//------------------------------// // First Encounters // Story: The New Timeline // by Jongoji245 //------------------------------// The sun rose high over the mountains of Canterlot. The ponies, predominantly Unicorns, bustle the streets as they perused and scrutinized the markets by taste alone. In the castle itself, Princess Celestia continued on signing documents into law, a duty she had for millennia. Down in the castle courtyards, her students, having finished their lessons for today, were playing, sharing what they have learned today. Twilight Sparkle sat on a small picnic blanket along with Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and Moon Dancer. Spike, the dragon she hatched for her entrance exam, happily suckled on the tip of his tail. Aside from Moon Dancer, the others didn't mind Twilight reading while they enjoyed their lunch. A little distance away from them sat Sunset Shimmer reading a book with tired eyes. Having spent half of her energy studying for today's exam last night then spending the rest of it performing it took its toll. On and off the filly dozed off for a few seconds before shaking it off and continued her reading. In time, the machinations of her mind slowly ceased and Sunset hung her head low and began to sleep. The group of students, sans Twilight, watched as Sunset's body slowly collapse on the book. "You know," - Twinkleshine asked of her friends - "for a pain in the neck, Sunset does look cute when she's sleepy." "Yeah, so much for being called "Sunset" Shimmer." Minuette snickered. "Very funny." Twilight finished, not turning her head even once to her friends. Sunset merely ignored the chatter as she continued to sleep, not even flicking her ears to a magical hum as a balloon and needle floated to her head in a light violet aura. In one soft touch from the needle, the balloon exploded. The group of fillies turned to the source of the sound. "Alright who did that!?" Sunset glared at her classmates with bloodshot eyes as she levitated the closed book. There was silence for a good minute before pompous laughter can be heard behind a daffodil bush. Rolling out of the bush was a light blue Unicorn filly with white hair and a magic wand for a cutie mark. Her expression changed when she opened her teary eyes and found Sunset charging at her with the book. The mischievous filly immediately stood up and rose on her back hooves. Just when Sunset was about to throw the book at her, the filly stamped her front hooves onto the ground, releasing smoke that covered her when her pursuer throws the book. When the smoke cleared, nopony was there. Sunset turned her head around before finding her opponent fleeing to another part of the courtyard. "The Great and Powerful Trixie" - Trixie trips on the grass then scampers back on her feet - "strikes again!" Sunset rolled her eyes before walking past the daffodils to find her book pages face down on the grass. When she sat down to grab it, the book lifted itself a few inches off the ground and began hovering away. Sunset bared her teeth. "If I ever see that prankster again, it'd be too soon!" Sunset chased the book around as it kept changing direction or even in circles. Eventually, the book reached her classmates. Everypony, even Twilight stood up as the book flew around and bopped Spike. The baby dragon took shelter underneath his "sister" as book stopped in front of them. The book "stepped" back, raising part of its spine as it prepared to run again. A sea-green aura surrounded the book and drew it away. What was underneath was the young Cosgrove just about to ram at Twilight. The baby bounced back on the checkered blanket. Recovering from the impact, Cosgrove wiggled his toes as Sunset lowered her head at him. Looking at both Unicorn fillies, the baby squinted before ramming at Sunset's nose then to Twilight's. "Awwww!!" - Lemon Hearts cooed - "Aren't you the cutest thing?" Minuette held his face as she inspected the gums. "Already in good health!" Minuette gently released him. Spike gathered enough courage to confront the baby pony. Having only known the caring faces of ponies like Night Dancer, Cosgrove instinctively ran under Sunset's legs. The Unicorn shuffled back as the baby played around like a puppy. "He thinks you're his mother." Twilight Sparkle giggled. As her friends joined in, Sunset scowled at them, though the blush on her cheeks only encouraged more laughter. Wrapping the saddlebag around her waist, she levitated the baby into the pocket and stormed off towards the gates. "Sunset!" - Moon Dancer beckoned - "Celestia said we're not allowed to go out the gates!" "I've been yelled at a few times," - Sunset continued on - "It won't be different anyhow!" While being out of the Castle without Celestia's permission is one thing, finding a child's parent is another. On and on Sunset searched throughout the city, but could not find a reasonable pony she could find as a parent. Ironically, she did just pass Night Dancer herself as she called out for her adopted son. Walking to an alley away from the crowds, The Unicorn placed the baby on top of an old crate and began studying him as Cosgrove made froth bubbles out of his lips. "One thing for certain, you’re not a Zebra." - Sunset turned her head, inspecting the innocent baby - "Zebras are black and white, not yellow and purple. They should also have stripes on their legs." - She took notice of the rather hairy hooves drooping down - "And why the-?" As she looked closer to one of his hooves, Cosgrove embraced Sunset's hoof. The Unicorn's eyes widened as the baby held her hoof tighter. Just as she relaxed her shoulders, Sunset snapped out of the moment and lifted the baby in the air. "Do I look like a petting zoo to you?" - Sunset rhetorically asked, much to the baby's chagrin as he laughed - "Oh, you think this is funny?" Sunset levitated the baby onto a higher box, only the excite the baby further - "Still not good enough?" - She levitated him onto the highest box in the pile - "There! Be a little snack for the falcons." - Sunset looked away from him for a while before turning back to him - "You're pretty brave, I give you that." Sunset turned around again to the sound of school children cheering at a hoofball field. Inside the ring of students was a tailless green Earth Pony colt by the name Hoof Lock and a gray Unicorn named Jet Set having a brawl. The Earth Pony managed to pin the Unicorn down and began pummeling him. Thanks to being a Unicorn, Jet Set disappeared, reappeared and shot a blast at his flank. Hoof Lock winced in pain as he looked at the burn mark. "Ha!" - Jet Set stroked his mane, getting it back into shape - "How's that for a cutie mark? "Better than your's, buttmunch!" Hooflock lashed back. Sunset looked on from the wired fence as the brawl continued. As Jet Set overpowered Hoof Lock, she glare was cut short by an ugly smell. Taking a sniff, she looked down to find the stench from Cosgrove's diaper. At first reluctant, Sunset looked at the fight again and grinned. Jet Set pinned down Hoof Lock and aims a hoof at his head, completely unaware of the payload descending fast upon him. "Ruffians like you don't belong in Canterlot!" Suddenly the dirty diaper landed on his head, the stench immediately noticeable. As Jet Set ran like a pansy, the other classmates back away from the dirtied Unicorn. As Hoof Lock got up, he turned to find Sunset and the now diaper-less Cosgrove walking towards him. The Unicorn lifted the baby and aimed his posterior at the others. "There's plenty more where that came from!" Sunset threatened. All the students screamed and fled back to the school. Those that remained are Hooflock and his younger sister, a pink and yellow-haired Earth Pony named Crescendo being comforted by a blue and orange Pegasus named Flash Sentry. Crescendo looked down to find the little colt pawing at her. "Thanks..." said Hooflock as he gave Sunset a noogie. Sunset batted away his hoof, "Well next time be careful." "Wow, your little buddy would be great with my little bro!" - Flash Sentry bopped Cosgrove on the nose before turning to the Unicorn - "What's his name?" "Cosgrove!" The group of young ponies turned to find Night Dancer trotting around the fence to the entrance. Cosgrove happily galloped as fast as his little legs could to his mother before making a little hop into her arms. "Don't scare me like that!" - Night Dancer berated as she held him tighter before turning looking at the other children - "Thank you so much for finding him!" "Your... Welcome...?" Sunset thanked in a weird tone. After Night Dancer began the long journey back to the Circus, Sunset began walking back to the Castle. "So..." - Crescendo raised a hoof - "Sometime tomorrow?" Sunset stopped and turned around. "... I'll think about it." As she walked out of the school, Flash Sentry added, "Hope we don't keep meeting up like this."