Winter’s Howl
Chapter 22: Mournful Cries
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Snowstorm bowed his head, water dripping off the ends of his soaking wet mane. His quiet tears were masked by the falling rain and water from his coat. He closed his eyes tightly, tears continuing to drip from his muzzle as his father’s casket passed his stance. Snowstorm felt a gentle wing drape over his side. Opening his eyes, he turned to see Rainbow’s, filled with tears and sympathy of her own. Snowstorm leaned his head against Rainbow’s, using her support to challenge the mental and physical exhaustion that weighed down his heart and body. As the casket finished it’s silent, solemn march, it was set down upon the soaking grass of the Ponyville graveyard.
A kindly old mare, the one who had helped Snowstorm purchase his home stood upon a small platform and began to speak.
“Friends, family, citizens and guests, we are gathered here to honor and mourn the passing of a truly great stallion. Sea H. Mist, a loving husband, father, and protector of his family has found his place amongst the truly great hero’s of Equestria, in our princesses’ immortal palace.”
Snowstorm listened as he sat, silent in personal mourning.
“When ponies of such stature must fall by the hoof of those so diabolical, we doubt the true sprit of what makes this land great and bring with it only more anger.”
Snowstorm felt anger at the mere hint of Shadowstorm at such an honorable pony’s funeral, but continued to listen.
“But we must remember that rage cannot win our hearts! While our desire for justice and the writing of wrongs may burn as what is right in our minds, this will only fuel the blizzard of our land’s history. An eye for an eye makes all of Equestria blind, my little ponies. I ask that you remember this, and focus your thoughts to the great things this stallion has accomplished in his life, not the heinous acts of others which removed him from it.”
Snowstorm listened intensely now, clinging on the words of the mayor as she spoke.
“Remember him as he lived, neigh as he passed.”
Snowstorm thought back to all of the things Sea Mist had done for his family, providing a home, food, clothes and love when he received nothing in return. He had lived a truly remarkable life, and accomplished much, but it was still not his time to go.
Scootaloo leaned against Snowstorm, less emotional.
“I…I didn’t know Dad all that well…do you think you could tell me more about him? Where did he grow up?”
Snowstorm sighed and looked at his sister, “He did a lot of great things, too much to tell you about here. We can talk about him later…but I would like to say a few words. Will you come with me?”
Scootaloo nodded as the two approached the stand from which the mayor spoke, stepping up to face the small crowd of ponies before them.
“Hello everypony…Sea Mist was a truly great stallion, and I am proud to call him my father. He lived an incredible life, overcoming hardships such as poverty, illness, and raising me,”
The crowd gave a small chuckle.
“I have no words which can describe how grateful I am for what he did for me, and knowing that within a heartbeat, he’d do it all again for my little sister here, makes me even more astounded at his generosity. A piece of him will always live within those who he has touched, and he will never be forgotten.”
Snowstorm stepped down, allowing Scootaloo to face the crowd.
“Um…Hi, everypony…um, I haven’t ever spoken at anything like this, and I don’t really know any of you who aren’t from Ponyville, but…I only knew Sea Mist for a short time, yet in that time he effected me more than any other father figure I had…he took me into his home at the drop of a hat, and never gave it a second thought. I wish he would have been with us to watch me grow up, but I know that from Celestia’s eternal palace, he will watch, and be within my heart to help me grow. I loved my dad, and I know that he now rests in peace.
The entire crowd of ponies was now in tears at hearing such touching words from a mere filly. Icicle sobbed louder than the rest, half from grief, half from the pride she now felt in her children.
Scootaloo stepped down, an uplifting feeling as she felt the words which weighed down her heart be released into the crowd before her. She saw Rainbow standing in the crowd, smiling, tears brewing in her eyes.
A machine was hooked to Sea Mists coffin, raising it above the ground before hovering it above his grave. The rosewood casket was slowly lowered into the earth, and eventually came to a rest against the bottom of the grave. Ponies surrounded the opening in the ground an began to toss in flowers, showering the casket in a beautiful display of bright colors to contrast the black they all wore. As the coffin became buried in the colorful shower, earth began to fall in around the coffin. Finally the vivid life of the flower’s petals was buried amongst the cold, dark soil.
Snowstorm stood by the grave and watched as a small, little tombstone was placed in the ground,engraved with a simple epitaph of his beloved father:
“Here lies Sea H. Mist. Loving Husband, Father and Honored Stallion. May he rest in peace 1964-2011”
Snowstorm laid a wreath of roses upon the stone and whispered,
“I love you Dad…I just wish I could have said it sooner…”
Rainbow, Scootalo and Icicle leaned amongst each other as the rest of the crowd dispersed.
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Snowstorm had buried Stormshadow on his own accord. When he spoke to the Ponyville police about the incident, reports revealed he had been banished from Equestria long ago for the murder of a bartender, and was instructed that should he return, he would be put to death subsequently. His death would hold no charges to Snowstorm or Scootaloo, but they would also not provide him with a funeral, as Equestrian life insurance went only to citizens of Equestria. Stormshadow now laid in an improper grave in a distant part of Sweet Apple Acres, underneath a dead apple tree.
Unfortunately for Snowstorm, Rainbow, and Scootaloo, burying a body does not bury memories, and now every time they entered the room, they could not help but see Stormsahdow’s charred corpse, nor help but hear the wails of agony and fury.
Snowstorm and Rainbow lay next to each other, cuddling closely.
“I think I should move again…” Snowstorm said quietly, “I can’t bear the memories of this place anymore…it’s almost like it’s haunted.”
“I understand…when my folks passed I moved out ASAP, and bought the home I have now.” Rainbow replied.
“Which reminds me, when was the last time you went home?”
“Oh you know…back…before...” It suddenly dawned on Rainbow she hadn’t returned to her cloud home ever since Applejack had confessed her feelings for her. She hadn’t been home in almost two weeks. “Guess I should go check on things…”
Snowstorm laughed softly, “Whenever you want to go I’ll wait…”
Rainbow kissed Snowstorm, “No, you’ll come with me to help me pack my things.”
Snowstorm raised an eyebrow, “So sure I’ll let you move in with me huh?”
Rainbow giggled, “haven't I already?”
“Alright, alright. When were you thinking of moving?”
Rainbow shrugged, “Tomorrow soon enough?”