Twilight Sparkle adjusted the small hat which was threatening to slide off her ears again, and tried to ignore the persistent itch the dress always caused on her withers. It probably served her right for buying off-the-peg stuff, but she had bought it in a hurry for her grandmother's funeral, and never expected to need it again. Certainly not this soon, anyway. Swallowing heavily, she looked around the room once more.

It was the sort of place decorated to swallow sound. The heavy velvet drapes not only cut the bright daylight outside down to a minimum, leaving only the long beeswax candles to light the room, but also ensured that any conversation or weeping was muffled and ultimately extinguished. Sprays of lilies and violets stood out starkly against the dark oak panelling, and the thick carpet engulfed their hoofsteps, reinforcing the sombre atmosphere.

Respectful, they no doubt thought it. Restful. Already, Twilight hated it more thoroughly than anything she could remember. She had a wild urge to scream, to shout and sing and pull down those hideous oppressive curtains, letting the sunlight flood the room. This was not right! This was not her friend! This should be light and bright and loud, just like she was! Just like she had always been.

The grandfather clock in the corner loomed sternly over her, the Gothic carvings and finials of its blackened oak case cowing her into submission. The inexorable, leaden thunk of its escapement sliced the day into precise slivers, a ceaseless reminder of the steady march of time. Tempus fugit, indeed. Time flees before us. She found it strangely threatening in a way she had never considered before. You are here to acknowledge another's mortality, and yet each moment marks the approach of your own.

She took a deep breath and dragged her eyes away, looking for her friends. Rarity slumped on a bench nearby, her eyes lost behind a thick black veil. Spike, looking every inch the gentlecolt in his little tux, sat with her. Pinkie was on his right, all the joy which usually lit up her face gone. From what Twilight could see of her friend behind the rail-straight, pink mane, her chin trembled slightly and her cheek twitched from time to time. Twilight quickly looked away before it overtook her, too.

The clock ticked on.

Applejack stood in the far corner, hollow-eyed and gaunt-faced. Her usual treasured, battered Stetson was absent, and Twilight knew it would never be seen again. She had seen the farmer slip it into the casket before the lid was lowered for the final time. One last prize for her favourite rival and very best friend.

Of all of them, Fluttershy had taken it the best. Not that she had loved Rainbow any less than the rest of them; in fact Twilight suspected she had been closest to her old school chum and fellow Pegasus than anyone, but somehow she had come to terms with it faster than they had. Maybe her years of working with animals had accustomed her to the harsh knives of grief when there was nothing more she could do for one of her little friends. Or perhaps she just hid it better.

The clock ticked on.

Once again, she went back over the same question in her mind; how could this have happened? How had it happened? Nopony had been particularly worried when Rainbow was late for lunch at Applejack's – after all, she was hardly a byword for punctuality at the best of times, but when she didn't show up for Weather Patrol the next day, her colleagues had first become concerned. Of course, being Pegasus ponies they had first reported to the Weather Council in Cloudsdale who were more worried about the weather than their absent employee, so it had taken hours for the news to reach Ponyville. Even then, it was only after Fluttershy visited Rainbow's empty cloud home and found Tank butting his empty food bowl agitatedly that they first began to suspect anything was amiss.

The clock ticked on.

She had co-ordinated the search, of course, but with no hint of where to start they had to try a radial search pattern out from Ponyville. While Applejack and Pinkie went through the village itself, others fanned out across the countryside but each extra mile away from the village added a vast amount of area to the search. The Everfree was the first major boundary – nopony could think why she would want to go in there anyway – and the Pegasus ponies were able to cover the most ground, although they were hampered by trees and overhangs.

Eventually, Dizzy Twister had spotted a splash of blue at the bottom of Ghastly Gorge. Signalling to Raindrops, her partner, they landed amidst the boulder-strewn valley to find that it was already too late.

The clock ticked on.

The rescue team brought her back to Ponyville Urgent Care, where Doctor Dray had carried out the autopsy last night. She had broken many bones, but nothing immediately fatal. Death, he said, was due to shock and exposure. What cut the deepest was the conclusion that she had died only shortly before being found, perhaps as little as an hour or two. Twilight's throat shrank closed again at the thought of her friend suffering helplessly while they searched only a few miles away.

The clock ticked on.

Shortly, they would take their places as the pall-bearers, pulling the hearse containing their bravest and most loyal friend to her rest. There would be a brief service in the Garden of Remembrance, where practically the whole of Ponyville would be gathered, but it had been Rarity, of all ponies, who had put her hoof down when the Royal Sisters arrived to offer their condolences. No. This is not a Court occasion. No Princesses, no Guards, no social occasion for the Court. This is about Rainbow Dash, and Rainbow Dash only, she had insisted.

Princess Luna looked shocked, but acquiesced stiffly, Very well. We shall respect your wishes, and we shall depart forthwith.

Princess Celestia, however, had nodded understandingly and levitated off her crown and jewelled torc, setting them to one side. No Princesses or Royal pomp. However, I hope you will permit Celestia and Luna to say goodbye to their friend Rainbow?

Rarity had nodded as regally as any princess, her eyes streaming. That would be perfect.

Behind her, there was a soft thump and brief whirr from the clock. The hour was approaching, and still the clock ticked on.

She was expected to lead the cortage, she knew, but had made other arrangements. I know the press will be there, and I don't want it to become all about me, she had explained to Applejack, It sounds a bit narcissistic, but they always overlook you guys, and I really hate that. I couldn't have done anything without the rest of you.

Applejack just looked at her, I guess now we're going to have to, she had pointed out leadenly.

Twilight swallowed, trying not to think of how many times Rainbow had helped her, teased her, laughed with her, brightened her day, hung out. The loss of the Element of Loyalty seemed like a tiny thing against the loss of her friend. Please, Applejack? I'd do it on my own if it wasn't for them, but it's not right. I need my friends. I need all of you to help me carry the load.

Applejack had swallowed and looked away, tears leaking down her cheeks. OK, I'll do it. But she ain't heavy, sugar cube. She's my sister.

The clock ticked on.

Pegasus ponies are creatures of the air, Mr. Waddle had explained gently in his kind, warbly voice. They are born and live amidst the clouds, and so in death we return them to the skies they have loved. The funeral pyre has been a Pegasus tradition since time out of mind, and Rainbow Dash left instructions requesting the traditional rites.

In olden times, Twilight knew, the ceremony was carried out on a mountain top on a wood fire, but these days the gas crematoria was preferred as being hotter and more complete. Her mind shied away from these dry, analytical thoughts, and she heard a suppressed sob from Rarity.

Above her, there was a click and the clock whirred into life, tolling the hour loudly on a brass bell. It was time. As the shimmering echo of the last strike died away, Applejack took a deep, hoarse breath and drew herself up. “Harness up, everypony.” she said commandingly.

Around her, the six friends slowly assembled and exchanged hugs before forming up, Pinkie and Twilight in one pair, Fluttershy and Rarity in another, with Applejack at their head. Spike stood to one side; he would follow them separately. There was a soft click ahead of them and the door slowly swung open. The attendant had come to lead them to the coach-house.

A strangely-familiar attendant, in fact – a powder-blue Pegasus pony. Twilight barely registered the two large mares on either side of the newcomer, dressed in sharp-looking black suits and sunglasses, as her eyes took in the windblown, multi-coloured mane and tail, and the familiar, rose-coloured eyes.

“Hey, gang,” said Rainbow Dash.