The Mane One
“Another Summer Sun celebration”, thought Princess Twilight Sparkle with a sigh. She could barely get out of bed this morning. This was the 85th celebration in honor of Twilight after Celestia retired from ruling Equestria. Each year seemed lonelier for the alicorn. Most ponies who were alive today didn’t remember a time that a pony ruled Equestria before Twilight.
At least, she still had some friends who were expected to live as long as her such as Spike – a dragon who already could live up to 500 years and was blessed with near-immortality by Celestia.
She heard a knock at the door.
“Twilight”, said Spike with a hurried tone, “you’re going to be late for the Summer Sun celebration!”
“Spike”, said Twilight sadly, “I don’t know if can go through with it this year.”
“You have to”, said Spike, “Equestria is counting on you! They aren’t going to be so thrilled if Princess Apple Bloom takes your place for the celebration!”
“I know, Apple Bloom is in charge of the moon – not the sun. But I still can’t believe it. I am the last of the Mane Six.”
“I’m heartbroken by that too. But they would want you to move on with it. You know that!”
“I know”, said Twilight, “but what’s the point of friends if they all go away?”
“I’m not going anywhere”, said Spike, “neither is Bloom or Cadence or Flurry Heart.”
“Too many lost. I wished they would have lived a little longer.”
“Fluttershy made it to 110.”
“Don’t you see why this year is harder than last? Even Fluttershy is gone.”
Three months ago.
Twilight and Apple Bloom were looking over battle plans in the war room at Celestia’s castle. The bugbears were a serious threat to Equestria.
“If we remember the power of friendship”, said Twilight, “I bet we can persuade the bugbears to see things our way instead of trying to take us over.”
“Ah wished ah shared your optimism, Twilight. Queen Honey doesn’t seem like she’s open to any reformation. Ah think the griffons are best suited for a sneak attack on the bugbears given their flying prowess and aggressive nature.”
“Let me think about it, Bloom. I know Queen Honey is bad but remember the changelings. 90 years ago – no pony thought the changelings were capable of being good. It took a wise changeling and his friendship with Spike to turn things around.”
“Send Spike to the bugbears?”
“No way”, responded Twilight with shock, “I’m not that certain!”
Suddenly, Discord appeared out of thin air. Twilight was expecting some sort of trollish distraction – but she saw Discord looking sad and serious. Something was terribly wrong.
“Discord”, said Twilight with concern, “what brings you here?”
“The end is almost here”, said Discord with tears in his eyes, “Fluttershy is dying.”
“Fluttershy can’t die”, said Twilight, “you’re the master of chaos. Is there something you can do?”
“I wish there was”, said Discord, “but not even I can stop death. I just came here to see if you all want to say goodbye to Fluttershy.”
“Let me get Spike.”
Twilight was terrified. She would be the last pony in her inner circle which started so long ago. Except for Rainbow Dash who died in a freak flight accident at 48 – the others all lived long lives for ponies. It was just that Twilight was an alicorn. She knew what that meant.
“Ah feel so old”, said Apple Bloom, “don’t like it much.”
“You just turned 100 a couple days ago. I’m the one that’s old! 110.”
“Oh please”, said Discord with a sly smile, “try 3214 years old and then we’ll talk.”
“Can we live that long?”
“I’m not sure you want to know the answer to that”, said Discord.
Twilight rushed to tell Spike the news. Spike began to cry and the two hugged.
Discord teleported the four of them to Fluttershy’s cottage which was a haven for all kinds of animals. Twilight couldn’t believe it. They just celebrated her 110th birthday two months ago. She seemed fine but now Fluttershy was dying.
“Oh Fluttershy”, said Discord, “I brought some guests just for you!”
The door opened. They could see rabbits, beavers, bears, squirrels, and all sorts of birds gathered around Fluttershy’s bed. The yellow pegasus with a mane turned grey was preparing for permanent slumber.
Twilight felt guilty that she and the others haven’t aged at all – Fluttershy was wrought with the aging process.
“Fluttershy, how are you doing”, asked Twilight softly.
“Twilight”, responded Fluttershy even more softly, “I am about to say goodbye to you.”
“You can’t go”, said Twilight, “I won’t allow it. Apple Bloom – do something!”
“Ah wish ah could”, said Apple Bloom, “tell Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo that I say hi, please. And my whole family.”
“I wish there were more we can do”, said Discord, “stay strong – Fluttershy.”
“Discord, you will do great without me”, said Fluttershy, “I will always love you.”
“I will always love you too, Fluttershy. I don’t think I’m strong enough.”
Twilight never thought she would be moved by anything Discord said – but there was a time for everything.
Fluttershy began to cough. She was getting weaker as every second passed.
“I can’t lose you, Fluttershy”, said Twilight, “that makes me the last of the elements of harmony.”
“We always knew you would be the last even if you didn’t”, said Fluttershy who was weak on the outside but strong on the inside.
Of course, Twilight knew as soon as she became an alicorn. But she never wanted to think about it.
“I’m going to miss you, Fluttershy”, said Spike bawling, “how much longer do you have?”
“I’m afraid”, responded Discord trembling, “I can’t live without you – Fluttershy!”
Even the normally tough Apple Bloom was crying from all of this – it felt so similar to when Granny Smith had died. It was just different people were now involved.
“I see the light”, said Fluttershy with a cough, “this is goodbye – my friends.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Fluttershy closed her eyes for the last time.
They noticed a bugbear at the window crying. Perhaps Twilight Sparkle was right about the bugbears, thought Apple Bloom.
“You princesses and Spike don’t need to worry about funeral preparations”, said Discord morosely, “I will take care of it.”
“Thank you Discord”, said Twilight, “I don’t know how much longer I can do anything.”
Twilight was sobbing unable to get out of bed.
Spike extended his claw to Twilight and said, “come on, Twilight. Let’s honor this Summer Sun celebration not for you – but for Fluttershy. Would that make you feel better?”
Twilight really appreciated Spike – especially in moments like this. He always seemed to know the right things to say. He hadn’t aged for 80 years but he was as wise as ever.
“I really like that idea, Spike. Thank you.” Twilight got out of bed and shook the sadness out of her body.
They saw Princess Apple Bloom, Princess Cadence, and Princess Flurry Heart standing by the door. All three of them had experienced horrible loss too and would experience more as time passed. They were the Princesses of Equestria and were expected to keep Equestria whole. Twilight remembered the faith that Celestia had in her.
“Thank goodness you’re here”, said Princess Flurry Heart, “Bloom was going to take on the Summer Sun Celebration all by herself.”
“Ah would have been just fine”, said Apple Bloom.
The princesses and Spike laughed. They all knew that the celebration couldn’t even physically occur without the presence of Twilight Sparkle!
Suddenly, they saw a poof of air. Discord showed up wearing a top hat and tuxedo.
“I wasn’t planning on attending”, said Discord with a smile, “but I overheard this will be in honor of Fluttershy.”
“It certainly will”, said Twilight, “in honor of the kindest pony that one ever knew.”
And with that, Twilight Sparkle’s 85th summer sun celebration would begin.