The Magic Never Fades Away
The Magic Never Fades Away
Thyrai
"You're gone and my head's still spinning
Left the childhood
Left the good times of the past
Wishing the clock would stand still
The world can wait
Never will I forget you
And all the memories past
Nothing will take away the time we had
We knew that time would kill us
But you're still so close to me"
Vibrant leaves drifted and floated almost gracefully through the breeze, lazily coming to rest on the grass below. Despite the warm colours of the season, the air carried a biting chill. Winter was just around the corner, and the annual Running of the Leaves competition would no doubt begin soon.
An aged mare stood atop a small ridge and mused for a long while, admiring the beauty of the Equestrian landscape from her vantage. A fiery vista splayed out before her. A brilliant panorama of fall colours burned upwards to the contrasting the blue ocean of sky above. Vivid reds, oranges and yellows partially silhouetted by the lowering sun presented a beautiful scene of the end of an era. The final swan song of the season, making room for a whole new generation of life.
She liked it here. It was quiet. A place she could be alone without anypony to interrupt her thoughts. The only sound that stirred the silence was the occasional song from a nearby bird. A sort of peace radiated from the place, but yet, an old grief still hung heavy in the air.
Though she only just arrived, she could feel that sorrow already stirring in her blood. A somber sigh escaped the mare's lips as she turned her focus to the task ahead. As rickety as she may be, feebleness was merely a trifle that would never deter her from her task. She'd looked forward to this day for so long. The day she would say goodbye for the last time.
“Hey...” she began, her eyes drifting over each of the five headstones laid out before her. Each one carefully inscribed with a familiar marking. “I'm here, just like I promised.”
“I brought some flowers too. I know some of you aren't so much into them. They aren't even particularly fabulous, either.” The mare gave a grieved smile, “But at least it's something to let you know I still care. I love you all so much.”
The mare stepped forward, placing a bouquet before each stone. She paused at each one to brush away any stray leaves. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes as she passed each one, but managed to keep them back.
“Wherever you all are, I hope you're together and having a great time. Just like the old days.” The mare sniffled. “I cherish every moment of the times we spent together.”
“Remember when we would all stay up late and laugh for no reason at all? We would talk all night about our lives. I miss those times so much.”
“I remember when we'd talk about cute colts. A certain two of us pretended we were even interested.” She laughed gently through her teary eyes. “We were so obvious, weren't we?”
The mare sat down on the grass, somewhat fazed from the trip that would have been trivial only some years ago. She took a short while to catch her breath again before continuing. “Sweet Apple Acres is doing very well these days. Last years harvest was the most successful one on record.”
“Carousel Boutique is also booming. The place was left in good hooves. They use your designs to this day, and they're more popular than ever.”
The mare paused again, allowing herself to admire the landscape again. “This... this is probably going to be the last time I'll be able to visit. I'm not as young as I used to be.”
A small formation of migrating birds happened by, their arrow shape piercing through the cyan skies as they made their way to a warmer home. She eyed them as they flew past a billowy cloud. To a young eyes, a pony would notice nothing unusual about the airy pillow. Only one who had been around a long time would realize how lonely it looked. A perfect bed for an absent owner.
The mare's attention was soon diverted by a soft rustle of leaves behind her. soon turning into a dry crackling as a figure approached her from behind. A powerful shadow of a tall pony enveloped her in shade. Uncanny timing, as always.
“Hello, Celestia,” the mare began with certainty.
“Twilight. I thought the doctor told you to stay in bed?” The princess' voice had no trace of condemnation in its tone. It was almost as if she was glad to see her old student outdoors once again, regardless of the circumstances.
The unicorn took a glance at the lightning-inscribed headstone and smiled slightly. “I guess a bit of somepony rubbed off on me.”
Twilight could almost see the grin on the princess's face as well. “I know how important this day is to you. I came to visit the library since you couldn't make the festival.” Celestia stepped to a spot beside the lavender mare. “I should have known you would have other plans.”
“It still feels like it was just yesterday.” Twilight continued, “fifty years went by so fast.”
“Time loves to play tricks on us, doesn't it? I still remember the look on your face that day; you were beaming right from ear to ear. In a single night you saved Luna from herself and gained five lifelong friends.”
Twilight dropped her head, stifling the onset of emotion. “And now they're gone.”
Celestia stooped down and sat beside the lavender unicorn. Her expression dark and deeply sympathetic. “I'm sorry.”
“I just.. I just miss them so much.” The unicorn pressed her head into Celestia's side, squeezing her eyes together in vain attempt to stop the impending tears. Finding a way out as they always do, a small trickle leaked out from within.
A white wing wrapped her in a consoling hug. The princess nuzzled the unicorn gently on the cheek as Twilight allowed herself to cry softly. The royal alicorn had watery eyes of her own, visibly hurt by her student's pain.
“I'd g-give the world... just to see them one last time.”
“You know.. There's something I think you'd like to see.” The princess's horn began to shimmer with a delicate magical force; filling the air with a faint buzz as an oblong whiteness was imparted from its previous existence. The object contorted into a rectangle, then expanded outwards. As the magic began to dissipate, and a materialized object formed in its wake. An old brown book with six emblems emblazoned on its cover.
A blue aura surrounded the tome, lifting its cover and revealing its contents. Letters and photos of the past filled every inch of the page. Photos of Ponyville before long before it became a city, brochures for various airshows, and newspaper clippings. One in particular advertising a magical performance by 'The Great and Powerful Trixie!'
“It's a scrapbook of sorts that I kept. It was originally for the letters you and your friends sent me, but I started to add more as time went by.”
Twilight's eyes scanned through some old newspaper clippings and photos before her eyes landed on a particular note. “I... I remember this. It was the first letter I sent to you.” She said, her voice wavering from the sudden burst of nostalgia. “Dear Princess Celestia, I've learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings. But when there's not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends...”
Twilight trailed off as a small photo fell from the back of the letter, sparking a tearful smile to appear on her face once again.
There they were. The five vibrant mares that meant the world to her; exactly like how she remembered them. Young, carefree, ambitious, and full of life. They were posing in Ponyville on a warm summer's day. It was the very same picture she'd included in her letters to the princess so many years ago.
Memories she'd long since forgotten returned as her eyes met again with each of the ones that meant so much to her. Days that had been lost so long ago once again became so tangibly close. Memories she didn't even realize she still had broke through the floodgates deep inside her mind.
She could feel a faint blush appear on her face as her eyes locked with a certain rainbow mane. A mane that hadn't adorned the Equestrian skies for such a long time. Try as she might to hide it, the princess noticed her subtle gawk.
“You two were made for each other.”
An embarrassed wave of heat rushed up through Twilight's spine and into her cheeks. She suspected that her infatuation had been subject to rumour, but surely not so obvious as that the princess would catch on. “You... You knew?”
The alicorn laughed softly. “Well, it wasn't exactly the best kept secret. Besides, I was your mentor for years. I could read you better than any book.”
“I thought you might have been upset.”
Celestia frowned, almost as though she was offended by the assumption. “Nonsense.”
Twilight smiled. Deep down, she'd always known that the princess would understand, but she couldn't bring herself to confession. Be it lack of courage or shame, romance had been something she'd tried to avoid in her letters and conversation.
“She made it, didn't she? To the Wonderbolts. Before she passed away.”
“Yeah. They weren't able to give her a proper ceremony, since she was in hospital.” Twilight gave partially spiteful snort, “that's typical Rainbow Dash, though. She never did anything the right way.”
Twilight looked back to the photo and sighed with a slight smirk, “I guess that's why I loved her so much.”
Twilight took her time with the photo and her memories. Remembering the times they had together that she wouldn't have traded for the world itself. Adventures they had that nopony would believe if she told them.
Soon, curiosity's grip became too much. Magicking the book, she flipped the page and instantly regretted it. A normally bearable scar, one that had become too deep to feel was made all too real again by seeing his young face once more. He was happy back then; back when life made sense. Back when nothing really mattered, and farewell seemed so far away.
---
It was pouring rain in Ponyville, or more accurately, in the pasture of grassland on its outskirts. Gray, heavy clouds in the skies above seemed to share in sorrow with those below. The monotonous patter of rain as it hit the soggy ground was only broken by distant rumbles of thunder. It was a miserable day, but all things considered, the weather was the least of anybodies worries.
It was a day planned long ago. A day the two of them knew would come from the very beginning. One that seemed so far away at first, but now was all to close. Time has a way of slipping away, making even the most distant of plans come to pass all too quickly; and today was no exception.
“Please don't make me go. Please,” Spike pleaded, looking down at his very best friend. A small river of mixed tears and rainwater streamed from the sides of his face, dribbling off the end of his angular snout.
Twilight had tried to prepare herself for this very moment. The one moment where she had to be strong. Even so, she knew her preparations would be in vain. Her own tears streaked down her face, and it took all she had to keep from breaking into heaving sobs. “You h-have to go. You can't stay here any longer.”
“I don't want to go. I'll stay. Please. Please, let me stay. Just one more day.”
Twilight slowly shook her head, trying in vain to blink back her tears. “We've already waited for far too long. I.. I can see it in your eyes. You're tired.”
“I'm really not. Honestly.”
The dragon's antagonizing stubbornness fused with the emotion of the day was enough to flush her cheeks red with frustration. The massive beast still had the heart of a child deep inside. “You're dying, Spike! You know your body is shutting down!” she bellowed, surprising herself with the sheer volume and malice in her voice.
“I don't care! I'd rather die than leave you!” Spike screamed back, his tears pouring faster still.
Twilight reacted the only method that came to mind. Charging the giant, she collided with his armoured scales with a dull thump, locking their bodies together in a ferocious embrace.“P-please go. We both know that it's the only way.” Twilight begged, clenching her teeth together in attempt to keep the cistern of pain inside from surging forth.
Spike returned the embrace, his expression softening as he pulled the unicorn close with his strong arms. “Then is this.. our last g-goodbye, then?”
The lavender mare struggled a slow nod. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” she gasped, burying her head deeper into the dragon's shoulder. “By the time you wake up.. I'll... I'll be gone. But m-maybe... someday we'll be together again. Forever.”
Spike held her in silence for a time, the only sounds in the air being their soft sniffles muffled by the leering tempest. Neither of them wanted to move. Neither of them wanted to let go of the embrace. Neither of them wanted to face the inevitable fate ahead.
“Forever isn't long enough to be with you.”
Twilight couldn't hold it back anymore. Spike's words tore into the deep sorrow she'd tried so hard to lock away. An errant sob escaped her lips, ripping apart the latches of the self-imposed chamber in the pit of her heart,. She held nothing back as her sobbing poured tears upon the dragon's already soaked body. It wasn't long before he too crumbled and joined her. The two of them cried into each other's shoulders for what seemed like hours. Every care, every desire, everything in their being dissipated into the black fog of agony.
“Twilight?”
“Y-yeah?”
“Please don't forget me.”
The unicorn did her best to bite back her sobs. “I will never, ever forget you. I love you, Spike. I always will.” Twilight sniffled, “And I'll always be with you. Even when my time is over on this earth, I'll be right there by your side. Don't you ever let me go, okay?”
Spike's embrace tightened as they sobbed once again. Even as Twilight's weeping began to sting her eyes, she couldn't find it in herself to stop. They tried to compose themselves for a proper farewell numerous times, but it's so hard to say goodbye knowing that it's over.
“I-I.. I guess it's time for me to go then.” Spike choked, slowly unlocking himself from the embrace, giving his wings a small flourish in preparation for flight. His eyes were visibly filled with clouds as they met with Twilight's own. Filled with the immeasurable pain of two lifelong companions as they were to part ways for the final time.
As much as Twilight tried, she couldn't bring herself to speak another word. She gave a small nod at the dragon she had grown up with for so long. His powerful wings stroked through the air, stirring a chaotic wind. The force whipped at her soaked mane, and by the time she opened her eyes, he was gone.
Twilight watched as his form became nothing but a speck on the horizon, then faded to nothing. She stayed there, staring into the sky where he disappeared with tears flowing. Hours passed before she finally collapsed on the grass, sobbing and shivering. The ruthless rain continued to fall in torrential sheets, but no amount of it could wash away her pain. She was cold. For the first time since she could remember, she felt so bitterly cold. No arms she could curl up into and be held. No chest snuggle with for warmth. No shoulder to cry into.
Alone.
---
A tear fell onto the faded photograph. The droplet streaked down to its corner, leaving only a thin line of moist residue behind. Depressing under the weight, the photo's corner made way for the bead to dribble off the side and fall onto the earth beneath.
“I still think about him every day.” The unicorn wiped her eyes with a hoof. “I had to take his pictures down. It... It just hurt too much every time I saw them.”
“He loved you very much. He still does.” The princess' wing tugged her closer. “I'll bet you anything he dreams about you.”
Twilight smiled. Celestia's motherly affection had been a thing of comfort for her over the years. Anytime something went wrong, whenever she felt broken, she could always confide in the princess to be there for her. She was so much more than a teacher. She loved her like her own.
The two of them sat wordlessly for a long while, just watching the onset of eventide. The fiery red glow of eventide had begun to match the blazing earth below. The world was a pyre, a sort of final rite as if to join the ponies in commemorating those who have left it.
“Rarity used to always say that beauty never dies. It just moves on.” Twilight sighed, “as I've gotten older, the more I've realized that she was right.”
Celestia gazed to the open expanse splayed out before them. “It's almost like they're right here with us, isn't it?”
“I know they're still out there. I know they're waiting for the day I'll go home and see them again.” Twilight leaned into Celestia’s side, “you told me once of a magic that never dies, one that never falters. It's our friendship. Our journey we shared. The legacy we've left behind.”
Celestia gave a gentle nod. “We'll all be forgotten somewhere along the hands of time, but just know that you've helped build the future. We're passed down by the memories given to those who stay.” Celestia smiled, “we all leave a little bit of us behind in everyone we love. That's magic in itself.”
Twilight gave a soft laugh and looked up at her teacher. The alicorn still looked the same as the day she met her. The years had done nothing to diminish her regal beauty.
Celestia smirked, noticing her student's inspecting gaze. “What? I don't look that funny do I?”
“No. It just feels like I've been here before. Watching the sunset with somepony who loves me.”
The princess' wing hugged her closer again as they smiled at one other. A feeling burned inside her for the first time in years. It almost seemed to pulse through her, ebbing away at the sorrow she'd been feeling for so long. She'd forgotten what it felt like. It had been years.
It felt so real. Love stronger than the bounds of time; love that could transcend the barrier of eternity. A sense of gratitude for a life lived. A joy for those she was privileged to share it with. A feeling of the purest happiness flowed through her veins.
“Thank you, Celestia. Thank you for the most wonderful adventure a pony could ask for. ”
---
That very night, a lullaby was sung to a newborn foal. Unknown to the world, the young filly would one day grow up and be a light in Equestria, her smile shining so bright as to rival Celestia's sun. One day she would look to the sky, to the open canvas of ancient dreams to see a great rainbow illuminating her way. It would almost seem as though friendship would be the one to seek her out. Her adventures would be fantastic and extraordinary, and those she would share her life's journey with would make it all worthwhile.
For now, though, she just listened to the music. To the song of celebration for the generations that have come and gone. For the ponies who lived and shaped the world to what it is today. For the brave ponies of the past who dedicated their lives to building a better tomorrow.
To the song of hope for the generations yet to come. For the fillies and colts still to live their lives. For the endless tales of friendship and adventure to yet to come to pass.
A song of magic that never fades away.
---
Art by Termi92 (also in video)
EquestriaDaily
Thanks for reading!
The original intent of this fiction was to be a sort of epilogue to my previous story, Decay. However, I thought it would be best to create this as a stand-alone story, and I think it worked much better being so. I hope this brings enough closure to all of you who have read it.
Big shoutout to everyone who volunteered to pre-read!
Scully
Dash is Best Pony
Joeyh3
DoctorRazors
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- SanityLost · 2.2k words · 598 15 · 22k views
- ROBCakeran53 · 4.7k words · 1,016 26 · 27k views
- AmberWings · 5.8k words · 897 33 · 22k views
- RazedRainbow · 3.3k words · 374 9 · 9.6k views
- Thyrai · 12k words · 618 9 · 9.8k views
- theswimminbrony · 23k words · 1,410 34 · 44k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.194 seconds
Total duration
956 users online
1,383,363 hits today, 2,054,621 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
this made me mad and then made me cry and then made me smile in ten seconds flat i wish there was a rainbow salute icon on fimfiction cause i'd give it to u
don't....fucking.....cry....
i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad60/moonlit-sonnet0/Animation%20and%20Comics/My%20Little%20Pony/Frienship%20is%20Magic/Pinkie%20Pie/Cry.gif
just take my internet please? I sure as hell don't need it after this. Now if you'll excuse me I gotta go get a hose to get all this tear water outta my house
154510 & 154573 & 154583 I cried earlier than first!
I win.
Thyrai, you're an amazing, amazing bastard. Have some internetz, plus all my money.
I got nothin' else. Except for that ending. So hopeful, yet it keeps with the dark mood of the story nonetheless. That filly will grow up to do great things.
This is just...beautiful. I-I promised I wouldn't cry...
my grandmother passed away last week, she was a good friend to me, and all those around her. and because of her, I believe we are all given the same amount of time on this world, but our actions are what cause the time to speed up, and slow down, and I believe she gave so much of her time to other people, she had no time left for herself, but even so she gave every second she had to others. this reminded me so much of her I was in tears by the end of it.... I love this story.
sorry for the rant, but sometimes you need to say things.
I am afraid to read this because it can induce tears... On a scale of 1-10, how bad can the stuff that causes crying in this be?
This is THE FIRST STORY THAT EVER MADE ME CRY!
i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab175/mikkgran/manlytears.jpg
dam it dam it dam it
you sir are just that ....epic
i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn105/walkseva/ManlyTearsHaveBeenShed.jpg
Many manly tears have been shed this day.
BRONIES! RISE. TODAY, WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN. THESE FIVE PONIES HAVE TAUGHT US ALL ABOUT FRIENDSHIP, MAGIC, AND MUFFINS.
NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID FOR US. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER COME TOGETHER AS ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN FANBASES ON THE WEB. BROHOOF!
PS. after reading another story about the passing of friends I wrote a letter to Celestia telling what I learned from it and I would like to share it with you because this story reminded me of it and if I didn't already write the letter I would have after reading this.
so
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned that when you lose somepony close to you, like a best friend you shouldn't be sad,
even though losing somepony may be hard and it may hurt you inside, you might be able to learn something by looking back at your friendship
and seeing what you have been though together and what you learn and remember may in fact be beautiful,
so don't cry over the loss of a friend just remember all the fun times you had together and just remember friendship is the best magic there is and nothing will ever change that
your loving subject NimbleBolt.
Absolutely beautiful.
As much as it made me cry, I loved Decay. And I loved this, even more so when I found out it was an unofficial sequel to it.
Confound these ponies they drive me to sad fics.
5 stars
I don't think I can say anything that can do this story some justice. Simply because it was so beautiful. Sad but beautiful.
You kind of touched upon a fear that I once had; that I would be the last one standing amongst the ones I loved. But it's something that I don't fear anymore. Love and friendship really can transcend anything, even death. As a stand-alone fic, this worked out really well. Though I think it could have also worked as the epilogue for Decay. But I'm not going to question your reasoning, as the end result was, for lack of a better word, magic. Marvelous job on this, and while I'm at it, Decay as well. 
>---
--> 
So sad I could barely finish it... *Sniff* Five stars for you friend
Oh my freaking God, I'm trying not... to... okay, you've done it. You've written a story that makes me cry, but makes me extremely happy. I love this story. % stars. A favorite. Money. I don't know what else to do.
You are a warrior poet stabbing my emotions to the point of tears(NON-MANLY tears)
Amazing. One of the most beautiful Fan fictions i've ever read.
Am i heartless bastard for not crying here?
Amazing fic tho. Loved it from start to finish.
i WON'T! Great story !!! and it even hinted at the best shipped pair!
Keep on writing you are great at it.
It's... I'm not... I just have something in my eye, okay?
there is not much i can say yes manly tears have been shded i stated reeding sad fic with the pric you pay but i alwas love a good sad/dathe fic so good job
Five stars. You really captured emotion in every sentence. What an excellent read.
I thought of doing something like this, but since you've already done it, and brilliantly, I might add,I think I'll do something different.... -plots-
I loved every bit except the slight Rainbow-Twilight, because I'm not a fan of pairings, but whatever floats your boat!
I wish people were that eager to pre-read my stories.
I'm back, with an announcement. After reading this, who can call their tears manly tears?
"And the magic never fades..." great ending to a great story... showing that the magic will never fade & end....
What the hell is this thing I have in my eye...
5 stars well earned
What the hell is this thing I have in my eye...
5 stars well earned
This is wonderful. Keep up the good work. This is a wonderful finish to Decay, hope you'll come up with something else soon.
This is the first fic where I could feel tears in my eyes.
Beautiful absolutely beautiful. I wish I could give it 100 stars but five will have to do.
You broke me, I've got absolutely nothing left in me. I don't read sad fics, I can't it usually hurts. However I neede something to distract me from studying. I made it all the way to he end, then read the final line and began to tear up. This was beautiful, in fact I can't express how this made me feel using words.
Thank you for writing this.
154673
MANLY TEARS WERE SHEED HERE
"A song of magic that never fades away."
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqwmdzOYSR1qa9689.png
5 stars
5 million tears
TT
dammit thyrai, between this and Decay you make me cry too much ;-;
But you are a fantastic author
Got through like, five paragraphs. I just can't do it, this is exactly why I don't read "sad" tags.
Amazingly written, but that's probably one of the reasons I dislike sad tags. They're written so well you almost believe it.
God I wish i could cry >:(
Only three things in this world can make me cry, My Little Dashie, This Story, and Fluttershy.
Just wonderful
This was sad, but this was HAPPY sad, the way sad stories are supposed to be! You know, the ones that give us hope and all that frou-frou feeling stuff at the end.
Five stars.
chzbronies.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-brony-manly-tears.jpg that is al i can say
I had to read it in chunks because my vision kept blurring. How did you manage to write this...?
I'm off to read Decay and probably watch you. Yes, in the creepy way.
There isn't enough spamming of the laughing rainbow dash to execute how hilarious this story is to me. Superb writing, all the way, author! Keep at it!
wow... i never thought that a single story of this length make me cry twice
. Outstanding work 
And of course I was listening to Debussy's Clair de Lune while reading this...
Beautiful!
5 star
Observation: browsing the comments helps brace the heart. Still a hard hit emotionally.
Beautiful, simply beautiful
5 stars aren't nearly enough
Beautiful.