The true nature of life and death was a topic that has been on Vinyl’s mind for more than a year. In the past, Vinyl never thought about what made something ‘alive’. She just knew that ponies were living creatures, plants were living creatures, and animals were living creatures. They would all behave similarly; all three needed to eat and drink, two of them needed to sleep, and one of them is sentient. Vinyl had once asked Neon what it means to be alive, seeing as how he could provide a scientific viewpoint of the subject.

Neon simply stated that to be ‘alive’ a creature would need a brain that controls a body, it would need to constantly convert resources into energy to stay alive, it would need a motive or ‘will’ to continue living, and it would have the need and ability to reproduce.

It was all simple and concrete facts. Living beings were alive and did all of those things in order to continue living. Something that was dead once did those things, but no longer does anymore. However, after Vinyl had stepped hoof into the Melody Grand Theatre that fateful year ago, her whole perception of what life is had changed.

Vinyl walked along the freshly mowed grass, traversing the field of grief to her destination. The mare soon dropped to her flank and opened her saddlebag. Gently, she levitated out a set of five roses, all wrapped up in an eloquent bouquet, and placed them on the grass with her magic. She was silent for some time after that, only looking at the tombstone with a sad smile.

“Hey, Tavi…” Vinyl began, her voice soft. “I still don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m still going to talk to you anyways.” The unicorn sniffed, but held herself firm. She would not cry; she promised herself she wouldn’t cry. Not yet. “Things have been good this past year. Neon went and got a full scholarship to the Canterlot University of Science and Engineering. He starts classes in a few months; I haven’t seen the kid this excited in years,” she smiled to herself, “I’m proud of him.”

There was a pause. Vinyl had to compose herself.

“Things have been good for me, too. A few weeks after you… after you left, some owner of a local club came in and saw me play my set. Apparently he liked what he saw, because he offered me a shot as one of his house DJ’s. I know, I know, I already am a house DJ, but… he payed me better.” She chuckled softly. “It wasn’t for a popular time slot, at first, but I’ve managed to work my way up. At this rate, the boss says I may make the prime slot in a few weeks. And that means I can play my own stuff instead of what they tell me to play.”

Vinyl paused again, this time struggling to keep the tears at bay.

“I… I miss you, Tavi. I miss you so much. There isn’t a day I don’t think about you. I… I wish you didn’t have to go…”

The dam broke, and Vinyl began to cry. The mare curled up into a small ball, head in hooves, and wept. In her distress, she failed to hear a pair of hooves slowly make their way over toward her.

“Do not cry, my little pony. She is in a better place, now.”

Slightly startled, Vinyl quickly stood up and wiped her eyes. She turned to address the newcomer, and had to rub her eyes once more to make sure she was seeing correctly. Once she was certain that the pony standing before her was the real thing, she stuttered out: “P-P-Princess?”

“I apologize, it was not my intent to frighten,” spoke the calm, motherly voice of the last pony Vinyl expected to see: Princess Celestia. Her mane flowed gracefully by an unseen wind; her face holding a warmth that soothed Vinyl’s crying.

Vinyl stared at the ruler of Equestria for many moments, shocked that she of all ponies would come to a common cemetary, let alone address a common pony such as herself. She eventually snapped out of her stupor, the white unicorn quickly bowed, pressing her muzzle into the cold earth. “O-oh! S-sorry, your highness.”

“You may rise, Vinyl.” Celestia gently motioned for Vinyl to stand back up. “It is I who should be apologizing: I am the one who is intruding on your mourning.”

Vinyl slowly rose. “O-oh, it’s fine… Wait, how do you know my name?”

Celestia’s horn glowed and, a second later, a plush velvet cushion appeared out of nowhere. She placed it on the grass and gently sat down. “I know all about you, Vinyl, and have seen what you have done here,” she smiled softly and motioned to the tombstone, “what you did for her.”

Vinyl rubbed her forehead, “B-But, how-”

“I have known about Mrs. Melody and her… unique predicament for a long time. As such, I have kept an eye on her and the old theatre. I know about what you did, and I thank you.”

Vinyl processed the princess’ words. A single fact stood out, and it made her question the solar diarch. “Wait… you knew about Octavia this entire time?”

Celestia noded sadly.

Vinyl took a deep breath. If Celestia knew about Octavia, then how come she hadn’t done anything to help in the past eighty years? The thought of the oldest, wisest, and most powerful pony neglecting a lost, lonely spirit sparked a fire in Vinyl. “But… so why didn’t you do anything? W-why didn’t you… you help her? Why did you just stand there and… and let her suffer?!” Vinyl knew full well who she was talking to, but she couldn’t help but raise her voice.

Celestia, for her part, lowered her gaze to the grass, a sadness spreading on her features. “I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But, know this: I have tried to help her. I did everything in my power to put her spirit to rest,” her head bowed in slight shame, “but it was all in vain. There are some things that are even beyond my control.”

Vinyl raised an agitated eyebrow. “What do you mean? You’re a princess! There must have been something you could have done!”

Celestia looked on at the angered mare with saddened eyes. “Vinyl, I know that you and the rest of my subjects believe me to be a god, but that simply isn’t true. I must follow the same rules as you. More so, actually. There are powers that are greater than I, and I know what happens when I try to meddle with their business.

“I have been alive for one-thousand and forty-three years. I have watched our kingdom rise from its ashes and flourish through ages of magical and technological advancements. I have both witnessed and defeated foes with near incomprehensible power. I have experienced first-hoof entirely new worlds beyond our own reality. And in all my years of witnessing, learning, and mastering, my knowledge of our entire existence is infinitesimally small. There are forces out there that we can hardly fathom. Forces that rule our existence. Forces that heavily impact our daily lives that we know nothing about.

“Once before, in my lifetime, have I seen a ghost, and in the past I have tried to meddle with those forces to help the poor, lost soul. That was a mistake. I brought only pain, not solice. I swore I would not make the same mistake again.” Celestia sighed. “I did what I could, making sure that the theatre was never to be disturbed until Octavia had passed. I wish I could have done more. It pained me. It still pains me. She had suffered so much, and was denied a happy and fulfilling life.” Celestia glanced back at the tombstone; a small smile crept onto her lips. “But,” she continued, “it all matters not, anymore. After years of loneliness and sorrow, her spirit was finally put to rest… and I have you to thank for that, Vinyl. You helped her see past all of the pain and hardships of her life. You helped her accept her true self. You helped her see past petty racism. Most importantly, you made her the happiest she’s ever been in both life and death.” Celestia bowed to the white unicorn, who stood slightly stunned. “I am in your debt, Ms. Scratch. You have brought some peace to this old mare, and righted a wrong which I could not.”

Vinyl watched as the princess rose, giving her a thankful smile. The unicorn shook her head slightly. She tried to form words, but failed. Eventually, the mare closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Princess. It means a lot.”

The solar diarch gave another small smile, then spread her mighty wings. “You’re welcome, my little pony. I thank you for what you have done, and I offer my condolences on your loss. But, I also wish for you to remember what you have gained. Death is only the loss of a life, and not of what they have done.” The princess gave another bow, then took to the sky, and disappeared in a flash of magical light.

Vinyl blinked, rubbing her eyes. Her lips formed a soft smile, then she turned back towards the grave. Her horn lit up, and she carved a simple message into the top of the stone, “V+O,” within a heart.

“Thanks for the memories…”

It was at that moment when Vinyl realized the true meaning of life and death. For as long as you keep the memories of one with you, they will never truly die.