//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Stone of the Body // by Dracoliat //------------------------------// A urn sat heavily upon a large stone pedestal. The urn was made of a fine stone, polished to a shine. On top of the urn rested two bouquets of flowers, one blue, one pink. Inside the Urn was nothing since Postim’s ashes had disappeared. When everyone found out about Fluttershy’s impossible recovery they asked to many questions and finally they broke down. They told the curious ponies that Postim used a strange spell that was so strong it killed him, but it healed Fluttershy. Immediately afterwards a funeral began to take form. After only a week of preparations the funeral was ready. They had found the nicest stone urn they could, then Twilight caused it to shine as if it was made of diamonds. Dash and Flutter provided the bouquets. Unfortunately the attendance was relatively low. It was just Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, along with their few friends and a strange silent pegasus, her eyes looking both ways. “I knew Postim, and I know he was a hero, not this once, but always. He has always tried to help me and Fluttershy, even when we didn’t realize it. He saved my life many times and never withheld the truth from me. But most importantly is when he sacrificed himself to save Fluttershy. In my mind Postim is... was, a saint. He might not have known it, but when he sacrificed himself, he saved two ponies. As long as it is my choice, I will not live without Fluttershy, so thank you Postim, for everything.” Dash finished her small speech to go to sit next to Fluttershy before pushing her slightly, telling her to go make her own speech. Nervously Fluttershy approached the urn and frowned slightly, she wasn’t good with public speaking at all, but she owed Postim that much. After a quick and almost silent sigh she knew she couldn’t delay any longer. “Um,” Fluttershy, her old shy voice returning, “Postim, as you know, or I hope you know, saved my life. And, he also saved Dash a few times.” Fluttershy went silent until she looked at the urn, she knew she owed it, and she wouldn’t let her fears rule her anymore. “Postim was a friend, he helped us both in ways I doubt we can even fully comprehend.” Her voice was sweet, but there was a strange change in it, the nervous words had disappeared replaced by the same confident pegasus that was on the death bed not to long ago herself. “Thanks will never be enough to express my gratitude, I know you must be watching Postim so again I say, thank you.” Fluttershy finally went silent and retook her place next to Rainbow Dash. They looked at each other then back at the urn before approaching it together. They each grabbed one of the small handles in their mouths before carefully putting it into a coffin and putting the coffin in the ground. A true, and proper Funeral. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash looked back into each others eyes completely forgeting about their friends there they began to cry. Cry because they were happy that they wouldn’t ever be apart again, and sad because such an amazing pony was gone. They leaned together slowly and their lips lightly touched, their tongues trying to gain the upper-hoof. They continued like that for a minute before they looked back at each other and backed of slightly. “Fluttershy,” Rainbow Said getting her attention. “We’re still getting married remember?” “How could I forget, Rarity?” Fluttershy asked as she looked towards the unicorn in question. “Yes darling?” Raritya sked intrigued. “Could you help us with a wedding?” Fluttershy asked, her cheeks flushing red as she said the words. They hung in the air for a second before hoofs began striking the ground in applause from their friends. “Of course, I would be honored,” Rarity replied with a grin. “I just have one question, who will get to play the bride?” She joked. Laughs erupted from the crowd as Fluttershy replied, “I guess I will.” She turned to face Dash, “Is that ok with you?” “Whatever you want,” She replied in earnest and chuckled slightly. “Good, I will get started right away. ======= It had been a long engagement, a full three months. It was so long because they couldn’t wait to get married. Dash had taken her roll very seriously and bought Fluttershy a gorgeous blue sapphire ring that fit around one of her large feathers. Fluttershy afterwards bought Rainbow Dash a pink ruby ring. Rarity had taken it most seriously of all, she insisted on everypony being there and sent out so many invitations, Rarity herself lost count. The place was so perfect, the hill in front of their house, a gorgeous scene with plenty of animals just like Fluttershy liked it. Twilight had no small part in the preparations either. But finally the dresses were made fitted and refitted. Everypony had been informed, and it was time. ======= “Hey, Fluttershy darling, are you ready?” Rarity asked as she cautiously into the dressing room near the bottom of the hill to find Fluttershy in her dress. “Good you are, it’s time let’s go. I’ll see you up there.” With that Rarity left the room and ran back up the hill to take her place among the audience. ‘Ok Fluttershy, this is your time, don’t be nervous now.’ She thought to herself as she placed one hoof out of the door, her train rustling slightly behind her flank. ‘How did this all start?’ She wondered as she put a few more shaky hooves forward before becoming lost in thought. ‘Oh yeah, my house burnt down, who knew that such a simple event could have found me an adventure of a lifetime. But more importantly it... No, I earned Rainbow Dash, through my sweat, and my tears, and my blood. Postim however... without him... we’d both be dead now, we owe him so much and we can’t even properly thank him. How far have I really come,’ However a thundering sound around Fluttershy caused her to wake from her stupor. She looked around, she was surrounded by hundreds of ponies, some she recognized, others she didn’t. Even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were there sitting in the front. The path she was walking down was perfect, flowers decorated the side just like she liked it. Yet there was a new flower there she had never seen before, a strange rainbow colored flower, whenever one of these was found a pink and yellow flower was always wrapped around it nicely. Instead of a large noisy organ a choir of humming birds were singing a wedding song beautifully, and of their own accord. Angel smiled as Fluttershy passed him, and Fluttershy smiled back. At the side’s of the aisle were tree’s overgrown to form a dark canopy, she was wondering why it was so dark. At the end the Canopy broke into a gorgeous clearing where there on a patch of grass stood Rainbow Dash. Her dress hugged every curve of her body, except the train which by any standard was amazing. Possibly the best work Rarity had ever made, on the dress was designed strange abstract shapes, but as Fluttershy looked at the whole thing she saw the design. It was two Pegasus kissing each other fiercely. Finally she had arrived where she had been headed for who knows how long. She was standing next to Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy’s own dress even more gallant then the dress of the pegasus that she was marrying. After repeating some short vows given by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna in unison it was time. “Do you, dear Rainbow Dash, take Fluttershy as your lawfully wedded wife?” Celestia and Luna asked. “I do,” Dash replied without hesitation. “And do you, dear Fluttershy, take Rainbow Dash as your lawfully wedded wife?” They both said again. There was a pause as she was lost in thought about everything. “This must be a dream,” Fluttershy said out loud but mostly to herself. Dash had a strange look in her eyes as she looked straight at Fluttershy. A look that said, ‘please don’t say “I do,” please...’ It was a strange look. The pause was making everypony restless, Fluttershy turned to face Rainbow Dash and said loudly, “I love you Rainbow Dash, but I will not marry you. For in truth I know you love me, but you don’t want to be married either. If marriage makes our love any more official then it is not a marriage. “I agree,” Rainbow Dash echoed as she walked up to Fluttershy and whispered “thank you.” “I do not.” Fluttershy said loudly as Dash embraced and kissed her lightly. “We’re sorry everypony, we won’t get married. We love each other more then life itself, and find marriage unnecessary.” Dash said outloud as Fluttershy nodded. The crowd was silent for a minute, this they had expected. Then one single pony, Twilight Sparkle stood up. She began to stomp her hooves in light applause in approval. Soon she was joined by Applejack and their other friends. After only twenty seconds everypony was standing and applauding. “I love you Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said over the thunder. “I love you too Rainbow Dash, more then I can describe,” she replied. For the first time, they had all the time in the world, and they would never be torn apart again. They leaned towards each other and kissed, lightly at first before they really got into it. Dash’s lips tasted the same as the first time they had touched, only this time her life felt even more on the line as a strange hunger filled her. No matter what, they would both do everything they could to make each other happy. In the back of their mind Postim’s warning was all but forgotten. They loved each other and that was all that mattered in the world.