A Moment in Autumn

by wishcometrue

Epilogue - Maybe In Another Life

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I know you haven’t written back yet, but I just wanted to let you know that the wedding is in two months, and you’re invited (Trixie is too, of course).

Hope to see you then!

Your friend always,

Twilight Sparkle

--

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

You haven’t written back yet, so I just wanted to check in with you. Is the journal acting funny? Is it not doing the glowy vibrating thing anymore? Some other problem? Whatever it is, let me know and I’ll look into it.

Your friend always,

Twilight Sparkle

--

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

Is everything okay over there? Is there some magical creature or artifact that’s been awakened or uncovered? One that needs my help to take care of? Are you in danger? Do you need me to come through the mirror?

Your concerned friend,

Twilight Sparkle

--

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

Did I do something wrong? Something to upset you? Please talk to me Sunset I’m so worried but I’m too busy to go through the mirror unless you give me a reason and I just want you to be ok and

The wedding is in a week. Hopefully I see you there.

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle

--

Dear Princess Twilight,

I’m sorry for going silent on you like that. You’d think I’d have written back a bit sooner after I messed things up already by not talking about things, but I guess learning and acting on that knowledge are two different things.

Please tell Starlight that I’m sorry I missed her wedding, but that I would really like to talk to her. Through the journal, ideally. I don’t think I have it in me to face her in person right now.

Your remorseful friend,

Sunset Shimmer

--

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

I’m just glad you’re okay. I’d like to hear about whatever happened at some point, but I won’t pressure you.

I’m passing the journal to Starlight now, and she will cast a geas on me before she gives it back so that I don’t read your messages.

Your friend always,

Twilight Sparkle

--

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

Twilight told me you wanted to talk to me?

-Starlight Glimmer

--

Dear Starlight Glimmer,

I had this whole letter planned out in my head, exactly what I was going to say to you, down to every period. And now…

Well, I suppose at this point I should just come out and say it. Trixie and I broke up. I just didn’t put the effort in and it all fell apart.

How did you and your Trixie make things work? Reading what Twilight had to say about you two, I was pretty jealous. Still am, really.

I don’t really know what else to say at this point. I just… Need to hear from someone who didn’t mess things up, you know?

Hopefully still your friend,

Sunset Shimmer

--

Dear Sunset Shimmer

Reading what you and Twilight wrote previously, I kind of figured that was what you would want to talk about.

Sunset, you know Twilight, she always puts a positive spin on her letters. Bad habit she picked up as Celestia’s student, and if we’re going to be honest, one you picked up as well. Despite what it might’ve seemed from those letters, Trixie and I don’t have a perfect relationship. We’ve had fights, we still have fights, and we will in the future too. There are things she does that make me want to throttle her, and there are things I do that make her want to push me out of her wagon while its moving (her words). But we love each other in spite of those things, and our fights always bring us closer together, because we talk.

Something I learned is that friendship and love really aren’t so different. They’re both built around trust, respect, and communication. And even though I know that, I still struggle with it, and that's ok.

And of course you’re still my friend, Sunset.

-Starlight Glimmer

----

Dear Starlight Glimmer,

Do you think Trixie and I ever stood a chance? Like, maybe in another life where I didn’t make so many bad decisions?

Your friend,

Sunset Shimmer

----

Dear Sunset Shimmer,

Maybe, maybe not. Don’t let what-if’s consume, though. Learn from the past, but don’t live in it.

-Starlight Glimmer

Comments

[ThiefRara]

This story was both sad and awesome! I love how you wrote it.

[RirePink]

That was really, really disheartening, I was like "God damn it pay attention to Trixie, Sunset!" all those times when Sunset chose friends over her girlfriend. Who does that?

[Ice Star]

This ends with enough of a hope spot to smooth things out for Sunset, no matter what choices she makes, I think. A lot of emotion and realism packed into a small but satisfying story. Hopefully I’ll see more from you soon!

[PresentPerfect]

Excellent moral. This is what I want to see in my shipfics. :)

[Shortmane]

Right, meant to leave a comment here!
I'm glad you had this last chapter to add a bit of a bright spot and hope to this story, and does a nice job rounding it all up

You’d think I’d have written back a bit sooner after I messed things up already by not talking about things, but I guess learning and acting on that knowledge are two different things.

This line hit especially close to home, and kinda made the whole story real to me, in a certain sense. Knowing you're messing up but not actually taking steps to fix it or get better. Here at least, it feels like a first step to become a better person.

[Wolk]

can i ask you a question?

[wishcometrue]

10303897
Sure.

[Wolk]

10303902
thanks

[Yubella]

Such a shame it had to end. But it's not like you can be blind to the problem

[Prince Leviathan]

Maybe
Maybe not

No use questioning it.