//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: Don't Cry Because It's Over...Smile Because It Happened. 
// by cerealkiller78 
//------------------------------//

Twilight walked down the white hallways of the hospital, knowing exactly where she was going. She had been here often enough.

She was the ruler of Equestria now. She had duties, and she didn't come here often enough...she never had. That was her biggest regret. Now they were gone. All of them, save for one. She had been attempting to make up for the lost time that she would never get back. She was coming to visit as often as she could. But it was too little, too late. They were all gone...and soon, Sunset would be gone too.

When she became ruler of Equestria after Celestia and Luna had retired, she, along with her friends had gained longevity of life like the previous rulers...but that did not transfer to her friends in the human world.

It had been many years. Sunset Shimmer was now 95 years old. She was the last of Twilight's friends in the mirror world that was still alive. Principal Celestia had died of a heart attack when she was 85. Luna got Alzeimer's when she was 80, and died when she was 83, not remembering anybody...Twilight had to admit she did not see her very often during that time...she couldn't. It was too painful seeing her like that.

Applejack had passed at 79 years old, though she left behind a lasting legacy that nobody could have predicted from the country girl. She had gotten into electronics, and became so successful, that she started her own line of digital devices, naming her brand after her own family: Apple.

Pinkie had become a world-class baker, pastry and cake decorator, and party and event planner. She had her hands full 24/7, and she loved every minute of it...she died in a head on car crash at 59 years...It had been devastating to everyone. Pinkie...so full of life...gone in a heartbeat.

Rarity became a famous fashion designer, known all over the world. She died at 80 years, not too long after Applejack.

Rainbow Dash decided she wanted to move on from sports, surprisingly, to take to the skies. She got her pilot's license, and eventually joined the famous Sky Bolts. She flew with them for 15 years...until a tragic crash. She was 52 years old.

Fluttershy became a psychiatrist, one of the best in the country. She retired at 75, and passed at 85.

This world's Twilight became world renown, earning a nobel prize for her scientific advancements, and discovering a cure for cancer. The world mourned her passing at 86 years. A monument was built in her honour.

Twilight went to the human world undercover since then...it wouldn't quite do for an exact carbon copy of such a famous recently deceased person to be galavanting around, or wandering the halls of the hospital right now.

As for Sunset...she and Flash had gotten back together and had gotten married. They even had a child, a boy, which they named Solar. 

Sunset and Flash had pretty ordinary lives compared to the others. Sunset had managed to snag an office job, which had been a miracle, considering she still had little identification in the human world.

She and Flash worked like the average middle-class worker, providing for themselves, and their child.

When Solar was 25 years old, and off at college, Sunset and Flash recieved a devastating phone call. Solar had been in a car crash, and had died on impact.

They lived the rest of their lives childless. Flash passed at 78 years.

Twilight arrived at the room in which Sunset was staying. Taking a hold of the doorknob, she turned it and entered. Inside the room, the occupant laid in bed. She didn't much leave it anymore.

Twilight approached the bed. The frail old woman occupying it had grey hair. There was no sign that it had ever been a fiery red and gold. Those days were long gone, never to be seen again. Her once perfect skin was now full of wrinkles and creases. Her entire appearance held the effects of time, and the changes it brought. No matter how many times Twilight saw Sunset this way, she felt as though she would never get used to it.

Where had the time gone? Twilight could have sworn the fall formal fiasco just happened a year ago. Who was this fragile old woman on the cusp of death? Where were her other friends from this world?..

Gone.

The old woman's eyes fluttered open, staring off at nothing, really.

"Hi Sunset." Twilight tried to say cheerfully.

A blink. No other response than continued staring off into space.

Twilight frowned. "Hello Sunset." She tried again, a little louder this time.

The old woman's eyes glanced her way, recognition dawning.

"...Twilight?" She said faintly. "When did you get here?"

Twilight chuckled. "Not long ago at all. I just got here. How have you been?"

"Tired..." Sunset grumbled. "I tell you Twilight, getting old sucks. I envy you. All these years...and to still be full of youth."

"Ya, I can't blame you for that." Twilight agreed. "Have you heard anything from the terrible trio?"

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Aria and Adagio are still old grumps. Although, Sonata does talk to me from time to time. I doubt Adagio or Aria know."

"hmm, same old huh? I guess some things never change."

"Too few things...it seems like the things that do change are the ones that should stay the same, and those things that don't change, are the ones that should." She sighed. "Life's not fair."

"No, it's not." Twilight agreed. Slight anger in her voice. "When I took over ruling Equestria, nopony told me that I'd aquire long life, and have to watch my friends come and go...for who knows how many years now?.. I could almost wish I wasn't Equestria's ruler now..."

Sunset looked at her, gaze hard suddenly. "Don't you ever say that Twilight Sparkle. You're going to help so many ponies, and you already have. If you don't believe me, all you have to do is look right in front of you, as you are doing right now."

"But would you want this Sunset? If our roles were switched right now, and I were in that bed, and you were now ruling Equestria, not knowing how many friends you would have to see get old and..." Twilight couldn't finish the sentence, tears already in her eyes. "Would you want that??"

Sunset had no answer for that.

"I don't...I don't want that..." Twilight said quietly. "I don't want it to end."

"All things come to an end Twilight. There is nothing we can do to stop or change it. But we shouldn't be sad. Rather, we should be happy and thankful for all the memories that were made. So don't cry because it's over...smile because it happened."