Granny Applejack sighed in her rocking chair.
"Dearie me, hoo-ey, ah'm gettin' old" she pulled herself out of her rocking chair, hearing a few pops and cracks screech out of her back. She walked outside of the barn, staring up to her particular friends' house. She stared up at the fluffy, floating house, towering over every other little thing in Ponyville.
"Ah, Rainbow Dash, i haven't seen ya in forever...'" she sighed "I need to make the most of it, or i won't have any friends left".
She used her tired, old muscles to travel over to the bottom of the house. She used her mightiest and loudest voice to scream.
"Rainbow Dash! Are you up there?". She heard a door slam open. A pegasus pony looked down on the ground.
"Applejack? Is that you?" she asked, smiling at her old friend. Applejack nodded in delight, watching Rainbow Dash descend gracefully. Applejack hugged her friend.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, ah've missed you so much" she admitted, flashing a smile at her cyan friend, watching her smile back.
"Applejack, i've missed you, too. Sorry about not visiting, these tired, old bones won't do much good for travelling to far places" she laughed as she leaned in to hug her friend. After a while, they broke the hug, staring into eachothers eyes. Rainbow's magneta eyes gleamed, and just the sight of them made her giggle.
"Applejack, we aren't getting any younger, so how about we have one last adventure together?" Rainbow asked, smiling at her friend. Of course they weren't getting any younger, but they were definately old. Maybe too old for another thrilling adventure. They aren't like they were all those years ago. But it was Rainbow, her friend, she couldn't say no to her.
"Alrighty then, pardner. You got yourself a deal! Let's make this adventure great!" Applejack cheered, using as much energy as she could to lift onto her hind legs to let out a rear. They hoof-bumped and began walking to their destination.
"So? Where are we off to, Rainbow?" Applejack asked.
"You know that really high cliff with that graveyard on? Where only special ponies get buried?"
"Yes. Where everypony else got buried" After saying that, her memories reflected on how her friends died, most of them off old age, but for some, it was just pure risk.
"How about we travel there?" Applejack stood still for a moment. Applejack stared at Rainbow's perplexed face.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to, AJ" Rainbow assured, putting a foreleg around her friends' neck. Applejack shook her head.
"No" she said "I'd love to go on this little adventure with you Rainbow Dash" she added, giving another wide smile. Rainbow nodded and they both continued to walk, side by side.
Eventually, they reached the graveyard. There, they saw 4 gravestones. Their friends.
"Here we are" Applejack said, picking her hoof at the ground, depressingly. The orange pony nuzzled Rainbow, as she quickly glanced back at 4 grey gravestones that were beautifully lined up together with several different flowers on them. But that wasn't just it. Ontop of the stone, were their elements of harmony.
Magic, Kindness, Generosity and laughter. The elements were tightly sealed onto the stones, impossible to pull out. An orange glow reflected off Applejack. The sun was setting for another day. Rainbow lifted her head back and spread her wings out, feeling exhilarated. A breeze flowed past her.
"Can you feel that AJ?" She asked, wrapping one wing around her friend. She remained silent as she saw her friend, once again, tilting her head at her.
"I've always wanted to tell you something, AJ" Rainbow admitted, gulping. Applejack stood silent, watching her friend hesitate. "I...have cancer" she admitted, lowering her head as she slumped. Applejack's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"Cancer?" she repeated. "Why in Equestria did you keep that from me?" she asked, slightly raising her voice.
"I'm sorry, i didn't want you worrying over me"
"Well, that sure worked, didn't it?" Rainbow Dash felt guilt wash over her like a powerful wave. She repeated her apology.
"I'm sorry...". Tears formed in her eyes. AJ noticed a single tear cascade down her friends cheek, falling onto Fluttershy's grave. She nuzzled the pegasus, helping her calm down.
"Everything will be ok..." Applejack assured, recieving a nuzzle back. The twosome lied down, watching the sun finally set, and watched the ebony night approach, clearing the sky. Rainbow felt a sudden jolt in her chest. She bit her bottom lit and held her chest with her hoof. Applejack noticed this and began to worry about Rainbow's cancer.
"Rainbow? Are you ok?" she asked, getting no reply. "Rainbow!" she repeated. She noticed that her friend began to breathe heavily. She kept repeating the pegasus' name over and over, but never got an answer. Until finally, she spoke up.
"Looks like it's finnaly caught up to me" she admitted. "I've been fighting it for 6 years" she said, letting out a worn out laugh. To AJ, this definately wasn't the time for laughing. She felt angry with her friend. Why did SHE have to get cancer? Her last remaining friend. But she knew nothing could help it. It was time for Rainbow Dash to leave. To see her friends again.
"I understand, Rainbow Dash" she said, giving a weak smile. The pegasus looked at Applejack, seeing how she was doing her best not to cry.
"I'm so sor-" she was cut off. Applejack had put a hoof to her mouth.
"I know, Rainbow" it was silent for a minute. "I know". She gave her friend one last hug until she said "Goodbye, friend". Rainbow was about to say goodbye aswell, but there wasn't enough time. Cancer was too quick. Applejack watched her friend collapse to her side, her eyes slowly closing. Applejack couldnt't help but cry. Her last friend was gone. She was the only element of harmony left. Honesty. She pulled her old, scruffy, brown hat down to her face and bit her lip.
"Wanna know the honest truth? This sucks" she cried, leaning onto the cold, lifeless body. She didn't want to leave her friends' side, but she had to. Using all her strength, she pulled herself up. She walked off the graveyard, glancing back a few times until Rainbow was out of her sight, then she returned to the barn. To see her family. Applebloom trotted over.
"Howdy, Applejack!" she greeted, flashing a smile "What's wrong?". Applejack explained everything. Start to end. Once Applebloom had heard it, she started telling the story to ponies to whoever whenever. She wanted people to know what happened. Rainbow Dash's tragic death.
Months later, Applejack visited the grave once again. She saw a brand new gravestone placed at the side near Fluttershy. The inscriptions read:
Twilight Sparkle:
There's Magic
Inside Everypony
Rarity:
Generosity
was her
middle name
Pinkie Pie:
Spreading
Joy and
Laughter
Fluttershy:
Sharing
Kindness
Rainbow Dash:
The most
loyal a friend could be
Their elements stood proudly on their gravestones. The remaining pony stared at her friends, wondering where they were. But until it's her time, she'll never know.
