Epilogue

I walked the streets of Ponyville a free mare. After my victory several years ago, I became somewhat of a celebrity. I’m just glad that my past has been forgotten. I still have reoccurring nightmares of my time spent on the island, but I know that I never have to go back there ever again. I think I’ll keep it that way.

Discord is still ruler of Equestria and the princesses are still locked away but I am still content with my life as it is. I’ve even managed to re-open my boutique to the public and business has been booming lately. Regardless of being a free mare, I am alone in this world. My friends- new and old- have gone. My parents died many moons ago and I watched my only sister die as her blood poured out over me. I’ve witnessed things that these commoners could never comprehend. Even though the competition was broadcasted on international television; nothing compares to witnessing death directly. I try not to think about it, but the memories still linger.

Today is the five year anniversary of my victory and as tradition, I shall pay my respects.

My magic has improved quite substantially and I am able to grant myself the ability to cloudwalk. It has proven quite useful. My first stop is always the Wonderbolt academy. After Lightning Dust’s attack on the facility, it has been rebuilt and dedicated to the memories of its former captains. Though I never really knew Soarin and Spitfire personally, I have always felt obliged to assist the academy. The establishment looks as good as new these days. The entrance to the academy is very grandiose in appearance. A large flight of stone stairs leads to the front door. In front stand two marble columns that hold up an arched gateway. The glass doors slide open; allowing me entrance. I walked to the registration desk and meet Fleetfoot, the newly named captain after the deaths of Soarin and Spitfire.

“Rarity, lovely to see you again, how have things been down in Ponyville?” The uniform-clad Pegasus inquired.

“Slow but steady. Business is at an all time high these days so at least I have that going for me.”

“Well that is good to hear. I assume you’re here for the same reason you always visit on this day?”

“What could have possibly given that away?” We both let out a friendly giggle. “I might as well get this out of the way I suppose; I am really quite busy today.” I levitated an envelope from her saddlebag and placed it in Fleetfoot’s awaiting hooves.

“Rarity, you really don’t have to keep doing this every year.”

“Oh no, I insist. I will continue to do so until I can no longer stand on my hooves. You must realize that this is a cause that is dear to my heart.”

“Yes Rarity, I understand. Thank you. Soarin and Spitfire would be grateful.” I nodded in approval. We shared a hug before I departed to my next stop. I didn’t need to turn back to see her reaction when she opened the envelope. It was the same every year. She would always look over it several times and shed a tear or two. But who wouldn’t when their academy just received a donation of $10,000.

I sat on a high cloud overlooking a very spacious cloud home, the former Lightning Dust residence.

“Hey Lightning, I know that we don’t really know each other and that you almost killed me with a tornado several years back, but that is behind us. What I appreciated about you was your willingness to achieve any goal set before you. So I made you something special. Well technically I made you something special again.” I pulled a golden badge from my saddle bag and levitated it to her doorstep where 4 more identical badges rested. “Just a small gift for a lead pony.” I stood and departed.

Gilda’s house wasn’t very far from Lightning’s. Just a hop, skip, and a jump as Pinkie would say. There wasn’t much that I could give Gilda but I always felt it would be appropriate to pray over the abandoned house. Short and simple, just how Gilda would’ve liked.

Fluttershy’s cottage had been taken down about two years after the competition but that hasn’t stopped me. I find myself sitting at the edge of the Everfree forest, where her small home once stood. She always had a love of singing, so that is what I did. I sang her a sweet lullaby that my parents had sung to myself and Sweetie Belle as young foals. The trees would sway in the wind and sometimes, I thought I could hear her cheering after my performance.

The graveyard was eerily quiet as it was most of the time. I held a bouquet of roses in my aura and made my way to a tombstone that was larger in size than most of the others. There was a name inscribed on the front that read: Commander, Husband, Father, Hero: Shining Armor.

“I’ll never forget our time together, however short it may have been.” Tears began to well in my eyes. I placed the roses on the soil in front of the tombstone. I dropped to my knees and planted a kiss on the stone. “My knight in shining armor, I will always love you.”

I stood before the entrance to what is now known as the Twilight Sparkle Memorial Library. The former living quarters of the princess was now a museum of sorts now to commemorate her accomplishments and her life.

I received special privileges as an Element of Harmony and was able to access the library whenever I pleased. I pushed through the wooden door and gazed around at the library. It had been modified greatly from what I remembered. In the center of the room stood a pedestal with the Elements of Harmony encased in a magical display case to protect them from theft and vandalism. I knew the code to disable the display case. I typed in the twenty digit code and was grated access to the five necklaces and crown. I always took the liberty of polishing them once a year so they maintain their elegant appearance. Just the little things that I can do to pay tribute to the memories of all my lost friends.

The tree house looked ragged and almost ready to fall into pieces. Normally I would write little letters to each member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but this year is different. This was not just a tree house, but a symbol. A symbol of friendship. As much as I despised manual labor, this was for a greater cause than myself.

After several hours of work and sweat, I stepped back to view my renovations. The tree house looked astonishing. The color scheme consisting of the manes and coats of all four fillies. I’m sure they would be pleased.

Not far off was Sweet Apple Acres, the residence of Applebloom, Big Macintosh and my best friend Applejack. The fields were now stripped of trees and all that remained was the barn. The large structure had seen better days no doubt. The barn itself was empty of everything.

“Hello Applejack. It’s me again. Just thought that I would tell you how things have been. I’m sure you’d be glad to know that I am now your daughter’s official foster parent. It has been hard to adjust to having another mare in the household after so many years living in solitude. She’s is however old enough to understand what happened to you. She still tries to stay optimistic though it all. I’m even enrolling her in a school for the first time. She doesn’t want to go but I’m not given the choice. She dearly misses you and loves you, as do I Applejack.”

Today has not only been physically exhausting, but mentally exhausting. My home was dark when I entered so I found the light switch and flipped it on. I was never frightened by the massive alligator sleeping peacefully on the floor anymore. I walked over to Gummy and kissed the end of his snout. I’ve learned to look past the fact that he is a repulsive alligator and now I’ve accepted him as my pet and my friend. He absolutely loves Applejoy, though it has taken a lot longer for AJ to warm up to Gummy. I trudged up the stairs and entered my room. To my left was a display case with a rainbow colored flag in the shape of a lightning bolt and to my right a case with a beautiful, vintage cello and saxophone. All tributes to Rainbow Dash, Vinyl and Octavia.

I removed my saddlebags and placed them in my closet. I couldn’t hear Applejoy in her room so I assumed she must be sleeping. When I opened the door to what used to be Sweetie Belle’s room, I found my hypothesis to be correct.

I pulled myself onto her bed and lay down with a heavy sigh. I turned to her resting face and kissed her forehead before closing my eyes and going to sleep. I was content.