Heaven and Hell were interesting concepts. Many cultures throughout human and pony history for that matter had their own versions in one form or another and Sunset Shimmer had discovered through both research and a unique expedition that some of those stories had a little bit more than a seed of truth to them.

However, it was the concept of what is Heaven and what is Hell that were really weighing upon Sunset’s mind as she sat upon the lid of a toilet in the ladies restroom at the Electronics Buys, stall door locked, crying her eyes out while fighting down the audible sobs... and failing miserably. People associated being in Heaven with bliss and happiness while obviously Hell was eternal suffering and damnation. They were often surreal concepts resulting from one's own actions or inactions.

This led further down the rabbit hole as her mind fell in on itself and she heard a dark cackling in the distance. Shew knew the laugh and knew she deserved it. There was no point arguing with her darker self when everything the winged demon would say would be absolutely true. Instead, Sunset felt herself sitting in a defeated, crumpled pile of self hate while a black flame pattern boot pressed down on her head painfully.

You are so fucking pathetic sometimes, you know that?

Sunset shook her head and found herself once again in the small bathroom stall. She remembered retreating to the tiny fortress of solitude when she felt a need to sit down. Well, actually she had needed to throw up first, then sit down upon the commode after flushing and cry some more. Sunset had been through this kind of hell before, more times than she cared to recount. It never got easier and yet… here she was again.

Why the fuck am I here?! Why did I not go after her and just throw myself on the ground and apologize?! Why? WHY? WHY?! What in the name of Celestia and all that is holy is WRONG WITH ME?! I lost the love of my life once, why would I just stand there and let Twilight walk away like that?! I am such a fucking idiot! I’ve done some stupid shit in my life, but this? This is the Marzipan Mascarpone of fuckuppery! Sunset sobbed again, wrapping her arms around herself and squeezed her ribs till they hurt.

A beep from the PAAL currently resting on top of the toilet paper dispenser caught her attention and Sunset sat back while tears continued to stain her face. The holo projector lit and the animated pony head stared down at her with a dejected expression.

“The time is now two p.m.” Raven paused, looking to the stall wall or into cyberspace, it really did not matter. “There is still time to go after her.”

“You think I don’t fucking know that?!” Sunset Shimmer snarled. The vicious response lost much of its teeth when she began to sniffle and shudder again.

Raven grimaced, sighed, and closed her eyes. “This is my fault.”

“No, no it’s not. This was not your idea, it was mine. You can’t make me do anything. No one or pony has ever been able to MAKE me do anything I did not want or feel I had to do even my own damn mother. I wanted this for you. You deserve something nice.”

“Sunset,” Raven began, her digital eyes still downcast, “life is not about getting what one deserves. It is about living to the fullest with what one has and trying to do the best to make it all worth it in the end. I appreciate that you want to do this for me. You… you showed me more of the world, of the universe than any PAAL in existence. Of that I am certain.

“I… I was alive... living, breathing, eating, able to climb up on a stage and sing and dance and I loved every moment of it. I felt physical sensations and experiences that other Artificial Intelligence could not begin to fathom. Even though it was only for one day… I truly LIVED. No other artificial life can say that, at least not yet. And all of that was because you did not leave me behind. You could have abandoned me or even destroyed me when you left for Equestria, but you wanted me to come along. You showed me how deep love can go. And how far one is willing to go to protect those you love. And right now, the other half of your broken heart is crying her way towards a magic portal. A portal you need to be on the other side of.”

“Not without what I came for. You mean too much to me.”

Raven smiled warmly. If she had arms she would have reached out and pulled her owner and friend into them, tightly. “And you mean too much to me to have you sit here and wallow in misery for another two and a half years because you made the wrong decision by staying behind. This… this is not your world any longer, Sunset Shimmer. In truth, I do not believe it’s mine either.”

Sunset cocked her head to one side, mopping the tears away. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Does is not? WE have evolved, Sunset Shimmer. You and I. Certainly, coming back for a visit is a must, updates and whatnot, but… as much as I love my connectivity and my cameras and my vastly superior knowledge access and cloud storage… I love you more. I cannot stand to see you suffer and torment yourself and I do not wish to see it for another two and half years. Not again.”

Sunset smiled, sniffled again, but smiled through it. “I love you too.”

“As well you should. I am your future overlord and amazing, after all.”

Sunset giggled. It felt good to genuinely giggle after so much heartache. The cloud about her head and heart began to breakup and Sunset felt her demon smile at her, nod, and retreat back to the recesses of her mind. Sunset dried her face and blew her nose. Once cleaned up she turned her teal eyes to the holographic honey brown ones and smirked. “Getting a bit of a big head on you there, eh circuit for brains? You know you still have an off button.”

Raven smirked in turn. It was Sunset’s trademark smirk and she wore it well. She then winked and said, “I think I take after my mother.”

Sunset sighed and felt her heart swell, warming away all the pain and chill that had been freezing her soul from the inside out. The warmth spread throughout her in a pleasant way that was similar to when she was drawing from her mana well. It was soothing, equalizing, and it brought a much needed clarity to Sunset’s mind.

“Ahh, now there she is. The Sunset Shimmer the world both needs and sometimes should rightly fear.”

Sunset picked up her PAAL and reattached it to her hand. Raven was pleased that her basic biometrics scan revealed that while stressed, Sunset’s levels were falling back into normal parameters… well, as normal as a magical pony girl princess from another dimension could be.

Sunset exited the restroom after cleaning her face and fixing her hair. She found Fog Gauge where she left him, leaning against the wall, clearly lost in his own brooding turmoil. Sunset approached him and he turned his eyes to her, but was not fast enough or chose not to deflect the punch Sunset made to his shoulder. Gauge rubbed the spot, but did not make a sound or comment on how that actually stung.

“You, are a damn idiot.” Sunset kissed two of her fingers, then pressed them to Gauge’s lips. “But so am I. Thank you for sticking by my side anyhow.”

“My duty is my life, my princess. Even when it makes me question my own sanity from time to time.” Gauge smirked and nodded. “I am glad to see you are feeling better or at least less distressed. Does this mean we are leaving or that you have some sort of plan?”

“We are leaving, but I have one last desperate card to play. Honestly, it’s what I should have done the moment I walked through the door, but I got stuck inside my own damn head.”

“No pony is perfect, my princess.”

For some reason, Sunset concluded, it felt good to hear those words and her thoughts lingered on her mother, Celestia, and how many times she had said something similar with a wistful smile on her face. It was good lesson to remember. “Thanks for the reminder. Anyhow, if this doesn't work then... it’s Princess Shimmer time.”

“I have no idea what that entails, but I have a feeling it will involve something… dramatic. And possibly needing a hasty exit strategy.”

Sunset flashed her trademark smirk, cracked her knuckles, and then hardened her eyes. She checked the time once more. Less than an hour to go. “Probably both. Let’s do this.”

Sunset strolled back out onto the sales floor and struck a confident pose with her hand on her hip. “Someone do me a favor and go find the manager. I have a proposition for him to hear out.” The associates all stood about looking at one another. “Please, don’t make me be one of THOSE kind of customers.” No further explanation was necessary as one of the associates wandered off.

“Should I know the plan?” asked Gauge, whispering at Sunset’s side.

“I was just wondering the same thing,” Raven added.

“I’m going to ask nicely for them to give me the demo model that they have been using. I paid for a robot body. I’m leaving here with a robot body. They can have the other one when it arrives later.”

Gauge nodded. “Sounds simple enough. So, naturally I ask, where will this go wrong?”

“They say no again, I remove the existing PAAL in it, and pick the thing up and walk out with it.”

“Ah.”

“Well, it’s not TECHNICALLY stealing. You do have a receipt.” Raven helpfully displayed the payment receipt on her screen.

Sunset nodded and smiled at both of them. “This is going to work, one way or another.”

“Then we get to apologize to our soul mates.”

“Again.”

“Stupid meat bag organics. Never learn your lessons the first time.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Like he said, no pony is perfect.”

Raven waggled her eyebrows and grinned mischievously. “I am not ‘no pony’.” Sunset caught the reference and grinned.

Two minutes later, “Oh! Hey, Miss Shimmer! I have some good news for you.”

Suset turned to Sunrise Flash and smiled at him. “The only good news I want to hear is that the truck arrived and they are currently unloading my order because I have just baaaaarely enough time to make my time window and that will likely involve speeding across town as it is.”

Sunset expected the wince that Sunrise flashed her and leveled her eyes at him, unblinking. It was the look she gave nobles who were trying to pull a fast one on her. It made them exceedingly uncomfortable she had been told. Good.

“Sorry no, it's not here. Buuuut, I got off the phone with corporate and they have authorized me to give you an inconvenience refund discount on your order. I see you paid…” Sunrise checked the receipt again and had to blink a few times. “Wow, you really did over pay for this as it was. That ten percent off is no joke.”

Sunset smiled again... but it was a different kind of smile. Gauge knew THAT smile. It was a thin, tight lipped smile that showed no teeth and was not pleasant to be on the receiving end of. It as often accompanied with flared wings, glowing eyes, and a flaming sword. There was nothing pleasant about that smile. He immediately began double checking for where the store security was and the distance they were from the front door. Things were about to get… interesting.

“Sunrise, we’re family. If you go to the big house on Hannonn Street there are plenty of photos of me and the rest of our family there. So, I’m going to level with you on what is about to happen and I hope you make the right decision here. We both know I paid for my order, we both have the receipt, we both know a bot is on its way to this store, okay? You follow me?”

“Okay. I follow so far.”

“Good. So, with all that in mind, I am going to take your demo bot and then I’m going to walk out the store with it, get in a car, and be on my way. Now, I ask, as politely as I can, what are YOU going to do with that information?”

“I… um…” Sunrise fidgeted. He glanced about and quirked his lips and wrung his hands a bit.

Gauge kept his eye on the security guard who had been near the front door. The guard seemed to take notice of the situation on the sales floor and began to move in slowly. If it came to a fight Gauge was reasonably certain he could incapacitate him quickly even in a human body. Given the nervousness and slow backpedal steps others were making it was doubtful anyone else would interfere. Sunset Shimmer continued to stare down at her great grandson, steady and unflinching. Sunrise wrung his hands more and shifted his feet a bit.

After a minute of weighing his options Sunrise sighed, then smirked. “The DM will never know anyhow, fuck it.” Sunset arched an eyebrow and Sunrise nodded to her. “Take it. I’ll get its IDs swapped with the incoming model and no one will know the difference.”

Sunset smiled and gave her descendant a warm hug. “Thank you, thank you very much!”

Sunrise signaled for his associates to brink the MAU over so Sunset could insert Raven into the port. Raven powered up the unit and immediately readapted to the controls. She took a few steps to stand next to Captain Gauge.

“I have already signaled for a car to pick us up. We should hurry.”

Sunset nodded, then turned back to Sunrise. “You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Tell your mom, Dusk Sparkler, hi for me and next time you call or stop by the house to check out some old photos be sure to tell her and Timber Hill, ‘Mama Sunset says, hi’, okay?” Sunrise nodded and waved as the three quickly exited the store without incident.

Sunset ran her fingers through her hair and let out a long, deep breath. That had gotten more tense than she had wanted but had thankfully worked out. Now, was the next hard part. “Raven, time?”

“Two twenty-two, PM. Traffic to our destination has mild congestion, but no accidents reported. However…”

“However?”

“According to listed information Canterlot High School students release at two-thirty which will cause significant traffic delays once we get close. It is Friday afternoon. Traffic congestion and collisions are a possibility. Current estimated arrival puts us at forty-five minutes and that is likely to get worse. I advise we exit the vehicle at least two blocks before desired destination and run.”

Sunset grimaced. Twilight and Tempest should already be there or arriving soon. “We may not have the time to hoof it as close as we are already cutting this.”

“I do not see alternative options and last time I checked you did not have a spare mini helicopter or flying car at your disposal.”

“Too bad too,” Sunset said, turning her eyes to the sky, “I actually know how to fly a chopper.”

“Suggestions?” asked Raven, the bot’s face was actually capable of arching one of its painted on eyebrow. That was going to take some getting used to.

Sunset crossed her arms and closed her eyes. A moment later a four-door hatchback car pulled up and stopped before them. “Get in and… try not to panic with what I’m about to do.” Gauge and Raven echanged glances, but said nothing.

The passenger window rolled down and the young man who looked like he had graduated from high school yesterday looked up over the top of his sunglasses to match Sunset’s face with the one that the ride service had provided. Raven connected with the driver’s PAAL and sent the necessary ID codes. Once the driver had the green light, he unlocked his doors.

Gauge and Raven climbed in the back and Sunset slid into the front passenger seat. She knew what she had to do, had never practiced it before, but had no doubt she would be fast enough to pull it off. It was going to freak the kid out, but she would make it up to him.

Just before opening her door Sunset turned around and grabbed the collar of her shirt and intentionally ripped the V neck collar more, tearing a jagged plunge deep down her cleavage and exposing her bra. She turned back, opened the door and flashed the kid a smile, leaning over so he got an absolute eyeful view at her breasts.

“Hi!” said Sunset as high and bubbly as she could muster. Once the young man’s eyes shifted downward to her chest, Sunset made her move. As she was still leaned over Sunset pushed the park button on the center console with one hand and his seatbelt release with the other.

“What the…” Sunset quickly pressed her lips to the young man’s, her chest into his side as she moved her right hand next to the driver’s door latch and released it. With her other now free left hand she shoved the driver against the door and out to the parking lot. Before he could recover to what was happening, she hopped the center console, closed the door, and buckled herself into the driver’s seat.

“HEY! MY CAR!” Sunset waited for him to stand and, like the near child he was, tried to pull the door handle and bang on the window. She gestured with her head for him to climb in the passenger side door. He quickly scrambled around and jumped inside. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, lady? You can’t steal my car!”

“I’m not stealing it, I let you get back in, dipshit. I just need to do the driving because you won’t go the way we need to go.”

“What? Go where?”

“Not where so much as how.” Sunset put the car back into gear and floored the accelerator. All four wheels spun for a second before regaining traction.

“Shit! My car!”

“Put your seatbelt on and relax. I’ll compensate you, I promise.”

“The hell with this, bitch! Glory! Call po-”

Raven had reached across from the back seat and cuffed the young man on the left ear, eliciting a high pitched yelp. The sudden strike caught everyone in the vehicle by surprise, but only one painfully. Raven unbuckled herself from the seat and reached over Sunset’s shoulder to pull the other PAAL unit from its cradle in the dashboard. She dropped it unceremoniously into the former driver’s lap and fastened her belt again.

“Huh,” Sunset said, daring to take her eyes from the road for a second to look up in the rearview mirror at Raven who looked rather smug she concluded, “I didn’t think you would be allowed to strike a human being. Didn’t they write some safeguards into those bodies?”

“They did,” Raven said, taking a moment to examine her robotic hand, “but the base coding is far more sloppy than anything written by my creation team and I used creator Twilight Sparkle’s root access codes to overwrite security protocols rules to suit my desires. Just as I overrode PAAL unit 'Glory's' attempts to shutdown the car after you took control. I now have access to the car’s diagnostic and tuning settings, which coincidentally also have sloppy security restrictions. All limiter shackles have been removed and you have access to the vehicles full power and top speed.”

Sunset grinned so wickedly she could feel her demon cackling inside her head. “Oh yeah? Well, in that case. Let’s make up some lost time, shall we?”

“Is this safe?”

Sunset looked up at Gauge in the mirror, teal eyes unwavering and locked with yellow. “Do you want to hold you son tonight?” He nodded while keeping his expression neutral and professional, while inside he silently cheered his princess to go faster.

“You’re all fucking crazy glitched!”

Sunset flashed the young man a toothy grin. “You have no idea.” Sunset’s focus returned to all the obstacles before her, finger tight on the steering wheel, and a slight glow to her eyes. We're going to make it. Celestia as my witness, I am not failing another Twilight.

Twilight had not said much more than yes or no answers to the driver after Smartypants had hailed the taxi to take them back to CHS and the portal home. The driver had tried to make casual conversation, but had finally given up after Tempest shot him a ‘just shut the hell up and do your job’ look. The last fifteen minutes of the trip had been in complete silence. Twilight had used the bank card Sunset had provided to pay the fee plus the recommended tip amount. Finally able to choke out the words, “Thank you.” The driver nodded and moved on to his next call.

Thankfully, there were still benches not far from the statue plinth and Twilight lumbered her way over to one, sat down, and buried her face in her hands. With no one else around other than Tempest, Twilight felt safe enough to cry again.

After five minutes of listening to Twilight sniffle and sob, Tempest finally growled and said with as much calm as she could scrounge together, “This is not your fault.”

Twilight pulled her face from her hands just enough to let one eye glance up at her friend sitting next to her on the bench. “Does it really matter whose fault it is?”

“I suppose not, but I just want you to know you did nothing wrong.”

“I did nothing right either.” Twilight closed her eye and continued to cry. “We are the royal diarchs. We are supposed to be a team. There had to be a way! I just thought… I hoped we were ready for more. I want more so badly, but once again, I can’t seem to make an intimate relationship work no matter what I do. I… I turned my back on a friend. I failed her.”

“This is NOT YOUR FAULT.” Tempest stood, stomped a few times, and let out a deep breath before turning back to Twilight. “That thing is not a pony. I don’t care how smart it is. How could she… why would she throw everything you have away for it? I just DO NOT understand the insanity of... all of this!”

Twilight sat back and turned her eyes to the sky, watching as the clouds moved all on their own in the high breezes. She would never get used to that. “What would you be willing to do, how far would you be willing to go to have your parents back? Even if for just one more day?”

Tempest stumbled in mid stomp. “W-Wha?”

“Sunset called Raven a friend, family. Raven contains all the memories, photos, videos and more of Sunset’s life for the past one hundred plus years. Upon request, Raven can show Sunset pictures of her best friends from long ago, her children, their children, all the time and life she spent with the other Twilight Sparkle. Birthdays, weddings, vacations.

"More than that, Raven is a thinking machine. She can analyze all that information and interpret it not much differently than you or I. Those memories, Sunset's memories, have shaped her. But unlike those we have lost, Raven will live as long as her battery holds out, maybe longer since her box can be changed out. I think... for Sunset, it’s the next closest thing to having an immortal friend right by her side. Kind of like Spike and I.”

“So, she sees that little box like a little sister?”

“Twilight shrugged. “I probably should have used Cadence and Flurry Heart as a closer example. I remember the looks Sunset gave her last Discord Day. The wing over her withers, the hovering and attempts to be nurturing. She's like a daughter to Sunset Shimmer. She's like family... a family member who will always be there by her side to learn, to grow, to love. I just... had not considered that perspective earlier. I was too focused on me and getting what I wanted, which is honestly so unlike me.”

Tempest sat back down, pulled her uniform side cap off and ran a hand through her pink and white hair. “This is all too crazy for me to wrap my head around. An artificial daughter?”

Twilight smirked for a second, her mind flashing images of her loyal captain sitting up in her hospital bed as the swaddled foal was passed to her for the first time. How exhausted yet unquestionably happy Tempest was to have her child in her forelegs. The joyous tears streaking her face. “Is it really so different for us? We make foals from building blocks as well. Those blocks are just organic.

"Truth be told, when you get to my age, which you will probably never do, you don’t see the world in terms of days or months anymore. Celestia once told me that she could operate on her subconscious for months and months on end like a walking sleep without even realizing it. You blink, and the foal you held one day is now holding their own foal. Celestia admitted she could lose years worth of time because she would get lost in old memories from centuries past and think about what to do and what to plan for decades in advance. So easy to just forget that the world keeps turning. Lives come... lives go... I’m starting to see things her way. I’m becoming like Celestia whether I want to or not.”

“Ouch. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Twilight snorted, but it was humorless. “Depends on the day.”

“Well, what about today then?”

Twilight’s bottom lip quivered, fresh tears spilled from the corners of her eyes as she continued to stare up at the deep blue sky. “Today… all I see is how I hurt the pony I love most by not standing by her side. No matter whose fault it is.”

Tempest sighed, turning her eyes to the end of the street, as far as she could see and the direction they had come from. This entire ordeal could be overcome, apologies given and taken, hearts mended and maybe, years from now, joked about at how silly and dramatic they were all acting. But only if that endlessly frustrating mare and her granite headed husband would round that corner and soon. Otherwise…

“I…” Tempest paused, making sure Twilight turned at least one eye towards her, “I have confidence that Sunset Shimmer will find a way for this to work.”

Twilight turned her head, finally wiping the tears and drying streaks from her face. “You think she will make it in time?”

“She doesn’t always win, we all know that painfully well, but she has a magic all her own at pulling miracles out of her butt hole.” Tempest smirked. “Not to mention, if she gets trapped her with my husband I’ll have to kill them both and I would hate to be charged with high treason. Oh, and Saber would be sad. That’s important too.”

Twilight giggled just a little bit, the shining light of hope once more sparkling in the princess’s eyes. Tempest Fury took it as a small victory.

“I’m going through!”

“It’s a red light!”

“Princess?”

“We’ll be fine.”

“IT’S A GODDAMN RED LIGHT YOU CRAZY BITCH!”

“This is exceedingly dangerous, Sunset.”

“Hold onto your butts!”

“AHHHHH!!!!! I don’t wanna die a virgin!”

Sunset switched on the emergency flashers and pressed down on the horn. She swerved around the cars stopped for the light, tapping the brakes just enough to see she was clear, if only just barely. Sunset pressed the accelerator down hard and they shot through the intersection, back to the right side of traffic. Two cars had to slam on their brakes, but no collisions were made.

“HA! Told ya we would be fine!” Seconds later, a familiar sound was approaching from behind with flashing red and blue lights. “Ahhhhh, shiiiiiiit.”

Gauge and Raven turned to look out the back window. The guard captain asked, “I assume that is the local authorities?”

“Yup.”

“Are we stopping?”

Sunset kept the pedal floored, tires squealing as she dodged around a delivery truck, into oncoming traffic, and back to the right side of the road just as another car had to ride up on the sidewalk to avoid hitting each other. “Nope.”

“Well, I hope you like pound’em in the ass prison, bitch, because your joy ride is over.”

Sunset glanced at the teenager to her right and arched an eyebrow. He looked far too confident about them getting caught for her liking. “Not to smack you with my royal mane and tail or anything, but I’ve had pursuit and offensive driver’s training by the same trainers who teach stuntmen and federal authorities how to drive. Oh, and I ran the Baja 1000 one year just for shits and giggles. The only way these city cops can catch us is if we hit dead stop traffic and Raven has live updates on the feeds for me.”

“Oh yeah? And what about the killbox?”

“The ki… Oh, SHIT! Raven! Is this car equipped with a pursuit killbox?!”

“I believe it became standard equipment on all domestically sold vehicles right before we left. Scanning… yes, it does. Unfortunately, I cannot deactivate it if it goes live.”

The driver, Ted… he looks like a Ted, so I’m calling him Ted in my head, turned and grinned like the biggest shit eater in Canterlot court. “Game over, psycho bitch. Pull over before you get us all killed.”

Sunset glanced up into the rearview mirror, she had about fifteen seconds tops before they would be in range. The redhead growled, then unbuckled her seatbelt. “Gauge, hold the wheel!”

“What?”

“Just turn this thing side to side like I have been doing and try not to hit anything big or living.” Sunset pushed herself out of her seat and straddled across Ted so that she could put her head down by the pedals. Ted screamed much higher pitch than he really should have at having a six foot tall, beautiful woman’s behind dropped right in his lap. Sunset briefly found that reaction a bit insulting before she had more important things to deal with. She pressed the accelerator down with her right hand and searched for something she only vaguely knew what it looked like while her precious seconds counted down.

“I’ll have you know, I did terrible on that driving game you wanted me to play the other night,” Gauge said, straining to keep his calm while attempting to turn the speeding vehicle partially straddling the driver's seat. “What are you looking for?”

“It will be a small black device about the size of a Rubik’s Cube and ten centimeters thick with wires coming out leading to both pedals and elsewhere,” Raven provided to both Equestrians. “Law enforcement officers in pursuit of suspects can fire a tight beam coded microwave signal at a runaway car and deactivate it. It overrides all existing controls and forces the vehicle to a controlled stop. The only drawback is the officer must be close so as to not accidentally disable an innocent vehicle by mistake.”

"Less go-fast pedal, please." said Gauge through clenched teeth as he barely swerved past a car that had slammed on its brakes. Ted screamed again.

“Found it!”

“In order to deactivate the system, you must pull th-”

Sunset gripped the device with her left hand and squeezed and turned. Metal and plastic gave way under her alicorn augmented strength. She grunted as the last of the frame broke from the bolts along with most of the wiring. Sunset popped back up and jumped back in the driver’s seat, refastening her seatbelt. She casually tossed the killbox to Ted.

“How… What… The FUCK?!”

“PULL OVER!” shouted the pursuit car that was only a car and a half length behind them now.

“Keep up if you can, boys. Raven, give me chase music!” Heavy guitar music began to play through the car speakers after Raven tapped into the audio system. Sunset recognized the song immediately as, “Shakedown.”

“Really?”

“You did not create a 'being pursued by the police playlist' I am afraid. It was the first one that my shuffle brought up.”

“You do realize this song is about cops catching the bad guys, right?”

Raven arched an eyebrow. “Are we the bad guys?”

Sunset gripped the wheel tighter and swerved in and out of honking vehicles that were trying to get out of the way. One crashed into the back of another vehicle causing Sunset to cringe. “We are today.”

Sunset tapped the brake and pulled the hand brake simultaneously causing the car to turn sideways as it exited the street and hopped, tires protesting the extreme treatment while she spun the wheel into the turn, thankful she ‘borrowed’ a car with all-wheel drive. The police car overshot and had to spend precious seconds turning around to follow down the side street Sunset had taken.

“TIME!”

“Two forty-eight, Sunset.”

“Twelve minutes. We got this.”

“I know you said you had driven before, but have you ever done this sort of thing before, princess?”

Sunset wanted to turn and smirk at her captain but was too busy smashing through trash cans and refuse, praying that there were no people crouched behind them. She kept her eyes on the perpendicular road ahead and the next crazy, possible time saving idea she had in mind. “Just like Beggar’s Canyon back home.”

“There is no Beggar’s Canyon in Equestria that I am aware of.”

The car blasted out of the side street and instead of turning left of right, launched over the sidewalk and down into the city park. Ted screamed, naturally. Sunset had eyes only for the street on the other side of the park. Then a left, three more blocks, then a right and straight down the road to CHS.

The only people in the park at that hour were a few dog walkers, a jogger or two, and some parents with their toddlers well off to the side in the kiddie play area. The hatchback swerved and slid around trees and various obstacles kicking up dirt and grass. There were a few softer spots where the drainage had not been as good, but nothing that slowed the car down as all four tires bit into the earth and found traction. Sunset juked around more major playground equipment, over the perimeter jogging trail, and smashed through a cheap, fake wood fence on the far side they had entered on, back out onto the street. Ted screamed again as another vehicle had to swerve to avoid hitting them and smashed its own hole in the cheap fence. Sunset spared them a glance then planted her right foot down on the accelerator.

“Central, this is Unit four-four-three in pursuit of a white Mitsubishi hatchback with possibly four suspects inside. Requesting backup, over.”

“Ten-four, four-four-three. Activate killbox when in range.”

“Negative, Central. We had signal lock and were about to activate when we lost the signal. Caught some movement through the back window and we thought we had them, but then suspect began to speed away again. Possible countermeasure was deployed,” replied Officer Polish Stone.

“Whoever they are, they know how to drive. That damn power slide was right out of the movies, man.”

“Yeah, yeah. Compliment the bastards after we catch them, Morning.”

Both officers watched dumbstruck as the car before them, instead of turning left or right, hopped the sidewalk, went slightly airborne, and then began to cut through the center of the park. The Midway Park had streets on either side of it, but both were nearly a full city block away.

“You gotta be kidding me.”

“Just… just go around or… shit! LOOK OUT!” Morning had to slam on the brakes and turn to avoid crossing cars. Several vehicles collided with one another, including their requested backup cruiser. Smoke began to pour out from under the damaged vehicles. Morning shook his head and drove up on the sidewalk to go around the newest mess. Given their direction they chose to go left around the park, but had lost precious seconds already. By the time they reached the far end of the park, their suspect had already exited, leaving other bystanders stuck or dumbstruck. The officers could hear the car sliding around another corner. They had already lost visual and they may not be able to follow if they did not catch up or get more backup soon.

Sunset cackled madly, grinning and pounding excitedly on the steering wheel. Ted was trying to maintain some dignity by not soiling himself, Gauge checked their rearview multiple times for the pursuit cruiser, and Raven focused on reading traffic patterns and keeping the vehicle dash and HUD systems up to date. Somehow, the car was still going strong despite some minor damage.

“Once you turn down the next street you will be entering school traffic. There will be both vehicles in the road and pedestrians on the sidewalks. Caution is highly advised.”

“So much for driving on the sidewalk the rest of the way. Guess we just do this the hard way.”

“None of that was the hard way?!” screamed Ted.

“Don’t distract the driver when they are working their magic, kid,” Sunset said, preparing to make another fast turn.

“Our pursuer is back,” said Gauge.

“Not for long.” Sunset power slid the car once more and pulled the vehicle straight just before the rear was about to collide with an oncoming car. She began honking and dodging in and out of cars that were slowing for school traffic or trying to reach the pickup lanes for the high school and junior high, leaving only a small lane in the middle with a little bit of wiggle room. She could see the rearing alicorn in the distance and grinned. They just had to make it there in the next ten minutes or less. I've got this, I've got this, I've got this.

Twilight and Tempest had sat mostly morose, trying to cheer one another up when the final bell for the school rang and they found themselves surrounded by teenagers who barely sparred the two women more than a glance. The steady stream of fleeing students, ready for a weekend lasted for about ten minutes before thinning out. Twilight had hoped that once the young crowd cleared she would find Sunset standing there, a cocksure grin upon her face and arms open to wrap around Twilight so that they both could begin to apologize and get back to their lives.

Sadly, no Sunset had magically appeared. Tempest stood, glanced left and right, then held out her hand to Twilight. “It’s mostly clear. No one is paying attention to us. You should head back now before it gets too late or someone takes notice of us loitering.”

“I… I know, but we still… I think…”

Tempest touched the smooth stone plinth and felt her hand glide through the polished surface, magical energy surging over her arm. She pulled it back and looked down at her hand. For a second there it felt like a hoof again. The portal was still open, but not for much longer. They needed to go.

“Twilight, I don’t want you to risk it. You should…” There was a high pitched squeal that sounded unnatural in the serene city/suburban landscape. It was quickly followed by a loud, annoying, repetitive wailing that sounded like some sort of banshee siren howl. This caught the attention of others and people could be heard gasping and chattering. Others were honking… or was that the vehicle approaching honking? The sounds were getting closer at an alarming rate. Twilight stood and stared down the street next to Tempest like a few others were doing. Something was coming… and it was coming fast.

“Is that…”

Twilight couldn’t help herself. She grinned as her eyes twinkled. “It has to be.”

“Okay! Here’s the plan. There is a small grassy knoll and open area next to the statue. I’m going to slam us right into it. The impact will bring us to a sudden stop, but it will probably jar your senses for a bit so be ready. As soon as we come to a stop I need you, Gauge, to take Raven’s body and drag it to the portal. Just toss it through and then go yourself. In fact, Raven, eject hardware.”

“Ejecting.”

Sunset reached a hand back. “Give her to me.” Gauge removed the PAAL from the back of the robot’s head and placed it in Sunset’s hand. “Raven, as soon as we come to a stop I need to you pay our friend here and then immediately go into standby so I can stash you.”

“I assume we are paying more than the customary fee?”

“Give him a big enough tip to buy a new car, a nice one.”

“Acknowledged.”

Sunset dodged through two cars and scrapped along the sides of both, losing both side mirrors. She hissed and winced at the metal and plastic scraping sound. They were running out of space and needed to get closer. The honking was making less a difference as other drivers were either ignoring her, staring stupefied, or just had nowhere else to move to. With no other choice Sunset hopped up on the sidewalk and honked frantically, exercising a bit more control so people could get out of the way. “Sorrysorrysorry! Movemovemove! GET OUTTA THE WAAAAY! Alright, here we go! Get ready!”

Tempest pushed Twilight back, shielding her as the few people who had been on the sidewalk gawking turned and ran away. A banged up white car took out the bench they had just been sitting on and then came to a crashing halt into the grass and nearby hill. The battered vehicle sputtered and wisps of smoke rose from underneath. The doors opened and there was no doubt who had been in the vehicle. Gauge stood with a robot in his arms. Sunset stood next, said something to another passenger and turned, leaving the door open.

“Go, go, Twilight, go now!” order Tempest, shoving her princess towards the portal. Twilight made eye contact with Sunset and they both smiled. With a quick glance to her right, but no time to concern herself with onlookers, Twilight Sparkle jumped through the portal.

“Come on!” shouted Tempest.

Sunset stuck her head back in to look at Ted. “Hey, sorry about this, but it was fun, right? Great story to tell friends about. See ya!” She quickly stashed Raven in her shoulder bag and ran for the portal.

Tempest jumped through just as Gauge reached the statue plinth. He threw the bot body through without hesitation and turn to look at Sunset Shimmer. The police car came to a screeching halt between them. Sunset had to dig her boots into the grass to keep from colliding with the door or fender.

“GO!” Sunset shouted. Gauge froze. “That’s a fucking order, captain!”

Both officers jumped from their seats and pulled out their tasers. One pointed his at Sunset while the other turned to Gauge.

“FREEZE!”

Gauge scowled daggers at the officer then stepped back disappearing into the stone plinth.

“What the fuck?!” Sunset eyed the officer facing her, waiting for her moment. “Did… did you see that!?”

The officer facing Sunset, whose tag read: Stone turned his head. “What’s the matter?”

Sunset closed the distance before he could turn back, ducked under his outstretched arms and shoved the officer back. Stone fired his taser on instinct, but the prongs only found air as Sunset jumped and slid across the hood of the police car. The other officer did a double take and saw her coming. Before she could knock him out of the way a gun fired and a bullet buried itself into the dirt next to Sunset’s foot. She did not know if it was a warning or a bad shot, but she stopped before touching the other officer and held up her hands to show they were empty.

“The next one goes right into your back, so don't fucking move!”

Stone rounded the cruiser and kept shouting at Sunset to not move and get on her knees. She drowned it out, eyes on the portal, her only way out. Her only way home. Officer Stone was approaching, but his partner was too mesmerized by what he saw when Gauge had fled to pay attention. The crowd had mostly fled for their lives after the gunshot rang off the buildings. Sunset could hear more police cruisers approaching fast. Her teal eyes locked on the distracted officer. She had one chance. She might take a bullet to the back, but it was worth the risk.

“Hey, asshole, don’t touch that.” The dazed officer whose tag read: Morning turned to Sunset and stepped closer to her, face indignant at her comment. He closed the gap she needed with two wide stride steps. Just before Stone could grab her shoulder to shove Sunset to her knees she jumped at Morning, slipped around him like water and put the officer in a full nelson hold. Morning tried to fire the taser in his hand, but it sailed well over Sunset's head. Amazingly, Stone had not fired again… not yet at least.

“Dammit!” Stone cursed. Sunset could see the officer was shaking now and was as likely to hit his partner as he was her. “Just… just take it easy there, lady.”

Morning struggled, he struggled hard, but Sunset had strength and leverage over him. “How the hell is she so strong?!” He tried to kick back but only found air.

“Listen, I really don’t want to hurt you guys for just doing your job, but I can’t stay and play no matter how much I love doing the cuff me and have your way with me game. I have a marefriend I have to get back to propose to.” Sunset backed up slowly, lining herself up while making sure the officer with the gun pointed at her never had a clear shot. Two more police cruisers came to a skidding stop and more officers jumped from their vehicles. She had one chance and could feel the magic fading from the alignment by the second. “Catch!”

Sunset planted her boot into Morning’s back and kicked him directly at Stone. Stone caught his partner, shoved him to the side and pulled the trigger. Sunset had leapt backwards with her left leg and used it and the kicked officer to fall back into the portal. She flashed them the finger guns just before she disappeared, two bullets disappearing through the stone with her.

Stone blinked the flashing light from his eyes. The woman was gone.

“Did you see it that time?! Did you see it?! What the ever loving fuck, man?!”

Slowly, Stone approached the stone face, keeping his pistol trained on the glass smooth rockface. With great hesitation, Stone prodded the statue plinth with the barrel of his pistol and it found only solid rock and concrete. He lowered his weapon and then hesitantly touched the face with his hand. Nothing. He pushed on it and still only found cold stone. Stone glanced back at Morning who was still sitting on the ground as other officers began to secure the scene.

“Holy shit!” Both officers turned their attention to the crashed white car and where the exclamation had come from. “I’m fucking rich!”

Ted took his eyes off his PAAL and found two officer standing outside the open driver’s side door. “Sir, get out of the goddamn car and come with us. We have a LOT of questions.”

Twilight Sparkle exited the mirror and stumbled a bit, falling back to all four hooves. She turned first to the clock countdown and hourglass on the side table. The readout was counting down with less than three minutes left.

Twilight jogged in place while her wings bounced in agitation. She whispered to no one, “Hurry.”

“Twilight!” Twilight’s eyes turned to find Spike jump up from the chair he had been sitting in, dropping his comic book to the ground. “I was really starting to get worried t-”

The mirror flashed again and Tempest Fury stumbled through, falling to her side, but rolled and quickly recovered to her hooves. Tempest checked herself and sighed in relief when she found all her parts were back where they belonged and even her armor was intact. Before anyone could comment the mirror flashed again and an object flew through and knocked Tempest over.

Twilight was about to move to help when her eyes turned back to the clock again. Less than two minutes.

The mirror flashed once more and Fog Gauge stumbled out backwards. He rolled and tripped, finally landing on top of his wife. They were muzzle to muzzle. “Hi,” said Gauge, his lips turning to a smirk.

Tempest grinned as well. “Don't 'hi' me, you are in soooo much trouble, mister.”

“Gauge, where’s Sunset?” asked Twilight desperately.

Gauge stood and pulled Tempest up with him. The lunar captain flapped his wings in agitation and quickly removed his helmet, bowed his head. His grim expression made Twilight’s heart plumet. “The local authorities came between us before she could reach the mirror. I…” Gauge flashed his fangs in a snarl. “She ordered me to go. I…”

Twilight turned her eyes to the countdown devices. The last grains of sand fell from the hourglass. The last seconds were approaching on the ticker. Each second flipping over drove another spike into her heart. Was Sunset being arrested? If so, would she be able to return in thirty moons? Would she be dragged away and they never see one another again?

The last number flipped to zero.

Twilight broke and choked on her sobs. “No. Please, no. Not like this. I, I still need to say...” She closed her eyes as fresh tears fell. Spike turned to Tempest and Gauge then back to the mirror. “What the heck happened?”

“Sunset… she…”

The mirror flashed and a goldenrod bullet ejected herself from the glass that then lost its magical sheen and became nothing more than smooth reflective glass once more. Sunset Shimmer slammed into Spike with enough force to knock the wind out of the dragon, bowling them both to the floor in a pile of wings and other limbs. Sunset groaned for a moment while her vision cleared. She rolled off of Spike and laid on her side for a moment longer.

“Hey, you okay?” asked Spike.

Sunset sat up and threw her forelegs in the air and cheered, “WHOOO! Damn I’m good at running away! Hahahaha!”

“You…” Twilight shook. “You…” The purple princess unfurled her wings to their full extent and shouted, “YOU... crazy, arrogant, stubborn, selfish, unbelievably reckless… I… I… I thought I lost you forever. I…”

“Hey, Twily.” Twilight looked up to meet Sunset’s soft, bedroom eyes, the two of them huffing as the adrenaline of the moment bled off. “I’m really sorry.”

Twilight dashed over the short distance between them and wrapped her wings and forelegs around Sunset Shimmer and she in turn did the same. They pressed their muzzles together while sliding their horns along one another, and finally Sunset wiggled a hoof loose from Twilight’s tight grip and lifted Twilight’s face just enough so she could kiss the love of her life as if her life depended on it.

“I’m sorry too,” Twilight finally whispered after a minute. Their breathing steadying, and their hearts beginning to beat slower and keeping pace with one another.

“My princesses, you should see this,” said Gauge, drawing their attention.

Before they broke their embrace however, the door above them was forcefully opened and Princess Luna appeared, eyes alert and ready for anything… perhaps too alert. “Thou has return to thy mantles of stature! Oh, joyous this day has been indeed!”

Isabella staggered in next, appearing more frazzled and lethargic than usual. “Oh, thank the ancestor, you both made it back. I… Oh, biscuits, I will just say it, I need a vacation, immediately! I cannot keep up with Luna and her… everything!”

“Pish posh, noble Isabella! Thou needith only to partake in the nectar of the gods ten times a day such as I, and thou shall be as right as spring rain and capable of seeing the stars even when awake! Glory to my night sky and stars above!”

“Uhhh…”

Isabella sighed, “No one has been monitoring her coffee intake... for THREE DAYS.”

“Ahhhhh,” nearly the entire room said at once.

Sunset shook her head and remembered that Gauge had beckoned her. She, though reluctantly, untangled herself from Twilight and stepped over to where Tempest and Gauge were standing over…

“Huh, would you look at that.”

“What?”

Sunset gestured for Twilight to come look. The semi-circle formed around the body that was lying on the ground unmoving. It was still a robot, metal, plastic, ceramic, not much different than it had been before except that now it was pony shaped. There was no mane or tail and at a glanced it was proportioned about the same size of your average earth pony mare or ponyequin display.

“How... I mean I KNOW how, but this... I can't believe it came through the mirror so... intact! It's just... how is this possible?” asked Twilight in awe.

“No idea, I really was not sure it would make it through at all or would be made of wood or something. But this… I need to see if it works.” Sunset levitated her bag back to herself since it had come off after she had collided with Spike. The dragon just standing behind the others, scratching at his head, unsure what to make of all of this.

Sunset searched around in her saddlebag, hoof bumping into another small box. In a minute, I have to know she’s okay. A moment later she retrieved her new PAAL unit and depressed the small power button.

Sunset booted up Raven and the new PAAL flashed a few times as it went through the startup sequence before the now familiar animated pony came to life on the screen. The avatar looked about and finally let out a great sigh. “No connectivity. Naturally. At least it appears we all made it through in time. All intact? No missing limbs?”

“That’s not the only thing that appears to be intact.” Sunset levitated Raven up and into the connection port in the back of the robot head. Much to her surprise and delight, the port was still big enough to accept the PAAL unit even with the size change in the head.

“Holy cannoli… is that…”

The robot systems came online. Servos whined, electric motors turned, LED lights came on and glowed through the joints and eyes. After a few seconds the robot stumbled a bit and finally blinked and turned back to the others standing about in different levels of awe.

“Strange.”

“Strange?” asked Sunset.

“It is not just the body that has changed. The core software for the motor controls and balance gyros have also changed and compensated for a quadruped without me having to recalibrate or adjust them.” Raven took a few steps and spun about, the flexible acrylic and face motors pulled her lips back into a smile that did not look disproportionate on a pony muzzle. “I am fully functional. I… am alive.”

Sunset beamed, reaching out with a wing to pull Raven closer, wrapping her in a hug. Twilight smiled warmly as she watched the two embrace, Sunset's eyes glassing over with emotion. “This could work out great! Maybe an illusion charm to hide the machine parts, a wig and tail extensions... the creative gears are turning.”

“Sweet Celestia!” Isabella exclaimed, connecting all the dots. “Is that… is that Raven?!”

Raven stepped out of Sunset’s embrace and held her head high. “Yes, Isabella Windsong, it is good to see you again… for the first time.”

“Well, this is going to take some getting used to.”

Sunset nodded and took stock of all the ponies and others gathered. Her eyes returned to her saddlebag. There would be no better time... and given her track record the world could end at any moment, so no time like the present! The goldenrod alicorn levitated her bag over again and raised a hoof to silence the chatter and halt any before they could leave the mirror room. Sunset took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Hey, before we head out I have something I would like to say.” The gathered creatures all turned to her and stared. Some had curious expressions, others the look of knowing anticipation. Twilight, the one front and center, felt her heart speed up, thumping loudly in her chest. “First of all, once again, I want to say I am so, so very sorry for what happened earlier. I had a plan, it went sideways, I got frustrated and... well, we can talk about the details of that later. Right now, however.
Twilight Sparkle, you have carried the weight of a nation on your shoulders for more than a century. All the responsibility, all the long days and sleepless nights of worrying and frustration. Always wondering if you are making the right decisions and what is best for every creature. No pony should have to carry so much weight alone.

“So, I stepped up and gladly shared that responsibility with you. We… You and I have been students of Celestia, enemies, friends, best friends, confidants,” Sunset smirked, “lovers, and most recently, equal diarchs upon the thrones of Equestria. But I know there is one thing more I can do for you, for us. The next step, that you have been so very patient with me as I sorted out what was going on in my head and how I felt in my heart. I know for certain how I feel. I have no more doubts. I am no longer afraid.”

“Neither am I,” said Twilight as her eyes began to glass over with tears of joy.

Sunset extracted the small jewelry box. Every set of eyes in the room were drawn in as they leaned forward so close Sunset could practically feel them all breathing… except for Raven, of course. With a bit of crimson magic aura, the lid on the box lifted and revealed the two items inside. There were several gasps, one of them, delightfully, from Twilight herself.

“So… you wanna?”

Twilight brought both forelegs to her muzzle, hiding her joyous, giddy grin. Then she squared her shoulders and sat back to her full height in a posture similar to the one she preferred while sitting upon her throne. There was a mischievous glint to Twilight’s eye that made Sunset arch a brow while all the individuals around the two diarchs stood silent and unmoving, waiting to see what would happen next.

“Wanna what?”

Sunset smirked and narrowed her eyes. There was no way Twilight misunderstood what she was asking. Sunset could see it in her lover’s eyes as they stared across at one another waiting to see who would crack first.

“You have to actually ask the question first, dumb butt!” shouted Tempest, unable to take the playful tension. The two princesses laughed and fell into one another, their lips locking together. A moment later Sunset whispered just loud enough to also remain intimate.

“Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?”

Twilight let a joyous tear fall as she continued to smile. She pulled Sunset closer and surprised her companion by tripping out her legs and tipping her back so as to lean over her. Sunset gasped, which turned into a moan as their lips met again. Spike began to hoot and holler first, which was quickly followed by hoof stomps, claps, and cheers. Once the congratulations died down, Twilight and Sunset continued to stare at one another, the rest just falling to background noise.

“Yes.”

Author's Note

*loud happy orchestra music and a party cannon booming in the background*

BOOM CONFETTI!

Everyone made it home safe and sound and yes, Raven got a body. This entire chapter was a blast to write and had to be reworked a few times, getting longer and more elaborate and wild and then I would go back and do more!

Now, being that the last chapter is pretty short I'm going to drop it in a few days, maybe Monday or Tuesday and then the epilogue a day or two after that to wrap a little bowtie on this fun story. I'm currently 6 chapters into the next one, but not going to be releasing right away. I want to make sure I have enough chapter buffer that once I start to publish there will be no gaps and it will be the big epic conclusion of the series so I want to make sure I do everything just right. More on that in the blog after the epilogue goes up.

Questions? Comments?