Upon her return home Beatrix Belladonna decided to pay one final visit to all her friends. First, she made her way to Cherry Jubilee's hospital wing, the southern pony welcoming her in with a melancholy smile. Her eyes were heavy with bags, her cheeks lined. A lifetime of stress had aged her prematurely, but the middle-aged mare was still quite a knockout.

“Sorry to drop in unannounced, but I wanted to see some old pals one last time before I moved on!”

Jubilee waved her in with a foldout fan. “Think nothing of it, you're always welcome. But why the sudden impulse to leave?”

With a shrug Beatrix said, “Just feels like it's time for a change. I've more than done my duty here, I think.”

“Maybe we all have. But I reckon old habits die hard and all that.” She opened a bottle she'd kept reserved for special occasions and took a swig, the spicy contents practically burning in her belly. “Suri's...not getting better.”

Beatrix approached the sterile white room. She returned a wave to Pinkie, who sat around Suri's bedside with Rarity and Tree Hugger. “Hey, everypony. I don't plan to stick around here much longer, but it didn't feel right leaving without saying goodbye.” She studied the comatose mare, her skin almost ashen, like she too had the magic drained from her.

Rarity quietly wept and held her hoof. “There seems to be nothing we can do. Perhaps I should have taken her to Megiddo...”

“Not certain she would've survived the trip,” noted Hugs. “Even so, this is hardly a life for her, either.”

“Megiddo.” Beatrix dug through her inner cape almost on instinct, looked through the variety of potions she'd prepared for her trip, in the hopes something would be able to help. That's when she spotted one of the empty tubes filled with a sparkly, multi-hued liquid. “It couldn't be...?!” She uncorked it. “Pinkie, are you willing to test something for me? It could be dangerous!”

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically, and at Belladonna's instructions, the bandages around her snout were carefully unraveled. The mysterious potion was partially poured onto her maw, and she winced, a creak sounding as bones set themselves. “Ouch! It's a miracle!” She rubbed her cheek. “This is totally Sunburst's super-duper elixir, isn't it?!”

“Something close! Smoozy must have sneaked part of himself into an empty vial. One last gift for me...” She wiped away a single teardrop and grinned. “Please, let this work.” She opened Suri's jaws and slowly emptied the contents into her.

For a moment nothing seemed to happen. But ever so slowly her coat started to regain its former shade of purple. They watched in awe, and it took pretty much the entire vial, but pretty soon the mare weakly stirred and whispered, “R-Rarity...?”

“I'm here, darling. We all are.” She blinked watery eyes and beamed wide.

With one last look back, Beatrix slipped away to her next destination, Vinyl Scratch's band which played around the ruins of their stage. “You know, we still don't have an official name. Back when we worked under Fancy Pants we used to be called Fancy's Angels. Well, aside from the one token stallion in our posse, Time Turner!” She guffawed.

“Quite. And even Time Turner became a mare eventually due to his...her...strange abilities,” noted Octavia.

“Hey look,” called Lyra who slouched by them stuffing down popcorn. “Come to see us play, Beatrix?”

“Sure, why not. This could be my last time in the Crystal Empire for quite a while.” Beatrix smirked at them, alongside Lavender Lace and Fuschia Blush, who were hanging in the background as usual.

“So, we need a name.” The DJ smacked her lips. “How's about Vinyl and her Four Whorses?”

“Ugh. That's not amusing, even as a jest. Besides, that sounds more like a Punk or Metal band name to me. Not to mention you may technically be the leader, but I consider us equals.” Octavia tuned her double bass while she considered.

“Don't ask me,” said Lyra between munches. “I suck with names!”

Lavender piped up. “How about Trixie and the Illusions?!”

“Uh, doesn't quite work if Trixie's not in the band,” reminded Fuschia.

“Oh yeah.” A deflated Lavender lowered her head. “Not sure how the name came to me. Just seemed right somehow?”

“Maybe in some other dimension,” murmured Belladonna with a chuckle. She watched them argue and listened to them play a few songs. The celebrations were still well underway and a small crowd came to watch around her. Pretty soon she was swallowed up by their numbers, drawn like they were under a spell by the fusion of Classical, Rock, and Trace they played.

With a skip in her step she wandered to the Crystal Palace. Clipped salutes from the guards answered her more playful one, and clops sounded across the shiny floor when Diamond Tiara and Blueblood arrived to meet her. “Sorry,” said Tiara who looked her over. “Just had to make certain it was really you. What with the imposter, and all!”

“It's understandable.” She walked down the hall alongside them. “Is my sister about?”

“In her room with Smolder,” noted Blueblood. “Hopefully there won't be another...incident.”

“I mean, she hasn't had much experience in that department, so I can't blame her!” It was difficult to think of Flurry as a sexual being even now. She was still so innocent and naïve. Like all that wholesomeness from her parents had funneled into her.

“Look,” said Tiara. “We'll probably never be friends, but we know you're important to the Queen, so thanks for looking after her, okay? Still, probably best you keep your distance. Trouble seems to have this habit of following you around!”

“I know. That's why I've come to say farewell.” They climbed the stairs and arrived at Flurry's room.

“We will look after her in your absence,” assured Blueblood with her nose in the air. “For my part, I'm thankful, too.”

“You're welcome. Well, take care.” With a bow to them, Beatrix attempted to knock, only for the door to creak open. She let herself in, discovered the interior was empty, and pushed aside silk curtains fluttering in the wind. Flurry and Smolder were poised on the balcony, the former working to gradually lower the sun over the Crystal Empire.

She paused a moment to watch. It seemed no less amazing each time she saw it. To think such a kind-hearted pony could wield all that power. Whatever challenges faced Equestria from now on, she was certain her sister could handle it. “Ahem.” She cleared her throat and the dragoness turned. “Hey there, Smolder. Hope I'm not butting in?”

“No worries, she's just concentrating.” Smolder shot her a toothy grin. “So what brings you around?”

“Just came to say farewell.”

“What?!” Flurry almost lost control and barely stopped herself from dropping the sun instantly. “Sister, you're not still mad at me, are you? All I wanted was to make certain we saved all the lives we could!”

“No, of course not! I was never upset, not really. Just a different point of view is all. Mom taught me to be street-smart, and that means sometimes I have to play dirty. But I've always been on your side. No, with the cult of the nemesis completely finished and the Necronomicon banished, my work here is done. Hopefully there won't be a need for Shining's force ever again.”

“Hey, if there is, I'll be there to help!” Smolder flexed an arm muscle. “Gotta return home soon myself!”

Beatrix nodded. “I plan to undertake a sort of spiritual journey of discovery. I was supposed to be the key to the Necronomicon. But now? Feels like it's hold over me is no more, but not really, in a sense.” She bent over the rail and leaned on it. “What I mean is, ever since then it feels like I can unlock spells faster than before, like it awakened some dormant part of me. What if the book is still out there, in another dimension? Absurd as it may be, I feel a little responsible for it.”

“Sombra seemed pretty certain he could deal with it,” reminded Flurry.

“And maybe he's right. I certainly don't feel its presence anymore. But what if it did simply slide into a parallel world?” In truth it was partially an excuse and she knew it. She needed a change, never really fit in here, and without the Smooze she had less attachment to Equestria than ever. “No worries, I'm sure I'll come back here...sometime. But I need to do this.”

Flurry sniffled and nodded. She unfurled her wingspan and pulled her in close, nuzzling her. “Don't be a stranger, okay?”

“You'll be fine, sis.” She kissed her temple. Staying to watch her lower the sun, and raise the moon, she then parted company, and headed out to seek the last individual on her list. Somepony who'd always be near-and-dear to her heart.

*****

Trixie settled into her caravan, stepping from the basin she bathed in. Water dripped down her curves and from her breasts and nipples. She toweled herself off, then shrouded herself in a bathrobe and slippers. Slurping at her steaming tea, seated across from Starlight Glimmer, who drank from her own cup. “Come in,” called the witch when a knock came knowing who it was. “Baby, must you leave? It feels like we've spent so much time apart already. Surely there are more adventures for us here?”

“I've made up my mind. Sorry,” said Beatrix with a sad smile.

“Surely the Great and Powerful Trixie can come with you, then?” She twinkled her fingers at her.

“Not sure that's safe. I've learned to slice between dimensions, but what if nopony else can survive the trip? Plus, if something happened to me, you'd be stranded! Not to worry,” she added seeing her mom's eyes widen. “I need to do this.”

“Time to leave the nest,” said Starlight with a smirk. “Just don't end up like I did, okay?”

“Not a chance. No, I've come a long ways fast thanks to your lessons.” In a short time she'd taught her a number of advanced spells. “Sister'll need your help, I'm sure. I can take it from here. Until then, take care, won't you?”

Trixie bawled and hugged her daughter tight, making her heart ache with guilt. But if she stuck around here forever she'd never be able to grow much. “Trix...I love you baby,” she said dropping the act.

“Me too, mom. Me too.” She beamed. They finished one last meal together, a collection of fruits and vegetables, washed down by cider. At least it seemed likely all the magic siphoned from Equestria would return in time.

She waved, opened up a portal with a slice of her index finger, then walked into the oval to seek her destiny elsewhere.

*****

A new dawn fell upon Eden. Foal-Bearer and Wet Nurse stood hand-in-hand to watch the sun rise, the atmosphere having transformed them into human women, the Smooze having reconstructed that parallel world of humans to the best of his ability. A breeze kissed their naked flesh while they bore witness upon a hill, their faces drawn into tender smiles.

“I wish Shining Armor and Cadance could see this,” said Foal-Bearer.

“It's what they would've wanted,” replied Wet Nurse.

Blue skies with a few scattered white clouds settled in. Verdant greenery, fields and forests, a lake; wherever they looked it was unspoiled perfection. Like them the survivors who chose to stay were transformed into the mankind. Eldritch abominations had been transmuted into animals and insects, the land now teeming with life. Perhaps the twins were cut off from Equestria forever.

But they were perfectly content. And perhaps one day Beatrix Belladonna would return to visit them?

Author's Note

Thank you to everyone who read this story! Probably the last one I'll ever set directly in this continuity, though Beatrix may pop up in other stories since she can travel between dimensions. (And thus continuities.) Daddy's Little Darling is a sort-of sequel to this, showing a random adventure she gets up to afterwards.