The Spirit of Loyalty

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21

Chapter 1

THE SPIRIT OF LOYALTY

by NorthCrusader

Rainbow Dash was ecstatic by the wild cheers of her audience below. She ascended to the sky, taking in every shout of joy, every stomp of hooves, with the grace of a bird. She suddenly paused in mid-flight. She made sure everybody was watching her. The crowd was silent, anxiously waiting for her next move.

She bolted to a large cumulus cloud and flew in circles. Moments later she increased her speed. Just watching her spin around continuously made most of the ponies nauseous. She yielded after a minute of spinning, and came to a complete stop. The cumulus, once an irregular shape, now took the form of a vanilla ice cream swirl.

The spectators praised her. She took a bow as she descended from the sky. Fans formed a circle around their idol, some wanting to comment on how great a flyer she was, others pushing and shoving just to get her autograph. The crowd was in a frenzy when Rainbow floated a few feet above them.

“My loyal fans!” she said loudly. “I’d like to thank you all for coming to see my awesome performance!” The crowd roared with acclaim. The cheers turned into chants of her name and stomping hooves accompanied the rhythm. “But the show’s not over! First, I’m taking a five minute breather. Then for the grand finale, I’ll be performing the super-awesome, grand-spanking, totally radical, never-been-done-before, Rainbow-Time Extraordinaire!”

Reaction to what she said varied from excitement to confusion. Rainbow Dash smired and continued. “I’ve been practicing this thing every single day for two months to make this perfect! I’ll fly up, loop-de-loop pass some clouds, do a barrell-roll, zigzag around, punch a hole in a cloud, write my name in the sky, then fly at the top of the air, zwoop straight down for the biggest, largest sonic rainboom the world has ever seen! Then I’ll fly down and bounce off a trampoline and land safe and sound!”

Everyone was overwhelmed by the seemingly impossible feat that was described to them. Some did not know how to react. Despite their skepticism, they cheered for Rainbow. A wide grin was locked on her face.

After waving to her fans and spectators, Rainbow Dash hovered to a tree to rest her body and wings. Once she was comfortable her best friends - and a little pegasus named Scootaloo, who was accompanied by two other fillies her age - approached her from the sidelines. Rainbow greeted them was a smile full of smugness.

“Hey guys, enjoying the show?” she asked.

“You were amazing!” Scootaloo said. “You’re the most awesome pegasus in the world, maybe the whole universe!”

“Yeah, you rock!” Sweetie Belle added. She looked to her friends to see if she had the terminology correct, something Rainbow could not help but to silently laugh.

“Thanks girls,” Rainbow said. Scootaloo pulled out a water bottle from her backpack and gave it to her. She drank until the plastic bottle was crushed in her hoof.

“I don’t see any need to outdo yourself,” Applejack said. “Besides, I thought you were mighty boastful back there.” Most of the mares, except for Pinkie Pie and the fillies, nodded.

“Come on, I wasn’t boasting,” Rainbow said defensively. “I’m just simply showing off my skills, that’s all. There’s a difference, you know.” Scootaloo gave her another bootle of water, in which was finished in less than ten seconds. “Besides, I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”

“You’re not going to try that Rainbow-Time trick, are you?” Fluttershy asked.

“Of course I am! Why do you ask?”

“It’s just that… well, it sounds dangerous. What if you get hurt?”

“Fluttershy, most things in life are dangerous. You have to learn to face danger head-on. That’s what I learned when I made my first sonic rainboom.” She laid on her stomach on the grass and did thirty rounds of wing-ups.

“I have to agree with Fluttershy on this matter,” Rarity said. “We have watched you practice for weeks, and it has occurred to us that sometimes you don’t know your own speed.” A thought came that made her place her hoof close to her mouth. “What if you miss the trampoline?”

“Seriously, I’m the incredibly awesome Rainbow Dash! I have keen eyesight that any of you!”

“There you go boasting again,” Applejack said accusingly.

“I’m not boasting!”

After completing her wing-ups she laid on her back while putting her forearms behind her head, and pulled her upper body up to do thirty rounds of curl-ups.

“Well, regardless of what you think, we all care about your safety,” Twilight said. “The last thing we want is for you to end up in the hospital.”

“Don’t be silly!” Pinkie said. “I’m sure Rainbow Dash is gonna pull off the most awesome, spectacular, flawless, super-duper, greatest stunt in the world! I’m so excited I could burst into a million confettis!”

“At least somepony here has faith in me,” Rainbow said. The mares gave a questioning look to Pinkie Pie.

“I have faith in you,” Scootaloo said. “I always have.”

“Yeah, us too!” Apple Bloom added, bringing Sweetie close to her.

Rainbow Dash winked at them.

Chanting and stomping was heard from the distance. Taking the chanting of her name as cue, Rainbow Dash stood on all fours, stretch her wings and join her adoring public. All except for Pinkie and the fillies stood in bewilderment at their friend’s arrogance.

“Twilight, is she going to be okay?” Fluttershy asked.

The unicorn looked into the pegasus’ wide, distressful eyes. “I hope so,” she answered, trying to reassure her.

“Don’t worry, Rainbow Dash is the greatest stuntpony of all time!” Scootaloo said. “She knows what she’s doing!”

“For her sake, I hope so,” Rarity added.

“Come on, let’s go!” Pinkie called. “I don’t wanna miss any of this!” She cartwheeled into the crowd, with the three fillies attempting to imitate her. The rest glanced nervously at each other, then walked back into their places at the spectators’ side.

The number of ponies increased since Rainbow announced her stunt. It seemed as if all of Equestria wanted to witness her go beyond the impossible. Her fan club was also present throughout the show, with rainbow wigs on their heads and blue wings on their backs.

Two earth ponies were seen placing a giant trampoline in the middle of the arena. Several pegasi were in the sky setting up the obstacle course. The pegasi formed holes in the clouds for Dash to fly through. Some took cirrus clouds and reformed them into odd shapes. Others gathered smaller clouds together to form a supercloud for her to punch. Impatience loomed over the ponies. They chanted her name and stomped their hooves.

At last, Rainbow Dash appeared before them. They stomped on the ground so much that it might have budged the earth from its axis. Rainbow a few moments to take in the admiration of the ponies. Finally, she held out her arms to silence them.

“Alright Equestria, today I’m going to perform the greatest stunt of all time! The Rainbow-Time Extraordinaire!”

The crowd went wild; their loud cheers were capable of destroying eardrums. Rainbow’s VIPs - Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Spike - sat in a special spot in the front. While Pinkie and the fillies waved and cheered for her, the others gave Rainbow concerned looks. “For those who missed the briefing, I’m gonna go over it one more time.”

She rose a few feet into the air and pointed to a line of weirdly-shaped cirrus clouds. She explained she was going to do barrel rolls and backflips around them, which resulted in a collective ooh from the crowd. Rainbow pointed to a cloud that looked like a slingshot, which will lunge her straight into the supercloud so she can, in her own words, “Punch it in the face!” which caused laughter from some of the younger audience members. Rainbow Dash continued to explain her process, and the ponies listened to her every word. Her friends, except for Pinkie and the Crusaders, were not as excited.

“After that, I’ll fly straight into the air, higher than I ever have before! With enough force I’ll swoop down and create the largest sonic rainboom in history! Bigger than the first one! Bigger than the second one! Even bigger than the royal wedding!” She raised her arms to silence the cheering ponies. “And last, but definitely not least, I’ll fly straight down on this trampoline, do a backflip and land safe and sound, ending the Rainbow-Time Extraordinaire!”

The mass of ponies jumped up and down, yelling and screaming in delight. Finally, the moment had come to for Rainbow to perform her incredible stunt. Unfortunately, the silence gave her great discomfort. Most could see the change in her face, including her friends.

“Oh, this is too horrible!” Fluttershy whispered. “I can’t watch! Tell me when it’s over!” She curled into a ball and covered her eyes with her wings.

“But you’re going to miss Dashie’s super-duper, awesome flying trick!” Pinkie said, but Fluttershy ignored her.

Rainbow stood firm in the middle of the arena. She lowered the top half of her body, bracing herself for what was to come. Dash gazed at the heavenly obstacle course, now having second thoughts. The words of her friends echoed in her mind. Her thoughts were betraying her. She turned her head to see her friends looking back. There was a mix of anxiety and concern on their faces. However, only one caught her eye.

Scootaloo.

She never took her eyes off Rainbow. The innocence on her face caused Rainbow Dash’s lips to curl into a little smile. The filly was as happy as she could be, just like the days when she watched Rainbow practice her stunt.

Thanks to Scootaloo, Rainbow found the strength, courage, and will to go on. She nodded to a stallion who turned the hourglass upside-down, then she crouched, pacing herself and counting down. At the last grain of sand she stretched her wings and launched herself into the sky, and the ponies cheered.

She flew to the oddly-shaped cirrus clouds. Rainbow dodged each extended ends of the clouds with a series of backflips and barrel rolls. There were collective gasps at her swift movements. She flew into the holes located at the center of the small cumulus clouds. They were scattered at different directions, but she flew through them.

Her next target was the cloud in the shape of a slingshot. Rainbow swiftly placed herself on the soft pad and pulled back as far as she could. She released herself from the pad, launching like an arrow from a bow. The intense speed watered her eyes, but she shook off the feeling and focused on her target. She was close to the supercloud, and then, boom! the giant cloud was demolished, much to the delight of the ponies.

“Did you see that!” Scootaloo yelled. “That was amazing!”

Pinkie, along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, howled and jump. Even Rainbow’s other friends could not close their mouths.

Rainbow flew in different directions with a trail of clouds from the explosion. She smirked to herself as she spelled her name across the sky. Cheers, yells, and jubilant cries filled the air when RAINBOW DASH #1 was written in the clear blue.

“I’ll be a timberwolf in a woodchipper,” Applejack said. “She looks amazing! But I still think she’s as nuttier than Granny Smith’s apple pecan pie!”

“Normally I would agree with you my dear,” Rarity said, “but I have to admit, what she has done was… quite exquisite.” She had stars in her eyes. “She was swift, yet so elegant in her movements, graceful like a ballerina.”

“It is pretty impressive, isn’t it?” Twilight added. “But she’s not finished yet. She still has to make that sonic rainboom. What do you think, Fluttershy?”

There was no answer from her. Twilight looked to her side to see that Fluttershy was frozen, her mouth hanging open. Her wide eyes were glued upward.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash flew straight into the sky. When she looked down she saw the earth disappear under her. Going farther, she gazed at the heavenly collection of clouds. Dash looked across and saw the moon on the other side. The sky was no longer bright, but dark once she reached the troposphere. Her body shivered from the drop in temperature, but she kept going. When she reached the highest point everything was… silent. Peaceful. All the worries that she had left before this moment was gone from her.

But there was a lingering feeling inside her. Rainbow could not put her hoof on it, but it felt like everything around her was slowing down, as if something was stretching time.

Rainbow looked down. The earth was under her. After spending a few moments taking in the view, she held her breath and braced herself from the great drop. Rainbow tightly shut her eyes.

Then she fell from heaven.

The dive back to earth started rough. The brutality of the increasing speed threatened to blind her. The once freezing temperature rose once she was close to the atmosphere. Rainbow was diving with tremendous speed that everything around seem to stand still. It was time to pick up the pace. The greatest even in Equestrian history was about to begin. Soon the sky was going to be filled with colors. Rainbow Dash increased her speed to dangerous levels. The wind pierced against her blue skin. Suddenly, she felt the air pressure becoming weak. She saw a multicolored facade. This was it. The moment everyone has been waiting for.

She closed her eyes. She increased her speed one last time.

Everyone watched Rainbow fall to earth in terror. What was once a spectacle of physical prowess became a horror show. Luckily, there were pegasi on standby in case anything happened to her.

Pinkie Pie, along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, cried out in terror, but only Pinkie was running in circles. Scootaloo remained fixed on the sky, eyes focused, not uttering a word.

“Rainbow, don’t you dare die on me,” Applejack muttered. She was on the verge of tears.

“I can’t, for the life of me, think of anything worse that can happen,” Rarity said, “but this is by far the worst!”

“Just stay calm,” Twilight pleaded, “Rainbow Dash will be okay! You know how she likes to surprise us!” She wanted to believe her words, but she was too worried. Like Scootaloo, Fluttershy also kept her gaze to the sky with her mouth agape.

The crowd was in a violent panic. Little foals cried their hearts out. Other than the pegasi ready to catch her, there was nothing anypony could do but watch.

And then.

BOOM!

A giant multicolored orb exploded in the sky. Rays of colorful streams of light scattered through all directions. The blue sky was covered in a blanket of rainbow. The sound of the explosion were like several rolls of thunder. The ponies were silent at the stunning sight. It was like a foal with a white canvas that was painted with different colors, mixing with the natural earth.

On that day all of Equestria head a million voices shout with joy. Rainbow Dash had made the greatest sonic rainboom of all time.

Everyone sang their praises to the one and only Dash. Foals danced with each other and sang how she punched a hole in the sky. Many have fainted during the latter half of the performance, but fortunately came to once it was over. Others never pulled their eyes away while their brains tried to make sense of what had happened.

Pinkie Pie jumped up and down with the excitement of a foal. Her poofy mane shot confettis everywhere. She pulled out an accordion and played a celebratory song. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle dance, but Scootaloo was too stunned to move.

Fluttershy slowly turned away from the sky and stared at her friends. Suddenly, in a moment they’ll never forget, she yelled and screamed like a crazed fan whose favorite team had won a game.

While everyone else celebrated, Twilight focused on the sky. She had a feeling that something was not right. She looked around and tried to process the feeling. What was it that made her feel uneasy? Twilight stared at the sky once more… then her eyes grew at the horrifying revelation.

Rainbow Dash never came down.

Twilight began to breath heavily. She darted her eyes back and forth, feeling as though she was lost in the mass of ponies. She desperately tried to find her friends to tell them what she had found out. Twilight ran so fast that she did not noticed Spike until he yelled for her to stop. Then her mouth moved faster than her voice when she spoke about the Rainbow Dash, the sonic rainboom, and how she was in trouble, much to his confusion.

“Slow down, Twilight! What are you trying to say?”

“Rainbow Dash never came down!” Twilight yelled. Her words caught the ears of nearby ponies.

“... What are you talking about?” Spike stammered.

“Listen to me! Have you seen Rainbow Dash after the sonic rainboom?”

“What’s all the ruckus about?” asked Applejack. She, Rarity, and Fluttershy heard yelling from a picnic table. Twilight gave them a distressful look, which made them nervous. “What’s the matter?” Applejack asked again.

“... Rainbow Dash never came down,” Twilight said, her voice shaking.

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked.

“After the sonic rainboom, she was supposed to jump on the trampoline… but she never did.”

The mares shared glances, all of them unwilling to believe what happened to Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy was the first to react. A lump formed inside her throat, her lips quivered. Small tears flowed down her cheeks and she cried silently. Rarity held her close while trying her best to hold back her own tears. Applejack refused to believe. She knew Rainbow Dash would get hurt doing something dangerous, but not like this. Spike hid his face behind his rainbow wig.

The mares and the little dragon gazed at Pinkie and the Crusaders. They were dancing while Pinkie played the accordion.

“Should we tell them?” Spike asked, wiping his eyes.

“Absolutely not!” pleaded Rarity. “It will be too hard on them, especially Pinkie! And the girls… they’re just children. And Scootaloo… oh heaven have mercy on her.”

“Rarity, you darn well we can’t do that,” Applejack said. Her voice was full of force, but with a hint of sadness. She covered her face for a moment.

“... Applejack,” Rarity began.

Applejack wanted to say something else, but she ran away. Fluttershy continued to cry, so Rarity levitated a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. Twilight looked up at the sky, praying nothing terrible happened to her best friend, but her thoughts worked against her. Spike sat on the ground and watched Pinkie and the Crusaders dance to the accordion. More tears fell from his eyes when he gazed at Scootaloo.

Chapter 2

It didn’t take long for everyone else to realize Rainbow Dash never completed the last part of her stunt. Celebration was replaced with confusion and anxiety. All eyes were glued to the sky, everyone wondering what have happened to her.

Even as sunset approached, nobody had left the park. Many chose to camp out in case search parties found Rainbow Dash. Nurses and doctors were present if she was severely injured.

Rainbow’s friends tried everything to bring their hopes up, but it was easier said than done. The sunset gave way to the stars. Twilight tried to find a logical explanation for what happened. Rarity sat with Fluttershy in a secluded area in the park to comfort her. Pinkie played soft but uplifting tunes on her accordion to ease tension. She tried not to think about Rainbow Dash too much. After all, this was the same pony who kicked a fire-breathing dragon in the face. A couple of broken bones will not be much of a problem for her.

Applejack approached Twilight with her head down and tear stains on her cheeks. “I’m sure Rainbow Dash will be okay,” Twilight said, although not sure of herself. “She’s used to getting out of dangerous situations.”

“I told that girl… “ Applejack paused, closing her eyes tightly. “Twilight, this is what happens when you’re boastful. You end up hurting yourself and those around you. She always had to outdo herself, always had to prove she’s the best at everything. Now look what happened!”

Twilight could hear her voice crack. Applejack covered her face with her forearm, not wanting to appear weak. Twilight affectionately rubbed her muzzle against her’s, and pulled Applejack close.

Scootaloo never looked away from the sky, even when it turned into night. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were with her, and they all waited for someone to find Rainbow Dash.

As the night went on, there was yet any sign of Rainbow Dash. The search parties returned with empty hooves and despair hanging over them. The leader of the pegasi search party spoke with the mayor in a private area. After ten minutes the mayor returned to the center of the arena. She motioned for everyone to pay attention to her.

The Mayor took a deep breath.

“Mares and gentlecolts… it is with a heavy heart that I must say the search parties were unable to find Rainbow Dash. We do not know where she is or what happened to her.” She stumbled on her words for a moment. “... However, we have come to the conclusion that the powerful force of the sonic rainboom, in addition to the high speeds of which she flew… had decimated her. So… on this day, Thursday, the 21st of May, on 3:45 p.m. Rainbow Dash has passed on.”

The Mayor walked away from the center. The ponies were too stunned to react. Finally, the night air was filled with wails.

Scootaloo buried herself onto Pinkie Pie. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle held on to their sisters for comfort. Twilight sat on her flank, her hooves covering her face as she wept. Spike was at her side weeping with her. Fluttershy, overwhelmed with grief, retreated from the park, away to her cottage. For everyone else, those who came to the show remained under the moon and cried throughout the night.

Eventually, many began to leave the park so they can mourn in their own homes. The park became empty, but Rainbow Dash’s friends remained and cried in a circle. Nobody said anything to each other.

Pinkie was the first to leave. She simply walked home. Her poofy mane was deflated. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were next to depart, then Twilight and Spike returned to the Golden Oaks Library in silence.

Only Applejack, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were left. They tightly huddled together. Applejack felt there was a giant hole in her heart. She gazed at the fillies she held in her arms, but mostly at Scootaloo. How unfair it was that the only pony gave this young girl’s life any meaning was taken away from her. Why must fate be this cruel to her, Applejack thought. What kind of higher power would do such a helpless child? Applejack stood.

“Come on, Apple Bloom,” she said softly. “We best be getting on home.” She began to walk, but stopped and looked back. Her little sister refused to let go of Scootaloo. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. Scootaloo had nowhere to go. Applejack silently asked her sister to step aside, rubbed Scootaloo’s head, and gave a sad smile. “It’s getting dark now, sugarcube.”

Scootaloo raised her head and stared at Applejack with glassy eyes. “I have nowhere to go.”

“Yes you do. With us.”

Applejack helped her to her hooves, then wiped her eyes dry, but more tears fell down her cheek. She held the two fillies close together and walked back to Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo gazed straight into the night.

“Why did you leave me?” she whispered.

Darkness was everywhere, but faint voice was calling for Scootaloo. She felt her body being rocked back and forth by a soft hoof. The small voice became louder, but it was gentle at the same time. Out of the darkness was a ray of light. Scootaloo opened her eyes and she was met with a pair of golden iris looking at her. “Scootaloo, it’s morning,” the eyes said.

“Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo mumbled.

She sat up, stretched, yawned, then rubbed her eyes. Her head was spinning, and the sensation gave her a throbbing headache. Two things were on her mind: how she ended up in Apple Bloom’s bed, and the strange dream she had the other night. The images were vivid, and it involved Rainbow Dash.

Then she realized what happened to her was not a dream.

“Scootaloo, are you okay?”

“... No. No I’m not,” she whispered.

Scootaloo wanted to bury herself underneath the blankets. If she had her way, then she will never get out of bed. There was no point in living anymore. The only pony that mattered to her was gone. Apple Bloom’s hoof touched her’s, but she did not react. Apple Bloom’s hoof curled over Scootaloo, then she squeezed it. She wanted to say Everything is going to be alright, but what good will that do? So she decided to stay quiet.

Applejack had not slept the entire night. Instead of dreaming she stared at the ceiling, then cried, then stare at the ceiling some more. Now, in the early hours of the morning, she chose to sit at the play swing on top of a hill next to Sweet Apple Acres. She used to sit on that swing many times when she was a filly. It had a wonderful view of the river and valleys beyond Ponyville, but there were some things the beautiful hills could not fix. Life will never be the same, and she didn’t want to adjust to a life without her best friend by her side. The sun was rising, and it was officially the first day in a world without Rainbow Dash.

Although she never looked, she knew somebody was coming up the hill. Applejack can always tell when it is her brother approaching her. As much of a giant he was, he made the softest hoofsteps better than anypony she had known. McIntosh found his little sister on the swing, her head down. She was not wearing her favorite stetson.

“I knew you’ll be up here,” he said. She said nothing. “You always came up here everytime ma and pa were fighting.” McIntosh wanted to sit on the spare swing next to Applejack, but decided not to, fearing it will not support his weight. He brought his face close to Applejack, but her head was still down. He did not know if she was sleeping or she did not know he was here. He placed his hoof on her arm. She finally looked up. Gazing into her brother’s eyes her bottom lip shook. Her was distorted with grief.

“Mac… why did this happen?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was her time.”

“Don’t you say that,” she said sharply. “Don’t you dare say that.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I knew the answer, but I don’t.”

Applejack lowered her head once more. McIntosh saw little drops of tears fall to the ground. She gritted her teeth and whimpered. He couldn’t stand to see his sister like this.

“Why does this keep happening to me?” she said through her stricken voice. “Why do I keep losing those I love?”

“That ain’t true, and you know that,” McIntosh said. “You still got me, Granny Smith, Apple Bloom. You still have the whole dang family.”

“Rainbow Dash was my best friend, and she’s dead! I’m alone! I have nopony!”

McIntosh held his sister’s head which was stained in tears, with more coming in. He looked directly in her eyes.

“You’re not alone. You are a strong young mare, Applejack. You have your whole family right here behind you every step of the way. We’ll get through together, as a family, like we always have. Even when ma and pa passed on, we were always right here with you.”

“... I don’t know if I can. She was my best friend, Big Mac. I miss her so much!” she cried.

“I know. I’m going to miss her too.” They embraced each other, and a single tear flowed from McIntosh’s eye.

Later that day, Sweetie Belle made an emergency visit to Sweet Apple Acres. When Apple Bloom opened the door for her she was a wreck of a filly. Apple Bloom found bags under her eyes when she examined them closely. She revealed that herself and Rarity spent the entire night crying themselves to sleep. Now Rarity refused to get out of bed. She would not respond her, not even to their parents. It was so depressing she had to get away, hoping Sweet Apple Acres will have a slightly better atmosphere.

Sweetie sat on Apple Bloom’s bed and Scootaloo laid her back on a corner, and stared out the window. Apple Bloom remembered a long time ago when Granny Smith told her that one day ponies will look to her for answers to difficult questions. She had no idea it will be much sooner than she expected.

She approached Scootaloo. Talking to her may not fix anything, but she knew best friends always help each other. Scootaloo turned her head to see Apple Bloom sitting next to her.

“Can I talk to you?”

Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders.

It was going to be difficult to choose words to console a grieving friend. What if she said the wrong words?

“Scootaloo, there’s nothing I can say to make you feel any better about this. In fact, there’s nothing nobody can say. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose somebody close like Rainbow Dash.”

Scootaloo said nothing.

“... I just want you to know that we’re all here for you. Me, my family, Sweetie Belle; everyone’s here.”

“Thanks.”

The fillies were silent, then Apple Bloom thought of something. It might not be an appropriate subject to talk about with someone in Scootaloo’s situation, but it could not hurt to at least try.

“Have you heard of a place called Elysium?”

“What?” Scootaloo said.

“I think it’s just a story, but for those who do believe, Rainbow Dash is in a place called Elysium right now. It’s a place where good souls go when their time here is up. There’s no pain, no sadness, the grass is painted gold, and every tear is wiped from everyone’s eyes, and the sunlight is glorious and everlasting.”

Scootaloo stared at her questioningly, but Apple Bloom gained her attention. Sweetie Belle also gazed at Apple Bloom. She was, too, interested in this wonderful place. “Like I said, it’s probably just a story. I thought i’ll make you feel better.”

Scootaloo returned to gazing at the world through the window. She could not bring herself to believe such a place Apple Bloom described existed. It was still a nice story.

Chapter 3

On the day after the incident, The Mayor of Ponyville declared it a day of mourning for Rainbow Dash. Princess Celestia sent a personal letter to Twilight Sparkle to inform her that she will prepare a memorial service in six days. Then, everyone will their final respects to their dear friend. Twilight read the letter several times to herself. She dreaded those six days. There was an unpleasant feeling swelling in her soul.

Spike entered their room and sat next to her on the couch. He noticed the letter Twilight had placed on the small living room table. He did not remember anything coming from his mouth earlier.

“Where did that letter come from?” he asked.

“The Princess sent it herself,” she said. Her voice was weak, and she made no eye contact with him. “Teleportation, I guess.”

“... What did she say?”

Twilight refused to get the words out. She hoped all of this was a dream, and she will wake up at any moment. Sadly, Spike was still sitting next to her.

“In six days… we all say goodbye to her.” Spike stroked her hoof. He felt it shiver. “I can’t do this!” she whispered. “I don’t want to!” Twilight lay on her side on the couch. Her hooves covered her face. “This is it,” she wept. “It’s over! Our friendship, everything… it’s all over.”

“That’s not true,” Spike said.

“How can you say that?”

“I may not be the right dragon to this, but…” He climbed off the couch and walked to a shelf which had picture frames. He returned to Twilight with one of them in his claws. “I want to show you something.” He waited for Twilight to pay attention to him, then he showed her a photograph of their friends. It was taken during their first Summer Sun Celebration as best friends, the day they defeated Nightmare Moon, and when the Princess Celestia was finally reunited with her sister.

“Why do you want me to look at that?” she said bitterly.

“I want to show you that no matter what, friendship will always find a way. We’ve gone through bad times before, but it doesn’t mean we should lose hope. I’m pretty sure Rainbow Dash doesn’t want us to give up.”

“Spike, it’s not that simple. You can’t just get over things like this in a short time. This is somepony’s life we’re talking about.”

“I know.”

He placed the photograph on the table, next to the letter. They did not do anything that day; no studying, no reading, and they did not have to. These were going to be a long six days, and Twilight was going to need him by her side. It was the only thing Spike can do as a true friend.

Word got out for Rainbow Dash’s funeral in six days. Since the Royal Sisters will be present, the Mayor believed it to be a good idea for Ponyville to look presentable. Pegasi cleared the sky of storm clouds and the streets were polished in every direction. A stage, banners, and a stage was set up at the park, at the same area where Rainbow Dash took her final flight. A unicorn carved a marble statue of her cutie mark, the centerpiece for the event.

The day of the funeral was drawing near. Twilight and the rest of her friends knew they could not hide from it. All of them hoped this was just a terrible nightmare they were all sharing, only sadly realize it was reality. But not all of them accepted the harsh truth. There was one they had not seen since Rainbow’s last flight, and they all knew who it was.

On the evening before the funeral Twilight decided to visit Fluttershy at her cottage. For a reason she could not understand, the walk was longer than it usually was. There was a bridge over a creek, and she spotted her home from a clear distance. Twilight walked under the trees that blocked the sunlight, making the path dark. There was a melancholy presence in the thin air. Maybe Fluttershy’s cottage was a living being, and it shared her sadness. Twilight entered through a small wooden gate. A white rabbit was feeding the fish in a koi pond, then feed the birds in their cages.

“Excuse me,” she said. The rabbit was surprised to see her, but pleased that there was a visitor, a friend of Fluttershy. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Angel, but is Fluttershy home? I would like to talk to her if you don’t mind.”

Angel gave her a sad nod. He finished feeding the koi fish, then led her into Fluttershy’s home and up to her bedroom. The curtains were closed, and no light could fill the room. She stepped on something hard under her hoof. She moved it away and found it was a photograph of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash as fillies in a picture frame. Twilight used her magic to place it back on the wall. They continued upstairs until Angel sadly pointed to a large bed. Twilight saw Fluttershy, curled under the blankets, her back facing them. Twilight approached her bed like a turtle.

“Fluttershy? Are you feeling alright?” she whispered. Fluttershy said nothing. “Please talk to me. It’s not right to lock yourself away like this. Nopony has seen you for days.”

There was no response. Twilight let out a defeated sigh and let herself out of her room.

“... Don’t you think I know that?”

Twilight turned to see Fluttershy staring at her with a deep, cold frown. It was a face she never want to see again. “Do you think I don’t care? Rainbow Dash was my best friend since fillyhood. She was the only friend I had before you and the others came along. I’ve dealt with loss my entire life. Everypony that was important in my life were taken away from me. My mother, Sunspot, Rainbow Dash… all of them gone.”

“Who is Sunspot?” Twilight asked.

“Why do you care? You've never experienced sadness like I had. Not true sadness. Whenever I think about the ones who aren’t here with me, it consumes me. It’s not a good feeling.” A stir of emotion was rising inside her. “When you lose somepony you love, you don’t just lose the will the live. Instead, you lose the best part of you.”

“Fluttershy…”

She turned her back once more. Twilight silently walked out of Fluttershy’s room, then Angel led her downstairs. Fluttershy watched her travel down the road from her window. When Twilight was gone she closed the curtain and buried her face on her pillow.

Sweetie Belle wanted to do something special for the funeral. By suggestion of Mayor Mare and her mother, she practice a piano solo to perform during the ceremony. Since Rarity was out of commission due to spending her days in room, Sweetie’s mother helped her practice.

On the night before the funeral Rarity picked out a dress to wear. There was a black dress and a black sun hat that hid in the end of her closet. She carried the dress with her magic and examined herself in the mirror. Rarity hoped she’d never had to wear it. She released an ironing board that was attached to her bedroom door. She smoothed the black dress with the iron, and while she did she thought about what her life will be like without Rainbow Dash. She regretted not spending more time with her.

She stopped ironing for a moment. There were piano notes coming from downstairs. The notes formed a melody. Rarity lay the dress on her bed and reattached the board to the door. The melody was clear once she opened her door. It was hauntingly beautiful, a heavenly mix between sadness and joy. All the gloom that welled inside her was melted away. Then a small voice started singing.

Lay down

Your sweet and weary head.

Night is falling

You’ve come to journey’s end

Sleep now

And dream of the ones who came before

They are calling

From across the distant shore…

Did that voice belong to Sweetie Belle? Rarity couldn’t believe her ears. She scolded herself for not taking the time to realize how amazing her little sister can be. Rarity found Sweetie and their mother in the family room without anypony noticing her. Mother was sitting at the end of the couch while Sweetie’s hooves danced with the piano keys.

What can you see

On the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea

A pale moon rises

The ships have come to carry you home…

“... Sweetie,” Rarity spoke.

The music stopped. Her white cheeks turned red as roses when Sweetie saw her. Rarity tried to hide the heartbreak by smiling. “Oh Sweetie, that was absolutely wonderful. Your voice is amazing.”

“Thank you,” Sweetie said, “but mom help me write it. I couldn’t think of anything that was really good.”

“Well, nonetheless, you have a lovely voice. Isn’t that right, mother?”

Mother happily nodded. “Sweetie always had a talent for singing.”

Rarity’s horn glowed and the composition sheet floated to her face. “How did you get the idea for this beautiful song?”

“A few days ago, Apple Bloom was trying to cheer Scootaloo up, so she talked about this place called… Elysium, I think.”

“Elysium?” Rarity asked.

“She said it’s a place where good ponies go when their time here is finished. I liked it, and I wanted to make a song about it, but I couldn’t think of anything, so mom helped with the lyrics.”

“Thank you, mother, for writing such a wonderful song,” Rarity said, “and thank you, Sweetie, for lending your marvelous voice to it.”

“I want this song to tell everyone that Rainbow Dash is in a better place. And maybe someday we’ll see her again.”

Rarity stroked Sweetie’s mane, then wrapped her arm around her in a lovingly. They forgot about why they were sad and full of heartache. Mother could not have been so happy in what she was seeing. She always wanted her two daughters to be close, even in such a time as this. Sweetie returned to the piano and the melody filled the air once more.

Chapter 4

Sunrise smoothly sliced between the oak and pine trees, the washed Ponyville in its warm glow. Inside the library, sunlight gently touched the face of Twilight, who was sleeping. She opened her eyes and yawned. The unicorn climbed out of her bed and walked toward her window. She gazed at the town. The sun was just rising over the houses. It was going to be a wonderful day, she thought. Then she remembered what day it was.

She heard someone say her name. When Twilight turned to her side she saw Spike was already awake. They looked at each other. Neither of them said a word.

“Twilight,” he finally said. She closed her eyes. Spike approached her and held her hoof.

“I know.”

Twilight gazed at the sun rising from her window. Why must the day be so bright, so splendid, so warm on a day like this? Why, of all the days? Spike sat next to her. If he could, he can spend the whole with her inside their room. But it was not up to them.

Princess Celestia stood on the balcony that overlooked Canterlot. The cool breeze flowed through her long, brightly colored mane. She looked to where Ponyville was located. Celestia wondered what Twilight was doing at the moment. A voice called her name. Princess Luna was standing inches away from her. Her dark eyes were filled with sorrow. They held their gazes at each other, both of them silent.

“Tis a sad day,” Luna said. “The Element of Loyalty has departed from us.”

Celestia lowered her head. She thought of Twilight. Immortality had its disadvantages. She has seen ponies throughout the ages come and go. What could she say to her? Celestia had met Rainbow Dash only a few times. Now she wish she could have taken the time to know her better, including all of Twilight’s friends.

“I know,” Celestia sighed.

“Twilight will be pleased that you have come,” Luna said.

“Nothing can fix her broken heart so easily.”

Luna nodded. She stood with Celestia and gazed at the sunrise.

Granny Smith helped Scootaloo into a dress. It was a simple black dress with a white collar, along with a black bow tie. It used to belong to Granny when she was a filly, and she thought it would look good on her. “There you go, Sweetheart,” she said. Granny straighten the bow tie, and took a few steps back to get a good look. Scootaloo turned around and stared at herself in the mirror. She had bags under her eyes and dried tear stains. Her bottom lip shook. Granny gently placed her hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder to comfort her.

Applejack poked her head through the door, and saw Scootaloo and the dress she was wearing. Her spine chilled, but she held back her emotions.

“I… I just came to check on y’all,” she said.

“We’re doing fine, Jackie,” Granny said. Applejack nodded and closed the door. Granny gently pulled Scootaloo away from the mirror. She wiped away the incoming tears. “Was Rainbow Dash your friend, too?”

“She was like a sister to me,” Scootaloo said.

When she said that, Granny thought about her own grandchildren. She would suffer greatly from a heart attack if anything happened to them. Granny Smith gave her a soft smile, but Scootaloo saw the sadness in her eyes. Granny patted her on her back, then sent her off.

Twilight and her friends arrived just as seats were being filled. Ponies from over town, and many from out of town, came to pay their last respects to the faster flyer in Equestria. Everyone was dressed in black and white. There were more than 200 chairs in the park, and the centerpiece was a giant marble sculpture of Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark. Twilight and the others their seats in the front row. However, one was empty.

“Where’s Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.

“I came to her house, but there wasn’t an answer,” Pinkie said.

They said nothing. More ponies filled the seats, many of them were familiar faces. There was Derpy Hooves and her daughter, Dinky, and her friend Professor Turner, who taught at the community college. On the top row of the middle column sat two of the Wonderbolts, Spitfire and Soarin. They were not in their uniforms, but wore attire suited for funerals. Soarin looked sadder than Spitfire, who seemed emotionless, but a closer look at her told otherwise.

Pinkie thought about Fluttershy. She hoped her friend will find it in her heart to come. She kept a lookout on the aisles just in case. On one of the back rows of the middle column she spotted the bullies from Cloudsdale who taunted Rainbow Dash during the Best Young Flyers Competition. Their spirits were low; one of them had their head down the whole time. It was probably from shame for teasing her so much, Pinkie thought. While scanning the crowd she another face she had not expected. A face she had not seen in a long time.

On the last row was Gilda. She sat still, emotionless, her eyes fixed on the stage. Pinkie was surprised. She never thought she will see her again, nor did she guessed Gilda would attend an event like this. Pinkie wanted to go to her, to talk, but decided against it.

“Not yet,” she said to herself.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sat next to each other, but were all silent. Scootaloo had her eyes to the ground, pretending the giant marble cutie mark was not there.

Twilight still wanted to believe this was all a horrible nightmare. Time seem to stand still and everything and everyone was fading away into nothingness, until a hoof touch her arm.

“Twilight?” a male voice said. She turned to see her brother, Shining Armor, and her sister-in-law, Princess Cadence. She could not believe they came all the way from the Crystal Empire for someone they only met a couple of times, but Twilight was glad to see them anyway. She quickly caught her brother in a hug. “Twilight, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through.”

Twilight then hugged Princess Cadence, but did not seem to let go. It was then that Cadence knew they made the right decision.

Many chairs were filled, but there was no sign of Fluttershy. Then, everyone saw a great chariot descend from the sky. It was white, decorated with golden designs, and was pulled by the royal guards. The Sisters had come. Everyone, except Gilda, bowed in reverence. Princess Celestia was overwhelmed at the turnout. She had no idea that Rainbow Dash was loved by so many. She saw Twilight, her prized student, and her friends, but she noticed one was missing.

“Where is Fluttershy?” Celestia asked. Twilight lowered her head. The Princess kindly put her hoof on Twilight’s chin and stared at the empty seat.

“Celestia,” Luna said, “we must take our seats. The service is about to begin.”

“So it seems.”

The Sisters sat in two extra seats in the front that was reserved for them. Luna watched the remaining seats being filled with guests. She looked around, then saw three fillies seated in the same row. Luna remembered them from Nightmare Night a year ago. They stared at her; mouths open, nervous, possibly frightened by presence. Even Scootaloo took the time to gaze at her. Luna smiled at them to make the fillies less nervous.

“Do not be afraid, for I mourn with you,” she said in a soft voice.

The service began when the Mayor stood behind the podium on the stage. Everyone was instantly silenced. She wore a black suit jacket with a white blouse under, and a black dress skirt.

“Your Highnesses Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” she began, “Your Highnesses Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and fellow citizens of Ponyville… I would like to thank all of you for coming as we pay our last respects to one of Ponyville’s most beloved friend, Rainbow Dash. I am deeply heartbroken by this unfortunate turn of events as you all are. What was supposed to have been a celebration of a pony’s triumph over adversity ended in tragedy, when on this very spot Rainbow Dash performed her greatest and final sonic rainboom.

“... Her body could not be found, and some have concluded that the powerful force of the sonic rainboom had destroyed her. But the remains we do have of her are the memories of the good times she left behind. And for that we are truly thankful. I will like to close this portion of the service with a moment of silence.”

Silence.

“Thank you. I will also like to add that there will be no applause during the ceremony, for this is a solemn event, and a time for reflection and memory. Without further ado, we are about to hear a musical piece by the Harmonic String Quartet.”

The Mayor silently walked off the stage. A moment later, a string quartet appeared on stage that consist of an earth pony, a pegasus, and two unicorns. The earth pony had a cello, the pegasus carried a violin, and two violas for the unicorns. The cello pony played first, playing a sad melody that conveyed the emptiness felt in everyone. After a while, one of the viola players joined, overlaying the cello with a melody that sensed the innocence that was lost. As the two strings blended, the remaining strings joined together to create the desperate longing for the past.

After seven minutes of string instruments pulling heartstrings, the melancholy piece ended, finished by the cello player whose last note was that of somberness. The players bowed and exit the stage, and Mayor Mare stood behind the podium.

“Thank you,” she said. “Now, we will have poetry read by Lyra Heartstrings, an eulogy from Twilight Sparkle, then a song by Sweetie Belle.” The Mayor stepped away and let Lyra take the stage.

“When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd,

And the great star early droop'd in the western sky in the night,

I mourn'd, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.

Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,

Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,

And thought of her I love.

O powerful western fallen star!

O shades of night -- O moody, tearful night!

O great star disappear'd -- O the black murk that hides the star!

O cruel hooves that hold me powerless -- O helpless soul of me!

O harsh surrounding cloud that will not free my soul.

In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash'd palings,

Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,

With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,

With every leaf a miracle -- and from this bush in the dooryard,

With delicate-color'd blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,

A sprig with its flower I break.

Sing on, sing on, you gray-brown bird,

Sing from the swamps, the recesses, pour your chant from the bushes,

Limitless out of the dusk, out of the cedars and pines.

Sing on dearest brother, warble your reedy song,

Loud equine song, with voice of uttermost woe.

O liquid and free and tender!

O wild and loose to my soul -- O wondrous singer!

You only I hear -- yet the star holds me, but will soon depart,

Yet the lilac with mastering odor holds me.

Yet each to keep and all, retrievements out of the night,

The song, the wondrous chant of the gray-brown bird,

And the tallying chant, the echo arous'd in my soul,

With the lustrous and drooping star with the countenance full of woe,

With the holders holding my hoof nearing the call of the bird,

Comrades mine and I in the midst, and their memory ever to keep for the dead I loved so well,

For the sweetest, wisest soul of all my days and lands -- and this for her dear sake,

Lilac and star and bird twined with the chant of my soul,

There in the fragrant pines and the cedars dusk and dim.

Lyra stepped down from the stage. She returned to the seat next to her friend Bon-Bon. She gave Lyra a kiss on the cheek.

The stage was given to Twilight Sparkle. She saw hundreds of eyes staring at her. Twilight had not written a speech, nor did she need to. She knew exactly what to say, and it came from her heart.

“I know many of you know who I am, but for those who don’t, my name is Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash was my best friend. She was one of the first ponies I met when I moved here from Canterlot. And she was the most loyal friend anyone can have, and I’m truly blessed that she was my best friend. But it hasn’t always been like that. Back then, I never knew what friendship… what real friendship was. What real friendship can become. Looking back, being so caught up in my studies for Princess Celestia had clouded my better judgement.

“When I met Rainbow Dash for the first time, my first impression of her was… not so great. I thought of her as brash, rude, and arrogant. I never want to admit this, but I hoped I would never have to see her again. Later that same night, when Nightmare Moon returned, she, along with my other friends; Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie… and Fluttershy, volunteered to help me find the Elements of Harmony. Each of them performed a task that proved they had the spirit of the elements within them. Applejack showed honesty to reassure me, Rarity generously gave a gift to someone, Fluttershy showed kindness to a large creature who wasn’t quite as mean as we thought, and Pinkie Pie laughed at the face of danger. And when the shadows of Nightmare Moon wanted to bring her away from us, Rainbow Dash remained loyal to us.

“Loyalty. During this dark time, I looked up the definition of the word. Being loyal means having a strong feeling of support or allegiance to someone or an idea. Rainbow Dash not only had strong loyalty for her friends, she had strong loyalty for the ideals of Equestria was founded on - friendship and harmony. Time and again she showed loyalty through her actions. When her friends were in danger, when someone needed help, when something was needed to be done, when an enemy threatened our home… and those who needed a friend, Rainbow Dash was there.

“I… I remember a sonic rainboom from a long time ago. It happened when I was a filly. I was having my entrance exam for the School for Gifted Unicorns. I was nervous. I thought I was going to fail. Then a great explosion of color filled the sky, and powerful magic flowed through me. I was accepted. My cutie mark also appeared that same day. All of my best friends got their cutie marks at the same time.”

Twilight’s eyes were glassy. Small tears slowly down her cheek. She covered her mouth to conceal her whimpers. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. After a brief moment she gained her composure.

“As we say farewell to the greatest flyer in Equestria… let us remember the good times we had with her. Let us remember the loyalty she showed all of us. And finally, let us remember the message she gave to all of us. Live life to the fullest. Make each day count. Live as though everyday is our last. And that’s what she did, and we should as well.”

Twilight stepped down for the podium and returned to her seat. She covered her face and silently released all her emotions she kept bottled during the speech. Rarity levitated a piece of tissue to her.

Now it was time for Sweetie Belle to take the stage. She froze in her seat. Sweetie forgot she had to sing in front of a hundred ponies. She glued herself to her chair. Rarity gave her a gentle nudge and a sympathetic smile. Apple Bloom touched her hoof. Sweetie found what courage she had in her to force herself away from her seat.

The piano was set up for her on the stage. She turned to the pages on the notebook until she found the song. Her hooves hovered over the keys. She knew every eye was watch her; it made her nauseous. Then she remembered that her mother gave her helpful advice the night before. She closed her eyes, then opened them again. All the seats were empty, save for one.

Rarity.

Now it was time to begin. Sweetie played the first notes on the song. It was a nice, soft, and simple melody. Somber, but uplifting as well. Her voice was small, but she sang.

Lay down…

Your sweet and weary head,

Night is falling,

You’ve come to journey’s end.

Sleep now,

And dream of the ones who came before.

They are calling

From across the distant shore.

Why do you weep,

What are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see,

All of your fears will pass away

Safe in my arms.

You’re only sleeping…

What can you see

On the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea

A pale moon rises…

The ships have come to carry you home.

And all will turn

To silver glass…

A light in water

All souls pass…

Hope fades…

Into the world of night,

Through shadows falling,

Out of memory and time.

Don’t say we have come now to the end,

White shores are calling…

You and I will meet again.

And you’ll be safe in my arms…

Just sleeping…

Sweetie sang the chorus once more. She found herself singing off-key, which was unusual since she sang perfectly when practicing with her mother. Her hooves moved much slower on the keys. She did it to keep herself from making another mistake. The song was almost at an end, and she played the final chords. She pressed the last key, and the music faded from the air. She closed her eyes, convinced that she had ruined a meaningful performance.

Instead, she looked up and saw many teary-eyed smiles, including Rarity and her friends. Even the Royal Sisters themselves were moved. They were genuinely pleased with her performance. Sweetie was relieved for herself, but she still felt awkward for stumbling on a few parts. She returned to her seat, and Rarity lovingly stroked her head.

The Mayor returned to the stage. “And now we approach the last part of the service. Ushers will release ponies from their seats from the top row to the back row, and we will quietly place a rose on the memorial. Afterward we will close the ceremony with another moment of silence. Let us begin.”

Ushers released the ponies from the first row of seats that included Twilight and her friends, the fillies, Shining Armor and Cadance, and the Sisters. One by one they placed a rose on the ground while a stallion played hymns on the piano, then returned to their seats.

As more time passed, others followed suit. Spitfire and Soarin placed theirs together. Derpy and her family placed theirs at once, but Dinky left a stuffed animal with the roses. “It’s for Rainbow Dash, mommy,” she whispered. Derpy kissed her on her forehead and they returned to their seats.

Thunderlane and his younger brother Rumble were next. The brothers placed their roses on the ground. Before the left, Thunderlane gazed at the memorial, then said quietly, “Thank you, Dash. Thanks for believing in me.”

Her bullies from flight school followed. One after another, the boys placed their roses on the ground. One of them knelt in a defeated fashion, repeated silently “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” His friends helped him to his legs.

The last row was released, and Gilda was the last in line. Everyone stared at the griffon while she approached the memorial. Many remembered her as the one who made Fluttershy cry, while others remembered the time she stormed off from Pinkie’s party. None of that mattered to her. Not on this day. There was no reason for her to feel out of place. She placed her rose on the ground, then gazed at the giant lightning bolt-shaped sculpture.

“All this time,” Gilda whispered, “I never had the chance to apologize. I never had the chance to say goodbye.” Gilda covered her face with her claw, shamefully hiding her sorrow from everyone.

Pinkie watched from her chair. She knew Gilda needed a friend.

Chapter 5

When the last rose was placed on the ground, the funeral came to a close. Some returned home while many others joined together for lunch at Sugarcube Corner. The Sisters returned to Canterlot that afternoon, but not before they gave their condolence to Twilight and her friends.

Pinkie never stopped noticing Gilda since the day began. She was the only one left when the park was empty. She sat on the front row with her head down. Sometimes Gilda will raise her head to glance at the sculpture before bringing it down. Pinkie called for Twilight to tell her she’ll join them for lunch later. When she pointed to Gilda, Twilight gave an approving nod and went away.

Gilda gazed at the sky while she was sitting. She imagined that somewhere, in the clear blue sky, Rainbow Dash was taking a nap on a cloud. But those days were over now. She had nopony left. Rainbow Dash was never coming back, and she was one who drove her away.

“Gilda,” somepony said to her. She turned to head to see Pinkie taking a seat next to her.

“Oh… it’s you. What do you want?”

“I was just wondering if you would like to have lunch with us?”

“Us?”

“My friends and I.”

Gilda gave a suspicious look on Pinkie. Why would she do this? After everything she has done, Pinkie invites her to lunch. She was as crazy as she last saw her. Gilda thought for a moment, then brought her head down. “No,” she sighed.

“Why?” Pinkie said disappointingly.

“Come on, don’t be stupid. You know why. Remember all the things I did? I stole stuff, I was trying to separate you and Dash, I yelled at you at that party…”

The bitterness was too much. Gilda turned herself away from Pinkie. “I made some bad decisions in my life. The biggest one I made is cutting Dash loose… and I’m still paying for it. And now she’s dead.”

“Don’t feel bad,” Pinkie said. “I’m sure everypony will forgive you if you give them the chance.”

“What if they don’t?”

Pinkie reached for her claw and held it. Gilda wanted to snatch her claw away, but the bitterness and self-loathing inside her melted away, but she still couldn’t look at her. Pinkie held on and never let go.

“Please come,” Pinkie said. “I promise there won’t be any pranks.”

With one look into Pinkie’s eyes, Gilda didn’t have the heart to say no. However, she believe she will regret the decision, like so many others she made in her life. Pinkie smiled and led her to Sugarcube Corner.

Everypony from friends, acquaintances, classmates; anypony who knew Rainbow Dash well had lunch together at Sugarcube Corner. They sat in tables and booths, with plates of sweets, and shared fond memories of their favorite pegasus. The smell of confectionary snacks took their minds off the sadness of the funeral, if only for a brief moment. Twilight, her friends, and the Royal Couple shared one table, but the Cutie Mark Crusaders shared a little table by the window. They spoke little, and had cups of hot chocolate in their hooves. Ponies would often go up to Twilight and her friends and gave their condolences to them, and tell them how much Rainbow Dash meant to them.

Princess Cadance looked over her shoulder and saw the three fillies sitting together in silence. None of them made eye contact. She noticed that the orange filly had her head down the entire time. Cadance figured that she was the one was really close to Rainbow Dash. She turned to her husband and whispered something in his ear, then Shining nodded to her.

She approached the fillies with a sympathetic smile. “Hello,” she said softly. The fillies hardly had time react when they saw the princess. She held her hoof out. “It’s okay. Do you mind if I sit with you?” They nodded. She added another chair to their table. Cadance smiled at them so they wouldn’t have to be nervous. “I remember you three,” she said. “All of you were flower girls at my wedding.” The fillies nodded in agreement, but the little unicorn tried to smile. “Can you tell me your names?”

“My name’s Apple Bloom… Your Highness,” the earth pony said. She bowed her head. Cadance giggled.

“There’s no need for formality,” she said. She turned to the unicorn, and learned her name was Sweetie Belle. “You have a lovely voice, Sweetie Belle.” Sweetie smiled again just as her white cheeks turned red. Then she turned her attention to the pegasus.

“... Scootaloo.”

Cadence placed her hoof on Scootaloo’s arm. She had no place that everything will be okay, but she wanted to let the filly know that she was never alone.

“Shining Armor I must say that Princess Cadance has a way with children,” Rarity said. They looked on as Cadance interacted with the fillies.

“She does, doesn’t she?” he said. “As I recall, she used to foalsit a certain unicorn.” Twilight took her eyes off her glass of hot chocolate when she heard her name. Then she looked at the princess talk with the fillies. She noticed that the girls gradually began to smile, if only for a little while. “The girls, were they friends with Rainbow Dash?” Shining asked.

“One of them was,” Applejack said. “Scootaloo - she’s the pegasus.” Shining saw an orange pegasus who tried her best to keep her forced half-smile. “She never had a family of her own, so Rainbow Dash acted as her big sister. They were together like peas and carrots until… that day.”

“Poor kid,” Shining said. “No child should ever have to go through that.”

“We were all very close to her,” Rarity said. “In fact, we were more than best friends. We were sisters with an unbroken bond.”

The conversation continued, then Pinkie entered Sugarcube Corner with a special guest. Applejack and Rarity gasped inwardly, but Twilight remained neutral.

“Sorry I’m late, guys,” Pinkie said. “I had to… pick up somepony.” Gilda awkwardly stood a few inches from Pinkie. She was unable to look at them in the eye. What was worse was there were many other ponies in the shop. Some glanced at her for a few seconds then returned to their business. They probably didn’t think much of her, she thought to herself. Gilda couldn’t blame them. Rarity wanted to speak, but a pleading look from Pinkie prevent her from saying anything. Pinkie sat next to Twilight and showed Gilda an empty seat next to her. She took it while not trying to make eye contact with Rarity and Applejack.

“... Hi,” she said.

“... Hey,” Applejack said.

“I’m pretty sure everypony remembers Gilda,” Pinkie said. Gilda wish she hadn’t said that. Nopony answered her, not even Twilight, but she showed no bitterness toward her.

“I don’t,” Shining said. He extended his hoof to Gilda and she took it into her claws, shaking it. “My name’s Shining Armor. Please to meet you.”

“Gilda,” she said, “and it’s nice to meet you too.” Rarity and Applejack glanced at each other before keeping their sight on her. Gilda felt the pressure emitting from their eyes, but she tried to ignore them.

“So, are all of you friends?” Shining asked.

“Well, I was friends with Rainbow Dash. We were best buds when we met at flight camp, but… we had a falling out,” she answered with remorse.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” Shining said. “You two must’ve been good friends.”

“We were… but that’s all behind me.” Applejack and Rarity soften their gazes, but they were not sure if Gilda has genuinely changed. They found it strange that she reconsidered her attitude just as Rainbow Dash died. Twilight, despite the welcome party incident, sensed some shame and guilt in Gilda. “I don’t want to sound like a crybaby, but if Dash were alive, she’d wouldn’t want to see me.”

“Why not?”

“We had an argument a few years back, then I blew her off. We hadn’t seen each other since then. It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m positive Dash has completely forgotten about me.”

“... I wouldn’t say that,” Twilight said. Gilda wasn’t sure if the unicorn was talking to her. She looked her direction, and she was right. Twilight was speaking directly at her. “Gilda, you wouldn’t have known, but Rainbow always talked about giving you a second chance the next time you two meet again. She felt terrible about how badly things turned out during your last visit.”

“She did?”

“Yes. The only thing she ever wanted was to see you again.”

“I didn’t know that,” Applejack said.

“Me neither,” Rarity said.

“That’s why I brought her here,” Pinkie said, “so we can put what happened behind us. Gilda, I just want to say that I’m sorry for what I did to you. It was your welcome party, and we never should have pulled those mean pranks on you. On behalf of our good friend Dashie, I want to properly welcome you to Ponyville.”

Pinkie reached her hoof out to Gilda. She was unsure, but she knew in the bottom of her soul that something good is happening. She took it.

“Thank you,” she said. Her eyes were tingling. “And I’m sorry for… all the awful things I did to you.”

“Do you think we can be friends, now?”

“... Sure.”

Pinkie attached her body to Gilda’s. Her body temperature was rising. She felt a tingling sensation on her chest. It was a strange feeling she had never felt before. She slowly wrapped her arms around Pinkie. She didn’t know it, but a little smile formed on her beak.

“Gilda,” Applejack said, “if three of my best friends found it in their hearts to accept you, then so can I.”

“Thanks.”

Rarity approached Gilda next. “Madame, I know our first meeting was a sour one at best, but they are absolutely right. Life's too short and precious to spend holding grudges. Rainbow Dash would not have wanted it that way. I would be honored if you accept my friendship as well.”

That strange feeling inside Gilda was growing stronger. She felt the hole in her heart being filled. A rush of emotions she never knew coursed through her. Small tears formed in her eyes, and Gilda quickly wiped them away.

“What’s going on here?” Cadance asked. Of course, the answer was already presented to her. She smiled when she saw Twilight and her friends hugging a misty-eyed griffon.

Gilda forgot about all her troubles since making peace with Pinkie Pie. She shared her fondest memories of Rainbow Dash, as did Pinkie and the others. She had no idea how much she had in common with them. Finally, life had given a fresh start she always prayed for. All the baggage she carried with her was less heavy. Applejack raised her cup of hot chocolate and proposed a toast to the departed Rainbow Dash. In the midst of it all, Gilda finally realized something she had overlooked.

“Where’s that yellow pony?” she asked.

“You mean Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked.

“Yeah, her. Where is she?”

Like a ton of bricks, everypony remembered Fluttershy’s absence at the funeral. They thought of answers, but Applejack settled for honesty.

“Well, she didn’t come,” she said.

“Oh,” Gilda said disappointingly. “That’s too bad. You know, I thought about her everyday since I left town. I wish I hadn’t done what I did. The face she made when I yelled at her… I can’t get it out of my head. And she was just helping a bunch of ducks cross the street.” She was feeling bitter once more.

“I’m sure Fluttershy will forgive you if she was here,” Pinkie said. “It’s just that… what happened to Rainbow Dash hit her pretty hard.”

“I couldn’t imagine. Still, I wish I can apologize to her.”

“I’m sure you’ll get the chance,” Twilight said.

Later that day a grand chariot waited outside Sugarcube Corner. A crystal guard called for Shining Armor and Princess Cadance. It was time for them to go their separate ways. Pinkie gave Gilda a friendship bracelet made out of rock candy. Pinkie told it belonged to somepony very close to her, and she hoped Gilda will meet her one day.

“That’ll be swell, kid… uh, Pinkie.”

“Are you going to come back?”

“... You know what, sure. I might just do that.”

“Pinkie promise?”

Gilda was puzzled at the concept of a Pinkie promise, but Pinkie Pie spent the next minute going through the basics with her. After various arm and body movements, the deal was set. They shared a quiet laugh.

Shining Armor approached her. They shook hoof and claw once more. “Good luck with whatever you decide to do in life. I know Rainbow Dash is very proud of you.”

“Thanks. I know she is, too.” Gilda stretched her wings and took herself off the ground. Everypony watched her until she disappeared into the sunset.

Shining and Twilight shared one last moment together before they parted. The siblings embraced each other, then he kissed her on her forehead. “Twilight, if you need anything - anything at all - even somepony to talk to, we’re not far.”

“Thank you.” They let go of each other. No matter how bad things are in her life, Twilight was always lucky to have a loving brother like Shining Armor. He smiled at her other friends. “Take care of each other.”

“We will,” Applejack said.

“It’s what friends are for,” Pinkie added.

Princess Cadence spent the last few moments with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. She knelt to their level and gazed into their eyes. With a glowing smile she gave them a commandment:

“I want the three of you to enjoy your lives and celebrate those around you. Don’t worry about what will happen in the future, and stop dwelling on the past, and appreciate what the present has to offer.”

She set her attention solely on Scootaloo. “You may think you are alone, but you’re not. You have many friends who care about you and will always love you. I know Rainbow Dash will tell you the same thing.”

Cadance drew the fillies into a hug, and a pink aura surrounded them. The magnificent glow dissipated once she released them. She turned to Twilight and her friends. “All of you are welcome to visit us anytime you like, even these wonderful fillies.”

The farewells were completed. Shining and Cadance departed from them. It was going to get dark soon.

“Well, I guess we should be heading home,” Applejack said somberly. “We had a long day.”

“I’m worried about Fluttershy,” Pinkie said. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”

“She just needs time, sugarcube. Rainbow Dash was her entire world.”

“I’ll try to stop by her home tomorrow,” Rarity said, “in case she needs anything. Heaven knows she’ll need her friends by her side.”

They said goodnight to each other, then to their own homes they went. Scootaloo spent that night dwelling on Princess Cadance’s words. Despite her two best friends at her side, their sisters and many others who deeply care for her, Scootaloo felt utterly alone in the world. Without Rainbow Dash to guide her, who can she turn to?

Chapter 6

There was not a soul that was out under the moonlight, save for one. Fluttershy flew from her cottage until she at the park entrance, then she travelled the rest of the way on hoof. She carried a rose in her mouth. Despite the darkness, she knew where she was going. She walked until she found what she was looking for - Rainbow Dash’s memorial.

She gazed at the sculpture, still wondering how it has come to this. Fluttershy placed the rose on the ground with the others. She wanted to speak, but she couldn’t get the words out. There was nothing to say. Too weak to stand, she sat on the grass. Out of the darkness she noticed a little stuffed animal among the pile of roses. She took it and held it close to her as though it were her foal.

It was just her and Rainbow Dash now, just as she wanted it. She can stay out half the night if she wanted to. If she could, she’d sleep on the blades of grass.

Flight Camp

Fluttershy tried to hide herself from the world she only knew, but the laughter did not cease. The colts pointed and laugh, their sharp words piercing the heart of the filly. She wanted to yell, but the pressure put on by the bullies made it impossible. Again and again the taunting rang loudly like church bells.

Fluttercry, Fluttercry,

Fluttercry can’t hardly fly!

“Stop it,” she whispered. “Please stop.” Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The colts formed a circle around her, blocking her path to freedom.

The noise grew louder to the point where Fluttershy couldn’t take it anymore. She flapped her wings but she couldn’t hover herself off the cloud surface. They wouldn’t stop. They didn’t see her moist eyes. The insults continued, and Fluttershy wept under pink mane.

There was stomp of hooves. Everypony was quiet.

“Leave her alone!” a brash voice yelled. “Why do you guys always pick on her? What has she ever done to you?”

Fluttershy looked up and saw a blue filly with her back toward her. She couldn’t see her face, but the back of her mane and her tail were of many colors. The blue filly positioned herself like a bull ready to charge. “You want a piece of this? Go ahead, I dare you!”

The bullies backed away and departed, then her demeanor soften. With sympathetic eyes she reached out to Fluttershy, who was hesitant to take her hoof. “You okay?” she asked. “Don’t worry, I got rid of those dumbbells.”

Fluttershy slowly took her hoof, then the blue filly helped her to her legs. She was baffled when she gazed at her new savior. Why did this filly came to her rescue? Fluttershy was too intimidated to look her in the eye, so she looked away.

“Well, aren’t you going to say anything?” the blue filly asked.

“... Thank you,” Fluttershy said in a low voice. She concealed her face with her mane, which caused the blue filly to snicker at her.

“Relax kid, I won’t bite,” she said. The blue filly gently brought Fluttershy’s eyes to hers, then she brushed her pink mane to the back of her yellow ears so she can see her face. “What’s your name?”

“... Fluttershy.”

“Fluttershy, eh? My name’s Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash extended her hoof to her. Fluttershy gradually held her own hoof out and they shook together. “If those mouth breathers ever mess with you again, just let me know. Sound good?”

“Okay.”

Rainbow Dash launched herself straight into the sky to join a little griffon who waited for her. Fluttershy watched her take off with tears in her eyes, forever thankful for the blue angel from heaven.

Five Years Ago

The nurse led Fluttershy through the halls of the hospital, scanning the doors until she found the right number. The silence of the halls was unsettling for her, but it wasn’t enough to keep her from doing what was right. They walked passed a few more doors until they’ve reached room 206.

“Thank you for doing this,” the nurse said. “I know he’s going to be very happy to see you.”

“I know,” Fluttershy said with a smile. The nurse unlocked the door, and Fluttershy let herself in.

Inside the room was a colt, no more than seven years of age. His eyes were closed, slumbering away. Stuffed animals surrounded his bed, along with colorful balloons with text on them such as “Get Well Soon” and “Hope You Feel Better.” Fluttershy approached him by his side, and gently stroked his golden mane.

The little colt opened his eyes, and his face beamed with joy. “Fluttershy!”

“Hi Sunspot,” she said pleasantly. They embraced each other, and Fluttershy dug through a bag she was carrying with her. “I have something for you.” Using her mouth she grabbed a toy from her bag. It was an action figure, a stallion in a blue suit and a red cape, with a capital A inside a diamond-shaped pentagon on his chest. Sunspot’s jaw was agape, then he bounced on his bed in excitement.

“It’s Captain Amazing!”

“I knew how much you wanted it, so I searched every toy store in town. Luckily I found the last one.”

“Oh thank you, thank you, Fluttershy!” Sunspot hugged her tightly once more, and she returned the favor.

“You’re welcome. You deserve it.”

Early fillyhood

It’s a fact that no child enjoys the first day of school, especially if that child is Fluttershy. She couldn’t wait to get out of that building. It was nothing but full eight hours of torture from the other children. Although when the bell rang she was in no rush to get leave her desk. The children pushed and shoved while making their way to the door, so she stayed in her desk until the way was cleared. After the long walk across the halls she was outside. There, a white pegasus mare with a pink mane just like hers was waiting at the front gate.

Fluttershy wasted no time running to her. Upon impact, she hugged the mare, then she began to cry.

“Fluttershy, what’s wrong?” the mare asked.

“I hate school, mommy!”

The white mare stroked Fluttershy’s mane. She looked across from her and saw that many of the children had their own circle of friends, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. She sighed. Fluttershy had her face buried into her chest.

“Calm down, sweetie. It’s only your first day.”

“I don’t want to go back! I hate it! All the kids made fun of me!”

Flutterheart knelt to her daughter’s level. She held small yellow head in her hooves. She saw the tears that ruined her perfect eyes, so she wiped her face clean.

“Please don’t cry, Fluttershy. It breaks my heart when you do that.”

“But I can’t help it,” she whimpered. Fluttershy buried her head again. In times such as this, Flutterheart took her young daughter out for snow cones. They walked away from the awful school and went to town. They found a vendor, and she ordered snow cones for the two of them, but that wasn’t enough to make Fluttershy feel better about the first day of school.

“Fluttershy, can you tell me what happened on your first day of school?” Flutterheart asked nicely.

She was hesitant to answer, but she didn’t want to upset her mother. “All the kids made fun of me because I didn’t like to talk. A filly called me a mouse and everypony laughed. They didn’t want to play with me during recess. And when I cried they all called me Fluttercry.” The snow cone was still in her hooves, but she didn’t take another lick. Her eyes didn’t stay dry for long. “Why are they so mean to me, mommy?”

“Maybe they’re mean because they don’t know how special you are,” Flutterheart said. “You are a wonderful filly, Fluttershy. Don’t pay attention to what those other kids say about you. Just continue to be who you are.”

It wasn’t the advice Fluttershy wanted to her. She had her head down. How was that going to stop the kids from bullying her. More than anything, being herself will make them bully her even more.

“Fluttershy, can you do something else for me?”

“What is it, mommy?”

“I want you to smile more. You’re too pretty to be sad all the time. I want you to be happy.”

“I’ll try.”

Flight Camp

The bullies had done it again. They harassed Fluttershy once more, even after Rainbow Dash stood up for her. Now, Fluttershy had to watch from the sidelines as she and three of the bullies raced each other. Fluttershy still couldn’t believe that this filly she only met just a few days ago would go to lengths to defend her honor.

But why did they chose her to wave the flag?

There were pegasi all around, watching. They weren’t paying attention to her, but Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel that they were silently judging her. She saw Rainbow Dash in position to race. She had determination in her eyes. For a moment, Fluttershy wanted to know what it was like to be Rainbow Dash. To have no fear of anything, to scare off bullies just by looking at them, and to be well-liked by almost everypony. If only she could be Rainbow Dash for just one day.

An impatient pony called for the race to get started. Fluttershy wave the checkered flag, and the speedsters flew past her before she blinked an eye. Unfortunately, the force of the fliers pushed her off the cloud she was standing on.

She fell to earth. Nopony came to her rescue. This was it. She was going to die, and nopony will even care. She closed her eyes to think about her mother one last time.

Something caught her.

Fluttershy opened her eyes. She was hovering above the trees, but she wasn’t flying. Who could be doing this? Was it the guiding hoof of The Presence? She looked down, and it was strangest sight. A swarm of butterflies carried her to safety. The butterflies gently placed her on the ground.

The ground. The earth. It was so foreign. She felt every inch of the grass beneath her hooves. She never seen so many trees in her life. Everything was so green and rich. Fluttershy looked up and saw the heavens above her. There was something about this place that seemed to give her a peace of mind. She was safe here.

A furry creature dashed by her leg. It had a tail as big as its body, and it was carrying an acorn. It stopped when it noticed the yellow giant standing over it. It was the most wonderful thing she laid eyes on. Many other creatures appeared from the bushes and trees, and even the sky. Rabbits hopped, frogs croaked, squirrels climbed the trees, the birds flew over her head. They all sang their forest song to her. The earth was such an amazing place, she thought. For the first time in her life, she was truly happy to be alive. Fluttershy wanted to stay here forever.

Then there was an explosion.

She looked up, and there was a magnificent ring of colors in the sky. It spread throughout the clouds. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Besides the earth, the rainbow was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Fluttershy was brought back to earth to find that the animals were in frenzy, and many of them hid behind the bushes.

Fluttershy went up to a tree where the squirrels were hiding. “It’s okay, you can come out,” she said softly. The squirrels were hesitant to leave their tree, but for some reason they knew they could trust her. Then she went to the bushes where the rabbits took cover. “It’s safe now. There’s no danger.” Just as the squirrels, the rabbits seem to trust her. Fluttershy managed to get all the animals to come out of hiding. Something was stirring inside her. With all the woodland creatures surrounding her, she might have that she was able to understand them. Could it be fate that brought her to earth?

Maybe it was an accident, maybe it was destiny. She will never know, and she didn’t want to. At that moment Fluttershy made her decision. She wanted to stay here forever.

Some Years Ago

Fluttershy’s world has just grew darker. She sat alone on a park bench, let the tears flow down her face and drip onto the letter on the ground. She didn’t know how long she was crying, but she couldn’t stop once she read that horrible letter. The words in that letter ripped a good piece of her soul away. Her pink mane, along with hooves, covered her face.

“Fluttershy,” a familiar voice called. From out of the sky Rainbow Dash swooped down and landed next to her. Not even seeing the face of her friend was enough make her feel better, so she continued to cry. “Fluttershy, what’s the matter?” Rainbow Dash asked.

She forced herself to stop crying so she can speak. However, the words were too unbearable to say.

“... My mother… died.”

“Oh my gosh. Fluttershy I’m so sorry.”

Fluttershy’s wailing grew louder. She thought she might die herself if she had to say those words again. Rainbow Dash sat next her then held her in her arms. She stroked her pink mane gently as any mother would do. Rainbow saw her pegasi friends she was flying with earlier. They wanted to know if she still wanted to race.

Rainbow shook her head. Her friend was more important than any race.

Present

Why must fate be so cruel to her? What she done to deserve such harsh punishments? Fluttershy thought about this as she sat on the grass under the moon. Why must the ponies she loved the most have to be ones to leave her? Maybe she wasn’t meant to be happy. That’s why she’s so shy all the time. At least she was reunited with her best friend.

She wanted to say something. Fluttershy wanted to make it count. But how do you speak to a tombstone? What could she say?

“Rainbow Dash,” she said. “It’s me, Fluttershy. I just want to say that… I’m sorry for not coming to your funeral. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you. You were my best friend in the whole world. You were my only friend when I had nopony else.

“When I was little, everypony used to pick on me because I was shy. I didn’t think I’ll have any friends. That’s the one thing I don’t like about myself. My mother said that there was nothing wrong with being shy, but I never believed her. And whenever I try to make friends, everypony just push me away, or don’t even notice me. I felt really horrible about myself.

“Then my mother decided to enroll in flight camp. She thought it would help build my self-esteem. I… hated it there too. The bullies made fun of me because I couldn’t fly like they can. Never in my life I wanted to be invisible. And then you came. You stood up for me. Nopony ever has done that for me.

“I’ll never forget that sonic rainboom. When I fell down from the sky I thought I was going to die. Then I was saved by butterflies. Standing on the ground was the greatest moment of my life. There were trees, animals, the sky was blue and the sun was bright and warm. I never wanted to leave. And when you made that sonic rainboom, I knew wanted to spend the rest of my life here.

“And then… and then a sonic rainboom killed you.” Her eyes were tingling. A single tear rolled from her eye. “I never thought I’d lose you too,” she said with a cracked voice. Fluttershy tightened her grip on the stuffed animal. “You were the only one who understood me. You came when I needed you the most… and now you’re gone! I don’t want you to go!”

She pleaded for Rainbow Dash to come back. The thought of continuing life without her caused her to breakdown. She let go of the stuffed animal, to emotionally weak to hold it any longer.

Ponyville General Hospital

“Excuse me ma’am, may I go to room 206,” Fluttershy asked. The secretary gave her a weird look. “I’m here to see little Sunspot.”

“Oh… yes, I’ll let the nurse know you’re coming,” the secretary said. Fluttershy furrowed her brow by the tone of her voice, but she shrugged it off. She walked down the long white halls while humming a pleasant tune to herself. When she was out of sight the secretary pressed the button on the intercom. “Nurse Redheart,” she said with a voice filled with sorrow, “Fluttershy’s here. She’s coming to see Sunspot.”

“Did you tell her?”

“... I couldn’t.”

Chapter 7

All through her immortal life Princess Celestia witness the sonic rainboom only a few times. It was rare a phenomenon, and she was thankful to whatever force in the universe gave her the opportunity to see it with her own eyes. But out of all those times, this fourth one destroyed Rainbow Dash. It didn’t make sense to her. How could a sonic rainboom effectively kill Rainbow Dash? Then a more important question was raised. Who will take up her mantle? She thought about these things in her bedroom. After a long, emotionally draining day, she wanted to unwind and let the next day come.

She thought about Rainbow Dash’s funeral soon after. Many ponies have came and went in her lifetime. Rainbow Dash, however, was somepony different. She always knew from the few meetings they had that she was special, but she didn’t realize how amazing she was to those who knew her. It occurred to her that she didn’t know any of Twilight’s friends well enough. Listening to Twilight’s eulogy, and seeing all the ponies who came out on that day, brought her some perspective.

Princess Luna entered her room without making a sound, although Celestia could sense her presence. She had just finished creating the night. Without saying a word, Luna knew something was troubling her sister. Celestia glanced at her younger sister before gazing at the wall.

“I used to have the answers,” she said. “Everything used to be simple. Now it seems so long ago. Why is this happening?”

Luna didn’t have an answer. For the first time in nearly a thousand years Celestia was lost. Luna wasn’t sure if she needed anypony to talk to, but she can at least try. She joined her on her bed, looking around the room. The walls were decorated with shelves, and on those shelves were toys and dolls of all kinds.

“We used to play with those toys together, you and I,” Luna said. “We used to leave them in the halls for the maids to find. Mother and father would remind us to clean up after ourselves.” Celestia gave a questioning look at her sister. Why was she talking about silly things in a time like this? “Do you remember our first slumber party together?”

“... I don’t know.”

“I do. Around midnight, you told me a scary story. It was about a beast who had a taste for alicorn fillies. You said it roamed the castle at night, just waiting to eat us. I was so frightened that I couldn’t sleep. I was crying so much that I woke you. I’ll never forget that promise you made to me that night. You promise you will stay up all night and chase the monster away if it came to our room.”

“Why are you telling me these things?” Celestia sighed.

“I wanted to distract you from your troubles.”

“Luna, one of the bearers of the Elements have died. This is something I can’t ignore or take lightly.”

“Rainbow Dash wasn’t just a bearer. She was an important part of Twilight’s life,” Luna said. “She was a pony Twilight and her friends loved dearly.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to think of her as a tool. I… I just don’t know what to do. Without somepony carrying the Element of Loyalty, Twilight’s friendship is in a state of disharmony.”

“What can we do to help?”

“I wish I knew. All we can do is pray that the next bearer will be found soon.”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean by the next bearer?”

“When a bearer dies, the magic of their Element is dormant for some time. When the time is right, the magic will pass on to Rainbow Dash’s successor, if he or she proves themselves to be worthy of the Element of Loyalty.”

“There must be ponies as loyal as Rainbow Dash,” Luna said. “Is there not?”

“On the night of your return, Rainbow Dash passed her test and displayed the true meaning of loyalty. She never abandoned her friends when a greater opportunity for her desires presented itself to her. I know there are good ponies in Equestria, but they must show the same level of loyalty Rainbow Dash once did, if not greater.”

There was a glass window on ceiling. Next to the window was a large telescope. Celestia had always admired the stars of Luna. After banishing her sister, she had to raise the sun and the moon, which was a strain on her. During the millennium she spent without her, she gained an appreciation of the night sky.

“I remember the days when we used to wield the Elements,” she said, gazing at the window. “We used to defeat many foes, some much powerful than we are. We were heroes. When Equestria needed us, we were there in every step of the way.”

Luna thought for a brief moment. “What about us? We control the sun and the moon. Surely we can control the Elements once more.”

Celestia said nothing. She sighed. “I’m afraid that’s not the case. On the night you transformed into Nightmare Moon, I used the Elements against you. Whenever a bearer uses the Elements against a fellow bearer, the harmony that connects them is destroyed, and we no longer use them. I have neglected to tell you this. I am truly sorry.”

“I was afraid you might say that,” Luna said. Nightmare Moon was still fresh in her mind, no matter how long ago it was. She hated herself for causing the rift between them that affected the balance of magic and nature. On the first day of her return, Luna couldn’t look at her sister in the eye. The shame was too overwhelming. “Tia, you’ve done nothing wrong. All of it was my fault. We can no longer wield the Elements because of me,” she said painfully.

“I am to blame. I was the one who used all six against you. It’s because of me we lost our power over them. We all make mistakes, myself included. We must learn from our mistakes so we can prevent ourselves, and other ponies, from repeating them.”

“You make mistakes?”

“Yes I do. The biggest mistake I ever made, and one that I will always regret for the rest of my days, is sending my only sister to a thousand years of imprisonment.” Luna rubbed her head softly into Celestia’s, each wrapping their wings around each other. “So much happened during that night. The violence, the anger… it was too much. But from the moment I used the Elements on Nightmare Moon, I thought I heard a small voice. It was crying and begging for mercy. Then it screamed that it loved me. It’s a scream that still haunts me to this day. From that moment, I realized I sent my little sister that that cold, dark hell.”

“Stop it,” Luna tearfully pleaded. “It’s all in the past now. We both sinned and we both atoned for them. We’re both together now.”

“I’m sorry Luna.”

There was no doubt that Celestia had great love for her sister. They were as different as day and night, yet that difference will never tear them apart. It was a stab to Celestia’s heart when she banished Luna. Although the dagger was removed, the pain of the loneliness and separation they both suffered will never fully heal.

“If only I overcame my jealousy of you,” Luna lamented. “Then the Elements will still be in our hooves.”

“Then Twilight and her friends would have never came into our lives. They taught us more about friendship than we had ever known.”

“Celestia, my dear sister, promise me you will be strong. Promise me you will be the light in the darkness. Please… for me.”

“I will.”

Luna did not want to leave her sister alone. More than anything she wanted to stay with her and give her hope of a better tomorrow. Sadly, she had to watch over the night and give ponies dreams. She climbed out of Celestia’s bed, but she stopped her.

“Luna, do you remember the maze in the courtyard.”

“Yes I do.”

“Remember how we used to play hide-and-seek. One day you decided to hide in the maze, but I didn’t know. I thought you were inside the castle. I spent all day trying to find you, but I gave up. When I finally saw you, mother was holding you in her arms. You were crying. I didn’t know you got yourself lost.”

“That’s when father told us to never play in the maze,” Luna added.

“Of the thousand years since I banished you, I was lost in my own maze. Now that you’re with me, you led me out.”

“I love you,” Luna said.

“I love you, too. Always. Goodnight.”

Luna quietly stepped out of Celestia’s room. She laid on her back with her head on the pillows. She gazed at the stars from the ceiling window before sleeping. She wondered if anypony tried to count all of them.

Chapter 8

Carrot Cake helped Pinkie carry some boxes down to the basement of Sugarcube Corner. The boxes contained every item that reminded her of Rainbow Dash. Everything from the pranks they pulled together and on each other to the Mare-Do-Well costume to the gifts they received from the buffalo tribe were stored into the boxes. She didn’t know what to do with them since Rainbow Dash is no longer among the living. The last thing she wanted to do was throw them away like garbage.

“Are you sure you want these here?” Carrot Cake asked.

Pinkie nodded her head. “They’ll be safe here. I figured until I have something to do with them, this is where they belong.” They placed the last of the boxes on the corner with the others. As much as she didn’t want to, Pinkie felt the need to store them in a safe place so she won’t be triggered.

Carrot and Pinkie took a long look at the pile of boxes before them. Some were on top of others like a half-build pyramid. Not knowing what to do now, Pinkie slumped on the floor. All those precious memories sealed inside those cardboard cubes. Carrot sat next to her, not sure of what to say to the young mare.

“You really miss her, don’t you?”

Pinkie sighed and nodded her head. “I’m sorry I never got the chance to really know her. She seem really nice.”

“She was the greatest friend anypony could ask for.” She turned around so she wouldn’t have to look at the boxes.

Carrot stood, and gazed at the boxes while a little smile crossed his lips. “I do remember one of the pranks you two pulled on Cup Cake’s birthday. Those little trick candles? Boy, that one was a doozy.”

“Yeah… “

“Pinkie, I just want to let you know that no matter what you decide to do with the boxes - whether you keep them in the basement forever, or pass them on to others - just remember to cherish all those great times you had with Rainbow Dash. She may be gone, but her memory will live on if you keep it alive.”

Carrot Cake held Pinkie’s hoof to help her off the concrete floor. He straighten her mane so her eyes wouldn’t hide behind it. He didn’t want her to trip while walking out of the basement. Carrot hoped her mane will return to its cotton candy shape again. Seeing Pinkie with that frown and her hair straight was just unnatural to him.

Sometimes it was difficult to be the embodiment of happiness. Since her first day in Ponyville, everypony expected her to be the life of the party. Smiles, jokes, songs, all of the works. There was an unwritten rule created by her peers that she can never be sad. Trying to keep her image and reputation was a twenty-four hour job, one she took seriously. Sadness was never an option.

When she saw that sonic rainboom give color to the sky all those years ago, she knew her purpose. Before, she never knew what happiness was. Pinkie had no idea how to smile. That sonic rainboom gave her the reason to live. It was the most joyful, awe-inspiring experience she ever had. She smiled so much she never wanted that feeling to be gone. Pinkie wanted everypony to feel that same joy she had many years ago.

That feeling was gone, possibly forever. A mare she loved not as friend, but as her own sister, perished doing what she enjoyed. For as long as she knew them, Pinkie treated her friends like they were her family. If one of them cried, then she cried. If one of them were anger, then she was angry. She had a connection with them. When Rainbow Dash dived for her final sonic rainboom, a piece of Pinkie died with her.

She tried to make sense of the darkness that descended upon her. Pinkie couldn’t remember a time she experienced a death of a loved one. She was so heartbroken she couldn’t put that feeling into words.

There was a frame on her wall. It was a photograph of Pinkie and her best friends. All of them together, enjoying life. It was the first photo they took together. Everything was in perfect harmony. Now everything looked like it was going to fall apart. Pinkie shuddered at the thought of their friendship not surviving, that everypony in her life will fall away.

A knock on her door pulled her away from her thoughts. Cup Cake peeked through the door. “Pinkie, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Mrs. Cake.”

Cup Cake knew Pinkie, and her straight mane was a sign that something was wrong, especially if it was like that for days. She let herself in and sat next to Pinkie on her bed.

“What’s on your mind, dear?”

“... I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know if I can ever be happy again… I don’t know if I can laugh again, or smile.”

Cup Cake took Pinkie’s shoulders into her hooves. Pinkie stared at the floor. “All my life I promised myself to never be sad. I wanted everypony in the whole world to be as happy as I was. I’m not sure if I can keep that promise.”

She felt her straight mane being soothingly rubbed by Cup Cake. It calmed her, but only for a short while. The thought of eternal sorrow made her delve deeper into despair.

“Pinkie,” Cup Cake said as she drew her closer. Pinkie rested her head on Cup’s shoulder. “I know how you feel. A long time ago, when my mother passed away, I didn’t know how I can go on. My mother meant the entire world to me, and she was my best friend.”

“... Your mother?”

“Yes dear, just like you and Rainbow. We did everything together, and she was the reason I got my cutie mark. We loved to bake together.” Her gentle smile gradually faded. Pinkie knew what she was about to say just by looking at her. “I was so devastated when she died. I cried for days and days. Whenever I look at Pound and Pumpkin… I think about how they’ll meet their grandmother.”

Visions of the two foals danced around her head. Her heart dropped from the terrible fact. She couldn’t bear the thought of dying before she can see any of her descendants.

“I’m sorry.”

“Losing somepony is never a good thing. That’s why it’s so important to keep their memory alive. In our minds and in our hearts. I just wish she was here to see those two precious foals.”

Cup Cake patted her on her back. She approached her bedroom door, but she stopped to look at her again. “Pinkie, why don’t you take some time for a while?”

“Time off?”

“Of course. Maybe go out of town for a while. Take as much time as you need.”

“What about the shop, and the twins?”

“Don’t worry, me and Carrot can handle things. Right now, I want you to take a break. Maybe visit some family to take your mind off things.”

Pinkie gave what Cup Cake said some thought. Maybe she was right. It wasn’t good for her to be stuck in her room, but she didn’t want to leave the twins. After a moment, she silently agreed. Taking some time off might just be what she needed. Before Cup left her room, she wanted to say one more thing.

“Pinkie, can you do something else for me?”

“Sure, anything.”

“Promise me you will smile again. It really breaks my heart to see you this way. There will be difficult times in our lives, but I know you’re strong enough to see it through. You always have.”

Cup Cake closed the door. Pinkie sat on her bed staring at the photo of herself and her friends. One day she will smile again, who knows? There was an old saying she heard a long time ago, but she forgot where she heard it. Sometimes, you have to get through stormy days to arrive at the sunny days. But for Pinkie, this was going to be a long stormy night.

Chapter 9

Rarity had lost all feeling in her body, even as she was sitting down. The world was spinning and turning in a blur. Everything was happening too fast, and in some ways too slow. The sun was beating down on her, and she wish it would just go away. Her white hoof shook lightly whenever she lift it. She tried to think, but something inside her wouldn’t allow that. She closed her mouth tightly to hold herself back, but she was going to erupt sooner than she thought.

“Rarity,” somepony said. “Are you okay?”

She came back to reality. Rarity found herself sitting in the outside court of a restaurant. She remembered how she got there; Twilight invited her. She took a deep breath, rubbed her head. “I’m fine,” Rarity said, not exactly sure of herself.

Twilight wasn’t sure if Rarity was telling the truth. Ever since they arrived she kept looking around, her eyes up to the sky then at the table. She watched her lips twitch and quiver, her hoof covering her mouth.

“Rarity, I know something is on your mind. You can tell me. Please?”

She closed her eyes. Rarity opened her mouth to say something as a waiter came with their orders. A plate of salad for Rarity and a daffodil sandwich for Twilight. The waiter smile, nodded, then went away. The two mares gazed at their plates. Nopony made the first move. A lavender aura surrounded the sandwich. Twilight took small bites of the sandwich. She noticed that Rarity wasn’t eating her salad, but she didn’t want to say anything.

“... I went to Fluttershy’s today,” Rarity said in a low voice.

“You did? How is she?”

“I don’t know. I knocked on her door, but there was no answer. I called her name several times. Angel answered, but from the look of his face it didn’t seem she wanted any visitors… “

A blue aura engulfed the knife and fork. Rarity held the salad with the fork and sliced it into small pieces with the knife. She took a small pile of it and held the fork to her mouth. Then she place the utensils down. Rarity was lost in her thoughts, she looked at nothing in particular. Her hoof was covering her mouth.

Twilight placed her sandwich on her plate. Rarity shook her head slowly, as if an unpleasant thought disturbed her. With her hoof covering her mouth Twilight didn’t know she was quietly mumbling.

“Twilight…” She paused. She lowered her head. Her eyes hid under her blue mane. “I feel exhausted. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I haven’t slept for days.” She continued to have her head lowered. Her voice was cracking. Rarity raised her head again, wiping the small amount of droplets from her eyes. “I’m weak, physically and emotionally. It’s like I’m living in a nightmare… I don’t know when I’ll wake up. And if I do wake, I’ll be trap in another nightmare.”

She put her hooves on her face, whimpering and holding back her anguish. “I can’t eat, I can’t breath, I can’t dream… I can’t even run the shop. My soul has given up.”

Twilight pushed her plate away. She said Rarity’s name, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. The waiter returned and refilled their water glasses. Rarity tried to compose herself so he wouldn’t look frightened.

“Everything has happened so suddenly,” Rarity said. “One day everyone of us was laughing together on this very spot, and now… I don’t know if I can go on. Rainbow Dash’s death has taken away my peace of mind. I’m so afraid, Twilight, so very afraid. I’m frightened that this nightmare will never end.”

Twilight watched Rarity slowly break down. She was afraid that she might do something horrible to herself, and another tragedy will land on their hooves. She couldn’t let that happen. Then a thought came to her.

“Rarity,” Twilight said. “The other day, Pinkie told me that she was leaving town for a while. I was thinking… maybe we should do the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rainbow Dash’s death has taken a tremendous toll on all of us. And for that reason Pinkie said she was going to visit her family and do some soul searching. It would probably be a good idea if we do the same.”

“I don’t think leaving town will fix anything. Not of this magnitude.”

“It might not,” Twilight said. “Rarity, the well-being of my friends is more important to me than anything. I don’t want anything to happen to you, or anypony else. Going away may not fix our problems, but we can gain our peace of mind again, even for a short while.”

Rarity looked down at her plate. Her salad was still there. She wasn’t sure about leaving town so suddenly. It didn’t seem right. The more she thought it sounded like Twilight was suggesting to run away. Besides, she had a business to run.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“Please Rarity,” Twilight said. “You need this. Like you said, you’re weak - physically and emotionally. I am too. Every night I search my books, desperately trying to find out what happened to Rainbow Dash. I can never find anything helpful. I feel like I failed to save her somehow. Spike would find me on the floor, crying, screaming. He had to stay up with me all night just to console me. We need this.”

Rarity didn’t know what to say. Her mind was in a blur that she couldn’t think straight. Her hoof was shaking again. Time seem to stretch. Twilight was gazing at her with pleading eyes.

“... My family is going on vacation,” Rarity said. “In a couple of days as a matter of fact. They’re going to Jovial Province, a town just north of Manehattan. I wasn’t planning on going, but… I guess they can make room for one more.”

“That’s good. I’m sure Sweetie Belle will be excited.”

“Where will you go?”

“I going to visit my brother and Princess Cadance. I’m bringing Spike with me.”

Twilight held Rarity’s hooves into hers. She looked at her intently. “Rarity, we’ll get through this. I promise things will be better for all of us.”

“Are you sure, Twilight?”

Honestly, she didn’t know. Twilight didn’t answer, but she tried to smile at her anyway. Rarity wanted to smile as well, but then another thought came to her, and she was frightened once more. “What about Fluttershy? We can’t just leave her here alone.”

The little smile vanished from Twilight. “I’ll think of something.”

The waiter was approaching their table. Rarity gained his attention and told him that she didn’t have much of an appetite. She paid him and left a tab anyway. Rarity was still skeptical about taking a vacation, but she knew she couldn’t handle the stress any longer. If she stayed here any longer then the stress will overtake her, and then what? Then she thought about Sweetie Belle. She couldn’t leave her alone in this world. Now the decision was final - she will go.

“Ponyville will be quiet without us,” Rarity said.

“Maybe a little silence is needed."

Chapter 10

The lake shimmered like glass under the late-morning sun. The weather was mild with a slight breeze here and there, which was perfect perfect for a day at the swimming hole. Apple Bloom removed her backpack and opened it, pulling out a white and red checkerboard blanket, then spreading it over the sand. Scootaloo placed the basket she was holding on the center of the basket.

“Nice day for a picnic, isn’t it?” Apple Bloom said nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I guess. Too bad Sweetie Belle’s not here.”

“Well, there’s always next time,” Apple Bloom said.

A day at the lake was Apple Bloom’s idea. She thought the coolness and serenity will do herself and Scootaloo some good. With Sweetie and her family away on vacation, she held high hopes that this will be the opportunity to make a better connection with Scootaloo.

Scootaloo sat on the blanket facing the lake. The breeze collided with her body, sending chills through her, but she shrugged it off. Apple Bloom took out sandwiches and other snacks out of the basket. Apple Bloom gave her a peanut butter and banana sandwich, then Scootaloo nodded at her. She face the glowing lake with her sandwich in her hooves, taking small bites every few minutes.

“... Thanks for bringing me here,” Scootaloo said.

“No problem.”

Scootaloo took another bite of her sandwich and watched the lake glimmer under the sunlight. After the drastic events in her life she thought it was a good to get away, even for a short time. She wanted more quiet moments like this; sitting on the sand and watching the earth pass her without a fuss. She savored every moment before she and Apple Bloom returned to reality.

“It occurred to me that never hang out like this,” Apple Bloom said. “Days where we can just sit around and do nothing. We should do this more often, but with Sweetie next time.” Scootaloo nodded with a half-smile, taking another bite of her sandwich.

With the silence between them, many things ran through Apple Bloom’s mind. She wondered what the future had in store for Applejack and her friends. She often seen her wandering through the apple orchard, and she never came back until nightfall, or when it was almost bedtime. There was an old saying that time heals all wounds, but there was no amount of time that will heal the scars of Applejack and Scootaloo. However, Granny Smith’s words still rang true to her. Her friends, and possibly other ponies in time, will come to her for solutions to their problems.

“It’s nice out here,” Apple Bloom said.

They had finished their sandwiches, then Apple Bloom sat up and walked to where the sand ends and the water began. The sweet freshwater scent of the lake entered her nostrils and the breeze made her red mane flow. She wanted to go for a swim, but she remembered what Applejack told her about swimming right after eating, so she let the water touch her hooves. She found stones buried under the sand, some of them flatter than the others. Apple Bloom took one stone with a flat surface and cast it into the lake, watching it bounce across until it sunk.

Scootaloo saw what happened to the stone and was amazed at how it was done. She stood and walked next to Apple Bloom, who just threw another stone into the lake. Scootaloo picked up a rock by her legs and threw it, but it splash and sunk on impact. She watched how Apple Bloom threw the rocks and tried to imitate her, but it was the same results.

“How did you do that?” asked Scootaloo.

“Do what?”

“Make the rocks skip on the water?”

“Big Mac taught me how to do it. You need a rock with a flat surface,” she said while holding a thin rock. “Then you gently toss it on the water and watch it bounce.” She tossed the thin rock on the lake and it bounced four times until it disappeared. “It’s all in the hooves.” Apple Bloom gave another flat rock she found. Although she tossed it as gentle as she could, Scootaloo groaned when the flat stone splashed. “It’s okay, it takes practice. I didn’t get it right the first time, or the second time.”

Scootaloo threw another rock into the lake, then sat herself down on the sand. She watched Apple Bloom as she made another rock bounce on the surface of the lake.

“It must be nice to have an older brother or sister to teach you things,” Scootaloo said.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re lucky, Apple Bloom. You have Big Mac and Applejack and they teach you cool things like apple bucking and skipping rocks. I never had anything like that.” She threw another rock into the lake. “I have nopony.”

Apple Bloom sat next to her. “What about us? Me and Sweetie Belle? We’re kind of like your sisters, aren’t we?”

Scootaloo sighed. She watched a flock of birds fly overhead in a V formation until they became small dots on the blue sky. “Scootaloo, you know that no matter what, me and Sweetie will always be there you. Especially Big Mac and Applejack.”

Scootaloo wasn’t sure about that. She never wanted to admit, but she felt she was intruding in their home. The last Scootaloo wanted was to be extra mouth to feed, but she had nowhere else to go.

“I know. It’s just that I wish I had a real family, you know? A mom, dad, some brothers and sisters.” Scootaloo slumped on the ground and gazed at the mirror image of the sun on the lake. “Whenever I see your family, I get a little jealous. You have big family… and I got nothing.”

“Why are you jealous at me for? I never knew my mom and dad,” said Apple Bloom.

“... You didn’t?”

“No. My mom and dad died when I was just a foal, and I can barely remember them. I still wish I got to know them better, and I’m sad that they’re not around, but there’s nothing I can do about it. They’re gone… and I’m still here. We are all.”

“I still wish I had a family of my own.”

“Scootaloo, do you remember what Princess Cadance said to you? She told you that you should never feel alone. You are surrounded by amazing ponies who love you and will do anything for you, whether if they’re your family or not. Even Granny Smith has taken a liking to you.”

“If that’s true, then how come I still feel bad?”

They saw a pair of pegasi flying over the clouds, a mare and filly slightly older than them. Scootaloo looked at her small wings, and then realized something truly disheartening. “I have nopony to teach me to fly.”

“Don’t say that,” Apple Bloom said.

“It’s true. I’ll never fly.”

“Scootaloo, you have to stop beating yourself up like this. Bad things happen in our lives, but they don’t last forever.”

“For me it has.”

“Maybe you’ll fly one day, maybe you won’t. But that’s no reason to stop trying. Even if you never fly, there’s a lot of stuff you’re good at. I know you can make it, you gotta have faith.”

“What else am I good at?” Scootaloo asked bitterly.

“I see you do cool tricks on your scooter. Maybe you’ll be a professional scooter rider. It can happen.”

“Yeah right, who would want to waste time watching somepony ride a stupid scooter?”

“... Me.”

Apple Bloom stood up and grabbed Scootaloo by the arm. “Come on, we’re going for a swim,” she said. “It’ll make you feel better.” She led Scootaloo to a tire swing that hung from a leafless tree. Apple Bloom leaped inside and swung herself, pacing for the plunge in the water. She silently counted to three, then threw herself out of the tire, positioned herself in a cannonball pose, and splashed like a rock. When she reappeared her red mane was extremely drenched and resembled a wet mop. “Come on, the water’s great!”

“No thanks,” said Scootaloo.

“You weenie!”

If there was one thing Scootaloo didn’t enjoy, it was being called “weenie.” Her face hardened, and she took several steps back. She crouched and drag her hooves on the sand. Then she charged with great speed. Once she was close to the edge she leaped into the air and dived into the water. It was not until she floated to the surface when she realized it was a bad idea.

“It’s freezing!” she screamed.

“Relax, it’s not that bad,” Apple Bloom said.

“Easy for you to say!”

Apple Bloom splashed water on Scootaloo’s face. Then Scootaloo threw into hers. Before the fillies knew it, a splash war ensued. There was no victor. Then something happened inside Scootaloo. While swimming and splashing she felt a pleasant sensation. It was a warm feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time. The muscles on her face twitched and it were as though a heavy load has been lifted from her. Even Apple Bloom noticed it.

“Scootaloo, you’re smiling.”

“Yeah… you’re right.”

After letting themselves be submerged in the water, Apple Bloom decided it was time to go home. Scootaloo helped her fold the checkerboard blanket into a small square, then carried the remaining snacks in the basket. When all was packed they retreated from their temporary paradise and took the path to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Apple Bloom, thanks for bringing me here,” Scootaloo said.

“No problem. I’d do anything for you.”

As the drew closer to the farm Scootaloo realized how good it was to laugh and smile again, even though it will take a long time for the emotional wounds to completely heal. At least she has Apple Bloom to help her with that.

“One more thing,” Apple Bloom said. “Big Mac is taking the family camping. You can come if you like.”

“Camping? I don’t know. If it’s a family thing, then I don’t want to get in the way.”

“It doesn’t matter, you were already invited.”

“... I was?”

“Yep. You’re family, remember?”

Chapter 11

Macintosh had been wanting to go on this camping trip for a long time. It was the perfect opportunity for his family to get away from Ponyville. He knew Applejack needed to be away. One night he found in the family at three in the morning, just sitting on the couch crying. McIntosh hoped the camping trip will her some good.

Scootaloo also came into his thoughts. He can imagined what she is going through. It brought him back to the time when their parents died when he was a colt. Applejack was probably Scootaloo’s age when they died. It couldn’t have been possible, but maybe it was fate that brought them together. Who knows? Besides getting Applejack out of the house, he wanted to prove that the Apples will always be her family.

He rummage through his room to search for items he will need for the trip. A large brown saddlebag with a green apple stitched on the side sat on his bed. While he searched his closet he found something he thought he lost. At the bottom he found a harmonica. Macintosh wondered if it still worked. He dusted it off, and put it toward his lips. He played an old folksong and the melody filled the room. Macintosh played it for three minutes until he stopped, then he slipped it into his saddlebag. There was nothing like good music on the harmonica on a camping trip, he thought. Afterward, he found that Applejack entered his room. It was probably from the harmonica.

“Mom used to play the harmonica, you know,” she said. Macintosh silently acknowledged her. Applejack sat on his bed while he search for more camping essentials. “I remember those summer nights when you and I would sit on the porch, and the fireflies blinked in the night. And mama played our songs on the harmonica. She was really good. I miss them days.”

Macintosh sadly nodded. The tunes their mother played were never lost to them. It seem look long ago when their lives were simple. But he couldn’t dwell on the past. McIntosh continued to pack his belongings.

“So you’re gearing up for the trip?” asked Applejack.

“Yep. I figured it’s about time.”

“You’re certainly right.”

There was some noise from outside. Applejack walked to the window and saw that Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were playing catch. She couldn’t have been more proud of Apple Bloom during these days. Like a true Apple, she was helping others in need. They taught her too well.

“It just occurred to me, Big Mac. Apple Bloom’s growing up. She’s going to be an upstanding young mare one day.”

“Yep,” he said approvingly.

“I’m mighty proud for what she’s doing for Scootaloo. Heaven knows that little filly needs somepony to lean on. I believe Apple Bloom is going to help a lot of ponies one day.”

“There’s a saying of how the littlest thing can make a big impact,” said Macintosh. “Can you imagine if Scootaloo had nopony to come to?”

Applejack shuddered. “I can’t. You know that ain’t me, Big Mac. It's too horrible to think about. I will always help a child in need as long as I live.” She looked out the window again. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stopped playing ball. Apple Bloom led her in the house, probably to get a snack.

“For what it’s worth, I think Scootaloo is going turn out fine after this,” McIntosh said. “She may not get over Rainbow Dash, but she’ll know that we got her back. We ain’t gonna leave her behind for nothing.”

Applejack nodded, then stared at the apple orchard from the window. She and Macintosh were silent for a moment. “Aren’t you going to pack?” he asked.

“About that… I was thinking about skipping the trip this time.”

“Really? Any reason?”

“Yes, just one… Fluttershy.”

Macintosh paused. He stopped packing to gaze at his sister. “How is she?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Nopony has seen her since Rainbow Dash passed on. What’s worse is that all my friends are out of town. I can’t leave her by her lonesome, Big Mac. It ain’t right. I talked it over with Granny. While y’all are gone I’m going to be at her house for the weekend.”

To partake in the family camping trip was one of Applejack’s favorite things to do. But the life of another pony was more important than that, Macintosh knew. He figured he would have done the same thing if any of his closest friends were in need of desperate help.

"It's what I have to do, Mac. Just thinking about what will happen, what she's capable of doing, if nobody is around to comfort her is enough to make me shiver. The poor filly," she said sadly.

“You’re doing the right thing,” he said. “I’m proud of you."

“There'll be other camping trips, I'm sure. I know you can handle things without me,” she said. “You were in the Colt Scouts once, remember? You’re a born leader.”

“I still got my merit badges to prove it.”

They shared a little laugh. He patted Applejack playfully on her head, then nudged her leg. “You go and take of Fluttershy. By the sound of it, she really needs a friend.”

“I will.”

Macintosh nodded to Applejack as the two watched the two fillies returned outside from the house, this time with the Apples' pet dog Winonna. She ran in circles around them, barking excitedly, and her pink tongue hanging out. After much convincing, Apple Bloom threw the ball which she and Scootaloo played catch across the field. Winonna ran across and returned it, then Apple Bloom threw it again. Ain't that a lovely sight, Applejack thought. It reminded her of the day their mother and father brought Winonna to the farm, and Macintosh and Applejack played with her in the field throughout the day. Apple Bloom was a foal that time, a few months old perhaps. It was the last gift from them.

Chapter 12

Pinkie forgot how miserable and quiet the rock farms were. Since leaving home for Ponyville she had been surrounded by noises and smiles. She even forgot how dreary the skies over the farm were. Pinkie couldn’t remember a time if it rained. However, she looked forward to the visit. She’d always plan to see her family again, or have them visit her friends in Ponyville, if they ever decide to get out of the house.

In some ways, she was relieved to leave Ponyville. Staying at the rock farm could provide her solace, and maybe answers. She didn’t know how long she was going to be gone, but her friends were on the back of her mind; Fluttershy locked inside her dark home. Who will take care of her? She imagined the others are under much stress as well. Then there was Pound and Pumpkin. Pinkie was reluctant to go away because of them. There was nopony there to make them laugh or play with them. She made a promise to herself to come back for them.

On the day she approached their front door, there were no smiles. Nothing had changed since that first party she had given. It wasn’t too bad, since Pinkie wasn't smiling either, no matter how much she wanted to. For a moment, her father didn’t recognize her, despite being the only pony in the family with a bright pink coat. Then her hair was down.

He mouth hung open. His hooves stroked her pink face and long hair. “... Pinkie? Is that you?” She nodded. Igneous Rock didn’t know what to do. This was her daughter, but not the same daughter as he last saw her. Was this an apparition? Pinkie looked over his shoulder to see an older mare walk toward Igneous’ back.

“Mom,” she said.

Cloudy Quartz stopped what she was doing. Igneous moved out of Pinkie’s way so she and her mother can get a good look at each other. Just as her father, Cloudy believed to have seen a ghost. She reached her hoof out to Pinkie, then pulled it back. She was afraid to touch her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be gone for so long,” Pinkie said.

“That’s… okay,” Igneous said. He closed the door as Pinkie made herself at home. Cloudy awkwardly looked to Igneous for what to do. They stood in silence.

“Where’s everypony else?” Pinkie asked.

Three young mares appeared beside Cloudy. All of them had pale and grayish coats, with long manes the same length as Pinkie’s. Two of them looked mildly surprised to see her, but one of them had no hint of emotion on her face.

“Marble, Limestone, Maud,” Pinkie said.

Marble and Limestone said nothing, only nodding their heads. Maud was the only one who approached her. “Pinkie,” she said.

“I’m back. I’ll be visiting for a few days, maybe weeks. I’m not sure.”

“Welcome back,” Maud said. If anypony outside of Pinkie’s family met Maud for the first time they wouldn’t think much of her. From her monotone voice one would believe she was constantly bored or boring herself, but Pinkie knew her heart. She loved her three sisters just the same, but Maud was her favorite.

“Your room is… that way,” Igneous pointed. He tried to soften his face so Pinkie wouldn’t feel intimidated by him.

Pinkie nodded. Neither of them said nothing else. She went to her room, and as she expected, it was exactly as she left it. It wasn’t just her room, it the room she and her sisters shared. A large bed on one side with no windows. She removed her saddlebag and dropped it, then sat on the bed. Pinkie wondered how her sisters managed to sleep in the same bed after all these years. Will they even remember her was the most important thought.

She heard her mother approaching the room. Cloudy slowly opened the door, nervously gazing at her daughter. Pinkie gazed back at her.

“Pinkie,” she said. Cloudy didn’t know what else to say. Pinkie remembered how many in her family weren’t much into conversations. Of course, she herself wasn’t a conversation starter before the sonic rainboom. Cloudy moved her lips but nothing audible came out. “I’m… glad to see you.”

“Thanks,” Pinkie said. “I’m glad to see all of you too.”

“What brings you here?”

“It’s difficult to explain, but… “ she paused. “One of my best friends died. Her name was Rainbow Dash.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“I loved her so much. When she died it tore me apart that I couldn’t think straight, so decided to leave Ponyville for a little while.”

“... Stay as long as you like.”

Pinkie nodded. She gazed at the wall some more, and Cloudy silently closed the door. It was nice speaking to her mother. Maybe they’ll have more to talk about when she feels comfortable enough. After a few minutes alone in her room her sisters entered. Marble and Limestone stood side by side while Maud sat next to her.

“We have not seen you in years,” Limestone said. Despite the simplicity similar to Maud, there was something unsettling from the tone of her voice.

“I know. That’s what I told mom.”

“How long will you stay?” Marble asked.

“I don’t know.”

Marble and Limestone gave a quick look of uncertainty to each other. Without another word they disappeared from the room.

“What’s wrong with them?” asked Pinkie.

“They have issues,” Maud answered.

“Issues? Like what? Was it my fault?”

“I can’t explain.”

Pinkie had a feeling their issues began with her, but Maud was too polite to say anything. If Limestone and Marble were upset with her in some way, who knows what their mother and father thought about her.

“I think I need to be alone.”

Maud nodded, then left Pinkie alone in the bedroom. She tried not to spend too much time thinking about Marble and Limestone. Hopefully what they’re upset about didn’t had anything to do with her. But the way Limestone looked at her, and the tone of her voice. Her back was on top of the sheets. With no windows, all she had to stare at was the wooden ceiling.

The sun was down over the rock farm. Cloudy Quartz had just prepared dinner for the family. It was a special occasion since Pinkie Pie returned, so it was mud pies for the night. Limestone and Marble set the dinner table, and Igneous told Maud to retrieve Pinkie. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. The door creaked when she slowly opened it. Maud saw Pinkie lying on her side, her pink back facing her. She must’ve been really tired, Maud thought. She imagined Ponyville must be hundreds of miles away from the rock farm.

Then she heard noises, almost like little whimpers. Maud called her name, but Pinkie didn’t respond. She whimpered so more. They grew intense for a second, with Pinkie saying Dashie, Dashie. Maud stood over her, then she begged for the pony called Dashie to not die.

“Pinkie,” Maud said. She shook her sister until Pinkie came to. She sat up quickly, forgetting where she was until she saw Maud. A pink hoof was over her chest as she caught with her breath. “I heard you talking,” she said.

“Oh Maud, I had a terrible dream!” Pinkie said. She grabbed Maud and pulled her close. It was a strange for her. For almost her entire life she never felt the affection of another pony, and the first and last that happened was Pinkie’s first party.

“What were you dreaming about?”

“... My friend, Rainbow Dash. I dreamed about the day she died, and…” She placed her hoof over her face. “I don’t want to talk about it. Not right now.”

“Mother made dinner.”

Pinkie drew a breath and gathered her thoughts. Maud helped her out of the bed and led her to the family room. The Pies were already seated at the table, with Maud and Pinkie being the last ones present. She saw they had slices of mud pie on their plates, and a glass of water. When Pinkie looked across the table she noticed her mother giving her a weird face. It wasn’t malicious, but it seemed as though she expected her to say something about the pies. She figured her mother remembered how much she used to eat mud pies when she was a filly, although she didn’t necessarily enjoy them. Cloudy Quartz didn’t have to know that.

“I… made mud pies,” she said.

“Thank you. They look delicious.”

Cloudy looked down, her eyes between the plate and her daughter. Pinkie wasn’t sure if her mother was pleased. She turned to Maud for some guidance. She gave Pinkie a look that told her everything she wanted to know. The family ate their dinners in silence. For Pinkie it was a long cry from Ponyville, a place where she can enjoy the company of those she loved. In the House of Pie there was no laughter, no smiles, no stories of the day’s events. Pinkie took a fork of the mud pie into her mouth. There was no taste to them and she had trouble swallowing it, but she didn’t want to disappoint her mother.

Pinkie looked to the other side of the table to see Limestone staring at her. There was no emotion in her eyes although she knew something was wrong. She kept eating, trying to ignore her. Marble noticed that Limestone had her eyes on Pinkie, but did nothing.

“... Pinkie,” Igneous said, “... how is Ponyville?”

“Ponyville? It’s a nice town. The ponies are nice too.”

“... What of your friends?”

“One of my friends died in an… accident. She was a pegasus.”

“... How sad,” Cloudy said, twiddling her hooves. There was nothing to be said after that tidbit of information. Marble chewed on her mud pie while taking glances at Limestone. Most of the time she took her eyes off Pinkie for a moment, then gazed back at her.

“Did you make any parties in Ponyville?” Marble asked. She felt Limestone’s eyes radiating on her. Pinkie saw it too, but answered anyway.

“Yes. I never did stop throwing parties for ponies. But now, I don’t know if I can do it anymore.”

“It takes time,” Maud said in her monotone voice.

The table was silent again, save for the sound of the forks clashing the plates. From time to time Pinkie took a quick look at Limestone to know if she was staring at her. Limestone finished another fork full of mud pie, then set the utensil down and pushed the plate away from her.

“Why did you leave us?” she asked accusingly.

“Limestone… what are you - “

“Why did you leave us? After you got your cutie mark you left the farm and never came back.”

“I was going to come back,” Pinkie said.

“You chose your Ponyville friends over us. Are we not good enough for you?”

“I would never think that!” Pinkie said. “Why would I think I’m better than my own family?”

“Limestone, it is not the time,” Maud said.

“That party you threw for us all those years ago…” Limestone paused, her lips trembling. “It was one of the best days of my life. It was the first time that I, and all of us, have smiled. On that day I knew what true happiness felt like. But then, you decided to leave. I was miserable once more.”

“Please Limestone, I never meant to hurt you,” Pinkie said. “I left the farm because I wanted to make everypony happy!”

“And now you come back because that same happiness is gone. And you’re not going to find it here.”

“Limestone, how can you say that? I thought we were sisters!”

Limestone pushed her chair back. She left the table to go outside, but not before giving Pinkie a few more words.

“Why couldn’t you just stay in Ponyville?”

The door slammed.

The Pies were sat in their chairs stunned by what transpired. Igneous Rock shook his head while his wife stared at her children. Marble wanted to focus on anything instead of her family.

“She’ll be back,” Maud said.

Pinkie’s bottom lip quivered. She wiped her eyes dry but tears flowed like a flood. With each attempt to hold back her grief the emotions grew.

“I have to go,” Pinkie said. She pushed herself out of the chair and rushed to her bedroom. Her cries were inaudible once she buried her face on her pillow. This was memory she left for the Pies, and she was ashamed of it. If Limestone was right, then she wouldn’t find the answers she was looking for by staying at the rock farm.

12 Years Ago…

Pinkie was not sure how long she held that wonderful smile, but she wanted it on her face for all eternity after what she had just saw. A day ago, she witness a streak of rainbow cover the dark cloudy sky with brilliant colored light along with her gray world. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. All her troubles, her miseries, and her sadness instantly passed away when her eyes caught the most unnatural, yet beautiful sight in the world. For the first time in her life Pinkie knew what true happiness was like. She wanted that feeling to last forever.

And what was a better way to make it last than to throw a party?

She spent the entire morning transforming the silo into a party station while her family was out collecting rocks. It was almost one o’clock, which means her family will be back soon. Pinkie took the time to review her work. Balloons and streamers were hung with care on the walls while the party games sat on a table, waiting to be played. Pinkie also had to wake early sunrise to bake the cake. It was to be the centerpiece of the party.

Everything from the decorations to the games and snacks were set in place. Pinkie slowly open the door and took a quick peek at her family. They were putting rocks into a pile, just like they had always done every day. She giggled with excitement when she imagined the looks on their faces when all of them saw the party. All she needed now was music. Pinkie ran to the record player that sat on the corner of the room. Once she placed the needle on the record, dance music played, but she turned up the volume.

Pinkie’s body ecstatically followed the rhythm of the beat. She knew in her heart and soul that this was going to be the best day ever, for her family and herself. The more she thought about how much fun they were going to have, her face was becoming contorted with extreme enthusiasm. Pinkie could not wait anymore. The party has to begin now.

She swung open the door and yelled, “Hey everypony! Come inside!” Her parents were confused as to why their daughter would yell in such a manner. Believing that she needed help with something rock related, her family decided to look inside the silo.

“Pinkemena Diane Pie,” her mother said. “What is the matter?”

Enter the silo was like entering a whole new world for them. The Pies were ambushed by a kaleidoscope of decorations. There was so much color, some of them they had never seen before. The way the room was set up was at most unnatural to them, and what was that strange noise coming from that contraption? Why would Pinkemena do this, they asked themselves. Pinkie stood in front of them, doing something with her mouth that frightened the Pies to no end.

Then, something was happening to them. Something to this day none of the Pies could explain. Their lips began to wiggle and twitch. Seeing the weird colors, the strange decorations, and the foreign noise from the machine stirred emotions inside them they had never felt before. What was happening to them? Are they dying? Did Pinkemena cast a spell on them?

After a period of awkward and stunned silence, the Pies did something that Pinkie will always keep in her memory for as long she lived. Her mother and father became the first ponies to grin. Her three sisters soon followed. She done it. Pinkie finally got her whole family to smile. The filly jumped for joy and tackled them with a bear hug. The Pies never said anything, but continued to smile. It was a new feeling for them, and a feeling they adored as much they did Pinkie. She saw it in their eyes. All of them hoped they can stay like this forever.

Present

Marble stood out on the front porch looking out for Limestone. She knew Limestone had troubling feelings toward Pinkie Pie, but she never imagine she’d see such emotion emerge from her sister. Dinner ended abruptly after her outburst. Most of the Pies went to bed, except for Maud. She joined Marble on the porch and both gazed at the blackness of the sky.

“She’ll be back,” Maud said.

“How can you be sure?”

“There’s nowhere to go. She has to come back.”

Marble didn’t know what to say. She continue to gaze at the dark dirt fields. Where could Limestone possibly go? She prayed she hadn’t been hurt while trying to navigate the dark.

“What if she never comes back?” Marble asked.

“She will. It’s time for bed.”

Marble faced the darkness of the dirt fields one last time, and Maud gently pulled her inside the house. Their hooves on the wooden floor creaked in the blackness, they were sure they wouldn’t wake anypony. The Pies were heavy sleepers. Maud opened the door to their bedroom, and out of the darkness the two mares saw Pinkie already asleep on the bed. Marble didn’t have the courage to say anything in front of Limestone, but she was glad Pinkie had come back. She had high hopes that Limestone will return the next morning, and things will be just the way they were before Pinkie left for Ponyville.

Pinkie had that dream again. She cheered and screamed as Rainbow Dash performed tricks in the air. It was an amazing sight. The sky was clear blue with no clouds, the sun was bright and warm. She held her breath when Rainbow Dash flew upward until she disappeared. Then, her smile turned into a frown when felt something was wrong. Pinkie screamed for Rainbow Dash, begged her to come down. With one last yell there was an explosion of light and color.

Then Pinkie was awake. She found herself on the bed between Maud and Marble. There were no windows, so she didn’t know what time it was, but she somehow knew it was morning.

“... Pinkie.”

Maud sat up, staring at her with a blank expression. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Pinkie said back.

“You were talking in your sleep.”

“Oh.”

They fixed their eyes on each other for a minute, then Marble emerged from sleep. She rubbed her eyes to find that Pinkie and Maud were wide awake. Pinkie hadn’t taken the time to realize that the bed was still wide enough to hold herself and her sisters. She climbed out of the bed and led herself out of the room, with Maud and Marble following her. There was nopony in the family room. Upon further inspection Pinkie found her mother and father out in the field. They were gathering rocks and placing them on a pile. All this time Pinkie had never question why her family, and other families that lived on the rock farms, gathered rocks. It was possible that nopony knew why. Living here, there was nothing to do but gather rocks.

Pinkie stepped into the front porch and sat on a rocking chair. Maud and Marble joined her on the porch. They watched their parents work endlessly on the dirt fields. Igneous and Cloudy had saddlebags full of rocks they collected from the ground. Igneous noticed that his three daughters were were watching him, so he nodded and tipped his hat, then resumed his work.

“Limestone hadn’t come back,” Pinkie said sadly. “I hope she’s okay.”

“She’s fine,” Maud said. “She does this when she’s upset. I actually followed her once.”

“You did?”

“Somewhere out in the field, whenever she leaves the house, Limestone stays in a tent. It’s been going on since you left the farm. Marble doesn’t know about it, yet.”

Pinkie pushed her mane out of her eyes. The sun hid behind the grey clouds, although it never rained. She imagined how the rock farm would look like if there was green everywhere, and rich with life. Her family wouldn’t have to be rock farmers, but vegetable farmers.

“How long has Limestone been upset with me?” asked Pinkie.

“For a long time,” Maud answered. “She tried to bring back the happiness she felt when you created that party, but failed. Now she’s miserable all the time.”

“... I didn’t know.”

“Now you do.” Crows flew overhead. Their harsh squawks echoed through the air. Igneous removed his hat to wipe the sweat from his head, and Cloudy poured rocks into a pile. Marble stepped inside the house, leaving Pinkie and Maud alone on the porch.

“I didn’t mean to hurt Limestone,” she said. “I didn’t know that party meant so much to her. If I’d known, I would have taken her with me.”

“She was distraught after you left,” Maud said. “Limestone felt she had no purpose, and was cursed to be miserable for the rest of her life.”

“Why would Limestone think that about herself?”

“... She believed fate had chosen you instead of her.”

Marble returned with two glasses of water on a platter on her back. She carefully approached Igneous and Cloudy and offered them the glasses.

“I should have never come back,” Pinkie said.

Maud looked at her with her unfeeling eyes. However, Pinkie knew she hadn't liked what she had said. “I was hoping seeing my family again will provide me answers… but one of my own sisters hate me.”

“Limestone doesn’t hate you, she’s just conflicted.”

“Last night she told me to go back to Ponyville.”

“In times of despair we lose hope in ourselves. We say and do things that we later regret. Limestone just couldn’t fathom of how you can be happy and she couldn’t.”

“But I’m not happy at all. My best friend died, and everyday I see my whole world crumbling down. The reason I came back is because… I wanted to find an answer.”

“The answer to what?” Maud asked.

“... Will I ever be happy again? Can I ever make anypony happy again? And can Limestone be happy again?” she sighed.

“You will, Pinkie. You managed to get this far in life.”

Igneous and Cloudy finished their glasses of water. Marble took the empty glasses and returned to the house. Maud laid on the wooden floor of the porch. Pinkie thoughts were still on Limestone. She wanted to go find her hiding spot, but quickly decided to let her be alone.

“When will Limestone come back?”

“She doesn’t stay in her tent too long. Maybe you can talk to her when she comes back. She’ll listen to you this time.”

“I hope so,” said Pinkie.

Limestone kept a tent out in the middle of nowhere, her own personal sanctuary to get away from the troubles of reality. It came to be sometime after her sister Pinkie Pie left the farm to pursue her dream to bring smiles and laughter to all the world. During that time a void had to be filled, and Limestone thought she could bring the same feeling of joy her sister gave to the family. She never forgot that day when she smiled for the first time. Limestone, as all her family, lived under dark clouds with no life under the dirt. Nopony, including her, had never heard of the words “smile,” or “laughter,” or “party.” Those concepts were foreign to them, and in many ways they still were. That day when she smiled was like entering the gates of Elysium. Her spirit was lifted up and the weight on her soul was lighter. No words can do justice on that experience, and to this day Limestone never attempted to find any. On that day Pinkie had mentioned something that she called the “Sonic Rainboom,” the event that made her cutie mark appear. It began with a loud explosion in the air along with a swirl of colorful light that filled the dark sky. How come Limestone hadn’t witnessed it?

After Pinkie left the farm for civilization, Limestone thought her purpose was to take up her mantle. She was overwhelmed with happiness that she too wanted that feeling to last forever, and what was a better way than spreading it to her family? Unfortunately, as with most good things in this life, nothing lasts forever. Limestone tried everything she could to bring happiness in her humble home; she prepared parties for her family every other week with no help from anypony, tried to teach them fun activities Pinkie showed them like dancing, singing, and games; not much could be said about her baking skills. After a while she gave up trying to make everypony happy, and she too became miserable once again. To make matters worse, Pinkie never returned.

Limestone hoped that one day her sister will return home and bring the happiness and smiles back into their home, but she didn’t. There wasn’t even a single letter from her. Limestone could’ve followed her trail to Ponyville, but she didn’t know which direction to go, so she remained at the rock farm trapped by her own sadness. Over time, to get away from her family, she ventured out into the empty wastelands and created a tent to spend time dwelling on her thoughts. She was safe inside her tent, nothing could enter.

Everything was as before, then one day, something she couldn’t have imagined happened - Pinkie finally returned home. Limestone should have been happy to see her sister again after so many years apart, but she wasn’t. The moment she saw the pink mare approach her home her heart was full of venom. She couldn’t figure it out, although she knew everything that had transpired in her life was because of the sister who abandoned her.

Her entire family gave a blind eye to the fact that Pinkie had abandoned all of them for her own selfish gain. Did they not remember that feeling of joy they had for a brief time? Had they not remembered what it was like to open their eyes to the beauty of life? How dare Maud defend her? She knew that answer - out of all the three, Maud was always her favorite.

Limestone’s frustrations grew. The tent was warm and cozy, much different from their small home full of rocks and dirt. Maybe she should stay here for the rest of her life. It wouldn’t matter to the rest of the Pies, Pinkie’s misery was far too important than her’s. Who would notice anyway? She knew it won’t be them, or anypony.

“Limestone, are you in here?” Pinkie asked. Wait a minute, Pinkie? But how? Nopony knows about her tent. Limestone turned her head, and there she was, Pinkie Pie was her straight hair. Her sanctuary has been invaded by an unwanted visitor, her sister of all ponies. Limestone turned away from her. “Limestone, may I come in? Please?”

She didn’t respond. There was a prolonged silence between them. Pinkie wasn’t quite sure whether this was an invitation or a decline, but after a moment of sticking her head through the opening of the tent, Pinkie let herself in. There was still no reaction from Limestone. She had her back toward Pinkie the entire time, there was never an attempt to at least make a glance at her. Pinkie extended her arm to touch Limestone’s arm, but after consideration she retracted it. Never before was Pinkie was at a lost for words. Anything that came from her mouth might have the power to push Limestone further from her. Limestone became too frustrated from the silence, so she let her guard down and spoke. “How did you find me?”

“Maud. She told me she followed you here without you noticing, and she showed me the way.”

“Is she outside?”

“No.”

Limestone sighed. She never looked at Pinkie during that short conversation. Of course Maud would know where her secret hiding place was.

“Why did you come here?” she asked.

“I was hoping we could talk.”

“No… why did you come back home?” she asked in a low voice.

“Limestone, I know you’re upset with me. I don’t blame you. You don’t have to say anything to me, but I hope at least you’ll listen to what I have to say.” There was no answer from her. Pinkie waited but Limestone wouldn’t face her. Even if she begged Limestone she still wouldn’t listen. Pinkie thought, and decided it was better to leave her alone. Maybe she’ll feel much better if she wasn’t around. She got up to leave, but Limestone slowly turned around. She had a frown on her face, but she was willing to listen to what she had to say.

“Speak.”

“Whenever I close my eyes, I always see the sonic rainboom that made me smile. It was the happiest moment of my life that I will always cherish, and I wanted my own family to feel what I felt. I was so proud when all of you enjoyed yourselves, so I decided to go out and spread that same feeling to everyone across the world.”

There was a sense of longing in her voice, but it faded with a simple sigh. “I left town thinking… no, believing that throwing the party would fix everything here. I never realized how much that party meant to you. When Maud told me of how you tried to do everything I did I felt so terrible.” The hard look on Limestone’s face soften. Pinkie was thankful to know that she was listening. It was all she wanted from her. “I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted everyone to be happy. I thought I was doing a good thing. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Yes,” Limestone finally said. They sat together in silence. The tension between when she first arrived dissipated. Pinkie was very surprise of how much room the tent had. She couldn’t imagined the many times Limestone snuck out to retreat from the world. Limestone’s bottom jaw moved as she was trying to form words.

“Your friend,” she finally said. “You said she died. What happened?”

“You know that sonic rainboom I told you about?” Pinkie said. “That was made by my best friend; well, I didn’t know she was going to be my best friend years later. Her name was Rainbow Dash, and she was a pegasus. And she was a good friend. She was always loyal no matter what. She was the kind of pony who will always have your back. And she was a great flyer, too, one of the best in the whole world. One day, she wanted to make the largest sonic rainboom in the world, so everypony from everywhere came to Ponyville to see her do it.”

“Then what happened?”

“She did it… then we never saw her again,” she said with sadness taking over her voice. “It was the largest one she ever made.”

“I remember seeing bright colors in the sky some time ago. Was that her?” Limestone said.

Pinkie nodded.

“I was outside when it happened,” Limestone said. “I was walking through the field and I heard a little explosion. Colorful lights spread across the sky. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. For the first time since fillyhood, I was smiling once more, if only for a little while.” Limestone silently scolded herself afterward. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s awful to think that your friend’s death gave me brief happiness.”

“It’s okay. I was happy too when I saw it. Everyone was. Nopony knew it was going to be the last time we’ll ever see her.”

“Pinkie, I’m truly sorry for what I said to you last night,” Limestone said. “Things have been so horrible for me, but it’s not an excuse for the things I said. I don’t know why I lashed at you like that, but I am honest about one thing - you will not find happiness here. I never did. I tried and failed.”

“Limestone,” Pinkie said, “before I came back to the farm, did you hate me all these years?”

“No. I cannot bring myself to hate anypony, especially my own little sister.” She paused while letting the sad air out of her. “But I wish you had not made the choice to leave.”

The passage of time of unnoticeable to them, for when Pinkie took a glance outside she saw that the sun was already down. Limestone held a lantern that brought light to the tent. Pinkie wouldn’t mind to stay with her sister all night, but she thought whether their mother and father were worried about them. They never showed emotion, but there were times Pinkie knew what they were feeling just by looking at their eyes, which reminded her of the saying that the eyes were windows to the soul. Before she threw her first party, her mother showed what at least could be called emotions than her father. When Pinkie was a filly she fell on a pile of rocks and bruised her leg. It was one of those rare times Cloudy Quartz had seen any of her daughters cry. She helped Pinkie to her legs, and although there was no feeling in her eyes, Pinkie looked deeper and saw that her mother cared very much for her. The two spent half the day inside the house as her mother healed the wound, and doing all she can so Pinkie will stop crying.

Pinkie wanted to look into Limestone’s eyes as well. She was astonished how much she had changed over the years. Her pink arm tapped Limestone’s shoulder, and when she turned there was what she could best describe as an “empty sadness,” the same emotionless look her family has, and at the same time it looked as though Limestone was confused, tired, and had given up hope. She held her hoof into Limestone’s and gradually tighten the grip. Pinkie thought they spent enough time inside the tent, so she helped themselves out - with Limestone carrying the lantern so the light can guide their way through the night. Looking up Pinkie remembered that not even the moon and stars appeared during the night. The sleepover her friends had at Sweet Apple Acres came to her thoughts. At that night they laid under a gallery of white diamonds on a black canvas. Twilight Sparkle pointed out all the constellations she could find without using her astronomy books, and of course, Rainbow Dash wanted nothing more than to fly up and touch them. It was a beautiful night.

“Limestone, do you remember seeing any stars at night?” Pinkie asked.

“Yes. In my dreams.”

Chapter 13

Jovial Province was a resort town just north of Manehattan. During the summers it was a vacation spot for tourists and families, a place where ponies can get away from reality, and it seem like the perfect place for Rarity at the time. She couldn’t remember the last time she took a vacation, and due to the emotional stress from recent events she couldn’t pass the opportunity. Years ago her parents had taken her to Jovial Province when she was a filly during the summer holidays, maybe about Sweetie Belle’s age, probably younger. There was an amusement park by the beach she frequented on the last day of vacation. It was a tradition she made for herself, before her career in fashion began so soon.

They rose at dawn to catch the first train to Jovial Province. On the day of her last conversation with Twilight, Rarity closed the Carousel Boutique and spent the evening with her family, mostly helping Sweetie pack her belongings. Rarity took one look at her mother to know she was proud of her daughter’s decision to join them. Maybe she and Sweetie Belle could finally create a sisterly bond she always wanted to see.

But being away with her family hadn’t stop Rarity from dwelling on her friends, and the future of their lives and her own. She didn’t what she would do when she returned. There was no telling if she will ever return to the life she once knew. Rarity never imagined the day where she has moved on from Rainbow Dash’s death. It was entirely impossible to do such a thing. The few short years she had known Rainbow Dash was an eternity. She couldn’t get over somepony as beloved as her.

The train arrived at Jovial Province at the stroke of noon. A taxi cart carried the family to their hotel. Sweetie Belle took the time to admire the sights along the way. There were shops, restaurants, performing houses; everything the town had to offer. The cart passed the beach, and already there were ponies basking under the sun. Jovial Province is wonderful, she thought to herself. Looking to her sister, she saw that Rarity had her head down. She was sleeping. Poor Rarity, she said to herself.

When the cart stopped at the hotel Sweetie woke her. Rarity didn’t know where she was, then Sweetie informed her they arrived at the hotel. Stepping out of the cart Sweetie and Rarity saw many balconies on the building. It was a very nice-looking hotel, and the inside looked even marvelous than Rarity had imagined. There was a bar and a dining area decorated with velvet wallpaper.

Their room was on the highest floor. It was a considerably large living space with a family room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Sweetie walked toward the glass sliding door that lead to the balcony. Stepping forth she felt the relaxing summer breeze on her face, and with it came a spectacular view of the beach. The sun was reflected on the surface of the ocean and the sand was golden. From the corner of her eye off the distance she saw a ferris wheel. If there’s a ferris wheel, that meant it’s an amusement park.

Rarity opened the door to one of the bedrooms. She placed her briefcase on the bed but was too exhausted to unload, so she chose to lie on her side to rest. Her head sunk into the soft pillow. She didn’t care if her perfect mane was a mess afterward. This was what she needed.

“Rarity,” her mother spoke softly. “We’re all going out for lunch. Did you want to come with us?”

“... No thanks. I just want to stay here and rest,” said Rarity.

Mother closed the door halfway, but opened it once again to enter. She sat on the side from where Rarity was lying. Rarity turned her head to see her mother on the bed, then turned to the window.

“Rarity, I know things have been difficult for you,” she said. “I just to let you know that Sweetie Belle, your father, and I - we’re all here for you. You can talk to us about anything.”

“It’s nothing, mother… I’m just really tired,” she said weakly. “All of this… everything that has happened… all of this have taken my strength.”

“I still want you to know that you don’t have to be afraid to speak to me, or anypony else. I’m your mother, and we’re your family.” She climbed out of the bed and went toward the door. She closed it halfway once she was on the other side. “We can talk later once you feel better if you like.”

“Maybe.”

Mother nodded, then closed the door. The young mare filled with life and joy, and very spirit, this was not her daughter. This was somepony else entirely. Mother shook her head. She shouldn’t say such things about her own daughter. A good friend of her’s has met her tragic end. Anypony would feel the same pain as her. Her arm reached for the doorknob, but she pulled herself back. This whole situation was unreal. What was stopping her? Rarity needs her mother.

“Mom?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Is Rarity feeling okay?”

Mother turned away from the door, defeated. “She’s feeling fine. Rarity needs time to herself.”

Sweetie gazed at the door, imagining what Rarity might be doing. Next to her two friends, her sister was a very important pony in her life, and just like mother she missed the days when she was filled with the joy of life. In some ways, she also felt like Scootaloo. Rarity had also, in a sense, “died” along with Rainbow Dash.

“Mom, I’m worried about her. What if she never gets better?”

Mother lovingly stroked Sweetie’s cheek. “She will. Things like this take time to heal. It isn’t easy to go through life after something tragic happens.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“The best thing you can do is to be a good sister for her. She needs all of us, especially you.” She kissed Sweetie’s forehead. Father waited by the door for his family. He gave a sympathetic smile to his wife and youngest daughter. Sweetie didn’t want to leave Rarity alone. This was supposed to be their vacation. She wanted to spend it with the Rarity she knew and love, but her mother was right. Her heart was broken, and Sweetie had to be a good sister.

Two Years Ago, The Best Young Flyer Competition…

Rarity was literally on top of the world. Everypony couldn’t take their eyes her beautiful wings. Even the other contestants were astonished. Some have mistaken her for an alicorn, even Princess Celestia herself. She never bothered flying through the obstacle courses, but the judges didn’t mind. Dancing in mid-air was enough to give her a winning score.

She didn’t noticed that Rainbow Dash was fumbling in front of everypony, but even if she did, surely Rainbow must have been relieved to have the attention away from her. She never stopped talking how nervous she was about the competition. Rarity never realized how much of a fear of failure she had. Rainbow will have to thank her later when the competition is over.

Then she decided to fly upward until she reached the sun, in which the light illuminated her wings. Brightly lit colors flashed and swirl around the coloss, much to the delight of the spectators. Rarity was in a state of pure ecstasy. As she stretched her arms she felt like a goddess looking down upon mortals. Loud cheers echoed across the sky and clouds. Rarity could stay in the center of the sky for all eternity if she had to.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Her back felt naked, the glimmering lights vanished. Before she knew it she plummet through the clouds.

So… this is how the story of Rarity must end. All her life she imagined herself as one of the greatest fashion designers in Equestria. She was going to live in a penthouse in Manehattan, being praised for having a list of high-class clients, and living the single life with thousands of eligible bachelors and suitors. None of that had come to pass, and now she found herself screaming and falling to her death. She was approaching the earth at a fast rate. It seemed as if nopony was coming to her rescue. After the spectacle she made of herself, why would they?

Rarity closed her eyes and accepted her fate. Before hitting the ground one little pony came to her thoughts.

Sweetie Belle. My sweet, little Sweetie Belle. I’m so sorry.

Then, she heard an explosion. Something, or somepony grabbed her, and she ascended to the sky once more. Looking up, she saw a brilliant swirl of rainbow spread over the sky. It reminded her of something she had seen a long time ago when she was a filly. It was the an amazing sight. Then she saw Rainbow Dash carrying her, along with the members of the Wonderbolts whom probably tried to save her.

Her black eyeliner were mixed with tears when she realized she was still alive.

Present

“... Rarity?” a small voice spoke. She knew somepony was calling her name, but was too weak to open her eyes. The little voice called out for again, but this time there was a reaction. Strands of her purple mane were caught on her eyes. Pushing them away she was greeted with a blurry image along with the afternoon sunlight. “Rarity?” the voice said again. When her sight cleared, Sweetie Belle was standing beside the mattress.

“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said in a weak tone. “Hello darling. How was lunch?”

“Lunch was okay.”

“Where’s mother and father?”

“They wanted to hang out in the courtyard, so I decided to stay here and keep you company.” Rarity nodded. She noticed that Sweetie set a paper bag on the floor. “I got something for you.”

“Really?” she asked, lifting her head. “What is it?”

Sweetie’s hooves entered the paper bag, and when they emerged she was holding a water globe. Inside the water globe was a small porcelain unicorn standing triumphantly on a green hill. She turned it upside-down, then right side-up, and glitter danced around the unicorn.

“It’s for you,” Sweetie said. “I found it at the hotel gift shop.”

Rarity took the water globe from her hooves and watched the glitter rain down on the little unicorn on the hill. “Oh Sweetie, this is wonderful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Rarity placed the water globe on the nightstand, and the last of the glitter fell to the bottom. Sweetie climbed on top of the bed and sat next to her. “When I saw the unicorn inside the water globe, I thought of you. I thought maybe you’d like it.”

“I do like it, Sweetie Belle. It is a very nice gift. Now I wish I’ve brought you something.”

“That’s okay. I just wanted you to be happy.”

A magical aura held the water globe. Rarity turned it over and watched the glitter fall. The glitter reminded her of the wings she had when she and her friends visited Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale. She sighed, then placed the water globe back on the nightstand.

“Sweetie Belle, I must confess something. I have never said this to anypony. I want you to promise to not think of me differently.”

“I promise.”

She closed her eyes to gather her thoughts. Rarity saw herself falling to the earth, screaming and crying, believing that her time on her had come to an abrupt end. She let out a deep breath.

“Do you remember the story of how Rainbow Dash saved my life?”

“I do. Scootaloo always like to tell that story. It’s her favorite, and it’s mine, too.”

“After that incident… I have a fear of dying. Falling away from the sun and straight to the earth, my entire life flashed before my eyes. Everything I had done up to that point, and suddenly, all the things I wanted to do but hadn’t. Then my mind went away. I truly believed this was the end. From then on I had nightmares about it. On that day I learned that life can end at any moment, and we are powerless to stop it.”

“... Why would think about something horrible like that?” Sweetie asked shockingly.

“I don’t know why. There were moments in my life where I came an inch close to death. From all those moments… all I saw was your face. The only other thing I’m more afraid of than death is not seeing you again.”

Sweetie attached herself to Rarity, wrapping her arms around her waist, and in return Rarity affectionately brought Sweetie’s head close to her side. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s was a secret I was too afraid to reveal.”

The filly brought her face up. There was one Rarity always liked about her little sister was the innocence in her eyes, but this time it was mixed with sorrow. “Don’t say things like that, Rarity. I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want you to die. I love you.”

The sisters locked themselves in a tight embrace. There was no room for talking, and they liked it that way. Sweetie felt an unnerving chill, so she climbed under the blankets with Rarity joining her. Afterward, the two dozed off. Before she slept, Rarity remembered the amusement park that was close to the beach. Sweetie deserved to go, and the greatest big sister in the world will be right next to her.

Chapter 14

When Princess Cadance was informed that Twilight and Spike were coming to visit, she wasted no time preparing the guest room for them. She hoped at least some of her friends from Ponyville would come, and she was glad it was her sister-in-law. During these trying times, visiting family sounded like a good idea.

The guest room was located at the highest level of the Crystal Castle. Although there were several guest rooms, Cadance reserved this particular one for Twilight and Spike. It was a large, squarish room with walls made of white marble, almost a combination of a master bedroom and a living room. There were three doors on different corners of the room; one door led out of the room, the second door was a washroom, and the third was a closet. The best feature of all was the balcony, which had a glorious view of the Crystal City and the valleys and mountains that surrounded the land.

A while ago Shining Armor went to the train station in case they should arrive. He knew it will bring some joy to Twilight’s soul to see the face of her brother. She couldn’t get over of how filled with grief Twilight was at Rainbow Dash’s funeral. Cadance has seen her cry many times when she was a filly. Twilight shedded tears over a scrapped hind leg or if her favorite doll was missing an eye bead, but this was sadness of a different kind.

Maybe after her visit she wouldn’t have to shed those tears. She wanted it to be just like the days when she was her foalsitter. Although they were too old to play games or sing songs, Cadance believed she and Twilight might create a closer bond. They had years of catching up to do, and thankfully there was no enemy to threaten the world to prevent them from doing so.

She took a stroll down memory lane to a thunderstorm that happened years ago in Canterlot. Cadance was just starting out as Twilight’s foalsitter. In the middle of the night Twilight entered the room she was staying while her parents were away. Shining was probably at a sleepover. She’d to ask him about it later. Twilight asked if she could sleep in the bed with her. The storm must have frightened her, but that was normal for small children. Who wouldn’t be afraid of loud thunder and swift strikes of lightning? Even as an adult Cadance still shook from the slightest rumble of thunder.

Princess Cadance stood in front of the grand entrance of the castle while two crystal guards stood on opposite sides. The castle staff stood and smile behind Cadance. Two of her mane dressers approached her to fix her up a titch, but Cadance politely send them away. The guards opened the large doors and Shining Armor entered along with Twilight. She had bags under her eyes upon closer inspection, and she covered her mouth as she was yawning.

“Twilight, I’m so glad you’ve come,” Cadance said. Twilight was tired, but not too tired to embrace her former foalsitter, and despite her fatigue she tried to put on a little smile. Cadance caught a glimpse of Spike struggling with the extra luggage, so she used her magic to lessen the load for him. Cadance stacked them in a neat pile.

“Thank you,” he said very tiredly.

“You look you could use some rest,” Cadance said. “We have the guest room set up for you and Twilight.” She nodded to the castle to the maids and they carried their bags and briefcases upstairs. Spike was too worn out to notice that he was leaning on Shining Armor.

“I’ll take him to his room,” Shining said. Spike was carried with magic then placed softly on Shining’s back. He followed the maids to the castle guest room, and Spike’s snoring could be heard across the halls.

“He must be really tired,” Cadance said.

“It was my fault,” said Twilight. “I was crying again and he stayed up half the night to comfort me. Then we started out early to catch the first train. He’s been such a great friend.”

The little smile on her face quickly disappeared. Twilight looked away from her for a short time. She has had many sleepless nights since the death of Rainbow Dash. Princess Cadance couldn’t fathom the pain that dwelled within her. Cadance promised herself to make the next few days worthwhile for Twilight and Spike.

Twilight found the strength to look at her. “Cadance, thank you for letting us stay here for a few days.”

“You’re always welcome here, Twilight. You have done so much for me, it’s the least I can do.”

Spike hadn’t realized how tired he was when he came to. He found himself in an entirely different room, tucked under comfortable blankets and his head on a soft pillow. He couldn’t recollect how he entered the room, but after thinking it over he decided he didn’t need to know. It was the best nap he had in a long time.

It was quite a large living space he was in. The walls were plastered with marble and crystal. There were several doors that lead to different sections of the room. To his left, curtains flowed from the other side of the balcony, and light reflected off the walls. Spike would have climbed out of the bed to get a view of the city, but he couldn’t leave the comfort of the bed. Shining Armor opened one of the doors to let himself in.

“That was quite a nap you had,” he said. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah… well, almost.”

“Well, we’re still glad you guys came. Cadance is very happy to see you two.”

Spike nodded, but was silent. He pulled the blankets away from him and let his legs hang on the side of the bed which faced the balcony. Spike felt a gurgling sensation in his lower abdomen.

“I know what that means,” Shining said.

“I always hungry after a nap,” Spike said. “Is there anything to eat?”

“I can get the chef to make something for you.” Shining paused, then smiled at Spike. "Although, I do know a good pastry shop in the city. It has great donuts, fresh from the oven.”

“Really? I can’t say no to that.”

"And believe it or not, there's a fantastic comic book store that just opened. Maybe we can look around and see what they have."

Donuts and comics. How can Spike say no to an offer like that? Sleepiness had affected his mobility when his legs reached the floor. Spike held to the nightstand for support, thinking it would be best to stay in bed. His stomach said otherwise. Spike stood upright after struggling to keep his legs from wobbling. It dawned on Shining Armor that Spike was somewhat of a little brother to him, despite being a dragon. Maybe after next few days he and Twilight stayed in the Empire, he might have a chance to know him a little better. It's what his little sister would want.

Princess Cadance figured that Twilight hadn’t had anypony to talk to in days, or any sleep from she had been told. She would have insist that Twilight take some time to rest before doing anything else, but the unicorn gathered all of her strength to stay awake. Since stepping inside the castle, all she wanted to do was talk to Princess Cadance. Since it was nearly noon Cadance thought it was good time to have tea. They joined together in one of the spacious rooms of the castle while a butler offered tea on a platter. There were no windows inside the room, and the only source of light came from the fireplace, but that was no matter for Twilight. There were paintings hung on the wall as well as bookshelves, which was enough for her.

Every now and then Twilight would doze off by accident, so she gave herself a kick by jerking her head. From those few times she thought maybe Cadance was right about her needing some rest. However, that will have to wait. She didn’t come all this way just to get some sleep.

“I’m glad to see the Empire is doing fine since last time,” Twilight said.

“The Crystal Empire is thriving once more, and I have you and your friends to thank,” said Cadance. “Without everypony’s help, all would have been lost.” Cadance added a tablespoon of sugar to her tea. “Which reminds me; I’ve been told from Princess Celestia that you’ve entered Sombra’s Door of Illusions. What did you see?”

Twilight drew the teacup to her lips, then closed her eyes. “As I stepped through the door… I was in Canterlot Castle. Princess Celestia had her back towards me. She spoke to me, but it didn’t sound like her. Not like the Celestia I knew. When she turned around she had this awful look in her face.”

She looked away from Cadance, like she did when she first arrived. The pink alicorn felt the distress radiating from Twilight’s heart. “Then she told me I failed… that I failed her test. And that I wasn’t her student anymore,” Twilight said, her voice trembling. “Then Spike pulled me out, and… it was just so terrible.”

“It was just an illusion,” Cadance said. “A cheap trick of Sombra. You will always be Celestia’s favorite student, passing a test or not.”

“My biggest fear is failing Celestia. I’ve been her student for as long as I can remember. She counts on me with everything, no matter how small or great. When the task was given to me, I wasn’t sure if I can accomplish it. I didn’t have any faith in myself. Now I know with my friends by my side… anything is possible.” Twilight took another sip of her tea. “But it’s hard to imagine that… saving the Crystal Empire will be the last adventure we’ll have with Rainbow Dash.”

“I’m sorry that I haven’t had the chance to know her,” Cadance added.

“Rainbow Dash was one of the first ponies I met since I began my new life in Ponyville. I never knew how much of a connection we had. Whenever I think about her final sonic rainboom, I think about the first one she made. Without her, none of us would be here today.”

Cadance silently offered another cup of tea for Twilight, but she passes. Twilight’s attention were on the paintings on the wall. Many of them were from different eras of history, nicely contained in such a small space. “Now I know in my heart that I’ve failed everypony.”

“What do you mean?” Cadance asked.

“With Rainbow Dash gone, I don’t know how our friendship can survive. Now that everything is out of balance, everything is at stake.”

“Twilight, you didn’t fail anypony. Sometimes things happen that’s beyond our control, Rainbow Dash’s death being one of them. It means that you must work harder to keep your friends from drifting apart, and to keep them as close as you can.”

The whites in Twilight’s eyes became moist and tingly. She levitated a piece of tissue to her face. “I wasn’t prepared for this. I wish I knew what to do.”

“In times of trouble, we must have faith. And I have faith in you.”

There was still doubt that dwelled within her, but Twilight nodded. Cadance was right about how some things were beyond her control, she thought, but if there was one thing Twilight had the power to control, it was the survival of her friendship with her best friends. However, she couldn’t shake away the thought of failing another test, one given to her by fate. If she doesn’t succeed, not only will she fail the ones who counted on her, but she will fail herself.

“I’m glad you have faith in me. Because I don’t,” Twilight said.

Chapter 15

There was a song Applejack remembered from the days when she was a filly. Her mother, and once in a blue moon her father, would sing it to her as a lullaby. She liked the way her mother sang it, however. Her voice possessed a soothing power that put her soul at ease. Applejack hummed it to herself while she was on her way to Fluttershy’s cottage, with Winona by her side, but in her mind she could hear her mother’s sweet voice.

It was late in the afternoon when she began her walk across town. Her family and Scootaloo had already ventured into Whitetail Woods at sunrise. Since they weren’t going to see each other again for a few days, Applejack gave a word of wisdom to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo before they went their separate ways.

“Apple Bloom, I want you to keep doing what you’ve been doing,” she said. “Take care of Scootaloo, and listen to Big Mac and Granny.”

Then she turned to Scootaloo. Applejack sensed so much potential when she laid her hooves on her. She gave Scootaloo the best smile she could give. “Scootaloo, I want you to have fun. Don’t worry about the past and don’t think about the future. Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and good ‘ole Granny will be right beside you. Promise me you’ll have a great time, sugarcube.”

Scootaloo nodded, then a tiny smile appeared on her lips. It wasn’t much, but it was the only thing Applejack wanted from her. If Applejack could think of one good thing that came from this, the good thing was that Rainbow Dash’s death had brought Scootaloo into her life. Whenever she looked at her, whenever she heard her speak, Applejack saw much of Rainbow Dash in her. She hoped that one day, Scootaloo can finally have a peace of mind about Rainbow Dash with the passage of time.

Later that afternoon, it was time to go. Applejack decided to bring Winona with her. She never forgot what her father said about dogs: No matter how bad things in life get, dogs will always be loyal to the end. And who was more loyal than Rainbow Dash?

“Come on, Winona,” Applejack said. She set her leash and collar and head out the door. Before taking another step further she realized she forgot her stetson. She remembered she left it on top of her bed. Applejack went back for it, then she stopped.

This time, she thought, she didn’t need it. Applejack nodded. She can go a few days without her trusty hat.

It seemed that all of her friends went ran out of town with their troubles, not that Applejack could blame them. An important piece of them vanished into thin air on that fateful afternoon in May. That day left everypony in a dark place. She had no right to judge them. In fact, she would have joined her family on their camping trip at this point, just to get away as well. But there was one pony who was left behind. Fluttershy desperately needed somepony, and Applejack was the one who answered the call.

Out of her circle of friends, Fluttershy was effected by Rainbow Dash’s death the most. Her world was torn asunder when the mayor made that terrible announcement, as was her other friends. Nopony had seen her for days, and Applejack feared for the worst. She couldn’t stand at the side and leave Fluttershy to wander through the dark, alone. That was not the way true friends treat each other. Something must be done.

Winona barked when Fluttershy’s cottage was in view. There was some kind of eerie presence when Applejack was under the trees. Twilight told her about her own experience just days before Rainbow Dash’s funeral. It could have been Applejack’s imagination, but the sky looked grey and the air sent a chill through her spine. Not too long ago she was under a blue sky, and the sun was bright. Winona must have felt it as well, because she whimpered.

“Don’t be scared, girl,” Applejack said.

Applejack expected to be greeted by a mass of animals, but there no sign of life in Fluttershy’s front yard. They must be inside, she thought. Or in the backyard. Her instinct was to knock on the front door. “Fluttershy? Are you there?” she asked. No answer. She knocked several times until she realized nopony was coming. However, she heard faint rustling from the other side of the cottage. Applejack and Winona followed the sounds to the backyard. From there they found Fluttershy tending to her garden, with Angel by her side.

“Fluttershy?”

The pegasus froze. She turned around and thought of Applejack as a stranger. Her pink mane was untidy, almost covering her eyes, although it still retained its shape. Poor thing, thought Applejack. It’s been so long since she’d seen another pony. “Fluttershy?” she said with a soft, motherly tone. “It’s me, Applejack.”

“... Applejack,” Fluttershy said like an foal.

“That’s right, darling. It’s me. I brought Winona here, too. We came to visit if that’s alright with you.”

She didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment of silence she muttered “Okay.” Applejack removed her saddlebag and joined Fluttershy on the grass. Winona wagged her tail excitedly when she saw Angel. She playfully poked him repeatedly to the rabbit’s annoyance, but Angel paid her no mind. “You doing some gardening?” Applejack asked.

“Yes,” muttered Fluttershy.

“You know, I’m little bit of a gardener myself. May I join you?”

Fluttershy nodded. Angel took Winona to another area in the backyard. Applejack noticed there were dirt holes on the soil, and some that were already filled with seeds. Beside her was an open bag of flower seeds, in which she grabbed with her mouth and poured some in the holes. “Are these azalea seeds?”

Fluttershy nodded. “I love azaleas,” Applejack said. “They’re so pretty when they bloom. I’m sure they’re gonna look wonderful, sugarcube.” Fluttershy nodded again, then filled the soil holes. Afterward, she grabbed a watering can and poured a small amount on each of them. Applejack did the same with her’s. “Anything else you want me to help you with, hun?”

“... I have to feed them,” Fluttershy said in a low voice. She pointed to a small pool full of fish and birds standing on wires and tree branches.

“How about I feed the birds and you can take care of the fish,” suggested Applejack, “if that’s okay with you.”

Fluttershy nodded after taking a moment to think. While feeding the fish she watched Applejack as birds surrounded her hooves. She couldn’t remember how long it has been since she seen another living pony until Applejack came to visit. Fluttershy also forgot she even had friends. After feeding the last of the flakes to the fish, she approached Applejack, who was now finished feeding the birds.

“... Thank you for helping me,” she muttered.

“You’re quite welcome, sugarcube.”

The silence was very awkward. Fluttershy was trying to find anything to get her attention away from Applejack. She began to say something, but closed her mouth. Applejack felt that spending the night with Fluttershy might not be a good idea. She sighed, then called for Winona. “Well… I just wanted to check on you, that’s all. See how you were. I’m glad you’re doing alright,” she said in a somber tone. “I best be going now.”

“No,” Fluttershy said. They stared at each other, one waiting for the other to make a move. Fluttershy rubbed her forearm while Applejack waited. “Um, would you like to come inside?”

“Are you sure?”

“I… I don’t want to be alone.”

Applejack nodded. “That’s why I’m here, so we won’t have to be.”

Angel wondered how much energy can one dog have. He had no idea Winona liked him so much. She spent the entire day playing with him by pushing the rabbit playfully, jumping around, and occasionally running circles around him. Angel found it particularly annoying, but he endured her behavior for both Fluttershy and Applejack. Although Fluttershy hardly noticed it herself, she was very pleased to see them play together. Most of the time she would give Winona rubs on her stomach and back, something that made Angel slightly jealous. However, he was glad to see Fluttershy coming around.

“I was going to make tea for me and Angel,” said Fluttershy. “Um, would you like any?”

“That’ll be nice. Thank you.”

Fluttershy walked into the kitchen and prepared the tea. While looking around Applejack discovered a box beside the couch. When she opened the box she found them to be photographs of their friends Fluttershy had kept. Rainbow Dash was featured in many of them. Two of them she found recalled favorite memories; her winning first place at the Young Flyer Competition and the wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance where they were bridesmaids. The memories of the good times they had together rushed through Applejack. In just a span of a few years they’ve gone through many high in low points, and always stuck together, as real sisters. It was a bond that was unbroken, until recently. She quickly purge the last thought at of her head. It will never be broken, as long as they stay together. As Applejack looked through more of the photographs Fluttershy entered the room with a teapot and teacups on a serving tray. “Oh… the pictures,” she said awkwardly.

“I’m sorry, I just wanted to look through them if that was alright with you.”

“That’s okay, I was just… organizing.”

Applejack looked through more photos while Fluttershy poured tea. Some of them brought smiles to her face, others caused her lips to quiver. So much lost time, she said to herself. “... Would you like any sugar?” Fluttershy asked.

“No, thank you.”

Upon the mountain of photos, Applejack found some that were taken when Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were fillies. She had a guess that the two had history together because of how close they were. Several of them were taken during flight camp. Applejack shook her head light-heartedly, remembering how Rainbow would always gush about her days at the camp. However, one photo took her by surprise. There was Rainbow and Fluttershy, plus a third - a young griffon. All three of them were smiling together.

“I didn’t know you knew Gilda.”

Fluttershy put down her teacup and inspected the photo with her own eyes. There she was as clear as day, Gilda along with herself and Rainbow Dash. “Y’all three went to flight camp together?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t say me and Gilda were friends.”

“What do you mean?”

“At flight camp I had very few friends. Honestly, I never had any friends ever. Rainbow Dash was my first true friend. She stood up for me when nopony else did. Then I met Gilda through Rainbow, but I didn’t think she liked me very much. She thought I was weak and a terrible flyer. I guess she was in the photo out of obligation.”

“Did you know that Gilda came to Rainbow’s funeral?” asked Applejack.

“Really?”

She nodded. “When the funeral was over, Pinkie brought her to Sugarcube Corner where the rest of us went.”

“What happened?”

“Well, most of us wasn’t sure why she came, then the strangest thing happened… we made peace. She apologized, we forgave her.” There was a smile on her face. “Gilda wanted to apologize to you too, but you weren’t there.”

Fluttershy took another sip from her teacup, then she let out a remorseful sigh. “Applejack, I’m sorry for not going to the funeral. I know it was horrible thing to do, but I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t say goodbye to her.”

She began to weep, and Applejack held her hoof while wiping her tears with the other. “Don’t you apologize for anything, dear. Nopony likes going to funerals. In fact, I was thinking of skipping the whole thing myself.”

“You did?”

“Absolutely. When Rainbow Dash took her last flight, I couldn’t stop crying for days. I hadn’t cried so much since my parents died.”

“Your parents?”

Applejack said nothing. She gazed at nothing. Later, she closed her eyes and exhaled a small amount of breath.

“My ma and pa. They died when I was nearly twelve. I think Apple Bloom was just born. Mighty proud Apples they were. They taught me and Mac everything we know. Hard working folks they were, too. They never missed a day of farm work, no matter what.”

“What happened to them?” Applejack was silent again. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ask that.”

“No, that’s alright. You see, Ma and Pa had to do a little business in Marbletown. They had a huge wagon of cider, and the town was a four day trip - to and from. They left Big Mac in charge of me and Apple Bloom.” She took another sip of tea. “Well, we found out that the wagon never made it to Marbletown. We don’t know how it happened.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I mostly gotten over it, but… it still hurts inside, you know?”

Fluttershy’s eyes were glued to the box of photos. Applejack’s story reminded her of something very personal. “Can I show you something?”

“Sure.”

Fluttershy dug through the box until she found what she had been searching for. She pulled out a photo which was taken at another time during her fillyhood and present it to Applejack. There was Fluttershy, and standing next to her was a white pegasus mare with a pink mane that looked just like her own.

“Who is that?” asked Applejack.

“That’s my mother.”

“She’s very beautiful.”

“My mother was the kindest pony in the world. Whenever I made a mistake she never got angry or screamed at me. Anytime I was sad she would cheer me up by taking me to my favorite places. One summer she decided to sign me up for flight camp. I didn’t like it at first, and everypony kept making fun of me. But thinking about it now, if she hadn’t done that… then I wouldn’t have met Rainbow Dash.”

“And then,” Applejack said.

“Years later, she became very sick. One day she became so ill that she fainted. I was living in Ponyville when it happened. The doctors didn’t know what was happening to her, but I visited her everyday, hoping she will get better. The next day I got a letter from the hospital…”

She covered her face to hide herself. Applejack, the only friend she had, pulled Fluttershy close to her. Applejack let the tears fall on her shoulder. She thought about the song her mother used to sing to her and McIntosh when they were young. Her voice rang in her mind as Applejack hummed it to Fluttershy.

Chapter 16

It amazed Scootaloo how Macintosh had no trouble pulling a wagon himself that contained a large amount of camping supplies and three ponies. After thinking about it, she should not have been really surprised at all. She had seen him display his strength many times before; from simple farm work to breaking a wall open in the heat of the moment. Scootaloo remembered when she and her friends tried to set their teacher and with Macintosh by using an old love potion they made from scratch. He was madly in love and would not let anything get in his way.

She was joined by Apple Bloom and Granny Smith in the wagon. Out of all the elderly ponies Scootaloo had known, she considered Smith to be the most youthful. She played her banjo all morning and told stories of her fillyhood, which included a brief history lesson on the early years of Ponyville.

They took the trail to Whitetail Wood. Apple Bloom had a habit of forgetting that Applejack was not with them. She’d crawl to the front of the wagon to ask her a question only to realize she wasn’t there.

“How long until we get to Whitetail Wood?” she asked Macintosh.

“Soon,” he answered.

Scootaloo lay back on the wagon and watched the blue sky and white clouds pass over them. She had no idea the Apples (with the possible exception of Apple Bloom) rose even before the the sun had risen. She only had a bowl of cereal and an apple for breakfast. It was not entirely so bad since Scootaloo retreated to her bed earlier the night before, so she had a good rest. Scootaloo never thought that Granny Smith’s banjo would have a calming effect on her.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Apple Bloom asked. “You and me in the great outdoors… again!”

Scootaloo smiled and nodded. “Do you think we might have an adventure?”

“I hope so. Maybe we’ll find a cave that has buried treasure. That’ll be fun.”

The day went on as Macintosh pulled the cart into the woods. Granny played another song on her banjo to disrupt the silence. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom heard Macintosh humming to the tone. Apple Bloom smiled, knowing the same tone and humming along, and nod her head to the plucking strings. Scootaloo looked at her and gave a light smile. She didn’t know the tune, but she was glad there was music to fill the empty air. Seeing her by herself gave Apple Bloom an idea.

“Hey granny, can you start at the beginning?” she asked. “I want to teach Scootaloo a song. You know the one.”

Granny Smith happily nodded and played the first chords of the song. Scootaloo was pulled away from her thoughts when she heard her name. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“We’re going to sing a little song,” Apple Bloom said. “Do you know Apples to the Core?”

“Uh… no.”

“Well, it’s a family song. It’s about how we always stick together through thick and thin. No matter who you are and where you live, you’re an Apple to the Core.”

“It’s true,” Granny added.

“But I don’t know the words,” said Scootaloo.

“That’s why we’re going to teach you,” Apple Bloom said.

Granny Smith plucked the strings on the banjo until everyone was ready to sing. Scootaloo believed she had no busy learning the Apples’ family song. It was only for them. Surely enough, they wanted her to sing along. If they thought of her as family, what gave Scootaloo the right to say no?

“Applejack usually starts us off,” Apple Bloom said, “but since she ain’t here, we’re going to fill in for her.” She moved her head to the rhythm of the banjo and began to sing. As the song went on, Granny and Macintosh combined their voices with Apple Bloom and sang together.

We travelled the road of generations

Joined by a common bond,

We sing our song ‘cross the pony nation

From Equestria and beyond.

We’re Apples forever, Apples together

We’re family, but so much more

No matter what comes, we will face the weather

We’re Apples to the core.

Soon it will be Scootaloo’s turn to sing. She didn’t want to butcher their family song. Granny Smith kept the melody going, Apple Bloom pulled Scootaloo close, and smiled to let her know she had nothing to worry about. She guided Scootaloo into the second part of the song.

There’s no place I’d rather be

Than travelin’ with my family,

Friends all around come to join and see

As we sing out across the land.

We’re Apples forever, Apples together

We’re family, but so much more

No matter what comes, we will face the weather

We’re Apples to the core.

The Apples and Scootaloo sang during most of the trip. Her nervousness about singing their family song faded, and she felt good about herself.

The day was drawing to a close as Celestia lowered the sun. Macintosh stopped at a wide open area of under the trees that will be the camping ground for the night. Apple Bloom helped Granny unload their equipment from the cart, meanwhile Scootaloo climbed off the cart, waiting to make herself useful. She wanted to help Apple Bloom and Granny, but just by looking at how fast they moved she figured they were fine setting up camp themselves. She saw Macintosh removing the saddle he used to pull the cart from his back, so Scootaloo approached him.

“Um, do you need help with anything?” she asked.

Macintosh thought about what Scootaloo could do. He made a mental checklist of things he remembered to bring for the trip. A moment later his eyes widen, then he slapped himself on his forehead. He forgot the firewood. He silently berated himself for doing that for the second time.

“You can help me get firewood,” he said. “That’ll be nice.”

She nodded, but inside she remembered the last time Applejack wanted her to get firewood. It happened exactly a year ago and she couldn’t get over how she made a fool of herself in front of the adults, and of course Rainbow Dash, because of her pesky fear of the dark. She looked back at Apple Bloom and Granny Smith, completely amazed that they wasted no time pinching their tents. Scootaloo took a sighed, telling herself to not repeat her foolishness from last time, and she and McIntosh walked through the tall trees. Terror slowly crawled up her spine, but at least McIntosh was there with her. He scanned the ground for anything that looked like large chunks of wood with Scootaloo following his example. McIntosh mumbled to himself, although he was loud enough for Scootaloo to hear him, about how dumb he was to forget the firewood three times.

“Hey, Big Mac,” she said, “uh, it’s not your fault.”

“You don’t have to feel sorry for me,” he said. “I keep reminding myself to bring that dang firewood every year. I was lucky that Applejack always came with backup.”

Macintosh found large pieces of wood on the ground as they went further into the trees. Scootaloo helped by placing them in his saddlebag. The crickets were chirping loudly. She felt jittery, and hoped Macintosh would find more pieces soon. Scootaloo grew too nervous to take another step, fearing that she’ll jump by the sound of her own hoof breaking a twig. Macintosh commented how it was almost getting dark, so it took out a flashlight and turned it on.

“Thank you,” Scootaloo said with relief.

“You afraid of the dark?” Macintosh asked.

“No,” she answered quickly. “Well… kind of.”

She heard a faint noise from behind her, and turned her head to see what made it. Macintosh chuckled. It was not difficult to know that Scootaloo was telling a fib. They found a few more pieces of wood until McIntosh decided it was time to head back to the camp site. Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. When they returned they saw that Granny Smith and Apple Bloom were still unloading the supplies from the cart. It was a good thing that it wasn’t too dark when they arrived.

“Where were you guys?” Apple Bloom asked.

“You forgot the firewood again, didn’t you?” Granny said.

Macintosh sighed and nodded his head.

“We got some,” Scootaloo said, “so it wasn’t a total lost.” She tried to smile, but Macintosh held his arm out. It was his mistake, and he will own up to it. To prevent the situation from becoming awkward, Apple Bloom suggested that they get the fire ready. She approached her brother and whispered in his ear that she’ll promise not to tell Applejack, to which he was very grateful. In just a few moments the night sky will be above their heads, but Granny created the campfire. The fire gave them light in the darkness and warm their skin and hooves. Apple Bloom made room on the ground so Scootaloo can sit next to her. McIntosh reached into a bag near him and searched through it. “If there’s one thing I didn’t forget, it’s these,” he said with confidence. He pulled out a bag of marshmallows, a box of graham crackers and a pack of chocolate bars. He also got the roasting sticks ready and passed them to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

“I ain’t eating that junk,” Granny Smith said. “I ain’t supposed to anyway, doctor’s orders.” She grabbed her banjo and played some music. “Just y’all wait, I’m gonna make some stew tomorrow night.”

Macintosh and the fillies roasted the marshmallows over the fire as the banjo music filled the night time air. Scootaloo was familiar with what they called “s’mores,” although she had never tried it before. She was embarrassed to tell Apple Bloom that. If she told her then she would’ve give her that weird look whenever she thought Scootaloo said something outlandish. She put her marshmallow close to the fire and watched it turn black, then quickly pulled it away before it burned to a black crisp, and blew the small flames off.

“You ain’t gonna eat it like that, are you?” Apple Bloom asked

“What do you mean?”

“Now don’t you tell me you never had a s’more before.”

Scootaloo shook her head. How can a pony go through life without experiencing the joys of s’mores, Apple Bloom thought. She let her marshmallow hang over the fire until she pulled it away from the fire, seeing that it was perfect to make her s’more as it was golden brown, then she planted the roasting stick on the ground and grabbed the box of graham crackers and broke a small piece of the chocolate bar. She presented to Scootaloo the process of creating the famous s’more by placing a piece of the chocolate on a crack then inserting the brown marshmallow on the other cracker, then combining the two together so the fusion could melt the chocolate. “Then you eat it,” she said. Scootaloo followed her example, slowing performing the steps Apple Bloom showed. “See how easy that was?” Apple Bloom asked.

“It’s kind of messy,” Scootaloo said.

“Don’t worry, a s’more is supposed to be messy.”

Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo create another set of s’mores while Macintosh searched his saddlebag to find his harmonica. When he found it he played along with the banjo and their countryside melodies blended.

Everything around them became dark, the campfire the only thing bringing light. Above their heads they found half of the moon surrounded by twinkling stars. The chirping crickets were joined the other strange noises that can be heard at night. Scootaloo gently wrapped herself with her arms, looking around as if someone might appear when they least expect it.

“Any of y’all wanna hear a story?” Granny asked.

“I do!” Apple Bloom said. “What is it about?”

“It’s a-little something I heard when I was both your ages.” Granny played the banjo very slowly, ominously. “It’s about an old farm mare called Aunty Greenleaf.”

“It’s not scary, is it?” Scootaloo asked. “I mean, not that I’m afraid or anything.”

“You’ll see. Just sit up and listen closely,” Granny said. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo did what they were told, then Granny played the ominous notes on the banjo and began to tell her story.

“Aunty Greenleaf was a scrawny old pony with a wild thatch of gray hair and a crooked nose. She lived in a hut surrounded by pines just outside Ponyville, and she sold herbal remedies to the folks in town. Mostly, ponies avoided her, except when someone got sick because it was said that Aunty Greenleaf was a witch. Her home remedies worked too well to be natural. Folks figured she had to have help from the devil or one of his familiars.

“There were many stories whispered in Ponyville about Aunty Greenleaf. Ponies said she had hexed a farmer's pigs once after he spoke rudely to her, so that they all died, one right after another. One prominent citizen dreamed of Aunty Greenleaf, and the next morning her daughter fell ill with a fever and nearly died.

“In the early fall, folks in town began talking about a large, pure-white deer that was seen roaming the woods near Ponyville at night. Several hunting parties were gathered to go after the large animal, but the creature was quick, disappearing whenever ponies came close, and folks began saying it was a phantom deer. Around about that time, several mares in the town began having trouble with their churning and a number of cows and pigs began to sicken and die. Folks blamed the incidents on the phantom deer, though each of the ponies afflicted with the trouble had crossed Aunty Greenleaf at some time in the last month.

“The stallions of Ponyville got up a hunting party to chase down the animal. They were gone all day, and well into the night. Finally they spotted the white deer. It was the largest deer any of them had ever seen, and was fast too. They couldn't keep up with it. The stallions got a good handle on him, and swore that at least one of them caught the deer, but it just kept running. They returned home empty-handed.

“One local farmer became obsessed with the white deer. Every moment he could spare from his work, the farmer would get his gun and go hunting in the woods around town. He saw the white deer several times, but the deer always ran away and vanish. Finally, he decided the white deer must be a witch of some sort. The farmer melted silver to make bullets, and then he took his gun and went out hunting the white deer. He managed to make three shots with his silver bullets and the white deer actually stumbled as if one of the shots had hit it. Then it jerked upright and ran away. He tracked it almost to Aunty Greenleaf's hut, but then he lost it in the dark somehow, which was mighty strange, seeing as the deer was pure white.

“The next day, the farmer learned that Aunty Greenleaf was ill. From the moment she took to her bed, the local farm animals stopped dying and the families who were having trouble with their churning were back to normal. Less than a week later, Aunty Greenleaf died and the doctor who cared for her told the minister he found three silver bullets in her spine.

“After the death of Aunty Greenleaf, the phantom white deer was never heard of or seen again in Ponyville.”

Granny played a dark tone on her banjo. She looked to the fillies, surprised to see that Apple Bloom was covering her mouth; not out of a fright, but was snickering, trying to hold in her laughter. Scootaloo looked around, making sure no deer were in their presence.

“I’m sorry, Granny, but that story ain’t scary at all,” Apple Bloom laughed.

“It was the scariest thing I heard when I was young.”

Apple Bloom glanced at Scootaloo, who was busy looking over her shoulder. She jerked when Apple Bloom touched her arm. “You ain’t scared of that silly story, weren’t you?”

“... No,” Scootaloo said, although she was shivering.

“If you thought Aunty Greenleaf was scary, wait ‘til I tell y’all of the time that big ‘ol Sasquatch came to town,” Granny said.

“No thanks,” Scootaloo said quickly.

“Well, I got a story of my own,” Apple Bloom said. “A long time ago, an old pony was fishing out on the lake. He spent almost the entire day there. First he’ll hold on to his fishing rod, then he’ll take a quick nap, and the next he would wake up to see if any fish took the bait. He didn’t catch anything for a long time, but the old pony didn’t give up.

“It was midday, so the old pony decided to take a nap. Suddenly, he stirred awoke when something was pulling on his fishing rod. The old pony held a tight grip and fought the good fight! He thought it must have been a large fish! It was going to be his biggest catch ever! But the big fish pulled the old pony off his boat and underwater!

“The old pony didn’t let go of his fishing rod, even as he was being pulled across the bottom of the lake. He was certain he was going to catch that fish! But he was running out of breath. He let go of his rod and swam to the surface of the lake. But once he got up, he saw that it was already night! How? he thought. It was only midday when it happened, and the sun was still up.

“Then it finally hit him… it wasn’t night at all. He was in the fish’s stomach! And it wasn’t a fish, it was a huge monster that lived in the lake! The old pony was never heard from again.”

“So how’s that?” Apple Bloom asked. “Scary, huh?”

Granny and Macintosh didn’t look like they were frightened. Scootaloo was less fearful now that she heard Apple Bloom’s tale, but she kept a lookout for any deer that may do them harm.

“Now Scootaloo gets a turn,” Granny said. “You got anything to share, sugarcube?”

“I… don’t know a lot of scary stories,” she said.

“Make something up,” Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo thought for a moment. “Okay, here goes. Once… there was a little filly who live alone in a small house. She had nobody to take care of her. She had no food. The filly had to go to the nearest town and beg for what she needed. Sometimes she wasn’t so lucky. Then… one night, it was raining. The little filly crawled into the corner with a small candlelight to keep warm. Then she heard a knock at the door, followed by thunder.

“The filly was scared. She never open the door for anyone. The knocking continued, and the filly decided to open it. There was pony… a young mare, terribly wet from the storm. She asked for shelter for the night. The filly didn’t know what to do, but she saw that the terrible storm may not stop until morning, so she let the mare stay inside.

“... The mare saw that the filly lived in a small space, and noticed only a candlelight that looked as though it was about to go out. She also saw that the filly was shivering from the cold rain that blew outside. The mare took off her cloak, and the filly saw that she had large wings. ‘Do not worry, my child. I will protect you,’ the mare said. The pony pulled the filly close, wrapped her wings around her. The mare’s skin was very warm and soft, and for the first time in her life, the filly felt at ease.”

Scootaloo stopped. She cast a small eye to the Apples, who were waiting for her to continue. “I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I didn’t want it to end.” Her eyes grew moist, so she quickly wiped them dry.

Apple Bloom put her hoof on Scootaloo’s shoulder. “That was very nice,” she said, smiling. It was obvious what the story was about.

Macintosh played a soft melody on the harmonica, and was joined by Granny Smith on the banjo. Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo make another s’more. Scootaloo forgot that she was worrying about the deer from Granny’s story. Now she was gazing at the stars. She decided the brightest one that outshined them all was Rainbow Dash.

Chapter 17

Twilight hated to leave the Crystal Empire. It was one of the rare times she ever had any private time with her brother and sister-in-law. She wanted to stay a little longer, but she realized she had to go back to Ponyville eventually. The night before Twilight departed Cadence and Shining had the castle chefs prepare a spectacular meal for her and Spike. Later they sang songs and reminisced about childhood hopes and dreams. Sadly, the next morning, it was time for Twilight to return home.

There were a few passengers on the car they occupied. Twilight and Spike chose a booth close to the exit. She helped him place their briefcases and personal belongings on the shelf on top of them. She reached for his yellow saddlebag, but Spike stopped her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing, I’m just keeping this with me.” He placed his saddle on a seat in front of him, unzipped it, and he gently scrambled a pile of comic books inside.

“Where did you get those from?”

“Me and Shining went to this really cool antique shop here. It had everything - comic books, trading cards, games, books, toys,” he said with delight. He grabbed several comics from the bag and held them for Twilight to see. “They even got the entire twelve issue series of Journey to the Badlands! You can’t get these anywhere else! Then he took me to this delicious donut shop.”

“Sounds like you and Shining had a pretty good time,” Twilight said.

“Yeah. I never knew how cool he is. You know he’s a Captain Amazing fanatic? He has all sorts of memorabilia in a secret room in the castle. Well, it’s not a secret anymore now that he showed me.”

“Of course I know, he’s my brother after all,” Twilight said lightheartedly. “When we were young he never stopped talking about him.”

“And the best part was that all the crystal ponies were super nice to me for some reason. The donut shop owner gave me free boxes of chocolate glazed donuts with diamonds!” Spike grabbed one of the comics and zipped it closed. The smile on his face disappeared when he looked out the window. “It was fun while it lasted,” he sighed.

“We’ll visit them again, someday.”

Another group of ponies entered the car and took their seats. Twilight turned her head to the window and watched the sunlight reflect off the structure of the crystal castle. It was a grand piece of architecture that stood in the center of the city. She imagined herself a bird flying over the castle, looking down. The city must look great from the sky. Twilight was grateful she and Spike had spent time with Shining and Cadence. Likewise, she was amazed to see that the empire was prospering after their victory over King Sombra. Her brain was like a camera, capturing the bright smiles of the crystal ponies young and old. The torments Sombra tossed at them was worth it just for seeing the Crystal Empire thriving under Celestia’s sun.

The train whistled, the conductor made his called, and they began to move. The castle slowly moved out of sight, though a smile crossed Twilight’s lips. She turned to Spike, who had his attention to his comic book.

“Spike?”

“What’s up?”

“I’m glad we got to spend time together.”

“Me too. I can’t remember a time when it was just the two of us, you know, besides being your roommate at the School for Gifted Unicorns.”

Twilight sighed. “I know we never have days where we can relax and not have to worry about anything. This summer turned our whole world upside-down, and I was under a lot of stress, but I promise things will be different when we get back to Ponyville.”

“Which reminds me, have you heard from the others?”

Twilight shook her head. “I hope they’re doing okay, especially Fluttershy.”

“Didn’t Applejack stay with her?”

Twilight nodded. “She’s a good friend,” she said with a gentle smile. Then Twilight lowered her head, and said in a small voice, “Why didn’t I do anything?”

“Applejack won’t let anything happen to her,” Spike said. “I’m sure she has gotten through to Fluttershy. Applejack’s the kind of pony who will never give up, and she wouldn’t give up on Fluttershy. Not by a long shot.”

He smiled at Twilight to ease her troubling spirit. She lightly returned the favor, but the thought of Fluttershy falling victim to her own misery was a thought she couldn’t shrug off. The train passed through a bridge that was build over a river twenty feet below. It was going to be a long ride. Her mind won’t be at ease until the train stopped at Ponyville, and see that no harm had come to Fluttershy, even if she still chose to stay in her bed all that time.

“Spike… Spike, wake up,” Twilight whispered. She tapped Spike on his arms and shoulders, then gently shook his body until he opened his eyes and raised his head. “Spike, we’re almost home.”

He yawned. “Already?” He stretched his arms and legs, suddenly realizing that his hands were empty. On the floor by his feet was the one of the issues of Journey Into the Badlands. Spike must have dropped it when he was sleeping. He inspected the comic to make sure there weren't any bruises or rips, or drool stains, then placed it nicely inside his saddlebag. As the train was minutes away from its destination Twilight gathered their luggage from the top shelf of their booth, double-checking occasionally to be sure that they have everything. Familiar hills and trees pass through their window, along with a windmill that stood on the edge of town where the road stops. “Home sweet home,” Spike said.

The train whistled and the conductor announced they’ve arrived in Ponyville. Twilight and Spike let few of the other passengers exit the car before them. They stepped out of the train into the platform. Twilight looked around to see if they was anypony they know who might have been waiting for them, but there were only faces of strangers. There was no use standing around waiting for something to happen. Twilight and Spike exited the train station and on to the road that led to Ponyville. The town was exactly as they left it. Twilight called back to the day when Rarity told her that Ponyville was going to be silent without them for a while. From the look of things it seemed as though no catastrophe have happened while she and her friends were gone. Even if anything happened, she was sure the Royal Sisters would handle it.

Walking along the road several ponies waved to them, and Twilight smiled, waved back. Most of them were surprised that she was gone for so long, others hardly noticed at all, and that was okay with her. Twilight was never one who wanted to make a fuss out of everything she does, most of the time.

Looking up she saw Derpy Hooves flying with caution. She was probably making her usual delivery runs, Twilight thought. There was one thing about Derpy that had always caught Twilight’s attention, and it was her eyes. She wondered how they became the way they were. Some time ago, when she took time to know the townsponies, Rainbow Dash mentioned that, from what Derpy had told her, she had a birth defect that made her cross-eyed, however she doesn’t like to go into detail about her condition. From the things Rainbow spoke about Derpy, she seem like a very nice pony and a good friend. Twilight wanted to talk to her, but she looked busy, so she waited another time. That is, until Derpy saw them from the sky and descended in front of them.

“Twilight?” she said. “Where have you been all this time?” she asked after looking at the baggages she and Spike were carrying.

“Oh, well, Spike and I decided to take a little vacation. We thought we could use a little break after everything that’s happened.”

Derpy sadly nodded. “Um, do you want me to help you with those? I’m on my lunch break right now.”

“I think she’s got it covered,” Spike said, referring to her magic, although Twilight gave him a quick nudge on his arm along with a look.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m fine,” Twilight said politely. “However, if you don’t mind, I would like to have lunch with you. How much time do you have?”

“Thirty minutes. I was going to get a hayburger, if that’s your thing.”

“A hayburger’s fine with us,” Spike said excitedly. He almost forgot that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast at the crystal castle early that morning, nor did ate anything during the train ride, and taking that long nap during the return trip to Ponyville left an empty feeling in his stomach. Twilight agreed to a hayburger, then they arrived at Big Jim’s Eat-In Diner where Derpy was headed. After ordering their food they chose a table with a large window so they can see the view of town.

“How are things been with you, Derpy?” asked Twilight.

“Well, not much has happened after… you know,” she said somberly. “I’m still trying not to mess up with any deliveries, and so far I’ve been doing okay, for the most part.”

“How about your friend, Professor Hoovsian?”

“He’s doing fine, but sometimes he like to lock himself in his basement whenever he’s working on some kind of new invention, or some other science-related stuff like experiments. Sometimes he stays for a few days, weeks even.”

“Sounds like somepony we know,” Spike muttered, but he audible enough for Twilight to nudge him again. “I wasn’t talking about Fluttershy.” Spike shrinked on his seat when she squinted her eyes, then Twilight shook her head, wanting to continue the conversation.

“You know, I have a fascination with the things he does. In some ways I’m sort of a scientist myself. I mean, I like to call myself a scientist. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to meet him whenever he decides to come out of his basement.”

Derpy nodded while taking a bite out of her hayburger. “How long were you guys gone?” Derpy asked.

“About a week,” said Twilight. “We went to the Crystal Empire to stay with my brother and my sister-in-law.”

“They live in the Crystal Empire?” Derpy asked. “That’s amazing! What do they do there?”

Twilight was hesitant to answer, mostly at of Derpy’s reaction. “Nothing important.”

“What do you mean ‘nothing important’,” said Spike. “Her brother is none other than Shining Armor, captain of the royal guard back in Canterlot!” he said with enthusiasm. He didn’t see Twilight silently alerting him to stop by making facial and hoof gestures. “And his wife is an alicorn princess who watches over the empire! And guess what? That same princess used to be Twilight’s foalsitter when she was little!”

“That’s incredible!” gasped Derpy. “Is all this true?”

Twilight sighed. “Yes, it’s true.”

“Did I mention that Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and the rest were part of their wedding?” Spike said with his mouth full of hayburger. “And we saved Equestria from the changelings!”

“No wonder they came to her funeral,” Derpy said.

“Oh yeah, and we helped saved the Crystal Empire from an evil overlord! Well, it was mostly me, but -”

Twilight placed a hoof over Spike’s mouth. “Yes, all of that true, but I want to add that I don’t think I’m anyone special because of all that. I’m no different than anyone else. Also, Spike forgot to mention that I humble myself quite a lot.”

She removed her hoof from Spike’s mouth, causing his purple scaly cheeks to become the color of cherries. She glanced at Derpy with apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry if we upsetted you. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. It’s the reason why I normally don’t like to talk about myself.”

“I don’t feel bad,” Derpy said. “Ever since you first moved here, I had a feeling you were somepony very special; you are Princess Celestia’s student, after all.”

“Thanks Derpy, but you see -”

“You saved Equestria many times before, and the stopped the changeling invasion of Canterlot, and now the Crystal Empire.”

“It wasn’t just me. My friends and family were a major part of those events. Without my friends we wouldn’t have saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon or Discord. Also, my brother and Princess Cadence were the ones who saved Canterlot from the changelings, my friends and I were just caught in a little scuffle, that’s all. Regarding the Crystal Empire, we all had an important role to play to save it from King Sombra. Without them, none of the things we did would be possible.”

“Well, I still think it’s neat you get to live such an exciting life,” Derpy said. She took another bite of her hayburger and checked her watch. Nineteen minutes left. That was more than enough time to know Twilight better. “Um, I liked what you said about Rainbow Dash at her funeral. It was really nice. I also liked the part about the sonic rainboom.”

Twilight had stars in her eyes, she sighed longingly. “That sonic rainboom is one of my most cherished memories. Back then I never realized the pony who made it happen would become my best friend.”

“There are two memories I will always cherish,” said Derpy. “The day I got my cutie mark, and the day I met Rainbow Dash.”

“How did you get your cutie mark?”

“When I born, the doctors found that my eyes were… a bit screwy. It was a condition called strabismus, where the eyes don’t look at the same direction. It got worse as I got older. I used to bump into things and I couldn’t fly straight. All the kids would make fun of me and call me terrible names. During that time I wore sunglasses so nopony could see my eyes.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” said Twilight.

“Why do kids have to be so cruel?” added Spike.

“One day I came home from school crying my eyes out. Some colts were chasing me with sticks and I tripped and fell into a puddle of mud. I was so humiliated that I wanted to… disappear forever. I asked my mother why I was this way. I asked her why I wasn’t like the normal children. Do you know what she said to me?”

Twilight shook her head. “She told I was normal. She told me not to be ashamed of myself, that I’m just like everypony else. While I was at school she went out and got me a giant bottle of bubbles, then she told me to blow them and I will feel all better. I did what she said. I blew so many bubbles as I could; and the bullies, the name-calling, the mud on the face, all of it didn’t matter anymore. The words of my mother were true - I was just like everypony else. I was having so much fun blowing bubbles that I didn’t realize my cutie mark appeared.” Derpy pointed to her hindquarters, her cutie mark being a mass of bubbles.

Spike took some napkins to dry his eyes. “That was the most beautiful story I ever heard.”

“How did you meet Rainbow Dash?” asked Twilight.

“My niece, Dinky. A couple of years ago, at my previous job as a grocery stocker, I had to work a late-night shift. I couldn’t find a foalsitter to watch Dinky. I only bumped to Rainbow Dash a few times before, and had small-talk here and there, but she offered to watch her while I was at work. She was very nice to her. After that we became friends ever since. Rainbow Dash even came to her birthday party once. I believe everyone should have a best friend like her, and we were lucky enough to have her as one.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Twilight said.

Twilight and Derpy spent the rest of the time talking about anything that came into their minds, with most of the conversation about their memories of Rainbow Dash, although Derpy wanted to learn more about her relationship with her brother and Princess Cadence. Spike turned his head to the window for a second to look at the view, and saw Pinkie Pie wandering through the streets.

“Hey, it’s Pinkie,” he said. He crawled toward the end of the seat and tapped on the glass, trying to call her name. Annoyed, Twilight climbed out of her seat and stepped out of the diner to get Pinkie’s attention. Looking to the direction of where they were sitting, she immediately entered and joined them at the table.

“When did you came back?” Twilight asked.

“Not too long. I was going to Fluttershy’s to check on her, but the I saw Spike at the window and suddenly made a detour here. I was getting kind of hungry, anyway.”

“You were gone? Where did you go?” Derpy asked.

“I went to visit my family back at the farm.”

“You grew up at a rock farm?”

“Yeah. It’s crazy, right?” Pinkie said, letting out a weak laugh.

“That’s why there weren’t any parties all this time. You usually throw one every other day.”

Pinkie sighed. “I did, didn’t I?”

“How is your family?” Twilight asked. “Did you enjoy your time away?”

“I did. Surprisingly, they’ve been doing fine all these years. Well, one of my sisters wasn’t so happy to see me, but we worked things out before I left.”

“Oh goodness,” Derpy said.

Twilight, Pinkie, and Derpy carried on their conversation while Spike finished what was left of his hayburger. Two other ponies entered the diner, a young mare and a filly. Spike didn’t think much of them until the filly began to make her order. Her voice was familiar, so he did a double-take on the pair. The two had skin of porcelain, the older pony had indigo hair and diamonds for cutie marks.

“Rarity’s here,” Spike said. He waved his little arms in an attempt to get her attention. Annoyed, Twilight removed herself from the table to approach her.

“Twilight,” she said, “you’re here. My word, is this the only heyburger restaurant in town?” she asked after glancing at the table that contained Spike and Pinkie, making Twilight chuckle.

“It’s so wonderful to see you, again. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here? Isn’t this place sort of… “

“Darling, you know me. Heyburger’s are not part of my diet, but Sweetie wanted to come here, so here we are. Then I’m going to Fluttershy’s home afterward.” She paid the cashier when Sweetie finished with her order, then carried on with Twilight. “Have you heard a word from her and Applejack?”

“No. I hope they’re doing fine. So, anyway, how was your vacation?”

Sweetie, with a food tray attached to her, abruptly joined their conversation, and told Twilight every detail about their vacation. Sometimes she would exaggerate on certain parts, Rarity having to speak up and recount what actually happened, like when Sweetie said their father bet the deed to their house at the gambling table, when in reality he hardly gambles at all, at least not while on vacation with his family.

Derpy approached Twilight and tapped on her arm. “Excuse me, but I have to get out of here. My lunch break is almost over.”

“I had a wonderful time talking to you.”

“Me too. Thanks for doing this. I haven’t had anyone to talk to in a while. Also, I’ll try to get Professor Hoovsian to come out of his basement so you two can meet one day.”

They shook hooves and smiled, and she exit the diner after saying goodbye to Spike, Pinkie, Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Rarity politely told Sweetie that she wanted to catch up with her friends, so she and Spike went to an empty table behind them so she tell about her vacation to him.

“When did you came back?” asked Twilight to Rarity.

“Early this morning. I wanted to go by Fluttershy’s on the way home, but I was so tired that I took a long nap. When did you return?”

“Spike and I came back this afternoon.”

“Did any of you hear from Fluttershy or Applejack?” Pinkie asked. Twilight and Rarity shook their heads. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going over there right now.” She allowed herself out of the table, and before she pass through the exit she looked outside. There were two mares that had just walked past the diner on the other side of the street. They were difficult to make out. Pinkie glued her face to the window, getting a closer look, and she finally realized who they were.

“Oh my gosh,” she said softly.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“It’s Fluttershy… and she’s outside. She’s finally outside,” Pinkie said with emotion. She ran out of the diner while the others looked through the window. Sure enough, Fluttershy and Applejack were outside together, the two of them holding a leash to Winona. They watch the scene unfold further when Pinkie rushed toward Fluttershy, giving a tight hug that seemed to make her suffocate. Twilight and Rarity stepped out to embrace her as well. Spike and Sweetie looked on, with him smiling at what he was seeing.

“You see, Twilight?” he said to himself. “I told you she’ll never give up.”

Chapter 18

Sweetie Belle listened as Apple Bloom recounted the Apple clan’s adventure to Winsome Falls. It was great to see her and Scootaloo again after days of separation. They hadn’t return to Ponyville until early midday, so Sweetie spent the previous day with Rarity and the rest girls, along with Spike and gathered at Fluttershy’s home to catch up on lost time. Fluttershy apologized to everyone for missing the funeral, and to Twilight for her harsh tone on the day before. On the next day, when Sweetie learned that the other two Crusaders were back in town, she rushed to Sweet Apple Acres to call for a meeting (which was really a reunion) at the clubhouse.

“Winsome Falls looks even better the more you see it,” Apple Bloom said. “The sunlight makes the colors jump out and shine right off the rainbows. It really amazing!”

“I’d love to go again,” Sweetie said. “When you go camping next time, can I come too?”

“Sure, the more the merrier.”

Apple Bloom went further into detail about their camping trip; from the scary campfire story contest which was surprisingly not scary, to the part where Big Mac unwittingly found himself trapped in a patch of poison joke which made his voice high-pitched. Somewhere across the room, Scootaloo sat in a corner, her gaze exchanged from them to the open window.

“Applejack missed a really great trip,” Apple Bloom said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. I understand why she had to stay behind. You know, with Fluttershy and all.”

“I’m just glad she’s doing okay,” Sweetie said. She smiled. “You should have seen the look on Rarity’s face when they saw Fluttershy. She was so happy, and was crying a little, but she was happy all the same. I’m glad they’re all doing fine.”

“Me too,” said Apple Bloom, “and I’m just glad we’re back together. Isn’t that right, Scootaloo?”

When Scootaloo didn’t answer, Apple Bloom said her name again. She turned and saw Scootaloo sitting by the opening on the clubhouse, looking outside. Apple Bloom slowly walked to her and tapped her arm.

“Oh… I’m sorry, what are we talking about?” she asked.

“I said isn’t it great that we’re back together again?”

“Oh yeah, it’s very great,” said Scootaloo, and forced a little smile on her face.

Sweetie rubbed her chin with her hoof, then an important thought came to her. “You know, August will be here in a couple of days,” she said. “You know what that means, right?”

“I know; one more month then school will be starting,” Apple Bloom said gloomily.

“No… well, yes, but there’s something else. Can you guess?”

Apple Bloom thought, but the only pony in the room who knew the answer was Scootaloo. Her birthday is in August. She will be nine years old this year. However, due to recent events, she almost forgot that about her birthday. It came to a point where it didn’t matter if anyone celebrated, or remembered. Birthdays just didn’t mean anything to her.

A moment later Apple Bloom remembered, then she and Sweetie grinned at Scootaloo. “You’re turning nine, Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom said happily. “That’s one more number away from ten!”

“Yeah… nine,” she said sheepishly.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle exchanged confused glances. “Aren’t you excited?” asked Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo thought for another moment. “Well, I’m not sure.”

“You’re not excited for your own birthday?” Sweetie asked.

Scootaloo shrugged.

“But birthdays are great!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “There’s friends, cake, games, and everyone gives you presents. It’s a celebration for you just because you were born! How come you ain’t excited?”

“I’m just not, okay? It’s just… I don’t think I can be excited about anything now.” She sighed while looking out the window. “After everything that’s happened this summer, everything seems… you know, shallow.”

“What do you mean by shallow?” asked Apple Bloom.

“I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t feel like having a birthday party. It doesn’t seem right.”

“You don’t feel right having a birthday party?” Sweetie said. “That doesn’t make any sense. Everyone should feel good on their birthday.”

“I appreciate that you care, but I don’t want a party this year,” said Scootaloo. “I’m just not in the mood. Besides, I’m only turning nine. Nine’s not very important.” She sat up and let herself out of the clubhouse. “I’m going to go grab a hayburger, then I’m going back to the farm. I’ll you guys later,” she said, then she was gone. Apple Bloom watched her go with a scowl on her face.

“Nine’s not very important,” she mimicked. “Of all the things I heard…” She turned to Sweetie. “We’re still throwing a party for Scootaloo, whether she wants one or not.”

“How will we do that?”

“I think I know someone who can help us.”

Sweetie knew whom she was referring to. “Are sure about Pinkie Pie? She hasn’t been herself after what happened. Maybe we should leave this one alone.” Apple Bloom approached Sweetie and placed on hoof on her, and gazed straight into her eyes.

“Scootaloo is our best friend; you know that, right? And it’s our duty as her best friends to give her the best birthday party ever. I can’t stand by and let the date of birth of my best friend pass by like it’s nothing. I’d consider myself a terrible friend if I didn’t do anything. I know Pinkie hasn’t been Pinkie recently, but we need her help to make this happen.”

Sweetie didn’t say a word. After taking a moment to think about what Apple Bloom said, she simply nodded in agreement. As it seems as though some things will never be the same, Scootaloo deserves a birthday party for all the difficult times she’s been through.

Pinkie returned to Sugarcube Corner after mailing her letter to the Pies. Before setting off to the mailbox, she read it several times, retouched it, edit, and read again several times again until she thought it was perfect. She didn’t know why she did that. They weren’t going to care for her penmanship. Still, she believed she had to choose the right words. Once a week she will send a letter to them, Pinkie decided. Maybe the Pies will write her back. She predicted that out of everyone at the rock farm, Maud will send a letter, or Limestone. After much thought, her mind was in favor of Limestone. Maud never had too much to say, although she could be wrong.

Of course, there was her father, Igneous Rock. As a child, Pinkie would catch glimpses of him writing or reading whenever he wasn’t doing any chores. She would love to read a letter from him, especially if it was written in the very old-style Equestrian. He was old fashioned to the extreme, but a simple pony nonetheless.

Pinkie wondered if Limestone ever thought about leaving the farm. It was clear she had no intention of venturing to the outside world, but she would have been interested to see how Limestone would manage in Ponyville. It was strange how she was the only one out of the Pies who actually remembers the first party they had together. If Pinkie had known how much that party was important to her, she would have offered Limestone to come with her years ago. It sounded like a great idea: the Pie Sisters having adventures across Equestria, bringing smiles to everypony they meet. Pinkie pictured Limestone among the Elements of Harmony. Even though she wasn’t an element bearer, she would’ve been great friends with all of them. Including Rainbow Dash.

“Someday,” Pinkie muttered.

If she could, Pinkie will take her friends to her old home, have them meet her family. Thinking about it, she might have to bring them one-by-one. Her sisters wouldn’t mind, but having all five of them would have been too much for her parents. They were not used to outsiders visiting the farm. Pinkie imagined the utterly confused look on her friends’ faces when they try to wrap their heads of how she came from a family so deeply old-fashioned while she stuck out like an orange in a pile of apples. That’s something Applejack would say.

She worked the counter with Mr. Cake while Mrs. Cake attended to the foals. The smell of fresh confectionary goods was always pleasing to Pinkie’s senses, like entering a flower shop and your nose caught the scent of roses in bloom. Mr. Cake approached the oven and pulled out a tray of baked muffins, and immediately she was hypnotized by the smell.

“It smells so good,” she said. “Blueberry?”

“Yep. It’s a special order for Derpy Hooves. You know how she loves her muffins. She places an order every morning.”

A half smile formed at the edge of mouth. Derpy Hooves was a regular at Sugarcube Corner. At least once a week she orders a baker’s dozen of muffins, and each week in a different flavor depending on what she was in the mood for. Her favorite memory of her weekly visits to Sugarcube Corner was of her niece, Dinky Hooves. One day, when Derpy was ordering her usual batch of muffins, Dinky sang Do you know the Muffin Mare. It was simpler time.

“She’ll be coming any minute to get these,” Mr. Cake said, placing them inside a white box, then sticking a nametag on the top. “The post office has been keeping her very busy.”

“She works very hard,” Pinkie added.

The bells on the door chimed. Mr. Cake and Pinkie saw Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle approaching the counter, but Scootaloo wasn’t with them. That’s strange, Pinkie thought. Those three were always together from what she have seen. She greeted them politely and asked for what they wanted. The fillies noticed her pink hair remained straight. They ordered two chocolate donuts, with cream-filling. Sweetie wanted sprinkles on her donut. Pinkie watched as they sat at a table and spoke to each other in low voices. She wanted to ask about Scootaloo. She sent them separate plates with their donuts on them. There was silence between before Pinkie made the first move.

“So, I was wondering… where’s Scootaloo?” she asked carefully.

“She’s around,” Apple Bloom answered. She swiped a napkin and wiped her yellow face clean of chocolate and cream smears. “She’s doing something, I guess.”

“Is she okay?”

“Sure. But Sweetie and I wanted talk to you about something. You don’t mind if we talk, do you? If you’re busy, we can come back later.”

“I don’t mind at all. It seems kind of slow today.” Pinkie joined them at the table. “So did you want to talk about?”

“It’s about Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom said.

“Are you having a friendship problem? I think Twilight is the better pony to talk to than me.”

“Our friendship is perfectly fine, but we only need your help,” Apple Bloom said.

“What’s going on?”

“In a couple of days it will Scootaloo’s birthday. She’ll be nine years old this year. Nine. That’s one number away from ten. But for some reason she doesn’t feel like celebrating it. She said it’s too shallow, whatever that means. I don’t know about you, but as her best friend I ain’t gonna let her birthday pass like that. Scootaloo deserves a birthday after all the mess she’s caught up with. But the only thing is… we were wondering if you can help us.”

“... You want me to plan a party?” Pinkie asked.

The fillies nodded. “We can’t do it by ourselves,” Sweetie said. “And, well, you’re the best party planner in Ponyville.”

“I don’t know. It’s been awhile. I’m not sure planning a party is the right thing to do now.”

The fillies looked on gloomily. It wasn’t the answer they wanted to hear. Pinkie tried to explain how she couldn’t plan a party if her heart wasn’t in it. And right now, as her world was slowly crumbling around her, she didn’t know when she’ll ever get back in business. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle silently finished their donuts, then Apple Bloom placed some bits on the table to pay for both. They were almost to the door until Apple Bloom turn toward her.

“Can you at least give it some thought?” she asked politely. “I understand if it doesn’t seem right, but Scootaloo needs this. She needs to know on her birthday that it’s not the end of the world.”

They didn’t say anything. Slowly, Apple Bloom stepped outside, and the door closed. Pinkie watched them off from the window. Mr. Cake approached her side.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“They asked me to plan a birthday party for Scootaloo.”

“And you said no?”

Pinkie glanced at him briefly, then turn back to the window. “I didn’t exactly say no. But I don’t think throwing a party is the right thing to do now.”

“Well… you’d never know. Maybe a birthday party is just the thing we need. A birthday is a celebration of life, and right now is a good time to celebrate those who are still here with us. Come to think about it, I know a certain pony who’d want a birthday party for little Scootaloo.”

Mr. Cake smiled at her when Pinkie glanced at him, then he returned to the back. It was a thought that didn’t occur to her when talking to the fillies. She imagined her right now, standing where she was, floating short inches from the wooden floor, demanding that a birthday party be held for Scootaloo. Pinkie could practically hear her voice, loud and clear as the colors on her mane.

When the sun settled over the horizon Pinkie stepped inside her “office” which was located in the lower part of Sugarcube Corner. It was underneath the basement. She opened a file drawer to look at something important. Pinkie grabbed three folders with tabs that were labelled May, June, July. She looked at the May section, and there was a checkmark next to each name from May 1st to May 20th. Other names remained, but there were no checkmarks. She scanned the June folder and July, and once again there were no checkmarks beside the names. Pinkie scanned other files with other special occasions: weddings, newfoals, retirement, graduations, family reunions. This was supposed to have been a busy summer for her, and a great one. She sighed, and reached for a folder which had the birthdays in August. It didn’t take long to find Scootaloo’s name. She was one of the first few names on the list. Then she thought of something. Pinkie believed she’d seen a name on one of the folders. She swiped the folder labelled July and scanned the names. She found it. Pinkie stayed on it for a long time.

July 24 - Rainbow Dash.

Her birthday had already passed; without notice, without fuss, like she was nothing. There wasn’t so much as a silent gathering at her memorial. Pinkie gazed at the name written in black ink. How could she have let this happen? Her eyes watered and she closed them while tears tried to push their way through. Then her decision was made. She pulled herself up. Scootaloo will have her birthday party, and Pinkie will deliver. It’s what Rainbow Dash would have wanted.

Chapter 19

Scootaloo’s birthday will arrive in two days. For some that was hardly enough time to plan a surprise party, unless your name is Pinkie Pie. It was all a matter of sending invitations to everyone. The rest will take care of itself. At least, that was what she hoped. It has been months since Pinkie planned a party for anyone. Not only were there invitations, there was also location, decorations, cake, and how to get Scootaloo to the party. What if she couldn’t prepare in time? Before the thoughts grew negative she pushed them out of her mind. There was no time to think about that.

Pinkie spent the night creating invitations from scratch. In the morning she will go to her friends’ houses, as well as houses of children who would be interested in going, and send them out. It was going to take so much effort to get the party ready in time. Sweetie Belle called her the best party planner in Ponyville during their conversation from earlier. That was enough motivation to keep her going.

As she wrote out the invitations and filled them with color, she once again thought about the first party she organized for her family. Her favorite moment she will always remember were the huge grins on their faces. She also thought about Limestone. Now would’ve been a great time for Limestone to be in Ponyville with her, Pinkie thought. Maybe she could’ve helped out with the party, if she wanted to, then the two of them can try to be happy together. When Pinkie was Pinkie, a party wasn’t a success until everyone was smiling, which was always. Even if their was a single pony who wasn’t smiling, she did her best to turn those frowns upside-down. She was very good at the things she did.

Pinkie grabbed more white construction paper and some colored pencils. The two prominent colors on the invitations were orange and purple, due to Scootaloo’s appearance. She thought it was clever, although anyone could have thought of doing that, she later decided. Still, it was for Scootaloo.

When she turned to her side, Gummy, her pet reptile, was standing on the table. Pinkie was pleased to see his blank, emotionless eyes.

“I’m just writing these invitations,” she said as she stroke his scaly body. “Scootaloo’s birthday is in a couple of days. You remember her, right?” Gummy licked one of his eyes. “She’s the filly who lived with Rainbow Dash. You remember her, do you?” she asked sadly. “Her birthday was last month. I forgot about it. Actually, I forgot about all the parties I was planning this summer. I don’t know if Scootaloo’s birthday can make up for all of them, but this is one I can’t afford to miss.”

Gummy was silent. He was always silent. Pinkie understood him all the same.

She folded paper, colored, sealed them in a pink envelope, then repeated. Another memory came over Pinkie. Her first party in Ponyville. It was for a lonely filly, whose only wish was to have friends. Pinkie could relate to that. She knew that feeling loneliness a long time ago. She still felt it now. While she planned that party, she informed of all the children in town about an amazing filly who had a birthday that day. As with her family, Pinkie never forgot that smile on that filly’s face. She sensed it was the first time the filly smiled in a long time. Pinkie was very sure the filly continued to make lasting friendships to this day.

She paused for a moment. The muscles on Pinkie’s face began to twitch. Her lips curled. She made a pleasant hmph under her breath. The moment passed, and she continued to write the invitations.

More memories came to her while she worked. Pinkie remembered the first time she met any of her friends in Ponyville; only she hadn’t realized they will be her friends when time passed. The first of her friends to have ever had a surprise party from her was Rarity. Rarity was the kind of pony who was quite too busy to celebrate a birthday, even her own. That moment when she opened the doors to the Carousel Boutique only to find everyone in Ponyville inside almost gave her a heart attack. Soon, Rarity forgot all her troubles and found herself enjoying her own surprise party.

As those few years passed, she threw parties for those formerly unknown ponies such as Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was her personal favorite. Somehow, some way, she knew Pinkie was planning a surprise party for her. Not only that, Rainbow had something planned for her as well. It was an elaborate prank that resulted in a pie in the face. That’s what Pinkie came to expect from her from that moment on, to be one step ahead of others. Pinkie knew at once that she and Rainbow were going to be really great friends.

Then Twilight Sparkle came to town.

It was the day everything changed. When six young mares who barely knew each other saved the world from eternal darkness, and reunited the Royal Sisters after a millennia of separation. Pinkie wondered what life would be like if Twilight wasn’t around. She also wanted to know if Rainbow Dash’s death was connected in some way. She shook off further thoughts. Pinkie didn’t want to think about that.

The invitations were almost finished, at least that’s what she thought. She made thirty of them from hoof. Six for her friends, two for Scootaloo’s friends, and the rest for anyone who was interested. That has to be more than enough, although she wish she could make more.

“I’ll send these off tomorrow morning,” Pinkie said to Gummy. “Thank you for staying with me.” She smiled softly at him. Gummy eyes blinked separately.

Before Pinkie rested for the night, she flashed back to another party she planned for an elderly stallion. When Pinkie saw him for the first time, he looked very unhappy. It was almost as though he never had a happy day in his life. It was also a party Pinkie always kept in her memories. It was the old stallion’s wedding anniversary, and he only wanted one request. He and Pinkie went to his wife’s grave, and they had a picnic, along with slices of cake. He wanted it to be a private affair. When the day came to an end, the old stallion began to cry. He and Pinkie held to each other, and cried together. A tear escaped from Pinkie’s eye. She was glad to be there for a pony who lost someone he loved.

The mornings began as usual at Sweet Apple Acres. The Apples were seated together at the kitchen table. Scootaloo was still in the bedroom, and probably won’t be awake until much later. She was out at the lake the day before, then she spent most of the night wandering the apple orchard like she always had done. Apple Bloom accepted that being alone was her way of coping. She also accepted the possibility that Scootaloo may not want a birthday party, and Pinkie would be unwilling to plan one during such a time. It was something Twilight would call “a fool’s errand,” or something like that. She gazed lazily at her bowl of cereal.

“Anything wrong, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

Apple Bloom wasn’t going to answer, but she knew Applejack can see through her as clear as day when something was wrong. It was like a special power. And lying will be futile as well.

“I talked to Pinkie Pie about planning a party for Scootaloo.”

“And?”

“She sounded like she didn’t want to do it.” Apple Bloom sighed. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. Scootaloo doesn’t want a surprise party either.”

“Why doesn’t she want to celebrate her own birthday?” Granny asked.

Apple Bloom shrugged.

Applejack rubbed her young sister’s back. “Well, I ain’t the pony to say something like this, but maybe it’s for the best. Those two were mighty close to Rainbow Dash. The way she died hit them pretty hard. Some scars need time to heal, that’s all. I’m just glad you cared so much for Scootaloo to remind folks of her birthday. That’s being a good friend.”

Apple Bloom didn’t feel as though she was a good friend. Still, she had to respect Scootaloo’s wishes, and Pinkie’s. The Apples were alert by knocks on the door. Macintosh removed himself from the table to answer it. When he opened it he froze like a statue. It was something he did not expect to see, nor did anyone else.

Pinkie Pie. For the first time in a long time, she had a genuine smile on her face, as soft and pleasant as the sunrise. Most of her hair was slowly beginning to regain its cotton candy shape, but it was still straight. On the top of her head was a birthday hat. A saddlebag was wrapped around her. Before Macintosh said anything, she began to clap. The rest of the Apples were present at the door, just as bewildered as Macintosh.

Pinkie sang in a gentle voice.

This is your singing telegram

I hope it finds you well

You’re invited to a party

‘Cause we think you’re really swell

Scootaloo’s turning nine years old

So help us celebrate

The cake will be delicious

The festivities first-rate

There will be games and dancing

Bob for apples, cut a rug

And when the party’s over

We’ll gather ‘round for a group hug

No need to bring a gift

Being there will be enough

Birthdays mean having fun with friends

Not getting lots of stuff

It won't be the same without you

So we hope that you say yes

So, please, oh please R.S.V.P.

And come, and be our guest.

Pinkie reached in her saddlebag and gave the sealed pink envelopes to the stunned Apples. Her smile grew more pleasant and beautiful than before.

“... Pinkie,” Applejack finally said. She couldn’t get the words out of her mouth. “You’re… you’re--”

“Smiling,” said Apple Bloom.

The way Pinkie smiled was contagious. It affected the filly.

“I know. It took a little convincing from myself. I already sent invitations to Twilight, Spike, and Rarity, and they were just as surprised as you guys are.” Her giggled tickled Apple Bloom. “I’ll be making a lot of rounds this morning. I’ll see you later.”

She turned around to continue on her mission. Then she sensed someone following her. Pinkie looked to her side and saw Apple Bloom next to her. “I’m coming with you,” she said. Pinkie sent her that glorious smiled, and the two were off to deliver more invitations. Macintosh closed the door. The three Apples exchanged looks to each other. Then, Granny Smith closed her eyes, chuckling under her breath. “I think everything’s going to be fine,” she said.

Pinkie and Apple Bloom spent the entire singing and giving out invitations. The ponies they were inviting were mostly children from school, some of them Apple Bloom had known.

Wherever they went, ponies stopped and stared at Pinkie. Some rushed to her to say “hello,” to her, and some of the mares went to give her a tight hug. She had forgotten it has been ages since she was last seen. Many thought she disappeared forever when Rainbow Dash died. They were very relieved to be proven wrong.

When all the invitations were sent, they took a break. Pinkie already had the place in mind where she wanted to rest - the park, Rainbow Dash’s memorial. She and Apple Bloom walked silently together until they reached the giant marble lightning bolt. When she got a closer look, Apple Bloom noticed that Pinkie’s mane was poofier than before, but it was still growing. They sat on the blades of grass and let the summer breeze flow between them. The smile on Pinkie’s face disappeared when she gazed at the memorial for a long time.

“Thanks for coming with me,” Pinkie said.

“You’re mighty welcome. I was just glad to see you smile again.”

“I think everyone is.” Pinkie was silent. She eyes were locked on the memorial. “Can you believe it’s been three months?” she asked with turning away.

Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, I don’t believe it. Do you think things will ever go back the way they were?”

“I don’t know if I can answer that. I hope it does. But I don’t want to move on just yet. I still want to feel like she’s around, you know? I don’t want to forget her. Did you know last July was her birthday?”

“No,” said Apple Bloom.

“I should’ve known, but I didn’t. We could have gathered everyone together and had like a small celebration… but that didn’t happen. I let it pass. I’m not going to let it happen again.”

“Pinkie, I always wonder… what made you the way you are? Why do you do the things you do?”

Pinkie say nothing. She continued to gaze at the memorial before turning back to Apple Bloom. “When I saw that sonic rainboom all those years ago, I was so happy. It wasn’t like anything I felt before. It was the greatest feeling in the world. And I wanted everyone to feel the same happiness I did. So, I guess you can say Rainbow Dash inspired me… and that’s how Equestria was made.” The two ponies giggled. Pinkie wrapped her arm around Apple Bloom and pulled her close.

“I’m glad you’re back Pinkie,” Apple Bloom said.

“Me too.”

Chapter 20

Scootaloo woke up, and realized what day it was. She was nine years old on August the 3rd. She didn’t do much that morning. For the first in a few weeks she joined the Apples for breakfast. Everyone sent their birthday wishes to her. Scootaloo was very appreciative that they remembered, but she felt shallow. Because of the way things were, she didn’t expect anything else to happen on her birthday. And Scootaloo didn’t mind.

Later that morning she ventured out; she made the journey through town, entering the park, passed the playground, and going further until Rainbow Dash’s memorial was in her sight. She stood still for a moment, sighing, wishing the day would pass already. Scootaloo slowly advanced forward until the memorial was no longer a speck. One more step and she stood face to face with the marble sculpture in the shape of Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark. She gazed deeply into it, not entirely sure if the memorial was gazing back at her. Then she lay her hindquarters on top of the grass, and silently stared at it some more.

“Hi, Rainbow Dash,” Scootaloo said. “It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Isn’t it a nice day? I remember how you always enjoy days like this. Sometimes, whenever I’m outside, I always look up, thinking you’re probably taking your naps on a cloud… then I realize you’re not here anymore. I guess it’s something I need to get used to. This summer has been crazy. It really changed everyone. Pinkie and Fluttershy took it really hard. I think everyone has more or less moved on, but I still think there’s sadness that’s not quite gone. I’m still feeling it, too.

“I went camping with the Apples. Well, most of them. Applejack stayed behind to look after Fluttershy. All this time, I never thought much Applejack. I know she was one of your best friends, but I didn’t think she was anyone special. But then all this happened… and she took me in her home. She took care of me. Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Granny Smith; all of them looked after me. They told me I was an Apple. I was family. It doesn’t seem like they want to let me go. And I don’t think there is a way for me to pay them back for all the compassion they showed me.

“Did you know I talked to Princess Cadence? Well, not really. She talked to us. I was mostly silent the whole time. It happened after the funeral. Me, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle were all flower girls at her wedding. I didn’t think she’d remember us. Before she left Ponyville, she spoke to me. She told me that I should never feel like I’m alone. But sometimes I do. No, not sometimes. All the time. You were the only pony I had any real connection to. We were sisters. None of us had family. We were the only ones we had. Now it’s over.

“But I don’t want it to be over. There were so many things we hadn’t done together. This was supposed have been our summer. Do you know what’s strange about all of this? There were times where you said that if there was ever a time you were going to die, you were going to go out in style. You wanted to die doing something awesome; in a blaze of glory. We didn’t think it was going to happen so soon. And sometimes I wonder if you knew you were going to die that day. Did you?

“I just came out here to tell you it’s my birthday, that’s all. I’m nine years old. I’m not sure if I want to celebrate it. I should be happy, but I’m not. What’s there to celebrate when you’re not around? Every night, whenever I try to go to sleep, I think about where you are. Are you in Elysium? Is it beautiful up there? Is it better than Equestria? Are you happy? Do you miss us? Do you miss me?”

She fell silent. There was nothing left to say. Scootaloo lay on her stomach on the grass and curled herself. She turned her eyes away from the memorial and closed them. While she lay on the grass, she thought about what it was like to die, to close your eyes for the final time. She kept her eyelids shut. All that was around her was blackness. Is this is what death is like? she thought. To be nothing? To feel nothing? No promise of a new world to come? A tear rolled down her cheek.

Her eyes picked up the sound of hooves approaching her. The hooves stopped. “I thought you’d be here,” Apple Bloom said. Scootaloo didn’t respond. The earth pony joined her on the grass. “Talking to Rainbow Dash?”

“... Yes,” Scootaloo muttered. She raised her head slightly. “Apple Bloom… do you ever think about death?”

“I try not to.”

“Do you get scared?”

“Honestly, yes I do. I worry that someday will be the last time I see or speak to the ones I love. I may have no chance to say goodbye.”

“Are you not scared for what’s on the other side?” Scootaloo asked.

Apple Bloom sighed. “I know I told you about Elysium, but I don’t know what’s there once this life is over. I want to believe it, though. I want to believe that my parents, Rainbow Dash, everyone who ever lived is there, resting.”

“I wish there was a way to know,” Scootaloo said.

“Well, I wanted to find you to know if you wanted to stop by Sugarcube Corner with me and Sweetie Belle,” Apple Bloom said, wanting to change the subject. “If you want we can have a little birthday snack with just the three of us. Our treat to you.”

“Sure,” Scootaloo sighed. “That’ll be nice.”

Chapter 21

“Apple Bloom, can I ask you something?” said Scootaloo.

“Sure.”

“Have you ever thought about what life would be like if he hadn’t met each other?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t gave it much thought,” Apple Bloom answered, after a moment of thinking.

“I think about it all the time. Actually, I’ve been thinking about it recently. You know, it was really strange how all three of us were at Diamond Tiara’s party that time.”

“It sure was,” smirked Apple Bloom.

“What do you think brought us together?”

“I’m not sure. Coincidence, I guess.”

“Do you think somehow that me, you, and Sweetie Belle were meant to be there? Like something assembled us with any of us noticing it?”

“You mean like fate?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Something like that.”

“Like I said, who knows. It can’t be far off from how my sister and the others got their cutie marks on the same day.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo sighed. “Do you ever think we will still be the Cutie Mark Crusaders if we hadn’t gone to that party.”

“I’m think that we might have been friends anyway, especially since Applejack and Rarity were close friends.”

“... Well, yeah, you and Sweetie Belle. But what about me?”

“Don’t be silly. Like I said, all of three of us would have been best friends either way, even if we hadn’t gone to Diamond Tiara’s party.”

“But Rainbow Dash hardly noticed me for all that time. It was only after we went camping we grew close. That makes me think that… I wouldn’t be anywhere. Except hiding under tables when things go wrong.”

“Don’t think like that. Crusader or not, I would’ve still been your friend.”

“Are you sure?”

“You know I’m sure.”

They were silent. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked at a much slower pace to Sugarcube Corner. Apple Bloom wanted to trot a little quicker, but decided against it, knowing Scootaloo will drag herself. It will also would’ve been rude to tell Scootaloo to trot faster.

“You know that sonic rainboom that gave everyone their cutie marks?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yeah.”

“Do you think something like that can happen to us?”

“What do you mean?”

“We can have something that could be like a huge epiphany for the three of us. What if something like that happened? What if we all saw something that inspired us, and we finally realize who we really are, or something, and get our cutie marks. That could happen, right?”

“Maybe. Something like that is a once in a lifetime sort of thing.”

“I guess you’re right,” Scootaloo answered sadly.

“But, I mean, what’s not to say it can’t happen again?” Apple Bloom said quickly.

“No, you’re right. It is a once in a lifetime thing. There has to be some kind of miracle for it to happen again, or just luck. And the latter is not on my side.”

“Even if we don’t get a sonic rainboom like our sisters had, maybe something else can happen that’s really amazing.”

“Like what. What can top a sonic rainboom?”

“Perhaps a comet? We never had any of those in a while.”

“We’ll probably be old mares once the next comet arrives.”

“Then we’ll ask Princess Luna to make one,” joked Apple Bloom.

“Are you sure she can do that?”

“I don’t know. All I can say is that we have to keep doing what we do best, and that’s find out who we are. A long time ago, I read in a book where it said ponies are the authors of their lives, and we are the weavers of our destiny. We have the power to make our dreams come true if we work hard and never give up. I liked that. I forgot the name of the book, but those words stood out for me. It may take a while, and even if something like a sonic rainboom or a comet doesn’t happen in our lifetime, that means we have to make something like that happen ourselves. We have to be our own epiphany, our own inspiration. That’s why we became the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the first place.”

Scootaloo thought, then she turned her face away. After that, they continued once more in silence. Sugarcube Corner was in their sight.

“Thanks for inviting for milkshakes,” Scootaloo said. “I’m gonna need one, or two.”

“Get as many you want. It’s your birthday,” said Apple Bloom.

“Don’t remind me. I can’t wait for this day to be over.”

Apple Bloom reached for the door, but paused. She let her hoof down, then turn to face Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo, do you know you’re my best friend?”

“I know. I’m glad you are.”

“There is a reason why I brought you over here. It has to do with more than milkshakes.”

“... What do you mean?” Scootaloo asked cautiously.

Apple Bloom nudged her head forward, motioning Scootaloo to join her as they enter through the doors together. Each hoof pushed the doors opened, and with one step they entered the pastry establishment.

Scootaloo’s heart momentarily stopped pumping from what she saw. Her breath had escaped her when a group of ponies consisting of Pinkie Pie, the Apple family, Fluttershy, Twilight and Spike, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, and many others she didn’t know well yelled “Surprise!” in unison. Scootaloo stumbled, briefly losing control of her legs. Luckily Apple Bloom was there to catch her. After coming to her senses she scanned her surroundings. There were colorful balloons hung in every corner of the shop; dance music played from a jukebox in the corner. A banner hung above her with HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOOTALOO written crudely in red paint.

Then she gazed at Pinkie herself. She completely changed. Her hair regained its full cotton candy shape. Much to Scootaloo’s surprise Pinkie was smiling, but it wasn’t the overly-huge grin she always had before. This one was natural, genuine, simple but true all the same. Scootaloo stood there, frozen in time. From the moment she entered Sugarcube Corner everything happened in a blur, then slowed down.

When she came to her senses, the blurred image of Pinkie cleared, and she was already standing in front of her. “Happy birthday, Scootaloo,” Pinkie said. Her voice sounded so pleasant and gentle. “From all of us to you.”

Scootaloo looked around some more. There were several smiling faces staring at her; some were familiar, others not so. Just as before, everything happening all at once in a quick flash. Then she turned to Scootaloo, who was also smiling.

Her face twitched a little. Then her bottom lip quivered. Apple Bloom looked closely, and saw a tear falling from eye, followed by a second one from the other. Everyone else saw it as well, much to their confusion. Scootaloo backed away slowly, whimpering, seemingly choking on the lump that formed in her throat. The smile on Pinkie’s face diminished. Something was wrong. She called for Scootaloo, but it was too late. She banished herself from her own birthday party.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle followed her, trying to catch her in time. Outside, they looked around and called her name. Apple Bloom shook her head. Scootaloo is quick, she thought. She may not be able to fly, but she is fast on her legs.

“I can’t find her,” Sweetie Belle said. “She’s gone.”

Apple Bloom said nothing. It didn’t came as a surprise to her. She knew Scootaloo would react this way. In a moment of contemplation they heard a faint voice not too far from them. They searched the side of Sugarcube Corner and found Scootaloo. She was sitting against the wall. Scootaloo covered her face while she quietly sobbed. They approached her slowly, then Sweetie Belle said her name. Scootaloo raised her head and gave them a sour look.

“Why did you do this?” she said, her voice heavy with sadness.

“It’s nopony’s fault. The party was my idea,” Apple Bloom explained.

“But why?”

“Because I didn’t want you to be sad on your birthday. I was hoping we can celebrate together, like the way we used to.” The two were silent. Sweetie Belle looked on, not sure if she can add anything else. The nasty look on Scootaloo’s face remained, and Apple Bloom knew she was defeated. “I’ll tell everyone the party’s over,” she said sadly.

“Can I say something?” a voice asked. The fillies saw Pinkie Pie approaching them. That wonderful smile was glued to her face, like it was made entirely of sunshine. Scootaloo glanced at her for a brief, then turned her face away. Pinkie sat beside her, but at same time keeping a space between them. “Don’t you want to come back to the party?” she finally said.

Scootaloo shook her head.

“How come?”

“I don’t want to,” Scootaloo mumbled.

“Can you at least tell me why?”

Scootaloo was silent. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom joined them, waiting for her answer. Scootaloo glanced up, seeing Pinkie was still looking at her. Nothing will happen unless she spoke, Scootaloo realized. She gave up with a sigh.

“I don’t want to celebrate my birthday… because it will just remind me how many years have pass since Rainbow Dash died.”

Pinkie placed her hoof on top of Scootaloo’s. “I understand how you feel. With autumn coming soon, it will just make me think of all things we won’t be able do with her.”

“Please don’t,” Scootaloo muttered.

“I’m sorry. You know, the party was Apple Bloom’s idea. She really cares about you. Everyone does. That’s why we came out for you.”

“Everyone didn’t have to,” she said bitterly.

“But we did. You shouldn’t have to feel terrible on your birthday, no matter what circumstance. Besides, if Rainbow Dash was here, she’ll want to have a slice of that cake.”

Scootaloo looked at her and wiped her eyes dry. “Out of everyone in Ponyville, I’ve thrown the most parties for Rainbow Dash over the years. There was a party for almost everything she did; winning a competition, being first place in anything, successfully performing a new flying trick. And her birthday, too. When it came to her, I always try to top the previous birthdays. Did you know I was planning a party when she created the largest sonic rainboom?” Scootaloo shook her head. “Well, I never had the chance to do that. There were so many celebrations I missed this summer, and everyone counts on me to plan parties… and I failed them. I even failed Rainbow Dash.”

“How?” Scootaloo asked curiously.

“Last month was her birthday,” Pinkie sighed. “July 24th. I can’t remember if I was thinking about her that day. If I remembered, I would have had everyone do a little silent birthday celebration at her memorial. But I let it pass. I let everyone’s birthdays pass me by. Thanks to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, I thought I can make it up for having a surprise party for you. You’re very special to all of us, Scootaloo.”

“I don’t feel special.”

“You shouldn’t say that on your birthday.”

All was silent. Pinkie extended her hoof to Scootaloo to help her up. Sweetie Belle approached Scootaloo and gave her an affectionately rub on her cheek with her own. Pinkie led them back into Sugarcube Corner. When they opened the doors they found the party guests anxiously waiting, many with concerned looks.

“Everything’s okay,” Pinkie said to them. “Scootaloo was just overwhelmed. I would be, too, after everything that’s happened.” She turned to Scootaloo, and smiled that lovely smile once again. “How about we get this party started?”

She was silent. “Sure,” she finally said. “That’ll be nice.”

She didn’t realize it, but Scootaloo had forgotten about all her troubles from that morning. Everything from her little chat with Rainbow Dash’s memorial, the conversation she had with Apple Bloom on the way to Sugarcube Corner, to her reaction to the unexpected party, were no longer in her thoughts. Slowly but surely her spirit was lifted by the warm and happy atmosphere of the party.

She had to give to Pinkie. The party planner went out of her way to give her the best celebration in a short amount of time. The decorations and banners looked professionally done, despite it being done by one pony. The jukebox continuously played party music which everyone danced to. Guests, which included Pinkie’s own friends and most of the children Scootaloo knew from school, played games and talked to each other, few over cups of punch. There were moments when Applejack, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity came to Scootaloo to wish her a happy birthday, then hug her tightly. They were going to do that eventually, Scootaloo thought. She guessed Pinkie was right when she said everyone cared about her.

Scootaloo poured punch into a plastic cup until Apple Bloom, and another young pony, approached her.

“Hey Scootaloo, I want to introduce you to Rumble,” she said. Rumble was a young pegasus, about Scootaloo’s age, with dark-greyish hair that looked as though it was blown back by the wind. They shook hooves nervously.

“I saw you at the funeral,” said Scootaloo.

“Yeah. My brother Thunderlane was friends with her, kind of.”

“Really? How?”

“It was during that water-tornado thing Ponyville had. You know, when Fluttershy flew really fast and all that? My brother got sick and couldn’t fly with the other pegasi, but he trained really hard. I guess they became kind of friends after that. He was very upset when he heard Rainbow Dash died.”

“Yeah. We all were,” said Scootaloo.

Rumble presented Scootaloo with a small white envelope that read Happy Birthday Scootaloo written in cursive. “Um, he wanted to come, but something came up. But he sent you this envelope with money in it. You know, to buy yourself something. I put something in it, too.”

“Thank you,” said Scootaloo meekly.

“There’s forty bits in it. You can buy yourself a cool jacket or something.”

Scootaloo gave him an awkward smile. She had seen Rumble a few times at school and on the street, but have never said a single word to him. Then Sweetie Belle came with another child. She was a yellow earth pony with orange hair who enjoyed playing sports. The filly reminded Sweetie of Rainbow Dash, and thought Scootaloo may like her. Scootaloo and the filly managed to have a quick conversation about baseball and the Wonderbolts. Scootaloo was too shy to talk to anyone at the moment.

When the party reached its height, Mr. and Mrs. Cake presented Scootaloo with a huge, rectangular birthday cake, with nine lighted candles. They sang the birthday song and Scootaloo cut the first slice of cake. She was very pleased to know that it was chocolate on the inside.

Then the moment everyone had been waiting for finally came: the presenting of gifts. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, with some additional help from Rarity (she paid for the gold to be made), created a custom medal for Scootaloo. It was gold, and the design was a lightning bolt over a heart. According to Sweetie Belle, it symbolized the endurance of hardships, or, in her own words, “how you managed to pull through it all. You’re the strongest out of all of us.” Another child at the party, which Scootaloo recognized as Dinky, gave Scootaloo a four-leaf clover she found a long time ago. “It gave me good luck,” she explained. “You need it more than I do, now.” The only thing that was in Scootaloo’s mind was how Dinky, of all ponies, found a four-leaf clover. Rarity, thanks to her connections with very important ponies from Canterlot, received tickets to the Wonderbolts next show in September. Scootaloo couldn’t help but become excited. The smile on her face grew. She always wanted to see them up close.

Twilight presented a medium-sized box and told Scootaloo to open it. The inside of the box revealed a pile of books neatly stacked on top of each other. On each cover there was a tan pegasus with dark hair, wearing a jacket and safari hat, escaping some kind of trap or danger.

“It’s the first seven novels of the Daring Do series,” Twilight explained. “They’re all new editions. Rainbow Dash is her biggest fan.”

“She was?” Scootaloo asked. Then another thought came to her. “Rainbow Dash reads books?” she said with wide eyes.

“Of course! I’m surprised she hadn’t told you about them. Each book is filled with action, excitement, danger! I’m sure you’ll enjoy all of them!”

Scootaloo gazed at the daring pegasus on the covers. She even looked like Rainbow Dash, almost. No wonder why she was a fan, Scootaloo thought. However, she had no idea she loved to read books. How come she hadn’t told her about it?

Fluttershy was next. She carried a small cage and placed it on the floor. Opening it, she spoke to whatever it was that was inside in a soothing voice. Fluttershy released a green shell from the cage, and from the shell came limbs, then a head with black, beady eyes.

“Scootaloo, this is Tank,” she said. “He was Rainbow Dash’s pet turtle.”

The younger party guests, including Scootaloo, approached the turtle. Many of them were commenting on how cute he looked. To Scootaloo, this was another strange revelation about Rainbow Dash. How can she, of all ponies, kept a turtle as a pet? It didn’t seem realistic. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle played with Tank by turning his shell around and watching him come out on either side.

“She loved him very much,” Fluttershy explained. “Tank was her companion. And I hope he’ll be yours’ too.”

“Thank you,” Scootaloo said. She gave a lite smiled at Fluttershy, and she grinned back at her. Scootaloo watched as Dinky slowly spun the turtle shell around, laughing. Such a strange revelation indeed. When Scootaloo finally got a good look at Tank’s face she thought for a moment that he gave a sad-looking smile. She suddenly felt sympathy for the turtle. Or was that how turtles usually looked? she thought.

After a delightful afternoon the party had come to a close. Once again everyone wished Scootaloo a happy birthday and good fortune from here on (since she was given a four-leaf clover). Pinkie’s friends ambushed her with a tight group hug once the guests had left Sugarcube Corner. Applejack commented how Rainbow Dash would have been proud of her. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle follow their lead and gave Scootaloo a hug. Then everyone was hugging everyone. Pinkie even had the Cakes and their foals to join.

Afterward, everyone went home. However, Scootaloo stayed behind and sat a table near a window, with Tank by her side. Seeing she was still there, Pinkie joined her.

“How was the party?” Pinkie asked.

“It was better than I expected,” Scootaloo answered. “I want to thank you for doing this. And I want to say I’m sorry for how I acted.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I would’ve reacted the same way. You know, you really look good when you smile.”

Scootaloo giggled. “Thanks. So do you.”

“Rainbow Dash would’ve loved this party,” Pinkie said. Her tone held a sense of longing.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo added. Her voice was caught in a sigh.

“You know, I’ve seen you with her all the time, and you two seem to have been great friends. If you don’t mind me asking, what drew you to her?”

Scootaloo thought. “I guess… in a way, she was just like me. We never had any close family members, none that we know of. We both have this ambitious drive. And I guess we were both dreamers. So, I think when we finally found each other, we clicked.”

Pinkie smiled. “That’s great. When me and Rainbow first met, I knew instantly we were going to be best friends. I guess she had that effect on ponies.”

“She was the best.”

“And always will be the best,” Pinkie added. “I have a lot of stories about her, you know. You want to hear some?”

Scootaloo gladly nodded. “Sure. Tell me everything…”