//------------------------------//
// The Funeral 
// Story: Losing a Friend 
// by kittycake12 
//------------------------------//

	When Rainbow Dash first woke up, she felt happy. However, that feeling drained when she remembered what had happened the day before. She had cried a river, even though Iron Ponies weren't supposed to cry. Rainbow felt a hot tear down her cyan cheek. She was crying again.
"Stop it!" She said to herself. But yet, she kept crying. She just missed her flying partner. Sure she wasn't the best, but it was nice to have Fluttershy by her side. Rainbow trotted over to her dresser, and pulled out her many outfits Rarity had made. Just behind a make-shift Shadowbolt costume, there hung a beautiful black outfit.
After putting it on, Dash slowly flew out side, where she half-heartedly waved to her pet turtle. Fluttershy had helped her find that pet, But Fluttershy was gone.





"Hello everypony, thanks for coming on such short notice." a lilac alicorn said. She was looking down at a speech she had prepared. Twilight was the funeral leader, and she was standing next to a gorgeous mahogany coffin lined with pink butterfly ornaments.
"We are here today at the funeral of Fluttershy. If anypony would like to say something kind about her, please come up to the stand." Of course Pinkie and Rarity, who were very sensitive couldn't. However, Applejack slowly walked up to talk about the yellow pegasus.
"Ah know Fluttershy was a real good friend, and we knew this day would come, but ah don't, it just, ah didn't want it to come this soon." She was starting to choke up, which signaled Rainbow Dash to come to the stand.
"Um, well, as you all know, Fluttershy was, and is, a very kind pony. I don't want to believe this happened but I have to. So, I feel it appropriate that we have her live on in our hearts, and never forget our amazing friend. She obviously didn't think she was needed but she is. I need her, we all need her. Thank you."





Rainbow Dash quickly flew home so she could be in peace. Even though she didn't want to cry, she did the whole time they lowered Fluttershy's coffin. Rainbow plopped down on the sofa and started to sob again. She started to read her copy of Daring Do and The Ring of Destiny when somepony knocked on her door. She opened it and found her friend Twilight on her porch.
"Hi Twilight." Rainbow mumbled. "Come on in." Twilight followed the directions and trotted into the living room.
Without warning, Twilight started talking.
"I saw how sad you were so I came to try to help you with your feelings." She pulled out a book and showed it to Dash. "You see, this book I found tells you how to deal with grief." Rainbow Dash scanned the content and looked at Twilight.
"You want to help me?" She asked. Twilight nodded.
"I can't bear seeing you like this. It's so, well, sad." Twilight continued, "You see, there are supposedly five stages to go through when dealing with a death. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance."
Rainbow Dash was reluctant to respond. What does an egg-head like Twilight know about stuff like this? she thought. "Okay, I guess. I seem to be feeling all of this stuff right now though."
"Alright, tomorrow I'll come and take you to the park so we can talk. Be sure to be ready bright and early!" the purple alicorn flew home and Rainbow shut the door.
"She better not mean 6 in the morning early." Rainbow muttered. She did.