Princess Celestia stood with sadness in her heart before the gathered mass of ponies. All her dudes were in mourning, but none as much as the princess herself. Equestria had suffered the loss of a hero, Celestia suffered the loss of a friend. It was this friendship that drove her to forego tradition. She would not speak of her former captain with the hollow words of detached royalty. No, Stonewing deserved far, far better. She would instead speak from the heart, as if she were simply among friends. It’s what he would have wanted.
“Good evening, my dudes,” Celestia said, magically amplifying her voice. “Big sad for the loss of Captain Stonewing. I thank you for joining me in celebrating his life and memory.”
Ponies began to murmur as she spoke, but she did not take offense. It was normal for some to quietly voice affirmations when remembering those who have been lost. Everyone had their own individual way of coping.
“My guy was real,” she continued, the rising tears audible in her words. “He was perhaps the realest G I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
There were now many confused faces in the crowd, doubtless caught off guard by their princess speaking of the fallen pegasus with such familiarity. It mattered not to Celestia. As selfish as it may be, she was speaking for herself, not for them.
“He may have been rough around the edges, but that gruff exterior belied a kind heart. No matter how much he grumbled, and he grumbled often," she choked out with a laugh, tears flowing freely, "he would always do everything he could to help those in need. From his first day to his last, he was the embodiment of a true homie.”
The crowd’s response went unnoticed by Celestia, who was no longer paying them any mind. Her eyes were closed as she pulled out a bottle of Stonewing’s favorite liquor, uncorked it, and began to pour one out for her dear friend.