To Cure a Broken Heart

“Is she…?” Sunset Shimmer barely got her sentence out when she stopped herself. No, there was no way. She couldn’t be dead—right? Maybe she was just sleeping.

But as Principal Celestia bent down in front of Vice Principal Luna’s body, brushing the hair from her face… Sunset could see light that left her eyes. She was gone.

“She was bit by… by Principal Cadence.”

“And you had to…”

Celestia finally turned to her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I wish it weren’t true, Sunset. She fought so bravely… we tried to hold the line, but there were too many…” Her voice faltered, and as she began to sob once again, Sunset approached.

“I never got to tell her how much she meant to me.” Sunset’s throat tightened as she spoke, “She always had my back, even when I was at my worst... even when everyone else was against me. And now she’s—now she’s…” Sunset paused.

“I’m sorry, sister.” Celestia mumbled before pressing a minute kiss to her forehead. “You may rest now.”

Sunset sat at one of the desks, fiddling with a ruler on top of the desk. After leaving Celestia a moment to mourn, Sunset stood and began to pace around the front of the classroom, “I can’t believe this is even happening—what is going on? Is it a disease? Some magical virus... maybe? Although, I guess that wouldn't make sense. Do you think—” Sunset stopped for a second, finally getting an idea. “We need to get to my locker.”

Celestia glanced back at Sunset, who was already trying to leave the classroom. She pulled Sunset back inside before closing the door firmly. “Sunset… it’s not safe out there, we can’t just—”

“Look, my journal is in my locker. If I can just write a letter—something—to Twilight Sparkle, maybe… just maybe she can help us.” Sunset tried to wiggle past her again, but Celestia held her back.

“This is nothing like when you or your friends pony-up, Sunset. This is serious, people are dying.”

Sunset’s hand slid off the door handle, but as Celestia sighed and apologized, Sunset looked down. “Please… just let me try.” When she finally met Celestia’s gaze again, Celestia reluctantly nodded.

As they navigated the now dimly lit corridors of Canterlot High, the floors and walls now stained of blood and other bodily fluids. The memories of old laughter and friendship felt like ghosts haunting the school, but they couldn’t dwell on loss now. The journal was their lifeline, a bridge to hope, and they were willing to risk everything to retrieve it.

“My locker is just down this hall,” Sunset whispered, glancing nervously past the corner of the hall and into classrooms–closing the doors to keep themselves from getting caught off guard. “If I can get my journal, I might be able to reach Princess Twilight and get some help. Maybe she can then reach Princess Cele—” Sunset paused as she looked back at Celestia. She shrugged afterwards, “Well, you get what I mean.”

As the two finally reached Sunset’s locker, she began fiddling with the lock before grumbling as she struggled to open it. Why were these things so hard to open? Always broken…

“Sunset…”

“I know, I know. Of course the one time I actually need this shit, I can’t get into my stupid locker. Why do they make these locks so complicated? Why can’t we just have a key? I mean, I know, pick-lockers… but this is a school not a military base.” Sunset took a break in her words, “Military base… that’s not a bad idea.”

“Sunset.” Celestia said more firmly, causing her to glance back at her. When Celestia motioned to the end of the hall, Sunset gulped and began twisting the lock more vigorously. Down the hall, a group of the infected stumbled around the corner, fortunately unaware of the two healthy treats ahead of them. Which didn’t seem to last that long. “Sunset!” Celestia yelped as one of them began charging.

“I got it!” The locker swung open, slamming against the unsuspecting student—or well.. zombie. Sunset jumped before peering past the door, realizing what happened. She winced, “Sorry.” but as a few more began running at them, Sunset grabbed her journal and ran with Celestia down the other side of the hall.

Celestia yanked her into a classroom, slamming the door shut before pulling a few desks against the door, all while Sunset moved through the cabinets and drawers of the classroom to find a pen.

“That should hold them…” Celestia mumbled before turning to face Sunset, “Do you think this will work?”

“It has to.” Sunset replied, immediately moving to write the letter once she found a working pen.

But after hours… upon hours… upon hours… no response seemed to appear. Sunset tossed the pen aside in frustration, ignoring how the setting sun beamed down on her face through the blinds. She plopped her head into her knees and began to sob.

Celestia gently pulled the curtains over the window, allowing Sunset’s eyes to slightly readjust to the lighting. She sat beside her before brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Sunset…? It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. I don’t understand what’s going on, and Twilight is probably too busy being a Princess to even bother looking at this stupid journal!” Sunset threw the journal across the room, flinching as it thumped against the ground.

“We’ll get through this, Sunset. Together.” Celestia wrapped her arm around her.

“You’ll never leave me right? Promise you’ll never go.” Sunset sobbed, curling up against Celestia’s chest.

“I promise.”