It was early afternoon. Celestia's sun shone high above, casting down new rays of promise...

The festive sounds of a party echoed from the Sugarcube Corner. Inside was a big celebration and, as always, everypony pony was welcome. This party was for a special occasion and Pinkie Pie had invited a special group this time... she was excited to see Big Mac and Granny Smith show up, crossing their names off the list. Even Gummy joined in, rolling around on his little pink ball, looking at all the ponies having fun, not entirely understanding what the party was for, but glad another one was being thrown.

Though Bits had yet to exchange hooves, the Apple family would be keeping their farm; even Apple Bloom knew this since the night before. Telling her was bad judgment on AJ's part, but her family supported the decision after the words left her mouth... after all, she had to say something to explain all that was going on, especially with RD injured and a fortune on their lawn. The truth was difficult for the filly to swallow and then put behind herself, especially seeing how she had no clue anything was going on to begin with. The shock almost brought her to tears and kept her up half the night worrying about what could have been... but wasn't. The comforting words of an adult pony, even all three of her family members together, meant nothing since they'd been keeping the truth from her... what else could they be hiding? Thoughts of the unknown racked her mind, but she slept soundly once she did drift off... for fewer hours than a young filly such as herself, with school and chores, should have been sleeping. She would get over it... she'd learned not to hold grudges.

Pinkie Pie was having the time of her life being Pinkie Pie and serving her friends at the party. Playful music, bright lights, games, candy and sweet buns were set out for both lunch and desert. This entire escapade was on her, as they usually were when she threw a party (though working at the Sugar cube Corner usually landed her a good discount). Pinkie even went so far as to put together three small take-out bags for Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and, Rarity... this way all her friends could be included in the fun. This was everyone's victory, after all.

Apple Bloom and Spike were enjoying a game of Pin the Tail on the Pony. Spike thought of Rarity while Apple Bloom thought of Scootaloo. Both enjoyed the game, even the older, posh mare. Spike was going to see her later that day and tell her how much he missed her, that things hadn't been the same without her. She'd look rested, make sense, and be happy to see him... he hoped, at least. With a grand new day as it was, he felt pumped.

The adult ponies were excited, too, but for reasons other than Apple Jack's victory. Rainbow Dash was getting out of the hospital that day. She'd have her right foreleg in a sling and have to limp for a couple weeks, but her friends would be there for her. They'd embarrass her, of course... each knew the cyan Pegasus well enough to know the whole dependency-thing really wasn't her cup of tea. A lesser injury had her in the hospital for mere days on the verges of a nervous breakdown. Dash needed to be in the fresh air, so they'd keep her busy... it was the least they could do. She'd helped them all before, time and time again... especially Apple Jack.

With a little ding-a-ling of the door bell, Pinkie became suddenly aware of two other ponies in the Corner. Though she was partying with her friends, she was still at work, and serving her guests came first. She ran up to the door with a huge smile on her face and saw the two ponies waiting face-to-face. They were Rarity's parents. Out of their usual attire and with sombre eyes, they looked as though they could use some cheering up. As always, Pinkie Pie was on the job:

"Pearl! Magnum! Come in!" Pinkie laughed. "Join the party!"

"Pinkie..." said Magnum softly, glancing at his wife. "We're not here to party... Pearl, I think we should come back in a few hours. Let them have their fun."

"No, they need to know this, Magnum" replied the older mare, tears welling up in her eyes. "And we need to tell them..."

Magnum sympathetically put his foreleg around his wife as Apple Jack and Fluttershy gathered around.

"Somethin' the matter?" Asked AJ.

"These two have something to say," said Pinkie. "I don't know what it could be, but Pearl's crying!" Pinkie walked up and gave her a loving hug. "Don't cry, Pearl! Rarity wouldn't want you to ruin your make-up! We're all going to see her in just a little bit!"

That didn't help one bit. Pearl went from crying to flat-out bawling. She wasn't wearing any make-up to ruin... she hadn't cared to put any on, but Pinkie was oblivious to that. By this point Pearl had Twilight's attention, as well as the attention of Granny Smith and Big Mac.

The music seemed to fade away, though it was still playing in a fun little loop far off. It didn't matter anymore to anypony drawn to the door. Apple Bloom and Spike were too lost in their game on the other side of the room to have noticed at first, if it weren't for the fact that no pony was watching them anymore... noticed once Spike removed the blindfold having hit his mark square.

"What's wrong?" Pinkie asked Pearl, now genuinely concerned.

She felt a hoof gently and slowly touching her shoulder. She looked back to see Granny Smith. The elderly mare shook her head and motioned for Pinkie to take a few steps back.

Magnum sighed, looking at the floor. He stomped his hoof once in frustration, gritting his teeth. Now they had everypony's attention.

"Rarity died last night in her sleep," he said.

The entire room heard this. Spike and Apple Bloom were most quickly affected -- the former withdrew into a tiny little ball, while the filly's jaw dropped in horror. Twilight didn't bat an eye, let alone blink, while Apple Jack removed her hat, looking at the floor. Tears formed in Fluttershy's eyes while Pinkie's fluffy hair instantly deflated as though she'd been hit by a big wall of ice cold water. Granny Smith and Big Mac remained stone-faced, but were devastated all the same.

Magnum continued:

"We knew this might happen. What was going on was a lot worse than we told you... she was very sick but we held out hope. I guess it was for nothing. I just want my little girl back."

A long peircing silence silence passed over them. No pony knew what to say, but everypony was compelled to say something. At last everypony, even Spike and Granny Smith, looked to Twilight... who's lip was quivering:

"Is there anything we can do for you?" She finally asked, her voice breaking slightly at the grim news.

"You were all very good friends to her. She spoke fondly of you all." Again, Magnum let out a heavy sigh. "There's nothing you can do for us. Thanks for asking, though."

The mustachio'd Unicorn put a foreleg around his wife, hugging her tightly. The two ponies then turned away and left the building, leaving their daughter's friends to soak in the bad news... they weren't there to comfort, but share and find comfort in their own release.

That afternoon, only Apple Jack and her family would be leaving for the hospital. Pinkie and Fluttershy were too disturbed, and Twilight needed to comfort Spike... the dragon remained silent. She tried to get him to talk on the way back to the library, but he said nothing. Not even at the offering of gems did he even twitch. The drake sat through dinner, his meal undisturbed, and didn't cry until later... when he was snuggled up against Twilight in her bed and she was fast asleep. Even then it would have been barely precipitable to anypony, except for Spike. It was a sleepless, agonizing night for the poor baby dragon.

Apple Jack went into Rainbow's room a bit before her discharge. She was already in a sling and Nurses were taking her vitals when the farm pony stepped in. RD knew from the way AJ removed her hat that something bad had happened. Seeing how the family was right behind her, her first guess was Scootaloo. AJ shook her head and replied one word:

"Rarity."

With that word, tears welled up in Rainbow's eyes.

"Dead?"

Apple Jack nodded. Though AJ's approach had been a big tip off, somehow the Pegasus just knew...

Half an hour later out in the long hall of the hospital, having gone right back in, still in her wheel chair... Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack argued.

"I don't think we should tell Scootaloo yet, AJ," said RD. "She's been through enough."

"Yeah, and you remember what happened last time we weren't honest with her about one of her friends dying."

"This is totally different! She's here to rest and get healthy and strong! Imagine if somepony laid on Apple Bloom that Scootaloo had died just when she knew she was about to lose her home..."

Apple Jack sighed:

"Ya know... yer makin' a good point for once."

"For once?" Rainbow grinned. "AJ sometimes... the truth can be... what's that word Twilight uses? Counter-productive, I think?"

"Reckon I know what ya mean." Apple Jack put her hat back on and sighed. "To think I brought ma family along to help soften the blow... ya wanna come back to the Acres with me then?"

"Nah," Rainbow Dash got out of the chair and limped towards her friend. "Even though Scootaloo would be better off not knowing... she probably would still like a surprise visit from everypony."

"Well, Apple Bloom can't keep her mouth shut in this shape," said Apple Jack, thinking. "And Ah need to comfort her together with the rest of the family. Y'all can catch up if ya like. Gunna be a while until you're able to make it up to Cloudsdale again, ain't it?"

"Tell me about it," Rainbow replied, staring at her sling. "I'll be alright, AJ... it's just going to take me longer than usual. I'll be with you tonight, maybe Twilight tomorrow... 'kay?"

"Works for me. You're always welcome at The Acres."

Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack parted ways. The former went to visit Scootaloo's room empty hooved... the packages made by Pinkie rotted in the Corner.