Pinkie Pie’s funeral was something else.
It was held in the main Ponyville square, because everycreature living there was in attendance, and a few more besides. Streamers ran across the eaves of nearby houses, and trios of balloons were attached to every available surface. There were snacks and games, and absolutely nopony was wearing black, as the invitations had requested.
Pinkie’s party cannon had been defused, but it was placed in a position of prominence near the stage. A table with a sign and markers sat next to it, and the barrel was already half covered in well-wishes and farewells when Princess Twilight stepped onto the stage. Voices quieted, and all attention turned to her.
Twilight had a speech prepared, but she didn’t stick to it for very long. It was all about how Pinkie’s lifelong goal was to make ponies happy, and that she would continue to do that for as long as ponies remembered her. They were here to celebrate her life and how much she had meant to every creature she met, not to be sad. But she soon found herself just telling stories of Pinkie, and by the end of her speech, she realized she had been crying for some time, despite her intention not to.
More ponies followed. Pinkie’s granddaughter and resident Party Planner, Fruity Pie, gave her own speech, but broke down halfway through and couldn’t find it in herself to continue. Celestia and Cadance said a few words, as did anypony else who wanted to speak. Pinkie had meant something to them all.
Fluttershy sat in a corner, quietly watching. Her tears had faded by now, and she couldn’t shed any more, much as she felt like she needed to. She sat alone. Discord didn’t like being reminded of how impermanent ponies were—he’d never attended any funerals, and didn’t seem likely to start now. To most other ponies in the generations after her, she was an intimidating old mare, too wise and important to bother. Still, a few creatures came by to offer condolences. Smolder and Ocellus stopped by to say how much they’d learned from Pinkie, and that they were sad she was gone. Spike, too. But they moved on when the conversation quickly became stilted and awkward.
Eventually, Twilight came to her table. The silence that stretched between them was peaceful, comfortable. Neither of them needed to say anything to appreciate the other’s company. Finally, however, Twilight spoke. “It’s good to see you again, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy nodded. “You too,” she said softly.
There was a pause before Fluttershy spoke again. “I… I feel like I should have seen this coming.” She shook her head. “I should have had a chance to say goodbye.”
Twilight took a shaky breath. “I don’t think that was what she wanted,” she said slowly. “She wanted everypony to be happy, even if she wasn’t around.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I think you’re right,” she said softly. She finally turned to look at Twilight directly. “It may be selfish of me, but I do want to say goodbye. I wanted to make sure you heard it.”
Twilight frowned. “You don’t mean…”
Fluttershy nodded. “I do,” she murmured, her voice almost inaudible. “I… Twilight, look around. I’m the oldest pony here. Everypony else has moved on. Now that Pinkie is gone…” She swallowed. “I can’t keep pretending that still being here is natural.”
Twilight was silent for a moment. “You think Discord is meddling.” It wasn’t really a question.
“Yes. How many pegasi have you known to reach my age?”
Twilight swallowed, and then looked away. “I thought you asked him not to do that decades ago.”
Fluttershy smiled softly, a sad thing. “You know, looking back, he didn’t exactly promise not to.”
Twilight nodded. “If… if he’s been doing it already, surely… surely he could keep going? You could… probably live forever, if you wanted to.”
Fluttershy sighed. “But I don’t want to,” she murmured. She gestured with one wing to the empty seats around them. “Nopony else got special treatment. He could have saved Rarity, or Applejack.” Her voice grew even softer. “I miss them, Twilight. I think about them every day. Every time I go to the market, or pass by the boutique, or see a weatherpony clearing clouds.”
Twilight’s eyes scanned over the empty seats, her own expression somber. After a moment, her gaze returned to Fluttershy. “I miss them too. But… as much as I can’t stand that they’re gone, I have new friends that are just as important to me. I have you. And you have me. Surely that’s something, right?”
Fluttershy hesitated, her expression suddenly pained. “Twilight… you’re the Princess of Friendship. You will always have friends by your side, no matter what.” She took a breath. “I love you, Twilight, I do. But you’re the only friend I have now. I love Discord, but not in the same way. And everypony else…” She looked out across the square, to the other guests, talking and laughing and eating. “None of them know what to do with me. I’m old enough to be their grandmother, but I don’t act like it. I’m a former Element of Harmony, and I’ve helped save Equestria a dozen times. At best, they ask me for my autograph. Most of them treat me like I should be in a museum, handled with care so I don’t break.” She let out a frustrated huff. “I can’t have a real conversation with any of them.”
Now it was Twilight’s turn to frown. “Surely there are creatures out there who aren’t like that. You could… have Discord make you young again, move somewhere else, where no one will recognize you. Start fresh.”
Fluttershy let out a soft, desperate laugh. “I don’t want to start fresh. I don’t want to become some new pony with a different face or a different name in some far away town. That’s not me. And even if they didn’t recognize me… how would I explain Discord, or personal visits from the Princess? I would have to live a lie.”
“But—” Twilight started.
“Twilight. Please. I’ve made up my mind, and I don’t want to fight about it. Just… trust me? Please?”
Twilight fell silent, and instead slowly nodded, tears falling once more. “I just… oh, Fluttershy, I’ll miss you so much!”
Fluttershy once again wished she had any tears left. She stood, coming around the table to give Twilight a hug. “It’s alright, Twilight. Everything has its time. We’re not really gone, so long as you remember us.”
Twilight enveloped the small, frail little pony in her wings, held her there, and cried.
Fluttershy stepped quietly into her cottage, settling herself down on the couch. The house hadn’t changed much over the years, save for the lack of animals in it. Other ponies were running the sanctuary after her retirement, and as the years went by she had kept fewer and fewer animal companions.
“Discord,” she said softly, knowing he would hear her.
A portal opened in front of her, and the draconequus emerged. “Ah, good, you’re home,” he said. “How was it?”
Fluttershy looked up at him. “It was a Pinkie Pie party. Everypony left happier than they arrived.” It wasn’t a lie, not technically. Talking to Twilight about her decision had lifted a weight from her, even if she wouldn’t say she was happy. “Discord, I need you to stop.”
Discord frowned. “Stop? Stop what? I thought you wanted me to ask about these things. You said—”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Not that. I need you to stop… this.” She gestured to herself. “All my friends are gone, now. So long as Pinkie was still here, I could keep telling myself it was just luck, but…” she sighed. “I think I’ve known for years. I just… didn’t want to talk about it.”
Discord hmphed. “Well, if you’re going to keep talking about it in such vague terms, I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Discord, please,” Fluttershy pleaded. “Do you want me to say it? Fine. You’ve been keeping me alive, even though I asked you not to. I’m not supposed to still be here. It’s time to stop.”
Discord paled. He held up a claw, but it turned to paper and flopped back down before he could speak. Finally, he gulped and muttered, “I thought I was being very subtle.”
Fluttershy smiled up at him. “You were,” she murmured, reaching up to take his claw, and then pull him down onto the couch with her, before resting her head in his lap. “I know why you did it. I’m not mad. It’s just… it’s past time for me to go.”
Discord brushed one claw through Fluttershy’s mane, the motion automatic. “But… you still have so many creatures who love you,” he protested. “There’s Twilight, and Spike, and Dr. Bristle, and… me.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “Twilight is an alicorn, and the ruler of Equestria. We hardly have time together anymore, and when we do, we just remind each other of who isn’t there. Spike is a dragon. He doesn’t view time the same way I do. And Dr. Bristle is a lovely mare but she’s seventy years younger than me.”
She was silent for a moment, before she added in a quieter voice, “And… I love you, Discord. You know I do. But you’re immortal, and I’m… not. You always knew this day would come. I can’t keep going just for you. I’m sorry.”
Discord growled, slamming his claw into the arm of the couch. “You don’t have to be! So long as you have me, you can be immortal! Or we can make you an alicorn, too. You’ve done enough for Equestria, you deserve it.”
Fluttershy laughed softly. “I don’t want to be an alicorn, Discord,” she murmured. “That’s not what I’m meant to be. And… I don’t want to be here just because you’re keeping me here. That’s not life, not really.” She sighed. “I’m tired, Discord. I’m old, and I’ve buried so many friends. I know it’s hard. But you have to let me go.”
Discord hesitated. Finally, quietly, he said, “What if I don’t want to? What if I just say no?”
Fluttershy raised her head at that, looking up at him with sad eyes. “Well… I guess I could tell Twilight, and she could gather up the new Bearers, and they could turn you to stone.” Before Discord could object, she silenced him with one hoof on his lips. “But I think we’re past that. I’m not going to threaten you with the Elements, and you’re right, I couldn’t really do anything about it. But I don’t think you want that, do you? To keep going, knowing I didn’t want to? I don’t think you’d forgive yourself.”
Discord stared at her, before he pulled her against him and wrapped her in a hug. “I don’t want to let you go.”
Fluttershy heard his sobs, even though he tried to hide them, and felt his tears against her fur. Suddenly, she was crying too, and it took her a moment to realize she’d started. She had more tears after all. “I know,” she murmured. “I know.”
Discord held her, and didn’t say anything more. By the time he pulled back, it was dark, and Fluttershy took a moment to look up at the stars through her window. “It’ll be alright,” she assured him, the same way she’d assured Twilight. “You’ll be alright.”
Discord nodded, and wiped her tears away with a claw. “You’re… really not happy?” he asked, his voice small, smaller than she’d ever heard from him.
“Oh, Discord,” she murmured, raising her head up to kiss him softly. “I had a wonderful, long life, but I don’t fit anymore. Somepony else is running the Sanctuary, I gave up my Element, and I’ve watched all my friends pass on, one way or another. I’m ready to go.”
Slowly, Discord nodded, coming to rest his forehead against hers.
Fluttershy nuzzled into him, and closed her eyes. “Goodbye, Discord,” she whispered.
“Goodbye, Fluttershy.”