One shot ravings

Dear Princess Celestia,

As you know, I have lived a long, full life. My studies of friendship, conducted first under your orders when I moved from Canterlot to Ponyville, have brought me the greatest joy and reward I could ever have asked for: Friends.

As you remember (and to my chagrin), when I lived in Canterlot studying magic under you, I had plenty of book knowledge, but no real insight into the working of the relationships between ponies. I thought that everything I needed to know could be found in my books and studies, and in the examination of the world through a microscope. It was those studies that taught me that Nightmare Moon would return, and my belief that I was right that led me to (reluctantly) bond with five other ponies whos lives would forever change my own.

My body will not last much longer, and I look forward to finally getting to join my friends again. Many times have I looked into the well of souls (Yes, I KNOW it is against the rules... but I had to check...), and I know that they are waiting for me. But before I go, I needed to send one last letter. In case the handwriting looks a little funny, it is because I had to convince Discord to write it. Spike just settled down for his thousand year nap. I was sad to see him go, but we had a running bet as to weather I would have to go to sleep or him. He really has grown up, but he never really got over Rarity's passing.

I know that for nearly one and a half centuries I have been your best friend, and my Alicorn transformation has made sure I would live a long and prosperous life. I have enjoyed teaching magic and friendship to all the new ponies, and have enjoyed this life with my friends. Thus, while I may be mortal, and you are not, I wanted to finally teach YOU something.

Everyone passes away eventually. Remember when I defeated the Lich, Dark Caster? He thought he had unlocked the secret to immortality, but he was only a mockery of life. He took from others, and gave nothing back. That is not how you live on. It is your ACTIONS, not your intent, that matters later. Sure, actions are colored by intent, but never is it the WHY that really lives on.

Before you think me senile, yes, I do have a point. But I needed to tell you a few things before I get to it. I wanted to finally tell you what I really learned from each of my friends.

Pinkie Pie, my first friend, or at least the one I met first. The Element of Laughter, and the overactive party pony. I remember the day we met vividly, so long ago. I was more than a bit annoyed with you that day, having sent me away and disregarded everything I told you. Most trusted student? I thought you didn’t believe me. But if not for that lesson, I may still be in the library at Canterlot, content to be a minor teacher. She taught me how to see the best in everything and everyone, and that anypony can teach an important lesson. She taught me that sometimes, some things cannot be explained (She did finally tell me how the Pinkie Sense works, but I made a Pinkie Pie Promise to never tell anyone. She also taught me that you need to pay a lot of attention to when something is wrong with your friends.

It was the worst day of my life up until then when we all got the news that she had been admitted to Manehatten General. That was what... Many, many years ago. Fourty eight was too young for her... I missed her so much, and I still do. You remember the reports, that she had been abusing Pixie Dust after her fiance Cheese Sandwich got hit by the train. She was never really the same after that, I don’t think she had ever really been in love before. She put on a brave face, but when she said she wanted to move away to Big Apple to start up a business as a party planner, we didn’t know she didn’t want us to see her having problems. Up to the end, all she wanted was for everypony to be happy. The nurse said that her last words were “Throw me a party, and don’t be sad. I don't want my friends to be sad”

We buried her next to Cheese in Ponyville cemetery. After Granny Smith died, we all knew that nothing lasts forever, and we made a deal, one that I will tell you about later.

From then on, we all were much more careful to maintain contact with each other. It was no surprise to anyone that Fluttershy got ill a few years later. She had been hiding terminal cancer for a few years, and Discord could not heal it. I had never seen a draconequis so distraught over his helplessness. He came to me in my castle one fine spring day. The look on his face had told us everything, and we rushed out there.

Her lesson to me was kindness. No matter what anyone does, everyone deserves a friend and a second chance. Discord, Luna, Tirek (Although that one didn’t work so well), EVERYONE gets a second chance to prove themselves. Sadly, by the time we had gotten out there, she had pulled herself over to the woods to be closer to her beloved animals. We buried her out behind her cottage as she requested, and I quote, “If it would't be too much trouble”

Discord, as you remember, went on a journey for a while after that, returning only when he had claimed he “Found what he was looking for”, the Well of Souls.

Rainbow Dash, the second friend I ever made... she taught me so much. Taking it easy never really sunk in at first, and loyalty was not something that I ever had trouble with, but... I learned from her all about following dreams. Her dream, as you know, was to be a wonderbolt. The day that she got a letter informing her that she had been accepted into the Wonderbolt Academy was the happiest I had ever seen her. She had enjoyed summer camp so much, I thought that she was going to burst. And she made it too! Despite her old wing injury from the camp, she pulled top scores, setting academy records that were not beat until Scootaloo herself joined up. The day she performed the Rainboom for you and Luna in canterlot as a fully fledged wonderbolt initiate... her eyes on that day were the same as the pictures of her as a little filly looking up at those amazing fliers.

Ah, the dreams she inspired me to follow. I had always dreamed of spreading the magic of friendship all over the land, but it was her that made me finally do it. Her success in overcoming her injury to become the best of the best got me to set up academys all over the land, teaching the magic of friendship (And other magic, of course! I never forgot my roots!) to fillies and colts all over.

I remember that the day Rainbow announced that she was retiring, turning over the wonderbolts to Scootaloo, the look in her eyes was not that of sorrow, but of satisfaction and pride. She knew she had done what she needed to, and she was not upset in the least at finishing. She boasted that she had finally done everything she said she would, and a week later we found she had passed away in her sleep. Author A.K. Yearling, or Daring Do as Rainbow knew her, wrote a special memiour for her in her final novel, The Quest for the Rainbow Fountain. We were all sad, those of us that could make it, and Spitfire passed away the next spring.

It did come as a big surprise when Applejack was the next to go. A farming accident at eighty five years of age... she had broken her rear left leg while applebucking, and apparently it had developed a nasty infection. Big Mac had moved away to help out some of the family out east, and he never forgave himself for not being there for his sister. Applebloom was distraught over the lost, having just married a cute coltfriend she had had for a few years. I never heard her last words, we only found her after we checked the farm. She had not spoken to anyone for three weeks, and we found her in bed. It wasn’t pretty... Apple Bloom had been out of town to deliver cider to Diamond Tiara's store in Manehatten. I was always glad to see those two make up.

At her funeral, which all of Ponyville attended, I spoke about her stubborn nature, how hardheaded she could be, and the fact that she never gave up, no matter how hard the task. But I spoke at great length about her honesty and hardworking attitude. Her help during the Dark Caster Event was invaluable, as she helped me see through the lies he heaped around me. That kind of dedication to those around you... it inspired me to use my waning years to improve everything that I could get my hooves on.

And speaking of improvement... Rarity. Poor, sweet Rarity. When everyone else had gone, she figured it was time to move on as well. She and spike had been more than friends for many years by then, and they moved out to Manehatten. I think she needed a change of scenery, as she was tired of designing one fewer funeral gown each time. The attacks on the city by gryphon terrorists shook her, and I remember her demsonstrating her generosity by donating hundreds of thousands of bits to relief funds, and creating wonderful clothing for those who had lost everything. But at her age, nearly a hundred and twelve, working twenty hours a day just couldn’t work any more. Spike informed me that she had passed away in a hopsital from cardiac arrest. She gave EVERYTHING she had and more to those around her. I miss her so much, and it was the first time I had attened a formal event in something that she did not design for me. Sweetie Bell held a charity concert in her honor, and I remember you in tears at the end.

Discord has been keeping me company these last thirty years, and they have been the hardest of my life. Spike went to sleep about two years ago, and I remember him crying until I finally put a spell to give him good dreams during his slumber. Please promise you will take care of him when he wakes up?

As for my lesson to you...

All of my years, I tried to hold on to things, to keep them close at hand. Even when my friends died, I spent weeks moping around, never getting anything done. I cannot imagine how hard it is for you and Luna, knowing that you will still be here when I am gone, to have seen all of your friends come and go. I know you hurt, I know you hurt very badly. So my request to you is this.

Let us go. Be happy for who we were, and do not set yourself apart from your little ponies any longer. Yes, we are mortal. Yes, we pass away... but get to know as many as you can! Find joy in new relationships, find the peace in new friends that will not replace the old, but add to their memories! Remember Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. Remember us all, but don’t let us be chains around your legs, holding you back. Though you will never be permitted to pass the gate to the Well of Souls before the breaking of the universe, know that the more friends you make, the more that will be waiting for you when you do finally arrive.

One day, everything will be gone. As time goes by, things will change. Television? Airplanes? I never thought of any of these things a few years ago! Yet just last week Horseton launched a metal thingamabob that went all the way to the moon! And then Luna made funny faces at it.

But I digress. When Discord gives this to you, I will probably be on my way to see my friends. I am sorry I couldn’t make it to Canterlot one last time, and see you once more. I wish I could have visited you and Luna, but... it was not meant to be.

I love you so much, as a teacher, as a friend, and as a princess.

I feel a bit tired now, so I am going to finish this off. Discord is looking at me with a bit of sadness, and there is a strange black pony in the corner telling me it is time to go. I think I am ready for one last adventure...

Sincerely yours, and with no regrets, your most faithful student,

Princess Twilight Sparkle

P.S. Tell Princess Cadence that I will give her regards to Shining Armor.