//------------------------------// // Birthday Presents and Memories // Story: Night and Day // by The Crazed Werewolf //------------------------------// "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.