Making Family

by Cirrus Sky

Someone Human

Sat in the lounge, Sunset was still reeling from the discovery she had made. Sunshimmer had been a human, a woman from the world she now called home. A world she had returned to.

“I asked Chrysalis if she could find any other Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia had told Sunset before that they had looked into things, to cover their bases. “All she could find was that Sunshimmer had gone missing from Canterlot City a few months before your birth date.” She sighed, “We both thought that meant something quite grim, it never occurred to either of us that the portal could have been active.”

“So you thought that there was no human me.” Sunset had not moved from the sofa, nor had she let go of Lady. Discord had put an arm around her and Celestia was sat close on her other side. “But I am the human.”

“Yes. That is what Sunshimmer wrote.” Celestia wasn't sure how to feel about this, so Sunset had to be even more affected. Was her biological family still around? What would she need to do to account for Sunset's reappearance?

Lifting up the doll, Sunset gave a smile. “That explains Lady. Mom had her specially made for me. I thought she looked a little different to most toys I saw other foals with, but she was special.”

Celestia nodded, “She must have wanted to keep the link to home and share it with you.” The little doll was a similar shade to Sunset's skin with red yarn hair. “Something that looked like she used to.”

“Yeah.” Sunset smoothed the yarn hair with her fingers. “I guess she got put away when the house was packed up, a weird doll would get too many questions.” Sunset leaned against Celestia. “So I am human. I really did find where I belong.”

“You have.” Celestia hugged her close.

“Does it change anything?” Sunset asked, softly as if she was scared of the answer.

“Only the changes that you want.” Discord said at last. “When and if you want things to change.” He wrapped his other arm around Sunset. “And that is as a Dad and a Judge. You have no obligation to do anything you don't want to.”

“Thanks Dad.” Sunset whispered. Her parents were keeping her grounded, this was a shock but they were with her always. No matter what.

“I think I am ready to read more of the book.” Sunset opened it up again, there was a few more pages of Sunshimmer's introduction. Information that shared with Sunset what her mother was like. “Do you want to read too?”

-*-

When Sunset found herself drifting to sleep, even as she tried to read more of the book, she decided it had to be time to go to bed.

Sunshimmer's book had provided a lot of information about her, she had written plenty into the first few pages that detailed her former life on Earth. Sunset had found it emotional but fulfilling, to know more about the mother she lost. It was also good to share with the family she had found.

With a great deal of care, Sunset chose a spot on her bookcase for her mother's journal. She would read more when she had a chance.

Settling down to sleep, Sunset found she was more at peace with herself than she had been in a long time.

-*-

“Do I tell my friends?” Sunset asked after finishing breakfast. The book was still in her room, she hadn't read about Sunshimmer's life in Equestria just yet, but what she had learned so far was big news.

Celestia paused to think. “Would you be able to handle that?” She knew the girls were supportive, but Sunset had just had life changing news and some of them would not be able to process it, or figure how Sunset felt about the matter.

“Maybe?” Sunset wanted her friends to know this important fact. “I think it is something they should know, now I know it.”

“I do not wish to discourage you sweetheart.” Celestia looked over at her daughter, knowing that what she was going to tell Sunset could create a few issues. “But what if they want you to go looking for other family? Do you want to?”

“Other family?” Sunset replied, confused, until names Sushimmer had written in the book came to mind. The names of Sunshimmer's parents, her partner, her friends- “But you're my family!”

“Of course I am your family, as is Discord, Luna, Chrysalis and mother.” Celestia said in a soothing tone, moving from her seat to hold Sunset.”We will always be your family.”

“I never thought- Mom had parents, I had a father.” Sunset felt a freak out coming on. “I am from this world. They could still be here. They could take me away!” Arms wrapped around her. “Mom.”

“Right now you need to just breath sweetheart.” Celestia said, radiating calm in the hopes Sunset would not hit a full blown panic attack. “No one is going to take you away. Chrysalis created a Sunset Shimmer when I asked her to make you the documents you needed. No one, for good or bad, knows that you are the missing Sunshimmer's daughter.” She held Sunset a moment. “No one will take you away.”

“Okay.” Sunset had slowed her breaths and her mother's words were helping her. “I don't think I am ready to tell the girls. But can I tell Aunty Luna and Chrys?” She tapped her fingers on the table, a distracted tune. “I think they need to know, and Chrys can find out some more for me?”

“Everything is up to you.” Celestia said evenly. “Remember, they lost Sunshimmer, they didn't lose you.” It was possibly selfish to say that to Sunset, but Celestia knew that the family the woman had left behind when she fell to Equestria were not going to expect a child returning to them.

“That's true.” Sunset wasn't sure what just what she would have to consider around this revelation. It looked like she would have plenty more to think about.

Discord appeared in the doorway, a yawn stretching his face. “G'morning.” He was wearing a colourful sports jersey and sweats and still looked a little fuzzy from sleep. Sunset caught Celestia's utterly fond look at the man and smiled. Here was the only Dad she had ever known.

Should she want to find that someone else that Sunshimmer wrote of?

Author's Note:

So another small chapter. The title was inspired by the Muse track Something Human. I love the acoustic version:

I think the story has a few more chapters in it. I have a few more ideas for it anyway once I wrap up this little thread.

So, anyone want to pass comment on my next ideas: Passion Project crossover story with Sunset and others or one of my other takes on Sunset finding her place in the human world?

Comments

[Osiris Grandeur]

Crossover sounds cool, no one is ever really ready for a story to end.

[Jedi Wolf]

I'm good with either, but I would vote for the one on Sunset finding her place.

[badninja]

This is going to rock Sunset’s world the more she reads her mothers journal. I hope that she will be ready when she meets her father, and I hope he is ready to meet his long lost daughter.

[aceina]

another good chapter i love your writing so much

[Esorial]

While I don't like Sunset being natively human in general, I do feel this is a good use of it and quite well written.

[zaku666]

i down for a crossover. keep this babe going a little longer. that said, wtf is Passion Project?

[Cirrus Sky]

9879941
9880672

I guess I did not make it clear: The crossover is a completely new story that mixes Friendship is Magic/Equestria girls with another media property I am very fond of. A "passion project" is a project that you are working on for no reason other than you love it. So it is not this story and some other thing, it is something else altogether.

[Osiris Grandeur]

9880840
that makes sense. I'd still enjoy a crossover, as those are always fun

[zaku666]

9880840
ohh thats sound cool. but which one do you wanna do more?

[Cirrus Sky]

9881340
I like both!

I have two solid ideas for another Sunset finds her place story (One is a different character taking her in and the other deals with the Human! Sunset) .
The other idea is crossing the Elements of Harmony story with the Zoids Chaotic Century (Love me some Zoids).

So it is a little hard to choose, but I know two multi-chapter stories and my other not Pony project are too many for me to maintain any real progress.

[Starkvb]

I’m so glad you updated and I hope you get the next one up soon! I really don’t want this story to end cuz I love it so much, but if I had to pick I guess it would be Sunset finding her place in the human world. Would that connect at all with this story or is it a totally different take?

[zaku666]

9881467
oh that would be a problem and i got good memories of zoids

[Cirrus Sky]

9882397
A brand new story, no connection to any other.

[Vaguely Demented]

9881467
I don’t know why but I was immensely entertained by imagining the human race officially having an exclamation mark on the end on it.

[Kage no Brony]

9881467
Zoids is underrepresented on the interwebs. This cannot be allowed to stand.

[Rose_Quartz]

Plot twist she’s half demon half human and it’s because of her dad lol jkjk

[Knight N Gale]

9882543
Update?

[EasyBreeze]

10011370
got it fixed now.

[Shimmeringsun]

I like the idea of another Sunset finding her place in the human world for another story! But if you don’t mind me asking who do you have in mind to take her in?

[Blackholelord]

The truth reveal. I had to say that this bit was the true twist for your overall story.

[APandaCalledBlue]

I'm hoping in these hard and trying times Cirrus Sky has more time to write, I know I have more time to read but then again I know alot of people have more pressing matters to attend to. PS love the story

[PrinceOfDarkness]

For the song, i imagined Barking At The Moon by Jenny Lewis.

[Knight N Gale]

9882543
Update?

[MoonlightRift]

Officially caught up. Good story, hoping you're updating it!

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

“Yes. That is what Sunshimmer wrote.” Celestia wasn't sure how to feel about this, so Sunset had to be even more affected. Was her biological family still around? What would she need to do to account for Sunset's reappearance?

This sure is a lot to put in after her trip to equestria.

“Yeah.” Sunset smoothed the yarn hair with her fingers. “I guess she got put away when the house was packed up, a weird doll would get too many questions.” Sunset leaned against Celestia. “So I am human. I really did find where I belong.”

Yep and sure is great they have no second sunset shimmer to deal with or find.

“Thanks Dad.” Sunset whispered. Her parents were keeping her grounded, this was a shock but they were with her always. No matter what.

Wait grounded as in not going anywhere or grounded as she's in trouble?

“I never thought- Mom had parents, I had a father.” Sunset felt a freak out coming on. “I am from this world. They could still be here. They could take me away!” Arms wrapped around her. “Mom.”

Ok she does have a valid point around that.