Higher, Faster, Brighter, Daughter.

Raising her hoof carefully, Ocellus tilted her head– She had always been an overachiever, but there were times where pony history confounded even her– Their anatomy simply was so unlike a changeling’s, and it felt strange to learn about anything adjacent to it. “...But Miss Sunset, can’t Celestia do that anytime she wants? Well, or any alicorn, for that matter?”

The teacher, Sunset Shimmer, pondered at the blackboard, already aware of the answer. In it was a quite elegant drawing she had prepared of an alicorn, who had a strong resemblance to Celestia, but bigger than any other, with six wings sprouted off her back, spread in a divine manner.

“...I can see why you’d ask that, Ocellus, but no. No alicorn does this on command. In fact, most history reports imply they never could at all.” She leaned on the table, letting out a sigh. “And I’m sure nothing like this has or ever will happen in our lifetimes.”

Once again, Ocellus raised a hoof. “So wait– There’s no actual proof that Celestia has ever ‘gone Seraph’?”

Chuckling lightly, Sunset shook her head. “No, it’s all down to mythology. She’s lived for a thousand years, everycreature. It’s a long time to accomplish a lot of things; You can ask her, and she could deny it in either direction and be seen as plausible; After a while, records get muddled, and you know how ponies are, they tend to… Overhype the princesses, who themselves tend to be humble. Also ‘gone seraph’ is a funny name for it. I’ll be using that.”

This time, it was Sandbar that raised a hoof. “Well, what about Princess Twilight? She’s beaten a dozen world ending bad guys, right? Using the Elements of Harmony and everything? Hasn’t she ‘gone Seraph’ before? Who else would?”

“Hah!” Covering her mouth, the teacher suppressed even louder laughter. “Speaking of overhyping… Twilight is the Princess of Friendship. Not only is she a young alicorn, but she’s basically beaten every bad guy with the help of her friends, and that’s not about to change anytime soon. I doubt she’ll ever need or even know or even want to ‘go Seraph’-- Actually, it sounds kind of dumb.I doubt she’ll ever achieve this higher state of being, because she’s, well… Plenty capable without it.”

“Oh! Oh!” Silverstream raised a hand. “So you’re saying that she wouldn’t, because she’s already capable of beating every bad guy without it?” With a gasp, her smile widened, and her wings fluttered. “Because she could beat any bad guy no matter what, and always save the world!!”

“Meh!” Smolder shrugged. “What's a few more wings, anyways? It’d be clumsier to fight with, I think.”

Ocellus continued writing down. “I’m still confused on the parameters–”

“Let me address what Silverstream suggested.” Sunset leaned forward, tapping a hoof on the table. “Now, I’m not saying Twilight is fallible. She has an incredible track record. But even the most perfect alicorns don’t necessarily do… This.” She pointed at the black board. “In fact, her very capacity to solve problems with diplomacy and the power of friendship could keep her from this.”

From the back, Gallus snickered. “So it’s a get out of jail free card, and she’s not gonna use it because she’s too good?”

“Damn right!” Sandbar cheered.

“Language.”

“Sorry. Um, dang right…!” He corrected sheepishly. “But still, Twilight Sparkle is the strongest alicorn ever, right?”

“One could argue Celestia ranks starkly above her.” Sunset shrugged, looking away. “And one could argue the Princess of the Sun is long past her prime.”

“But wasn’t Celestia the one that originally got these six-wings thing?” Silverstream pondered out loud. “Like, doesn’t that mean she’s objectively stronger?”

“This has nothing to do with just strength–” Sunset paused, closing her eyes, and again she had to suppress a chuckle as she leaned forward on her chair. “Actually, define strength.”

“Oh! Oh! Yona knows!!” The Yak waved a hoof up excitedly.

“Go ahead, Yona.” Sunset grinned.

“Strength is your ability to smash stuff, carry stuff, and lift and beat up stuff real good!!” She excitedly hopped up and down in her seat. “Whether it’s to protect the creatures you love or otherwise, It’s muscles!!”

“Thank you Yona. That’s indeed what physical strength is.” Sunset snickered, nodding. “And by that metric, Twilight Sparkle is the weakest alicorn– And Celestia the strongest.”

“How buff is Princess Luna?” Sandbar narrowed his eyes, thinking. “Does anycreature have a record of that somewhere?”

“Well, Celestia is pretty tall and defined, I guess?” Gallus tilted his head. “Is this a common pony thing, or an alicorn thing? Like– Is Celestia known for being shredded?”

Sandbar snickered. “Nah, she’s more known for setting impossible beauty standards– At least that’s what my mom says!”

“She does raise the sun everyday!” Ocellus noted. “And has beaten bad guys like Chrysalis for a thousand years. She must be pretty strong!”

“When it comes to physical strength–” Sunset noted, tapping a hoof on her table. “Celestia is far and above likely the strongest pony in the world, bar none.” She breathed in and out, leaning back on her chair. “...Exceptions can rarely be made on that rule. I’d say maybe Rockhoof– But I suppose we can’t just ask them to hoof wrestle.”

“I mean, maybe we could.” Sandbar pondered. “Twilight does like us a lot. We could ask it as a big favor?”

“Yona would like to see that! Sounds like an incredible display of muscles!” The Yak nodded wisely. “The earth itself would shake and dance with their might!”

“Um, Miss Sunset?” Silverstream tilted her head. “...You’re talking like you know Celestia? Are you two friends?”

“No.” The teacher replied instantly. “We aren’t. And we never will be.”

Silence spread across the room for a moment, as the students could feel a certain resentment in her words.

Shaking her head, Sunset got back on track. “...Anyway, back on topic, I suppose we could only try to imagine the Princess of the Sun’s strength against other mighty ponies. But like I said, with the exception of Rockhoof, it’s hard to imagine a match.”

“Maybe Applejack?” Sandbar offered. “She’s pretty strong! Imagine them three duking it out!”

Smolder had to take a moment to chuckle to herself. “Hah! Haha– Now imagine Princess Twilight in the middle of that!”

“Flattened like a pancake…” Yona shook her head somberly.

Chuckling, Gallus leaned back on his chair. “It’s true, though. She doesn’t really lift.”

Smolder scoffed. “Still though, not that I’m disagreeing with Yona’s definition of strength, she’s always right–”

“--Thank you!! Yak's always right!!!”

“--But Twilight has beaten up a lot of bad guys. She just didn’t use the coolest method, I guess.” She crossed her arms. “You know. Actually slapping them around. She used her magic and friendship blasts or whatever. So she doesn’t really need this weird six winged thing, or to even work out, right?”

Sunset considered taking the easy way out, she considered simply going back to her lesson, but after taking a breath, she decided to bite.

“...Twilight Sparkle is not perfect. She is incredibly powerful and capable, but her adherence to only one method of problem solving, ergo, relying on friends and her own magic, has a lifespan. I’m grateful, like much of Equestria, that it has always worked out so far.” She sighed, looking out the window. “But someday it might not. Someday, she might encounter a problem she can’t friendship away, or simply magic out of her sight. Someday, Equestria might pay for having a ruler that only deals with issues in one way.”

A hush spread through the classroom.

She realized what she had just said. “...And on that day, I hope she tried lifting, hahah!”

Laughter spread throughout the classroom, as the kids genuinely saw that as a lighthearted joke.

Yona waved a hoof quietly, tilting her head in surprise. “...Miss Sunset, do you not believe in Princess Twilight and the magic of friendship?”

Gallus sniffed the drama and leaned forward expectantly. “Ohhh true that, the way you talk, it sounds like you’ve got beef with her!”

“Guys, c’mon.” Sandbar sighed. “She’s literally working for the princess. On the School of Friendship. Why would she have beef?”

Smolder snickered. “You can have beef while working for a creature! Happens all the time with dragons, you dislike the ones that are bigger than you!”

Silverstream gasped in shock. “G-gosh! Do you have beef with Principal Starlight too??!!”

“Yona thinks if you ever have beef, you need to talk it out or fight it out!” The Yak wisely announced. “Whatever is best at the moment! Maybe both!”

Galus nearly leapt out of his chair. “And hey, just saying, if you want your students to watch you teachers fighting, it can be a learning experience for us–”

Smoulder’s eyes widened as she grinned. “--Ohoho yeah, if you teachers wanna duke it out, we can watch!! I’ll bring popcorn! My money is on Sunset!”

“Guys, c’mon, the teachers aren’t gonna fight.” Sandbar pouted. “...Are they? Like, would you?”

“Hey, while we’re asking intrusive questions and being annoying!” Smolder raised a finger, snickering. “Is it true you came to Equestria from a mirror? Spike gossiped about it, y’know?”

“Is it true that you visited an alternate world with hairless ape versions of all of us?” Gallus raised an eyebrow. “And that you’re here because Equestria’s better?”

“Nah she’s here because she lost a job there!” Sandbar corrected. “...Right? Was it?”

Yona scoffed. “Hairless? Pah! Blasphemy! No offense.”

“None taken!” The hairless folk in the room noted.

Silverstream clapped. “Speaking of hair, Miss Sunset, how do you get yours to look like that? It’s so fiery! I love it!”

Ocellus shyly raised a hoof. “Um, I’d still like to know the parameters of how an alicorn ‘goes Seraph’…!”

“All of you be QUIET.” Sunset did not yell– But the ferocity in her voice implied enough repressed anger to direct a room.

And through that silence, she took a deep breath. “I’m not going to entertain any questions about the human world, so I’m only going to say this once: Yes. I lived in a world with hairless apes when I was exiled. No, I’m not telling you how or why I was exiled. Twilight went in there, and after some… Things happened, she brought me back here. After a while, she offered me this job, and I had nothing better to do.” She leaned back on her chair, looking away. “It pays the bills, and that’s all I care about. I have nothing else to comment on my stay in an alternate world, so don’t bother asking. I didn’t do anything of relevance there, and It’s not important.”

A shy Silverstream raised her hand, tilting her head.

“...Yes, Silverstream, what is it?”

“...Are you… Sad, Miss Sunset?”

The other kids around her gave out similar affirmations.

With a groan, and rolling her eyes, she sat back on her chair. “Nope. I’m perfectly happy.” She lied. “Ocellus, you had a question about the actual class?”

“Y-yes!” her little wings fluttered with excitement. “I wanted to know… If it's not being a powerful magic user, or fighting powerful foes, or being pushed too far, what exactly are the parameters of an alicorn ‘going Seraph’?”

“Thank you for the question.” She stood from her chair, and pointed at the blackboard. “A lot of details of this are unknown, since it's all essentially mythology. But…” She sat on the floor, pointing at the respective drawings. “All of us creatures have a primary essential elemental cornerstone of our being. Earth Ponies, earth, easy– Pegasus, clouds, also easy. Unicorns, magic, dragons, fire, Yaks, snow, changelings, love, and so on, and so forth…”

She walked directly before the drawing of the six-winged alicorn. “...Alicorns, as is told in myths, are made of stars. Constellations, nebulae, essentially a primordial cosmic force where all things come from. Now, the records are finicky, but if one would ‘go Seraph’, or, more eloquently put, if an alicorn would ascend even further…”

She drew a circle around the entire board. “...It would mean they are tapping into the root of everything. Meaning, they are aligned with the true, unrivaled Harmony of every single thing in the universe, even if only for a moment. Now, how or what that would look like? My guess? Determination. …But what do I know? Any questions, Ocellus?”

Raising a polite hoof, she nodded. “What connection does this have to the Elements of Harmony?”

“Oh! Or the Pillars!” Sandbar smiled.

“Good question. The Elements and the Pillars did not make Harmony. They are all part of it.” She pointed at a spot on the board where the tree was drawn. “They are, much like what comprises many of us, only a part of something bigger, only they’re a part that really really matters. Considering the timespan of creation, the Elements are all young– As are the pillars, and as is the Tree of Harmony– A conduit for a primordial force. But we’re all a part of Harmony, one way or another.”

“Hmm…” pondering, Silverstream raised a hand. “...Is this why there’s alicorns that aren't a part of the Elements of Harmony? Y’know– Like Princess Cadance, and her baby?”

“Interestingly put, Silverstream.” Sunset snickered, shaking her head. “As the Princess of Love demonstrates, as well as the Valkyries of old, and hell, as the Princesses of the Sun and Moon demonstrate, being an alicorn is a lot more than just being bound to six elements. That’s an unrelated discussion, though.” Her expression hardened, as she looked away. “...One about being worthy.”

“Ohh, Yona gets it!” The Yak nodded. “You don’t need to be an alicorn to be a part of Harmony! Anycreature can!”

“Crazy that I even have to teach this, right?” Sunset blew raspberries. “...It’s hard to remember at times, and it's harder to convince ourselves. But we are all part of something bigger. And yes, this means that even your own respective races can and have had ascended beings in their history– They just might have not placed as much emphasis on them as ponies did ours. Y’know– Overyhyping.”

“Oh my gosh– I wonder if a changeling ever ascended!” Ocellus’s eyes shined brightly with expectation.

“Um, yeah, kiddo… How do you think Chrysalis lived for a thousand years?” Sunset grimaced.

The little changeling grimaced in the same way. “Oh… Lame.”

“Oh! Oh! I want six wings!” Silverstream announced before leaping atop her table. “All I gotta do is embrace Harmony, right??”

“Well, it also involves ascending into a higher level of being in the first place– The Hippogriff equivalent of an alicorn. Maybe it also involves aligning your inner self with the importance of everything in the universe.” Sunset shrugged. “But shoot your shot?”

“Okay!” The Hippogriff clenched her fists and began straining in a way that could only be seen as someone trying to cough up a hairball while holding their breath, and all her friends cheered for her.

“Go on, Silverstream!!! Grab Harmony by the horns!!”

Except for Ocellus, who had a final question. “...Do you think it's true? Or possible, rather…? For an alicorn to ascend even higher?”

Sunset took a breath, looking down. “...An old teacher of mine once told me that we have only scratched the surface of what Alicorns are capable of...” She couldn’t help but smile. “...So maybe. Frankly, I don’t think it’s that important. After all, it wouldn’t affect any of us– But it’s a nice piece of trivia regarding the alicorn myth, so to speak.”

“I bet Twilight’s gonna do it!” Sandbar taped his hooves on his desk excitedly. “Like c’mon. She’s already done so many cool things! This would be like a Wednesday afternoon for her!”

“Don’t hold your breath, kiddo–”

The entire class was startled by the flash and the crash of the Princess of Hope right onto the floor.

“Urgh. Thanks for the carpeting.” She grunted, looking around. “Is this…A school? Are you a teacher? That’s a first…”

“W-what the fuck are you?!” She took a step back, nudging against the black board.

“Where even is this school?” The Valkyrie stepped onto a window, narrowing her eyes, scanning the horizon. “...Twi’s castle is over there, and we’re in the valley, huh…”

“Miss Sunset, you didn’t tell us that you have a big alicorn sister!!” Silverstream clapped. “And gosh, look at those wings! Oh, and that maneee!!”

“They could use some better care, though.” Gallus noted, grimacing on the apparent damage the Princess of Hope had in her entire body. “No offense!”

“Yeah, it’s hard to take care of yourself when in most universes, you’re fighting Krakens and shit.” The Valkyrie sighed, still eyeing the window. “Haven’t landed on a universe near a spa yet. I’m sure the next one will have one.”

“O-oh g-gosh, are you bleeding??” Ocelus gasped, covering her eyes.

“No, I got stabbed by another me a few universes back. It’s superficial.” The Valkyrie shrugged. “It’s dried.”

“Yona was just talking about this!!” The Yak gleefully nodded. “Look! She’s got muscles! Big beefy alicorn!”

“And she’s much taller than Princess Twilight, too, heheh!” Smolder snickered. “Are you going to be our teacher now? We’re putting together a teacher-fighting-gauntlet. You should join! I wanna see you put Starlight in a headlock!”

“Excuse me, Miss Shimmer!” Ocellus raised a hoof. “Is this part of the lesson? Will this be in a test?”

Sunset Shimmer couldn’t speak, her eyes were fixed in her counterpart’s wings.

“Relax, kids, I’m not a part of your class.” The Princess of Hope sighed, making her way to the blackboard. “I’m only visiting for an hour, after that, I’m onto the next universe. …Huh. You were studying the Seraph…!”

“H-hey…!” Quietly, the teacher approached her with confusion and unease. “So, um… The multiverse is… Real…?”

“Unfortunately.” She murmured, keeping her eyes fixed on the blackboard, in the image of Celestia.

“...Are there, um… More universes where I’m an alicorn…?”

The Valkyrie wondered, for a moment, which answer would make her feel better, and couldn’t decide– And nonetheless told the truth. “...I don’t know. I hope so. But haven’t run into any yet.”

“...Fuck.” She sat and looked down.

“...Yeah. You said it.” She sighed.

“Can we say swear words too?” Galus raised his hand. “Since you know, you both are–”

“No.” Both Sunsets responded in unison.

With a sigh, the Valkyrie turned to her other self. “...So you’re a teacher, at a school, teaching them about alicorn history– Is Celestia the principal? Because I’ve seen universes where she is–”

“No. She isn’t a part of the teaching faculty.” Shaking her head, she spoke almost robotically. “I don’t see her.”

Narrowing her eyes, the alicorn could see through her. “...Is she also on ‘vacation’ while Princess Twilight is learning to take over the reigns of the kingdom?”

“Oh yeah!” Sandbar raised a hoof giddily. “Princess Celestia and Luna are out there taking a break while Twilight figures out how to be the new ruler!”

Silverstream snickered, waving a hand. “I hope they go on a cruise or something. They sure need it!”

“And you’re here.” The Valkyrie noted, coming closer to her. “When’s the last time you spoke to Celestia?”

“Why does it matter?”

“...It doesn’t.”

They remained in resentment-filled silence for a moment.

“Hey, cool Sunset!” Smolder raised her hand, grinning. “Have you done this six-winged thing too? Since you’re a big tough alicorn, you must have, right?”

“No, I haven’t. It’s only been reported ever happening once in my universe– Well, the public thinks it's a myth. Even Celestia doesn’t– She doesn’t remember the moment she did it.”

“Um, less cryptic answer, please.” Gallus blew raspberries. “Did Celestia do it or not? And how do you even know?”

“Because Queen Luna told me.” The Valkyrie sat down, looking away. “She told me Celestia became a Seraph… In the night she battled Nightmare Moon.”

“TOO SLOW, CRASH!” Lightning Dust’s fingers crackled with electricity as she grinned maliciously, and the two speedsters moved like blurs. “HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE OUTPACED, TWERP?”

No matter how exhausted, she wasn’t going to show it. “Not that bad, since you’re cheating!” She gritted her teeth, as they swung their fists at each other and constantly backed off and cut the distances, Running across the streets of the city, setting off car alarms, shattering glass. “Equestrian magic is not for you, asshat!”

“You’re just mad cause you’re slower!” Manic, she began running up walls, and Dash had to follow, as they began going higher and higher, fighting on the walls of a skyscraper, leaving blurs of lightning and a rainbow trail.

“The magic is controlling you, you dumbass!!” Rainbow announced as she swung punches that were swiftly dodged. “It’s going to fry your brain!!”

“Oh, I’m not letting you take this from me, dipshit!” With a toothy grin, she finally landed a solid hit on her opponent, directly on her stomach, sending Rainbow barreling through the air and crashing on the streets below. “‘Cause now everyone finally knows I’M BETTER THAN YOU!!”

From the streets, her friends were fruitlessly trying to keep up– Applejack and Pinkie being the only ones that weren’t winded.

“There’s Dash!! Twi, ya gotta catch her!” Applejack yelped, quickly grabbing hold of the exhausted girl alongside Rarity, who was as close to her as she could. “You too, Rares! C’mon girls, together now!!”

“Eep!”

“G-gentler, darling!!”

“AAAUUUUGHAAAAWAWAAA” Rainbow Dash screamed in desperation as she fell to oblivion.

Together, no matter how clumsy, The two girls held effortlessly by Applejack combined their powers to give the speedster a softer landing, where she laid atop a car, groaning.

Letting out a quiet wail of discontent and frustration, still seeing double, Rainbow Dash sighed at the Canterlot skyline. “Girls. I hate to say this but. She might be faster than me.”

“And she won’t stand still!!” Pinkie complained, hopping atop the car, looking up, trying to get a look at Lightning Dust, who was out of sight. “How are we supposed to hit her like this?!?!”

“And dangit, where’s Fluttershy?” Applejack nearly ate her hat in frustration, placing the two girls she held down. “And where’s Sunset?!! Are they not keepin’ up??”

“Do you blame them, darling?” Rarity exhaled, sweating a lot more than she was ever comfortable with– All while Twilight fought an oncoming asthma attack, leaning by the side of a car. “I did NOT sign up to run up and down downtown this afternoon!! They might as well have lost us in the streets–”

Adjusting her glasses weakly, Taking quick, shallow breaths, Twilight pointed forward. “H-here comes F-Fluttershy…!”

“Breathe, darling…!”

“I-I’m here! I’m here!” Fluttershy announced, breathing weakly, nearly immediately getting on her knees. “C-can we blast that meanie with friendship lasers now…? O-oh gosh, Dashie, are you okay…?!”

“Not without Sunset! Dangit, we ain’t beatin’ her this way…!”

“And you couldn’t hit me even if you were all together, assholes!” with a flash, Lightning Dust was among them, giving them the middle finger, sticking out her tongue and smiling maliciously. “Haven’t you noticed? I’m better than all you losers!”

“STAND STILL, YOU JERK!!” Pinkie yelled, throwing a glitter bomb that she easily dodged.

And once again, she was right before them, doing rude gestures. “See that?! Seven of you, and you can’t even touch me!”

Applejack swung as fast as he could, her fist going through a car hood, and Lightning Dust easily dodging again.

With another flash, she was atop the car that Rainbow Dash laid upon, stepping on her chest. “--So you all better start groveling, because I’m the fastest fuckin’ thing alive–”

A car door flew like a vicious frisbee and hit her from behind, immediately sending her flying, smashing against the side of another car, and falling on the floor.

The Valkyrie leapt forward with as much skill as she could manage with this different body, ripped another door off its hinges, and pinned Lightning Dust down, raising her new blunt weapon with two hands over her head, ready to decapitate.

Silence, as she tilted her head towards the girls watching her in complete disbelief.

“...What's the stance on murdering your enemies in this universe?”

“BAD!” The Sunset Shimmer of this world finally arrived, leaping over the same car hood running over to her. “Murder bad, other me! No murder!!– Sorry, ugh–” She caught her breath, leaning down, raising a finger, and then waving to her friends. “Hi girls. This um, is me from another universe. Sorry for not keeping up, I was busy with her.”

The Valkyrie dropped the car door on the street absentmindedly, and picked Lightning Dust up with a headlock, bringing her to the girls. “Word of advice– Speed isn’t everything. Applejack, if you landed even one decisive hit like I did, she’d be out of commission. All you needed was to wait for her back to be turned, or for her to try to land hits on you. Grab her once, and she won't be strong enough to pull away.”

“Um… Thanks, partner?” The Farmer tilted her hat in confusion.

“Being faster isn’t everything. You just need to out-think or outmuscle your opponent.” She pointed at the girl stuck on her headlock.

“D-did you twerps… hit me with… A truck…?”Was all that the girl could sputter out before going out of consciousness.

“I hit her when she wasn’t looking, and she crumbled like any other enemy.” The Valkyrie nodded. “I’ve gotta admit– I'm getting the hang of this fingers and arms thing. Starting to like it! Sucks to not have my magic, but fingers give you some good mobility.”

More silence, as the girls all looked at her in complete disbelief and confusion.

Rainbow Dash was the first to speak, not even having stood from the car roof. “...Girls, I think I’ve got a concussion. I’m seeing double. There’s two Sunsets, and one of them is super jacked. Hospital please.”

“Hi new buff Sunset!!” Pinkie walked forward and shook her hand emphatically, a gesture the Valkyrie was confused by. “Are you sticking around? Please tell me you’re sticking around!!”

“She isn’t, no, this is a one hour visit.” Sunset sighed. “C’mon, let’s quickly just…” With swift movements, she reached down to Lightning Dust’s legs and removed her cursed leg bands. “Without these, she doesn’t have her speed, right? Now we just need to destroy them!”

“Allow me!” Snatching them, Pinkie readied her glitter bombs in the middle of the street and created a firecracker style blast that was definitely overkill. “Boom! Explosions is magic!”

“Um, Sunset dear, did you say this um, not-so-twin of yours…?” Rarity tilted her head, looking at her up and down, face reddening slightly. “Why is she, um…?”

“This again…” She rolled her eyes. “I’m an alicorn, and I actually trained in the art of combat extensively.” The Valkyrie shrugged. “Evidently, this translates to my body looking like this when I’m in human worlds; Sure, I’ve gotten comments in most worlds, but you humans seem to always act a bit more surprised. Do alicorns in this world not work out?”

“No alicorns in this world.” Sunset noted, joining the group. “Only the rare visitor.”

“G-gosh, are you hurt…?” Fluttershy eyed her carefully.

“No, got stabbed by another me a few universes back. Dealt with it already, it’s superficial.” The Valkyrie shrugged. “Unless you mean all these other scars. In which case, um, yeah, sure.”

“Well, ya helped us out big time, partner. We’d been chasin’ that there varmint all afternoon!” Applejack shook her hand without hesitation, and the alicorn did not understand that she needed to open her fist for this human ritual. “Anything we can do to help ya?”

“Give me something to eat, maybe, and I’ll–” She stopped, and dropped Lightning Dust, immediately leaning down. “...Are you okay?”

Twilight was having trouble responding, catching her breath, in a messy scramble.

“She needs her inhaler, shit–” The Sunset of this world leaned down, quickly and yet gently moving the girl, reaching into her backpack for her. “Sorry, sorry! I didn’t see you– Here, breathe in, take all the time you need…!”

After being gifted and using her inhaler, and taking several breaths out of it to boot, she adjusted her glasses and sighed. “Y-y'know, I usually have the asthma attack after I run into unimaginable discoveries– Such as the multiverse being real, haha…!”

Somehow, the two Sunsets grinned and helped Twilight Sparkle stand in perfect unison. “...Good one, Sparky. Yeah, this is pretty crazy for me too.” With an exhale, patting small shards of broken glass out from her friend’s outfit, she turned to the other girls. “...Right. So, let’s give Lightning Dust a quick friendship speech when she wakes up, get Rainbow some medical attention, then we can hit the snack bar and figure out what's the deal with our jacked visitor from another universe here.”

“Aye aye, cap’n!” Pinkie saluted, and the other girls joined in positive affirmations.

Sunset left Lightning Dust sitting down in a semi-consciousness state on the floor, leaning on a car, and easily brought Rainbow Dash down, delivering her to the girls. Twilight approached her curiously. “Since our villain of the month is currently out of order, may I ask you a few questions about the multiverse?”

“I’m afraid other Twilights have tried, and I don't have much to offer.” She shrugged and crossed her arms, letting out a sigh. “Universes differ not only by the choices we make as individuals, but also by the state of the world themselves– I’ve seen realities drastically different from my own, but with the same ponies in it. And there seems to be constants with rare exceptions.”

“W-wait, wait, I need to write this down!!” She hurriedly reached into her small backpack, fishing out a small notebook she began furiously scribbling on. “So, constants and variables, huh? Could you give me an example?”

“The Elements of Harmony and their bearers.” Quietly, she side eyed the girls around her, one by one. “They tend to be the same- It’s rare that I find worlds where their users deviate, and when I do, it’s all of them.” Her gaze pierced her other self. “...And Sunsets are rarely involved.”

Exhaling, looking down, her other self shrugged. “...Sounds about right.”

“Okay, solid example, makes sense. We haven’t quantified Harmony or what makes us bound to it, but it makes sense a force like that would be constant in the multiverse. Good!” Twilight nodded emphatically, scribbling in her notepad. “What other examples could you give me?”

“Sunset Shimmers are rarely, incredibly rarely happy.” She narrowed her eyes towards her other self, studying her. “And they’re rarely alicorns.”

“I see, I see– It must be circumstantial, not premeditated.” A small smile manifested in her lips, as she approached her Sunset. “After all, you’re pretty happy, aren’t you?”

“Damn right, Sunset’s our friend!” Applejack gave a thumbs up. “And she’s our leader, too!”

“And she’s super cool!” Pinkie nodded emphatically. “We wouldn’t be here without her!”

“Girls, can I touch Sunset’s abbs before I die.” Rainbow pleaded from the floor, head resting on Fluttershy’s lap, whimpering, raising a frail hand, as the shy girl patted her gently. “I think I see a light. Please, hurry, I need to touch her abbs…!”

Chuckling, fidgeting with her hair, Sunset shrugged, trying to avert her eyes from her incredibly peppy adoring Twilight. “I guess I’m pretty happy, yeah?”

“...Yeah. Unsurprisingly, the closer a Sunset is to the bearers of the Elements, the happier she is.” The Valkyrie noted, nodding. “The closer she is to a Twilight, the more fulfilled she is.” Narrowing her eyes further, approaching her other self, and grabbing her wrist.

“U-um, what are you doing– oh shit.” Quickly, she tried pulling her hand back, but the alicorn didn’t let her. “Can you stop going through my memories please!? A-and how can you do that without a geode?!”

“...Good, you’re not lying.” With a sigh, the Princess of Hope let go, scratching herself with her poorly explored fingers. “...So Celestia is ‘on vacation’ in this world too, huh…?”

“She’s doing her duty.” Sunset affirmed absentmindedly, looking around for anything else of interest.

“And you don’t have a relationship with her anymore.” Once again, the Valkyrie studied her.

“Why would I? And why are you talking about this?!” She did her best to contain her franticness.

“You’re the one thinking of it.” She retorted, crossing her strong arms again.

Twilight, adjusting her glasses, did not read the room whatsoever, getting in between them. “Right. Okay, um… What other examples of multiversal constants can you give me? I doubt I can map a pattern here, but I can’t help but be curious!” She snorted, giggling to herself.

“Every Twilight I meet is incredibly cute.” The Valkyrie smiled warmly, almost flirtatiously, stepping forward. “And beautiful, too. Though I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that.”

“Um” The human Twilight suddenly got incredibly aware of how much taller and stronger this Sunset was, as her own face flustered to oblivion, being towered over by the strong woman.

“Settle down, Sparky. We can ask her more questions when we’ve wrapped this up.” Sunset snickered, taking a glance towards the end of the streets, where a crowd was beginning to form, looking curiously. “...Aaaand here comes the peanut gallery. Are you girls hearing sirens?”

“I don’t wanna deal with pigs today!!” Pinkie frowned. “Remember when those jerks pointed guns at us?!”

“Right, let's all move out before the cops show up.” Applejack hoisted Rainbow over her shoulder as gently as she could, and did the same to Lightning Dust, considerably less gently. “These two dummies need some medical attention, anyways.

“...Sparky, huh…?” The Princess of Hope tilted her head with a grin, looking in between Twilight and her counterpart. “...Don’t think I’ve heard that one yet. It’s cute.”

They both looked at her in confusion, then at each other.

Tilting her head even further, grinning even wider, the Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. “I’m married to the Twilight of my universe, by the way.”

The speechless flusters those two shared were perfectly matched in embarrassment and revelation.

Sunset hugged the parakeet plushie, sitting on the floor of Twilight’s room, burying her face in the fluffiness of their prize, tugging at her pajamas nervously on occasion. “...Can we not talk about this anymore? I don’t think it’s achieving anything. Can we talk about how we beat up Lightning Dust earlier today? That was fun.”

Looking at the black board she made several annotations on, then back to her friend, Twilight pouted. “I think we’re getting somewhere here. I may not be a certified psychologist, but I know burying your feelings about things like these is not a good idea.”

Groaning, letting herself slide to the floor, she covered her eyes. “...How did it even get to this?”

Adjusting her glasses, she raised a finger. “Well, my mom was really nice to you at dinner, and you said it made you feel in a way you hadn’t felt since you were a kid, sorry, foal, and we started talking about family, and you said you never had one, then I brought up Celestia–”

“Less recap, please…” She pouted. “It’s over, Twi. She just… She’s just gone. Readying herself to leave the reins to the Princess, and she never even thought of saying goodbye to me.”

“...Did you try saying goodbye to her?”

“Why would I?” Her expression hardened, as she closed her eyes. “I was her failed pupil. Being on good terms doesn’t excuse demanding her time, not after everything– I bet she doesn’t even think of me anymore. Why would she? I was a blip on a thousand-year radar! Just another minor disappointment, minor setback…!”

“Breathe…!” Twilight commanded gently, mimicking how Sunset had calmed her down many times before. “...Do you want to tell me how it was, your best moments with her…?”

The first word that popped into Sunset’s head was definitive. “...Gentle.” She breathed in and out weakly. “I… I was a troubled kid. Rowdy, prone to… overconfidence. But there were nights where I was scared, got nightmares, and… She’d calm me down, and I’d sleep beneath her wings, and…” She shuddered, covering her eyes. “I’ve never felt the same safety. Ever. Not even once since then, I…”

Twilight placed a gentle, comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.

“She’d always say I was brighter than anypony. She used that word so much for me– Brighter. Her little sun. A-and now… She doesn’t need me, Twi. It’s over, she… She never needed me. She doesn’t need me, and neither does Equestria…!”

After a few quiet seconds of contemplation, Twilight knelt down next to her. “...But you might have needed a mother…!”

Like she was punched in the gut, she suppressed a frustrated squeal. “Urgh, Twi, I… I have absolutely no right to try and call the sovereign god-queen of my world ‘mom’. I don’t, I never have, and never will.” She exhaled, covering her eyes, suppressing tears. “I never had a mother, and considering the circumstances, maybe I would have been better off, if… if… If we had never found each other…!”

Calmly, yet regarding her with pity, Twilight held her friend's hand. “...Everything that happened allowed you to end up here. I’m… I’m sorry if it feels like it wasn’t worth it. But I want you to know that I am so, so glad I got to meet you, Sunset.”

The former unicorn had no response other than weary, teary chuckles.

“...So read my mind, or feel my emotions…” Twilight laid down on the floor near her. “And see if you can feel how I feel, see what I see…?”

I’m sorry you never had a chance at a family before, I’m so, so sorry. But I hope you see me and the girls as your family– Because we love you, Sunset. More than anything…

…I love you.

Sunset cut the distance, and hugged Twilight Sparkle tightly, breathing shallow breaths.

And there they remained, for a time they didn’t measure, until the Princess of Hope interrupted their comfort by crashing through the air and onto Twilight’s floor.

“Oof, nice rug–” She coughed, shaking herself. “Human again… Oh well– ARE YOU TWO KISSING?”She couldn’t hide the mad grin on her face, much less the tidal wave of disappointment when the realization struck. “Oh. You’re just crying. Nevermind.”

“W-what the fuck are you?!” Sunset stood upright so fast, Twilight was hoisted with her with a little squeal.

“Relax, I’m you from another universe, cursed to travel the multiverse, yada-yada, read my memories if you want, since apparently human mes can do that…” She sighed, coming closer, offering a hand.

“W-why is there another you that is really really muscular in my bedroom. Am I dreaming?” Twilight sheepishly asked, still latched onto her Sunset, face slightly reddened.

The human was reluctant to grab hold of her counterpart, choosing to eye her suspiciously instead.

And the Valkyrie, completely unintimidated and unamused, had her sights elsewhere, at the blackboard. “...Huh. You were mapping things about… Celestia?”

“Um, I was, um–” Twilight, finally unlatching herself from Sunset, patted her pajamas down, centering herself. “I was trying to establish what Sunset’s report was with her would-be-mother, Princess Celestia. It wasn’t going well– Their relationship was… Less than perfect.”

“Another world where I’m an orphan, then...” The Valkyrie muttered, studying the blackboard, seeing its little details.

Clicking a pen, having already manifested a notepad from a pile of research papers, Twilight smiled happily. “Since you’re visiting, may I ask you a few questions about the multiverse?”

“Hang on.” Crossing her burly arms, she tilted her head, observing her other self analytically. “So in this universe, was Celestia your mother?”

“...No, no she wasn’t.” Sunset mimicked her gesture, huffing, looking away. “It didn’t work out.”

“...Ugh, damnit. Another weird constant.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Y’know, there’s a lot of universes where I’m an orphan…? In the ones I’m not, I still ran from home and pretended I was dead, far from my parents, but–” She gritted her teeth, observing the blackboard. “...In the vast majority, it seems that my mom never tried raising me. Dumped me at an orphanage when I was young, and then… Celestia was the only mother figure I ever had.”

“Y-you had parents?! A mother?!” Sunset stepped forward, exasperated, reaching out, getting ready to touch her other self…

…And stopped.

The Valkyrie regarded her with understanding and pity- And still, offered her a hand. “If you’d like to know… I can show you. It wasn’t… All bad for me. But… Even if you knew who they were…”

“...It doesn’t mean I could find them, much less–” She gritted her teeth, closing her eyes, hesitating.

And she kept hesitating, hovering her hand so close to her counterpart’s, wondering if this was what she needed, wondering if this would only bring more longing.

Scorching, unrelenting sun.

A world, barren, but not dead.

Life existed underground, in hiding– Kingdoms covered and hidden, dominated by one ruler, one dictator.

The sun imbued her with unending strength– And today, she wasn’t the only one.

This ruler, sitting upon her throne, smiled deviously, with a mane of flames, wings spread, tilting her head, observing her new visitor. “...Well hello there. Don’t you look familiar? A new visitor to my kingdom– And an alicorn, no less?”

She was an alicorn that ruled over the sun, and now, all living things. And her visitor was quite the same– Similar, in so many ways, but different in many more.

“C-Celestia…!” The Princess of Hope muttered fearfully, observing this throne of crystals, this twisted palace of heat and dread, one in which she felt, somehow, stronger than ever. “W-what happened to you…?”

“Celestia is long gone, little one.” She stood from her throne, grinning maliciously, flaring her wings and her mane. “I am DAYBREAKER. And I’d like to know how another alicorn of the sun wound up in my kingdom without my know-how.”

“I’m… Just passing through.” The Valkyrie murmured warily, observing this alicorn and her twisted movements, her twisted power. “...I had to come, and see what had happened to you…!”

“Do you take me for a fool?” Daybreaker stood from her throne, flames left in her hoofstep’s wake. “There is no other reason you could be here, if not to challenge me– Challenge me and the rule of my sun.”

“...You burned the world, Celestia…!”

“Daybreaker.” She corrected, coming even closer. “And I burned its surface. My subjects live their little worm lives underground, where they belong. Don’t tell me; You are a brave, foolish hero, here to attempt to free the worms? Feeling the call of their pitiful pleas?”

“I just… I just hoped I could, maybe…!”

“And here you are, ready to fight me, aren’t you? I welcome the challenge.” She loomed over the Princess of Hope, ready to pounce. “Although I suppose I could extend mercy– If you would join me? It has been dreadfully lonely, since I’ve locked my sister up– I could use a pupil.”

“...You have nothing to teach me.” The Valkyrie’s expression hardened, as she stepped forward. “But I’m here for a reason… Maybe I can teach you something.”

“Wonderful. We are fighting, then.” Daybreak let out a toothy grin, raising her wings. “Come, then! Let’s see how you match the Queen of the Sun!!”

“I’m not here to fight you.” She stated somberly, shaking her head. “I’m here to show you– To show you who I am.”

And just like that, with a hoof, she touched the Queen of the Sun.

The Canterlot throne room doors always looked enormous, imposing when they were closed.

Sunset, newly ascended, wings locked firmly to her side, beheld them nervously.

“It’s okay– She’s waiting, but…” Twilight, gently, embracing with a wing, nuzzled her. “We can take all the time you need. Everything is going to be okay, Sunset…!”

“S-sorry, it’s just…” She reciprocated on the nuzzles, smiling wearily. “The last time I saw these doors, well…”

“You’re not the same pony– You literally aren’t, Sunset.” Twilight affirmed without hesitation. “You saved the world, you saved me, you… You earned this.”

“I-I just…!” She sighed, closing her eyes. “Maybe I shouldn’t have ever come back, you know…?”

“If you want to talk to her only through letters for a little while longer, we can go back—” Twilight planted a sweet, gentle, calm kiss on her girlfriend’s cheek. “But if you want to face this, I’m going to be right next to you, every step of the way.”

With an inhale, she nodded, her face hardening with a confident smile. “...You know what? Yeah. No more hesitation– No more fears. I can do this.”

She stepped forward without any fear, opening the doors with her magic, and Twilight followed her closely.

The throne room didn’t feel as intimidating. It didn’t feel as big.

And in the end of it, sitting at the throne, regarding her with anticipation, was Princess Celestia.

Sunset stopped, bowing, below and before the throne, no longer hesitating, but speaking every word carefully. “...I know we’ve spoken in letters briefly, Celestia, but… I still want to say it. I know that the last time we saw each other, things weren’t ideal…”

The Princess observed her carefully, antsy in her throne, but said nothing.

“...But I come before you now a changed pony. I changed, in so many ways, because of your student here–” She spread her wings slightly, chuckling nervously. “And after everything that happened, after everything I’ve gone through, I still needed to say this, I needed to face you and say that I’m so, so sorry–”

With a flash, the Princess of the Sun couldn’t contain herself anymore, teleporting forward and embracing Sunset with her wings, tears in her eyes, smiling so, incredibly warmly, regarding her with immense pride. “Look at you, little one…! Shining like a solar flare…!”

“I’m sorry, I’m so, so–”

“--You have nothing to apologize for.” Celestia once again embraced her, as they leaned foreheads together. “You’ve made it, Sunset Shimmer– You made it. You found your way… And you did it on your own…!”

“I-I had some help, haha…!”

“And here you are. Here you are, and I’m so, so proud of you, my little sun…!”

Words were unneeded. They remained in that embrace, laughing, crying, together once more.

And of course, Twilight, who was watching happily, squealed of joy.

The flames of Daybreaker’s mane dimmed.

She recoiled, her expression softening, breaking, her wings falling to her side.

“...M-my… My daughter…!”

“I’m sorry.” The Valkyrie sat before her, regarding her with pity. “I’m so sorry.”

“I-I… I killed you in this universe, didn’t I…?” She grimaced, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“...You did. Her grave is right outside Twilight’s home in this world… Underground. She died protecting her– From you.” Bitterly, she closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“I… I can’t do this.” The heat around them died down. The sun itself dimmed. “I… I don't know how to fix this, I can’t, I can’t, could you… Could you stay with me…? Please…?”

“I’m sorry… But I can’t…! I’ll have to go soon…” She stepped forward, and embraced Celestia tightly. “But I’ll stay with you for as long as I can, okay…?”

“I’m so, so proud of you…!” Celestia cried in her daughter’s arms. “I wish we had more time, Sunset…!”

Author's Note

...This chapter had no business being so fun to write. goddamn.

Funny enough, I left myself very little notes of what to do in it, evidently having faith that when I was in it, I'd know exactly what to do, and WOW, I did. this was so fucking fun to write. So many character appearances i wanted to put out there, so many little things here and there, all wrapped up in a nice package of mommy issues as a thematic connection.

I got to have the Young Six, which are SO cute and SO fun to write, AND an teacher Sunset (which honestly is SUCH a good profession for her.)

I got to have Lightning Dust, on Equestria girls, no less! I always thought that she'd be a great contender for bad guy possessed by equestrian magic, and her rivalry with Rainbow would be in solid display given their similar powers and interests. Plus, y'know, MORE EQUESTRIA GIRLS. A constant in this insanity is how incredibly happy Sunset is, the closer proximity she has to the bearers of the elements, and of course, the closer she is to Twilight Sparkle.

I sketched this like. Months ago lmao. Now, you may be wondering why the demon sunset is in the suicidal range. Don't worry, this is another demon sunset, we'll get there.

Anyways, I love Equestria girls so much, and although I love what i've been doing without them in other fics but my god, I've been missing the EQG. I am wiht scitwi fever. I am missing her so goddamng much.

And of course... Daybreaker. Nothing needs to be said there. The ultimate conclusion to the mommy issues theme. Lets fuckin go

...Anyways, I hope you had a good time. Another intermission is next, (Twilight Prime copes) then the last 3 chapters of regular universe travel. After that, the multi-chapter finale. We're getting closer!