//------------------------------//
// Live and Learn 
// Story: What If? An Alternate Universe Collection. 
// by Trickquestion 
//------------------------------//

	It was over. Twilight Sparkle had pulled the Elements of Harmony from within her human friends and vanquished Sunset Satan, who now lay in a smoking crater, returned to human form. Twilight cleared her throat for a lecture about friendship when a scream rang.
"I. WILL. NOT. BE. BEATEN!" Sunset shrieked in rage. She gripped the fallen crown in her hands, red energy surging over her body. In a flash, she had vanished into the sky.
All was quite for a moment, until something caught Trixie's eye. "Look! Up in the sky!" She said while pointing, drawing every human's eye to a pulsating red star that had seemingly flickered into existence, and seemed to be steadily growing brighter.
Flash Sentry rushed to his van, only a few feet away due to the unorthodox parking job he did on the football field in his rush to bring Twilight to her friend's side. Though he nearly tripped over his trench coat, he dug out a portable telescope in short order, and focused it on the anomaly. "Great Scott!" He exclaimed. "Sunset's gone mad! She's fused herself with the International Space Station, and is dragging it out of orbit to collide with the planet! The destruction will be immense!"
Almost everyone present began to scream and panic, rushing away in a futile attempt to reach safe ground. The only one not overcome were the Element Holders, Trixie and Sentry. The five normal girls were looking, worried, to Twilight for guidance. 
"Flash, do you still have those earpieces?" The prom queen asked. Flash Sentry nodded. "Me and Trixie each need one." Once they had been handed off and linked to a radio also in Flash's van, Twilight went to her friends, and collected the five magic amulets that had materialized for their friendship beam. She went over to Trixie. "Are you ready?"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is always ready."
The five elements floated into the air, glowing from within, and began to spin around the two girls, until only a single band of Rainbow light could be perceived. Suddenly, it ended, and in a flash of light, Twilight and Trixie had gone Super Sayian.
The two rocketed into the atmosphere, ready for the final battle. As they approached the incoming mass, they gasped in horror. Sunset had somehow fused with the space station, her twisted red form seeming to grow out of it. Suddenly, their earpieces crackled to life.
"Twilight, Trixie, can you hear me? This is Rarity! We're all cheering for you down here! Bring that bitch down!"
The two looked to each other, confident grins now on their faces. They rocketed forward together, at last catching the attention of the horrible creature. Sunset shrieked, hurling bolts of energy at them. The two dived and twisted to dodge, then retaliated with a combined blow to her face. In agony, Sunset's remaining arm lashed out and swatted Trixie. Her golden light began to flicker.
"Trixie, fall back and concentrate your energy! I'll handle this!" Twilight called out. Trixie darted off beyond the monster's range, while the Element of Magic plunged in, weaving between purple energy beams. "Hey Sunset, you're looking pretty big in that dress!"
That remark agitated the creature enough to let loose a full strength mouth blast, which caught Twilight dead on. The Element of Magic managed to hold firm against the burst, but felt like it would overwhelm her shortly.
"Twilight, are you there?" A squeaky voice came to life in her ear. "You're the strongest, kindest, most magical mare I've ever met! You can take that big bully down!" Resolve overwhelmed her, and with a scream Twilight returned all the energy back to Sunset Satan, delivering a massive blast.
That stunt took a lot out of Twilight though, and for a moment she floated helplessly, the gigantic, cruel eyes of Sunset Satan staring her down. The monster's gaze was broken, however, when the Great and Powerful Trixie returned to the fray, ramming into the back of Sunset's neck and grabbing her in a chokehold. "You didn't think the Great and Powerful Trixie would let Purplesmart have all the fun, did you creep?" Trixie gestured to Twilight. "Get to safety and recharge. Trixie's got this."
Trixie tightened her hold on Sunset's neck as the monster clawed uselessly at Trixie with her one arm. Suddenly, Trixie began to feel hot, and the space around her seemed to be gaining a faint tone of orange.
"Trixie, we're in danger!" Came the voice of Flash Sentry. "The station is beginning re-entry! I don't know how much of it will burn up, but we've likely got about five minutes before impact!"
In response to this, Trixie pulled harder, but had to release Sunset and dodge to avoid several incoming spheres of magic. Continuing to avoid Sunset's new trick, Trixie's charged herself up and rammed into Sunset's right eye.
The magical monstrosity howled in pain, using its one arm to cover the struck optic as a drained Trixie floated away from the mare and machine mass. Twilight flew up beside her, patted her on the back and charged in.
This time, Satan was ready. The distance between her and Twilight was littered with magic spheres, and she was cutting loose with the energy beams. Twilight went in regardless, weaving between the beams and blasts. "Don't given up Twilight! That's ol' blockhead ain't got a clue what's she's up against!" 
Twilight wasn't quick enough though, and a sphere made contact, detonating and throwing the purple mare a ways away from her target. Twilight felt the magic of Harmony beginning to run dry within her, and glanced over to Trixie, who's golden form was already flickering as she tried to maintain her super form.
"Twilight, I know we haven't know each other for that long, but... You're the most amazing girl I think I've ever met! If anyone can save us, it's you!" 
Twilight pitched and weaved once again, avoiding several near hits. Upon penetrating Sunset's defenses, Twilight concentrated all of her power together, and launched one devastating punch into Sunset's chest. The blow exploded with energy on impact, throwing Twilight away, higher into orbit. When the flash faded though, Twilight could see that she succeeded! Sunset's twisted form now hung limply off the station.
The danger had not passed though, as the station was still moving towards Earth. Despite how low on energy she was, Twilight flew into the object's path, determined to send it back where it came from. Just as she charged, she saw Trixie join her side.
"You're not doing this alone Sparkle!"
"But Trixie..." Twilight said, noting that the other girl had even less energy then she did. She found herself hushed by the magician's next words.
"Come on Sparkle, no way that thing's getting through!" Said Trixie, her typical cocky bravery mixed with steel resolve. 
Twilight nodded. "Alright, let's do this!" 
The two combined their power, creating a bright ball of rainbow light, brighter then the entry glow that was getting ever stronger. When it was ready, they shot it away at the space station. The magic rapidly consumed the plummeting object, returning it to a safe orbit.
The cost was great however, as Trixie's super form had lost power completely, causing her to plummet towards the earth she just saved, a content look on her face. "Heh. Looks like you might be Trixie's equal after all..." Where her last words before her comm transmitted only crackles and static.
Twilight returned to the parking lot she and Trixie had flown away from, her super form giving out as she hovered a foot from the ground. The joy quickly left everyone's faces when they confirmed with their eyes that Trixie had not survived. Twilight held in her hands the scorched, twisted remains of the crown, now devoid of magic. A small grin cracked on Twilight's face, and with the last of her magic, sent the crown hurling into the air, where it exploded, over and over, painting Trixie's cutie mark across the sky.
"We did Trix." Twilight whispered, her smile becoming bittersweet.
It finally hit the rest of the crowd that they had survived the imminent disaster, and the "I just avoided death" euphoria broke out right away. Cheers and shouting and dancing broke out amongst the students, and anyone else who was aware of what happened.
Flash came to Twilight's side and gently gripped her hand ad they both looked up at the moon. Both would later claim to have seen the faint outline of the sacrificed showgirl across the sky, giving the earth that confident smile of hers.