//------------------------------// // The Family We Choose (Fin) // Story: A Band of Misfit Losers Hunt the Undead // by Rune Soldier Dan //------------------------------// Ten burgers, fifty chicken nuggets, drinks, and enough fries to feed an army. Plus a dozen of those little cardboard-box pies, because why not? Both girls used both hands to carry the bags outside. “Are you sure we can take all this on the bike?” Ember walked a step ahead of Sunset. “No sweat. My saddle-boxes have way more room than you’d think.” Sunset shivered in the windy dark. Canterlot rested in the awkward time between winter and spring, when the snow turned to brown slush and the sun was down by dinnertime. Chill plucked at her uncovered ears as they reached the large red motorcycle that was Ember’s new project. Opening one of the storage compartments proved it large and deep, easily accommodating the mass of food. Ember wiped off the seat while Sunset checked her phone and quirked a frown. “Applejack’s already there.” “Applejack didn’t need to stand in line for food.” Ember yawned in and out, expelling cold mist reminiscent of smoke. “We ain’t got no one to impress. Don’t be nervous.” Sunset gave a lame laugh, reaching for her helmet. “Well, we’re going to be making a first impression on someone.” “The baby is two days old, Sunset. She’ll be asleep, eating, or crying.” “Sucks that we couldn’t be there in the hospital.” “Rules are rules.” Ember put on her own helmet, muffling her voice behind the black visor. “And my punk-ass is normally the last person who’d say that, but hospital workers put up with enough shit already. Plus I don’t want to be in the birth-story as the delinquent daughter who got arrested.” “You’re not a delinquent,” Sunset said automatically. “Technically sure because I’m twenty, but I know what I am.” They boarded the motorcycle. Sunset tucked in behind Ember, holding her around the stomach as they cruised out the parking lot. A red light next block gave Sunset chance to continue, yelled over the idle engine. “I’m twenty-one.” “Yeah?” “Guess that makes me the big sister.” Ember’s helmet tilted as she glanced back. “Hang on, I definitely remember that being an estimate because the dates for your weird pony world and here don’t match up. Given that I’m tough, cool, and independent, I think I’m the big sister.” “Yeah, but I’m responsible, empathetic, and mature, so I should be the big sister.” The light turned green, and the bike’s loud rumble ended the conversation until the next stop. This time, Ember took the lead. “But are we really sisters? Our parents never even married.” “I’ve been thinking about that,” Sunset replied. “See, you and I might or might not be sisters. But we’re both definitely the baby’s sisters, because my mom is her mom and your dad is her dad. It’d be really weird to say we’re not sisters when we’re both her sister, so I think it makes sense for us two to be sisters.” “So, we’re sisters because it’d be too complicated to not be sisters?” “Pretty much.” Green light. “Works for me,” Ember said, gunning the engine. Nothing else stopped them on the way to that new house. Larger than any Sunset had ever known – it seemed huge and impersonal next to the cozy little house she left behind. Her first real home, her own room. Just her, Mom, and Luna… Now sold, to some strangers. As ever, Sunset’s sharp mind set her straight. It was ‘cozy’ with three people living there. Things would have been a lot more cramped with five. ...Six. Applejack’s truck was in the street. Sunset gathered the food along with Ember, then climbed up the creaky wood porch to the front door. There hadn’t been time to fix everything, and now with the baby it would likely creak a good while longer. Sunset knocked. Ember snorted. “Dude, it’s our house.” “Right, right.” Sunset worked her hand around the doorknob then shouldered it open. Mindful of the possibility of sleeping babies, she announced their presence softly. “Hi, everyone. The food’s here.” Their new living room was spacious, and blurred into the entryway and dining room. It was also a mess of bright packages, stacked diapers, playpens, and other child-rearing debris that had not yet found a place. Standing out from the rest stood a clear centerpiece: a cradle of solid, varnished wood, made by Applejack. With a device to let it rock automatically, courtesy Twilight. It took Celestia a while to stop crying when they dropped it off last week. Greetings came from around a bend in the wall. Applejack and Adagio entered from the opposite way, from the kitchen. Applejack wore a gleaming grin and made to hand Sunset a bottle of apple cider, then on seeing her load set it on the table. Adagio tapped her phone. “Howdy there… Big Sis!” “Hey, guys.” Sunset accepted help with the food, then a hug and peck on the cheek from Applejack. The pair immediately began fishing out burgers for themselves, while Applejack pointed to the bottle. “That ain’t the market version right there, hand-crafted with my own favorite spices. Shake it up a little first ‘cause it settles, then get ready for a kick. Congratulations.” Her smile twisted up on one side, and she gestured with her head. “We can toast later. I reckon you have someone to meet right now. Daj and I will hang out here, nice and discreet. We’ll eat and go.” “You don’t have to,” Sunset said. A cold pit suddenly found her stomach. “Nah, girl. This seems like a family kind of thing, what with a new little one and all.” Sunset swallowed hard, giving a quick nod. “You’re right. We should hang out here, give them space.” Flat stares replaced both Applejack’s cheer and Adagio’s disinterest. Sunset dodged eye contact. “They’re probably really tired from the hospital, and maybe want to be alone with the baby, and maybe I should just...” She blinked. In that time, Applejack and Adagio had stepped to each side and gripped her by the arm and shoulder. Gently but firmly, they spun her to face the next room. Sunset felt a nervous grin play on her face. “You too, Adagio?” “Sorry, Sunset. I’m whipped.” “No getting cold feet,” Applejack coached. “All I’m saying is that I don’t know anything about babies and I’m not sure of my place in the coming family dynamic and it’s cool I’ll just come back tomorrow and–” They began marching her forwards. “Coming, Ember?” Applejack called. “I’ll catch up,” Ember said around a gross mouthful of nuggets. “I’m starving, we’ll let my little sister go first.” They approached the bend, where the first words of greeting had come. Sunset recalled that it turned towards a cozy den. She reached around, placing her hands behind the others’ backs. “Go in with me.” “Seems like a family thing,” Applejack said again. “Yep.” Sunset took a step ahead, then turned to face them. Her jitters were gone, replaced by a smile. “And you guys are family.” “Aw, heck.” Applejack covered her mouth with a hand and tilted her hat low over her blush. Adagio rolled her eyes, though was not able to fully suppress her smirk. “Whatever. We’ll give you a moment, then sure, fine, we can say hi.” Sunset gave a nod. She walked forwards, then hesitated one more time. Melodic and soft, Celestia’s voice rounded the bend. “Sunset, come meet your sister.” Sunset moved. The den was set up for Luna’s video games, with a computer desk, television, and comfortable couch. Celestia sat there with a tiny, tiny bundle in her arms. She looked tired. Dark bags hung under her eyes, and her head rested flush to the sofa’s back. She wore pink baggy pajamas and a drowsy smile. Torch sat by her, not looking much better. A half-assembled milking pump rested on the table to his side, along with a beer bottle. Luna – the only extra family the hospital let in – sat on her computer chair. But Sunset only really saw her mother. Despite her exhaustion, the blues and greens of the woman’s hair seemed somehow bright and vibrant; her smile not just from wan fatigue but a relentless need to smile in spite of it. Their eyes met, and Celestia grinned with wide, white joy. She adjusted the little bundle in her arms, giving Sunset her first view of Sunny Starscout. Now not much more than a little orange face with a dusting of reddish hair. The eyes were closed, and the blankets moved with soft, rapid breaths. Sunset took one step closer. Celestia raised her arms a fraction higher. And by this unspoken signal, Sunset crossed the rest of the way and accepted the baby into her hands. She held Sunny close, cradling her as Celestia did. The eyes opened, showing a sparkling turquoise green. They watched Sunset, calm and curious. “Hi, Sunny.” Sunset sniffed wetly, and knuckled her eyes with the free hand. She sat down next to Celestia. A pale pink arm wrapped around her shoulder. Sunset touched her forehead to Sunny’s, feeling the warmth of the tiny baby flow up into her. “My name’s Sunset Shimmer. I’m your big sister.” She hiccuped, swallowed, rubbed her eyes again. “One of them, anyway. You’ll meet Ember in a moment. She’s nicer than she looks.” The free hand gripped Celestia’s. Sunset raised the baby with the crook of her elbow and kissed her on the forehead. “It’s a weird family, kiddo, but it’s great. You’re going to have one heck of an adventure with us.” “But no monster hunting for her,” Celestia said. “Definitely,” Sunset added. “She’s not allowed.” Torch nodded. “Never. She won’t even be interested.” Luna turned back to her computer. “You guys are funny.”