“SUNSET SHIMMER, COME OUT!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!!! COME OUT HERE NOW YOU TWO FACED BITCH!!!!”

The battle that took place a few hours ago had the city in a panic, per the deputy mayor’s orders, the entire city was to be evacuated until the current threat was over. Many of the Canterlot City citizens have been through enough of these supernatural attacks to know that it was better to get out while the getting was good than to stick around and become collateral damage. The rich people around Shimmer Manor had hightailed it the moment that the mayor declared a state of emergency, every compound around Shimmer Manor was devoid of any residence, which was good because no one needed to see this.

After Sunset had brought Twilight’s body to the nearest hospital, she called Shining Armor and told him what hospital he took Twilight to, and she told him she was dead. Sunset had never heard a grown man cry before in her life, not even back in Equestria, and it was a sound that she never wanted to hear again. There was so much pain, so much hurt in his wails that it nearly tore Sunset’s soul in half. However, that wouldn’t be the last of the sobbing she would hear today. Immediately after doing that, she headed over to Rarity’s to ask for some clothes to change into.

When Rarity asked why she didn’t go back to her home, she just told her that that place wasn’t her home anymore. She was going to have to tell the girls sooner rather than later, but there was too much to unload right now, first thing she had to do was go back to the hospital and see to the Sparkle family. Sunset had stored the clothes in the Witchblade gemstone and flew back to where she had stashed her bike, thank Faust for small miracles because it was still there, and undamaged. After getting dressed Sunset headed to the hospital, in the lobby she found Cadence, her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

Part of Sunset didn’t want to go to her, a part of her didn’t want to be here at all. Because she knew that the moment that she told them who killed Twilight, they wouldn’t be able to look at her without seeing the face of the person responsible for the death of their loved one. Even so, Sunset walked over to Cadence and greeted her. The older woman brought Sunset into a tight hug as she cried again, and Sunset cried as well, unable to hold back her own sorrow. She was led by Cadence to the morgue where Night Light, Velvet, and Shining Armor were. Behind the glass the body of their beloved daughter lied, cold and lifeless. Shining Armor was seated on the floor, his back pressed up against the dividing wall between the viewing area and the morgue itself.

Shining Armor looked so hollow, like he too had died as well. But it was a living death, one that rendered him a shell of the man that he was. He had seen many things during his time as a detective in the CCPD, many of them involving death, but Sunset knew that this was different, with those cases, there was always the benefit of dissociation, they weren’t his family or friends, he felt sad for the victims of the crimes, but this was his family, his little sister. This was someone who he promised he’d protect since the day he first laid eyes on her, that was his Little Sister Best Friend Forever, but forever ended, nothing lasts forever.

Night Light was currently consoling his distraught wife, Velvet, who seemed like she hadn’t stopped crying. Every step towards the Sparkle family felt like gravity was increasing, trying to crush Sunset with the weight of her failures. But no matter what, they deserved to know the truth, Shining Armor especially. All three noticed her presence, Velvet broke away immediately and hugged Sunset fiercely. She must’ve thought that she was Sun, of course she did, it only made sense that their daughter’s girlfriend would come. And for a minute, Sunset was wondering if she should pretend to be Sun, lie to them, tell them that Twilight died because of some supernatural incident. But she knew that Cadence and Shining would see right through her lie, Velvet and Night Light would buy it, but they wouldn’t.

“Mrs. Velvet…I’m sorry…but I’m not my little – I’m not Sun.”

Velvet broke the hug a little and looked upon Sunset. “Even so, I can tell you’re just as heartbroken as we are.”

“I am…”

“What happened to her…?” Shining Armor asked in an emotionless tone. “The…The doctors said she had no wounds…she’s just…dead.”

“I didn’t want her have any scares or wounds when you all saw her…” Sunset broke away from Velvet and walked a couple of steps to the viewing window and placed her hand upon the glass as she stared at Twilight’s body. “I did the same thing for Applejack; I healed the damage to her body so that…that the Apple family could have an open casket for her.”

Velvet and Night Light were confused as to what she meant, but Cadence and Shining Armor knew.

“Then what killed her…” Shining Armor turned his head towards Sunset. “…Or is it a who?”

Sunset sighed as she closed her eyes. “A who…and…it’s someone who’s betrayed us all.” Sunset turned her head to look upon Shining Armor, Night Light, and Velvet who returned to her husband’s side, as well as Cadence who joined the family. “The one who killed Twilight was…Sun. She killed her.”

Shining Armor’s eyes squinted into dangerous slits, and Cadence’s eyes flew wide open in shock as she clasped her hands over her mouth. Night Light’s jaw hung open, while Velvet was shaking her head in disbelief.

“No…No dear y-you must be mistaken…” Velvet spoke. “Sun adored Twilight, she…she protected her when they were at Crystal Prep, they were in love…! She…She wouldn’t do that to her!”

“I wish I was lying,” Sunset banged her hand against the glass, “I really, really wish I was lying about this! But I was right there when she did it!”

“This…This doesn’t make sense! Why would she do it! Why would Sun kill Twily?! Why would she kill my baby girl?!” Night Light asked.

Sunset directly looked at Shining Armor, a kind of silent understanding passed through them, which prompted him to stand back up.

“Twily was responsible for the Crystal Prep Massacre,” said Shining Armor with that same emotionless tone.

“That’s a load of bullshit, Son!” Night Light accused as he released his wife, he then turned Shining around and grabbed fistfuls of Shining’s shirt as he stared his son dead in the eye. “Twily was a victim! She always has been! Do you honestly believe your sister capable of killing anyone?! Let alone an entire school’s worth of people?!”

“If I didn’t see it for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it either…”

Velvet trembled, but she had the wherewithal to ask, “HOW?! She was a genius, but even she can’t orchestrate something like that!”

“I know how…” Sunset spoke up. “Twilight was in possession of a powerful magical Artifact, it altered her body, granting her powers. Powers that allowed her to do almost anything.”

“Sunset, I know we’ve all seen a lot of strange things here in this city, but you can’t expect me to believe that my own daughter was in possession of a–!”

The sleeve around Sunset’s right arm tore apart as the Witchblade coated that arm in armor. Metal wires with bladed tips undulated back and forth like snakes, waiting for the command of their wielder. “I’m the Witchblade, I’m the one who’s fought against the evil things that have tried to kill everyone in this city and nearly the world. Sun has an item that allows her to wield and control the elemental force of fire itself. She helped me fight during the war between the Angelus and the Darkness, and she helped me in some the more recent incidents that have happened in the city. But all this time…she was playing me…playing all of us.”

“W-What do you mean?” Cadence asked.

Sunset went into the long explanation of why Sun did what she did, the death of her parents, the search for the Thirteen Artifacts, the mission of revenge on the murderer, and the plan to remake the world. All the while, the Sparkle family was listening, at times Night Light and Velvet tried to deny what Sunset said, but Shining Armor backed Sunset’s claims, which also allowed him to reveal that he was working with Witchblade during the Mystery Murders, and that it was Sunset who helped him close the cases with the power of the Witchblade. Eventually, Night Light and Velvet sat down on the bench on the opposite wall, they couldn’t believe this, but the proof was right there on Sunset’s arm.

“Shining…go and arrest that little bitch…” Night Light demanded.

“That’s not an option, Mr. Night Light,” said Sunset.

“I’M NOT GOING TO LET THE MURDERER OF MY DAUGHTER JUST WALK AROUND FREELY!!!” he bellowed. “She took my little girl from us! She took her away, she said she loved her, they were in love! You…You don’t do that to the person you love!!!”

The sadness and hurt in Sunset was still there, but it seemed her tears had stopped falling. Shining Armor walked past her, which made Sunset call out to him, “Where are you going, Shining?”

“I’m a cop, there’s going to be a lot of chaos out there…I need to go and help out.”

“Shining–!” Night Light started.

“Stop it, Night!” Velvet interrupted. “Just…Just let him go…he needs this…”

Sunset moved a little closer and said, “I hate to say this, but Sun’s effectively kicked you guys out of her home…if you want, I can ask my Mom if she’ll let you guys stay over tonight–?”

“Stay away from us,” said Night Light in a harsh tone.

Sunset paused and took a step back, her heart stinging from the venom in his words.

“You and your ‘sister’, or whatever she is, have done enough…just leave us alone…!”

Cadence turned to Twilight’s father and said, “Mr. Night Light, please, that’s not fair to Sunset! She cares about Twily too! She may not be in love with her, but she saw her as a dear friend!”

“Please…Please just go…Sunset,” said Velvet.

Sunset clenched her armor-clad fist as a fresh wave of tears threatened to pour from her eyes. She quickly turned around and said in a calm voice, “I understand…I’m sorry, for all of this…” Sunset ran out of the morgue and out of the hospital. She didn’t spot Shining Armor’s car around, but something told her that he wasn’t going to work.

Which brought us to now, with the distraught, grief stricken big brother slamming his fists against the front gate entrance to the manor. His car’s front was damaged, having been used as a battering ram to try and break down the gates, but the gates wouldn’t budge, so he resorted to yelling and screaming, trying to call out Sun to face him.

“SUNSET SHIMMER, FUCKING COWARD, COME OUT HERE AND FACE ME YOU LIEING PIECE OF SHIT!!! YOU KILLED MY LITTLE SISTER!!!”

Sunset’s bike stopped next to his car, she dismounted and just stood there. She knew she could haul him away from here very easily, but then he’d just be kicking and screaming the whole time. At this point it was best to let him get it all out, besides, it wasn’t like Sun was going to show herself. That’s when Sunset spotted movement from the manor, one of Sun’s sports cars came down the driveway and stopped just in front of the gate.

Sun got out of the car, her eyes were just as red and puffy as Sunset’s were. “Sorry…I needed some time.”

Shining Armor wasted little time and drawing his gun and firing multiple shots at Sun through the bars of the gate. Sun’s body jerked from each shot as Shining Armor emptied the clip into her. Once it was out, he swapped out the clip for a full one and continued barraging Sun, riddling her body with bullet holes. Shining stopped when he had emptied all three of his pistol clips, the barrel of the gun smoking from the repeated firing.

Sun’s body was riddled with bloody gunshot wounds, but after a moment, all the wounds ignited and healed, leaving Sun uninjured.

This did not seem to deter Shining Armor, who rushed to the trunk of his car and pulled out a shotgun, and an M4. Shining Armor resumed his barrage by unloading as many of the shotgun shells as he could into Sun. Slug rounds punched deep holes into Sun’s body, splattering blood and parts of her internal organs all over the place. After a minute, Shining ran out of shotgun shells and Sun healed herself. He moved on to his M4 and began unloading again, the air was filled rapid fire gunshots as he riddled Sun once again with more hot lead. Shining went through two more clips before he had run out of ammo. The grieving brother panted heavily, having cried and screamed at the top of his lungs throughout his barrage. Sweat beaded down his brow along with his tears, and his arms shook from the strain of repeated recoil from the weapons.

Most of Sun’s clothes were completely torn apart, but she could care less right now. “Are you done, Shining Armor? If you have a knife, I’ll let you gut me if that’ll help?”

“Fuck you,” he replied in a hoarse voice.

Shining tossed his weapons onto the ground and sat in the driver’s seat of his car.

“I wasn’t kidding…”

“What the hell do you want?” Sunset asked.

Sun looked at her twin and sighed. She walked to the backseat of her car and pulled out a box, and then another one. After stacking both boxes on top of each other, Sun used her flames to fly over the gate and land on the other side. The rich girl placed both boxes on the ground before Sunset and jetted back to the other side.

“What’s in the boxes?” Sunset asked.

“The first one has…” Sun choked up. “Has Twilight’s personal stuff…her clothes mostly. The second has her things, like her computer and some of her books…” Sun looked at Shining Armor and asked, “If you’re willing to wait, I can go back and pack up the rest of her books? I just wanted to bring out this much to show you what I was doing…”

Shining spared his sister’s killer a quick glance, he then nodded his head in confirmation.

Sunset crossed her arms and scoffed. “One would think that would be the first thing you took care of.”

Sun gripped her right arm hard. “The moment I go into that room…I can smell her, feel her…it just reminds me that she’s gone…”

“And whose fault is that, SUN?!” Sunset shot back.

Sun didn’t respond, instead she moved to the right side of the car and took out another pair of boxes. She jetted back to the other side and left them next to Twilight’s boxes. “Those are your things…I put some of your clothes in the top one, the bottom has some of your drawing stuff, laptop, and your magic journal. I figured you’d want that more than anything.”

Sunset was honestly surprised to hear that she did that, she removed the first box and opened the second, and indeed the magic journal that connected her to Princess Twilight was there. “Do you expect a thank you?”

“No…I don’t expect anything. I’ll be back, after I change my clothes, and get Sparky’s things together,” said Sun as she got into the car and headed back inside to get more of Twilight’s things.

Sunset walked to Shining Armor’s car and leaned against the left passenger side door. “……You know, she could’ve killed you at any time, right? She didn’t have to let you shoot her.”

“I was expecting her to,” said Shining Armor.

“So, what was this? You wanting to commit suicide?” Sunset asked incredulous.

“Probably…”

Sunset reached into the car and pulled Shining Armor out, she glared daggers into his eyes as she gritted her teeth. “Do you think Twilight would want you to die?!”

“She’s gone…and apparently I didn’t know my little sister as well I thought I did…she was suffering…she was in pain…I’m a fucking detective, I’ve taken courses in how to spot abuse and trauma…and yet…and yet I couldn’t see any of that! If I had…none of this would’ve happened! She wouldn’t have to get involved with that bitch! And she could’ve led a normal life!” Shining cried.

Sunset released the grieving brother and scoffed. “Let’s get something straight, she was a genius, normal went out the window a long time ago. Second, it’s because she knew you, of all people, would know what to look for is why she hid it so well! You, the person she was closest to! It’s not your fault that this happened, did she ever once blame you for not doing anything to help her?!”

Shining Armor began to cry as she said, “No…”

Sunset softened her expression and gave Shining a hug. “She loved you, Shining Armor, just remember her as she was.”

The two hugged for a good minute before separating, Shining Armor sat in the driver’s seat again, while Sunset took a seat in the back. The police detective glanced briefly at her and asked, “Are you planning on fighting her tomorrow? You could go and get her now.”

Sunset sighed. “I…I need time to process all of this, plus…I need to tell my friends that Fluttershy’s dead…and her folks…shit…I have to see the family of someone else I love cry from loss…damn you Sun.”

“She said she’s going to rewrite the world, make it so none of this ever happened, do you believe her?” Shining asked.

“I thought it was bullshit. I come from a world of magic, and there’s nothing there that even comes close to that kind of power, but…” Sunset looked at her bracelet. “The Witchblade confirmed it, once all thirteen are gathered together, the person who does can change reality into whatever they want.”

“Then why don’t you?”

Sunset blinked and then turned her head towards Shining Armor. “What did you say?”

“Beat Sun, take her Artifact or whatever it is, beat this mystery man, and then change everything. Personally, after what she’s done, even if I believed she was going to do that, I wouldn’t want to live in a world that she created, whether I remembered it or not.” Shining Armor turned his head to meet Sunset’s gaze. “But you, on the other hand, I trust you. If it was you who was going to recreate the world, I’d have no regrets about the world ending.”

Sunset shook her head. “You…You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“So, you’re telling me you’d rather live in a world where Twily’s dead, Fluttershy, Applejack, and all these people are dead?”

Sunset opened her mouth to say something, but whatever words were going to come out died on her tongue as she closed her mouth.

“If there’s anyone on this planet who is trustworthy enough to change everything for the better, than it’s you. Fuck that other Sunset, as far as I’m concerned, you’re one true Sunset Shimmer of this world. And as such, you have the right to change everything for the better. You said you wanted to protect people with your power, this is the best way to do it,” said Shining Armor.

Such thoughts were far from her mind after everything that had happened, her plans hadn’t gone far beyond defeating Sun and defeating this “Thirteen” guy but Shining Armor did make an important point. When everything was settled, if she was lucky, Sunset would be the last one standing with all of the Thirteen Artifacts, which meant she would be the one who could change everything. But…was she really ready for that kind of power, for that kind of responsibility?

Sunset had gathered her friends at Celestia’s home, the Sparkles decided to stay at Cadence and Shining’s place for the time being until they evacuated. Understandable, why would they want to be anywhere near the person who looks like their daughter’s killer? A couple of hours ago, Sunset informed the remainder of her close friends, as well as Celestia and Luna, about the passing of Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. She told them everything, Sun’s plan, this mystery man who was coming for the Artifacts, and the power of the Thirteen Artifacts to change all of reality.

Granted this was heavy information to unload on all of them, but Sunset believed they deserved to know the stakes of what was to happen in the next twenty-four hours, because depending on what happened, either Sun or Thirteen would change the world forever, or…well…Sunset didn’t know what she would do if she won. Naturally, everyone was crying, Sunset didn’t, she was too tired to cry, her heart hurt just the same as theirs, but she was too emotionally tried to start crying again. Out of all the assembled people, it was Rainbow Dash who cried the hardest, she had brought her now girlfriend, Lightning Dust along, and it was a good thing she did.

Lightning Dust was holding Rainbow Dash as she thrashed about on the floor, releasing wails of sorrows at the loss of her childhood friend. When she seemed to finally calm down, Rainbow turned her rose colored eyes onto Sunset. “You’re going to do it, right?”

“Do what?” Sunset asked from her seat in the recliner.

“Change everything, you’ll erase all of this bullshit and make it so Fluttershy and Applejack are alive again, right?!” Rainbow asked louder.

“I…I don’t know…” Sunset answered.

“What the fuck do you mean ‘you don’t know’?! The answer’s easy, FUCKING YES! I don’t give a shit if you bring back that bitch Sun or Twilight, just bring Applejack and Fluttershy back! And, while you’re at it, erase Twilight and Sun from existence!” Rainbow Dash stated.

Lightning patted Dash on the back and said, “H-Hey, Dash, c’mon, you don’t mean that last part…”

“The hell I do!” Rainbow retorted as she pushed Lightning Dust away. The star athlete of CHS stomped over to Sunset and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. “Tell me! Tell me you’re going to make everything right when you win!”

“……”

“WELL?! I’M WAITING?!” Rainbow demanded.

“Rainbow Dash, that is enough,” said Celestia in a harsh tone. “Can’t you see this isn’t an easy decision for Sunset!”

“Sorry, Ms. Celestia, but it’s a pretty fuckin’ easy decision as far as I’m concerned! Or maybe it’s because you don’t want to fight her! Is that it?! All that sister this and sister that bullshit you two have been spouting since you met! Are you just going to let her win?! Well screw that!”

Rainbow Dash released Sunset, she used her right hand to grab ahold of Sunset’s right forearm, and with her left hand, she pulled at the Witchblade bracelet.

“Dashie, what are you doing?!” Pinkie asked incredulously.

“What’s it look like! Since she’s not willing to do what’s needed, I’ll use the Witchblade and kill that bitch Sun myself! You can have it back when that other guy shows up!” Rainbow explained.

“Let go of the bracelet, Rainbow…he doesn’t like it when people try to separate him from his wielder…” Sunset warned.

“Shut the fuck up you goddamn coward!”

The bracelet’s ruby gemstone shined as the metal strands came alive, multiplying rapidly as they wrapped themselves around both of Rainbow’s arms and tied them together. The Witchblade hoisted the tomboy into the air and then threw her against the floor before returning to the bracelet.

“For the record, he’s being nice and considerate of my feelings. Normally he kills whoever does that, but since I’ve lost another friend, he’s not about to cause me more grief.” Sunset got up from the chair and started heading for the stairs. “Besides…you don’t have what it takes to wield the Witchblade, Rainbow. You don’t want this. Everyone should leave the city was soon as they can, I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. This is going to be bigger than the fight with Neighsay, I can feel it. And I’d rather not have any of you here when that happens.”

Sunset didn’t stay behind to see if they said anything more, she went to the guest room where her things were put after Shining Armor dropped her off. Most likely he, Cadence, Mr. Night Light, and Mrs. Velvet have left the city by now. Sunset had told Celestia and Luna to leave earlier, but she knew they wouldn’t while she was still here, and at some point, the national guard would come and make them leave. Sunset sat on the bed, burying her face in her hands as her mind wrestled with so many things. Hate, anger, sorrow, hope, disbelief, and worry, all of these and more were swirling about her in a huge chaotic storm that threatened to tear her apart from the inside out.

A knock came at her door, Sunset looked up and saw Pinkie Pie standing in the doorway. “Hey, Sunny.”

“Hey, Pinkie…”

The pink party girl walked over to Sunset, she then sat down next to her and leaned against her right side. “You should go back to Equestria, Sunset.”

Sunset blinked in surprise. “Why?”

“I think I know part of the reason why you didn’t answer Dashie, you’re afraid of what will happen to Equestria if you use that power to change our world, right?” Pinkie asked.

Sunset chuckled, leave to her girlfriend to figure it out. “Yes, that’s a big part of the reason why I don’t want to do it…Who am I to decide the fate of this world? And if I make that selfish decision, what happens to Equestria? What if I change the course of events back home and I mess everyone up! Princess Twilight might not become a Princess, Princess Celestia could be defeated by Nightmare Moon! I could even accidentally wipe out Equestria forever! And I’d be the only one who knew because I was the one who did it! I don’t…I don’t know how I can do this…!” Sunset, believing she couldn’t cry anymore, did so again.

“I’m…I’m really scared, Pinkie…! I don’t know what to do! I must fight Sun tomorrow, I must stop her, I have to stop this Thirteen person! But then…can I really keep going on in this world knowing that the people I care about most are dead?! Twilight was troubled, she didn’t deserve to die, neither did Fluttershy, or Applejack! Hell, not even Sun, not really! If it wasn’t for that Thirteen guy, she wouldn’t even be in this situation! She’s as much a victim in this as everyone else! This isn’t like the Wendigos or Neighsay, this is much, much worse! I can’t let Sun win because I don’t know what’ll happen to Equestria or what kind of world she’ll create, I want to believe her…but I don’t know! I can’t let Thirteen defeat me because this guy might create a living hell or make himself a god! Pinkie, what should I do?!”

Sunset gripped Pinkie Pie’s arms as she looked into her eyes with a pleading gaze.

“Please, tell me what I should do?!”

Pinkie Pie gently placed her hands on Sunset’s face and gave her a loving kiss on the lips. Sunset closed her eyes and melted into the kiss as she hugged Pinkie Pie closer to her, she needed this, she needed to be loved, to feel love, amidst all this pain and sorrow, love was something that dulled the aching in her heart. Pinkie ended the kiss and pressed her forehead against Sunset’s as the two shared in each other’s breath.

“Sunny, I can’t tell you what to do. Not me, Dashie, or anyone. But I do think you need to talk to someone you really, really trust right now. And I know that person, well, pony, lives in Equestria, so go there, stay there until tomorrow. Whatever you need to help you make your decision,” said Pinkie.

Sunset sniffled and hummed her agreement. “Pinkie…will…will you come with me?”

“Of course,” said Pinkie. “I’ve always wanted to see your home; it sounds super fun.”

“It is, it’s a wonderful place.” Sunset grabbed the journal and took up a pin.

Dear Princess Twilight,

There’s something urgent I need to speak to you about, but I have a request first. I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia, tell her I want to talk to her at your castle. It’s time I owned up to my mistakes.

Sunset stood in the mostly empty room that was once her girlfriend’s. She was alone again, she had everything, and no one. She was somewhat regretting giving Spike to Shining Armor, she could use the company right now. But that wasn’t fair to Spike, or to the Sparkles, he was Twilight’s dog, Spike was a part of their family, and he deserved to be with them. Sunset inhaled, taking in the aroma of the room. Twilight’s scent still permeated the room, as if she hadn’t left at all.

The rich teen walked to Twilight’s bed and lied down at the center in a fetal position, recalling the times that she and her girlfriend cuddled in this bed. “I’m sorry…Sparky…I’m so sorry…”

Sunset cried again, she cried off and on whenever she thought of Twilight, she cried even harder when the image of Twilight’s betrayal-stricken face popped into her mind. That look would haunt her forever, even if she succeeded in remaking the world, she would never forget that look. Everyone other than family hurt Twilight, she was shown no kindness from her peers, or the adults that were supposed to protect her. And then, Sunset appeared, she helped her, protected her, showed her kindness, compassion, and love.

And then, that very same person whom she loved and trusted with everything, took the one thing that none of the others managed to take from her, Sunset took Twilight’s life away. She could still feel the weight of her lover’s body in her arms, even now. It was such a strong tactile feeling that Sunset believed, for a moment, that she was really holding Twilight in her arms again. When she closed her eyes, she could imagine them cuddling again, Twilight wrapped in her arms as the sweet teen genius moved closer to her, believing that she was safe in Sunset’s arms, that nothing could harm her.

Little did she know, that one day, the same arms that once protected her, would kill her.

Sunset contemplated ending her life, she didn’t think killing Twilight would hurt so much, but it did. All the training she went through to build up her pain tolerance, every cut, impalement, gunshot she suffered paled in comparison to the wound in her heart. Sunset felt as if she had received the same wound as she gave Twilight, that the damage was mirrored on a spiritual level to her. It wouldn’t be hard to kill herself, all she had to do was take off the Ember Stone, and after that, she was as mortal as anyone else. From there she had several ways to do it, jumping off the roof of her home, getting her father’s pistol and swallowing a bullet, going into the kitchen and stabbing herself through the heart with a butcher’s knife, the list was endless.

The one thing that Sunset was sure of, she didn’t want it to be painless, she wanted it to hurt, she deserved to have her last moments of life be as painful as possible right up until she died. It would be easy, she just needed to take off the Ember Stone, she could give it to her other self before she did so. Or just leave it in her former sister’s old room with a note, spare her the trouble of fighting.

“Yeah…maybe that’s better…” Sunset drowned.

She walked into the other Sunset’s room and stood before the bed. Sunset carefully took off the Ember Stone, the gemstone at its center losing its shine as she placed it on the mattress. Sunset walked out of the room and down the stairs, she headed into the kitchen and found the butcher’s knife, a stab to the heart seemed like a poetic way to end things. She found a notepad and a pen and decided to write out her last thoughts.

Hey…Sis,

I know I have no right to call you that anymore, but…I just wanted to write it one last time. As you no doubt have seen, I’m dead, I thought I was strong enough to do this, I thought I could bear this until the end, but I’m weaker than I thought. I can’t forgive myself for what I did to Sparky…

I just wanted to avenge my parents, I wanted to bring them back, put things right…But then I met you and Twilight, and my life suddenly felt so much better. Despite the supernatural happenings and whatever, I loved having you here, I loved having someone I could call “family”.

I’m such an idiot. I should’ve just been grateful for what I had and lived on with you and Sparky. But it’s all my fault, if I hadn’t collected the Artifacts, the Coin of Solomon would have never chosen Twilight as its host, and then she would’ve never done what she did at Crystal Prep.

Anyway…if you’ve gotten this far, then, I just want you to know that I love you, Sis. You can hate me, you can curse me, and I’ll take it, but just know that I loved you, having you as a sister was the best thing I could ask for, aside from having Sparky as my girlfriend.

Love, your Little Sister Forever

Sunset “Sun” Shimmer

P. S.: Do not lose to Thirteen, no matter what, he can’t get the Thirteen Artifacts.

A few droplets of tears had hit the page and stained the note a little, but that was fine. She wasn’t going to write again. Sunset was about to head towards the stairs to end it all, but then…

*Bark!”

“The hell?” Sunset walked to the hole in the wall that was once her front door, and what she saw shocked her. “SPIKE?!”

The little purple pup barked and sat on his haunches as he looked up at her.

“What…What the hell are you doing here?! You’re supposed to be with your family!” Sunset stated angrily.

Spike titled his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Twilight’s gone Spike! She’s dead! She’s not here anymore! Just…Just go back to Mr. Night Light and Mrs. Velvet, they need you right now, not me!”

Spike whimpered as he got back on all fours and walked closer to Sunset, he then gave right leg a nuzzle of comfort.

“You…You stupid dog…why are you trying to comfort me?!” Sunset asked. “Don’t you get it?! Can’t you tell?! I KILLED YOUR MASTER! I KILLED THE PERSON WHO LOVED YOU, FED YOU, AND TOOK CARE OF YOU!!! WHY AREN’T YOU BITING ME?!!! YOU SHOULD BE RIPPING OUT MY THROAT!!!”

Spike just looked up at her with his big green eyes, full of kindness and understanding. It hurt.

Sunset dropped the knife and note, and then she fell to her knees as she scooped Spike into her arms and hugged him tight. The little dog offered no resistance, he could sense that Sunset was in pain, and needed his attention. Sunset bawled and screamed, she cried into the night, letting out all the sorrow and pain she was feeling. After a bit, she finally calmed down and loosened her hug, now cradling the little dog in her arms.

“Spike…you stupid mutt…you ran all the way back here for me?” Sunset asked.

Spike barked as if saying, “Yes!”

“God, you’re…something…You must be thirsty and hungry, little guy like you running all the way here on those short legs. C’mon, I think I still have some of your dog food lying around.”

Sunset brought Spike into the kitchen, popped open a can of his dog food, and poured it onto a plate along with a bowl filled with water. Spike eagerly dug into the meal and lapped up the water greedily. Sunset sat on the floor next to Spike, just watching him eat and drink. She glanced at the knife and note that were still on the floor, her fists tightened up and she was suddenly filled with a deep anger, for herself.

“What’s wrong with me?!” Sunset walked outside through the gaping hole where her front door used to be.

“This path was not mine; it wasn’t my call
But Destiny said, ‘You’re wrong little girl’~
Through all of your pain,
You’ll harness the fire and see your gain…

Saw fit to burn every bridge
That was fine I can take any grudge
But as time moved on
I felt like a pawn, and I lost the way~

Suddenly I’ve lost my bonds, I’ve lost my love
I’ll lose my soul, but I’ll still strive
‘Til there’s only one path left to choose~”

Sunset grabbed the note on the floor and went upstairs, she stormed into her former sister’s room and held the Ember Stone in her hands.

“So, I’ll fight with all my might,
I will take on all that hate,
Because I know, there’s nothing left to lose~!”

Sunset placed the Ember Stone back on around her neck, the gemstone shined back to life and Sunset’s eyes briefly glowed bright orange before returning to normal. The flame haired teen took out the note and burned it in her hand until it was ash. Sunset exited the room and walked back into Twilight’s room, she then sat on the bed, but paused when she noticed Spike there in the doorway.

“Come here, boy,” said Sunset with her arms open.

Spike scampered up to Sunset, he then jumped up into her arms where she cradled him once more. The troubled teen laid down and placed Spike next to her, with his belly full, the exhaustion from his long trek finally took hold and he began to nod off. Sunset petted him gently, helping the young pup drift into slumber. Tiredness finally befell Sunset as her eyelids grew heavy.

“I won’t give up, I’ll bring her back, Spike…I’ll…I’ll bring her back…”

Sunset and Pinkie had arrived in Equestria, and it was a wild ride for the pink teen. The unicorn mare believed that Pinkie would have a hard time adjusting to her new body, but, somehow, Pinkie was walking around as if she had done this before. It utterly perplexed Sunset, but then again, it was Pinkie Pie, should she really be this surprised?

Princess Twilight was there, and so was the one pony that Sunset had avoided for years and months. Princess Celestia, as regal as ever, stood next to Princess Twilight, her expression was one of shock when she saw Sunset emerge from the portal, but Sunset wore an expression of guilt.

“Hello…Princess Celestia,” said Sunset.

“Sunset…is it really you?” she asked.

Sunset nodded.

The solar mare walked closer towards Sunset, the air felt tense around them, making even Pinkie and Twilight nervous. Sunset had not seen her former mentor since the day she spurned her teachings and ran away. Years had gone by in the human world before the portal reopened, and even after Twilight figured out a way to open the portal whenever they wanted, not once had Sunset made the effort to come back and reconcile with the Princess. Now, on the brink of possible universal upheaval, Sunset finally had the guts to face the ire of the one pony she respected above all others, the mare who was practically her second mother.

Sunset sighed and looked up at the alabaster mare and said, “I’m sorry…I’m sorry for acting like such an entitled brat, I’m sorry for throwing away all the values and lessons you tried to instill in me, and I’m sorry for accusing you of holding me back…You were right all along, I wasn’t worthy of becoming a Princess, to become an alicorn…” Sunset glanced to Twilight and smiled. “I’m happy you found a pony that succeeded where I failed you…I came back so that if you wanted to punish me for my past transgressions then now is the time. Because, come dawn tomorrow…I’m not sure if any of us will still be here…”

Princess Celestia flared her wings, creating a “whoosh” of air that made the books rattle. The alabaster alicorn took one more step forward, and Sunset closed her eyes, awaiting the punishment she knew she deserved. However, she was not expecting the gentle embrace of the Princess’ downy feathers, and the Princess lowering her neck to rest it over Sunset’s right shoulder.

“I’ve missed you my little Sun…” Princess Celestia spoke gently.

The dam finally broke for Sunset as she moved closer and nuzzled her face into Princess Celestia’s neck, crying the tears she had been holding back since she stepped hoof before her.

“Twilight has told me of your exploits, I’ve heard how you’ve saved countless lives in the other world. The moment I laid eyes upon you I could see just how you have grown. You’re no longer the filly that I once taught, you’ve grown into a strong and wonderful mare. And I couldn’t be prouder of the pony you have become.”

Sunset cried louder, hearing the words she longed for, the acceptance she craved, it was there, Princess Celestia meant every word. Both mares broke apart for a moment to sit on their haunches, Princess Celestia opened her forelegs and drew Sunset into a big hug, adding her wings for extra comfort. Sunset just continued to bawl, this time into her former mentor’s chest fur. Twilight and Pinkie stood silently to the side as they watched teacher and student finally put the past behind them.

Some hours passed but eventually Sunset was able to calm down enough to explain to the two Princesses why she had come. She informed them of everything that had happened in the last few hours back on Earth, along with the potential of the universe being altered permanently. To say that Twilight and Princess Celestia were stunned would be a gross understatement, there wasn’t a magic old enough in all of Equis that had the power to do what these Thirteen Artifacts could. Eventually their conversation brought them to the balcony of Twilight’s castle, where Sunset was able to look upon the Equestrian night sky. The difference in constellations was stark in comparison to Earth, some were similar, but the majority were not.

She breathed in the air of her homeland, felt the gentle breeze as it blew through her mane and fur. She lit her horn, letting herself feel the familiar hum of the magic that resided in her world. It was like an old friend that she hadn’t seen in so long, happy to see her and she it. Pinkie Pie walked over and stood next to her, her eyes went as wide as saucer plates as she beheld the beauty that was Equestria, at night. She said nothing, she simply enjoyed the moment, standing here with her girlfriend, finally getting a chance to see the home of her lover.

Princess Celestia and Twilight were busy thinking over what Sunset had told them, it was a lot.

“What do think you want to do, Sunset?” Princess Celestia asked.

“A part of me, a very loud part, wants to use the Artifacts to fix everything. To bring back the lives that have been lost and change it all so that none this happens again…but there’s another part of me that’s afraid. Afraid of what might happen to Equestria if I use the power. I know the Witchblade said that it can alter reality, but what I don’t know is if that’s only limited to that universe or if it will spill over into Equestria.” Sunset turned around and faced the two Princesses. “I could accidentally screw up everything here! If I’m not careful, I might take away Twilight’s alicorn hood, I might change the world so that Princess Luna was the one who banished you to the moon, and she was the noble ruler of the land!”

Princess Celestia hummed as she thought about that. “It would be poetic justice, having me become the villain and my little sister finally being able to be loved and adored by everypony in my stead. It’s almost cathartic.”

“That’s what I’m trying to avoid! But if I don’t do anything…the world is going to be messed up…I’m not even sure what it will look like after the fight with Sun, let alone with Thirteen,” said Sunset.

Twilight stepped forward and gently took Sunset’s hoof into her own. “I know it’s a tough decision, and I don’t think there’s any right answer. But just know, that whatever decision you make, whether it is to not use the Artifacts, or if you do, we’ll accept the outcome.”

“Wha-What?!” Sunset gasped. “Aren’t you afraid of me screwing up everypony’s lives?!”

“We aren’t even sure if what you’ll do there will alter our realm, but Sunset, this a decision that only you can make. We won’t be able to help you in this upcoming battle, so you must make that decision based on what happens after it is over. And I agree with Twilight, whatever your decision is, I will accept it, and whatever happens to Equestria, I know you will make it right,” said Princess Celestia as she added her hoof to hers and Twilight’s.

Sunset looked between Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight, but then another hoof joined there’s. “Pinkie?”

“I’m with them, Sunny. Whatever you decide, don’t worry about Dashie, or Shining Armor. They’re not the ones fighting, and they can’t make you take on that burden if you’re not ready to. Just promise me one thing?”

“What?”

“If something happens to me, don’t use it an excuse,” said Pinkie in a serious tone. “If you do use them, do it because you want to make the world better, to save everyone, not just me. Understand?”

Sunset sighed heavily, she thought that coming back home might make her decision easier, but it hadn’t. However, she did feel better knowing that whatever her decision will be, in the end, she had the support of ponies and people who loved her and would abide by whatever that decision was. The final battle for the fate of the universe would be decided at dawn tomorrow, and Sunset didn’t know what would happen, but she felt as if all the trials and tribulations, the good and the bad, all of it was preparing her for this moment. Tomorrow, Sunset would find out what fate had in store for her and everyone.

Author's Note

Cheesy, I know, but I felt a musical number was warranted given how heavy things were