What happens after we are gone?
It is a cool, crisp fall day. You had finished eating lunch with your old high school friends, and your marefriend, Rainbow Dash. After finishing your meal and paying the bill, you all walk out of the restaurant home.
Even with your old friends here to see you again after several years, and Rainbow here flying beside you, you still felt a deep sadness causing your heart to ache. Memories of that faithful day still haunt you. It had been a whole year and a half since your grandfather passed away, and even though you believed neither of you liked eachother, you still teared up thinking about that day.
As you walked, your friends say their goodbyes, and split up to head home. It was just you and Dash, your head sinking low to the ground as you walked. Rainbow Dash notices this, and slides a hoof under your chin, beckoning you to look up at her worried face. "Hey, buddy. Whats wrong?" She ask. You just look at her, and motion towards the area you just walked into.
She notices you are by your local church, and she gets a little more worried. "Wait, this isn't the way home. What are we doing here?" You stay silent, walking over to a nearby flower shop, and coming out with a bouquet of flowers, and walking into the church cemetery. Rainbow Dash is watching you as you slowly walk through the depressing scene, trying to find your grandfathers grave.
Suddenly, you stop. Rainbow hovers over to you, and rest a hoof on your shoulder. "What? What is it?"
You point over to one of the graves. "There. There he is." You walk over to the gravestone, and gently lay the flowers at the base of it. Rainbow is behind you, hovering in place as she watches you with concern.
You feel a build-up of tears in your eyes, and drop to your knees and start to cry. Rainbow immediately rushes over, wrapping her fore hooves and wings around your back, all the while trying to comfort you by softly rubbing your back as you cry into her shoulder.
"Shhh. Its ok. Its ok." She comforts, tightening her grip around you, and occasionally raising a hoof up to wipe your tears.
"Im sorry! Its just so hard for me right now!" You wail. "I dont know what im gonna do once my dad is gone!"
Rainbow pulls back and gives you several kisses on your lips and forehead.
"You wont have to worry about that for a long, long time. Dont pressure yourself with this kind of stuff! Just focus on enjoying your life!" You tighten your grip around her, burying your face into her chest, still sobbing.
Rainbow Dash continues to try to calm you down, stroking your back with a wing, and rubbing the back of your head.
She whispers softly into your ear, still rubbing your back.
"We all die in the end buddy. what matters is if we enjoyed our lives. A short, but merry and happy life is better than none at all. Im gonna miss Tank when he's gone, but I know you'll be there with me"
Your crying has almost completely ceased, with occasional sobs in between your words. "Yeah, but-but im also scared of what happens after death! Some human cultures envision either a paradise, or a punishing spiritual existence depending on what you did, and some say nothing happens at all! What if when you and I are gone, and its just blackness, no light, no feeling of consciousness, nothing!"
Rainbow looks deep into your eyes before leaning in to plant a long, firm kiss on your lips. She smiles softly at you.
"Nopony knows the answers. I guess only time will tell. What matters is that we dont let stuff like this worry us. This thinking will make us miserable, and the whole point of life in my opinion. is to live it. Flying through the skies of Equestria, thats living! spending time with my friends, thats living! Spending time with you," She says as she pulls you into a gentle hug. "Thats living. You cant live your life in fear, because that would stop you from enjoying life! Ask yourself this. Do you think your grandfather had a happy life in his younger years?"
You slowly nod. "Yeah, I guess. I love spending time with you. I was feeling extremely depressed, but thanks to you, I can be happy again. Whenever I dont have my dad to talk to, you are always here to comfort me, and cheer me up! I always felt like I get worked up over WAY too many things. I guess part of my pessimism came from all the bad news on TV, and reading up predictions about Yellowstone erupting, or Earths sun going out and killing all humans."
Rainbow rest a hoof on your cheek and smiles. "Well, you humans are pretty capable of incredible things! Maybe you guys can find a way to cool off that Yellowstone volcano you told me about. Plus, by the time your sun goes out, im sure you guys would find a new planet. You already conquered the darn moon! Im sure Equestria will have plenty of room. Plus, I do believe that Human kindness can overcome its greed and hatred. YOU are an excellent example!"
Your crying has completely died down, and you hug her and kiss her cheek. "Thank you. Its been a very difficult time for me and my family. Im so happy you, Twilight and the others were willing to come to my house and spend time with us to cheer us up."
She smiles, and kisses you back. "Dont worry. No matter what happens, we will be here for you. I'll be here for you. You dont have to be afraid."
You both turn to the grave, and lean your head against it, eyes closed and hands clasped as you recited a prayer. Rainbow dash tilts her head down, eyes closed and a wing draped over your back. When you finished, you get up and proceed to walk out of the cemetery with Rainbow, looking back one last time at the grave; A tear streaming down your cheek.
"Farewell Grandpa. I love you, and you will be missed."
