Remembrance

“In the old days before the unification of the three tribes into the land of Equestria the ponies of the Coltic islands practiced a unique marriage ritual, being an earth pony settlement they didn’t have wings or magic to shape their cultures way of showing love. So instead they used their intuition and created the ‘Binding’. The Binding is a marriage ritual where two ponies who are to be wed carefully weave two ribbons together along their lovers foreleg, joining the two together in a poetic union symbolising that their souls were now intertwined forever. The practice has since been used all across the land of Equestria, between all variants of pony and in some cases even gryphon.”

Princess Twilight Sparkle looked at the setting sun and sighed wistfully to herself, letting the last rays of the day bathe her in a calming warmth.

“It’s almost time Princess.” Came a soft voice from behind her, turning from the window Twilight gave a warm smile to her student, Midsummer dream was a small unicorn mare with a taupe coat and a long thick mint colored mane covering a good part of her face.

“Thank you Midsummer, this is your first Remembrance day outside of canterlot is it not?” Midsummer's smile faltered slightly, not wanting to let the princess see her sad she looked out the window into the sea of lanterns that were beginning to light up the skies ponyville.

“It is princess, but don’t worry about me! I told my family I love them and they understand why I couldn’t be there, and besides.” She turned and gave Twilight a tiny smile, a blush blooming on her cheeks. “It’s also the first holiday I get to spend with you Princess.” Twilight smiled, standing she walked over to her student and nuzzled her lovingly.

“Alright, it’s time I addressed everypony and get the festival started.” Motioning to the balcony of the castle she looked back at Midsummer, “Would you care to join me?” Midsummer gasped and smiled brightly.

“Yes Princess!” The young mare ran over to the door excitedly, holding it open for Twilight with her magic. Twilight chuckled and shook her head, was this how she was around Celestia? Stepping out onto the balcony she let the cooling air of night waft over her as she took in the plethora of lights her little ponies had set up in honor of tonight. All of them smiling and having a good time with each other, a quiet went over the town as the townsfolk started to notice their Princess standing on the balcony. She smiled down at them all, she was so proud to see how far the little town she came to when she was just a student herself had come. Though she had changed as well, she was much taller than before, almost matching Celestia; her hair was longer and had streaks of bright yellow in with the purples and pinks, seemingly filled with starlight and flowing on its own. Shaking her head and cleared her throat using her magic to amplify her voice.

“Good evening everypony, I hope that tonight is one of joy and celebration for you all.” She paused as a roaring applause took over, holding up a hoof the cheers died down.

“Tonight we celebrate those who have come before us, as well as those we have lost. For in passing they stay with us forever, in the hearts and minds of those whom they loved and in the foundation of the very towns they helped grow. So let us tonight feel no sorrow for those long passed and instead remember their lives and the joy they brought with them.” The town once again exploded into applause as the ponies cheered their Princess and began the festival.

Once back inside Twilight started collecting an assortment of items and placing them in a small saddlebag. Midsummer watched quietly from her desk in Twilight's study, a frown forming on her muzzle.

“Are we going somewhere Princess, should I have brought a gift? Oh no I must look uncaring!” Twilight's student panickedly spouted. Twilight laughed and shook her head, reassuring her young student.

“No no Midsummer, it’s quite alright, I am preparing to go see some very old friends of mine.” Midsummer's eyes lit up like the sun as she pranced over to her teacher, hopping up so they were eye to eye.

“Are you talking about the Elements?! Oh my gosh I have read so much about them! May I go with you Princess?” She gave Twilight the biggest pair of puppy dog eyes she had ever seen. Laughing she poked her apprentice in the forehead.

“Put away the puppy dog eyes my young apprentice, I have enough of that from spike.” Midsummer tried to not look disappointed and was about to apologize to the princess but was cut off. “But yes, you can join me when I visit the gardens.”

“Oh thank you Princess! I’m so excited!” The small mare screamed she quickly hugged Twilight before running down the stairs into the main hall. Twilight smiled and followed after her excited protege.

The walk through town was pleasant, the smells of festival foods dancing through the air mixing with the scent of incenses burning in shrines. Looking up at the paper lanterns twilight smiled, they always reminded her of the Northern Lights of the Crystal Kingdom. Thinking of the Crystal Kingdom made her frown, she really should visit Cadence again, it had been far too long since she went to the Crystal kingdom. Twilight was drawn from her thoughts as a usually quiet voice split the air,

“Princess are you coming?” Midsummer was standing at the edge of the town looking back at her mentor. Shaking her head she continued walking, now wasn’t the time to be sad about her past.

Most of the ponies waved or bowed to her and Midsummer as they made their way out of the outskirts of town where a lone dirt trail led them to a large topiary garden filled with different adventures Twilight and her friends had had over the years. Twilight watched in bemusement as her student oo’d and ahh’d at the statuaries as they strolled through the large garden. They took their time making their way through the gardens grounds before finally coming upon a long straight staircase leading to the center, a tall hill with a wrought iron gate surrounding the edge.

“Would you mind staying down here and taking a look around while I attend to some business?” Midsummer pouted but agreed to let Twilight go on alone while she looked around the gardens grounds some more.Quietly thanking her student Twilight ascended the stairs alone, taking a breath to prepare herself. Opening the iron gate at the top slowly, hearing the old metal creak and squeal, she smiled and walked in.

“Hey girls, has it been another year already?” She laughed dryly to herself, the five monuments of her old friends standing perfectly still, each one fifteen feet tall and made of pure marble. Twilight smiled as she sat in the center of them and looked at at each one of her old friends, each one set in a pose so lifelike it was as if they were actually there. She had visited them each year ever since she had created this holiday, nearly three hundred and forty years ago. Standing she made her way around the five of them smiling at all of them again before stopping in front of the pony she had first met when she had gone to ponyville all those years ago.

“Oh pinkie, you never failed to make me smile. Ponyville was never the same with you gone.” Twilight used her magic and pulled out a string of rock candy and set it on the base of the monument before moving onto the next.

“Hello Fluttershy, I wanted to tell you that your shelter is doing wonderful, so many animals have been helped because of what you did. Oh and I brought another friend for you.” Pulling out a small jade owl she set in next to all of the other statuettes she had brought her over the years. Brushing a tear away she walked over to Rainbow Dash, her athletic friends statue posed in a boastful manner, her wings fully open and reared on her hind legs with a cocky grin on her face. Twilight smiled and shook her head .

“Even now you’re still way too cocky dash.” smiling she placed a bottle of cider at the base. She gave Rainbow dash one last look before moving on to Applejack, Placing an old rattan cowboy hat at the base she told the statue all about how the old farm was still thriving just like always. Slowly she moved back to the center of the grounds, letting out a shaky breath she looked up at the one statue she was trying hold off for as long as possible.

“Always save the hardest for last don’t you?” she mumbled to herself, looking up at the statue of rarity, she looked as radiant as the day she had met her. Wiping another tear away she set her bag down on the ground and withdrew a long silky ribbon. The ribbon was a beautiful mixture of ivory and violet, tying in the middle seamlessly thanks to Twilights magic. Smiling down at the ribbon that signified her and Raritys union she used her magic to wrap it around the statues forehoof.

“Happy remembrance day, my love.” Twilight finally let a tear drop as she smiled at the monument, letting her hoof rest on the top of its for a moment.

“You think in the three hundred years it’s been since you passed that this would get easier.” She let out a shaky laugh and looked at the other statues, tears running down her face she shook her head “It really doesn’t. Rarity it really doesn’t, I miss you every day so much.”
Finally alone to her thought she allowed herself to let go and cry, the soft sounds of her weeping filling the the enclosed grounds.

“Oh darling, please no more tears it does terrible things to those wonderful eyes.” Twilight let out a choked gasp, she had to be hearing things, there was no way she had actually heard that. Looking behind her she jumped and let out a startled squawk, standing there was Rarity gently smiling at Twilight. Looking closer Twilight noticed that she could practically see through the other mare.

“Hello dear, it’s been far too long since I’ve seen you.” Twilight went to say something but was silenced by Rarity as she raised a hoof. “Shush now darling, I know that beautiful mind of yours must be rushing with questions but I don’t have long here.” The spirit stood and caressed Twilight's cheek softly with a smile on her face, Twilight smiled brightly and leaned into the familiar hoof.

“I just wanted to remind you of the fact that I’m always with you Twilight, you and I made a promise to always be there for eachother, those ribbons sealed it.” She pressed her hoof to Twilight's chest and smiled “Our souls are intertwined Twi, they always will be and when your time finally comes just remember I’ll be waiting here for you my love, all five of us are.” Twilight smiled, tears running down her face as she nodded happily.

“She’s Beautiful.” Twilight's head snapped over to the entrance where Midsummer was looking at the statue of Rarity. She looked back to where Rarity had been standing, but she was gone. Sighing she shook her head and motioned for Midsummer to come over. The mare shyly came over and sat down next to her mentor.

“She is beautiful isn’t she?” Twilight asked wistfully looking back up at Rarity's statue, Midsummer smiled and looked up at Twilight with excitement in her eyes.

“Would you tell me about them?” She asked Twilight pleadingly, Twilight laughed and pushed her face to the side jokingly

“Spare me the eyes. But if you want me to tell you about the elements I’ll have to start from the beginning, and it’s getting late so let’s continue this conversation back at the castle.” Midsummer beamed and sprinted off down the hill, Twilight laughing and following after, neither of them noticing the gleam of rainbow light passing over the Ribbon.