Sunset Shimmer starts to reach a hoof up to knock on her mother's master bedroom, but then it occurs to her to ask herself, what's the point? Even if her mother is awake, she would not be able to answer.
So, instead, she reaches for the doorknob to turn it by hand out of habit, but her stubby hoof fails to turn the doorknob. In response, Sunset glowers at the doorknob, followed by the same expression towards her own hoof. She does recall being able to open these things with her hooves before, just as she used to be able to pick up anything with her hoof. It worked so easily when she did not question how that worked. But, ever since she lived in the human world for a while, it somehow caused her to lose that ability, at least for the moment.
Thinking back, Sunset realizes that is often true when it comes to magic. Not structured arcane magic. That has a system that is reliable and repeatable, but everyday things like picking up a book or turning a doorknob tends to work when she does not think about it. That often seems true when it comes to non-structured magic. It simply works as long as it isn't questioned.
Which makes her think of Pinkie Pie. In either world, she's the furthest thing from a scientist except, perhaps, when it comes to parties. Even then, however, it often seems as if Pinkie acts on a pure whim. She relies on her feelings all the time and very rarely ever stops to question how she did something unusual.
Sunset loves magic, but she also has a drive to truly understand it. The practice of arcane magic proves to her it isn't fruitless to try to understand the nature of magic. It's not enough to merely bask in the wonder of it all, but she does that too. She thinks it and she feels it. For Sunset, magic is both logical and emotional.
Turning a doorknob as a pony is a pure mental reflex. That is what she recalls. It's like punching in an all too familiar pin number to a credit card. If done often enough, it can be done without thought. But, for now, she can't help but question how long that will take.
Without a doubt, Sunset knew for sure that her magic has far more flexibility, range, and potential precision compared to manipulating things with her human hands, but it does tend to take much more focus and concentration. Very simple tasks can almost be done without much thought, but the challenge escalates quickly after that. Locking her mind on the precise spot she wishes to manipulate then imagining the direction she wishes to pull, twist, pinch, or push it . . . telekinesis is certainly much more cerebral in practice. Certainly it is much harder if she has a physical handicap, such as a headache.
After a moment, Sunset realizes that all of these thoughts help to distract her mind from a subject she desperately wants to subconsciously avoid. This is her mother's room, after all. The pony who has been the bane of Sunset's younger existence which catapulted her into some of the worst years of her life. Now she faces this challenge again with the added twist that this might be the very last time. After this, her mother really might die. That is so hard to imagine.
With regret, Sunset recalls there were times in the past when she wished that this outcome would occur much sooner, but now that it's actually happening . . . she does not know what to feel except she's keenly aware that there is a sting to this situation. For whatever reason, this feels hard to fathom. About the only thing she knows for sure is this feels far from pleasant. Some of the reasons for that she can grasp, but she also senses there are others that are far more elusive.
Sunset takes a deep breath then releases it slowly as she struggles to harden her resolve. She convinces herself that this isn't going to get easier, so she might as well get this over with.
Finally, using her magic, she opens the door. During the effort, she notices that it is not locked, but that does not surprise her for the moment.
What does surprise her, however, is to discover her old friend Fluffy Muffin is already inside. Apparently she is applying a moist towelette to Eventide's feverish forehead. Until she sees her old friend, it did not occur to Sunset that someone else might have been in the room. Maybe she should have knocked after all.
Noticing the light spill into the room, Fluffy glances back with a startled expression to the one standing at the doorway. At that point, Sunset realizes she definitely should have knocked first. She also notices that Fluffy's chubby cheeks are stained red with tears. Although Sunset did not expect it, primarily because she wasn't thinking of this before, Fluffy's reaction to her mother's deteriorating condition isn't surprising in the least. That's just the kind of pony her old friend is. She cares.
“Oh! I'm sorry,” Fluffy apologizes as she quickly attempts to wipe tears from her eyes. “I didn't see you there.”
“I wouldn't expect you to through a closed door,” Sunset returns then adopts a shameful expression. “No, I'm sorry. I should have knocked first, but it didn't occur to me anyone would be in here capable of answering that hail.”
“Nor would I expect you considering this situation,” Fluffy laments. “It . . . it probably won't be long now. Your mother might not even make it through the night. Something feels oddly appropriate about that, almost as if she was waiting for you.”
A very dim grin grows on Sunset's face as she says, “I can imagine doing that for my loved ones too. Under those circumstances, I'd want to see them as soon as possible just so that I would not have to linger and suffer much longer.”
“I'll take my leave, then,” Fluffy decides as she gathers up her things and tosses them to her mid-back. After that, she trots out of the room. She pauses for a brief moment as she starts to pass Sunset Shimmer. She uses that time to apply a supportive and deeply sympathetic hoof to Sunset's shoulder in silence for a few moments, then she departs.
There is a smell to the air that Sunset does not like. She is not entirely familiar with it, but her mind immediately associates it with death. It is so easy to imagine that this is what a hospital morgue smells like.
Aside from that, it severely contradicts her memories. This room should be bright and tidy. It should smell nice at all times with fragrances most ponies rarely can afford, let alone do so regularly. Sire's Hollow isn't exactly a wealthy community, but when it comes to certain things, her mother always seemed to be able to get her hooves on it with uncanny frequency.
Until now. That's part of what simply feels wrong about this situation. It feels as if she stepped into the wrong reality by accident. Her mind vehemently rejects this and insists she isn't supposed to be here and that this isn't happening. Over and over again, a strong part of her mind insists she must be dreaming, and that she needs to wake up from this nightmare.
Steeling her resolve, Sunset trots closer to her mother's side, but every step she takes confirms a reality her mind is desperately fighting to reject. Her mother isn't supposed to be this quiet, nor is she supposed to look this shriveled. Instead, she is supposed to be a powerful mare. Not in stature, but in attitude and spirit. The kind that often made Sunset shrivel inside.
Sunset fights to moisturize her throat, then struggles to say, “Hello, Mother.”
No response. Eventide doesn't even seem to be breathing. She's just there, lying on her back and facing upward while looking like a shriveled husk. Before now, Sunset had no idea that ponies could look that unhealthy and still be alive. One especially common symptom of poor health among ponies is a drain to their color. The more black and white they appear, the closer to death they are. Either that, or they are depressed and/or drained of magic.
It's too painful to imagine any of her other friends and loved ones like this. A body definitely looks different when the spirit within it is bright and alive.
“I'm pretty sure you can't hear me, but if you can . . . I imagine you'd be very much surprised to notice my return,” Sunset says sadly. “But regardless . . . I am here.”
Still no response, not even the slightest sign. No flutter of her breath. No flick to her ears. No sparks off her horn. No twitch in the eyes.
Nothing!
Sunset's face sinks into a grimace as she realizes this isn't going to work. She tries to choke back her fear that even her magical approach is unlikely to work. Even a common object might have more spirit than this withered husk. That was certainly true of the painting of Sombra that Sunset touched earlier. That painting was embedded with loads of sentimental emotion, but with this . . . there is a ninety percent chance that her magic will fail when there is nothing to contact on the other end. It's just like electricity. No matter how much energy one end has, electricity will not flow without a positive and negative charge. If that which she touches has no energy at all, no magical flow should occur.
But she came all this way, and a strong part of her spirit feels certain that fate wouldn't push her in this direction so heavily just to end her quest in failure. She needs closure on this chapter of her life. Very likely her mother needs that as well.
The greatest forms of magic come from emotions like friendship, hope, and faith. Empowered by these emotions, it can accomplish miracles. It seems she's due for one, so to hell with the logical odds! She's here on a mission, so it's time to do what she came here to do.
Sunset closes her eyes and sinks her mind into a familiar trance. She focuses her mind to channel her magic through her crystal. It responds readily enough. After that, she reaches forward and touches her mother's body.
And . . .
. . .
Nothing!
Sunset's eyes flare open as she starts to panic.
“Mother?!” she cries out with rising panic.
Quickly, she lowers herself to apply an ear directly next to her mother's mouth. She listens for several long moments.
And . . .
. . .
Nothing!
In desperation, she applies a hoof to her mother's neck and concentrates for any sensation indicative of a heart beating.
But, again, nothing. There are no life signs at all.
“Oh my Celestia!” Sunset gasps as she places that same hoof to her lips.
She's too late! Her mother is already dead.
Why would fate lead her all this way just to slap her in the face at the last second? There is a lot that she did wrong in her life, but she's paid for that over and over before.
Well no more! At this point, she felt certain that she does not deserve this. This can't be happening!
But then it occurs to her that, if this is true, it does not mean her mother still can't hear her. A disembodied ghost is still sentient. Sentient enough to understand any words she speaks.
“Is this my punishment, Mother?” Sunset wonders aloud as tears start to streak down her face. “I left you, so you left me. Just when I came back . . . just when I stood at the door . . . you pass away. Why would Fluffy be here to apply a moist towelette to a corpse? That doesn't make sense, which means she was fully convinced you were alive at the time.
“Maybe you were. Maybe you slipped away in the few seconds of my journey between the door and the bed. That's oddly apropos of you. Dying just when I arrive? Whatever it takes to spite me, eh Mother? One last slap in the face.”
Silence.
Sunset floats a chair next to the bed then sits upon it upright with her back against the backrest and her rear legs bent over the edge. From there, she looks across her mother's body, then sighs in sorrow.
“Honestly, I never really did want us to be on opposite sides. You brought me into this world, Mother, and in many ways . . . I'm grateful for that. I know it does not seem that way since I so eagerly left it, but there were extenuating circumstances. For what it's worth . . . I found a good home and good friends elsewhere. It took some time, a lot of effort and soul-searching, but I finally made it. I achieved happiness.”
Sunset softly applies a hoof to her mother's chest as she says, “Wherever you are and where you are going, I cannot follow. At least . . . not for a while. But hang in there. I will come . . . and I will finish what I had to say. There is a lot I need to get off my chest, and I think you do too. Arguments might be all we have left between us, but that is still communication. Right now, for once, I'd rather have that than silence.”
Without warning, her mother's body suddenly gets engulfed within a cyan magical aura. Feeling startled, Sunset takes a moment to assess the company she has in this room, for some other unicorn must be responsible for this magic.
But, upon checking, she notices that no other pony seems to be in the room.
And come to think of it, wasn't a cyan color magical aura her mother's horn magic? Such magical aura colors are very rarely unique. There is no reason to assume no other pony could be casting with the same type of color magic, but that would be one major coincidence given these circumstances.
Then Sunset notices her own magic geode is starting to glow too, and that pulse has the same rhythm as the glow around her mother's body. It’s as if to suggest there is a correlation between both of these facts.
Speaking with the dead certainly isn't an everyday occurrence, even in a magical world like this, but her mother just passed away, and it's not every day a pony walks into a room with a magic crystal like hers. This might be providing a unique opportunity.
A strong instinct rises within her which suggests that that is exactly what this is; a chance. Moreover, it is a temporary opportunity, and it will close soon.
Nothing is compelling Sunset to take this opportunity. She takes note of that because that is a sign that this isn't dark magic at work here. That said, she is feeling heavily encouraged. Regardless of how this is happening, she can feel that someone wants to talk to her, and it seems pretty obvious who it might be.
Sunset knows that telepathic communication can be stretched out once the power is initiated. When it takes place, they can have as long as they want to talk to each other. However, before that, she is operating within the rules of the physical plane, and on this end, time is running out.
Considering this limited opportunity and the fact it is very unlikely to be offered again, Sunset takes the plunge and touches her mother's body while concentrating to initiate her crystal’s power.
White engulfs her eyes, then suddenly she seems to be somewhere else.
One thing that Sunset already understands before she arrives is the fact that the destination will be a cognitive world. As such, it can take any form. Whatever form it takes, it is noteworthy to consider that her mother, Eventide, is the one that initially set the form of this “dream” like world, even if it's only on an unconscious level. That could offer her important psychological clues to her mother's state of mind, so Sunset vows to pay attention to her surroundings as soon as she arrives.
But when the white clears from her eyes, the sight of a very tall forest around her isn't what she expected to see. She notes that her surroundings appear to be a clear sunny day. In fact, her surroundings are actually too bright considering all the tree cover above. It's as if the area is brighter at this altitude but there does not seem to be a logical source for it.
Exploring further, the trees themselves are the most awe-inspiring sight. Many of them are thick enough to be converted into a home in their own right, except most of the trees are hundreds of feet tall. Sunset doesn't even feel certain of that fact. She can't see the tops of the trees from the base. It's too far, and besides, there is too much shimmering light above.
At the base level, the earth seems rich and healthy. There is no hint of corruption here. The air smells nice and . . . old. Perhaps even ancient. There is a pervading feeling of life in the local area, yet she does not see any aside from the plants. There is also a calming feeling to the atmosphere. Over time, she hears the sizzling sound of tree leaves being rustled by the wind above, and she also hears the wind's quiet sigh.
Her mother appeared to be in a very bleak condition in the physical plane, so these surroundings really catches Sunset off guard. The area rather seems to suggest somepony that already crossed over into the afterlife a long time ago and found peace there.
Another rustling sound catches and focuses Sunset's attention because this occurs at the base level. Shifting her pony ears and looking about, she eventually catches sight of her mother from behind who is wearing a white, translucent dress that almost appears to be made of light itself, yet it isn't blinding in the slightest to gaze upon it. The glow of her mother’s dress does not bother Sunset’s eyes, probably because she isn’t using her physical eyes in this dimension and is therefore immune to physical limitations such as blindness.
“Mother . . . I'm here,” Sunset calls out to her.
At first there is no response from her mother, but then she trots off to her right which conceals her face from Sunset's perspective.
“Mother!” Sunset calls out before galloping to catch up to her mother's former position. She rounds the base of the huge tree which originally concealed her mother. However, as she rounds the tree, she notices that she appears to have lost sight of her mother again.
Searching about carefully, she eventually spots her in the distance trotting behind yet another tree. Considering her mother's casual, relaxed pace, there is simply no logical way she could have gotten that far ahead with a normal trot. She has to be teleporting.
Well, Sunset thinks inwardly, two can play at that game.
Sunset may not be able to pull this off on the physical plane anymore, but teleporting about in the cognitive universe is as simple as a mere thought.
Doing so, she wills herself to the spot she saw her mother trot behind ahead. As a reflex, Sunset takes a few steps forward, but from her perspective, the environment blurs for a second. After that, she is suddenly where she wants to be.
But, upon rounding that tree, her mother is nowhere to be found yet again.
After a while of searching, she eventually spots her mother trotting along one of the thick tree branches above and disappears out of sight above the branch itself, thereby concealing her due to the angle of Sunset's perspective.
Sunset warps to that position she spotted her mother, only to eventually locate her at the base level of the forest again, and once again disappearing in the distance.
What gives? Sunset's mother never played such tricks before during life. She was way too precise and serious to entertain such games like this. In thinking of that, Sunset starts to doubt that this entity may be her mother after all. From the backside, it may look like her mother, but any entity can look like whatever they want in a cognitive universe. There are no physical limitations to prevent them from doing so in a place like this because everyone is just thought and energy here.
But why would anyone want to impersonate her mother? Moreover, the fact that the invitation to come here came from a glow around her mother's body, which had the same aura color as her mother did in life, lends credit to the fact that it may be her mother after all, but this entity certainly isn't acting like her.
Sunset repeats her earlier strategy for three more warp jumps before realizing there is one thing that is changing as her journey continued, and that is the environment itself. It's still bright daylight, and it is still an old forest, but Sunset is passing a few mostly buried giant statues or a cliff with a rainbow waterfall. The area is gorgeous, and it eventually occurs to Sunset that the journey might be more important than the destination. Besides, performing her previous strategy doesn't appear to be working. Her mother just keeps on warping ahead.
So, instead of that, Sunset floats off the ground then flies off to where she last saw her mother. Being a dream-like world, she can do anything one can do in a dream, especially if one is aware one is dreaming.
However, along the way, Sunset pays more attention to her surroundings this time because, whatever condition this place is in, it may offer vital clues to her mother's state of mind.
Because of that, Sunset notices a running theme here. There seems to be a strong emphasis on a quiet but also vibrant natural setting. Everything here is beautiful and peaceful, as if to convey the message, “I am, and will continue to be, far better than fine.”
Oddly enough, as soon as Sunset realizes that, she finally catches up with her mother because, this time, her mother stands her ground next to a mirror-like lake.
“I'm here, Mother,” Sunset repeats when she lands next to her mother. “I came at your invitation, but you kept spending that time moving away from me.”
“And what have you learned while chasing me?” Sunset's mother queries while still not regarding her daughter. Instead, she stares forward and a bit downward at the mirror lake.
“I learned that, despite my expectations, you seem to be at peace,” Sunset replies. “Also, there seems to be something appropriate about the fact you kept running away from me considering the fact I once did the same to you. In fact, I was so determined to avoid you that I ran into another world entirely.”
“I know,” Eventide says back. “I have seen it, and I also know why you did it.”
Eventide finally turns her head towards her daughter enough for Sunset to see her mother's face. In doing so, Sunset notices the familiar-looking golden hide and lighter stripe along her mother's muzzle, but one thing that would be quite odd in the physical realm is how young her mother looks. At this point, she actually looks younger than her own daughter.
“My life review is not the only thing I saw upon my passing,” Eventide explains. “My life has touched others, and I am very connected and invested in you. As I went through my life, I followed yours as well. That, in turn, revealed to me your adventures in the human world. I used to blame you for running away there, but now I understand what drove you away, and what keeps you there as well.
“I used to think that everything you do reflects upon me, positively or negatively, because it was my responsibility to raise you as your mother. The ways of Sire's Hollow is steeped in deep tradition, after all, and according to those traditions, I am to take credit or fault for whatever you do.
“But, in time, I've come to realize that isn't true. I brought you into this world and I helped to raise you, but your destiny was always your own, as it ever will be. You were always meant to trot your own path. I found peace when I finally realized that.”
At that moment, it dawns on Sunset that her mother already crossed over into the afterlife long enough to get settled there. She is communicating with her from a higher dimension. This is definitely her mother, but something more as well. Something significantly more.
Sunset feels both in awe and unsettled because she read that those who have crossed over to the other side can be significantly smarter and wiser. This isn't always the case, but there exists a chance because they now dwell in a place that is completely free of mortal restrictions of any kind, and this version of her mother has dwelled there long enough to start to get used to that fact. This means she is encountering a spirit who now exists on a higher evolutionary level. As a result, it puts Sunset back into that headspace of being a child again. Just like when she was a foal and felt forced to trust absolutely all adults because they knew more stuff than she did, Sunset feels that way again with this entity. Now she's an adult, but is encountering another entity that is far beyond an adult. Entities like this could potentially figure out the secrets of the universe in an instant, and/or have the wisdom of the ages.
“You envy and fear me?” Eventide spontaneously says as if reading her daughter's mind. “Now that is ironic.
“Yes, I am ahead of you for the moment, but that is only because of the place I have gone to. Let me assure you that, when you pass on and exist within a dimension with the same advantages, you'll be so much further ahead than I am.”
“Really? Why?” Sunset queries. She feels curious to know but also still on edge.
“Because you are so much braver than I,” Eventide answers. “You didn't forsake your destiny or changed who you are to conform to some other artificial system. I did.
“You remember how I used to act, right? Rigid, disciplined, and intolerant of flaws of any kind. I acted that way because I was raised that way. That is the family tradition that was passed down to each generation. Mother to daughter, and so on. An endless cycle.
“But, believe it or not, there was a time I used to be a free spirit, too. I wanted to wander and gallop in the open nature. I wanted to roam about the forests and smell pretty flowers. I wanted to be free . . . but in the end, I chose to sacrifice that important aspect of myself because I was convinced that our family cause is an important one. We are the Duchesses of Sire's Hollow. As such, we are their leader and can affect the lives of our citizens profoundly, positively, or negatively. They look to us for leadership, so it is important to provide it in order to support stability and prosperity. I care for my little ponies. I always have . . . or at least I used to.
“Now, however, I've grown more detached from the physical plane’s matters. I now consider it trivial compared to the challenges of the higher planes, but at the time . . . you need to understand why I did it.
“I should clarify what I mean by detachment because, in a way, I still do care about them. By now my existence has grown far beyond caring. I downright love them, but that is the nature of higher planes and their faster vibrational energy. Love is the core nature of us all. It is the outright language where I now dwell.
“However, despite that love, I've also grown wise enough to realize why direct attachments are no longer necessary, and why direct involvement could actually be harmful. Life will continue to be as it may regardless how much I want to get involved or not, and I've found far more peace in my willingness to let these things go. We are not compelled into such acceptance, but it is in the nature and circumstances of higher dimensions. It just comes with the territory, as it were.”
Eventide tilts her head to the side with a smirk of amusement on her face as she asks, “Isn't it interesting the roles we play in life? By forgetting our higher selves temporarily, we adopt many roles during life. Between us, for example, I played the role of your mother and pretended to perform all the labels attached to that title. A little of this and a little of that, all the while hiding our true nature.
“But, as spirits, we are so much more than the masks we temporarily wear. When it comes time for us to return to our true home, we'll be reminded of all that we have forgotten. In doing so, we'll see how silly and small this mortal world is compared to the greater realities beyond.
“What impresses me about you, however, is how much you managed to accomplish despite the limitations of this world. I'm not the only one to think this. Many others look upon you in awe. Even the greatest entities of light admit that they might not have been as strong as you given the same limitations and circumstances. This is partially the point and meaning behind life; to find out how far you can go when there are limitations. Exercising while suppressed with greater weight can make one stronger. When those limitations are finally lifted, that spirit can propel so much further when it is accustomed to acting under stress.
“Even in your darkest moments, you learned from your mistakes, and you used it to reinforce your spirit. As a result, it becomes that much harder to suppress you again.”
Eventide nods at something behind Sunset. When she looks, she sees part of reality peeled away like a curtain revealing a window into the past. Through that window, she sees herself while she was in jail. At that time, Sunset was wearing an orange jumpsuit with a long number printed in front of her heart area and a larger version of those numbers printed across her back. Sunset was crying while alone in her cell. The injustice and the horrors that she suffered by that point cracked her spirit for a moment.
But then she noticed the luminescent shadow of herself on the ground. This stilled her tears. She looks back over her shoulder through the barred window at the brilliant full moon hanging in the sky. For a brief moment, while gazing upon the moon, she thought she saw a phantom image of Nightmare Moon's shadow splayed across it, but she did not know why that was so back in Equestria. Back then it was simply something she accepted as normal, but at that moment in the jail cell, she felt nostalgic for her Equestrian home.
Even there, in that dark place and moment, there was a glimmer of beauty to be found.
For a moment, she had dwelled on her past and everything she ran from. There were a lot of things that filled her with regret and sorrow, but she could not forget that the place she ended up had many advantages. Important advantages. She found friends here in this world, and that friendship filled her with strength.
No, Sunset decided as she stood up, faced the window, and clenched a fist in front of her chest with determination.
I am not going to let these circumstances bring me down! I am not going to let this place conceal from me who and what I truly am!
I am Sunset Shimmer, and I am strong! Stronger than this, for I have friends to enlighten my life. For their sake as well as my own, I shall not only endure . . . I shall thrive!
“And that is exactly what you did,” Eventide says as if responding to the thoughts of her daughter's past. “That promise wasn't just empty words to you. It was a vow, and one you have carried ever since.
“The greatest challenge in physical life is the illusion of separation, but more so than most . . . you found your strength by uniting with others. In them, you saw a piece of yourself. I doubt you fully realize how enlightened you became because of that, but you felt it. In your heart, you sensed the truth.
“You kept your vow. Not only did you endure during this trial, but you thrived by not forsaking yourself and who you are. By embracing your destiny as bravely as you always have, you found strength not just in yourself, but also in others.”
The vision ahead of them shifts to another moment, this time ahead of the last instance.
In that moment, Sunset Shimmer had shared a cell with another cellmate, a woman with bright blue skin and short dark blue hair.
“In a way, I feel like I've always been destined for this,” the woman laments beside Sunset Shimmer. “The cruelty I suffered is why I spread it to others. I don't really want to do these things, but I can't help it! I'm just so angry all the time! I'm a poison that sickens everyone I've ever associated with in life. You should back off too, or I'll infect you as well.”
“I'm not going anywhere!” Sunset promised the tortured woman beside her. “You need me at this moment, so I am precisely where I want to be right now.”
“You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how many people I've hurt,” the woman warns. “Or the ways I've hurt them.”
“I've hurt people too,” Sunset counters. “My regret over that fact is exactly why I work so hard to redeem myself, but I also know how hard it is to dig one's self out of that pit of despair by one's self. You need a friend to help you through this, so that is what you're going to get.”
The woman's yellow eyes regarded Sunset Shimmer with a glimmer of hope as she asks, “Really? Even after all that I've done, you'd still be willing to consider being my friend?”
“There is nothing to consider,” Sunset assures as she clasps the woman's right hand with her own left. “Like it or not, you already are my friend.”
“Look at the hope and joy that filled her eyes back then,” Eventide encourages as they watch this scene play out. “She couldn't believe she stumbled upon something so fortunate. She was so unfamiliar with it and so certain that she didn't deserve it that it also stung her, and yet she could not resist it's lure because, deep down, that is what we all want. To feel that connection with each other. To feel something so much greater than ourselves.
“You filled her soul with love, hope, and light at that moment: All of which she was starving for until you came around. Lacking what she needed was precisely why she lashed out at others so often and so vehemently. Losing hope to receive that which the soul needs to feel nourished is among the most horrible feelings in the world. After searching for so long for what she needed, even if she did not consciously realize it, how could she not be your friend after that day?
“You may not have been aware of this, but your connection to your friends has raised your energy level. What that means is it vibrates faster. It is a sign of a stronger and more advanced soul. Strong enough that it can even empower others. On that day, you raised her vibrational levels too. Ever since then, she has also become stronger.
“That is the gift that you are, my beloved daughter. You're here to guide other lost souls back into the light. Having trotted through their hardships and wallowed in that same darkness, you therefore understand it. Others picked you up in their moment of compassion, and you've been a force of strength and healing ever since. More so than most, in fact, even compared to your other friends because, unlike them, you are a leader . . . just like the legacy you were born from. As a result, you have the capacity to inspire others more so than most. When a true leader serves as a force for good, their contributions can be immeasurable because a leader does not stand alone. Their strength is combined and multiplied by those who choose to follow them.”
The scene ahead of them shifts again, this time to a moment when her friends were blasted off their feet by the power of the astral Sirens that hovered above them. At that moment, they did not finish off their opponents because they were too busy gloating and savoring the taste of their impending victory.
When Princess Twilight noticed Sunset standing nearby (who was disguised as a human during this time), she reached a pleading hand out to her and called out desperately, “Sunset Shimmer . . . we need you!”
“It took so much courage to pick up the microphone at that moment,” Sunset's present self recalls as she witnesses this past scene play out. “At the time, I struggled with inner doubt. I wasn't certain I could help because I was so new to this 'friendship' thing, but my friends needed me. The audience below needed me. Maybe the fate of both worlds needed me.
“Urgency alone does not make one automatically brave. Instead, it can encourage it by necessity, but there is another way to react to an emergency.
“Fight or flight . . . that is the two most common reactions to fear. If I fled, I could have maybe saved myself, but most likely it would only delay the inevitable. The Sirens would have continued gathering power. If that continued, their influence would have spread. Eventually, there would be nowhere to hide.
“But fleeing meant I'd have to abandon my new friends. I wasn't even certain that they were my friends yet. Not once did they hug me when I desperately needed it at the time, but that didn't matter. How they thought of me didn't matter . . . because I considered them to be my friends . . . and I couldn't abandon them in their moment of need.”
“You made another vow to yourself on that day,” Eventide notes as they witness Sunset bravely pick up the microphone, throw off her jacket, then sing up to the imposing astral versions of the Sirens. “You vowed not to let anyone suppress you any longer, not even yourself. That's why you fled from me, Celestia, and all of Equestria. You didn't want anypony telling you what to do and bring you down. It did not matter if that was their intention or not. If you perceived it to be suppression, you rebelled.
“It's not the first time you fought to defend your own destiny. It's not the first time you fled either. However, this was the moment when you stopped trying to defend your destiny alone. This was the first time you fought for others as well, and in doing so . . . you discovered a greater portion of your destiny. If you still had your cutie mark in that world, I guarantee it would have been shining and shimmering brightly at that moment.”
“In a way, it did,” Sunset says with a grin as she witnesses her past self “pony-up” in a magical girl transformed state. Since this is the first time she is witnessing this moment from an outside perspective, however, she pauses to admire the new outfit she had gained. After witnessing this, part of her wants to immediately go back to Rarity and encourage her to make Sunset a duplicate of that outfit.
“Watch this carefully,” Eventide encourages, “because something important happened to you after this moment.”
The scene does play out. Her friends also “pony-up”. They also start floating above the hill as they continue to sing more passionately and with greater harmony.
Sunset does not need a reminder of how important this moment was. Witnessing it now from an outside perspective pales in comparison to being in that moment. She remembered how much her heart and soul filled with light as she sang alongside her friends. Never, before that moment, had she known such joy.
However, as the scene plays out, she finally notices something she overlooked at the time. Down below, she notices how others in the crowd in front of the stage swayed and lifted their hands in joy as well. They also sang. As they raised their own voices, they, too, joined in harmony with her friends.
“That's it!” Eventide commends. “Now you see it. Now you see what a leader can do.
“Certain things in life will always have a greater impact on others if it resonates with their hearts and souls, and what you've done on that day reflects a greater truth most have forgotten when they are born. On that day, the illusion of separation was stripped away somewhat, revealing the greater truth behind it for one glorious moment.
“Behold.” Eventide gestures above with a wave of a hoof. Sunset looks and witnesses a giant alicorn astral horse form in the sky. Eventually it shoots a giant rainbow beam down below which shatters the astral images of the Sirens’ ghost as well as the dark magic gems that empowered them.
After that, the scene before them fades away, once again replaced by the uninterrupted image of the ancient forest around them.
“Do you now realize why that magic was so powerful back then?” Eventide checks with her daughter.
“I believe I do,” Sunset answers. “I already knew it to some extent. I felt the magic rise from within me as I bonded with my friends, but I didn't realize I made such an impact on the audience as well. They must have added the strength of their spirit to the spell also.”
“Exactly!” Eventide agrees with a curious emphasis on the middle syllable of that word. “Now you are catching on . . . and also realizing the contribution you offer to a greater degree. Your strength comes from others. You, in turn, empower them.” Eventide waves a hove from left to right then back to left as she says, “Back and forth. Ever growing. Ever evolving. Ever changing.”
Sunset widens her eyes as she recalls something, then brings up a new subject by saying, “Speaking of changing, I noticed all the changes you made to Sire's Hollow. Why did you do that? Also, why did you leave all your land, money, and title to Luster Dawn? She told me she didn't want the job, and she also said that Stellar Flare did. I want to understand your reasoning so I can explain it to them later.”
Eventide sighs as she looks off to her right side while saying, “As I said, mortal affairs don't interest me as much as they used to. I've moved on to far greater things and challenges since then.” She looks back at her daughter. “But, if it helps, I'll explain my motives at the time.
“The thing about my past that was the major catalyst for this decision started when you left and I realized you probably wouldn't come back. I spent so much of my hopes and investment in you because I was convinced that the duties I upheld, on behalf of my citizens, is a legacy that is important to continue, but when you left . . . my options became largely uncertain. That confusion is on top of the pain of losing you.”
“I'm so sorry for that, Mother,” Sunset conveys emotionally. “I didn't mean to hurt you.”
“Yes, you did,” Eventide immediately retorts. “I've seen into your heart during my life review. You absolutely did want to hurt me at the time, but I now understand why you did it. I have forgiven you and since moved on to higher pursuits.”
Sunset looks down with a frown, realizing her mother has a point. There was a time in her life when she felt vindictive enough to hope that her mother got hurt by leaving Equestria.
This is definitely a secret Sunset would not have chosen to reveal on her own. It feels so unfair that her mother has such an advantage over her now.
“But I also know that you are being sincere now,” Eventide went on. “Know that I've already forgiven you and have since moved on, and know that I'm aware of and acknowledge your apology now.”
“It's from the heart,” Sunset assures honestly.
Eventide nods as she says, “I know.
“Anyway, dealing with the loss of my daughter was quite a shock for me on multiple levels. It meant I lost some face in the eyes of my peers, but more importantly . . . it meant I lost somepony I loved. It also put a lot of my plans in chaos. For the longest time, there was no resolution to this inner conflict. It just sat . . . unresolved . . . for so many years.
“But then the events of the rest of Equestria continued to unfold, and I took notice of some of them. I read and heard rumors about the heroics of Princess Twilight and her friends, but for the longest time . . . this was information I became acquainted with only distantly. Tirek, for example, never invaded my lands yet, nor stole our magic. Since he had Discord's help at the time, I imagine he eventually would have gotten to my citizens if Tirek wasn't stopped, but as it stood . . . my lands stood immune to that particular conflict. Some of my ponies weren't even aware of that fiasco at all until a few moons later. We do live in a pretty isolated community. There was a time in our history when that was the entire point of our community.
“However, after the invasion of the Storm King, I realized something very important, for you see . . . the Storm King and his army hail from lands beyond known Equestria at the time, and within them . . . there are many races we were not familiar with. Now, I realized that ignorance had a significant impact on both sides at one time because that ignorance was mutual. They didn't know about us and we didn't know about them. Both sides left each other alone . . . until the Storm King's invasion. That invasion proved to me that whatever is out there beyond known Equestria . . . they are aware of us now. What's more, they became aware of us first, it seems. As a result, they had more time to prepare for that encounter. We, on the other hoof, reeled from the culture shock for quite a long time. In fact, I am convinced that social impact continues to linger to this day, for it is yet not fully resolved.”
“But that's why you did it, isn't it?” Sunset realizes. “You were attempting to acclimate our society to the lands beyond.”
“Acclimate and mutually influence,” Eventide clarifies. “I realized that, now that they are aware of us and they have airships, they are coming one way or another. It's too late to stop that inflow, so I figured that, by inviting them myself, I could channel that flow. I heard rumors of some aggressive trends from some of those races. They are coming too. However, by inviting them to the one place that I had power and influence over, I sought to educate both the immigrants and my pony citizens to get used to each other. I also hoped to help quell some of the newcomer’s more aggressive tendencies. Many of them are meat-eaters, don't forget. I had to find a way to peacefully coexist with them or we'd find ourselves on their next dinner plate over and over again.
“By inviting them to my town under controlled conditions, that also permitted me a chance to study them more closely. That information could help govern future decisions. I knew many hard choices had to be made, and I also knew that a bad choice not only had the potential to doom my citizens, but all of Equestria at large, for I knew the pattern that starts here will reflect all across Equestria and many generations that follow. If we made a poor impression now, we may not live to regret our doom later.
“One frightening thing I soon learned about them is that they significantly outnumber us in the lands beyond Equestria. Mind you, not each individual race. If I were to measure that aspect alone, then it is we who outnumber them, and that typically by a wide margin. However, with all of their many varied races combined, they can easily overwhelm our pony population. In the long gallop, they hold a significant advantage over us.
“There are some important advantages in our favor too. The ability to influence the environment, for example, but that largely only applies within Equestria. I didn't know why during life, but I understand the reason for that now. I'll just say we had a powerful ally for quite some time which attempted to support harmony in our lands while simultaneously suppressed itself.
“They are coming, Sunset Shimmer. They are coming and they are not going to stop coming. Trust me on this. I didn't need the ability to see or travel through time, like I can now, to know this. I foresaw this pattern a long time ago, but inviting them in on positive terms leaves a positive impression. It is important to gather as many allies as we can right now while we can, or we could find ourselves too surrounded by enemies later. The entire point of our ancestors fleeing to these lands in the first place was in the hopes of promoting prosperity and harmony. In a way, they want the same thing. We just need to gently encourage them to realize that.
“As for why I gave my land, money, and title to Luster Dawn, I felt she was the better pony to support my vision, hopes, and dreams. Originally, I would not have said that because she was too cloistered with her books, just like her father before her. However, ever since becoming Princess Twilight's student, she was encouraged to find more friendship. Given her moniker of 'Princess of Friendship', that is not altogether too surprising.
“Luster found that friendship, too, but perhaps more importantly is the fact that I happen to know that some of her new friends are non-pony races. As a result, I became aware that she already grew accustomed to the idea of having non-pony friends. I can't say the same for many of my citizens, however, including Stellar Flare. I wouldn't call her too much of a racist either, but it's clear to me that Stellar would have been more interested in the business and financial front of my Duchy. That's valuable too. Luster would be a wise pony if she relied upon Stellar on the financial front as well as organization, but within my family alone, Luster is the best choice for the future of Sire's Hollow on a social front. That, in turn, could have a profound impact on the rest of Equestria moving forward.”
“Wow, Mother! I'm impressed!” Sunset exclaims. “I certainly can't blame you for a lack of foresight.”
Eventide shrugs as she says, “That's part of my job. I have to protect my little ponies. To do that, I have to remain aware of what could endanger them.
“Events are unfolding and changing all around us, my daughter. I sense it's gathering momentum as well. Old traditions can shield us for a time, but eventually, that defense will collapse. It is like the ocean waves eroding the rocky shores. One could resist change for a time, but change will inevitably occur eventually. To best ensure the most prosperous future for my citizens and, indeed, our entire race . . . adaptation will be required.”
“I'll be sure to pass on that message to those who may be concerned,” Sunset promises. “Unless, of course, you don't want me to.”
Eventide passes her daughter a scolding but also amused smirk as she says, “Since when are you in the habit of listening to me?”
When she said that, Sunset heard the distant echo of the old mother Eventide once was. But, for once, instead of irritating her, the nod to nostalgia instead made her heart fonder.
“I follow my own destiny, Mother,” Sunset assures. “Whether that is against or in support of your advice is up to me to decide, and for my part . . . it depends what you say. For now, your advice is making a whole lot of sense to me.”
“It resonates with your heart, doesn't it?” Eventide asks with a knowing grin. “Since you've known me last, I have learned how to communicate on a much deeper level. That ability extends to perception as well.”
Sunset pauses a moment to check with herself if she has anything else important to say. After a moment of inner debate, she looks at her mother and says, “Earlier, you said you now have the ability to see and travel across time. Because of that, do you happen to know what the problem is with the one I've been sent back here to heal?”
A wise look sinks into her mother as she answers that question with a question of her own. “Why ask that question when you already know what my answer will be?”
Sunset sighs, then asks, “You're not going to tell me, are you? Because you either don't want or not allowed to interfere with free will, and knowledge of the future can do that.”
“There is a reason free will exists,” Eventide assures, “else it wouldn't exist. Growth would not occur in an existence where change isn't possible, and change in a stagnant reality without free will is meaningless.
“However, I will follow up that declaration with some advice. Do as you have always done, my daughter. Follow your heart. It hasn't led you too far astray, and I believe it will continue to lead you to the right answers eventually. Expect some challenges and detours along the way, like this one. Challenges are also very much a part of the deliberate design of the physical plane. The obstacles are meant to encourage growth, and not just for you alone. Many others will join you on your journey as well, at least for a time.
“Your destiny is like a road. You choose your course whenever you encounter a fork in the road. Others travel the road too, and it can diverge in an infinite number of other possible paths. Some may trot with you for a short while and others significantly longer. Either way, the important thing is the growth that occurs during the journey.”
A moment of silence passes between them. During that time, Sunset does not know what else to say. She feels so overwhelmed by so many options and questions that it paralyzes her from any action or question. Above all, her greatest fear is that the most important question will occur to her only when it's too late to ask.
In response, Eventide applies a hoof to her daughter's cognitive perception of a shoulder as she says, “Do not fret, little one. You are well equipped to deal with your questions and challenges on your own. You've proven a long time ago how independent you can be, and yet your greatest source of strength comes to you when you inspire and share the company of others. Remember your own vows and who you are. Whatever may come, you can deal with this. Even if you can't, you'll have plenty of others who will be willing to lend a hoof, and you earned that right. You earned it by being their friend.
“As for us, we'll see each other again, of course. For those like us who no longer bound by mortal restraints, time is meaningless. It's simply another direction we can choose to persue, just like choosing a physical direction to travel. I can meet you again at the end of your life upon my very next encounter, and that's fine. I'm content with that.
“Carry through with your life while knowing that I am content and at peace, for I do not wish that uncertainty to burden your future. There is too much else that you'll need to focus on.
“That is the reason I have invited you here, my daughter. I wanted you to know this so you'll have this closure. Also, I wanted to convey one other important message. This particular one you'll find rather typical of those of us who dwell above.”
Proceeding that statement, Eventide hugs her daughter. More than that, she projects her love into her daughter. Not forcefully. It feels more like a warm glow. But, when Sunset accepts it into her heart, it fills her and penetrates every fiber of her being. It's warm, powerful, and utterly sincere.
Tears fill Sunset's virtual eyes.
“Thank you, Mother . . . for joining me on my journey for as long as you have,” Sunset says tearfully.
“Our paths will cross again,” Eventide assures as she parts from her hug. “In the meantime, take care . . . and enjoy your journey as much as you can. Whatever else may come, there is value in appreciating your life during your life instead of merely waiting to experience that at the end.”