What is Life For?

by zanzibaby

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, Sad, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Fluttershy, Tragedy
Length: 3129

Twilight, busy adjusting to her new castle, loses touch with her friends. But, when she gets a call that one of her friends is dying of cancer, her world turns upside down. And through it all, Twi wonders why life is worth living if it only hurts.

What with defeating Tyrek and getting new duties and a castle, Twilight Sparkle is a very busy pony. She finds herself spending a lot less time with her friends. Eventually, they fall out of touch entirely. But one day, several years later, Twi gets a call that gives her horrible news. Fluttershy is in the hospital, dying slowly of cancer. Twilight rushes immediately to her side, but is sad to find how much has changed. And while this is happening, Twi finds herself wondering what life means, and if living is really important if it only ends up in death.

*Rated T for depression, sadness, and possibly a suicide attempt. NOTHING ELSE! This story is dedicated to all the people who have battled cancer or AIDS, no matter who they are, or if they have won or lost.*

Published 2014-05-29 22:00:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-06-04 06:08:49 UTC

Chapter 1- Reminiscing

*This takes place 3 years in the future, in case it's not clear.*

*Twilight's POV*

I woke up on a gray Tuesday in December, with only the weak winter light shining through one of my castle's many stained glass windows. It was so dark, it felt earlier than it really was. It took me more time than usual to wake up, and when I finally did, I realized it was 8:06.

"Oh man!" I thought. I was going to be so late!

I galloped to the bathroom and hopped into the shower. I just as quickly jumped out, however, because the water was freezing.

"WHY DO THINGS ALWAYS BREAK WHEN I NEED THEM?" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I galloped strait into my room again, looking for an instruction sheet, directions, a second shower even, but no such luck.

Actually, all I managed to do was hit Spike in the face with the bathroom door and step on his feet as I galloped into the room. He winced in pain and gave me a hurt look.

"What was that for?" Spike asked offended.

"Grr, the stinking shower is broken!" I shouted. "It's only spraying cold water". I starting trotting back into the bathroom with Spike following close behind.

"Did you turn on the hot water knob?" Spike questioned me.

I looked at him in disgust. "Of course I turned on the tap! What a stupid question. What kind of a pony..." I trailed off, realizing that in fact I HAD forgotten to turn on the hot water knob.

"Oh... oopsie" I blushed scarlet.

Spike shook his head before he walked back to his bedroom. I heard him mumbling "Woke up for this".

I felt bad for him, but worse for me. I was so stressed with all this show the magic of friendship to the world business that I didn't really have time to do anything else. I was weeks behind on my reading, months behind on my cleaning, and I hadn't even finished today's checklist.

Worst of all, I had totally lost touch of my friends. I know, the Princess of Friendship lost her friends. Haha, very funny. But it was true, unfortunately. Applejack had been do busy opening her new Apples and Co store. Rarity had moved to Manehatten with Sweetie Belle, to be the official traveling costume designer of Sapphire Shores. Rar and Sweetie wrote occasionally, telling fabulous stories of parties and songs that she had been to with the young singer.

Rainbow Dash stilled lived in Ponyville, but an accident to her wing had left her unable to fly to such extremes as she used to. The job of weather pony had been passed to Scootaloo, who had finally learned to fly and now occupied an apartment in Cloudsdale.

Pinkie Pie was still Pinkie Pie, but now she had taken over Sugarcube Corner when the Cakes had gone to retire in Trotingham. She made fantastic cupcakes, but had stopped doing her usual rounds of party pony.

Fluttershy was a mystery to me. We had gotten together for tea a few times, but I hadn't seen or heard from the shy mare for at least a year. She and Discord had stayed friends, but if they became more than that, I had no recollection of it.

The CMC group was no more. All three of the fillies had grown up and found their talents. Apple Bloom was now an artist, and her sister hung her paintings up all over the Apple Farm. Sweetie Belle had become a singer, and Rarity wrote that Sapphire Shores had become quite enthralled with the young mare, even letting her preform on stage with her. Scootaloo of course, was the weatherpony, but she also took plenty of time to visit Rainbow Dash, and the bond between those two was even closer now.

Other than that, I didn't really know what had happened to everyone else in Ponyville. She spent most of her time in other cities and towns, nowadays, bringing the magic of friendship to everyone.

I sighed. Thinking about my friends always made me nostalgic. I hopped back into the shower, after turning on the hot water first, and proceeded to get ready for the day. I then got out and started to finish my checklist. I then checked off the "Wake up", "Take Shower", and "Finish Checklist" off the list with my quill before trotting into the library to start reading. Today I planned to catch up on he reading I was behind on finally.

I hadn't even read the first page when I heard a knock on the front door. The library is right across the hall from the entry way, so it was easy to here. I groaned and walked slowly to the door. I opened it to find the old mailpony, Derpy Hooves standing there with a letter. She smiled at me and I invited her in, but she refused, saying she had other letters to deliver.

I shrugged and waved as she walked back down the road before turning my attention to the letter. It was very dirty and the handwriting was messy. The ink had faded, and there were several stains that looked like tears that had fallen upon it.

I didn't know what this letter could contain. I hadn't gotten a letter in the mail for months. Who was suddenly writing to me? And why? All these questions festered inside my head and they couldn't be contained.

I JUST HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS INSIDE!!!

I opened the envelope slowly and pulled out the letter inside.

*Future Twilight*
When I look back on that day, I would have never opened that letter. I would have run screaming from the door as fast as I could, back into oblivion. Because the horrible that lay inside, was, IS, too hard to bear. I shouldn't have opened it. I should have kept leading my regular life. I wish I knew not to open it. I wish I knew of the unspeakable sadness it contained. But I opened that letter, foolish pony I was, and it changed me and my life forever.

Author's Note

OMG that was a long chapter for me. I hope the anticipation of what is in the letter. I also hoped you kind of liked the future Twi thing. Idk why I put it in but, why not. #YOLO, am I right. Anyway, please comment, like and review. My new policy is that I try and update after three days at least and a minimum of five reviews. So it comes down to your support. Hope you liked it!!!
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The Horrible News

*Twilights POV*

And yet, like an idiot I opened the letter. I was surprised to find that it was from Rarity. I hadn't seen her for a while, and had thought that she was still in Manehatten with her little sister, working for Sapphire Shores. I was pleased to hear from my old friend, but very concerned with what the letter said.

At first, it seemed innocent. Rarity opened with what had been going on in her life. She was now Sapphire's personal assistant and fashion designer. "Life is busy, but fun here" she wrote. Sweetie Belle had branched off and released her own album. She called it "Sweetie" (A/U this is a parody of Demi Lovato's new album "Demi"). It had been a huge success, and the young filly was getting huge publicity from all the papers in the area.

Rarity had also spoken to Applejack for the first time in almost two years. She had seen the farm pony while AJ was in town, opening yet another apple store. She and her siblings had been doing well, but Rarity was sad to inform me of the death of Granny Smith. She passed away on the 14 of February, almost a year ago.

When I read those words, I felt a sharp pain for the Apple family. Granny Smith had really tied them together. She was the one who had taught them how to be a hard worker, and had been almost a parent substitute for both Big Mac and AJ. Apple Bloom also idolized her, and respected her as a wise and all-knowing pony. "They must have been heart-broken to see her go" I thought to myself.

But if I had thought that was going to be the worst part of Rarity's letter, I was severly mistaken. Even worse news lay on the next page, where more stains of water lay. I now know that these were Rarity's tears, falling off her face as she wrote the horrible news that was the main point of this letter. Her tone switched to a more business-sounding one, and I knew it must be hard for her to write the words I read next. They read as follows:

"Twilight, I regret to inform you that our friend Fluttershy has taken ill. She has written to me that the doctors have diagnosed her with third-degree lung cancer. There is also the possibility that it is also spread to her liver and heart, but she will not know until she gets the results of the lab work back"

"Of course, I left everything and went to her side. I was distressed to she the result that hideous disease has brought about on her. Her mane had thinned significantly, and her normally bright yellow coat has dulled to a dull white. She still keeps her good attitude, and insists that she feels fine. The doctors have confided privately in me, once realizing I was a friend of hers, that she does not have much longer to live at all. There is only so much they can do, at this point, and are reluctant to do anything at all until the lab work has come back. I hear them privately converse, saying that they think she only has a month or two left. I hope this is not the case, because I cannot imagine a world without Fluttershy in it."

"Twilight I write to you today, to tell you news of what is happening, but also to ask you for two favors. You are a princess now, and I was wondering if you may be able to talk to Princess Celestia on behalf of Fluttershy. Maybe there is some kind of cure that she knows of, that the doctors here in Ponyville do not. If there is, please write. I am willing right now to pay any expense to save my friend"

"The second task is much more difficult, I am afraid to say. I have already managed to contact Pinkie Pie and Apllejack and give them the horrible news, but I cannot handle writing to Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy and Dash were always very close, and since Dash's accident, she gets much more upset about these things. You are much closer to Dash than I am, and I am afraid that if she hears the news from me first she would become depressed, suicidal even. If you could write her a letter or even fly up to Cloudsdale to tell her, I would be in your debt."

Rarity ended her letter hear, closing it with only the words, "All we can do know is hope". The words brought tears to my eyes, and blinked rapidly to try and stop them, but it was no use. They spilled out in every direction and dripped onto the letter. It was too hard to pull myself together, so I just sat there crying for a while, thinking over everything I had just read.

Fluttershy. My sweetest friend, dying in a hospital somewhere. Fluttershy, saying she felt fine just because she didn't want to bother anypony. I just couldn't believe it. How could this have happened to her? She was one of the cleanest, most health-conscious ponies I knew. "How did this happen?", "Why did it happen?", and "How could it be stopped were just a few of the questions that swirled through my mind. But the worst one of all jarred me back into my senses. "How much time does she have left?".

I stood up with a start and raced in to Spike's room where I found him eating a snack. There was no time to waste. I threw open the door and hit Spike again. He flew backwards, knocking over a table and sending his gem sandwich tumbling to the ground.

"Spike, take a letter" I commanded.

Author's Note

WOOHOO!!! I both wrote and published two chapters of this story today, Not to mention another chapter on my other one (that one's not done yet though). So don't expect another chapter as quickly as this though :)! This was very hard to do. Its been a productive day though. I also finished two new drawings of Lilly form Alpha and Omega. I'm on a roll guys! #YOLO am I right.

I'm not gonna lie, writing this chapter made me cry. I have two family members right now suffering from cancer, one of them who is probably going to die in a few months. I thank you guys all for your support, and as always please comment, like, and review.
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A Letter and a Visit

Chapter 3- A Letter and a Visit

*Twilight's POV*

"Dear Princess Celestia,"

"I regret to inform you that my dear friend Fluttershy has taken ill. The doctors here in Ponyville have diagnosed her with third degree lung cancer, and are afraid that it may have spread to her liver and her heart, but we are still not sure at this point what exactly is happening. She insists she feels fine, according to Rarity, but her coat if fading and we know she is lying to us.

I write to you today, to ask if there is any cure that you know of to save her. We are willing to pay any cost to save her life. Zecora has told us that there is not a potion to drink, but I thought maybe you knew of a spell or charm that may work. Or maybe Princess Luna or Princess Cadance knows something. Anything at this point is better than nothing.

I know you would not usually make arrangements like this. You always say that life must run its course. But Fluttershy has done so much for Equestria, I feel that maybe this one time you could make an exception. Please, for Fluttershy.

Twilight Sparkle

"P.S. Her life is in your hooves"

This was the letter addressed to Princess Celestia that I sent through Spike. If it was hard for me to read about what happened to Fluttershy, it was even harder to write about it. I almost started to cry and probably would have to if it was less formal. Luckily Celestia was a princess and had formalities to follow.

Spike had sent the letter almost a soon as I the words had come out of my mouth. Now all we could do was wait for Princess Celestia to respond, which may take a while with all her duties (A/U Ironically, the response will be in the next chapter. I don't know how soon I will be able to write that though). I wished we could get the letter back instantly, but I knew that wouldn't happen.

Well, I guess I had one other thing to do besides wait. I had left the task of telling Rainbow Dash about what had happened for last. I knew this was something I couldn't put in a letter, but I didn't know how I was going to reach her. Then I realized I was an alicorn and could walk on clouds. Hehe. That always slips my mind.

I bid Spike good-bye and left the castle through the back door. I didn't want mobs of people to crowd me, and anytime I needed to go somewhere important, someone in Ponyville had a friendship problem. I took off in the gardens and soon was soaring at a medium pace over the town.

I was almost to Cloudsdale when I saw a faint shape hurtling towards me. It was reaching an incredible speed and rocketing toward the ground. And still it seemed to be trying to go faster. "What is it doing?" I wondered to myself. Then there was a huge bang and I looked to see the most incredible sight.

A sonic Rainboom had just been made. I still couldn't tell who had made it, but I had a faint feeling. The shape blurred past my again and took a couple laps in the area before settling on a nearby cloud bank. I flew over to look at it and found the pony I had expected, Scootaloo.

Scootaloo beamed at me and waved. "Hey Twilight! Did you see that?" she asked.

"I did. That was very impressive. But why isn't Rainbow Dash watching you? Didn't she say she would still coach you from the clouds?" I asked the mare.

Scootaloo's smile dropped a little. "Oh," she said, "RD never comes to watch me any more. She says it makes her too sad."

I didn't want to touch on this touchy subject, so I waved good-bye to Scootaloo and made my way to Dashies' house. When I settled down on the bank of clouds where her house was, I looked around and grimaced. RD's house looked the same as always, but it looked strangely empty somehow. Like the pony who lived there wasn't going outside as much.

I know RD had been devastated when she was in that accident, but I thought she was taking it better than she really was. I knocked on the door, and when I received no response, pushed it open. If I had been shocked by what was outside the house, it was only a glimpse of the horror waiting inside.

Author's Note

YAY!!! Another chapter!!! I know it's short but I have been really busy. I will probably have a lot more chance to write soon, though!

Thank you all for your like, comments, and reviews. This is only my second fanfic ever and all the positive responses warms my heart. Please do the same for this next chapter and I will try to update as soon as possible. Also, if you want to post ideas for this story or my other one, "Ripped at the Seams" feel free to do so. I may not use it, but I love when readers can really feel that the author takes their suggestions to heart. I love all you guys!!!
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