…The next few days around Ponyville were dark and rainy. It reflected the mood of the 6 friends who had cared so much for each other, yet were about to lose one of their own. Applejack went about her daily chores on the farm with much less vigor than she had been. Her sister Apple Bloom and her brother Big McIntosh were wondering what had made their beloved sibling turn so sad so quickly.

One day, Apple Bloom met her in one of the orchard groves and decided to ask her. "Applejack," she said, "what's goin' on? You've been mopin' and frettin' 'round worse than a cow with somethin' in its foot. Somethin's up, and I for one would like to know what."

Applejack turned to look at her sister. She didn't know whether or not to tell her. Apple Bloom was so young and innocent. How would the news of the impending death of a close friend affect her? Would she take it and run with it or would it devastate her to the point of never wanting to leave the house again? She deserves to know, she told herself, Twilight's taught her so much about friendship and the world. She deserves to know.

"Sugar cube," she said out loud, "Twilight's gonna be…gone soon." The last part of that phrase nearly choked her to death. Apple Bloom looked shocked. "Gone? Like gone on a trip?" Applejack shook her head. "No…gone like buried six feet under, have the funeral and remember her life, gone."

Now Apple Bloom's eyes welled up. "You mean Twilight's gonna…die?" All Applejack could do was sadly nod. Apple Bloom ran up to her sister and buried her face in her chest. "But why, Applejack?!" Came her muffled voice. She pulled her head back and locked eyes with her older sister. "WHY?!"

Applejack hugged her sister to her chest and stroked her mane with a hoof as her own tears fell. "I don't know, Apple Bloom," she said, "I just don't know."

Meanwhile, across town at Rarity's boutique, the blue eyed fashionista went about her business and tried to put the devastating news out of her head. She just couldn't fathom Twilight dying. She had never dealt with death before, so she didn't really know how to do it this time.

Then her sister Sweetie Belle came into the room. She, like Apple Bloom, had noticed that her sister had been quite out of it for the past few days and she was curious. "Rarity?" She asked. "Oh, Sweetie Belle," her sister replied, "um…yes, what is it, darling?"

"You seem absolutely, completely distracted about something and I wanted to know if I could help you with it."

Rarity looked down at her sister and tried to keep her tears from overflowing. She wanted nothing more than to hold Sweetie Belle close, share the news, cry and get it over with. But she knew that such sensitive news could be cause for a complete breakdown of the young filly standing before her. That was the last thing she wanted.

"Um…Sweetie, you know that I love you and I'd share the news with you, but…I'm afraid of what it would do to you," she said. She put on a fake smile, hoping it would pass with her sister and she could go on with her day. But that wasn't gonna happen.

"Do to me?" Sweetie Belle said, "but…what kind of news could be either so important or so unbelievably sad that it could possibly do anything to me?"

"Uh…er…well, Sweetie, it's just that…Twilight, you see…she's…she's…"

"Spit it out, Rarity!" Her sister said, impatiently.

Rarity's eyes lit up. She had found her way out! If she could just scold her sister for being so rude and change the subject, she might not have to give her the news at all. So she frowned at Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie, darling!" She said irritably, "I cannot believe the way you just spoke to me! Such impatience. We don't do that around here, Sweetie."

Now it was Sweetie's turn to frown. Her big sister always thought she was her mother. Why didn't she just tell her? I bet it's something really exciting and fun, and I bet Applejack and Rainbow Dash have already told Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She's just trying to boss me around again!

Out loud, she said, "Rarity! First of all, you aren't the boss of me. Second of all, why won't you tell me the news?!" At this, all of Rarity's customers turned and stared. Rarity chuckled nervously before suddenly saying, "I just remembered! I have something very important to attend to before the day's through, so I'll be closing shop early today! I'm so very sorry, but it simply cannot wait another minute. Good day, everypony!"

The customers grumbled a bit, but left. Rarity closed and locked the door and turned to face her sister. How would she tell her? How could she tell her? It would break Sweetie's heart. She looked up to Twilight. She had told Rarity how much she wanted to be exactly like her one day! Twilight was everything to Sweetie Belle. She was almost like a second older sister.

"Look, Rarity," Sweetie said, "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what in blue Equestria is going on!"

"Uh…er…um…er…"

"That's what you said last time. I bet the news is really exciting and fun and you're not gonna tell me what it is to keep me from it! That's just like you, Rarity!"

"Twilight's going to die!" Rarity blurted out before quickly shutting up.

Sweetie Belle gasped and looked up at her sister. Her eyes widened in shock, and then quickly began closing back up as the tears came. Her lip quivered. "W-w-w-what?" She barely got out. Rarity couldn't stop herself anymore. She began crying as well. She pulled Sweetie Belle close and the two sisters sobbed on each other's shoulders for a few minutes.

Sweetie pulled out of the hug and looked up at her sister with her eyes puffy and red. "It's not true," she said in sad disbelief, "please…please…please tell me this won't happen, Rarity."

"I'm afraid it is true, darling," Rarity sniffed, "but we must be strong for Twilight's sake."

"NO!" Sweetie Belle suddenly shouted, "THIS WON'T HAPPEN! I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN!"

With that she magically broke the lock on the door and burst from the store. She ran and ran and ran and ran, sobbing as she went. Rarity chased after her, trying to keep her own tears from blinding her. "SWEETIE BELLE?!" She yelled, "PLEASE COME BACK!" She knew exactly where Sweetie would go. She would go to the library where Twilight lived.

She followed her all the way there. Sweetie burst into the library and ran right up to Twilight before throwing herself over the surprised purple pony and bursting into tears. Rarity quietly followed her inside. "Please tell me this is all some kind of sick joke!" Sweetie Belle shrieked at Twilight, "PLEASE! PLEASE!"

Twilight knew what this was about. Ever since she and Rarity had become such good friends, Sweetie Belle had been a de facto student of hers. She had taught her a lot about magic and the lessons she was learning about friendship. Twilight's eyes softened and looked down with love and understanding at the young filly now crying on her shoulders.

"Please…" Sweetie Belle said softly, "please…tell me you aren't going to…to…die."

"I'm afraid so, Sweetie Belle," Twilight said as tears filled her own eyes, "I know this is horrible, but we have to remain strong through this."

"THAT'S WHAT RARITY SAID," Sweetie bawled, "BUT I'M NOT STRONG! I'M TOTALLY WEAK!"

"That's not true," Twilight said comfortingly, yet firmly, "you are incredibly strong. I've seen that first hoof. I need you to be strong for me…please."

Sweetie took a step back and wiped her tears. There in front of her stood a pony she had looked up to ever since meeting her. All the things Twilight had taught her. All the things she had done for her. Would they all be for naught? Would everything come crumbling down? Would she forget about Twilight? Why did this have to happen? Why? Her only question was "why?"

So she looked up at the pony she thought knew everything and asked it. "Twilight, why?" Twilight looked down at her de facto pupil. She remembered the day she had met Sweetie Belle, when Rarity had brought her to the library for the first time. Sweetie had been so interested in Twilight's magic books, so curious as to the properties of things that she knew nothing about.

Twilight couldn't help but smile at the memory. Sweetie had accidentally knocked over one of her most beloved and fragile books, and she was going to scold her for it. But then she saw her turning the pages, completely entranced with what she was reading. The two had gotten into a two-hour long discussion about the book, and Twilight had helped her with some simple spells.

But on this subject, Twilight was quite illiterate. She knew nothing about death nor what lay ahead for her friends and family. So she answered honestly, "I'm afraid I don't know, Sweetie Belle." The look on the young filly's face became even more devastated. Twilight understood that look. She was scared, and wanted so many answers to questions that were probably unanswerable. "I just don't know…"