//------------------------------// // The Last Letter // Story: Dear Twilight // by Nightwatcher //------------------------------// Twilight smiled with her friends, laughing merrily as she neared her home, her smile growing ever wider as she reminisced on the day gone by. She had gone out with her best friends Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie for a 'day on the town' as Rarity had called it. The day had consisted of lunch at a small out-of-the-way restaurant, she had gotten a simple daffodil and hay sandwich, Applejack had gotten, unsurprisingly, a slice of apple pie. Pinkie Pie had managed to sneak into the kitchen and whip up something she called a 'Super ultra mega chocolate cake' all in the matter of around five seconds in her usual ‘Pinkie Pie’ fashion. Rarity had ordered a rather small salad and ate it with a grace only she could have managed. The next couple of hours consisted at a huge shopping spree at the markets, where Rarity had bought her a nice necklace for her to give to her 'good friend' Star Gazer, whom she had met about three months ago at an astrology convention in Canterlot. They had hit it off almost immediately and Rarity had said that they were the 'perfect match' for each other. The necklace itself was made up of five nicely cut stones that twinkled in the sunlight. Every time she found herself in Rarity’s company she would ask if she had 'popped the question' yet, mirth coating her voice each time. She had begun to think that he was waiting on her to do it, but she did not think she had the nerve to do it. After that they headed to the park, in a un-organized fashion as they stopped at the multitude of shops as they moved to the other side of the town. They traveled the many paths, the winding trails taking them to many beautiful sights and visages. One in particular sight though had placed a lump in her throat, and brought a tear to her eye. They had stopped at a small clearing, Applejack and Pinkie Pie were chasing one another and Rarity was on the bench next to her, but she paid neither of them any heed as her mind was elsewhere. She was looking at a stunning visage of a lake its blue water reflecting the rays of the sun, all framed by a grove of trees. As the tear made its way down her face she reminisced about an old letter from a very good friend. :~: 'Dear Twilight, the vacation you went on reminded me of a trip me and my father had gone on. We were out fishing (A thing where you catch fish with a hook and line and let them go....most of the time) on a houseboat (self explaining Twi) and he let me drive the speed boat. Now I had never driven anything in my life before so naturally I was nervous, but he put me in the drivers set anyway and told me to ‘gun it’ so I did. Unfortunately, my dad was standing up and he was sent tumbling off the end of the boat. It was hilarious. At first I was scared but the look on my dad’s face was so funny! After he got back on the boat he sat down and told me to try again. Well Twilight, I think that wraps up this little letter, can't wait for your reply!’ - Your 'inter dimensional' pen-pal. :~: ‘That must have been at least ten years ago’, Twilight thought to herself as she wiped the tear away with her hoof, 'I wish he was here to see this.' When Rarity had realized she was crying she had asked what was wrong and she had just replied with 'old memories' and she nodded in understanding. It had been almost a year and a half since his last letter, given the content of his last letter she had lost hope of ever getting another one. Twilight shock herself away from the memories as she looked at her home, she held open the door with her magic as the three others passed her. She turned and closed the door, as she did so she saw that all her friends had stopped and were all looking at something in her kitchen. "Hey girls,..... is everything ok? What are you are looking a......" The last of her question died as a large lump formed in her throat for the second time today, its cause took the form of a small envelope in the center of her table. The small distinct scorch marks around it that told her who it was from before she even could read the name on it. She stared at the letter for what seemed like hours before Applejack placed a hoof on her shoulder and said, "Take as long as you need sugar cube, we'll wait here." Not turning back to her friends she walked up to the table and with her magic picked up the small envelope, taking it up to her room where she could read it without being disturbed. As she ascended the stars the last letter she had received from him came to her mind along with the reason she was dreading the day this one would come. :~: Dear Twilight - 'The news today is not good, The tests came back positive. The doctor sugar coated the whole thing of course but I got the gist of it. I'm going to die, soon. If you would believe what the doctors say. Twilight I'm scared, damn scared. My mom and dad have been going crazy, screaming and yelling at the doctors. I just want some peace, some small measure of peace, is that too much to ask? I finally told them to give me some space to think to myself, in reality it was to get some alone time to write this letter to you. I don't have much time, literally and figuratively, I just want to say that you have been the best friend I could ever have hoped to have. I know you Twilight, don’t let this eat you up, this isn't anyone's fault. My parents are coming in, so I got to go. I’ll write if I can, If not..... It was nice knowing you.’ :~: She brought herself back to reality as she plopped down on her bed, looking at the letter debating whether to open it. Finally she tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper inside, there was not much to it, just one page. She took a breath as she began to read. :~: Dear Twilight - 'This will be my last letter to you, and for that I am terribly sorry. As for the delay I had a little 'vacation' if you will. I made what we call a 'bucket list' It’s a list of things you want to do before you..... you know, die. It was a small thing but it was fun to do. Go skydiving, go to Ireland like I always told you I would, things like that. Make no mistake Twilight, as macabre as it sounds, this is a good end to a life. I'm happy, I have made my peace. The question that has yet to be answered though. Will you? I do not want you to mourn me, I want you to live life. I want you to be happy have fun, laugh.... live. You could start a family with Star Gazer like you said you might, I know you have it in you to ask him. You told me once that your teacher Celestia had sent you to Ponyvile to find the magic of friendship, sadly the hardest thing about friendship is knowing when to let go, to move on. Don't forget, don’t ever forget, just move on. Remember your friends, and the time you spent with them. You asked me when I told you about my impending death 'Do I believe in life after death.' and I don't think I ever gave you an answer. I believe there is another world waiting for us Twilight, a better world, and I'll be waiting for you there’-Sincerely, With Love, your friend. :~: Twilight cried softly as she reread the letter one last time. She looked back to the envelope, a small smile on her face. :~: In a dark sealed coffin there was a brief flash of purple light from the light a envelop appeared , inside it was a small diamond necklace. A necklace that would twinkle with the twilight.