Chapters Twilight sighed as she lifted her head, smiling as she gazed out her window. Looking out at the sun, now rising over the horizon, now, was their final day in Equestria. She could feel the tenuous grasp her magic still held to the other elements, when that snapped, they would all die. She didn't fear death, no, she had made her peace with that multiple times over the years. Seriously in her early adulthood, she felt like not a year went by when she and her friend's lives weren't in extreme peril at least once, if not multiple times. But that had calmed down, and she, along with the other elements had had a good run, ruling Equestria after Celestia and Luna retired. Though they still managed the sun and the moon. She and the other elements had stepped down as the years wore on, with Cadence and Flurryheart taking over after them.
Cadence had a more traditional power structure, she was still going strong. Twilight, however, felt strung out, her power drained. Ever since the destruction of the Tree Of Harmony she could feel that tiny trickle of power draining away every day. It was so slight that they had had decades of time since then, they all had families, they had loved, and lost, and now came the day to spend one last day together, before they traveled on. Thankfully with Starlight and Sunburst's help, Twilight was able to calculate the timeline of the power drain, and she and her friends had had had a whopping forty years from when they figured out the calculations, give or take. Later, though then with only Sunburst's help, she had calculated it to this day. She smiled sadly as she looked out the window again, remembering Starlight, it was only five years after the first calculations when they had all lost Starlight.
She had invited all of her friends to her crystal castle for their last day together. One last breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She had gotten ahold of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia and asked them for a favor, to delay the sunset one hour and ten minutes, that they could all watch it together, one last sunset, and then one last journey for all of them. Twilight smiled as she got up, groaning a little as she did so, her body had held up extremely well over the years, but now she was feeling her age. She wasn't envious of normal ponies who had to deal with this for long periods over their lives. That was one nice thing, she would soon not have to groan every time she got up.
Twilight smiled as she looked over to the mantle over her room's fireplace. While she had memories and mementos of her loves scattered around, as when you accrue possessions over your life, they attach to the memories of the ones you got them with, there were those three that would always stick out to her as representatives of her loves. An old but dust free and immaculately up kept star emblazoned hat and cape, and next to it a royal guard helmet. She smiled as she walked over to gently run her hoof over each of the items in turn.
Her first love, first serious love at least, had been Flash Sentry. She smiled as she remembered their mutual loves similar upbringings in Canterlot, their affection for each other, their shared love of having things be orderly, all the stereotypical lovey-dovey, they were made for each other cliches, but they fit together so well. Then Flash Sentry died, though it hadn't been totally unexpected the loss had still been hard, especially with Starlight going only two weeks afterward. Twilight smiled, that's how she and Trixie had gotten together. They both lost their mates so close together they helped each other get through it. And again with all of the cliches about opposites attracting, Trixie's constant challenges to Twilight, they had loved each other... Though that was an awkward conversation waiting for her to have with Flash Sentry and Starlight on the other side. Knowing Trixie she might have conveniently forgotten to mention that she remarried, and remarried Twilight of all mares. Though she had a feeling that Starlight and Flash Sentry both knew, if the afterlife was anything like how she imagined it at least.
Twilight walked over to the window, pushing it open and taking a large whiff of the morning air, smiling as she watched the sunrise. Her old teacher was still doing her job, and maybe putting in a little extra effort for her prized pupil and the other elements of harmony this morning. The sunrise was truly a magnificent one.
Fluttershy yawned and sat up, opening her mouth to say hello to all her furry friends before remembering that they weren't there anymore. She had given most of them away in anticipation of her coming departure, while her mate was loving, he couldn't handle all her animals at his age. Though they had enough extended family that none of her critters were far, and none would ever want for love.
She sighed and looked to the large stallion next to her, smiling at the silent Big Mac. It had been an unsure and rocky road, but in the end, she'd gotten her stallion. He was still surprisingly strong for his old age, and he was still very healthy. She smiled slightly, knowing that he would still be there to look after their great grandfoals for a while yet. Not that their daughters weren't excellent mothers, but the little ones could still use some spoiling now and then.
Fluttershy got up and walked around to Big Mac's side of the bed, nuzzling him gently to wake him up, his eyes popped up and he smiled sadly at Fluttershy as he sat up. Taking in a deep shuddering breath and pulling the smaller mare to him in a large hug, asking quietly, "today?"
Fluttershy squeaked quietly as that still impressive strength she had just been thinking about came into play. "Yes." She normally tried to avoid these almost bone-crushing hugs from her mate, but today, this morning, she let him hug her until he finally decided to release her. "You're sure you're ok with me going to see Twilight and the girls? I mean... I can stay... Or you can come with..."
Big Mac smiled his large, sad smile but shook his head. "Eeenope. You see your friends. We've said our goodbyes."
Fluttershy smiled and gave Big Mac a large hug, though not nearly as hard as his, he still appreciated it. Fluttershy grabbed his hoof in hers and smiled. "We can watch the sunrise together though." The sunrise on Sweet Apple Acres had always been so beautiful. Fluttershy was so very happy she'd spent the majority of her life here with her mate. Though she hadn't ever expected this to be her end in the early years, she was very happy with the outcome.
Big Mac nodded and let Fluttershy lead him out of their room in their new house, the main farmhouse had remained Applejack's for convenience and they had built another house for Fluttershy and Big Mac, and their family. There was Fluttershy's favorite spot to watch the sunrise, on a small hill nearby, and both her and Big Mac sat there in silent companionship. Fluttershy smiled happily as she snuggled close to her mate. "Isn't it beautiful?"
Big Mac looked down at the smaller yellow pony, a single silent tear running down his cheek. "Eeeyup."
Rainbow Dash bolted out of her bed, then let out a small groan as she felt her back protest at the swift action. Rainbow Dash normally liked to sleep in but not today, today was her last day in Equestria and she was going to see her friends! She smiled as she looked back at her bed, blinking back a few tears. Besides, at the end of the day, she'd get to see Tank and Soarin again. It wasn't something she had sought out, she wasn't suicidal, but she had long been longing to see her old pet, and her mate again. She had, of course, had pets since Tank's death, but never one she had been so close to as that determine tortoise that was her very first pet.
Rainbow Dash smiled as she thought of Soarin, she'd never believed in soul mates like Rarity had gone on about, but if she had had a soul mate it was Soarin. She had taken his death hard, way harder than she'd been ready to admit to. She should have learned from that drama over Tank just having to hibernate that she was not good at goodbyes. Thankfully she'd had her friends there to support her throughout the ordeal. And Rainbow Dash always felt guilty leaning on Twilight, she had lost Flash Sentry long before Rainbow Dash had lost Soarin. Rainbow Dash smiled, Twilight had been her biggest support during that time, probably because she knew best what had been going through Rainbow Dash's mind.
She smiled a bit as she blew a kiss to the picture of Soarin on her nightstand then flew up to the roof of the Cloudominium to watch the sunrise before going to the castle. Soarin had always loved the sunrise, the crazy morningpony. She and Soarin had always jokingly referred to it at the biggest contention between the two, to get up to see the sunrise or to sleep in. Recently Rainbow Dash had found herself putting in the extra effort to watch the sunrise. When she was up here, in the morning quiet, so high above Equestria, she'd take a long gaze at the beautiful sunrise, then close her eyes, and for just a moment, think she could feel Soarin wrap his wing around her again, like he used to. Of course, it was just a memory, but soon, she'd get to see him again, and Tank too. It was going to be a good day.
Pinkie hopped out of bed and smiled down at her sleeping mate, she knew that Cheese Sandwich would soon follow her into death. He had been sick for the last few months, and he would not survive much longer now. It had been a question on who was going to go first. She smiled widely as she took a moment to just watch him, though a bit pale and sickly, he was still as handsome as ever in her eyes. She wanted to remember him at peace right at this moment before she said goodbye. So she sat there, two whole minutes of silence and concentration, a record ever since that paint drying thing.
Pinkie gently placed a hoof upon her mate's side to shake him gently. Cheese Sandwich opened his eyes halfway, but his smile was as bright as ever. He couldn't sit up anymore, there would be a nurse in to help him get to the bathroom in a few minutes, but right now it was just him and Pinkie. He couldn't do anything but greet her with the pet name he had had for her for so long, "hello there Sunshine."
Pinkie smiled and leaned in, giving him a gentle kiss. "Looks like I'm going to be the one who ends up going first."
"Apparently, but I'll be following on your fetlocks." Cheese Sandwich let out a harsh cough, followed by a small laugh. "Or maybe you'll follow me, days are getting pretty long." Pinkie nuzzled him gently, starting to frown but Cheese Sandwich caught it in it's beginning. "None of that now Sunshine. Let me remember you smiling, and you'll remember me smiling."
Pinkie nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat that just wouldn't go away, but putting on her best smile for him. "I love you Cheesy."
Cheese Sandwich chuckled, he appreciated the nickname but it always made anything said romantically sound a little off. "I love you too Pinkie Pie."
Pinkie smiled and leaned in, giving him one last gentle kiss on the lips and repeating, "I love you too Cheese Sandwich."
Cheese Sandwich smiled, saying quietly, barely above a whisper, "Pinkie..."
Pinkie blinked but leaned in, whispering back, "yes?"
Cheese Sandwich surprised Pinkie by saying in a loud voice, "get the nurse! I really need to use the bathroom!" Pinkie jumped backward before snickering loudly and stuck her tongue out at her mate. He just couldn't let it end on a romantic note, but a fun note. Well, that was ok with her!
Pinkie trotted to the door. "Well, we'll see if I can remember as I leave!" Pinkie waved and without a second glance trotted out of the room. Only after she was out of sight did she look back at the door, letting out a small sniffle as she headed to get the nurse, then head out.
Cheese Sandwich smiled as he watched his mate leave him for the last time, before settling in for the minute or two it would take the nurse to be woken up and get up to him, he did have to use the bathroom, but it wasn't nearly as bad as all that. He spoke, knowing that Pinkie was well out of earshot, but he didn't care, it didn't need to be heard, it just needed to be said. "I'll be with you again soon my pink party pony." And he turned his head to the side, smiling as he saw the first rays of the sun painting the sky beautiful colors, and knowing his beloved was seeing the same sunrise.
Applejack yawned widely and sat up, looking to the empty side of her bed, raising an eyebrow, that was an unusual event, usually, her mate didn't wake up before her. But then again this wasn't a usual day, so it wasn't surprising that there'd be extra precautions taken to not be late. She looked over to the open door into the bathroom and nodded. "Hey there early bird, you give yourself enough time to get ready this morning?"
Rarity smiled as she did her lashes, put on her makeup, made sure she was extra presentable, she was going to spend her last day on Equestria looking her best. She blessed the magic that had let her keep most her looks over the years. She wasn't completely vain, but she was self-aware enough to admit that it was one of her major flaws, but thanks to the magic she'd never needed to get over it! She smiled as she came out, Applejack's pointed silence giving her all the confirmation that she had done it right. She smiled at her longtime friend, turned mate. "Yes, I made sure that I'd have plenty of time darling. Couldn't be late for our last day."
Applejack smiled, Rarity did look stunning, the effect she was obviously going for but she wasn't about to stroke the white mare's ego any more than she had to, but she would expect at least a small compliment. "You look beautiful sugar cube." Applejack got out of bed, walking over and placing a kiss on her mate's cheek, causing Rarity to coo quietly, Rarity had always been a sucker for physical affection. "I'm sorry about the drama last night."
Rarity nodded, turning her head and planting a gentle kiss on Applejack's lips. "No apology necessary darling. I was just... Not expecting you to be... Less than ready. I thought we'd dealt with it the other days."
"I ain't scared Rarity."
"I know darling, I know. You just want to see our great grandfoals grow up, like you did with Granny Smith..." Rarity raised a hoof and wiped a slow tear away from Applejack's eye, one she would have adamantly denied existing. "But that's not the hand we were dealt, dear. We had a good life, and we get to know when it ends. Both blessings many do not get."
"I know Rarity!" Applejack took a few steps away, trying to pretend that she was ok but Rarity knew her mate better than that. Rarity followed her, wrapping her in a warm hug.
"They'll miss us, but we'll see them again. Just like we're going to see Granny Smith, and your parents... And mine." Rarity had never expected to be the emotional rock in their relationship, but as with many rough exteriors, it held a sensitive and soft treasure inside.
Applejack turned into the hug, burying her face into the white mare's shoulder, not sobbing, not quite, but her tears were flowing freely. "I... I just don't want to leave them... Big Mac, and Apple Bloom's kids, our..." Rarity could only hold her mate and rub her back gently as she poured forth her emotions. They had done this about once a day for the past week. But Rarity knew that it would be better this evening. She had faith that Applejack would see, that when they traveled together to the next world, that all their kin knew the great love they all shared for one another.
After Applejack had finished, sniffling gently Rarity smiled at Applejack, levitating a tissue over to her and wiping her face off, cooing gently to her. "They know you would stay if you could, but you can't. What you can, and have done, is show them all how much you love them. They'll remember, and we will see them again after all." Applejack nodded jerkily, receiving a kiss on the cheek from Rarity. "Now, how about we use that first marriage aniversary gift you gave to me? It's still one of the best gifts I've ever received."
Applejack smiled and nodded, following Rarity out onto the small balcony that Applejack had built off their bedroom, it had a glorious view over Sweet Apple Acres, and was the perfect place to watch the sunrise on their final day. After that, they'd go down, say goodbye to everyone one last time, and then head over to Twilight's castle, for their final day with their oldest and closest friends. The family had done all their main goodbyes a few days ago, and yesterday again, today was all about their oldest and closest friends.
Rarity snuggled up to Applejack who wrapped a foreleg around her. Rarity could still hear the faintest hint on a sniffle when Applejack said, "I love you Rarity."
"I love you too Applejack. I couldn't have asked for a better life darling. Not even if you were royalty."
Applejack let out a choked cough of a laugh as she squeezed Rarity just a little closer. Applejack smiled, looking down to see Fluttershy and Big Mac enjoying their last sunrise together. She liked to imagine that at this moment, all her friends were enjoying the sunrise together, one last time.
After greetings, hugs, and other general welcomes the six were all seated around the friendship map with large piles of pancakes in front of them. Smiling as they had a rather iconic breakfast staple for them. It was always pancakes, they were good and easy to make, so they tended to get made a lot. Pinkie, however, had taken a bit of a different spin on the simple pancake, hers was piled high with whipped cream and super sugary fruit and berry syrups, as well as said fruits and berries. Rarity couldn't help but stare in pure astonishment. "Pinkie Pie! That... Don't do that to yourself, darling! You'll hate yourself to..." Rarity stopped herself then grinned a bit. "Pass the syrup and whipped cream dear, I'm going to make myself a castle."
After a moment all their friends realized exactly what first Pinkie, then Rarity had realized and they were all clamoring for the whipped cream and syrup. Thankfully Pinkie had come prepared with sweets galore, pulling more and more of the required condiments out of her mane. Five of the six friends were all having a grand old time, the only one being melancholic was Applejack. While she too was participating in making a pancake plate more decadent than most desserts she was obviously not having a great amount of fun with it, though even when sad she wasn't going to pass up eating that much sugar with no regard to what it would do in the future.
The loud sound of happy chewing as everyone shoveled pancakes into their mouths filled the air. Even the normally proper Rarity couldn't pull off polite eating with the monstrosity of pancakes that she'd made, so she abandoned manners with the rest of them and just dug in. Applejack was eating, but not with the enthusiasm of the others, Rarity had decided to let her mate be for a while, to see if she'd get herself out of the funk or needed some coaxing. The other elements were too busy with eating, and playing with their breakfast, to notice their woe betided friend, until Applejack just couldn't take it anymore. "Really!? No one is going to address why we're all here!?"
Rarity couldn't suppress a sigh as the others looked at Applejack. She hadn't expected Applejack to do that! She'd thought she was going to brood a bit then start enjoying her friends, or at the very least find a more diplomatic way to bring up what was bothering her. But then again Applejack was honesty, to the point of being completely blunt at times. She got up walking over to her mate and reached up a hoof, gently running it through Applejack's mane and cooing to her mate. "Darling..."
Applejack pulled away harshly, though she didn't say anything the message was quite clear, she'd had enough of Rarity's meaningless comfort, they were dying and no nice words would change that! Applejack glared around the table, making eye contact with each of her friends in turn, practically challenging them to disagree with her. Though they met her gaze steadily none of them were willing to contradict her, at least that's how it was in Applejack's mind, really they were all just too dumbfounded to respond. They had only very rarely seen Applejack snap or get angry with Rarity since their romantic relationship had started.
However, when Applejack came to the last pony around the circle, Rainbow Dash was no so sacrosanct. She nodded to Applejack. "Ok AJ, we're here because we're all dying today, how about that?"
The rest of the group groaned lowly. Of course, it had to be Applejack's old rival who answered her, couldn't be Fluttershy or Twilight, or even Pinkie Pie making a joke, it had to be Rainbow Dash just throwing down the gauntlet in front of Applejack. One that Applejack seemed happy to pick up. "Exactly! We can't all just sit here and pretend that it's a normal day."
"Of course it's not a normal day! Look at what we're eating!" Rainbow Dash motioned to their mountains of sickly sweet food.
Applejack growled lowly in response, "not what I meant."
"I know! But we're all having a good time, enjoying each other's company and you gotta be a sour puss!" Rainbow Dash scowled at her friend, she really didn't like when Applejack was a pill like this.
Fluttershy said quietly, "girls..." drawing no attention from either of the arguing ponies.
"Oh yeah? Well ignoring the fact that we're all dying isn't being a sour puss! It's being a realist ya flighty mare!" Applejack had had enough of the happy go lucky, 'I don't have any responsibilities to worry about' mare lecturing her on being happy with death. If any of the others could read minds they could have told Applejack that wasn't really what Rainbow Dash had said but sadly none of them possessed that ability.
It was Twilight's turn to try and make peace between their friends, raising her voice slightly. "Girls, really we can..."
"Flighty am I!?" Rainbow Dash roared, jumping up on the table, thankfully missing her tower of pancakes in the process. "What kind of flighty mare makes it into the Wonderbolts? Becomes the leader of the Wonderbolts!? I'll have you know I worked my butt off to get there! I made it in! I made it to the top! I didn't fail at anything!"
"Oh yeah, such a greeeeaaaat accomplishment!" Applejack didn't usually use sarcasm but she felt that one was warranted. "You were born with some of the luckiest skills around! Literally, no one else can make a sonic rainboom, that's not through training, that's through sheer dumb luck! You're not a self-made mare, you're just a lucky, lazy mare who doesn't know the definition of a hard day's work! Or why someone wouldn't wanna die!"
Three of the four observers blinked in confusion, that last bit really didn't fit into the general fight that Rainbow Dash and Applejack were having, the argument had started there but they were well past the subject of death now. Pinke was, however, trying to distract the two, and not thinking about their arguments. "Applejack, Rainbow Dash! Look at me!" She waved her hooves and produced a sparkler from her mane. "Lookatme! Lookatme! Lookatme!" The two fighting mares were having none of it.
"Yeah!? I never said I wasn't lucky ya hayseed! But I am a self-made mare! I did the work, I graduated from the academy, I put in all the hours, I put in all the work, I became the best of the best on top of my natural abilities! Even if I couldn't do the sonic rainboom I'd be the leader because I put in all the work! It's not like you! You never had any ambition Applejack! You just lived in that backwater farm your entire life! You didn't care about making something that mattered!"
Applejack sneered at her friend. "Oh yeah, something that mattered? I'm so sure that years from now you'll be remembered for your fast flyin'! For your abilities to make rainbows and tornados, for your skill at flying through circles in front of crowds! You may have accomplished these hard, amazing feats, you may be the fastest that there has been, or even ever will be! But after you're dead that won't mean anything!"
Rarity stepped forward, raising her voice. "Applejack! Rainbow Dash! Stop this! This should be a time of love and..."
They both turned their glares onto Rarity and yelled. "Shut up Rarity!"
Applejack snapped her head back at Rainbow Dash to give her an even more withering glare. "Don't talk to my wife like that!"
"You just did you hypocrite!" Rainbow Dash yelled back.
"She's my wife!" The argument was getting heated with Applejack yelling even louder to drown out Rainbow Dash, the rest could only stare on helplessly as it spiraled out of control, except Pinkie still trying to use spectacle to derail the argument.
Rainbow Dash scowled at Applejack. "Oh yeah, is that one of your "accomplishments"? You bagged the prettiest mare in town? What're the rest of your accomplishments!? You managed a farm that didn't need managing? The farm's been there for what, a hundred years? You didn't accomplish anything either Applejack!"
Applejack raised herself up to her full height and, metaphorically, hurled herself over a precipice that none of them would have ever thought she'd have dared to do, or been hateful enough to. "I raised a family! Maybe if you weren't so focused on being the best you could have too!"
The entire room froze, Pinkie stopped trying to distract them, Twilight stopped trying to control Pinkie, Fluttershy nearly fainted, and even Rarity froze, her attempts to calm and control her mate stopped in the moment that Applejack did the unthinkable. Rainbow Dash couldn't have foals after an injury she received while being a Wonderbolt. Rarity took a few steps back, she half expected Rainbow Dash to outright attack Applejack, while Rarity had every intention to try to stop it, her being in the middle of it would only make it worse as Applejack lashed out in the defense of her mate if Rarity was in the danger zone.
Rainbow Dash did indeed lunge forward at Applejack, all the girls saw it in slow motion, but couldn't seem to act fast enough to stop it. Neither Rarity nor Twilight could get a firm grasp on Rainbow Dash with their magic to hold her back. Rainbow Dash had had every intention of going for the other mare's throat, metaphorically speaking. But in that last moment as she closed in on Applejack she saw it. She saw that it wasn't anger reflected in Applejack's eyes, it wasn't passionate hate, it was fear and despair. Rainbow Dash saw the unshed tears glistening in her old friend/rival's eyes, and she knew that she could be angry with Applejack for bringing that terrible event up and throwing it at her, but she could also understand, and pity her friend's pain. And more importantly, she could forgive her. Rainbow Dash had felt a similar pain that Applejack would never understand, Rainbow Dash couldn't have foals. But also Applejack was feeling something that Rainbow Dash couldn't, Applejack was losing her foals.
Applejack had lowered her shoulders slightly ready to barrel over the pegasus coming at her only to be brought up short, she didn't feel hooves hitting her shoulder, Rainbow Dash had missed!?... No... Applejack stiffened as she felt Rainbow Dash slip forelegs around her shoulders and pull her into a tight hug. As the rest of the group stared Applejack couldn't stop herself, starting to sniffle gently, only to have all her emotions break free and she started to sob loudly as she heard Rainbow Dash say quietly. "I understand AJ."
Rarity instantly, now that the danger was over trotted over and nuzzled up to Applejack, cooing to her gently though making sure not to get in the way of the hug. Fluttershy also, though a bit hesitantly, flew over and gave both of her close friends gentle nuzzles. She'd always been extra close to Rainbow Dash, but marrying Applejack's brother and living with her and both their families on the farm made her get very close to Applejack as well. Twilight and Pinkie both approached but kept a slightly further distance. They were all great friends but even among close friends some were closer than others.
Both Rarity and Rainbow Dash rubbed Applejack's back, Rarity cooing to her mate with gentle loving nonsense sounds. Applejack shook her head, she thought she'd gotten his out of her system this morning with Rarity but she hadn't. "I don't want to leave them Rainbow Dash..." The rest of Applejack's friends stood in silence as she continued to sob quietly into Rainbow Dash's shoulder, the only other sound, Rarity's gentle cooing to Applejack. After a few minutes, Applejack pulled herself together, though still sniffing and on the verge of tears. "I-I'm... I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow Dash smiled sadly as she pulled back from her friend, she could forgive Applejack for something said when she was hurting so much. Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof and hit Applejack on the shoulder. "That hurt Applejack. But you're hurting more aren't you?" Applejack hesitated but nodded nervously. She wouldn't have liked to say that to Rainbow Dash, that she was hurting more than the other pony, but Rainbow Dash had said it. Rainbow Dash retreated slightly, letting Rarity take over hugging her mate and nuzzling her, rubbing her back and continuing her cooing. Rainbow Dash looked to the side, saying quietly, "you..." her voice broke and she had to start again. "You were right anyway AJ."
Everyone stared at Rainbow Dash, even Applejack raised her head from Rarity's shoulder to stare at her. Rainbow Dash blushed a bit, scowling at all her friends. "I didn't mean that way!" Her friends nodded but still looked confused, and she let out a small sigh, still not making eye contact with any of her friends. "It makes sense that Applejack is having a worse time than me... Every... Most everyone I want to see are either in this room, coming with me tonight or waiting for me on the other side. I mean besides Scootaloo..." Rainbow Dash was interrupted by another hug, thought his time from Fluttershy, pulling close into her and hugging her hard, at least hard for Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash smiled and returned the hug before finally meeting Applejack's eyes, saying softly. "I forgive you."
With a collective sigh of relief, the tension drained from the room. Applejack nuzzled back into Rarity, hiding her tears of relief, after the moment of anger had been over she was afraid that she'd spent the last day of her life destroying one of her oldest friendships. Rarity continued to pat Applejack on the back until the Applejack finally pulled away from the white unicorn, and returned to her seat, sniffling gently but seeming to build her pancake barn with actual gusto, having, at least mostly, gotten that out of her system. She understood that she wasn't the only one hurting, and Rainbow Dash was right, she had plenty of family to see on the other side as well, and eventually, her foals and grandfoals would come to see her as well.
Slowly Fluttershy, Twilight and Pinkie drifted back to their seats and started up their breakfasts again. On the way back to her seat Rarity took a small detour, giving Rainbow Dash a gentle peck on the cheek, whispering. "Thank you, darling." With an awkward clearing of her throat and a jerky nod, Rainbow Dash flew up to land back in her seat, starting to eat her breakfast again. Rarity smiled, letting out a quiet sigh of relief, that was almost a giant destruction of what had been a long life long friendship, and it would have just been Applejack and Rainbow Dash, because everyone would have had to take sides.
Taking sides would have ended with Rarity and Applejack leaving, possibly also Fluttershy but Rarity doubted it. Though Rarity wouldn't object to spending her last day with her family, she would have been devastated if she had had to leave her oldest friends. She gave Rainbow Dash another smile, that pony was more sensitive and empathetic than she liked to let on. Rarity didn't go back and sit down, she tugged her plate over next to Applejack, still holding her half-eaten pancake castle. Applejack raised an eyebrow at her and Rarity cracked a grin, saying more than loud enough for everyone to hear. "Well, I do need a place for my servants to live darling!" Ahh, there it was, there was what Rarity had been wanting, her friends' laughter. She didn't want to end on a sad note. They all would enjoy a happy breakfast together, one last time.
One Last Friendship Mission
After breakfast the room filled with the happy groaning of ponies who had eaten too much but didn't regret it in the least. As breakfast had gone on upbeat talking had taken place, thankfully Applejack had cheered up and the group had had a fine breakfast. They all looked around in confusion soon afterward, there was a strange tinkling sound in the air, like a wind chime. "What is that darling?" Rarity asked as she looked at Twilight.
Twilight shook her head in response. "I'm afraid I don't know. I don't have any chimes up."
"Ya know, it sounds a might familiar..." Applejack screwed up her face, trying to remember what the sound was from.
"Yeah! I've totally heard this before!" Rainbow Dash frowned as she also tried to rake her memories in search of the sound.
"Ooh! Search party!" Pinkie pulled out a magnifying glass. "The best kind of party that's not an actual party!"
"Uh... Girls..." Everyone looked at Fluttershy who was pointing at her cutie mark. It was glowing faintly, pulsing and chiming gently like it had all those decades ago, but the friendship map hadn't called them in forever! They just had started using it as a table!
Everyone looked to the map, wondering what in the world could be happening that would interrupt their last day together. Rarity was irrationally cross with the thing, she had wanted to settle down for a loving relaxing last day with her friends and her mate. Fluttershy was nervous as always, friendship missions always made her nervous. Twilight was fascinated, she was curious if the map somehow knew it was their last day, so it couldn't give them a mission far away. Pinkie bounced, looking excited, she always appeared happy so it wasn't much change, it didn't matter what was going on around her. Applejack grinned along with Pinkie Pie, spending her last day helping some poor pony with a problem? She could definitely make peace with that. Rainbow Dash gave a hoof pump, shouting. "Oh heck yeah! One last adventure!"
The friendship map suddenly popped into existence on top of the table, but it was faded, it was... If you could call a map sickly it was sickly. They watched as the map sputtered, fading in then out, then popped back into existence. It faded out a second time, until only a very small piece of it lit up. The map seemed to somehow know its failings, its loss of power, and was focusing on where it needed power the most. Their cutie marks flew down and started to circle ponyville, then ponyville grew slightly so the individual buildings could be made out, though the projection flickered the marks came to float around the very castle they sat in. Though the map flickered it remained projected.
"Uh? We have a friendship problem!?" Twilight was shocked, they had a friendship problem!?... Well, they had had one, but they solved it! "Uh... Maybe the map's just slow about picking up on what was happening earlier?" The rest of the ponies looked skeptical, but none offered a better explanation until a quiet voice said.
"I don't think so, girls..." They all looked at Fluttershy who pointed at the map. "There are only five cutie marks. Pinkie's not there..." They all looked at the map, save Pinkie who slowly started to back towards the door, indeed the three balloons weren't there, and they turned to look at Pinkie, whose cutie mark wasn't glowing. After only a few more moment the map flickered quickly then disappeared, and all their cutie marks stopped glowing, but it had been long enough for them all to see the difference.
Twilight got up, walking slowly towards her longtime friend. "Pinkie... What's the matter...?"
Pinkie put on her best smile, that didn't fool any of them, they all knew when Pinkie was faking it by this point. "Who me!? I'm just fine and dandy!"
Fluttershy also got up, followed by the rest of the girls who came to stand near Pinkie, though making sure not to crowd too close to her. Fluttershy spoke in her soft voice, "Pinkie, whatever it is we're your friends. We want to help..."
"No really! I am one hundred percent okie dokie! I'm not worried about anyone!" Pinkie pulled a noise maker out of her mane and twirled it, causing the loud whirring sound they were designed to make. The others groaned as the loud thing went off but they wouldn't be so easily deterred.
Rarity had picked up on the key phrase there that Pinkie had let slip. "Darling... Are you worried about Cheese Sandwich?"
Pinkie's smile twitched but she shook her head. "Nu-uh! He is okie dokie too! I... I just said goodbye to him this morning! He's... He's still okay!" Pinkie nearly jumped over Twilight when she turned back from looking at Rarity and found Twilight had walked over to her, smiling gently Twilight pulled Pinkie into a gentle hug. "Hey! I-I said he's okay! Don't need any hugs here!" She pushed Twilight off of her, cantering a few steps away.
"Pinkie..." Twilight walked after her friend, though didn't try to hug her again as she was obviously not in the mood for such at the moment. "Do... Do you want to go spend your last day with Cheese Sandwich? It's okay if you do." Twilight wasn't ecstatic about the idea especially since it would kind of preclude them all staying together. If the other's had wanted to go see their families, or if Fluttershy had wanted to bring Big Mac it would have changed the dynamic a bit but they'd all have been together. Cheese Sandwich couldn't handle a lot of noise, or motion, he tired easily and was very sensitive to other ponies at the moment. If Pinkie wanted to go be with her mate, they'd have to say goodbye to her now. But it would be better that Pinkie be able to go be with her mate if that's what she wanted. They couldn't keep her here, and even if they could, it wouldn't be for the best.
"No! NO! I DON'T! I don't want to see my mate waste away before my eyes and can't do anything about it! I didn't want to see my father waste away and die a sick old man!" The entire group jumped back as Pinkie exploded at them, but right after that, Pinkie burst into tears. This time when Twilight rushed forwards to hug her she didn't pull away. "I didn't want to see Maud get old! I didn't want to see..." And the list went on, and on. Everyone that Pinkie had seen get old or sick and die. Pinkie didn't include those who died relatively healthy or young. It seemed that Pinkie didn't fear death, she feared infirmity. The rest of the group came in, sitting close to Pinkie to offer their support but not interfering, Pinkie and Twilight had gotten particularly close over the years. Some of the group theorized that if Cheese Sandwich hadn't been around Twilight would have been married a third time.
Twilight nuzzled her friend gently. "It's scary but there's nothing we can do about it Pinkie..."
"And why not!?" Twilight hadn't been done with her sentence but Pinkie didn't care. "Why do we need to get old!? Why do we need to get sick!? Who's cruel joke is it that we die like this!? That we have to suffer and get old!? Can't we just be healthy for like... I dunno, sixty years then die healthy!?" Twilight didn't know what to do except keep hugging her friend, she assumed that Pinkie was just venting and not actually asking but... "Why Twilight!?" Twilight blinked, staring at her friend. "You've read all the books! Why do we get old!?"
Twilight froze for a few moments before her mind caught up with the question. "Uh... Well... Uh... You see... Our cells... In laymen's terms, our bodies over time start to degrade and can't keep up their full health so they slowly break down and..."
"I know that Twilight!" Pinkie wasn't angry at Twilight, but she was angry in general, so it came out harsher than she'd intended. Pinkie took a deep breath, collecting herself for a moment before continuing. "I-I know the technical reasons... I more meant... Why can't we just live normally, who would design us like this!?"
Twilight shifted a bit uncomfortable with the turn that the conversation had taken. "Uh... Well, Pinkie... Not everyone believes we were designed... Some think we were, some don't, some think it was more indirect than designing..."
"Well I do!... Or did... I don't know anymore! I mean... Father always raised us to... But then he got sick!... Why did he get sick!? He was a good stallion Twilight!" Pinkie started to cry again. "Cheese Sandwich is a good stallion! They both said there's a reason for it! Why did they get sick!?"
Twilight opened her mouth to answer but nothing came out so she closed it, she didn't know what to say. However, a timid, sad voice came from behind her. "To help others." There was a pause in the sobs as everyone turned to look at Fluttershy, who blushed brightly and looked to the side, but continued. "Tree Hugger always told me... While she was sick..." Fluttershy pawed at the ground nervously, she wasn't really used to talking about her beliefs to anyone except Big Mac but this was to help Pinkie. "Tree Hugger told me that when we see another suffering it changes us, for good or for ill... It's... Those of us who are good take from it more compassion towards others..."
There was an extended silence, interrupted only by sniffling from Pinkie, until another pony spoke, Rarity. "Sweetie Belle... Rest her soul... Said that she was always just the tiniest bit happy when she didn't get her cutie mark. She said that when we suffer it's to remind others of how good they have it. Even if they're going through trouble, they still have so many blessings." Applejack leaned in, nuzzling her mate gently. Rarity always got a little sad when she talked about her little sister.
"Granny Smith always told us that, she was happy in her old age. I... I can't tell ya too much about sickness Pinkie. But when Granny talked about being young she was a foolish mare who would waste her time on stallions, or some such. She said that it was getting older, when she couldn't run around and be foolish that she realized she wanted... She wanted more from life than the day to day fun. She wanted to leave something for the world... Not just something for herself..." It was Applejacks turn to get the nuzzled from her mate. Applejack turned her head, pressing into Rarity appreciatively.
Rainbow Dash looked awkwardly to the side, coughing and biting her bottom lip. "Uh... Soarin... I dunno girls... This... Is actually a little dark..."
Twilight looked from Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. "Uh... Why don't I go, then you can finish it up Rainbow Dash?" At Rainbow Dash's nod Twilight smiled at Pinkie. "Before Flash went in for surgery... The last thing he told me... Besides that he loved me. Was that it was not that we had only had a short time together... It wasn't about how short or long we lived... It was about that we found the purpose of our life and we lived it, and that we loved it. Whatever that was..." She smiled sadly, letting out a single sniffle of her own. "You know Trixie said almost the same thing a few days before... She said that she had loved her life, and that being great and powerful... She'd done everything she could have wanted with it."
Pinkie smiled, nodding jerkily, and all eyes slowly turned to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash shifted a bit, still unsure if she should go with what Soarin had indeed said, or if she should make something up. She opened her mouth a few times before closing it. Suddenly she felt a smaller mare press up against her side, Fluttershy smiled at her. "Go on Rainbow Dash... If you think it'll help, even if it is... Uh... Dark."
Rainbow Dash sighed but nodded, straightening up. "When Soarin was... After he crashed and you know he... Uh... Lost a wing." She sucked in a deep breath, the only thing stopping her from crying a little herself right now was her oldest friend pressing up against her, supporting her emotionally. "Well... You know the surgery didn't work and he only had a few weeks until the strain got too much on his damaged heart and he'd die... He said he was sad to leave me... But... But he was happy to be going somewhere..." Rainbow Dash let out a choked cough and felt a soft, yellow wing wrap around her back. "Going somewhere that he could fly again..." Rainbow Dash turned her head slightly, burying it in Fluttershy's shoulder who reached up, giving her a hug as well. Rainbow Dash wasn't in a state like Pinkie or Applejack had been, but she was visibly upset, and let Fluttershy hold her for a short time.
Twilight nodded, tears in her own eyes, all of them were on the verge of tears, but they all had their friends to comfort them. Twilight swallowed around the lump in her throat, looking at Pinkie. "Is... Are those enough reasons...?"
Pinkie swallowed but nodded after a moment. "Y-Yes... I think it is... I... Though I'll still have some questions for the boss when we get there!"
That statement actually brought a smile to Twilight's face. "Oh, I'll have a lot too! But I'll let you go first there Pinkie."
That actually got a giggle out of Pinkie who let go of Twilight and nodded. "That's nice of you Twilight!" Pinkie turned slightly making the come here motion with her hoof and all the girls crowded in, sharing a single large hug, that had been a fairly emotional time for all of them there.
As they broke up their hug they all gave each other hesitant smiles, but then a surprised gasp broke the air. They all turned to see Fluttershy pointing at the friendship map, it was lit up again. Rarity actually groaned, and after what had just happened no one, not even Rainbow Dash was looking forward to 'one last adventure.' However it didn't display the map of Equestria, it flickered into life, displaying all six of their cutie marks. They were all dim, and faded, then they all burst into bright light, full, healthy light, and a large version of Twilight's castle appeared. Each of the cutie marks circled it a few times, then sunk into the castle, before the castle faded out. The table, which had always been lit faintly from some glow within itself faded out as well, until a large slab of crystal was all that remained.
An entire minute of silence went by until a timid, "did... Did the friendship map just say goodbye to us...?" came from Fluttershy's lips.
They all nodded hesitantly, and Pinkie smiled a little wider, walking forward and patting the table with her hoof. "Thank you for helping us all those times... And especially this one."
None of them truly thought the table was an actual being, and it wasn't, not truly. But somewhere in the depths of the crystal, where a mind might have lived if it had had the power to grow, a flicker, the slightest echo of selfhood had heard, and it knew, as it finally faded from existence, it had served its masters well, one last time.
Pinkie smiled as she hopped up on the table, waving her hoof in the air, smiling. "Let's play a game!" The rest of the group chuckled, Pinkie's obvious attempt to lighten the mood accomplished exactly what it'd set out to do.
"Ok Pinkie, what game?" Twilight smiled up at her pink friend, happy to see her friend being her old friend happy again.
"Hide and seek!" The girls giggled, they had had some epic hide and seek games back whent hey were younger, they could do a bit of that again.
Rarity smiled, glancing at Applejack. "Okay dear, but we should put a time limit, say ten minutes? I don't think we want to spend that long hiding from each other today!"
The other girls murmured in agreement and Pinkie nodded. "Okay! But you two!" She pointed at Applejack and Rarity. "Can't hide together! We already know you're a couple we don't need to find out again!"
Rarity flushed crimson at the reminder of a certain event in the past. "Now I'll have you know you're all misremembering the event!"
Applejack snickered along with the rest of her friends. "No they're not sugar cube, they caught us smoochin'."
Rarity hissed at Applejack, "you're supposed to be on my side!" After a good chuckle at Rarity's expense, the group split up with Pinkie acting as the seeker. She was by far the best hider and seeker, and it being quick didn't make it any less fun so they figured that they should let Pinkie go. After only four minutes Pinkie had managed to find everyone except Fluttershy. She even caught Rarity and Applejack smooching again, something that Rarity insists she was doing just because if she's going to take flak over an event she at least wants it to have happened.
"Where do you think Fluttershy is? She's good at hiding today!" Pinkie felt like she'd searched the whole castle twice and couldn't find hide nor hair of the yellow pegasus. Everyone else shook their head, they hadn't seen her after they all left the main room. "Well, looks like she won! Let's go call her!" Pinkie took in a deep breath and the rest of the group covered their ears for the coming "FLUTTERSHY YOU WIN! COME OUT!"
The voice echoed around the hall for a few moments before dying away as the yell echoed through the halls of the castle, they waited for a few minutes but nothing happened. Pinkie Pie shrugged and then they all heard a sniffle, the girls looked first at Applejack then Pinkie, causing an indignant retort from Applejack. "Hey! I ain't cryin'! I'm good now."
Pinkie hopped up and down, smiling, a genuine smile this time. "I'm okie dokie this time! For reaisies! Pinkie promise!"
They frowned looking around for the sound before Twilight looked up. "Wait..." She spread her wings and flew up to the root remnants of her old library tree, sighing loudly. "Fluttershy! Shame on you!" She frowned and flew back down with a sniffling Fluttershy carried in her magic. "Now how was that fair Fluttershy? You should feel bad, you were hoping we'd go off and then you could move somewhere else to hide weren't you?"
Fluttershy just sat on the floor, sniffling and shaking her head, trying to wipe her tears away as they came but not accomplishing anything particularly workable in the process. Twilight blinked, maybe this wasn't about her cheating...? Twilight cantered up to Fluttershy as the rest of the girls gathered around. "Hey, Fluttershy...? What's the... HRK!" Twilight let out a most unpleasant sound as she was grabbed around the neck and pulled down, squirming in the other mare's grasp as she motioned over. "Help... Can't... Breath..."
Rainbow Dash and Applejack rushed over and managed to pry Fluttershy's forelegs off of Twilight, and Rainbow Dash taking over Twilight's place, only with Fluttershy's forelegs around Rainbow Dash's shoulders, not her neck. Fluttershy continued her quiet crying into Rainbow Dash's shoulder she looked around to the other girls who just shrugged, they didn't know what the matter was but it was apparently Fluttershy's turn to break down. They just had to wait for her to finish and then let her speak her peace. Fluttershy being Fluttershy had more in her than Pinkie or Applejack. Eventually, Fluttershy eventually managed to calm down enough to speak, sniffling loudly. "What... What if you all leave me...?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head, slightly confused. "Uh... But... Fluttershy, we're all going together..."
Fluttershy shook her head vigorously, whimpering. "But... But what if we don't go to the same place...? What if... I mean... Or we get lost...?"
Rainbow Dash licked her lips and raised her eyebrows at the others, she didn't really know how to help Fluttershy, she'd never had these issues. Twilight took a hesitant hoof and laid it on Fluttershy's side. "I... Well Fluttershy, if we get lost we'll be lost together at least..." Fluttershy let out a shuddering cry and Twilight immediately thought up a new tact. "Fluttershy, when we do go together, we will be together, we always will be together Fluttershy."
Fluttershy sniffled a bit as Rainbow Dash gave her a small squeeze. "And we'll work together to find our way through, I mean you don't think I'm gonna give up the chance to see Soarin and Tank again just to be lost do you? I love you girls but I mean come on, we all have people we'd like to see too!"
Fluttershy couldn't help but let out a small snort. "And... And you think I'll see Tree Hugger...? And my parents...?" Rainbow Dash nodded as she gently rubbed Fluttershy's back.
Rarity took a step forward. "Darling, I'm sure we'll see everyone we love on the other side. While not everyone... Agrees what exactly is on the other side." She tactfully ignored the fact not everyone believed that there was another side. "There is a pretty common stream that we'll see our loved ones, and it will be a most wonderful place, one well beyond the pleasures of this world darling."
Fluttershy nodded, and Applejack smiled, to step forward. "What I say is that it'll be a great big farm!" She glanced over at Rarity. "Well, with a nice little city nearby for all you ponies who don't know how great working on the farm is."
Fluttershy giggled gently as Pinkie took her turn. "And we'll all be back to our best selves. Those who're sick will... Will be healthy again... The old will be young again..." Twilight detached herself from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to walk over to Pinkie, giving the pink pony a hug. "And... And we'll all get to see our families again..." Pinkie buried her face into Twilight's shoulder.
Fluttershy sniffled but nodded, looking to the side. Rarity gave her an encouraging smile as she looked in her direction. Fluttershy closed her eyes for a moment before letting out a deep breath, sitting back slightly, Rainbow Dash hesitantly letting her go. She continued to sniffle as she smiled hesitantly. "And... And we will be going together tonight... So... So we can all look together, in case we do get lost...?"
The others nodded, smiling encouragingly at the other pony, Rarity walked up and gently stroked her friend's side. "Of course darling, we'll never leave you alone. You can wait for Big Mac with me and Applejack, and the rest of the family." Fluttershy smiled and sniffling a little, looking at Rarity, opening her mouth then closing it. "What is it darling?"
Fluttershy looked to the side before looking nervously back at Rarity, squirming a little. "And... And what if... You can't find... Everyone...?"
Rarity blinked, swallowing a little as they all knew that the word everyone actually meant Sweetie Belle. Rarity licked her lips to wet them before she spoke. "Well... Darling, we can trust that wherever they went off to they thought would be a better place than staying where we could find them... And... And that they're happy..."
Fluttershy shifted and nodded, she hadn't wanted to bring that up but she couldn't not... She needed assurance... And she was pretty sure that Rarity missed Sweetie Belle more than anyone here missed anyone. To that point Rarity gave a small nod before going back over to Applejack and hugging her mate hard, burying her face in Applejack's shoulder. Applejack wrapped her forelegs around the other mare's back, cooing to her gently. Fluttershy looked at the two worried but Applejack smiled at her in return.
Rainbow Dash shifted, a little awkward since all her other friends besides Fluttershy were now hugging each other. Rainbow Dash smiled at her oldest friend. "So, you feeling better? We won't be leaving you anywhere."
Fluttershy giggled gently as she looked back at her cyan friend. "Hehe, I'm very used to being taken care of it seems."
Rainbow Dash chuckled and reached up, pushing her friend gently on the shoulder. "Oh don't be silly, we all look after each other. We're all here for supporting each other."
Fluttershy smiled. "Well you know we've all been silly over the years... This was my turn I guess." Fluttershy smiled and walked over to give Rarity a hug once she let go of Applejack. Rainbow Dash smiled in return, good, that was happier than she had feared it would end. It was good to see Fluttershy pull herself together, one last time.
All the girls were again gathered around the table, now the room not quite as well lit as earlier, but still, the main lights provided more than enough illumination for them to eat. Rarity had called in a good old friend of hers to make them a ridiculously decadent dinner. They all sat around stuffing themselves like there was no tomorrow, for them there wasn't, and they were, at least in terms of eating, were loving it.
One of them seemed a bit more agitated as Twilight again shifted on her chair ruffling her feathers. Pinkie Pie smiled at her after stuffing a huge bite of chocolate souffle into her mouth. After a bit of chewing, she smiled, getting up off her chair and walking over to Twilight, lifting a hoof and running it over her friend's back. "Looks like it might be your turn to get something off your chest hmm?"
Twilight let out a short laugh as the rest of the room's eyes turned to her and she smiled with a bit of chagrin. "Well, I don't know. I mean it's irritating but it's... Uh... Nothing like the... Other issues that were brought up earlier." Twilight gave a small shrug, it really wasn't bothering her all that much, she wasn't lying.
Pinkie smiled a little brighter and climbed up onto the chair's arm sitting down next to her friend. "Well, you can either tell us or I'm going to sit here until you do!" The rest of the group, and Twilight, all chortled at that.
After a few moments of it being obvious that Pinkie was completely serious Twilight relented and nodded. "Fine, fine. I can't say that it's like some of your trepidations girls, but I just... What if it's boring...?" The entire group just stared at Twilight for a few moments before Rarity spoke up.
"You're worried that the afterlife will be... Boring darling?" Rarity licked her lips, trying not to make it sound like she was criticizing Twilight, but she couldn't really wrap her head around the objection.
Twilight smiled a bit wryly. "Well yeah, I mean think about it. We always have things to do, to accomplish here. We were saving Equestria, we were running it, we were spending time with loved ones. Now if the afterlife is as perfect as a lot of people say it is, we'll only have time to spend with loved ones, which I do love, but I mean... Some other activities would be good to spice it up! I mean I can only fight with Trixie for so long!"
That got another round of snickering before Rainbow Dash smiled at her. "Well, you can always lose to me in a race if that'll make you feel better!"
Rarity nodded in agreement. "I can see where you're coming from darling but... I don't remember those adventures as fondly as you seem to, I'll be looking forward to a long time of rest and relaxation with those I love... And haven't seen in a while..." Rarity looked to the side and Applejack smiled at her mate, nuzzling into her gently before looking over to Twilight.
Applejack spoke as Rarity nuzzled into her shoulder, sighing with a bit more content. "I'm no expert on the afterlife Twilight, but Granny Smith always raised us to believe in it, that we'd see our parents and everyone again. But she didn't say it was a perfect little place where nothing went wrong. She said it was the perfect place if the perfect place includes adventure, then I think there'll be an adventure there in the afterlife don't you?"
Twilight let out a wry little laugh, looking at Fluttershy who smiled at her. Twilight nodded after a moment, she should have guessed that Fluttershy of all ponies wouldn't object to a life, or rather afterlife with no adventure in it. She looked up at Pinkie who grinned down at her and pulled her into a hug, causing Twilight to let out a small excerpt of air as her chest hit the hard chair arm and Pinkie giggled, letting go of her. "Sorry Twilight." Pinkie smiled and climbed down off the arm of her chair to sit on the floor near the chair. "One thing my father always said when we'd have trouble at the rock farm was, 'shall not the creator of all the world do right?' It sounds like a question but it's one of those rhetorical questions. He said it as an affirmation that he and the rest of us were in the plan of the creator." She smiled a bit. "And I still trust my father there. So I'm sure there'll be plenty for us to do in the afterlife! Friends, family, party, adventures, everything!"
Twilight chuckled a little and nodded, getting up to give her pink friend a hug before pushing her plate away, she had eaten a lot and really didn't need any more of it. "You're right Pinkie. And even if it is really boring I'm sure that we'll be able to make our own fun! I mean, just catching up with everyone will take us a long time!" The other nodded, smiling as they saw Twilight get a bit more excited about the prospect of the afterlife. Though as she said she wasn't really having a break down over it like three of them had had, it had been bothering her. She smiled at Pinkie who had taken the moment to notice and leaned in giving said party pony a kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush faintly.
Rarity grinned and leaned over to Applejack, whispering. "I told you that she'd have been on wedding number three if it wasn't for Cheese Sandwich." Applejack managed to suppress her snicker as she looked around the group.
The strange sound instead of a snicker though did cause her to catch some attention and she sat up a little taller, grinning at her friends. "I wonder who's gonna have their secrets aired to the group." She eyed Rainbow Dash and Rarity.
Rarity scoffed and shook her head as she answered. "Darling, I'm perfectly ready and at peace with my passing. We already did all this." Applejack raised an eyebrow and Rarity blushed a bit brighter. "You don't seem to remember the week after Sweetie Belle... Passed..." Applejack nodded and pulled her marefriend into a hug, cooing gently to her.
Rainbow Dash, kindly, took the attention off of Rarity. "I'm good too. I mean, like I said when... Earlier, at breakfast. I only have Scoots around that I'll be missing on this side. I'm ready to fly ahead and see my old friends!" She grinned as she posed like she was starting a race then smiled as she straightened up. "Though I'm surprised on your part Twilight."
Twilight frowned and cocked her head to the side. "Why's that?"
Rainbow Dash grinned at her. "I would have thought you would've read a book about the topic to get yourself calmed down!"
Twilight laughed and grinned, pulling a book out from behind her chair and they all let out a good laugh. They smiled at Twilight, always going to book instead of ponies. Then finding out that ponies tended to be better for fixing emotional problems then books. Twilight smiled, her friends had saved her where books had failed her, one last time.
The six ponies gathered on one of the magnificent balconies of the Crystal Castle. They looked at the sun, just moments away from starting their last sunset in Equestria. Twilight and Pinkie were sitting as close together as propriety would allow since they all knew the twos less than a purely platonic relationship, and as of far as they knew, Pinkie was still married. Rarity and Applejack were, of course, cuddling close, Rarity taking her favorite spot curled up in the crook of the slightly large farm pony to claim as much warmth as she could. And Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sitting in companionable friendship.
Everyone was watching the sky as the sun started to spread its magnificent rays over the sky. Bright oranges and reds streaking through the clouds, painting the sky vibrant colors. The group watched in silence for a time, watching the amazing display, the last goodbye from Celestia to six of the most amazing ponies that she had ever met. The girls knew this and so took at a short time to appreciate the farewell from first, their princess, then their friend. The sunset certainly had enough effort put into it to set it quite a few steps above a normal sunset.
But the silence couldn't last forever though, it was their last few minutes together on this planet. Twilight smiled as she looked up at the sky for a lingering moment then back down at all her friends. "Girls, I just wanted to say that it's been great being all your friends. Thanks for getting me out of my books that first day in Ponyville."
The group smiled as Pinkie answered for them. "It was GREAT! I mean you had no idea I was going to throw you a party it was hilarious!" She giggled and rolled over so she could get close enough to poke Twilight in the side. "Though you hid upstairs the entire time!" She giggled again as she rolled back over to her original position.
Twilight smiled and shook her head as Fluttershy smiled taking her turn to thank everything. "Thanks for helping me out of my shell girls. Before you you came along I would barely talk to anyone besides my animals."
Rainbow Dash let out a bark of laughter and grinned at her shy friend. "That is somehow an understatement! You would barely even talk to your animals!"
Rarity smiled and spoke, "I'm very glad you did come out of your shell Fluttershy, you have been one of my dearest friends over the years. And I don't think Big Mac would have appreciated missing out on meeting his mate."
Applejack smiled as she nuzzled her own mate. "Well, yall taught me about a bit about takin' some time off from work to enjoy the other aspects of life I dare say."
"Other aspects darling?" Rarity grinned and raised an eyebrow, causing Applejack to blush slightly.
"Well like spending more time with friends!" Applejack leaned in and whispered something into Rarity's ear, causing the other pony to giggle and grin at her, planting a kiss on the farm pony's cheek and laying contentedly with her mate.
Rainbow Dash chuckled gently at her blushing rival and looked around herself. "Well, thank you all for showing me that there's something more than just coolness to consider about friends!" She grinned a bit and looked at Fluttershy. "Thank you for Tank."
Fluttershy smiled and nodded, she had united many ponies with pets over the years, but Tank had definitely been a surprise to her. "My pleasure Rainbow Dash."
Rarity grinned. "Looks like it's my turn to thank everyone then hmm? Well, I wanted to thank you all for helping me to take life a little less seriously, not everything needs to be perfect. And also that people's social standing is far from the most important thing about them." She lifted a hoof and booped Applejack on the muzzle, grinning. "Isn't that right my love?"
Applejack grinned and pushed her mate over and pounced on her, grinning as she stood over her. "I remember teaching you a few other lessons ya prissy little unicorn!"
Rarity raised an eyebrow, then grinned herself, really, Applejack wanted to try this game again? "Oh, you mean like how you secretly like it when..."
Applejack blushed brightly. "Ok! OK!" She climbed off the obviously self-satisfied Rarity and grumbled laying back down as Rarity rolled back over and nuzzled her.
"Don't play chicken if you already lost it in the past silly." Rarity loved her mate so, but she was rather socially conservative, and Rarity respected that, so long as Applejack wasn't trying to tease her.
Pinkie Pie grinned and thought for a moment before shrugging. "Thank you all for coming to all my parties! They were great!" After a few moments, the other five just burst out laughing.
Applejack grinned as she looked at her Pink friend. "Ahh, well that makes sense now, doesn't it? I don't think Pinkie'd remember anything but her parties at the last bit." The group fell into a companionable silence as they watched the last bit of the sun start to dip below the horizon.
Rarity smiled as she saw the final moments, leaning over and kissing her mate on the cheek, and smiled at her friends. "Thank you all, it has been a beautiful life."
Applejack returned the kiss on the lips, surprising Rarity somewhat, Applejack was usually more reserved with her public displays of affections. "It's been a lot of hard work, and a lot of fun."
Fluttershy smiled and nodded in agreement, only saying a quiet. "I love you girls."
Pinkie Pie bounced a little where she lay. "Though it was a small party, this was a great farewell party!"
Rainbow Dash grinned and nodded. "I'll see you all on the other side."
Twilight paused for a moment before she sighed and grinned. "Oh screw it! This might be my last chance!" They all looked over at Twilight before their eyes widened as Twilight lunged forward and pressed her muzzle against Pinkie's in a gentle kiss. Causing the pink pony to blush as Twilight pulled away to smile at her and retreated back to their original distance. After a few moments, everyone silently decided not to use their last few seconds dealing with that, for good or ill. To be fair Pinkie didn't look the least bit upset. They all looked up at the last bits of the sunset, the great paint fading from the sky. They all watched the sunset together as their hearts beat, one last time.
The six didn’t feel any sudden change. No bright lights, no trumpets, no clarion call. One moment they had been on the balcony, then suddenly they were here. The place seemed so dark. But it was a strange darkness. Each of the ponies could clearly see the others, but they didn’t seem lit up. They could simply be seen where nothing else could be seen. They stood on a level surface that felt life soft cloth but didn’t give like cloth, it was solid under their hooves. The peace and quiet was pierced by a shriek of alarm.
Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash quickly circled up back to back but noticed that they were down three. They scanned the blackness only to all quickly look away as they saw Applejack having had pushed Rarity onto her back and was kissing her passionately. When the kiss broke Rarity was blushing brightly, embarrassed but pleased. “What was that for darling?”
Applejack let out a slightly chagrined chuckle as she helped her mate up. “Sorry Rares. You’re just so darn pretty I couldn’t help it.”
Rarity chortled and opened her mouth to respond before she noticed that Applejack also looked amazing... Rarity gasped loudly and looked at her hooves. “We’re young again!” She grinned and posed, luxuriating in her body being young again. Admittedly she hadn't aged nearly as hard as others had, but she still missed her young mare body compared to her mature mare body.
"Not all of us are quite that young it seems." Twilight stood there, not old by any means, but she was not on just over the cusp of marehood like Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. She and Fluttershy were closer to a few years along into their adulthood as compared to the other three. Twilight frowned as she looked around and caught a shock of pink mane behind Rainbow Dash. "Pinkie why are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding!" The pink foal launched herself onto Rainbow Dash's back as she protested, Rainbow Dash jumped at the sudden weight on her back but young Pinkie just giggled. "I'm young again! Yay!" She grinned as she laid on Rainbow Dash's back. "I did sooo many parties!" She rolled off Rainbow Dash's back and hopped over to Twilight who smiled at the younger Pinkie, before she felt a hard bap on her nose and a frowning little pink pony looking up at her. "Naughty princess!" Though the statement's harsh rebuke was ruined by the grin that overtook the frown moments later as Pinkie hopped off.
Twilight looked around, smiling. "Fascinating, it looks like we all reverted to our favorite ages. Fluttershy and I enjoyed the more orderly and settled years of our adulthood, while still being young enough not to worry about our bodies. Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash all preferred their younger years near the age of physical perfection." Rainbow Dash and Applejack both exchanged grins as their reasons were quite different from Rarity's, who was still posing. "Then Pinkie probably when she was most carefree." Pinkie was at the moment doing cartwheels and letting out loud squeals of happiness.
Pinkie grinned as she continued to hop around, smiling at all her friends. "Yep yep yep yep! I wonder if we are stuck like this." She screwed up her face in concentration before she suddenly was older, about the same age as Twilight and Fluttershy and she grinned, nodding. "Oooh! We can be whatever we want!" She rolled over happily as she continued to enjoy her seemingly boundless energy.
"Well, that's nothing new." Rainbow Dash chuckled as they all watched Pinkie Pie having her fun. Letting the pink pony alone she looked to her other friends. "Well, what do you think we should do now? I don't see a way forward, everything here seems the same. Should we start exploring?"
"Oh, that won't be necessary, Rainbow Dash." All the girls looked to the center of their, or at least what used to be a circle that they had appeared in. Suddenly standing there was a creature of who wore a black robe, it stood over the ponies heads as it leaned a long wicked looking scythe against its body. The voice was monotone and cold as it continued. "It is time to put you all where you belong."
While normally they would all have reacted poorly to seeing such a creature. A looming figure with a weapon hiding its form in a black robe. Its skeletal hands clasped around the scythe it carried. But none of them were disturbed by its presence. Everyone felt a simple acceptance of the presence of the creature that stood among them. After a few moments of silence, it spoke again. “Excellent. None of you are arguing. You were ready for this journey then.” Death sat down, reclining in mid-air with its scythe leaning against it. “Who shall be going first then?” It steepled its bony fingers together, settling in to wait patiently for the answer.
There was silence as the six old friends all looked at each other, Fluttershy smiled reassuringly at her. Twilight took a step forward and raised a hoof. “Is it alright if we all go together?”
The creature paused for a moment before answering, seeming to consider its answer. “You can, but only if you are all going to the same place. I cannot change your destination no matter what, though I can delay your going so you all go at once, if possible. But be warned. I cannot, and you cannot say for the hearing of others where you go. It is not for any but myself and the traveler to know where they travel to.” It raised a bony finger before any could react. “And this term is non-negotiable. This is not like those stories. You cannot negotiate with Death.
This time there was an even longer pause as the group huddled up and had a hurried conversation. Though there wasn’t really anything for them to talk about. Death had done what it could to accommodate them, assuming it was being truthful. But it was holding all the cards, so even if it was lying there wasn’t anything for it but to accept. They all nodded and turned to face Death. Ready to face the unknown, one last time.
Rarity was the first to step forward, addressing Death directly. "I... Know you don't I?" Death nodded silently. "I thought I saw something when Sweetie was sick. But whenever I turned to look there wasn't anything there."
Death nodded again, still speaking in its toneless but slightly cold voice. "I was not there for you, so you could not look at me. Though sometimes I do bleed over into the sight of the living." Death paused for a moment before it added, in what one might describe as a lighter tone. "Especially when there is such a special connection with the one whom I am visiting."
Rarity couldn't help but smile at that. "And when she thought she was alone? She referred to..."
Death finished the sentence that Rarity was unwilling to, "the angel in the corner. Yes. In your world, even those who can "see" me, do not truly see me. So they react in their own way. Most who've made their peace with my role in their life perceive me positively, those who have not..." The six ponies shivered as death trailed off, they knew each knew about stories of people yelling at nothing. While they knew about mental illness, there were times when the dying very well could have been yelling at Death himself.
Rarity cleared her throat nervously and looked up at the figure, still towering over her despite it reclining on an invisible chair. "Mr. Death, I would like to know where I am going, if you could." Rarity grinned as she glanced over a shoulder to Applejack, nervously shifting from side to side, obviously not enjoying that she couldn't be a part of this little meeting of Rarity's.
Death straightened up to his considerable height, standing upon his feet once more, instead of floating in the air. Nodding he leaned down, kneeling next to Rarity as he leaned in and whispered so none of the others could hear what was said. As he straightened back up Rarity favored him with one of her dazzling smiles. "I must admit I was a little worried after you said that we can't know each other's."
Death nodded. "It is not meant to be stressful, but it is also unusual for me to have more than one guest at a time. Yours is a special case." Rarity nodded and smiled, trotting back to Applejack, and prodded at her to try and get her to go forward next but apparently Twilight was impatient herself.
"How can that be?" Death turned his head to Twilight as she hopped on the chance for more information. "I mean we've been here a few minutes, How can you spend so much time? Or do you only meet with a few ponies and everyone else gets more automatically sorted?" Twilight gave a quick glance around and huffed when she didn't find anything for her to take notes on.
Death let out a low rasping chuckle that sent Twilight's hairs on end. Glancing back at her friends Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were also bothered by it, Applejack and Fluttershy didn't seem too bothered though. Before she could think on it Twilight whipped her head back around as Death spoke. "We are no longer in the stream of time. We exist outside of it. We could sit here for the rest of eternity and no time would pass for those who are not here. I could not do my job if I were restrained by such a weakness as time."
Twilight nodded and smiled at Death. “You can’t tell us where our friends are going. I don’t suppose you can tell us where those who have passed before us can you?”
Death shook his head. “No, I cannot. The only way to find out is to travel on. While I would normally do so right after telling you we have different plans this time, do we not?” At Twilight’s nod of affirmation, he leaned in and spoke quietly to her. She smiled at him and retreated to let someone else go forward.
At Rarity’s prodding, Applejack took a few steps forward looking up at Death. "Could I ask a question before ya tell me? I'd be much obliged." Death gave a slow nod, waiting for the question. Applejack was confident she would see her parents in just a few minutes, but on the off chance she didn't, she needed an answer to the question she never trusted. "How did they die?"
Death paused a moment, long enough for the other five ponies to wonder what Applejack was asking about, or rather, why. It took them only a moment to realize Applejack would, of course, be asking about her parents, but they knew the answer to her question. They all knew the Apples had died in a cart crash while transporting a large shipment of apples. Death, however, contradicted their beliefs. "They were killed by timberwolves."
Everyone else gaped, but Applejack nodded like she had been expecting that. "Then my nightmares were true." She sighed and adjusted her hat, having just realized for some reason that had also come with her to this place. "So they lied to me to make it sound better."
Death let out his rasping chuckle and nodded. "I can't say that is what they did but that is what they tried to do." Applejack looked up curiously at Death. "They did not die peacefully, but they did die well." At that Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Protecting those they loved most in your world. Do you not wonder why you have those nightmares?" Applejack gaped for a few moments then smiled, and nodded. With that, Death again knelt and whispered into the pony's ear.
Applejack gave him another smile before trotting back to Rarity's side. "I can't believe they didn't tell me. When I was a foal I get it, but even after I grew up!" She smiled and shook her head, nuzzling Rarity gently. "I guess granny just didn't have it in her."
Rarity nuzzled her mate back. "And I for one wouldn't have felt right telling you if your own family hadn't." Applejack's eyes widened and she pulled back in shock, causing Rarity to chuckle gently and pat her mate's side. "Metaphorically dear." Applejack chuckled in return and nodded, going back to nuzzling her mate.
Pinkie took her chance to hop forward and wave happily at Death. "Heya! Can we still do this on the other side?" She hopped up and down as she turned back into a young foal and grinned happily up at the skeleton.
Death nodded. "That would depend on if you are going to a good place or a bad place. You have many rights if you are worthy, if not, then you will not have privileges at all." Pinkie Pie hopped happily around Death as he turned to try and speak with her. But the happy go lucky pony didn't seem to have any other questions or concerns for him. Death sighed long and leaned on his scythe, waiting for Pinkie Pie to be done with her fun. Finally, Pinkie Pie came to a stop in front of death and grinned up at him. After a few moments, as if expecting a trick he leaned in and whispered to her.
Much to his surprise forelegs wrapped around his bone spine where a neck would have been, had he had skin. He received a hug from the young pink pony with a squealed, "thank you!" Followed by Pinkie Pie running back and diving in amongst her friends. After a few moments of confusion she ended up on Applejack's back wearing her hat and they all just decided to leave her there.
Rainbow Dash decided to take her turn next, her logic that giving Fluttershy the least amount of time to fret over where she was going would be best. Not giving her time to consider being left behind. What Rainbow Dash hadn't noticed is that Fluttershy didn't seem in the least bit bothered by the ongoing events. Rainbow Dash in her usual style stepped forward grinning widely, her chest puffed out. "Tell me where I'm headed. I am not afraid."
Death's face always a rictus grin did not change, though for some reason they could just tell that he was amused by Rainbow Dash's bravado. He leaned down and spoke to her quietly like the rest, before straightening up and Rainbow Dash beamed. "Heck yeah! Soarin's totally going to be at..." Death made a sharp slash through the air in front of Rainbow Dash with his scythe. Burying itself into the strange ground as Rainbow Dash jumped back with a yelp.
While Applejack quickly pushed herself in front of Rarity, Twilight's horn lit up, and Rainbow Dash recovered herself adopting a fighting position Death slowly and calmly raised his scythe back up to his shoulder. His voice was as cold and neutral as ever. "None but you and I may know your destination this side of the veil."
After a few tense moments, tense for the six at least they slowly began to relax, Rainbow Dash swallowing a bit chagrinned now that the threat seemed to have passed. "Yeah, sorry about that. But you could just tapped me or something, you didn't need to take a swing." The other girls stared in exasperation at the brash pegasus. They wouldn't have expected her to try and reprimand Death!
That low, spine shuddering chuckle came again as it looked to Rainbow Dash. "I was not threatening you Rainbow Dash." Now the voice actually seemed to lighten slightly. In a normal voice, it would have been completely undetectable, but in a voice so flat even the tiniest change spoke volumes. "I was reaping your sentence." After a moment Rainbow Dash cracked up, with Pinkie following suit, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy all grinning as well. Twilight for her part frowned, wondering how literal Death was being.
Fluttershy, much to everyone's surprise strode forward, smiling at the dark looming figure in the black robe. "Hello, old friend."
Death, for his part, pulled back his hood and gave Fluttershy a low bow. "Fluttershy. It is truly a pleasure to host you in my realm." The eyes of the other five ponies boggled at this interaction between the two. "Your hospital was always a pleasure to visit. Comfortable and ready were your patients. Truly you made my job easy."
Fluttershy smiled, though a little sadder this time. "And thank you for taking away their pain."
Death nodded. "It is my duty. When you are at your worst, I come." He flipped his hood back up and nodded down to Fluttershy. "Are you ready to be told your destination then Fluttershy?" At her agreement he bent down and whispered to her, her destination, though he started to straighten up he paused at her hoof on what would have been his shoulder.
She spoke quietly, though in the otherwise silent realm it wasn't hard to hear. "Can I ask, I know you cannot tell me where, and probably not when, but Big Mac...?"
Death paused for a moment, seeming to consider the request before he relented. "I cannot break the rules, not even for you my friend." Fluttershy nodded but Death continued. "Though I must say that it is unusual to expect great great grandfoals at funerals. An unrelated comment of course." Fluttershy grinned widely, it obviously wasn't. Their first great grand foal had just hit ten. Apples did tend to marry and have foals young, that still gave Big Mac about a decade at least. Fluttershy released death and he finished straightening up.
He turned to look at the six ponies as Fluttershy rejoined her friends. "You have all been told your places. And now you must journey on, and find their fulfillment in the next world." With a slash through the air Death opened up a tear in the world itself. It opened wider and wider, the tear consuming where Death had been standing and coming for the six. They all linked hooves and heard Death's voice speaking as the tear got to them. "Journey onwards friends, one last time."
