Contrary to her long and reputable history, Twilight Sparkle was not a pony who kept many close friends.


Friends were a good thing, a really good thing. But she was a busy princess—less busy than the naive protégé of Celestia from when she'd first ascended the throne—many tasks had been distributed, automated out, all but forgotten from her mind since—but a princess who needed to keep most conversations short and to the point, regardless.


And, Celestia, it hurt. It hurt real bad when her friends went away. It was hard for her to even say "passed". It had been so long, and though she tried to cling onto their faces, remembering how they smiled, how their lips moved when they talked, one by one, they would disappear from her memory, like tears in rain.


Twilight had been feeling rather pensive like that recently—only for the past half century or so—but as she wandered through the giant, empty cave, her thoughts bouncing around as much through the cavern walls as within her own head, her melancholy felt especially amplified.


A few days ago, some cave explorers on the far reaches of Equestria had discovered the dusty cavern, and rumors had quickly reached Twilight about the myriad of sparkling treasures and gems that lined its interior. Though such discoveries were not uncommon, for some reason, Twilight felt especially compelled to visit this one personally.


It couldn't have been to prop up public faith in her actions—the kingdom she ran functioned in complete harmony—and nopony would be able to see her down here, regardless.


Perhaps that was specifically why she'd chosen to go. Unlike Celestia, who never chose to take vacations and buried herself tirelessly in her paperwork, Twilight could simply give the castle staff basic instructions toward her absence for a few days, and then she could… disappear.


clink


Twilight had stepped on a half-buried geode. The crunch that sounded as she brought her hoof all the way down snapped her out of her thoughts and forced her eyes toward the stunning sight that lay before her.


What started out as rivulets of geodes and gems that lined the ground and walls soon merged into rivers and paths of bedrock embedded with gold, quartz, aquamarine, and kaleidoscopic crystals that fluttered in the sunlight that leaked from above. Pillars of limestone and gypsum lay scattered, unfathomably supporting the awning, the ceiling of rock which caused droplets of runaway rainwater to echo one by one.


drip


drip


drip


drip


All of it seemed to pool around the center of where the cave seemed to open up, as if directed by an unseen force. From the stalactites that hung above, the water dripped downward, slowly eroding the massive centerpiece that adorned the domed pit.


Twilight's breath caught.


There was a dragon—a statue of a dragon—formed into the final resting shape of a somber, peaceful beast. It looked mighty, powerful, bigger than almost every dragon she'd ever seen, and it sparkled. Luminous pseudo-scales lined its entire body, glistening with more beauty than any diamond or pearl. The dragon's eyes lay closed for his eternal rest, but his expression seemed not to betray any sense of pain or suffering.


Twilight's mind raced. Who could have built such a statue? What was this doing so far from the center of Equestria? How had this yet been undiscovered?


But above it all, she was beginning to feel a strong, uncontrollable sense of sorrow welling in the center of her chest. It started out as just a faster breath, a tightness in the chest, but soon—just like the rivulets of geodes and the drip of water—sprung into a tear, then two, and soon she was crying.


Deep down, she knew this was no statue. This was no artificial work of ponykind, or any other species. There was no coincidence, no accident that had led her here.


The dragon's pose told a story. Long ago, he must have sought refuge far away from any eyes on purpose, and chosen to die here.


Twilight racked her brain of all the dragons in history until she remembered a name, and when she refused to accept the outcome, she racked it even more. When nothing else came up, she was forced to admit what she hadn't wanted to.


It was Spike.


The same Spike who she'd raised as a baby, who'd accompanied her to her alicornhood. The same Spike who helped teach her the magic of friendship.


The same Spike she'd forgotten over time, who everypony had forgotten over time, until he'd been relegated to the history books where Twilight had rediscovered him.


How could she have forgotten? Why had she chosen to forget? How could she have been so foolish?


She choked back a sob. "Forgive me, Spike," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."


As she fell silent, the statue gave off one more glint of light. As the wind whistled in the distance, Twilight felt her long hair begin to flow more intensely. The atmosphere began to feel lighter and heavier at the same time, until an ethereal vortex began to form in the cavern. It combined with the dragon's energy, glowing faster and faster until—


The dust began to dissipate, and out of the fog, a glowing, butter-yellow pony adorned in midnight black robes came floating down from the sky.


She looked confused, her eyes shifting this way and that. Though she'd just been swept in, her mane remained perfect, and the dust seemed to pass all the way through her body. Twilight's eyes widened. She recognized this pony.


And for the first time in millennia, Twilight heard Fluttershy's voice.


"H-how did I get here?" Fluttershy stammered.

---

The cave was silent for a few moments as Twilight and Fluttershy locked eyes.


Neither pony dared to speak first. Fluttershy opened and closed her mouth a few times as if trying to find the right words to say. Twilight simply stood frozen, her mind overwhelmed by the circumstances of her situation.


Twilight snapped out of it first. Her training was practically instinct at this point, and only desperately did she tap into it at all. "Fluttershy, it's so good to see you," she said almost too quickly. "Please, it's been too long. Walk with me."


Just as she would to a diplomat, but she knew that with her wits about her, the words would flow freely.


Silently, Fluttershy nodded and landed beside Twilight. Her hoofsteps made no true contact with the ground, but she moved them naturally regardless, matching Twilight's pace.


Twilight's mouth was dry. She licked her lips. "I can't believe you're… around." Again, she hesitated to imply anything different. "I've missed you, you know."


Fluttershy nodded. "I've missed you too, Twilight."


"Good!" Twilight yelped. "Um, good." She cleared her throat. "The kingdom's been running really well, Fluttershy. I'm so proud of how it all went."


Fluttershy smiled. "I know, Twilight. You've done a good job."


Twilight had received many compliments over the course of her lifetime, but it had been so long since one had hit her so powerfully, despite its simplicity. She sniffed and realized that she'd been absentmindedly circling Spike's crystalized body.


Fluttershy seemed to catch Twilight's gaze. "I'm proud," she said. "He grew up to be so big and strong, like I knew he would." She gave a small chuckle. "He certainly outlasted me for a very long time."


Twilight's mind reeled. It was hard to process and accept what her best friend had said, even though she'd accepted it many times before.


The words weren't coming as easily as she would have liked. "You… knew? You knew even after you… went awa-"


Fluttershy's words were as firm as Twilight had ever heard them. "I died, Twilight," she said. "I died. And Spike died too."


There was a silent air of finality that filled the room.


Of course, Fluttershy sensed Twilight's distress. She put a reassuring hoof on Twilight's shoulder, even if Twilight couldn't feel anything. "I know, Twilight. But trust me, he was so peaceful when he passed. He was ready. He forgave you for forgetting, and he wanted to let go."


Somehow, the words crushed Twilight even harder. "You knew and you… didn't visit me? I've been here all these years, and… and…"


"Shhh. There, there." Fluttershy embraced Twilight as Twilight burst into tears. She also held a pained expression on her face. "I would have if I could, Twilight. Really."


Twilight sniffed again and wiped the tears away from her face. "W-what do you mean, Fluttershy?"


Fluttershy sighed and withdrew from the hug, once more giving Twilight a full view of her black robes. When Twilight continued to stare, Fluttershy took a deep breath, concentrated, and swung her arms into the air.


Twilight followed their direction. From the sky where the sunlight shone, from the stalactites where the water dripped, speckled dust began to ripple and pool, swirling in the air until forming a defined shape in Fluttershy's hooves.


A scythe.


"I know this must be strange and wild to accept, Twilight," Fluttershy said. "I can only appear before and take away the souls of those about to pass. Some call me…"


Twilight finished her sentence. "The Reaper."


Fluttershy nodded. "Yes."


The air filled with an uncomfortable silence once more.


Fluttershy eventually spoke up again. "I… was there for Spike, too. Him and all the other creatures. He would have wanted you to know this, and I would have too. Trust me."


And Twilight did. There were few ponies Twilight could trust more than Fluttershy.


So out of the core of deep sadness that welled within her, Twilight found a single seed of happiness beginning to blossom. "Thank you, Fluttershy."


Out of her happiness came other thoughts. On some level… it all made sense. Fluttershy was delicate, sensitive, kind. It felt weird to say, but it all was strangely fitting. "I guess I'm proud of you too," she chuckled. "The job really couldn't have gone to anyone better, huh?"


Fluttershy gave a small smile. "I don't know. I didn't choose anything. After I died, one day, I just… woke up, and felt this was what I had to do. Just a strong force guiding me forward. Some days I do wonder if somepony else could have done a better job. Who the ones were who… came before me."


Twilight and Fluttershy stopped at the base of the mighty dragon once more, observing his locked arms, wrapped in a posture of slumber.


"I talk with them," continued Fluttershy. "Everypony wants to talk with someone. Everycreature wants to talk with someone, even if they say they don't. In death, they feel free, and the fear goes away."


"But i-it's a lot," Twilight stammered. "I've seen so much of it myself, but I've not seen even more. Every pony, every pet, even every ant… i-it m-must be so overwhe-"


"It's natural," Fluttershy interrupted. "It's what I've always accepted, even with my own critters and the nature reserve. Animals eat other animals to live. Animals grow old and die. Some animals suffer when they're young, and die."


"And it's unfair!" Twilight cried. "There are those who don't deserve to die. There are those I wish could live forever! At the least, those who were so brave, so good that I wish I could have given my own immortality to, just to-"


She caught her own words halfway through, and her eyes widened. "I-I didn't mean it like that, n-no, if that's what you do-"


"That isn't what I do, Twilight," Fluttershy assured. "I can't change when someone dies. Sometimes, it's unfair, and it hurts. Everyone has their own time."


She swallowed and continued. "But I do all I can. I talk. I guide them through to the next life. It's hard, Twilight." Her eyes softened, like she was staring at a long line of distant memories. "It's like a mob, Twilight. There's just an endless line, stretching from now until the end of time. Ponies and pets and ants all the other creatures alike. Some are calm, like Spike. But many are scared. They don't know what death feels like. No one does. I help calm them down, remember their last words, and move on."


Twilight nodded. "I'm sure everyone would feel honored having someone as kind and willing to just… listen as you in their final moments."


Fluttershy smiled. "It's my honor, really."


A thought quickly came to Twilight. "W-what about the others? Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity? My parents?" Her voice lowered until it was no more than a soft whisper. "Princess Luna? P-Princess C-Celestia?"


This time, it was Fluttershy's turn to look sad. "I wasn't able to speak to everypony. Only those after the time I woke up. I can't visit those in the afterlife, only guide them there. But I can… feel them, even if I can't see or hear them. They're waiting for me, for my job to be done."


She paused. "I did talk with Celestia and Luna, though. I know it was hard for you to accept, but they were ready, too. They trained you to be the best princess you could be. They missed their friends, too, and they'd seen and done everything they wanted to see while on Equestria."


"Will your job ever be done?" Twilight tried avoiding asking the most obvious follow-up question that came to her mind.


Fluttershy gave a painful smile. "I don't know. But evidently it did, for those that came before me."


And, the obvious question could evade Twilight no further. Her interrupted sentence from earlier remained clear in her mind.


"If… Celestia and Luna did really choose to go… does that mean… does that mean I…"


Fluttershy tilted her head and looked at Twilight reassuringly. "What's left for you, Twilight?"


Despite her reservations, Twilight stopped and thought.


She had a vast, great, and peaceful kingdom.


She was busy, but not too busy. When she disappeared, there were always those who picked up the slack. The word disappeared came strongly to her—it was a word her subconscious had explicitly picked.


Just as she had been the protégé of Celestia, there were those she had taught, many of them.


Yet, she no longer made many friends. She was living in fear of seeing them go. She felt painful, and tired. So tired.


Tired, but happy, and content. Just as Celestia and Luna had done, she had accomplished everything she'd ever wanted. Nopony would call her lazy or unjustified. She'd made her mark on ponykind and the world. She should have been proud of what she'd accomplished, and she was, and all her friends must have been too.


There were no excuses left. Twilight was ready.


Fluttershy took a deep breath in and out. "I think I understand why I was called here today, Twilight, and I think you understand too."


For the first time in a long time, Twilight sighed, relaxed, and smiled. "I love you, Fluttershy. Do what must be done."


And Fluttershy did. As she raised her hooves, the scythe lifted in the air, glistening once more in front of the luminous statue of Spike. There was no better place to die, surrounded by the company of her old friends.


Fluttershy swung the scythe down. The motion was quick, practiced. In a moment, Twilight's soul was separated from her body. She hugged Fluttershy one last time, this time for real, and then she was off, galloping into the great unknown.


Fluttershy watched her best friend go. Left alone with her own thoughts, just as Twilight had when she'd wandered into the cave, Fluttershy wondered what was left for herself.


There was a slight fluttering in her chest, and a tug on her body, and slowly, she realized.


Twilight had been the last. Long ago, she'd heard a legend of powerful spirits and ghosts that remained on Equestria, waiting on unfinished business. They wandered and wandered, until all was said and done, and then they moved on.


Twilight had been Fluttershy's unfinished business. As she realized this, she too felt her spirit begin to dissolve into dust within the cave as she began to feel light and free.


Lighter and freer.


drip


drip


drip


And just as quickly as Fluttershy had entered the cave, she found herself leaving, galloping out toward Twilight, ready to join with the rest of her friends.