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// "New" Parents 
// Story: The Other Sunset Shimmer 
// by Jerec the Ascendant 
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	Sunset couldn't believe it. Her life had been completely average only moments ago, but it was all different now. So many times she sat there wishing that a camera crew would come out and reveal the whole thing to be some elaborate prank, but at the same time she knew that wouldn’t happen. This was reality. She stopped sobbing a little while ago; she was down to just a soft sniffle every now and then. That was when Celestia said she'd go get her "new" parents. She let out half of a grim chuckle.

Sunset tried to smile too. They weren't new parents, just pony versions of her old ones. She didn’t have to be nervous, but all of a sudden she realized that she did. If that other girl was her parallel then what would her "parents" be like? They wouldn’t be like that other girl would they?

Sunset's sniffles became a little more frequent, and a little louder, tears developing in her eyes again. She looked down, thinking about how these pony parents must be feeling. Celestia had gone, so Sunset let herself speak out loud. “They must feel as bad as I do. No, it must be worse! Not only has their daughter disappeared, but she's ripped me out of my life! They...they must feel like this is their fault - that they did something to send their daughter away from them!" Sunset burst into fresh sobs, not only for herself, but for them, and her real parents who likely had no idea about the situation.

When Sunset felt a wing wrap around her again her she realized that her crying had been so loud that she didn't even hear the door. She looked up to see that Celestia had returned and was standing next to her, a wing outstretched to comfort her. Then she glanced toward the edge of the bed and saw the pony versions of her parents. She could identify each one easily.

Evening Gleam, a bright yellow unicorn with orange hair, was looking straight at her. His face held the loving concern that she'd seen on her own father whenever he caught her crying. Though he didn't cry, Sunset could tell by the look in his eyes that he'd been hit hard by the recent events. Sunset Silk, a darker yellow unicorn with bright yellow hair, made it clear how she was affected. She refused to look directly at Sunset, but she could still see that her eyes were also red with tears, and the tears’ paths could be seen shining on her cheeks. Silk's easily revealed her own amount of worry. Sunset Shimmer could hardly believe it; she wasn't really their daughter, but they were worried about her as though she were.

"I-I'm sorry about my daughters actions... I- I just wish I could've..." Gleam spoke out then stuttered off. If anything were to confirm his feelings about this, that attempt at a sentence was all Sunset needed. "I wish I knew how my daughter went from the filly I knew to- to a pony, whose only concern was power." He started to shake his head, his emotions tearing through his barrier. He turned around to privately pull himself back together.

"It-it shouldn't surprise me, but still, you and my daughter. You both look..." Silk spoke next, her tears choking her words. "How could she do this? Why would she do this?" her voice cracked as she asked, desperation clear in her quiet disbelief. She spoke as though to herself, but then finally looked at Sunset, burst into sobs, and rushed forward wrapping her hooves around her. "I'm so sorry! If there's anything I can do..." Gleam came up and joined his wife in hugging their "daughter". The new family sank to the floor, drowning each other in their tears.

Sunset returned the hugs as best she could with her new limbs. Celestia stood silent for the moment allowing the girl who had lost her life and the couple who had lost their daughter to comfort each other as much as they could. The princess feared secretly that they would not be able to provide each other with enough consolation, though. Sewing these broken families together seemed like a double-edged sword. Surely Sunset’s new parents would remind her of the life she lost and she would remind them of the daughter they lost. Celestia could only hope that they would fill each other’s holes. 

She let her mind slip toward her own sadness. The princess had lost a pony whom she had completely trusted, a star student. However, seeing the bravery of and effort being given by each of the three ponies on her carpet offered a hint of faith in her own recovery.

"There haven't been many moments in my life where I have felt truly powerless. I wish there was something I could do to reverse the damage that has been done. I'm so sorry to all of you! Something happened to the other Sunset Shimmer during my time as her teacher - something that drove her to this. I just wish I knew what that was." Celestia looked away, her restraint loosening. "I know that by all means this won't take the pain away, but if you wish - Sunset Shimmer - I can take you under my wing as I did with their daughter. As I said, I'm unsure what happened to cause this so I won't be surprised if you refuse, but the offer still stands. If you wish to learn magic from me-"

"I-I will,” Sunset interrupted, with a hiccup. Gleam and Silk released her, and she clumsily rubbed the tears from her eyes. “But I need some time first to a-adjust to…” She paused, and Celestia looked at her. Sunset sighed and continued. “...my new life first." If she was going to be filling a gap in the lives of the other Sunset’s parents, she figured she should try to make herself seem like the daughter they knew. It would help keep her mind off of her own problems. She just needed time; time to adapt to the body - time to get her emotions under control