The snow is falling lightly and slowly covers the ponies waiting for the train. Eight ponies and one dragon stand in silent, anxious tension for the train baring four ponies. Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Apple Jack. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had died. Fluttershy after the first month, but no pony knew accept her family, and Rainbow Dash died several weeks before the end of the war. The others who had died are Soarin, Shining Armour, Spit Fire, Amethyst Star (Dinky's sister), Carrot Top, Filthy Rich, and many others.
The Ponies won, but have also lost so much. Eight ponies and one dragon stand at the platform waiting for the ponies to step out. And when they do finally arrive, each party sighs in relief. Twilight was unharmed during the entire thing, Pinkie too was unharmed, Apple Jack was hit by a claw to the face, and Rarity was deafened by a bomb dropping too close to her in battle. Each saw the injuries of their family members accept Zephyr and Scootaloo who just stand there and watch all the happy reunions.
"It's not fair," Scootaloo says.
"It really isn't, is it..." Zephyr agrees.
"They get to live out their lives knowing what they survived, while Rainbow and Flutters will never get that privilege," Scootaloo says bitterly.
"I can't believe she's gone," Zephyr explains.
"Neither can I..." Scootaloo agrees.
"Do you know what happened when I had to tell Mom and Dad?" Zephyr asks.
"What?" Scootaloo responds.
"Dad hid with his cloud collection, and Mom..." Zephyr says, not able to continue. He doesn't have to for Scootaloo to understand what had happened.
Joy. Never ending joy was in Spike's heart. Twilight is home! She is safe! The war is won!
"Spike? You never told me about your arm!" Twilight says, levitating him to her eye level.
"Well, you never told me about Apple Jack's face, or Rarity's deafness, or Fluttershy's and Rainbow's deaths!" Spike counteracts.
"But!... ugh... fine. I'm just glad you're safe. You too, Starlight. When I heard they were bombing Equestria, I got scared out of my mind," Twilight explains.
"We're fine Twilight," Starlight confirms.
"I am so thankful for that," Twilight says. and they embrace for their tenth hug.
Relief and happiness is all that Big Mac is at this moment. She is back and only has a scar of where she was attacked! Apple Jack, his little sister, is alive. She is alive.
"Howdy, ya'll... miss me?" she asks.
Big Mac chuckles and asks, "You were gone?" while holding back tears.
Every single Apple broke and cried tears of joy at the return of Apple Jack.
Sweetie Belle got the letter explaining Rarity's deafness and determination to stay and fight in the war. She admires her sister for that, even though Rarity could have been home for Hearths Warming. They hug. That's all they can communicate to one another right now. And they are both fluent in it.
Yes, Apple Bloom is crying, and yes she is over joyed that Apple Jack is back and here to stay.
"See, Big Mac? I told you she'd come back," She says, still crying and still hugging her sister for dear life. "Never leave me for that long again..." she says.
"I promise," she says, which makes Apple Bloom cry even more.
A week later, A funeral is held for every pony who died in the war. The families of the fallen sit at the front and friends sit at the back.
Scootaloo and Zephyr sit next to each other as Princess Celestia speaks about bravery and the sacrifices of war.
"I still can't believe that she's gone. And the worst part about it is, they weren't able to recover the body..." Zephyr says, holding back tears.
"I know, no pony was found, but every pony saw them parish in someway..." Scootaloo says, holding back tears too.
"What about Prince Shining Armour? He's Twilight's brother, right?"
"Twilight told me that there will be a funeral for the Fallen in Canterlot tomorrow, that's where the casket will be buried."
As Celestia finishes her speech, the caskets start to be lowered. Each grave stone is marked with the pony's cutie mark and a quote. Rainbow Dash's says I was always loyal. Even at the very end. Fluttershy's is, I always cared and was kind. Even 'til the very end. The caskets touch the ground and Scootaloo starts to cry. Derpy and Dinky follow suit, and Zephyr joins as well, soon every pony is either crying or calming some pony who is crying.
Sleep is hard for Spike, though he can't really complain, saying as he is waking Twilight up from a nightmare of the war every few minutes. He guesses that this will be happening a lot at night, in which case, Starlight and him will have to take turns each night. Tomorrow night it's Starlight. Shining Armour's funeral is tomorrow which neither he or Twilight is looking forward to, but he knows they need their sleep for. If only Twilight's nightmares would stop. If only Princess Luna would help. But Spike knows that Twilight isn't the only one having nightmares tonight, nor was she the first to get them. Some have been getting nightmares since they came back home a week ago. Poor Luna must have her hooves full...
The Canterlot funeral is a lot like the Ponyville funeral. Only this time, they did manage to find a few bodies in the wreckage. Shining wasn't one of them though. Every pony cries there too, but none as hard as the Princesses of Friendship and love, and the parents of the Princess of Friendship. Every pony is heart broken and lost with the loss of their loved ones.
None will ever be the same after this war. The civilians, the soldiers, no pony will ever experience anything the same way again.