Author's Note

I cried while writing this, and then again while re-reading it to make sure I didn't flub anywhere. I know there are a few spots in the "letter" bit that don't seem to track right, but I was trying to get into the head of Rainbow Dash, and she's not exactly the most... elegant... of writers. Hope ya'll enjoy it and I may make a followup to this later on, who knows.

Fallen Loyalty

Twilight stared at the scroll sitting on her desk, blinking away the tears that seemed to come far too easily to her these days. It had arrived earlier that day by means of Ditzy Doo, delivering the daily mail from the Mayor. Sitting next to the scroll was the chipped and cracked necklace, the gemstone horribly dulled, just like how Twilight felt at this moment.

“From the Desk of Mayor Mare of Ponyville.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle. In light of the horrible news regarding one Miss Rainbow Dash of the Ponyville Weather Team, Posthumous Wonderbolt, and Barer of the Element of Loyalty, I am happy to announce the successful adoption of one Scootaloo by one Rainbow Dash. Enclosed is Rainbow Dash’s final will and testament. We hope to hear from you in regards to the terms set forth by Rainbow Dash of Ponyville.”

“Ink Well, Secretary of the Mayor.”

Twilight sucked in a breath and moved the letter to the side and looked at the will.

“I’m not very good at these things, but Twilight said I should probably do this, just in case something happens to me. I’ve enclosed a letter of all of the reasons I should adopt Scootaloo, the most obvious of which being that I am awesome. I’ve also set aside some savings from my time with the weather team. By the time anypony reads this, hopefully it’ll have probably, maybe, approximately 5,000 bits in savings. All of which will go to Scootaloo in the event of my death. I have also included a letter to Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, both apologizing for not arriving at practice, should there be a practice missed, and thanking her for taking the time out of her busy schedule to help me improve my flying skills so I could move from the Wonderbolts Reserves into the Wonderbolts. Hopefully it’ll be taken to her. On to the main point, now that Twilight’s left the room. You have been my best friend here in Ponyville, besides Applejack. You helped me prepare for my exam to get into the Wonderbolts Reserves. You kept me loyal when Discord messed with my brain. You’ve always been there since we became friends, keeping my head on straight and making sure I didn’t get it to far up my own ass.

“Needless to say, Twilight, I owe you a lot more than I’ve let on over the few years we’ve known each other. And, to be honest, along with the other girls, we’ve all become the best of friends. As much as it sucks to say this, but I probably won’t outlive any of you. Heck, I’ve got a visit to Doctor Stable set for tomorrow at the latest to see if there are any medical issues keeping me from being able to adopt Scootaloo. I’m not sending one of these to the other girls, because I think hearing it from you will soften the blow quite a bit. Um… ok, here goes.

“To my best bronco buckin’ cowgirl, I leave the rope I got tangled up in when I first made my way to your barn. I held onto it, since it was what introduced us and helped me meet my best friend. Applejack, thanks for being awesome. To the best pie baker in all of Ponyville and the best party pony in all of Equestria, I’m leavin’ you a book of pranks that I have yet to pull on anypony. Make sure everyone knows it was Rainbow Dash prankin’ ‘em. Thanks for being a great gal pal Pinkie. To the most generous mare I’ve ever met in my entire life, I leave the rainbow ribbon you made for me for my birthday. All of it. I never found a use for it, but I’m sure you can. I’ve got faith in your skills as a designer Rarity.

“To my best friend from Cloudsdale, I leave my home on Cloud Nine. I know you probably won’t live there, since you have your animals to care for and not all of them can fly. I hope you’ll keep it clean for me at least, especially for the last person on the list. Keep your chin up Fluttershy, ‘cause I’ll always be watchin’ out for you. To the best mare I know, who came down from Canterlot, showed me what it was to really have a group of friends instead of just one or two, and even showed me what it was to be in love, even if I never told ya, I leave my entire collection of signed, first edition Daring Do books, my entire collection of Wonderbolts memorabilia, and my Wonderbolts outfit and badge. Spitfire might get mad, but I don’t care. You were the best thing that ever happened to me, even above getting into the Wonderbolts.

“I never told you, at least not face to face, but I sure did tell myself a lot and practiced telling you in the mirror, but I came to love you Twilight. Not just as a friend, or as an honorary sister. I really did love you, with all my heart. That’s why, if there’s anypony I would trust to take care of Scootaloo in my stead, it’s you. Other than the Wonderbolt’s memorabilia, I know I can’t really do this, but I’m leaving the Element of Loyalty to you. If anyone has been anymore loyal to their friends than me, it’s you.

“In closing, silly phrase that I didn’t really understand until now, I love you gals and I really hope nothing ever happens that you need to get this. I only wrote this one and left specific instructions for Mayor Mare to not replicate this to give to our other friends, cause I know Fluttershy would be crushed to hear about this without anyone around her. Make sure she takes care of herself, ok? And, make sure no one picks on her for me. She’s always been a bit of a wall flower. Tank’s yours too, but I think we can both leave him with Fluttershy for now.

“With love, my heart will always be yours Twilight, Rainbow Angel Dash.”

Sniffling, Twilight dabbed at her eyes and set the scroll down next to the folded Wonderbolt’s uniform. Sitting on top of the uniform was her golden wing badge, marking her as a lead pony. Next to the badge was the cracked Element of Loyalty gem. Next to the uniform, between it and the scroll, was the key to Rainbow Dash’s cloud home of Cloud Nine. On the other side of the scroll was a letter, sealed with a wax seal in the shape of two crossed Pegasus wings.

“To the desk of Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, Element of Magic.” Was the address, but there was no return address. Levitating it over, she removed the seal and pulled the letter out, unfolding it and scanning through it, her eyes widening as she read. “Princess Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, this is Bow Hothoof. I’m Rainbow Dash’s dad. My wife and I just want to say that we are very glad you could help take care of our little girl. If there is ever anything you need from us, for any reason at all, just come by. Don’t bother knocking. As far as we’re concerned, you’re our daughter too.”

Sniffling, Twilight pushed the letter to the side and laid her head on her desk, doing her best to stifle the tears. Turning her head to the side, she looked at the adoption papers that Rainbow Dash had yet to sign. It was an unneeded formality, since Mayor Mare had already accepted Rainbow’s adoption of Scootaloo, but to make it official, Twilight levitated over a quill and dipped it in the ink. Before she could put it to the paper, however, there was a burst of magic behind her. Setting the quill down, she turned around to see her mother and father, as well as Shining Armor, Cadence, and a school age Flurry Heart standing behind her.

“Spitfire told us.” Twilight Velvet said, trotting over and pulling her daughter into an embrace, letting her daughter bury her face against her chest. She’d been holding it in relatively well up to that point, but the moment she couldn’t see anything but her mom anymore, the flood gates opened and Twilight fell out of her seat, tumbling into her mother and father’s embrace. Shining and Cadence weren’t far behind, and a moment later, Flurry Heart interposed herself onto her aunt’s lap.

It took them only a few minutes, but Twilight eventually managed to calm herself down. “Guess I should go get Scootaloo, huh?” Twilight said and Cadence shook her head.

“No need Twilight. I saw Applejack and Apple Bloom heading to the orphanage to pick up Scootaloo.”

“I should go anyways. So that I can let Scoots know that Rainbow won’t make it today.” Nodding, Cadence picked up Flurry Heart and the three of them walked out the door, Twilight right behind her. As soon as she was outside, she took to the air and flew towards the orphanage. As they flew over Ponyville, Twilight used Rainbow’s ideal study method and scanned the ground as they flew, marveling in how much information she picked up. It seemed the entire town knew about Rainbow’s passing, because the streets were lined with rainbow colored streamers hanging limply from lamp posts, the lamps were lit with magical, rainbow colored flames.

Giant ice sculptures of Rainbow Dash littered the streets, and the Mayor’s Office held a banner across the front with a very well done painting of Rainbow Dash in a Wonderbolt’s uniform. Around Rainbow, painted in bright, vibrant red, was “The Honorary Wonderbolt, Rainbow Dash. Fly with the Greats.” Wiping a tear from her eye, Twilight and Cadence flew towards the orphanage. As expected, as she always did, Scootaloo was standing at the gate of the orphanage, scanning the skies for any sign of Rainbow Dash, and thinking that the decorations were a celebration of some huge achievement of Rainbow Dash’s. Seeing Twilight and her sister-in-law, Scootaloo stood up, her tail wiping back and forth excitedly.

When they landed and started towards her, Scootaloo ran up, skidding to a stop before looking around. “Where’s Rainbow Dash?”

“Scootaloo… she’s… well…” Twilight stopped and looked down at Scootaloo’s hopeful, adoring eyes and sucked in a breath. “She’s not coming.”