This time the magenta burst seemed to cover the entire world. Sunny Starscout was standing with Princess Twilight Sparkle just outside her home. When Sunny looked down at herself, she appeared translucent, like a ghost. Night had already fallen, and there were a few lights on in the building.
"You live in a lighthouse? What a perfect metaphor for the one to return Harmony to Equestria," whispered Twilight, smiling. "I've made us invisible. We can pass through walls as well. It's best if we interact as minimally with the past as... oh."
Sunny was crouched on the ground, holding her hoof over her mouth in nausea. "That... that was not a fun trip," she said, standing on shaky legs. "S-sorry."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I forgot how much of a toll this would take on your body, even though you're an alicorn," whispered Twilight. "I think you're younger than I was when I transcended, though not as young as my sister Cadance. It's recent, yes?"
Sunny nodded. "Yeah. It happened as soon as I returned magic to ponykind."
"I assume your father helped. How many generations did it take your family?" asked Twilight.
"He helped, sure, but it all took about... three days, I think?" said Sunny.
"Three days?!" said Twilight, a little too loudly, then she lowered her voice. "You united the Tribes after centuries of strife in only a few days? Wow! Talk about earning your wings and horn."
"Well, my friends helped," said Sunny. "Honesty was the bad guy, actually, but he got better."
"I'm sure AJ would have loved that story," said Twilight, and the expression on her face grew wistful.
"Twilight, when exactly are we?" whispered Sunny, looking around.
"Due to my weakened magic, I had to anchor us to the timeline by choosing a window near to a large emotional event. I think this is the night your father... it's the last night you spent with him," she whispered back.
"I... right," said Sunny, swallowing a mouthful of air. "Okay, if we walk very quietly through that part of the building, we'll be in his room. He's very ill... I don't suppose there's anything you can do to prevent him from dying?"
Twilight shivered momentarily, then shook her head. "It's too difficult. I don't have my full powers this far from where I live, and it's taking all my energy just to maintain our invisibility. Plus, dangers in messing with the timeline..."
"Right, I understand. Um, Twilight?"
"Yes, Sunny?"
"Thank you for doing this," said Sunny, smiling sadly.
Twilight smiled back. "Let's go see this wonderful stallion of yours."
They walked through the wall into his room. Argyle Starshine was lying in bed. He coughed a few times into a dirty handkerchief smeared with red.
In front of him was Sunny Starscout, but not the invisible one. This Sunny was a foal of around fifteen years of age.
"So I think tomorrow we should try the new vitamin cocktail Phyllis came up with. I know it isn't scientific, but it can't hurt—" she said, then stopped talking as she noticed her father looking around the room. He sniffed at the air and his brow pulled low as though searching for something he couldn't see.
"Dad?" said Sunny.
"Oh. I'm sorry, dear," said Argyle. "Sunny, listen to me. I have something very important to tell you."
"Sure, Dad. Everything you say is important, though. What is it?"
"I love you, daughter, and... I won't always be here for you, you know. There's a reason I've made plans for your early emancipation—"
"Don't be ridiculous!" said little Sunny, and her hoof trembled against the bedpost. "You, you'll be fine, worrywart. You have to be fine, you're my Dad."
"Sunny, please," said Argyle, and he coughed again.
"I need to find that medical textbook. I wanted to show you something," said the filly. "I'll be back in a few minutes, okay?" Without waiting for a response, she turned and trotted out of the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Twilight Sparkle looked down at the Sunny who had traveled with her. Her face was streaked with tears, but she stood tall. The sniffling sound was unavoidable, however.
"Who is it?" said Argyle. "I believe in the old legends, but even I'm skeptical of the specter of Death."
With a flash, Sunny and Twilight appeared before Argyle. Sunny leaned over the bed and held him, and she cried.
Twilight Sparkle wiped her eyes as well. "I asked your daughter if she wanted a spell to keep her from crying," she said softly, "but when she said 'no' I figured it wouldn't be fair for me to cast it only on myself. Oh, sorry. I'm Twilight Sparkle, pleased to meet you."
Argyle wasn't crying. He smiled and petted his daughter's mane until she was able to lift herself from the bed and wipe her eyes. "Oh, I know who you are, Princess. Argyle Starshine at your service, though I hope you'll forgive me for not rising," he said. "Sunny! Are you... an alicorn?" he said, with a gasp.
She nodded. "Y-yeah," she said. "I united the Tribes and brought magic back, about... four years from now."
Argyle chuckled softly, and then shed a few tears himself. "Of course you did. And here I thought I couldn't be more proud of you. How foolish of me," he said. "It really is my time, isn't it?"
Sunny nodded. "I come back in a few minutes and when I find you..." she said, and sighed. "It was so hard, Daddy! It isn't fair. You were the best of all of us, and... you just... left. This was the saddest day of my life, and I'm sure it always will be."
"I didn't mean to abandon you, love," he said. "I'm so sorry. You know I fought like Tartarus to stay here with you, but I'm just a pony. I only had so much to give."
"It isn't your fault," said Twilight. "But I assume we don't have much time. I brought Sunny here so she could speak with you before... you know."
"I hope this isn't reopening old wounds," said Argyle. "But I never dreamed I'd see the Guardian of Magic herself before passing on. This is the second best gift I could have imagined, next to seeing how much you've grown. How could I ask for more?" He coughed again, wincing.
"Thank you for everything, Dad," said Sunny. "You're a part of me, you know? You're the reason I have these," she said, spreading her wings. "It's so hard to let go, but you were right about Twilight's theory."
"I look forward to my next adventure, then. And someday, eons from now, spending time with you again," he said, and coughed. "I wish it didn't hurt so much, though! Dying isn't any fun."
"This might be an unethical suggestion, but... I can make it painless for you," whispered Twilight. "Sunny?"
Sunny nodded. "Is that okay, Dad?"
Argyle smiled. "Sure. Let's end this iteration on a high note," he said, then reached his hoof out to Sunny. "I'm sorry this was the saddest day of your life, Sunny, because it was the happiest day of mine."
Sunny Starscout reappeared in the ruins of Griffinstone without Twilight Sparkle. She was lying on the floor, cheeks wet, and gasping for breath.
"Sunny?" asked Izzy, gently lifting her to her hooves.
Sunny's face looked terrible, but she was smiling. "Let's go home," she said, as the entire group hugged her tight.
"Ugh. I had no desire to get pulled into a group hug," said Sprout, as his muzzle wrinkled up oddly, his pupils dilated, and his eyes moved rapidly from side to side.
"We should probably go help Sugar," said Zipp. "She's been complaining about her head being stuck in a crack for the past ten minutes."
"I'm actually starting to feel bad for her," said Pipp.
"Yeah, probably should have done something about that," said Hitch. "We just didn't want to leave the area while you were away. Oh, and Sprout?"
"Yes, Sheriff Hitch?" said Sprout, standing at attention.
"At ease, Deputy. Would you like to catch a viewing of the Director's Cut of Horns with me this Tuesday night? Apparently they re-cut it as a comedy to make it more 'pony correct'," said Hitch.
"Ugh, 'pony correctness', this is all your fault, Sunny... Wait, you want to watch it with me? Uh, sure, I like doing stuff with you," said Sprout, quickly looking down at his hooves.
"Great! It's a date, then," said Hitch, smiling.
Sunny Starscout giggled through the tears and smiled at Sprout Cloverleaf, who bore a confused expression on his muzzle. He leaned in to whisper to Izzy. "Did you just hear that exchange between Hitch and me?" he quietly asked.
"Sure did! What about it?" she whispered back.
"What the buck just happened?"