Save File Has Been Corrupted
Cold. The cold rain poured all over Ponyville as few of the townsponies carrying umbrellas had gathered around a foal-sized wooden box, hanging on ropes above a hole that seemed to be six-hooves deep. For one of the mares in the front row, that hole seemed like an abyss to her. Sitting down, staring at the box while tears flowed down her cheeks, Cream Heart looked anything but happy at the moment. She was filled with a feeling of immense devastation. She couldn’t do anything about it. She’s just there, endlessly staring at the box in front of her as if they were the only things that existed at the moment.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Sweetie Belle, whose eyes were sore red from crying. She had been ever since the news came out yesterday. She slowly approached the box and cried what’s left of her eyes all over it. Rarity, also saddened by her little sister’s cries, was by her side, patting a hoof on her back to calm her little sister.
Cream’s heart sank as she saw Sweetie Belle be this destroyed. The more calm and collected member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, now reduced to nothing but tears at this very moment. No. Cream Heart is not a weak mare. She wiped her tears and mustered up all the mental strength that she could to go up to Sweetie Belle in efforts to comfort her. Her special talent was to comfort fillies, colts, and ponies alike after all. With a soft voice, Cream Heart said to the small filly. “Sweetie Belle.” Caressing the filly’s pink and purple mane with her hoof, the filly calmed down a bit from releasing her tears upon hearing her voice.
“It will be alright.”
Sweetie Belle looked up at her, feeling the comfort in Cream Heart’s presence. She hugged her, crying with her muzzle face first on her chest. Although her words were soothing, she knows deep inside that it won’t be alright.
The pulleys, where the ropes were hung upon, were now rotating downwards. The box was now beginning to lower down into the hole. Cream and Sweetie took one last look at the contents of the box; a brown earth pony colt sleeping soundly but he wasn’t breathing. The box was now covered and finally lowered. Two ponies began burying it. Cream was at the peak of losing it. If she could, she’d let herself be buried along with the box, but she was sane. She is sane.
After the procession, everypony had left except for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity, and Cream Heart. Both Sweetie Belle and Cream, underneath the umbrellas they were carrying, were just reading silently the epitaph over and over again.
“I live knowing that every adventure will be with you.”
Those were the words Sweetie had chosen for his epitaph. She said it was one of his pickup lines he tried writing in his love letters to her. Although it sounded cheesy, Sweetie thought it was the sweetest thing he had ever done for her. Cream stifled a small chuckle before her smile faded as she looked down upon the ground once more.
The rain had finally cleared up and the clouds were then picked by the weather ponies, who were dressed in black clothing to respect the funeral. The sun’s rays had finally shone upon the wake, the sun caressing both of their forlorn faces. After they have silently said their wishes, they went their own ways going home.
It’s not going to be easy. The both of them thought. It will never be.
Cream Heart was never the perfect mother. She’s just doing what she does best, being the caretaker pony that she knew she could be. Hailing from the Heart family; a family full of skilled caretakers, she’d never let any harm be done to whom they are caring for. Caretakers never let anything happen to anypony, especially family…
They’d always protect the ones whom they love. Even the smallest injury would mean an immense pain to the heart of the caretaker…
How big of a failure would such a mare be to have their son die?
It is the 24th day of December; just a few weeks after the weather ponies had set up the blizzard forecast to make up for the late snow days. Now, it’s been the coldest Hearth’s Warming for Cream Heart and whatever’s left of her family. Cold. Not even the chimney could thaw out the cold feeling. It’s only been a few months after Button Mash’s death, yet Cream Heart and Chip Tune could still hardly believe it. Celebrating Hearth’s Warming Eve without the youngest in the family to keep them, at the very least, complete as they are.
Chip Tune was sitting quietly at the dining table, looking at his reflection through the porcelain plate. He chuckled as he imagined his reflection to be Button striking an innocent smile. With the sound of hoofsteps approaching, Chip’s concentration was then interrupted; the image of Button’s smile slowly fading away. He sighed as he looked up from his plate to see Cream Heart laying down a big bowl of salad.
“Bon appetit, Chip!” gleefully said Cream Heart. “I’m so glad you’re able to visit for Hearth’s Warming.”
“No, i-it’s alright mom. Really.” Chip stuttered a bit as he grabbed a fork and got a piece of the salad. “I just finished college, mom. Hope you kept my room tidy cus’ I’m gonna be living here again.”
“Why of course, Chip!” she said. “I keep every room in the house spotless! No day is a no-work day, my boy!”
“Thanks mom.” he said as he took a bite out of his salad. Soon after, Cream Heart sat on the chair in front of Chip, placing down a plate filled with salad as she sat.
They both were silent as they munched on their dinner. It was because usually at this time, the silence would be broken by Button who’d always ask Chip how his dream of getting in the video game industry as a composer was going or how Cream was doing while he was gone for school. Nothing. No exuberant colt to jump start the conversation. Just the cold howling wind of the Hearth’s Warming winter.
“So… you never really mentioned why you’re going to be living here again.” Cream Heart said, her voice having a touch of strain on to it; as if she didn’t want to say it but felt that she had to. “Tell me.”
Chip sighed as his mouth was still filled with salad. Swallowing the food, he cleared his throat before preparing himself to speak. “It’s becau--”
“You needed someone to look after me now that Button is dead.”
The howling wind outside blew harder as the atmosphere became as cold as the blizzard outside. The fire in the chimney, providing warmth in the house, quickly died out.
“Mom…”
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Well…” Chip choked on his words a bit. “Yes. But I was gonna say that the video game company was right here in Po-“
“So I was right, wasn’t I?
“Umm, mom?”
“I’m stronger than I look, and I’m perfectly capable of handling myself Chip Tune!” she said as she slammed the table. “I’m quite insulted that you’d think I wouldn’t be able to handle myself through this!”
“Mom,” Chip said as he put his hoof to his face. “please don’t be like this…” Chip replied a bit frustratingly by the sudden outburst.
“Go to bed.” Cream, quickly standing up from her chair, headed upstairs and, with a loud slam, locked the door shut.
“...” Chip stood there, silent, as he paid attention to both of their plates. Sighing, he grabbed both plates filled with salad and placed it in the fridge.
“Some Hearth’s Warming Eve…” sighed Chip as he walked upstairs and headed to his room.
Cream Heart was not feeling any better. She locked herself in her own bedroom as she stood there, staring at the three walls facing her. Before she even knew it, she broke down on the floor, crying as if she were a filly. Her regret just piled up even more as her crying went on.
On the wooden floorboards, Cream Heart cried herself to sleep… right next to a familiar propeller cap.