Nighttime had arrived in the land of Equestria. A warm, blue-black cloaked the sky, tinted only by millions of glittering tiny stars. Luna had come out of retirement for the night, just to create this wide display. Most ponies had drifted off into slumber long ago, giving in to the day’s worries and fears at last. In the highest room of the Friendship Castle, Princess Twilight Sparkle was not among those ponies. Her own worries and fears were yet to be lifted. A certain unease flooded the large alicorn body, mingling along with the heartache.
You see, tonight marked the end of a special day. A day where tears had fallen in numbers, a day where not even the great Pinkie Pie could manage even the smallest smile. A day where one of the greatest heroes in the history of Equestria had bid her final farewell.
That hero was Rainbow Dash.
Of course, the funeral had been a grand one. That rainbow-maned mare had woven her touch into most everypony’s lives, touching and inspiring hearts wherever she went. Ponies from all edges of Equestria and beyond had come to honor the former Wonderbolt, as she made her final descent. The next generation of Wonderbolts, which included Dash’s not-so-little Shadow Dancer as captain, had given a stunningly mournful show, spelling out their idol’s name in smoke trails as delicate as never before. The fine wood casket sported a careful etching of Dash’s well-known cutie mark. It was an ending truly fit for the hero she had been.
Still, despite what closure such a funeral should have wrought, an emptiness hollowed out the Princess of Friendship. She lay by the window, gazing out at the specks of stars. Her long, regal legs were folded and trembling underneath her, bearing none of the regalia that had decorated every inch of purple just moments earlier. She felt too numb to keep up an image, through and through. Her eyes were cracked and raw, from shedding tear after tear. As though she hadn’t slept in years. The stars were almost too bright; they resembled Dash so. Numb questions, numb memories, flashed through Twilight’s mind in pieces. Was Rainbow out there, in the night sky, flying like she loved? Was she watching, as tears streamed steadily down a weary face?
“Oh, Dash.” Twilight whispered, voice heavy with grief. She looked up at the sky, half searching for that rainbow trail she had grown to know and love. But there were only the stars, blinking down in a pattern only they and Luna knew. She could remember Dash telling her, in a low, oh-so-low voice, about what she wanted when this very day came. “Y-You said, ‘I don’t want anything fancy. Let the ponies come, hay yeah, let them come. But… no dresses, no suits, ‘kay? And nothing too sappy, because, well, that’s not me.’”
I was right, wasn’t I?
Twilight laughed through her tears, a choked, raspy sound. Maybe she was imagining it, maybe not. “I-I tried, Dash. But I wore a dress. Rarity insisted.” The small moment of laughter faded, at that. “Rarity doesn’t have much longer, Dash.” Not even a smile graced the lips of the alicorn, now. Instead, tears welled up more still. So much loss, in just a day. Twilight started again, keeping her gaze trained on the stars. “She won’t admit it, but I think she’s scared.” She paused, taking a breath. “Cancer has a way of taking it from you, doesn’t it.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement. “And… even though she still makes her dresses, and takes those daily walks, she’s… failing.” Her voice broke at the end. “A-And Fluttershy. She’s got arthritis now, did you know that? She… didn’t want to tell you – figured you were worried enough. What with all your shows, and competitions, and then later, Shadow… But you could always pick up on whatever she felt. Even before she said something.” Twilight shook her head, slowly. “Always wondered how you did it.”
It comes with time. Lots of time.
“You did know her longer than any of us.” Twilight responded, again without thinking. A sigh shook her very being. It was so nice to hear her voice again, even if it was just one last time… She closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against the wall. It was warm – despite being stone.
I did.
“It… it sometimes hurts to watch her move. She used to be so graceful, just like her butterflies. But now… she’s so stiff. Her wings can’t even open right anymore.” Twilight murmured, squeezing her eyes tight, as though to prevent the memories, memories, memories. “Didn’t you have it, too?”
Well, now, that’s beside the point.
“Oh really, now.” Twilight teased, smiling wearily. The darkness behind her closed eyes felt nice – so unlike the harsh sting of daylight. The warmth of the wall seemed to be spreading, spreading a tingling feeling from the soles of her hooves to the tips of her wings.
Are you okay, Twilight?
“I… don’t know. No.” She exhaled, letting all the air drain out. “You’re… gone. Dead. I’ve lost you. And… what will happen once everypony else is gone? I’m the Princess of Friendship – who am I without my friends?” A moment of silence followed, broken only by the soft sobs rippling out of Twilight yet again.
There’ll be others. You know that.
“There will never be another of you five.” Twilight whispered, dropping her head into her hooves.
We’re not all gone yet.
“But… soon, Dash! The time, the day, is coming! What happens when I only have a row of stones to talk to? What happens when everyone is buried deep underground? What happens when-” She cried out, grief making her voice break into pieces.
Twilight. They’re still with you.
“You aren’t!” Twilight said, quietly.
Heh, excuse me?
“I’m never going to see your sonic rainboom again. You won’t ever perform with the Wonderbolts again – even in the shows I watch. Applejack won’t ever get to kick you out of the trees again, and you’ll never pretend you’re annoyed when she does. And the stray clouds won’t ever have a rainbow tail hanging off them again.” Twilight whispered. Her voice was hoarse, forcing a quiet tone.
All was silent for a long moment. Then the ghostly voice spoke again.
I’ll never perform with the Wonderbolts again, yeah, you’re right. But I haven’t performed in years. As you ever so kindly mentioned, my wings weren’t what they used to be. And honestly, Applejack is too old to go around kicking me out of trees. And… my sonic rainboom? Well… maybe you just have to look in the right places.
“Dash…” Twilight cried. Her long, flowing mane wrapped and curled more so than usual, flowing along with an unseen breeze. Perhaps it came from the ache inside.
All will be well, Twilight. All will be well.
“H-How do you know?” Twilight managed. She just needed facts – she needed some sort of clarity. A clear path to follow. This time, no voice answered. But there was still a presence; a body of warmth just nearby. “You know, I’ve been wondering.” Twilight started again, tone lower.
‘Bout what?
“About Celestia. Luna. Discord. Hay, even Cadance.” She took a breath. “They… all lasted so long. And I’m sure they must have loved and lost quite a bit. And yet… look. Discord is living the life now, Cadance is about to retire, Celestia and Luna ruled for… longer than a millennia. How did they do it?” The alicorn looked up, tracing her long horn lightly against the edges of stone. “How can I follow in their hoofsteps, for probably a millennia, when I don’t even know where I can go tomorrow?”
Tomorrow? You’re going to go to a picnic with the others, and you’re going to enjoy every minute.
“Yes, but-”
I’m not finished. Tomorrow will be a good day. You’ll all come together, and embrace being who you are – without matter of age, or what’s gonna come. And then, after tomorrow is past, you’ll step forward. Do what you can, to the best of your ability. You’re going to go into everything with your heart out for everypony to see. You’re going to make new friends, even after we’ve all passed. You’ll get hurt, and you’ll think you’re broken. But even when you think each one of us is gone forever, we’ll be there for you, just like when we were young. And then suddenly, you won’t be so hurt anymore. You won’t feel as broken anymore. After all… don’t you always say it? Friendship is magic.
“How can you say that?!” Twilight choked out, trying to swallow even more tears – and failing. “How can you say everything will be just great after you died?”
A beat of silence passed. Then a dry chuckle lilted through the room. That’s a pretty good question, actually.
“Dash, I’m serious.” Twilight muttered.
So’m I.
Twilight struggled to find words to reply. “I-I miss you, Rainbow Dash.” A fresh stream of tears made their way down the purple muzzle, dropping first onto her hooves, then to the floor.
Twilight… it’s time to sleep.
“I can’t sleep now! You died!” She exclaimed. Her mind was too foggy to process much anymore; nothing made sense. “What’s going to happen?!”
Don’t worry. All will be well. Goodnight, Twilight Sparkle.
A heaviness pressed up against the fringes of Twilight’s mind, a soothing type of heaviness.. All will be well, all will be well, all will be well. Maybe it would be. The warmth was flooding her head now. It came with memories, so many memories. Daring Do… hospital… Rainbow Dash… night…
“Rainbow Dash.” Twilight whispered, fighting the heaviness for one last moment. “Thank you.” And then, the gentle ocean of sleep gripped the Princess fully, pulling her into the faraway land of peace. Her head dropped down onto her hooves, eyes shut and at a calm rest.
And outside, not a mere minute later, in the night sky of navy blue, speckled with stars, a blinding explosion of color swept over the land. It held bright reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and purples, trimmed with a layer of hissing white light. It was silent, but louder than anything anypony could have imagined.
You’re welcome.
Author's Note
"You must live in the present, launch yourself onto every wave, find your eternity in each moment." ~Henry David Thoreau
