THE END OF THE MULTIVERSE - Part 2

Stars, guide me, love, find me...

Twilight made her way upstairs– Her mood had significantly improved.

Every Sunset was behaving and even enjoying themselves. Most had already finished dinner, already finished their deliberation, gone elsewhere.

And so it was– Before getting them home, she would prioritize getting her wife back. It was only a matter of time! She could afford to take a break or two, and things were looking up. Even Hermes seemed to have completely learned the error of his ways.

And of course, above all else, she had rid herself of the weight of the crown.

She felt lighter. She almost felt as light as how she did when her wife was here. Almost.

The Community Center felt almost as lively as when they were still together.

The moon hadn’t risen yet, the sun was still setting– She had time for a little bit more work.

Making her way to their lab, she was almost pleasantly surprised.

Princess Cadance sat before the undead Valkyrie’s cage, talking to her quietly.

“...News travels fast, huh?” The Ex-Princess tilted her head with a little smile. “Hi, Cadance.”

“...Twily, would you mind telling me why this undead monster that looks like her, loves you just like her?” Her grimace was almost awkward, if not a bit nervous.

“...Because she is Sunset Shimmer. Not ours, though.” She shrugged, smiling, then turned to the zombie alicorn. “...Are you hungry? I could get you something before tomorrow.”

The monster shook her head obediently.

“Good.” She nodded confidently, turning back to the Princess of Love. “...Yes, she can understand us.”

“I put that together, Twily.” She turned away from the creature. “Otherwise she couldn’t love you like she does.”

“She has her own Twilight. On her own dimension.” She sighed, coming a bit closer to the zombie. “I’m still working on getting her back home.”

Blowing raspberries, Cadence shook her head. “Ugh, I should have asked more questions about what was going on here to Celestia. This is really weird.” Rolling her eyes, she chuckled in amusement. “...That explains why so many of the Sunsets here are in love with you– Not you you. Just…”

“Twilight Sparkle.” The Ex-Princess shrugged. “I guess my wife had an influence on most of them when they met. …Though maybe that’s just a Sunset Shimmer thing.”

“...Twilight…!” Cadance’s expression softened, just a little, as she tilted her head. “...You know why I’m here, right…?”

“...Don’t bother. I’m not picking that crown up without her.” She shrugged, and still, smiled genuinely. “And honestly, I haven’t felt this right in a month. I know what I’m doing, you know?”

“I don’t doubt that. I never did.” The Princess of Love came closer, giving her an earnest smile. “I worry, though. Your brother worries. We’re far, but we worry… I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

“Honestly?” She almost grinned, as she shrugged. “It wouldn’t have made any difference. Everypony has faith in me, but they don’t get it– Faith isn’t what I need. This month has been dark and it’s been cold– And the only one capable of keeping me warm isn’t here.” She let out a sigh, as she looked into the mirror, which was currently powered down. “...And honestly… The perspective helped. Learning about other versions of her, learning about other versions of me… I know who I want to be because of it.”

“...And here I thought you were already a role model!” She chuckled, coming closer. “...Look, I don’t want to downplay what’s going on, but… This world still needs you, you know?”

“I’m not going anywhere.” She affirmed with a confident nod. “But I’m living for me… Because it’s what she would have wanted. Go tell Celestia and Luna that.”

“...It’s that obvious that they sent me, huh…?” She let out a delighted sigh. “...They’ll get over it. I do want you to know that I’m with you, okay? Love and grief, well… They’re intertwined. And I can at least tell you’re handling yourself pretty well, under the circumstances…!”

“...Better now, yeah…” She let out a mournful exhale.

“Look, I know it’s no surprise that you and Sunset were my favorite couple, like… Ever.” She muttered, teary eyed. “You two were like shining beacons of hope for everypony around you– You two were a promise to all of Equestria. A-and reading your heart, I only see, w-well, just a fraction of your grief.” she had to take a moment to breathe in. “S-so know that…Know that I can see how you feel, and because of it, I won’t ask you t-to try to do this without her, okay? Ever.”

Twilight immediately hugged her, shuddering out a sniffle. “...Thank you…!”

“I’m so sorry, Twily. I’m so, so sorry.” The Princess of Love murmured. “This isn’t fair…!”

“It’s okay. I’m okay. We’ll be okay.” Twilight affirmed desperately. “I will find her, Cadance.”

“If it makes you feel better… Celestia and Luna will understand. They just need time.” She hugged her sister in law gently, speaking with confidence. “And you take all the time you need too, okay…?”

“Sunset will wait for me– And I’ll wait for her.” Twilight affirmed with absolute certainty. “If anyone can survive long enough until I figure this out, it’s her. I’m not worried anymore.”

“Good. Good.” With a tired smile, Cadance left their embrace. “I know this sounds obvious coming from me, but love made you so much stronger, Twily. You and Sunset both.”

“I know.” She grinned, ignoring the exhaustion she felt, moving to the tables, arranging some papers. “...So… How are the others doing?”

“Well, Shining is worried, but he’s always worried, always thinking about the future…!” She giggled, shrugging. “I’ve… Reconsidered some things about us due to these recent events, too… It’s been a strange month.”

“You tell me…!” she responded absentmindedly, then blinked in surprise. “W-wait, you’re not telling me you’re getting back together with him, right?!”

“...Would you be against it?” She pouted.

“I didn’t say that– I’m just surprised?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “I mean, he came out of it pretty bad, last time…”

“I didn’t break his heart.” She affirmed without hesitation. “And he’s my captain– We see each other all the time. I’m just saying, seeing you missing her made me realise that life might be a bit too fleeting for me to let some opportunities slide…”

“As long as he’s fine with it, I’m fine with it, Cadance.” She smiled and shrugged. “But honestly– I was asking about Celestia and Luna.”

“Luna is… Pretty mad.” She grimaced, suppressing laughter. “You should have seen her– She was pacing around while rambling endlessly about how disappointed and frustrated she was at you bailing on the crown...”

“I was her prized pupil– I’m not surprised she’s taking this worse than Celestia.” She sighed, feeling only a bit guilty. “She showed me the way of the moon and dreamwalking– I was her first pupil, and I could tell she still had a lot she still wanted to teach me… And Celestia was the same way with Sunset. This is unfair to all of us.”

“Y-yeah, Celestia was… Overwhelmed with a bunch of stuffy jerks complaining about you. Well, she’s a lot more torn about Sunset than she is about you letting go of the crown, frankly.” She huffed, shaking her head. “I don’t blame her. She literally watched Sunset grow– I could feel her heartbreak from far away.”

The Ex-Princess did not comment, instead choosing to close her eyes and simply feel it.

“...At least Flare is stepping up and being a nice distraction.” Cadance chuckled.

“...Sunset’s mom is with them?” Twilight was surprised.

“It seems she and Celestia buried the hatchet for Sunset. Last I saw them, they were going drinking together… At least they’re having fun, under the circumstances… Must be pretty rough on her too.”

“I can imagine…”

“The weight never bothered you before. Why does it now?”

That question seemed almost offensive, because with it, came the realization that it should have bothered her. The unbearable weight that rested on her shoulders every single day should have bothered her. Why didn’t it? How had she endured it, every day until now? Why had she accepted this as normalcy, for so long?

The answer was obvious.

“Hey Cadance! You’re here? Sweet!” Spike walked into the room, accompanied by Sunset Six. “What’s up? To what do we owe the visit?”

“Just checking on our mutual family, Spike.” She smiled warmly, pointing towards the Ex-Princess. “It’s wonderful to see you. And you are…?”

“Sunset Shimmer.” Sunset added unhelpfully. “You’re the Princess of Love of this world, right…?”

“Yep. And you’re head over heels for Twilight too, I see.” She snickered, her eyes glowing, reading her heart.

“My Twilight. I’ve got my own, thank you.” She pouted. “This one, is, um, a bit too much for me.” She blushed at the significantly taller Twilight before her.

“Don’t I know it.” The Ex-Princess giggled. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you back home to her. Are you two here to work a little more before the night rises?”

“Aye aye, captain!” Spike saluted jokingly. “What are we doing, looking over the tracking readings?”

“Yes, I want to revise the power differentials on the readings we were getting.” Twilight responded immediately, moving a few papers about. “If we can sort out exactly how to track my wife’s power signature, this would be much easier… I hope.”

“Okay, the science talk started. That’s my queue to go.” Cadance snickered, making her way to the balcony. “I’m staying over at the Canterlot palace for a few days if you want to visit, Twily. Good luck, and hang onto your heart, okay?”

“I will.”

I will fall in love with you over and over again.

I don’t care how where or when,

No matter how long it’s been,

You’re mine.

They watched calmly as the Princess of Love made her way into the sky and left Ponyville, with the sun setting behind the clouds, and the first stars appearing in the sky.

“Hey, everyone. Did we miss anything?” The demon and her wife walked into the room, eyeing the balcony.

“Well, uh, you just missed Cadance. Might have been for the best, too.” Spike scratched himself awkwardly. “Considering, y’know, what you did to the other alicorns in your Equestria.”

“Oh. Yeah.”The demon grimaced.

“We’re here to help!” Her wife shook herself off, trying not to think about it. “Are we doing a bit more work before tonight–”

Sunset Six coughed and shook her head. The sounds she made were strange enough that they all turned to her.

The room went silent. “S-sorry. Sorry. G-god. Oh god. What was that?” She breathed in and out poorly, trying to stabilize herself.

“...Are you okay? What happened?” The Ex-Princess came closer to her with concern.

“I-I just–” She closed her eyes, then opened them, blinking several times. “For a second there, it was like I was in another room entirely– There was fire, but the metal was cold, a-and I was bleeding… I… That was so weird…!”

“Dude, your nose is bleeding.” Spike offered her a napkin, and she used it swiftly.

“It's… It's okay. I’m fine. Sorry, it was nothing.” She chuckled nervously. “What were you talking about?”

“Getting some work done before we all turn in, I presume! Hello everypony!” Hermes walked into the room with a pep in his step. “Is everything alright?”

“Twilight, are you sure you want to let this guy roam free?” The demon raised a skeptical eyebrow. “We can’t exactly trust him.”

“I’m sure. He’s harmless.” The Ex-Princess shrugged, making her way to them. “Besides– This is his life’s work. He wants to see this through just as much as anypony here.”

“I-indeed! And I’m sorry, I really, really am sorry for causing this whole mess.” He spoke earnestly, adjusting his glasses. “Frankly, I’ve come to terms with how futile a lot of this technology is in practice! How was it you put it, Sunset…? It’s the inconvenience machine 2000.”

“Yep.” She wiped the blood off her nostrils with a napkin, huffing. “The perfect and deadly accurate way to inconvenience multiple different universes at a random whim. Congrats, standing ovation.”

“Y-yes, indeed, although I presumed we would have a lot of different utilities for this, the few benefits are far outweighed by the costs.” He sighed, shaking his head. “No matter how illuminating, this ordeal has been far too dangerous– I see that now… I just want to do what I can to help end it.”

“Hmpf.” The demon snarled, coming closer to him. “Misstep even once, and you’ll regret it, little guy.” She placed a claw over him, bringing him even closer, baring her fangs. “Need I remind you how many Sunset Shimmers in the multiverse you’ve pissed off? And you’re stuck living with them.”

“Stand down, Sunny Bunny, hihi.” Her wife giggled, and was instantly obeyed with a grin. “He’s harmless! And we shouldn’t waste our time bickering, there’s work to be done!”

“You’re absolutely right, other me.” The Ex-Princess nodded confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll have him sharing a room with Captain Shimmer, she’ll keep a proper eye on him, make sure he’s not up to anything.”

“O-of course! And I promise I want to help!” He nodded emphatically. “It’s the right thing to do! The Princess of the Sun deserves to come home–”

They all flinched and stopped.

The machinery in the room whirred and buzzed.

The mirror turned itself on without any input.

“H-hey, what’s going on?!” Spike hurried over to the machine. “It’s just booting on its own!”

“I didn’t touch anything!” Hermes grinned apologetically.

“The mirror is activating!” Sunset Six warned, fiddling with controls. “Maybe something is dialing to us, instead of– Oh, shit.”

Twilight Sparkle let out an exasperated gasp. “S-Sunset…?”

“I'm getting tired of seeing you hurt like this…!” Naturally, that drew laughter out of her, the sort of quiet, gentle laughter that came from receiving a genuine extension of love. She couldn’t be blamed for it– After all, for her love, she would burn with a smile.

“It’s not as bad as it looks. And you’re safe. That’s all I care about.”

In a second, the image on it rippled, and stabilized– More stable than it had ever been before.

Twilight’s breath left her, as she saw what lied beyond the mirror.

Her wife, more wounded than she had ever been.

The surrounding room almost didn't matter. Technologically advanced, but absolutely wrecked, undoubtedly due to the Princess of Hope– Argent drones and technology in full display, flames in certain corners, lights flickering, and the alicorn standing above the wreckage, before an enormous power crystal.

“H-hey– Those are the Argent!!” Spike’s jaw dropped. “I-is she fighting aliens in that dimension?!”

“What's that thing she’s pinning down?” Hermes narrowed his eyes. “Is it a pony?”

No one paid any mind to the cyborg pony in tatters below the Princess of Hope’s grasp.

The Valkyrie was channeling all her magical strenght into the enormous crystal– Even as she looked directly at them.

“H-hey! That’s a power core!” Hermes gasped. “She’s… Overcharging it? That can’t be good…!”

A few drones were still active, attacking the Princess of Hope– And she refused to even flinch when the lasers struck her hide. The electricity in the air would soon disable the attackers altogether.

“She’s… Looking right at us?!” The demon raised an eyebrow in confusion. “W-what the hell, isn’t this meant to be one-way?”

“S-she is looking right at us!” Her wife noted. “Other me, isn’t that your Sunset? It has to be, right?”

“M-my sun…!” She stuttered painfully, watching the image.

It wasn’t an illusion, or a recording, or a still image. It was the real deal– A silent window into her wife’s current whereabouts.

Yes, it was her Sunset. She knew this without a shadow of a doubt. Simple eye contact allowed it to be unmistakable. They recognized each other at a mere glance.

But it ached, ached and ached.

Because Sunset Shimmer was dying.

Twilight Sparkle had mended her dozens of times, and seen her with many wounds– A broken leg was hardly the most serious of all…

What she saw now was above and beyond any wounds she had ever seen her wife endure.

Sunset’s flank was completely covered in deep gashes and cuts, all who bled profusely. Her legs fared no better– Blood ran down her hide, pooling at her hooves.

“S-Sunset– Sunset, what are you doing? Sunset, stop…!” Twilight pleaded pointlessly.

Her feathers were rattled, torn, it didn’t look like her wings were even capable of flight anymore, considering how damaged they were.

“S-Sunset, I’m right here! Sunset, please!” She panicked, and turned to the others. “HELP ME! WE NEED TO TURN THIS WINDOW INTO A DOOR–”

“...What could we even do?” Sunset Six grimaced with pity.

Her armor was in complete tatters around the room– It was visible that there were still a few belts on her body, but little to no armor pieces remained intact– And the others that remained were soon to be destroyed.

Twilight frantically touched the mirror, trying to go through it– But it was no use. It was only an image. “SUNSET, PLEASE– WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING, JUST COME BACK–”

And her mane… Was more red than anything.

It stuck to her head and neck. Drenched low, blood nearly fully covered her vision.

But she could see her eyes– Those incredibly familiar turquoise eyes regarded her with the same love they always had.

At first, she held misery and surprise. The pain of partial reunion, despite the month of separation. They were so close, after so long, and yet, so far.

“P-PLEASE JUST COME BACK TO ME!” Twilight pleaded, begged.

“...She can’t hear us.”The demon muttered quietly.

“T-that’s a lot of blood…!” Spike trembled.

The Princess of Hope’s expression implied anguish.

But she didn’t stop. She kept charging that power core.

“SUNSET P-PLEASE, I’M RIGHT HERE! STOP FIGHTING, J-JUST GO SOMEWHERE SAFE– I’LL FIND YOU– PLEASE, PLEASE JUST–”

The Princess of Hope smiled with all the confidence she could. She smiled in a way she always did, when wanting to give courage to others. She smiled as she regarded her wife with all the love she still had to give.

And Twilight watched her every movement, her every gesture.

“S-Sunset, please…!”

Twilight knew how to read lips– Her lips, specially. But she didn’t need all that to understand what her wife said, loud and clear.

Sunset Shimmer spoke.

And she listened.

Forgive me, my Star.

“S-Sunset, n-no-”

Her wife turned away.

And with the last of her strength, intensified her overcharging of the conduit crystal before her.

An explosion happened– A bright flash–

–And the mirror shut down.

How can I convince you that you’re worth loving?

I’ll find a way. No matter how long it takes, I’ll find a way.

“No no no no no no no…”

The entire room was quiet.

“No, no no no, no no no no no no…!”

She desperately patted the mirror, met with only her reflection.

“No, please, please, no…!”

“...Could an alicorn survive that much blood loss?” Sunset Six murmured, looking at the others. “Her wounds, they were… Pretty bad.”

“I-I-I’ve never seen that much blood.” Spike fiddled with his claws in discomfort. “A-and that explosion, I-I– I don’t know if she could–”

“HELP ME! PLEASE!” Twilight turned to them, pleading, tears in her eyes. “WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING JUST STANDING THERE, W-WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO DIAL BACK TO THAT UNIVERSE!” She frantically went to the controls of the machine and began fiddling with them.

“...And do what? Watch it happen?” Looking down, the demon shook her head. “I don’t know if that's the best idea…?”

“O-other me– This is Sunset Shimmer we’re talking about.” Her counterpart assured her as calmly as she could, but with undeniable pity. “If she was doing… What she was doing, whatever it was, it was for a reason, right…?”

“We don’t even know what that was.”Sunset Six scoffed. “But that metal room? That’s what I saw when I got that nosebleed. Whatever it was–”

“--It’s multiverse related, I’m sure of it.” Hermes nodded confidently, full of worry. “We did not dial to them, they dialed to us– And evidently, it is something dangerous! We should tread carefully–”

The Ex-Princess wasn’t paying attention. “C-c’mon, if we use the telemetry data of the connection we just made, we can trace and tap into the same universe, can’t we?! C-could we look into it, or maybe pull her out?!!?”

“Princess, slow down for a moment–” Hermes tried assuring. “Our hardware is not that advanced, it’s quite likely you’d pull another random Sunset–”

“-ARE YOU HELPING OR NOT, HERMES?!”Her horn flared, and her eyes were glowing with anger.

“I-Im sorry! It’s just we’ve used this technology so recklessly, that–”

“SPIKE!” Twilight pleaded. “Please, please help me with this! W-we have to find her!!” her anger turned to frantic grief immediately, as she desperately moved around the machinery.

“B-but Twilight, those were the Argent– And she just blew up a whole thing–”

“Please, please, please, please just help me get her back…!” She shuddered, barely breathing properly through her tears, breaking down.

As gently as he could, Spike approached her and hugged her softly. “Breathe, Twi. Please. We’re not making any good decisions like this– We should figure out exactly what just happened before acting. You said it yourself, we need to be careful, slow and steady.”

“B-but if there’s no time…! What if… What if she’s gone…!” Her sobs choked her.

“We’ll figure it out, okay…?” He tried comforting her as best he could. “Now, let’s take it nice and easy, and try to understand what just happened–”

The machine lit to life again– But this time, not the mirror. The lasso.

They all beheld the technology carefully.

“Ugh, it's like our equipment is haunted.” Sunset Six approached it, and studied the small screens they had. “...Is this right? It says we’re locked in to a universe. …Or is it a universe, calling us?”

“Oh?” Hermes approached it and studied the text. “...Interesting, when we were using the lasso, we’d lock in to random universes– But it seems one has locked in to ours?”

“Wait, does that mean that somepony wants to get pulled through?” Spike raised an eyebrow. “...Do you think it could be her?!”

“S-Sunset?!” The Ex-Princess charged forward, beholding the text. “I-it has her signature– Just like we’ve used it to track other Sunsets, it has to be her!! It has to be her, right?! I-it has to!!”

Hermes squinted, and pondered. “...The world we just saw is capable of multiversal travel– And it’s dangerous. I’m not sure if we should trust this…?”

“If there’s even a one percent chance that it’s her–” The Ex-Princess began fiddling with the controls. “I’m taking it as an absolute certainty.”

“Okay. Okay, we’re doing this then? Let’s bring her home!” The demon stepped forward, getting closer to the conduit crystal. “I’m ready to charge it!”

Twilight flipped several switches and got in position. “C’mon, faster faster faster!”

Together, the alicorn and the demon began charging the crystal.

Five…

Four…

Three…

Two…

One…!

“...GO!”

Once again, they activated the interdimensional lasso.

And once again, the results were unexpected.

Because the pony that came through was not Sunset Shimmer.

It was Twilight Sparkle.

Grief is not just loss. It’s the breaking of a promise, the undeniable truth, that despite the many years you would have together, you now know you have to endure them all on your own.

And now you have to exist under these conditions of that absolute reality.

I don’t want your pity. I don’t want your charity. I don’t want your faith.

I want her back.

“I… I made it. I made it…!” The Princess looked around, breathing heavily, stepping into the room– She could see all the Sunsets, and the two Twilights, and it made her smile. “I made it.”

The Ex-Princess analyzed this counterpart– She looked tired. Like she had cried recently, and had not taken care of herself. But she was also tall– Near her height, too. She looked manic. “...E-excuse me, I know this might sounds strange, I’m so sorry, but we didn’t mean to bring you here–”

“But I did.” She grinned with teeth, analyzing her taller self. “...Yeah. you’re definitely the lucky one.”

“...What happened to you?” Was all the Ex-Princess could murmur. This counterpart had bags under her eyes, she looked like she was forcing herself to move at every moment, and whats more, she looked strangely pleased with being here.

The third Twilight in the room recoiled beneath her wife’s demon wing, wary of the newcomer. “...Something’s wrong with her. Something’s very, very wrong with her…!”

“Paranoid, much? You really are me. And I wasn’t expecting to see even more of me here either…” The Princess scoffed, as she turned back to the machines. “...Yep, I knew you’d get the lasso working– You even reprogrammed a mirror! Good work! Wow, I’m predictable.”

“Y-you–” Hermes recoiled fearfully. “What did you do!? How did you lock into our universe– You used a beacon, didn't you?!”

“So perceptive, Hermes. Yes, I used a beacon– And you all called me here thinking I was somepony else because of it– All with a beacon you helped me build” She gritted her teeth, coming closer to him. “But it’s water under the bridge. After all, I made it. Now comes the easy part.”

“Slow down.” The Ex-Princess raised a calm hoof, coming closer. “Are you aware you’re in another universe? We’ve brought you here by accident–”

The Princess charged her horn in an instant, and raising her wings, channeling her magic fiercely, shot this dimension’s Twilight through a wall of the Community Center, and then some.

All of the denizens in the room were shocked, the zombie let out exasperated growls.

“T-TWILIGHT!” Spike shouted out in desperation, and intended on running after her, but was frozen at the glare of this new Twilight.

A bookcase fell onto the floor, and a bed was overturned, planks fell from the ceiling.

She glared at the surrounding ponies watching her. The demon took a battle stance, recoiling. “Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

“I’m Twilight Sparkle. Her replacement.” She affirmed with unending confidence. “We’re looking for my wife, aren’t we? She’s lost in the multiverse. Let’s get to work and find her.”

Opaline thought it’d be a lot more difficult to take over Equestria.

In a sense, she was correct– By the time she made her move, there was barely any of Equestria left to conquer. What was the fun out of ruling over a depressing pile of depressed ponies and rubble?

She wasn’t a patient mare, of course. Twilight beat her by losing, somehow– And that in itself frustrated more than anything.

She had won! But her opponent was merely a sore loser–

–Taking all magic with her when she lost.

Pitiful, pathetic.

And now she had to wait for another generation to set things right.

“Twilight! Twilight!” Desperately, Captain Shimmer ran into the room– The wall had caved in, a few bookcases had fallen, a closet was broken, and a bed was destroyed– This room belonged to the two alicorns, once. Now it was wrecked. “I’ve got you, hang on!”

With her strength and her magic combined, she pulled the Ex-Princess from under the debris– And was relieved to see Twilight relatively unharmed.

“I… I– What?!” The alicorn shook herself off, feeling the bruises on her body, breathing in, taking in her surroundings, blood running down her cheek lightly. “Did she just–”

“The Community Center is under attack–” The Captain shot a careful glance towards the holes in the wall. “Who in the world got a shot at you?! We can work together and counter–”

“It’s me.” Her expression hardened, as she saw the surrounding room, one she and her wife shared, in tatters– Their belongings sprawled out carelessly due to her crash. With a sharp inhale, she readied herself for a fight. “Captain. Get the other Sunsets and Evacuate the building. This won’t be pretty.”

She teleported forward, and the captain moved obediently immediately.

Her counterpart didn’t see her coming. In a millisecond, The Ex-Princess was before this newcomer Twilight Sparkle, and blasted her so fiercely that she cracked a stone wall near the balcony. “That was me being gentle.” She gritted her teeth, huffing. “Now, tell us why you’re here, and why you’re doing this–”

The other Twilight did not wait. She teleported forward, her horn crackling, and the others in the room had to take cover. Sunset Six grabbed hold of Spike and leapt closer to the Undead Valkyrie’s cage, where they hid behind a cabinet, all while the Zombie carefully watched the ensuing fight, the demon carried her wife closer to the door and out of the room, shielding her with her body, and Hermes took cover behind them.

The fighting became frantic, their beams of energy were direct, and pierced the walls and ceiling, their horns clashed and the air vibrated with energy– One of their shots flew wild out of the balcony and burst through a nearby rooftop– The room was becoming a mess of flying papers and splinters.

“You don’t know how good you have it.” The newcomer Twilight snarled, fighting savagely. “You don’t deserve this, you don’t deserve her.” Her magical strikes were wild and untamed.

The Ex-Princess kept her composure, evading attacks elegantly, and playing defensively. “Deserve who?! What are you talking about?!”

“She’s grieving!” Midnight proclaimed from behind the cover that happened to be her wife. “She’s that Twilight– The one we saw by Sunset’s coffin, through the mirror! She has to be! She’s was after us, then–”

“SHUT UP ALREADY, OTHER ME!” The newcomer declared in fury, clashing with her other self. “THIS IS BETWEEN ME AND HER.”

The floor cracked, holes were being formed around it, the building shook.

Twilight’s expression softened, if only for a moment. She could have imagined that there was another her out there that was warped with grief like she had gotten dangerously close to being, but dealing with one was another thing altogether.

But her world was being endangered– She wouldn’t let that slide.

“You lost your Sunset, and what, you’re blaming me?!” The Ex-Princess retaliated, every object in the room shuddered with their impact, as their horns clashed and sparks flew. “I lost my Sunset, you don’t see me trying to ruin other worlds!”

“Intentionally.” Sunset Six joked with unfortunate timing, barely audible through the fighting.

“I’M SORRY! I’M TRYING!!” She barked back while dodging and retaliating a magical strike. “Losing Sunset made me reckless, and yes– I made mistakes– But we don’t have to hurt others because of it, she would want us to be better, I’m trying to be better, there’s always a better way!!”

“Oh, there’s a way.” Her other self smiled confidently, her magic shaking the room. “I’m getting Sunset back– Then everything will be right again!” Their fight was dangerously close, dodging magical beams became a game of tilting their heads and contorting their bodies, reflected shots would strike the walls and ceiling recklessly. “Your Sunset and mine are the same– The stronger Twilight will keep the living one, simple as that! Winner takes all!”

“You want your Sunset back?! Try necromancy. This one is mine.” Her magic electrified the air, lit the surroundings alongside her anger. “Stand down or I’ll make you. DON’T TEST ME!!”

“I already TRIED necromancy!!” Her expression contorted into grief, as she teleported near the cage, and pointed at the Undead Valkyrie. “SHE happened! I-I had to put her down– I lost my wife TWICE!!”

The undead Sunset let out growls of pity and sorrow, regarding this Twilight– Following the two of them from inside the cage, as if she was trying to communicate with them– Sounds that were ignored by all in the room.

“Try time travel! If you’re going to ruin a universe, ruin your own!” The Ex-Princess stood her ground, her horn crackling. “STAY OUT OF MINE!”

“Oh no, no. I already know the solution.” She grinned maliciously, the bags under her eyes accentuated by her horn glowing. “You should be happy– You haven’t found Sunset, but I will. I’ll have my wife back, and we’ll fix everything!!”

Fiercely, the Ex-Princess shoved her away with magic, and they swiftly connected again, barriers and horns alight. With a scowl, she stomped a hoof on the ground. “I’ve been going easy on you– Stand down, you do NOT want this fight.”

“Oh…” She did the same, her wings raised, her eyes widened. “But I do. And when I find her, I’ll value her more than you ever did.”

Spike left cover, waving his arms around desperately. “P-please, please, both of you! Please just stop!” They turned to him briefly, as he pleaded. “You’re both literally the same pony, and you want the same thing– You don’t have to fight about this!”

“Sorry, Spike… This is our home she’s threatening. It’s Sunset she’s threatening.” His Twilight shook her head, expression hardened.“I’m not backing down.”

“On that, we agree.” Her counterpart grinned madly. “No friendship speech is gonna solve this one, Spike.”

“I-if you fight here, you’ll wreck everything! The Community Center, Ponyville, all our research–” He tried arguing, appealing, as he stepped between the two. “Nopony is getting Sunset back if you bust everything up!! Please rethink this– If you’re going to fight, take it outside!”

There was only a brief moment of silence where the two Twilight’s studied each other with anger and precision, and the counterpart was the first one that spoke. “...You have a point, Spike. I wouldn’t want to damage my new home, after all…!”

“You can’t attach yourself to my life and replace me like some parasite.”Twilight snarled with unending anger. “She’ll never love you like she loves me.”

“She already does.” The newcomer sputtered out with a smile. “She even kissed me when she visited my world, you know? It was so familiar, so loving, like she never left–”

“--THAT'S IT!!”

The entire room shuddered, lights blinded them, objects were toppled, and all denizens fell, as if a force pulled them to one side, then relinquished.

The Two Twilights were gone.

Breathing heavily, they were all quiet– Except for the Undead Valkyrie, who was growling desperately like a worried dog, trying to get a glimpse of the balcony.

“...W-what happened?!” Sunset Six left cover, looking around. “What the hell just happened?!”

The last Twilight remaining in the room walked forward, looking around frantically. “T-they– I guess they took their fighting elsewhere... O-oh– Oh no…!” She murmured.

Carefully, Hermes approached the machinery at the corner of the room, and sighed.

The mirror was completely shattered in the scuffle, the lasso had been nearly overturned, several wires were out of place or torn altogether, and neither of the Twilights had even noticed. “...It’s over. I don’t know if we can salvage this… Oh, what have I done…!”

“It's not over.” Spike spoke, incredibly tense, as he walked over to the balcony. “It’s not over, not at all…!”

Together, they all joined him, and watched the nightly horizon.

Lit by the moonlight, crackling with lightning, above the Everfree forest…

…Two hurricanes began forming.

“...Spike.” The remaining Twilight’s eyes widened in a panic as she watched the two hurricanes forming before them. “...Y-you can still contact Celestia via letters, right…?”

“...Y-yeah…!” He stuttered out, watching their impending doom.

“Do it now.”

“I mean, look at this… Look at you! What you’ve accomplished here, it’s amazing…! You’re a god of magic…! You’re so beautiful...”

“My love…!” She shuddered out, holding back tears, reaching out, but knowing she couldn’t touch her. “...I’d trade it all away, for one more day with you.”

“Man, this is the life.” The Vampire Sunset licked her lips, after delecting herself on a churro, resting atop a tree. “I haven’t felt this relaxed in ages.”

“It’s called chillaxing, my dude.” Rainbow Dash grinned, looking up at the moon, enjoying herself on her bed of leaves she had made. “I hope you take all you’ve learned from me and use it back home, student.”

“I have learned much from you in the art of slacking off, master.” She joked, saluting. “Thank you for sharing your wisdom.”

Letting out a pleased yawn, she stretched out. “...We’ll turn in for reals soon, though. I’ve done too much chiling in one day– I’m tired.”

“Plenty more chiling to do tomorrow…” The vampire yawned involuntarily as well. “Celestia only knows Twilight’s gonna take her time getting me back home, and I for one don’t mind–”

They stopped. Their ears twitched.

They both stood from the tree, and beheld Ponyville– Strange lights were coming from the Community Center.

“...Is that the regular multiverse doohickey lights, or are they bad multiversal doohickey lights?”

“Like I’d know.” The Vampire huffed, tilting her head. “...Another Sunset will probably deal with it.” She laid back down and ignored it.

Rainbow squinted, studying the lights carefully.

…And then they simply stopped.

“...Okay, things seem to be fine now. I’ll do a flyby before heading home, just in case– I wanted to check on Flutters anyways.” She assured herself– But kept looking.

And she was painfully rewarded for looking– because merely seconds after, two hurricanes began forming above the Everfree forest.

“...H-holy cow.” She shuddered, watching, standing up. “Something big must be going down– Am I glad no one lives in that forest! Looks like our night is just beginning, c’mon– ACK, ZECORA!”

“Zecora? The zebra witch?” The vampire stood, and immediately flinched at the sight of the unnatural disasters. “Holy fuck,-- that’s NOT a normal storm!!”

“Zecora lives in the woods, we have to get her out before those hurricanes get any worse!” Rainbow took off, and she followed. “After that, we have to stop by the town, help the others!!”

Flying with determination, Sunset kept a careful eye on the incoming disaster. “...You know, the Zecora in my world fought to cure vampirism– I figured she wouldn’t want to live secluded in a normal, non-vampire infested world!?”

“The cons usually don’t involve a gigantic double storm! C’mon, pick up the pace, let’s go!”

Elsewhere, other Sunsets hadn’t yet noticed the problem.

This one, who had just finished helping with the dishes on Sweet Apple Acres, sat on the couch, and watched magic dance from her horn.

“...It’s so… Vibrant.” She murmured, smiling.

“What’s that, Sunset?” Applebloom’s ears twitched, as she was drawing with crayons on a paper.

“O-oh it's nothing. It’s just that back home, magic didn’t work like this…” She pondered, looking at the forms and shapes she could make. “I wonder… Maybe I could take a spellbook with me when Twilight finally takes me back?”

“I’m sure she won’t mind!” The filly shrugged, smiling. “Ya could become a wizard back at yer universe!”

“Pff, I’m not getting that ahead of myself. Magic won’t work the same again…” She shrugged, stretching, and made her way to a window. “It’d just be nice to take a part of this world with me– I don’t want this to just be a vacation, is all.”

“We’ll miss ya! You’ve been a real help, y’know?” Her tail wagged, as she grinned confidently. “Not that Sweet Apple Acres doesn’t run smooth, but the more hooves on deck the better!”

“Heh, yeah. It’s been nice to get a workout. This is better than office work, that’s for sure…” She shrugged, smiling, but then something outside caught her eye.

Then her jaw dropped, and she opened the window, just to verify what she was seeing was indeed what she was seeing.

“...Hey, Applebloom.”

“Yeah?”

“...AJ and Rarity are upstairs, right?”

“Eeyup! They say they ain’t smoochin’, but they’re not sneaky at all, you can always hear em’ through the walls.” She rolled her eyes, huffing. “Sweetiebelle told me they do the same thing at her place. Sheesh! And they say we fillies got no sense of decorum, whatever that is–”

“--We have to go get them, now.” Sunset frantically made her way upstairs. “We need heroes.”

She needed to move fast– If the ponies here were anything like the power ponies, they would be needed– A double storm sure wasn’t natural, even in a world like this.

One of these heroes had enough on her hooves, and frankly didn’t want to worry about anything else.

Pinkie Pie and her very own Sunset Shimmer were baking together, and as they did, nothing else mattered for her.

“I wasn’t going to be in a band with Pinkie Pie and somehow not learn how to bake, c’mon, who do you think I am?” The Rockstar ginned, shrugging, as she skillfully mashed the batter. “She taught me a bit in between tours– I feel like this would be a multiversal requirement for being somepony who’s even slightly close to a Pinkie Pie.”

“If it isn’t, it should be.” The party pony smiled maliciously. “All who gaze upon Pinkamena must partake on the art of baking treats or suffer the consequences!!”

With a mischievous grin, Sunset immediately stopped what she was doing and came closer. “Oh yeah? What are the consequences?”

“W-well–” Staggering, flustered, the pink pony tried improvising– But her attempt was short lived, she was swiftly kissed for her silence.

“You’re awfully cute when you’re speechless, Pink.” She snickered, turning back to the baking material. “If turning those cute cheeks of yours from pink to beet red was a sport, I’d want a damn golden medal, heheh.”

“Y-yeah! Yes! Also you’re hot!” Pinkie added clumsily. “I mean. You’re great and cool!”

“Pinkie, Sunset, no flirting in the kitchen, please! It’s a slippery slope to both of you making a mess…!” Mrs Cake raised a judgemental eyebrow. “This is the last batch before we turn in, and be a bit quieter tonight, please.”

“I make no promises.” Sunset grinned flirtatiously, side eyeing the party pony, who blushed even more.

“H-honey! Come take a look at this…!!” Mr Cake’s voice echoed from the entrance of the Sugarcube corner. “G-get the kids!!”

Pinkie’s hide shivered, and she gave Sunset a look, one she understood well.

It was time to go.

Elsewhere, on the first floor of the Community Center, Fluttershy was taking a well needed rest– Because two Sunsets were helping her. She tried assisting on storing the dishes, on arranging the chairs– But she was stopped immediately.

“Take a load off, Fluttershy. Sheesh!” The Sunset full of burn scars noted with a grin. “You don’t have to always be the one helping– You deserve a break.”

“Hmpf.” She pouted with a giggle. “Look who’s talking!”

The Guard Sunset, who had put her armor away for weeks now, grinned and shrugged. “Is it a common thing for Sunsets to be considered reliable?” She couldn’t help but scoff at the idea. “I sure wouldn’t know.”

“Oh yes! Sunset is very reliable!” Fluttershy assured, getting up from her couch– But swiftly placed back down on it by a Sunset’s magic. “She was really helpful– She was always really interested in Ponyville issues! This Community Center was her pride and joy!”

“I can see why…” The burnt Sunset gazed around her, for a moment– The building was beautiful, and so warm and inviting. “I hope I get to make one, back home.”

“If we ever make it back.” The guard muttered, with a shrug. “I’m just saying.”

“Twilight is really, really smart!” Fluttershy nodded with determination. “I’m absolutely sure she can do it! None of you Sunsets should worry, it’s only a matter of time!”

The two of them were silent as they worked, sharing only the briefest glances.

One of them was about to say something, but they stopped– As they heard strange sounds upstairs, akin to a struggle, and distant shouting.

The burnt Sunset got wary, her stance changed, as she narrowed her eyes. “...Is something happening up there?”

Tilting her head, trying to listen better, the pegasus leaned over the couch. “...Twilight and Sunset purposefully made the Community Center very sound insulated for them– Hm, I wonder if they’re doing another experiment up there?”

The guard, uninterested, sat down. “...So you’re saying what's going on up there is louder than we think?” Then her expression contorted itself into one that suppressed laughter. “...Oh. They insulated the building because it’s communal but they live here– They had sex here. A lot. Hah.”

“Probably!” Fluttershy shrugged with a giggle. “Like rabbits, even!”

“Something’s happening.” The burnt Sunset took a step forward. “We need to–”

Captain Shimmer teleported into the room with unflinching movements. “We’re under attack! You two, on me– Guard, get your armor in order!” She then turned to Fluttershy, and spoke softer, but still commanding. “Fluttershy– We need the other element bearers– We have to gather them to help Twilight. Can you do it?”

“O-oh, u-um, oh my!” She hopped out of the couch. “I-I’ll go find my friends!”

“Who’s attacking us!?” The burnt Sunset

“Unsure!” The Captain declared, leading the way upstairs. “Let’s go! She needs us!”

Sinking her teeth into flesh, tearing it apart, watching the blood drip into marble, she roared. She roared and roared, and her victims could only fear her– She would speak, shout, talk– And they couldn’t understand her.

Her love would never leave her. And yet her legion of dead couldn't find her, her sun. And for that, there would be a reckoning on their enemies.

Another kingdom fallen to her plague, another butchering, the blood moon shone high in the sky perpetually, where is she?

Where is she?

The wind was picking up in Ponyville, already there were objects being taken by the gusts, as the two tornados above Everfree intensified exponentially.

Ponies panicked on the streets, terrified at the sight of the storm that brewed.

“We need to get out of here.” The demon nudged her wife closer. “Two Twilights fighting– They’re probably going to level central Equestria!”

“H-hey, you can’t just leave!” Sunset Six complained, turning away from the storm, and pointed at the only alicorn in the room. “You’re a Twilight, can’t you step in there and help ours??”

“I-I haven’t really recovered all my power yet, I can’t!” She looked down shamefully. “Ever since Midnight was beaten, i-it’s like I’m learning to walk again, I can’t match either of them!”

“And you don’t have to. You’re not going in there.” The demon placed a protective wing over her. “We need to get out of here before those storms reach Ponyville.”

Spike wasn’t even paying attention– He was frantically writing in a letter, not having much time to prioritize information.

The zombie was growling desperately and angrily from the cage– None looked at her.

“This is so stupid! I can’t believe I have to be the voice of reason here!” With a frustrated groan, Sunset Six rolled her eyes. “You’re a goddamn demon super being thing– Basically an alicorn, right?! Go up there and help!”

Not even a little bit fazed, the demon towered over her. “I’m not stupid enough to try and stop two Twilight Sparkles from fighting– There’s nothing we can do here.”

Letting out a shameful sigh, Hermes nodded, finally leaving the debris of his research. “I… I hate to agree, but I’m not sure if we even could do anything to help…!”

With an agile flip, the Mysterious Mare Do Well leapt from the roof to the balcony, quickly lifted her mask, and looked around frantically. “Hey! Is that storm being caused by– W-what the hell happened in here?!”

“A mean Twilight hopped out of the lasso and is fighting our Twilight!!” Spike blurted out as he frantically wrote on a piece of parchment. “Long story!”

The hero of Ponyville stopped, looking at the shattered mirror and overturned machinery. “Is… Is it– Did they–”

“Beyond salvage…?” Hermes murmured, filled with regret. “...We’re not sure.”

Looking down, her vision blurring, she let out a shuddered sigh, unresponsive.

Everything was going wrong.

Lightning lit the air. The hurricanes were close to colliding. Some ponies in the town were screaming. A tree that was taken by the wind crashed on a rooftop.

The group was silent, watching it unfold.

And Captain Shimmer, who arrived with two Sunsets in tow, did not let this slide. “What are you idiots standing around for?! We have a town to save!”

The group all turned to her in disbelief.

The Captain barely sparked a glance towards the destroyed machinery, towards the indication that she might never go back home.

“Twilight Sparkle is the reason we’re all here!” She proclaimed, walking over to the balcony. “And she’s our only way out of here– Look around you, look at their home! This place is special– I’ll be fucking damned if I let it fall apart on my watch! We’re putting a barrier around Ponyville, all of us– That storm will NOT touch this place. I know you have grievances– That you think we might not owe her– Set that aside, now. We’re saving this town because it’s the one we now live in– These lives around us matter even if we’re strangers to them. THIS IS AN ORDER, NOT A SUGGESTION, LET’S GO!”

Silence befell them once more– Accentuated with lighting.

The door to the cage was thrown across the room with a single strike.

The undead Sunset gritted her teeth, growling, easily breaking the chains that bound her.

With a flash, she donned her Valkyrie armor again, and spread her wings far, roaring.

She galloped past every counterpart of herself, and from the balcony, she took flight.

“...Z-zombie on the loose!” Spike stuttered fearfully, clutching the letter he had nearly finished writing. “...C-could she do that the whole time?!”

Quiet anticipation shook them as they saw the light of the Undead alicorn through the darkness of the night.

No longer hesitating, the Mysterious Mare Do Well put her mask back on. “I’m going to help the citizens out of the range of the storm– Out of town.” She walked to the balcony with determination. “I’ll rally those that can cast magic!”

“I’ll help set the perimeter for the barrier!” The burned Sunset ran forward, and leapt over the balcony. “I bet good money that zombie me wants to help too!”

“I-I’ll help too! I guess!” The guard Sunset followed her close behind, shooting a glance towards her Captain self. “A-and no, before you ask, I left my armor in my room. Bye!”

“I will help as well!” Hermes nodded with determination– Then turned away from the balcony. “I-I’ll take the stairs, though!”

“Fuck it, let’s save Ponyville!” Sunset Six groaned, hopping through the balcony as well. “These days keep getting weirder!”

The Captain stepped forward, facing her demon self without fear or reservation. “If you cower and run when you have a chance to help, you’re exactly the monster they think you are.” She turned, shrugging, making her way to the balcony. “But I’m not going to babysit another me into doing the right thing– Believe it or not, there’s other things that matter other than you.”

“You little shit–” She lunged forward, But was stopped by her Twilight before she could pounce.

And the captain was gone, onto helping the town fearlessly.

“S-Spike…!” Twilight murmured fearfully. “The letter?!”

“Almost done, almost done!” he anxiously scribbled, and without much gentleness, rolled it up and incinerated it. “T-there!! O-okay, if anypony can step in and help, it’s Celestia… I hope…!”

“I’m pretty sure these storms are visible from Canterlot.” The demon murmured. “If she doesn't get the letter, she’ll see that from out of her window and come– Probably.”

“W-we have to help.” Twilight murmured, stepping forward. “We have to help the town, let’s go!”

“T-twi– Those storms–”

“--They’re going to level everything if we don’t protect Ponyville! I’m not discussing this!” She immediately walked over to the balcony. “I’m doing this with or without you!”

“--Like I’d ever let you do it without me.”She grinned, coming closer, and immediately pulled her into a passionate kiss. “Just in case. I love you.”

“I love you too, Sunny Bunny.”

And together, they leapt into the frey.

Spike had to sit there and process what had just happened, for one agonizing moment.

“...WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!”

“B-but you can’t just leave…! When am I going to see you again?? I… I want you with me!” Even without remembering her, she couldn’t help but plead, beg– The sheer instinct of not wanting to let go.

It was almost reassuring— That an invisible, suppressed part of her would still miss her. That their experiences together meant so much, that they had still changed the Princess, even if she wasn’t going to be remembered.

“I’ll get those memories back… And then we can go back to how it’s meant to be, okay…?” She assured her with a weary smile– With all the courage she could muster. “...And if my options dry up, or if I miss you too much… I’ll find you. …And what would be better than falling in love all over again…?”.

The two storms collided.

Lightning lit the air.

“IS THIS WHAT SUNSET WOULD WANT?!”

“SUNSET WOULD WANT TO BE HERE!!”

Their screams were barely audible through the tornados they formed. Their lightning altered the elements themselves, the temperature dropped, the storm had taken several trees and debris from Everfree with it already.

It was a storm of spells, from within. As their hurricanes collided, they united into an enormous whirlwind fueled by magic.

Spells lit the air, crackled and shuddered. Arcane runes were taken by the wind, intensifying its power, multiple different incantations were cast, recast, countercast and blocked altogether nonstop.

The two alicorns clashed from afar, constantly teleporting, leaving afterimages in their wake, the impact of their magic tearing reality, only to reform it with a clap of thunder.

“PRINCESS OF FRIENDSHIP?! WHAT A JOKE!!”

“YOU’RE ONE TO TALK, WHERE’S YOUR CROWN?! PRINCESS OF NOTHING!!”

The prismatic hue of their lights would explode like clusters in the air around them, their clashes would reverberate all the way towards the forest below them.

More and more trees were pulled off Everfree and joined their maelstrom, and would get swiftly obliterated upon approaching the two alicorns.

Magic was in its most raw form as they each attempted to obliterate the other with their power, the air around them incinerated.

Their teleportations across the eye of the storm left traces like constellations, their light visible ever outside the storm.

This clash was visible halfway across Equestria.

Meteors began raining around them, pieces of the sky falling on their command.

Magic incarnate, reality bent at her whim, her power was an anomaly few would ever comprehend, or even try to.

But all she wanted was connections– Like any other.

“HOLD FAST!” The captain declared, as she channeled all the magic she could into the barrier they were casting on the edge of Ponyville, right before the storm. “THIS IS IT!”

She was surrounded by versions of herself– All who were helping.

They all strained and struggled, all were wincing with pain, fearing what was to come.

Unicorns from the town began helping– Even Hermes was among them.

The Element bearers were here, assisting like any other, helping keep the town safe, moving the citizens that couldn’t help in protecting it away from the storm.

Above, in the skies, the Undead Valkyrie roared, her light, her might, being the strongest addition to the barrier, and near her side was the demon– Mounted by her wife, both helping all the same.

The storm was getting stronger.

Every Sunset, and then some, worked together to stop it.

My most faithful student;

I hope you understand that no matter what has happened, I have not lost my faith in you.

The nature of our role, it is… Difficult. We are forced upon a pedestal and also keeps us from connection.

You surpassed that. You have friends– They believe in you, above all else.

Hold that faith close to your heart… And please come back to us.

The Ex-Princess brought a meteor down upon her other self. The strength of the hurricane waned, affected by the space debris falling upon them.

The Princess shouted out in anger and pain, as her anger obliterated the asteroid and launched it back as hundreds of stones back at her counterpart.

The retaliation was in the form of lighting and flames, which itself retaliated with ice and earth, their magic exploding like vicious fireworks in the storm– a storm within a storm.

They were blown away by their powers colliding, and would fly back or teleport back immediately, striking each other fiercely, yet barely damaging each other, it was a battle of attrition.

“We’re going to destroy Ponyville at this rate– All of Everfree!” The Ex-Princess called out, barely audible. “Are you really okay with this much collateral damage on a world you want to take over?!”

“YOU CAN SURRENDER ANY TIME, IF YOU CARE SO MUCH!” Her other self snarled, retaliating, her horn alight and crackling. “GIVE ME YOUR LIFE AND WE CAN STOP FIGHTING OVER IT!”

They left traces of light wherever they flew, lightning intensified out of their horns and was channeled in the winds around them.

“YOU’RE DELUSIONAL!” The Ex-Princess shouted back, regarding her with pity. “YOU’VE LOST EVERYTHING, AND YOU’RE TAKING FROM OTHERS BECAUSE OF IT?! WHERE DOES THIS END?!”

“IF THERE’S EVEN A ONE PERCENT CHANCE I CAN GET HER BACK–” She ignited the air with her light, calling down more stars from the sky. “I HAVE TO TAKE IT AS AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY!”

Twilight couldn’t help but behold her counterpart with pity, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WITHOUT HER, I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GO ON WITH THIS GRIEF–” She bitterly, tragically admitted. “BUT WE HAVE TO TRY, DON’T WE?!”

“YOUTRY!” She descended upon her other self with intensified gravity, bringing the air itself around with her. “I’M DONE TRYING! I WANT HER BACK!!”

Together, they landed on Everfree– The crater already devoid of trees, lit with magic.

The storm raged around them, the newcomer Twilight snarled, forcing herself up, forcing herself to tackle her counterpart.

“I don’t want to kill you!” The Ex-Princess wrestled her back, forcing her down, both their horns casting and cancelling each other's spells simultaneously, incinerating any vegetation around them. “If we keep fighting– We’ll lose even more than we already have!”

“I don’t have anything left to lose.” She gritted her teeth, flailing, their horns connecting and thunder striking all around them. “Kill me, or I’ll kill you.”

“YOU WANT TO GO ALL OUT? FINE!” Teleporting onto the air, spreading her wings, the Ex-Princess channeled all she had. “BUT LET’S TAKE IT OUTSIDE!”

Her light overtook them, their power stretched well beyond anything they presumed it could.

The storm slowly dissipated, but the wind continued, the lighting accentuating their vanishing.

The denizens of Ponyville continued to fight the storm until it was gone– an act that took enough time– Long enough for them to notice how the moon shone brighter above them.

“hahAHAHAHAh, YOU WERE RIGHT, I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND MAGIC BEFORE… BUT I DO NOW!”

All the power from this world and another, in the palm of her hands, that’s what magic meant. Being able to flick a life away, that’s what magic meant. Finally having the strength to protect herself, that’s what magic meant. A life doomed to live alone, without connection of friendship, that’s what magic meant.

But Sunset Shimmer was going to show her a better way.

Sunset Shimmer would always show her a better way.

Twilight shook herself off– She had used a lot of her magic in one go.

Her heart pounded furiously, the power that coursed through her veins was hard to keep in check– She felt berzerk, her adrenaline spiked. She tried breathing steadily, but found it difficult, for obvious reasons.

“You really think that bringing me to the moon would give you an advantage?!” Her counterpart sputtered out angrily, trying to stand up, unused to the gravity, nearly collapsing out of exhaustion. “I trained under Luna too. I’m as strong as you!”

She did not respond, instead, she looked above them. Hundreds of thousands of stars shined with their power, constellations, nebulae, and so much more… Equestria watched them from above.

No one else would have to be hurt by her mistakes in this battleground.

“But you’re right. Fighting here is easier. I don’t want to destroy my new home– I just want you out of the way. We can go all out with no collateral damage, finally!” She raised her wings, and dragged a hoof across the floor, her horn alight, her hair a mess, the bags under her eyes more prominent than ever. “C’mon then! Let’s finish this!”

Was she too far gone?

Finally, the Ex-Princess spoke, regarding her with incredible sorrow and pity. “...Is this what will happen to me, after a few years of missing her…?”

Silence. The other Twilight froze.

“...Will I be just… Some rabid animal, devoid of love, clinging to any shred of hope, no matter how many people it hurts…?” She looked away, closing her eyes, exhaling. “...Is this what we’re like– When we have a taste of love, but then lose it…?”

“...Without her there’s no point. Not after all we did together.” Her voice shivered, tears welled up in her eyes. “You have no idea, you have no idea– waking up, reaching next to me, and she’s not there…!”

“I have some idea…!” She smiled bitterly, letting out an ironic chuckle, shaking her head. “...All this time, she kept saying that she became better because of us– but the opposite happened too, didn’t it?”

“We’re stronger because of Sunset Shimmer.” Her other self muttered in agreement. “Maybe the strongest a Twilight can be. B-but without her…!”

“...What’s the point?” She finished.

Silence. Complete and utter cold silence, accentuated only but the few moonstones that still floated around them.

The Ex-Princess’s expression hardened, as she glared at her other self. “...I don’t want to end up like you. I won’t end up like you. How could I possibly deserve her if I did?”

“D-don’t act like you’re better than me! Don’t act like you deserve this life any more than I do! You’re just one bad day away from being me!!” She snarled, stomping a hoof on the floor. “I’m taking what I want, what I need– Because the alternative is too much to bear! ‘Better to have loved and lost?!’ What a joke!!”

At that moment, Twilight understood. She saw the years extending before her, with or without Sunset. She saw what she could become, with or without Sunset.

She felt the power of the cosmos, the light of everything around them, the moon below them, and every star above them. All of them pleading for her to try.

And she chose to do the same thing her wife always had… She chose to try and be better.

“S-stop looking at me like that!” Her other self snarled, her horn lighting up, her magic spreading out into the cold dark sky. “I’m taking over your world, and I’m finding Sunset– And I’m going to cherish her, every single day of my life, I’m going to do it right next time, I’m going to belong, she’s going to belong, and we’ll live happily ever after–”

No.

She declared simply.

She began floating, lighter than air. Unburdened.

Her other self staggered, and stepped back in shock.

She had seen what she was capable of becoming. She had understood herself and her wife in ways a normal being could never– In multitudes, in abundance, a vivisection that allowed herself to understand everything– to have the strength to protect every single loved one she still had.

She thought of the precious moments that had passed, those precious years with her wife. She thought of every sunset and moonrise they had spent together… And found that they all held meaning, even if they belonged in the past.

It all mattered, now and forever.

But now she was in the present. And for the sake of her world, and for the sake of her wife– She was going to be okay. She was going to surpass this obstacle, and any other.

She thought of Sunset Shimmer, and of every part of her she loved.

Her everything.

And for her, she would not let grief break her. Never.

But she wasn’t smiling. She turned to her counterpart, her wings spread wide.

Her eyes glowing like stars.

Four more wings sprouted from her back, like the blooming of a flower.

Six enormous wings, a lunar crown around her horn, All as she let out a deafening whisper.

YOU WOULD TAKE MY WORLD

YOU WOULD TAKE MY LOVE

I

WON’T

LET

YOU

Above Equestria, the night sky was shining. The moon glowing brighter than it ever had.

Twilight Sparkle’s light engulfed an entire side of her moon, the air froze around her, and her other self was completely overwhelmed by her magic.

Gravity was meaningless to her– Natural law was something she no longer needed to follow.

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Harmony.

“No one’s blaming you for wanting to give us a normal spring break! …We’d be having one if it weren’t for me…” And still, after everything, she held herself responsible, she couldn’t let the guilt slide, she couldn’t stop feeling anchored to every single negative event in their friend’s lives. “...I brought magic to this world in the first place.”

She couldn’t see how amazing she was, how much she had changed my life for the better, how much I valued her, how much she was simply… Everything.

All she could see was that there were only six Elements of Harmony– And that in this picture, she was a parasite.

I wasn’t going to let this go on. I couldn’t. I didn’t know what to do or say, but I needed her to know how much she mattered to me.

So I reached for her hand and spoke without thinking.

“I wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world… In any world.”

With Celestia, Luna and Cadance joining them, they managed to finally suppress and contain the storm– the night sky was calm and clear once more.

“...Is… Is it over?!” One of the Sunsets spoke through bated breaths, looking above them, the storm was gone.

“It better be over, this wind is just a disaster for my mane!” Rarity declared with a pout. “Oh, and Ponyville too. Where has Twilight gone too, anyway?”

Captain Shimmer leapt above a carriage, and yelled out for all of Ponyville to hear. “Twilight Sparkle! Anypony seen Twilight Sparkle?! Where is she!”

The Mysterious Mare Do Well surveyed the air, hopping atop a street lamp. “I’ll check any homes that were damaged for ponies needing help!” With an agile leap and a teleport, she went forward. “Maybe I’ll find Twilight!”

“I see her! There she is!” Pinkie pointed with a smile.

There was a Twilight Sparkle mounted on a demon Sunset Shimmer, who pointed at herself. “...Who, me? Um, I think she’s asking for another Twilight Sparkle.”

“This is my Twilight Sparkle.” The demon stuck her tongue out. “Get your own.”

Spike, rubbing his temples, let out a groan of annoyance. “Please, nopony ask where Sunset Shimmer is– She’s literally everywhere!”

“You talking to me?”

“...I think he meant me?”

“Nah, he meant me.” One of them strummed on a guitar with a pleased smile. “Seriously though– Where’s the mare that’s meant to get us back home?”

“Speaking of home, I know asking now may not be right–” Zecora grimaced, looking around awkwardly. “But can I crash in any of your places tonight?”

“We’ve got ya, Zecora!” Applejack tipped her hat, and then announced to the whole crowd. “Anypony whose home was busted by the storm feel free to crash at Sweet Apple Acres, alright? We’ll set some beds out!”

“Ugh, what a friggin’ day.” Rainbow Dash groaned in annoyance. “If there’s any more bad guys or natural disasters we’ve gotta deal with before bed I’m going to turn to DUST.”

“...I think it’s going to be okay, Dashie!” Fluttershy assured with a confident smile. “Everypony seems to be okay, thanks to the quick thinking and effort of all the Sunsets!”

“...Thanks, Fluttershy.” One of the Sunsets did a little salute. “I’m glad I could help. We’re glad we could help, right every me?”

Every Sunset in the area cheered.

Cadance wasn’t as cheerful– She took flight, and looked around frantically. “Where is Twilight, though– And just what was she fighting!?”

“Above…” Celestia, who had been gazing at the night sky, muttered quietly. “...Luna, is she…?”

“I’ve felt it.” Her sister nodded, as she looked up too. “The night shines brighter than it has ever, sister…!”

Besides them, the undead Valkyrie growled, and pointed upwards.

“...I shall never get used to this thing.” Luna grimaced.

She only received raspy growls as a response.

“Everyone!” Celestia spread her wings wide with anticipation. “Look above!”

Together, all of Ponyville and beyond, all of Equestria could see.

Moons, constellations, every celestial body in the sky accentuated Twilight Sparkle’s return. Six wings, heavenly cold light, she floated down effortlessly, magic incarnate.

They all recoiled and moved aside as she soared quietly by them– Leaving a trail of magic in her wake.

“G-good heavens, s-she–” Luna stuttered, nudging her sister. “She ascended! Twiceover, she–”

“--I see it, Luna. I see her…!” Celestia murmured, acknowledging just how far her pupil had grown, how far she had come.

All of Ponyville shuddered at the sight of the Seraph, hesitating to come forward. But three alicorns followed.

Twilight stepped into the wreckage that was her Community Center’s research room– Her six wings barely fitting inside as she crouched low, every step she took froze the floor she stood on; All as she brought forward her defeated opponent, who, in her magical grasp, was crying, grieving.

With simple magical motions, she rebuilt the cage, rebuilt its chains, its magical inhibitors, enhancing them ten times over, this time, with her counterpart inside.

This newcomer Twilight Sparkle, now defeated, was entangled in arcane chains.

“This… This wasn’t even a fight, was it…?” Her other self murmured through tears, breaking down, letting go. “Y-you had more years with Sunset than me… Of course you’d win.”

We’ve both lost.

We’ve both lost so much.

“T-there’s nothing left to fight for…!” She murmured tragically in her chains, sat down, looking at the ground, her tears running down her cheek. “There’s nothing left…!”

The Princess of Harmony turned, and observed the wreckage of her home.

She observed the mirror, their only way of seeing her wife, of tracking her, in tatters, beyond repair.

Her tears floated away, devoid of gravity. Her many wings folded close, her cold making the air bitter.

“I’m… I’m sorry, I… We’re both the same, and I… I shouldn’t have come here…” Shuddering, her counterpart closed her eyes. “It’s…It’s over. I should have died with her…!”

No. You shouldn’t have.

“O-our love has to have meant something…! But it didn’t.”

It did.

“B-but… But why?” She pleaded the air desperately. “W-why should we go on without her…? H-how could we go on without her…?”

Because it’s what she would have wanted.

I’m going to keep living.

I’m going to keep living for her.

Even if I can never find her.

I’m going to keep trying.

I’m going to keep trying to do better…

…Just like her.

The three alicorns made it into the room, the zombie one beelined it towards the cage, and sat beside it.

This Sunset leaned her forehead against the bars of the cage, muttering out growls, regarding the imprisoned Twilight with pity.

“S-Sunset…!” She cried, shuddered, beholding the Undead Valkyrie. “Sunset, I’m so sorry… I’m so, so sorry…!”

And there they remained.

“...Twilight.” Luna approached the Seraph slowly, carefully. “Just breathe.”

“--Don’t touch her.” Celestia warned quietly. “...Twilight, can you hear us…?”

What’s… Happening to me…?

Her tears flowed through unimpeded, lighting the air like constellations in the dark room.

“Just breathe, Twilight, and it will be okay. Just breathe…!”

I didn’t know what love was, before I met you.

I didn’t know what grief was, before I met you.

Together, up there, forever, united as one. Twelve wings, shining brightly.

Sun and moon.

You and me.

Rebuilding the collapsed parts of the Community Center was a slow process, it took a full day. Not only did most of Ponyville pitch in, but every single Sunset assisted in rebuilding their pride and joy as well.

The Princess of Harmony was quiet for most of it. Her counterpart shared a cage with the undead counterpart of her wife… They seemed to understand each other, at least, and she wasn’t surprised as to why.

Neither of them were a threat.

There wasn’t much to say except thank you. She thanked every friend, every helper, every Sunset. And quietly, she kept working.

Hermes was there too– Quietly tinkering and tidying up what they could of the research they had. Evidently, they would have to rebuild a lot of it if they wanted a chance of resuming work properly… And that would take even more days.

Days she suspected she didn’t have.

The mirror was shattered. Their only way to see what was out there… Gone.

Her wife had taken hope with her when she was taken…

…But Twilight refused to let that hope die.

Quietly, Hermes connected one outlet, and sighed. “...Well, that’s that. The lasso should be back online– Although that power conduit is only going to last one more before being busted… And well, this is even more rudimentary than our first model.”

“I’m not pulling any Sunset randomly out of there again.” Twilight stated simply, shaking her head. “Without the mirror, we don’t have the luxury of… we can’t do this like we did before. I owe them this much.”

“Agreed completely.” The Scientist nodded respectfully. “...If we review Starswirl’s notes, search his secret archives, maybe we’ll find something we can reprogram as a replacement…?”

“...Maybe…!” She looked away, not focussed on anything. “We can rebuild what we had, but… It might take another month…”

“...What is your plan, Princess?”

She smiled at the irony of being called that. “...I’ll keep trying. There is no way for us to know if my wife survived those wounds, so… We can only hope she has, and work as diligently as we can. If every option dries up, we will send the other Sunsets home– And the other Twilights, of course.”

“...And then…?”

“...And then I may take my crown back.” She closed her eyes. “...With or without my Sun.”

Hermes let out a shameful sigh, and nodded. “I’m… Sorry. I’ll do everything in my power to help… And accept any punishment you have for me when the time comes.”

“Good.” She let out an almost sly smile, but then exhaled. “I… I think I’m going to check on the others downstairs. We can work on this proper later–”

But she stopped, both of them stopped.

Because the machine lit to life– Low power, low functionality, but nonetheless, activated without input.

Hermes, incredibly cautiously, moved to the console. “...It appears we are locked in onto a universe…!” He turned to her, wary. “...Someone else out there is using a beacon to reach us.”

From her cage, her counterpart muttered without energy. “It might be my universe… I did leave it without telling anyone. My Luna is probably furious– If she found out what me and my Hermes were doing…”

Twilight sat down, beholding the machine. “...Can you tell which signature it is?”

“It’s… Sunset Shimmer. Same as before.”

From the cage, Twilight groaned. “...I had my wife’s coffin in my lab for a reason… I needed her genetic code to trick you.”

“We don’t… Know if it’s her world.” Hermes noted carefully. “It could be another… it could be even more dangerous, actually…!”

Nodding assertively, the Princess of Harmony took a battle stance. “There is nothing that comes through that machine that I can’t defeat. Let’s activate it.”

Incredibly carefully, they went through the process of activating the machine one last time.

It sputtered to life, barely holding on– It even blew several fuses, the power conduit shattered…

And yet, the process was successful.

But it wasn’t Sunset Shimmer they had brought here.

It wasn’t Twilight Sparkle, either.

It wasn’t a pony at all.

It was…

“...Is that a file cabinet?!” Hermes grimaced in confusion, approaching. “...Surely it isn’t a living filing cabinet, from a dimension of sentient file cabinets, is it?!”

“...It’s just a file cabinet.” Twilight sighed, shaking her head, approaching it. “It’s… Strange, though. I didn’t even think of the possibility of inanimate objects travelling through dimensions…”

“W-well– Somepony clearly sent this to us. It could be boobytrapped!” Hermes approached it incredibly cautiously. “Be careful!”

Its design was slick, metallic, not like any they knew.

Impeccably carefully, Twilight opened one of the drawers.

Inside was just… Files and trinkets. Machine components she didn’t know or understand. They seemed otherworldly, almost alien. Every other drawer was the same– Several papers, multiple pieces of data, but especially, unique technomagic components.

“...Is this…?” She hesitated.

“Multiversal t-technology! Incredibly advanced– Oh my gosh, oh my gosh–” He began rifling through several papers. “Whoever sent this has an advanced insight into this kind of magic– No, not just advanced– Complete mastery!”

Twilight’s eyes widened, as she realised slowly what every component here represented, what every text file implied– This wasn’t a threat or a notice, it was a gift.

“...But who– What– How did this– Why here, why us, why now?!” She murmured, clutching the papers, examining every device. “W-what does this mean?!”

“Um, Princess… There’s a note here…!” He almost smiled, chuckling ironically, pointing at a paper taped to the side of the cabinet. “It’s for you…!”

With hesitation, but incredible curiosity, she took it.

She held it, and her eyes widened as she read.

To this universe’s Twilight Sparkle:

Getting this to you was difficult, I hope you can appreciate it.

We might actually blow our last functioning generator doing this… But we decided pretty unanimously that it was worth it, even if it’s our end.

Our world owes a debt to your wife… Actually, a lot of worlds do. Even yours.

We didn’t really want anything else to do with this technology… But we did have a lot of it lying around. Why not do what Hermes never did and put it to good use?

Installing most components may be a bit difficult– Assembling your own portal even more so, but we gave you all the components we could in this. Everything else, you should have available in your own world– Provided some diligence on your own part, of course.

The instructions of construction are all in their respective files, I trust that you, like any Twilight, are capable of doing your research.

We trust you with this. Get your wife home safely, get her there as soon as you can, and keep her there– and let this be the end of the multiverse… The end of our tampering with it, anyway.

Our worlds were never meant to collide, not like this.

But your wife made every world she touched better… Let’s hope she can live to see the fruits of her labor. Let’s hope she can live to see you again.

She deserves that much, as do you.

Good luck.

- Raven Inkwell

PS: Hi, Sunset here. At the risk of Raven writing an incredibly professional boring note, I had to put my own two cents in the end.

Your wife is crazy good for a Sunset Shimmer, you have no idea.

…Actually, you might have some idea, heheh.

...Find her and don’t let go, okay? She deserves a hell lot better than most Sunsets– But I guess that’s reductive thinking– We can all do better, can’t we?

Because of her, not only do we get to live, but… I actually got my wings. I actually can raise the friggin sun!!

I’ll do my best to keep my world standing. I’ll do my best to make her proud. To honor what she did for us.

I actually got wings. Can you believe it? I got wings! …And I’m not the only one, I bet.

So… Tell her thanks. From all of us.

“...This…” Hermes looked at the several papers and components they now had. “O-oh my goodness, this is everything– BEYOND everything, I’ve never seen anything like it!”

Twilight couldn’t contain her smile, as she read the note again and again. “...I knew she made friends out there, but this…?”

“It’s unprecedented. It's… Everything about my research I ever hoped to achieve…!” Hermes sat down, closing his eyes, rubbing his temples. “...And they just gave it to us– On a silver platter…! Do you realize what this means?!”

“Yes.” Twilight Sparkle smiled incredibly warmly, knowing the path ahead. “Let’s bring her home.”

...Stars are our blanket, my love. We are home.

…Stay with me, just a little longer…!

Author's Note

TWILIGHT SPARKLE VS TWILIGHT SPARKLE.

INFO: The Element of Magic is the strongest of all– it is the one at the seat of power, the one meant to lead and rule, to dominate and organize. Its power, when unleashed without reservations, is without peer.

Two of these Elements clashing could have been apocalyptic. But this was not even a battle.

VERDICT: Grief is a slow and insidious killer. But the Princess of Harmony refused to die.

Kindness begets Kindness.

For once, after Sunset was so kind to the Multiverse... It is being kind back.

...Now comes the matter of finding her before she bleeds out.

Honestly this has been such a long time coming. I'm so, so happy to almost be done with this fic. It's been such a wonderful damn time! I set out to create like-- Idealized versions of these characters, akin to gods, and I think I very much got what I bargained for.

Anyways, lets go over the events in order! I've got plenty to say.

• The Cadance cameo is smth that was pretty necessary, but I sadly couldn't find a better spot than the beginning of this chapter. As her sister in law and princess of Love, she has a particular insight into Twilight's Psyche that couldn't go unexplored.

...Plus maybe I just wanted Flurryheart in the prime universe, too. But thats for another day, they need to get back together first. I love writing Cadance, heh.

Deleted scenes

As can be predicted, this chapter, much like the last one, was about our protagonist facing a thematic opposite of themselves. Twilight Prime, through fighting Twilight Antiprime, learns to accept her grief, to accept her loss, and honor what Sunset stood for, no matter how much it hurts. In doing so, she became the strongest possible Twilight, under the circumstances.

A twilight that understands loss, that accepts it, but still holds onto hope, through out everything.

Their love meant something.

(My girlfriend joked that 'antiprime twilight' is just twilight in canon, but honestly, canon twilight didn't even have a sunset shimmer, she went WORSE, lol.)

Of course, i wrote this all knowing that this chapter's stakes were inherently smaller than the last one. I hope that does not dissapoint, and that it was still satisfying and engaging! Twilight vs Twilight is an incredible match, but prime was always going to win. Like antiprime stated, she had more years with Sunset. This made her stronger.

Also... yeah Zombie Sunset could break out the whole time. She's an alicorn Sunset, what did you expect? Her muscles have muscles, she could bend steel bars with her bare hands. But she's still Sunset, she cares about the safety of a universe that has been untouched by her mistakes. She wants what's best for them, and even recognizes antiprime Twilight as a Twilight that had the strength to put her down-- But not the strength to endure the act.

also maybe I'm biased but captain shimmer is fucking unwavering. She absolutely can and will rally her other selves to band together. the trifecta of powerful sunsets being the zombie, the captain and the demon-- (The mare do well is the wild card, and dangit I wanted to give her more screen time but just couldn't. No space!)

Btw, on those sequences, I considered having the influence of the mane 5 (twis fighting in the moon) a lot larger, but honestly, I didn't want the chapter to be any more bloated than it already was. Like, they matter, but this story IS primarily about Sunset and Twilight, so y'know.

Lord knows there's enough characters around at all times that even I get confused xD

On the subject of ENDHermes being a tougher fight, you should know I considered it to be even tougher, when I was drafting the story. One of my ideas was that he captured certain beings from the multiverse on ocasion, and experimented on them, turned them into husks of themselves, mindless cyborgs that followed his every command.

On this idea, Sunset Prime would have had to fight Daybreaker, Grogar, Midnight Sparkle, and maybe even a Starswirl-- But I realised that not only it'd bloat the fight even more, but there would be no time to unpack the emotional weight of her having to put a Twilight down, no matter how hectic.

Another idea that's quite elementary, is that I considered him using artifacts from the show, because he has access to an endless supply of them. That got really boring and one-sided quick, especially because most artifacts are just alternatives of magic stealing, which you probably know my stance on.

Like, no matter how fanservicy it would be for him to bust out grogars bell, it'd still just kind of be like 'ok the fight is over, her powers got yoinked. yay.' Thats just boring. I wanted him to fight on his own cold and calculated terms.

Honestly, in canon he definitely acquired all those artifacts, but just broke them down into their bare resources to use as fuel or to add to their weapons.

Also, although I can imagine the ending here feels like a bit of a Deus Ex Machina, frankly, I'm sticking to it. Sunset Prime has constantly inspired and done better in the multiverse. It was only a matter of time until a universe could do better for her.

And this universe, despite it's bitter, wrecked state with the death of 'end'universe... Has the tools to help. Inspired by her, they will.

Either way... Two chapters left.

I'll see you next time, as we follow a Sunset prime that is bleeding out and dying, on 'The End of Everything'