Sunset Shimmer entered her apartment, took five steps into her living room, and promptly found herself back where it all began.
There were a few changes, to be sure—it was midday, the living room was a bit dusty, and every so often the ground gave off the lightest of tremors, followed by the distant howl of the.... monster that she'd seen with her own eyes for several fleeting moments on the way here.
She glanced at the sofa, where she and Twilight spent so many hours talking about life, the multiverse and everything, and often—not always, but often—capping it off with intimate moments. She sat on that couch and sighed, burying her head in her hands.
With no one around to see her, she finally allowed herself to cry.
Twilight. That hurt. You know how much that hurt, right?
It was almost shocking how easy the tears came, how easily the whimpers slipped out.
You know... how many times I tell myself the same things you said, right?
Even though she knew full well how long she'd locked off that part of herself. How long she'd forced herself not to cry.
I've spent so long fooling myself. Into thinking that my life has a purpose. Into thinking that I'm better than I really am. Into thinking that I could make up for being... me.
Leaning against the arm of the sofa, Sunset indulged in her sorrows, not even trying to fight it... until another minor earthquake happened, stronger this time. She sat back up, her sobs slowing to hiccups. She rubbed her eyes.
W-... why did I come here alone? Straight into the danger area? What was I thinking?
That was when a section of ceiling opened, and something aimed itself directly at Sunset. It was a silver-barreled device that looked like... some sort of weapon? Sunset gasped. Had Twilight installed defenses in their apartment? She'd talked about designing some, but had said they would both talk about what they wanted first.
The weapon activated. Sunset cringed and curled inward... then did a double-take upon seeing a yellow light wash over her, from top to bottom. The device deactivated seconds later, and shifted back into the ceiling, which closed back up like nothing happened.
"Scan complete," Twilight's disembodied voice echoed across the apartment, as a section of the far wall behind Sunset slid away. Sunset walked towards it, already getting flashbacks to a couple of days ago. An additional room greeted Sunset beyond the opening, illuminating as she walked inside.
Gleaming metals and flashing circuitry lined the walls. A lab table sat erected to the side, near a chalkboard absolutely covered in equations. A dome-topped pedestal that looked a lot like the one at Starswirl Research caught her eye, and she froze, not sure whether to approach it or run out of the apartment entirely.
"Subject identified," Twilight's voice echoed again, stopping that decision in her tracks. "Sunset Shimmer... the love of my life." A screen rose up from the table and blinked on, showing Twilight wearing one of her usual lab coats, and a smile. "Begin External Emergency Playback. Hey, babe."
Sunset almost choked, but managed to hold back.
The Twilight onscreen sighed, her expression sobering. "First, please allow me to apologize for the crude delivery method of this message—I made it in a rush. Eventually I'll upgrade to solid holographic imaging, but for now..." She blinked, looking around. "You know what? Probably not the point."
Despite herself, Sunset rolled her eyes and shook her head with a small smile. Her constant switching between perfectionism and practicality always was one of the quirks about Twilight that Sunset loved.
"If you're viewing this message," Twilight said, "it means that not only have I done something terrible in the name of science, but it's something I can't even stubbornly deny is my fault like I normally do." Twilight twirled a few locks of her hair around her index finger. "Which means it's... well, really bad. And judging by my satellite readings, it's negatively affected our world as a whole. In other words, at least an Epsilon-level screwup."
Sunset nodded. "Pretty much."
"In which case, I've prepared a last-ditch option."
The pedestal lit up, and the dome atop it parted to reveal a gauntlet, colored a rich orange. Sunset watched it slowly rotate on the table it stood on.
"While working at Starswirl, I made a few close friends," Twilight said. "Been meaning to introduce them, but they're the type to totally bore you with science talk on a level that even I don't feel like dealing with after a long day.
"More to the point, some of them were international. Specifically, the friends I made in the Neighponese branch of SSRC were, interestingly, the only ones who took me seriously whenever I hinted towards the concepts behind Equestrian Magic, including what its possibilities could mean for the world—or how it could endanger it. After swearing them to secrecy, the three of us decided to get in front of the problem. With the help of Special Technicians Tomo and Daichi, we managed to devise what we're tentatively calling the 'Rider System'." Twilight paused long enough for Sunset to blink. "You know. Because we're people, and we're technically taking advantage of horse power, et cetera."
"Ohhhhhh, right," Sunset said.
Twilight giggled, and Sunset couldn't help but smile again. "It sounded way better when we came up with it, I swear. Anyway. The Rider System combines the slightest bit of Equestrian magic with my personal advancements in nanorobotics, to create the lightest, sturdiest, most shock-resistant and element-resistant armor to date. You were the first person I thought of when making this, because, well, you've always been more of a scrapper than I am, and in tests it turns out even I can punch a bus with this thing." She giggled again. "It was fun."
Twilight sighed. "Bottom line: at a time like this, if I can use my smarts to keep the person I care most about in this world alive, then that's what I'm going to do. Use what's in this room to protect yourself. Do not, under any circumstances, try to go beyond defense—it hasn't been tested for that."
Sunset took the gauntlet off of the pedestal and held it in her hands. It was surprisingly light, even more than Twilight had suggested.
"Good luck," Twilight said. And please, whatever you do... live. It's the greatest thing you can do, not only for me, but because any world is better off with you in it."
The video feed cut. With the gauntlet warm in her hand, and the despair in her heart fighting against the good memories she still had of Twilight, Sunset stepped out the room.
She only managed to get one foot out the doorway before Twilight's voice sounded again:
"Begin Internal Emergency Playback."
Sunset turned around to see a much more contrite Twilight on the screen this time, tapping her index finders together, shuffling back and forth, and constantly averting her eyes, before finally speaking.
"H-hi, Sunset. I hope you don't mind, but I've scanned your vitals. And based on my readings, I've... done something to hurt you. Something absolutely terrible, that I never imagined myself doing. Which means I don't know what it is, because quite honestly, I can't possibly imagine ever wanting to hurt you, nor can I figure out how someone so strong could be hurt by someone like... well, like me who's kind of a pushover outside of my brain here."
Twilight's voice softened.
"But I do know my flaws. I've never been that great with words, or expressing myself, or exercising better judgment when I think I'm onto something big, or even knowing when to stop talking," she said with a nervous titter. "I-I mean, everything I know about caution and restraint, you taught me, yet it's the one field where I know I'm a slow learner. So, while I still can think of the right words... let me say them.
"Sunset, whatever it is, whatever I did, whether it was in anger or anguish, I want you to know that I'm so sorry. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I... I'm pretty sure I won't deserve it, and I don't even know if this message will help in any way."
Twilight's hand went to her chest. Sunset's went to her mouth.
"But nothing brings more pain to my heart than the possibility that I might have brought pain to yours. And nothing ever will. Whether we agree or disagree, whether things are going well or badly... I'll love you always, Sunset Shimmer." Twilight sniffled, and wiped her eyes. "Because I know just how much good luck was involved in the series of events which brought us together. And I know that, at any time, I could lose you just as easily.
"And I don't ever want that to happen," Sunset barely heard Twilight finish, as her own tears ran freely again, falling onto the gauntlet. "See me if you can? Maybe we can mend things. Even if not... I'll always want to have tried."
The feed cut to static, and Sunset leaned against the wall, sniffling and wiping her eyes to avoid soaking the gauntlet more than she had already.
A gauntlet which was now glowing a bright orange, and glowing brighter every second, until the entire room was engulfed in a single color...
Sunset's eyes snapped open. An almost blinding lamp shone above her. Everything around her felt impossibly soft.
A bed. She was in a bed. Thank goodness. She groaned as she tried to move, then gritted her teeth as every single one of her muscles told her just how sore she was.
Twilight walked in the door just then. She took one look at Sunset, and with a loud gasp, was at Sunset's side. "You're awake! Thank every star in the universe! How are you feeling?"
Sunset groaned again. "My everything hurts. Where am I?"
"Back in Sparkleworks," Twilight said.
Sunset looked around to see random beakers scattered on every stable surface she could find that wasn't her bed—including the nightstand. "Story checks out. You... you saved me. That was you I saw right before I blacked out, wasn't it?"
"Of course," Twilight said. "Fortunately the Phoenix Armor averted any real internal damage. You just overexerted yourself." Twilight smirked. "Never seen you do that before."
Sunset scoffed. "Hey, our home was on the line—" Sunset gasped, and sat up in bed. "The spectral! I didn't beat it! What happened to Canterlot?"
"Screw Canterlot," Twilight said. "That's Priority Number Three for me." Twilight clasped Sunset's hands. "You are Priority Number One. And as far as I'm concerned, you always will be."
Sunset blushed in spite of herself. "Well, now I'm curious as to just what Number Two is."
Twilight looked into Sunset's eyes, the former radiating apology and sadness.
"Us," she whispered, tears forming below those same eyes, before Twilight threw her arms around Sunset, sobbing uncontrollably. Sunset embraced Twilight in kind, remembering what Twilight felt like, smelled like, and glad to have those feelings again, even under these circumstances.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Twilight said, amidst sniffled and unrestrained cries. "I-I hurt you, and—"
"It's okay. It's all okay." Sunset rocked Twilight in her arms. "I'm sorry, too."
Twilight hiccuped, pulling back. "W-why are you apologizing? This was all me! I..." Twilight looked away. "I broke Rule #1."
Sunset nudged Twilight's face back in front of hers. "For all we shared when we started living together, we should have told each other long ago that we still had... misgivings about ourselves. That we still had sensitive topics. More to the point, we should have faced them—with the people we call friends, and the people we love." She sighed. "Rule #1 is great and all, but sometimes we need to face those dark things. Acknowledge that they happened. I've been saying 'my past is not today' for over a decade now. But fighting that spectral... it was the first time I allowed myself, just for a moment, to get re-acquainted with it.
"And you know what?" Sunset said, her voice softening. "It helped. It let me focus so I could think straight about my feelings. It let me remember how I felt about me. And how I felt about you. How I'll always feel." Sunset kissed Twilight lightly, with closed lips. "Relationships are a lot like science. You try things, and if they go badly, you don't give up unless it's a total lost cause for both parties. Otherwise you step back, take note of lessons learned, and go back in."
"Or in this case, of what I did wrong." Twilight said, no longer crying, but her voice still forlorn.
Sunset took a tissue from the nightstand, and wiped Twilight's eyes. "I love you so much, Twilight. Enough to follow you into all of this. Enough to go with any idea you come up with. But there are times I really do need to speak up."
Twilight nodded. "I understand completely. I love you too, Sunset. Enough to listen to you, over any scientific judgments I might have. I don't ever want you to not speak up. Because I need to listen when you do. You have wisdom that I don't."
Sunset sighed. "I just... I'm always afraid of being too assertive about it. Because even after all these years, I remember when that meant I was the worst person on two worlds. And it doesn't stop, no matter how hard I try by myself."
Twilight nodded again. "Meanwhile, I'm always afraid of slipping behind. Of hitting my limits. Of not being able to hack it in the scientific community. Of disappointing my friends and family. Of hearing that I don't have all the answers, and I never will."
Sunset closed her eyes. "It's a fear that feels... inescapable."
"Yeah. Like, no matter what you do, you're doomed to prove to yourself, once and for all, that you're..."
"...unable to be who you want," the two finished in unison, then looked at each other with mutual smiles.
The two hugged for several minutes, resting in the softness and warmth of each other's bodies, each whispering words of gratitude and appreciation for the other. When they were satisfied, they pulled apart, and Twilight turned on the screen nearby, which showed live coverage of the situation at hand.
"That thing outside represents the worst of what can happen when we're not in sync," Twilight said. "We get so caught up in our ambitions and fears, that we can forget what they lead to."
Sunset nodded. "Let's never forget how much we mean to each other. Let's always remind ourselves. Because this is going to happen again. We're going to fight again. We're going to fight each other, and ourselves, because becoming okay with who we are... well, that's probably going to be a lifelong journey." She paused, and added, "As will be growing old together. If you're up for that."
Twilight tensed. "Sunset... are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Sunset clasped Twilight's hands, staring into her girlfriend's eyes. "I can't be all of me without you. So I don't want to be without you anymore."
Twilight's eyes sparkled, accompanying an ear-to-ear grin, and a squeal. "Same here."
The two basked in happy silence before Twilight continued, "You know, I... always thought when I got proposed to, it'd be a lot more low-key. Maybe a restaurant date or something. Someone serenading us in the background. Also, no jewelry? You're really pressing your luck here." She giggled.
Sunset laughed. "I can get diamonds for a song in Equestria. Every jewel under the sun, actually. But we should probably make sure either of us are still welcome there first."
"We'll get there," Twilight said, standing up.
"But one thing at a time. How's the city? I don't see it on the screen."
"Yeah, about that," Twilight said, a sheepish hand behind her head. "There kind of... isn't one anymore. You've been sleeping for the last day and a half. In that time, Canterlot's been wiped off the map, and conventional weapons have proven ineffective against magical power. Meanwhile, Princess Twilight and her friends tried to combat what's effectively a hybrid magic and tech being, and failed. Doesn't hurt that their magic's severely limited over here. So they've closed off all portals to protect Equestria until the matter's somehow resolved. I was powerless to talk them out of it, partially because I can't blame them."
Sunset blinked. "Whoa."
"Yeah." Twilight grasped her arm and stared into space. "Meanwhile, between your condition, and the part I played in getting you there, I... I haven't been able to think straight enough to apply myself to the problem. I haven't been able to do anything outside of, well, think about what a terrible person I really am."
"Don't even go there. I think it's time for a new Rule #1," Sunset said, carefully standing up in front of her fiancée. "That being: We love ourselves as much as we love each other. For our presents, our futures, and the lessons of our pasts. And if we need help doing that... we come to each other. Okay?"
"I'd love that. So much. Almost as much as I love you."
Their lips met in the deepest kiss they'd shared in months—slow, soulful, full of familiar feelings. Full of the joy of finally being home in each other's arms again.
If Sunset had anything to say about it, it'd stay that way. She winked at Twilight. "Together until the heat death of the universe?"
Twilight winked back. "Even if we cause it. But that won't be today. Let's go bag us a magic monster."