“So, how does that feel?”

Raven examined herself in the large, full body mirror. She moved left, then back to the right so that both sides could be seen. Next, Raven turned to look back over her withers. Everything moved as perfect as she looked, except she chose to forego the glasses that her visual avatar had perched on the end of her nose like a naughty librarian. They would have been an unnecessary accessory and Raven did not actually need them anyhow.

Sunset and Twilight had set to work right away before their schedules consumed their time again at crafting and enchanting a magic stone, in this case, a beautiful opal, for Raven. Most illusions spells were for short term use, simple and easy to see through the numerous flaws they had. However, certain items, usually precious stones or crystals, could be enchanted for longer activation use without stressing a unicorn’s magic. Or, of course, for non-magic users.

Sunset had polished the stone to absolute flawless perfection to hold the spell and Twilight had then cast said spell herself to give Raven an identical recreation of her form from the PAAL screen just like Discord had rendered last year. It was so perfect that the princesses had to order wigs of real hair made so her mane would move properly when she turned or touched it. The same was true for her tail. The results were that Raven’s MAU appeared as a cream colored earth pony with honey brown eyes, light brown mane and tail, and wore a frilly collar pinned together by a gold encased opal that had a faint glow to it. Raven nodded her approval which made Sunset Shimmer smile.

“While I can sense there are object attached to my shell structure, I cannot feel them as you can. Now, if you ask me how do I look? I will say, I believe I look... wonderful.”

Sunset smiled, clapping her hooves. “You really do. I still want to try to work in some fashionable accessories that double as personal defenses later, but for now I think you’re ready for your first day of work.”

Raven tapped her chin in a manner she had seen other ponies do. Once again impressed at the flexibility of the new body. She ran her hoof through the attached mane again that was hanging loose and mostly to her right side. It could be pinned up, but she chose to leave it down for now and because it appealed to her. “Chief Royal Coordinator of the two diarchs and their personal assistants. Sounds like a bit of a mouthful. I am also guessing that such a position never existed before.”

“Because no one would have wanted it. The pony or griffon or whatever having to log, file, collate, and rehash all the happenings of day court and anything else the solar assistant threw in there to present to the assistant of the lunar throne and lunar princess, i.e., me, then file all that for the next day only to start over again. In addition, fend off annoying nobles, coordinate last minute meetings or things that the personal assistants miss. Sounds like a lot of work, long hours, and a thankless government job that doesn’t pay enough.”

Raven shrugged. “Sounds like the perfect job for me. The one the pathetic meat bags can’t handle and would whine about daily. Not to mention it technically gives me the same power as Isabella and Sable. Perhaps even makes me their boss. That could be interesting.”

“Yeeeah, I wouldn’t go around giving ponies that idea even if it MIGHT be true. Best to be equal and work together. You know, harmony, friendship, and all that, yaaaay.” Raven shrugged again. She must have picked that up from watching Gauge.

Raven turned away from the mirror and stared directly into the alicorn’s eyes, having no hesitations about meeting said gaze. “Sunset, there is one thing I wanted to ask of you, an indulgence, if you will.”

“Sure, what is it?”

Raven lowered her eyes a moment, before looking back up to meet Sunset’s compassionate teal orbs. “Two things, actually. First, since you are giving me a job and a title I feel as if I should have a full name as well. For that purpose, I wish to be officially known as Raven Sundown.”

“A play on my name, nice. I like it. Go ahead and update it in your settings profile if you have not already. And what's the other thing?”

“When it is just us. May I call you mother?” Sunset gasped and felt her heart swell as it pounded in her chest. It had been so long since a pony or girl had called her that word that she stumbled back a step and nearly fell to her haunches. Sunset felt herself begin to cry before she could stop it. “If that makes you uncomfortable just forget that I ask.”

“No! *ahem* No, I, I would like that very much, actually. But yeah, just between us for now. Maybe Twilight at a later point.”

Raven nodded in acknowledgment. “And how is your bubbly fiancé doing? I have not seen her the last two days while you helped prepare me for this conference.”

Sunset chuckled, gesturing to Raven to walk and talk, the movement caused the large ruby earring stud in Sunset’s left ear to sparkle a bit. “Twilight is over the moon and I’m not sure she has truly landed yet. When she said she has been waiting and wanting this she was not joking. After she finished with the enchantment spell for your opal broach she made an official announcement to all the newspapers and to be carried on to the Crystal Empire and beyond. I’m pretty sure I heard Cadence’s squee from here before she got ahold of her SunLight crystal.”

“Considering I do not know the limits of alicorn powers that is not entirely unbelievable.”

“Afterwards all her spare free time has been booked to planning. The next several weeks to possibly months are going to be quite interesting around here. Going to be a madhouse of charts and lists just to set the date. Then, guests lists, invitations, paper patterns, caterers, music, and so on, and so on…”

“You do not sound as enthused as Twilight seems to be.”

Sunset shrugged as they continued to stroll down the hall from Raven’s new office/room that was not far from Isabella’s. Sunset had considered giving her old, personal suite to Raven, but had preferred to keep it as her own sanctuary when needed. Plus, it was more efficient workwise to have Raven closer to the Royal suite. Currently the room only consisted of a desk, office supplies, file cabinet, power node with custom hookup to a small induction pad, and a balcony to look out upon the courtyard… or use the sun as a charger. Everything a PAAL could want.

“I’m happy she’s happy, but to be honest I would have been perfectly fine with a quick ceremony with only our friends and then a public statement and less… spectacle. But this is Twilight’s dream wedding. From what I understand this is the one she has been dreaming for since she was a filly. She can plan every detail until her heart’s content.”

“Probably the wisest course of action would be to let her choose all the details and only offer input when it is asked.”

“Bingo.”

The two were met at the end of the hall that led to the courtyard garden by the thestrals Sable Nimbus, who was looking as sharp and dapper as ever in her dress top and short red mane styled to one side of her head, and Captain Fog Gauge in his full dress armor, helmet in hoof.

“Good afternoon, Princess Sunset, and… have we finalized a title for Raven yet?” asked Sable, scratching at the side of her head.

“Chief Coordinator is the most simple variant of the full title,” said Sunset with a wave of her hoof. Sunset’s captain and personal assistant nodded, happily saluting to them both.

“I look forward to working side by side with you, Chief Coordinator Raven,” Sable said with a pearly fanged smile.

“How bad does it look out there, captain?”

Fog arched his brow and then slid his helmet back on. “Let’s just say it is a good thing you have your armor on, my princess. You are about to face down your second least favorite onslaught.”

Sunset sighed. “Yay. Nosey reporters and newspaper writers. How strong be the hordes' forces?”

“As far as I could tell before retreating to come collect you, every major paper in Equestria and many smaller tabloid magazines. At least two Empire reporters, a griffon who had Griffonstone credentials, if a bit flimsy, and, surprisingly, an official dragon messenger who will take notes and then magically pass the information directly back to Dragon Lord Ember.”

“Huh. How about that.” Sunset straightened her circlet crown helm and checked to make sure her cape looked clean and wrinkle free. She only wore it for special occasions and obviously this qualified. Sunset eyes turned back to Raven who had been standing... well like a robot. Silently listening to the exchange. They would have to work in private on more relaxed poses and body language or suspicions and rumors were sure to arise. They probably would anyhow, but better to be prepared. “You ready or do you need more time?”

Raven raised her head and brushed a non-existent speck of dust from her shoulder. “Unlike you meat bags, I do not feel anxious and I am always ready to be of service.”

Sunset Shimmer snorted, rolled her eyes, and gestured to the ornate double doors that led outside. “After you.”

The lunar and solar guards at the doors saluted as the entourage approached. With a gesture of approval from Sunset the guards opened the doors to the tranquil courtyard garden where the reporters had been instructed to gather for the first open press conference since Twilight’s announcement of their engagement. Twilight had offered to lead the conference herself, but Sunset had waved her off and gladly stepped up so as to not disrupt Twilight’s already busy schedule. Besides, they’ll get their hooks into her plenty of times before we finally do this and this way she’ll owe me one that I can collect in my own delicious way. Mwhahaha!

The cameras flashed and after a respectful bow by all those present, the barrage of questions came one after another. Gauge and Sable took up positions on either side of Sunset and waited while Raven stepped up to the podium and smiled. She scanned the crowd, making notes of who was who and all the different questions being asked. She then raised her hoof to silence them.

“Good afternoon, everypony, every creature, and thank you for coming. Let me begin our beautiful afternoon by introducing myself. I am Chief Royal Coordinator of the diarchy, Raven Sundown. I will be personally handling all direct correspondence to the diarchs and acting as liaison between Isabella Windsong and Sable Nimbus on numerous tasks from here on out. Get used to seeing me and be prepared to deal with me directly on all things related to the new couple-to-be from here on out.”

Sunset gladly sat back and watched with a little smile on her face as Raven handled the crowd of reports better than any pony she had ever seen. Hard to make a pony sweat who does not have sweat glands.

“With that formal matter settled, we will open the floor to questions on the topic of the day. Yes, the earlier announcement by Princess Twilight Sparkle was absolutely true and still stands. The princesses of Equestria are now engaged to be married.”

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of questions once more.

Author's Note

This was originally the end epilogue of the story and I had put a bow on it, but even before Chapter 9 dropped I felt like I left too much unfinished in the human world and I noticed in the comments that others felt the same way, so I am glad I extended the end and made a new epilogue, which will drop on Wednesday I think. I hope this feels like a good, satisfying ending.

Questions? Comments?