Passing On Together

by SamSwordsman123


Farewells

With the coronation over, everycreature had a chance to talk and enjoy each other’s company for a brief time. Twilight gathered with her best friends at a table down below just as she had years ago after getting her crown. Though now she had abandoned it along with her golden shoes.

“Well, at least the food was served properly this time since I was here to make sure,” Applejack said. “But still that was a bit of a bump in the road, wouldn’t you say, Twilight?”

“Yes. Well… there’s always going to be those. But I’m glad we’re all going to be spending the rest of our days together at Silver Shoals,” Twilight said.

“It's awesome that we’ll see each other every day from now on! Just like the good old days,” Rainbow Dash said. “Hate to leave the Wonder Bolts though.”

“Well, we all have to retire at some point,” Applejack said. “None of us are getting any younger.”

“Indeed. I’ve already gotten several gray hairs,” Rarity said. “What I get for being such a drama queen, I suppose.”

“Still, I’m surprised you never got a husband, Rarity. I mean, I had the biggest crush on you when I was little,” Spike said.

The white unicorn smiled as she leaned into Spike’s side. “I know. That was very sweet of you, Spike. But I suppose not getting a husband is what I get for being greedy at Shining Armor and Cadence’s wedding.”

Twilight lowered her head slightly at the mention of her late brother and sister in law. They’d both been lost years ago. Attacked by a Rhinoceros monster while trying to protect her niece Flurry Heart.

“Pushing the other bridesmaids out of the way. That wasn’t a very generous moment on my part. The one who catches the flowers is supposed to be the next to get married, but it never happened for me,” Rarity continued. “Though I did have a lot on my plate with all the fashion business traveling around Equestria. Probably wouldn’t have had time for a husband or a foal. Besides, my whininess probably would have annoyed him. I’m surprised you put up with me when I had you carry so many items at times.”

“Hey, I was a big strong dragon even then!” Spike said with a grin, causing everypony to laugh.

Rarity gave him a loving smile. “Oh, Spikey Wikey.”

As they sat and talked, three familiar mares approached their table. Twilight smiled at the grown up Cutie Mark Crusaders who were now teachers at her old School of Friendship.

“Howdy Twilight!” Applebloom said.

“Hello girls!” Twilight said as she got up and wrapped her wings around the three of them in a hug.

“We missed having you in Ponyville!” Sweetie Belle chimed.

“I missed you girls too!” Twilight said. “But I’m proud of the work you’ve done for the school all these years!”

“Now you’re going to Silver Shoals, just like Celestia and Luna to retire and…” Scootalloo started.

“Yes,” Twilight said. “To live out the rest of my days with my best friends.”

“You could have stayed immortal though. Ruled for a thousand years like Celestia.”

Twilight shook her head. “Celestia had it rough. She may not have shown it but she kept a lot of grief hidden away behind her smiles. So many friends passed over the course of her reign. I have no intention of sharing that pain.”

“Granny Smith said death is just another big journey,” Applebloom said sadly.

At the mention of Granny Smith, Applejack lost it. She sobbed loudly. Rainbow Dash was immediately by her side and began stroking her mane.

“Oops.” Applebloom said.

“There, there Applejack. Its okay,” Rainbow Dash said.

Applejack sighed. “I never used to cry like this in the good old days.”

“We all went through a lot over the years, darling,” Rarity said as she patted the earth ponies back. “All that magic and terrible experiences affected us all. I have trouble sleeping at times.”

“I know, nightmares of all those frightening experiences,” Fluttershy said.

Twilight sighed. “If only I could have spent more time with the dream realm side of my duties.”

“Hey, you’re only one princess. Celestia and Luna were two, that did make things easier for them,” Pinkie said. “Too bad Spike wasn’t an alicorn instead of a dragon.”

“Yeah, sadly I can’t do that.”

“Well, maybe I should tell Luster to search for two successors so they can divide up the magic,” Twilight said.

Applejack soon stopped crying as her friends surrounded her. They finished their meal, then Twilight decided it was time to say goodbye to Luster and the others. She got to her hooves and made her way to where her former student was with all her own friends as well as her parents.

“Well, we’re leaving then. Goodbye Luster,” Twilight said as she approached her student and gave her a nuzzle.

“I’ll be able to come and see you at Silver Shoals though right?”

“Of course. You are always welcome to come see us. Until the end,” Twilight said before turning to Starlight and Sunburst. “Your daughter is really special. I’m sure you're both proud.”

“Beyond words, Twilight,” Starlight said. “I learned a lot from you back when I was your pupil. But I’m glad I never became a princess. Who knows whether that would have caused me to become a tyrant again?”

“Oh come on, dear. Your cult leader days are long behind you,” Sunburst put a hoof around his wife. “You would have made a great princess if you’d ever gotten the chance.”

“Will you be retiring soon as well?” Twilight asked.

Starlight nodded. “I’ll probably put Ocellus in charge. She’ll watch over the castle, school, and map. Guess she’ll be head changeling of the school and stewardess of the castle.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sure Ocellus will do a great job. You and Sunburst certainly did. I’m proud of you both.”

She was hugged by Luster, Starlight, and Sunburst. Then it was time to go. Twilight joined Spike and all her best friends from her Ponyville days. They would spend the rest of their lives together at Silver Shoals. It would be just like the good old days, but with no disturbances from dangers. Just relaxing, carefree fun.
Spike:

As Twilight left to say goodbye to Luster, Spike had someone he needed to say goodbye to as well. He met Dragon Lord Ember among her own kind, they were laughing as at the entertainment put on by the now grown up cake Twins as well as Pinkie Pies teenaged son Lil’ Cheese.

"Hey Ember!” Spike called out as he approached.

“Spike!” the lean blue Dragon Lord said as she flew up and hugged her first ever real friend. Ember had grown more accustomed to feelings and displays of affection over the years and now had no problem doing them.

They embraced each other for a moment than Spike said, “Twilight’s going to Silver Shoals. Just thought I’d come and say goodbye.”

Ember nodded. “Too bad she decided to give up that immortality. First pony friend I ever made. Ah well, life goes on right? We all have different lifespans. Speaking of which, what are you going to do once she’s gone?”

“What?” Spike asked.

“You realize even if she doesn’t outlive her friends, you’ll outlive all of them. We dragons live for a few thousand years. My dad’s getting pretty old though,"Ember said sadly. “Probably be gone in a century or two.”

This had not occurred to Spike, and the thought chilled him to the core. He would spend thousands of years without Twilight and all their friends? They were like his family! Fate had threaded them all together long ago, since the day of Spike’s birth. Rainbow Dash had performed her first ever Sonic Rainboom, and all the others had acquired their cutie marks as a result, and Twilight had been able to hatch him from the egg during her entrance exam at the School for Gifted Unicorns.

They’d all been together during the best years of Spike’s life. All his best friends, his first love. Now… they were all going to leave him someday soon. He lowered his head in sadness.

Ember put her claws over her mouth. “Oh! I’m sorry Spike. Me and my big mouth! Just like when I first tried making pony friends.”

She pulled him into another hug.

“You know its not going to be forever. Just a few thousand years before you see them again in the afterlife, if there is one that is.”

“That’s not exactly comforting, Ember.”

“Well… uh…” Ember paused. Hoping to find the right words to console her friend. “You’ll always have me! Why don’t you come to the dragon lands after…”

“That’s a great idea!” someone said.

Spike looked in the direction of the loud shout and saw a red dragon a little bigger than him.

“Hiya Spikey Wikey!” Garble said with a friendly smile.

Spike returned the smile half heartedly and accepted Garble’s high claw.

“Garble,” he greeted his former enemy turned friend.

“So you’re gonna come live with us after old pony princess passes?” Garble asked.

Spike gave a frown at Garble calling Twilight “old pony princess”.

“Hey, don’t insult my big sister!” he snapped.

“She’ll be your little sister before long!” Garble said with a chuckle. “Anyway, I’m totally down for having you live in the dragon lands.”

“Now hold on Garble, he didn’t say yes.” Ember corrected. “Just think about it Spike. We’ll be waiting there if you want to do it.”

“Right,” Spike said walking off.

He turned around and saw Pinkie Pie talking with the cake twins and Lil Cheese.

“You guys make sure to keep the party going strong in Ponyville, okay?” Pinkie said. “Just don’t do anything crazy like Cheese Sandwich did?”

“Don’t worry mommy!’ Lil Cheese said with a smile. “I’ll be sure to avoid anything that could result in a terrible tragic accident.”

“We’ll make sure he does. Don’t worry Auntie Pinkie!” Pumpkin Cake said. “You just enjoy your retirement with your best friends.”

Pinkie Pie hugged them while Spike watched, a smile returning to his face. Pinkie Pie than began walking back the way she’d come. A fun idea occurred to Spike, he flapped his wings. Saw Pinkie’s tail twitch as her magical sense came in. But too late! Spike seized her from above and flew back toward the table the rest of the girls were at.

“Wee!” Pinkie screamed for joy at the brief but very fun exciting ride.

Twilight returned from talking with Luster and the others.

“Everypony ready to go?”

They all nodded. The Mane 6 and Spike than began the walk to the train station which would take them to Silver Shoals.