Prince Blueblood left the meeting of the Unicorn Estates General. He was angry that good sense had been betrayed by just a few misguided unicorns. How tragic it was that one of his more foalish remote ancestors had signed the Great Charter, turning the Unicorn tribe's ancient and storied monarchy into a common parliamentary democracy. At least they all still pledged their allegiance to a proper monarch: Princess Celestia.
He did allow himself a brief feeling of pride restored in his one consolation, a secret of which Princess Luna and even Minister Hoofing would not be aware. No matter what the usurping Princess really had in mind, she would have to do it without the last remaining unicorn Magical Relics. He smiled in satisfaction.
***
Glowball felt her stomach lurch upwards as it attempted to pass through her throat and exit her mouth, a thoroughly unpleasant feeling. From the cockpit she hear a piercing whine. "What's that awful noise?" she asked her companions.
Peter grabbed a seat and started buckling-in. "That is a stall alarm, and what it means is that this helicopter is not doing a very good job of staying in the air right now. We are currently plummeting back to earth." He looked at Glowball and did a double-take when he saw her smile. "What do you find so funny?"
Glowball held out Laura's cellphone at arms length and opened her hand. It felt a bit more slowly than normal. "We're not in free fall," she said still smiling, "but we are dropping fast." She picked up and re-pocketed the phone.
The intercom crackled and the pilot's voice filled the cabin. "Don't panic folks. We've had some strange electrical problems with the engine, so I set it to auger for a bit. Looks like the problem
has cleared up so I'm restarting now. Hang tight!"
The helicopter lurched and Glowball also discovered how it felt to have her stomach try to pay a visit to her lower intestine. This upright posture of humans certainly had its disadvantages, even if fingers and thumbs were pretty cool.
"We've lost the lock on the focal point!" shouted Etienne from the other bench.
"Can you project its expected current position and track?" asked Peter.
"Sure, give me a minute." He began typing furiously at the keyboard of his laptop. After what seemed like an hour but was likely at most two minutes the tech looked up. "Here it is." He pointed to the laptop screen. "They can also see this in CERN and Washington."
"Give me the iPad, please." Peter held out a hand to Glowball.
Her smile turned into a frown. "Now?" When Peter nodded she scowled and handed over the device.
"Sorry!" said Peter, "but we need it." He hit the intercom button to speak to the pilot. "We
can produce an estimated position of the target. Can you get us back on our old vector but two kilometers behind, and slowly catch up with the coordinates on an iPad?"
"We can give it a try," replied the voice from the cockpit, "but if that thing caused the problems with the electronics then maybe we should keep our distance."
Peter unbuckled, opened the cockpit divider and handed the pilot the iPad. "It's imperative we get as close as possible. But if you notice any electrical or electronic glitches then immediately back a hundred meters."
The pilot nodded, and the aircraft banked and lurched as they resumed their former course and altitude.
***
"Damn!" The Air-force Lieutenant was sitting in front of a huge screen with multiple open windows. One of these was the website from CERN, and the feed on the position of the focal point had suddenly gone haywire. "The feed from the chopper has turned to garbage."
Mary was standing behind him with the Vice President and half of the joint chiefs. The young military man looked back at her, obviously very nervous at having so much brass looking over. "Did we get enough data for a targeting lock on the focal point?" she asked.
"Yes, maam. But now we're running on projections, not live data. The longer this continues the less likely we'll be to stay on target. The array is charged. When can we fire?"
"Not until I give the signal, lieutenant. How wide will the strike zone be?" asked Mary.
"About a three millimeters," said the man with a grin. "This weapons array is all about precision!"
"Let's just track the estimated position for a bit. Don't fire until I say so."
"Yes, maam." He turned back to the screen. A moment later the window from CERN flashed and target numbers changed, and more numbers were presented than before. "Maam, the chopper's numbers are back, but unfortunately it says that this is only a projected location. Looks like they've lost the ability to track the target in real-time."
Mary bit her lip in frustration. She was beginning to get very nervous. Walker was scowling, and the generals and admirals behind her began to murmur and glance skeptically in her direction.
***
Princess Luna felt increasing anxiety from Glowball in the human universe, but dared not spare much attention to anything other than tracking the focal point. "Rainbow Dash!" she shouted out to the blue pegasus, who approached close enough to converse despite the noise of the wind. "I feel something strange happening with Glowball. Have Dr. Connor change back with her and report back to me quickly."
"Yes ma'am!" Dash peeled back and flew beside the carriage, knocking on the door with her hoof.
Twilight opened the door and she flew into the carriage, landing more or less on top her friend. "Sorry, Twi! Hey Spike, get the hat onto Dr. Connor, the Princess needs a report from Glowball."
The passengers in the cramped quarters made room for the dragon and pony to do as instructed. A moment later Glowball raised her head. "Hey, tell Princess Luna we got a problem using the tracking device. The flying machine can't get too close to the focal point or it starts having problems."
"Got it," said Dash. She opened the door and flew back to the Princess of the night.
"Princess Luna, they are having a problem. They can't get the tracking device close enough to the focal point because their flying machine starts having problems."
Luna pondered for a moment. "Get the carriage to come closer to me so I can board."
Ponyville's chief weather mare flew back to the carriage. It soon edged in closer to the Princess with the door open. Luna boarded in one graceful movement and looked out over the cramped group.
"We have a few challenges my friends, but they are not insurmountable if we all work together. The first is to get an accurate location for the focal point. Glowball, please tell them this exactly. Get into a safe position as close as they can, but then maintain a constant speed and direction. Via hat exchange, we will then tell them the exact position of the focal point relative to them, from which I believe they can compute the correct position in their world. Second is to synchronize our efforts. Twilight Sparkle you must switch with Mary, I need to get her report the human's status and instruct her as well on the timing of the energy release. We will attempt this in ten minutes if all is well. Everypony, let us make ready for the time for us to act is nigh."
Spike rushed over to Glowball do as requested.
***
Laura woke in the helicopter and looked to her assistant. "I'm back. Quick what is the status?"
She listened with dismay as Peter described the effect the focal point was having on the tracking device and the chopper, and the compromise he was able to work out with the pilot.
"Damn! The good news is that the Equestrians now have a lock on the focal point's position in their universe. The bad news is that this doesn't help us in ours. Any ideas, guys?" She looked at her two companions in the cabin. Her expression at first grim seemed to go vacant for a moment and then she shook her head, looked around and grinned as she spotted Etienne's laptop.
"I guess you must be Glowball again," said Peter raising an eyebrow.
"Yep!" she replied, still with a smile. "And I have instructions for you. Can you guys keep an absolutely constant course and heading?"
"We're already doing that, essentially following the previous vector of the focal point."
"Good! Then just keep doing it. The Princess can tell you where the focal point is relative to my position. Can you calculate the focal point's position in this universe based on this information?"
The tech nodded. "Sure, but I have a question. How far from the original site of the convergence are you in the other universe?"
Glowball thought for a moment. "Hmm. I'm not exactly sure, maybe a bit over two hundred kilometers. Why do you ask?"
"Because I have a thought that maybe the two universes do not have exactly the same scale of measurements. If that is the case, we will need to do a triangulation so we will need three readings from the other side. We'll instruct the pilot to go to two other spots at two minute intervals two minutes after the next exchange."
Glowball's smile reappeared. "Hey. That's really clever! I'll tell the Princess. They should be changing me back any minute..." Her eyes became vacant again. Peter moved to catch her just as she started to fold.
***
Twilight Sparkle looked out at the assembled humans, some wearing strange uniforms, and none of them smiling.
A burly man in a business suite spoke up in a decidedly sarcastic manner. "Are you having a hard time staying awake for the end of the world, Ms. Lachance?"
"Forgive me," said Twilight, thinking fast. "I just... closed my eyes to do a calculation." She breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, I calculated that we'll be firing in about ten minutes. Is that okay?" She looked around at the humans to see who might be the main recipient of that message. A human in uniform sitting before a computer screen, nodded.
"Yes ma'am. Same coordinates as the current projected track?"
Twilight thought furiously. "Yes, but I might provide some further refinements in the next few minutes. So you had better be ready."
The human at the computer screen stared at her for a moment before again saying "Yes, ma'am."
Twilight grinned sheepishly at the serious faces around her, wondering how she could possibly manage to keep this up for even another few minutes.
"Ms. Lachance. Might I have a brief moment of your time please?" It was the Vice-President, coming to her rescue!
"Absolutely, Mrs. Walker." She followed the human out of the war-room.
Once in the corridor the elder lady took her by the elbow. "Steady there, Twilight," she said with a wink and a grin. "You're doing fine. And do keep in mind that military folks aren't impressed by smiles. Just be calm. Is there anything you should tell me?"
"Princess Luna thinks she has a way to overcome the problem with the CERN tracking device. We should be ready to fire within ten minutes, or a bit less now. At the next exchange we'll have exactly one minute before firing." She looked at the the human leader she had only met briefly. "I guess this is goodbye, either way, Madame Vice-President. It was a pleasure meeting you." She took a breath. "And please tell Mary the same. I feel so close to her, even if we could only ever be pen pals." Twilight held out her hand as she had observed several humans to do at partings.
Mrs. Walker nodded and shook the preferred hand. "I feel much the same way about Minister Hoofing. Do give her my regards."
They went back into the war-room.
***
Abigail sat in Laura's overstuffed office chair, trying to stay awake. She looked for the upteenth time at the display showing the projected location of the point where the universes might collide. The red dot on the map was inching ever closer to Geneva. Who would have thought the end of world could be so boring?
But she was glad to be here in Laura's chair which smelled ever so slightly of her. It made her feel as if she were wrapped in Laura's embrace. Not a bad place to be at all, even if she was still miffed at her for not letting her onto the helicopter. She felt a twinge of fear thinking about it, but consoled herself in that at least she would be there when Laura returned.
So she sat in Laura's chair, watched the screen and tried to stay awake.
***
"So how accurately can you judge the distance and direction of the focal point?" Laura asked the Princess.
"To within millimeters. It is the actual position of Glowball's mental energy leakage from the human universe that is a bit more diffuse, on the order of several centimeters. Unfortunately that will be the best we can manage," replied Luna. "That reminds me." She turned to Sunset Hoofing. "Twilight Sparkle's brother was successful in derailing our dear Prince Blueblood. Please send out the general call to all unicorn mages, wizards and sorcerers to be ready to join in the energy discharge spell.
"That is indeed good news, your majesty," said Hoofing. "I will also get the Elements of Harmony and other magic sources ready." She left Luna and Laura to go speak with the mares in question.
"And now Dr. Connor, I need you to change back with Glowball for a final preparedness report. Spike, please bring forth the sleeping cap and send Dr. Connor back."
The little dragon approached as instructed. Laura lay down on the deck. The cap came down. Spike lifted it off and Glowball awoke immediately.
"Princess Luna! The humans propose we get three vectors, not just one, in order to do a proper triangulation so we can account for differences in scale. The first reading should be now, the second reading in two minutes and the third two minutes afterwards."
"These humans are indeed very clever. I should have thought of that possibility," said Luna. She quickly went to the carriage door, opened it and flew out.
***
Time Crescent was at home, crashed on the sofa and recovering from way too much dessert, when the 'General Call to Unicorn Magicians' manifested as a scroll levitating in the air before her. As a librarian she was more into the scholarship of magic than most unicorns, which might explain her receipt of the summons. It certainly was not because of her power, as magically speaking she was more about finesse than brute strength.
Royal Summons to Unicorn Magic Users
You have been selected by the crown as a unicorn of uncommon magical ability, and are requested herewith to unite in a common spell casting in order to save our world from catastrophe.
This effort will be led by Her Royal Majesty Princess Luna and assisted by Minister of Science Sunset Hoofing, who have been appointed to this office by Her Royal Majesty Princess Celestia.
Unicorns are to be ready to focus their magical energies in response to the call momentarily, and so are instructed to assume a safe and relaxed posture if possible for the duration of the summons.
By participating in this action your are contributing to not only to your own survival, but that of every single creature in our world. The Royal Sisters, as well as all of Equestria, thank you for your contribution.
This Royal Summons was issued under Royal Decree by Minister of Science Sunset Hoofing
TC wondered if this had something to do with the Princess' sudden appearance in the restaurant. It certainly sounded quite dire if the survival of everypony in Equestria was in question. No wonder Glowball had been so sentimental at dinner. She did a few mental exercises to try to calm herself and clear her mind while she waited.
***
Mary Lachance had a purple foreleg wrapped around Spike, much to his embarrassment and to the amusement of Twilight's friends. He hoped Rarity hadn't noticed, a thought that made his feelings about Mary even more confusing.
There was the sound of a hoof knocking on the carriage door. Glowball opened it to let Princess Luna enter. Her horn glowed as she wrote a list of coordinates on a sheet of parchment. As she gave the document to Glowball, her horn continued to glow and so did the grey mare's head. "Now you will remember this list perfectly. In a moment you will switch with Dr. Connor and give our human friends these coordinates. You will have one minute and then be returned immediately to help with our spell casting, but first Miss Lachance."
She beckoned to Mary and Spike, who approached, the latter with the sleeping cap. "We are ready and will engage the magical energy barrage two minutes after your consciousness is returned to your own body. Goodbye Ms. Lachance and good luck."
The Princess lifted a hoof before the human, who raised one of hers in response. Spike whispered to her: "You're supposed to tap hooves." Mary smiled and complied.
"Good luck your majesty, and goodbye." She lay down and blew Spike a kiss as he placed the hat on her head. He lifted it up and a moment later Twilight rose quickly.
"Welcome back Twilight. Now please go join the Elements of Harmony in preparing the energy discharge. Spike, exchange Glowball with Dr. Connor, wait one minute and then bring her back."
Glowball lay down before Spike and the hat fell and rose again. She looked up. "Did you succeed in securing the coordinates? We have the program ready to compute a precise location based on your inputs."
Luna answered. "Yes indeed. Glowball is relating the information to your comrades in the flying machine as we speak. We will return you momentarily, and begin the energy discharge one minute thereafter. Please advise your pilot to to leave the area as quickly as your conveyance allows. Dr. Connor, we thank you and your colleagues from the bottom of our hearts. Without all of you we very likely might not have been able to survive this day. You have our gratitude, and long will we remember you."
"It truly was an honor, your majesty. I also will never forget my day in Equestria and all the wonderful beings I have met. Good-bye all." She bowed to Princess Luna the way she had seen the other ponies do, then lay down next to Spike. Luna nodded and the dragon placed the cap on her head.
Glowball rose quickly. "The coordinates have been transferred, the vector of the focal point computed and the targeting information sent to washington. They are ready, your highness."
The carriage became quiet as Princess Luna looked at the serious faces around her. "This is the moment we have worked towards. The survival of all that we love depends on what we do today, and we shall need nothing less than everypony's utmost efforts. We owe this to ourselves, to our loved ones, and not least to Princess Celestia, who almost expired when she stood alone in our defense. Long has she been alone, a part of which was my doing and regret. But she is alone no longer. Let us now return the favor, and show my sister what her subjects can do!"
The carriage resounded as the gathered ponies cheered the Princess of the Night.
She gestured to Sunset Hoofing. "Please begin the spell casting. Elements of Harmony, join yourselves in power. Rainbow Dash, fly with me to target area. Miss Dash will focus the Elements of Harmony and I the remainder of the magical energies in our possession. Less loose in thirty seconds. Dash, you are with me." She opened the door and flew out, the blue pegasus following tight on her left wing.
***
Mary awoke in the war-room. "We have two minutes until we have to engage the array. Do we have target lock?"
The officer at the targeting station cast an annoyed glance in her direction. "Yes, ma-am. As I just informed you."
"Um, yes, thank you. Can you set up a countdown timer to shown the remaining time?"
"Yes, ma-am. We are at one minute fourty-five seconds and counting." A new window on his screen displayed the countdown.
She sat in silence, awaiting the possible end of the world, and all she could think of was how terribly clichéd the situation was. She tried not to let go a nervous laugh.
One minute thirty seconds and counting.
***
"Let's get out of here!" shouted Laura, forgetting that the pilot could hear everything going on in the cabin via a central microphone. In lieu of a verbal response the helicopter immediately banked hard to the right and raced away from the current position of the convergence focal point. The engine noise in the cabin became deafening, and she felt the belts across her waist and chest tighten as g-forces increased uncomfortably.
The sensation began to ease as the pilot leveled out at a much lower altitude. The engine noise receded enough that Laura could hear her heart-beat racing. She glanced up. Peter and Wind were looking at the laptop screen. It showed a countdown.
One minute and thirteen seconds.
***
Minister Hoofing sent out the signal initiating the gathering of energies for the spell. Her horn glowed progressively brighter as the signal spread throughout Equestria. She felt an incredible surge of magical power as thousands of unicorns joined-in.
The feeling of gathered might was incredible, so intense it was almost painful. Was this how it felt to be one of the Princesses? Yet the feeling continued to amplify further as more unicorns joined the spell casting.
Bright as Sunset's horn had become, it was outshone by the light coming from the Elements of Harmony, who were floating suspended in the air, their eyes projecting beams of light.
She momentarily marveled at the sight, and then shuddered as first the Elements and then Princess Luna joined the merger.
The sensation was like being on a train in a deep, dark mountain tunnel, turning a bend to see ahead the bright light of day, and then emerging onto a trestle bridge spanning a mile high chasm with nothing but sky on all sides. The minds of the unicorns in the merger seemed tiny and confining when compared to the collected Elements of Harmony. But even these were small when compared to the incredibly vast intellect of the Princess.
Sunset felt in Luna's mind so much power, a terrible beauty, and a deep remorse. But the dominant emotions projecting from the Princess were unflagging determination and heartfelt hope. Sunset felt herself carried aloft by feelings that were much stronger than any the old mare had experienced in many, many years. She also felt the attention of the Princess focus on her own much smaller presence in the merger, and was further uplifted by the unmistakable feeling of affection contained in that regard.
"It is time, Sunset Hoofing, prepare the objects of power," came the mental command. Then Luna's voice boomed like thunder through the merger. "Unicorns of Equestria. Bind your energies to this spell, and prepare to release it upon my command."
The magical artifacts that had been loaded into the carriage began to glow as Sunset grasped them with her magic, and concentrated on releasing their stored magical energy. She frowned as she encountered resistance. For some reason the objects were denying her!
Hoofing redoubled her efforts. Suddenly she was hit with a blast of pain so intense she was forced to let go. 'Why is this happening?' She thought furiously. Perhaps they would only respond to royalty.
She called out to Luna. "Princess, we have an issue with the Magical Relics. They are rejecting contact with me. I recommend you try."
There was a brief moment when the objects began to glow again. Then an incredible screech of pain reverberated through the merger.
"The objects have been cursed!" said Luna. We do not have the time to repair this now. We will have to proceed without them. Unicorns! Strike now!"
Sunset felt waves of power building as the collected magical energy poured into the vastness that was the Princess. The waves grew in intensity, and yet they were easily absorbed by Luna's presence in the merger.
"Elements of Harmony!" commanded the princess. The incredible power of the six young mares was like a tidal wave, and she felt the immensity of Luna shudder as it washed over her and was absorbed.
Everything quieted for a moment, and then Sunset has to fight for her balance as the universe quaked and trembled as Luna released the energy into the focal point of the convergence.
Dismay washed through the merger. "THERE IS... NOT ENOUGH... NEED MORE..." shouted the Princess.
Sunset felt the size of Luna in the merger start to shrink. She was consuming her own life force to bolster the energy discharge!
"No, Princess Luna!" Sunset felt tears in her eyes, realizing what would happen if this continued. She desperately tried to think of any alternative source of power. The only such she could feel in any proximity were the Magical Relics in the carriage.
Sunset realized that she had no other choice. She decided to break the curse by brute strength alone no matter the consequences.
Her horn glowed brighter as the objets started to levitate again. Sunset reached into them to unlock their magical power, and staggered as she was struck with massive pain. 'It will take more than a little pain to push this old mare off her course!' she thought to herself, and redoubled her determination.
The pain grew excruciating, but still she pushed on, nearly at the end of her own reserves. Finally, she began to get some energy feeding from the objects. One... more... push...HARD!
The energy became a deluge, pouring through her and into the merger like a torrent of fire. Sunset felt her hair start to singe with the heat. She could no longer breathe. Still, the energy coursed through her and burned in its passage. Through the merger she felt Luna's dismay at the damage Sunset was enduring, and still, the energy discharge was not enough.
Hoofing was finding it hard to stay focused. The humans... if only...
A new source of power washed through the pain, and she felt... release.
Sunset smiled. The pain went away. And then darkness.
***
The countdown timer in the war-room display hit zero. "Firing all units," said the officer at the console. Of course, in Washington no-one could see or hear anything of the incredibly focused pulse of energy being unleashed into the late evening sky not far from Geneva.
Mary bit her lip, and hoped.
***
They had a camera pointing backwards from the helicopter as it flew at top speed away from the convergence focal point. On the laptop screen showing the view from the camera, Laura, Peter and Etienne stared as a new star appeared. The light grew brighter and brighter as the most powerful lasers ever built all pumped energy into the same tiny spot of sky.
"How very beautiful!" said Laura. But would it be enough?
***
The energy discharge from the humans poured into the focal point. Luna felt the universes drawing apart through senses she would not even try to explain to Equestrians. She continued to pour more of herself into the discharge, until she was sure there was sufficient moment to keep the universes away from each other for a very long time. She let the merger spell dissipate.
She had not noticed how drained of energy she had become. How silly of her. No doubt Celestia and Sunset would give her a good tongue lashing... but first, she needed just a little rest...
Rainbow Dash saw Luna's wings fold and and the Princess start dropping like a stone. She quickly retrieved the unconscious alicorn from the air, and with some difficulty carried her back to the royal carriage.
The door opened at her knock and she flew in to a somber scene. Rarity was tending to Fluttershy, who seemed unconscious. The others were gathered around Twilight and Minister Hoofing. The younger mare was cradling Hoofing's head in her forelegs, with tears falling from her eyes as she rocked back and forth. Everypony else was doing their best to try to console the weeping mare.
A tearful Twilight looked up as Rarity helped lower Luna to the floor of the carriage. "Is the Princess okay?" she asked in a husky voice.
"Yeah, Twi. She just fainted I guess. Anyway she is breathing good an' strong," replied Dash. "What about the Minister? Is she..." She couldn't say the words out loud.
Twilight only nodded. After a moment she spoke to her friends. "Minister Hoofing decided to take on herself the entire impact of the curse on the Magical relics. She broke the curse, but at such a cost. In the end she had nothing left."
There was a noise as Princess Luna awoke. She looked on in dismay, slowly approached the pair on the floor, lay down next to Twilight and put a wing over both her and Sunset. "Miss Dash, please tell the coach ponies to bring us back to Canterlot," said Luna in a whisper.
The pegasus left without a sound. The carriage banked slightly and turned back towards Canterlot. Everypony silent, as a Princess sobbed in mourning.
***
"Have you recalibrated the detector?" asked Laura when Etienne had finished his feverish typing on the laptop keyboard.
"Yes, is should be working, but it can detect nothing." He opened another window on his laptop, typing a few quick strokes. "I have also check my filters for reports on anomalies on automated equipment. All levels have dropped to the usual background levels."
"Are you tracking all of Europe?"
"No. All of the Earth and near Earth devices. It would appear the focal point has disappeared entirely."
Peter rubbed his hands over his face. A huge grin cracked his otherwise exhausted countenance. "Wind, send a message to Washington that preliminary results indicate a strong likelihood of success. We will keep them posted in the coming weeks of any changes."
He knocked on the partition to the cockpit to get the pilot's attention. "Take us home."
***
Mary read the dispatch from the CERN helicopter aloud. The room erupted in cheers and a few generals even clapped hands. She practically flew to the VP to congratulate Mrs. Walker, who was shaking hands with the chiefs of staff. But she looked pale and something in her eyes brought Mary up short. "Congratulations, madame Vice-President," she offered in a subdued voice.
The old politician nodded and then took her arm. Her clasp was firm, but Mary could feel her trembling and the desperate need in that simple gesture.
"Thank you everyone, and thank especially you, Ms. Lachance, for bringing this important news to the right place. All of you have done your country and humanity proud!" Walker paused to let the renewed round of cheers and clapping die down. "Now Mrs. Lachance and I need to prepare our report for the President. Good evening all."
She clasped Mary's arm as the young woman led her back to office at a slow but steady pace.
When she closed the door to her office the Vice-President sank into a chair by the door. She was obviously upset.
"Are you alright Mrs. Walker? Should I call the House doctor?"
"No, Mary. Please sit with me," she replied, as tears started rolling down her face.
She held on to Mary's hand for a minute, as she visibly worked to regain her composure. "Mary, I must report that I felt what can only be the passing of Minister Hoofing."
Mary was shocked. She had no idea what to say. "How can you be sure?"
"In the final seconds before we fired the array, I began to feel as I did earlier when we exchanged. But this time, the process did not complete. It was as if I was half there, in a small wooden room with benches. There were some objects floating in the air before me, and I felt as if I was on fire. Then I heard the discharge and I felt Sunset Hoofing... leave." She covered her face in her hands, and wept at the memory.
Mary held the Vice-President of the United States of America in her arms, and mourned with her the death of a wise old pony.
After a few minutes, Mrs. Walker took a deep breath. "Please tell me something about her," she asked in a quiet voice.
Mary thought a moment, and smiled. "Well, the first time I met her she started dancing in office." She chuckled at the memory, and told the brief story of Sunset Hoofing's adventures in the White House.
***
Abigail waited at the edge of the pad as the helicopter landed and rotor stopped turning. The door opened and she ran headlong into Laura, grabbing her in a hug and giving her a very rare public kiss on the lips.
They waked arm in arm back to the VIP entrance of the CERN facilities, Peter and Etienne following closely. "Nice, but what was that for?" asked Laura.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was for saving the universe," said Abigail.
"Well, actually it was two universes. But who's counting?!"
"I knew it," said Peter from behind them. "Somehow, I suspected this would end up with the further expansion of Laura's ego."
"Yes, but this time is it truly cosmic inflation, no?" deadpanned Etienne.
They were still laughing as they entered the building.
***
It was a simple monument in the Royal Canterlot cemetery: an elderly unicorn mare, sitting on one flank, one foreleg supporting her upright torso, gazing down with affection at two identical orbs cradled in her other foreleg. The mare was elevated on a simple stone cube, with the words 'Sunset Hoofing: Minister of Science' inscribed on the front.
"I wonder how many ponies will see this statue and ask why she is holding two globes," said Twilight Sparkle.
"In my experience, one never knows how such stories will evolve over time. Perhaps they'll come to think these are the sun and the moon, and that this is a statue of our mother," replied Princess Celestia.
"Indeed," said Princess Luna, with a sniff. She had wept again at the funeral. "But I don't mind. I think Sunset would have found that amusing, as she had no offspring of her own."
"We were all her family," said Glowball. "She was tough on everypony at the Ministry, but she never, ever let us down. Never. It's like Twilight said, she gave everything so that we would live." Time Crescent nuzzled closer to Glowball. Her marefriend had been in turns cranky and inconsolable since returning to Canterlot. In lighter moments she joked about missing 'computers' and 'internets', but it was obviously much more than that.
The ponies stood quietly, each one recalling their own memories of Sunset Hoofing.
"She was the first new friend I made since returning from the moon," said Luna, breaking the silence. "I had forgotten the joy of simple fellowship, as I had the heartache of missing friends departed." She looked tentatively at the three unicorns standing with the princesses. "But I will carry on trying to make new friends. Sunset would have approved."
"Yes, she would," said Twilight, looking sideways at Celestia. "Someone has also recently made efforts to teach me the magic of friendship, for which I am truly grateful. Maybe we can compare notes once-in-a-while, Princess Luna."
"That sounds like an excellent idea. I believe I just might do so, Twilight Sparkle," replied Luna.
Over the trees they saw the Royal Carriage descend to the Castle courtyard. It was time to go, the Elements of Harmony were waiting to return to Ponyville. All the ponies but Luna turned to go. "I should like to stay a while. Pleasant travels and good bye, Twilight," said the Princess.
Twilight, Glowball and Time Crescent bowed, and departed with Princess Celestia.
Luna sat quietly before the monument. Soon, the sounds of birds and forest creatures
provided their gentle music as a background for her thoughts.
'The day can sometimes be as peaceful as the night,' said Luna in her mind, imagining she was conversing with Sunset. 'I had forgotten that the day is not always busy and full of hurry and noise. Your new home is quite pleasant. Perhaps I will come visit you upon occasion.' The face of her friend stared down at her from the monument, in mute approval. The face of her friend...
Luna's horn glowed. Text appeared on the monument's face below Sunset's name. "A True Friend."
The Princess of the Night smiled up at her friend, and enjoyed with her the peace of the day.
***
The two Princesses reclined together on cushions near the hearth in Luna's quarters. The elder Princess had recovered quickly in the three days since her overexertion, and was now ready to resume her duties.
"I can no longer feel the convergence. Barring further triggering events from the human universe, the situation should remain stable for the foreseeable future," said Luna.
"I agree, Luna dear. But I shudder to think what might have happened had you not been there," replied Celestia.
"Tia, the simple truth is that I could not have sufficed alone. That Equestria survives is entirely due to the wonderful progress you had made in bringing our subjects along the path to self-sufficiency."
"Nevertheless, there were some unfortunate gaps in my preparations." Celestia's ears drooped downward. "And somepony we both loved was lost."
"Do not blame yourself, sister. Had I better handled our dear Prince Blueblood he might have voluntarily informed us of the curse. Much of what I know of governance is so hopelessly outdated."
Celestia's ears shot forward. "Nonsense, little sister mine. You showed amazing adaptability and leadership under extreme pressure. And you earned the admiration of many of our subjects in the process."
"Truly?" Luna looked at her sister. Her expression showed both lingering sadness and fragile hope.
"Truly!" said Celestia. "Many of the officials that had doubts about my bringing you back into the center of Equestrian life have already told me so. Even more important, common ponies have been saying so as well. And little sister, even if it it selfish of me, I am so glad to no longer be alone!"
Celestia moved closer to her younger sister, sharing the simple comfort of closeness to those beloved. "And as for making friends, you saved not only our world but the human world as well. Not bad for a former convict!" said Celestia with a wink.
The sisters chuckled and shared being a family again, before the gently crackling fireplace.