"Welcome to News 23, your source for local news, weather, and sports. I am Jane Hershel,"

"And I am Robert Humphry."

"And this is your six o'clock report. Today we begin with the strange events of the past two months and what they mean.

"As you know, the Cantorlot community was shaken to it's core when it was found the body of Ramone Salazar was found, partially eaten. After that, two more bodies were found; Margret O'Conner and Sandra Fine all killed in the same way. The Mayor then had a press conference to say they might be linked to the death of local crime boss Donald Richards, AKA Discord. Then two members of the apple family: Granny Smith and Abagail Apple, known to friends and family as Apple Bloom, were found murdered. Soon after five local boys:
Christopher Machkowsky, Frederick Valhalen, Juan Sandalwood, Miguel Soarin, and Flash Sentry went missing. Then last week, Flash Sentry showed up at police headquarters to tell them he and the others were kidnapped by a cult and the others had been killed. Not only that, he said this cult, The Cult of Morgorith, was behind all the other killings and lead them to the remains of the others." Jane stopped and looked at Richard who then took over for her.

"On the same day as Flash appeared to police, in the Bosnian village of Visoko, a local mountain suddenly imploded, causing the town to be buried under massive amounts of dust. When local authorities and reporters flew over the sight to see what had happened, the words 'MORGORITH IS DEAD' was written out in trees and plants."

The girls and Flash watched as the anchors continued on, trying to make sense of what they were reporting but they knew they never would. In the week since their battle, many high ranking leaders in world governments, business, finance, religion, and entertainment had been arrested as more and more information about the cult had come forward. Some even committed suicide so as not to face justice. Some religious leaders used the opportunity to gin up converts to their particular religion while scientist and sceptics tried to refute and play down the events. It was all a bit funny on some twisted level.

Today was the last for Twilight, Sunset, and Adagio in the human realm. They had waited until Flash had been released from the hospital (although they did go to Equestria once to check in on Princess Celestia); but now it was time to say goodbye. Everyone, including Sparkle and Shimmer had shown up at Sunsets' apartment for one last goodbye before they left for the portal. They talked, they joked, they cried, and reminisced. It was happy and sad all at the same time.

After the news was over, they all looked at each other. It was time. Time to say goodbye. None of them wanted to, but they all knew they had to.

"This is it huh?" asked Rainbow. She tried to sound like her normal, cocky self but her voice was undercut by a level of sadness.

"I guess it is," said Twilight reluctantly. "Please know this isn't goodbye forever," she started to say then stopped and smiled. "I guess I already gave that speech."

"It's ok, we enjoy hearing it," Fluttershy said.

Twilight looked at Flash. "I'm not leaving you. I'll be back. We'll make this work somehow."

Flash nodded and kissed her hand. "I know we will."

"Well, is everyone ready to go to the portal," Sunset asked reluctantly.

"Wait," Shimmer suddenly said. Everyone looked at her and Sparkle who was standing beside her quietly, just looking down. "we've been, she and I, well we've been talking. After seeing, finding out everything that is really going on, being to another dimension, and all that; well, how can we really just go back to being simply genius level school students? There is so much to learn and see out there, things we'll never see here. So, well, we want to know, were thinking, that, well maybe, we could, you know, switch?"

Everyone gasped. Sunset and Twilight looked at each other in shock and then at Shimmer and Sparkle. They couldn't believe they were actually asking them that.

"Before you say anything," Sparkle said, trying to convince them of their idea, "every universe needs a Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle; but there's nothing saying it has to be the two that were originally born there. Yes, you are Equestrian, but she and I are as much Sunset and Twilight as you two are. So the balance would remain. We want to go to Equestria and both of you want to stay," Sparkle shut up immediately as Twilight and Sunset suddenly snapped their heads around to look at each other in shock. "Oh, I thought you two had already told each other," she said apologetically.

"You really don't want to go back?" Sunset asked apprehensively.

"It's our duties as princesses to go back," Twilight started to say but then stopped, sighed, and shrugged. "No." She then turned to Sparkle and Shimmer. "But how will you two rule? You don't know anything about Equestria or magic."

"I was there a month," Sparkle excitedly started saying. "I learned a lot there; and from you two here. Shimmer here learned a lot was well from you two, and Princess Celestia is still there yet, she can help until she officially transfers power over to us. As I said, we are Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, incarnates of the Goddess force; so we can't be that bad right?"

Twilight turned to Sunset, "They do have a point."

"No," Adagio interrupted. "You can't honestly be considering this? We were, are going back home. That is where we belong. I can't stay here; not knowing what I've done."

Sunset took Adagio's hands and looked her in the eyes. "I'm sorry Dag. Equestria isn't my home anymore; this is. I can't stop you from going back, I'm not even going to try. I know how much going back means to you. I wish you well, I wish you love, but I can't. I thought I wanted to rule Equestria, now I just want to live a normal life. I'm sorry."

"But without you . . ." Adagio started to say, tears falling from her eyes. She just stopped and looked, looked into Sunsets' eyes; scanning them, hoping to see a way to make her change her mind but realizing she couldn't. She sniffled a bit, sighed, then said, "Ok. My place is with you. Where you are, I am."

"Dag," Sunset sighed in guilt, "you don't . . ."

"Earth, Equestria, they're planets. You are my world," Adagio said quietly and the two kissed.

Everyone sighed in awe and Flash put his arm around Twilight. The two looked at each other and kissed.

"So it's a go? We're doing the switch?" Shimmer asked excitedly.

"There's a lot of details to work out yet, but yes," Sunset said happily.

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Sunset and Twilight walked up to Princess Celestia's throne. Their hearts hung heavy with what they were about to tell Celestia but before they could, she started speaking, "You're staying, aren't you?"

Twilight and Sunset exchanged surprised and confused glances.

Celestia went on. "I know. I could see it on your faces as soon as you walked in. The others, they'll be taking your place then?"

"Yes," said Twilight. "They'll remain for one more week so we can catch each other up on all that we need to know, then they'll be here. Is that ok?"

Celestia looked down in sadness. "I am your ruler in name only now. The Goddess force has left me and resides with you now. You have earned the right to make your decisions. I shall miss you two with all my heart. You were the daughters I never had but always wanted. I love you two, for now and ever. I suppose it is now time, like all children, for you to spread your wings and fly. I wish you well and the others I have no doubt will do a fine job in your stead. They are you after all."

"And what about you?" Sunset asked, crying.

"My time is almost at an end dear one. Once I transfer power over, my days will be shortly numbered. It's ok, don't cry. For over two thousand years I've carried the weight of ruler, goddess incarnate, protector of the realm and all things for far two long. I look forward to my rest. I've earned it. Everything dies my children, even me and I am ok with that."

Sunset and Twilight rushed up to Celestia and they all hugged and cried.

"What will we do without you?" Twilight asked through rivers of tears.

"Well, my child. You shall do well. Both of you. You've proved yourselves worthy. I believe in you," Celestia said with true pride and love.

After a bit, they calmed down and Twilight asked the one question she wanted to ask since getting Flash back. "Why did you say Flash would die?"

"Because that is what I saw. I guess since it had to do with how things would turn out, that was kept from me. I'm glad you have him back. Star Swirl was wrong. Being alone doesn't make you a good ruler, love does. You have that love now."

"I'm so sorry that you lost yours," Sunset said.

Celestia smiled. "Thank you my dear. It will all work out in the end."

Sunset and Twilight cocked their heads at Celestia's choice of words but decided to let it go and just enjoy being with her while they could.

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Justinius watched the portal close. She was gone. His love, his life, gone; taken by some foul wizard. He lost all will to live, let alone fight. He fell to his knees and let his sword drop. Lost in his sadness he was shaken awake by the clang of metal above his head. He looked and behind, Celestia fought off a barbarian soldier. She looked much older than she had but a second ago. Lines of a life richly lead covered her still beautiful face.

She saw him and smiled. "I told you my love, by your side always."

He smiled in return. "I never should have doubted." he said.

Author's Notes:

Next week, the epilogue and I'm done. Peace.