Sunset Shimmer walked down the street, dressed in a heavy coat and carrying her backpack. Snow was falling around her, white flurries fluttering through the air, landing gracefully on the ground. There was a small layer of white blanketing the ground. However, the weather predicted a storm on the way, and Sunset really wanted to get inside before it hit.
Finally, she reached her destination. The Crystal Heart Orphanage. Sunset went to help there every Christmas Eve. It was a reminder of what had been her, before Princess Celestia, on a visit, had recognized her talent and brought her to Canterlot Castle. Having no family, especially not in the human world, Sunset chose to help other children like her.
Inside the doors, Sunset stood at the welcome desk. Chestnut Falls, the owner of the orphanage, welcomed her. “Oh, Sunset, it's nice to see you,” the woman commented. “All the children can’t wait to see you. Did you hear that we’ve finally found a family for little Rose Petal?” Chestnut talked as the pair traveled down the hall, catching Sunset up on what she had missed in the past month.
They entered a door. Inside, nearly twenty children sat or stood, reading or playing or doing whatever. They looked up when Sunset walked in. “Sunny!” A little girl screamed, running into Sunset’s arms. “Why ha’ent you been visiting.” Rose Petal spoke with the skipped letters of a little girl. She was four, after all.
“I’ve been very busy.” Sunset told the girl. She smiled. “And I hear you found a family.”
“I did.” The girl grinned toothily, radiating joy. She laughed, getting off Sunset. She was immediately replaced by others, asking questions and giving hugs. Sunset answered all the questions, taking and giving every embrace.
Finally, a teenage girl at the back spoke up. Sunset had seen a lot of herself in Dawn Star. The girl was intelligent, talented, driven, and had lost her parents at age six, when they were killed in a car crash. Dawn excelled in school and was very motivated. But, to Sunset’s knowledge, she had never been adopted.
Coming back from college had been interesting for Sunset. She, for obvious reason, had stayed in town for her job as a lawyer. Showing up at the Orphanage had been a High School activity, one Sunset had continued after her return. Dawn, Sunset knew, had very low chances of getting into a good university. Sunset really did hope for the girl to do something great someday.
Chestnut Falls watched from the doorway, a small smile on her face. How her young ones loved seeing Sunset. It was a highlight of their day, and often even their week. There weren’t many volunteers, and Chestnut could see a small light in Sunset’s eye when she came. Obviously, she had a connection to this.
Finally getting to her original purpose, Sunset sat down in the chair near the back of the room, next to the glowing Christmas tree. All the children sat around her expectantly. Sunset pulled a book out of her backpack. The Polar Express. She flipped it open. Showing the pages to the those gathered around her, Sunset began to read. The story was one that the children of the orphanage really enjoyed. That was why Sunset came back to read it Christmas after Christmas, to old and new faces alike. Some, like Dawn Star, had heard her read the tale many times, but for some, like the little girl in the front row, it was a first time. Sunset always hoped to only read the story to someone once.
Sunset read through the book. When she finished, the room was quiet for a moment, then broke out in the usual riot of laughter and conversation. Dawn Star hung in the back, the thirteen-year-old silent.
Sunset came over to her. “I’ve noticed you aren’t really friends with anyone around here, Dawn. I kinda wonder why?”
The girl looked at her. “Sunset, I’m the oldest one here. All the others, they’re younger than me. People want little kids. They find families, they leave. Me, nobody wants a teenager. I’m stuck. Stuck until I’m eighteen. Of course, you wouldn’t understand.”
Sunset touched her shoulder. “Oh, Dawn, I do understand. I was adopted you know. I was unwanted too. I was... different.” Sunset’s magic, her extremely explosive capabilities, had made her too much of a risk for anyone to want, and had made her too much of an outsider to the other children. “I was lucky. Someone found me, by accident. Someone who looked beyond my differences, saw my potential.” She wanted to cry. Rarely had she thought about what Princess Celestia had done for her, and how selfish and foolish her response had been. “I know someone will find you Dawn. You have huge potential.”
“Really?” Dawn asked.
“You’re one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. And I’ve met some very talented people.” Sunset realized something. She had briefly considered adopting before. Now, the temptation was greater.
Sunset was broken out of her thoughts by Dawn’s next question. “Is that why you come here, on Christmas Eve? Because you’re alone?”
“Kind of.” Sunset replied. “I’ve got some very close friends. But Christmas is a time for family, and I don’t have one. I come here, instead.” It was something that only a girl raised in orphanages and temporary foster homes could truly understand.
“I’m guessing that all your friends have family.” The girl looked carefully at Sunset.
“Yes, and I don’t begrudge them that. It gets lonely though, sometimes. I come here and that loneliness goes away some. It's nice, to be around people who really understand what I’ve been through. And it's nice to help.”
Dawn sighed. The young girl looked more thoughtful. Sunset also sighed wistfully. She looked back down again. Rose Petal was tugging on her arm. Smiling, Sunset followed the girl. Preoccupied, Sunset failed to notice Chestnut Falls leave the room to deal with something at the front desk. She only realized the woman had left when she returned. “Sunset, there’s some people here to see you.”
Sunset looked up from her game. A bright smile lit up her face. Standing in the doorway, crowding in behind Chestnut, were six girls.
Twilight came over first. “Hi Sunset.”
“Sunset rose and came over to them. “Hey girls.” Then she commented again. “what are you guys doing here?”
“We heard from a friend that you were coming here,” Twilight told her. “We thought that we might join you.” She looked at all the children watching them, watching Sunset. “This means a lot to you.”
“it really does.” Sunset replied. “And it really means a lot that you would come here.” She scanned the room, filled with curious faces. Finally, her eyes settled on Dawn Star. “Girls, there are some people I want you to meet.”