Titanic

Rose let her eyes wander across carefully arranged pictures, photographs of her life, lived.  Just the way she had promised Jack.  In every one, she felt the presence of the Thestral who now stood at the doorway to her room.  The artist nodded, “You’ve held on long enough Rose.  There are ponies waiting to see you.  To see me.”

She smiled, and settled into her bed, getting comfortable.  With a snort, she muttered, “Bet Kale wants to sock you a good one.”

“I’ll let him.  One free shot, for old times sake.”

Rose smiled and closed her eyes for the last time.

__

When she opened them again, she was standing on the grand staircase.  It was intact again, not shot up, damaged, flooded, nothing.  It was just as beautiful as the first day she had seen it.  Finely dressed stallions and mares stopped and looked up at Rose.  Rose looked back, and felt a soft hoof grip hers as a wing wrapped itself around her side.  Jack, by her side, always.

Standing there at the bottom of the wooden steps, she saw the elegant black patterns of the younger of the two Alicorn princesses.  Luna turned, and held up a hoof, inviting Rose to come down and join them.  Rose did as she was bid, and as she reached Luna’s side, she noticed that her ever-present companion was nowhere to be found.  Until she looked at Luna directly.  Jack was bowing before her, elegantly painted wings spread in deference to her authority.

“Ratchet Jack Darkson, Child of Star-Streak and Moonshine, After mine own heart.  You swore an oath, the exact specifics of which you kept, to the meaning, if not the word.  I recall you taking time off during Brilliant Rose’s honeymoon to terrorize the White Star Line.  Yet, through it all, you kept a far stronger oath.  One that was never spoken.  Do you recall what you said to me?”

Jack’s muzzle rose off the floor, “I swore to protect Rose until it was her time.  I swore to take up arms against you, your majesty, and the sun itself to keep her safe.”

“And you have.  You have served your oaths to the truest extent any stallion I have ever known has managed.  Now though, you may rest.  Be at peace, Artist Moon-spawn.”  Her hoof settled on his back, and she was gone in a flash.  Only the mark of her silver hoof-print on Jack’s back remained.  He hardly had time to catch his breath before Fierce Honor tackled him to the deck.  Rose laughed, then joined in the impromptu wrestling match.