//------------------------------// // (2) The Funeral // Story: Regrets // by Script Singer //------------------------------// Ellie and Flame Flare stared at their friend Script Singer, curled into a ball shaking, mumbling to herself. "Is it worse than the last one?" Flame asked.  "Without a doubt," Ellie said.  Flare slowly walked up to the trembling pony and gently wrapped her arms around her, stroking her mane to calm her down. Script only let out soft whimpers and sobs as she continued shaking. Ellie joined in the embrace.  "Let me take care of her, could you go get her stress blanket?" Ellie whispered. Flare nodded as she got up and walked toward Script's bedroom. She noticed the open photo album on her bed, causing her to hang her head slightly as she figured what Script was thinking before. She took her mind off of it as she looked around for Script's blanket. She found it in her closet and brought it into the other room, wrapping it around her frightened friend, then went to go sit on the nearby sofa, fidgeting slightly.  After a few minutes, Script began to calm down. She poked her face out from her mane slightly, noticing her surroundings wasn't how she thought they were. She leaned against Ellie as she cried, still shaking. It felt so real... She thought.  "...I-I can't...take it anymore..." Script said, her voice cracking. "Th-they're too much..." Ellie hushed her friend as she held her tight. "It was only a bad dream, everything will be alright..."  Script sat up slightly to face her friend, staring at her in the eyes. "But I don't want to keep having all these stupid dreams! I want a different life... I'm sick of this..." Ellie only hugged her tighter in response. Script may be stubborn, but so is Ellie. Script finally just gave in and leaned on her friend once more as her body still trembled. Her mind drifted back to what started the panic attack in the first place. An image of her friend, Rose Diamond popped into her head as she began to continue to sob. She layed her head on Ellie's chest as she began wailing at the top of her lungs. "....i-it's....a-all my fault...she killed herself..." she sobbed. "...if I did...something to help her, she'd still be here! Why was I so stupid...?" Script's cries only grew louder as she kept asking herself "why did I treat Rose so poorly?" Ellie only held her close to her chest, letting her friend cry her eyes out.  --- A few weeks had passed, and the day for Rose's funeral came. I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror as my tears rolled down my face. I was wearing a rose in my mane with a short modest dress with floral decor on it. Ellie was behind me, running a brush through my mane. "You gonna be okay with doing the solo? I'll do it for you if you need me-" Ellie asked. "No, it's fine... I can do it..." I mumbled as I wiped the tears from my eyes. Once I was finished getting ready, I grabbed my eighth note necklace and had Ellie put it on for me. We both walked out of the bathroom, and into the viewing room. I sat myself down on a chair in the back, unable to look at my friend. I wanted to go up to her one last time, but I couldn't get the courage to. I just stared at the ground. After a few minutes, I saw a blue pair of hooves with claws. "Is this seat taken?" Radioflash asked me. I shook my head as he sat down.  "Hey, it's gonna be okay." "I know, but..." I mumbled. Radio pulled me into a tight embrace as I felt a tear stream down my face. I hugged him back. "You should at least tell her goodbye." "...you know how I am at funerals, Radio..." "I'll go up with you if you want," he said as he got up, holding out his hoof. I let out a sigh as I got out of my seat and walked up to my friend's coffin. I stared at her, sleeping there. I couldn't help but cry as I saw her. Radio hugged me as I stood there, frozen slightly at the sight before me.  I turned away, unable to look any longer. Radio escorted me back to my seat. --- I watched as they lowered the coffin down into the ground. Everypony walked over to it once it was placed, and began dropping flowers in. I pulled out a note from my bag and threw it into the hole.  "...I truly am sorry, Rose for what I did to you..." I whispered, hoping she could somehow hear me. I backed away as they began filling the hole with dirt. I walked away, needing a moment to myself, Ellie following behind me. Once the funeral was over, we walked out of the gravesite. I noticed Radio talking with his friend Emerald who looked over at me with a glare. I turned away, hanging my head slightly, not noticing him walking toward me. Ellie put her wing around me protectively.  "Hey," He said.  I only ignored him staring at the ground. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" I slowly looked at him, glaring down at me. "Wh-what do you want...?" I uttered.  "So why did you do that to her? You trying to get other-" "Leave her alone, Emerald. This is you're only warning." Radio said walking up to me. "She's hurt enough. Emerald just rolled his eyes. "Whatever," He said trotting away.  "Don't mind him, Script. Those who believe that rumor about you, aren't worth bothering."  I only hung my head at the reminder. I knew he didn't mean any harm, it just hurt a little... As they exited the gravesite, I noticed a few more ponies glaring at me. I hung her head, trying not to remind myself of the ponies I had hurt. Ellie wrapped her wing around me for comfort as we walked home. They don't understand... I think to myself.