Sunday, July 17, 2016
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Today's Horoscope (Virgo): Wear sunscreen.
Daytime
I'm feeling a little less miserable today. I still feel hollow and...well, I'm hurting bad over what I did to Twilight and I miss her terribly. But I feel like I'm ready to move forward, try to fix things...
But most importantly, I just need to get out of the hotel and do something. Summer tennis practice starts today; some good old fashioned exercise is just the thing I need right now.
When I arrive at the tennis courts, I find most of the tennis team already warming up. Pinkie Pie is playing with Sonata. That gives me pause.
Pinkie notices me, signals to Sonata to stop, then jogs over. "Hey Flash! Got your stuff over here."
"Thanks." I'm already more or less dressed for tennis; all I really need is my racket and sweatbands.
Coach Chrysalis wanders over. "Took you a while to get here," she says.
"Sorry," I say. "Right now I'm staying with my folks at a hotel further in town. They're moving down here to Canterlot and haven't quite found a place yet."
"Oh? So you're moving out of the dorms?"
I frown. "It's starting to look that way." I glance at Pinkie and Sonata, who can't quite look me in the eye. "Anyway, nevermind that. Didn't expect to see you here, Sonata."
"Oh," Sonata whispers raspily. "W-well...I need the exercise. And Pinkie makes it sound so fun, I..." She coughs, then fishes around in her pocket for a lozenge.
Pinkie pats her on the back. "Don't force it," she says.
"N-no," Sonata says softly as she recovers. "I'll never be able to talk normally again if I'm afraid to try. No matter how much it hurts."
No matter how much it hurts, huh...?
Sonata isn't the only newbie here. While most of the group present are returning members of the team, there are seven new people who are planning to try out for the team this fall. Coach Chrysalis and Coco organize everyone and put us all through an exhausting series of drills, finishing up with laps around the courts. When we're finished, we're all exhausted, but Sonata in particular looks like she's about to pass out. Pinkie and I sit with her on the benches while she drinks some water.
"You okay?" I ask.
Sonata nods, then rummages around in her bag for a notebook and pen.
Just really out of shape. I guess I need to start jogging every day.
"Is it even okay for you to play a sport, though?" I ask. "I mean, yeah, you're doing a lot better now than you were back...y'know...but it hasn't exactly been that long since you nearly died."
Sonata grimaces.
Mommy was worried too. Doctor said it's okay as long as I don't overdo it. Actually it's good for me to get more exercise.
"Well, we'll have to make sure you don't push yourself too hard," I say. "Right, Pinkie?"
"Right!"
We lapse into silence as we drink water and towel off sweat. "Hot today," I comment.
"Yeah," Pinkie says.
"So uhh...you girls wanna go grab some lunch before you head back? My treat."
Sure.
"Yeah, okay."
We pack up and leave the court. As we pass by the dorm on the way into town, I pause and frown. "How is she?"
Pinkie winces. "I saw her wandering around the dorm last night. I think she finally ate something."
I sigh.
"Never thought you'd do something like that," Sonata rasps, giving me a sad look. "You didn't just h—" She coughs, scowls, then pulls out her notepad.
You didn't just hurt her, you hurt all of us.
"I know," I say tiredly. "I know, and I want to..." I shrug. "I wanna make it right. I want to earn all you girls' trust back."
Pinkie sighs. "Well, for me..." She shakes her head. "I can't stay mad at you. Not after everything you've done for me. I mean, I wouldn't even still be here if it wasn't for you. I've been thinking real hard about how much you mean to me, and...and I'm gonna do my best to remind Twilight of everything you've done for all of us." She glances at me. "You screwed up, yeah. But one mistake doesn't change who you are. It doesn't change how important you are to all of us."
"Yeah," Sonata agrees. She starts writing.
You kept my spirits up, gave me the strength to keep going. Remember what you did for me on my birthday? That was amazing.
She smiles and sniffles.
And fighting alongside you and all the others all this time? We've been through too much together. I...
She pauses; we stop to watch her as she thinks, then writes slowly.
You're all my new family. I don't want to lose any of you. Especially not you, Flash. You did a really bad thing, but I know you're better than that. I'm sure Twilight will forgive you too. I mean...she loves you. And you love her...right?
"Yeah," I say hoarsely. "I really do." I bow my head. "I need to remind her of that."
Pinkie and Sonata hug me. "She knows," Pinkie says. "That's why this is so hard..."
The Sonata Dusk Social Link of the Death Arcana has been repaired.
