As the two old mares sat in silent contemplation, a young mare in the back of the pub began to sing at the urging of her intoxicated friends. Listening silently Applejack's ears flicked as she recalled the name of the song, smiled sadly and nudged her companion.
"Sweetie Belle sang this very song at Rarity's funeral." she intoned quietly as she closed her eyes and listened to the melody .
"oh?" replied Rainbow Dash "and what's it called." she ask curiously as she polished off yet another glass of the whiskey.
"The Parting Glass" Applejack sighed softly "it's an old song written long ago. Ah can remember her singing it like it was yesterday. we tried to find you, you know to let you know of her passing but no one could. Scootaloo was heartbroken that you didn't show."
Rainbow looked down at her empty glass with regret. "I should have come back sooner, I know but I can't change the past." She looked over at the young lass singing and smiled softly "Hey AJ" she asked falling back on her old nickname for applejack.
"Yeah Dashie?" Applejack asked curiously as she refilled her's and Rainbow dash's glasses.
"It's good to finally be home."
"Yeah, Ah'm glad your here" Applejack smiled before softly saying "Come on Dashie lets go see our friends."
The two old friends paid thier tab and with a grace granted only by age made thier way from the pub and out into the cold night. "Where are we headed?" asked Rainbow Dash quietly as they trudged along the darkened path. A light flurry of snow drifting lazily down around them.
"To go see Pinkie and Rarity at the Ponyville cemetery" Applejack smiled sadly " It's time you pay your respects." The two ponies traveled onward passing through the market place. Rainbow dash noted not much had changed since she left. Twilight's castle still gleamed in the distance and all else seem untouched as if Ponyville was frozen in time. Before too long they once more passed through the outskirts of town and turned off down a well kept trail over looked by the hill housing the towns small cemetery.
at the foot of the hill stood a large set of wrought iron gates which easily swung open on well oiled hinges. "They are near the back in a place set aside for the Elements of Harmony"
"There's a place for all of us?" asked Rainbow quietly.
"Aye, even Twilight if and when she eventually passes but seeing as Princess Celestria and Luna are still around even after thousands of years Ah doubt it will be anytime soon." Applejack replied a bit morbidly before falling silent as the two trudge up the hill.
"well at least we will be together eventually" Rainbow Dash said speaking softly. as they walked along a flash of light yellow like butter cream passed by through the headstones up ahead of them. "speaking of old friends, That looked a lot like Fluttershy"
"Can't be" gasped Applejack "no one's seen her since you left all thous years ago. no one knows why she vanished just that no one's seen her since"
"Till now it seems" Rainbow replied. tensely she called out "Fluttershy? Fluttershy is that you?" There for a moment all was silent before the clouds cleared and Luna's moon beamed through reveling Fluttershy Silver mane and tail waving in the cold breeze bright blue eyes gleaming in the light. she had paused one hoof in the air wings raised as if to take off.
"D-dashie?" she asked quietly her voice naught but a whisper on the wind "Oh Dashie you came back!" she cried before bolting down the hill with a speed that defied her age and talked rainbow dash to the ground in joy filled hug. "oh I hoped and dreamed you would return but i never dared to hope I would see you again" she nuzzled rainbows neck lovingly before a short rather amused sound cough brought Fluttershy back to attention,
"Well I'll be sugar cube, there's a sight i never thought Ah would see again. Why are you here Fluttershy? Not that i'm not glad to see you again but no one's seen you in ages." Applejack asked happiness laced through her voice "Ah never thought i would see you again or Dash for that matter and here on to night of all nights i'm reunited with not one but two of my old friends."
flutter shy slowly got to her feet and blushed before hiding behind her silver curtain of hair "I visit the cemetery every year on this night I-I have for years I visit all my friends who have passed even Big Mac and Granny Smith . . . but especial Rarity . . . not many know this but before she passed Rarity and I well were we're lovers. she was the only one who knew where to find me but told no one at my request" she sighed and shivered as i chill breeze hipped over the hill side.
"Well." dash said quietly "lets go see our friends before the night gets much colder" with that she motioned two her companions and started towards a large stone tree carved in the likeness of the tree of harmony. As the three drew close the names of their friends and fellow Elements of harmony. Rainbow Dash slowly lowered her self to the grounds tears building in her eyes as she softly intoned "hello old friends. Its been an age but i'm back and i'm here to stay." the silent weeping of her friends caused her own tears to fall as the three lost souls mourned their loss.