Blog Exclusive: In Memoriam (Spoilers for Chapters 12-16 of 'the Changelings Have a King') · 4:55am Aug 16th, 2016
"You'll do fine." Crescendo assured his softly crying daughter. "Now let's go."
Sweetie Belle wiped her eyes as she climbed the stairs and crossed the hastily erected stage in Ponyville's park. The huge crowd of ponies gathered for the start of the memorial services turned as one at the clopping of her hooves on wood. There was a smattering of applause that quickly died. The teenage unicorn faced the crowd and cleared her throat, casting an amplification spell on herself. "Good evening." Her voice cracked and she blushed. "Sorry. I haven't been on stage in a while."
Crescendo climbed the stairs and took his seat beside a small piano he'd found in Ponyville Town Hall. He gave her a reassuring smile.
She returned it and looked back at the crowd. "Thank you all for coming. As you all know, tonight is the beginning of the grand memorial. Tonight, we pay our respects to those who fell in the Battle of Ponyville and the Attack in Canterlot. It was Deputy Mayor Noteworthy who suggested that we begin this occasion with the Reading of the Names. It was my father's that it should have musical accompaniment."
There were a few chuckles at the joke and they soothed her nerves immensely.
"My studies in music in Fillydelphia have led to my discovering of songs and melodies from all over the world. Tonight, it is my privilege to share one of these songs with you from the Isle of Emeralds, the historic birth-place of the earth pony tribe. Ponyville began as an earth pony settlement, and while we now consider ourselves as diverse as any community in Equestria, I believe that on a night like tonight, it is important to remember our roots. Our history." She nodded and four volunteer ponies made their way to the front of the stage. Each bore a scroll covered in names. "This is..." Sweetie Belle choked up. "This is for my best friend. She was an earth pony. She was a pony of Ponyville. I love you, Applebloom. I miss you." She took a deep, steadying breath. "This is for you. And for the others who fell."
Using her special talent, Sweetie Belle's magic traveled out into the ether. It touched the hearts and souls of ponies half a world away. It let her borrow their voice.
Ready, she nodded at her father.
Crescendo's hooves lowered to the keys.
Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to sing.
The readers began to recite the names.
"Mayor Mare."
"Hayseed Turnip Truck."
"The Cakes, Carrot and Cup."
"Suri Polomare Rich."*
"Filthy Rich."**
"Featherweight."
"Spike."
"Prince Shining Armor."
"Trixie Lulamoon."
"Thunderlane."
"Lotus."
"Lily."
"Amethyst Star."
"Cheerilee."
"Applebloom Apple."
The list went on further. Sweetie Belle sang as her father played. The crowd wept and held each other.
And Ponyville began to do the hardest thing of all; learning to say good-bye.
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*Suri may have been a shrew, but she had no idea what her husband was up to.
**Filthy was scum who sold out his town, but in the end he gave his life for his daughter's. That has to mean something.
Suri's face is so reprehensible she broke the image.
Also, as someone with no emotional stake in this fic who's really just following you for Grogar, this memorial hit me right in the feels and made up for most of these deaths going on a laundry list and coming in at a hundred miles an hour.
You almost made me cry upon seeing the face of Hayseed Turnip Truck. And not for the usual reason.
Trixie? I must have zoned out then. And Featherweight?
4152539 Just think how you would feel if you read the series!
...The plot of Grogar 2 is almost finalized.
4152569 She blew herself up to injure Chrysalis. And Featherweight died off-page.
4152657 It's not the only thing of yours I've read!
...
I also read The Thirteenth Hour.
4152657
Oh right. That's how Trixie went. Poor Featherweight.
Why is it so dusty in this room?