You Never Walk Alone

Just after dawn in Manehattan, Sweetie Belle walked through the halls of the Diamonds Shine Foundation. The halls were buzzing with the activity of early morning, coffee-fuelled engineers. Here was a pegasus with a prosthetic wing; there, a unicorn with a newly repaired broken horn. A foal with a prosthetic top to their horn was testing out a new levitation spell with the help of a volunteer.

“I’ll never be able to do it,” the foal said, looking downtrodden. “It’s so hard!” Kneeling beside the foal with a comforting smile, the unicorn projected a video of the foal from three months ago. He was struggling to levitate a piece of paper. “See that? You went from a paper to a book in three months. Do you really think in three more months you won’t be able to do more spells? You’ve been doing great, Sunny. Don’t stop now.” The foal smiled and stood, looking at the book like a mountain he would climb, and tried again.

As Sweetie Belle continued down the hall to the pegasi, she met up with Scootaloo. Scootaloo flew beside her on a cloud.

“Hey Scoots, is that thing ready for a full launch?” Sweetie Belle asked. Scootaloo nodded.

“More or less. We’ve got it so that any pegasus who can at least stand on clouds can control this one and fly around. I mean, it’s not stunt flying, but it should be self-refilling now that we can get the moisture out of the air to rebuild the cloud. I still want to create a way to fly without clouds.”

“At that point, you’re inventing a helicopter,” Sweetie pointed out.

“Fair. The freedom of flying comes from total control, but this”—she patted the cloud—“is like 80% there.” Sweetie Belle nodded.

“Well, I’ll call it good enough then. Is Bloom meeting us for the grand opening?” Scootaloo shook her head.

“Parasprite infestation at the farm. She sends her well wishes, though, and Sweet Apple Acres is still a sponsor.”

“They’re the main sponsor. Diamond Shine would be half the size it is now if it wasn’t for them.”

“They also got the Pears to invest.”

“A quarter of the size, then. I want everything to go well for Rarity. She said she’d be at the grand opening, and by Celestia, I’m going to make it worthwhile.”

“She’s proud of you. I know it.”

Sweetie Belle broke her professionalism and hugged Scootaloo after that. “Thanks. Now let’s go check everything is ready for the opening.”

As they ran off, they didn’t notice Rarity watching them. Very few ponies noticed her anymore. She was happy, though; Sweetie Belle had gone above and beyond what she had written in her will. After leaving enough money for Sweetie Belle to pay off her house, Rarity had set the rest of her fortune to be used for charity work. Sweetie Belle exceeded even her own expectations.

“She’ll be good, won’t she?” Rarity spoke, not looking into the shadows but knowing who was there. “Happy and successful, and above all, generous. This foundation is going to change the lives of so many ponies. I wish I could see it grow.” Rarity laid a hoof on the wall, gazing over the bright lights and new technology being developed. “Ponies with disabilities will get the help they need to do what they want, and that will make others happy and the world... I don’t know, better, I suppose. Is there a better word?” She looked back but didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m glad she took my influence and made it better.”

“Not better,” the voice of Harmony was soft but spoke with absolute authority. “A continuation of your work. With your resources, you saved the lives of thousands of ponies.”

“Pish posh! I only gave away clothes—ponies don’t even wear clothes much.”

“Except in winter, when they need them,” Harmony pointed out. At this, Rarity looked at her for the first time and nodded.

“What’s your name?” Rarity asked. “I don’t suppose most ask you that, since they’ve probably given you one.”

“All ponies are given a name, and most don’t change it,” Harmony replied.

“Fair, but you were given so many. Which one is your favourite?”

“Harmony, because of its meaning.” Rarity nodded.

“I suppose that’s less scary than ‘The Grim Reaper’ or ‘The Pony’s Shadow.’” Harmony nodded. “Makes you sound scary, but you’re not scary, are you?”

“I hope not.”

The two of them began to walk through the facility. The arcane technology was far more advanced than Rarity could have imagined as a foal. All of it was part of her sister’s and her friends' plans.

“Do you know how long this will last?”

“Sweetie Belle will do this for the rest of her life, followed by the ponies she determines to be worthy of being her successor.”

“After that?”

“That’s too far for me to see.” Rarity nodded.

“I see.”

“You seem very calm about this whole thing. Most ponies panic.”

“Oh, I am freaking out, but it’s more subtle.” There was an eye twitch. “I’ve been following Sweetie Belle around for months, haunting her, watching her, but she hasn’t noticed me, which is very lonely, even if I am proud of her. What took you so long?”

“You wanted to see what she would do. It was your deathbed wish for her to make you proud, so I let you see that happen before I came.”

“You’re very generous,” Rarity stated, looking at her.

“It’s only right after everything you’ve done.”

Leaving the facility, Rarity noticed that night had fallen. It was a beautiful night, with stars brighter than she ever remembered, and the moon was—Rarity blinked, shook her head, then blinked again. “Harmony, I don’t know how to say this, but...”

“Is the moon covered in cotton candy?” Harmony suggested.

“Yes, that.” Rarity just stared at the moon, which was unmistakably covered in cotton candy.

Over in Canterlot, Luna was peering through her telescope at the moon. She didn’t have the heightened senses of ponies who had become one with the universe, but ever since Surprise had taken up residence on the moon, she had always received updates from her about the new parties she was throwing for the foals who had died that day, along with assurances that she would clean up afterwards. This was the most surprising update so far.

Rarity reached out with her magic and sense. “Laughter? PINKIE—Pinkie is on the moon?” Harmony nodded. “She’s called Surprise now. Even now, you’re thinking about others. I respect that.” Rarity shrugged. “Well, no matter what happens next, I want to know that things here will be fine without me.”

“You have impacted so many, and your life will continue to touch countless others even after you’ve gone.”

Rarity bowed to the alicorn. “Thank you. I think I’m ready.” Harmony’s horn glowed, and a rainbow appeared, stretching over a hill. They followed it until Rarity vanished to destinations unknown.