There's only one pony left who would truly understand that writing this down is one of the hardest things somepony like me can do. I've spent my life bringing joy to others, so, admitting that I had been lying to my friends all their lives, right up till their deathbeds with the exception of one...
"Great," I said to nopony in particular, spitting the word out like an epithet while tossing the quill I was using into the waste bin by my desk. Its enchantment having worn off.
Twilight had given me a set of enchanted quills when I told her I wanted to write down my thoughts, but the arthritis in my hoofs made writing all but impossible for me. It was a pretty impressive piece of magic, all I had to do was speak my thoughts, and the quill will write it down for me. Sure, I could write like everypony else does, but after a while it leaves me in a great deal of pain, and the breakthrough pain medication that I was prescribed leave me feeling stoned and eventually put me to sleep. Not conducive to the creative process. Nope.
With a sigh and a grunt of effort, I rose from my chair and made my way down into the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner. Getting around these days is tiresome, so I slowly meander down the stairs, almost slipping on the final step. Thankfully, I was bathed in a pale blue light that was Pumpkin Cake's magic as she carefully steadied my stance at the foot of the stairs.
"Well now, look who's decided to join us today." Pumpkin said with a sly grin on her face. She may just be my cousin, but she got her sarcasm from me. "Come, sit, I made some dandelion tea." The elderly unicorn said, gesturing to a chair at the kitchen table.
Now in her sixties, Pumpkin had grown into a lovely mare. With the exception of her flowing orange locks fading with gray, time had been kind to her and she didn't look a day over forty. Taking after her mother, she enrolled in Manehatten University culinary arts program and excelled. After her parents and I retired from the bakery, she took over the family business and between her and Pound, expanded it threefold. Pound was now living with his wife managing the location in Canterlot while Pumpkin's daughter, Angel, is in Manehatten herself working on opening up a location of her own. It always fills my heart with pride when I think about her. While Pumpkin had taken after her mother Cup, doing things no one thought possible with baked goods, Angel had taken after me. I had taught my protégé everything I knew about making candy, and she used her skills for evil, striking fear into children's dentists everywhere. Mine is a maniacal laugh.
Ahem.
"So, what exactly are you doing up there?" Pumpkin asked as I gingerly take a sip from my tea, it still being a tad on the hot side.
"Since you're probably going to contrive some convoluted scheme to get into my room and find out for yourself..."
"Damn, foiled again." Pumpkin said, feigning shock.
"I'm writing my memoirs," I admitted. "The last of the enchanted quills that Twilight gave me wore out."
"I look forward to reading it when you're done." Pumpkin said with a genuine smile. Now that she knew what I was doing, I knew I could trust her to respect my privacy. "Do you want me to walk with you to Twilights to get more quills?"
"No, I think I go by myself." I responded, finishing the tea. "Thank you for the offer though; I just think that I could use some fresh air and some alone time with my thoughts."
Getting up, I give Pumpkin a warm hug and a kiss on the top of her head below her horn. Before I left, I playfully ruffled her mane, only to get a playful jab to my shoulder. Feigning offense, I glared at her for a few seconds before both of us burst into a solid giggle.
Ponyville had changed over the decades, but a lot of it had stayed the same. Gone were the cobblestone streets, replaced with smooth pavement. There were shops, restaurants, even a strip mall! All this had fanned out around the centerpiece of the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, Twilight's Castle.
Even the town square had changed. Gone was the communal water well, having been replaced with a resplendent solid crystal statue of Rainbow Dash donated by the Crystal Empire. When the sun hits it at just the right angle, it casts a beautiful rainbow onto the square. Thankfully they had the sense to enchant it so that the glare wouldn't blind anyone.
Stopping at its base, I read the dedication plaque, as I had done many many times before.
In Memoriam
Lieutenant Commander Rainbow Dash
984 Solar Age - 22 Age of Harmony
First Equine to set hoof upon the Moon
Loving Mother, Loyal Friend
Gone, but never forgotten
"Anything worth doing is hard, so why not the stars?" ~ Rainbow Dash
Equestirian Aeronautical Space Agency Complex dedication ceremony, 12 Age of Harmony
"I miss you, my friend," I said to myself quietly and walked away. The trip down what was now main street was quiet and uneventful. Despite the town's population slowly approaching five digits, everypony was still friendly and greeted me as such.
Finally getting away from the hustle and bustle of town, main street gave way to a carefully maintained park with a golden cobblestone road leading up to the castle. It was spring, so flowers of every colour were in bloom and cherry blossom trees weren't quite ready to lose their vibrant pink petals. Finally coming to the entrance, I stop at a very tall and proud stallion of the castle guard.
"Hello, Stout Heart. How's Grace?" I asked, inquiring about his daughter.
"As rambunctious as ever, Missus Pie. The Cute-ceañera you held for her is all she's been talkin' about. Won't take the decorations down."
"Just let her know that she can't have another party unless the last one ends," I tell the earth pony with a wink and giggle.
"I'll inform her of such. Here to see the Princess, I presume?" He inquires, to which I give a smiling nod. "Go right on in, she's in the library, but you already knew that."
Making my way towards the stairs that lead up to the library, I marvel at the decor that Twilight had maintained through the years. She hadn't changed it, saying that it was a testament to Rarity's legacy. A sorrowful smile graces my lips as memories of the unicorn flood my mind. Only running out of breath half way up the stairs breaks my chain of thought, forcing me to sit on the steps to recover. Getting old sucks.
"Miss Pie, are you alright?" somepony asks.
"Oh, I'm fine. Were these stairs always so long?" I say with a smile. I couldn't place the name of the unicorn, but judging by the robes he wore, he was a court scribe, entrusted with recording business brought to the Friendship court's attention. "I'm heading to the library to visit the Princess." answering an unasked question.
"Well, let me assist." Giving a nod, he picks me up with his magic and walks with me to the library. "Ahem. A Miss Pie to see you, ma'am."
"Thank you, Aldo." a melodic, calming voice said from behind one of the libraries many shelves. "Pinkie, its so good to see you!" Twilight Sparkle said, embracing her friend in a warm hug.
It never ceases to amaze me at the majestic Alicorn Twilight had become. Many years ago, there was concern that Twilight wouldn't gain the appearance of a true alicorn because of the circumstances of her accession. This had caused Celestia and Luna much worry, but all of it was unfounded, thankfully. As time went on, Twilight grew into the regalness that is associated with alicorns. Her long straight mane had given way to flowing waves reminiscent of Celestia's, but it still had the trademark colour highlights that had always been Twilight's. Despite the change in appearance, the caring look of her eyes will always let you know that you're among friends with her. Twilight will always be Twilight.
"If you told me you were coming, I could have met you in my study downstairs." Twilight said, showing concern for me. "Stairs at your age cannot be easy."
"Oh, I'm fine, you don't need to worry yourself over little old me, and I didn't want to trouble you. That is, until I got here. I have something to tell you, and it's important."
"Ok... Spike, can you tell Aldo to clear my schedule for the afternoon, then give us some privacy?"
"Sure thing Twilight." the dragon responded, lifting his head and turning towards twilight. He was sunning himself from the light coming through the window atop one of the tall shelves. Spike too had grown; into a magnificent dragon. Standing as tall as Twilight, he had a lithe figure that while thin, the way he carried himself conveyed strength. With a single flap of his wings, he flew across the vaulted ceiling and out the door.
"Twilight," I started, tears beginning to well in my eyes. "I've been keeping something from you for so long..."