It was a beautiful day. The young woman on the terrace was enjoying the sunshine and the view from the elevated gardens. Wind filters, barely perceptible fields of energy, turned the raging winds of the altitude into a refreshing breeze that ruffled her red and gold hair.
According to her PerComm, they were over the Atlantic ocean at five thousand feet. The city of Cloudsdale was flying to London for the Olympiad and the woman had been unable to resist a trip across the ocean.
To make the journey a little more interesting for herself, she'd invited along a friend. Though, a scheduling conflict had meant that it was a few days in and she was yet to meet up with them. Fortunately, if her proximity alert was right, her company was on their way.
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“So, there's a garden cafe in the terrace park?” The purple and green hound asked his human companion as they walked along the elevated footway. He had the talk-collar most animals wore these days, though there was an unusual sharpness to his gaze most did not posses.
“Yes there is, on one of the upper levels.” The woman replied, pulling up the display on her PerComm. “We're not far now, she's shown up on my map.” Stepping from the path to a precinct, followed by her canine friend, the woman started towards the stacked terraces that overflowed with greenery.
As ever, she had a burst of pride at the sight. Having a hand in an innovation that created such beauty always did. This time it wasn't tinged with a melancholy nostalgia, considering who she was going to meet.
“I wonder how she looks these days?” The dog asked as they stood in an elevator tube, he too was looking at the little red dot on the map display floating in the woman's view.
“I guess we'll find out. She isn't always right on trend but then again, there is a familiarity about the fashion these days.” The woman chuckled. “Not that I am one to talk.”
“Heh, true.” A canine chuckle turning to a slight bark.
They reached their level and the hound lifted his nose to sniff the air, a joyful bark emphasising his excitement. “This way! I can smell her!” He bounded away, the woman followed with a chuckle. Following him around a stand of shrubs she saw the person she'd come to meet.
Still looking as young as ever, dressed in a synthetic leather jacket and a sky blue t-shirt with a bolt of rainbow lightning on it, her hair back to the style of the old days. “Sunset Shimmer. It's been a while.” The smile was genuine, as was the gleaming return from her friend.
“Twilight Sparkle, it has hasn't it? What, twenty years?” Sunset was petting Spike, her fingers scratching his ears just how he liked it. It pleased Twilight that the woman remembered.
“Twenty Five actually. Doesn't seem long to the likes of us though.” Twilight took a seat opposite Sunset. She blinked. “I want to say sorry about last time.” The navy haired woman sighed. “I regret leaving so long between us.” A hand took hers, the touch so familiar it was almost like it had been daily and not parted by a quarter of a century.
“I was the one who went off and lived a different life for two decades Twilight. I won't say it didn't hurt, but I've had a long time to get over it.” She smoothed her thumb against purple skin and looked into amethyst eyes. “So lets not talk about that. What have you been up to?” Sunset sat back in her chair. “You see me as I am, a travelling musician who wishes to see the world.”
“Oh, this and that mostly. I've been researching, privately. I'm hoping that I'll get that cell regeneration cracked in no time.” Twilight grinned. “It's helpful to have a constant supply of immortal cells and no oversight.”
“I hope you don't hurt yourself,” Sunset looked solemn a moment but cracked a grin, “Or cackle too often.” Sunset laughed, “You sound like a mad scientist.”
“Well I am aren't I!” Twilight giggled. “We made this world Sunset and I plan to always improve it.” She leaned forward onto the table, to focus on her friend. It had been a long time and she was eager to catalogue every detail. She was about to say something else when Sunset shushed her.
“Your order.” A waitress had arrived with a tray floating ahead of her, she placed a tea service on the table and a delightful looking cake. “Good afternoon to you. Please use the service call on your PerComm if you require anything else.” The robotic waitress turned and floated away.
“Angel Cake and Lady Grey.” Twilight smiled, a tear in the crinkle of her eye. “You remembered.”
“I'll always remember my friend's orders.” Sunset said softly. “Though no one can quite make an apple pie like AJ did.” She served a slice of cake to Twilight. “I think that is about the only time it hits anymore. I can't eat anything like what we used to share.”
“The farm is still going though.” Twilight said, checking the tea. Of all the creations and inventions she had given the world, nothing upon nothing made tea better than a proper teapot. “I stopped by Canterlot before my flight here.” She placed the lid on the pot to let it infuse a little longer. “The tower was gleaming like nothing else. Are you going to share that glass making trick with me yet?”
“Nope.” Sunset grinned, seizing a subject more cheerful. “I would like to keep a few secrets yet Sparkle. Even after three hundred years.” She neatly parted a chunk of the pink cake from her slice with a fork and ate it. “So it was still all ok? The Celestial Shard I mean... I get weekly reports, but I haven't been up to visiting in a while.”
“The whole place was fine. Though a few tourists wanted photos with me. Apparently it tickled them to see a Twilight Sparkle “look-a-like” at the tower.” The woman grinned. “If they even knew.” That made Sunset laugh too.
“So what name are you going by these days?” Sunset had to ask, she'd contacted Twilight through a channel only they shared. It was easy when you founded the system on which the world ran, a backdoor so secret only three persons on the planet knew of it. One locked to vein scans that were still impossible to falsify.
“Astrid Spark right now. But only for travel and the like. I've been pretty local to my private lab in the Swaybacks for a long time so there hasn't been much need. Obviously I'll make something a little more helpful once I make some breakthroughs. Don't want too many questions asked when I want to publish my research.” Twilight poured their tea. “How about you?”
“Iris-Celeste.” Sunset said simply, a little sadness in her eyes she quickly schooled away. “About the third name since we last saw each other. I burned through two pretty quickly but I've figured a way to keep this one jumping forward unobtrusively when it gets a little too old for my appearance.” She shrugged and sipped her tea. “I'll share the data if you like, make Astrid some unnoticed genius in time for that big discovery.”
There was a hint of harshness in her tone at the last part and Twilight blinked. Recalling what had pushed them apart the last time. “Have... Have you considered going back?” She was quiet, a touch sad, it made Spike look up from his nap with worry.
“At times. But I won't leave you here alone. I made that promise and I don't intend to break it.” Sunset drained her cup. "I caused this problem for us and I will never abandon you." It was a promise made in the ashes of a world wrought asunder by war, by the ruins of a school long closed and in the memory of friends a century lost. “I will be here until you accomplish all you set out to do.”
“Thank you Sunset.” Twilight said, Spike had rested his head on her knee. “I will reach that goal. I really will. I am so close to unlocking the secret in these cells of ours.”
“Would you force immortality on everyone though?” Sunset had poured a second cup and taken another cake slice. “Just look how it has been for us three. We've lost so much and are far far too late to share this with those we love.”
“Not immortality.” Twilight sighed. “I've had a quarter of a century to think too you know.” Of course they would return to their last argument. “I decided I want to leave this world with cellular regeneration, not unending but something to heal the worst of wounds.” She shrugged. “Maybe a great intellect could turn that into immortality, but I'd not wish this life on anyone.”
“Equestria is still happy to have us.” Sunset patted her backpack, magical books lasted a lot longer than normal paper. It had also helped preserve some photos she held dear to her heart. “When you are ready.”
“Good. Something to look forward to.” Twilight poured another tea for herself, glad to close the painful part of the conversation and relieved it had not turned to a blazing row.
Their chatter now was lighter and to a casual observer it would seem like to young women spending a pleasant afternoon together. No one would know that these were the founders of their world, centuries old and linked to a land of magic.
Just how they wanted it.
Author's Note
Well, think of this as some far future of the Equestria girls universe. I came across the idea that Sunset was an Alicorn and therefore immortal. Then I wondered if Sci-Twi would be too, what with her link being to Princess Twilight. Spike was an iffy one, but at the same time, he has sort of been linked to a dragon and they are long lived.
I hope this hasn't been too frustratingly vague but it was more a concept that I didn't want to leave behind but would not fit into Making a Family.
