(disclaimer: I duna own My little pony in any way shape or form)(I also posted this story on fimfiction under a diffrent nun de plume JmaesBlackWolfe)enjoy
The pub was old, older than most but little known. the Parting Glass was it's name and tonight it would host two of Equestria's last remaining barers of Harmony. And as the whiskey flows the recall their past and rediscover a friendship once lost to the ravages of time, and maybe just maybe discover something more.
At the bar sat an orange mare her blonde locks shot through with grey a faded brown stetson resting beside her as she nursed a mug of cider. The only sounds in the pub was the steady murmurer of the pubs few patrons and the quite clinking of glasses as the ancient bartender tended to his wears. "will ya have another drink" He asked quietly his raspy voice nary above a whisper. The mare simply slide out her glass for him to refill.
The heavy oak doors of the pub slowly swung open as a cyan Pegasus slowly ambled into the bar. In times past she would have blown in wanting to make a grand entrance but time and wear had mellowed her considerably her once rainbow mane was now various shades of silver her rose colored eyes weary and tired but she still walked with pride her back straight and her hove steps sure. She paused and gazed slowly around the candle lit pub before spotting a familiar mare on she hadn't seen nor spoken to for the better part of a half a century. With a deep breath she meandered up to the bar taking a seat next to her before saying in her trademark raspy voice " I'll have a glass of your finest whiskey" The bartender nodded before rummaging through the shelves, pulling out a dusty bottle Uisce beatha barely visible on the label. Placing a glass on the counter he pulled the cork releasing a bitter sweet aroma of fine hard liquor "Ah reckon ya better make it two bar keep" came the southern alto from the orange mare. Nodding the barkeep laid out a second glass before filling both and sliding them to their respective ponies.
The two mares sat sipping their drinks "So Applejack what brings you to a place like this on tonight of all nights? Don't you have a family you could be spending it with?" The cyan mare's raspy voice breaking the silence betwixt the two.
"Rainbow you've been gone so long Ah've doubt you've heard . . . . Ah don't have much of a family anymore Big Mac passed bout twelve years back in an accident an Abblebloom just doesn't come around anymore" Applejack looked down at her drink in silence for a moment. "ya left fer the wonderbolts all thous years ago . . . .After ya left Ah reckon things just kinda drifted apart". Rainbow Dash stared at her in thought for a moment. " But what about the girls, Twilight an the others?"
"Well . . . " Applejack took a sip of her drink before saying "Ah reckon Twilight's still living up in Canterlot last Ah saw her some ten years back she hadn't aged a day and that was at Pinkie's funeral. Rarity passed last year. We found her in her shop slumped over her sewing machine and no one's seen Fluttershy since you left. Ah reckon you and me? Well we're the only one's left besides twilight . . . . rainbow dash . . . . ." she sighed and tossed down the rest of her drink, noticing both their glasses were empty she motioned for the barkeep to fill them up again.
"What about a husband? Any foals of your own?" Rainbow inquired. "Ah never married. Ah reckon ah was two busy on the farm especially after granny smith and Big Mac passed Ah had to do it on my own, sure my cousins would come by and help now and again but fer the most part Ah live on my own" A few moments passed in silence as the two old friends drank their drinks before Applejack intoned "What about you Dash? You ever marry and settle down?" "No" replied Rainbow Dash "I had my career as a wonderbolt and after I retired I traveled the world always searching for something what I don't know. I came back to Ponyville a few days ago and have been settling in. Things haven't changed much. I flew over the farm the other day but I didn't see you. but I digress i hadn't had the time to visit anyone else and now i suppose i won't be able to . . . . well i suppose i could visit their graves" rainbow dash sighed a tear trailing down her worn cheek.
Applejack sat back and looked over her old friend. time had not been kind too the formally flashy pagasus her fur had faded with decades of being out in the weather her once colorful mane and tail now a rainbow of silvers and grays and her face was lined with many a scar as was the rest of her she now noted showing just how rough a life her old friend lived " are you going to be stay for long" applejack quietly yet hopefully asked. it would be nice to have a friend after being alone for so long. rainbow dash sat quietly for a time before replying. "I'm too old to go adventuring anymore I suppose, so yes
I will be here for a time . . . . barkeep another round please" she watched as the old pony filed her's and Applejacks glasses.
Rainbow Dash leaned back and sighed her rose colored eyes closed as she thought back to her youth before everything changed. "I sure am going to miss Pinkie's parties . . . buck i'm even going to miss Rarity's constant attempts to doll me up" at this point a few small tears flowed from her eyes as she whispered "and I sure miss Fluttershy most of all. I'll never forgive my self for leaving her behind. I never thought about how my leaving would affect all of you" "neither did Ah rainbow. Neither did AH" Apple jack sighed wistfully.