The war had been raging across Equestria for over a year. No one knew exactly how it started; the government had made certain to keep those facts hidden from the public. As a Princess, Twilight Sparkle had been ordered to move out of Ponyville, and go to the Crystal Empire where she would be safe.
Twilight's love, Rainbow Dash, had been gone the entire duration of the conflict. As the best flier in all Equestria, the pegasus was ideal to lead the newly-formed 422nd Wonderbolt Aerial Defense Force. They wrote each other letters, but the purple alicorn missed her marefriend deeply. She spent countless nights lying in bed, crying her eyes out, praying to Celestia that this horrible war would end, and she could be with Rainbow once more.
Twilight had even gone directly to Celestia and pleaded with her to bring Dash back from the front lines. Celestia, however, wouldn't hear of it. She couldn't show special treatment for one pony over another, even if Twilight was a Princess. Twilight had once attempted to send an order to bring Rainbow Dash home herself, but the pony who was taking orders out to the different military contingents refused, saying that only orders directly from Princess Celestia were to be sent out.
Defeated, Twilight returned to the Crystal Empire, and locked herself away in her room, refusing to see anyone. Shining Armor and Princess Cadance both tried to get her to leave her room and get some fresh air but, much to their dismay, she only ignored them, or told them to leave her alone.
Finally, a letter arrived from Rainbow Dash, which managed to pull Twilight out of her confinement. As she walked into the main hall of the castle, Cadance and Shining Armor were seated at a table, eating breakfast.
“Hey, sis! Glad you finally came out of that room; we've been worried about you. Are you hungry?” Shining Armor said, motioning to the food on the table.
Twilight's stomach growled, but she just didn't have the desire to eat. “No, I'm fine. Do you have my letter from Rainbow Dash? I was told by a guard that one had arrived.”
Cadance and Shining Armor exchanged a look.
“What? Did a letter come, or didn't it?” Twilight said impatiently.
“Well, yes. A letter did arrive, but I don't think you should read it right now,” Cadance said, her expression becoming sympathetic.
“Sit down and have something to eat, then we can talk about the letter,” Shining Armor said. His expression mirrored Cadance's.
Twilight's heart began to beat a little faster. “Why are you two looking at me like that? What aren't you telling me?”
“Please, Twi, sit down, and we can talk,” Shining Armor said.
“No! Tell me what is going on right now!” Twilight yelled, stomping one hoof on the floor.
Shining Armor and Cadance once again exchanged a look. “It's okay, honey, I'll tell her. Give me the letter and leave us alone for a few minutes, okay?” Cadance said, placing a hoof on her husband's shoulder.
Shining Armor gave a reluctant nod and retreated from the room.
Twilight knew something was wrong. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. Something horrible had happened. She lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked at Cadance. “Something's happened to Rainbow, hasn't it?”
A tear fell from Cadance's eye, and she gave a slight nod toward the papers on the table. “Go ahead. You deserve to know.”
Twilight walked over to where the letter lay, and levitated it in front of her with her magic.
To: Princess Twilight Sparkle, Crystal Empire
From: Admiral Spitfire, 422nd Wonderbolt Aerial Defense Force
It is with a heavy heart and my deepest sympathies that I must inform you of this tragic news. Admiral Rainbow Dash, former leader of the 422nd, has been killed in action.
Twilight dropped the papers to the floor as tears began streaming from her eyes. She tried to turn to walk out of the room, but her legs couldn't hold her anymore. She collapsed to the ground, crying. Cadance was quick to go to Twilight's side, and sat down with her on the floor. “I'm so sorry, Twilight. You don't have to read anymore,” Cadance said.
Twilight looked at Cadance. “How could Shining Armor and you have been so nonchalant about this? You both were trying to get me to sit down and eat food before even letting me know this. Why?”
“I'm so sorry,” Cadance said, tears falling from her eyes. “I didn't want him to handle it like that, but he insisted. You know how your brother is. I wanted to tell you right away.” Cadance pulled Twilight closer, and wrapped her forelegs around her sister-in-law. “I'm so, so sorry.”
Twilight returned the embrace, then saw the papers laying on the ground. Clearly there was more that she had to read, but how could she? Weren't those first couple of lines of the letter enough? “Did you read any further than the first few lines?” she asked, pulling away from Cadance.
“Yes, but you don't need to go any further in that letter if you don't want to.”
Twilight considered casting a fire spell to burn up the letter, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, and as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to finish the whole letter. Maybe it explained how Rainbow was killed.
“No, I need to read it all,” Twilight said, levitating the letter back over to her.
“Are you sure you want to?” Cadance asked.
“Honestly, no. I'm not sure. What I do know is, if I don't read it, I might regret it,” Twilight said, turning her attention back to the letter.
Princess, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for your loss. I know what Rainbow meant to you.
Attached is a letter she had written to you. It was among her things when... Well, that isn't important. What is important is that I figured getting her letter to you would be the least I could do to honor such a great pegasus.
Sincerely,
Spitfire
Twilight's eyes began burning under the threat of more tears, but she managed to hold them back. “There's a letter in here from Rainbow. Did you read that?”
“Of course not. It's too personal. I would never do that to you,” Cadance said.
Twilight let out a small sigh and turned her attention to the letter from Rainbow Dash.
My Dearest Twilight,
I'm sorry that it's been so long since my last letter. Lots of stuff has been happening here. I've been hearing reports that the other side could be surrendering soon. That's a huge relief if the reports are to be believed. If it is true, I could be back home to you very soon.
I miss you so much, Twilight. Not a day goes by where I don't think about you. Some days, you completely take over my mind, and I end up breaking down and crying over just how much I miss you.
Do you remember the day we finally got together? It was during the Ponyville Annual Dance Social night. You and I had been holding back our feelings from one another for so long, when you finally decided you were fed up with it. You walked across the dance floor, grabbed my face in your hooves, and you kissed me right there for everypony to see.
I'll never forget that night. It was the first time anypony had gotten me to dance, and even though I was no good at it, you didn't care. You were just happy that you had me there with you. We danced and danced until they finally began taking down the equipment, but our night didn't end there.
We went for a walk by Ponyville Lake. I remember you commented on how beautiful the lake looked with the moonlight reflecting off it, like hundreds of diamonds shimmering just below the surface. It was then I knew just how much I loved you. I took your hoof and walked with you to the grass. That was when... Well, you know what happened after that.
Listen, Twilight. I love you with all of my heart, and I am so glad that you have been waiting for me to get back to you. I told you when I was leaving that you didn't have to wait for me, but you insisted that you would. You said that our love would keep us together, no matter what. You were right. I wanted to wait until I got back to say this to you, but I just can't.
I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Twilight. I'm not sure how it can be done, but I want to marry you, Twilight Sparkle. When I get back, I'll make it official. You have my word on that.
I have to go now, Twilight. I love you so much, and I can't wait until I get to see you again. It should be really soon. For now, stay safe in the Crystal Empire with Shining Armor and Cadance. They'll look after you and keep you from harm.
With All My Heart and My Love,
Rainbow Dash
Tears were once again streaming down from Twilight's eyes. She dropped the letter and threw her forelegs around Cadance. “Oh, Cadance. I miss her deeply.”
“I know, honey, I know,” Cadance said, holding Twilight close. She didn't know what to say to try and calm her sister-in-law, and maybe it was better that way. Maybe Twilight just needed to cry.
“Twilight, I-I am so sorry,” came Shining Armor's voice from the doorway of the room.
Twilight turned and looked at her brother. At first she wanted to tell him to go away for what he had done, but she just didn't have the heart, instead she stood up and ran over to him, hugging him close, and crying into his shoulder. “Don't be sorry. Please. I just need you to be here for me right now. Both of you.”
“We aren't going anywhere, Twilight. We promise,” Cadance said, joining in on the hug.
* * * * *
One Year Later...
Twilight stood on the balcony of the Ponyville Castle, overlooking an enormous crowd. Above her was a banner with Rainbow Dash's picture on it. Underneath the image of the pegasus it read, “Rainbow Dash, Hero of all Equestria. She gave her life to bring the war to an end.”
With a deep breath, Twilight began to speak, “Welcome, everypony. We gather here today to remember the one pony who sacrificed herself to save Equestria, Rainbow Dash.” Tears began burning behind her eyes. “Were it not for her sacrifice, we probably wouldn't be standing here today, honoring her memory.”
The crowd stomped their hooves on the ground and cheered, “Rainbow Dash! Hero of Equestria!”
Twilight smiled, and a tear fell from her eye. “I can think of no better way to honor her memory, than by naming this day 'Rainbow Dash Day'! May her loyalty and selflessness never be forgotten! Thank you for being here, everypony. It warms my heart knowing that there are so many of you who wish to honor Rainbow.”
The crowd cheered once more.
Twilight smiled, and gave the crowd a wave before turning and walking back inside the castle. She was met by Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. Each one of them had tears in their eyes, but smiles on their faces. The alicorn walked to them and pulled them all into a large group hug. “Never forget.”
“Never forget,” her friends echoed.
Author's Note
This is my first, and maybe last, foray into writing this kind of story. I might write another somewhere down the road. I hope you all enjoyed this nice little one shot.
Thanks for reading!