Princess Celestia,

I attended Rarity's funeral today. Thank you for making it so beautiful, as you did with each of my friends. She would have loved it. The beautiful crystal casket, the diamond headstone. She touched so many lives with her generosity, I never even knew. The orphan's shelter she helped stay open with donations, those that she gave outfits to when they couldn't afford something for their wedding day. Sometimes I wonder if she ever actually sold a dress. So many ponies attended to see her laid to rest. Truly she was a wonderful friend, and one I will always cherish. They all were.

You know the last thing she said to me? She took my hoof, and she looked into my eyes, and she said, "Twilight, darling. These past years have been the best anypony could ever have hoped for. You have been a gem, dazzling me every day and filling my life with wonder. Please, don't let that wonder leave you." That's all she said, and her eyes glassed over, a smile frozen on her face and a single tear rolling down her cheek. It hurt so badly to watch her pass like that, even though I knew she was happy. I can only imagine how Spike is handling it. He flew off after that, and I have only seen him at the funeral since. He'll come back, but I think he needs to be alone.

I think I need to be alone. Rarity was my last friend other than Spike, and he and I have grown apart recently as he has gotten older. He spends more and more time with other dragons, collecting gems and sleeping. Watching each of them pass was hard.

Applejack, with such a rough life bucking apple, wore herself down so young. It's been nearly twenty years since she passed. I still see her smile sometimes when I close my eyes, and I can remember that first day we met. She had said, after only knowing me for minutes, that I was practically a part of the family. And the way that, just by looking into her eyes, I knew I could trust whatever she told me.

When she passed, it was so sudden. With Rainbow Dash in Cloudsdale and Rarity having moved to Canterlot for her fashion career, we barely had any notice that she was passing. All of us hurried as quickly as we could, but she had left this world before we arrived.

Her funeral was modest, exactly how she would have wanted it. I never realized how large her family was until they had all stood around her to say good bye. They have an amazing tradition, the Apples. Each of them plants their very first tree, marks it, and cares for it until they die. Then, the tree is chopped down and made into their casket. I want to thank you for what you did back then. Such a perfect preservation spell, I imagine that this world will pass before time wears on the casket or her body in any way.

And then, to mark her grave, they planted a baby Appletree.

Next we lost Fluttershy. She cared so much for animals, she couldn't stand to see them suffer. In the end, it's what would take her from me. I told her that the bear was dangerous, but she had dealt with so many, and she couldn't just leave him be. It only took one swipe from his massive paw, and her aged and fragile body couldn't take it. I took her to the hospital, and she held on until Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash arrived. She looked so sad, in so much pain. But she looked at each of us, and told us that she loved us. We watched as she slipped into a deep sleep that she never woke up from.

Her funeral was probably the most unusual. I don't think she had any family, or at least none that was close to her. It was only the four of us, you, Discord and her animals. The pain I saw on Discord's face, I still can't believe how much he cared. It surprised me, I don't think I ever full trusted him until I saw how much he hurt. While the animals making her a simple casket was an amazing show of how much her kindness touched others, the tombstone Discord made for her was incredible. I had thought his magic could only create chaos, but that tombstone was amazing. A bush which spelled out her name, and the words "Never a kinder pony in all of history," the words written in berries which would replenish themselves forever. I think Discord wanted Fluttershy to be able to care for her animals forever, and what an amazing way to show it.

Pinkie pie's passing was the most shocking. Looking back, we should have paid more attention. I should have been a better friend. Losing Applejack and Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow and I moving away and the slow decline of Ponyville left her nearly alone. She took her life. It hurt so much to have failed a friend so terribly. I still remember the letter she left us. "I miss my friends so much. I just want to be back with them. I just don't want to be alone anymore." Rainbow Dash found her in her room, laying in her bed as if she were asleep. I think her passing hurts the most. To know that if I had only been there for her, she might still be here. I blame myself everyday.

We tried to throw a party for her funeral. I think she would have liked it. The cakes came back and made her a cake. All of Ponyville came to say good by. It was such a disaster. None of us felt like partying obviously, and it didn't seem right with how Pinkie had passed.

Rainbow stayed at her tombstone for days, never leaving. I think there was more there, but it's to late to ever find out. Thank you again, for the balloons you placed on her tombstone. Never deflating, never popping. And those three words, "Never quit smiling."

Rainbow passed not long after. The doctors at Cloudsdale general mercy said it was natural causes, and at her age, it wouldn't surprise me. But I saw her eyes as she lay there, slipping away minute by minute. A broken heart, regret. That's what I saw. I don't think she ever recovered from Pinkie's death.

The Wonderbolts flew over her funeral, and made her a post-mortem member. The way her tombstone slide from one color to the next, it felt right at home with each of her friends in that cemetery outside of what's left of Ponyville.

And now Rarity's joins them. Applejack's now fully grown apple tree, the bush still full of fresh fruit for Fluttershy's animals, Pinkie Pie's balloons, Rainbow Dash's changing tombstone, and now her diamond marker. I sat outside, staring at each of them for days. I can't believe they're gone.

Why did you choose me? I loved being your student, and I love working with you everyday, but I miss my friends more than anything in the world. And I will never get to see them again. It hurts everyday.

I just want to tell Rarity how happy she made me. I want to tell Applejack how much I cherished her. I want to race Rainbow dash again. I want to have tea with Fluttershy. And... I want to tell Pinkie Pie she isn't alone.

You once told me that there was more to a young mare's life than studying. You once told me to make some friends. But why? All it did was show me a love, fill my heart with love and grow my heart so much, that when it was taken from me, I would have a hole so empty that I wish I could die.

Why should I live forever as I watch each and everypony of my friends die. And, I know that Spike will die one day as well. He's like a little brother to me, and I will have to watch him pass. Just like Shining Armor. Just like my mother and father. Just like everypony I care about.

How can you live like this?

Yours,
Twilight Sparkle

Author's Note

Let me know what you guys think. This isn't the end, there are going to be a lot of exchanges between the "immortals" of Equestria. This is my first one, so criticism is welcome, it's how we get better after all.

Edit: I made a few minor changes, nothing that requires rereading, mostly gramatical and the like.