Revelation
It was that simple act of reaching out, to take the hand of the one you swore to hate. To give a chance to the worst of enemies. To save my life.
You acted out of the goodness of your heart, and I suppose I should thank you for it. After all, without you, I would be dead.
But... we're enemies. Right?
I'm not sure anymore.
After everything my people put you through, after everything you endured... Was it not enough to burden me with guilt, but these feelings as well?
I owe you my life.
And yet you ask for nothing in return. A simple smile before turning back to the massacre that took place in the Everfree that day. You left me standing in the middle of a bloodbath. Amidst the blood of your own people! You could have run me through in my moment of weakness, my mistake!
Why didn't you?
You saw me stumble. My magic arc off target as your soldiers rammed me from behind. You saw the way I was open, completely vulnerable to your army's attack. And yet...
You helped me up instead. You took my hand, and gave me my staff. And gods, you meant nothing by it! No debt, nothing!
When your troops withdrew, and you left me alone with my people, I wondered: was there another reason? Why on earth did this happen, and so vividly as well!
I remember everything about you. The way the leather of your glove gripped firmly around mine. The way your tri-toned hair spilled over your shoulders as you pulled me up. The way the edges of your mouth curved up in a beautiful, wonderful smile when you looked me in the eyes, calm violets at shell-shocked teal.
I thought you hated me, Twilight.
Don't you?
Maybe... things are different now.
We will always be opposites, you and I, almost in the same way as the ancient sun goddess was to the moon. You, with your grace and beauty, your flowing robes and vibrant magic. Me, with my bluntness and knowledge, fire alive in my heart.
And yet...
Gods, and yet...
I think we can be more.
Forget the armies. Forget commanding anyone! I need to know exactly what you think of me, right now! Do you... Do you still blame me? For my pride, the pride that led the once-whole kingdom of Equestria to be split in two?
I know the war is my fault. I've known ever since the day I stole magic from Canterlot Castle. And yet I still sought to blame it on you.
You, who led the east against me. You, who brought peace back to half of the nation and more. You, who dared not strike down your mortal enemy in her only moment of weakness.
You.
I wish there were words to express how sorry I am. For the pain I caused. My mind is proud, and will not yet apologize, but my heart is calling out. I cannot deny the truth any longer.
I am sorry.
Believe me when I say this is for the best. Without their leader the west will soon fall into order. You can take control of the kingdom again, as Equestria's sole leader, and soon the peace will return and end the war I have wrought on this country. Even a thousand words cannot express how deeply I regret my actions.
I failed in my oath, the one I swore when we took the throne together. That I would protect our citizens, all of the three tribes, for as long as I lived.
I failed you.
You, who took my betrayal the hardest, as I stole power for myself. I was trying to hurt you, trying to tear you down, and yet you lay none of the blame on me.
Why are you so selfless, Twilight?
I threw you out of Canterlot, took away your own friends from you, and yet you gave me nothing in return but kindness.
It was not the battles that broke me, but your refusal to give up on me.
With this mindset I make the decision to end this war. I see how wrong I was, how wrong I always was. This kingdom has had enough of my mistakes.
Well, no more.
It is with a heart far less burdened than before that I announce the passing of the Western Lord. Peace be unto this land, the kingdom of Equestria, forever after.
Don't try to stop me. By the time you finish this letter the sacrifice spell will be complete. You have to trust me when I say that this is for the good of all the tribes, for everyone. Promise that you will unite Equestria again and step up to the throne once more. I know now that you are a far better leader than I ever will be, or was. I never thought I would say this, but...
After all these years you were right. Friendship is magic.
Because we were enemies, once.
But now...
Gods, Twilight. I can't hate you anymore. I can't hate you ever again.
I don't want to hate you.
In fact, looking back these past years I don't think that I ever once stopped loving you.
Goodbye, Twilight. Take care of Equestria for me. For us.
Sunset stared at the letter she had penned, ink dribbling from her quill in rivlets. With shaking hands she rolled the parchment into a thin scroll and raised her staff.
"To Twilight, the Eastern Lord."
In a flash of light the letter had vanished, leaving the girl sitting alone in her chamber with nothing more than the rod in her hands and the robes on her back.
"I am so, so sorry... But it's for the best."
Her shaking hands moved under her cloak, removing a thin, curved dagger. The moonlight glinted off the blade as Sunset moved it parallel to her throat, chest heaving in nervousness.
"B-by the gods..." Her voice cracked as her bright blue eyes clouded with tears. "By the gods of this kingdom, I s-swear..."
The sharpened edge pressed against her skin, almost breaking the surface. Sunset's throat bobbed as she swallowed, sweat mingling in with the tears now freely streaming down her cheeks.
"...that with the passing of the Western Lord this war is over. All of my troops s-surrender. It is over."
Magic flashed out, carving light into the air around her body and binding her words to the world. The first drops of crimson spattered against the wooden floorboards as the blade began to dig into her skin.
"You... w-won."
Sunset gave one final push before collapsing into her chair. Darkness began to eat away at her vision as a painful numbness began to spread throughout her body. The runes written in the air glowed brighter with every second that ticked by, glowing the brightest as Sunset's life finally came to an end.
As she felt herself falling unconscious for the last time, Sunset saw the flash of purple magic and heard Twilight's high, panicked scream.
"Sunset! No!"
Warm hands pressed at her throat, trying in vain to stop the endless flow of blood. Twilight was crying openly, tears shining in the light of the magic filling the room.
"Why?!"
Sunset moved her lips for the last time as she died, mouthing the only reason why she did what she could to stop the war.
I love you.
Twilight broke as the spell completed, a wave of magic bursting from Sunset's body and washing over the horizon. Night turned to day, battlefields to farmland, and the western kingdom finally laid down its arms.
The war had been won.
