Behind the Bleeding Veil

Twilight and Sunset sat on one of the ice bluffs that rimmed the east side of great snow plains of the ice planet M' gada E Samoth. The sun was setting low in the horizon, it's fading light hitting the icy atmosphere at just the right angle to cause a prism effect. The sky rippled with every perceivable color of the rainbow. Reds, oranges, and yellows danced together in perfect harmony. Streaks of green flashed through the sky as if on a mission to somewhere. Blues, indigos, and purples stood as blotches quiet sentries over the din of the others; like regal guards to ensure the merriment of all but to never partake.

"I'm so glad you showed me this place," Sunset said in a quiet, satisfied voice. The lights at sunset were so spectacular, so mesmerizing, hypnotizing, they immediately filled her with a deep peace.

"You say that every time," Twilight laughed.

"And I mean it every time as well," Sunset replied with her own laugh.

After Rainbow's disappearance, Sunset had gone to Twilight so she could teach her more on how to use her powers. Sunset had been more than willing to let them remain dormant until she realized that she might be called to use them at any moment. Knowing that Twilight had been actively using hers, she went to her for guidance and practice. At first it was only about once a week; then after Rarity's death, it was almost everyday.

Through the months they worked on the transmutation of matter, teleportation of objects, the creation of matter out of nothing, and minor time manipulation. It wasn't much, a few stoppages here, a minor speed up there, nothing to alter the existing timeline. Levitation, flying without transforming (what they used to call ponying up in high school); any and all things that might be of use later on. Their favorite thing of all though was going to other planets.

The universe was infinite in size and billions of years old. It teamed with countless worlds, unimaginable variations of life. Each planet the visited was jaw dropping and amazing. The dinge and doom of Esaux Ballauo, the techno colored joy of Empaxia, The volcano fields of T'Pirea Ungoth, the endless oceans of Hedragocarn, the impossibly cute Fugwosie of Cananphar, hundreds of worlds, millions of species, they had seen. Each new planet, each new life form opened up ever deeper senses of wonder, joy, and curiosity in Sunset. She loved them all, but this was her favorite. Her favorite planet at her favorite time of day.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's always the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Sunset said quiet reverence.

"Just never say that around Adagio then," Twilight teased.

Sunset laughed and gave Twilight a gentle push. "She'll get over it," she joked, then grew serious. "I was actually thinking of bringing her here for our fourth anniversary."

"It'd be nice. I've taken Flash along with me before. He's always enjoyed it so Adagio would too I believe." Twilight was matter of fact in her tone. She saw no harm or reason not to bring their loved ones along.

"I think she would as well," Sunset said as she looked at the horizon. Then she turned to Twilight and said, "You know what I still find amazing? - that the temperatures are so low here, our bodies would immediately freeze and shatter if we were just dropped here. Yet here we are, completely safe and warm in our own little bubbles. In nature but separated from it at the same time."

"One of the benefits to being a goddess," Twilight replied with a grin.

Sunset once again turned to the horizon and looked out, taking in the last lights of the setting sun. She smiled but as the lights faded with the sun, she slowly began to look sad. "You know it's going to end, eventually," she said in sullen contemplation.

"I know," Twilight said matter of factly.

"Eventually the goddesses will lose. They'll face an enemy they can't beat and it will all end. Probably not in our lifetime. A hundred more incarnates could come and go in the meantime, but, eventually, it will all end."

"Eventually, but not today," Twilight said. Her voice was still fairly flat but there was a bit of happiness beneath. "We have now, we have this moment, and that's all we ever have really. So it's best just to enjoy what you have while you have it. That's the biggest thing I've learned."

"Ever think of what will happen to us after we die?" Sunset was now in the midst of a deep, contemplative state. She had questions she always wondered about but now she felt like she had to unload them, talk about them with the only other person who could truly understand her.

"Yeah, of course. I think everyone does. Valhallen went on to be an angel but the others, when they were freed from the cult's spell just seemed to disappear. So who knows. Maybe we'll live on, maybe we'll just cease to exist."

"I don't want to die Twilight. I don't want Dag to die or you or anyone else."

"Very few do, but that's not up to us to change. Of course, I might change my mind once I have kids."

"So you and Flash are planning on it? I didn't know if you guys wanted to or not."

"Eventually, after we're married and that won't happen until after I graduate; but, yes, at least one. What about you and Adagio? Any plans to adopt, invitro?"

"I want to but she doesn't. There is a way, well two ways, we could have a child that's biologically both ours. I could use my powers to either give myself or her a penis and testicals and make a baby that way. Unfortunately that means I would be using my powers for personal gain which means I would lose them except in an emergency so I couldn't change who ever it was back again. And while the idea of Dag with a dick is fine by me, I doubt if she'd be ok with it and I know I certainly don't want to be stuck with one."

"It'd make peeing easier," Twilight joked.

Sunset laughed. "Um, still not worth it." She then got serious again. "The other way is to use my power directly to cause Dag to become pregnant. That would still mean I would access to them except in an emergency though. So no more of this."

"It's a lot to give up and if Adagio doesn't want to do it, it's a fairly moot point but if she would ever change her mind - it's something you'd definitely have to think long and hard about. I know I really want kids eventually. So does Flash. And being happy little heterosexuals, we can. I just feel for you though."

"I want kids too," Sunset said in a mournful voice. "Oh well, even hetros have this problem sometimes as well. One wants kids, the other doesn't, one's sterile - it's a hassle but I love Dag and she loves me so we'll work this out eventually."

"Definitely. I know you guys will."

The two sat in silence for a bit longer until the sun had completely set and the night lit up with a million twinkling stars.

"You ever think about Fluttershy?" Twilight asked with a little trepidation.

"Yes. I've thought of reaching out to her but I think she'll have to be the one who makes the first move. I worry about her. I still care about her and want to be her friend. I just don't think I can push her into talking."

"No, you can't. I tried to message her a couple times but she blocked me. I wish she would let us back in."

"Yeah."

The two sat for just a few more minutes and then Twilight got up and said, "Well, it's time to go."