> Grandmare Celestia
>  by pixiewings6253
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> %1% Missing Birth Certificate
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia was in her throne room working on a bill when a guard came in.
“Your Highness,” the guard said, “Princess Twilight Sparkle is here to see you.”
“I wasn’t expecting her,” Celestia said, “I’ve hardly seen her since her wedding to Big Macintosh in Ponyville when we defeated Hades.  Very well, send her in.”
“Greetings, Celestia,” Twilight said upon entrance into the throne room, “I hope I’m not being an intrusion.”
“Nonsense,” Celestia said, “I’m just in the middle of a little tax reform.  Easily my least favorite of my duties.”
“Tax reform?” Twilight asked, “But our tax system is just fine.  What would you need to reform?”
“Well,” Celestia said, “I’m just trying to ease up a little more on our poorer citizens.  Life is hard enough for them already.   To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“It’s a personal matter, actually,” Twilight said, “A favor to a family member of a friend.”
“Twilight,” Celestia said exasperatingly, “You know I don’t meddle in personal affairs.  It’s just that if I did, ponies would come to expect it, and then where would it end?  I need to draw a firm, clear line, or else my already busy schedule would descend into chaos.”
“I know,” Twilight said, “I get that.  But this young mare is only coming to you as a last resort.  She’s tried everything she can and she’s hit a dead end.”
“What’s the problem anyway?” Celestia asked, “I’m not going to do anything about it, but I might as well hear about it.  Is it a legal matter?”
“Of sorts,” Twilight said.
“What kind?” Celestia asked, “Criminal or civil?”
“Nothing involving the courts, per se,” Twilight said, “More of a document situation.  The one she’s looking for isn’t anywhere to be found in Equestria’s records.”
“That’s odd,” Celestia said, “Is it an old document?  Might just be tucked away in a forgotten section of the archives, or perhaps it was lost in some disaster.”
“Fairly new, actually,” Twilight said, “The document in question should only be about 40 years old or so.”
“Strange,” Celestia said, “Who is this young mare and what exactly is she looking for?”
“Her name is Sweet Breeze,” Twilight said, “She’s looking for the birth certificate of her adoptive mother, a nearly 39-year-old unicorn named Sunrise.”
Celestia started at the names of the young mare and her mother.  She knew about Sunrise and her progeny, but didn’t want to let on anything, lest she give away clues to her secret.
“Tell me more,” Celestia said, “Where was Sunrise born?”
“She and Sweet Breeze think she was born in Canterlot,” Twilight said.
“They think?” Celestia asked with mock surprise, “You mean, they don’t know?”
“Well,” Twilight said, “It was recently discovered that Sunrise was adopted herself, by Stellar Flare and Solar Wind of Sire’s Hollow.”
“Oh,” Celestia said, realizing another connection to Sunrise, “I thought I recognized the name.  Sunrise was one of my best students, along with her younger sister Sunset Shimmer.  I always thought they looked different from each other, but they never mentioned it and I never asked.  Their younger brother Sunburst was also a student, although he flunked out.”
“Yes,” Twilight said, “Sunset mentioned it.  It’s actually through her that I know Sweet Breeze.  She was Sunset’s plus one to my wedding.  I needed to facilitate communications between them about the wedding.”
“That’s right,” Celestia said, “I must have given you my old journal that can be used to communicate with Sunset.  I wondered where that went.”
“Yes, well, back to matter at hoof,” Twilight said, “Sunrise and Sweet Breeze recently found adoption records at the Canterlot Orphanage, but nothing from before that.  Not even anything about how Sunrise came to be at the orphanage or who her birth parents were.  It’s like Sunrise didn’t exist until she was about a year old, but no one knows for sure how old she was when she was adopted because there’s no way to confirm her exact birth date.”
“Does Sunset know about this?” Celestia asked.
“I have been talking to her about this,” Twilight said, “I thought she had a right to know since she is Sunrise’s younger sister, even if not by blood.  Even she’s stumped as to what Sunrise and Sweet Breeze’s other options are besides you.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Sunrise,” Celestia said, “Tell me, where does she live now?”
“In Salt Lick City,” Twilight said, “It’s the hometown of her ex-husband and where they raised their four children.  The other three besides Sweet Breeze are biological.  I am told she also had stillborn foal.”
“Ex-husband?” Celestia asked, “Stillbirth?  My goodness, Sunrise’s life doesn’t sound anything like I imagined her future after graduation being like.  You know, I always have time for my former students.  I can’t promise I’ll help with their search, but it would be nice to have Sunrise and Sweet Breeze over for a visit.  I’ll tell them myself.  Thanks for telling me about this, Twilight.  It’ll be nice to reconnect.”
“You’re welcome, Celestia,” Twilight said, “It’s not what I had in mind, but I guess a visit is better than nothing.  I’m sure Sunrise will enjoy seeing you again and Sweet Breeze would be honored to meet you.  I’ll let you get back to work.  Goodbye, Celestia.”
“Yes, goodbye, Twilight,” Celestia said.
After Twilight left the throne room, Celestia’s face fell.  She couldn’t believe she’d just said that.  She worried about what to do next.
> %2% The Visit
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A week later, Sunrise and Sweet Breeze arrived in Canterlot to visit Celestia, who treated them to lunch at the Tasty Treat.
“So,” Celestia said, “How is everything going with you?”
“Great,” Sunrise said, “Sweet Breeze has been reconnecting with her twin sister, Scootaloo.  It was so gracious of you to let Sweet Breeze and Heartstrings play at the gala.”
“Of course,” Celestia said, “I always love hearing new talent.”
“I’m getting ready to graduate from Basic School,” Sweet Breeze said, “I’ve just been announced valedictorian.”
“That’s wonderful,” Celestia said, “You must be very smart.”
“She is,” Sunrise said, “She’s been in Advanced Classes since she was in 3rd grade.”
 “She takes after her brilliant mother,” Celestia said.
“It must just be how she raised me to love learning,” Sweet Breeze said, “There’s no genetic connection between us.”
“That’s right,” Celestia said, “Twilight told me you’re adopted.”
“Yeah,” Sweet Breeze said, “I hear I am a gifted flier like my birth mom, Firefly, though.  Speaking of birth, my coltfriend, Quil, is working on the spell that will let us find out the gender of our child.”
At this, Celestia spit out her drink.
“You’re pregnant?” Celestia choked.
“Yeah,” Sweet Breeze said, “I’m one week away from my third trimester.  Next week, Quill and I will find out if we’re having a boy or a girl, and whether we’re having a pegasus or a unicorn.”
 “Sunrise,” Celestia said, “Twilight told me about your search for your birth certificate.  Was it weird for you, finding out you’re adopted?”
“A little,” Sunrise admitted, “I mean, it’s not a surprise considering this beautiful white coat I have when the rest of my family have orange coats and how much taller than them I am.  It was actually Sweet Breeze who pointed out the possibility.  I know my family’s love for me doesn’t change, but it makes me wonder where I came from and if my biological family misses me.”
“Well,” Celestia said, “I may know a little something about that.  It’s true you were born here in Canterlot and your birth parents personally asked me to keep your birth certificate safe for them.”
“I thought you didn’t meddle in private affairs,” Sweet Breeze said.
“Oh,” Celestia said, “They were personal friends of mine, so I was happy to do the favor.”
Celestia made a manila folder appear in the air in front of them.
“I can give this to you,” Celestia said, “but you have to promise not to look at it until you get home.”
“Why?” Sweet Breeze and Sunrise asked simultaneously.
“Jinx,” Sweet Breeze said, “You owe me a carrot juice.”
“I have my reasons,” Celestia said, “You’ll find out once you open it.”
“Ok,” Sunrise said, “As the ruler of our land and my former teacher, I will trust you and promise that neither me nor my daughter will look at this until we’re safely back inside my house.”
Spoken like a future ruler, Celestia thought in her head.
Then, Celestia walked the mother and daughter to the train station.  When they got home, Sweet Breeze and Sunrise opened the folder, the birth certificate showed that not only was Sunrise born in Canterlot, but her birth mother was Celestia herself.
“Well,” Sweet Breeze said, “At least your birth mother is still alive, unlike mine.  Also, you already, kind of, know her.”
> %3% Sisterly Discussion
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The next morning, Celestia sat at the breakfast table, picking at the pancakes she had made.  She had been tossing and turning all night, worrying about what might happen now that Sunrise knew of her heritage.  Just then, Luna entered the dining room.
“Sister, what’s wrong?” Luna asked, “I noticed you did not sleep well last night.”
“I thought you might,” Celestia said with a sigh.
“Is it about your annual visit to Salt Lick City in two days?” Luna asked, “Are you worried about the reason you’ll give Sunrise for why you can’t attend her birthday party, yet again?”
“No,” Celestia said, “I’m going this year.”
“What?” Luna asked, “Why?”
“I have to,” Celestia said, “I gave Sunrise her birth certificate yesterday.  Now that she knows I’m her mother, it would be remiss of me not to celebrate her birthday with her.”
“Perhaps I should come too, then,” Luna said, “I’ve always wanted to meet my niece.  You could introduce me.”
“That sounds wonderful, Luna,” Celestia said, “I’m sure she’ll be glad to meet you too.  I’m just a little anxious about coming clean to her after all these years.  I bet she hates me now.”
“I don’t think she hates you,” Luna said, “Afterall, from what you told me, it sounds like you two really bonded while she was your student.”
“I guess we did,” Celestia said, “Still, I wouldn’t blame her for being mad at me for giving her away and keeping it a secret all these years.   Honestly, I’m more worried about her reaction than about how the rest of Equestria will act.  Do you think we should invite Cadence, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart, and Twilight to the party?  After all, Sunrise and her children will have to get used to having Equestrian nobility and the Canterlot elite at a lot of major functions, as will her adoptive family.”
“Actually,” Luna said, “Inviting friends to their child’s birthday party is something a parent of a young child might do.  Since your daughter is a fully grown mare, you don’t have any right to invite anyone to her birthday party.  Instead, you can invite Sunrise to the palace to meet Twilight, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart at a later date.”
“Actually,” Celestia said, “I was thinking of giving Sunrise custody of her children, except her older son who is already a stallion, and inviting all of them to move into the palace with us.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Luna said, “I’ve wanted to get to know them for years.  I especially feel a kinship towards Sweet Breeze, and I’ve been wanting to get her away from her stepmother for a while now.  Did you know that, like I did intentionally, her mind subconsciously created its own tantabus to punish Sweet Breeze for her temper?”
“You mentioned it before,” Celestia said, “Though you never told me how you resolved it.”
“First,” Luna said, “I helped Sweet Breeze deal with the guilt of making her sister cry.  I told her that she wasn’t a monster for getting angry and she didn’t need to punish herself for having a normal emotion.  Then, I taught her some techniques that would help her manage her anger better.”
“Well,” Celestia said, “We better start preparing for travel to Salt Lick City.  Do you want to take our chariots or the train?”
“Taking the train is an option?” Luna asked, “I’d love to take the train.  I’ve always wanted to experience aspects of day to day pony life.”
“The train it is, then,” Celestia said, “Besides, taking the train will take some attention away from our visit.”
“Let’s start preparing,” Luna said, “I can’t wait to formally introduce myself to your progeny.”
“You might want to talk a bit more casually to them,” Celestia said, “We want this to feel as natural as possible.”
“True enough, sister,” Luna said.
“As I understand it,” Celestia said, “Sweet Breeze and Sequin might be more used to saying ‘sis’.”
“That’s good to know,” Luna said, “This is going to be so exciting.”
“I just hope Sunrise can forgive me for my actions,” Celestia said.