It was just another worthless day to me. Nothing happening. No friends to speak of really. Just a lonely life of emptiness. Until that one cold day when I stopped for a moment to collect my warmth in an alley. That day changed my life forever.
It was a day like any other, just another in a long line of worthless days. The only thing marking this day in anyway memorable was its bitterness. The cold of the winds biting through my thick denim jacket and hoodie underneath. It is around mid January so its nothing really unexpected for where I live but yet today still seemed a little colder than usual. I cup my hands in front of my face blowing upon them as snow crunches under my shoes my pace held steady as I walk down the streets of my hometown, my destination being the warmth of my home another twenty or so minutes away. A strong gust comes up biting through me to the bone, I shiver trying to brace my back to it trying to block as much as I can to keep my front warm. The gust persists and I am forced to duck to the side down a small dead ended alley. Once out of the wind I Huddle myself up to try and gain back what warmth I have lost and to conserve what little I have left. As I huddle in this alley though I notice that a small heap of semi crumpled newspapers is shaking, which is strange as I can't feel the breeze blowing into it and the heap is right near the back. Against all common sense and good judgement and the voice screaming in the back of my head to just get back to going home, my innate curiosity wins out and I find myself moving towards the back needing to know if perhaps its some small animal in need of a home like a lost kitten.
As I move towards the back of the alley the heap stops shaking obviously hearing my steps coming closer to it. I pause but hear another gust of wind go down the street behind me and I continue on until I am standing directly over whatever is there. I slowly crouch down pushing the crumpled newspapers off what I am assuming to be of feline nature not that I have heard any sounds yet. After just a few pieces of paper though I stop seeing a tuft of red and yellow but only for a moment as whatever it is begins to shiver again. I quickly move the rest of it to reveal a tiny little amber colored pony with a red & yellow mane and tail while a horn sticks out of its forehead. Its eyes are closed and it shivers again while I stare in disbelief that a tiny unicorn is laying in front of me. It takes me a few moments but finally I bring up enough brain power to command my arm and hand to move so that I can touch this tiny creature just to make sure its real. When my hand touches its mane though its eyes open and it immediately pulls back away from me, fear alighting in its large blue-green eyes. In response I simply smile at this tiny impossible creature and say.
"Hey there don't worry I'm not gunna hurt you alright, it's safe. Its really cold out so why don't you come with me and I will take you somewhere much nicer." The tiny thing just looks at me without moving obviously scared of the much larger creature looming over it. Another gust of wind blows by on the street and I watch as this tiny thing shivers again trying to curl its tail around itself for warmth. My heart breaks at both the absolute adorableness of the scene and the sympathy I have for such a tiny creature left to fend for itself against the bitter winds and chill. Knowing that I'm only about 20 minutes from home and that its not cold enough out to kill me in that time I begin to undo the buttons on my jacket. I slide it down over my arms while this thing just looks at me. The moment I have it off me I toss it on top of the little unicorn then wrap it up laying it out against my right arm. It struggles for a few moments until the leftover body heat from me held within the material starts to warm it at which point it pokes it's head out of the bundle and stares up at me.
"See its not so bad," I say to the tiny unicorn gently scratching its muzzle. It smiles at the affection and I return its smile warmly "Now lets get you somewhere warmer huh" When it nods and coo's I begin to suspect that it may be intelligent so as we walk I begin to speak to it not really fearing discovery as the cold has kept most people indoors on this day. "So then little impossible thing. I wonder if you have a name. I didn't see any kind of collar so I don't think your some kind of pet. I also don't see any type of tattoo on you so no way to figure out from that." My attention is caught when one of its little hooves pops out from my jacket and it actually points off to the sky to where the sun has just begun to set. "Yeah that's a beautiful sunset ain't it" The pony nods but then points to itself with the same hoof before pointing back to the sunset.
"Uncet Cimmer"
My jaw literally drops when it speaks. After shaking my head a few times I look at the little unicorn. "Could you say that again didn't quite catch ya the first time?"
"Uncet Cimmer" Comes its quick reply.
"Uncet Cimmer kinda sounds like Sunset Shimmer. Is that what your trying to say?" The little unicorn nods and claps its hooves together. "Alrighty then. I guess your names Sunset Shimmer. Well come on then little Sunset were almost to my place." With that said I quicken my pace starting to shiver myself as the cold bites through my hoodie sending chills throughout my body. The rest of the walk passes by uneventfully little Sunset having passed out in my jacket by the time I get into my fourth floor apartment. I set the tiny unicorn down on my coach leaving her bundled up as I don't want to disturb her. I watch her rest peacefully, silently thinking to myself.
'Ok so first things first, I have found a unicorn. If I hadn't been able to pick it up I would swear this is just a hallucination, but here it is sleeping on my couch wrapped up in my jacket. Telling anyone is definitely out of the question I would get locked up and she would be experimented upon. She almost seems to be from that show but that must be impossible.' I stop my thoughts there as little Sunset stirs slightly but doesn't wake I smile deciding that finding its origins can wait. I sit down next to little Sunset and wait for her to wake up.
I sit there just watching her sleep. her chest slowly rising and falling with her breaths but eventually I do unwrap little Sunset form my jacket curiosity about the little unicorn getting the better of me. I manage to unwrap the little unicorn without waking it The first thought running through my head being 'hmmm can't keep referring to little Sunset as an IT need to learn this little ponies gender."(1)
With that thought I give the little ponies tail a lift. 'Well that settles that. Looks like little Sunset is female' I let go of her tail watching it curl up along her flank dawwing slightly inside. Her gender now known to me. I figure it would be prudent to try and have something made up for little Sunset to eat when she wakes up. So I get up taking the 20 or so steps from my couch to my kitchen. I open my fridge and take a long look inside.
"Hmmmm not much here for a herbivore but hopefully this will do" I Quietly say to myself as I pull some tomatoes, a sweet green bell pepper, two carrots an apple and half a head of lettuce from my fridge. I quickly make up a salad from what I have looking back one last time into my fridge "Definitely gunna need to get more stuff for this little pony. All I have left is meat and bread and not sure how eager she is going to be to eat meat"
I take the salad I have made back over setting it on the table I have next to my couch with my desktop computer on it along with an older model monitor. As I sit down next to Sunset's sleeping form she stirs, her eyes slowly fluttering open. The moment she see's me though once again she tries to crawl backwards away So I put on as friendly a smile as I can speaking slowly and softly to the frightened little pony.
"Hey there. Looks like your awake. Don't worry I am not gunna hurt you Sunset." My words seem to calm her and I reach my hand out gently caressing her mane. Her body relax's and I swear that this little pony begins to make a sound almost like purring. She nuzzles her head against my hand clearly needing and wanting the affection. After a few moments though her little belly rumbles and she looks up at me with her big soft green eyes my heart just about exploding from the sheer cuteness in her face.
"Hungry huh. Don't worry Sunset I have ya covered" I grab the salad I had prepared for her, placing it down in front of her. Sunset looks from me to it cautiously making no move to eat until finally "Its for you Sunset. Don't worry its not gunna hurt you I promise its just a salad" to prove my point I take one of the pieces of carrot out and eat it myself making a point to show me both chewing and swallowing it even showing her my empty mouth afterwards. It does the trick though as within a moment of that she just about dives head first into the bowl the sounds of happy nomming quickly following bringing a smile to my face and a giggle to my lips.
I watch as she devours it in minutes fussing a bit once she has finished. Its at this point that I am glad that I have two nieces and a nephew as it allows me to know what to do. Without saying anything I reach down picking little Sunset up placing her front hooves over my shoulder before patting her back lightly to which she lets out a tiny belch and happy squeal. After a moment she begins to fidget against me so I set her down upon the couch. The moment my hands leave her she is off galloping around my apartment trying to explore every inch of it. I watch as she sticks her head under the couch and then as she pulls her head out with her eyes crossed before she lets out a series of sneezes. I smile watching her feeling happier than I have in years. As she continues around my place sniffing or poking her hoof at pretty much everything I think to myself 'I think I am going to keep her. Don't honestly care who she might belong to or where she might be from. I know its a bit selfish but I haven't been this happy in a long long time and she is going to need someone to take care of her'
My thoughts are broken as I hear a crash then Sunset crying. I go rushing over to make sure she is alright and find a cup broken on the floor little sunset crying in front of it. I quickly scoop her up bringing her up to my face. "Shhhhh it's ok Sunset. its just a cup alright. No need to cry" I stroke her mane softly as I speak. She does calm even though it takes a minute of calm soft words and stroking her mane. Once her tears stop I gently begin to rock her in my arms humming softly her head swaying along to the melody. "There we go that's better now isn't it" I say happily little Sunset cooing and giggling the broken cup all but forgotten by her. I take her back to the couch laying her down on it. "Ok stay here for a moment while I go and clean up the mess"
Sunset nods and sits down on her rump which actually surprises me with just how obedient and well behaved this obviously infant creature seems. 'no way she isn't intelligent" I think to myself as I grab my broom and dustpan quickly cleaning up the shards of the broken cup. By the time I'm done and have returned to Sunset she has once more fallen asleep having actually pulled my jacket back around herself. I chuckle softly at the cuteness before pulling my jacket from around her which does sadly wake her up.
"Come on Sunset how about I make you something more comfy for you to sleep upon" She smiles and nods standing up on her hind legs with her forehooves outstretched to me. "You wanna be held don't you" Another nod from her is all I need to pick her up laying her back out against my right forearm letting her put her entire weight against me. I pull her up close against my body gently scratching her belly with my free hand getting soft coo's from Sunset as I walk across my apartment to the bedroom I have but don't use the only things in it being an old mattress, my clothes and my beddings. I quickly grab one of my extra pillows, a big ex couch cushion that's softer than most of my other actual pillows and a Big red Micro fiber blanket. I throw the blanket over my shoulder taking the pillow in my teeth so I can continue to scratch Sunsets soft belly while I move back to the couch. I lay the pillow down upon the table placing Sunset upon it. I then actually take my blanket and a pair of scissors cutting it down to size for her. I place the new blanket I just cut from the bigger one over her.
"There we go a bed just for you Sunset" I smile and say happily as I finish it for her. She sniffs the pillow and blanket a few times before pulling the fabric around herself smiling back happily. I give her a soft pat on the head before pulling my own bedding out setting it up on my couch. As I lay out under my own blankets i reach over and rub her mane "Goodnight Sunset. Sleep well"
"ood ight ada" comes her broken reply before she lets out another yawn closing her eyes quickly drifting off into a peaceful slumber. Its almost an hour later when I finally realize what it is she said
Slowly consciousness returns to me as the mornings light floods in through the large glass doors of my balcony almost always hitting me right in the face when the sun comes up above the horizon fully. At first my mind rationalizes what happened the night before as having been a dream until I notice a weight on my chest. Knowing I don't have any pets my eyes open, to be greeted by the sight of a red, yellow and amber ball on my chest. I resist the urge to daww knowing that last night actually happened instead choosing to simply lay there watching as little Sunset's chest slowly rises and falls. Eventually though nature calls and I do have to move her which I do ever so carefully placing her down upon her pillow/cushion the sweet thing doesn't even wake up just shifts a little before resuming what looks like a calm and peaceful sleep. After doing what I must for the morning I come back over sitting down just watching little Sunset sleep.
After almost an hour of just watching this tiny little bundle of fur and hair she finally begins to stir, first stretching out her limbs before letting out a tiny little yawn that almost has me squeeing. Once her eyes are open she looks right at me before pouncing my face giggling. 'note to self she can really jump' I think as I stroke her mane and giggle with her. After a few moments she lets go of my face almost seeming to melt into my arms on her back. I gently scratch her belly which makes her make the cutest sound ever, sort of like a cross between a coo and a purr. I actually daww when she makes this sound getting her to giggle again before she begins to squirm against my arm.
"Hmm seems like someone might need to use the bathroom huh" Sunset nods eagerly crossing her hind hooves. "Such an intelligent little girl aren't ya" I say as I carry her to the bathroom holding her over the toilet as she does her business. When she is done I help her get clean and take her back out to the living room where her belly immediately begins to rumble. "Hmmm hungry already huh"
Sunset rubs her belly looking up at me with her big green eyes and my heart just melts and I swear I can feel it flow right out of my chest and into my feet. Without any hesitation I quickly go and grab her what little i have left in the way of fresh greens placing them before her which she somehow uses her hooves to hold as she eats. Once she is done eating I take her back to the bathroom using my own rarely used toothbrush to brush her teeth forgoing toothpaste for now instead going for just some baking soda and water, along with a bit of pure heavily concentrated almost syrup strawberry juice for flavor which I usually keep for putting with ice cream, just to keep it from being some horrible flavor experience for her. I let her sit in the sink with a small bit of water as I brush her teeth and she is content to splash about in it while I do. Figuring I have the chance, I fill up the sink to her waist and pull out a bottle of shampoo and some soap deciding I should get her cleaned up not knowing how long she had been out there for. Once again she is just perfect letting me work the soap slowly into her coat, then rinse it out, then going on to shampoo her mane letting it sit as i let her have some fun splashing in the warm water before rinsing it out. After I have her clean I decide to just let her play a bit longer letting her splash about even splashing her softly both of us eventually devolving into complete giggles as water gets everywhere.
After awhile I empty what's left of the water from the sink before toweling her off very well leaving her a big amber puff ball with red and yellow along the top. I cant help myself but daww at this before I grab a brush getting her back to her cute little self. Soon after that I decide to place her on the couch turning on my desktop computer which loads up after a few minutes. Once it has loaded I quickly put on a movie for her thanking my love of children's movies for my large collection of them. I smile as she watches enraptured as the movie Wall-E begins to play. I move over to my laptop turning it on. I smile as the only world that makes sense to me comes online and I load up the internet. Once online I begin to go through forums, blogs etc anything and everything i can for mentions of colorful unicorns. The only thing I really find is mention of a show that got cancelled after its first season. With a sigh I give up on the main routes and go into the not so main ones using the skills I have acquired mostly through self exploration and the several computer courses I took in high school.
Almost an hour later after looking into many conspiracy sites and black room chats having finding nothing I let out a defeated sigh. Looking over I see that the movie is just about over and I go back over to little Sunset who hasn't even moved. I chuckle and sit next to her not even getting a reaction until its over the reaction being her happy squeals of joy. Noticing me she crawls into my lap looking up at me.
"Obots apy ada" I smile at her and nod my heart melting at the sheer adorableness.
"Yes sweety the robots are happy" I say picking her up and snuggling with her getting more squeals of joy from the tiny amber unicorn. I place her back on my lap taking the mouse for my computer in one hand as I look down at her. "Wanna watch another Sunset" Her smile is all I need to put on another movie before laying out with her cuddled up on my chest as we both watch.
The next movie I put on for her is Wreck It Ralph which she just seems to become absorbed right into eventually ignoring me rubbing her belly and sides for the movie. She hides her eyes behind her hooves when Ralph goes into the Hero's Duty tower for his "hero medal" the cybugs frightening her a little. She practically leaps off me when she see's the Sugar Rush lands, even growls at king candy just seeming to know that he's no good. She cheers for Vanelope when she first learns to race and again during her race against king candy/turbo. As Ralph makes Cybug Turbo drop him though over cola mountain something strange happens. As little Sunset begins to tear up, even her young mind thinking that Ralph is going to meet his end. Sparks come from her horn, just a few though enough to make me wonder if its just my eyes playing tricks on me. But then when Vanelope saves Ralph along with her shouts of joy comes a gout of fire from the tip of Sunset's horn.
I of course freak out over this "Holy hell she just turned into a flamethrower" is my immediate reaction to her, hers though is simply to stare cross eyed up at her horn.
"fwaaaaa" she lets out mimicking the sound of the fire as she throws her hooves up, another burst of flame comes from her horn as she does. Once it has dissipated she bursts into giggles. After making sure that my ceiling is not on fire I look down at the giggling unicorn.
"Well looks like I've got a little pyro on my hands huh" That's what I say out loud to her at least the thoughts running through my head being something more like this 'Holy hell. What did she just do. I have no way to explain this' to name just a few of the things running through my mind.
I pick Sunset up lifting her to my face. "Do you know how you did that Sunset"
A shake of her head is her reply. "Guess you don't know then huh. Something for us to work on together." I say nuzzling my nose softly against hers which elicits another round of giggles from the cute amber unicorn. The rest of the morning passes by more or less uneventfully. We watch a few more movies, I am very careful though of which ones I put on not wanting another burst of fire to come from her. After movie time I manage to tuck her into a backpack so I don't have to leave her alone in my apartment. With her all snug in it with a small blanket to wrap up in I go out into the cold to get fresh food for her.
The walk while cold for me is peaceful and calming. Sunset manages to remain completely quiet during the entire trip only shifting herself every so often to keep comfy. When we get back to the safety of my apartment the first thing I do is unzip my backpack, scoop my little Sunset out, pulling her right up against my chest in a big hug. "You were such a good girl Sunset" I praise her while smiling which brings a smile big enough to almost seem to split her face. She nuzzles her head against my chest, as her fore hooves spread out wide trying to wrap themselves around me only just barely making it to my sides. She gives me a squeeze and I give her one back just enjoying this sweet moment of happiness.
When our hug ends I lift her up to look at me smiling still. Her blue-green eyes sparkle as she looks back making her all the more cuter. "Even though you have only been in it less than a day. Your the best thing to ever happen in my life Sunset." The looks she gives me tells me she doesn't quite understand but she still smiles and giggles any ways before booping my nose with a hoof, sending us both into giggles. After our giggles die off I make her something to eat, which mostly consists of some vegetable based baby food I bought. Spoon feeding her turned out to be a rather difficult task as I think between the both of us we ended up getting as much on her, me and the floor as we did in her belly.
After Lunch I give little Sunset another bath in the bathroom sink. She squeals and splashes in the water as I scrub her down with some shampoo as she seems to enjoy being in the warm water. I giggle as one of the bubbles from the shampoo come down from her mane and she bites it only to wrinkle her muzzle up at the taste.
"Silly Sunset bubbles are fun to play with, but do not taste very good" i tell her once my giggles stop from her cuteness. To which she replies by puffing out her cheeks which brings another cuteness induced set of giggles from me. After her bath I introduce her to the wonders of children's television programming thanks to my favorite streaming site. I of course start with the basics, Spongebob, fairly odd parents etc shows I myself have watched and know to be fairly wholesome if not at least completely distracting for someone of her age. We spend pretty much the rest of the day like that, me laid out on the couch with her curled up on my chest watching the monitor, we even fall asleep like that sometime after he sun finally dips down over the horizon.
The next morning when I wake up i find it hard to not d'aww just from how cute Sunset looks curled up into a little ball on my chest. 'I think I could really get used to this' is my first thought of the day my second coming when I turn my head and look out my large glass balcony door to see that almost a foot of snow accumulated overnight. 'Huh it snowed. Wonder how Sunsets gunna react to that' A few moments later I move her to her pillow and do my morning stuff. when I return i find her at the door looking out with big wide eyes at the blanket of white covering my balcony. A single big eyed look at me tells me exactly what she wants and i go over opening the door.
At first Sunset just stares out at the snow before she reaches out a hoof and touches it pulling back quickly from the chill it immediately imparts. I giggle then kneel down next to her grabbing a handful of snow holding it in front of her face. "Its called snow Sunset. Yes its cold but it can be fun. I should have enough pairs of big woolly thermal socks that you can put on so you can run around in it if you want" Her smile is all I need to go and retrieve said socks helping her to put them on, each one complete covering her hoof and legs, each sock being big enough that i actually have to tie them off at the top of her legs to keep them up.
With the socks on though she doesn't waste a single moment bounding out onto the balcony into what is knee deep snow for her. Seeing her struggle in it i quickly come out to help her making sure to throw on a jacket first. I clear some of the snow away from around her giving her a bit of space to move. Which she uses to immediately jump into the small pile of snow I made freeing her. After a good giggle I pull her out and make a snow ball for her showing her that if she pushes it around it will gather snow and get bigger. With an excited squeal she goes running around pushing the ball in front of her around the balcony until its bigger than her head.
"Good Work Sunset now we gotta make two more" She looks up at me questioningly as i say this but goes about making two more with just as much enthusiasm as the first. Once she has made two more I quickly shave snow off he second and third to make them incrementally smaller than the previous one before stacking them up. Sunset of course just looks up at me as i work. Not having any kind of trimmings I simply carve a smiley face into the top snowball. When she looks at it with only confusion I giggle and inform her "It's called a snowman Sunset. its supposed to be fun to build"
She stares at the tiny snowman for a moment before she goes plowing through it horn first with a squeal of laughter. Having found something she finds funny i make another tiny snowman which she goes running through again with the same squeal. Once she finally starts shivering I scoop her up and bring her back inside.Wrapping her up in a blanket I set her on the couch getting some cartoons going for her. "We had a lot of fun in the snow didn't we Sunset. Now though comes the part most children really love" once again she looks at me with confusion but i just giggle "Just stay there and watch cartoons sweetheart and i will be back in a few minutes or so with something hot and delicious for you."
Bless my heart if she doesn't simply nod and focus on the cartoons while I make my way to the kitchen. I set up the kettle and take out my last bit of hot chocolate mix. Setting the kettle to boil I just stand there thinking back on how my life was before just a few days ago.
I take a deep breath as i step out into the cold, the wind bites into me through my clothes and skin right down to my bones with each gust. I look out over my city from the roof of my building, just staring out at the view. With a shiver from the cold i walk forwards feeling the hard concrete beneath me through the soft soles of my shoes. As I reach the edge I stop looking down at the six story fall in front of me. A single step forwards and I'm standing on the lip ready to let this world go, let the loneliness consume me. AS I go to take that next step forwards though....
The Sound of the kettle snaps me back to reality from my memories a smile coming to my face as I hear Sunset giggling happily to her cartoons. I flick off the kettle letting it sit for a moment as I grab a jar of the baby food i bought for her. After pouring the water into a cup and stirring in the chocolate mix I take both over to my little equine bundle of joy, setting both items down before scooping her up into my arms hugging her tightly. She squeals in surprise before spreading her hooves out over my chest hugging me back.
"ov oo ada" Sunset says as she nuzzles her face against my shoulder. I stand there in stunned silence for a few moments just processing it before I can reply.
"I..I love you to Sunset. I don't know what i would do if you hadn't come into my life." After another moment I sit down helping her to eat her breakfast and her hot chocolate.
Its been a month now since I first found Little Sunset cold and alone in that alley. Its been the single happiest month of my life to, well save for the incident about 3 weeks after i found her. It started like any other day, I woke up fed Sunset her breakfast, and had just turned on some cartoons when my buzzer had gone off. I nearly threw Sunset off me as I jumped up. Thankfully I had a hand draped over her at the time so I managed to catch her, she giggled as I put her down and went to answer the incessant buzzing of my apartments door/intercom system.
"Hello" I say into the small mic before pushing the listen button.
"Hey did you forget about me or something" Comes a familiar if slightly broken up voice from the speaker.
"Oh crap" is my first thought. I had been completely ignoring the only person in the world I could even consider my friend. "Heh no just been busy with something" I push the listen button again only to hear the unmistakable sound of the front door to my building opening. Its at this point that i do start to panic having remembered that I gave her a set of keys to get in for the reason of checking up on me. Its not long before I can hear the old elevator moving up the floors towards mine. Not even a minute later comes the unique knock of my friend.
"Hey I know you are in there so come on open up eh. If ya don't you know I'm just gunna come in anyways" Comes my friends voice with a chuckle
I stand there frozen in full on panic mode, Sunset though with a slight giggle lights up her horn and unlocks the door letting it slowly swing open. As my friend steps into my apartment i just about have a stroke, heart attack and full on brain failure simultaneously. My friends reaction is just as priceless.
"Hey ther...."she goes to say as she turns the corner looking into my living room my friend freezes looking right at Sunset. My panic grows right up until my friend lets out a squeel. "Oh my god isnt that just the cutest thing ever" She rushes right past me getting right close to Sunset, only to have her hand bit when she tries to pick her up. "Hey! Ow." her eyes slowly go wide as she looks over to me. "That...that's not a stuffed animal is it"
Before I can even reply Sunset lets out a tiny little growl towards my friend. "Ony ada cam tuch" My friends jaw drops almost literally to the floor as Sunset speaks.
"Did..did that thing just speak" My friend says backing up slowly from Sunset
"Hey she is not a thing." i finally say coming out of my stupor and moving over to Sunset picking her up letting her lay out on her back in my arms, as i gently scratch her belly getting her to giggle and coo softly. "She has a name It's Sunset Shimmer and I have no doubt in my mind that she is just as smart as either of us or any other human on this planet"
It takes my friend sometime to get over her shock before she begins rapid firing questions at me. "What is she? How did she get here?" I stop her after her first two questions by raising my hand up slightly.
"Come on and sit down its a bit of a story" I say moving to my couch setting Sunset on my lap.
Its almost an hour later when i have finally finished telling the tale of how Sunset came into my life and everything up to that point. after which she had simply stared at sunset for a few moments, then pulled the little unicorn into a tight hug. The next week flew by pretty quick with my friends help i managed to get sunset a few toys to play with. Namely a large yellow ball with a red star, a large stuffed white cat, and a set of those wooden blocks with letters. The ball gave little sunset some much needed exercise as she chased it around the room and she instantly fell in love with that stuffed cat. The blocks however showed me something new as after staring at them for a few moments several of them began to glow with a teal colored energy, a matching one surrounding her horn. After another moment the blocks begin to lift up getting a few inches off the floor before hovering there twirling around little Sunset head. At first she gasps but then began to use them to spell out what was mostly gibberish but still brought a smile to my face.
Weeks pass by quickly from there rapidly turning into months as winter slowly gives way to spring my little Sunset only grows cuter. Her vocabulary grows by leaps and bounds along with her control over what i have decided to term "magic" for lack of a better word. With my friends help i was able to get a treadmill for her to run on and exercise along with expanding my library of cartoons and movies for her.
Time continued to pass and the months began turning to years. We celebrated her first year in my care with a small party marking it as her birthday not knowing when it was. Thanks to my friend doing some research we had determined Sunset to be roughly 3 years old at this point and had presented her with a cake saying such. She had of course simply loved it along with a few small gifts. we celebrated 4 more birthdays like that before something had to change.
"I think you should begin looking for a new place." My friend says to me as we sit in the kitchen at a table she had helped me get for meals while sunset sits in the living room on the laptop i got her listening to music. "Sunset is 7 now and its time she had some more space to run around and actually practice her unique talent. somewhere she won't be afraid of hurting other people."
I sigh as I glance over to my sweet little pony daughter bobbing her head along to one of her favorite songs for a few moments before turning my attention back to my friend. "I know, I know...but you know how it is for me...." I just kind of trail off there as i look back over to my daughter.
"Yeah I do which is why I already have a place lined up. All you need to do is sign a lease, get your things in order and then get packed up. Once you have everything ready we will get Sunset out of here quietly and over to the new place then we can get movers to get all of your stuff." She says to me as she reaches down into her bag to pull out a large brown envelope. "This is everything you need to sign and all the information you need for you to get things in order due to your...financial situation."
I smile and nod as I take the envelope from her "Thank you this really means a lot." I nod before standing up and giving her a hug which before sunset had been a huge rarity for me but after spending 5 years with her, much in my life had changed. After hugging her I go over to Sunset and tell her the news nearly smiling myself to death at the joy of her reaction at having more space to both run around and practice her "magic" and that she might be getting her own room completely to herself. as I had let her more or less take over the single bedroom in the apartment around the age of four and had taken to sleeping on the couch myself.
It is almost 2 weeks later when everything is finally set up legally for the move, all of the small items in the apartment packed, The appliances boxed up, the furniture stripped down and everything stacked or pushed into the main room ready for movers to come and get it. Me, my friend and Sunset though are having one final conversation.
"So everything is ready then, we just have to figure out a way to get Sunset downstairs and into my car without anyone seeing her" my friend starts off summing up everything we had gone over during the past hour.
"More or less" I agree with a soft sigh "It's just getting her down there without being seen. Any thoughts sweetheart." I add before looking towards my darling little Sunset.
"Well. I do have an idea but it wont be the most comfortable for me." She begins as she lights up her horn. A moment later a large hiking backpack comes floating over to the table laying itself out on it. "This bag is big enough to hold me but I will have to curl up a little and bring in my hooves. It won't be the most comfortable trip down but I shouldn't be seen at all so long as I am quiet." She looks up at me from her chair almost beaming with pride at her simple plan.
I look at my sweet and innocent little girl for a few moments trying to think of how it could fail only to find myself asking "Are you sure sweetheart?"
Without missing a beat or even losing her smile she nods "Yes Daddy, I can put up with being a little cramped for a minute or two so nothing bad happens."
With a smile i lean over and give her a loving hug "Alright sweety, if you are sure." With that i turn to my friend "Alright go and get the car into place in front of the building. I'll get Sunset into the bag, hopefully as comfortably as possible and then I'll come down."
"alright, no problem" My friend smiles as she turns to Sunset herself. "You are going to love your new home once you see it, I'm sure of it." After giving Sunset a big hug my friend goes off downstairs to get her car into place.
"Alright Sunset this is it." I say as i help her up onto the table to make helping her into the bag easier. Once she is in and as comfortable a she can be I carefully lift it up setting it onto my back. After opening my front door I check and make sure no one is in the hallway before hurrying over to the elevator, waiting the tense few moments for it to get to my floor. As the doors open I am relieved to find no one else in it, making my way in as quickly as I can. Another tense few moments are spent riding the elevator down to the main floor where once again my luck holds out and no one is there. Looking out the front glass doors i can see my friend, her car pulled up so that her passenger side door is only a few feet from the outer door.
Moving quickly across the short lobby I make my way through the doors and into my friends car, moving the backpack with Sunset in it around to my front as I get into the car. Before my belt is even on my friend is pulling away from the building and I'm undoing the zipper for the bag. I look down at my sweet little girl, the source of so much happiness in my life and smile, happier than i have ever been in my life up to that point. "We did it sweetheart, very soon we will be at our new home and you will get to pick out which room you want to be yours."
Sunset pokes her head out of the bag almost immediately a big smile on her face before she practically leaps out of into wrapping her hooves around me in a huge hug. "I'm so happy Daddy. I am so very excited to see our new home and explore it" She quickly curls up on my lap after breaking her near death grip hug on me while keeping her head up high enough to lookout the window which I am grateful my friend had tinted as heavily as was legal.
The drive takes almost an hour though its anything but boring as i watch Sunsets reaction to everything we pass. From going through the city as she finds herself in awe of the buildings and all the lights that shine even though its only the afternoon to the forests and farmland we find ourselves passing by as we leave the city and enter a much more rural area. eventually as we near our destination the houses get quite far apart with our nearest neighbors being a good distance up the road from us in either direction. Sunsets eyes light up as my friend pulls onto a dirt road surrounded on both sides by thick forest and her smile threatens to nearly split her face as we arrive at this wonderful looking 2 story home set in a clearing surrounded by forest on all sides save for the single car wide path leading up to it.
The moment the car comes to a stop, before my friend has even turned it off Sunset has opened the door, leaping out onto the ground and gone galloping up towards the house. A few moments later as me and my friend get up to the front porch Sunset is there pacing in front of the door "Oh Daddy this place looks amazing i can't wait to see inside." she stops pacing as we step onto the porch looking up at me and my friend expectantly.
My friend wastes no time in producing a key and with what almost seems like practice has unlocked and opened it allowing Sunset to race off inside. The inside of the place blows me away as its rather nicely furnished though some items are missing notably things i already had. I look to my friend but she is already smiling. "Whats that look for, did you think I was just going to help you get a place and not make sure it was a real home for your daughter." she smiles and smirks as she hands me the keys.
Instead of just taking them I pull her into a tight hug "Thank you. Thank you so much. Honestly I have no idea how I would have managed without you these last 5 years. I just know i would have screwed something up" even though i try to fight it tears slowly work their way down my face as i continue to hug my friend.
"Hey, hey its no problem and you give yourself too little credit. you had already been taking care of her for awhile before I came by, I have no doubt you would have been good." She smiles and returns the hug tightly and we both just stand there for a few moments hugging and listening to Sunset's squeals of happiness as she explores our new home.
It is hours later, the sun has gone down, my little angel is asleep upstairs in her room as I made sure to prioritize her room over anything else, my best friend in the whole world is in a room of her own having told me sometime after getting Sunsets room set up that she had actually planned to live there with me to help look after my adopted daughter and now I'm here sitting in our new kitchen long passed midnight sifting through a box of pictures. Going throug each of them I find myself smiling reflecting those of my daughter and friend in the pictures until finally I get to one taken just days after my Daughter and my friend had met. In it I'm laying there asleep on my couch and my tiny still in diapers angel is laying there sound asleep on my chest. For a moment it feels like my chest is ready to burst from the cuteness until i realize it is not subsiding to quickly in fact for a few moments it intensifies and seems to almost localize in the center of my chest before slowly dissapating. It is as the feeling begins to fade that I realize I have not only been clutching at my chest but have been holding my breath. letting out my held breath I hear a single word. One said with such concern that it borders on fear.
"Daddy..." I turn to see Sunset at the entrance to the kitchen her favorite 'My Littlest Petshop' cup floating just in front of her held in her magic. "Daddy, are you ok?" With several quick softly clopping steps she crosses the kitchen and hops up onto my lap to look me right into the eye.
I of course smile and nod "Of course sweetheart. i was just going through some old pictures and the cuteness of the one just got the better of me" I truthfully lie to my own daughter making a mental not to make an appointment with my doctor come morning. Still smiling though I show her the picture.
"Daaadddyyy" she almost cries out at the site of her baby picture. "I didn't know you had pictures of me from then" and with that we spend the next ten minutes giggling as we have a short game of keep away with each other with that particular picture. though eventually my little Sunset begins to droop and I Quickly scoop her up giving her belly rubs as i hold her in my arms.
"I love you so much my Sunset" I smile and nuzzle her as she returns the sentiment before carrying her back to her room and back to bed.
The next morning having set my alarm just before going to bed to wake up before the others should. After showering and making that call to my Doctors office to set up an appointment i actually go and start up on making some breakfast, putting on bacon and eggs for myself and my best friend along with eggs and home fries for my little girl. While those cook I start setting up for coffee only to hear my friends voice.
"Morning, you sleep well?" she asks as she comes over and sits at the table.
I turn to her smiling while letting my body finish up with the coffee. "I slept alright once I finally did. Was up late though just going through old memories." As I finish setting up the coffee pot I turn my attention back to it turning it on before getting out two cups setting them both down next to the now brewing coffee.
"That's good to hear" my friend says "breakfast smells good by the way"
"Thanks I figured I would do something nice for our first morning here" I say as i flip the eggs, bacon and move around the home fries. Shortly after breakfast has finished cooking and I have started to plate it i hear the distinct clip clop of hooves coming down the stairs.
"Morning daddy" Sunset says happily as she enters the kitchen "Breakfast smells as good as always" she remarks as she makes her way to the table nodding to my friend and giving her a hug before she joins her at the table.
"Thanks sweetheart" I reply as i bring the plates over and we begin our breakfast. After a few bites I stop eating putting down my fork and looking over to my little angel. "So Sunset. I have something special planned for us this afternoon. I know over the years it has been really hard on you not being able to practice your special abilities. so I figured that since we now have all this space to work with, that we would create a clearing for you to be able to practice in." My heart absolutely melts at her smile
"REALLY?!" she practically yells out in surprise and glee "You really mean it daddy? I know it was for the best with where we lived but i always hated not being able to really practice my magic." As she finishes speaking she practically leaps out of her chair and across the table to throw her hooves around my neck in a loving hug. "Oh daddy I Can't tell you how happy I am-" at this point she has started to nuzzle her cheek against mine affectionately and has started making a sound almost like a purr. "-I love you so much daddy"
Tears dot at my eyes as i hold my little girl tight against me "I...I love you to Sunset. So very much more than words can ever describe." Holding my daughter in this loving and tender embrace I don't even notice my friend get up and leave for work, picturing in my mind all the fun me and my daughter will have when we get to work on making her a training area.
