Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, Element of Magic, sat in her favorite spot. On top of a hill, next to a tall oak.
With the expanding terrain that was speckled with buildings known as the town of Ponyville beneath her and the infinite skies above her, she just sat in thought.
Today had been a spectacularly boring day, and her mind travelled to the only pony that made these types of days... Colorful.
It all started when that mare with the rainbow mane took up Twilights challenge to clear the skies in 10 seconds flat.
When the skies ended up to be pristine blue at the end of the 10 seconds, Twilight was lost for words.
It was truly beautiful to watch a blur of blue and polychrome darting between cloud after cloud as each one diminished into vapor. Causing small sun dogs to be left as a trail of her accomplishments.
Even after Rainbow Dash had accidentally dunked Twilight in mud, then proceeded to soak her with water, Twilight simply had to be impressed by the feat.
It seemed like nothing at the time, just a mare showing off how "cool" she was to be able to join the famed Wonderbolts, but little did they know it would evolve into something beautiful.
Twilight let a sad smile spread across her face as she recalled the memories of the love of her life. She shifted more of her weight onto the tree beside her as a solitary tear rolled down her cheek.
She remembered the fight at the Canterlot Castle, between the Changelings and the elements. How she faught bravely and protected all of her friends.
And especially when she made sure that Fluttershy was okay before going right back into the storm and fighting for what could well have been her life.
That little glimpse into the true Rainbow made her really think about their friendship. That was when her crush started.
All because the brute had a soft side. And it was absolutely adorable.
She recalled the time that Rainbow had worn the gala dress Rarity made for her, and how it was the most beautiful thing she had seen. How the light simply bent to her whims as she scrunched up her face in disgust. Although the athlete never liked to wear dresses, it was a shame. Because, damn, could she pull one off.
It was as if nothing in the world mattered as Twilight looked into Rainbow's eyes. None of her studies, no friendship lessons, just Rainbow and Twilight.
It was at that moment, at the gala, that Twilight knew she needed her.
The moment where she knew she couldn't live without her. The moment where those pools of magenta reflected the light in the room as if it were the most spectacular diamond conceived. And she just knew.
She knew she loved her.
And from then on, they slowly grew closer together. Not without a little bit of help from Rarity and Princess Cadence of course.
They would go on dates and Rainbow would have the silly quirk of squinting her eyes whenever she took a bite of her food. Or when she slurped the soda from the bottom of her cup.
To most it was annoying, but seeing Rainbow mess around and try to make Twilight laugh always made her forget that there might be a world without her.
Tears were streaming down Twilight's face at this point, but as she leaned against the soft wood of the oak, she smiled. She smiled like the day she first confessed her love to Rainbow.
Because she was right there with her. She always would be. That's what the earring she wore indicated. The eternal bond of love between two ponies.
150 years 6 months and 14 days ago. That was when it all ended.
Rainbow was getting old alongside Twilight, as they had sworn to do. But Twilight could not be so lucky as to die alongside her wife.
Rainbow died peacefully in her sleep, which isn't what she wanted. She wanted something dramatic or extravagant. Something to make ponies say, "wow, what a way to go."
They had planned a trip for the ages not long after the day of her death. A trip to end all trips. But Rainbow never got the adventure of a lifetime.
Their adventure would be full of educational aspects as well as seeing all of the most beautiful parts of Equestria. Twilight had planned to take Rainbow to the restaurant her parents had met at, it but never got the chance.
They would visit every library and make out in the back like they did before they got married. They would visit every race track and Twilight would throw all of the races, like always.
Twilight woke up one morning to a cold foreleg across her chest. As opposed to the super soft and warm crushing cuddles that Rainbow was famous for, she had no life in her left to give the love that she wanted to to the mare who made her world.
And Twilight felt the same. In the moment of the cold morning, she cried. She knew immediately that Rainbow had passed, because she could just feel the void in her heart.
She was missing her favourite part of her life, and that was Rainbow Dash. Nothing could replace what she lost.
No more squinting at her hayburgers, no more slurping at the bottom of her cup, no more making messes that Twilight had to clean up (after a scolding of course). It was all just gone. Twilight would never again be able to be annoyed at the love of her life's shenanigans.
They would never get in another argument over Rainbow leaving the cereal out. They would never share those beautiful moments on their favorite hill, when they watched Luna's sky become darker as the sundown bled into nothingness.
She hugged the tree tightly and sobbed into the comforting wood. Rainbow was with her. The same as she had been every year on her birthday.
Twilight took one last look into the branches of the tree and smiled softly. They waved slight her, flowing in the same way that a mane would.
"Don't worry, Rainbow. I'll be back next year." Twilight whispered to Rainbow.
As she walked away, she turned back to the tree one final time. A breeze blew through her hair, and she watched the tree wave her goodbye.
As was every year, the wind whispered back to Twilight, "I love you."
"-The grass was greener and the skies more blue. But without you, my skies remain dark because you aren't there to clear the clouds away."