Shattered Bonds/Impossible Dreams
“Misty…”
“Misty…”
“Misty…”
“MISTY!!!”
Misty’s eyes snapped open as the loud voice shouting her name penetrated through her entire being and woke her up from deep slumber. Dreams of family and fantasies of belonging vanished from mind as she slowly came to be, gradually becoming nothing more than mere fading ghosts in the endless void that was her subconscious. The sound of her name echoed through her eardrums like a boomerang bouncing off walls.
As her brain willed her senses back into function, the first thing she felt was the surface she was laying on. She was no longer in the Crystal Brighthouse bedroom anymore, that much she could gather at first glance. Her comfy bed where she lay recovering was replaced by a cold, but familiar purple marble floor. The welcoming surroundings that lulled her to sleep the previous night had been replaced by a dark and omnipresent blue, yellow, and green background.
She knew this place.
She was back in Opaline’s Dark Castle, the place she had left weeks ago.
However, that was the least of her problems. When she looked up, Misty let out a cry of fear and alarm when she saw who was standing over her. It was none other than Opaline, the maniac who had betrayed her, and the alicorn who had acted for years as her mother and caretaker.
Opaline stood over her former henchpony with a cold and enraged expression, exactly how she had looked when Misty had left that very night. Why was she here?! She had run away! This wasn’t right. Misty’s thoughts ran like wildfire as she tried to understand what was happening. Perhaps her escape was all a dream and she had been hallucinating the entire time. The crushing possibility hit her like a mountain of bricks and she instantly felt the same claustrophobia and terror she had felt on the night she had escaped. No matter how bad the situation was however, she knew that now was her chance to rescue Sparky! Perhaps she had been sent back in time to get Sparky back.
The thought filled her with hope as her eyes refocused on her surroundings, and she searched around the room for the green baby dragon. However, there was no sign of him and Misty instantly feared the worst. Maybe Sparky was hiding somewhere! Maybe he had escaped the castle, or maybe…he was already home safe. That had to be it. Somepony had rescued him and that was why he was nowhere to be found.
Maybe…
“Don’t look at me like that, Misty,” Opaline spoke dismissively, “You know what I must do to you now that I don’t need you anymore.”
Misty attempted to stand up on her hooves, but something yanked her down. She looked behind her and saw that she was chained like a dog from her neck to the wall, stuck in the position she was in. She struggled helplessly all the while Opaline watched with a grin of satisfaction.
Finally, Misty gave up, accepting what was about to happen to her. She looked up at Opaline, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she asked one simple question:
“Why…?”
Opaline looked confused. “Why what? You should be more specific than that if you want ponies to listen to you. Not that it matters.”
“Why are you doing this…?” Misty asked, “Didn’t…didn’t you ever love me? Was that ever real?”
Opaline laughed. “You honestly still think I love you? How blind are you? Nopony could ever love you, Misty, and you know it. You’ve given me the means to finish what I started. And now you are no longer any use to me.”
“So…” Misty looked at the purple alicorn in the eyes as she registered her words, “I was just a tool for you to use the whole time…nothing was ever real…”
“Of course it wasn’t, Misty,” Opaline explained, pacing around the throne room, “When I found you as a filly, you were so desperate for love that you were willing to do anything for me! I tried getting rid of you, dumping you in an alleyway, in a trash can, nothing worked! That was when I figured…I could use you. I could use this filly’s nonstop adoration to my advantage. So I asked you what you wanted most of all and I would grant it in exchange for your undying loyalty and servitude.”
Tears leaked down her face as Misty remembered that one thing.
“A cutie mark…”
“Precisely,” Opaline continued. “I’m still surprised you stuck with me this long. I mean, any rational pony would leave once they experienced how cruel I would be to them. But you stayed. Have you ever asked yourself why?”
“I know why,” Misty replied sadly, “Because you were my only family, my only true parent. What else was I to do?! I knew nothing of the outside world, I’m awkward around other ponies, what else could I have done but stay?! You were mean to me, but I stuck it out because I figured that was your way of showing your love! I figured…that if I was to get my cutie mark, I would finally be normal! I would finally…I would finally be accepted…”
“Acceptance is a fruitless thing,” Opaline growled, turning back towards her, “You won’t get it from anypony. Nopony intervened when I was a young mare to deliver me from Twilight Sparkle’s barrage of complaints!! ‘Oh you can’t talk to other ponies, Opaline? Shame, Luster’s far more advanced in her friendship studies than you.’ Or, ‘You can’t keep failing, Opaline! I’m doing what I can, but I can’t teach you the same damn thing every day!’ She never accepted me for who I was and neither will anypony accept you. If there was anything that whiny Princess showed me however, it was that alicorns are meant to rule all of Equestria. That was the only lesson I ever understood. I couldn’t do anything right, and neither can you!!”
“I’m sorry…” Misty could not believe what she was hearing. Opaline was just like her at one point. It made Misty see her time spent with the alicorn in a whole new light. “Maybe that Princess wasn’t a good teacher to you…but you can be better. Don’t…make a mistake you can’t take back…please…I can introduce you to Izzy and the other ponies. They’ll accept you.”
“Have they accepted you, Misty?”
Misty lay there, stunned by the question. She thought she knew the answer, but she really did not. Did the Sunny and her friends really accept her? Sure, they gave her a chance to do good, but did they really trust her?
“I’ll ask you again: have they accepted you, Misty?”
Misty sighed deeply, shaking her head. “No…I don’t think so…”
“Then what makes you think they’ll accept me?!” Opaline demanded, “Tell me, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THEY’LL ACCEPT ME?!!”
Misty trembled as she struggled to come up with a response. “I-I-I-I j-just t-think-“
“FACE IT, MISTY!!!” Opaline yelled, “You can’t get other ponies to accept me anymore than you can get them to accept you!!” She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. “I know my place, my destiny, unlike you. I was meant to rule everything. Twilight may have not been able to teach me friendship, but she did teach me power!!!! And I must look towards the future and claim it. She couldn’t be proud of me in life…” She smiled. “But perhaps in death…”
Misty wiped her tears away as she looked up at her once more. “Just…give me Sparky…”
“You want him?” Opaline asked, holding up the green baby dragon with her magic. “COME AND TAKE HIM FROM ME!!!” With no further hesitation, she opened her mouth and a torrent of dragon fire shot straight from Sparky and into her. Sparky screamed and wailed as his very life essence was sucked out from him. His color became a pale and lifeless gray and his shrieks were soon drowned out by the sound of the dragon fire entering Opaline’s mouth.
“Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!” Misty shrieked at the top of her lungs, fighting desperately against the chains restraining her. She had to save him! “PLEASE!!! LET HIM GO!!!!!!”
However, it was too late. Opaline dropped the unconscious Sparky onto the ground where he landed headfirst with a sickening crunch. All at once, her eyes become a pupiless red and her entire being became encased in fire. “POWER!!!!!!!! UNLIMITED POWWWWWEEEEEEEEERRR!!!!!!!!!”
Misty sobbed relentlessly on the floor. She couldn’t save him. She was a failure.
She was worthless.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————
“MISTY!!!!”
With a massive jolt, Misty finally sprang awake, sweat and tears on every inch of her face. She looked around frantically every which way and breathed a massive sigh of relief. She was back in the recovery bed. It had been just a dream.
Or was it?
Standing next to her worriedly was Hitch Trailblazer, who sporting a massive bruise on his left cheek. He rubbed it hurriedly.
“I’m fine! I’m fine!” Hitch assured her quickly, “Totally not something you did upon waking up. It’s completely and totally fine.”
Misty sighed. “You don’t have to hide it. I’m sorry…”
“It’s alright. It’s alright. I just need a bandage,” Hitch looked around the bedroom for a first aid kit, not finding one anywhere. “Just stay there, stay there, I’ll unstrap you in a minute. I think you’re recovered. Medical professional came by earlier today and called your recovery a miracle.”
“That’s good…” Misty looked down at her free hoof and saw a drop of blood on it. She sighed again. It was clear that she had inadvertently smacked him upon waking up from her vision. Why couldn’t she do anything right?
Finally, Hitch got the medical supplies and applied a band aid to his left cheek before proceeding to remove the restraints keeping Misty on the bed. “Rough night, huh? Heard you screaming and immediately ran upstairs.”
“What were you doing?”
“Drawing up battle plans,” Hitch replied, “That’s in fact the fifth draft I’ve created last night. Perhaps you could help me, I mean, you know the place better than I do.”
“Oh great…” Misty’s heart sank to the bottom of the ocean at the thought of returning to Opaline’s castle. The idea terrified her and the prospect of facing her former mistress scared her even further. If she was able to reform her though…
“…so that’s the story of how we just got back from stopping Izzy from almost getting killed by a maniacal chimera thing,” Hitch finished. “You were out for five days straight, so you wouldn’t know. She just got back yesterday.”
Misty nodded absentmindedly as the last of the straps were removed. Carefully, she got off the bed, wobbling as she did so. Hitch came by her side to support her as they walked down the ramp to the sight of an ecstatic Sunny, Zipp, and Pipp. They all wore a mix of elated and relieved smiles as they saw her emerge. The only pony who didn’t seem to be in a good mood was Izzy, who upon seeing that Misty was okay, gave a small smile of relief and walked away quickly.
Sunny noticed this. “Oh no you don’t. Izzy, come back here and greet Misty! She’s recovered. I know you’re having problems with her, but-“
“Leave me alone!” Izzy shouted from the opposite corner, “I’m happy she’s okay, isn’t that enough?!”
Sunny shook her head in disappointment. “I guess it is. Fine then.” She faced Misty and Hitch and her smile instantly returned. “Good morning, you two! Made some cookies!”
“Let me tell you,” Zipp added, “She’s been up since dawn studying the recipe.”
Hitch chuckled. “Sunny, did you do all of this for us?”
Sunny nodded enthusiastically. “Yep!! I thought we’d try something new this morning and I just had to try this after spending time at Grandma Figgy’s!”
“Loving the idea, Sunny!” Pipp complimented her, “I’m going to Mane Melody later today to get some well deserved spa treatment. Hey, Izzy! Wanna come?”
There was no answer.
“She’s in the closet, isn’t she?” Zipp deadpanned.
Misty walked over to the closet to check for Izzy. Of course she knew that the closet was a great hiding place. She had hidden Sparky in there after all one time. As soon as she opened the door though, a pile of items came spilling out, almost crushing her to death. Thankfully, Zipp flew right in time to save her.
That was when Izzy came tumbling out of the closet and sprang up immediately. “Sure! I’d love to come!” She then looked over at Zipp, who was still latching onto Misty, and her mood immediately soured. “On a different day though. I’m going to bed.”
“Izzy, no,” Zipp came over to her, “Look, can’t you even say one word to Misty, please?”
Izzy glanced at the blue unicorn and shook her head. “I’ll talk to her when I feel like it. See you guys tonight…” She walked away from them and up the ramp.
Sunny watched Izzy go with a sad expression on her face. It was clear why Izzy was feeling the way she did, but she and the others thought that the latter would be more forgiving. She glanced over angrily at Misty, who instantly noticed her gaze.
“I’m sorry…” Misty apologized, “I’m the reason why she’s like this. Please don’t be mad at me as well, I-“
“We know,” Sunny interrupted her bitterly. “We know all too well. At least know this. If Hitch didn’t welcome you in like he did, I would’ve-“
“Sunny!” Hitch admonished, “What’s gotten into you just now?! Before you were welcoming of her!”
“Yeah?!” Sunny shot back, “Well it’s hard to stay positive when one of your best friends literally cannot handle Misty’s presence without getting depressed! I hope you know what you’re doing, Hitch.”
“I do, Sunny,” Hitch reasoned, “I have faith that she’ll help us. Don’t you, Sunny? You’re always the one with the most faith out of all of us.”
Sunny didn’t answer that, instead turning her gaze to the others. “I’m going to the town square. I’m hoping that pitching my latest idea will help cheer me up.”
“I’m sure it will,” Zipp promised her, “Promoting your causes always makes you happy, regardless if they work or not.”
“Go get ‘em, Sunny!” Pipp encouraged her.
Sunny smiled warmly again. “Thanks, guys. You always know what to say to make me feel better. Today I’m going to unveil my latest idea: solar energy!!”
“Is…that more ridiculous than no more junk food?” Hitch inquired.
Sunny giggled. “We’ll see.”
Later that day, Misty walked aimlessly around the main living room of the Brighthouse, completely and utterly alone. Zipp, Pipp, Hitch, and Sunny were all off doing their own things around town and the only other pony in the house was Izzy, who was currently holed up in her room and refusing to come out.
As she paced back and forth, she thought about the nature of the vision she had the previous night. It had felt so real, so it couldn’t have been simply a dream, right? The truth was that she didn’t know and she wasn’t sure how to process any of it. Izzy and Sunny were both mad at her, Opaline had seemingly murdered Sparky after taking his dragon fire magic…it was all too much to bear. She longed to talk to somepony, anypony, about how she was feeling.
Don’t long for others’ company. She mentally told herself. You’re not worth that. Just accept that you have a roof over your head and do whatever they say or they’ll kick you out. Repeating that degrading advice over and over made tears come to her eyes again. She felt like she wasn’t worth the chance that she had been given.
To her, it all would’ve been better if they instead threw her out on the streets to starve and die. She felt like she owed them everything and she knew deep down that she could never accomplish whatever they needed her to. So why was she still here? Why was she still freeloading on their generous hospitality?! The least she could do was get a job, even though she knew that nopony in their right state of mind would ever hire a blank flank unicorn with no experience whatsoever and no real quality of life.
How could she ever stop Opaline, let alone possibly reform her? She couldn’t even save Sparky in her own nightmare, let alone in real life. All she wanted to do was tell Hitch that this was a mistake, that he should give up on her before she messed up again and possibly caused something catastrophic to happen.
Her ears perked up upon hearing the sound of hoofsteps and she turned around to her left to see Izzy walking down the ramp, humming softly to herself. Quickly, Misty hid in the first corner she could find. She didn’t want to upset Izzy further by her presence. If she could just find a good spot to hide-
“I know you’re there, Misty,” came Izzy’s voice. “You’re the only one who didn’t leave the Brighthouse earlier.”
Misty huddled up in the corner, trying to make herself invisible to Izzy’s wandering gaze. She instantly knew her idea was foiled when she and Izzy locked eyes.
Izzy walked over with a bitter and angry expression on her face. Instantly, Misty started shaking from fear once again, flashbacks of Opaline walking toward her with the very same demeanor raced through her brain as all her senses went into a panic. She began to hyperventilate, feelings of terror overtaking her entire being. Izzy was coming to chew her out for what she did, she just knew it. She would scream at her and tell her how much of a bad friend she was before beating her and throwing her out of the Brighthouse.
As the other unicorn approached her slowly, Misty instinctively cried out: “Please don’t hurt me, Izzy!! I’m sorry for betraying your trust, I just wanted my stupid cutie mark!!!!!!” She curled up into a tight ball, bracing for the worst as she always did.
Instead, she felt…nothing. No yelling in her ears, no spanking or whipping, no demands…no nothing. Izzy simply stood there, her previous look of anger now replaced with one of confusion and worry.
“You think I’m going to hurt you…?” Izzy asked softly.
Misty nodded quickly. “I hurt your feelings, betrayed your trust, I lied about everything…what isn’t there to hate about me?! I don’t belong here with you ponies! I hurt all of you so bad!! Just…kick me out already!! That’ll more than make up for what I did to you!!”
“I don’t hate you, Misty…” Izzy said gently, “I don’t…”
Misty looked up at her. “You…you don’t…?”
Izzy shook her head. “Misty, I…I don’t hate you. If anything, I’m just…heartbroken, I mean…my first real unicorn friend from Bridlewood…isn’t even from…it doesn’t matter. I understand why you did it…why you lied…why you did everything…”
Misty nodded again. “I told you…”
“Your cutie mark…” Izzy looked at her own flank sadly, “You know, I can only begin to imagine what must’ve been going through your head all these years…to be so scared of the world around you and being spoon-fed lies from those close to you…to be afraid no one will accept you because you feel like you’re not normal, like you don’t belong anywhere…like if you tell anypony the truth, they’ll reject you and refuse to understand you…how does one go through that…?”
“Wait, how do you know all that?” Misty asked her.
“You don’t know?” Izzy looked back at her, “Oftentimes…I don’t feel like I belong here either, Misty…Maretime Bay is so…different from Bridlewood. I never tell Sunny because she’s already gone above and beyond in providing for me, Pipp, and Zipp. But…if it wasn’t for that mini touch of Bridlewood in my room…I’d…just run away too. I feel trapped a lot of the time, unable to tell anyone how difficult it is to adapt to a new home that I’m still not fully used to…”
“You could’ve told me a while ago…” Misty replied, “Not like I would’ve been able to respond being under sleep medication and all, but…why were you constantly avoiding me if you don’t hate me…?”
“Because talking to you out in the open with everyone else around would mean I’d have to relay my fears…” Izzy admitted, “I didn’t want to start anything and I was still processing what you said that day myself, so…I guess I just didn’t know what to say to you. Sorry for being a downer.”
“It’s okay.”
“I guess I normally act so positive all the time to try and drown out my other emotions to be honest. Sunny and the others love it when I’m happy, so I try to be. I know it can be annoying, but-“
“Izzy, who ever said it was annoying?” Misty asked her, “I mean, look at you. You provide so much to the group from your nonstop enthusiasm alone! Your stories of Bridlewood, your nonstop creativity and innovative ideas…I wish I had half of what you have. You’re so positive about everything and that’s perfect! I’m the way I am because I have no one. But you have Sunny and the other ponies. Don’t throw it away…like I did…”
Izzy looked back at her, tears falling from her eyes. “But how can I tell them, Misty? How? Sunny will be so mad at me for this.”
“No she won’t,” Misty promised her, “You won’t have to worry about that anymore, I promise.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because…I’m here.”
Izzy blinked back fresh tears, staring at her in shock. “You’d…you’d really be there for me if I told them?”
Misty nodded. “Always…I know that I couldn’t save Sparky, but…if I could do this for you…that would be more than enough…”
Taking a massive shaky breath to calm down, Izzy reached out with her hooves. “Come here, Misty…”
Misty came towards her and before she knew it, she was wrapped up in a massive hug from Izzy. The two of them embraced one another, holding onto each other tightly and refusing to let go.
“I forgive you, Misty…” Izzy told her through shaky breaths, “I forgive you…know that…You’re a great friend…”
“So are you…”
The moment seemed to last forever and both of them were okay with that, letting the warmness of each other’s embrace penetrate the deep dark abyss that they were in and at last pull them out towards the light.
When they were both done, they let each other go and smiled at one another, the holes in their hearts finally closed up by each other’s company.
“So…” Izzy said, blushing momentarily from embarrassment. “Do you know where Sunny and Hitch are at?”
———————————————————————————————————————————————————
The marketplace in Maretime Bay was particularly busy at this time of day with every single pony in town either out to buy something or talk to one of their friends. The sky was clear from any clouds and the Sun shone brightly upon the townsponies.
Hitch walked leisurely through the densely populated streets and waved to anyone he passed, as well as occasionally stopping to pick up some stray litter. How those ponies still refused to understand that he despised any and all litter was a mystery that even Zipp would never be able to solve on her own.
As he strolled through, he began to hear shouting and chanting in the distance. Curious, he trotted towards one of the alleyways that led to the local hardware store and saw Sunny huddled on the floor, crying out for help as a mob of ponies continuously pelted objects at her and beat her. A bunch of ponies in the back were egging their friends on. Sunny was covered in cuts, bruises and tomato stains as she sobbed helplessly.
Hitch gasped at the sight of this. With no hesitation, he grabbed his megaphone in hood and yelled at the top of his lungs: “BACK AWAY FROM SUNNY NOW!!!!”
The townsponies were all startled. They whirled around and looked fearfully at Hitch, who looked angry behind all recognition. This wasn’t just the anger the ponies had seen when he had lost Sparky that one time, this was a massive amount of anger that was only barely contained by his own discretion.
“Who is responsible for this?!!” Hitch demanded, “Come on out with your hooves up!!!”
The crowd parted to reveal none other than Sugar Moonlight and the other Filly Four, all staring at the ground in shame.
“I’m taking you four down to the station to await your trial,” Hitch told them furiously, “Come here this instant.” As soon as they did, he wasted no time in hoofcuffing their hooves behind their backs and forcing them to sit on the sidewalk after reading them their rights.
The rest of the crowd instantly fled in opposite directions, not wishing to get arrested as Sugar Moonlight and her clique were. He approached Sunny, who was shaking with fear, but relaxed slightly upon seeing Hitch.
“Sunny, what the hay is going on here?!” demanded Hitch, “What happened to you?!” When he saw her curl up once more, he instantly softened his tone. “Sorry. Just…can you please tell me what happened there?”
Sunny stood up slowly, her eyes filled with tears. “Hitch…I’m so sorry!”
“Sunny, what are you talking about?” Hitch inquired, “Sunny, what did you do?”
“I-I t-tried p-pitching th-them m-my idea a-and t-they all started attacking me!!” Sunny sobbed, “All I wanted to do was help them and they started beating me and throwing stuff…the townsponies told me they had enough…”
Hitch sighed, understanding the situation. “Sunny, I warned you. Years ago when you started doing this…I told you one day it would backfire. Look at you! Are your causes worth getting beaten over?!”
Sunny whimpered.
“Look,” Hitch deduced, wiping Sunny’s tears, “I can guess that those brats over there were behind this,” He indicated to Sugar and her clique who were trying to escape their cuffs, “due to you telling them that you didn’t want to play along with their materialism last time you became an alicorn, but I knew someday the town would do this. Ponies can only take getting preached to for so long before they start attacking, no matter how much in good faith yours was.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the town would attack me, Hitch…?” Sunny asked, “All you did was warn me when I was about 14 that things would get out of hoof…”
“Because you seemed so happy doing it!” Hitch cried out, “And you will not believe how many loopholes I had to find in order to let you off the hook with what you were doing. You broke all kinds of laws while trying to preach unity and friendship to the town, but…I didn’t do anything because you’re my best friend, Sunny. I know that your desire to help ponies comes from your Dad.”
Tearfully, Sunny nodded slowly. “He…always encouraged me to fight for what I believed was right…told me to never give up on my aspirations…I’m sorry if I caused you so much stress though…”
“You broke into schools and a number of other things I can’t even remember because they’re extremely numerous.” Hitch responded, “Not to mention, you broke into Canterlogic that fateful year. I warned you that this would happen, Sunny. But after so many years and it didn’t happen…I was beginning to think that you were actually safe…”
“Then arrest me, Hitch…” Sunny told him.
“Why?” Hitch asked.
“Because like you said, I broke so many laws,” Sunny answered sadly, “I give up, Hitch. This isn’t worth it. You can take me in now, like you should’ve done a while ago…” She hung her head low.
Hitch sighed deeply. “Sunny, we’ve accomplished…so much together and we’re as close of friends as one can get. You really think I’m going to take you in now and end it all?”
“But I deserve it-“
“Those are in the past,” Hitch told her, “And mind you, I did find a lot of legal loopholes to pull from, so you weren’t really committing any crimes if we take technicalities into account. Seriously, who wrote that rulebook? The point is, I don’t want you to give up, Sunny, because promoting these causes makes you happy.”
“How do you know-“
“I know because see you on that podium pouring your heart out with every single cause you involve yourself in,” Hitch explained, “And you’re so…I don’t know how to describe it, you’re so…passionate! And when no one listens, I really feel bad for you, Sunny. You said helping ponies is your best self. I know how you feel. Argyle was a great stallion and he would’ve wanted you to continue what you love. Don’t let this deter you off that path. You know that’s not what he would’ve wanted for you.”
“Dad is gone…” Sunny shook her head, “It’s about time I carve my own path anyway and not be a carbon copy of him. Tell the townsponies that this is it. I already brought ponies together. I don’t need to do anything else. You won’t have to worry about me anymore, Hitch…”
“Sunny…” Hitch was flailing for the right thing to say. This was it. Sunny was finally giving up her nonstop activism, something he had secretly wanted her do for the longest time. So why did this moment feel so…wrong? Why did the moment he had constantly written about in his journal entries feel so…unsatisfying? That was when it finally occurred to him that he liked seeing Sunny express herself so positively and open herself up to the community, as much as he wouldn’t’ve liked to admit. He liked seeing her so exuberant and excited to show off her latest ideas to the ponies of Maretime Bay. Simply put, that was who Sunny was. She was a kind, helpful, considerate, passionate, and determined pony who would do anything, risk anything to make the world a better place. As much as a ‘better world’ seemed so childish and like fantasy, Sunny was a pony who normally didn’t let what others thought of her determine how she perceived herself and who she wanted to be.
Yet, here she now was at her lowest point, finally giving up on everything she believed in. All of the years that ponies mocked her and belittled her opinions and viewpoints had finally reached a breaking point. And after being attacked by the townsponies themselves, Sunny didn’t want to deal with any of it anymore and Hitch didn’t know what to say in response. He never expected this moment to come at all, and now that it finally did, he was at a loss for words.
“Opaline played on my vulnerability…” Sunny continued, “She told me that…only through her could I be special. I just…I just wanted to help ponies, but…this isn’t the way to do it. If I keep doing this, I’ll just be manipulated again…I’ll become like her. And I don’t want that…”
Hitch blinked back tears of his own. “Sunny, you’ll never become like Opaline. You know you’re better than her, right?”
“No I don’t!” Sunny cried, “Hitch, I was manipulated by her, I was groomed! Just like Misty was. If I actually continued listening to her, then…who knows what I could’ve became? You have no idea how horrible it was for me, Hitch…for years, ponies constantly bullied me and belittled my views and I couldn’t tell anypony about it, not even you. I internalized all the mean things ponies said to me and I even thought about suicide on more than one occasion, only having the memories of my Dad to keep me going every single day. I had to promote a belief that only I believed in for years and couldn’t share in with anypony at all. You think I ever enjoyed breaking into Canterlogic that day?”
For a brief moment, Hitch hesitated. “Well I…” He then shook his head to clear his mind of any doubts, knowing full well in his heart that Sunny never reveled in the crimes she unwittingly ended up committing, “No, I don’t think you enjoyed it. You’re not like that.”
“So imagine how happy I was when I could finally share my ridiculous causes with somepony else,” finished Sunny glumly, “Finally somepony was telling me to seize the opportunity and not constantly putting me down…this isn’t good for me. If I continue to be passionate about my activism, I’ll just be manipulated again. You understand…don’t you, Hitch?”
Hitch nodded reluctantly. “I understand, Sunny. You don’t have to believe me, but…I understand what you’re going through. I’m just sorry for contributing to all of that. If I knew…if I understood for a second the emotional pain you were going through every single day, I would’ve…I would’ve helped you a long time ago. I would’ve risked my job, everything. Just to help you accomplish that dream…long before I actually did…”
Sunny looked him in the eyes, the two of them sharing a momentary silent understanding of all they had been through for the past decade of their lives before she responded: “I know. Just…let me go, Hitch. My decision is final…I need to go get washed up…”
Hitch once again nodded in turn, his expression one of great resignation as he finally realized that there was no talking Sunny out of her decision.
“Well…if that’s what you want. I only want you to be happy, Sunny. Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you in it 100%.” He faced his four suspects. “I have to take them down to the station. I’ll talk to the local court so we can schedule something. Meet you back at 3?”
Sunny nodded, giving him a weak, but sincere smile. “Yeah. Thank you, Hitch. And trust me. It’s time to see what other things I can do. This is for my own good…”
The two of them walked in opposite directions, forever feeling like a part of them had been shattered permanently with no hope of repair.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————
Misty and Izzy were in their bedroom when the sound of the doors to the Crystal Brighthouse echoed through the space they were in. Their friends were home!
The two of them hurried downstairs to see Sunny limp through the polished red doors all covered in cuts and bruises.
Izzy gasped and ran over to her. “Sunny!! Are you okay?! You’re all cut and bruised! Who did this to you?”
Sunny shook her head lightly. “It doesn’t matter, Izzy. I’m okay.” She noticed Misty, “I see you two have made up?”
Misty nodded. “We have, Sunny…I finally know where I belong. Izzy has something to tell you though. You want to tell her now or should I?”
“I will,” Izzy told her bravely, facing the orange earth pony in spite of how much her hooves were trembling, “Sunny…I’m…I’m still homesick. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, I’m sorry you guys wasted all that time trying to make me that-“
“Izzy,” Sunny cut her off gently, laying a comforting hoof around her, “It’s okay, I mean…I’m glad you told me. If you miss Bridlewood so much, how come you didn’t go visit more often? Did you think…” she trailed off, not wanting to share what had happened to her earlier.
Izzy nodded her head slowly. “I was afraid you all would think that I was abandoning you guys constantly…I only go in emergency circumstances.”
“Izzy, if it’s gnawing at you so much,” Sunny advised her, “then you should go visit. We would…never think you were abandoning us at all. In fact, why don’t we go pay Bridlewood a visit now? It’ll take my mind off of…well, it’s not important.”
Izzy brightened up instantly. “Really? We can do that?!”
“Of course. Whenever you’d like to, we can go there. In fact, I think fun visits to our homes should be a routine thing we do during the course of the coming weeks. It’ll keep the rest of us from developing homesickness too.”
“Thank you, Sunny! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!” Izzy was practically bouncing with regained spirit and energy, her hope and optimism renewed, and her excitement at immeasurable levels. But her wide and cheerful grin instantly faded the moment her eyes lingered on Sunny’s mass bodily injuries once more, her concern once again overtaking her joy as she asked in a worried tone: “What happened today?”
Sunny sighed in frustration, knowing that she couldn’t keep the secret from her friend, “I was hurt today, Izzy…I was beaten up…by the ponies I normally share my causes with.”
Izzy gasped in horror. “You were beaten up by…Sunny, I’m so sorry! Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No,” Sunny assured her, “No, I’m okay. I’m forging a new path for myself…I can’t help ponies the way I currently am, I see that now. I have to find another way, one that is less destructive and doesn’t get the whole town mad at you…”
“Well,” Izzy told her, “We’re here to help. Right, Misty?”
Misty nodded again, this time enthusiastically. “After all, Sunny…it’s like you always say: no matter what challenges come our way…”
“…we’ll face them together,” Sunny finished, smiling happily now. “You’re right. And as long as I have all of you, I know that I can get through anything. I’m not alone anymore…”
“You’re not,” Misty affirmed, “We’ll save Sparky. And we’ll save Equestria…”
“Together…” The three of them promised. That was a promise that they knew they would carry all the way to their graves. After all, it wasn’t just a mere promise in their eyes.
It was an oath bound by blood.
Author's Note
TADA!!!! I bet you guys weren’t expecting this. Actually, you guys were as I’ve literally been advertising it on my blog posts for a while now. This was an emotional rollercoaster, wasn’t it? I teared up while writing both conversations. And yes, I kept the Sunny and Hitch part a secret due to me not able to write the sypnosis properly in a way that would accommodate it, so that might come as a surprise. Sunny’s decision will continue to have an impact on the saga going forward and it will be addressed again in the next installment, though I won’t spoil how. So…yeah, prior reading of “I’m Looking Out For You” is recommended due to this being a semi-sequel to that story, but not exactly required. You’ll still get off easy from not reading it, though the nature of Sunny’s antics will undeniably leave those not in the know baffled. As for Misty, she’s now finally accepted her place among the Mane Five with her actions forgiven and her trauma now officially behind her. The next entry will finally see the epic showdown that the Misty Saga has been building up to and the ultimate test of Misty’s allegiances. This is going to be a fun week of writing.
Speaking of which, who’s super duper excited for Avatar: The Way of Water? Because I sure am! May or may not get inspiration from it for the stories going forward, we’ll see. With that being said, I will see you very soon for the four-chapter epic trilogy closer currently under the title of: “Redeemed.” Stay tuned!! 
