ACT 4 - FINAL MEMORIES

CHAPTER 11 - Aubade.

And the world said: I don’t need you.

And I pleaded: Please give me a chance.

Sunset galloped with quick, hasty breaths.

The rain was significantly lighter now– But still, enough to feel.

Through grass, mud, and roots, she sped through the darkness of the night.

Her adrenaline was spiked. Morning would come in only an hour, if she was lucky, two– But regardless of all else, she was out of time.

Her armor felt weightless. Her mind was blank– There was no plan to formulate, no course of action other than this.

No other way.

Everfree did not feel inviting, but it also proposed no challenge.

The noises of the forest were unintelligible through her gallop– Any whispers were completely ignored. The darkness around her mocked her, and she didn’t listen.

And there it was. After what felt like too long, she saw the temple of the moon, at the peak of a hill, embedded in a mountain, lit by no moonlight, the skies covered by clouds.

Like it always had been. Dark, and with no hope within.

The last time she had been there was with Twilight. And now, she was alone.

She gave herself only half of a minute to sit before the entrance, steadying her breathing, as she gazed at the darkness inside.

Nothing. Not an inch of light. As inviting as it had ever been.

Through her breaths, she looked back.

Canterlot was more distant than ever– Through the fog of the rain, it barely lit the darkness.

She took only a brief moment to say goodbye to her home– observing it with a listless exhale.

And with a deep inhale, stepped inside the temple.

It was different than every other time she had been in there, different than any day. She wondered for a moment if it was a simple case of her eyes not being adjusted to the dark, or the significance of this night.

Her horn lit the way to the throne. And around her, were dozens upon dozens of Umbrum.

In every direction, every corner, every pathway, some even in the walls. Many of them were already inhabiting suits of armor. Torn, old, rusted, but ready for battle.

The others were just phantoms. Silent spectators. Ready for a show.

She was surrounded by what could be an army.

The whispers they shared were mocking, amusing, filled with anticipation, and she ignored them.

And before her, sitting in a cracked, dull throne, was Stygian, watching her with enjoyment.

He was bigger now. His wings were defined, yet torn, and his body more shaped to be an imitation of an alicorn, and still, made of pure shadow.

The throne room was surrounded by shades on all sides.

And Sunset’s piercing gaze went to Wallflower Blush.

She looked out of place– Stood out easily. Surrounded by monsters much taller than her, she felt shriveled, that cloak she wore providing little protection. It was unsure if her expression indicated fear– But certainly, she had unease to spare.

“Sunset Shimmer.” From the throne, the would-be alicorn called. “Welcome home.”

Her expression was bitter, and her resentment was clear. The only source of light in the room was from her horn, and the armor she wore that reflected it.

“You look like shit.” Stygian jabbed, and the shades around them laughed in accompaniment at the profound irony.

Sunset didn’t bother answering. Her gaze moved around her as she looked perfectly still. She finished by glaring at Wallflower, who simply looked down.

“You’re not even going to beg?” The alicorn of shadows tilted his head with a sneer.

With a sigh, Sunset shook her head. “...There’s nothing to beg for.”

“I am glad you understand.” He snickered, a raspy, cold laughter. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”

“Let’s cut to the chase.” Sunset gritted her teeth, blowing air out of her nostrils. “My time is limited, and you all know it.”

“It is indeed. How ironic, to have you lose everything, without actually losing it, isn’t it?” He smiled, mocking her. “To have the world go on without you… I figured it would call your attention. A greater punishment than anything we could do to your loved ones, and you…”

He reveled on seeing how Sunset did not move, how she refused to demonstrate any emotion. Having been inside her head, he understood her anger, plain as day, seeing those harder breaths. “...Your family, forgetting your place in it. Your friends, having never needed you… And of course, your beloved. Ambivalent to your existence.”

The captain gritted her teeth.

“Ah, yes. Twilight Sparkle, your replacement, the prodigy. What an odd couple, you two make. I suppose it has always been in your nature to be subservient… And to be doomed to lose.” He waved a hoof absentmindedly. “You should thank us. We gave you a day where you lived for yourself, for once.”

“Are you done?” She scoffed, glaring at him. “Tell me what you want from me so Wallflower can give my family their memories back– And cancel the second spell she cast.”

“Wouldn’t it be peculiar, to give you a clean slate?” He mocked her, ignoring her urgency. “Qualities of a captain, capacity to murder dragons… And yet, a complete nobody.”

“Shut the fuck up and tell me.”

“If you wish for Wallflower to return the world’s memories of you… You will break the seal that holds us in this temple. You will accept being our vessel once more– And you will aid us in our conquest. Cast aside that armor. Light was never your color.”

“You take, take, take, and you offer to take some more.” She gritted her teeth, huffing, but then smiled. “You don’t get it, do you? You can’t beat the queens. And you can’t beat Twilight Sparkle. Or did you forget? I used all the power you gave me, and she beat me as an unicorn. You’ve lost.”

“Ah, yes. Twilight Sparkle. The new bearer of the elements of Harmony. The perfect pupil of Queen Celestia, who will inherit the throne… The mare that protects her own dreams… With you.” He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. “...Now that you are out of the picture, she will be vulnerable… Physically and mentally. And with the defenses of the palace dwindling, it’s only a matter of time…”

“She… She can take care of herself.” Sunset looked down, with cold breaths. “Luna can protect her dreams. My friends and Celestia will do the rest.”

“That is a great risk you’re taking, and after you have been the sole soul responsible for her protection for so long…” He laughed coldly, quietly. “You don’t get it, do you? You were never our target. She is.”

Sunset’s ears twitched, as her heart began beating faster.

“She is more powerful than any other… Her potential is boundless. And as the one that will take the throne to Equestria, she is uniquely qualified to be our new ruler. Even more than Nightmare Moon– Not to mention, we would rid ourselves of the bearer of the elements.” He looked past Sunset, towards the exit, blanketed in darkness. “If she became one of our own, we would be unstoppable. Without you, she has lost a part of herself. How easy do you think it would be to take advantage of that vulnerable state? It took only a year to get you on our fold. I wonder how long it will take for her…”

“S-SHUT UP! SHE’S NEVER GOING TO FALL FOR THIS BULLSHIT!” She yelled out with doubt and fear.

“You’re not there to protect her anymore. Physically, or in her dreams.” He spread his wings, and the shades took a step forward. “And soon, every memory of you will be gone. Don’t you get it? We are offering you everything you have ever wanted.”

“W-what?”

“Once you become one of us, and your beloved gains her memories back… Who would be more suited to bring her into our fold? She would follow you anywhere. Do anything to see you safe… And likewise. It is what you do, isn’t it? Protect her?” He looked down on her, with great anticipation. “You two will be together, ruling Equestria as you see fit… Night being eternal will only be a footnote.”

With a side eye, Sunset looked at Wallflower with a glare. “And you’re okay with this?!”

She fidgeted, answering quietly, with shame and fear in her eyes. “...P-people like us rarely have choices that matter… I told you… Y-you should have stayed in that cage. T-that mattered.”

“Really? Appealing to the witch’s good graces?” Stygian amused himself, with a shrug. “She is the only being in the world that hates you more than yourself. And she does our bidding. What other choice does she have?”

“I-it’s already done.” The gardener murmured fearfully.

Sunset breathed slowly, looking down.

“You can have your loved ones and your friends back… At the mere cost of a new age in Equestria.” He spread his wings further. “I imagine Twilight Sparkle might miss you… Think of everything you would do for her.”

Sunset closed her eyes.

Then began snickering.

Then laughing, loudly, unabashedly, unafraid. All else was quiet.

“S-SERIOUSLY?! THIS is your leverage on me?! THIS is your plan?!” She smiled truly, waving her hoof absentmindedly, still reveling in the irony. “Get a witch to hold the memories of my loved ones hostage, is that it? Incredible. Wonderful, even.”

“I fail to see your amusement.”

“What’s amusing is this, asshole;” She grinned, Leaning forward, tilting her head. “You just concocted a reality in which my loved ones won’t mourn me or miss me– In which my absence won’t hurt them. And you thought you could use THAT as leverage?!”

Stygian was taken back, and she kept laughing. “You don’t get it, do you?! For my death to not hurt Twilight or Celestia, or any of them at all– THAT’S THE IDEAL SCENARIO FOR ME!”

Stygian growled with irritation, and the shades around them murmured in confusion and dissent.

“I’ve done enough, and they’ll do the rest.” She affirmed with a breathless smile. “And I’ll die happy, knowing that none of you will ever be able to use her like you did me or Wallflower.”

The gardener looked at her in surprise.

“So get up. Get up from your broken throne.” Sunset had a manic smile, as she took a battle stance. “I’m ready to die, and it’s on my terms, asshole.”

“How disappointing.” Stygian stood from his throne, shaking his head. “We have won either way. Shame, you made for a decent vessel, and upon sunrise, Twilight will indeed have no reason to mourn you…”

“Oh, and last thing, speaking of her…” She grinned, pointing at her horn. “...She taught me light magic.”

With an enormous blast that radiated through the room, the battle began.

Sunset was surrounded and outnumbered by the hundreds. But she didn’t care.

Her armor took in dents, blasts and cuts. But she didn’t care.

She was bleeding now, and she didn’t care.

The Umbrum that were possessing armor were the ones doing the fighting, the rest just watched, surrounding her.

Strikes, blasts, tackles and slices, and she retaliated in kind. Her light magic burned them, her flames kept them at bay, and her strikes smashed their armor like cardboard.

Stygian simply watched, standing near the throne. If Sunset came closer, he would blast her away.

Crushing armor with a buck against a wall, she used her gravity spell to run on the interior walls of the temple, getting distance from the crowd that gathered around her.

But many of them quickly tackled her down to the ground.

“It’s not too late to change your mind. There is no reason to cling to what never should have been.”

“You’re never going to break this part of me.”

With a manic smile, she blasted the foes that clung to her with light magic, and immediately began striking once more.

She galloped across the field, stomping and trampling foes, as they whittled her down little by little with their own strikes and slices.

With a single movement, she crushed a helmet underfoot. Wallflower Blush was right next to her, recoiling in fear.

She gave the gardener a single cold glance, and kept fighting.

Strikes came from all sides, directly towards the Captain’s helmet, denting it, making her spit blood, slicing her face, making her stumble.

“It is not too late to give in. You are fighting for nothing at all.”

“Oh, don’t you get it?” She smiled, as she crushed an enemy underfoot. “I’m fighting for me.”

It was as if a maelstrom of fire surrounded her– As if wings made of flames sprouted on her back, as she charged through the crowd.

Enemies surrounded her from all sides, they would recoil and engage repeatedly, a flow much alike breathing.

The fire lit the room, and the shadows dampened it.

She struck incredibly fast, hopping from enemy to enemy, striking with deadly precision.

And the crowd did not thin. More and more struck her and attacked her at once, knocking her off balance, her flames vanishing with it.

“EVEN IF I ACCEPTED, SHE WOULD NEVER GIVE MY LOVED ONES THEIR MEMORIES BACK– WHAT WOULD SHE HAVE TO GAIN?!” Sunset bellowed, pointing at Wallflower.

“She will do it if we command her to. Her life is ours.” Stygian noted without skipping a beat, all while Wallflower shuddered in fear, watching the mighty clash that was way too close to her.

Sunset would be struck, and counter, and be struck, and counter again.

Slowly, her energy was fading. Too many enemies, all at once. They swarmed her like bugs, striking from all sides, forming a circle, pushing her to the middle.

Her light dwindled and weakened. Slowly, it wasn’t capable of burning them anymore.

Strike after strike after strike, Sunset spat more blood– It covered her face, stained her maine, stained her armor, as she was knocked to the ground.

This time, they didn’t pounce. They would wait for her to stand, watching her carefully, and immediately strike as she did.

She breathed shallow, haggard breaths, laying on the floor, gathering the strength to stand again.

The temple was quiet again. Stygian stepped forward slowly, joining that circle.

“Do not throw your life away in pride.”

“W-what life? You took it from me…!” Her response was weak, raspy, breathless. “B-but you couldn’t take everything. Twilight won’t mourn me. And someday, she’ll do to all of you what she did for me, what she does for everyone…” She laughed short, ironic chuckles, interrupted by coughs. “Beat you, and bring you to the light.”

“Hm… perhaps.” Stygian shrugged, and looked back at the witch. “Perhaps we should give her loved ones their memories back after all… As we leave her lifeless body on the streets of Canterlot for them to find?”

“U-um… Um, uh…!” The Gardener fidgeted, looking around nervously, then looking at Sunset.

“Do not worry. We will kill her first. Then we can give her what she least desires– A world that will miss her.” He leaned forward, and whispered to a wounded, bruised, nearly defeated Sunset. “I want you to think of your loved ones, in your last moments. How they spent a day shunning you, because of their tampered memories… Remembering you, only to lose you all over again.”

“Fuck you.” Sunset unleashed a weaker, but definitive blast of light directly at his face, causing him to scream and recoil.

The Umbrum took their battle stances, as Sunset took hers, standing once more. Ready to fight to the bitter end.

She took one, last, final inhale, and gazed at Stygian.

“To the death, then?”

“To the dea–”

They stopped. Sunset’s ears twitched.

The sound of guitar was heard in the distance.

“Live, on the temple of the moon, for a limited time only, It’s Pinkie & Company!! (Title pending!)”

Sunset grinned, looking down, breathing weakly.

An enormous blast of light exploded near the temple entrance, sending dozens upon dozens of Umbrum either flying or dissipating entirely, returning from whence they came.

“HI SUNSET! GUESS WHO CONVINCED TWILIGHT TO COME HERE??” Pinkie Pie waved gleefully, while strumming on her guitar.

She was accompanied by all of her friends– Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and of course, Twilight led the charge, with her wings spread, horn alight, clearing the way.

Sunset felt delirious, she wasn’t even sure if what she was seeing now was real. Twilight lit the way like an angel.

“Impossible.” Stygian recoiled all the way back to the throne.

“It would be incredibly unwise of me to sit idly by and let the Umbrum conglomerate and ploy against our kingdom!” The Princess of Friendship announced, her eyes glowing.

“I annoyed her into coming!!” Pinkie declared with a smile.

“Alright y'all, time for a good ol’ fashioned ass whoopin!” Applejack announced, readying her lasso.

Rarity immediately hopped on her back, lighting her horn, casting a protective crystal barrier around her love, and they charged onto the battlefield together. “Just like old times, dear!!”

“O-okay, let’s go, little friends!” Fluttershy was riding a bear into the temple, and was surrounded by birds and other critters, ready for battle. “Onwards!”

“Now THIS?! Is a proper adventure!!” Rainbow shouted out with a wide grin, as she flew into battle savagely, bouncing from enemy to enemy, stomping and kicking them with tremendous agility. “Awesome!!”

“Get ready to ROCK, Umbrum!!!” Pinkie yelled with glee, and began aggressively playing her instrument while joining in the fight.

Slowly but without faltering, Twilight stepped forward. “You’ve overstayed your place in Equestria, Umbrum! Whether we know Sunset or not, we would be fools not to interfere!” With ease, she lit her way through the temple, weakening or smiting the enemies around them outright. “And of course, double checking if she really was one of you was a top priority– Eep!”

She stopped, the moment she saw that the Paladin was badly injured, and far, and immediately took flight after her.

Sunset remained still as the Princess landed next to her, staving away any shades that surrounded her with ill intent with her light magic. “O-oh my gosh! T-that looks serious! Are you hurt? W-what happene–”

Swiftly, the Paladin pulled her into a hug.

Twilight accepted it, even if for the first few moments, found it strange.

But it also felt right.

“T-thank you…!” Through what seemed like haggard chuckles, Sunset shuddered, holding her love tightly.

“I-it’s okay! But, um, we’re not done yet. We’re, um, surrounded.”

With a loving smile, Sunset didn’t feel any more pain, any weight, anything but the sheer joy of this moment. She recoiled from the hug, and asked a simple question. “...Trust me?”

“...Yes.”

“Together, now.” Sunset affirmed with a loving whisper, as she stood side by side with her love, and they united horns.

Together, their light shined brighter than ever.

Together, they would never be afraid of the dark.

As shades around him began fleeing, disappearing, escaping to whence they came, Stygian spread his wings in anger. “COWARDS! FOOLS! WE’RE NOT DONE HERE!!”

He then turned to Wallflower, who was cowering in a corner, slowly shuffling away into one of the halls of the temple, intent on hiding. “You. WITCH. YOUR SPELL DIDN’T WORK.”

“I-I did everything right!! Their memories a-are gone!! They don’t remember her!!” She whimpered, looking at the heroes swiftly crushing their opponents.

“And yet, here they are, witch. Care to explain your failure?!” He towered over her, backing her against a corner.

“It’s simple!” Twilight Sparkle called out with a smile, as one of her wings were spread wide, the other covered Sunset. “You have magic you do not understand. But it is nothing compared to the magic of friendsh–”

“Yeah yeah, we get it!” Pinkie hopped closer to them, holding a trumpet. “LIGHT THEM UP, LADIES!!” She blew onto that trumpet, and the two of them didn’t need any more suggestions.

Together, Sunset and Twilight’s light began shattering every Umbrum that did not have an armor vessel, and making the ones that did recoil fearfully.

Dozens of loyal shades covered Stygian and huddled on the end of the throne room as he towered over Wallflower. “You’ve failed, witch.” He announced with spite and frustration. “And what’s more, we cannot risk them acquiring you and forcing you to bring their memories back. Too much is on the line.”

“B-but I did everything right!! T-they don’t remember her, and by the time the sun rises–” She pleaded, recoiling into nothing.

“We cannot risk them acquiring you as an ally. Your powers are too dangerous to us, if it reaches the moon.”

“B-but I’m too w-weak for that!!” She backed herself against a wall fearfully. “I-I’m just an earth pony, I-I could never–”

“With alicorns on your side, who knows what you could do? And if they reinstate Sunset’s memories, our work will be for nothing.” Stygian was inches from her, ready to envelop her with his dark wings. “We cannot risk any of this. Goodbye, witch.”

“I-I CAN’T EVEN BRING MEMORIES BACK!” She pleaded loudly, covering her face with a hoof.“I-I don’t know how!! I never knew how!! S-so I couldn’t help them even if I wanted t-to!!”

Stygian recoiled, with his eyes widened. “...So you lied to us. You could not uphold your end of our plan, if Sunset had accepted. You lied to us.”

“Y-yes.” She affirmed weakly.

“...And you used us.”

“...Yes.” She looked at him, almost daringly. “...That was the deal, right? We use each other?”

The shades around him hissed and yelled, enraged.

”THE WITCH LIED?!”

“SHE IS WORTHLESS!!”

“OUR PLANS WERE FOR POINTLESS!”

“ALL THIS, FOR NOTHING AT ALL!!”

“WE SHOULD HAVE JUST TRIED BRINGING SOMBRA BACK AGAIN!!”

“PITIFUL WRETCHED WITCH!!”

Stygian’s rage was calm, no matter how much it burned, after all, a mere Earth Pony had manipulated all of the Umbrum. “...You are a liability. Consider our partnership over. You are to die, Wallflower Blush.”

Not a second later, her own shadow rose from the ground, wrapped itself around her neck, pulling her down to the floor and began choking her.

She could do nothing against it, tears in her eyes as she squirmed in pain.

An enormous magical explosion knocked Stygian away, blasting the shades around him.

Sunset leapt near Wallflower. With her horn alight, she cut the shadow that held her, and incinerated it.

“Stay down.” She commanded to the gardener with a glare, immediately leaping back into the battle.

Wallflower covered her face and remained on that corner, shivering.

The group of friends were fighting in perfect unison. Fluttershy commanded her animals like a small armada, her bear was mauling a piece of armor. Rainbow Dash was flying around the throne room leaving a rainbow trail in her wake, laughing as she did it. Applejack and Rarity fought together, having done this before, uniting their strong suits and protecting each other. Pinkie was constantly dodging attacks, drawing attention and encouraging her friends with music.

And Sunset joined them.

Together, she and Applejack bucked the same enemy from each side, crushing them like paper.

Together, she and Rarity sliced an opponent to ribbons with their horns alight.

Together, she joined the chaotic flock that Fluttershy had called into this fight, swarming their enemies.

Together, she kicked their enemies like they were a sport with Rainbow Dash.

Together, she took advantage of the enemies distracted by Pinkie, ensuring the bard would be safe.

And finally, together, she united her horn with Twilight Sparkle, side by side, combining their magic as one.

Like riding a bike.

Stygian couldn’t withstand their barrage for even a minute. They teleported and struck with magic blasts from multiple sides without hesitation or fear, backing him to a corner.

“Toss me, now!!” Sunset shouted.

Twilight gathered her magic and launched the Paladin forward like a missile, who gathered that magical momentum and flew towards Stygian like a corkscrew, impaling his eye with her horn, bringing him down with her as he screamed.

She lit him with a light blast from the inside, grinning and reveling on the explosion blowing a part of his shadowy body off from within.

Removing her horn, she leaped, landing right by Twilight’s side, and they united their horns once more.

“Come sunrise, none of this will matter. It’s over, we have won.” He had haggard laughter, as he backed to the end of the great hall, limping, his form unstable. “And we will return. We will always return, AND EQUESTRIA WILL BE BLANKETED IN SHADOW, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, WE WILL TRY AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND–”

“--And I'll always be here to stop you.” Sunset grinned widely, confidently, as she united her horn with Twilights.

Channeling their magic together, they lit the entire hall, and even further– The light reflecting off everything, bouncing off every surface in a prismatic manner, obliterating the remaining Umbrum, leaving only the living and corporeal to breathe in exhaustion and glee.

The temple wasn’t as dark anymore. The unicorns lit it, and outside, dawn was rising.

“...W-wow! We make a good team…!” Twilight smiled truly, incredibly close to her, giggling to herself.

“...You have no idea.” Sunset smiled warmly, regarding her with unending adoration.

“HOOOWEE!” Applejack placed Rarity down and immediately embraced her and kissed. “Now that was an asswhoopin, y’all! I’m BEAT!”

Rarity, amidst giggles and cuddles, addressed all of them. “Rule of thumb for next time, everypony, let us not go gallivanting on adventures past midnight! I need my beauty sleep!”

“Hey, adventuring doesn’t have a schedule!” Rainbow was still hyper, flying around with glee, doing loops and stretching her wings. “If it comes knocking at 4am, you answer that call!!”

“IIIIIIIIIIII!!” Pinkie squealed with excitement, bouncing around. “That was so much fun!! I’m so glad we all got the chance to go on a big whopping battle together!!”

“I-I enjoyed it…!” Fluttershy announced, petting her bear friend as he still bit onto a piece of armor. “It’s not good for my critter friends to be around here, though… Shall we?” Quietly and kindly, she helped her little animal friends fly and skitter out of that temple.

As the five huddled together, Sunset took a deep breath, and Twilight inspected her carefully, seeing the new wounds on her face, and the many damaging bits on her armor– Specks of her own blood were clearly visible in the white. “G-gosh, those are going to leave marks…! I’m so sorry, did I take too long?”

“You were just on time.” The Paladin grinned weakly, steadying her breathing, having done this many times before with her. “I’ve had worse, trust me…”

“I-I can tell, but… Well, at least now we know where your allegiances are.” She reigned her professionalism in with a nod, despite her fluster. “So, what’s next…?”

Pinkie bounced near them, hugging Sunset tightly. “I’m so glad I convinced Twilight to come save you!!! She showed us that picture of all of us together and I was like nuh uh, girl! We’re not letting her be out there alone!! And I said that I was gonna waddle all the way here by myself if I had to, and then we–”

“Thank you, Pink.” Sunset hugged back fiercely, and then let go. “But can you give us a moment?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah!!” She bounced around with joy. “I can’t wait to remember you, bestie!!!”

The two of them watched as the bard hopped back to the friend group, who were standing near the archway.

“...Pinkie said you two were lovers, once?” Twilight tilted her head with a suspicious pout.

“Once or twice.” Sunset shrugged, with a loving smile. “But more importantly, we’re not done here.”

“...What’s next…? Where’s that witch you mentioned?” She pouted. “...I very much would like to remember you properly now…!”

“I… I don’t know. We have to–”

“Excuse me!” A quiet voice passed by her, and she let her move by.

“Yeah– We have to see if we can convince her to bring your memories back–” Sunset’s ears twitched and her adrenaline spiked, as she turned around and grabbed hold of Wallflower, who was trying to walk past them casually.

“--Running away?? Are you fucking kidding me?!” The Paladin snarled, towering over her.

The gardener did nothing except cower on the floor, shuddering. “J-just make it quick, make it quick, please, please…!” She pleaded.

Sunset was taken back, if only for a moment, as her friends gathered around them.

Raising her head only slightly, the witch cried out with fear and resentment. “I-it’s what you want, right?? Finish me off!! G-go on!!”

Sunset recoiled slightly, the expression in her face softening.

Twilight regarded her with pity. “...So this is the witch? She’s the one that caused all this…?”

“...Yeah.” Sunset nodded, inspecting the shivering mare.

“You got a LOT to answer for, lady!!” Pinkie stomped the floor with a pout. “How dare you mess with our memories!!”
Rainbow landed next to them, and crossed her arms. “Sunset seems cool as hell, and you just sabotaged her like this?? Not cool, man.”

The others were about to give their two scents, but the paladin interrupted them. “Girls, please– Can you wait outside? Give her some space, okay?” She tried shooing them, and begrudgingly, they accepted, while Twilight stayed.

“They still love you, I took everything, and they still love you…!” Wallflower muttered in frustration and grief, still shivering. “W-why, why, why?!?!”

“Look, Wallflower, what I did to you…” The Paladin approached, trying to be gentle. “I’m so, so sorr–”

Finally, the gardener stood, both undignified and full of resentment, nearly in tears. “Y-you’re not SORRY!! You’re just saying that so you’ll look better in front of your girlfriend!!”

Twilight’s eyes widened as she blushed slightly.

“AND IT'S WORKING!! GAH!! H-HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET BACK AT YOU IF NOTHING I DO MATTERS?!?!!” She yelled out pointlessly, her shouts echoing in the temple.“I HATE YOU!!”

Everyone grimaced and recoiled, while Sunset just looked down with a bitter sigh.

“W-well you won! You beat the bad guys! Congratulations, you got your friends, you got the Princess, you got everything!! Now kill the villain, and you can roll c-credits!!” She didn’t fight, she didn’t squirm, she just stood there, waiting for a strike, eyes closed.

Waiting for a strike that didn’t come.

“...Twi, can you wait outside please?” Sunset whispered gently, ushering the Princess out.

“...Okay. I trust you.” She muttered, looking back with hesitation, but leaving either way.

“J-just make it quick, p-please…!” Wallflower flinched. “J-just kill me already, just kill me!!” She covered her face with her one front leg, breathing weakly.

Sunset took a long breath, fidgeting, then just regarded the gardener as calmly as she could “...I’m not going to kill you, Wallflower. Hell, I’m not even going to hurt you.”

Slowly, the gardener looked at her, tilting her head. “...Of course... Because I still have the stone, right? I have leverage.” With a sigh, she removed the stone from her cloak, and placed it on the floor before her. “Go on then. I-I’m done.”

Slowly, the paladin approached the memory stone.

Something so small. Just a few runes, it didn’t even seem special.

Something so small, capable of doing so much damage.

Something so small destroyed her life.

She picked it up and pocketed it, with a sigh. “...You’re the only one that can use it, right?”

“...Yep. Without it, I can’t do anything. Y-you can kill me now.” She closed her eyes expectantly.

And nothing happened.

“I couldn’t hear it through the battle very well, but… It sounded like you told Stygian that you couldn’t bring my family’s memories back… And it sounded like he wanted to kill you.”

“W-why do you care?? You convinced them! They believe in you!!” She sputtered out with anger, pointing at her friends.

“...And come sunrise, they won’t even know me all over again, right…?” She tilted her head.

“...Yeah. That was my spell.” She looked down, still breathing unsteadily. “Stygian got what he wanted anyway.”

“Can you reverse it? Can you stop it?” Sunset took a step forward, pleadingly.

“W-why would I do that for you?!” She recoiled, but still stared her down with anger. “Y-you ruined my LIFE!!”

“And you destroyed mine!!” She stomped on the floor with anger, waving around. “Look around you, Wallflower– You did it! You beat me!! Youdestroyed who I am!!” She breathed unsteadily, gritting her teeth. “...So can we stop with this eye-for-an-eye SHIT?!”

Wallflower was taken back– Shamefully silent.

“You got your payback. You destroyed my life. Are we done?” Sunset pleaded sternly. “Can we just… Start over?”

Quietly, the witch looked at the floor. “...T-there’s nothing you can do. And nothing I can do. It’s over.”

Bitterly, mournfully, Sunset gazed at Twilight, who looked back at her from the archway. The Princess had done this dozens of times before, and made it look easy. So, so easy.

Gently, Sunset addressed the gardener, regarding her with pity. “Wallflower… Sometimes, you hurt people… And you just have to keep living. You have to keep trying.”

“You hurt people.” The Witch affirmed without hesitation.

“So have you.” The Paladin retorted, all the same. “And I’m going to keep living. Are you?”

Wallflower had no response as she looked down in shame.

“...Look, you didn’t know me. And I didn’t know you. That’s why this happened, don’t you see?” She spoke gently, carefully. “I’ve been trying to be better, every single day. I didn’t have to trick anypony to become captain… I… I made it to the position because I was trying to do better, every day…!”

No response.

“If I had known you, really… I wouldn’t have threatened to kill you. Maybe I wouldn’t have taken your leg either, but… It’s too late for apologies. All we can do is try to do better. For what it’s worth… I really am sorry for what I did to you.”

Still, no response, the witch continued to look down.

“...How long did it take for the Umbrum to convince you to do this…?”

“...About a year.” She whispered shamefully.

Sunset let out a prolonged sigh of exhaustion. “...Yeah, that’s about how long I lasted, too.”

All that the gardener could do was purse her lips and look away.

“...And I’m going to keep living, Wallflower. How about you?”

Slowly, the witch looked up to her, her eyes tearing up, as she shuddered. All she could do was hate herself. “...It’s too late. Even if I wanted to bring your friends their memories back, I-I... I don’t know how. My mom only ever taught me how to take…!”

“...You lied and manipulated eldritch beings from the moon. To conspire against the queens the princess, not to mention the captain of the royal guard…?!” The Paladin grimaced in surprise and almost respect. “You made yourself the target of literally the most powerful forces in the world, on both sides?!”

“H-hey, I don’t know if you noticed, but I wasn’t exactly planning on living through this!!”

“...Me either.”

They both remained silent, for a moment.

“...And come sunrise…” Sunset looked at the archway. Dawn had risen, the sky had a hue of purple, as her friends gleefully chatted to themselves.

They seemed so happy. So devoid of worry. Together, simply existing in harmony.

Pinkie was singing a song. Applejack and Rarity were leaning on each other. Rainbow was flying, retelling the events of the battle they had all just partaken on. Fluttershy was saying goodbye to a morning bird, while Twilight was looking at Canterlot, her gaze distant and forlorn.

“I… I get it…!” Sunset whispered, mournfully, tragically. “...There’s only ever been six elements of harmony…!”

She shuddered.

It was like watching a ship set sail… One with her friends, loved ones, family… Everyone she had ever known.

And she was left behind, with a blank slate.

She gritted her teeth looking down, tearing up in resentment, anger, sorrow and acceptance. “...I get my do over after all…”

There she remained, for precious, painful seconds, eyes closed, trying to accept what was coming.

“I-I’m going to miss the birth of my niece… Twilight is going to think she’s a virgin…” She let out ironic, weary laughter, as her eyes dampened and she shook her head. “...And my mother will forget she ever had a daughter.”

Silence, as she mustered the courage to move, to speak, to think.

It was over.

Finally, with a profound breath, she turned to Wallflower. “...The Umbrum are going to come for you. They don’t leave loose ends.”

“Y-yeah. I’m dead either way.” She shrugged, sniffling. “...S-so just go be with your friends. Y-you convinced them once, you can do it again.”

Sunset spoke without hesitation. “If I keep you safe from the Umbrum, will you bring their memories back?”

The witch’s eyes widened. “...W-what?!”

“I’ve got extensive experience in protecting people. I can make sure the Umbrum don’t manage to even scratch you. If I keep you safe from them, will you bring my family’s memories back?”

“W-what the heck are you saying?? I don’t even know how to do it?!”

“Well, maybe we can find out!” She was emphatic, a bit desperate. “We can research. Talk to other witches. Hell, even if I had to find my way to the Palace library’s restricted section again– There has to be some information out there regarding this fucking stone– And what if we could find it?!”

“J-just stop. You can’t do anything for me, I-it’s over. Just let me die.” She murmured, shaking her head.

“I don’t believe that. It’s not fucking over.” Sunset affirmed with determination. “I ruin your life, you ruin mine… If you’re the only one that can use that stone, then I’m sticking to you like glue until you use it to undo the damage you did.”

“B-but I don’t know how! A-and I can’t do anything b-by myself, I could barely erase small moments when I was alone!! The Umbrum are the ones that made me strong enough to erase memories from all of Equestria…!” She muttered in annoyance and exhaustion. “Y-you’re grasping at straws.”

“And I’m going to keep living, Wallflower! Whatever it takes.” She affirmed without hesitation. “If you’re the only one that can bring my life back, I’m not letting the Umbrum get you.”

“A-are you kidding me…!” Wallflower gritted her teeth, huffing. “What is this, a paladin pledge…?!”

“No.” Sunset removed her helmet, and let it roll on the floor absentmindedly, casting it aside. “I’m not a paladin anymore. You took that from me, remember? You took everything. This isn't a pledge. It’s a Sunset Shimmer promise.” She stepped forward, extending a hoof. “I keep you safe, you undo what you did. Deal…?”

“...You’re backing the wrong horse. There’s no way I can bring any memories back by myself– And that stupid stone is a thousand years old–”

“--Deal?”

She could see it clearer now. If Sunset wanted to keep her safe at the cost of something she couldn’t provide, she could at least stay alive for maybe a few weeks more.

What else was she going to do?

And the unicorn before her seemed genuine. Through the blood, scars and rough edges, that promise meant something.

The profound irony was not lost on her, that the person whose life she ruined was the only ally she currently had.

Slowly, with hesitation, Wallflower extended her one front leg and shook Sunset’s hoof.

“...I can’t believe you’re not just killing me.” She murmured, grimacing with regret.

“Since you clearly don’t know me, and I don’t know you, let me get you acquainted with something simple about me;” Sunset muttered with a shrug, smiling with weary confidence. “...Forgiveness is a part of my family.”

The gardener had no response. After everything, she finally saw how misguided she was.

“Stay here. And be ready to hide.” Sunset affirmed while turning around. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go say goodbye.”

Slowly, she passed through that archway, like she had done only once before, joining her friends.

The skies were clear, the rain was over. A purple hue extended through the horizon as the few stars that peppered the heavens dimmed.

And far away, Canterlot stood on the mountains, ready to begin another day.

“Heck yeah! Here comes the mare of the hour!!” Pinkie leapt gleefully, greeting her. “So, what’s up! When do we get our memories back!?”

“...Everything’s going to be okay.” Sunset lied with a smile, getting closer to the Princess. “Could you all give us some space? I need a moment with Twilight.”

“Alright partner, we’ll wait down by the hill! You two be wise now!”

“Oof, darlings, I’m beat. I’m sure remembering Sunset will be worth it, but after all this, I want a spa trip with all of us…!”

“Okidoke, dude! If you fight like that everyday, I'm sure we’re best friends, heh. Tonight was so awesome!!”

“...I’m so glad we rescued you, Sunset…! I’m sure everything will be alright now!”

Pinkie was the last to go, she gave the unicorn a big loving hug, one Sunset accepted with a bitter smile, and then the bard hopped away in excitement.

There they were, the two of them, alone on that same hilltop, in another incoming sunrise.

Already, the skies were taking a pink to orange hue.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief, and smiled warmly. “...I can’t wait to remember you. I… I've never been in love before, but… I bet it’s good. And with you, it just… It just feels right, you know…?”

“Twi, I…” She grimaced, letting out a sigh. “...Wallflower can’t bring your memories back. And come sunrise, even today’s memories will be gone too… So I have to go.”

“W-what? What?? What?!”She became emphatic, desperate. “W-what do you mean, she can’t bring them back?? I don’t want to lose you, y-you’re right here!!”

Every word she spoke was careful, mournful. “I have to go with her… It’s the only way I can fix this. I’ll find a way for her to use the stone and bring the memories back, and then we can go back to the way it was, okay…?”

“B-but how do you know she’ll do it?? What if something happens to either of you, w-what if the Umbrum come for you, and you can’t–”

It was incredibly hard to smile under the circumstances, but she tried, she tried with all of her strength. “...Don’t you get it…? If everyone forgets today, I won’t be an outlaw. I… won’t have rampaged through the castle, I… I can try again from scratch…!”

“I’m going to talk to her.” Twilight flared her wings, frowned, and began walking towards the temple. “Let’s see if she can bring my memories back after I give her a stern lecture–”

“That’s not going to work, Sparkles.” Sunset held her back, forcing her to stay. “It won’t. She can’t help, not now. But I’ll do everything in my power to make this right… However long it takes. Better late than never…”

“B-but you convinced us! You’ve convinced ME!!!” Quickly, shakingly, she snatched a picture she had been carrying, and showed it to Sunset– The same picture she had found on the jacket in her closet. “Y-you can just show us this again!! You can show us, I’ll believe you, I promise…!”

“It’s not about believing or not…!” She begged, coming closer, holding her hoof. “...It’s not fair on me to have to justify my existence to you, or anyone else… C-can you imagine, trying to convince Celestia that she’s my mother…?” She gritted her teeth, holding back tears. “Having to, everyday, remind you of how many times I kissed you, how many times we made love…? I can’t. It’s not fair.”

“B-but you can’t just leave…! When am I going to see you again?? I… I want you with me!” She pleaded, tearfully.

“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. “...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 fluster on the Princess’s cheeks was matched only by her tears.

“You were the best thing that ever happened to me, and I would have died for you in a heartbeat… But I need to start living for myself. Stygian was right about only one thing…” Sunset looked away. “...I’ve never lived for myself, not a single day in my life. It’s time to start, right now.”

“P-please stay. Sunset, please, please stay. Don’t go.” Twilight pleaded, with emotions that felt strange and unfamiliar, yet burst to the surface. An instinctual desire not to lose her love. “I-I don’t want you to go…!”

“I can’t, Twi, it's… It wouldn’t be fair. A-and come sunrise, it won’t matter…!”

“Please, please!” She came closer, tears springing forth, feeling a longing she did not understand. “I-I just got you back, I can’t lose you again!!”

The words pierced her heart swiftly, and she couldn’t respond in any other way.

“O-okay! Okay. I’ll stay…!” She shuddered, nuzzling her carefully, trying not to get her blood on her. “I’ll stay with you.”

“You have the p-picture…! You can remind me. You can do it. I’ll believe you, I promise!” Twilight pointed to the photo that Sunset now held.

For a moment, she observed the picture. Captain armor, surrounded by friends, leaning on her love.

It felt like an eternity ago.

Another life.

She exhaled. “...Yeah. I’ve got the picture.” And then pocketed it, looking away.

“I… I feel like I should kiss you…?” The Princess stepped closer, blushing, still in tears. “I-I’ve never kissed anyone before, but… But I feel like I should–”

With a warm, weary smile, Sunset put a hoof over her lips. “...Save it for when you remember me, Sparkles.” She took a step towards the edge of the hill, and sat there. “...How about we watch the sunrise together…?”

With a nod and a tearful, relieved exhale, Twilight sat next to her.

The clouds were distant, behind the mountain, parting ways where the city of Canterlot resided.

The first rays of light could be seen behind those clouds.

“...Last time you and I were here, it’s when you saved me, you know…?” Sunset let out an ironic chuckle, looking forward. “...We watched a sunrise, just like this, right after I pledged myself to you…”

“G-gosh, that sounds beautiful…!” The Princess affirmed, looking at the skies.

The clouds shined through. Sunset took a brief glance towards the mountain behind her. Sunlight already bathed the peak, and it was descending.

Time was running out.

“Y-you know, before all this mess…” Wearily, she fidgeted, smiling warmly, yet not hopefully. “...You told me you wanted me to earn wings so I could rule alongside you. You gave me the chance to… To try again, better, better than ever, and… I said I needed time to think about it.” She shuddered, closing her eyes. “...And all I could think of, was how much I wanted to fly with you. How much… How much nothing else mattered, other than that. If I had the chance, I… I would have say yes.”

“W-wow…! That’s… That’s perfect…!” Her wings fluttered, as she continued to look forward waiting for the sun to rise. “I… I’ve always been so afraid of ruling, but… Doing it with someone I trust, s-someone I love… It doesn’t sound bad at all…!”

“Y-yeah. It really didn’t.”

Sunrise was here.

The clouds parted, light reached the temple, and bathed Everfree.

The sky went from pink to orange– Somewhere, a bell tolled.

“I love you.”

Twilight’s ears twitched, as her eyebrows rose.

She heard the words, as her mind felt cloudy. She looked to her side, and there was no one there.

She looked behind her, to the sides, forward, and behind her again. “Hello?” She tilted her head in confusion, trying to process what had happened, and what the words that were whispered to her had said.

She sat there, wondering if she had heard something just now, or had been with someone.

“Hey Twi! Rares is mighty tired!” Applejack called from the bottom of the hill, with a sleeping Rarity mounted on her. “Are we done here?”

Rainbow Dash flew upwards, reaching a closer level to the Princess. “C’mon dude! We could all use a post-asswhooping chillaxing session, don’t you think?”

Twilight blinked in confusion a few times, turning back, seeing the temple before her, and with hesitation, stepped inside. “...Just a second.”

Her friends groaned, but began following her.

The temple of the moon was less dark than it was before. There was no evidence of any Umbrum in the area, except for the remains of the battle they just had, shattered armor everywhere, craters of magic blasts.

Pinkie hopped next to her, looking around. “What’s up, Twi? All the bad guys are beaten, right?”

Slowly, the Princess walked forward, muttering quietly. “...Why did we come here…?”

“To do some ass whooping on the bad guys, duh!” Rainbow chuckled to herself.

“T-that’s what we did here.” She affirmed, without looking back. “But why did we come here?”

“...To do some ass whooping on the bad guys?” The rogue tilted her head in confusion.

Fluttershy shuddered, as she walked slowly across the halls, shooting glances at every passage in that temple. “C-can we go now…? I don’t like this place at all…!” and swiftly, Rainbow flew down to comfort her.

Twilight found an object of interest left on the floor.

It was a paladin helmet.

It had dents and cuts, and fresh blood on it. The white coloration with gold accents made it stand out against the entire temple.

“...W-why is this here…?”

“Hey, partner, I don’t mean to rush ya along, but…!” Applejack joined her, with Rarity clinging to her drowsily. “We’re all tired, and the walk back home is gonna be long…!”

“This shouldn’t be here. It’s a paladin-model helmet, and it has captain engravings.” Twilight affirmed without hesitation, holding the helmet close, inspecting it carefully. “It’s not from here, and yet, it’s… It’s here. It’s important.”

“Darling, please…” Rarity yawned, stretched, and clung tighter around Applejack. “Can we do archeology later…? Princesses need sleep too, don’t they…?”

Ears twitching, Twilight looked to her sides. There were passages that led in many directions, all around them. “I… I think we should search this place. I think there’s someone here.”

Her friends groaned, and Pinkie was as careful as possible, coming closer. “Um, Twi, I don’t want to be a buzzkill, but I think we’ve all had our fair share of fighting in the dark tonight…?”

“Yeah!” Rainbow landed, pouting in annoyance. “You’re a princess, right? Just send some guards to search the place later or something!”

“I-if there is somepony here…!” Fluttershy shivered, looking at the dark passages. “I don’t think I want to find them…!”

For a brief moment, Twilight just looked at one of the dark tunnels. Wondering if there really could be someone or something still in there. Her every instinct told her that they weren’t alone.

…But did it matter?

With a sigh of defeat, the Princess shook her head. “You’re… You’re right, everypony. S-sorry.” She placed the Paladin helmet down carefully and respectfully. “I don’t know what I was thinking… We could all use some rest. Let’s go.”

Together, they moved past that archway, and the second she saw daylight again, she realized how tired she was, letting out a prolonged yawn.

“O-oh no, Twilight…!” The druid came closer with concern. “...Are you crying? What happened…?”

Her friends looked at her with worry, as she chuckled. “I’m not crying? Why would I be?” She wiped the incredibly fresh tears off her cheeks. “Huh! That’s odd…!”

“Oh yeah! Guys!!” Rainbow dash did a loop in the air. “I almost forgot!! I found an old journal that belonged to my old mentor– And there are instructions on how to find the lost city of Atlantis in it!!”

The group gasped, and Twilight was the first to note. “A-atlantis?? Oh, wow! If you’re right…! It’d be the historical find of the century!!” her eyes gleamed with excitement. “I wonder how much we could discover of their culture– I hope those books survived underwater! And oh my gosh, if there are any still living creatures there–”

“I know, right?” The rogue boasted with a grin. “I figured it’d make for a sick adventure for all of us sometime soon, hopefully!”

“I’m up for another adventure!! Oh my gosh, maybe I could make it into a song…!!” Pinkie began scribbling on her notepad.

“I-I’m up for it!” Fluttershy noted, walking quietly. “Just not today, please. Or tomorrow.”

Drowsily, Rarity nuzzled her love. “That’s wonderful, darling. 5 more minutes, perhaps…!”

“Hell, I'm up for it. Let’s save it for a free weekend, though!” Applejack added with a toothy grin. “I think we oughta get that spa time, all of us.”

“Awww yeah!” Rainbow did another loop. “This is gonna be so awesome!!”

They walked together through Everfree, with no more worries, weary, but happy.

Pinkie grabbed her guitar, and prepped herself. “Hey girls, do you mind if I try out a new song as we walk? It was inspired by all of you!”

They all chuckled, and Twilight nodded. “Sure, Pinkie. Go ahead!”

The bard strummed, hummed, and began singing with gusto and glee.

And they moved forward, unaware of what they had left behind.

“There was a time we were apart, but that’s behind us now…!”

Author's Note

The way I was thinking of this song the ENTIRE TIME I was writing this, goddamn.

Can you imagine if I ended the fic here? I could. I really could. But there's one chapter left.

The current mood👆

...So I hope this chapter won't be divisive-- I have been planning this finale since before I started, and it was all for this moment. The moment that Sunset, once again, loses everything, but this time, is ready. This time she affirms without a doubt that she's not going to stop trying, and that she's not going to stop living.

And she stays true to the ideals of her mother and her lover, that she will forgive even Wallflower, as an inherent proof of how far she has come.

...And the world will move on without her.

Okay, let me go over some funny things.

First off, don't worry bc this isn't canon but. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF TWILIGHT WAS PREGNANT??

Like, this was never my plan, but oh my god. I thought about it a lot. The other alicorns thinks shes an alicorn virgin mary and she's so damn confused. She loves her new child but no one has any idea what this baby means, why the universe just GIFTED her a baby out of nowhere.

Little do they remember, but it's just because Sunset and her were doing the nasty raw and frequently vfhbdfhv.

It's both hilarious and infinitely tragic, to consider that as a nobody, Sunset can't go see her child, that she'd just have to be a distant passerby watching her kid be a national phenomenon with a single mom that is really confused.

I don't want to think too much about this idea, bc its absolutely not canon, but it is hilarious and sad as hell, and I just had to point it out.

Also, I hope you like the art I made for the L word scene. I did that with a broken tablet, and its the reason this chapter took a liiiittle longer to post lmao. The last chapter will also have art for it!

Also, regarding my take on Wallflower's background, yes, she is a direct descendant of the sorceress that fought Clover the Clever! But to erase her own tracks, the sorceress passed the stone to her daughter, and asked her to erase her memories of ever having a daughter, and to follow this along on the next few generations, just to ensure when Clover found her, he couldn't get any information out of her, and safeguard her artifact.

Which just leads to generation of confusion and misinformation over this 'important artifact' that the family itself doesn't understand.

So many, many of the capabilities of the Memory Stone have been lost to time, and by the time it gets to Wallflower Blush, she only knows how to take memories, and barely knows how to move concepts of memories.

Memory fabrication, restoration, reminders, memory reading, and among many other capacities are completely beyond the misanthrope gardener, just like it was to her mother, and so on. It's like a messy game of telephone where they keep cutting the wires.

In a sense, by trying to preserve her legacy, the sorceress doomed it to failure. What a wonderful family! And Wallflower is the end of the bloodline, let's face it, it's unlikely this girl will get laid

I hope you enjoyed all the little references, be it to the source material, or even little nods in the text. Things like Sunset giving the same speech to wallflower as twilight gave her but more, things like Stygian saying she looks like shit bc its what she said to him, and even more obscure-- Sunset poking his eye out with her horn because as a child peony warned her its smth she could accidentally do with her horn, and she weaponized it heh. That was just for me lol <3

Unrelated, but there is only a shadow of what I would be writing here, if this was with anthros, tbh. If they had fingers they could wield weapons and I could ABSOLUTELY tell stories with their many weapons.

Things like Twilight's staff being one she had since she was a teen, and she refuses to upgrade to a new one, she just makes new alterations and incantations to the existing one, including an ownership spell that makes it so no one can use the staff but her. BUT. Since she loves Sunset and trusts her, and it comes in handy, she allows her staff to be imprinted on Sunset as well, so the Paladin can use it. (And be very gentle with it)

And since it is not a living thing, it remembers Sunset. So little things like her borrowing Twilight's staff to escape the prison on the last chapter, and giving it back, or her on this one, holding the staff WITH her so they cast spells together (Like they held the same microphone in rainbow rocks!) would be incredible, and fucking wonderful. And gay.

I would have given Celestia a mighty godlike Sun-spear, one only the worthy can wield (it literally burns those that aren't!) But at some point in her training with Sunset and seeing her as an adorable pupil, She'd let her daughter hold it, allowing the weapon to be imprinted on her even if Sunset might or might not be worthy. (Yes this does mean that Sunset as a kiddo would be dragging that spear laughing like a little maniac heh. Can't even hold it right. Celestia would think it's cute and take a picture)

So post the events of this chapter it'd be funny as hell if they bumped into each other and Sunset was like "Whoops! Queen Celestia, you dropped this!"

And Celestia was just like 👁️o👁️

Also since Sunset would love the idea of inheriting that spear so much, she'd absolutely train fighting with lances, spears and staffs. So now that she is forsaking her Paladin title over the fact she's a nobody, she could grab a damn broomstick and use it as an incredible staff weapon with so much agility (AND NON-LETHAL! Showing her new vow of mercy stands!)

Last but not least, her original weapon would be a double saber situation, twin blades. if Tempest came after them to kill Wallflower, it'd be awesome if the hornless unicorn disarmed one of the swords and it became a 1 v 1, or disarmed both swords, and Sunset had to use a goddamn broomstick to keep Tempest at bay lmao. Just thinking of possible awesome setpieces.

But alas, ponies have hooves. not hands. A true loss for all of us, if I had the chance, I woulda gone deeper into it! If you're wondering why I didn't write extensive or compelling scenes about Twilight teaching Sunset light magic, that's why, 'cause itd be ideal if I could mesh these with the weapon sequences, introduce them together! But oh well.

I suppose its the same reason why I don't go heavier into stuff like transness and identity in these stories, at the end of the day, the characters aren't mine.

But hey. things like the Princess and the Peasant and this are exactly the kind of stories I could rewrite with original characters. Then I'd give them fingers and go deeper into weapons, heh.

Here's a few Wallflower sketches I forgot to post last chapter!

Updating her pony design to have the missing leg.

Also I sure hope opinions on the conclusion of Wallflower won't be divisive! hooooboy. I stand by everything I wrote here, I just hope everyone accepts it as a natural outcome. If anyone says "Why didn't sunset just stay with twilight!!" Then they did not get it.

Imagine having to convince someone that they love you. To convince them of kissing you, and reminding them of how many times they did it. Trying to rekindle something that is gone, from scratch, with shallow evidence.

Fucking imagine trying to convince the Queen of the Sun that she is her mother!!! That would be a disservice to herself. Sunset deserves better, and now she knows it.

Either way. Now Sunset and Wallflower are stuck together, and it'd make for one hell of a sitcom... The next chapter focuses on the fallout of Sunset's absence.

Here's a final humorous note to dry your tears lol The only borderlands 3 joke I remember.

Well, it's been real. But time to close it. I know I said I was gonna write one-shots, but I can't bring myself to, Forgotten Sun is just TOO good.

See you on the final chapter of Forgotten Sun. Chapter 12, ACT IV: Unforgettable.