It had been years since Twilight had seen her friends. She would frequently visit their burial grounds, but it was never the same. She missed them, more than she could ever have imagined. It was worse than when she had first left Canterlot. She hadn’t known what true friendship was. But now… she had lost every one of her friends.
Her first friend Pinkie Pie, with her joy and laughter. And of course there was Rarity, with her beauty and generosity, Rainbow Dash with her speed and loyalty, Applejack with her strength and honesty, and Fluttershy with her shyness and kindness.
Beyond her closest friends, there were the ones she grew to love despite their rocky starts like Trixie, Starlight, and Discord. And even worse, there was her family. Her parents were never the closest especially as she grew older… but her BBFF Shining Armor, he was the one who truly meant the world to her. The one that hurt the most though, was her most loyal of friends, and the one she really grew up with from start to finish, Spike.
Twilight wandered out to the garden where there was a big bright statue of her dearest mentor, Princess Celestia. She rested her hoof on the stand and looked down. “I wish I could have your guidance again,” Twilight blinked as tears fell.
She looked up to the stars. A constellation of Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were prominent in the sky. They had retired their powers too.
Twilight so badly wanted to join them, but she knew she couldn’t abandon Equestria. Not without being certain that it wouldn’t fall into disharmony. While she could easily have passed her power down to Luster Dawn, she would never wish her grief onto somepony else. Not even if it meant preserving the hierarchy.
Twilight sat down as she stared into the crystal pool. “Twilight?”
Twilight froze as she looked into the reflection of the pool. It was Sunset… “I’m sorry… did I wake you?”
“I was already awake,” Sunset said, her wings moving to wrap around Twilight. “I see you’re in the garden again.”
Twilight nodded. Sunset was the only friend she had left. After Sunset’s own friends had passed on, Sunset had moved back to the pony world as a fully ascended alicorn. The fact they had come so far, grown so much. “I miss them,” Twilight said as tears fell from her eyes. “I knew Celestia wouldn’t live forever… but…”
Sunset embraced Twilight, allowing her to rest her head on her shoulder. “I know how you feel. When Twilight… I mean when the other you… passed… I… I felt so helpless. We had grown in love, and then… and then she was gone. I couldn’t save her.”
“Oh Sunset… I didn’t even think… you never talk about her…” Twilight said as she looked up and into Sunset’s watery eyes.
“It’s okay,” Sunset said. “Because everytime I think of her, I remember that I still have you. The only way we can make it through these times is… together.”
Twilight nodded as she kissed Sunset. “I know… it’s just… hard. I wish I could… I wish I could move on, but how can I abandon Equestria?”
Sunset smiled sadly. “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking too, and I think I’ve finally found the answer. But let’s deal with it tomorrow. You need sleep.”
Twilight smiled. “Thank you. For everything.”
Sunset smiled back and turned around ready to head back inside. “Hey, Sunset…” Twilight said, causing Sunset to turn back.
“Yeah?” Sunset asked.
“Do you ever think about how we started? I mean how we met?” Twilight said as she kicked her feet looking a bit nervous.
Sunset nodded. “Everyday. Now, come on.”
Together they walked back inside, the two of them in silence as they climbed back into their beds and snuggled with each other.
“I love you, Sunny,” Twilight said.
“I love you too, Sparkles,” Sunset said as she shut her eyes.
The next morning, Twilight raised the sun and sighed. She turned and saw Sunset still asleep in her bed, and she smiled. Sunset was never a morning pony… or a morning person… “Wakey wakey,” Twilight said whispering into Sunset’s ear.
“Ugh… 5 more minutes,” Sunset groaned as she pulled a pillow over her face. “Please.”
“Okay…” Twilight said. “But then you don’t get any breakfast…”
Sunset perked her ears up and looked at Twilight, narrowing her eyes. “I hate you, Sparkles,” she said, grumpily.
Twilight laughed. “I hate you too, Sunny,” she then wandered downstairs and left Sunset alone for just one moment.
Sunset sighed as she wandered down the stairs. She was glad to see breakfast was ready. “Sunny side up,” Twilight always joked.
Sunset rolled her eyes but smiled but gladly ate her food. She sighed as the chewy bacon warmed her mouth. “Mmmm. You do make the best eggs, Twily,” Sunset said on instinct.
Twilight froze and Sunset immediately regretted the slip up. She had gotten so used to calling her Twilight ‘Twily’ that it took a good effort not to let it slip. The slip up led to difficulties for both of them as Sunset was reminded once again that her ‘Twily’ wasn’t there and Twilight was reminded that her brother also wasn’t there anymore. Twilight looked away for a moment, breaking the gaze.
Sunset immediately stood up and embraced Twilight like she did every time she slipped up. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“I know it’s a force of habit,” Twilight said. “It just… hurts…”
Sunset nodded. “I’m still trying to work on it. I…” she shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
Twilight nodded. “It’s okay. I forgive you. Of course, I forgive you.”
“Come on, let me show you what I found,” Sunset said as she led Twilight to the big library that they had built together underneath Canterlot.
It was far bigger than any library Celestia had and had every book ever published in Equestria. It had taken them years to form, but it was ultimately worth it as the two discovered new knowledge and history.
Sunset had a book open which detailed some of the hidden history and lost lore of Equestria. “You know how there are some worlds and dimensions that don’t control the weather?” Sunset said. “Well it turns out that it’s because of this old Equestrian legend. Before Princess Celestia and even before Starswirl, there was a legend of a lost Queen of Equestria. She had been in an endless war between the pony races and she sought to bring harmony and peace into the world. So she made these crystals. They each represented the Earth Ponies, the Pegasi, and the Unicorn. Together they formed what we know as alicorns.”
Twilight stared at the text and her jaw dropped. “Wait… but then why is there so much disharmony? Before the Elements of Harmony were rediscovered, there was so much chaos.”
“Because… the crystals were separated during the Battle of Equestria,” Sunset said. “Some say that pieces were scattered across Equestria which is why some regions don’t have the same disharmony we’ve come to know. If we can bring them together, that can be the key to restoring Equestria to its former glory and allowing it to thrive on its own… and… allowing us to retire our powers. In fact, such an act of creation would require immense power which is why the Queen of Equestria was lost… she sacrificed herself so that Equestria could live in prosperity. Without the need of a ruler.”
“That’s it then, that’s what we need to do,” Twilight said. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We still need to find the crystals,” Sunset said. “And I don’t even know if this is going to work.”
“It’ll be worth it,” Twilight said. “For Equestria. And… for our friends and family.”
Sunset nodded. “Then let’s get going because I already have a map and the clues that were left behind,” Sunset said as she revealed a bag hidden underneath the table. She added the book inside just in case.
Twilight kissed Sunset once again and the two wandered out of the castle, ready for the adventure that awaited them.
