"INSUFFICIENT!" An angry voice rang out, echoing through the very large lab. The other scientists, still working at their various stations, didn't even flinch. Those who have worked with the overzealous Twilight before, knew her need for perfectness
"W-What do you mean?" The poor recipient of Twilight's wrath trembled. Her off-white hair and light blue skin slick with sweat.
"I MEAN, THE DATA IS NOT SUFFICIENT!" Twilight thundered. She stopped, then took a deep breath. And another, then another. "Ok, ok. I'm sorry, sorry. Maybe another test run? I'll accompany you this time."
The now pale woman, nodded vigorously, and shuffled away. The duo walked side by side, one terrified and the other stoic. Their destination was a while away, so Twilight cleared her throat, "do you know why we are doing this?" The scientist shook her head. "We are doing this because the world is broken...incomplete. Something is missing, something vital. And it's up to us to figure it out and make the world better. With the help of our new sponsor; Mirdzet Labs, we should be able to achieve our goals within the next year."
"D-Do you know what's missing?" Came the stuttered reply.
Twilight didn't answer and continued the march. The poor scientist didn't press any further in hopes of preventing another outburst like earlier.
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Twilight stood in front of the testing chamber, with the other scientists standing in various spots. She was looking down at a clipboard making notes, then without looking up she called out, "bring out the next test subject."
"Umm, ma'am? The subject is..." Another scientist, this time a man.
"I don't care if the damn hamster is sick, send it in!"
"But..."
"I SAID, SEND IT IN!" The scientist wisely held his tongue and pressed the buzzer for the test subject to come out. Every scientist held their breath in shock when they saw who came out. Twilight raised her head in annoyance, wondering what caused SUCH a revelation. Then gaped in shock.
"What's the matter Twi? You look like you've seen a ghost." The woman who entered through the hamster hatch, that for some reason is the size of a person, had an all too familiar grin.
"Sunset Bucking Shimmer. I saw you die. I held your body! I MOURNED YOU!" Twilight was shaking in anger, hands clenched, and clipboard forgotten.
"Now now, Twi. Surely you aren't this angry, you should be overjoyed I'm alive!" Sunset just kept on grinning, her teal eyes betraying nothing.
"You fucking cunt, I'll tear you to...!"
"Language Twi, there are children around."
The scientists looked completely baffled at this very weird exchange. Their boss versus this poorly dressed woman, who looked to be a hobo. When Sunset mentioned 'children' however, they became even more confused and most just up and left to spare themselves from this confusion.
"I'll show you language!" And with that statement, Twilight began pounding on the hardened glass window that separated the two of them. After many minutes, profanity spewage, and much pounding, there were still no cracks or visible wear on the glass. The room was practically empty now due to frightened scientists, with the exception of a few stragglers watching with interest.
"Are you done?"
"...yes."
"Right okay. So, my visit!" Sunset started to explain before Twilight interrupted her.
"Speaking of which, how did you get in here?"
"Not important." The yellow woman waved a dirty hand before continuing, "I have come here to right a wrong as they say. You believed I was dead, and now I'm here to prove that I'm not. How long have you believed this?"
"About...13 years." Twilight frowned, realizing how long ago high school was.
"Right, and you believed this because you saw me die. BUT, you mourned alone. You didn't seek solace with our friends, and didn't ask for help when you fell into debt."
"They abandoned me! And when Rainbow came back, I thought things would get better, but she asked for money and never came back! They deserve whatever horrible thing has happened to them." Twilight spoke with such malice, the remaining scientists shuffled out quickly and quietly.
"Everything? Homelessness, put into an asylum, or maybe the loss of a family farm? They didn't mourn because they knew I wasn't dead. You would've known that if you actually went to them once in a while. And maybe if you did, these disasters wouldn't have happened!"
"...Applejack lost the farm?"
"Burnt down. Complete toast. Not even an apple tree left. Friends are supposed to stick together, through thick and thin! Through everything Twilight. Everything fell apart when we started drifting away. You leaving was the final straw for Pinkie, she completely lost it." Sunset paused, looking at Twilight's face, hoping to see something. And something did happen.
"...lost it?" Twilight's voice fell into a whisper.
"She went mad, Twi. Right now, she's recovering in Prance, hopefully with the help of Fluttershy by now." Sunset smiled, but this time, not unkindly.
"So what do you want from me? To torture me? With these tales of despair, making me feel guilty. I'm not going back Sunset, not after everything that's happened. Plus, I'm making breakthroughs here! I don't need friends." Twilight's heart felt heavy when she said that. It almost made her want to take back what she said. Almost.
"I don't want anything Twi. Our friends want their friend back."
"They're not my friends. Not anymore, why would they want me?"
"Because we are friends. Nothing will ever break us apart. It's time to let loose grudges made and begin anew."
Twilight chuckled, "you sound like a philosopher."
"I would be a good philosopher, wouldn't I?" Sunset paused, letting Twilight soak in her words. "So, you ready?"
"Come to my house and stay the night. I'll give you my answer in the morning."
"Sounds good."
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Twilight awoke at 4am with a strange feeling. One, she would learn later, was the feeling of release. She felt all of her inner anguish disappear with each morning stretch. After a nice shower, her worries, fears, guilt, and pain all but vanished.
She smiled over a cup of coffee as she watched the sunset peek through her windows. This was her favorite time of day; it reminded her of the good times she had before everything went sideways. Despite what she said the day before, Twilight didn't mean any of it...
"OH SHIT!"
Twilight jumped up, ignoring the spilt coffee, and ran to the guest bedroom. Forgetting how early it was in the morning and burst into the room. There was nobody there. Twilight frowned, was it all just a dream? Then she saw it. A black phone. Curiosity got the better of her, and she turned it on.
Then and there, she made up her mind. And that decision? That decision was the best one she ever made.
Author's Note
Greetings and salutations people of the internet. I hope you are enjoying your day, whether it is ending or beginning.
My kudos, as always, is pointed towards Blu, a great friend in many ways.
More kudos is granted to all of you, the readers, for getting this strange series all it's popularity.
