The Times of Good-bye

Chapters

The First Good-bye
The Second Good-bye
The Third Good-bye
The Fourth Good-bye
The Fifth Good-bye

The First Good-bye

“Nothing to worry about, Rainbow,” said Fluttershy with a sigh. “Your wing is just strained from the effort. Just take it easy for a couple of days and you’ll be like new.”

“Take it easy? TAKE IT EASY? I don’t have time to take it easy, Fluttershy. The Games will start in two weeks and I have to be at the top of my game if I want to be the champ again this year,” retorted Rainbow Dash.

“I’m sorry, but it’s not something that’s for you to decide. When you asked me to be the nurse for the team again this year, you agreed to follow my instructions, remember? Plus, the pain in your wing is just not going to go away and I’m not going to give you a strong analgesic again. You’ll just push yourself until you get seriously hurt.”

“But I can’t fail Scootaloo. I’m her hero. I just can’t lose the racing competitions this year.” Rainbow put her hooves on her head but managed to stop herself from pulling her own hair.

Pinkie Pie was sitting on the floor in front of the two Pegasi. She was wearing a worn cheerleader uniform with the colors of Ponyville and had her pom-poms in one hoof and a glass in the other. She took a sip from her glass and said, “I still don’t get how beating her in the competitions means that you haven’t failed her. In any case, you’ll come in second on lower place one of these days, either this year or the next Games; we’re not in our 20s anymore. Plus, have you seen Scootaloo’s times? The girl has improved quite a lot!”

“Aaaaarghhhh, I know, I know,” growled Rainbow Dash, still with her hooves on her hair. “Just… not this year. I can still be the champ one more time. I know I can.”

“But you ARE Ponyville’s champ, Rainbow,” interjected Fluttershy. “Not only you have been the champ for 3 Games in a row, but you are one of the most prominent Wonderbolts in recent history. You don’t have to win the most medals in these Games to prove anything. I mean, it’d be nice if you did, but it doesn’t change a thing if you don’t.”

“Yeah, silly. You’ll always be our champ, no matter what.” Pinkie Pie jumped and hugged Rainbow, who slowly took her hoofs of her head and returned the hug.

“I guess you’re right.” Rainbow forced herself to smile. “But this is more than just being the champ. It’s who I am, the fastest pony in all Equestria. It’s all I’ve ever wanted and all I’ve ever done. If I lose the races, I don’t have anything else.”

Pinkie Pie let go of Rainbow. “Nonsense. Fluttershy gave up her animal caring thing after her marriage, remember? And she studied at home to become a nurse. Aaaaaaaand she did it while having and raising two foals. If she could change her life, so can you.” Pinkie pie extended a hoof towards Fluttershy.

“Well, marriage and foals do change you, you know?” said Fluttershy. “Fortunately, Big Mac is such a great father and helps me a lot with the foals. But still, as a mother, I just knew I wasn't going to be able to spend as much time outdoors anymore."

“Ok, fine. I just want to end my career in my prime and be Scootaloo’s inspiration one more time. Pleeeeeease Fluttershy? I will go down on my knees if I have to.” Rainbow put her hooves together in a pleading gesture.

“No, and that’s final.” Fluttershy didn’t raise her voice, she just put her hoof in the ground, not fast, but firm. “Rainbow, I know how much you want to win, but I just can’t let you fly at high speeds with your wing like that. I’d be doing you a disservice."

Rainbow gritted her teeth for a second, then she relaxed. "I understand, I guess," she said with a low voice.

Fluttershy then said, "I need to go and see the other members of the team. I'll see you in two days. Please do not do anything you'll regret.”

Pinkie and Rainbow watched Fluttershy as she walked away to talk to the rest of the team.

“Remember when she was a pushover? That girl certainly has changed a lot.” Pinkie Pie said as she took another gulp of her glass. She then put her left foreleg over Rainbow’s shoulder. “On the other hand, you haven’t changed a thing. Well, except your age.” She turned to Rainbow with a smile.

“HA, HA, very funny.” Rainbow Dash scowled, before hiding her face in her hooves. “Pinkie, what am I going to do? I can’t be second place. Not in front of Scootaloo. Not behind Scootaloo!”

“That’s what you said in the last games. And I think the games before that. You don’t really expect to be in the same condition as when you were 20 forever, do you? Besides, your times are still very impressive. C’mon, let’s go party! That'll help you distract your mind and I know just the place. Just you and me, like in old times.”

The points of Rainbow Dash’s ears came down. “All right I guess. I can’t do anything for two days anyway and Spitfire needs to train.” She stayed quiet for a while and then spoke. “Pinkie, I’m fed up with having injuries more and more often.”

Pinkie turned serious. “I know. I don’t have the same amount of energy that I used to either, but such is life. And I guess getting old is better than the alternative. Geez, look at us! We talk like we’re Granny Smith’s age! Let’s cheer up and go party!” She finished the drink in her glass.

Rainbow turned around and looked at the sports stadium of the Crystal Empire. She saw several ponies, both from her team and other teams, training, including Scootaloo. Most of them were at least 10 years younger than she was. Then she turned and smiled at Pinkie and left the place with her.

*****

"Twilight! Wake up!"

Twilight grudgingly opened her eyelids and looked at her window. The sun was barely above the horizon, glowing orange as it scared the night away.

"For the love of Celestia, Spike, didn't you notice how late we went to bed last night?" complained Twilight with a sleepy voice to Spike. He was a young adult now, taller and stronger than Twilight. The previous night, he had again asked Twilight about getting someone to take his place as her assistant so he could go and live his own life, and again, she had stalled.

"Twilight! You really have to read this, NOW!" said Spike as he slammed the newspaper on a table next to Twilight's bed. He was breathing faster than normal and his hands were trembling. Twilight wondered what had happened. She picked up the paper and read the headline.

Ponyville Champion Badly Injured in Equestria Games Accident!

Twilight looked at the newspaper with huge eyes. "This... what... there must be some kind of mistake." She kept on reading.

Ponyville Champion, Rainbow Dash, winner of 9 gold medals in Equestria Games and Wonderbolt Captain, was badly injured late last night as she tried to incorporate her signature Sonic Rainboom into the obstacle course training. As of this printing, the Crystal Empire Hospital has refused to release details of her condition until further notice. Princess Cadence, the head of this year's games, has officially postponed the games for a week, prompting both cheers and protests from several members of other teams. Fluttershy, the team's nurse, has been promoted to temporary coach of the Ponyville team.

Twilight stared at the news, incredulous, and then at Spike, who was fidgeting with his fingers.

"When did you find out?" asked Twilight.

"About 10 minutes ago, while I was getting groceries. I bought the paper and came here as fast as I could. Oh, Twilight, I'm sick with worry. We have to get there."

Twilight's mouth was dry. "We... we have to let Rarity and Applejack know too. They have to come too."

*****

The train trip to the Crystal Empire felt like an eternity. Twilight was gazing at the view outside the window, seeing the posts and the houses as the train moved. She tried to think of what to say, to come up with some words that would assure her friends that Rainbow Dash would be alright.

In the same wagon, in front of Twilight, Rarity was holding Spike, who was sobbing and shaking. Twilight still thought of the young dragon as a "poor little fellow," even though he was taller than Rarity. Nevertheless, Twilight's heart ached listening to his sobs. The report that Princess Cadance had sent through Spike's magical fire breath had been discouraging: several broken bones, including a fair number of ribs and fractures in the neck and skull, internal hemorrhage, and possible injuries to internal organs.

Applejack, who was sitting next to Twilight, finished reading the report and put it down. "Well, this doesn't look very good, does it?" She looked at everypony else and attempted a smile. "She really done good this time, didn't she?"

Rarity looked at Applejack with angry eyes. With a badly restrained voice, she asked, "How can you talk about this so... so callously? We don't know if... if... No. I won't even say it."

Rarity's tone of voice made Twilight turn back to interior of the wagon. "Now, now. It was bad, but I'm sure that Rainbow Dash will make it. She will probably have to retire as an athlete, but she'll be fine and we'll have her bragging again in no time. We're talking about Rainbow Dash, after all. She's a tough girl," she said.

"You can't guarantee that," said Applejack soberly. "This is nothing like her previous injuries. This is the kind of injuries that kill ponies. I don't think she has even regained consciousness. Princess Cadance would have told us if she had, I'm sure of that."

Spike raised his head. His eyes were vibrant and he was biting his lip. "Tell us she's wrong, Twilight. Tell us that Rainbow Dash will make it," he begged.

Twilight looked the young dragon that she had raised since he was a baby. He had been like a younger brother to her. She couldn't lie to him.

"Applejack is right," Twilight said to Spike. "There is a chance that we will get there just to say good-bye to Rainbow Dash. You... we should prepare for that as well. Nevertheless, we shouldn't lose hope either."

The young dragon buried his face in Rarity's chest.

"I can't even imagine it," said Rarity. "This all feels so... unreal."

"Whatever happens, everything will be alright," said Applejack to the group with a timid smile.

Twilight and Rarity looked at her, while Spike once again started to sob in Rarity's embrace. "What do you mean, Applejack?" asked Twilight.

Applejack put a hoof over Twilight's shoulder. "Sugarcube, I've been through these things. I ain't going to lie. It's hard as hell. But you know? No matter what happens, everything is going to be alright, one way or the other."

*****

As soon as the train arrived to the Crystal Empire, Twilight and her friends ran as fast as they could from the train to the hospital. They didn't want to see the faces of other ponies or the newspapers in the newsstands. They just wanted to get to Rainbow Dash and hoped that everything would be fine. The nurse would say that it had been a terrible accident and maybe Rainbow Dash would have make some drastic changes in her lifestyle, but she'd recover with time and rest.

They arrived to the hospital's waiting room, where they found Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Spitfire was strangely absent. Pinkie Pie, still dressed in her old cheerleading uniform, was silently crying, her head buried in her hooves and her worn pom-poms lying on the ground. There was a bottle next to her, which Twilight didn't fail to notice. Fluttershy was accompanied by Big Mac and her two young foals.

"How is she? Is she awake yet? Can we speak to her?" asked Twilight with a lump in her throat.

"It's over," said Fluttershy. "She's not hurting anymore."

Rarity gasped and took a hoof to her mouth. Spike held her neck and started to cry again.

"But, but... I didn't get a chance to say good-bye," cried Twilight. She had thought about losing Rainbow Dash as a remote possibility, but she had somehow believed that even if that were the case, she'd still get to say good-bye to her colored-hair friend. She felt cheated, as if someone had stolen from her something she was owed.

"We don't always do," said a self-possessed, if somber, Applejack. "What happens now?" she asked.

"I've made arrangements to transfer the body to Ponyville," said Fluttershy. "I know she was born in Cloudsdale, but she really identified more with Ponyville. She had been competing for our team for years, after all. And her best memories are also from Ponyville. I think that's the most appropriate thing to do. I've already obtained clearance from Princess Cadence and Spitfire is making arrangements with Princess Celestia."

"What will happen with Tank?" asked Applejack.

"Spitfire will take him with her," answered Fluttershy.

Twilight's heart sank as she realized the impact of what had happened. She would never see her blue friend soar the sky again, or hear her brag about her abilities, or listen to her saying how awesome she was. She would never hug her or tell her what a great friend she was. But the thing that hurt her the most was that she didn't get a chance to say good-bye.

Twilight let herself drop into a chair. She looked at Fluttershy talking so composedly. After a few minutes, Twilight asked her, "How can you be so calm?"

Fluttershy took a hoof to her mouth and looked up, thinking. After a few seconds, she answered. "I think it just hasn't dawned on me yet. Plus someone has to take care of these matters. I mean, we still have to pay for the hospital's fees and special freight fees, although I'm sure Rainbow Dash supporters will contribute with more than enough."

*****

Almost none of the ponies had been able to sleep much that night. Pinkie had locked herself in her room all night long. The rest could guess what she was doing, but none of them thought it was a good moment to confront her. Spike had cried himself to sleep while Rarity and Applejack spent the night talking about the details of what had happened and their memories of Rainbow Dash. Tears came down of Rarity's eyes during the whole conversation, ruining her make up, but she made no attempt to fix it. Applejack, on the other hand, acted like nothing had happened, although a break in her voice now and then betrayed her feelings. After a while, she admitted that she had to stay calm and strong, because "someone has to." Twilight listened to them, thinking about how incomplete she felt. Only Fluttershy, exhausted from the day's activities and the care of two active foals, managed to get some decent rest, embraced by Big Mac.

A ceremony was held the next day at the sports stadium. All the public of the Games attended, as well as the members of all the teams, despite the light rain and cloudy weather that had started a couple of days ago. Princess Celestia gave a beautiful speech that spoke truly of Rainbow Dash's nature. No words about how sweet she had been, but about how fast and competitive and loyal she had been in her short life. She said how Rainbow had probably been the most awesome pony there had ever existed, to which everyone sobbed and nodded. Princess Cadance also spoke some words about Rainbow, but also about the Games. She told the crowd that the Equestria Games committee would continue with the Games the following week, since that's what Rainbow would have wanted. She said Rainbow wouldn't have wanted her death to stop the dreams of other ponies who had trained so hard for this moment, just like she had. Princess Cadance also banned the use of Sonic Rainbooms from competitions until safety measures had been created, implemented, and tested to make sure that they were perfectly safe to use.

After Princess Cadance's speech, a few members of the Ponyville team spoke. They all said how inspiring and loyal Rainbow Dash had been. They spoke about how earlier in life she had learned to stick with her friends through victory or defeat, and how much the team had improved since them, knowing that even if they didn't win, Rainbow Dash would stand next to them in the second or third place podium, or on the ground, if they didn't win a medal.

Next came Scootaloo. She stood proud and strong at the podium, taking just a bit too long to control her emotions before she spoke.

"Today is a specially tragic occasion for me. Rainbow Dash was my personal hero and my inspiration. It was because of her that I became an athlete and also why I'm training to become a Wonderbolt. It was my dream to be like her and I worked hard everyday to be as good as her.

"But she wasn't only a hero. She was a close and warm friend and tutor. I remember that one day while we were camping, I got scared by some horror stories the older ponies were telling. I was just a young filly back then and easily impressed. I escaped in fear in the middle of the night and fell into a river which took me to a waterfall. I would have died if Rainbow hadn't rescued me at the last moment. So, in addition to everything else, I owed her my life.

"From that day forward, she took me under her wing, training me and teaching me what I needed to know in order to improve my skills. Then, when I decided to join the Cloudsdale team, I could feel she was sad at my departure, but she just wished me luck. I had learned so much from her but it was time for me to be on my own, even though I missed her terribly for the first months.

Equestria lost a great athlete and Wonderbolt, but I lost the pony that made the biggest and most positive impact in my life, my tutor, my friend, and my hero. Thank you, thank you very much Rainbow Dash."

After Scootaloo, it was Fluttershy's turn to speak.

"Dear friends and fans of the Games. I'm very humbled to talk on behalf of the team now that Rainbow Dash is not with us anymore. I have spoken with all the other members of the team and they've all agreed not to compete this year, out of respect of Rainbow's memory. We're also retiring the number 1 from all our uniforms, since it was Rainbow Dash's number and nopony will ever take her place. There was and there will only be one Rainbow Dash. The team will be back for the next Games. In the meantime, we wish all the members of the other teams good luck and may the best pony win.

"Now I would like to say a few words about Rainbow Dash. We go back a long way. I met her when I was a small filly who still had trouble flying. One time, after I had fallen and somehow wrapped myself in a flag at Summer Flight Camp, two bullies started to make fun of me. It was the most humiliating moment of my life. Then, out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash showed up and stood up for me, while I was just there, sitting and afraid. 'Leave her alone!' she said to them. I had never seen anyone so confident, so sure of herself before. Those were traits that Rainbow would carry for the rest of her life.

"But confidence wasn't the only thing Rainbow Dash was admired for. She was also brave, fun, and loyal and never ran away from a good challenge. Perhaps that is what made her so awesome."

Fluttershy's voice was firm as she continued. "I have other news. Starting today, I will work to obtain funds and start a charity hospital named after her. It'll be my own personal way to keep her legacy alive, although I know that for me, as for many of you as well, Rainbow Dash will always be in our hearts, regardless of what happens. Thank you very much for everything, Rainbow. You were the most awesome pony there has ever been."

The crowd applauded and cried as Fluttershy walked down from the podium and Spitfire walked up to it, to give her speech in the name of the Wonderbolts. Spike and Rarity and Pinkie were sobbing, while Applejack and Twilight feigned serenity as best as they could. Big Mac and Fluttershy's foals embraced the yellow Pegasus.

Twilight walked up to Fluttershy and said "That was beautiful Fluttershy, truly beautiful." She then noticed Fluttershy's lips and jaw tremble.

"Thank you, Twilight. I... I need to be alone right now," said Fluttershy and she walked away.

"But you can't be alone right now, friendship means..." Twilight said as her shoulder was held by Applejack.

"Let her go," said the cowgirl with red but serene eyes. "We each grieve in our own way."

*****

The first part of the trip home was spent in somber silence. Slowly, the ponies started to speak. First they made casual commentary about the sights and places they passed by. Then they started commenting about the ceremony and ended up talking about Rainbow Dash in a casual way. All except Twilight, who kept staring out the window, silent. She wasn't looking at anything in specific. She was just trying to cope with the pain and the emotions. She would cry, later, when she would be alone, so as not to upset her friends.

"Did you really fall on your face so many times just to help Rainbow?" Pinkie Pie asked Applejack.

"Yep, it hurt like hell, let me tell you. But I had promised Rainbow I'd help her train, so I kept trying again and again."

"That is so funny," laughed Rarity. "Oh my God, you girls did a lot of silly things when you were young."

"We all did, Sugarcube, remember the fight we had at Twilight's that sleepover?"

"Gosh, I was such a bitch back then," said Rarity as she covered her face with a hoof, jokingly pretending to be embarrassed.

Fluttershy interjected, "Well, do tell us. I mean, if it's not too private."

Spike jumped in, "Yeah, out with it."

Rarity rushed forward, "Let me tell it Applejack, it's such a great memory of mine. I can't believe how uptight I used to be."

Pinkie Pie spoke, "It feels like a long time ago, doesn't it? Still, it's not like we're old, you know. I mean, Rainbow Dash was only what? 34?"

Fluttershy answered "Yeah. It was a rather short life."

Applejack commented, "But she managed to cram more spunk in those years than all of us together, wouldn't you say?"

Spike interrupted her "Applejack! I want to hear Rarity tell the story!"

As her friends talked and laughed, Twilight noticed the rain stopping and the sun starting to shine. A beautiful rainbow then appeared in the horizon.

Applejack was right, Twilight thought. Everything will be alright. Good-bye, my friend. Good-bye Rainbow Dash.

And she finally broke down and cried.

*****

A few weeks later, Spike left the castle to see the world and live his own life as a dragon. Twilight decided not to replace him for the time being.

Author's Note

I decided to get rid of the author's notes. Not even I care how many edits and changes were made and when.

Anyway, it's pretty unanimous that the next chapters get better, just so you know.

Also, looking for voices for the characters as I'm making an audio version of this, so if you're interested, send me a PM.

The Second Good-bye

Rarity and Twilight talked as they walked side by side on their way to Pinkie Pie's house.

"Honestly Twilight, I don't even know why I bother. I am coming just because you insisted so much. But really honey, these parties just get worse and worse," said Rarity.

"Well, Pinkie is an old friend, you know? She just has fallen on hard times. She probably needs us more than ever," answered Twilight.

"It doesn't seem that our 'help,' whatever it might be, is doing any good. Seriously, I hope you at least have a serious talk with her this time."

"I will try, but you know, you could speak with her too."

"I have! It's just that I don't tell you about it. In any case, it's hopeless. Anytime I try to talk some sense into that girl she just laughs, eats more cake, or pulls out some vulgar stunt. Last time she shoot her stupid cannon full of confetti at my face! It is because of you that I'm breaking my promise to never set foot on her house again."

"Well, that's just Pinkie being Pinkie."

"Oh, really? And what about what she did at Applejack's wedding? AND at the funeral of Applejack's husband?"

Twilight looked down at her hoofs and continued walking. Her forced enthusiasm was gone.

"I can't defend everything she does. I know she needs to change. Look, I promise I'll talk to her, but will you at least please try to enjoy yourself? It's a party after all."

Rarity sighted, "I might as well, Twilight."

After a while, they arrived to Pinkie's House. The shade of the paint was uneven and it was peeling off in some places. The wood on the doors and windows was a bit rotten and there were several spider webs here and there. The windows were stained and one of them had a big crack on it. There were some bottles and wrappings around the house. The music was loud and you could hear Pinkie inside sing at the top of her lungs. Not again, thought Twilight with both anxiety and frustration. She knocked as Rarity frowned and wrinkled her nose.

Pinkie Pie' answered from the other side of the door. "Come in, the door is open! The party is just getting started!"

Twilight and Rarity entered Pinkie's house. Fluttershy was sitting on the couch. She tried to hide a frown as she ate some nachos and guacamole from a bowl on a coffee table. Pinkie Pie was singing and dancing on top of the dining table, which was full of spilled soda, scattered popcorn, broken chips, and squashed cupcakes. All the furniture had stains or patches. "Hello, fillies, it was about time you came. You know the party is not the same without my good pals Twi and Ra!" yelled Pinkie as she clumsily waved a hoof at her friends.

Twilight covered her ears with a pillow from the couch, walked to the stereo and turned the music down. She attempted a smile. "Sorry Pinkie, it was a bit too loud for me. Working at the library, you get used to the silence," she said as sat on a chair. Pinkie just stuck out her tongue at her.

Rarity ignored Pinkie and sat next to Fluttershy, who smiled widely at the presence of her friend. "Where's Applejack?" the Unicorn asked.

"Oh, she's not coming," answered Fluttershy. She lowered her eyes a bit.

Pinkie jumped down from the table. "She's still brooding and not talking to me. And here I was trying to make sure that everybody had a good time at her event," she remarked as she picked up a cupcake and ate it.

"Pinkie! It was her husband's funeral!" cried Rarity.

"More the reason to cheer everypony up." Pinkie took a bottle out from who knows where and started to drink. Suddenly, the bottle was enveloped in a purple magical aura and was snatched quickly from Pinkie's hoof.

"Hey, I was going to drink that!" complained Pinkie as Twilight smelled the interior of the bottle.

"Pinkie! You said you weren't going to drink anymore!"

"No, Twilight, YOU said I wasn't going to drink anymore." Pinkie took out a pack of cigarettes from the same place she got the bottle, took a cigarette out and lit it as she sat in another chair.

"And you smoke, of fucking course," said Rarity with disgust on her voice as she crossed her front legs.

"Spare me the drama, daaaarling," Pinkie puffed a smoke. "We're not teens anymore. How old are you? 40? 41?"

"Oh, don't worry about my drama, sweetheart. I came at Twilight's insistence, but I think I will not stay for very long," said Rarity with a sardonic smile.

Fluttershy looked at Rarity, then at Pinkie. She put a hoof on the back on her head and said "Pinkie, we... we are just worried about you. I'm not saying never drink, just... well, you tend to do things that are just not acceptable. I mean, you understand that what you did to Applejack was wrong, right?" She looked at the food around the place. "Also, you shouldn't be eating like this. Like you said, we're not teenagers anymore and this kind of food is just not healthy. Think about it. What do you think Rainbow Dash would say if she were alive?"

"I don't know." Pinkie shrugged her shoulders. "Get me out of this box, I'm in excruciating pain?"

"Pinkie!" cried all the other ponies at the same time. Just then, the door of the bedroom opened and a young stallion came out.

"I can't lift with all that nagging. I'm going home," he said with an accusatory tone at nopony in particular. On his way out, he smacked Pinkie Pie's flank. which caused her to let out a little shriek.

"Don't go, honey," Pinkie put her hooves together in a pleading gesture. "It's just a small reunion with my friends that I had planned for a while. I didn't know that you were coming until last night. Please stay, I promise we'll be quiet."

The stallion ignored her. He walked by the three other ponies and left, not even saying good-bye.

Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie, "Who is that?"

"Oh, just someone I met about two weeks ago at a bar." Pinkie avoided her friends' eyes and squashed her cigarette. She stood up and served some punch in a few cups. "Strawberry punch anyone? I swear there's no alcohol in this." She offered a tray with the cups to her friends.

"It's another one of your boytoys, isn't he? How old is he? 25?" Rarity said calmly as she took one cup and sipped it.

Pinkie Pie sat on the other couch leaving the tray on the coffee table. Her head was erect in defiance. "27. So what if he is?"

Fluttershy interjected "Oh Pinkie. Pardon me for saying this but..." She fidgeted a bit. "I just don't see how you could be happy in such a relationship. It's not so much the age. It's that the way you live and the kind of stallions you go out with. I mean, how can you even start a family with such a guy? I love my foals but I wouldn't have been able to raise them without knowing I could count on Big Mac for..."

"I can't get pregnant," interrupted Pinkie, emotionless.

"What?" said Twilight and Rarity in unison.

"What you heard. I can't get pregnant. I've had tests and shit." Pinkie looked directly at Fluttershy. "I'm happy for you Fluttershy. But I just can't have what you have and I never will."

Fluttershy was frozen and had no reply. "I... I had no idea. I'm sorry," she stuttered.

Rarity reached out a hoof to Pinkie. "That's still no reason to live the kind of life you have, Pinkie dear, jumping from one stallion to another, living in an eternal party, eating junk food all the time, getting drunk all the time."

"Shut up ,Rarity! And spare me your false pity," bit back Pinkie. Rarity's eyes widened as she took a hoof to her mouth. Pinkie spoke on as she took another bottle out of nowhere and drank a sip from it. "Like I don't know that you are as lonely as I am. All those long hours working, never taking a break to because you have no one to have fun with. And now Sweetie Belle has replaced you as the mare every stallion is crazy about. You're not getting any younger and you know it. At least I have someone to fuck with."

Rarity's teeth clenched. "I am building a business, not destroying myself and sleeping in every stallion's bed, being dumped every, what? two months? two weeks? Do you even keep count or are you always that intoxicated?"

"You have some nerve to talk to me like that," Pinkie Pie leaned forward as she threw the bottle on the ground, smashing it. "You little..."

"Hey, girls, let's calm down," Twilight said as she gestured with her hooves. "I know how you feel but..."

"And how would you know it, Twilight?" interrupted Pinkie as she took out yet another bottle. "You literally have all the time in the world to find someone. You can afford to spend another twenty years in your studies and you won't age a day. You will always look in your early twenties and you will always be attractive." She brought the bottle to her mouth and slobbered as she drank.

Twilight didn't know what to say, she looked down at one of her hooves, with which she started to scratch the floor. Everypony else avoided looking at each other.

"That's right. I shaid it! And it wash about time," Pinkie put the bottle down and lit up another cigarette. "Like nopony of you hadn't notished. Who do you think you're fooling? We all see each other rot away, getting wrinkles and..."

"ENOUGH!" said Fluttershy with a stern voice. The other three ponies turned around to look at her.

"I think I'll take my leave," her voice wasn't loud, but it was assertive. "I came to have a good time and I'm having anything but. You should be ashamed of yourself, Pinkamina Diane Pie, treating us, your old friends like some street drunkards. No wonder Applejack doesn't speak to you." Fluttershy was trembling, but her voice did not waver. "I'll let you know that I'm not rotting. I have a wonderful family who fill my heart with joy and life. And now if you excuse me, I believe I have spent enough time away from them. Have a good night!" She walked out of the house. None of the other ponies stopped her.

After a few moments, Rarity looked at Pinkie Pie with a disapproval look. She stood up and walked away without saying a word, her head hanging low.

"She knowsh I'm right, you know?" Pinkie started to stuff her face with some chips that were on the table. She was clearly under the effects of the alcohol now.

"I'm sorry Pinkie," said Twilight. "I guess I hadn't thought about how my condition affected you all. Still, you can't continue like this. I mean, even I fantasize about having a family."

"I can't 'ave a family, Twilight."

"Sure you can. All you need is a bit of..."

"No, Twilight, you don't undershtand. I literally can't have a family. I'm shterile. I'm FUCKING SHTERILE!" Pinkie Pie covered her eyes and began to cry as she dropped herself on the ground.

Twilight had wanted to talk about adoption, but this was clearly not the right moment to do it. She sat next to Pinkie, not without pushing away some food and bottles, and hugged her friend, who was crying unconscionably. It was then that she noticed the needle marks on her arms and neck.

Twilight leaned back, shocked and disgusted, turning her head away from Pinkie. She stood up and left, with a sensation of sickness in her stomach.

*****

"I'm glad you gave yourself some time to see me, Applejack," Twilight said as she took a sip of her cappuccino. It's a bit hard to see old friends nowadays, specially Rarity. It' not easy for her to come all the way from Manehattan."

"Yep," replied Applejack as she took a bite of her strawberry cake. "With all the long hours she keeps and always running from show to show and from client to client, I'm surprised the girl has time to pee."

Twilight laughed. "Yes, but you too work hard too. You're already on the fields even before the sun rises."

"Well, running a farm is a lot of work and I'm the only one there now that everypony is gone."

"You must miss them."

"Not gonna lie, sugarcube. That farm used to be so full of life with so many ponies around."

"Yeah, I remember, Big Mac, Applebloom, Granny..."

"Ah good old, granny," sighed Applejack as she rested her head on her hooves. "She lived a long and fulfilling life. Truth be told, I'd like to go like her, working on the farm until my bones are too old to pull a cart or buck a tree. Now, my husband on the other hoof, well, that's another story."

"I'm terribly sorry about what happened to him."

"Don't. That's life, you know?"

"But you're still young enough to redo your life and look for a stallion that will appreciate you. You can be quite an attractive mare when you want to, you know?"

"I don't know, Twi. I did make a promise to love that stallion forever. I guess since it's death do us apart, the promise it's fulfilled. It's just that... I'm not sure if I want to live through that again."

"That was just terrible bad luck, and you know it."

"Oh, I don't mean that. I mean... well..." Applejack put a hoof to her chin, "that experience of getting to know someone, having a relationship, arrange a marriage. I'm just not interested in it anymore. I lived it, I enjoyed it, but it's over. It's one more item off the list," Applejack ate a bite of her strawberry pie and looked up at Twilight, smiling.

"Oh well," sighed Twilight. "How's Applebloom?"

"Mighty fine, I must say. That girl got her cutie mark pretty late, but she sure has taken advantage of her talent since then. Also, the thing with her stallion is turning serious. I think we'll be having another wedding in the family soon."

"That's nice to hear, although I think she's still too young for that. Ah, I still remember when the Cutie Mark Crusaders used to cause lots of trouble."

"Tell me about it," Applejack giggled a bit, then got serious. "Big Mac told me that Fluttershy is having trouble with the hospital. It seems that the hype about Rainbow Dash has died out."

"It must be hard to keep donors in the long term, I guess," Twilight took another sip of her coffee.

"Yep, and Fluttershy has her hooves full with two foals too. But Big Mac tells me that he and Fluttershy couldn't be any happier."

"That's wonderful, and how old are her foals now?"

"The filly is 12 and the colt is 10. Not much longer before Fluttershy has to deal with teens. I still remember when Applebloom went into her rebellious phase."

"Well, they are both lovely in my opinion. And I'm happy for all of them."

Applejack slurped her milkshake. "You know, I saw Pinkie Pie at the general store. I even walked up and talked to her."

Twilight opened her eyes wide "Really? How is she?"

"Pretty bad. She really let herself go. Not only she's overweight, but she also has a running nose and snorts all the time. She dressed as if she were a still a teen and she was buying lots of alcohol and cigarette cartons." Applejack's eyes were fixed on her pie as she poked it with her fork.

Twilight couldn't help but be curious. "And then what happened?"

"I went up to her and said hi. She looked like she had seen a ghost. I told her that I forgave her for what she did at my husband's funeral. She was at a loss for words for a while... and then she invited me for a drink at her house. I declined politely, gave her a hug and left."

Twilight shook her head. "Let me guess, she was wearing sunglasses."

Applejack quickly looked at Twilight with an open mouth. "How the buck did you know?"

Twilight looked sideways. "I've been reading. She not only drinking. She's doing drugs too. That's one of the signs, wearing sunglasses so that you can't see their red eyes."

"Drugs, eh? I guess it was bound to happen. Now we know where all her money is going."

"How can we get her to change?"

"I don't reckon we can. She has to admit that she has a problem first and that girl in obviously in denial. However, you should definitely speak with her."

"You think she'll listen to me? She doesn't even listen to Maude!"

"I'm not talking about that, sugarcube. Listen, I know what she said to you at her party. Fluttershy told me everything. The reason I spoke with her is so that I could leave that funeral incident in the past and be at peace with myself. You too should talk to her and forgive her."

Twilight's throat got hard for a moment. "I'm not even that mad, just... conflicted."

Applejack had finished eating her cake and was cleaning her mouth with a napkin. "Think about it hon. In any case, I'm back to the salt mines. Those trees aren't going to buck themselves, you know? The harvest this season was plentiful, but that just means more work. I'm thinking about hiring that Scootaloo girl for a while. You too should get someone to replace Spike. It's not good for you to be all alone."

Twilight embraced her old friend. "It was lovely to see you Applejack. Take care and I'll think about what you said."

*****

For a few weeks, Twilight always found an excuse to avoid talking to Pinkie Pie. She wasn't even sure what she would say to her. It was until one day, when she was arranging the latest delivery of books and thinking that it was about time to get another assistant, that she heard someone knocking on the door.

She opened to find a very old mare standing in front of her. For a moment, Twilight didn't recognize her.

"Mrs. Cake! Good afternoon. I haven't seen you in a long time. Please do come in." Twilight pointed with a hoof to the inside of her house, as a sign of invitation.

"Twilight, dear," the old mare said. "I'm afraid that I not in the mood for visits. I have come to ask you a favor. I'm very worried about Pinkie Pie. She hasn't shown up for work in days and we haven't heard from her. I'm afraid something might have happened to her. Could you go to her place and see what's going on? I'm too old to go myself and I need to take care of the business."

Damn you, Pinkie, dropping the job like that, thought Twilight. She forced a smile and said "Sure, I'm a bit busy at the moment, but I'll go as soon as I'm done."

Mrs. Cake put her hooves together and looked at Twilight directly in the eyes. "Would you mind going right away? Please do it as a favor to this old mare."

Twilight's heart began to beat faster. "Ah, sure. I'll... just close up and leave."

*****

Twilight arrived to Pinkie's house a few minutes later. By now, she understood why Pinkie had moved out of Sugar Cube Corner. It would have been impossible to keep her addiction hidden from the Cakes there, although she was sure they knew.

She noticed a foul stench coming from the inside as she knocked the door. "Pinkie, I need to talk to you!"

No answer.

Twilight knocked harder. "No more games, Pinkie! Open the door! We're all worried sick about you!"

No answer.

Maybe she went on a trip or something, thought Twilight. She asked Pinkie's neighbors if they knew anything about her. They told her that they hadn't seen Pinkie come out of her house in days.

Twilight came back to the door and knocked one more time, her stomach churning. "Pinkie, open the door NOW!"

Still no answer.

She could feel the rush of adrenaline. She kicked the door as hard as she could, but it wouldn't open. She tried again and again, but she just didn't have the strength of an Earth Pony. She wished Applejack was with her.

No time to go get Applejack, thought Twilight. She went to a window and kicked the glass. Then she climbed through, scratching herself in the process. She fell inside the bathroom.

Once inside the stench was even worse. Twilight had to cover her nose with one of her hooves. "Pinkie? Where are you?"

She walked around the house. It was ten times dirtier than the last time she saw it. There were some needles on the table and tons of empty bottles and squashed cigarette butts all over. The furniture had alcohol stains and it was burned in some areas.

Twilight finally arrived to the bedroom. The sight made her let out a scream of horror.

*****

Pinkie Pie's friends and family buried her the next day. It was a simple affair. No ceremony or eulogy. Just lowering the casket, covering it with Earth, and leaving a tombstone made by Maude to mark the place. Twilight couldn't help but notice the contrast with Rainbow Dash's funeral, which was full of speeches and had been attended by important ponies. The only somewhat remarkable sight at the event was a very, very old donkey crying silently, sitting atop a nearby hill.

Twilight didn't want the event to finish just like that, so she invited the others to a nearby restaurant, the closest business there was. The Pies and the Cakes rejected the invitation, stating that they'd rather do their grieving in private. Fluttershy also excused herself, saying that the conversation wouldn't be appropriate for her foals. She and Big Mac hugged their friends and walked away, with two crying foals in tow. Applejack didn't have anyone waiting for her at home and Rarity grudgingly accepted.

"I'll have a cognac, and if you don't have it, whiskey will do, dear," said Rarity to the waiter who had come to take their orders.

"I'll have a beer myself" ordered Applejack.

"You're having alcohol?" asked Twilight with surprise.

"Darling," said Rarity with a sigh. "Just because Pinkie Pie didn't know how to drink, doesn't mean that the rest of us don't either. And honestly, after these news, I definitely need a drink."

"Well, in that case, I'll have a beer too," said Twilight to the waiter, who left to get their drinks.

"It was pretty shocking I must say," said Applejack. "So it was an overdose?"

"It wasn't exactly confirmed, but the doctor said there was no point in running tests and making the bills higher. Honestly, I don't see what else could have been. I... I saw it myself." Twilight's ears and eyes dropped.

"I am so sorry for you, my dear," said Rarity as she touched Twilight's shoulder.

"I can't say it didn't shake me. Honestly, it was the worst scene I have seen in my life," said Twilight.

"Do not go into details please, I think I know as much as I need to know," Rarity put a hoof on her chest. Just then, the waiter arrived with their drinks.

Applejack lifted her mug. "To Pinkie, may she live a better life wherever she is."

Rarity and Twilight clinked her drinks with Applejack's, "To Pinkie!" Tears started to roll down through Rarity's cheeks.

"Oh darn it," said the white unicorn. "My make up... is getting... ruined..." Her speech was being interrupted by hick ups and sobs.

"It's ok Rarity. You can let go. It's perfectly natural for you to react like this," said Applejack with watery eyes as she patted her friend's shoulder. "I can understand why Maude and Fluttershy didn't want to stay. They still have to think what to say when their foals ask what happened to aunt Pinkie."

Twilight couldn't help but remember the advice that Applejack had given her a few weeks ago. "Applejack, Rarity, I love you!" said Twilight with a rush. "I just want you to know this, in case something happens to any of us."

The two mares couldn't help but laugh at Twilight's outburst. "Darling, we're not dying. I'm 41, just three years older than Pinkie," said Rarity with her face full of tears and messed up make-up.

"That was unexpected and funny," laughed Applejack as she too had tears running down her cheeks. "Are you planning to take Pinkie Pie's place?" The thought of her departed friend stopped the laughter. "Boy, she did make me laugh a lot. I think I never realized what a gift Pinkie gave us each day, at least before her... well, you know."

Rarity buried her face in her hooves. "And she's not here anymore. She's not here. I will never see her again, EVER!" She was wailing loudly.

Twilight too thought about the many times Pinkie had made her laugh. She finally understood how precious Pinkie had been to everyone around her and why her friends and her family, specially Maude, loved her so much. She thought how hard it must have been for everyone to see Pinkie sink deeper and deeper into an illness that she could not escape from. She wished she could give up her immortality to see her pink friend smile again.

She knew that the people in the other tables were watching them. She didn't care. She too buried her face into her hooves and started to cry.

Good-bye Pinke. I will miss you so fucking much.

Author's Note

Just to comment on the common criticism that Pinkie Pie should go like this. I have never heard about alcoholism or addiction going "darn, I can't touch this person because it's not right."

Although not as common, some have said that it's not believable (in a story about talking horses) that their friends miss Pinkie when she was terrible with them. People who have had to deal with alcoholics do get harsh treatment from them. That doesn't mean that they don't love the alcoholic person and that they don't feel sad when they die.

Anyway, thanks for reading so far.

The Third Good-bye

Twilight arrived to the condo where Rarity lived. It was tall and impressive. Its walls were made of glass that looked like a mirror from outside but were transparent from the inside. Outside the revolving door, a doorpony was standing tall and proud, wearing his uniform as if he were a medal-carrying guard. Twilight looked up, trying to see if she could get a glimpse of Rarity's penthouse. She figured she could just have flown to it, but she didn't want to misbehave, so she went inside the tall building.

The doorman acknowledged Twilight's status with a nod. She knew he normally would have had to ask for an identification and for her to register her entrance, but by this time, everybody knew Twilight Sparkle and her standing in Equestria. She walked up to the elevator, pushed the up button, and took the long ride to Rarity's home.

The doors opened and Twilight entered Rarity's penthouse. The floor was covered in velvet of a soft shade of ivory, no doubt difficult to clean. The furniture was made out of bocote wood and each piece had intricate designs formed with the material's stripes. Twilight knew that no other pony in the world but Rarity would have invested the time and the money to create such pieces. They didn't even have that kind of furniture at the castle. But the thing that caught Twilight's attention is that the place seemed empty. Not even her cats were there.

Where is she?

All of a sudden, the doors opened again and a young Earth Pony entered. Twilight didn't recognize her but she assumed it was Rarity's current assistant, one of many she had had over the years. They seemed to last less and less these days.

"Princess Twilight," said the young mare, obviously impressed by the presence of a member of Equestria Royalty, "Miss Fashionista wants you to know that she'll be a little late."

"Oh, no problem, I'll just sit here and look at the view. Thanks for letting me know," Twilight replied, resisting rolling her eyes at the name. The official story was that it was the media who had coined the term. Twilight was convinced that Rarity herself had created it and leaked it, but she was sure the unicorn would never admit it.

The young mare bit her lip while she touched the point of her front hooves repeatedly. "Princess Twilight. I'm not sure how to say this, but I'm a big fan of yours. Furthermore, Miss Fashionista ordered me to prepare dinner for you. She... might be a bit late."

"Oh, thank you. That's very kind of you," replied Twilight Sparkle. "But I'll accept only if you join me at the table."

"Really?" the eyes of the young mare widened as she started to bounce. "I'd be honored, Princess Twilight! I will prepare you some escargots au vin. I've been practicing!"

Twilight sat down at the table, smiling. She prepared herself for a long wait.

*****

It was already dark and Twilight was sitting at the grand piano, bored out of her mind, poking at the keys. She wished she had brought a book, but she had expected to see Rarity. Her assistant had left about two hours ago. Finally, the elevator doors opened with a "ping" and Rarity walked in. She was wearing a purple scarf that matched her plumed hat, and a pair of fancy sunglasses.

"Welcome home, Miss Fashionista," said Twilight, as she tapped the floor and looked at the grandfather clock next to the wall.

"I'm sorry for making you wait for so long, but you really must excuse me, darling," said Rarity as she took off her scarf and hat and placed them on the coat rack next to the elevator's doors. "I had a surprise visit from an important client. You'll never guess who it was. But first, I need a drink." Rarity opened a cupboard with her magic and took out a bottle of champagne and two tall, transparent glasses.

"That Merriam girl is very kind. Did you know that her mother is sick?" asked Twilight as she crossed her forelegs.

"Really?" Rarity poured the champagne in the glasses and handed one to Twilight. "I'll ask Books to write her a bonus check then. Here, you're having a drink too and I won't take no for an answer."

Twilight wondered if after having dinner with Rarity's assistant, she knew more about her than Rarity but she didn't think it was worth arguing about it. She looked at the glass with bubbly liquid in her hoof as she walked to the couch and sat down. "Champagne for supper, hey?"

"It's a special occasion, darling," Rarity sat next to Twilight, inclined her head backwards and smiled. "Where are Fluttershy and Applejack?"

"Fluttershy's colt is sick and Applebloom had a job interview, so she asked Applejack to take care of Apple Pie. You know how those two are. So, what's the big news?"

"They'll miss the biggest news of the decade then. I'm finally getting married!" Rarity grinned and extended her front legs.

Twilight opened her eyes wide and raised her eyebrows, but she immediately recovered and smiled. "Really? Wow, congratulations, Rarity! I'm so happy for you. Who is the lucky guy?" She touched glasses with Rarity, making a little "clink" sound.

"Remember Flam?"

"Flam Swindle? from the Flim Flam Brothers?"

"That one."

"But he's a..." Twilight started to say before covering her mouth with her hoof.

"I know, Twilight. I'm not stupid. I know perfectly well who I'm marrying to."

"I'm terribly sorry," Twilight said as she looked sideways. "That was rude of me."

"You know," Rarity touched Twilight's hoof gently. "I'm not getting any younger. To be honest with you, after the fiasco with Prince Blueblood, I realized I had to lower my expectations."

"That stallion wasn't appropriate for you."

"Nor the one before him, or the one before him, or the one before him. Listen Twilight, I know that Flam is not perfect, but he's changed. That time he and his brother spent on the moon made him realize that he couldn't go on anymore swindling ponies and making get-quick-rich schemes. And now that he's free again, well, I can tell it's going to be different."

"I know you're not like that, but he has no money."

"But I do!" Rarity waved her hoof, as if showing Twilight the opulence of her penthouse. "That's not going to be a problem." The white Unicorn got serious. "Twilight, I had a life of great success. My new client is Pizza Papa."

Twilight couldn't help but gape at the name.

"Yes, that Pizza Papa" continued Rarity. "The famous pop singer. Listen, I've traveled all over Equestria and I've become what I always wanted to be, even if I had to sacrifice some things. I don't regret anything. I'm the pony everypony should know, remember?"

"Well, you seem to have thought about this for a while. And obviously, you're a better expert on your own life than I am. To the happy couple!" Twilight raised her glass again.

"To me! To us!" Rarity clinked her glass with Twilight's again and they both drank until they finished their drinks.

"Where are your cats?" asked Twilight.

"Flam doesn't like cats, so I got rid of them."

This doesn't start well, thought Twilight and served herself more champagne.

*****

"How much longer do I have to walk like this? I'm afraid of bumping into something," asked Twilight Sparkle.

"Don't worry, we're almost there," answered Shining Armor.

"I wish you'd tell me what's going on. What's the mystery?"

"We're here. You can take it off now."

Twilight removed the blindfold from her eyes. She found herself in a small room decorated with balloons and a banner that said "Happy Birthday, Twilight!" On the table, there was a cake with one lit candle.

"Awwww, you're so sweet. Thank you very much," Twilight's eyes watered at the sight of the white cake and her older brother.

Shining Armor embraced his sister and stayed there for a little while. "I love you, sis."

"And I love you too," said Twilight. "I haven't celebrated my birthday in a long time."

"In 23 years, sis," said Shining, still hugging Twilight. "That's the last time we celebrated it. Pinkie Pie organized it, remember?"

"Wow, you kept count? I'm impressed."

After a while, they let go of each other and sat down. Twilight blew out her candle and cut her cake while Shining sang a birthday song.

"It's delicious! Thank you very much," said Twilight as she ate a bite. "You're really my big brother best friend forever," she sang to the tune of her foalhood song.

"And you will always be my little sister," said Shining. Twilight knew he didn't mean it as a comment on her condition, but she was very self-conscious of it when she was with her brother. "This really means a lot to me, you know, sis? I simply wanted to celebrate your birthday with you one more time."

"We can always celebrate it, you silly." Twilight looked around. "Where's Cadance? Where's everypony else?"

Shining's head leaned back as he glanced to the side, "Well, nopony else is coming. It's just you and me."

"Oh, you wanted us to spend some time alone? Like when we were foals?"

Shining Armor's eyes widened, "Ah... yeah."

"That sounds like fun. However, we need to celebrate it again next week, but with all my friends AND Cadance, of course."

"Actually, I think it's better if we don't get anypony else involved."

"Why not?"

"The more ponies we have in a party, the harder it will be to keep it a secret. I don't want to lose my job over this. At my age, it's going to be impossible to find another one."

"What? Why would you lose your job over a birthday party?"

"Because of the prohibition."

"What prohibition?" Twilight tilted her head. "I've seen ponies having birthday parties. In fact, we just went to the birthday party of Applebloom's baby. You were there, remember?"

"You... really don't know?" Shining put his hoof on his chin.

"Know about what?"

"Sis," Shining now put his hoof behind his head. "Haven't you wondered why everypony celebrates their birthday but you?"

Twilight scratched her head. "At first, I assumed ponies just forgot. Later on, I figured they were too busy with their own lives. I finally decided to just not care about it. Is there a specific reason?"

Shining put his hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Sis, there is a prohibition to celebrate your birthday."

Twilight raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth. "A prohibition? For my birthday? Why?"

"It's a direct order from Princess Celestia. Cadance told me."

"From Princess Celestia? But why? Why me?"

Shining sighed before speaking. "You are an Alicorn now. You don't age anymore. But we do. And as we grow old, those who knew you as a Unicorn, can't help but compare ourselves to you. When we are by ourselves, age and death seem such a natural part of life. But when we are with you, we are reminded of how our bodies are wasted and spent, little by little, every hour of every day."

Twilight looked down. The sight of her brother, now an older pony about to turn 50, was a bit too harsh to look at when she knew she had stopped growing 23 years ago.

Shining continued, "In order to avoid reminding ponies of their short lives and eventual death, Princess Celestia ordered that no Alicorn could have their birthday celebrated. Otherwise, it'd be too much for regular ponies like us to see how each year we change, but yet you look the same. An Alicorn celebrating their birthday would be a reminder that we cannot escape death, but you will; that there is something unnatural about you or us. By not celebrating their birthdays, Alicorns can contribute to the illusion of a permanent, yet normal occurrence. They can become immobile, permanent, unchangeable, like a statue or a painting that talks and moves, but never changes. Tell me, Twilight, has Princess Celestia ever been different from who she is right now? Can you picture her as anything other than the wise and protective Alicorn you've always known?"

Twilight thought for a moment about this. Then she really thought hard about it. Try as she might, she just couldn't see Princess Celestia as other than Princess Celestia. And it wasn't just because it was hard to picture a filly or a baby Celestia, or an old Celestia. It was hard seeing her talking or acting as anything else than who she was.

"No, I can't," said Twilight. She understood. It wasn't just about the way she as an Alicorn looked, but also the concept that other ponies would have of her. As long as time didn't count for her in front of others, she could be among them without bringing old age and death with her. She would be a book, a photograph, a princess.

"I didn't know. Thank you for telling me," said Twilight. "Does everypony else know?"

"You know the answer to that question," replied Shining.

"I do. Even if Princess Celestia didn't personally tell them, she would have arranged it. But if it's forbidden, why are we celebrating my birthday?"

A tear started to roll down Shining's cheek. "Because you're my sister and I love you and this day will always be special for me. Also, because seeing Cadance stay the same and Flurry Heart grow so slowly makes me realize that I am going to be gone one of these days. I don't want to leave without celebrating my sister's birthday at least one more time. We mortal ponies get much less days than you do, so we have to make them count, you know?"

Seeing her brother keep a smile as another tear rolled down his face broke Twilight's heart. She still didn't know why Celestia hadn't told her, but it was not important at the moment. She hugged her brother once more and let her own tears start to roll down.

"It's my birthday, but let's celebrate it in whatever way you want," said Twilight between hiccups.

*****

"Boy, that was quite a baby shower. I reckon I haven't had so much fun in ages," said Applejack as she let herself fall on a chair.

Rarity sat next to her. "You're right, but I'm tired. I'm not up for such activities anymore."

Applejack gave Rarity a little elbow jab. "Yeah, I guess a few decades take their toll, don't they?"

"May I remind you that you're as old as I am, darling?" retorted Rarity, with a sly smile, as she sat next to Applejack. "Actually, you're even older than I am."

"Just by one year," replied Applejack in turn, as she took some chips from the coffee table in front of her.

In the couch in front of them, Fluttershy giggled. She was used to seeing the Earth Pony and the Unicorn tease each other and she appreciated the humor, even if she didn't participate in it. "Girls, in any case, I'm glad that you're here. It really means a lot to me."

"Oh honey, it's the least I could do after neglecting my friends for so long," Rarity reached out and touched Fluttershy's belly. "My, you're already starting to show! Is it going to be a colt or a filly?"

"We don't know. Big Mac and I want to wait until the baby is born, like with the other two," said Fluttershy.

"I bet she's going to be a filly," said Applebloom with a big grin on her face. She was sitting next to Fluttershy, her own filly on her arms, who was drinking from her bottle. "I have a bet with Sweetie Belle. In any case, Fluttershy, I'm amazed at how you're going after the third one, and at your age. I can't even keep up with this one, and she's only 2 years old."

"Oh, that's nuthin' dear," said Applejack. "Wait a few years until she decides to be a Cutie Mark Crusader or somethin'," She winked at the others.

"Gosh, don't say anything about that, pleaaaase," Applebloom covered her eyes with her hoof. "Just thinking of many of the things we did makes me feel dumb. Do you have to bring it up in every single social event, Applejack? Did you really have to tell everyone at our table at Rarity's wedding about our dumb concert? By the way Rarity, I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful wedding. My hubby said It was even more beautiful than Princess Candance's."

"Why, thank you very much, Applebloom, and sorry for not spending more time with you that night. You know everything that goes on during those things," said Rarity.

Applejack started to sing out of tune on purpose, "We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders, on a quest to find out who we aaaaaare...."

"Stop it, Applejack!" Applebloom covered her face with a paper plate as everypony else laughed. "Gosh, you're never going to let me live it down, are you?"

Twilight approached, hovering a glass with punch with her magic. "What's all that laughter about?"

Applebloom sat up from the couch, "You can sit here Twilight, I need to go change this baby anyway. Hey, aunt Sweetie Belle, your niece needs you!"

From the kitchen, Sweetie Belle's voice came "Again? Didn't we just change her 30 minutes ago?" She walked into the living room with a face of exasperation.

"Auntie Swee!" said Apple Pie, who adored Sweetie Belle. Applebloom had decided that she didn't need any confirmation of Pinkie's relationship to the Apples and had decided to name her filly after the pink pony.

"Take it as training for when you have yours," said Applebloom as she pushed Sweetie Belle into the bedroom.

Twilight sat next to Fluttershy and placed her glass on the table. "I can't believe those two are in their 30s already. I'm so glad they're still close friends. Remember the Pegasus who hanged around with them when they were little? Whatever happened to her?"

"Last time I heard of her, she finally moved in with that griffon. They still say they're good friends and roommates tho. I don't know who they think they're fooling," said Applejack.

"Aha, just like Rainbow Dash and that Spitfire girl," said Twilight.

"But we don't know that for sure," interjected Rarity. "Rainbow Dash always said they were just friends."

"Yeah, and you said you were going to marry Prince Blueblood. Say, don't tell me you are one of those who think it's wrong...." said Applejack, narrowing her eyes at Rarity.

"Of course not!" interrupted Rarity. "In the field I work in? Don't make me laugh."

"Just teasin' you, sugarcube. I know you're not. I wouldn't be friends with you if you were." Applejack put her arm around Rarity's back and gave her a small hug.

Fluttershy pointed at the two mares and said "I didn't know you two..."

Rarity moved away from Applejack, moving her hoofs in front of her frantically. "No, no, no, don't say that. I'm trying to get pregnant too! Don't jinx it! I want to be next!"

Applejack put her hoof behind her head and smile. "Oh, I'd do it, just to say I'm the mare that fucked Miss Fashionista. I can see the headlines in the gossip magazines." She waved her hoof high in front of her, "Miss Fashionista Is Discovered in Bed With Country Mare!"

Rarity laughed "Oh my, how funny! I really missed you girls."

Applejack smiled and looked at the rest while pointing at Rarity. "Girls she says. She still calls us girls at our age."

Twilight couldn't help but uncomfortable, even more so now that she understood what age represented to everypony else and how different she looked. Even Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked 10 years older than she did. Pushing those thoughts away as best as she could, she smiled.

"So, Fluttershy," said Twilight, trying to lead the conversation elsewhere. "Tell us what happened with Discord." It was a bit of a low blow but she knew that Applejack and Rarity wouldn't resist the bait.

"Yeah, out with it!" said Applejack. Rarity didn't say anything, but she accommodated herself in the chair, obviously preparing herself for the juicy bits.

Knew it, thought Twilight, as she drank from her glass.

"Well," said Fluttershy. "I guess it doesn't matter if I talk about it now. It's been so long." She drank from a cup and continued to talk. "There is nothing much to say really. I've always had a crush on him. Yeah, I know, don't look at me like that. Anyway, when he became a pony and asked me to go out with him, I was ecstatic. It was the kind of feeling that makes you feel you're living a dream. Everyday was so... intense, so full.

"But then, out of a sudden he changed. There was no warning, no signs, he just, became someone else. He was cold and distant. He told mean jokes and made sarcastic comments. He would twist every little thing I said into a mocking or biting comeback. I was afraid to speak for fear of ridicule. He turned back into his original form, claiming that I had forced him to become a pony. It wasn't true, of course. Still, it didn't matter to me. I loved him with all my heart. And then, well, he started to use his magic again. But this time it was beyond chaos. It was hurtful, even more so than the time he betrayed us for Tirek. He took pleasure in making me feel afraid for all the little animals in my care. He..."

"Don't worry, Fluttershy," said Twilight. "He's back in his stone prison now and all the Princesses agree that there is no crisis big enough that will justify ever releasing him."

"Oh, but that's not all, Twilight," Fluttershy looked at her. Applejack and Rarity leaned from their seats, their eyes big and their ears pointing up.

"I was very depressed and sad. I thought I would never love again. But then Big Mac appeared."

Rarity and Applejack were on the edge of their seats, not bothering to conceal their curiosity.

Fluttershy continued. "I don't mean to demean him. He's always been a great guy, but he wasn't exciting or thrilling. He wasn't, well, Discord. But he did reach out to me when I was down on my knees and so I started to go out with him. I could sense that he was hurt too, and that he had gone for years with a big pain in his heart. I saw that he was strong, not only in his body, but in his character, and so I continued to be at his side. I figured that I could use a stable and strong anchor to keep me from drifting away in sorrow. And soon after that, I had my first baby. He had insisted on having a baby as soon as possible and I couldn't resist. He wanted so badly to be a father.

"When I had my filly in my hands, my life was complete again. It was as if an injury had finally stopped bleeding after a long, long time. And then two years later my handsome colt was born. This is why I didn't feel so bad when I had to close the hospital. There were two angels for whom I was the whole world now.

"And you know what? My love for Big Mac wasn't the flash of powder that what I felt for Discord was, but I love him more than anyone else in the world and I just can't imagine my life without him. We have built and worked on a relationship everyday, little by little. We've had fights, but I know that we will be ok at the end of the day. I've learned to accept him as he is, no more, no less. And everyday is now a sweet blessing, knowing that whatever happens, he will be by my side. He is not the flame that Discord was, but he's a sturdy wall that will protect me. A strong, manly, and beautiful wall at that. And I'm a better mare today because of him."

Twilight sighted "Aha, I get it now. That's why you matured so much."

Rarity and Applejack started to laugh.

"Twilight, really?" asked Rarity between laughs "You hadn't realized why she had changed UNTIL NOW? And you're supposed to be the smart one among us!"

Applejack too was holding her stomach. "Oh dear, you know, for a pony that's been chosen by Celestia for her brain, you can be slow in certain things."

Twilight was a bit embarrassed "You guys knew?"

Rarity removed a tear from her face with her right hoof. "Dear, I might not have known all the details, but it didn't take a genius to see why Fluttershy changed soon after she had her babies. Well, they're in their late teens now, so I guess I can't call them babies or Applejack here will make fun of me again. How old are they again?"

Even Fluttershy was laughing a bit. "The filly is 19 and the colt is 17, but they still act like they're both 13."

Rarity sighed "I bet the filly is already making heads turn her way. Just like I did at her age, if I say so myself." She leaned her head back a bit and put a hoof on her chest as she said that.

Applejack winked at everyone else, "Well, maybe you shoulda paid attention to Spike, you know?"

Rarity smiled, "You know what, darling? Maybe I should have."

"What?" exclaimed Fluttershy and Twilight at the same time.

"Why not? If I had waited a bit, the age difference wouldn't have been a big deal and he was always very sweet with me, unlike my husband."

"Relationship problems so soon?" asked Fluttershy, with a worried face.

"The same thing as always," responded Rarity, dropping her ears. "He complains I'm too busy, always working, always away on a business trip. But I know that if I leave the agency in the hooves of another pony, it will just fall apart. I don't mean to sound snobbish, but the reason clients come is because they want me, my designs, my signature."

"I'm still stuck with the image of you and Spike," said Applejack. "That's even weirder than Fluttershy and Discord. Not that there's anything wrong with it, sugarcube." She leaned forward and placed her hoof on Fluttershy's knee.

"No worries, I was thinking the same thing, actually," Fluttershy said forgivingly.

"You must be kidding, all of you!" said Twilight. "He's way too young!"

"Awww," said Fluttershy, putting her hooves on her cheeks. "Mommy Twilight doesn't want her baby to be taken away from her."

"A girl can dream, can't she?" asked Rarity. "How is my Spikey-wikey doing these days?"

"I haven't heard from him in a couple of years." The memory of the young dragon made Twilight's throat hurt a bit. "Last time I heard from him, he was traveling around the world, discovering his true nature, becoming what he was born to be. His words, not mine. His letters have become more sparse as time has passed by."

Rarity stood up. "Well girls, I had the loveliest of times, but I need to go. I can't believe we actually managed to get together, just like old times. I just wish that Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were here."

"Shucks, don't go yet, Rarity. I've missed you a lot. We never get to see you much anymore," begged Applejack.

"The feeling is mutual, my friend. But I really need to go. I am taking a trip to Mexicolt and I need to prepare for it. Flam and I are trying to have a baby. We think that it will help us become more united as a couple and as a family and we heard there are good clinics for fertility treatment there. It's hard to conceive after a certain age, you know?"

"Except if you're Fluttershy here, who will be able to get pregnant until she's 100, apparently." Applejack extended a hoof towards Fluttershy.

"Well, I have to take care of myself a lot," said Fluttershy. "Being pregnant at 47 is not exactly something I planned."

"Ah, a statistic it was, hey?" said Applejack. "Don't worry sugarcube, I'll help you take care of it. You don't have the energy of a 20 year old anymore. Auntie Applejack will be more than happy to help raise another baby." She stood up and hugged Rarity. "And I look forward to help you with your foal too, my dear friend."

Rarity returned the hug, "And I look forward to seeing more of you all. Let's do a group hug, like Pinkie Pie would have suggested."

Twilight and Fluttershy stood up and joined the Earth Pony and the Unicorn in a group embrace.

"And now, since Rainbow Dash is not here, I'll be the one that says 'I'M AWESOME!'" screamed Twilight at the top of her lungs, feeling the camaraderie of her old friends once again.

From the bedroom, the cries of a baby could be heard as well as the voice of an exasperated Applebloom. "WE HAD JUST MANAGED TO MAKE HER FALL ASLEEP!"

*****

Twilight was reading one of the many books that were scattered around her. There were books on the shelves, on the table, and on the ground. She was supposed to read them, classify them, put them in bookshelves, and take notes of everything that seemed important, but she was bored and her mind was full of thoughts about her life and her work. So, she had decided just to enjoy one of the books and read it slowly, not bothering to evaluate the information in it. But even this required more concentration than she could muster at the moment.

Twilight closed the book and rested her head on her hoof. She thought of how lonely the castle felt now. When she got it, she imagined that her friends would want to move in with her. However, they didn't. They had wanted to do something else with their lives and follow their individual calls. A while later, Owlowiscious mysteriously disappeared. She and Pinkie Pie started an investigation in order to find him, but they never did. Later on, Starlight Glimmer got pregnant with Sunburst's son and left. The last time she had heard of her, the Unicorn had started a school and was a success with little foals.

And here I thought that having a student would mean that I'd have more company, thought Twilight.

Finally, Spike had left. More than all the other's, Spike's departure had been the hardest one to cope with. She had known him since he had been born, literally seeing him hatching from his egg. She had been responsible for raising him and had eventually come to see him like a baby brother, feeding him and tucking him in at night. She had seen him grow in size and weight and eventually obtain his wings, leaving behind the baby body and becoming a teenager and then a young adult. She remembered how he had finally gathered the courage to declare his love to Rarity and how he had spent that night crying in her arms, as he gathered the pieces of his broken heart. She had seen him get over her eventually and start dreaming of traveling around the world. She knew he needed to go and live his own life, but it was hard for her to let him go. She wondered what he was doing and if he even remembered her, not having received a letter from him in ages.

Twilight felt lonely. Now that Pinkie Pie was dead, she understood how important her role had been. When Rainbow Dash died, her role as a hero and champion of Ponyville had been clear. Pinkie Pie's parties had been fun, but Twilight never thought they were terribly important. Ponies still had parties for events or social occasions, but nopony made parties just to gather around, have fun, and bond.

I guess I could throw a party myself, thought Twilight. But could she? She had always had trouble socializing, and partying was not one of her talents, it was Pinkie Pie's. It was the reason for the pink pony's cutie mark.

Well, if I can't throw a party, I can at least be present in the lives of others.

Twilight remembered that Fluttershy was in the hospital. At her age, a pregnancy was risky and she was in observation. She thought about visiting the yellow Pegasus but her sight went immediately to the pile of books that she had to work on. She still had a lot to do and had lost already a lot of time reading absentmindedly.

I'll just push through this and get it over with, then I'll have the weekend free to spend it with my friends.

Two hours later, she could hear hoofs galloping in her castle, approaching her. Soon, the figure of a sweaty Applebloom was in front of her.

"Twilight, I need to speak with you, something horrible just happened!" Applebloom said before having to gasp for air.

Applebloom's expression made Twilight's fear the worst. "Calm down, tell me what happened," she said as she signaled Applebloom a seat. "Do you want some water?"

Applebloom took the glass that Twilight gave her with very shaky hoofs and drank half of it before speaking. "Twilight, there were complications during the baby's birth."

"Oh, God. Is the baby alright?"

Applebloom's lips trembled. "Yes, the baby is alright. It's a colt. But Fluttershy didn't make it."

*****

The funeral had been simple. All the Apples were there, giving words of consolation to Big Mac, who remained stoic and silent. Applejack had told Twilight that he hadn't cried a tear and all he had done was stand strong to show courage his foals. Shy Flower held to her father's neck crying silently while her younger brother Big Flutter, still crying, helped his cousins shovel earth into the grave. Around the casket, a dozen dozen rabbits gathered and sobbed. Applejack was next to her brother, sitting on the ground and holding the newborn baby.

Twilight was standing next to Rarity among the ponies present. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at Rarity's appearance, which she considered inappropriate for the occasion. Rarity was wearing a huge hat, a silk scarf, and sunglasses. But what bothered Twilight the most was the flamboyant blond wig. Still, she didn't think it was the time to confront her about it.

Once the grave had been covered and plenty of flowers from family members were placed on top of it, Applejack stood up, handed Big Mac his baby and walked in front of everyone, readying herself to say a few words. However, at the last moment, a strong hoof stopped her.

"Nope."

Applejack looked at her older brother, now in his mid fifties, "You don't want me to say something about Fluttershy?"

Big Mac looked at her, expressionless. "Nope. I.... will say them myself."

Applejack's jaw dropped, and many of the ponies present gasped.

Big Mac walked in front of Applejack still holding his baby and ignoring the small commotion. His other foals somehow knew that they had to stay by their aunt. They had always understood the non-verbal communication of their father.

"I... have never been good with words. When my parents died, I couldn't stand the pain. It hurt... too much. But I knew that I had to be strong and be the stallion of the house, for my little sisters. I stopped talking for fear that my words would show my pain to the world. I decided to speak with actions and work hard to protect and provide for my family."

"When I met Fluttershy, I never thought she'd pay attention to me. But when I saw her in pain, I felt that I could be there for her, so I took a chance. To my surprise, she accepted and we loved each other ever since. Then she had my sweet Shy Flower and later my wonderful Big Flutter. I had always wanted to be a father because I had grown without parents and Fluttershy made my dream come true. She made me the happiest stallion in the world. When she asked me to leave the farm to help her with her hospital, I didn't hesitate. I would have done anything for her."

"But now she's gone and I realize that I can't stay silent anymore. I have two marvelous foals and a baby that will need a parent to talk to. Someone to sooth their fears and guide them through life until the moment they're ready to gallop on their own. I can't help but feel bad that my youngest son will grow up motherless and I can't make up for it." His deep voice started to break. "That... makes me... sad."

He couldn't continue anymore. He started to sob uncontrollably. His foals came next to him and held him, also crying.

Twilight closed her eyes and thought about her friend. She finally understood why it was better for everypony to live their own lives. Rainbow Dash had been the hope and the admiration of the whole town. Pinkie Pie had been the soul and the heart of her friends. Fluttershy had been the caring hand and the embrace of her family and the animals she had taken care of. Twilight regretted spending time doing work instead of being at the hospital, but she found it easier to forgive herself this time, unlike when Pikie Pie died. She sent her thoughts and her heart to the family and wished them strength to cope with their loss.

Good-bye Fluttershy. You were a great friend, a loving wife, and a caring mother.

After the funeral, Rarity asked Twilight to accompany her back to the train station. They said good-bye to everypony else and left. As they walked by, Rarity talked about how lucky Fluttershy had been to have met Big Mac and how fulfilling her life had been. Twilight had trouble getting into the conversation, still bothered by Rarity's look.

"I'm sorry," said Twilight at last. "But I just can't understand what you were thinking coming to a funeral dressed like this. I mean, what's with the stupid wig?" Twilight was seldom this harsh but she thought Rarity had been incredibly rude and couldn't contain herself.

Rarity was taken aback. "Darling, it's the only thing I could get with so little time. I literally grabbed it on my way out as soon as I heard the news."

"Then you shouldn't have worn anything. We're ponies, for crying out loud!"

Rarity's eyes dropped. "I can't go out just like that."

"And why not?"

Rarity stayed silent for almost a minute, then she took off her hat, her wig, and her sunglasses.

Twilight opened her eyes and gave a little cry. Rarity's mane was gone and her eyes were red.

"The chemotherapy did it," said Rarity in a quiet voice. "They discovered it at the fertility clinic; it's in the ovaries."

Author's Note

The scene with Shining was the most controversial of this chapter. People loved it or hated it. Share your opinion in the comments if you feel like it.

The Fourth Good-bye

Twilight was on her knees in front of the Royal Throne. She held her front hooves together in a pleading gesture. Her face was covered in tears.

"Please, Princess Celestia. I know you can do it. All you have to do is use a bit of your magic. Otherwise she's going to die."

"No," Celestia's voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.

Twilight walked on her knees a bit, moving a few inches closer to the Throne. "Please, I beg of you. Save her. I will do whatever you ask of me."

Celestia's face was expressionless. "No."

Twilight prostrated herself in front of the tall Alicorn, her voice almost sobbing. "I am your subject as it is, but I will go beyond my duty if necessary. I will be your slave or your toy. But please, PLEASE SAVE HER, PLEASE!" She couldn't contain the pain anymore and she broke down and cried.

"Twilight, the answer will always be no."

Twilight didn't even lift her face from the floor. Her voice was broken and interrupted by sobs. "You could do it if you wanted to. You are the most powerful magical being in Equestria. You did it with me. It wouldn't even take much from you, I'm sure."

Princess Celestia let Twilight cry on the ground for several minutes. Twilight's sobs and howls became very erratic, even violent. Her body shook with spasms that accompanied her wails.

After a long while, Twilight calmed herself enough to talk again. "I'd give you my life, my eternal life in exchange if that's what you asked of me," she said among hiccups.

Celestia waited a few moments before talking. "Twilight, my answer is still the same. I'm letting you know so you don't get your hopes up. But I'm curious. If I changed my mind, what would you have me do?"

Twilight looked up, her face a mess. "Cure her."

"And then what?"

"And then she could live a normal life."

"A life without disease is hardly normal and her condition is not magical. My powers are probably not going to be of use. But even if I cured her, there's no guarantee that she won't get another fatal disease. What then? Would you have me save her again?"

"Yes, if you would." answered Twilight, adding quickly the second part of the phrase.

"And then what? No matter what I did, there'd be a point where she would die."

"Make her immortal then," said Twilight with watered eyes. "She's a Unicorn. I think there's still time for her to take her through the same training I did. I'd do whatever I can to help."

"Such a transformation is not meant for everybody. But just for the sake of argument, if I made her an Alicorn, would that satisfy you?"

Twilight's first impulse was to say yes, but she managed to stop herself and think deeply first.

"I would like to say that I would like if you could extend immortality to Applejack as well, but I know that's too much to ask and it's probably not even possible."

Princess Celestia stayed silent, letting Twilight deal with her own thoughts for a few moments, before she spoke again.

"And out of all the ponies in Equestria, these two, your close friends when you moved to Ponyville, would get to live forever. May I ask why you didn't consider including your brother in this exclusive group?"

Twilight looked down. "My brother has lived a fulfilling life. He's fallen in love and had a child and seems to be more able to cope with his nature. Of course I would like to include him, but I know it's too much to ask."

"So, even your brother doesn't take priority over your friends if you're forced to choose. But tell me, why do you want me to save Rarity and Applejack from death? What do you get from it?"

"I love them. I have many fond memories of times spent with them. They bring something unique to my life that nobody else does. Plus I've lost three friends already and it hurts like hell."

"Losing someone dear is very painful, and I have felt the pain that you're feeling right now every time that one of my subject dies. But what about Rarity and Applejack's pain? What will happen when it's Sweetie Belle or Big Mac's turn to die?"

Twilight had no answer. She had come to beg for Rarity's life and she wasn't prepared for those questions.

Princess Celestia spoke on, "Twilight, turning a pony into an Alicorn is not a simple feat. It involves much more than hard work and studying. I could see that you were special from a very early age; you had raw talent that is found in one of a million ponies. Do you remember when your magic was measured against the magic of another Unicorn for the first time?"

Twilight wondered for a moment what Princess Celestia was talking about. Then her mind brought back a memory of an event that seemed far and distant now. She thought of the blue unicorn with the silver mane who came to Ponyville bragging about how she was the greatest and most powerful Unicorn in all Equestria. Twilight hadn't heard about her in ages and wondered what she was doing now. Was she even alive?

Celestia continued to talk before Twilight could say anything, "The truth is that while Trixie bragged about her powers too much, she actually was a talented magic-user. She bested three of your friends without any effort. She was no match for an Ursa Minor, but then again no Unicorn would be. Yet back then, when you were still inexperienced in the ways of magic, you were able to neutralize the creature.

"Even if I were to turn Trixie into an Alicorn, it would be almost impossible. She just doesn't have what it takes, much less Rarity, and Applejack even less so. Furthermore, there is more than magic that makes an Alicorn. You have intelligence and discipline. You strive to learn and improve. You care and help others selfishly. That can be as rare as raw magical power. If anything, you are inexperienced and a bit naive, but those are precisely the kind of flaws that time takes care of. Lastly, there is a little bit of fate involved in the process, and that's something that I'm not going to tamper with. By the way, in case you wondered, Trixie is doing fine. She lives now in Mareseilles where she had a somewhat successful career as a dramatic actress. She is now known as the Great and Wonderful Granma by her 7 grandfoals."

Twilight felt defeated. She had run out of tears, but her heart felt heavy nevertheless.

"I'm sorry, Twilight, but the truth is that even if the process was applicable to Rarity, you'd just come back when it's Applejack turn to die. And then again the next time someone else you loved was in danger of dying. Or it would be Rarity who would come to beg at my throne, or Applejack, or any of their friends and relatives that had been given such a special gift, begging me to grant it to someone else."

Twilight raised her head "Fine, then please try to save only Rarity. I do not care how difficult it is. I'll be with her day and night to give her the best chance I can. If I fail, then so be it."

"Twilight, I know you have the best intentions, but in your desperation and pain, you're not realizing the selfishness of your acts. Have you even asked Rarity if she'd agree to it?"

Twilight's response died in her mouth. She hadn't even thought about talking to Rarity about it. She had just gone to Princess Celestia to solve the problem herself.

Princess Celestia continued to speak. "Now you'll say that you'll discuss it with Rarity first and you'll only do it if she agrees. She might, but is it a fair question to ask her in her condition? Moreover, would she be willing to sacrifice her limited time in the pursuit of an unlikely goal?"

Twilight sighed, as she realized the implications of what she was asking for.

Princess Celestia continued, "Not to mention that you'd be condemning her to an eternity of seeing her loved ones die."

Those words hit Twilight hard. Her sadness turned into anger. She gritted her teeth before replying.

"YOU! YOU TALK ALL MIGHTY AND PROUD! BUT YOU NEVER ASKED ME!"

Princess Celestia remained impassive and emotionless as Twilight screamed at her.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT. RARITY MIGHT HAVE DIED BEFORE ME JUST THE SAME! BUT NOW I WILL GET TO SEE EVERYPONY THAT I LOVE, EVERYPONY THAT I CARE, JUST WITHER AND DIE FOR ETERNITY! YOU DECIDED IT WITHOUT CONSULTING ME. YOU CHOSE A LITTLE FILLY, FILLED IT WITH DREAMS AND CONDEMNED HER TO ETERNAL PAIN!"

Princess Celestia responded without missing a beat. "It was a decision that was hard to make, just as it is hard to see every one of my subjects go. Believe me Twilight when I say that I understand your pain. I have experienced many times over what you have experienced three times already. But choosing a princess to help me rule and provide personal assistance to my subjects in specific areas of the kingdom, well, that's also part of my duty. I can't undo what I've done, but I..." for the very first time, Princess Celestia lowered her head in front of Twilight "...apologize. I'm truly sorry. I hope one day you will forgive me, but if you don't, I will understand."

Having seen Princess Celestia ask for forgiveness sobered Twilight a bit, although she still felt uncomfortable. She felt the need to change the subject, having other questions that she wanted answered. "I would like to know," said Twilight, after composing herself a bit, "why you didn't tell me about the prohibition about celebrating my birthday."

Princess Celestia raised her head again before speaking. Her voice wasn't stern anymore, but caring, "Knowledge is a powerful tool and it is not something that should be shared lightly. Protecting our subjects also means mastering the art of when to give and when to restrain knowledge. And when you decide to share it, you have to judge the character of the pony you share it with.

"While I see great power and potential in you, I also see a pony who is not wise in the ways of the world. That has nothing to do with your intelligence and indeed you are smarter than most ponies. But you just have been too sheltered and too dependent on your knowledge from books to learn the lessons that only experience can teach. Even Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, for all their immature behavior, understood real life better, and so I decided to trust your friends more than you. I also knew that your nature would not force you to push the issue with others and thus I figured that I shouldn't act if the result I looked for was going to happen anyway. You may say that if you had known, you would have understood, but you would be saying it from the perspective of today.

"Once your first friends and relatives, the ones that knew you as an Unicorn, pass away, then for everyone else you will always have been you, just like I have always been Princess Celestia to you. They wouldn't know how it all started, they wouldn't question it, and they would be at peace, accepting their brief lives as natural as our eternal ones.

But it seems that I made a mistake in judgement, for despite all my arrangements, you still found out about my prohibition. I'm afraid that living with our mistakes and their consequences is also part of our burden. May I know who was the pony that broke the prohibition?"

Twilight looked down and to the side, unable to face Princess Celestia.

"I understand," Princess Celestia said. "You don't have to betray your brother and nothing shall happen to him. I'm sure he will not speak about this anymore."

Twilight opened her mouth. "How...?"

"I try to learn as much as I can about my subjects, which is why I need capable princesses that can be on the ground and serve as my eyes and ears. I also have experience and have learned to read certain cues, like a broken voice or a furtive glance. Moreover, your brother is no ordinary pony. He is Captain of my Royal Guard, husband of one of my princesses, and brother of my hoof-picked apprentice. He's someone I've kept an eye on attentively."

Princess Celestia sighed before continuing, "but back to your original request. I simply cannot grant it. While I don't expect you to accept my decision, I hope you understand it or will understand it someday, when it's your turn to use your best judgement and make a decision that will impact the life of a pony."

Twilight closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. Her body and mind were full of contradicting emotions. She spoke again after a few moments "What happens to ponies when they die?"

"Everything ends for them," answered Princess Celestia right away.

"There's no afterlife?"

"I've looked at every myth and every legend. I've visited every sacred place. I've tested every claim of talking to spirits or ghosts. I've found nothing but wishful thinking at best and blatant fraud at worst. Moreover, there is no logical basis to even think that an afterlife is possible. Ponies who die simply cease to exist, the memories of them slowly fading away. After a while, Rarity will be a memory that will only you and I will share."

Twilight thought of Rarity's life, all her achievements, her fame, her designs. She wasn't an Alicorn, but she was much more than just an average pony. The press and the public knew her as Miss Fashionista. In the highest levels of Equestrian society, she was the pony everypony should know. She would be remembered long after she died. Yet, with time, she would become just an entry in some fashion book. Then Twilight thought about Rainbow Dash, who had died at the peak of her popularity. She had been the champion of the town and one of the greatest Wonderbolts in history, yet nopony spoke of her anymore. The hospital that was supposed to honor her eventually ran out of donors and had to close. Still, despite Rainbow's short but spectacular career, Twilight couldn't help but think that her fondest memories of Rainbow Dash were when they sat down to discuss the latest Daring Do book. Rainbow Dash's taste for reading was something pretty much only Twilight had known and cared about.

"I don't know what to say. I don't even know what to think. I... need some time alone to think about all this," said Twilight.

"Take all the time you want," responded Princess Celestia, with Twilight not missing the depth of the statement. "I will be here in case you need to speak to me again."

Twilight was almost out of the throne room when Princess Celestia spoke again.

"I will not order you to keep this conversation private, but I strongly suggest you to do so. Mortal ponies do not know about these matters. They must not know about them if they are to lead happy lives. Knowledge of this kind can only hurt them. Just think of how much our talk hurt you. Unlike you, they don't have an eternity to recover and learn to live with it. Moreover, your friend Rarity is going through a difficult ordeal. Do not make it even harder on her than what it already is."

Twilight raised her head, but didn't turn it around to look at the Royal Alicorn.

"Don't worry Celestia, I will keep our words private," said Twilight and left the room.

*****

During the following weeks, Twilight got more and more depressed. She tried to visit Rarity as often as possible but the white Unicorn had decided to go out with a bang and kept working as hard as she had always done, if not even more, leaving her little time for visits. There were no reports of her disease in the newspapers, but Twilight knew it was a matter of time.

Twilight tried to bury herself in her work, but her conversation with Princess Celestia kept resonating in her head, her words repeating themselves over and over. Twilight didn't have a real rebuttal against her tutor's arguments, but she wasn't satisfied with the answers she had received. She couldn't shake off the feeling that while Princess Celestia was right, there was more to life than just dying and ceasing to exist. Otherwise, life as she understood it was just so cruel, so unfair. Ponies lived and died like a match being lit, emitting heat and fire for a few seconds, and then being thrown into the garbage. And she would see it happening over and over and over again.

Slowly, she began to lose hope. Everything felt so pointless. She started to neglect her work and just read stories to numb her mind. After a while, she developed the habit of sleeping for long hours, trying to escape the feeling of despair. Finally, one afternoon, when neither books nor sleep felt enough anymore, she decided to get stupid drunk. She bought three bottles of cheap liquor and went home. She thought about locking the entrance to the castle, but nobody visited her much anyway, so she left it open. She thought of Pinkie Pie and how much pain the pink pony must have been in as she opened her first bottle and started to drink.

Not being used to alcohol, Twilight felt the effects of the drink almost immediately. After only half a bottle, she was completely drunk. However, something was wrong. The alcohol was supposed to numb the pain, but it didn't. She decided to drink more in the hopes of achieving the effect she wanted. She was about to finish the bottle when she lost consciousness and collapsed on the table.

"Princess Twilight," said a soft, almost imperceptible voice.

Twilight tried to raise her head, but it felt too heavy.

Great, I never get any visits except the day I decide to get senselessly drunk.

"Go away! I'm busy!" shouted Twilight.

"Princess Twilight," said the voice again, now closer and clearer. There was something familiar about it, but Twilight couldn't pin point exactly what. She wondered if the headache she was feeling and the sensation of everything moving around in all directions might be impairing her mind.

"Please go away! I'm not in a state to receive anyone right now. Please?" begged Twilight, still too drunk to move. She then realized her voice must have sounded slurry to whomever was coming, yet to herself, it sounded perfectly normal. She found this interesting, and then she found interesting that she was thinking about how her voice sounded differently to herself and to others, rather than thinking about the embarrassment of being discovered completely wasted.

It's like I don't care anymore. It still hurts, but all I can think is, so what?

Twilight wondered if this is why Pinkie Pie had become an addict. Being drunk didn't make the pain go away, but it made it all seem so irrelevant, so unimportant. In any case, it's not like she could move, so she just decided to wait there and let whomever came find her.

It can't be that bad, can it? I mean, it's not like we're in Canterlot and a Princess is going to decide to walk here unannounced.

"Princess Twilight, stand up. I need to talk with you," said the calm voice of Princess Luna, next to Twilight.

Of fucking course.

"Princess Luna, I am so honored of your sudden visit. I wish I had known about it in advance in order to receive you in the manner appropriate of your status, and not, you know, completely wasted with my head resting in a puddle of alcohol on the table," said Twilight.

Twilight thought about how much fun it was to be a smartass. With someone with a natural talent, and admittedly years of practice at making funny remarks, like Pinkie, alcohol would feel like a good option. You get to have some fun and not care about problems.

But the pain still doesn't go away.

The voice of Princess Luna, patient and calm, spoke again. "Princess Twilight, stand up. There is nothing that prevents you from moving other than the limitations of your own mind."

"More like the limitations of an alcoholic congestion," replied Twilight, then she giggled.

"Just wish it to go away," ordered Luna.

Twilight's nature made her obey and at once, she found that she felt healthy again. Her headache was gone and the world had stopped spinning. She was standing next to Princess Luna and in front of her she saw... herself, completely drunk with her head resting on a puddle of alcohol on the table.

"What is happening?" asked Twilight. "Am I...?"

"No, Princess Twilight, look at the stars," said Princess Luna pointing to a window, where the dark night was illuminated by thousands of sparkles in the sky. "You just fell asleep and started to dream. I sensed strong pain and looked for the pony who was feeling it. I never imagined it would be you I'd find."

Twilight looked at her physical body. She might have felt good for a few moments, but the Twilight that other ponies would see would be sad and pathetic.

"I'm sorry," apologized Twilight. "I'm sorry for the state you found me in and for making you spend your valuable time."

"There is no need to apologize," replied Princess Luna with a hint of a smile, that quickly disappeared as her worried face came back. "What is the matter? Is this about your friend Rarity?" she asked.

Twilight didn't know how to express all that she felt, so she went with the first thing it came to mind "Yes, in some part. I'm very upset by it."

"You are not just sad, but angry as well, are you not? Everything seems so," Princess Luna paused for a moment, "unfair?"

"Well, yes," admitted Twilight.

"Strong negative emotions are part of life, not just ours, but of normal ponies as well. We have to learn to deal with them and appreciate them for what they are; an indication that something or somepony we value is lost. But the pain also shows us how much better or lives are because of that pony, and for that we must be thankful. If we need to grieve, then we grieve for as long as we must. However, we must not let our negative emotions control us, or we will just hurt or even destroy, not only ourselves, but others around us."

"Have you ever gotten so desperate you turned to drinking?" asked Twilight, curious about what other Alicorns' experiences with alcohol had been like.

"I must admit that I was never a fan of the drink," answered Princess Luna. "However, I have fallen prey to negative feelings. I too once thought that life, the world, reality itself was unfair. I believed that I was cheated by my own sister of the admiration and respect I deserved. I grew resentful and bitter, refusing to accept that ponies just followed their healthy nature and slept at night. Instead, I looked for ways to justify my anger. I came to believe that I had one Royal Duty, and that was to destroy my sister. For that, I was banished to the moon for 1,000 years. I could have used that time to think about my actions, to reconsider what I had done. But no. I came back set on revenge. The rest of the story you know very well."

Twilight gave a timid nod. "I remember. It was my first true ordeal and I appreciate that you do not hold my actions to stop you against me. But there is more than just Rarity's situation that upsets me. What is our purpose? Or should I say, the purpose of ponies? Do they really just die and disappear? There's no afterlife? Are they just... gone?"

"Have you talked with my sister about this?" inquired Princess Luna.

"I have, but I'm afraid I can't share that conversation," admitted Twilight.

"If you have, then I have no wisdom to share," said Princess Luna as she closed her eyes and lowered her head momentarily. "I do not know anything that she doesn't know about the subject. I just take what my sister says as true and focus on my duties and keeping my temperament in control. I'm afraid I can't be of any help in that regard.

"However, I do want to warn you against letting your negative emotions taking control over you. I will not judge you, but you can see now how you look to others when you lose your discipline. In a few hours, you'll wake up and if you're wise, you will have learned a lesson from tonight. That's as much as I can do, for while I can visit ponies in their dreams, I can't interfere with their decisions."

Twilight looked at herself again. Her body was now snoring. She could smell the stink of alcohol.

"Did you warn Pinkie Pie as well?" Twilight finally asked.

"I did," replied Luna, "many times indeed. But she would always find a justification for her behavior or an excuse to break her word to not drink again, not that I ever demanded it. Moreover, she felt lonely. I begged her to reconsider, but she told me something for which I had no reply.

Princess Luna stopped and looked at the moon for a moment before continuing.

"She told me that I had a lot of nerve telling her to let go of her resentment when I never let go of mine easily. She pointed out that even after a thousand years away, I had come back, not reformed, but even more resentful, and that it had taken the most competent student of Celestia, aided by the most powerful magic in Equestria, as well as her friends to humble me and force me to change my ways. I had no argument and no answer for that. I left her alone from that night on, although occasionally I went to her dreams to see her from afar, feeling sad as I saw her destroy herself. I sometimes berate myself for not checking on her more often. I can't help but wonder that if I had been with her the day of her death, she would be alive today."

Twilight turned her head to avoid looking directly at Princess Luna. She now felt guilty too. She remembered having talked about visiting Pinkie Pie, but hadn't until Ms. Cake had come to get her.

Princess Luna continued, "While it was Pinkie Pie's decision to ignore me, I still consider her death a failure of mine that I will have to live with."

Twilight's sadness hadn't gone away, but the presence of the Princess of the Night had calmed her.

"Thank you for your words and thank you for coming. I think I'll be fine now," said Twilight.

The image of Princess Luna started to get blurry and hazy. "When you wake up, you will not feel well. Be sure to take care of yourself."

As Princess Luna disappeared, Twilight wondered what the proper thing to do was. Should she say good-bye or wave? She then thought of a question that she just had to ask.

"Princess Luna," hurried Twilight. "I'm sorry to ask this, but I must know. You were banished to the moon for 1,000 years because you threatened to bring eternal darkness to Equestria. How do you deal with the regret?"

Princess Luna's image was already so hazy that was unrecognizable, but Twilight could have sworn that something in her voice indicated that she was smiling.

"I don't. While it was a mistake that I won't repeat, it was worth every minute."

*****

Twilight was sitting by herself, eating her piece of cake. The wedding of Fluttershy's daughter had been very very simple, but touching. There were plenty of ponies and pretty much everypony knew each other. She couldn't help but compare Shy Flower's wedding with Rarity's, which had been pretty much the opposite; one was simple, the other luxurious; one was full of relatives, the other had had celebrities.

Speaking of Rarity, Twilight turned around to look at her. She was sitting next to Applejack at one of the tables. The two mares enjoyed each other's company and talked and talked about the young ponies of the new generations. Rarity looked fine, despite her disease. While she still worked hard, she had changed her diet and made sure she slept 8 hours a day. To someone who didn't know better, she just looked a bit older and much thinner than usual for her age. Twilight was sure that most adults at the reception knew why she wore a wig but were kind enough to pretend they didn't. Seeing her chatting and laughing with Applejack made Rarity look normal. There certainly was no lack of young foals running around to comment about, not to mention their competition to establish who had the best brother-in-law.

As expected, Rarity's marriage had failed. She had been too busy to spend time with Flam, just like in all of her other relationships. Eventually, he had asked for a divorce. Rarity agreed to it and apologized for her actions, offering Flam half of her money for his patience and lost time. To everybody's surprise, Flam refused the money, although Rarity had made arrangements so that his commercial ventures always had funding, without her direct interference.

Rarity had certainly lived up to her generosity element, not just with Flam, but with Fluttershy's daughter as well. She had tried to cover the expenses for the reception and had politely been rejected by both Fluttershy and Shy Flower. Rarity had then insisted to pay for extra security (and a couple of bribed Royal Guards in civil clothes), arguing that she wasn't missing this wedding for the world and that she wanted to make sure that paparazzi would be kept from disturbing the event. Shy Flutter had initially rejected this offer as well, but Applejack had talked her into accept it, being wise enough to see how such security would keep the event private and pleasant. Although Twilight also believed that Applejack had done so to be able to enjoy the company of her old friend.

Twilight ate another bite of her cake as she thought at how different and enriching the lives of her friends were. However, some part of her was upset that all of them, not just Rarity, would be gone and forgotten eventually. And she would stay and see it all happen again and again and again. The answers Princess Celestia had given her hadn't been satisfying.

"Or maybe Princess Celestia just lied or decided to keep me ignorant. You know, for my safety. Princess Luna believes her, but it seems it's out of convenience than conviction. Can I really trust what Princess Celestia says to me anymore?" muttered Twilight as she ate.

"Oh my, can this really be true? Princess Celestia's favorite protégée questioning the words of her personal tutor?" said a voice in a slightly mocking tone.

Twilight turned around. Next to her sat one of the most handsome stallions she had ever seen. He was perfect in every way, except for one thing. One of his pupils was bigger than the other one.

"You! What are you doing here?" Twilight jumped away and aimed her horn at the pony.

Snap! Twilight heard the sound of fingers clicking, (which was odd, since stallions don't have fingers). The stallion had disappeared but in his place there was now the long and tall figure of Discord, who wore a huge grin.

"Do not worry my dear princess," Discord added a bit of mocking tone to the last word. "Everyone... Oops, I mean, everypony is now frozen and will not remember what happens next."

Twilight looked around. Everpony was frozen inside an ice cube, immobile. She was furious. "You have some nerve coming here and messing with my friends. How did you escape from the statue?"

"Oh, Twilight, Twilight. I always seem to fall on your bad side, even before I say anything, don't I? Sometimes I wonder if an eternity will pass and I will still not get on your good side," said Discord, as he ate a bite of Twilight's cake, which was somehow now in his possession. "Who made this? It's delicious! Although not as good as the cupcakes that Pinkie used to bake."

"Answer the question, Discord! How did you escape from your stone prison?"

"Oh, that," Discord rubbed his chin, "You really think that your cute stone spell can restrain me, don't you? Oh well, I can't say I'm surprised. The truth is that I can escape that form at any time. However, fret not. The statue is still there, intact. Maybe we can place it in the town square for the new generations of ponies to see. Is there anymore of that cake? I would like seconds and maybe a slice to take home."

Twilight narrowed her eyes, "Princess Celestia will hear about this and you'll be sorry, just you wait."

"Oh, but she knows I can escape at any time, my dear princess"" said Discord. "Hasn't she told you?"

Twilight Sparkle opened her mouth but said nothing. She just gritted her teeth a bit harder.

"My, she hasn't! That's so funny," Discord laughed. "Oh Twilight, don't look at me like that. It's not my fault that Celestia keeps you in the dark. Hasn't she given you the 'I keep you ignorant for your own good' speech'?" Discord roared in laughter.

"What do you want, Discord?" Twilight was livid.

Discord calmed down a bit before he replied. "Oh, the mistrust, the derision! Are we to be destined to be enemies" Discord suddenly appeared behind Twilight and whispered firmly into her ear "forever?"

Twilight jumped away one more time. Then she realized.

"You don't die either!"

"No, at least not in the sense ponies do. So, what about that cake?"

Twilight was puzzled. "What do you want from me?"

"Ah, here we go again," said Discord, putting his hand on his forehead. "You're lucky I have learned the grinding art of patience and I suggest you practice that skill too. When you have a lot of time, it's something that comes in handy. I do not want anything from you. It's just that you're the first of Celestia's princesses to ever question her and I figured we could chat a bit. But if you really want me to leave, I'll leave." Discord poised his fingers high in the air, ready to snap them. "I have some light reading to do anyway."

"The first of Celestia's Princesses?" Twilight asked. "What do you mean?"

"Bye, Twilight!" Discord pointed with one hand at his other hand with his fingers ready to snap.

"Fine, you win. Please stay."

A table with an empty plate and a fork appeared in front of Discord. He pointed away with one of his fingers. "I believe the cake is over there."

After Discord had finished three slices of cake, eaten a bag of potato chips, drunk two bottles of soda, and broken a piñata which Twilight was sure wasn't around before, he sat with Twilight at a table.

"Anything else? Can we talk now?"

"Oh, just one more thing. A small favor that will cost you nothing and will take just mere seconds for you to do."

"And what is it?"

Discord extended a hand with a small glass. "A little glass of water, please."

"Oh, no. I know how this one goes."

Discord put the glass behind his back and shrugged his shoulders. "Fine. Leave a poor friend thirsty then."

Twilight's curiosity was bigger than her frustration. "Now, tell me about these other Princesses."

"You know, despite your high intelligence, you can be very ignorant about anything that doesn't come in a book."

"Discoooord," Twilight's voice was exasperated.

"Ok, ok," Discord cleared his voice. "From time to time, and we're talking Alicorn time here, Celestia finds a young filly and turns it into an Alicorn under her command. She always selects fillies and never colts and calls them princesses. I think this is her own personal preference, but I can't confirm it either way.

The process involves some test that she sets up. However, it is a true test and fillies that fail it will not become Alicorns. The magical talent of a pony is important and the pony must study and prepare herself from a young age. Your friend Rarity will most likely not pass the test, so Celestia isn't lying to you about that."

Twilight couldn't help but ask, "How do you know what she told me?"

"Oh, it's a little magical spell called deduction, along with a sparkle of familiarity," Discord lifter a hand with a framed black and white photo of young versions of him and Celestia, smiling and showing teeth braces. "Like I said, this is not the first time this has happened and Celestia and I have know each other for quite a while, you know?" He placed the frame behind his back before continuing.

"Celestia claims that in addition to talent and the test, there is some soft of fate involved. I do not believe it and I abhor the idea that something has been destined to happen. Moreover, if it was fated to happen, wouldn't all ponies pass the test?"

Twilight absorbed all this information, trying to understand it. "What happened to those other princesses? Where are they?" she asked.

"Why, they're dead, obviously!" answered Discord.

"Dead? But, how? If they become Alicorns they can't die!"

"They can't age. But there is nothing stopping an Alicorn from destroying or killing herself off. By the way, I strongly suggest you to stay away from alcohol. It's a bad habit to have when you have a lot of time. Plus it makes you look really pathetic."

Twilight opened her eyes wide, "Have you been spying on me?"

"Spying is such an ugly word. I prefer the term 'keeping up with my friends.'"

"You frustrate me."

"Oh, perhaps you want me to leave now."

Twilight resisted the urge to growl at Discord. "No, please stay." She sighed. "So these princesses just kill themselves off? Why?"

"It's not that easy being immortal, as you probably have begun to notice; stress, questioning, anger, hopelessness, resentment, spending eternity living with your mistakes and guilt, and of course, losing every single loved one you have; you've started to see the drill and it just goes on, and on, and on. Most princesses eventually do something to self-destruct or attempt something extremely foolish. There are the ones that simply decide that it's time for them to go. Luna isn't the first one that has challenged Celestia's rules and she was banished to the moon for it. Others have been even more direct or more stupid. There have been a few rare ones that decide to go down spectacularly. I must say that there have been a couple that were very original, although Celestia hates them because they're the ones that cause her the most trouble. I personally just sit back and enjoy the show, since it's going to happen anyway. And then there are the ones who die in an honestly unexpected accident."

Twilight thought of Princess Luna, dealing with her resentment and challenging Princess Celestia's reign. Her mind automatically went to her sister-in-law and her niece.

"Wait a minute!" Twilight said. "Princess Cadance fell in love and had a baby!" She then paused for a second. "And the baby is growing!"

"Ah, I don't know how to put this in terms that you will not find offensive." Discord tipped his finger tips against each other. "Candance is one of Celestia's biggest disappointments. She was chosen as a young filly, but as she grew up, she became a typical teenager interested in cute things and handsome boys and neglected her studies. Princesses are supposed to help Celestia know about important events that might affect the lives of ponies or change the natural order of things. Cadance did the exact opposite; she started a romantic relationship with your brother, something Alicorns are not allowed to do, for obvious reasons, and then she got engaged and informed everyone about it. There was nothing Celestia could do without looking like a tyrant who was getting in the middle of true love. And then Cadance got pregnant and had a baby, making things worse. You don't know it but Celestia had a very, very, very stern talk with Cadance after that, and you can be sure there will not be a second baby." Discord thought for a moment and then added. "Actually, now you know it, since I just told you."

"Flurry Heart!"

"Yes, that sweet little bundle of flurry cuteness is actually a first in history. From what I've seen so far, she will grow and die like her father will, but at an incredibly lower speed due to her mother's blood. She's got a lot of physical strength from his father's genes and a powerful magic abilities from her mother's genes. However, neither parent is particularly smart and Cadance has proven herself to be unwise, so I there's a strong possibility that that baby lives long enough to deal with immortal issues and do herself off, like previous princesses. On the other hand, her aunt is extremely smart, even if a bit innocent in the ways of the world, so there's that. Believe me, Celestia is not making this mistake again and she's keeping that baby, and any influence that you might have on her, under her close watch. Do not be surprised if she takes Flurry as her pupil and trains her in her castle. You two are the biggest gamble in Celestia's game right now."

Discord was suddenly dressed in a croupier suit and was shaking a dice shaker. He let two dice roll on the table. The dice came up showing the heads of Flurry and Twilight.

Twilight analyzed all this information from Discord. Then she realized something.

"You mean I am not allowed to fall in love? Celestia hasn't told me of this either!"

Discord's croupier clothes disappeared as he grabbed back the dice. "And here I thought that the most important thing you'd notice is Celestia not wanting anypony to create untrue Alicorns. But to answer your point, why would she? It's not like it's likely to happen as things go now. Nopony meets the love of her live by sitting by herself in a castle reading books. From Celestia's point of view, there is no benefit of risking you getting upset when you are doing a fine job of staying single on your own. It's the same reason she didn't tell you about the prohibition to celebrate your birthdays."

"But you had a relationship with Fluttershy!" Twilight paused for a bit, then added "And then you were cruel to her! What was that about?"

Discord's face was serious, in a way that Twilight hadn't seen before. "That... was another first in time. Nopony else had ever wanted to be my friend before or fallen in love with me before. So I decided to give it a try at this relationship stuff. However, something happened. I actually fell in love. It was then that I could see that my relationship with Fluttershy wouldn't work. Our natures were too different. Not only I'm immortal, but my whole psyche is against stability and order. To thine own self be true, they say. I cannot be anything else than who I am, the same way your friend Rarity can't be anything else than who she is. Like Fluttershy, Rarity longed for a relationship and children, but if she had chosen that path, she would not have achieved her dream and would have felt incomplete for the rest of her life.

"Likewise, tea parties aren't for me, and while I guess I could indulge in them for a few years, that'd be lying to myself. Besides, Fluttershy could not afford to lose those years, unlike me. She deserved a normal life. So I acted distant and cold in the hopes that she would dump me. When she didn't, I started to act mean towards her; I mocked her and put her down constantly. I changed back to a draconequus so that I wouldn't be pleasing to her eyes. I made ridiculous demands and whined when she couldn't meet them or nitpicked any little thing I could find if she actually did. But nothing I did would make her dump me and I couldn't understand why.

"Then I realized what was happening. Fluttershy's idea of love was unrealistic, the kind of love that you find in love stories. She was an immature, and inexperienced young mare that knew little about love, and she had trouble standing up for herself to boot. I knew then that I had to do the one thing that would make her dump me: hurting the ones she took care of. Not that I actually hurt any of them, I just scared her enough to make her think I would. Don't look at me like that, what else could I have done?"

"You could have told her the truth!" Twilight answered sharply.

"Twilight, Twilight, you don't know what you're saying," Discord clicked his tongue. "That just opens a lot of questioning and perhaps an attempt to change things. Neither of which were likely to turn into anything good for Fluttershy and could have resulted in long time depression or anger in the worst of cases. With my way, she went on thinking she got rid of a bad person, matured a bit, and after a period of grief, was able to find love with one of her own. I must say that Big Mac made her much happier than what I would have done and she got to live a fulfilling life. Plus, I recommend that you do not give suggestions on love life to other beings when you haven't had any experience on the matter yourself."

Twilight didn't approve of Discord's actions, but she didn't think it was worth discussing the point anymore. Plus, there was another question that Twilight wanted to ask, but she wasn't sure if asking Discord, out of all people, would be a good idea. She hesitated a bit and asked anyway. "Why are we here? What is the purpose of ponies?"

"Purpose? There is no purpose for any of us. Everything in this life is the product of Chaos!" Discord raised his hands and fireworks emerged from behind him. "Celestia likes to pretend that there is an order to things and that she keeps control of what happens in Equestria. But it's all a sandcastle, which I like to poke here and there, just to see her rushing to cover the damage, trying to keep the castle from crumbling down. And it's not like I have to do everything myself, or even most of the work. Luna, Cadance, your brother, all of them have gone against Celestia's orders. Then you have your occasional threat, Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek, you know. And while you haven't been through one, there is the occasional tornado, earthquake, or other natural disaster. Don't forget, there is also the fact that anypony, even the most loyal of her subjects, the most strategic of her chess pieces on the board, can die at any time."

"There is no afterlife then."

"That's what Celestia claims, but nobody knows. That is also the beauty of Chaos; everything is possible. Just because Celestia has researched every claim or evidence, that doesn't mean there aren't any she hasn't heard about, or that there is just no link to an afterlife from this world. And while it is possible that ponies do disappear forever, who is to say there aren't any other possibilities? Maybe they all go to some pony magical island where there is no more suffering and meet their families. Maybe they become stars and shine in the sky. Maybe they reincarnate and come back, starting life anew. Maybe they walk through a tunnel towards a light at the end of it for all eternity. Maybe they become characters in stories. The only thing we know is that we don't know."

Twilight suddenly realized that Discord had been standing in front of her, dressed in a business suit and using a pointing stick to show her images of his descriptions on a flipchart. He then collapsed the pointer stick in his hands. "Any questions? If not, I am afraid I must leave soon. You won't see me again in a while. I plan to stay in my 'prison' until after Fluttershy's grand children die. That should be enough to allow everyone to forget any hard feelings about my affair with her. He snapped his fingers and the business suit disappeared. Now, two pieces of baggage were on the ground on each of his sides.

There was one last thing that Twilight couldn't figure out "Why are you helping me?"

Discord threw back his head and covered his eyes with one of his hands. "Oh, will I forever have to live with this stigma, this mistrust? After I patiently answered all your questions and dispelled your doubts? Even going back willingly to my prison, from which I could have escaped at any time, is not enough?"

Twilight's eyes opened wide. "You put me in a dilemma! If I act on what you told me, I'd be going against Celestia's wishes. If I don't, I'd just be Celestia's tool."

"And no matter what you do, another wrench of potential Chaos has been thrown into the machine. I look forward to seeing what you decide to do." Discord snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Twilight looked around. The ice that had kept everypony frozen had disappeared and they all looked at Twilight with a puzzled look.

"Ah, sorry everypony. I think I had a drink too many," said a blushing Twilight as she walked away to the farthest empty chair she could find.

*****

Twilight was sitting at an open cafe outside the hospital. She had stayed by Rarity's side for the last hours, talking to her the little time that the Unicorn was awake. Rarity's body was tired and in pain, so she slept a lot. Twilight had gone out for a little while to have a drink and get some sun, mostly at the insistence of the doctor.

Twilight knew that Rarity's life was coming to an end soon. While the situation was tragic, there was something beautiful about it. Rarity had sacrificed some of her goals but she had achieved her biggest dream, just like Discord had said. Last time they had spoken about it, Rarity had few regrets about her life choices, the main one being having married Flam. Twilight was sad that all of Rarity's achievements would eventually be forgotten, just like Rainbow Dash's had been, but they held great meaning to the Unicorn and everyone who had been touched by her.

Suddenly, a huge shadow obscured the sun and ponies started to run away.

"Run for your lives!" said an old gray Pegasus with crossed eyes, who abandoned her half-eaten muffin as she tried to escape.

Twilight looked up and saw two huge winged creatures flying above Ponyville. Twilight had problems identifying what they were because they were blocking the sun and all she could see was shadows.

The creatures took a dive and landed right in front of Twilight with a huge thud. Twilight looked up at them and her jaw dropped.

"Hi, Twilight," said Spike. "You haven't changed a thing."

*****

Twilight's chat with Spike was short. She wanted him to speak with Rarity while he was in Ponyville as this was probably the last chance they'd get to talk. She asked the doctor to wake Rarity up and when he had refused, she ordered him to do so under her Royal Authority, even going so far as to threaten him to call the Royal Guard and have him banned to the moon if he disobeyed. She didn't know if she actually could do that and wondered for a second what she'd do if the doctor refused, but she figured that if she didn't know, the doctor wouldn't either. In any case, it worked and Rarity was delighted to learn that Spike was back.

Spike had grown so big by now that it wasn't possible for him to go into the hospital. The doctor suggested to have him speak through the window but Rarity insisted on being taken outside, bed and all, even if she had to carry the mattress herself. In the end, she was put on a wheelchair and taken out.

Rarity and Spike talked for a long time. He told her about his travels and his experiences in lands far away from Equestria. He spoke of his adventures and his search for his place in the world. He spoke about how he had tried to join dragon society but hadn't been able to fit in, not willing to let go of his pony upbringing completely, yet at the same time, he didn't belong in pony society either. Not that he hadn't kept some pony customs while adopting dragon ones. He explained to Rarity that, yes, it was true that dragons ate meat and in fact, he had some now and then. He admitted that his first prey had been Owlowiscious, who he had eaten in a moment of jealousy and weakness. Twilight flinched a bit when Spike said that, but she didn't think it was worth arguing over something that happened years ago and was part of being a dragon. Rarity listened with wonder at all that Spike was telling her, sometimes laughing, sometimes sighing.

Finally, Spike turned to the slightly smaller, but certainly not less scary pink dragon next to him. "Rarity, this is my girlfriend, Margarita. Margarita, this is Rarity, one of the kindest and most generous ponies that I know."

Rarity smiled as a tear fell down her cheek. "What a beautiful dragonnette you have found yourself, Spike." She then addressed the pink dragon. "Margarita, I'm sure you already know it, but Spikey-wikey is a wonderful guy and you are a very lucky girl. He has always been a darling to me and I'm sure he will make you very happy. Please take good care of him. It would mean a lot to me if you did."

"I will," said Margarita with her deep dragon voice.

After that, the doctor pointed out to Twilight (not without fear), that Rarity was too exhausted to continue talking. Applejack, who had been called and had arrived along with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, agreed and convinced Rarity to rest, which she did. She was brought back to the hospital, where she quickly fell asleep.

Spike's visit was short, but he managed to spend some time with Applejack, Twilight, as well as the families of Big Mac, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle. He was sad to learn that Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were dead, but he was happy to meet Shy Flower and Big Flutter, as well as the foals and husbands of Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. All the ponies were delighted with Margarita, who turned out to be a sweetheart, and felt happy that Spike had found himself such a cute and sweet dragonette.

After a while, Spike announced that he and Margarita had to leave. They were getting hungry and didn't want to stay and let the younger ponies see how they ate. He spent a few minutes with Twilight, who was glad to see how big and handsome his former assistant had become and how he really seemed to be in a loving relationship.

Finally, it was time to say good-bye. Twilight hugged Spike as best as she could, given the difference in sizes. "Take care, Spike. Will I see you again?"

"Sure Twi," answered Spike cheerfully. "There is so much world for us to explore, but dragons live a very long time."

The comment reminded Twilight of the friends she had already lost.

"Spike, I've lost some of my dear friends already, at least one of them suddenly. I have learned that life can be gone in an instant and that anything that you don't say in time, will remain unsaid. So, I just want to tell you that I love you. You were much more than my assistant. You were my little brother."

She then turned to Margarita. "Margarita, I would like to ask you two favors. The first one is to take good care of this wonderful, wonderful guy. As you can see, everybody here loves him and has very fond memories of him. The second favor is to be as happy as you can be with him. It would mean the world to me if you did these two favors for me."

"Sure, Twilight. It'll be my pleasure."

The two dragons then jumped and took off, batting their great wings.

Twilight smiled. Spike had been very young when he had left, but his male charm and simple kindness had left a good impression on everyone that he had met. He was also in good company. Despite his extremely long lifespan, he would eventually be forgotten too, but that didn't seem to matter anymore. She felt as if as long as Spike had made a good impression in the lives of those he had interacted with, that's what counted.

Twilight went home, feeling at peace.

*****

Rarity died a few days after Spike's visit. She had been battling her disease for almost a decade. The night she passed away, everypony felt a sense of relief. Applejack remarked that she was finally resting, although Twilight could see that everypony else were finally able to stop worrying about her and were now able to move on with their own lives.

The ceremony was elegant in style, but simple in content. Rarity had made arrangements to have only her old friends and their families at her funeral, keeping the media away. During the funeral, Applejack had tried to give an eulogy for her old friend, but the emotion was too much for her and she had to interrupt it and sit down and cry. Applebloom had to improvise and finish it for her.

At the end of the ceremony, Twilight approached the casket with a bouquet of white gardenias that she had bought and lay them on it.

Good-bye my dear friend. You made a great impact in the world. But you made an even greater impact in everypony you met. You were really the pony everypony should know.

Author's Note

I finally understood why writers go with cancer. You don't have to explain anything. I wanted to go with cirrhosis or kidney failure, but I realized how I then would have to explain medical stuff that wouldn't add to the story and just drag it unnecessarily.

I didn't add more about Starlight because I haven't seen her episodes. I just asked around about her. Same with Flurry Heart. Heck, I don't even know much about Cadence since I was never interested in that character.

Do comment which conversation you liked best, Celestia's, Luna's, or Discord's.

The Fifth Good-bye

Twilight was sitting next to Applejack's bed, reading a book. She was supposed to be at some sort of royal event in Canterlot, but she had decided that she was going to spend as much time as possible next to her friend. As she heard Applejack's deep breathing, she thought about how far behind she was with her work. She'd probably have to do an all nighter again.

After a while, Applejack slowly gained conscience. "Is that you, Twilight?" she said with a hoarse voice.

Twilight closed her book and touched Applejack's hoof. She knew that the cowgirl pony couldn't see well anymore and had a bit of a hearing problem, "yes, it's me. How are you doing?"

"Oh, you know me, I'm mighty fine, sugarcube," Applejack laughed a bit before starting to cough.

"Are you really ok?" asked Twilight.

"Yeah, I am fine," said Applejack after her cough had died down. "You know, you shouldn't spend so much time with this old mare. You have duties to fulfill."

"It's my day off."

"Crapola. You'll have to lie better than that, but thank you."

Twilight couldn't help but smile at being discovered. "You were always good at discerning the truth."

"Well, I AM the element of honesty, after all. Not that you are a particularly difficult pony to figure out."

"Boy, that Elements of Harmony thing never came up again, did it? Remember how all those adventures we had?"

"I sure do. I do have a theory about it."

"So, do I."

"Tell me yours first."

"I think Celestia somehow arranged the whole 'adventure' thing."

"Nah, I like my theory better."

"What is it?"

"I think we just were young mares and happened to be in the right place and at the right time for such things to happen. Then we grew up and became adults and had to deal with other things. I, for one, am very grateful to have had the opportunity to live all those adventures with you and the other girls. Those are some of the best memories I'm taking with me."

Twilight nodded, "I think I like your theory better. I'm certainly going to keep those memories in a special place as well." She sighed and added, "I'm glad to have met you and spent all those years together."

"Me too, sugarcube."

"I wish your grandfoals were here more often. I guess they still haven't learned to appreciate time with loved ones." While they weren't really Applejack's descendants, Twilight and Applejack always referred to them as if they were.

"Oh, I don't mind. They're young and have things to do. Why would they want to spend the day at the house of a sick, ol' mare? They need to live their lives, you know?"

"I guess you're right, my friend."

"Plus, I lived mine and I'm satisfied with how I lived it. I just wish I could have been out there bucking trees until my last day instead of being in bed most of the time. At least Applebloom could walk by herself until she died."

"Well, she had a long and fulfilling life, so I don't feel that bad about it."

"We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders..." sang Applejack.

"...on a quest to find out who we are," joined Twilight.

Applejack giggled a bit. "I'm looking forward to see her again, and Big Mac, and Rarity and all the girls."

Twilight knew that Applejack was certain about an afterlife. They had already spoken about the subject and she knew better than to question Applejack's belief in her condition. It's not like she had figured out the answer herself anyway. "Who do you want to see the most?" she asked.

"My husband."

Twilight's eyebrows rose. "Really?"

"Yeah. I know that you barely knew him. Heck, you probably don't even remember his name. But you know what? He was the only one who truly made me feel special. He loved me like nopony else in the world. He wasn't particularly smart or strong, but he was a good stallion and when he embraced me, I felt like everything was just right. That's not something you forget once you've experienced it."

"It's a shame that you didn't get to spend more time with him. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm going to see him again soon, and Big Mac, and Applebloom, and my parents, of course."

Twilight nodded and smiled. "And I'm sure they're all waiting to see you, too."

"Shucks, now I'm sad."

"Oh, I'm sorry my friend, I should have asked you such a question."

"No, no, it's not about that. I'm sad for you."

"For me?"

"Yeah, I'm going soon and I'll get to see all our friends. I bet Pinkie is going to throw a party and we'll get together and have fun. Maybe Rarity would finally have created the perfect outfits for us and we'll wear them at the party. It'll be nice to talk to Fluttershy now that she's not so shy anymore and she has more free time, not having to take care of a family and all. And Rainbow will just be there, being awesome as always. But you, you'll never get to see them again, and I'll never get to see you again."

"We don't know that for sure. But even if that's the case, someone needs to stay around and take care of your family. I mean, look at how many foals, grandcfoals, and great-grandfoals Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Shy Flower had."

"You know, I love all those foals like they were my own."

"Well, you certainly took care of them as if they were. And you kept the farm running all by yourself when everybody moved out. That was a lot of hard work for just one mare."

"Yeah, but I wanted my foals to have education and to follow their own calls. Don't get me wrong, I loved the farm and I got my cutie mark because of it, but it's not for everypony. It's a lot of hard work in the sun and the trees never give you a day off. I want my foals to have a better life than mine."

"That's where you're wrong my friend. Your life is one of the most beautiful and wonderful I've known."

"That's very sweet of you to say. And you take care of my farm, will you?"

"I will. Thank you for leaving it to me. I still think it should go to one of your family members instead."

"Which one? The one that came everyday to help me? What's his name? Applenopony?"

"Ok, you got me there."

"I'm sure you'll take care of it while you find a good use for it."

"I don't know. I might just hire someone to keep the apple trees as they are, even if they aren't harvested."

"That'd be as good a use as anything."

Twilight stood up, approached the bed, and embraced Applejack.

"I love you, my friend."

"And I love you too, Twi. Can I ask you a favor?"

"Anything you want."

"When I die, can you make sure they make me wear my old hat in the casket?"

Twilight walked up to a closed in the bedroom, opened it and took an old, worn cowboy hat from it.

"Why wait? You might as well wear it now," she said as she placed it on Applejack's head.

Applejack's smile grew wider. "Thanks Twi, you're the bestest."

*****

"A message for you, Princess."

Twilight looked up from the parchment on the desk that she had installed in her temporary office in Applejack's house. She took the envelope that her assistant, a white Pegasus named Looby Hooves with a muffin cutie mark, handed her. He didn't have magical breath like Spike's but he could fly relatively fast between Ponyville and Canterlot.

"Thank you, Looby. You can go back to the castle now."

Lobby gave a little bow and left. Twilight broke the royal stamp that sealed the letter and read it.

Princess Twilight,

I hope you are doing fine. I am writing to let you know that I've decided to take Flurry Heart as my new pupil and she will be moving to Canterlot to live in my castle. I'm sorry to deny your request to have her live with you but as you must be aware from the months that she stayed with you, she just doesn't have the discipline or talent that you had and needs closer guidance than what your duties can offer. I've already gotten permission from Princess Cadance and Flurry Heart herself is looking forward to living here. Both of them are going to Manehattan to get new outfits for her before coming here. Of course, you'll be able to visit Flurry Heart, provided that your visits don't interfere with her studying schedule.

On another matter, please keep me informed of Applejack's condition. I would like to visit her but I fear my presence would cause unnecessary commotion in town and affect her already weak condition negatively. Despite what you may think, I care deeply for my subjects, even more so those who have been my Bearers of the Elements of Magic. When Applejack's time comes, I would like to come and give a small speech, but I don't know if it would be appropriate. You are closer to her family than I am and I would appreciate your advice in this delicate matter.

Yours Truly, Princess Celestia.

Twilight crumbled the paper and threw it in the garbage can. She sighted and continued working.

It was almost dawn when the nurse that Twilight had hired to take care of Applejack came into the office.

"Princess Twilight, I think it's time."

Twilight got up from her chair and followed the nurse. She went into the bedroom and saw her friend. Applejack was quiet. It was hard to see her chest going up and down as she slowly breathed.

"She has been sleeping all night long, but her breathing and her pulse have gone way down. I don't think there's any point in trying to wake her up," said the nurse.

Twilight approached the bed and touched her friend's hoof. "Good-bye, my friend."

Applejack lips curled up a bit, almost imperceptibly. She gave then her final breath. She was 102 years old. Outside the window, a beautiful day broke.

*****

Applejack was buried in Sweet Apple Acres, just like she had asked. Her funeral was simple and over two dozen ponies, plus their foals showed up. Shy Flower said a few words for her aunt. Twilight found the small speech simple and sweet, nothing fancy or complex, much like Applejack.

At Twilight's advice, Princess Celestia made a short visit but gave no speech. The ruler of Equestria knew exactly what to say to the family and how long to stay, showing her good taste and tact. On the other hand, Flurry Heart wore a fancy dress that was more suited to a night club than a funeral. Twilight had to interrupt Flurry's talk of how handsome the young stallions at Manehattan were in order to tell her in no uncertain terms to take off her dress and behave appropriately . Twilight knew that Princess Celestia could have prevented Flurry from wearing such an outfit but she suspected Royal Alicorn was making a point.

Right before leaving, Princess Celestia got a few moments alone with Twilight, which she used to inform her that Princess Luna had visited Applejack the night before and they had said good-bye to each other.

"Since Princess Luna had said good-bye already, she didn't feel the need to come," said Princess Celestia.

"I understand."

"I will be leaving now, as per your suggestion. I know that you may want to talk about Flurry Heart, but this is not the occasion for it."

"Thank you for taking my opinion into account. I think it made a difference for the family, but you don't have to leave so soon."

"Maybe not, but I need to be alone for a while," said Princess Celestia, avoiding Twilight's eyes. "You see, when you are the leader of Equestria and so many ponies look up to you, it's advisable not to be seen crying."

Before Twilight could answer, Princess Celestia extended her powerful wings and flew away. Her guards were caught by surprise and ran as discreetly as they could to get Flurry Heart in the Royal Carriage.

Once Princess Celestia and Flurry Heart were gone, the ambience of the funeral became more relaxed, just like Twilight had predicted. The day was beautiful and it was hard to stay sad or to leave. Slowly, the ponies sat around under the apple trees and talked about Applejack, but also about their plans, jobs, relationships, and foals. Eventually, some of them brought out food and cooking utensils from the house. Foals ran around while stallions and mares had something to eat and engaged in friendly and simple conversations. Twilight found it touching that the funeral was so full of life. Above them, the sun shone beautifully over the top of the apple trees while a nice breeze made the day even more delightful.

*****

"Any more cake, Princess Twilight?" asked Apple Pie as she offered a plate to Twilight, who was sitting by herself at a table.

"No, thank you, Apple Pie, I'm full. But congratulations on the birth of your grandfoal. You're a grandmother now!"

"I know. Just between you and me, I wish the girl had finished school before getting pregnant. I'm a bit worried about that."

Twilight looked tenderly at Applebloom's daughter. Apple Pie was now 60 years old and her hair showed a few threads of silver already. Her fur was orange like her late aunt and she had worked for years as a pie baker, not very different from the party pony she was named after. Twilight knew that Apple Pie was looking for a bit of wisdom from her. She had slowly realized that ponies came to her not because she was a princess or an Alicorn, but because she had experience and had seen many facets of life.

"There is no need to worry at all. No matter what happens, everything is going to be alright, one way or the other. I learned that from your aunt, you know?"

"Oh, did you? I still miss her. I should have spent more time with her. She was such a great mare."

"Indeed, she was. I miss her too."

"Also, thank you for giving a job to Anansi. It's ridiculously hard for a zebra to get a job in Ponyville. Do you think he'll be up to it? He has no idea of how to run a farm."

"He's a good stallion and he truly loves your grand daughter. He and Apple Shy will run the farm as well as Big Mac and Applejack did. And if they don't know something, they can always look for it in a book at my castle or ask me for advice. Do not tell them, but if they do as good of a job, I'll let them have Sweet Apple Acres in a few years."

"That's very generous of you. I really appreciate all that you're doing for my family."

"Well, you're my family too, in a way. And I'll do it only if they prove to be worthy of the place. I promised to Applejack to take care of the farm, after all."

"Of course, I understand. Thank you very much for your words, Princess Twilight. I feel more relieved now. Do you mind if I go see if the other guests are ok?"

"Sure, go ahead. You know what? Leave the cake here. I changed my mind."

"Sure. If you need anything else let me know."

Twilight watched all the young foals run and play around as she ate her cake. They reminded her of her own foalhood, tucked away at home, always with her head in a book. The foals around, in contrast, were as varied and colorful as the characters in the stories she had read, each one with distinct personalities.

Twilight noticed a young blue colt that made the adults laugh with sarcastic impersonations and biting comebacks. Not far from him, a young orange unicorn pretended to take care of her stuffed animals. Her tone of voice was strong and she was making certain that no breaches of discipline would be tolerated and they'd better follow her rules if those animals knew what was good for them. Almost outside of the circle of ponies, a young and shy pink pegasus also played with her stuffed toys in absolute silence, dressing them in rags that she obviously thought were the fanciest and most elegant of dresses. And in the middle of everything, there was the baby of Apple Shy and Anansi, a baby zorse, the very first of his kind in Equestria, who would grow up in an apple farm, bucking trees and working hard.

A light pull on her wing shook Twilight out of her observations. She turned around to find a young red Earth colt, who was known for both his racing skills and his quiet, stoic demeanor. He had in his hoofs an old book that was open to show a page with an old picture of a blue Pegasus with rainbow colored hair.

"Excuse me, Princess Twilight," said the colt, not without some nervousness in his voice. "But I'm a big fan of Rainbow Dash and my mom told me that you actually knew her. Is this true? Can you tell me a bit about her?" He looked at Twilight with big eyes.

Twilight patted the chair next to her, indicating the colt to sit down. "It's true, I really knew her. She was the most awesome pony in Equestria. Let me tell you all about her. Did you know that she rediscovered the Sonic Rainboom all by herself when she was just a little filly?"

The colt jumped on the chair and said "Really? Please tell me more, Princess Twilight."

Twilight thought a bit and then smiled "Sure. But it's Twilight, just Twilight. No more of this Princess business."

Author's Note

I finally finished it. I hope you liked it. It was a lot of hard work and I'm proud of my story. I learned a lot about writing while doing this fanfic.

I want art for a cover, but I don't know what image to ask for. If you have an idea, please PM me.

I also want to make a voiced version of the story. If you're interested in providing the voice for one character, please let me know. So far, I have someone to play Applejack, and maybe someone to play Discord.

Thank you very much for reading all of it. I really appreciate it. Love you all.