She gazed out at the rows of trees and let out a content sigh. Life was good. She lay against one of those trees, merely enjoying the suns warmth and the company of the mare beside her. She looked over and smiled as her friend mirrored it. Together they watched as the sun was eclipsed by dark, churning clouds as it began to rain blood.

An rthymic sound broke through the haze of sleep, perpetual and unrelenting, forcing the conscious to rouse. The eyes slowly opened but could see only darkness. Panicking, the mind willed the body to react, jumping from the bed in which it laid. Responding but not in the way the mind intended. The body fell heavily to the floor, bringing full awareness to the mind.

Rarity let out a soft groan of pain and rolled onto her side. With another grunt she was on her hooves. Her body screamed at every motion, every bone and joint ached. Ignoring the pain, Rarity moved towards the full length mirror across the room. The sound of her hooves striking the stone beneath added their tempo to the rain beating against the window. A flash of lighting briefly illuminated the room, revealing further sources of light.

With a spark of magic, two lamps adjacent to the mirror flared to life, casting enough light as to allow adequate viewing of her reflection. The sight made her recoil in horror. Her well-kept mane and tail were in shambles, multiple bags resided underneath her bloodshot eyes, and her flawless alabaster fur was dull and lifeless. In a word, she looked absolutely horrid.

Averting her gaze, Rarity extinguished the lamps and fled the room. Slamming the door behind her, she found herself in a deserted corridor.

“Strange, This is not where my room is located. I wonder how….?” Rarity’s eyes flew open as recent events broke through the fragile wall around her psyche.

“Applejack!”

All former thoughts and pain were abandoned. Rarity broke into a run, desperately trying to orient herself so as to find her way back to Applejacks room. Dodging furniture and ponies alike, she stopped for nopony.

Entering into the main hall of Canterlot Castle, Rarity knew exactly where she needed to go. Pouring more energy into her legs, she rounded the corner of the correct corridor and saw that the room she sought was open. Without hesitation, Rarity raced towards the threshold but stopped short just before entering.

She saw Applejack, laying on her bed, a peaceful smile adorning her lips. Standing beside the bed was Dr. Brown and one of his aids who was taking notes on a clipboard. Their mouths moved like they were speaking, but Rarity could hear nothing, she didn’t want to hear anything. Everything lost meaning as she watched Dr. Brown slowly pull a white sheet over her friend’s body.

“No….please…no.”

A grief stricken wail escaped Rarity’s lips as she stood there in the doorway. Dr. Brown whirled to face her but was thrown aside as she rushed to the bedside. Sobbing uncontrollably, Rarity ripped the sheet from the bed and pulled Applejacks still form into an embrace.

The aid helped Dr. Brown to his hooves as Rarity rocked back and forth on the bed, clutching Applejack all the while. Her cries of anguish echoing through the castle, sending chills down the spines of all who heard.

“Rarity! It will be alright! Please! Listen to me!” Dr. Brown said, frantically trying calm the beleaguered mare.

Rarity however was inconsolable. Her wails continued to sound out through the castle, drawing ponies from their rest much like the call of the damned.

A crowd began to gather in the corridor. Many angry at being awoken but most wanting only to know the cause of such cries. A single Pegasus forced her way through the crowd and found her way into the room. Tears fell freely from Fluttershy’s eyes as she walked slowly to the bedside and laid a comforting hoof on Rarity’s shoulder.

From down the hall a shout was heard. “Make way for the Princess! Make way!” The crowd obediently parted allowing Princess Luna passage. She walked forward addressing the crowd as she did so. “All of you. Leave them to their grief.”

As one the gathered ponies bowed and dispersed. Luna entered the room. “Doctor, if you and your assistant could wait outside.”

“Of course your highness.” Bowing low, Dr. Brown and his aid left the room, closing the door gently behind them. Luna approached the sorrowful gathering and placed her own hoof unto Rarity’s other shoulder. Her wails had reduced themselves to choked sobs, accented by Fluttershy’s small sniffles.

For a time, none of them spoke, until Rarity broke the silence with a whisper. “I..I…ne…never…told…her….her how…I felt.” She said in between choked sobs. “That…I…I loved her.” Rarity squeezed Applejack tighter as fresh tears spilled out. “And now…I’ll never…be…able to.” She finished, bury her head into the mane of the friend she loved so dearly.

“She knew.” Luna said softly. “In her last moments, Applejack dreamt of you, Rarity.”

Heart wrenching sobs were her only reply. Princess Luna left the two to their grief, the grief of a friend and of love not fulfilled. Stepping out into the hall, Princess Luna quietly closed the door behind her, all but silencing the sounds from within. She saw Dr. Brown several steps away conversing with her sister.

“Yes your highness, barely twenty minutes ago.” Princess Celestia sighed sadly. “Thank you doctor. Go and get some rest.” With a nod and a thank you, Dr. Brown left for his room, leaving the two sisters alone.

Luna and Celestia said nothing, both listening to the tortured sobs from the room beyond. “I sent word to her family, they’ll be arriving around midday.”

“Did you tell them?”

Celestia shook her head. “No, such news should only be told in person.”

Luna nodded her head in affirmation as silence once again prevailed. The fur on her neck stood on end as Luna was alerted to a presence behind her. Spinning in place, she was met with the emotionless eyes of Pinkie Pie.

“I’ve come to say goodbye.” Pinkie said simply, locking eyes with Luna.

“We…you!” Luna felt Celestia hoof on her shoulder and she immediately calmed down.

“Yes, of course.”

Pinkie Pie said nothing more as she walked past the two Princess without a glance and entered the room.

“That one is not natural.”

“All things have their purpose.” Celestia said, nodding at the door. “Steadfast has asked to speak with us, best not to keep him waiting.” Celestia walked away. With a sigh and a backward glance, Luna followed in her sister’s wake. Coming to the end of the corridor, one last sorrowful cry reached her ears before falling silent.