5 months and 3 weeks after Cadence’s Death ( September 5)

        Applejack woke up early and did some of the taxes for the Apple family and also paid some of the bills. She, however, didn't know that just last week Iskandar and the rest of the damn system had all agreed to increase the tax on all Apple family products by 7 bits. This didn't help her family at all. She wrote and letter to Iskandar explaining why. All he'd said in response was:

        My dearest Applejack,

        The parliament had increased the tax on Apple family products because the price of the bit went up and thus as a collective decision by all of us and Celestia. Luna and I did disagree with it though. Anyway, I had to increase the price of pretty much everything including Apple family related products. I wish I could otherwise help you and give you what you all want, but it's simple economics and very impossible to make everypony happy.  If I were you, I'd save every bit you can Applejack and hopefully you can all make out of this okay and I do hope the price can go down soon.

        Yours.

        Prime Minister Sliver Swirl

        She threw away the letter shortly after she read it out of frustration. Applejack had a good rant afterward that Big Mac patiently listened to, about how it would leave the Apple family bankrupt and out looking for other jobs, or even second jobs – which she was considering due to the news. AJ let out a depressed sigh and got up. Today wasn't a day to be depressed. It was a day to be happy because it was going to have Pinkie’s biggest party ever in it.  She put on the biggest smile she could and headed out to the party.

        When she got there she saw that there was a symphony playing some songs. She found it weird that Octavia wasn't there, though the word was she was on vacation with her family in Zebrica.  She sighed as she looked at the festivities and decoration; there were balloons and games for everypony. The fillies were having the time of their lives, while their parents were too.  Applejack couldn't find a genuine smile when she saw Ponyville celebrating Pinkie's going-away, so she wore one plastered on her face. Apple Bloom was already there, setting up shop for the Apples before Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle came to her.

        Sweetie and Scootaloo looked overjoyed.

        “Can Ah ask what's with y'all?” Apple Bloom wondered.

        “I'm going to sing onstage!” Sweetie said, “I have a new song I wrote that I'm gonna use.”

        “Well my news is better,” Scootaloo with her wings up confidently.

        “How so?” Apple Bloom asked.

        The next moment they hugged in joy and Applejack was curious as to what they were so happy about. “What're y’all so jovial about?” Applejack asked

        “I got a letter of acceptance in the mail for the Wonderbolt Academy!” the young pegasus exclaimed excitedly. Once Dash had died, Scoots had been in shock and had slipped into a deep depression at such a huge blow. At one point she had actually contemplated suicide, but after considering it she'd realized that would've never been what her unofficial sister would've wanted. So instead she decided to better her life, becoming an excellent flier and even applying to the academy.

        “Ah'm proud o' ya, Scoots, and your sister would've been proud too...very proud,” Applejack said with joyful look on her face, hugging Scootaloo.

        “I'm sure Dash would be too,” she replied, looking up at the sky with a tear in her eye.

        “Go an' celebrate,” Applejack told her. Scootaloo nodded and ran off.

        “Well I better go on and get up on stage,” Sweetie said with a sigh.

        “Ah’ll be walkin' 'round if ya need anything Apple Bloom,” Applejack told her before trotting off.

        The orange mare walked around and saw there was a hat making station and the local Ponyville restaurants were busier than apple-bucking season.  She then saw Twi and Sliver talking and the alicorn looked really sad.

        “Cheer up Twilight, please,” Sliver Swirl said with sincerity, putting his hoof under her chin, “If I were to make the call I would have you  travel to the Empire. Plus, do you really want Pinkie to see you down?”

        “No,” Twilight admitted while wiping her tears away, “I just hope Celestia was making the right decision.”

        “I hope so too,” he agreed, smiling, “Now I didn't come here to bring work with me. I came here to enjoy a party, if you'll excuse me.”

        Applejack wanted to talk to Twilight, but she wanted to speak with her friend more privately, so she decided to wait and shrugged it off for the moment in order to enjoy the party. Soon the music began. Fluttershy appeared and AJ and Twi were happy to see her out of her cottage and socializing. Apple cider was soon on sale at the party and Iskandar was generous enough to pay for cider for himself and the three mares. The party wore on through the entire night and wrapped up by the beginning of the next day.

        ~

        The next week was when Rarity and Pinkie were leaving Ponyville for good. Applejack and Twilight been dreading the day for months, but it was time to face it head on. It appeared that it was scheduled to rain for that day; fitting in Applejack's opinion.  Rarity was going to be the first to leave because the grand opening of her new Canterlot boutique was in two days. Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, and her parents were there to say to goodbye to her.

        “Are you sure, you can't stay in Ponyville?” Twilight asked her.

        “I'm sure darling. This town is too sad for me to stay and I have more opportunity in Canterlot,” Rarity replied with a faint smile, "And plus the work load is getting too much to handle."

        Sweetie Belle gave her a long hug and started crying.

        “Don't worry Sweetie, I’ll invite you to the Gala and you can visit me anytime, when you have the chance to,” Rarity assured.

        “You're right,” Sweetie Belle replied, sniffling before wiping at her eyes.

        Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack hugged her goodbye and Twilight shed a few tears along with Fluttershy.

        “Will I see you all at the Gala this year?” Rarity asked.

        “You bet,” Applejack replied.

        “You can count on it,” Twilight agreed.

        “Yes,” Fluttershy said softly, nodding.

        After Rarity's parents said goodbye, Twilight helped the white unicorn get her things on the train and gave her one last hug before they parted ways. They waved goodbye to her up until Rarity disappeared out of sight. Pinkie was next up and the Cakes were crying non-stop. Pinkie's mane was dark and deflated from its usual bouncy curls.

        “Ya don't have t' leave Pinkie, you still have them,” Applejack said, gesturing to the Cakes.

        “Its fine,” Pinkie said with a faint smile, “They'll survive without me. Thanks to Dash’s death, among other things, I don't want the happiness my parties bring to be only here in Ponyville, but across all of Equestria. But it's only a one-time deal.”

        “But you could come back here,” Fluttershy assured.

        “I’m sorry, Fluttershy, but AJ and Maud made realize that I miss my real family. It's also getting sad staying in Ponyville without thinking about Dashie,” Pinkie said.

        So, that's what she meant, Applejack thought, remembering what Twilight had told her in the bar a couple of months ago.

        Pinkie then hugged all the Cakes one last time along with the girls as they helped her with her stuff. After that, they waved goodbye and the pink earth pony was on her way to Manehattan. Applejack looked at Twilight who was walking away for the train station with her head down, Applejack saw her and she understand what she was going through and complaining if she should hug her or not. She decided to and she did  

"I'm goin' to miss them to Twi", she said hugging her tight as she cried in her arms

"First Dash, now them", she said in tears as she buried her face in AJ's chest

"Its mighty fine Twi, you still got me and Fluttershy", she said stroking her mane  

She wiped away her tears and looked up at Applejack

"You're right", she with a faint smile

        ~

        A day later, Twilight looked  exhausted than before and some of Ponyville's residents started to take notice, so AJ decided to ask her what was wrong.

        “What's up Twi?” she asked.

        “Just everything that's happened is crashing down on me I think; that, and it also has do to with a lot stress,” Twilight replied with a slightly irritated sigh.

        “Stress from what?”

        “I have a meeting coming up with the Griffin King in a couple of weeks. It was my one opportunity to meet my brother again, but Celestia said no because I could be influenced by him.”

        “Well that don't make a lick o' sense. But why are you meeting the king in the first place?”

        Twilight exhaled wryly. “Apparently he hasn't been the same since Cadence's and Skyla's death. He took it much harder than any of us initially thought. According to Sliver, Shining is getting ready to go to war with the griffins. The meetings will take place at the same time and it all rests with me talking to the King and for the other princesses to calm Shining Armor down.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 5 Estimated time remaining: 57 Minutes