Jynx stroked Midnight’s mane. He had finally cried himself to sleep. It was the hardest this she had ever had to do. Not only was it hard to crush the colt by telling him his father and hero was gone, but it meant she had to actually say it out loud.
A knock from the door took her attention. She gently laid Midnight in his bed and headed for the living room. She opened the door to find a teary eyed Twilight.
“Hey,” Twilight said.
Jynx tried to give her a smile. “Hey. Come on in.”
Twilight followed her inside, closing the door behind her. They took a seat on the couch, jynx leaning her head on Twilight’s shoulder, who wrapped a wing around her.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Twilight wanted to say something, but what could she? Words couldn’t fix what was wrong, only time and her loved ones being there for her.
“I keep hoping this is just some terrible prank.”
Twilight nearly started at the suddenness of Jynx’s comment.
“It’s just so hard to believe,” Jynx said, somberly. “I always thought he was invincible. I mean, I knew he wasn’t, but it felt like it, you know?”
Twilight held her tighter. “Yeah, he was something else.”
“He was stabbed in the back,” Jynx said with a growl. “That cowardly piece of shit couldn’t even face him.”
“Of course he didn’t. If he did, Shiro would have left him like the rest,” Twilight said, feeling some of Jynx’s anger rubbing off on her.
“I want to find them,” Jynx said. “I know I couldn’t really do anything, but... I want to.”
“I know how you feel,” Twilight said. “This... this is the first time I’ve actually lost someone close to me since my parents.”
“Really?” Jynx asked, genuinely surprised.
“I... didn’t let anyone get close for a long time,” Twilight said. “Even my ‘friends’ in Canterlot weren’t really close. I mean, we got along, but we didn’t really have anything in common. Then I came here...”
“Yeah. This place does have that effect on you, doesn’t it?” Jynx said, chuckling. “The folks here are just so... unique.”
Twilight snortled. “That’s an understatement. Spike and I fit in from the get go.”
“And my eccentricities aren’t even that eccentric by comparison,” Jynx added. Her smile faded, though, as she continued. “Still... I’m moving to Cloudsdale for a while, to stay with mom and dad for a while.”
Twilight gave her a shocked look.
Jynx couldn’t meet her eyes as she explained. “It won’t be forever. I just... I need some time, and I need someone to help with Razor. I don’t want to take Midnight away, but I think if we just think about it like a vacation, it’ll be fine.”
“Oh... I see,” Twilight said, holding her a little tighter.
“I’ll be back,” Jynx said. “I still love you. I just need time to come to terms.”
Twilight nodded, understanding. “You know I’ll be here for you, whenever you want, and I’ll come visit you regularly, if you want me to.”
“I’d like that.”
“That liar!” A crash came from the Junior Rangers Headquarters. “That big, stupid, jerk!”
Scootaloo let herself collapse to the floor, tears streaming down her face. “He said he’d give me a chance. He said when I was old enough, we could...”
“Scootaloo?”
Scootaloo tried to clear her eyes, turning away from the door when she heard Sweetie’s voice.
“I heard yelling and noises. Are you okay?” Sweetie Belle asked as she walked in.
“Of course I’m not okay,” Scootaloo snapped. “He’s gone. He left me. He lied and left me.”
“Oh...” Sweetie said, realizing what was happening. “You know he didn’t mean to, right?”
“I’m not stupid,” Scootaloo said, her anger not lessening in the slightest. “I know he didn’t leave on purpose, but that doesn’t change what happened. He’s gone, and I’m alone.”
Sweetie sat by Scootaloo’s side. “You don’t have to be.”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “On, yeah, because ponies are lining up to be with a midget pegasus that can’t fly.”
“Well, that’s their loss,” Sweetie said. “You’re an amazing pony. You’re fun, brave, funny, kind... They’d be lining up if they saw what I see.”
Scootaloo scoffed. “Yeah, sure. Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but we both know there’s no pony that sees me like that.”
Sweetie Belle sighed. “You really aren’t very bright, are you?”
“Hey! I thought you were trying to cheer me up,” Scootaloo said.
“Yeah, sorry,” Sweetie apologized. “How about we go to Sugarcube Corner? We’ll get the biggest, most unhealthy thing they have.”
Scootaloo sighed. “Yeah. I guess. Thanks, by the way. You’re the best friend I could have ever asked for.”
“Hello?” Fluttershy asked as she opened the door to the Carousel Boutique. “Rarity are you here?”
She could hear the sound of the sewing machine, and figured Rarity just couldn’t hear her, so she let herself in. As she made her way into the back, she couldn’t help but notice a few sketches of various garments, all baring a stripe motif.
“Rarity?” she called again as she entered the work room.
“Oh, Fluttershy,” Rarity replied when she noticed her friend. “I’m so sorry. I was invested in my work.”
“I could see,” Fluttershy said, looking around. “Um... is this...?”
“Oh... yes,” Rarity followed her friend’s gaze to her many sketches. “I... wanted to commemorate our dear friend. I’m just having some trouble. I want it to be something he would have loved, but also something to capture what he meant to all of us.”
Fluttershy sniffed back her tears. “I’m sure he would appreciate that.”
“Also...” Rarity hesitated. “I would like to make something to send him off in.”
“Well, if anyone can, it would be you,” Fluttershy said.
“Perhaps you could help me,” Rarity offered. “I knew him as a dear friend, but you knew him as a lover. Maybe you have some insight I don’t.”
Fluttershy gave a small smile. “I would like that.”
On top of a hill, about five miles outside of Ponyville, a lone target stood. It was a big one, a good ten feet across and laying flat.
A streak of blue blurred past a good fifty feet above before a blood red spear slammed into the target at sonic speed. It hit with enough force to bury the spear halfway in the edge of the target.
“Damn it,” Rainbow cursed. “Still not good enough.”
Stupid Shiro, going and getting yourself killed, she thought to herself. Now I gotta do your job for you.
“You know, I’m probably going to kill myself doing some crazy stunt before I’m fourty,” she said, looking up to the sky. “When I do, I’m kicking your ass!”
Jynx held Midnight close as they sat, looking around at all the ponies that showed up. Even Princess Celestia showed to pay her respects, though she couldn’t stay.
She truly was touched that so many had come. Most of Ponyville had at least stopped by, briefly.
“Everyone really loved dad, huh?” Midnight asked, as if reading her thoughts.
“Yeah. They did.”
The gathered ponies grew quiet as Cedric took to the podium.
“I would like to start with a poem, written by John Donne;
“No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.”
He gave a moment before continuing. “Many of us think of times like this as a time to mourn the lost. In truth, it’s a time to mourn ourselves, for those who have passed no longer have pain or worry. It is we that must suffer, that must trudge on in a world made more dim.
“When I first came to this world, Shiro’s was the very first face I saw. And then I screamed like a filly and ran around like an idiot for a while.” He gave a sad chuckle. “But then I got to know him.
“He had a weird, but not unwelcome sense of humor. He had great respect for the monsters and creatures he had to fight off. He cared for his friends and loved to make others happy.
“While we still don’t know much about what happened, we know he died fighting those who would do us harm. He was a hero.
He turned toward the casket. “Shiro, my friend. We’re going to miss you. May you dwell forever in paradise.”
A great golden lion, with a stark white mane looked up as a raven flew into his chambers through the window.
“Ah, there you are,” he said, his voice deep and powerful. “I take it you have fulfilled your duty?”
“Yes,” the raven cawed.
“Excellent. We haven’t a moment to lose,” the lion replied. “We have much to do, and little time in which to do it.”
The Lion threw the doors open and strode through, with purpose in every step.