30 years after Lunar Lock Mirror Restoration

Sunset Shimmer sat in her favorite lounge chair on the back covered patio of her and Twilight Sparkle’s home in Canterlot City. It was a nice deck patio, she concluded, and still in great condition. The wood deck slats were real cedar and had recently been resealed from the weather with a cherry red stain. Twilight had argued that vinyl slats would have been a better and more environmentally friendly investment, but their beloved friend, Applejack, had insisted that wood was the better choice. The farmer had pitched to her friends the warmth of wood, how it made a hearty, and earthy echo as shoes or boots stepped upon it. It was homely, inviting, a reminder of what the bones of a home were made of. And if properly maintained, just as long lasting as vinyl slats. Sunset agreed. Twilight was skeptical.

Like many such major purchases and investments, it had involved charts and comparison graphs of Pros and Cons. All the factors were laid out and then double checked. Ultimately, they went with the wood because one of Applejack’s cousins cut them a discount on labor and supply costs and had done incredible work on top of it all while AJ had helped see the project completed in a timely manner. It was hard to ask for more than that.

That had been almost twenty-five years ago. When the house had been considered a money pit boondoggle, unfinished by the original commissioner and the Carlton Woods section of the city was new and mostly still undeveloped. Much had changed since they had signed the paperwork, but not everything. Or everyone.

Sunset stopped sketching for a moment. Letting the pencil and paper lay slack in her hands and lap as she took in the stone and quartz bar, the outdoor brick oven and grill, and the waterproof entertainment system and speakers. They had needed to haggle the price at the time of that now worn but sturdy deck because after she and Twilight had purchased their dream fixer-upper house, that they made into a home, they had been young and fresh from college and unsurprisingly tight on cash to splurge on such luxuries.

Then, Twilight Sparkle, the most prestigious genius and scientist of her time, founded Sparkle Tech Industries and their world changed forever. Twilight pioneered new technologies in aerospace, bioengineering, and computer science. She personally held seven proprietary patents that allowed her fledgling company to explode (sometimes literally, but they had armored labs and insurance for that) and expand and were becoming one of the biggest Research and Development laboratories in the world. But what was really revolutionizing life around the world as they knew it was on the software, operating system front. The world was changing fast and Sparkle Tech was there leading the charge.

Still, Sunset and Twilight kept their house. They had a few others as well around the city and in other states. Technically, they also owned the houses their daughters lived in, but that was all in the financial paperwork details and more a concern for the tax accountants than everyday life. Thinking about their daughters Sunset turned her attention to her wife who was busy typing away on a holographic keyboard using her touchless cursor gloves. They were still experimental, but Twi was never afraid to test new things herself. It was part of her allure, Sunset thought as she smirked.

“Hey,” Twilight paused, dismissed one of her screens to turn her attention to Sunset's hail, “what time did you tell the girls to be here?”

“No later than two. I want everything signed and notarized so that legal can make copies and get the gears turning before they all try to sneak out early on a Friday. If we are still going through with this. I would like to make closing arguments and of course hear their thoughts on the matter as well.”

Sunset nodded, “Once they get here so neither of us has to repeat ourselves.” She took a moment to check the time on her phone. Just after one in the afternoon. It would not be much longer. Sunna Sparkle, their youngest daughter, would likely be the first to arrive. She still lived locally even if out in the woods with her husband, away from most of the hustle and bustle of daily life. She had that luxury. Aurora Shimmer, however, would likely arrive by small motorcade that would need to be dismissed once she arrived. The front gate security system, which was monitored by company security, would page Twilight when she arrived. Such precautions were necessary to protect their now high profile lives. Especially one Senator Aurora Shimmer.

Politics, Sunset thought. Of all the career paths that brilliant girl could have chosen and she picked the snake pit of Tartarus itself. Not my cup of tea, that's for damn sure. Still, she probably would have done well in Equestrian Canterlot court. Mom would have been happy to show her the ropes too. Maybe even see if she had alicorn potential.

Thoughts of her mother, Princess(former princess) Celestia, Goddess of the Sun, reminded Sunset of why this meeting was happening and they had asked their girls to both come visit on the same day and not for a holiday or family function. No, sadly this was for business. Sunset made a face as she looked down at her hand, still with an old red mechanical pencil between the fingers.

Years of professional work as an electrical engineer and part time artist had done nothing to change those hands that had once been sturdy hooves. Not her hands, not her face, not her hair, not anything really. Every cut healed quickly, every bruise would hurt, swell, then dissipate in a day or less. Sunset Shimmer had survived and walked away from physical trauma that would have killed any normal human. But Sunset was not normal. Not really. She was technically seventy years old but did not appear as so.

Sunset glanced to her wife and their eyes locked, small smiles gracing both their faces. Wordless compliments passed between them. A mental synchronization and understanding that only came from living and loving someone for as many decades as they had. Their forty-eighth wedding anniversary was coming up this year and Sunset did not look like a woman who should be celebrating forty-eight years of a successful marriage... and neither did Twilight. If one had to toss out a guess, which some of their friends had, they both still looked to be in their mid to late twenties. A fact that had led them to where they were now and why things had to change.

Fifteen minutes had passed when Twilight received notification that Sunna had arrived. Their youngest daughter had arrived alone, as was asked. Her husband and daughter were also starting to ask questions about, "Grandma and Grand Mama," that were becoming difficult to answer.

Sunna's skin complexion was still a burgundy tone and her hair had been recently colored three different pastel tones of pink, blue, and green to match Celestia’s. A choice that Sunset had found clashing if albeit amusing. Still, what could not be missed or ignored was that their youngest was now thirty-eight years old with lines under her eyes and a number of gray hairs that had escaped the dye job.

Sunna quickly hugged her mother while Sunset had to shift about to climb out of her lounger chair to be second for hugs. “Hello and bright day to you, mom.”

“What about me?”

Sunna smiled and hugged Sunset as well. Being second in line for affection did not diminish the love and warmth. The alicorn in human form completely enveloped her second child, resting her head on top of Sunna's. Easy to do since Sunset still stood a head and a half taller than her. “You as well, mama. I am glad you are both doing well. I also see Aurora has yet to arrive.”

“I got a ping from the airport that her plane landed and was being taxied to the private hanger. She should be here soon,” said Twilight, checking her phone again just to be sure.

“You want anything to eat or drink while we wait?”

Sunna shook her head with a pleasant smile, not hesitating to grab Sunset’s sketchbook and claim a seat on the outdoor couch around the cold firepit. With nothing else to do but wait, Twilight returned to her work while Sunset took the next seat over and made small talk about her latest sketches. Half an hour later, two cars arrived at the gate and Twilight buzzed them in. She watched on the cameras as Aurora gave some sharp orders to her aides followed by instructions to her personal security guard. From what Twilight could see he did not appear to be pleased at being told he was dismissed. Regardless, the two cars departed and Aurora followed the instructions Twilight had texted her about coming out to the patio deck.

In typical Aurora Shimmer fashion, she did not put down her phone until she reached the patio. Cobalt blue eyes glanced up to find the rest of her family staring at her patiently. With a sigh and a Shimmer approved eyeroll the phone disappeared into the jacket pocket of her business suit. Aurora dusted off her hands even though they were perfectly clean, as was the rest of her black business suit and skirt combination. She ran her hands through her wavy bobbed hair that had been dyed red, quickly loosened the black skinny tie, and undid a few of the buttons on her shirt to cool off. She was home. No need to continue to look the part of a professional.

"Just so you know, I had to tell my PR consultant and my assistant that I had a family emergency to cancel made plans and come here on short notice, so somebody better be dying.”

“Do we need to be dying for you to take off and come visit us once in a while?”

Aurora scoffed. “Cut the crap, mama. You know I keep busy. When I’m not in DC I’m working across the state or with local constituents. Sometimes even out of the country if that's what is needed. I’m also on two committees, the board at Sparkle Tech, and, oh yeah, have three of my own kids I have to find time for and unlike others, I can’t ask my parents to take care of them for the weekend or so because they look like hot college post-graduates.”

Sunset chuckled humorlessly. “Funny how it went there so quickly.”

Twilight quickly removed her interface gloves and moved to step between her wife and eldest daughter. Multitasking was not going to be an option. “Let’s get things focused and back on track, please.”

“Fine. And what exactly is the focus of today?”

Twilight held up one finger and moved back to her chair, retrieving an item that had thus far gone unnoticed. She casually tossed it to Aurora who caught it easily before holding the item at arm’s length like a piece of roadkill.

“Seriously, mom? What the hell?! Why did you throw this at me?”

“So, you know what that is.”

Aurora paused, swallowing her kneejerk quip and examined the item more closely. It was a wig. Specifically, a high quality wig, handmade and blended cut natural hair with synthetic fibers. Most of the strands were gray into white but the natural dark indigo and strands of magenta were from Twilight’s own head expertly woven to give the appearance of a naturally mix progression. With a sigh, Aurora moved to the bar and sat on one of the stools. She reached over the counter where she knew the mini fridge was and pulled out a wine cooler bottle. After a moment of searching Sunset sat down next to her eldest daughter and offered the bottle opener, which she took with a nod of thanks.

Once she had gulped down almost half the bottle Aurora stated plainly, fighting to keep her voice from sounding annoyed, “That’s the wig I’ve seen you wear a few times out in public for board meetings or interviews, hence why you chopped your own hair so short.”

“Which she rocks, but I still prefer when she wears it longer.”

“Stay on target, Sunny,” Twilight said to Sunset accompanied by a smidge of blush and a quick smirk.

Aurora took a sizable gulp from her bottle again before saying with a sigh, “Okay, I understand that wigs and pretending to have had the greatest regenerative plastic surgery on Earth or flat out lying by saying you are my 'cousin' is a pain in the ass, but what else can we do? Mama’s a fucking alicorn pony from another dimension and you accidentally came in contact with concentrated pure magic. Even after all this time and having seen the place myself, multiple times, it still makes zero goddamn sense for why neither of you look old. Everything ages, everything here in this world at least.”

“I have many hypotheses on that front, but no conclusive evidence to support any of them. At least for myself. Your mama is the daughter of an immortal being, so that at least makes some sense. However, the point is because of this unique predicament and growing concerns about the future that is why we asked both of you to come urgently.” Twilight paused to turn her attention to Sunset who nodded her encouragement. “Your mama believes it is time that the two of us retire, permanently. That we ‘die’ at least as far as paperwork and legal standards are concerned.”

“But… you two are not actually dying, are you?” asked Sunna, her lilac eyes suddenly twice their normal size.

“Not as far as I have been able to discern. I have run every test a general medical practitioner would run on us both and found that we are as healthy as anyone should be in their late twenties with decent diet and regular exercise. Perhaps even a little better if I'm being perfectly honest.”

“Well, whoopie! Then you already have another one over me. I have to take pills for anxiety, stress, and another one for hypertension.”

Twilight bit her bottom lip. “Sorry, Aurora. I used to have to take pills for anxiety, stress, and depression as well for many years even after I switched high schools. Anyhow, back on subject. While I appreciate your mama’s reasoning and she has provided an excellent oral argument, I wanted to counter with my own beliefs and include to the two of you because all of this does, in more than one way, affect you as well.”

“Okay, let me get this straight before you start, mom. Yes, I see you reaching for your prepared flash cards.” Twilight pouted, but gestured for Aurora to continue. “You are going to declare yourselves legally dead and then… what? Just become someone else?”

Twilight opened her mouth, but then snapped it shut before muttering to herself while she tossed out a few cards into the unlit firepit. "Your mama wants… You know what, Sunset? Just tell them your part while I fix my cards.”

Sunset Shimmer smiled and chuckled a bit while her wife recomposed her notes. “Essentially, you nailed it in one, kid. I want to travel. I want to see the Grand Canyon. I want to eat beignets in New Orleans. I want to scuba dive and swim with dolphins. I want to do whatever my heart desires that morning when I wake up whether it is out of a tent at a campsite or a beachside bungalow. I want to live each day from sunup to sundown and even into the night if I feel like it. As free to roam as all our ancient ancestors once did. Human and pony.

"At the end of the day I didn’t ask to become an alicorn, even if at one time I dreamed of it, but here I am and somehow, unbelievably, that also means I have the magically extended lifespan of an alicorn even as a human. So, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life hiding in this house. And I LOVE this house, but I've seen and cleaned every corner of it, thoroughly. If we are not going to move to Equestria like I originally suggested, where creatures with long ass lifespans are not that uncommon, then that’s fine. I can get behind that. But if we're staying, I refuse to be afraid to live.”

“And what if someone recognizes you. Or if not you, definitely mom. She’s been on TV and magazine covers and page after page of tech journals and web shots. It’s not as easy for her to blend in in our world.”

“That was one of my concerns as well. In fact, it was bullet point three!”

“What were bullet points one and two?” asked Sunset.

“Securing new false identification paperwork, possibly more than one, and reliable income flow that does not come under questionable scrutiny. At least here we have family to shield us and privacy laws. Out there, especially in other countries, things can become… sketchy.”

“But sketchy can be fun.”

“Sketch can be dangerous.”

“A food allergy can be dangerous.”

“Precisely! And I have not tested for every possible allergy you or I could have!”

“Then pack a mini lab to test on the go. I’m not saying we hitchhike and slum it across the world like hobos. We can still stay in nice hotels too, but if I fancy the spontaneous idea of getting a tattoo or ear piercing and the place is clean and reputable I want to do it. We have this unbelievable gift, so I want to live, babe. I want both of us to live.”

“You already did that sort of spontaneity in college when you got your bellybutton pierced and then had to take it out when you were pregnant!”

Sunset paused and then tapped her chin. “Ohhhh, yeeeeeah. Slipped my mind. That doesn't happen often. I should look into getting that put back in now that I'm thinking about it again.”

“Getting waaaaaay off subject here, you two,” shouted Aurora, her voice cracking slightly as it often did when she became frustrated. She took a breath and made an inhalation and exhale motion which included arm movement just like her mother and Aunt Cadence used to do. “Maybe it's just me, but from what it sounds like you two still have a LOT of little details to plan out. So again, why are WE here?”

“Because if we are going to do this it has to follow certain believable and plausible steps,” Twilight stated while gesturing to both her daughters. “It is now on official records with corroborating witnesses that both of you had to rush here for a family emergency. It is known, at least as far as records are concerned, that Sunset and I are both… 'elderly.' This grants opportunity for me to make the necessary changes to our statuses and give the two of you my controlling interests in Sparkle Tech. Which was always my plan from when the company took off with great success.”

Twilight set her notecards down and picked up two folders, handing one to each her daughters. She waited while they both took a moment to glance and skim over the documents inside. Aurora had dealt with enough legal documents, red tape, jargon, and fine print formalities over the years to know exactly what she now held.

“You are giving us our inheritances.”

Twilight could tell from the tone it was a statement not a question. Sunna shifted her attention back and forth between both her parents and her sister, feeling her own rising anxiousness. Twilight adjusted her glasses and moved again to sit next to her youngest, easily recognizing the change in posture. She wasted no time rubbing Sunna’s back in small circles with one hand while using the other to turn a few pages past the boilerplate legal to the parts that really mattered.

“Yes. Sparkle Tech will belong to the two of you. You each will have fifty percent of my holdings, which I held sixty-six percent of the total company asset value. Given that Aurora already has her own personal stake and a board seat that would make her acting chairperson until the board approves the transaction. You can both do what you wish with your shares, but do yourselves a favor and the company as a whole a favor and please listen to the advisory committee. They know how the day-to-day operations work. I also have a personal request that you let me keep my administrative privileges. I will create a new profile and backdoor server system access to check on progress of projects as well as secretly contribute my own work.”

“But not too often because it’s supposed to be 'retirement.' Right, babe?”

Twilight smiled and nodded. “Yes.” She turned her attention back to Aurora. “IF we move forward with this, your mama had three requests as well. One, was that this house remains in the family even if you choose to sell the others or various owned properties. The second, that you keep all the photo albums and journal tomes that your mama has used for conversations with Grandma Celestia and Princess Twilight safe. Finally, that you keep one guestroom separate available for us whenever we come to visit. I recommend the old gaming room since it is larger than a standard bedroom and we will move all our most precious items to that room for safe keeping along with a dresser and armoire for clothes and accessories. Everything else is superficial and you can do what you wish with it or save it for your children to have.”

“So,” Aurora said before gently setting the empty bottle down on the bar, “I can see mama’s side of things, what was your counter argument?”

“That we remain here. I have my personal lab out back where I can run far more sophisticated tests on both of us and closely monitor the Equestrian portal for anomalies and test any variances that may or may not be affecting us, which is one of my hypotheses. Plus, it gives us easy, quick access to anything we may need where a remote, white sandy beach will not.”

“A self-imposed prisoner and lab rat in your own home,” said Aurora.

“My thoughts exactly,” added Sunset.

“I know it has drawbacks, but it would be the safest solution. And it is not like we would stay trapped forever. We could plan small, quiet excursions with disguises to the places you want to visit. Just not extended stays living like wealthy vagabonds.”

“And option three would be to live in Equestria?” asked Sunna.

Sunset risked a glance to Twilight for approval before nodding. “It’s not really on the table, but it is an option.”

“Honestly, I think that is the one I would pick if it were me,” said Sunna with a small smile. “I can think of worse places to live out the rest of my life than a land of myth and magic.”

Aurora reached back over the bar and retrieved another wine cooler. “Yeah, you always did seem to be more in tune with that place than I ever was. Hell, I'm happy when I can go longer than a few months without thinking about it.”

Silence lingered as Aurora chugged her second drink. Sunset leaned back casually with her elbows on the bar, Sunna chewed on her bottom lip, and Twilight shifted about, eyes constantly switching between who to look at. When Aurora finished her drink, she let out a small belch and took her two bottles to the recycling can with a slight wobble to her step.
She knew her limit and still needed to be able to function once this family pow wow was over.

“You wanted our opinions, fine. Here’s mine. I agree with mama. I would go cackling homicidal staying in this house for months on end, year after year, even with occasional access to all the world around. And if the ‘other’ place is out then that makes it easy to choose. As long as you can get your hands on legitimate fake documents… I can’t believe I said that sentence out loud, then that is what I would go with. Now that I did say it, how are you going to make your deaths look real and get fake ID’s?”

Twilight wiggled her fingers in the air like a magic keyboard. “I... would rather spare you the details for deniability and the fact that it is considerably illegal, but also because it gets technical. Suffice to say I have been planning this for quite some time and had taken steps to get system access to the right government databases in order to keep myself and your mama off the suspicious radars of any government agencies that are referred to with three letter acronym names. I know many of those system better than the people who designed them so it will be relatively easy for me to create alias. Needless to say, I will go to any length to keep my family and loved ones safe. I know what I am doing and how to make it look official.”

“She really does know what she's doing. Your mom gave me a fresh start and backdated birth certificate and that was long before either of you were born. She’s only gotten better at this since then. Countries and governments around the world are all scared of each other and artificial intelligence taking over or starting wars when in reality they should be more concerned with the kind of people who make the code for it to begin with. Just be glad she’s on our side.” Twilight stared deadpan at her wife. “What? Tell me I'm wrong.”

“The programs are only as dangerous as the people making them and you just called me an evil mad scientist on the sly.” Sunset arched an eyebrow and flashed a smirk. “Okay, fine! I could be, but I’m not! I just want to keep us safe and keep working to make the world a better place! If I’m immortal or near immortal then it’s my responsibility to use my knowledge and extended life experiences to make the world a better place! Clean energy. Enough food for everyone so that no one goes to bed hungry. Curing diseases and other illnesses. Exploring the stars! I go to bed with these thoughts. I wake up each day hoping I can make the world a little bit better than where it was the day before.”

Sunset hopped off her barstool and sauntered over to her wife, reached down and cupped her face in both hands before planting a gentle, but extended kiss on her lips. “And that and so many more reasons are why I love you, Twilight Sparkle. You never stop dreaming. You never stop trying. I would never ask you to give it all up. Just to slow down and see the world you are tirelessly trying to save. The forest through the trees.”

Twilight giggled and sighed. “Right there in front of me, just too close for me to see... I remember.”

Sunset Shimmer smiled and Twilight knew she had lost the argument. But in truth, that was okay. Sunset had done what she was always so good at doing. She helped pull Twilight back when she was too close to an issue and see it all laid out before her. Sunset Shimmer, her pony angel born of fire and passion. A goddess in everything but name, beautiful, intelligent, empathetic, and yet also so down to earth and human. A good mother, a good lover, a great wife. For the umpteenth millionth time, Twilight was reminded why she loved this alicorn woman so much and was eternally thankful to have her by her side.

“Okay,” Twilight finally said. “If we are all in agreement, I need Aurora to make a call to my personal attorney, Sharp Tack in the next hour. He is aware of a number of highly confidential facts and truths and is contractually obligated and well compensated as such and will take those to his grave. He will handle the medical examiner reports and death certificates as well as the subtle press release information in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If you need him to, he will also directly handle the media relations to keep most of the cameras off of the two of you. Since you will be grieving for your loss. Once that is done, I will take the necessary steps to put our first new ID’s into active circulation. It should be safe for us to sneak out and begin out retirement in about a month after things have settled. I hope you have a list of where you would like to begin, Sunny.”

“Pfft,” Sunset said with a toothy grin and a waggle of her eyebrows. “As if I would ever compile a list without checking with you first. Get out your big white board and that fat black marker you need two hands to hold, babe. We are going to make a LONG list and check it all twice.”

Twilight giggled and then moaned. She said with a husky undertone, “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

Sunna blushed profusely but continued to smile while she tried to look anywhere but at her parents. Aurora groaned and fell back, splaying out on the bar. Her head made an audible smack against the varnished wood, but not terrible hard.

“Fuuuuuck me sideways. Now I am going to need that third drink.”

Author's Note

Evening readers!

I know the last chapter did not include any art and at the moment neither does this one. BUT I am working on sketches of adult Aurora and Sunna. Just been busy with life and probably watching too much streaming. Bad habit. Need to balance my time better.

So as was pointed out in a few previous stories. Twi and Sunset eventually had to quietly slip out of their own lives because it had become painfully obvious that they were not aging like normal people. I quite enjoy adult Aurora in this and the bit I had her before in, "The Girl Who Has Everything."

Aurora had her mama's fiery snark, her mother's brains and wit and Celestia's ability to wrap an entire room of policy makers around her little finger. She was tough but fair. If you worked as hard as she did and didn't try to bullshit her she respected you. If you tried to stab her in the back, she stabbed you in the face with razor sharp words and decisive action.

Sunna was more subtle, quiet. She was an artist, a teacher, and philosopher. She loved visiting Equestria and did not care for the high stress, high demand world of government or corporate politics. As such, when she was finally able to, she sold her stake in Sparkle Tech and left the company to Aurora and eventually their children.

Thank you for reading.

Questions? Comments?