knew that Ki would soon find out why.

Healer’s den
Date: bright ball showing, time: bright ball showing

*Ki’s perspective*

The white box car, that Ki now called the healer’s car, brought them to a healer’s den. That made Ki relax. These blue clad humans were here to help Sunset. The healer humans took Sunset back, and Dad took a seat in the waiting room. Ki wasn’t allowed to go back with Sunset, so Ki needed to stay with Dad. After some time, Mom, Emi, Minerva, and Anura came rushing in. Mom was talking in a panic. Ki touched his nose to Mom to calm Mom down. It worked, and Mom allowed Dad to talk. Mom’s face turned as black as Mom’s hair. Mom was very angry. Ki and Dad tried to calm Mom down the best they could. A healer soon came out and talked to Mom and Dad. Ki had no idea what they were saying, but the humans got up and followed the healer. Ki went back into job mode and guided Dad after the healer.

Canterlot Hospital
Date: Aug 30th, time: 5:00 pm

*Sunset’s perspective*

Sunset was guided off the gurney and onto a hospital bed. This room was much different from the one she was brought to when she first met Anzhong and Brigid. Anzhong did technically kidnap her, but everything worked out for the better. This room held several beds only separated by curtains, instead of the singular bed in the one she was first examined in.

“Hello, I’m Nurse Porcelain. What’s your name?”, the elderly woman asked.

“Sunset Shimmer”

“Can you tell your date of birth?”

Sunset knew what this line of questioning was for. “I don’t have a concussion. I have level 2 first aid training, meaning I know how to diagnose a concussion. I didn’t hit my head, and I don’t feel dizzy or confused.”

“That’s all well and good, but I still need your birth date so I can check this box. I know, a lot of pointless bureaucracy.”

Sunset told Nurse Porcelain her birth date and all the other info the bureaucracy required.

“Okay, now, I am going to put some numbing gel around the cut then start cleaning it out. Just let me know if you feel any pain, and I can put more on.”

“Okay”

Nurse Porcelain put the numbing gel on and began cleaning out the wound. She first poured some saline solution into her cut and then began plucking out little bits of metal.

When Nurse Porcelain didn’t have anything poking into her skin, Sunset took a chance to ask a question. “How deep is it?”

“I don't see any bone, but you’ll have a scar. I’m not sure how noticeable it will be, but I’ll do everything I can to make it less so.”

“I’m not concerned about scarring. I’ve lost track of how many scars I have. This will just be my first facial scar.”

“Okay then” Nurse Porcelain continued to remove the metal. Once the metal was all out, Nurse Porcelain grabbed the sutures. “Now, this is called vicryl. This type of suture will dissolve in your skin, so you won't need to have them removed.”

Fascinating “Okay”

Once the stitches were in, Nurse Porcelain left to go take care of some other patients, and Sunset was left alone for the first time since lunch. Sunset retreated back into her mind, but all she could think about were those smiles. That monster was still in her head. Sunset began to wonder if she’d ever be rid of him. She was pulled back out of the abyss by the door to the room opening.

“Sunset!”, her mother bellowed. Brigid ran across the room and pulled Sunset into a hug that made her squeak like a squeaky toy.

“Oxygen - becoming - issue.”, Sunset squeaked.

“Sorry, sorry”, Brigid said while releasing Sunset. “Are you okay?”

“I’ve had worse injuries.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to press charges?”, Minerva asked.

“Honestly, I just don’t want to see Sage, Instructor Pin, or that gym ever again. Pressing charges would be counter intuitive to that goal.”

“That’s far.”, Anzhong said.

Ki jumped onto her bed and began inspecting Sunset’s stitches. Sunset pressed herself into the American Akita and played with his tail. Ki always made Sunset feel safe.

Canterlot Middle School
Date: , time:

*Sunset’s perspective*

Sunset was in class. They were covering something, but Sunset couldn’t read the board. Sunset raised her hand to ask Ms. Trees about it, but she couldn’t find her teacher. Sunset looked around the room. All the other students were gone. Sunset got up and started to look around the room but there was no one. Sunset walked over to the door and opened it. When she opened the door, there stood Platinum wood. Platinum raised his gun at her. Sunset turned to run. She found herself back in the alleyway. A loud bang sounded, and Sunset found a hole where chest should have been.

Sunset’s bedroom
Date: Aug 31st, time: 2:13 am

*Sunset’s perspective*

Sunset woke up with a jolt. She felt around her chest and found it was still in one piece. Sunset turned her head to the left and found Ki looking back at her with what she guessed was worry. American Akitas showed very little emotion. Sunset grabbed her stuffed phoenix and patted the bed. Ki jumped up onto the bed and laid his head on Sunset’s lap. “Yeah now, for the canine equivalent of a royal guard, you are very empathetic.” Sunset looked out her window to see the mass of stars dotted around the night sky. She had another nightmare. However, now her classroom was incorporated into her dream, and she didn’t wake up until after she looked down. Whatever this development meant, these nightmares were seriously messing up her sleep schedule. She so badly wanted these dreams to stop, but she had no idea where to start. “Stupid subconscious.” For now, Sunset decided to hug her plushy and pet Ki.

Author's Note

If you don't know what an American Akita looks like and haven't looked them up, do so. They are adorable stoic tanks.