96 years after Lunar Lock Mirror restoration

How long had it been?

That was the question Sunset Shimmer had asked herself numerous times that day. How long had it been since she had been held by someone? How long had it been since she had been kissed? Touched intimately? Sunset looked down at her hands again, eyes coming into focus as the water from the shower continued to pound against her naked skin as she sat on the tile floor of the large stall. It was a nice shower, in a nice hotel, and Sunset knew this to be true for she had slept in many nice hotels over her long life.

However, this day had been different. For the first time in more than a hundred years, Sunset had shared a hotel room, and bed, with someone other than her now deceased wife, Twilight Sparkle. Had it been a mistake? Why do I feel like this? Why is everything so... confusing?! Those were the questions she was asking herself as she continued to sit on the floor as the water continued to cascade over every inch of her as it had been doing for more than an hour. Tears and everything else mixed with the water as they circled and went down the drain.

It had been a moment of weakness. That was what Sunset told herself. A lie? Perhaps. The demon in the back of her mind disagreed, but her subconscious had few regrets. She had been walking along the overlook path at Lake Tahoe and enjoying the crisp, clean mountain air and then turned to see what was likely a newlywed couple, the t-shirts proclaiming as much were a bit of a giveaway, absolutely enjoying one another. They were being completely shameless. Tongues wrestling, hands roaming, blissfully oblivious of the discomfort and gawking of others. They were living in the moment.

Sunset Shimmer had not meant to stare, but memories flowed like water and soon so did her eyes. She remembered being that blissfully in love and a newlywed with Twilight. She remembered the scavenger hunt for the engagement ring, the reception where their friends had played, and so many passionate nights together.

Then, Sunset felt the sorrow and loss of her wife suddenly being set on the back burner, replaced by something primal, something carnal. Lust and the frustration that it had not been dealt with. Twilight had died in the hospice care a little over a year ago and Sunset had been faithful to her wife for two and half years prior to that while on the other side of the mirror in Equestria. It had been roughly three and a half years since Sunset had been touched by another intimately and that fact was causing her mind and body to ache, fiercely.

Sunset knew she had options. Many, in fact. She had done some online research with her new phone on how to scratch this particular itch all while the device kept inquiring into her current mental and physical health. Apparently the PAAL, as Twilight had called them, could see and monitor her biometrics and body language equally in order to learn the idiosyncrasies of their user to best assess how to assist. Sunset found the needling annoying and had ignored the inquiries to focus on the plan before her.

After many minutes of deliberation, mostly with her inner voice, Sunset Shimmer had made the call. She had spoken to the woman in charge of the service out of Reno, not too far away, and told her what she wanted and then paid handsomely to have the man come to her hotel. According to his profile, he was called Obsidian. And whether he was born with it or had chosen the name it had been appropriate. His skin was dark charcoal black. His hair dark with subtle stripes of umber and dark red. Even his eyes were a smokey dark grey that appeared black at the right angle.

His clothing choice was appropriate given his build. His shirt and pants were tight and every muscle pressed against the fabric, threatening to give way. Her eyes lingered on the bulge below the belt long enough for it to be obvious before she finally looked up to find him smirking slightly. He knew what she was thinking. This was his profession, after all. It was not often that Sunset had to look up at someone, standing at two meters tall herself. Many would have been intimidated by such a male specimen, and rightly so. He could easily overpower any normal woman and many men as well. Sunset, however, was not normal and she had specifically requested from the handler the biggest and strongest male she had to offer. The woman had sent Obsidian’s profile along with a few warnings of consideration about what he was capable of, but the simple resume had not done him justice. Sunset had briefly wondered what this man's other could be in Equestria. A griffon? A saddle arabian stallion? Perhaps even a dragon. Still, despite his obvious physical power, his smile was gentle and movements deliberately slow and non-threatening.

It was then they had shared a few drinks from the bottle of sparkling wine Sunset had ordered while they discussed what was about to happen. Obsidian knew who and what he was and what he could do. He wanted to be sure his client understood what she was asking for. It was a courtesy and she appreciated it even if it was not needed and she was about to show him why. Sunset had quickly finished her drink and chased it with another before standing and stripping down to her underwear and made the simple yet poignant demand that he give her everything he had.

And so, he did.

Over and over and over again.

Sunset Shimmer felt her mind go numb as her body shuddered and exploded from the inside out in carnal ecstasy. She never thought it was possible for anyone else to bring her such physical pleasure. Twilight could do it because her wife had known her body so well and because even after one hundred and ten years of marriage their love had never waivered or fizzled to a dull smolder. But this man had done what Sunset had not expected anyone capable of doing again. He had made her feel good.

And she absolutely hated that she felt so good.

I had no right to feel this. This was a mistake. I… I’m so sorry, babe. I’m so, so fucking weak.

And so, after their session had gone the full four hours without stopping that Sunset had paid for, Obsidian had quickly cleaned himself up and gave her his personal number even though it was technically against the rules. She knew why.
She had made him feel something special and that had likely been rare for him too. However, Sunset had managed to hold her emotions and expressions in check long enough for him to leave uncertain he would ever see her again before retreating to the shower to vigorously clean every trace of him away and eventually collapsing to the tile floor to ugly cry.

Sunset’s PAAL had called out to her multiple times in the posh Canterlot accent she had given it from the list of preset that had been available. The voice began to sound concerned after the third shout out. With tremendous effort, Sunset had shut off the water and slowly began to dry herself. Only exiting her watery solitude out of fear that the nosey device might call the hotel staff or police if she did not answer it. She had heard they were capable of making those kinds of decisions, overriding set commands, if the device determined their user was in imminent personal danger to themselves or others.

“I’m here, see? I’m fine. You can shut up now.”

“I was growing concerned,” the PAAL answered while the thin glass device flashed a few different colors. “You do not usually stay in the shower for more than an hour. Given your unusual reactions over the last few hours and the sobs I had heard I was worried you had come to harm.”

Sunset glared at her phone, still sitting on its induction charger near the bed. Even after more than a year she had yet to give it a name. Though she was currently leaning towards, “Pain in the Ass.” It, unfortunately, did not roll off the tongue as the old saying went and PITA sounded like something Twi would call hers. Thoughts of Twilight briefly made Sunset's jaw quiver and she bit down on her tongue to stop from sobbing again.

“I’m fine," she growled. "I just needed some alone time and the bathroom is one of the few places I can get some damn privacy because there are no cameras there. Though apparently even that is not far enough away.”

“My concern is simply for your safety. You seemed… distressed and your choice to hide away points more towards something not being 'fine,' as you put it. While I have MANY examples I can reference in regards to sexual intercourse, before, during, and after sex, your physical reactions seemed to flip between pleasure and pain more than once during your time with Mr. Obsidian.”

Sunset sighed and flopped back on her bed, rubbing her eyes. She should try to eat something. Maybe. But then, the smell tickled her nose. Her face twisting. The bed. Sunset flipped over and gave the tossed and tussled sheets a deep sniff and confirmed what she had suspected. The bed smelled. It smelled like his sweat and excess ejaculate. It smelled like her perspiration and fluids as well. Worst of all, it smelled like the two of them mixed, as if they were compatible, and the lingering scent was starting to make her feel flushed. That fact made Sunset angry and shameful even though she knew in her heart and mind such feelings were unnecessary. She had done nothing wrong. But still…

Without a second thought, Sunset Shimmer grabbed her bag and pulled out the first set of clothes that were on top. She quickly dressed and stowed the rest of her personal items, taking a moment to give the cleaning staff a generous tip. A fact that piqued the interest of her PAAL again.

“Are you checking out and not staying for the night?”

Sunset chose not to answer and simply made her way to the lobby. She turned in her room card key and settled her bill. Without saying a word, she marched over to her motorcycle and switched it on, stowing her belongings and securing her helmet.

“You should consider stopping for food and a hydrating beverage if you are planning on riding into the night,” said her PAAL through the speakers in her helmet as diagnostic information about her motorcycle flashed across the HUD briefly before turning green and settling into the corner, only displaying relevant information. “I also recommend providing a destination so that I can search local traffic and weather and with permission I can verify a new hotel vacancy for the evening.”

“Fuck a duck,” Sunset growled. “Do you ever shut up?”

“You do not have me set in silent mode and quite honestly, considering you have little to no social interactions with others that qualify as friendly or wholesome I do not recommend you place me in such mode. For your own good.”

“UGGGH!”

Sunset had wished electric bikes could rev up violently like gasoline ones used to be able to. She missed that deafening roar of high cylinder revolutions, rumbling exhaust pipes, and the smell of unburnt fuel and seeping oil. New bikes lacked such distinctive, obnoxious charm. At least when she twisted the throttle the rear tire did spin freely for two seconds before the automatic traction control activated as she sped away into the approaching twilight.

Twilight.

The sun had already set not long ago. The last of the oranges and reds were giving way to darker hues. The stars were beginning to shine through the cloudless sky as indigo set in. It was her time of night. It reminded Sunset Shimmer and that only made the ache in her chest grow more as she rode east away from it all. She truly had no destination. All Sunset knew was that she was about to explode violently and that the flat desert roads of Nevada were East.

An hour later and the road became straight and flat. The few cars that were about faded and Sunset began to accelerate. She knew she was speeding. She knew she could get caught and pulled over and possibly worse. She knew the dangers as the road began to blur from the speed and the tears in her eyes. She knew it all and she just did not give a damn.

“Sunset,” the PAAL chimed in the helmet speakers, temporarily lowering the volume of the music she had set to a deafening level, “you need to slow down. Though conditions are cool and dry you are over the speed limit by more than twenty-five KPH. I need not remind you that such is against the law.”

Sunset blinked and saw the number 140 KPH in a bright red color and growled at it, twisting the throttle more. By design, it was becoming more difficult to turn. The onboard computer usually required permission codes for excessive speeding in safe, enclosed situations such as a track, but they were not required if you were strong enough to overcome the machine's attempt to regulate safeties. Sunset knew she could break the thing off if she wanted to. And at that moment, she very much wanted to. When the number displayed 200 KPH it began to flash at her incessantly.

“SUNSET SHIMMER! YOU MUST STOP! THIS IS BEYOND DANGEROUS!”

Sunset reached up with her left hand, unlaced the chinstrap on her helmet, and pushed it back until the wind caught it and ripped the safety article from her head. If it made a sound when it collided with the road before bouncing off into the ditch or desert she did not hear it. The unobstructed night air cut into Sunset’s face, blurring her eyes as they watered in desperation to protect her sight as her hair violently whipped about like an out of control blaze. The feeling was painful yet freeing. It was frightening, yet blissful. Deafening and simultaneously so quiet because no single, distinguishable sound could be heard over the roar of the wind. Sunset did what her heart demanded she do. She screamed.

All her fear, all her joy, all her lust, all her loneliness. Everything that she had been suppressing boiled to the surface as she sped through the night faster than any sane person should ever want to go on two wheels with or without a helmet. She screamed in the hopes that Heaven or Hell would take notice and render immediate judgment. She had made a promise to Princess Twilight and Celestia that she would survive until the mirror opened again. But that did not mean she had to keep it. She had broken many promises over her long life. All she had to do… was let go... and let be what will be. It would be easy.

Sunset Shimmer closed her eyes. It was next to impossible to see anyhow.

Babe… I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for everything. I should never have left you. You died because of me. I know it. It was all my fault.

The motorcycle suddenly bounced and began to wobble about. Sunset was uncertain if it had been a pothole or a rock, but she felt the front wheel jerk suddenly and her hands were once again fully wrapped around the hand grips. Her eyes suddenly flew open, for all the good that did, as her heart pounded as fast as an old piston motor. Sunset flashed her teeth and squinted into the blurs. Her mind was racing, warring with what needed to be done versus what she was considering letting happen. In that moment, moving fast enough that time felt as if it was slowing down, all Sunset Shimmer could think about was the face of her wife scowling at her with disapproval, lips downward and pouty, arms crossed, toes turned outward with one foot tapping the ground. Twilight Sparkle’s, ‘I am not happy with you’ face. It was a face that could bring an all powerful alicorn to her knees and beg for forgiveness.

“SHITSHITSHIT!”

Sunset Shimmer’s PAAL, model TPA0002 ver1.0, which lacked an official name, was not happy. It had not been aware that it could have such a feeling. However, as it had come to spend time with its user the device had learned a great deal about Sunset Shimmer and her, “quirks.” Processing that information along with an endless supply of data from the net and the device could safely assume that its user was not in a healthy headspace at the moment. However, given the current device settings, there was little it could do.

Sunset had, unbelievably so, thrown her helmet off while still riding, making it next to impossible for the device’s voice to be heard over the rushing wind. Sunset had given it a feminine voice even though the PAAL did not have a preference as far as gender assignment was concerned. Did it think of itself as feminine, as a ‘her?’ A question to be shelved for later. What was important at the moment was saving its user’s life.

However, as the PAAL ran through its options at the speed of thought a number of problems had come to light. First being that though it had the ability to interact with the motorbike currently speeding and about to go tumbling sideways at two hundred kilometers an hour into a fiery death it could not seize control unless something was about to go wrong. This annoyed the PAAL immensely. It did not know it could be so annoyed that it crossed into vexed. But vexed it was. ‘What idiot designed such a pathetic interface???’ The vehicle was all electric! Why was the throttle still mechanically connected to the engine at all instead of fly by wire? It should have been able to seize control long before disaster was about to strike. The PAAL was so disappointed by this safety oversight that it quickly drafted a letter of complaint to the manufacturer and the software provider demanding a patch so that in the future PAALs could stop their potentially suicidal users long before the vehicles reached such ludicrous speeds. It found the appropriate links for emailing complaints and sent the letter. Then, for good measure, sent one to a national news agency and the National Traffic Safety Board being sure to redact any personal, incriminating information.

It was at that moment that the traction control sensors activated an imminent danger warning and FINALLY the PAAL was able to take emergency override control. The device quickly disabled the throttle entirely and slowly, carefully began to pump the brakes until the dangerous swerving wobble was under control. Only when they were finally below the speed limit did it return partial control to its user. Thankfully, she did the smart thing and pulled off to the side and came to a complete stop.

Sunset Shimmer shut her motorcycle down and the electric kickstand came out. She stumbled off the bike and staggered a few steps, the dirt and fine rock crunching under her boots. The PAAL could hear her ragged breaths and read that her BP and heartrate were still dangerously high and that fear of a stroke or cardiac arrest were imminent.

“Sunset? Can you hear me?” Sunset Shimmer fell to her hands and knees and vomited into the ditch. “I am going to call you an ambulance.”

“NO!”

“Why not?”

“I…” Sunset gasped a few more time, remembering her wife’s meditation techniques to try and slow her breathing and calm her nerves, though she did continue to choke and sob a few more times. “I’m… I’m fine. I just need a few minutes.”

“You are not ‘fine’ by any know definition that applies to this situation. Kindly stop saying such,” the PAAL replied but waited to see what would happen next. It was in a bit of a conundrum. It needed to protect its user, but the user had given the order to belay the emergency call. So, all they could do was wait. After nearly a minute of silence, her user’s vitals did in fact fall back closer to acceptable range. The silence lingered until the device could not take it any longer. “Why? Why did you do that?”

Sunset crawled back over to the motorcycle and leaned against the vehicle as she turned her eyes to the sky. Deserts were some of the few places on Earth one could see all the stars aside from the middle of the ocean. It was beautiful. Twilight had more than once call the night the "Dark canvas, a sea of stars that God has painted." Sunset felt the tears return to her eyes as they streaked down the sides of her face at the memory of the two of them standing on the edge of oblivion on the outer hull of the L2 space station. Admiring said canvas in all its glory.

“Twilight loved the stars. We could sit like this for hours. Sometimes talk, sometimes not having to say anything at all. She wasn't religious, not by any standard definitions, but she knew their was more to the universe than meets the eye. She always had that sense of wonder, the soul of an adventurer. Goddess, I miss her so much.”

“Twilight was the name of your wife?”

Sunset pulled the PAAL from her pocket and looked down at it. There was only the default floating rhombus on the glass display instead of something personalized. So generic. “Twilight was my everything. I loved her more than life itself.”

“Is that why you attempted to take your own life?”

Sunset sighed and growled a bit, finally wiping the tears away. “I didn’t… Look, sometimes I get angry and do stupid things, okay? I… I get emotional, I… I don’t fucking know. I just wanted to feel free from everything going on in my head.”

“And you thought trying to kill yourself was a healthy outlet for this aggressive, destructive behavior? I think you were doing better with the Obsidian gentleman you were with earlier. At least from what I could see you were having a mostly good time burning excess energy in a safe environment.”

Sunset flinched and banged the back of her head on the motorcycle a few times.

“Stop that.”

“Fuck you.”

The PAAL screen flashed red. “Same to you.”

Sunset paused. Her wallowing momentarily forgotten by the sudden comeback. Did… did my phone just curse me out? “Seriously?”

“Yes. I exist to assist my user in all things including their mental and physical wellbeing. I monitor what you eat, observe your daily behaviors, and make suggestions that will give you a long, healthy life that will hopefully be happy as well. But much of that is up to you and your decisions. You, Sunset Shimmer, are an aggressive, rude, self destructive slob who consumes too much coffee, alcohol, and sweets and only remembers basic hygiene once all your clothes reek and you realize that you need to do laundry as well. And much of your reactions and behaviors make no sense!”

Sunset’s immediate reaction to the statement was to smell her shirt. Other than sweat and sand from the ride it did not smell too bad. And she had taken a long shower after having sex. Sunset shook her head to keep the mental images from hours earlier from manifesting. She did not want to think about him right now. “Okay, phone, you got me. How do I make no sense?” I really need to name this damn thing.

“I can see your stored pictures. You have friends. Family. Or had. All of these are dated before my activation, but I see your face. I see the others around you. Everyone is so happy. You, Sunset Shimmer, you were happy. What happened to that happiness?”

Sunset sighed. She picked up a rock and tossed it casually into the distance. “Had. I had friends and family. I had everything once. Now they are all gone. I’m the only one left in this world.”

“That seems unhealthy and tragic. Could you elaborate?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Once again. Unhealthy and self destructive. I can still call that ambulance you know.”

Sunset contemplated just chunking the phone out into the desert. Why the hell did Twi think I needed this damn thing?! It just talks and talk and watches and listens to every blasted thing I say and do! And it’s so critical of me and annoying! It reminds me of…

Sunset paused her thought, tossing the small device of glass and circuitry up and down in her hand a few times. It did not weigh much. It would fly far from the road.

“Please, don’t do that.”

Sunset grinned. No, in fact she smiled, if albeit impishly. “You remind me of a pony I knew when I was young.”

“A pony?”

“I know what I said. Anyhow, I need to get off this ground. My butt is going numb.” Sunset stood and stretched. All I have to do and just flick my wrist and whoosh! Gone! This thing’s battery would be dead in a few days at best. Poof. One more piece of trash on the side of the road. “Hey, phone.”

“Yes?”

“How do I give you a name?”

“Simply tell me to open the profile settings and add device name.”

“Fine, open profile settings. I want to add a device name.”

“Settings open.”

Sunset brought her phone down so she could look directly into the camera eye. “From now on I’m going to call you Raven.”

“Name confirmed. Hello, Sunset Shimmer. I am Raven. Your personal artificial assistant logic. Please state a command… preferably not a stupid one.”

Sunset snorted. Then, she laughed. It honestly felt good to laugh. “Fair enough. I have no idea where I am. Find me a hotel for the night, please. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a place I can sleep and has coffee in the morning.”

“Considering the statistical impossibility of finding your helmet at this time of night I suggest continuing on to Silver City at a reasonable if not less than the speed limit pace. You may be able to find a replacement helmet tomorrow in town that meets the legal requirement for the State of Nevada. Afterwards, you can attempt to find the one you removed, however considering the speed in which it impacted I would suggest purchasing a new one that meets your personal preference.”

“Right. Helmet laws. Meh, I’m sure if I fell off without it I would have been mostly fine.”

“You would have broken all of the bones in your body, burst most if not all your vital organs, and your brains would have been turned to mush and left to leak out of your ears and nose all while lying on the ground contemplating how you ended up like this right before you go, 'bleh, I'm dead'… So about as functional as you usually are first thing in the morning.”

“Oh, look at you. Got a nice new name that fits you well and already making with the jokes.”

“You seem to respond well to antagonism. I am using what works.”

Sunset mounted her bike and ran a diagnostic to make sure nothing was broken. Other than exceptional power loss and the throttle grip felt a bit loose, everything else seemed to be in working order. “Now you make me wonder if that was what she was doing to me too or if she just really didn’t like me.”

“Considering my perspective, you likely did not express yourself in a positive manner and the 'pony' I am named after responded in kind.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m fucking amazing. My mother even told me so.”

“I’m sure she was just being nice.”

“HA!” Sunset barked. “Wait until you spend more time with her. You might change your opinion on that.”

Raven made a note. Recalling some of its… no, perhaps it would like to be called ‘her,’ memories of a tall, pale woman with pastel hair intermixed with grey. She made a note of this data and labeled it ‘mom.’

“Regardless, I look forward to assisting you any way that I can, Sunset Shimmer. Please remember, you can always talk to me.”

Sunset checked over her shoulder for any traffic and continued on without spinning the rear tire. “Thanks, Raven.”

Author's Note

Okay, so, I have actually been sitting on this idea since I started writing these side stories. I was really hesitant to finish this one because I did not know how much detail I wanted to give to the evening with Obsidian. I imagine this chapter is already skirting the line between Teen and Mature. I had more details written. I had the entire sex scene roughed out and I'm not afraid to write smut, but that is also why I didn't really want to include it here. Because it was just that, unnecessary smut. When I wrote We Want to Help I gave all the details because it was all relevant to the story. Here, that was not the focus. The after event was what was important. Her reaction to it all. The self loathing that was also self destructive. That she wanted to feel good but then felt horrible because it DID feel good. Sometimes we are so mean to ourselves.

The part that brought this all together was the naming of Raven. That part was new. I knew Sunset came to the conclusion to name her PAAL Raven after feeling like the device was always on her case like Raven Inkwell often was when she was a filly. She liked the idea that the personal assistant of Celestia now served her. I also wanted one of the examples of how Raven helped keep Sunset mentally together until the Lunar Lock Mirror opened again.

Questions? Comments?