Nopony lives forever. Except an immortal, like Luna. Love may be as eternal as the Princess of the Night. But what if the one she loves is not?

What happens when she faces the day when her lover passes on, but her love does not?

Stand-alone short story, set some time after the events of Dreamscape.

Set just before the events of chapter ten of Friendship is Optimal. One of the last living humans survives and scrapes by in the ruins of Eugene Oregon. He is approached by a simulacra of Twilight Sparkle, who promptly attempts to convince him to upload himself to Equestria. He balks at first, so Twilight plays to her strengths: studying.

Part of the Optimalverse.

WARNING: RATED TEEN FOR IDEOLOGY. This story attempts to take a realistic and balanced view of why an intelligent and religious person might not upload. It does not attempt to convince the reader to believe any of the viewpoints discussed. However, it is written in as unbiased a way as possible, therefore, both theists and atheists will probably find portions of it offensive.

Once, I was alone.

I felt neither sorrow nor joy at this. The presence or absence of others meant nothing to me. The universe moved in silence, and I drifted in its flow.

Then came the song.

The Equestrian Industrial Revolution is in full swing. Rainbow Dash returns to a drastically changed Ponyville and to Twilight Sparkle, her last friend in the city. She must rekindle the bonds of love and friendship before the winds of change render the Elements of Harmony irrelevant. Even in a world of steel, fire and glass, loyalty is needed more than ever.

Enigma is a new arrival to Ponyville, but after she goes to sleep each day, she's forced to re-live that day all over again, and nopony can see her or interact with her in any way. After the day is re-lived, she wakes up where she'd been before she had to re-live her day, but as if she'd never been there.

Special thanks to Ink for her cover art and for making ThatScootaloo, my favorite Tumblr ever! It doesn't matter if she doesn't update it anymore, I still love it to death.

What is the worst thing your friend can say to you? Egghead? Leave me alone? I hope I never see you again? No. Those are only words, trifle without meaning, no weight, they are all forgiven and forgotten within a week. I know what it is. The worst thing a friend can say to you. I heard it from my number one assistant.

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Kirakina did a reading of this story, it can be found here. Cheers!

Twilight has always dedicated herself to pleasing her long time friend and mentor, Celestia, who after many years of watching the studious filly grow into a vibrant mare realizes that the burden of immortality has caught up to her once more. Knowing that Twilight may not be able to hold onto her will much longer, she decides to give her star pupil one last touching celebration for all her hard work and loyalty.

Twilight is cleaning the shelves of her library one day when she comes across a scrapbook. It is filled with the many memories her and her friends have shared.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. Things seem to be falling through the cracks lately. Spike thinks I should go see the doctor, but...

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Everypony knows of Lyra's sort of strange obsession, but it never really was that big of a deal, just like nerds are obsessed with reading. But, one night, Lyra's dreams are fulfilled. At least the first part....

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There's something in Twilight's closet, and it is most certainly not a pony.

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Yes, I believe that there is some speck of originality in here! If not in the idea, then at least in the story and writing itself! Give it a chance!