Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to find herself back on top of the Overlook. She felt horrible. Tears were forming in her eyes again but she quickly wiped them away.

"Is this how I'm going to feel from now on?" she asked herself. "Am I going to always be constantly sad?"

"I don't think so," said an unfamiliar voice. Rainbow turned around and nearly jumped into the air out of shock. The young filly was standing just a few feet away from her. Her face was almost emotionless but it had a tinge of sadness. "We all learn to move on eventually."

"You...you're talking!"

"Yes. I know how to talk."

"How come you haven't talked to anypony before this point?"

"I have my reasons."

"Could you explain them to me?"

"Maybe later. Right now I want to introduce you to someone."

"Don't you mean somepony?"

"No, because the friend I'm going to introduce to you isn't a pony."

"What?"

"Follow me, Rainbow Dash."

The filly beckoned Rainbow to follow her and the cyan pegasus agreed out of pure curiosity. Today was certainly a day of change. First her body was finally discovered back in Equestria and now the mysterious filly is talking to her. Rainbow followed the filly away from the Overlook, through the outskirts of town, and over to Sweet Apple Acres. They walked in silence for several minutes until they reached the edge of the cloud barrier at the very edge of Sweet Apple Acres.

"So where is this friend of yours?" Rainbow asked.

"Be patient," said the filly. "She's coming."

Rainbow watched as a shadow slowly appeared on the other side of the dome. She had seen that shadow before. It had appeared to her, Gilda, Ridley, and Derpy back at the Overlook over two weeks earlier. The shadow became clearer and clearer until it was right outside the dome. The shadow phased through the dome and assumed the form of a creature that Rainbow had never seen before. The word human floated into Rainbow's mind and she thought that it was the perfect name to describe the creature before her. It was a young girl with white skin, sandy brown hair, and blue eyes. She was wearing a blue jacket with a red vest and white shirt underneath. Rainbow giggled slightly at the sight of the girl's bright yellow pants. At first, the girl appeared as a mere apparition but soon she was as solid as Rainbow and the filly.

"Who...who are you?" Rainbow asked.

"Salmon, like the fish," replied the girl with a smile. Rainbow cocked her head in confusion.

"Your name is Salmon? That's an odd name."

"Salmon's my last name. My first name is Susie."

"Susie Salmon. That's still an odd name."

"Well, I wouldn't consider Rainbow Dash to very a very normal name either."

Rainbow chuckled and both the filly and Susie laughed.

"What are you doing here?" Rainbow asked.

"I'm here for almost the same reason you are, Rainbow Dash," Susie replied.

"What does that mean?"

"I'm dead, like you. I was fourteen years old when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

"You were only fourteen?"

"Yes. I was murdered by a man who lived in my neighborhood. Tell me your story."

"Uh...well...I was eighteen years old when I was murdered by my friend, Pinkie Pie, on July 10, 1001."

"Your story is so much more tragic than mine. I was only murdered, you were betrayed as well as murdered."

"Yes."

"Do you still hold your anger against your friend?"

"Of course. She was my friend and she betrayed me. Now I'm trapped here in this bleak afterlife."

"Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. There is a world of unimaginable and indescribable beauty waiting for you and the others just outside this dome."

"Is there a way to break through?"

"Not from the inside. It's very difficult to break through this dome."

"Why are you here? Where are you from?"

"I died in another world, very different from yours, a long time ago. The afterlife has no boundaries. We can mingle with people and creatures from many different walks of life. I was called here a long time ago by her."

Susie pointed at the filly and the filly blushed.

"Who are you?" Rainbow asked as she looked down at the filly.

"You'll find out in good time," the filly replied.

"Why all of the secrets? How come I can't learn now?!"

"Because you are not ready," said Susie. "You must grow more. This world must expand more. The truth must not be hidden for much longer."

"What are you saying?"

"You have to face the aftermath of your passing back in the world of the living. You have to help console your family and friends in any way you can. You have to help them learn the truth behind your death. Within time, as you attempt to fulfill these goals, you will learn the truth behind the creation of your murderer."

"Is...is there another reason to Pinkie's madness that just her need to kill?"

"That is for you to find out, Rainbow Dash. For now, return to the world of the living and face the aftermath that all of us departed must face."

Rainbow looked back at the filly only to see that she had mysteriously disappeared. She turned back to Susie just in time to see the mysterious girl vanish behind the dome of clouds. Rainbow fell to the ground and took several deep breaths.

"Face the aftermath. Help console my family and friends. Aid them. Learn the truth," Rainbow sighed. "I guess I'll have to do this if I want my questions answered."

Rainbow took another deep breath, closed her eyes, and flew back to the world of the living.