Gone, But Not Forgotten

by Piemaster128

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Original Character
Length: 2226

So long as we remember them, our loved ones are never truly gone.

Time moves on. Things change. In the midst of sorrow, Twilight learns one last friendship lesson, taught to her by the children of her best friends.

MLP Belongs to Hasbro and the cover art belongs to its creator (Not me, found it on google images because I couldn't find the original creator). Finally found the link to the actual picture thanks to a reader: https://derpibooru.org/288396

Now with Prequel: How to Date a Princess

Published 2017-05-18 18:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-05-18 18:50:01 UTC

The Gala

“Twilight, are you ok?” Celestia asked, a worried expression on her face. It was the kind that Twilight had seen many times over the years, but it had become more common these past few months, ever since…

“Hmm? Oh, yes, I’m ok, Tia,” Twilight replied, shaking her head slightly to clear it. “I just…zoned out for a minute there. I’ll be ok.” Looking at Celestia, Twilight still couldn’t believe how much closer they were in height after all these years. Luna now stood at equal height with Celestia, while Twilight was just slightly smaller than Luna used to be (who had been about a head shorter than Celestia), while Cadence was in fact Luna’s old height. It was much different than when Celestia had been more than twice her size. Twilight’s body had also become thinner and more graceful, more like ‘a true and proper Alicorn princess,’ as Rarity would say.

She sometimes missed the days when she had just been a unicorn. No royal duties, no ponies bowing (although she had made incredible strides in getting them to loosen up), no minimum number of guards to keep an eye out for danger (she could handle anything better than they could, but she did admit that having others around meant that she could afford to let her guard down more often. She HAD also met her husband through the guard all those years ago, so they weren’t too bad). But at the same time, she couldn’t ignore all the good she had done. The griffons had risen once again thanks to their new queen Gilda (who knew she was a descendent of the last king? Dash and Pinkie certainly hadn’t when they helped her so long ago). Queen Chrysalis had been dethroned and the changeling had successfully become a part of equestrian society. All across Equestria friendship problems had been solved, sometimes leading to huge transformations of entire cities or countries just from a single turn of events. It really warmed Twilight’s heart to see all the good she and her friends had accomplished.

Looking around, Twilight admired the decor of this year’s Grand Galloping Gala, the biggest party of the year. Pinkie may not have planned this one, but it still kept with the excitement and fun that only Pinkie could bring. It was certainly better than their first Gala. Twilight shuddered slightly as she remembered that particular disaster. All around, ponies in amazing dresses and outfits milled about, some talking, some dancing to the many types of music playing, others eating from the huge buffet provided by Sweet Apple Acres and other farms around Equestria. There were surprisingly few nobles here tonight, but the Gala had become more open in the last few years, and all of the princesses had approved. Currently, Twilight was wearing a dress somewhat similar to her first Gala, only this one was larger, had much more elaborate star patterns, and was made of a special fabric that seemed to shimmer and wave even when she sat still. She wore her golden shoes and crown as a symbol of her royalty, but the wings and horn probably did that anyway.

“Perhaps you just need some fresh air?” Celestia suggested, looking at Twilight with a knowing yet sad look. “I hear the gardens are much more peaceful at this hour.”

Twilight opened her mouth to reply, but simply closed it again before nodding. “I’ll cover for you,” Celestia whispered, giving Twilight a soft nuzzle. “Take all the time you need.” Standing up from the table where they were seated, Princess Celestia walked off into the party, moving towards the dessert table to grab another slice of cake before moving to talk to the guests, a move that caused Twilight to simply roll her eyes and smile slightly. Finishing off her own slice of cake, Twilight stood up and quietly made her way along the outer edge of the room, avoiding the eyes of most guests and leaving through one of the side doors out into the garden. Here journey, however small, did not go unnoticed.

As Twilight stepped outside, she took in a deep breath of cool evening air, listening as the noise of the party practically vanished into the gardens. One of the newer features to the ballroom was a sound proofing spell that could be turned on and off at the flip of a switch (Twilight’s idea), allowing the party to occur without disturbing the rest of the city or ponies in the gardens. Despite the time of night, many of Luna’s personal flowers were open and blooming, some glowing with a large variety of colors with a focus on light blue, pink, and green.

Twilight began to walk, needing no directions to find the place she was looking for. It took her about ten minutes to walk the distance, and by this point, the garden had become much more reserved, opening into a large clearing containing with flowers and large hedges along the sides. This area was open to the public at all times, and had come to be called “The Hero’s Garden.” There, in the center of the garden, was what she had come too see.

A statue. Not just any statue, but their statue. A statue made of pure white marble with gems adorning the pedestal and the figures’ eyes. A statue to insure that they would never be forgotten. A statue that made Twilights heart ache. From left to right stood he best friends, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Each was standing in a position that fit their personalities. Applejack and Rainbow were rearing on their hind legs, smiling confidently out to the world. Pinkie was depicted in mid bounce, none of her hooves touching the pedestal, a small bit of featherweight spell keeping her in position. She wore the biggest smile of them all and Twilight couldn’t help but smile slightly at the sight. Rarity had her nose in the air, her position one of grace and beauty, even in stone. Fluttershy was crouching slightly, but still wore a soft smile as she tried to hide behind her mane. Behind them stood a stone figure of Twilight, her wings extending over the five other mares, protecting them from the world. Her eyes were closed and she wore a serene smile on her face. A smile that the real Twilight just couldn’t seem to find anymore.
She remembered when the statue had first been built, nearly fifty years ago. Her friends had been called up to Canterlot upon its completion and the statue had been revealed the evening before the Gala. She remembered Rainbow boasting at how awesome she looked, and Applejack teasing the pegasus mare about her ego. She remembered Rarity fawning over the statue and Fluttershy saying that it was nice, but being a little too shy to say much else. Pinkie, of course, placed party hats on all the statue heads, insisting that they should throw a ‘We got our own statue’ party. Oh Pinkie.

Drip…Drip…Drip…

Tears. Those were tears. Twilight couldn’t help it. She had cried so much in the past few months, but no mater how much she cried, there were always more tears. What she wouldn’t give to hear her friends coming up through the garden again. To hear their voices, their laughter, their banter and friendly teasing. But she couldn’t. Applejack had died four months ago. The last one to pass on.

There were two similar statues in Ponyville. One in the now larger town square, and one in the cemetery. The one in the cemetery stood near five tall and well-decorated graves, each with the occupant’s cutie mark engraved on it. The coffins had been enchanted to contain a time dilation spell, something Twilight had done to preserve their bodies. It was the last thing she could do for them, even if they were now gone. The statues all had a small plaque that read “In memory of the Elements of Harmony. Honesty: Applejack, Laughter: Pinkie Pie, Generosity: Rarity, Kindness: Fluttershy, Loyalty: Rainbow Dash, Magic: Princess Twilight Sparkle. Without them, the Equestria we know today would not exist, and we can never repay the debt we owe them. May they live forever in out hearts.”

Twilight was sobbing openly now, her legs no longer able to support her weight as she collapsed in sadness. So many years, so many memories, and she still missed them. She missed them every day. Even in the midst of her princess-hood, she and her friends had never lost their connections. They hung out, talked, wrote, anything to stay together. Even in death, her friends were together, buried right next to one another in a special part of the Ponyville cemetery. But Twilight was still here, left behind, immune to the ravages of time. She would never join them.
“Aunty Twilight?” a voice called out, causing Twilight to jump, and immediately try to climb back to her hooves, but she only succeeded in falling over. She tried to wipe her eyes so she could see through the tears, but was stopped as a pair of hooves came to rest on her fore leg, followed quickly by many more. Even through the tears, Twilight could see who was there.

Off to her right were two pegasi, a mare with a cyan coat and a deep blue mane and a stallion with light blue fur and a familiar rainbow-colored mane. Aurora Sky and Thunder Racer, Rainbow and Soarin’s children. Next to them stood three mares, practically identical with matching coats and fluffy manes, with the only difference being their colors. One was red, one was green, and one was blue. Ruby Pie, Emerald Pie, and Sapphire Pie, Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich’s children. Next to them was a large stallion with brown fur and a pink mane and a small, shy mare with orange fur and a light blue mane with pink streaks. Proud Defender and Soft Whisper, the children of Fluttershy and Caramel. On her left was a stallion with a white coat and a purple mane with green streaks combed to perfection. He had blue eyes that resembled a dragon’s rather than a pony’s. Gallant Gem, son of Rarity and Spike. Next to him were four ponies, two stallions and two mares. All of them were some shade of orange, the stallions being darker colored and the mares lighter, all with blond manes. The stallions were Northern Sky and Jonathan while the mares were Pink Pearl and Gala Tango, children of Applejack and her husband Open Sky, a pegasus with an orange coat and a blond mane. Finally, there were two alicorns and a dragon, the dragon being Spike. The alicorns, both mares, were the children of Twilight and her husband Flash Sentry. The first alicorn, Princess Breaking Dawn and alicorn of creativity, had her mother’s fur with a blue mane containing pink and purple streaks. She was the eldest of the two. The second younger alicorn, Princess Soothing Night and alicorn of knowledge, had an orange coat like her father and a purple mane with dark blue and light yellow streaks running through it. All of them were holding onto Twilight’s fore hooves and looking at her with worried yet understanding expressions.

Twilight tried to speak, to say something, to try and explain, but no words would come. What could she say? She had been trying to pass off that she was ok for months now, crying when no one was looking, trying to remain strong for her nieces and nephews, but now…

Her daughters moved first, closing the small distance and wrapping their mother in a strong hug. Spike followed suit and soon Twilight was encased in fourteen sets of hooves, all holding her in their warm and gentle embrace. No one spoke, because no words were needed. Twilight’s tears began to return in full force, and although they contained a hint of sadness, they were also filled with joy. She not longer had to pretend everything was ok. Her friends were gone, but they had left her one of the greatest gifts that she could have ever asked for. With a small hiccup, Twilight quickly extended her wings, managing to wrap around the entire group and pull them as close as she could. She still cried, but the smile on her face let her family know she was going to be ok, and that the final step to recovery had begun. All around her, every face shed its own tears, letting her know that she was not alone.

“Gone…” Twilight whispered, to which a chorus of voices responded:

“But not forgotten.”

Author's Note

Behold, my first story! Gaze at its splendor and stare in awe!
Ok, not really.
This is an idea I had about two years ago, a good "what if" situation that is both sad yet happy. Most likely how we will feel if the show ever ends (which it hopefully won't). I plan to have more work later on, but for now enjoy this small little look into a possible future. Comments and constructive criticism is welcome, but please be nice. I'm not a pro writer and just do this for fun :twilightblush:
Also, special shoutout to my editor for her amazing work in making this story readable :pinkiehappy: