This is it, this is my final hour. I never thought that I would live so long, and never thought that despite that it would feel like such an abrupt ending.Sunset thought to herself as she looked at the cliffs that were the gateway back to her homeworld. In a matter of minutes she would be most likely confronting Mera, and by all probability dead minutes after that.

She looked at her companions. Shadow was still holding out hope that Sunset would somehow survive. Sunset wanted to hope that, she wanted to hope that somehow even if Mera was out there that she could bring her old friend to reason and reform her. She had reformed many a villain in her day and was a reformed villain herself. Not all could be reformed though, and chances were exceptionally slim any such miracle would play out today. Nor was she going to suddenly find a deus ex machina to save herself and the day. No, today she was going to sacrifice her life so others might live, and maybe someday accomplish what she would fail at today.

This didn't mean that Sunset wasn't going to try her best with Mera. The chances of reformation or overcoming the necromancer were slim, infinitely slim, but she would do all that she could to try to make them happen. She would try to reason and fight to the full of her ability. Mera had been good, once, there was always some slim hope that she could be good again, even after all that she had done.

Sunset had never really believed in any form of afterlife. She had always asserted as much to any pony that asked her about it. Now faced with her final hour she couldn't help but feel a little religious. Would she be reincarnated as some new foal? Would she spend eternity in some paradise? Would it be eternal nothing? Would she even be aware of that nothing if it were? Perhaps she would just endlessly relive her own life over and over again with no variation, like a recording played over and over again, unaware that it has played itself infinite times before. If she were reborn would she be born remembering the last moments of this life only to have those memories quickly slip away like most dreams? She would find the answers out soon enough.

She looked at the sky now. The sun would set in a few short months here and whatever demonic forces below would come out. That evil Shadow assured her could nor reach beyond the mirror. Sunset hoped that her friend was right and they weren't delivering monsters into Ocid. That, however, was a worry for the ponies who would live beyond today, not her. She was about to face her final battle, it was time for others to face the future without her.

"If anyone has anything they want to say to me, say it now. There will likely never be another chance," Sunset said out loud.

"I want to thank you, Mistress, for what you are doing for us. I won't ever forget you, or all that you have done for me and my daughter," Midnight said, clearly trying to hold back tears.

"I thought we were well beyond that mistress address," Sunset said with a smile. "You're my friend, and you're an alicorn yourself. You might have acolytes of your own one day. I hope that they make you as proud as you made me if you do. I hope you pass on all I've taught you, and hope that in time you'll be far wiser than I ever was. If I have any final words of wisdom for you it's that you should never be afraid to admit you've made mistakes, but you shouldn't let fear of making mistakes keep you from trying your best to make a difference."

"I'll remember that, Sunset," Midnight said glumly.

"You act like you've already died. You might still succeed," Sweet Pea said.

"I'm a realist. I know what's almost certain to happen, we all do. If some by some wild chance I survive then we can all celebrate that together, but we have to accept that isn't what's likely to happen," Sunset said. "I suppose I owe you some final words too. I know you long for ascension and the power to protect the ones you love. This plan is to protect an idea you hatched. Don't let power go to your head. More power isn't always the answer. Your talent involves child-rearing, you may become a mother figure to a new generation of alicorns. I ask that you be a good mother, and care for all of them as your own foals. And if you should ascend and live for eons then to view all ponies the same. However, if you fail to ascend please don't become bitter, but be happy for what you can accomplish."

"I'll do my best to do that. I intend to see multiple ascensions within one year outside the mirror, and I intend to see ponies being able to enjoy all of this place. Ponies deserve to have at least a few happy years without worry. Thank you for doing what you can to give that to them," Sweet Pea said in a resolute tone.

Sunset nodded in acknowledgement of Sweet Pea's words then turned to gaze at Water Shadow.

"I don't know what to say to you," Shadow said. "You are my oldest and dearest friend, you stuck by me when every other alicorn turned their backs on me. I might have been banished to Tarturus if not for you. The thought of losing you is like losing a large part of myself."

"We've been through a lot together over the centuries. Though I have to confess, that first century together where we just sat staring at your daughter's grave day in and day out without sleeping was likely the most boring century of my life," Sunset said with a smirk.

"It meant a lot to me that you did that, though I don't think I need to tell you that. Was it really a century? I never really bothered to find out," Shadow inquired.

"One-hundred and four years actually, and I don't regret spending them with you. Sometimes I think all the napping I have been doing in recent years is my body finally deciding it needs to make up for a century of no sleep. But I know the real reason you don't want me to die," Sunset said, letting some mirth into her voice. It was felt good to try to have one last lighthearted moment.

"And what reason might that be?" Shadow asked with a raised brow.

"You aren't ready to be the oldest living pony. Really, it isn't such a bad title, it's rather dignified," Sunset said with a smile.

Water Shadow just stared at her for a long moment with a serious look, then her composure collapsed and she started chortling. It really wasn't that funny, but circumstances made emotions run high, and ready for any form of release. Sunset laughed along with her, and when the two stopped laughing tithe embraced one another.

"I'm going to miss you so much, I won't ever forget you, no matter how many ages may pass," Water Shadow said quietly.

"If there's an afterlife I'll be waiting patiently to greet you when you finally come to join me," Sunset said.

Shadow released her with clear reluctance and went to sit aside. Sunset gave her friend one last smile and then turned her attention to the two goals.

Quiet came over and gave her a silent hug, he still had that snake of his curled up in his mane, but the snake didn't seem to mind so she didn't mind the snake. Dove came up behind him and just sat silently while her fellow foal finished his hug. When Quiet had hugged enough he released and walked quietly back to his mother who hugged him as well. Dove watched him the whole time and then turned and looked up to Sunset.

"I'm sorry I can't do anything like you wanted. I feel like this is all my fault. If it weren't for me no pony would be here, and I feel really bad about that. I want to be able to do something that could help, but I don't seem to have any special talent or anything. I'm just useless and ponies get hurt because of me. It might really just be better if I just gave myself over to the bad pony so she could leave every pony else alone," Dove said in her most serious sounding voice.

Midnight seemed torn between wanting to scold her filly for even suggesting such a thing, pride in her filly for willingness to sacrifice herself, and not wanting to interrupt this moment. Sunset gave the mother a smile to let her know she would deal with this, and turned her attention back to Dove.

"Don't discount that you're very special. We haven't figured out what your cutie mark means yet, and I'm disappointed I won't be around to see it, but it clearly means something. We're going to make sure you have the time to find that out. I'm a very old pony, you can't even imagine how old, and I've lived with more good parts of my life than bad. Everything passes away in time, even immortal alicorns. Your time isn't here yet, and hopefully won't be for a long time. Your mother needs you and loves you dearly, promise me that you'll be a good daughter to her," Sunset said.

"I promise, I just don't see what is so special about me that other ponies have to die. I don't want any pony to die," Dove said, now trying to hold back tears.

"It is up to you to find that out. But remember your life is precious just like every other life, and all lives should be protected. Today I'm going to do what I can to protect not only you, but all ponies. If Mera was to get you she would still try to hurt the rest. I'm the one who needs to face her, because I'm the only one who can occupy her long enough to give the rest of you a chance. Be strong for your mother, little one," Sunset said in a sympathetic tone.

"I'll be strong for my ma..for my mother," Dove said in a quiet voice. The change of term was a little heartbreaking, it was a traditional sign that foalhood was over. No pony only twelve years old should have to admit their foalhood was over. Dove retreated back to her mother after that and the two embraced, with Midnight giving her daughter an additional kiss on the head. Sunset looked at them wistfully for a moment.

Little things could set off big events or grow into mighty forces, hopefully someday Dove would be one of those things for the good of ponies. That day was not yet today though.

Sunset sighed and looked back at the cliff. She was about to face off against another one of those little things which had grown. She had beaten Mera with ease over a thousand years ago when they dueled, but Mera had grown much in the ensuing years in power. Victory was not likely to come this time for Sunset. Sunset was stronger as well, but no where near the strength to which her once friend had grown. Hopefully Sunset's death would count for something.

"We've all said our goodbyes, it's now time to go back home," Sunset declared, and after giving them her final command, stepped forward into the cliff to the bright light of the mirror.

They all exited out and Sunset found that she was almost pushed to the ground by the others coming behind her. She looked behind her and Midnight gave an embarrassed blush as the offending pony that had slammed into Sunset's rear. Sunset waved it off quickly, it wasn't really Midnight's fault, they could have waited minutes and it would still seem like they were coming in on her tail due to the differences in time flow.

Every pony kept silent. The mirror was still brightly lit, and Sunset spread her magical senses to the outside. It took her only an instant to confirm that there were now three of those abominations out there instead of one, but they were of little consequence. The abominations were so much weaker than her at the current time that they were basically gnats. The more serious part was they were not alone, Mera was out there as well, there was no hiding that mass of power. Sunset lowered her ears, this fight was happening, and she knew what the result would be, there was no final salvation from it. Mera was likely fully aware that they were on this side of the mirror again, just waiting for them to exit back out or teleport so they could be chased.

Sunset gave Shadow the signal that indicated that Mera was near and braced herself for combat. The plan was for the Water Shadow to start working on a teleport once Sunset cleared the tomb, and if she needed to have more power to overpower whatever disruption the mirror caused she could draw power from Midnight and Sweet Pea. The two younger mares had been versed on how to channel their power into Water Shadow if it came down to it.

"I feel you lurking down there, come on out and let's finish this up. You can't escape me," Mera called down to them.

"I'll be right out, I think we are long overdue for a talk, Mera," Sunset called out.

The resulting silence spoke volumes. Sunset had caught Mera by surprise by knowing who she really was. Hopefully that would either make Mera curious, or at least a little less focused. That would buy some more time, and perhaps distract the necromancer from what Water Shadow was doing down below.

Sunset spread her wings and quickly flew up the ramp. She said a silent apology to Water Shadow as she blew the monument stone out of the way. Mera had apparently recovered the tomb at some point in the last few hours. It was saddening that the stone was being reduced to rubble after all these years. Shadow would understand, but it would definitely hurt her feelings all the same.

Sunset exited out into the light of the actual sunset. The abominations were all sitting near the entrance, but didn't try to attack her. They simple sat waiting for direction from their mother. Mera never had any foals of her own as far as Sunset knew, it seemed even more sickening that these things thought of Mera in that fashion.

Mera herself sat a short distance off, just watching silently. She was cloaked in shadow and flame. Her eyes were pools of green flame and were locked onto Sunset. It was impossible to tell anything about what she was thinking other than she definitely had something going on in her corrupted mind. Sunset brought herself in for a landing a short distance before Mera and sat down like they were about to have a casual conversation. Hopefully they would start off with just conversation, and conversation was all that would happen. It was a small possibility, even if not likely.

After a moment of silence the shadow and flame withdrew from Mera, and what was revealed was the pony she once was; a simple pink crystal pony mare, with a bright yellow mane, and a sponge for a cutie mark. A simple red collar with a silver bell hung at her neck. One of the least threatening looking ponies you might ever look at. Looks were extremely deceiving in this case.

"So, you know who I am. What in that other world gave you that information?" Mera said calmly.

"Actually it was Midnight, mother to the filly you seem intent on killing. She has some divination ability, and was able to tell us vaguely about the day you signed your demonic contract, but not much else. It was a major shock to find out who has been tormenting Ponykind all these years. I thought you dead, and even if living it was not something I would have attributed to you," Sunset replied back as calmly. They could have been talking about the weather.

"That's interesting to hear, I'll definitely want to get my hooves on her and absorb her magic into myself. I could use a little bit of divination ability. You wouldn't happen to have learned what the filly could do while you were in that other world would you?" Mera asked casually.

"Not a clue, I was hoping you would tell me to tell the truth. All this trouble over a filly. I'd be disappointed in not learning why there was so much trouble over a filly," Sunset answered.

"Unfortunately not, my masters simply insist on it. I do intend on doing my best to get those answers before I finish her off though. I too would be very disappointed not to learn. I'm not on an exact time limit with this, but there's some level of urgency before I have Grogar breathing down my neck. I prefer not to have him in possession of my bell, and I think all of you would prefer that as well. Grogar would use me in ways that are far less merciful and kind than I'm doing," Mera said, eyes still locked on Sunset.

"I only got part of the story about how you went over to the Elder Gods from Midnight. I know you seem to think they will resurrect Pearl for you. I wonder if you have some personal vendetta against your lover if you want to deliver her into a dead world by herself. It seems a cruel thing to do," Sunset let her show just a small sneer as she spoke.

"I have a lot more planned that you don't see, Sunset. I'll make everything right in the end, it's just a long bloody path till then," Mera said. There was an actual hint of sadness in her voice.

"Do you actually think that if you do manage to have Pearl brought back to life that she would accept that kind of price paid for her life?" Sunset said critically.

"I intend on ending myself soon after her resurrection so I won't have to face her. I do have plans to assure that she'll have a peaceful world with a bright future," Mera explained.

"Yeah, a dead world is definitely peaceful, but I think you and I have very different definitions of bright," Sunset couldn't hide her contempt this time around.

"You'll be dead soon, so I suppose there is no harm in telling you my full plan. I've been storing genetic material and souls away for many years now. Some of the civilizations that rose from the Twilight Realm's ashes were very advanced, more advanced than Ocid. I have the technology to reboot life on this world once everything is dead and gone," Mera said with an almost dreamy tone.

"Why wipe it all out to start with, seems counterproductive," Sunset snorted as she said it. She had to keep Mera talking, this was buying time.

"You don't understand the Elder Gods, they aren't like us. Do you know what this world is to them? It is a place to harvest food. They feed on death and suffering. I have absorbed some of their nature into myself, just like I absorb everything else I come in contact with, so I know. When this world is completely dead except for the acolytes they will abandon it and move on, but until then they'll do nothing but continue to push for death and suffering until there is nothing left to feed on. They must abandon this world, which means it must die, only then will it be safe for life, and I'll reboot it then. This is the only way, but I must be the last acolyte standing to do it, and every other living thing must die," Mera said with lowered ears.

"So you see yourself as some sort of hero who is liberating this world from the Elder Gods?" The shock in Sunset's voice was not faked. This was pure insanity, but she could see the warped logic of it.

"Not a hero, definitely not that. I'm a monster, and I can't paint that in any positive light. I simply do what must be done. I admit it wasn't my original plan, at first it was just to resurrect Pearl, but I was completely mad with grief when I made that agreement. When I learned the Elder Gods' true nature, and spoke with Pinkie Pie, I forged this plan with Pinkie. This world will live, after it dies," Mera said with conviction.

"Pinkie is alive? I thought you killed her?" Sunset said with suspicion.

"Pinkie is dead, but is now a ghost. Isn't it ironic that the one alicorn I really, really wanted to suffer more than any other is the one I'm stuck unable to hurt any further? I guess Pinkie Pie got the last laugh," Mera laughed bitterly.

"Is there nothing that will turn you from doing this? There's no soul beyond reformation," Sunset pleaded.

"If you gave me another way to make the Elder Gods leave and give me back my precious Pearl then I would turn away gladly. Believe me when I say I have nothing but shame and guilt for what I do. I do what I must, and I'll make everything right in the end," Mera sighed. The necromancer got to her hooves and looked sadly at Sunset before continuing.

"Thank you for this talk, it's nice to just get everything out in the open. Your friends will be glad that you have bought them so much time. I know you're just stalling. I give you your delay as a last gift, but I'll still finish off that pegasus soon enough. Peridot will turn her over to me. If you wish to list enslaving my own sister to my list of sins, don't bother; I curse myself enough for it. It's time to see what you can do with all that extra power I feel in you. I give you the opportunity to strike first; not that it will matter. I've looked forward to ending you for being the one who sent Pearl to her death against me. The time has come," Mera said in a resigned tone.

Sunset did not hesitate. She teleported herself far into the sky and powered her horn for the biggest magical blast that she had ever prepared. She let loose the blast in a wave of blinding light and it came down on the bored looking crystal pony with the heat of the sun, and drilled deep into the ground.

Within a moment the crystal pony emerged from the newly formed crater, straight into the sky. She had no wings but clearly had no need of them. She was in Sunset's face in a matter of milliseconds and quickly smacked Sunset down to the ground with a single blow of of foreleg. Sunset impacted the ground with such force it actually caused a shock-wave, and would have shattered every bone in a normal Pony's body to dust. Sunset was no normal pony, she was an alicorn at the height of her power.

Sunset quickly teleported from the spot without even bothering to get to her hooves first. She appeared next to the crystal Pony in the air and tried to return the favor with her own foreleg. Unfortunately, when it connected Mera didn't even flinch, and just gave Sunset a wicked smile.

"Oh, this makes me nostalgic. I think you did the same thing to me last time we dueled. Just sat there and took the blow like it was nothing. How does it feel to know you're completely helpless against an opponent in a fight?" Mera laughed.

The crystal pony then struck Sunset again, sending the alicorn shooting through the air like she had been shot out of a canon. While Sunset was still hurdling through the air Mera teleported directly over her and landed another blow that sent Sunset down to the ground in another continent shaking blow.

Brute force wouldn't work here. Sunset quickly took back to the air and began sprinting through the air. In her wake she sent her magic down into the continental shelf and began raising cliffs and volcanoes as she went to delay the crystal pony's chase and deny her line of sight for a teleport.

"Oh, an obstacle course! It has been so long since I've run one of these. You really are making this a trip down memory lane," Mera's voice echoed out across the region.

Sunset wasn't intent on just throwing obstacles in Mera's path. She curved her path and made the new rising volcanic range turn with her. Mera gave chase straight through the newly raised cliffs like she was punching through wet paper. Sunset was pretty sure that Mera was also being bombarded by magma, it didn't seem to make much difference, Mera was just toying with her and showing off.

Let her do that. I have a surprise coming for her. Sunset thought.

She kept on curving with her course, making a massive bowl of a valley that stretched for hundreds of furlongs all around. She had to keep moving for a few more moments before she could position herself for her biggest attack.

Sunset lost track of the sound of Mera smashing through rock and grew worried. Was Mera waiting to ambush? Had Mera figured out what she was planning on doing?

The alicorn was just reaching the jagged remains of the first cliffs she had raised when the crystal pony appeared again and struck her hard from the side, sending Sunset rocketing into the dead center of the newly formed valley.

Sunset righted herself with unnatural speed and let loose another blast of impossible heat. The crystal pony vanished from the spot and the heat impacted the newly risen cliffs. The cliffs did not shatter, or melt, they were turned to glass by the sheer heat of the blast.

The crystal pony appeared far above Sunset and unleashed her own blast of power down on the alicorn before the alicorn could flee. The pain was like nothing Sunset had ever felt before, but somehow her supernatural body held out against the abuse.

As she tried to rise from the new glassy crater that she was the center of a hoof came down hard on her horn and shattered it.

In the second time in as many seconds Sunset felt a new level of pain she never thought it possible to feel. She tried to lash out with her magic, but with her horn broken it just fizzled and popped. That same hoof came down hard on each of her wings in quick succession, shattering those bones as well. Sunset had already endured blows that could shake the ground with their force, but these blows were far stronger.

"Well, that was a nice little distraction. I'm a little disappointed to tell the truth. I expected to get at least a scratch from fighting an alicorn of your power, but it seems I overestimated the power of alicorns once again. Any final words?" Mera asked.

"Yeah, just one," Sunset panted through the pain.

"And what would that be?" Mera asked with what seemed actual curiosity.

"Gotcha!" Sunset yelled as she looked at the thing she had been summoning forth as she made this valley.

Mera turned around just in time to see a massive asteroid envelop the whole of her vision in the sky.

"You've got to be kidding," Mera said in a perturbed voice, just before the massive fiery rock collided with the ground where they were.

Sunset was sure that the blow of that would at least finish herself off, but it seemed that she was going to live through it. Mera had erected a shield around the two of them that had managed to sustain the blow. Sunset coughed as Mera did something to contain the fallout of the explosion. After a few moments they simply lay in a mass of devastation, but Mera had apparently done something to prevent the ash and dust from exiting into the air.

"That was reckless and stupid," Mera snarled as she pushed her hoof down hard on Sunset's neck.

Sunset tried to get out a reply but couldn't manage to get anything out. She had exhausted herself and had tons of pressure down on her throat. She closed her eyes and waited for Mera to just finish it.

And she kept waiting. After a long moment the hoof was withdrawn from her throat and Sunset opened her eyes to see what Mera was now up to. Likely planning some horrible mutilation to drag this out, no doubt.

"You dropped your mental guards when you were doing all that. Did you realize that? I got to see into your mind and see what your friend's plans are. The whole lot of you are more reckless than I thought, and are going to do away with all hope for life by my plan or any other plan they may concoct. Congratulations Sunset, by virtue of being a giant bloody screw up you're getting a reprieve for today. We're going to have another talk now, and you and I are going to figure out how to fix the mistake your friends are about to make before this world is doomed forever," Mera said with a snarl.