//------------------------------//
// Rainbow Dash 
// Story: Dead and Gone 
// by Raidah 
//------------------------------//

     Chapter 1: Rainbow Dash.
Written by: MrDevastation101

I watch as the coffin slowly descends into the six-foot-deep hole in the ground. All the while, I can only think of; Why? Why did she have to die? Why did this have to happen to Fluttershy? I used to be proud. Prouder than most, and it was all because Fluttershy was there to encourage me and help me get through all those times I had lost faith in myself.
My name is Rainbow Dash. I was, no, I am the fastest flier in Equestria. But now I don't really feel like it... Fluttershy's death is hitting us all hard, me more than anypony else though. Fluttershy and I grew up together, and when we left Cloudsdale to come live in Ponyville, we traveled together.
We weren't fillyfriends or anything like that, we were just close. Some thought we may have been sisters, but I can assure you that we weren't.
The coffin hits the bottom of the hole with a dull thud, and the stallions with the shovels start to pour the dirt on top of the coffin, burying our now dead friend. Applejack stands beside me, crying. I extend my left wing, and wrap it around her, pulling her close. She drapes her right foreleg around my neck, and leans her head on my shoulder. I rest my head on top of hers, and we stand there, crying our silent tears of sorrow.
To the left of Applejack is Rarity, and to my right are Twilight and Pinkie Pie. I'm dead center in the half circle of five that surrounds Fluttershy's grave. There are other ponies here, such as the Cake's, Lyra, Bon Bon, and others. Even princess Celestia is here, tears streaming down her face as she watches on silently.
After the stallions finish burying Fluttershy, the five of us turn away simultaneously. I look over to Twilight.
"I can't believe she's gone..." Pinkie says, her face contorting to a look of deep sorrow.
"I know." I say. "It's gonna be rough, getting by without her."
"Yeah. It is." Twilight says.
We stand there, an awkward and sad silence taking over. I break the silence.
"I remember... One time when we were fillies, I tried to do a really stupid stunt. Almost got myself killed... She was after me in a second. Wouldn't shut up about how dangerous it was or was I alright... Never thought she'd be the first to go. Always thought I'd off myself trying out some stupid trick that I wasn't ready for..." I say, drooping my head.
"Rainbow..." Applejack says, seeing my expression.
She puts her hoof beneath my chin, lifting my head up.
"Don't talk like that." She says. "It ain't your fault, an' don' act like it is."
"I know AJ." I say. "I just wish that there was something I could do to bring her back..."
"We all do, Rainbow." Twilight says.
"Well. At least she ain't in any more pain." Applejack says.
Her cause of death was a rare disease that only pegasi can be infected with. It targets our wings, making them unusable, and then it goes for the heart. It takes about three days for anypony to die of it, and those three days are a living hell. Or so I've been told.
"Yeah." I say, taking some comfort in that fact.
We stand in silence again, and watch as the last pony in the crowd leaves.
"I almost forgot that there were other people here." Pinkie Pie says.
"Me too." I say.
Rarity is oddly silent.
"Rarity? You okay?" I say.
"Oh, yes Rainbow darling. I just can't think of anything to say." She says.
"Okay." I say. Back to the silence...

After the funeral, everypony heads home. Applejack and I bid farewell to Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity before heading to our own little home near the farm. Once AJ and I knew our relationship would last, we bought a little house that was about a block from Sweet Apple Acres. We walk in silence, the only thing that could be heard was the chirping of crickets and the sounds of our hooves on the dirt road.
I hang my head in sorrow, not caring about how cold it is outside. It's almost midnight, by the way. I can't see her, but I know Applejack is looking at me with worry.
"You alright sugarcube?" she says.
It's an honest question, and quite frankly I don't feel alright.
"Not really..." I say.
"Look, Dash. Ah know you're upset about Fluttershy, hell we all are, but Ah jus' want you t'know that Ah'm here for you." She says, wrapping her left foreleg around my neck.
"Thanks AJ..." I say.
She stops us in our tracks, and forces me to look at her.
"Rainbow." She says.
"Yeah?" I say, looking into her emerald eyes.
"Ah love you." She says.
"I love you too." I say.
It's been a while since we kissed last, but her lips are as warm as I remember them pressed against my own. She breaks us apart, and we continue to walk home in relative silence. Sadness taking over again as the dominant mood.
About a block from our house, I can feel the overwhelming sorrow welling up in my chest. All those childhood memories, or things I said that I wish I could take back. It's driving me over the edge. My knees buckle and I collapse into a fit of sobs that wrack my body. I shiver and sob and Applejack wraps her arms around me, whispering soothing things into my ear. I press my hooves into my face to help block out the world around me, and Applejack holds me tight, giving me something to hold onto in my fit of sorrow.
"It's okay sugarcube." She says. "Let it out. Ah got you." She whispers into my ear.
I just sit there and cry. Not caring who sees. I'm done looking tough just to please myself, done acting like I'm the best. Done showing off just so I can hear the praise of others who love me enough already. Now that Fluttershy is dead, I am going to show more emotion, and stop acting like nothing ever bothers me. For her. I may not be one for mushy stuff, but I'm going to start.
I wipe my face clean of the tears that are still pouring from my eyes, and stand up. AJ stands up with me, and she hugs me again.
"Feelin' better?" She asks, still concerned for me.
"Not really." I say shakily, the sobs still trying to control me. "But I can walk now." I give a light chuckle with that last remark.
"Alright. Let's get you home." Applejack says.