The party had made their way back to the airship, quickly flying out of Sin before it shut its maw. While floating above the clouds, the sunset casting a golden glow around them. The group, sans Rarity, stood on the upper deck as they saw all the aeons hovering in place, able to see what was under Anima when it was summoned. Fluttershy continued dancing, sending the fayth, along with Sin. All of them disappeared, sending several spiritual orbs out of their fading bodies, millions of them exploding out of Sin as they began to rise up into the sky, phasing through the airship to reach the Farplane.

Now the fayth have finally all been put to rest from their millennium long dreaming. Spira was finally freed from its torment thanks to Fluttershy and her guardians, no one never having to fear Sin causing destruction to their homes and senselessly killing those unfortunate to get in its way. Unfortunately, everyone's happy ending won't be so happy on this day.

While the mares and dragon looked up at the floating spirits flying away, Rainbow Dash began feeling a little strange. She looked down at her hooves, her eyes widening as they began to fade away a little. It was time for her to go, watching them go back to being physical again. As soon as she looked up, Fluttershy saw what had happened to her. Her eyes welled up with tears, shaking her head in disbelief. Rainbow Dash was going to leave them, just like she said earlier.

"No...Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy whispered.

"...I'm sorry, Fluttershy," Rainbow said, keeping her emotions in check as she was about to leave everyone behind. It hurt just to have to say goodbye, but she wanted it to be quick before it got too depressing. "I have to go...Sorry I couldn't show you guys Zanarkand in its heyday..."

"Rainbow Dash, what are you talking about?" Twilight asked, the rest of them still confused by Rainbow's choice of words before they fought Faust.

"...Everything will make sense when you all view that sphere." The pegasus began walking up to the front of the ship, stopping for a moment next to Fluttershy. "Goodbye..."

As Rainbow walked past Fluttershy, she watched her, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why do you have to go? You promised me you weren't going away!" Before the cyan pegasus could reach the edge, Fluttershy ran up to her. "I don't want you to go!"

Rainbow quickly turned around to catch the upset summoner as she leapt into her, but the moment they were about to touch, Fluttershy went right through her. The others stared in shock, Fluttershy collapsing to the ground as she practically pounced air and landed hard on her stomach with a painful thud. Rainbow Dash was just as stunned, though with her entire body slowly beginning to disappear, it saddened her as she couldn't even touch anyone anymore.

"W-What the hay is going on!?" Twilight asked, completely baffled by what had just happened. "I-Is Rainbow an unsent too?"

"Why is this happening!?" Pinkie cried, tears shooting out of her eyes like waterfalls as she sobbed. "Why is the world so cruel!?"

"Nothin' makes a lick of sense anymore," Applejack mumbled, hiding her eyes underneath her hat. "She's really gonna leave us...Ah thought we were all gonna make it..."

"But now...everything's going to fall apart on us...without Rarity...or Rainbow Dash." Twilight teared up, now about to lose another friend, and it was the one pony who remained optimistic over saving the world while everypony else wanted to give up.

Spike said nothing, only bowing his head while Twilight, Pinkie, and even Applejack shed tears, forced to see Rainbow Dash disappearing on them. Fluttershy slowly stood up, ignoring the painful flop as her heart hurt more than her belly. Her fear had come true after all. She didn't want to lose Rainbow Dash, not after all they had gone through. She had so many questions, but the cyan mare couldn't answer them because it was a more painful goodbye than watching a loved one die before their eyes.

No longer will she be able to be with her. Her romance with Rainbow Dash ended far sooner than she expected. Fluttershy wished she could stop this, but what could she do? Rainbow wasn't dead. She isn't an unsent. Fluttershy had no choice but to watch her lover leave her though unknown circumstances that only Rainbow knew and she couldn't say. She should have realized just how serious Rainbow Dash was last night, wanting to spend her final hours of peace with her, to leave with positive memories of their love.

If Rainbow was going to leave, then she had to say one last thing before she was gone forever. "...I love you, Rainbow Dash."

The cyan pegasus's ears perked up and turned her head to Fluttershy. They drooped down, seeing just how depressed the summoner already was, and she didn't fully disappear yet. This was what Rainbow didn't want, but either way it went, it was going to be a sad goodbye. She slowly approached Fluttershy and sat next to her, carefully wrapping her forelegs and wing around her shoulders, parts of her phasing through her, but enough to make it seem like she was really hugging her. It hurt being unable to feel her fur brush against her marefriend's, but the gesture was as close as it could be with the little time she had left.

"I love you too, Fluttershy," Rainbow whispered in Fluttershy's ear.

While in Rainbow's embrace, Fluttershy slowly reached a hoof out to touch the mare's foreleg, only to have it go through. Eventually, Rainbow needed to go before she truly faded away in front of everyone. She let go of the summoner and walked past her, her wing phasing through her body as Rainbow walked forward. Rainbow wanted to look back, to have one last look at her friends and marefriend before she left, but she didn't want to make her farewell more depressing than it already is. Taking a deep breath, the pegasus ran off, leapt up into the air, and dove down into the clouds, her body disappearing from sight as she truly left Spira.

Flying through the clouds, Rainbow made it to the Farplane, where she saw several others who had lost their lives and were sent. She spotted Rarity and Fluttershy's father, Kindred Heart as she flew past them, but out of all the deceased, she was focused on two ponies she was headed toward; her parents. They saw her approaching, holding out their forelegs as she ran into them, embracing them tightly. Despite all their faults and terrible actions they had made in the past, the three pegasi were happy as they were ready to start their lives as a family over in the Farplane.

"I knew you could do it, Dashie," Jet said, surprising his wife as he had called their daughter by her nickname.

"Yeah, but that's because I had an awesome dad," Rainbow complimented, only confusing the older mare.

"Ok, what's gotten into you two?" she asked. "Rainbow, I thought you didn't like your father."

"Well, we've been through a lot. And I finally said I hated him in his face...But, he was afraid of screwing up when it came to being a dad." The two rainbow haired pegasi looked at each other, Jet Stream giving Rainbow a wink. "I feel a lot better, and I'm ready to start over with him...Though that's gonna be hard to do since I'm not a filly anymore."

"Then how about we have some family bonding time with some blitzball?" Jet grabbed a cloud, forming it into a physical blitzball. "You two against me. But don't think I'm gonna go easy on you just because you're mares."

Rainbow and her mother stared blankly at the cocky stallion as he spun the ball around in his hoof. "Oh you did not just say that. Jet, you have no idea how much I want to hit you for disappearing on me."

"Then show me that aggression on the field!" Jet threw the ball at his wife, too slow to react as it hit her chest.

"That is it! Get back here, Jet!" she shouted as she chased after the guffawing stallion, Rainbow grabbing the cloudy blitzball and chasing after them.

Even though it hurt to leave Fluttershy and her friends in Spira behind, Rainbow Dash hoped that what she made for them wouldn't be all for nothing. Being a dream, she had no idea if her influence would still be with their memories or if they were wiped out the moment she disappeared, but she was glad to know Fluttershy was safe. She didn't sacrifice herself to stop Sin. She didn't let her die by Blueblood's hoof. She was going to live out the rest of her life in a peaceful world with everyone else in Spira, and maybe in time, the two might meet each other in the Farplane one day.

Several hours passed as the sun had set and night rested over Spira. As much as everyone should be celebrating saving the world, inside the airship was a different story. While most of the crew were grateful for Fluttershy and her guardians for defeating Sin, Cid, Pinkie's sisters, and Cheese noticed they were missing two members of their group. It was hard enough just retelling what had happened to Rainbow Dash, having disappeared through the clouds, the ponies on the bridge not even seeing her fade away from existence.

"'Disappear?' How the hay is that possible?" Cid asked, though the answer was a mystery to the grieving party.

"None of us know," Twilight responded, her tears dried away by Mog holding a tissue. "She didn't even tell us the reason why..." The unicorn gasped as she recalled Rainbow's warning before finally confronting Faust. "Wait. That sphere she gave Fluttershy. She said that would explain everything..."

Remembering the sphere, Fluttershy pulled it out from her sleeves, all of them curious about what Rainbow Dash wanted to tell them. She set the sphere down on one of the nearby consoles and played back what was recorded. The sphere showed the night sky on top of the airship, the view turned from the calm, starry sky over the clouds to Rainbow Dash's face, setting it down as she made sure it was working. She backed up until she was in full view, looking a little sad.

"Hey, guys," the pegasus said, rubbing her foreleg with one of her hooves. "If any of you are watching this...then you know that I'm gone..." Rainbow let out a deep sigh, having no clue where to start. "...I know this is hard to understand, but I'm not exactly what you think I am. And no, I'm not unsent...At least, I don't think it's like that...I didn't really find out until I had suddenly passed out back on Mt. Gagazet, after we killed Blueblood...again.........I'm not supposed to exist, because...I'm a dream created by the fayth."

Everyone present gasped in shock and confusion. "A dream?"

"I don't know how I'm real, and I can't explain it any better way. I was told that by Bahamut when I was out cold." Rainbow grumbled, her explanation given to her by the small dragon only brief with little information as to how it was possible. She looked back at the sphere, looking worried. "...Fluttershy, we both talked to Bahamut in Bevelle, and we had our own little conversation about his and the other fayths' with their dreams...This explains how I knew him in Zanarkand, before Sin ever arrived a thousand years ago. My life, my family...MY Zanarkand...all of it was a dream by the fayth...A living dream, destined to stop their dreaming, and ending Sin.

"Just like how Rarity hid everything from us about Zanarkand, I didn't want you guys to stop because of me...If anything, I would rather fade away from existence and leave you guys in a safer world than living and having Sin destroy everything...Though, I don't know what'll happen if I disappear." Rainbow let out a dry chuckle, messing with her mane. "I'm actually scared about what'll happen. How I would disappear? When it would happen? Would I feel pain or nothing when I leave? Will you guys still remember me when I go, or will I just be a distant memory that fades along with me?...I really don't know, and I hope this sphere doesn't disappear too.

"...Now I'm rambling like Twilight with her lectures about Spira and things I still can't understand." Twilight grumbled at Rainbow's comment on her rambling, though she couldn't deny she does do that when explaining anything. "Anyway, that's all I can explain as clear as I could about me...but...I guess that's that...Being in Spira had really made me see just how screwed up everything this world had, and I was right to be suspicious about everything...Even though there were a lot of depressing moments, ponies getting killed, horrible truths none of us wanted to know...I'm really glad I went on this long journey with you all.

"...And Fluttershy?...I'm sorry I had to lie to you." Fluttershy whimpered, all of them watching as Rainbow Dash had tears in her eyes. "...I know you hate me for hiding this from you, but I had to stay quiet. I didn't want you or the others to stop after we found out how we can stop Sin once and for all...I can understand if you don't trust me anymore. All I care about, right now, is to leave you and the others in a safer world, where nopony has to give up their lives just to live in a world of false hope and death...In my crappy life, you, Fluttershy, made me happy, no matter what happened to us in the past month." The pegasus wiped away a tear that began rolling down her cheek, calming herself before talking again. "As long as you were safe, as long as you were happy...I was genuinely happy.

"I don't want you to be sad when I do leave...If you still remember me...then I want you to remember the good times we had together. Even that stupid laugh you made me do that got me into trouble." Fluttershy did think back to that day, when Rainbow Dash finally became her guardian and she was down in the dumps. It brought a sad smile to her lips, remembering how hilarious it was when Rainbow continued laughing just to have her join in and guffaw until their lungs detached themselves in their ribs. "Even if you do forget, I'll never forget you.

"Maybe we'll meet each other again someday...But, that depends on the fayth, I guess." Rainbow Dash pulled out a blitzball from behind her back, rolling it around on her wings as she tried to think of anything else to say. "...I think you were right about us meeting together, Fluttershy...Maybe fate did bring us together, like our dads' ten years ago...I guess that's all I can think of to say for my final words before we face Sin tomorrow. So...That's it." The pegasus approached the sphere and picked it up. "Stay safe, everypony. Lead Spira into a better future...I love you, Fluttershy. With all my heart...Goodbye..."

The sphere's recording ended as it faded to black, the bridge of the airship quiet as it all sunk in about Rainbow Dash's disappearance. It was still confusing to hear that the pegasus was a living dream, but they could understand why she had to go. Being a part of the fayth, she had no choice in staying or going, but to them and everyone in Spira, Rainbow won't have to worry about her existence being forgotten anytime soon. And even though Fluttershy will miss her lover, she believed that, one day, they will be back together again. When and how, nopony knew.

"Lucky little pegasus," Cid grumbled. "If she were here after we saw this, I'd have bucked her so hard she'd be orbiting Spira in less than ten minutes! If she loved my niece that much, then she should have the right to stay here and be rewarded with the biggest medal in history!"

"Captain...is...weirdo," Cheese uttered as he continued learning to speak Equish.

"The hay did you call me!?" Cid leapt on Pinkie's coltfriend and began choking him. "Say that to me in Al Bhed, you little runt! Just be lucky I'm not on your plot when you're going out with my daughter!"

"GAGH! H-How...know!?" Cheese gasped, failing to break free from the older stallion's grip with his lanky legs.

"I'm no idiot! I got eyes in the back of my head! That's why I lost all my mane; to make sure punks like you don't mess with my girls!" Cid let go of the gasping stallion as the captain of the airship hummed in thought. "Actually, you could probably give Maud some excitement. She needs more emotion in her life."

"He's too young for me," Maud said, being the only one out of the group who didn't look sad.

"...Well, dream or not, Rainbow Dash was real to me," Applejack said. "If it weren't for her, the Aurochs would have still been losin' for another ten years."

"And many of our confrontations in the past month would have been fruitless without her speed," Twilight added, grabbing Mog in her hooves, petting the pom pom on its head. "Even with the truth about a summoner's pilgrimage explained to her, she didn't want to give up trying to save Fluttershy...I guess I envy her in some way."

"Then I say we all throw a party tonight!" Pinkie exclaimed as she pulled everyone together into a group hug. "Not just for saving Spira from an endless spiral of suffering and despair, but for Dashie for being the greatest hero everypony could ask for! Her memory will live on forever and ever! Right, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy nodded her head, unable to speak as her mind lingered on Rainbow's final words. Ironically, her own little speech in her tossed out sphere was sad if she had really given up her life to keep Spira safe. Even if the others heard what she said, with what Rainbow Dash had said, her life would have faded either way. She hung onto that hope that they will meet again, no longer bound to relying on false hope with an endlessly terrible outcome.

A few days had passed since Sin was defeated, everyone in the world still abuzz with celebrating when word spread that they would no longer have to fear the fiend that destroys everything in its path. Summoners would no longer have to go on pilgrimages and sacrifice their lives to "defeat" Sin, and no guardians will be used as fayth to resurrect Sin with Faust's power. Many lives, young and old, have been lost in the last thousand years, but now nopony will have to worry about Sin anymore as everyone is now calling this the Eternal Calm, a Calm that would last forever.

Down in Luca, Fluttershy stood at the edge of one of the docks, looking out at the calm ocean waves. She brought the tip of her wing to her lips and whistled, trying to call out to a certain somepony. She continued whistling for a while, but with no results, still holding onto that hope of seeing Rainbow Dash again, even though it had only been a few days since then. As the ex-summoner continued looking out to the sea, Twilight walked down the docks, getting Fluttershy's attention.

"Fluttershy, it's almost time," the unicorn said.

Fluttershy turned her head to face Twilight, nodding her head and followed her into the stadium. As they got closer, they could hear a large crowd inside, but the ponies weren't here just to enjoy a blitzball game. Both mares made their way up to the same private booth Blueblood and Star Swirl sat in during the tournament, Pinkie, Applejack, and Spike already there as they waited for Fluttershy to show up. With her friends standing behind her, the pegasus stepped up to address the crowd, everyone going silent as they listened to their saviors' speech.

"Everypony, today marks a very important day in all of Spira," she spoke, her voice amplified by Twilight's magic making it reach out to the whole stadium. "Sin is finally gone for good. Spira belongs to us now, for every one of us to rebuild what has been lost to us: homes, friends, family, dreams, everything. All of us lost something precious in the past millennium of sorrow...including myself. Though this journey may be difficult, we at least have plenty of time, rebuilding Spira, and paving a way for a better future, one where we don't have to fear a sudden attack from a terrible fiend who strikes with no warning."

The crowd cheered, knowing now that everyone was safe from any harm and their children can rest easy. She wasn't done speaking yet as she held up a hoof to silence to audience. After they quieted down, Fluttershy set her hoof down and looked up to the clear blue sky, catching a glimpse of a fading rainbow at he edge of the skylight.

"And...one more thing." She looked back at her friends, all of them nodding to her, then looked back to the crowd. "To those who have been lost, or dreams that have faded away..." Fluttershy then began recalling everything in her past with Rainbow Dash, all the happy memories she wanted her to remember. From the first moment they met, to their private conversations, every one of them was filled with happiness, laughter, and smiles. But the one memory that lingered on her mind that she will never forget was that evening in Macalania Woods after fleeing from Bevelle; her kiss with Rainbow Dash, both mares expressing their love for each other after being struck with the harsh truths they didn't want to know. That moment was what made her the happiest. She closed her eyes, not seeing a pyrefly with prismatic light shining around it, gently brushing past her cheek as it fly by her. "Never forget them." Next Chapter: Epilogue...? Estimated time remaining: 19 Minutes