//------------------------------//
// Prompt #428: Different, Anyway 
// Story: Ponywatching 
// by ThunderTempest 
//------------------------------//

Funerals were difficult for Sunset. They had been even before she'd dived through the mirror for the first time. Watching her father decline to an incurable disease had been a large part of why she'd pushed so hard while she was still Celestia's student, and what had lead to her finding the mirror when her efforts to save him had failed.

The preist was droning about Applejack's life and family, and Sunset was desperately trying not to fidget, but the service had been going on for literal hours by this point. A frail hand rested on her shoulder, and Sunset knew without looking that it was Fluttershy. Sunset could imagine the expression on her friend's face; sympathetic, understanding, without any judgement, but a hint of reproach. Sunset gave a little shake, but managed to settle back down into her seat. After what felt like an age, the priest finished, closing his book, and the people gathered dispersed into smaller groups. Family, friends, business partners, all had gathered to mourn Applejack's passing.

Sunset walked up to the freshly filled grave, and stared at the headstone, emblazoned with Applejack's name and date for birth and death.

'Loving mother, sister and friend,' it read in bold script. No tears graced Sunset's cheeks - they hadn't since Pinkie Pie had departed. As always, Sunset wondered if she should feel bad about that. Out of the corner of her eye, Sunset could see Fluttershy hovering around, leaning heavily on the cane she had to use to compensate for her failing legs.

"Thanks for everything, Applejack," murmured Sunset, "Thanks for being my friend when no one else would. Thanks for being you, I guess. You taught me a lot, helped me not be such a manipulative bitch all of the time. Or at least, helped me be honest about being a manipulative bitch." Something that could have been a chuckle gurgled its way out of Sunset's mouth.

"Goodbye, Applejack," said Sunset, turning away from the grave, walking past Fluttershy and sitting on the stump of an apple tree nearby. She waited until Fluttershy had finished her own goodbyes and had shuffled her way to Sunset.

"Sunset?" asked Fluttershy, "Are you okay? You didn't have to come, if you didn't want to. I know that Applejack would have understood."

"No," said Sunset, fiddling with a peice of grass between her feet, "I wanted to come. You know, say goodbye to all of you girls. You all did so much for me, when I didn't really deserve it."

"That's not true, Sunset," said Fluttershy, "you just needed a friend."

There was a moment of silence between the two, the subtle murmur of the funeral humming in the background.

"Fluttershy, do you think I've changed?" asked Sunset.

"Of course I do, Sunset," said Fluttershy, "You used to be such a mean person, and over the years I've seen you become a much better person."

"Well, a different person anyway," said Sunset, "At least mentally."

****Time****

Sunset sighed, and stood up, her body locked into its early twenties, as it had been for the last eighty years. She hooked one arm around Fluttershy, taking her one still-living friend's weight off her failing legs.

"Come on Fluttershy, I'll help you to the car," said Sunset, "you must be tired."

"Thank you, Sunset," Fluttershy said, her head nodding and her eyes sliding closed. Gentle snores issued from her the minute Sunset put her in the passenger seat of Sunset's car.