It was another quiet day in Equestria, Celestia's sun was just about to set, and the last rays of its glorious sunshine were warming the tired bodies of the few ponies that remained outdoors. They were running last minute errands, closing up shops, and hurrying home for whatever reason. Soon Luna would bring about the night, a calm, peaceful, beautiful night for all of the land. As everypony was preparing to head inside and get their much needed sleep, one pony was just about to start her day.
At one point her friends had called her lazy; they teased her for always sleeping. She wondered how they were. She could still remember their smiling faces, all the adventures and parties they had. She remembered napping when she was supposed to be working, but that was years ago. Her mid afternoon naps were just for relaxation back then, but now; now they were useful, necessary, they were a thing of purpose. Laziness was no longer an option, no longer a thought. She was a pony with a purpose, and right now she had a job to do.
Rainbow Dash donned her cloak, she smiled reluctantly; the irony didn't escape her. Odd how the most colorful pony around got stuck with such a dark job. It didn't bother her anymore; well at least not much. It was what kept her alive after all. However, she still felt a knot in the pit of her stomach, one that was much stronger than usual. Today was different. She never knew where she was going. To be honest with herself, she really didn't even understand how the whole process worked, but her wings found the way every single time. She took one last deep breath, pushed the cloak's hood up over her ears and strapped the scythe to her back. She adjusted it so it wouldn't disrupt her flight. She laughed sadly; the Rainbow Reaper was coming to town.
She was gliding high above the clouds letting the wind carry her. She knew it was the right direction, it always was. The cool air felt good on her face, the wind pushing through her feathers. She could feel it hitting each individual one, pushing them back and streamlining her body. She always thought about what she was about to do, the choices that brought her to that moment. It seemed hard not to. At the time it appeared to be a kind gesture; one that would give her something back, but in retrospect all it did was take things away. Turns out that sometimes even gifts can be laced with bad intentions.
She thought back on that night, the one that changed everything. It was years ago, Rainbow Dash had long since realized her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt. It had taken her years of dedication to work her way up from those initial days at the academy; she had made many a friend and enemy on her way to the top, but she had done it. It had taken her far from home and from her friends, but their support kept her going. They had long since drifted apart, everyone was realizing their dreams. Rarity had become a major influence in the world of fashion; shipping her designs all over Equestria, Pinkie had taken over Sugarcube Corner; happily experimenting with and selling her pastries. Applejack was still happily running and expanding Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight was now busy continuing her studies on friendship and magic, but had remained at home in Ponyville, and Fluttershy was happy with her animals. She was the only one who had left and she had been all over the world, but she still knew that they would always be there for her.
At the time, she was leading her own division. They were the best and fastest fliers of them all; she had made sure of that. She was both respected and despised by her peers. She was a perfectionist and becoming a part of her team was a sought after position. She only chose the best and she was proud of it, of herself. They were wrapping up their final performance in Manehatten, but even professionals are prone to disaster.
It was their final stunt, a very precise synchronized dive. They were supposed to launch themselves upward, perform three consecutive barrel rolls, loop up into the dive and stick close, mere inches from each other the entire time. The stunt went well it always had, until the dive. Her new recruit Sunny Daze had come in too fast, he clipped Rainbow's wing on the way down. She couldn't recover in time and crashed. She fractured her spine, suffered from a severe concussion and slipped into a coma.
Rainbow turned herself slightly to the left, gliding slowly; she was getting closer to her destination. She shuddered at the thought of the crash; it was painful, an experience that had shaken her for a long time. She sighed, there was no reason she should still be doing what she was, but she had made a full recovery, thanks to him.
She remembered him well, the pure white stallion with the black mane who sat by her bedside unmoving. Nopony ever seemed to notice him, they never mentioned him at all, but there he sat. She never spoke to him, she couldn't, and he would remain silent as well. She remained in critical condition for months, her body heavily bandaged. The doctors had given up hope; there was nothing that they could do any longer. That was the day he finally spoke.
"Rainbow, Mortality is a fragile thing is it not? One moment you’re at the top of the world, the next you’re a bandaged heap. It’s something we take for granted and can only wish to get back. I’ve seen the coming and going of many a pony, and most are too weak to struggle. Yet here you are, a wreck but you still find it in you to struggle. I must say that I admire that. So I have an offer for you. I know what you must feel because I, like you, was clinging to life once. Ah, but now I do not fear death. I am death, but I have grown tired of this waking world. I wish only to sleep and move on from the horrors of this world an so I offer this position to you now in exchange for your mortality. With it comes responsibility, sacrifice, loss, and in your case a second life. The choice is yours, I can always find another."
The choice was obvious to her, she made it immediately and when she awoke she was home and perfectly healthy. She thought it was all just a dream, but then she saw it, a cloak and scythe, sitting on her bedside table.
The next few days she was treated with nightmares, they were her introduction of sorts. Horrible visions of death plagued her dreams. They were her premonitions, her guide to the newly dead. She never knew until she got there who they were, but the causes and general direction were given to her. The scythe would guide her she was told, and she would know what to do when the time came. Her dreams taught her all about her new role. How she was important, how what she did was a service to the dead, how she maintained balance in the world, and how doing so kept her alive.
As her flight slowed she had a feeling of nostalgia, something about this area seemed very familiar to her. She began to get that uneasy feeling again; she had to reassure herself like she always did. She was not a killer, not a murderer, not like she thought she was in the beginning, not like the voices told her. It gave her chills to think of them, the unrelenting sting of their malice. They haunted her for so long, ever since that first time.
It was a cold, snowing day in Stalliongrad, and she had been flying for what seemed like hours. She scanned the white earth below and finally amongst the snow she spotted a brown figure. She squinted to make sure but she knew it was why she was there. She drifted down, slowly circling like a hawk towards its prey. She landed beside the poor colt; he had clearly suffered from hypothermia, caught out in the snowstorm for too long. She stood staring at the body for a long time, saddened by the poor figure. She looked around but it was just her, her and the body. The scythe began to vibrate softly, as if calling out to her; she unslung it from her back and held it in her hoof. She pushed the blade close to the colt’s body and turned her head, she sliced through slowly, afraid to look. When the resistance on the blade stopped she opened her eyes. She took a step back, the spirit of the brown pony stood in front of her, staring quietly at his body.
“I’m sorry.” She said. She didn’t know what else to do.
He looked at her as if he hadn’t seen her until then. “You’re sorry? You just took my life and you’re sorry? Put me back!” he screamed at her
“I can’t, I’m… I’m sorry.” She cried, her tears hot against her snow covered cheeks
“You’re nothing but a monster, preying on helpless ponies, taking them away from their lives, their families. I hope you’re happy with yourself.” He stood lingering around his body before slowly fading away,
That’s when the voices started; they haunted her every second of the day.
“You are nothing good to this world.”
“You’re a tormenter who preys on lost souls”
“How can you live with yourself?”
“Killer, Monster”
They continued on and on. They never stopped, every time she went out they just got louder, but they were wrong about her. It took some time to learn that. Despite what her dreams had told her she always saw herself as a dark brutal creature. Until that day.
She had been at it for 6 months now. She had already decided that it would be unwise to go back to her old life. She had seen that the hospital had pronounced her dead and perhaps that was for the best. She was flying again, it was only her 15th time out. Luckily for her the death rate in Equestria was low. She approached the small cottage on the outside of Trottingham. She sighed and entered, a poor sick mare lay on the floor, whimpering in pain.
"Showstopper, I have come to reclaim your soul."
The sick pony lay back looking at her and smiled softly. Rainbow raised her scythe and sliced, she could finally keep her eyes open for it. She was happy about that, it made it quicker, she could easily guide the blade to its destination as it swiftly tore through the flesh. It didn't live a physical mark, it only appeared to Dash. It allowed her to see the blade cut through the flesh, ripping it open and severing the astral strand on the spine and forehead, these were the literal ties from the physical world and that of the spirits. Rainbow looked as the ghostly figure rose up, now freed from its physical body, the mare looked healthy now, that only made Dash feel worse.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me." The soul of the mare rose up and smiled
"Thank you Miss, for ending my suffering."
Rainbow shed a tear, all the other spirits had accused her of ending their lives, and they begged her for them back. They had called her a killer, so had the voices. It had grown hard on her, she could do nothing for them but tell them what to do next, but now she felt a little better. She was not a tormenter, not something to be feared. She was a guide, an ender of pain, and although not everypony would think that, it was something she could be proud of.
The voices didn’t stop, but she had learned to fight them. They still whispered, but she ignored them. She glided closer to the ground, she had the feeling again, that nostalgic feeling, and that was what made her feel sick. She knew where she was and she knew why she was here. She shook her head, trying to push away the thoughts, the tears. The voices were laughing in her head; they screamed at her again. She hung her head, readjusted the scythe on her back, took a deep breath, and slowly trotted her way in to Sweet Apple Acres.
There she laid, a broken heap, the overturned applecart lying across her back. She was clearly in pain, the cart having smashed down on her spine, crushing her hind legs, her head having struck a rock when the cart crashed and sent her hurtling down the slope. Rainbow approached reluctantly, she didn't want to be recognized, but she knew it was impossible.
"AJ, you stupid stubborn pony"
The orange pony turned her head slowly; she'd know that voice anywhere, "Rainbow?"
It hurt her to see her friend this way, broken, bleeding. The athletic spirit of her rival and friend was gone from the pony that lied before her. She closed her eyes, trying to force back the tears.
"Yeah, it's me AJ."
"I guess I pushed ma'self too hard this time huh?" she tried to laugh; the noise that came out couldn't be called that. It made the
voices scream louder and Dash's heart sink.
"AJ, I'm here to... I mean you're..." she stopped she couldn't say it.
"I know Rainbow, I'm... I'm glad it's you. We all thought ya were dead, we heard what had happened, I'm glad it's not true."
She couldn't help it, couldn't hold it any longer, she walked over to her friend and she cried. Applejack smiled softly, she used every bit of her strength to raise her hoof to her rainbow friend's face. They lay there together for a long time, both quiet, both aware of what had to happen.
"We were all proud of ya Rainbow, we were devastated when we heard about your accident, you need ta let everypony know you're okay." she smiled “Don't worry bout me, I'm ready ta go, and ain't nopony better ta break the news ta them than you." Rainbow sat up next to her friend, unslinging the scythe from her back. She smiled sadly at her friend lifting up the scythe.
“Killer, how could you?”
“You’re friend no less, you are a monster.”
The orange pony closed her eyes, “It was nice ta see ya Rainbow," she smiled, “We’re all still proud of you.”
“Kill her!” the voiced screamed.
“No!” Rainbow screamed in her head, “I am not a killer and if AJ is proud of me then I know you’re nothing but liars, AJ is hurt and there’s nothing anypony can do for her, except for me. She cried, looking down at her friend “I’m sorry AJ."
“Don’t be, I’ll miss ya. Bye Rainbow”
“Bye AJ”
The rainbow pony sliced down on the orange mare, the ties severed from her body and letting her spirit free. AJ lingered long enough to hug her old friend, Rainbow smiled; her last image would be of her friend as she remembered her. Healthy and full of pride. "Take care Rainbow, I hope I don't see ya again too soon."
Rainbow opened her eyes, her friend was gone. She stayed lying in that clearing for a long time. She cried, she cried more than she had in years. She stood up and wiped her tears away, she smiled sadly.
“Thanks Applejack,” the voices were finally gone, she enjoyed the quiet, the peace, AJ had done for her what she was supposed to do for others, she finally understood. She stored her cloak and scythe in a nearby tree. Celestia would be raising the sun soon and she had a promise to keep. She took one last breathe and summoned all her strength. She would need it to break the news to everypony on her return to Ponyville.
The sun was rising and its light slowly spread over the land. It was behind her, it was creeping up on her, following her across the land. As she walked it finally hit her, the warmth touching her body and moving across her. The morning air was warm, it gently ran over her, as if trying to bring her comfort. She sighed and kept walking toward Ponyville.
Nopony was awake yet, the whole town was still and quiet. She was sitting on the edge of town, looking at all the familiar sights. Everything was exactly how she remembered it, The Carousel Boutique was a little bigger than she remembered, and Sugarcube corner was a lot more decorated, but all-in-all nothing had really changed. She sat in the town square, remembering. She felt nervous and excited. It was too early to start visiting, she wasn't sure who to see first, she didn't want to tell them about Applejack, but she knew she had to.
Twilight sat reading in her library. She rubbed her eyes with her hooves and placed the book on the ever growing pile, the wax candle on her stand burned down to the pan. She yawned and walked toward her balcony; she had become accustomed to watching the sun rise after long nights like that. She looked out for a long time not staring at anything in particular, lost in thought. As her eyes adjusted to the morning light she noticed something. Not too far from her she could she a blue pony sitting out in the square, she rubbed her eyes and looked again but it wasn't just a vision. She turned back inside and called out to her assistant.
"Spike, come here, quick." The dragon rolled out of bed tiredly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "What is it Twilight?"
She pointed her hoof out toward the balcony and he walked to look. She followed behind him and sat next to the stunned dragon.
"Spike, is that..."
"Rainbow Dash..."
Rainbow sat outside, she was tired, her head hung low as she waited for the sun to rise completely. Her ears flicked back as she heard the hoof beats approaching her, somepony was running, it was getting closer. She lifted her head back to see who it was, but was tackled down before she could. "Rainbow! You're..." the assailing pony started crying, "You’re alive."
Rainbow was pinned to the ground, she smiled. Her friend hadn't changed much, but years of reading was beginning to show on her face. The wrinkles had formed by the corners of her eyes, a pair of reading glasses hanging around her neck. Rainbow managed to get her arms free and hug her friend. "Hey Twilight, did ya miss me?" she smiled, she wanted to keep up her cool attitude just like the old days, but she couldn't help but cry too. She missed her friends just as much as they missed her. They sat for a while, silent, happy to be in each other’s presence. Twilight smiled and broke the silence, "Let's go inside, we can talk there."
It had been a long morning and they were now sitting in the main library. Rainbow was looking at the piles of books that Twilight had acquired; there were too many for the shelves. Spike brought them some tea and went back into the kitchen to give them space.
"What happened to you Rainbow? We never heard much,' she sighed "only the worst parts."
Rainbow paused, she knew the question would come, she couldn't tell her the truth. She didn't want to talk about that, it was too personal, too bizarre, and although Twilight might be the one who could truly appreciate it she wasn't comfortable saying she was death incarnate.
"After the accident, I was in a coma. It lasted months, at least I think it did. The truth is I don't really know much about that. I remember when I got back home, I woke up in bed. I thought it was all just a dream. The pain was the only reason I knew it was true."
"Why didn't you come back? We were all so devastated when we heard."
"I was hurt for a long time, it was a few months before I could fly again. Plus, I was ashamed," she sighed, this part was at least the truth. "I didn't want you guys to be disappointed in me, I failed and I just couldn't see you be ashamed of me. So I found a job and kept away. Until today."
The purple pony walked over and wrapped an arm around her friend, "Rainbow, we could never be disappointed in you. You have no idea how good it is just to see you, and everypony else will think so too." She smiled and walked towards the door. "We should go tell everypony you're back!"
They walked together for a while, talking, Twilight was filling her in on all the things she had missed over the years. Rainbow was listening passively, she was trying to think of a way to tell them about Applejack, it was probably best to tell them all at once, after all the excitement had died down. They walked to Rarity's boutique first, Twilight knocked on the door. "Just one second darling, I'll be right with you," came the voice from inside. After a moment of silence, there was a general noise of clutter and cleaning before the door opened slowly. The white unicorn stood in the doorway, she was as elegant as ever, her mane perfectly straightened and her outfit although simple was immaculately made. "Oh Twilight, it's so good to see yo...." she paused, her gaze locked on the blue Pegasus.
"Hi Rarity, long time no see."
Rarity stayed still a moment, her eyes still locked on the Pegasus, scanning over her body as if trying to process what she was seeing. A smile crept across her face, then she fainted. Rainbow and Twilight had carried her inside, they laid her down unto one of her many chairs, and waited. She was still for a moment or two but soon woke up, the smile still on her face.
"Twilight, what happened?"
"Well, you fainted." She smiled at the look on her friends face.
"Oh how undignified, but I suppose old habits are hard to break," she laughed, and turned to her rainbow friend, walking toward her, she let out a long sigh and hugged her tightly. "Rainbow, darling, it is so good to see you, I'm glad you're okay." She parted from the hug and looked at her friend a bit unhappily. "Do you have any idea the stress you put me through? It nearly ruined my complexion." She tried to look upset but could only smile, her friend was safe and back home. They sat and talked, Rainbow explained everything again, and Rarity told her about her business and plans. "Rainbow, I was always hoping that one day you'd let me design knew outfits for your little sports team, I had such delightful ideas." she smiled, happy she could have this conversation with her old friend. After a while Rarity let out a sigh.
"Do the others know yet?"
Twilight shook her head "No, not yet, just you and me."
"Well then we must go tell them at once, no sense in leaving them out."
Rainbow stood up, walking between her friends. "I think we should see Fluttershy first, I have a feeling Pinkie might be a bit excited." she let out a small chuckle and they walked towards the small cottage on the edge of Ponyville. They arrived by midmorning, it was still rather early, Fluttershy was out in her yard tending to her animals. She was carrying buckets of feed and water to the various cages and kennels when the three ponies walked up.
"Well good morning Fluttershy, we have exciting news." Rarity's voice startled her for a moment but she didn't turn around and continued to pass out the food.
"Oh, exciting? I don't know Rarity,"
Twilight spoke next, "Fluttershy it's really important."
"Good morning Twilight, I wish I could help but I just have so much to do today," the thought of something important and exciting
was making her increasingly nervous. She clung closer to the ground as she fed her animals.
"Quit being such a scaredy-cat and come on."
"Rainbow Dash you are not going to bully me into this," she stopped, her body relaxing. Rainbow Dash smiled, they finally had her attention. Fluttershy put down the buckets and turned slowly, her eyes were closed. She opened them quickly, a smile instantly grew on her face. "Rainbow Dash!" she ran and hugged the Pegasus, but quickly shied away. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to, it's just that, I'm... I'm just glad to see you Rainbow." They all smiled, the group was slowly coming back together, Rainbow was happy but she knew that soon they would want to see Applejack, and then she would have to tell them. After they saw Pinkie, she thought, then will be best.
They stood outside in the field talking and laughing. Everypony was happy, they talked like they had only seen each other yesterday. It was the ease of such a strong friendship. After a while their stomachs started growling, they all agreed that now was as good a time as any to go and visit Pinkie Pie. They all trotted together into town, the warm air and sunlight comforting them, it was still relatively early and only a few other ponies were out. Some stopped to ask about Rainbow and she gave them the short explanation. As they walked up to Sugarcube Corner they were greeted by an amazing assortment of smells. As soon as they approached the door it swung open and a very messy pink pony was standing happily at the doorway. "Hey girls, Hi Dashie long time no see, I'm so glad you're okay and not all dead like people said. When I heard I was so sad, my bestest friend Rainbow Dash gone forever, but now I'm happy again cause you're home and okay. So I baked all this food because I just knew we'd all be hungry when we got here and boy was I right, I'm starving."
They all followed the pink pony as she bounced in side, a table was covered in every pastry imaginable, it was clear that she had been working all morning on this. Rainbow smiled and hugged her friend, everypony was confused as to how Pinkie knew that Rainbow was back but she soon cleared that up. "Oh Rainbow, I saw you walk into town this morning. At first I thought no it couldn't be but I looked again and I just knew it was you. I just wanted to run out and hug you but I knew you'd like a party even better."
Rainbow smiled, a small tear running down her face, she hadn't realized how much she had missed all her friends. “Thank you guys, I'm just glad that I can be back here with you." they all smiled and sat down to eat. After a moment Pinkie smiled "Oh, we almost forgot about Applejack."
Rainbow frowned, she had just bit into a peach but that wasn't the pit she felt in her stomach. "Yes, Pinkie is right, we mustn't forget about Applejack." Rarity added, Rainbow looked around, everpony was nodding in agreement, and she sighed. She didn't want to ruin the moment, but now was the best time to tell them.
"Guys, I have an announcement. I know it's not going to be easy, I really wish I didn't have to say it. I'm glad to be back, I really am, but the reason I came home was because I made a promise to Applejack. She told me that I had to come back and tell everyone the news." she paused, her head hanging low, tears forming in her eyes. "Applejack is... she's gone."
A day had passed since Rainbow returned to Ponyville, she had taken her friends to the site of Applejack's accident soon after she broke the news to them. Big Mac and Applebloom had already come across the site and cleaned up her body. It was cold and rigid, but there was still a faint proud smile on her face. Rainbow remembered it well, the smile that never faded from her face when she had seen her rainbow friend. Rainbow was thinking back on that moment as Applebloom performed her eulogy, the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing close by for support. They had already found their marks but they couldn't give up their name, now they helped other young fillies find their special talents. Rainbow smiled at Scootaloo, she had heard she had taken the news of her accident exceptionally hard. She hadn't had the time to talk to her, to apologize for never writing to her like she promised. They would have a long talk afterwards, right now was a time to remember their friend.
The atmosphere was full of mixed emotions, it was such an awkward feeling. The mixture of excitement and devastation hung in everypony's chest and it brought them all together. Everypony had made their peace spoken their last words and final goodbyes, now Rainbow approached the stand. She stood up, she felt a calm pass over her. She took a deep breath and spoke.
"Applejack, was a great friend of mine, of everyponies really. She was strong, brave, honest, kind, and stubborn. I will miss her, we all will, but I know for certain that she will always be with us, looking down on us and smiling. She was proud of us all, and I've learned so much from her, she’s the reason I came home, the reason I can stand here today. I wish I could tell her thank you for
everything she's done, but I think she already knows. Goodbye AJ, I'll miss you."
It was an odd day, having one friend return from death and losing another. Rainbow and her friends stayed long after the ceremony, they stayed after the burial just sitting and talking by the grave. They felt complete, they knew Applejack was there in spirit and were happy to be back together. There was not much to say, they enjoyed each others company. One day they'd all know the real reason Rainbow came back, the reason she stayed away. She couldn't tell them but when the time came they'd know. It made her sad to think about it but then she thought of Applejack, the thought of being the final figure her friends would see, the person to bring them peace in the most stressful part of their lives that made her smile. She was happy now, happier than she ever had been, and although she would always have to hide something, AJ had given her a reason to be proud of it. She was finally at Peace.