Orange.
The color of the sky that evening as the sun inched towards the horizon, casting its last rays of light into the atmosphere. Tendrils of light crept through the curtains of the room, bathing everything in a soft glow. An unfortunately orange glow.
Rainbow Dash bit her lip and stared at the unmoving figure before her eyes, inhaling sharply. She shifted in her seat, then got up, drawing the curtains to let the afternoon sun flood the room, casting harsh light against the blanched green walls.
A tissue found itself tossed to the floor, crumpled and soaked, joining countless others that had suffered the same fate.
She let her head rest against the bed and closed her eyes, wrapping her hooves around another, orange, hoof, squeezing ever so gently. She touched her chin against the hoof she held she held within her own.
“I miss you, Applejack.”
The rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor was her only reply.
Please don’t leave me.
Her eyes shot open as the hoof beneath her stirred.
“A- Applejack?” she choked.
“I’m here, Rainbow,” said Applejack with a weak smile.
Rainbow threw her arms around Applejack and pressed her nose into the yellow mane before her. “I love you, Applejack. I love you so much.”
Applejack shifted her legs to hold Rainbow against her as close as she could, brushing her hooves through Rainbow’s unkempt mane. “I love you too.”
The two did not move for the better part of an hour, Rainbow’s chest heaving as she clung to Applejack, the sun dipping below the horizon, giving way to the pale light of the moon.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” asked Applejack, staring out the window, tearing Rainbow from her thoughts.
“What?”
“The moon. The stars.”
“Yeah, I guess they are.”
“I... want to see it again. I want you to fly with me like we did our first night together.”
Rainbow stared into Applejack’s eyes and nodded, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She placed a hoof under Applejack’s chin and brought them together into a tender kiss.
“I’ll be back in a few moments. I’ll get you out of here.”
With that, Rainbow stood up and took a minute to admire the mare before her. Even this close to death she was the most beautiful thing in the world. Rainbow’s gaze eventually turned to the door and without another word, she walked unsteadily towards it.
“I’m here to check Applejack out,” said Rainbow.
“You can’t do that, Rainbow Dash. She’s not well enough to leave. I’d be surprised if she managed to make it to the front door!” came the doctor’s reply.
“I don’t care. I’m checking her out. Now.”
“She needs to stay here.”
“She. Is. Leaving.”
“But—”
Rainbow’s eyes narrowed. “Leaving.”
He sighed and levitated a clipboard from an office, pushing it towards Rainbow. “She won’t make it through the night if she leaves now.”
“I... I know. She knows. I can’t let her...” Rainbow paused, steadying her breath. “I can’t let her go here. I just can’t. She deserves better,” she protested, her lips trembling as she took the clipboard from the doctor and set it before her.
The doctor nodded and started off towards another patient’s room. “Just hand the form in at the desk when you’re done.” He stopped walking and levitated a small bottle to Rainbow. “And have her take these. 6 of them; all at once. They should help with the pain.”
The form was short, thankfully. Rainbow didn’t know if her writing was even legible at this point. She walked up to the desk and handed it in, then began on her way back to Applejack with the pills.
Upon entering the room, Rainbow trotted over to Applejack and nuzzled her cheek.
“We can go now. They’re letting us leave.”
Applejack kissed Rainbow’s nose.
“Thank you.”
“You need to take these first. So you won't feel any pain.”
Applejack nearly glared at the bottle Rainbow was holding. “I don’t need those. I can make it just fine on my own.”
“Applejack—”
“Rainbow.”
“Applejack! Please. If not for yourself, then take them for me,” Rainbow pleaded.
“For... you?”
“Yeah, for me. I... I don’t want my l-last memory of you to be...”
“Rainbow, I can—”
“No. Please, AJ. Just— just put that stubborn pride aside. For me.”
Applejack’s expression softened. “Pass them over here, then.”
Applejack struggled to take each pill, but with Rainbow’s help she managed to get them all down after a few minutes. Rainbow nuzzled Applejack’s neck as she tried to swallow each one, following with delicate kisses.
“Are you ready?” asked Rainbow.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Come on, I’ll help you,” said Rainbow, offering herself for support.
Applejack grunted as she lifted herself up and slid off the bed, almost onto the floor, yelping in pain. Rainbow cringed, casting a worried look over Applejack.
“I’m okay. I can do this. I need to do this. One last time.”
A cyan wing found its way over Applejack’s back and pulled her closer for support. Putting almost her entire weight on Rainbow, Applejack tentatively took a few steps toward the door, grunting and gritting her teeth as each hoof fell, a reassuring glance quieting any protests from Rainbow.
Step by step, the two walked side by side. Applejack would falter, only to have Rainbow nuzzle her back up with a comforting kiss on the cheek and whispers of encouragement— and the two would carry on.
At long last, the two ponies found themselves before the front doors of the hospital.
“Come on, AJ. Just a few more steps. We’re almost there.”
Fatigue was etched deep into Applejack’s face, her eyes heavy with the strain of walking for so long. Rainbow nudged Applejack forward ever so gently, then moved to hold the door open for her. Applejack nearly stumbled, regaining her composure just enough to take the last couple of steps through the door unaided.
“You did it, AJ. You made it,” said Rainbow with a hesitant smile.
“I.. I sure did.”
Rainbow laid herself down in front of Applejack, noticing her now labored breathing, though it wasn’t without reward. Applejack’s smile told her this was the right thing to do. She needed to smell the fresh air and be in it— not in that stuffy hospital, whose air was thick with disinfectant.
Applejack climbed over Rainbow’s back, taking great care to not step on her wings, then let herself fall with a pained hiss. She positioned her head against the back of Rainbow’s neck, wrapping her legs around it.
“Whenever you’re ready, best flier in all of Equestria,” she whispered into Rainbow’s ear.
With a few powerful flaps, Rainbow Dash lifted herself and her passenger off the ground and into the cool night air. The two soared high above Equestria and leveled off just above the few clouds that dotted the sky. Rainbow turned her head around to look at Applejack as she tilted enough to catch a tuft of cloud on her wingtips and drag it with her.
Applejack met Rainbow’s eyes as they danced in the moonlight, twisting and turning, rising and falling in a grace that not even Celestia herself could match. Rainbow nosed downwards, reluctantly pulling her gaze from Applejack’s, picking up speed, then ascending as high as she could go, flying over Cloudsdale— its height paling in comparison.
“Cloudsdale Stadium... I’m sure you remember. I ain’t never seen you happier than you were that day. ‘Cept our wedding day, of course,” said Applejack.
“How could I forget?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of ya... you’re... the strongest pony I know.”
“Heh, thanks...”
“Look, Rainbow...”
“Yeah, AJ?”
Applejack squeezed Rainbow’s neck.
“I want you to stay strong. A-after I’m gone.”
Rainbow’s flight faltered for a moment, her heart skipping a beat and rising into her throat.
“Applejack...”
“No, Rainbow. Listen to me. I want you to move on. O-or try to.”
“No! I can’t. I don’t want to!”
“Please, Rainbow. Ya deserve to be loved by somepony else. I don’t care if it’s a year from now, or even ten years. Just... just promise me you’ll try. I’m not asking ya to forget.”
Rainbow bit back more tears. “I... I can try. I promise I’ll try.” She brought her hoof up to rub Applejack’s as she banked towards the far side of Canterlot. The next few minutes of the flight passed in silence.
“Hey, AJ?”
“Yeah, Rainbow?”
“Look, down there. Remember that beach?”
“Our first Hearts and Hooves Day together. I remember ya wouldn’t tell me where we were goin’.”
Rainbow Dash grinned, “Mhmm.”
“And ya wanted to walk. Three whole days it took us to get there. Completely forgot the occasion ‘til ya brought it up.”
The two descended until Rainbow’s hooves barely skimmed the tops of the trees.
“They don’t call me the best for nothing.”
“They sure don’t, sugarcube. They sure don’t.”
“And two years later, the exact same thing happened.”
“Yeah, it did.”
Rainbow chuckled, “I can’t believe you didn’t see that one coming.”
“Don’t mean it wasn’t the sweetest thing ya ever did for us. Proposing on Hearts and Hooves Day. I didn’t think you were the type.”
The two shared a smile as they passed over the beach. Applejack coughed into Rainbow’s mane and nudged her. Rainbow turned her head and met her eyes once more and Applejack nodded. Rainbow’s smile disappeared in a sad understanding.
It’s time.
Rainbow pushed forward into the sky with all her might, setting her course towards Sweet Apple Acres. The wind howled through her ears as she arced over Equestria.
“Hang in there, AJ. We’re almost home.”
At long last, Sweet Apple Acres came into view and Rainbow angled towards it, touching down in front of an apple tree with a perfect view of the sky and orchard laid out before it. Applejack climbed off Rainbow’s back, crumpling to the ground as soon as she was free with a sickening crack.
Right. No pain.
Rainbow set herself down in front of Applejack and nudged their noses together.
“Don’t leave me, Applejack. Please, don’t go,” swallowed Rainbow, “You’re all I have. You’re all I want.”
Applejack’s ears flattened against her head. “I’m sorry, Rainbow.”
“Please. Please, please, no.”
“Rainbow. My time is up. I’d love nothing more to spend more time with ya, but... I’ve had a good life— great, even, thanks to this amazin’ pony I know.”
“I... I... I can’t do this without you.”
“Listen to me, Rainbow. You’re the greatest pony I’ve ever known and I know you're strong enough to make it without me. Just...” She coughed— hard. “Ya changed my life, Rainbow Dash. And I’ll love you forever.”
Rainbow choked through her tears and wrapped her legs tightly around Applejack’s neck. “I love you too, Applejack.”
Their lips met in one final show of affection, Applejack’s last breath brushing across Rainbow’s nose.
A heart-wrenching scream pierced the still, night sky and the world fell silent as Rainbow clung to Applejack’s still warm body, burying her face against it.
“I love you too.”
“Rainbow Dash! Applejack!”
“Raiiiiiinbow!”
Rainbow Dash woke with a start to the unwelcome voice, clenching her teeth and covering her ears.
Go away.
“Applejaaaaack!”
Rainbow tightened her grip around Applejack, pressing her head against Applejack's neck. It was of no use.
“Rainbow!” came the offending voice once more.
Ugh.
Rainbow lifted her head and scanned the area for the source of her irritation.
Ah. Twilight.
She didn't bother to respond, simply laying her head back down against Applejack, attempting sleep again.
Twilight trotted around for a few minutes before finally spotting her quarry.
“There you are, Rainbow!”
Horseapples.
Rainbow did her best not to move, keeping her eyes closed and breathing shallow.
Maybe she'll leave me alone if she thinks I'm sleeping.
Twilight closed the distance up the hill between herself and Rainbow.
“We were so worried about you when we heard that you two left the hospital last night. The doctors said you just took off and had no idea where you were go—“
She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes alighted on the two ponies under the tree. One still and unmoving, the other in what appeared to be fits of restless sleep. She bit her lip and took in a deep, quavering breath.
Rainbow's ear twitched.
“Rain—“ Twilight swallowed. “Rainbow?”
That's what I want, right?
Forcing her legs to move, Twilight made her way to Rainbow's side and wrapped her front legs around Rainbow's neck, nudging her awake.
Rainbow opened her eyes and glared at Twilight. They were red and swollen.
“What, Twilight? What?” she seethed through her teeth, her wings splaying in a show of hostility.
“I'm... I'm so sorry.”
Sure, whatever.
“Just leave me alone.”
“No.”
No!? NO!?
Rainbow grunted and rolled off of Applejack's back, onto the opposite side from where Twilight was, pressing her face into Applejack's side.
“Rainbow Dash.” Twilight's voice was soft and inviting, though admittedly defeated. “Please? Listen to me?”
Another growl.
No.
Twilight opened her mouth to speak again, then promptly closed it, opting instead to move to Rainbow’s side once more.
Silence.
“Go away.”
Twilight shook her head. “I’m not leaving. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Rainbow was tempted to buck Twilight.
What’s the use? Stupid arch-mage of Canterlot would just stop it.
Twilight replaced her legs around Rainbow, albeit cautiously.
Rainbow tensed up at the touch, but soon relented and relaxed as her mind came to slow realization.
I...
I don’t want to be alone.
An hour passed, during which Rainbow moved herself away from Applejack and into Twilight’s embrace, inch by agonizing inch.
Twilight ran her hooves through Rainbow’s mane and along her back, coaxing her further away from Applejack.
Another hour gone.
“Twilight?”
Twilight jumped at the sound.
“Yeah, Rainbow?”
Rainbow flattened her ears. “I’m sorry.”
“Shhh.”
What?
Ugh. Stupid. She can’t read minds.
“What?” she repeated.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“But I—”
“No, Rainbow.” Twilight placed a hoof on Rainbow’s chin, lifting it up, forcing their eyes to meet. “I understand.”
Do you really?
Twilight cast a glance over at Applejack, heaving a sigh as Rainbow glared at her.
Of course she does.
“Sorry,” whispered Rainbow, softening her expression.
Quit being so selfish.
Twilight stood up and nudged Rainbow to follow suit.
“I have something for you. Well, two things, really. If... if you’re ready.”
Rainbow picked herself off the ground and stretched her legs. She stared at Applejack.
“I... can’t go.”
“Here, Rainbow. You left this at the hospital.”
Twilight focused on a spell, leaving Rainbow to ponder what she forgot. Twilight had no bags and certainly wasn’t levitating anything.
A horn glow and a short ‘pop’ later, a familiar hat found itself on the ground in front of Rainbow. A certain hat belonging to a certain orange earth pony.
Her hat.
Rainbow’s mouth fell open as she let an almost breathless cry escape her throat.
I forgot her hat.
“I forgot her hat.”
“No, Rainbow. It’s not her hat.”
“What are you talking about!? Of course it’s her hat! Look at it! I just left it there. So careless of me. Why did I forget her hat? How could I forget her hat?”
Rainbow hung her head and kicked the ground in frustration.
I forgot her hat.
“Rainbow. It’s your hat now. Look.”
Twilight levitated the hat up to Rainbow and flipped it over, revealing a piece of paper taped to the inside. It was partially crumpled and stained yellow, the writing a complete mess; barely legible.
Rainbow held the note, mouthing the words as she read them.
It’s yours now, Rainbow. Please take good care of it.
Love,
Applejack
Rainbow clenched the hat in her teeth and in one swift motion, tossed it atop her own head. She bent over and kissed Applejack’s forehead before moving her to rest against the tree.
“Thank you, Applejack.”
She turned to Twilight and took in a deep breath, steadying herself.
“You had something else for me?”
“It’s back at the library, yes.” Twilight hesitated, blinking a few tears from her eyes. “I’m so, so sorry, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow walked over to Twilight and stood next to her, not taking her eyes off of Applejack.
“Me too, Twilight. Me too.”
They walked together in silence, each step heavy and unwilling against the hard earth.
Upon reaching the library, Twilight pushed open the door and let Rainbow in, only to find the other three of their friends standing inside.
Twilight looked at every one of them, every one of them looking right back, and shook her head, confirming what they all feared.
Rainbow stepped in and found her way to a couch in the back of the room, collapsing upon it. One by one, Rainbow’s friends followed her to the couch, a look of shocked disbelief shared between them.
“I’ll be right back,” said Twilight, disappearing up the stairs.
Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all gently pulled Rainbow off of the couch and into a group hug, whispering their condolences, trying to maintain some form of composure. When the hug finally broke, Rarity turned her attention to Rainbow’s mane— with minimal fixing, of course— while Fluttershy went back for another hug. The poor pony was almost worse off than Rainbow, shaking as she clung to Rainbow.
Pinkie slouched into the kitchen and returned with a plate of steaming hot muffins, offering Rainbow some breakfast.
Rainbow pushed the plate away. “Sorry Pinkie, I’m just not hungry.”
Her stomach told a different story.
“Fine. I’ll eat one.”
A moment later, Twilight returned, levitating a rather large cardboard box with a single envelope on top of it, her mane completely disheveled. She sniffled quietly as she made her way down to join the rest of the group, placing the box in front of Rainbow, then joining Fluttershy in hugging Rainbow.
“It’s a personal letter; to you from Applejack,” explained Twilight. “We can all leave if you want us to.”
“NO!” Rainbow cringed at the sound of her own voice. “I mean, no. Please don’t go. All of you. You’re... you were her friends, too. You should hear what she has to say.”
“Rainbow, you don’t have to do that. We’ll all understand.”
“I want to... and I really don’t want to be alone right now.”
Rainbow took the envelope, which simply read ‘For Rainbow Dash’, between her teeth and tore it open. She took in a slow breath, then began to read...
My dearest Rainbow Dash,
Twenty-six years ago.
Twenty-six years ago, we stood together at the altar.
Twenty-six years ago, we had the whole world before us; we seemed unstoppable.
Twenty-six years ago, I wanted to do something special for you.
I know you’re not a materialistic pony; neither am I. I spent weeks trying to figure out what I could give you that would mean more than anything else. I know I didn’t have to, but I fretted over finding that perfect something that you’d want and could cherish forever; nothing came to mind. In the end, I asked Twilight for her advice and I didn’t think much of her answer at the time.
“A letter?”, I asked, “really?”
Heh, yeah. A letter. She nodded and told me that it would be something special to share someday with you. A sealed letter— sealed the day I wrote it— to be opened when we grew old. I had to agree. It seemed so perfect. So completely... us. Memories; they’re immaterial, yet they mean so much to both of us.
Twenty-six years ago, I wrote my first letter in that big box that you see before you.
But life has a way of dealing an unfair hand, taking everything that you hold dear away from you.
They told me I have some kind of degenerative muscle and bone disease. I never much cared for learning its name. All I know is that there’s no way to cure it. All the doctors could do is slow it down.
Why I’m telling you this, I don’t know. You’re sleeping next to me and you know what’s happening. I don’t need to tell you all about it again. I’m sure that after everything that’s happened, you don’t want to hear it.
I guess... I’m just scared. I never wanted to admit it, especially not to you, but that’s the truth. I’m terrified that I’ll fall asleep and never wake up. Even more so that I’m not asleep when my heart finally gives out. I’m scared of the pain. I’m scared of never seeing you again. I’m scared to think of what you’ll be like when I’m gone.
I know you might think that everything’s over, but it’s not. You have four other great friends who will be there for you. I wouldn’t trust the care of my Dash to anypony else. Please don’t push them away. I know it’ll be hard for you, but you’re not alone— and don’t think for one second that you are.
Twenty-six years ago I decided that one letter wasn’t enough.
I could only fit so much into each one. So many words. So few pages. So little time.
So I decided that each letter should be a story. A story of us. A story of something we’ve done together. Some are short and some are long. A story to remember us by. As I finished each letter, I sealed it in an envelope and brought it to Twilight to keep safe. She placed it in that box and kept it in the library for all these years.
Twenty-four years from now, we’d open them all one by one.
We’d read them together and remember what we’ve had throughout our lives: the adventures, the fun, and yes, even the romantic nights we shared. From our honeymoon to the day you became a Wonderbolt, to that time when the apple harvest was ruined and you were there for me.
Now, though, I won’t be able to read them with you. I won’t get to see the smile on your face as we read... well, never mind. You’ll get to that one eventually. You’ll get to all of them.
I wish we had more time together. I feel so greedy for saying it, but I want so much more time with you. The doctors say I have a week left.
I asked Twilight to keep this letter safe with her, to only let you read it and all the others after I’m gone. Think of it as my last gift to you.
And one last thing. In case you missed it, I want you to have my hat. I don’t want it to be stuck in the ground with me. Instead, wear it all you like, hang it up and look at it, do whatever you want with it. All I ask is that you take good care of it, just like you took good care of me.
Twenty-six years ago, I loved you.
And I still do.
Applejack
Rainbow let go of the letter and simply stared at it.
“She’s... she’s really gone, isn’t she?”
Nopony said a word, but instead held Rainbow in another group hug.
When they finally let go, Rainbow nudged them aside just enough to take the box in her hooves. Carefully, she opened it and saw hundreds of letters— each of them sealed, each of them showing their age, each addressed the same as the first. A quick flick through them indicated that they were arranged by date.
Typical Twilight.
“Do you guys mind... if I read one now?” asked Rainbow.
“Of course not, dear.” replied Rarity, her voice almost hollow.
The group all snuggled closer to each other on the couch in the library on that cool, summer morning, casting its orange glow through the library windows— Rainbow plucked the first letter from the box— a... fortunately orange glow.
Maybe everything is going to be alright after all.
She tore open the envelope and began to read...
