The early dawn was cracked with clouds and rays of faint rising sun. The light shooting through the window and resting on the shattered face of Rainbow Dash. Dash may have been a tough and well managed mare. But the circumstances wouldn't stop following her. The death of Twilight Sparkle. Her friend.
After weeks and months and years. Rainbow found this goodbye to her dear friend the hardest to say. There wouldn't be a better time than now to explain to her friend just what she meant the last time the two of them had a good time. The duo were flying around the training grounds of the Wonderbolts Academy.
"I hope you remember the tricks I taught you!"
"Of course I do! I made detailed graphs and charts on the physics of them!"
"Egghead. You were supposed to practice them, not analyze them!"
"So what? It's just a set of tricks."
"You really know nothing about what I mean do you?"
"Huh?"
Rainbow needed some time out. Away from home. But the early dawn wasn't too appealing. Maybe she should go bug Rarity, or chat with Fluttershy. No matter what Rainbow said to herself, she just sat in that chair, watching the sunrise. This was a bad day, one that would actually kill her soul. She stood up, grabbed a coat, and stepped into the front hall.
This is where Twilight and their other friends threw that big party for her. The one when she had been accepted into the Wonderbolts. The memory made her smile. Just for a few seconds, she felt happy. And she came up with an idea for a parting gift. She went upstairs, grabbed an empty notebook, and began to write up complicated formulas, detailed graphs, and mathematical functions.
She went from flying, to weather tech, to magic principals. If Twilight were alive, she'd be thrilled by the gift. Saying that she'd study it and even send it to national research centers for verification. Unfortunately, that won't happen. But maybe in her afterlife, Twilight can consult the famed Starswirl.
Rainbow then wrote out her eulogy, telling her the truth. That she wasn't just a dull athlete. She was really smart. She could understand the things Twilight spoke of, even if she didn't care that day. It was all the same. A lesson in this or that. Here or there. Yes or no. Always a lesson.
Rainbow learned many things on her own, but with Twilight's help, she could understand some things even better. Like foreign politics or economic structure. She smiled, embarking on a long rant. But she decided to cut out half the speech, to keep it focused on Twilight's assistance in her pursuit of knowledge.
Some ponies might've claimed that Rainbow was full of it. But she was expressing an element of harmony. Honesty. She didn't want to hide behind a all play and no work exterior. She grabbed the notebook, and the speech. Put them in a saddlebag, and flew towards Ponyville. She gazed at the skies.
They looked like Twilight. Shades of violet, blue, and pink filling the spaces between clouds. She chuckled at the thought, before sailing through the air into town. Looking around for those she recognized. And low and behold, Shining Armor was here. She had expected this. After Spike alerted her loved ones, he shut himself off from everyone. Nopony knew if he was okay in there. But Rainbow remained hopeful. He's fine, right?
"Hey Rainbow Dash." Shining said, as if he had seen her land.
"Oh, hey Prince Armor. I assume your here for the...funeral?" She responded.
"Indeed. Poor Twily. She always seemed to know better..." He grumbled. Cadence walked up to comfort her husband, with a 7 year old Flurry Heart bouncing after her.
"How you holding up, Princess Cadence?" Rainbow asked cautiously.
"It's been surprising. I always expected Twilight to live longer than all of the other princesses. But I was proven wrong recently. I've been comforting Shining, calming Flurry, and running and empire. It's a mix from the worst of places. But I'm managing just fine." Cadence explained.
"I guess I'm doing fine too. You knew Twilight longer than I did. And I'm sorry for your loss, Shining. I know she was a great sister. And you wanted to watch her till your end. But she would want you to move along. To care for Cady and Flurry. But if you feel the need to mourn. Grief is normal." Rainbow said kindly. With a brief wave, she walked around town.
Like magic, a young familiar filly appeared. Scootaloo. Rainbow froze in her place and said "Hi Scootaloo."
"Oh, hey Rainbow. I'm sorry for your loss. I know Twilight was an awesome friend." She says, sounding like the mature made she'd aged up to. At 18, Scootaloo and her friends seemed so mature. So ready for life. So lucky not to lose everything. But instead face new rewards and goals.
"Thanks, wanna fly? Clear our heads?" Rainbow pitched the idea. But Scootaloo shook her head.
"I'm going to help Applebloom and her family. They lost Granny Smith a few months ago, now Twilight. I need to be there for my best friends." Scootaloo's maturity shone like the sun. Which had risen to a morning glow. Rainbow nodded, understanding her choices. And walking along.
Rainbow passed Carousel Boutique, Sugarcube Corner, The Schoolhouse, Sweet Apple Acres, and Fluttershy's cottage. She found herself stopping at a cart. The cart of the magician, Trixie. She knocked on the wall of the cart. After a light fumbling from inside the cart. Trixie opened up and seemed genuinely sorry for Rainbow.
"Hey, I heard about what happened. Are you okay? Would you like some tea?" Trixie offered. Trying to make nice with a pony in a sad situation.
"Sure. Mint tea is good. I'm doing okay." Rainbow climbed into the cart. The two mares spoke for a few hours. Calmly enjoying tea and making nice. Trixie was stunned when Rainbow did something strange. She asked the magician out on a date sometime. She agreed, but she said that they'd have to wait for a week. Give the funeral a bit of time to fade from others. Rainbow accepted these terms, and checked the time. Excused herself to go to the funeral. She walked towards the graveyard.
The zigzags of sky blue between grey, white, and black, were a representation of her thoughts. Jumbled.