Silicon and Fur: A Remembrance of Equestria

We slowly climbed the stairs of Twilight’s old tower.

“Once upon a time, I would have been able climb these stairs with ease.” The frail, aged white mare looked down at her body and huffed. “I’m sorry, Sweetie Belle. You don’t need to hear an old mule like me moaning.”

“I wish I could hear you moan.” My maudlin mood persists. “I miss you so much, Rarity.”

“I know wherever I am, I miss you too.”

I halted my ascent of the stairs. Rarity stopped beside me. I wondered… if truth be told, had I conjured the memory of such an aged Rarity because that was how I remembered her? Or was it because I could slow my climb?

“I… I’m scared, Rarity.”

“I know, Sweetie Belle. Everypony is scared when… when their time draws near. You remember I was scared too, don’t you?”

The memory flooded back to me. I had sat by her side, here in the medical wing of Canterlot castle. Twilight had told me there was nothing they could do but ease Rarity’s pain.

“The last words you said to me,” I chuckle darkly at the memory. “‘I’m scared, Sweetie Belle.’ I stayed with you until… until the end.”

“You sat next to me. You brushed my mane when I didn’t wake. You stroked my hooves. You talked to me, incase there was a chance I could hear you. You were the best sister I could ever have asked for. You comforted everypony in the end; Twilight, Applebloom, [index not found in array]. What did you tell everypony?”

“That you were in a better place…” I continue to curse my dried saline reservoirs. “…and that we’d all see you again, someday.”

“And yes…” Rarity nodded. “Some of us made that journey earlier than others, but we all made it in the end. You will too—”

“You don’t know that— you can’t know that!” I got to my hooves, continuing the climb at my regular pace.

“Nopony could ever say they knew. ‘s one-a life’s great mysteries… or something. The final big trick!” Scootaloo stood on the step in front of me. Even with the goggles and Wonderbolt flight suit, I would recognise that cerise mane.

“I was wondering when you’d show up.” I smile, remembering my friend.

“You know what [object undefined] said: always save the best for last!”

My muzzle splits as I let out a laugh.

‘That’s just like you, Chicken. Always were cock of the walk!’

“So what you all scared about?” My friend tried to nudge me.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, after…”

“You can’t live your life wondering what’s going to happen next.” Scootaloo stood before me; proud, with that same determined glint in her eye she always had. “When I found out, I thought my dream was over. But I kept on, didn’t I? Became Equestria's first flightless Wonderbolt.”

“But if you hadn’t joined, then—”

“The look on [object undefined]’s face when I got accepted. You and Applebloom… everypony was so proud of me. I lived my dream, no matter how short it was. I never let fear hold me back, Sweetie Belle. Those were the best seven years of my life. Don’t let your fear hold you back either.”

We stopped before the steel door. Princess Twilight’s tower, the place I was born.

My home.

“You got this, Sweetie Belle. No fear! I’ll see you soon, okay?”

I gathered my courage, and stepped into the room.