A/N:
A little early, huh? Sorry, guys. I figure it’s best to just skip to the epilogue, instead of virtually forcing another chapter. It’s bad for the story.

But, but, but.

Do you like this story? Do you hate to see it go? Well, good news, everypony!

I am immediately beginning a new fiction. If you watch me, or just keep an eye on my page, you should see it very soon.

I hope you enjoyed this ride. But it’s slowly chugging to a stop...

Ponyville had long since flourished under the direction of one Twilight Sparkle-a legendary unicorn heard about across Equestria. She, unfortunately, was no longer with them.

However, in a way, she was. In the center of the town square, there stands a statue of Princess Celestia- Grand Princess of Equestria. Now, there stands a smaller statue next to it, depicting two ponies.

One of them was a smiling unicorn, a pair of glasses resting upon the nip of her nose. She was holding a clipboard in one hoof, and looking up towards the sky, smiling a wizened smile.
What she was looking at, was another pony.

The other pony was smiling, too. She looked confident, a renewed vigor of youth in her eyes. She was on a cushion resembling something close to a cloud, reaching down to the mare with glasses. Her wings were extended, as if in preparation to leap off the cloud and hug the other pony.

At the base of the intricate statue, there lay a plaque with an inscription that read words which echoed a lifetime's worth. It was wide, taking up almost the entire base, even wrapping around the sides, but it meant no less:

'In dedication to Twilight Sparkle,
The unicorn who invented many life changing cures and amenities.

She is the pony who found a cure for the dreaded wing rot, and a side-effect free cure to Two Turn Fever.

Twilight Sparkle was also the discoverer of the ever important 'wing transplant' method, allowing many previous pegasi grounded, to once more take flight. The first successful patient was Rainbow Alicia Dash, her faithful assistant and partner from years past. Miss Rainbow Dash is also worth dedicating this statue to, because not only is she the first pegasus who was willing to take the risk of transplant, she was the pony who drove Twilight to discover these cures.
May Ponyville, and all of Equestria remember these two as long as this town stands.'

The great library where she once took residence, still stood. Ponies flocked in and out at all hours-it never was a dull day for the two ponies who still lived within.

It was now that one of them-a small, yet not so small green pegasus filly-hesitated at a large oaken door. She knew that it was her mother's room, but was it OK to enter?

Eventually, she knocked. A cracking, raspy voice issue from within. "Come in."

The small pony hesitantly stepped into the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. A few framed pictures of a smiling lavender mare hung around the room, along with some posters, mainly of the 'Wonderbolts'. Then the cyan face that she knew as 'mom' addressed her, and she smiled.

"Still got that cold?" asked the green pegasus.

Her mother forced a smile onto her face. "Afraid so, Emerald." she stated. "Nothing keeps 'the Dash' down for too long, though, and you know that."

Emerald couldn't help but to chuckle. "I guess...anyways, I..." She trailed off, before taking a breath and continuing. "...I came to ask about who she is."

The pegasus in front of her sighed, dropping her head down. "I knew this day would come..." she muttered. "But...I think you're old enough. You're almost ready to move into the world. Come on," she said. "Take a seat. I have a long story to tell."

Who is that mare? Who could she be?

That mare, sweetie, is, and always has been, the love of my life. We've been through some crazy times, and you're gonna hear most of them. Let's begin at the start, though.

I remember that day only about a decade ago, when I was barely a young adult, excited to get out in the world. I was doing my job as a weather patrol pony, and then she walked right in.

Right then, as soon as I heard her sweet voice, my heart lept for joy. I thought I'd finally found her.

But I had to keep quiet-she was a relatively gentle soul, and I didn't want to scare her. I didn't even know if...ahem...her barn door even swung that way.

I sat there for a whole year and a half, of simply biting my lip and pretending that we were just really great friends. It was horrible, and I even found myself occasionally whispering her name in my sleep as I awoke.

The day came when a flock of crows decided to drop into Ponyville. Long story short, she was in trouble, and I saved her. I got my eyes scratched something bad, and I couldn't see a thing. I was blinded.

I had to get them bandaged, and then she took me in, with the kindness of her heart. It was only worse, keeping that secret from her, especially when I was living in her house, as we do now. I had to stay for two weeks.

She cared for me during that entire time, and I had to fight the impulse to just blurt it out. If any time was to admit it, it certainly wasn't then.

It finally came time to take the bandages off, and I was overjoyed! I could see again! But...

The first thing that I saw was her. And I couldn't help it-my heart did a big scadoompaloomp, and I just leaned forward, and kissed her with all of my heart. I couldn't even find the words to express how much I loved her.

I thought for sure that she would despise me from then on. I was ready to take flight out of there, when she looked me straight in the eyes-my legs were jelly by then-and told me that she loved me, too.

And then began the journey of my life.

When one of my best friends perished due to a dastardly disease, she was upset, and so was I. But being the emotionally vulnerable pony she was, I had to comfort her. And the hours I spent, simply holding her while she cried...

I'd never felt more starstruck, and concerned than ever before.
However, I was wrong there.

A while later, the disease was to be vanquished-a cure had been found, and we both rushed down there, wishing to avoid being the target of another's mourning.

I was scared of needles, very much so. But she held my hoof, and talked me through it. After that, I'd never felt closer to her than before.

I was still wrong.

One of the side effects was Wing Rot. Of the 1 in 10,000 odds...

I was the one.

I didn't know for a while. In fact it was one night gazing at the sunset when it happened. I was sheltering her with my wings, holding her close, stroking her hair...when suddenly, she looks up, begins whispering a prayer to Celestia, and...faints.

I asked her, and when she told me, I was confused. I had no idea what it was, until she explained.

The muscles, skin, and nerves in my wings were slowly being eaten away by some sort of bacterial parasite. I would not fly again, if I was lucky.

...best case scenario, I was gonna' die. It was going to spread to the rest of me, and I was going to die.

I'll be honest. I cried, OK? No wait, I sobbed. I was 23, and I was already destined to die? I just...my dreams were crushed instantaneously.

That night on the balcony, we each cried each other to sleep. I didn't want to leave her, and she didn't want to be left without me. It was a mutual, sad feeling.

It was a while later, and I'm in the hospital, glumly awaiting my fate. Who else to walk in but her?

...oh yeah, and my freakin' lifelong idol.

Together, they eventually explain that there is a way to keep me alive-amputation. But...

Then I wouldn't fly again.

Flying was my whole life! Taking that away would be like taking her magic! I explained that, and...she just broke down.

I had snapped a little, and so I apologized for that. But then she said what we were both thinking...

I was right. And that was what made it all the worse.

So I get her to look at me, and I look deep, deep into her eyes. The tears that were leaking out just broke my heart, and it only made me want to do it more.

I gave her the choice of life, or death.

She didn't trust herself, I could tell that. She kept objecting, but I told her that I both loved and trusted her enough for the choice.

She stopped, and then she just...

Let's just say that was the saddest kiss ever. She said afterwards, that she guessed she'd have to make the 'right choice'.

I woke up about a day later. As in, woke up. I knew then what choice she'd made. I hoped it was a dream, that I still had my wings, that we were still together...

But I remained wingless.

She kept apologizing, she kept saying it was her fault. But it was mine. I was the one who'd made her choose, and I was the one who was sorry.

Because she saved my life.

We're in the middle of arguing, and who else to show up but the princess herself?

I'm going to skip over this one. But everything was just a little tragedy caused by lack of attention.

After all of this, I was still unsure if she was still devoted to me. I mean, she fell in love with me-the pegasus! Now, without my flight...what would she see in me?

So I did possibly the stupidest thing I could:

I spouted lies at her, insulted her, and ran out.

I waited for two whole hours, waiting for her to look for me, to see if she still loved me no matter what. I even waited through the rain. I was just about to give up, when I heard her.

I knew then, that she did.

I walked over, and covered her from the rain before filling her in on the whole thing.

...I don't know if she hated me or not. But I got a nice hug, so I suppose it worked.

We, of course, had our crazy share of adventures from then on. But we also had our own romantic nights out, too.

Finally, my birthday rolled around-I was turning 25 that year. I'll, uh...skip the first half of that day. But we got back to the library.

Another long, story within a story short, she...

She asked me to marry her.

I think you know what I said, after I regained the ability to speak.

That day finally rolled around a month later. I couldn't have been happier. That is, until our honeymoon began...

But hey, you're too young to hear about that stuff.

So we finally get back to the library, and she turns to me.

She says she had three things to tell me.

When we weren't...doing things...on our honeymoon, she'd apparently been researching. And she knew 3 things.

She'd discovered a side effect free cure to the very disease that took my friend. All that was missing was a 'Phoenix's feather to counteract the damp-dwelling organism'.

She'd discovered a cure to Wing Rot-'The secret is a mix of saltpeter, crushed sunflower petals, and a tiny additive of Trifiscus Blue Posy Nectar'.

And...she didn't tell me the last one. Instead, she just led me to the hospital. Apparently, they were expecting me. I was given a room, and it was there that she told me.

She could give me my wings back.

I thought she was joking, but she wasn't. After a 'risky' operation, I did have my wings back. I was so overjoyed.

But there was an exception.

They were still unusually sensitive, and thus flying wasn't an option. The nerves and muscles lost needed time to regenerate...and they still have been. Anything beyond three seconds' flight hurts like hay to this day. I am pretty optimistic, though. She said that it would only be so long...

About that sensitive thing...I swear to this day, I can sense danger with them. They just pop open even before I know anything's wrong. Also, the things that she d-...

I really gotta quit rambling like that.

But where has she gone?

I...I don't know...Twilight-that's her-left for a business trip years ago...and she still hasn't come back...right before she left, though...

"...her and I adopted you, Emerald. Twilight Sparkle is your long lost...well, other mother."

The filly blinked, mouth agape. Ask a simple question, get a life story... "I, uh...ponies can like each other that way?" she asked, voice brimming with bewilderment. "Like...two mares?"

Her rainbow maned mother figure laughed. "Oh, silly little Emerald Twide..." she managed. "I think you'll find that love holds no barriers soon enough..."

The filly sighed. "Rrriiiggghhhtt..."

The cyan figure arose, brushing past the stunned green pegasus. "If you'll excuse me..." she said. "I'm going to..." she sniffed. "...mourn by her g-er, ‘statue’..."

Rainbow stared at the ground in front of her, looking at the simple plaque commemorating the love of her life.

Gone.

A tear slowly made its way to the corners of her eyes.

She’s been gone...

The pegasus sighed, placing the single rose she’d brought with her onto the simple mound of dirt.

...for 10 years.

The chirping of birds did nothing to break Rainbow Dash from her grief, rather it only cruelly reminded her of what Twilight was not.

Alive.

I...she never got to watch her...our child grow up. Become her own pony.

The sky was bright, but bright described anything but the pegasus’ demeanor.

She never got to finish that book series she started.

Tears now freely flowed onto the ground.

And she never got to see the legacy that she left behind...

I can almost hear her voice now...

Sighing, the pegasus dwelt on the fragment of voice that she ever so wished that she could hear. “Rainbow, I’m back!”

A small, strangled sob escaped her throat. Too bad she’ll never say anything like it...

Closing her eyes tight to the world, the cyan mare lay down next to the simple gray headstone stating the years that the unicorn had lived, and-

“Rainbow, what are you doing? I’m kind of up here...”

The pegasus’ eyes shot open as she looked up. Could it be true? Or was it yet another grief induced hallucination?

Through the speckles of water that clouded her vision, the broken Dash made out a mess of a pony. Her hair hung in tattered, frayed ends, and glasses-which were missing a lense-teetered dangerously on her nose, threatening to fall off. The pony who stood in front of her only stood on 3 legs, her weight shifted mostly to her front-right forehoof. Her rear left hind leg was wrapped in bandages, and the mysterious unicorn seemed to be taking scrupulous care not to put any weight on it.

Most strange of all, there was a deep scar on the pony’s right cheek, contrasting against the lavender coat that she adorned. But she knew that she knew this pony...

“...Twilight...” said Rainbow, absently reaching a hoof out, as if to touch the figure, verifying that it wasn’t a hallucination.

“...Dash...” whispered the unicorn, before flinging herself at the pegasus, knocking her to the ground with a hug beyond any other.

Surprisingly enough, the pegasus’ shoulders began shaking, until she began crying. In seconds, however, she managed to compose herself. She had questions to ask.

“Twilight, I...I have so much to...just...where were you?”

The unicorn frowned. “Not in a good place. The relations between the Zebras and the Griffins had apparently broken down. I was...caught in the crossfire, and taken prisoner.

I worked as a slave for years in the griffon camp, and it was only a whole year ago that I managed to escape. But I was without direction...it was horrible, Rainbow, just...horrible...”

Dash gently brushed the unicorn’s hair aside, catching the tear that had leaked out of her eyes. “I...I can’t even tell you how much I missed you...”

Twilight picked herself up off from the pegasus, wincing as her rear leg was forced to take weight to hoist herself aloft. “That’s going to smart for a few weeks...” she muttered. “Darn guard caught me with a stone as I was just about out of range...”

Rainbow looked the unicorn in the eyes as she stood up. “But you’re OK,” she whispered. “And you’re back. That’s all that matters now.”

The purple mare smiled, but as soon as she did, the weary grin faded from her face. “How is she...?”

“She’s fine, Twilight...the only thing missing from her life is you.”

“I-”

The pegasus silenced Twilight Sparkle with a hoof to her muzzle. “The only thing that’s been missing here in my life, is you too. And I’m not losing you again. Ever. Especially not for 10 years. You scared us all, Twi’, all right? You gotta’ be more careful! As you can see, I was worrying my damn-”

The cyan pegasus’ frantic, worried chidings quickly became a series of distorted muffles as the purple unicorn brushed aside the hoof that kept her silent, and instead of halting the stream of words with a forehoof, halted the worried ramblings with the soft touch of her lips.

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, taking in the blissful feeling that now surrounded her. No longer was there a hole in her heart, she felt complete. I have a family, I have a job, I still have a dream...

But I have her.

She was called back to simpler times-when she was a younger pony, frolicking around in Ponyville, when her spirit was free and her heart longed for the free range, the adventure. The moment when she had first met the purple mare was called to attention. She had been so young, so naive, going to juvenile tactics to impress her. But, it was herself. And being herself had worked.

As she reminisced, grasping Twilight close to her in what had now turned into a hug, she noticed the weightless feeling that she felt as the burden of worry was finally freed from her shoulders. As she held the mare who was one in one hundred-no, in one thousand-no, in one billion-in her hooves as she clung tight in return.

What she didn’t notice was how the ground slowly receded from below her, becoming 10 feet below her, then 40, then 100, then more, or how her wings absently beat. Her eyes were closed in pure nirvana.

Rainbow Dash had taken flight for the first time in 12 years.

But as for her heart, it had already taken flight 15 years ago. And in the presence of the stunning purple mare, it was always flying.

She smiled. She’d finally discovered it, after over a decade’s worth of searching.

She’d discovered that there was more than one way to fly...