A few days later, a letter arrives at the Sunburst house for Starsong. It’s from her mom. “Dear baby girl,” she reads, “I hate to inform you, but your father passed away last night. We need you home. The funeral is Saturday. Tell the rest of the family to come along too, Sunburst and Sunset need to be there as does their mother.” Starsong goes off and tells Sunburst and Sunset the bad news. She soon finds them in the kitchen. “Sunburst, Sunset,” says Starsong in tears.
“What’s wrong?” Asks Sunburst as he turns around. She runs into his hooves.
“Dad,” sniffles Starsong, “he died last night. We are all required at the funeral this weekend.”
“Okay, I’ll let Cadence know I can’t come into work,” says Sunburst. He promptly sends a letter to the palace. “There, done.” He then heads off to pack followed by Sunset. Starlight follows suit. She can’t help but be confused though.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Asks Starlight as she grabs her husband’s hoof.
“My big brother just died, we’re heading to the funeral,” responds Sunburst. At this, Starlight shuts up and finishes her packing. She then packs for the fillies as does Sunset. That same noon, they’re on the first train to the Hollow. Once there, they pick up Stellar Flare who is awaiting them with her bags. Once she’s on board, the train pulls out of the station and heads up to Horseshoe Head where Sunspot and his wife live. All the way there, Starsong can’t help but think about her poor mom and how she’s fairing. At the same time, she can barely hold herself together. Seeing this, Sunburst and Sunset head over to comfort the crying mare.
“Hey Starsong,” says Sunburst and Sunset as they take Starsong in their arms. “How are you holding up?”
“Honestly, not well,” sniffles Starsong. “I was always a daddy’s girl and now he’s gone.” She continues to cry. “I don’t know what to do now that he’s gone.”
A few hours later, they finally arrive at Horseshoe Head in the Crystal Canyon. There, they are greeted at the door by Sunspot’s wife Misty Glow. She’s in tears. Seeing this, Starsong rushes into her mother’s arms. Misty embraces her daughter in a hug. She then leads them all inside. She then closes the door behind them. “I’m so glad you all are here,” sighs Misty still in tears, “it was so sudden, his passing.”
“What happened?” Says Stellar Flare as she takes Misty’s head on her hoof. “Please tell us. Tell me.”
“Okay,” she sighs, “he became sick for the first time a few months ago and it just got worse from there since there’s no doctors out here, not really. We couldn’t get him the help he needed. We’re so sorry.”
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault, but y’all should’ve stayed in the city,” sighs Stellar Flare, “then he could’ve gotten help.”
“I know, I know,” cries Misty, “and I regret leaving everyday. Don’t think I don’t.” She stares out the window. “I regret it everyday.”
“Brother was a good stallion, he’ll be missed,” says Sunburst as he stands now next to her, “but he’d want you to move on, you know that.”
“I know,” says Misty with a sigh, “I know. I don’t think I can though, Sunspot was Starsong’s world and she was his. She’s all I’ve got left of him and I don’t want to disappoint her by moving on to another stallion.”
“But you won’t, mom,” butts in Starsong, “you could never disappoint me. I’ll be okay, I promise.”
A few days later, it’s the day of the funeral and the family gathers around the graveside. Everypony says a good word about Sunspot. The funeral lasts for about an hour. They then head off to lunch where they discuss fun memories and fond memories about Sunspot. After all, those stories are the best way to continue to keep his memory alive. Stellar Flare while at lunch finally bursts out into tears after holding it in the entire funeral. “Why do I always seem to lose ponies close to me?” She cries as she inquires. “My husband, now my son. Years ago your sister straight up ran away to a different world abandoning me.” She turns to Sunburst. “Then you left, not even you stuck around.”
“Mom,” say Sunburst and Sunset in unison, “we’re going to get through this together, we promise. We’re not going to abandon you again. We promise.” They give their mother a hug and everypony else in the family follow suit before Starlight and Sunset have to sneak out to feed the crying fillies in their hooves. Everypony else soon leaves the restaurant as well. They then all head home together. Right now, all they want to do is grieve as a family, remember Sunspot and his memory as a family.