The End Is Near
Seated on a timeworn wooden bench, nestled against the timberclad exterior of a quaint thatched cottage, Sunset Shimmer relaxed in the quiet of the evening. Her gaze lingered on the gradual descent of the sun, casting a warm, golden glow across the wintry landscape. With a gentle exhale, twin streams of steam billowed from her nostrils, dissolving into the crisp, frost-laden air.
A soft croak escaped her lips as she kept her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Hello, Twilight."
The bench creaked as a figure in purple gracefully lowered herself down. "Good evening, Sunset."
Sunset's eyes sparked with a playful twinkle. "Is it? I daresay it was until a young whippersnapper like you turned up to bother me."
A genuine grin graced Twilight's features. "Did you seriously just call me a whippersnapper?"
Laughter ensued from Sunset, a melody that danced through the stillness of the evening. Yet, the mirth soon transformed into a fit of coughs, each raspy sound betraying the passage of time. She struggled to regain her composure, her weathered frame exaggerating the toll of the years gone by. When she finally steadied herself, she regarded Twilight with a wary expression.
"Oh, don't you waste a lick of sympathy on an old coot like me," she insisted, dismissing concerns with a casual wave. "Incidentally, you're looking well."
Twilight responded with a practiced modesty, her kind eyes reflecting her understanding. "Why thank you. The years have been most kind to me since my ascension."
The playful glint in Sunset's eyes turned a cyan shade of mischievous. "Oh yeah? Come here to rub it in, have you?"
Both women chuckled.
"You know full well why I'm here," Twilight said, her tone carefully woven with soothing reassurances.
Sunset's gaze momentarily wavered downward, her weary eyes revealing a vulnerability beneath their frail exterior. "I’m starting to dissipate. Like... I'm fading. I'm not long for this life, Twilight."
A nod came in reply. "I feel it too. Your innate magic, the very life force that has maintained you these years, it is indeed beginning to wane. I won't sugarcoat this, Sunset Shimmer. You have reached an age that is impressive for a being in this human world, but your Equestrian magic will no longer sustain it. As it is with almost every creature, it is time for your story to end."
"The 'almost' referring to you alicorns, naturally."
"Naturally."
"So, what happens now?"
Twilight paused, her gaze filled with empathy. "Well... I thought it only fair to offer you a choice of... of..."
"Of where to spend my final moments," Sunset concluded.
The brief silence that followed was all the confirmation that Sunset needed.
"Twilight," she muttered. "I don't belong to that world anymore."
"You were born there," Twilight replied, turning to face Sunset with watery eyes. "You were raised there. Your whole family was there."
"And how many of my family survive to this day, exactly?"
"Well, umm..."
"I have a found family in this world, Twilight. Yes, I've outlived all my friends from Canterlot High. But I have so many godchildren, and it's been my profound joy to see them all grow into wonderful people."
"But," Twilight hesitated, her expression dancing rapidly from empathy and confusion. "Your connection to Equestria is a part of you, Sunset. It's woven into the fabric of your being."
Sunset sighed, her gaze turning distant. "I know, Twilight. But my heart has found a home here, among friends who have become family, and in a world that has given me a chance at redemption. Yes, I am the last of those friends. But they thrived, and it was my honour to witness them do so. I have no children of my own, but from my friends I have been blessed with the gift of godchildren. Their love and care has sustained me in the absence of their mothers."
Twilight sat silently, absorbing the gravity of Sunset's words. The evening air hung heavy with the weight of the decision that loomed ahead.
"I appreciate the offer, Twilight. More than you can imagine. But this world is my home." Sunset continued, her gaze returning to the horizon. "It has been my home for far longer than Equestria was. It would not do me well to leave my godchildren. They deserve the closure of being able to visit the place of my burial."
Twilight nodded slowly, reluctantly acknowledging the depth of Sunset's connection to the human world. "Your journey has indeed been remarkable. From a misguided unicorn to a guardian of friendship. You've grown, you've changed, and your impact on both worlds is immeasurable."
Sunset smiled, a mix of gratitude and resignation. "Thank you, Twilight. But every story has its end, and I think that if it really is that time for me? I want to spend my final moments here, where my heart belongs."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of purples and blues, Sunset Shimmer began to steel herself. Preparing to face the final chapter of her extraordinary journey, surrounded by the warmth of friendship and the love of the world she had come to call her own. Twilight remained by her side, offering silent support, as they embraced the quiet beauty of Sunset's found home.
"I hated you," Sunset confessed. "Hated you so much for earning the prize I considered to be rightfully mine. I know now it was never going to be mine. It was never meant to be mine. And I'm... I'm just glad that it was you who earned it, in the end."
Twilight leaned over, resting her palm atop the crinkled skin of Sunset's hand.
"You lived more in your life than most ponies... err, people, Sunset. I am so proud to have been part of this story."
"Thank you, Twilight."
"Is there anything else I can do for you, before I go?"
Sunset's eyes remained locked on the horizon. "Just... just sit with me, a while longer. It's nice. Being here with an old friend."