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// Moonlit Memorial 
// Story: Surviving Sand Island 
// by The 24th Pegasus 
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Luna’s moon hung low in the sky like an enormous, glistening pearl. The bottom rested almost perfectly on the shifting ocean water, a shimmering ivory foot that touched the shoreline of the sandy island. Millions of stars danced in the sky, flickering and sparkling in the black void of the night.

Rainbow and Rarity stood at the eastern shore of the island, staring at the moon. Between them stood a small pile of wooden scraps and rubbish, supplemented by leaves and moss; basically, whatever they could afford to burn. The crashing waves of the tide roared and rolled up the sand, up to their hooves—and stopped.

Rainbow took out her makeshift fire starter and set to work on creating a spark. She’d gotten better at it—it only took a few strikes for her to form a coal, and she carefully nestled it in some dried moss and palm bark to grow. In a couple of minutes, she’d raised a bright and crackling fire, like a small beacon of hope between the two shipwrecked outcasts.

At some unspoken signal, the two ponies stood up and picked up the fire, which rested on a large cutting board swollen with seawater. They held handles they’d jammed into the board earlier in the day in their mouths, and wincing at the heat scalding the sides of their faces, the two set off into the water. The waves washed around their fetlocks, crashed against their knees, and surged up to their shoulders before they finally advanced beyond the breaking point. With only their necks and heads still above the water, they set the memorial fire down on the waves, where it floated and bobbed for a few seconds before the current began to draw it back out to sea.

The pair of friends waded back to the shoreline, shivering as waves broke over their backs in the cool night air. They huddled side by side in the sand, watching the light that they’d lit drift further out into the darkness. They didn’t know how long the flame would last, how long it’d take for an errant swell to topple it into the sea. They didn’t know if anypony or anything else would see it as it embarked on its journey across the waters, or if they would be the only ones. But did it matter? Neither seemed inclined to think so.

“Do you want to say anything?” Rarity asked, breaking the silence that’d lasted between them since the birds settled down for the night.

“Do you?” Rainbow asked back.

Rarity shook her head. “I never have words to say for things like this. I don’t ever feel like anything I say would be the right thing to say.”

Rainbow shrugged. “That’s about how I feel,” she admitted. “You know me, I’m not one for words. I’m surprised you aren’t, though.”

A somber chuckle from the ivory unicorn. “Frivolous gossip and touching eulogies are two very different realms, Rainbow. I’m only experienced in the former, I’m afraid.” Sighing, she added, “Still, I guess I should at least say that I’m… I’m sorry that you’re all gone, fellow ponies of the Concordia. If there was anything I could’ve done to save you, then I would’ve done it. Now, I can only remember.” She swallowed. “I suppose that’ll have to suffice.”

Rainbow bowed her head; Rarity knew that her brash friend was collecting her thoughts. “I don’t regret getting on this flight,” Rainbow began. “I didn’t meet all that many of you, but I’m sure you all were awesome. Those of you I did meet, yeah, you were awesome. If only I could’ve shown some of my awesomeness back to you. Hell, if I’d managed to save one of you, then I wouldn’t feel as bad as I do right now.”

Rarity wanted to hug her friend, to tell her once more that none of this was her fault and that she’d be alright, but she stopped herself. This was Rainbow’s time to vent, and she needed it. The Element of Loyalty had to unburden herself of her perceived betrayals and slights. Hopefully once she did that, she’d stop blaming herself. Rarity couldn’t stand to see Rainbow in pain like that.

“Maybe some of you survived and are hiding on those islands out there,” she said after a moment’s pause. “If you are, stay safe from the minotaurs. If not… then I guess you’re in a better place. An awesomer place. And Rares and I will stay here, and we’ll survive, so that we can tell somepony what happened. Your families deserve to know.”

Her nostrils flared as she raised her head into the moonlight. The gentle rays of Luna’s moon gave Rainbow’s sandy coat a certain luster; for a moment, Rarity thought her friend was made of pure silver, but that vision vanished after a blink. “I know we couldn’t, didn’t help you… but if all of you could help us right now, we’d appreciate it. We need it more than anything.”

Her tail swished in the sand, somehow resolute but listless at the same time. When she didn’t say anything more, Rarity slid over and pressed her damp coat against Rainbow’s. “Much better than mine,” she lightly teased. “Maybe you should get a career in public speaking.”

Rainbow snickered, and her good wing slid out from between their sides to wrap around Rarity’s shoulders. Rarity felt Rainbow’s blue feathers tighten around her, pulling her closer against Rainbow’s side. Even damp and still dripping a little water, Rainbow’s downy pegasus coat was soft and warm against Rarity’s sodden unicorn one.

Their chests rose and fell in unison, and Rarity found herself resting her head on Rainbow’s shoulder. Together, they watched the little flame dance and bob on the ocean, a feeble beacon, a fragile memory, in honor of those who slipped beneath the waves, never to return again.