This story is a sequel to Winning Pony: Road Not Taken
Years before the events of Winning Pony: Road Not Taken, Sparkler didn’t know her big sister. She didn’t have one.
For as long as she could remember, Sparkler had been in a foster home, under the care of Equestria’s Foal Services. It hadn’t been perfect, but life had been pretty good while she waited for somepony to adopt her.
Thirteen years is a long time to wait, though, and she had all but given up on ever leaving. Given up, until she found everything she knew suddenly and violently pulled out from under her. Hurt, scared, and alone, she’s found herself in a sea of new faces. Some help, some smile, most just fade into the background.
None of them seem interested in her, though. Not enough to take her home.
And now we know the story of how Sparkler became Sparkler Kicker in this AU. Have to say, I quite like it.
Also always nice to see you writing a story where you're nice to poor Sparky, after what you put her through in "Changes." Granted, this is a touch bittersweet rather than out-and-out nice, but it still gives her a happy ending after some early painfulness.
The master of feels is back to take on the Road Not Taken.
During the adoption scene, all I could think of was "Please don't make me go, Sonny. I won't play the Kangaroo Song any more..."
Oh, and the Cloud Kicker tag is kind of "Sir Not Actually Appearing In This Fic" although she's talked about a bunch.
Why is this getting downvoted so badly? Is it because of the verse the story is connected with?
This was awesome!
Oh man. You done it again. Got some really good tears from me,
. Hit this bit
And from there on out it was some of that kind of sad, happy, bittersweet, crying like Sparkler wound up doing. I thought it was kinda odd that it got me like it did though, since I have basically no personal experience or connection to adoption or foster services. In any case, I love this AU of an AU, and will keep reading Winningverse as long as y'all keep writing it.
Onto some minor editing:
Extra comma
your*
Was worried before reading that it was going to be a sad story, because somehow in reading Road Not Taken, I'd completely missed Sparkler's appearance in the story, and holy crap was I surprised. LOVED this story.
Then I saw the Complete tag, and became very sad.
But still, very excellent story.
well I just happened to spot this on my way to bed, but I'll be back in the morning because hell yes Road Not Taken and Sparkler
Well written but I am not a fan of AU of an AU which caused me to scratch my head a bit halfway through until I realized it was your own branding.
I also agree with punzil504 about the Cloud Kicker tag. Not sure why she is tagged in this story other than to signify that this is an AU of the Winngverse.
Is it just me or does Katydid sound like a certain Pokémon. (Yup, yup, yup!) Eh, maybe I'm just watching too much of Ash lately.
Why does this have so many downvotes?
4514209 there are a group of people who downvote anything winningverse
Just read this, well done. Though it feels like its missing something from where you let it end, other than that... may be just me but Alula and Sparkler seemed to get comfortable at a bit of faster pace, though given the length of the story there isn't much room to slow it down a bit more.
Overall I liked it. Just some thoughts.
Enjoyable story~ For some reason it didn't click emotionally for me that Storm was Cloud Kicker's Mom. Then we got to the scene where Sparkler remembered what happened when she escaped Rod's grasp.... and then chapter 16 of Winning Pony threw onion-infused grit in my eyes.
Sparkler is best Winning Pony.
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Probably not just that... It's also an AU story that breaks up the Doo family, which is practically sacrilege.
Ironically, while Sparkler isn't there, "Daddy" is.
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How pleasant
4513530 some people really hate the winningverse.
This was a great sad and bittersweet story. Even though the ending was happy, the stuff with Rumpus and Katydid was like twisting a knife between my ribs. Soooo, yeah. Thanks for that.
But seriously, it was a very character-driven piece, which I like and for a pretty underutilized and often overlooked character, even in fandom. And it was a fun twist, though of course now I feel bad for Derpy.
back and OH MY GOD MY TEAR DUCTS
I was doing okay up until Sparkler broke down over Young Daring Do... And finally putting a face on Sparkler's tormentor makes the original recipe Winning Pony chapters that much more heart-breaky.
Nurse is Ranma 1/2?
That was a great one shot it got me in the feels
I don't see where the sad tag fits in but still well done I can't wait for more installments of Road not Taking. 
Well Done. 
AAAAND there goes Dinky!
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Oh cool, I'm not the only one
i.imgur.com/6MrWqNZ.png
For one reason or another, Sparkler's become my favourite character in the related stories and universes and hearing you were going to write a story about her in this AU had me excited. And it delivered, even if there was that sadness and painful things early on she now has a home where she's loved. I for one would love to hear more about Sparky in this world if you ever felt like exploring it.
One thing, though: was Nurse a mare or a stallion? The pronouns were rather mixed, felt almost like a 50-50 split.
Okay, this was heartwarming as Hell. Was Katydid based on Ducky from Land Before Time? One weird thing:
That second she should be a "her." Also, wasn't Nurse male a few lines earlier? Also
Agent Washington would be proud!
Well written heart rending story, thank you !
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You thought of a Pokémon, I think of Ducky from A Land Before Time... And knowing what happened to her puts into perspective just how far South the encounter with Rod could have gone.
ANYWAYS, away from RL sad things and back to the story. Another superb piece of fiction to add to this AU of the Winningverse. Looking forwards to more. Then again, I look forwards to a lot of things. Like the Too Human trilogy being finished.
*seess cover art* Wait a minute... Nimbus? BUCK YES, I AM IN, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, I AM TOTALLY READING THIS JUST FOR MORE NIMBUS GUST!!!!
Is that really how the adoption system works when you adopt a older kid? The first thing you ask or they do is to call the adopter mom/dad? I thought that would come on time, nut maybe that's just to get it out of the way and so things go smoother. Also, this shouldn't be a one shot.
Kazie, this was great, without a doubt.
I was reading it on the way home on the streetcar, hoping against hope that people wouldn't see how utterly misty-eyed I was getting when were going through the scene of the little family unit splitting up.
Letting me wallow in that sort of emotion is a very rare, very precious thing.
Thank you.
That was so amazing! There totally needs to be more Sparkler Kicker fics.
As a lover of all things Nimbus Gust, that was simply delightful. I don't even care if it was alternate universe from the Winningverse, that was awesome. Just nice getting to learn a little more about her character simply as a mother, without all the drama with Cloud or her abduction or death. That's exactly what I hope to delve into in my own fic as well, just getting to learn more about her as a character (though admittedly in mine there will still be some drama with Cloud). As a mother, you wrote her very much as I've always envisioned her to be, when she's not butting heads with Cloud that is. I always figured, even though things were admittedly harder in the Winningverse, that she behaved very much with Alula at least as we saw here, at least when she was just being a mother to her. I don't know, maybe given everything that happened in the Winningverse she was a little more stoic and somber than here, but still, no matter what differences she had with Cloud there, Nimbus was always a good pony whose heart was in the right place. Still my favorite OC I've encountered in MLP fan fiction to date, can't wait to work with her more as a supporting character in my own work, and I thank you again Comma-Kazie for including her in such an important role in this fic.
The Sparkler bits were great too, that goes without saying. This just gave me a really great idea of how her adoption must've gone down in general, though in this scenario things might've gone down more smoothly than they did with Derpy, just given the fact that with the Kickers she got a whole clan as a family, whereas Derpy was the only parent around who adopted her, which probably made her more nervous. Given those circumstances, I can buy her getting so comfortable so quickly with the Kickers, especially since she knows who they are already; whose going to be nervous around a family with as much history protecting Equestria as they have?
Finally, I just HAD to ask this, but... did you base Katydid off of Ducky from Land Before Time? Because the second I read her saying "Yup, yup, yup", my mind went to this:
24.media.tumblr.com/a0508ff6d36d070d05161f663b544233/tumblr_mpjum9zwJX1rcjo9to1_500.gif
Admit it, you know it, I know it, admit it!!!
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. So once again, thank you for the lovely one-shot Comma-Kazie, especially for all of the Nimbus we got here. 
This was wonderful, Comma-Kazie. I love reading about family dynamics, particualrly the more "unusual" and challenging ones. You always write this kind of stuff in a way that makes it engrossing to read.
You seem to have taken on Sparkler as your Winning-verse pony, no matter what alternate universe she's in. Everypony who's part of the verse seems to have one or two.
Yours are clearly, Ditzy and Sparkler. Even if you tend to put them through all kinds of physical, psychological, and emotional pain.
You switched the gender onf Nurse so often that I started to wonder if you were doing it on purpose. Immediatley after, I started imagining Nurse as transgendered.
Transgendered ponies don't seem to get enough attention, considering how often we read and write about homosexual or bisexual ponies.
Still, Sparkler should be reffering to whatever gender Nurse personally identifies with (though I guess not all transgendered people identify with one or the other).
Excellent work as per usual!
You asked nicely, so here's a comment:
Someone mentioned it in a previous comment, but Katydid (especially once the 'yep yep yep' started) reminded me of Ducky. Then I remembered what happened to Ducky's VA, and I was sad.
As one who is involved in the real-life foster-care system, this was an unexpected gut-punch. I actually attribute my sour mood yesterday to my having to stop reading this story mid-crisis - my emotional state was quite dis-regulated, and I owe my local Wendy's employees a meek apology.
Something worth remembering, that is reflected in this story; a child in foster care is a result of a loss, and often several losses pile upon one another during the course of the child's time in the system. Even happy outcomes are tinged in loss and mourning. A child after adoption, or even long-term placement, does not automatically become a grateful and obedient, fully functional member of a family.
I know nothing about the 'Winningverse', but I would like to see more of this tale.
I like this Nimbus. Speaking as one who hasn't written of her all that kindly, a thing I hope to remedy in my next story, its nice to see the good old dam done some kindness And the ten pound of stud in a five pound bag that is Tornado is here to, which is a nice touch. Did Clouds break up affect her and Cloud more in orginal canon (those two were a thousand miles apart in the same room, the two feebs
) or are both Nimbus's pretty much the same
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Actually... I kinda think Nimbus is pretty much the same. She's not a coddler (nothing to do with being a Kicker. Off duty the whole lot of them are about as close as ponies get.) and probably had no idea what to do with Cloud when she had her. Not harsh or cruel, but would more then likely insisted Clod be as self sufficient as a filly could be.
And there in lies the dilemma. Pegasi, and Kickers in particular, are a passionate people. Mind you thats not always a good thing but... well, Nimbus is definitely a rarity amongst her tribe. And Cloud, then and now, is nothing if not a mare of passion (not sex... just general emotion) . Nimbus... just isn't like that. And being a new mom probably made matters worse. So Clouds dam probably fell back on her default... treating Cloud as subordinate then as a daughter. Then again I could just be reading to much into it and Nimbus was a frosty cunt. Apologies for the swear
You know whats weird... I just had a idle thought of Stormfall with a foal under each wing, eyes woeful as he tell us "these foals are everyponies. The filly... is want. The colt... ignorance."
Heart-warming one shot A/U. That's all I have to say. Great job.
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My guess is that it did have an effect.
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Another theory I mentioned is that Nimbus simply didn't know how to be a mother when she was born and grew, so she simply fell back on what she did know: treating her as a subordinate as opposed to a daughter.
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Oh yeah, I saw that theory too. Which would make sense actually, the way she was portrayed.
Why are all the good stories one-offs?
pls wright more chapters of a sequel or something, pls?
Oh God... I wonder how her conversation with Tornado went...
.................................................
Humming softly as stirred his tea, Nimbus gave her best smile to the love of her life, something more appreciated since it was rarely seen, and said "Tornado... I'm thinking about adopting that filly from the other day."
The stallion made an assenting noise from behind his paper, and tsked.
"Damn Canterlot lost to Fillydelphia again... Thanks Cloud, a sure win my tight and toned rump..."
"Uh... I said I wanted to take in that unicorn love."
"Thats nice dear..."
Didn't even lower the damn newspaper... Nimbus scowled, a brow arching.
"I;m also screwing the High Shadowvar. We laugh at you and your sister as we share a little loco weed, then he's back to busting my rump like vagabond in a riot."
"Mmm Hmm..."
Brow furrowing in the closest thing she had ever come to a pout, Nimbus pushed the paper down, saying heatedly "Are you even listening?"
Smiling cheerfully, the stallion nodded.
"Yep. You want to take in some little castaway and are screwing Typhoon Season."
Nimbus groaned, and covering her face in her hooves, blushed furiously. Paunching out his bottom lip, Tornado whined "Is he bigger then me?"
Raising her eyes, and glaring daggers, the mare replied evenly "Yes. I've never had the pleasure, and your sibling will take her nights to her grave, but yes, I can guarantee he's bigger then you dear."
"Uhh..." Both ponies turned to the voice, and seeing Alula, paled. One eye twitching, the filly screeched "I need an adult, I need an adult"
And in perfect sync, her parents replied "We are adults!"
And with that, Alula bolted from the room, crying about her crazed family. As Nimbus rose from the table, Tornado signed and folded his paper.
"Nim... I really hope your not doing this to make up for Cloud..."
THe mare flinched, her face hardening to a scowl.
"This has nothing to do with her..."
Tornado shook his head sadly, and softly asked "Are you sure love?"
Nimbus just looked over her shoulder, then back to the floor again, her face a mask.
"I won't screw up with Alula... and I wouldn't take some for poor thing in for my own vanity Tornado."
Tornado sighed, and standing, walked to his mares side, embracing her with a wing.
"Nim... you will screw up. That's what parents do. You didn't know how to be there for Cloud, and she... well, she should just stop being such a silly goose about it. And whatever you did, Cloud made her choice, and hurt a lot of ponies for it. If you really want this, I'm there all the way. But... I don't think I can forgive you if you just take this girl if for something as pity, or worse to try to make up for what happened in the past."
Sighing, Nimbus nodded.
"I want to do this... and your right, I do feel bad for her... but I love her Tor... I don't know why, but I want her as part of our family... or at least try."
Tornado grinned, and patted his wife on the back.
"Ahh, my little Nim is growing up! Maybe now you can try with Cloud..."
Nimbus shook her head, and smiled sadly.
"No... I love her, but don't her much Tor. And she thinks I'm a right old bitch. I hope her... dislike of me doesn't hurt Sparkler though..."
Here Tornado scowled, and pulling away his wing snapped "Geez Nim! Cut her a break will you? I know you two aren't that fond of the other, but you really think Cloud would hurt somepony else to just hurt you?"
Snorting, Nimbus walked from the room, saying "You were always to light hoofed my love. I may have been mistaken, but you refuse to know whom before you stands. And whatever history we have, I know my own foal, both the good and bad."
Shaking his head, Tornado turned back to his meal, muttering " Like mother like daughter... its almost eerie how much those two are alike for all their distance... Fluttershy must have the patience of a saint if she's a chip of the old block head..."
Damn, the feels when Sparkler had to break it to Kattydid and Rumpus that she was leaving :(
Pardon me, need a minute for my heartstrings to stop aching.
I kind of wish there was more to the story
Reread this today. Good story
Might have some extra words there.