Chapters Birthday Presents and Memories
"Thanks for the, uh, socks, mom," Sunset Shimmer deadpanned, looking at her mother and school principal, Celestia. She placed the pack of socks on the pile of gifts she had already opened, including the pile of video games from her aunt Luna. Her mother had decided on a small family party this evening, tomorrow, her friends were throwing a huge birthday bash for Sunset, culminating in a sleepover at her house.
"You're welcome dear." Celestia said, hold back a laugh.
"Open this gift next!" Sunset's cousin exclaimed nearly leaping over the table. Sunset took the gift and carefully tore the wrapping paper off.
"The Beginner's Guide to Magic," Sunset said reading the title of the book that Trixie had given her, "thank you Trix, this means a lot to me."
Sunset got up and walked around the table and gave her cousin a big hug.
"How else are you going to be The Great and Powerful Trixie's Great and Powerful Assistant?" Trixie asked rhetorically, smiling at Sunset.
"Ooh, my turn," Sunset's fathers said, picking up a large heavy looking box wrapped in Muppet Babies wrapping paper, "Sunset, this is from both your mother and I."
Sunset looked at the box with disbelief. Her father had had trouble getting in on the dining room table. Celestia thought that her husband had over sold the gift with his performance. Slowly and very carefully Sunset began to unwrap the gift. Once she had the wrapping paper off she was staring at plain brown box. Inside the box she found... Packing peanuts. After digging through the packing peanuts there was a single layer of bricks with an envelope taped to them. Inside the envelope she found a set of keys.
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" Sunset screamed after a long period of silence. She turned and jumped up hugging her father nearly knocking him over.
"You're welcome Sunset." her father, Discord, said once he had recovered his breath.
Celestia couldn't help but smile and reflect on journey to this moment. Sure, there had been rough patches, but the young woman that she was proud to now call her daughter had come a long way in six years.
*****
Six years earlier.
*knock, knock*
Celestia looked up from the photograph in her hands.
"Come in," she said looking up and wiping away her tears. The door opened and her niece came in carrying her lunch.
"Auntie, mommy said it would be ok if I ate lunch you." Trixie said, looking down at the floor. Celestia knew that Trixie normally ate lunch with her mother, but she remembered that Luna had a lunchtime meeting with the school's athletic club today.
"Sure thing honey," Celestia said clearing off her desk, "how has your day been?"
"Okay," Trixie said tears form in in her eyes, "I miss her too."
Celestia looked at her niece, she had only been eight years old when her cousin, Celestia's daughter, had died from a fever. The pair had been inseparable, Celestia hadn't given much thought how Sunrise's death might have effected her niece. Today, Sunrise would have been 11 years old. Celestia reached out and took Trixie into her arms and gave her a big hug, doing her best to comfort her niece.
"Peanut butter cracker?" Trixie asked after Celestia released her from the hug.
"Why I'd love a peanut butter cracker." Celestia said, "thank you."
"I love you auntie 'Lestia," Trixie said.
A few hours later Celestia had locked up the school for the day. Luna and Trixie had already left, and she and Discord would be joining them for dinner. As she was leaving, she saw movement near the Wondercolt Statue at the front of the school. Whoever it was, was, obviously in a state ofc confusion about their whereabouts. Wearily, Celestia made her way over to the Statue. Celestia noticed several things as she approached. First whoever it was was a child approximately the same age as her niece, Trixie. And, as she got close she was startled by how much this child bore a striking resemblance to her deceased daughter, Sunrise Dawn! This girl had red hair with blond highlights, and a gold skin tone just like her daughter!
Celestia watched the girl for a few moments before saying anything. The poor girl kept stumbling whenever she tried to stand. She kept her fists clenched, and she kept rubbing her forehead like she was checking that it was still there. Celestia crouched down to speak to the girl.
"Hello," she said allowing the concern she felt seep into her voice, "are you alright?"
The girl froze as if in terror before she slowly looked up at Celestia.
"Yes, maybe, I don't know" she said, "where am I?"
"Canterlot High School," Celestia said, "I'm the Vice-Principle here. My name is Celestia, What's your name?"
The look of terror returned to the girls face when Celestia had mentioned her name.
"Sun-Sunset Shimmer," the girl managed to stammer out. Celestia wondered what the girl was so afraid of. Celestia was certain that there were no students with that name at CHS.
"Ok Sunset, where are your parents?" Celestia asked softly.
"My parents?" Sunset said. The girl appeared to be on the verge tears, "I don't have any."
Celestia pulled out her phone to call her husband and her sister to inform them that she was going to be late for dinner. Then she called Child Protective Services, but as the phone was ringing she noticed that the girl was gone. She hung up her phone and made a mental note to keep an eye out for the mystery girl.
Celestia didn't even bother to turn on the radio in her car as she drove to the restaurant where she was meeting her family for dinner.
Dinner had been a melancholy affair, each person at the table remembering the little girl who was no longer there. Celestia however couldn't get Sunset Shimmer to leave her thoughts.
The next morning Celestia drove out alone to the cemetery. She knew that Discord would want to go with her but Sunrise's death had been particularly hard on him.
*****
Present day
Luna had left shortly after dinner and cake, Trixie however was spending the night. Discord had pulled out the sofa bed in the living room for the two girls before he and Celestia retreated to their bed room for the night.
"I can't believe that your dad got you car!" Trixie said excitedly.
"I still don't believe it," Sunset said, "and I have the keys."
"Hey Trix, isn't your birthday next month, what do want?" Sunset asked suddenly. Trixie looked uncomfortable before replying.
"You're my cousin, what more could I want?" Trixie said nervously.
Sunset could tell that Trixie was hiding something, but she didn't want to press the issue.
***
Six years earlier
Sunset didn't know where she was. The only things she knew was that she was no longer in Canterlot, and she was no longer a pony. Was she even in Equestria anymore? What happened to her horn? Where was her magic. She was afraid, and alone. She couldn't go back Canterlot or the Princess.
"Hello, are you alright?" a friendly voice said. Sunset looked up at the source of the voice. There was a sadness in the woman's eyes.
"Yes, maybe, I don't know," Sunset answered, "where am I?"
"Canterlot High School," the stranger said, I'm the Vice-Principle here, my name is Celestia. What's your name?"
Canterlot? Celestia? Sunset was sure that this wasn't Canterlot! It didn't look right. What was going on?
"Sun-Sunset Shimmer," she stammered.
"Okay Sunset, where are your parents?" The Celestia thing asked.
"My parents?" Sunset thought back to the painful memory, "I don't have any."
The woman took a device out of her pocket and spoke to someone through it. Sunset decided to take advantage of this distraction and ran.
She found herself in what appeared to be a rocky field. There were statues and monuments spread throughout the field with a few sparse trees here and there. Sunset decided to take refuge behind one of the stones. She noticed that it had something written on it;
Sunrise Dawn Beloved Daughter September 19, 2001- November 22, 2009
The last thing Sunset thought about before exhaustion overtook her was who was Sunrise Dawn had been.
Author's Note
So, where to begin.
This story started as a simple what if that popped into my head. As I began to write it I soon began to realise that this is more than a one chapter story. I also don't really have a road map for this one. That said, I will likely include any ideas that you, my readers, submit. However, I WILL say this: I DO NOT WRITE CLOP! Any ideas that are CLOP will not even be considered.
Now that that is said, let's enjoy this adventure together.
The next day, Sunset's friends; Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle,, Fluttershy, and her girlfriend, Rarity, came over to celebrate Sunset's birthday. They were joined my Sunset's cousin Trixie. The eight girls had taken over the basement entertainment room for the night. Rainbow, and Trixie were busy showing Twilight and Fluttershy how to play "Tirek's Revenge". Applejack, Rarity, Sunset, and Pinkie were playing a game of Monopoly.
"Sunset, darling," Rarity said, "I've always wondered, how did Celestia come to adopt you?"
"I never told you that story?" Sunset said, blushing.
"I think I'd rember." Rarity said, leaning over and giving Sunset a quick peck on the cheek.
"Ya don't have to tell us if it makes you uncomfortable." Applejack said, sensing her friends discomfort.
"It's a tale of epic adventure, romance and magic!" Trixie said.
"Do you guys really want to hear this?" Sunset asked looking each of her friends, each of them nodded silently, "Ok, it begins the day after I first arrived in this world..."
*****
Six Years Earlier
Sunset wasn't sure how long she had slept. She had dreamt of Princess Celestia. The princess was sure to send the Royal Guard, if not the UEP Guard after her. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Looking around, she was still in the rocky field. Her joints were stiff from sleeping on the ground. Sunset decided to try to stand up. She had figured out the the inhabitants of where ever she was were bipedal, and that she now resembled one. She needed to learn how to be like them if she was going to blend here and hide from Celestia.
As she stood she looked around again. She noticed several similarities between Equestria and this place. The grass was still green, and the sky was still blue. The birds even sounded the same. Movement caught her eye. Turning to look she saw the same woman she had encountered the day before carrying a bouquet of flowers walking towards her. Sunset took off running.
"SUNRISE!" she heard the woman call after her.
***
"Wait, your name is Sunset," Pinkie said, "not Sunrise."
"Sunrise was my cousin, Celestia's real daughter, she died when we were eight." Trixie said not holding back the tears. She stood up and grabbed a framed photograph off of a nearby bookshelf and looked at it. Using her blouse to wipe some dust off of it before passing it around to other girls. The photo showed a younger Trixie and another girl both wearing party hats playing together. "This picture was taken at Sunrise's eighth birthday."
"Freaky deaky!" Pinkie said when she saw the young girl in the photo. Rarity could only gasp.
"Sunset, she looked just like you," Applejack said, stating what was on everyone's minds, "albeit, a much younger you."
"Remember how I told you girls that everyone in my world has a counterpart in this one?" Sunset asked, reaching out and comforting Trixie, "I'm fairly certain that Sunrise was my counterpart."
"It's strange how much our world reflects Equestria, from what you've told us Sunset our worlds have similar histories, what we consider myths is everyday life where you're from," Twilight said, "and we can't rule out Equestrian interference I through out history."
Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, get back to the story." Rainbow said.
None of the girls heard Celestia come down the basement step. And stop when she heard Sunset's voice.
"Where was i?" Sunset thought aloud, "oh yeah, so mom called after me but I ran..."
*****
Sunset didn't stop running until she was out of breath and her muscles felt like they were on fire. She wasn't sure if that woman was Princess Celestia, having been changed after chasing her through the portal or if she was a native to this land who just so happened to look and sound similar to the princess. It was then that Sunset's stomach growled and she realized that she was hungry. She wandered around the part of town she was in until she found a place that looked inviting, it was a small cafe and bakery names Sugar Cube Corner. Sunset walked in and looked at all the tasty treats that were available. Sunset saw a blueberry muffin that caught her eye. She boldly marched up to the counter to place her order.
"Um, one blueberry muffin please?" Sunset asked meekly. The woman behind the counter looked at her, then shrugged and put the muffin in a small brown paper bag. Afterwards she she hit a few button on the register before her.
"That'll be $1.50 dearie" the woman said. Sunset reached into her pocket and came out with a handful of Equestrian bits. It was clear to the woman behind the counter that Sunset didn't have any other form of money.
"It's on the house dearie." she said after moment and cleared the register.
"Th-thank you," Sunset said be fore turning and walking out of the restaurant. She had walked about half a block when she felt someone grab her shoulder. She spun around quickly and found herself face-to-face with the Celestia woman she had met the day before!
*****
Sunset paused in telling her story. A single tear ran down her cheek.
"What's wrong dear?" Rarity asked, gently using her finger to catch the tear as it ran down Sunset's face.
"That first blueberry muffin, was the best tasting thing I've ever had," Sunset said after a moment, "and I didn't realise it yet, but mom was only trying to help me. But I was so scared, that I couldn't see that yet."
Rarity leaned over and held Sunset in her arms for a long moment, allowing her girlfriend to calm down before continuing her tale.
"So, how did Principle Celestia know where to find you?" Fluttershy asked softly.
"Perhaps I am best suited to answer that." Celestia said turning the corner.
"Mom!" Sunset said seeing her mom. Celestia took a seat on couch between her daughter and her niece.
"I actually wasn't looking for Sunset..."
Author's Note
More to come I promise. Questions or comments? Leave them below.
A Story Never Told Part 2
"I actually wasn't looking for Sunset," Celestia said, "I had gone to the cemetery to visit Sunrise..."
*****
The morning air was quite crisp and cool for a September morning. Celestia had stopped to get a bouquet of sunflowers on her way to the cemetery. Sunflowers had been Sunrise's favorite. Today her daughter would have been 10 years old.
*****
Celestia paused for moment. She picked up the picture that Trixie had shown everyone earlier. Sunset reached out and placed her hand on Celestia's shoulder.
"It's ok mom, I'm here for you." Sunset said.
"I'm ok Sunset, it helps to remember Sunrise." Celestia said.
*****
She needed to wish Sunrise a happy birthday. As she approached her daughter's final resting place, a young girl stood up from behind the headstone, a girl with fire-red hair and blonde highlights. The girl looked familiar but it took Celestia a moment for recognition to dawn in her mind. The girl saw Celestia coming and immediately took off running. Celestia said the first thing that came to mind.
"SUNRISE!" Celestia cried out after the girl. Then Celestia remembered that the girl said that her name was Sunset, it must have only been a coincidence that she bore such a striking resemblance to Sunrise.
Putting Sunset to the back of her mind Celestia decided to finish what she had come here for. She laid the bouquet of Sunflowers at the foot of her daughters headstone. She then went about cleaning up a few weeds that had begun to grow around the monument.
"Happy birthday Sunrise," Celestia began, "your father wasn't able to join me this year." Celestia paused. Why was this so hard?
"Both your Auntie Luna and Trixie miss you and convey their love," Celestia continued, "yesterday I met a girl who looks a lot like you."
A slight breeze began to blow, Celestia didn't notice at first.
"I believe that she needs help. I know that's what you would do," Celestia sighed, "what you would want me to do."
Celestia felt the breeze pick up. She looked up. Directly above her in the sky was the most beautiful rainbow Celestia had ever seen. She knew it was a message from her daughter.
*****
"Intense!" Pinkie said in voice barely above a whisper. Even Sunset was amazed, she had never heard her mother tell this part of the story.
*****
As Celestia got back into her truck she made up her mind to try to at least get Sunset off the streets, it was her duty as an educator to look after the well being of children. First she needed to know more about the girls situation and what she could do to rectify the situation. That meant she would have to call an old friend of hers. Celestia dialed a number on her phone then turned on the speakerphone mode. After three rings her call was answered.
"Canterlot Child Protective Services, Raven Inkwell speaking." the voice on the other end of the line said.
"Raven, it's Tia," Celestia answered, "I have a few questions and then I am going to need a favor."
"Ask away Tia." Raven said.
"What information does your office have on one Sunset Shimmer approximately aged 10?" Celestia asked. There was a pause on Raven's end of the line.
"Nothing." Raven said.
"Nothing, so she hasn't been entered into system yet?" Celestia asked.
"No, I mean nothing," Raven said, not even a birth certificate or SSN on file."
"That's not possible." Celestia said aloud.
"I know, is there anything else you need?" Raven asked, "you just doubled my work load for the day."
"Not right now, but Raven can we keep this off the books for now?" Celestia asked, "Just between us."
"For now." Raven said coldly.
Celestia ended the call and noticed Sunset go inside Sugar Cube Corner Café. Celestia immediately pulled into the parking lot behind small café. by the time she got inside, Sunset had left, looking outside she saw the girl down the block. Celestia ran to her reaching out to put her hand on the girls shoulder. Sunset spun around, nearly dropping her blueberry muffin. the look in Sunset's eyes conveyed nothing but fear.
"Sunset, why don't you come with me, and we'll get you a proper breakfast." Celestia said to the young girl. Sunset only nodded. The drive to Celestia's house was one of silence. Celestia could tell that the girl was afraid.
"Tell me about yourself, where are you from?" Celestia asked finally.
"Canterlot." Sunset answered. Celestia thought that was strange, if the girl was from Canterlot, then there should have been a record of it.
"What would you like to eat? Pancakes, waffles, or French toast?" Celestia asked as they pulled into her drive way.
"What's French toast?" Sunset asked.
"You've never had French toast?" Celestia said as she opened the door to her truck, "well that settles that."
*****
"You didn't know what French toast was!" Pinkie exclaimed, "the powders sugar buttery goodness!"
"We have something similar in Equestria," Sunset answered, "and you need this was only my second day in this world. Now, French toast is my favorite breakfast."
"Anyways, so I brought Sunset home and made her some French toast..." Celestia continued.
*****
After finishing her meal Sunset began to get tired, though she had slept the night before she hadn't gotten much rest. Celestia carried the girl to her couch and allowed her to sleep there.
After a while Celestia picked up the phone and called Raven back.
"Celestia, I was just about to call you." Raven said, "as far as the local, state and federal government is concerned, there is no Sunset Shimmer. Are you sure this girl didn't give you a fake name?" "I'm positive that she didn't, she didn't even know i was there until i said something to her." Celestia answered.
"You mentioned a favor earlier." Raven said.
"Raven, this girl needs help," Celestia said, "I want to adopt her."
"What does Discord think?" Raven asked
"I think its a grand idea," Discord said suddenly. Celestia looked up and saw him standing in the kitchen hold the phone from the garage. He just winked at his wife.
"Alright," Raven sighed, "I'll contact Chrys and get her to make the necessary paperwork. I'll let you know when we have everything ready."
*****
"It took a little over two weeks for all the paperwork to come together," Celestia said, wrapping her arms around her daughter, "and while it hasn't been without its trials and tribulations, I wouldn't change a thing."
"Thanks, mom neither would i," Sunset said.