The Haunting
Admiral Biscuit
For once, I didn’t need to be told what to do.
The shovel bit at the earth, cutting easily through the trampled sod as I worked my way around in a ring.
Once I had the border defined, I started digging down.
Milfoil carefully backed her wagon into position so I’d have somewhere to put the dirt. The wagon was tall enough that it cleared the tops of the plants.
I didn’t think, I just worked. I took occasional breaks when Milfoil hauled the wagon off to empty it, and when I started thinking again, I started digging again.
Six feet deep. I didn’t have a measuring tape, but when ground was about eye-level, that would be the right depth.
•••
One thing I didn’t have was a ladder, which was something I should have considered before digging a deep hole. I was contemplating jamming the shovel into the edge and using it as a makeshift step—I could drag myself out from there—when Milfoil dropped her singletree over the edge, attached to a length of chain.
She backed up slowly, lowering it until I could step on, and once I grabbed on, she slowly pulled me up until I could get purchase on the grass.
I was drenched with sweat and trembling from exertion and staggered clear of the garden so I could collapse on the lawn.
She nuzzled my cheek and sat down beside me, resting her head on my chest, and we waited for sunset.
•••
The old stallion arrived with a small coffin on his back. Undoubtedly, he’d turned heads around town, but ponies knew when it was a good time to ask questions and when it wasn’t. And if there was some busybody who’d gotten in his way, she’d probably have gotten a punch to the muzzle. I could attest to how effective a conversation-stopper that was.
There really wasn’t anything for us to say, so we set out into the woods. Milfoil and I were both carrying lanterns, and she also had her saddlebags on with a couple of trowels, just in case we had to do any digging.
The forest was alive with the sounds of creatures—birds trilling, calling for mates; insects humming, and new leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.
Her little glade was just as I’d last seen it, and as we got close, Windflower emerged from beneath the fallen log, glowing brightly.
It felt like it should be weird for her to be there, for her to see, but it was somehow right.
•••
I took the coffin off the stallion’s back and set it on the ground, and the three of us went to work, sorting through the forest debris for her bones. Each one was placed gently into the velvet-lined coffin, and I tried not to think too hard about the ones we found that were broken.
As long as I didn’t concentrate too hard, I could hear them calling out to us, singing their unfinished symphony, so different from the rest of the forest’s lively song.
Windflower stayed under her log, watching us as we shuffled through the leaves and dirt until we found a rib or a pastern bone and it was hard to see them with tears blurring my vision.
The change was subtle but it was there and I felt a pressure leave my chest as we put the last bone in the coffin, as we finally finished that which had been undone for far too long.
Windflower came out from her nest and circled the glade one time and we were about to close the coffin when she went back to her tree and brought out a tattered hair bow and placed it inside.
•••
The forest was silent as we walked out.
•••
We lowered her coffin into the grave and it was a lot easier to put all the dirt back in than it had been to take it out.
The first light of dawn was in the sky by the time we’d finished. I was beyond exhausted, both emotionally and physically.
•••
We were smoothing the earth over her grave when she came back, carrying a small wildflower in her mouth. She’d put it in the cracked teacup so she could carry it, and she’d stuck her trowel in with it.
She planted it right in the center of her grave, and then went and hugged us all in turn and the sun rose and she was gone.
cue the entire comment section making comments about tears
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.
So be it.
...And the story is still "Incomplete," makes me wonder what's coming next.
I was not ready for so many feels this early in the morning.
Its sad but comforting in away. She finally has closure after so long. Perhaps the next chapter is the others getting closure and figuring where to go?
So simple and yet saying so much. At least she has closure now. I guess in a way ut's right that her parents didn't come back for it. The guilt could well kill them.
Wow, Moth passing and Windflower passing on. What a punch in the feels. This story is beautiful.
Painfully beautiful. That's really all there is to say.
I got nothing. Just let me start Amazing Grace on some bags in my head for the rest of the day.
9614145
Well, would you like to do a collab?
Now for an epilogue chapter where our mismatched couple is raising a houseful of adopted orphans?
That... really hit hard.
But what a beautiful chapter.
I was holding back the tears, but damn did this line get me:
I was not ready for this so early in the morning. Damn you, Admiral.
The details of what make this perfect don't matter. It's now it all comes together anyway.
Definitely sad in the satisfying way, something that had to happen has.
Tears and goosebumps.
9614854
Yeah, that really got to me.
Rest easy Windflower, the Summer Lands are waiting.
The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Feels mate
This is a child, it's hitting the feels.
Cheers.
This is writing that hurts.
Right at the end I remembered this song.
https://m.Ah, looks like it's starting to rain...
I’m glad they were finally able to give her a proper burial. Now she can finally rest in peace.
Yep this is one of those fics that stays with you.
F 😔
Sweet, short... simple... with nothing being said...
Just right for this kind of setting.
And so she was set free before Twilight found out about her and tried to perform experiments...
Why am I not sad? Well, she's eternal now. There's nothing to be sad about.
Those who remain in the lands wherein there is suffering are most to be pitied.
I like this story (even if it caused me to read until too late and then not have enough sleep), but IMO it definitely needs a "sad" tag. Without it, I came in expecting something a bit different.
Bravo
You know how movies and TV shows use background music to emphasize or set the environmental tone? Yeah, it was basically silent this chapter.
Experience your own funeral, what a trip...
This is an excellent tale.
Thank you !
9614677
It's not like I was dry-eyed when I wrote it...
9614688
Very much so. Whatever one's religious views, that bit of Ecclesiastes is true wisdom.
9614692
9614697
Since I'm running a couple of days late on comment replies, I can just say now you know!
9614710
<hugs>
9614711
I did consider putting on a warning, but I have more respect for my readers than that.
9614727
You're exactly right--it might not be the best ending for poor Windflower, but at least she's at peace.
You are correct, sir!
9614734
Not just her, either--it's closure for everyone and everypony involved.
Yeah, I agree. If losing their daughter wasn't bad enough, even that didn't go right, and to have either Great-Uncle Muzzlebreaker or Steve or Milfoil to tell them to come back for a final goodbye would make things even worse than they were already.
9614751
On top of that, I finished editing the last chapter of Amigo--which also has a sad ending--and found out one of my co-workers passed away.
Thank you!
9614752
Thank you!
9614760
Oh, yes. That's just perfect.
9614761
Currently, I've got too many projects on my plate to handle an online collab.
9614789
You called it.
9614854
<hugs>
It was one of the harder parts to write.
Thank you!
9614877
If it makes you feel better, I was writing with tears blurring my vision, I'm not ashamed to admit that.
<hugs>
9614941
Yeah, it's very bittersweet. I mean, it's the right thing, it's the thing that had to happen, but it's also the thing that nobody wanted to happen, the thing that feels like it happened too soon...