//------------------------------// // The Funeral // Story: A Griffon's Farewell // by 1jckuhn //------------------------------// Griffonstone, Equestria Celestial Beach Cemetery December 21, 2017, 11:30 A.M. The mood that could best describe Griffonstone as a whole on this chilly December day was joyless. It was known that Griffonstone wasn’t exactly the happiest place in Equestria, but today, it was worse. Word about Gallus’ suicide had spread like wildfire and creatures from all parts of Equestria couldn't help but feel sad and sorry for the now deceased Griffon upon hearing of his story. Easily, however, there was no creature that felt more heartbroken or guilty than Grampa Gruff.  It didn’t take long for the Element Bearers, Starlight, Spike, Grandpa Gruff, and Gallus’ friends to find the place where Gallus’ family was buried. It was a cemetery that was rather secluded. Located below and west of Griffonstone and just east of Celestial Beach itself. There were two main ways to the cemetery. The first one was from the east, but the only mode of transportation for creatures unfortunate enough to lack the ability to fly was down a hiking path that was rarely, if at all, traveled at this time of year. It was roughly a one-and-a-half-mile trek down a dirt road that was now caked in fresh snow to the eastern entrance. The second entrance was on the south side. The main way that most creatures could get there would be for them to travel across the water and then walk a quarter-mile to the north of where the boats would dock on the pier. There was only one hill within the cemetery. So, it didn’t take a genius to figure out where Gallus’ parents and sisters were buried. When they reached the top, the view they had of the sea was nothing short of breathtaking. There was a clear view out towards the water and, as it was facing west, it was almost guaranteed that a beautiful sunset would be on display for any creature to take in when the sky was clear. The Ponies swore they could see Baltimare if they squinted hard enough. They could only imagine how beautiful this place looked in the summertime. Or how beautiful Gallus thought it looked. Back when he was a kid with a family. Back when he was a kid full of happiness. Back when he was a kid full of innocence. Back when he was a kid full of hope. For Grampa Gruff, however, finding just the cemetery wasn’t enough. He wanted to, at least, visit the place where Gallus had lived and maybe see if he couldn’t persuade the Griffons there to come to the funeral as well. As luck would have it, a few of his neighbors used to live there and volunteered to take him, as well as the others, up there, which they all accepted without a second thought. The journey took them to a part of the kingdom where it seemed that everyone went out of their way to avoid. In fact, as they drew closer to Gallus’ old town, it felt like the whole atmosphere became as gloomy as it was the night Gallus had passed. At last, they came upon a weathered, wooden sign that read, “Yellow Ridge Village.” What everyone found once they were past the sign could only be summed up with one word. Lonely. There was not a single creature inhabiting any part of the small town. The buildings were abandoned and boarded up, left at the mercy of the weather conditions or any mischievous tagger looking for a place to mark their territory. Some squirrels and birds had made their nests in some of the old houses and were the only signs of life that were observed by anyone. Within minutes of arriving at the ghost town, the pack of creatures found Gallus' old home. Or, at least, what was left of it. The whole place was completely destroyed. Only part of a wall, the contorted skeleton of a staircase, and a corroded mailbox stood as silent witnesses to the events of the day when everything went to hell. It looked like no one had touched anything inside the place since it had burned down. The sight of it brought everyone to tears. They could only imagine what that young little fledgling witnessed that day. The only Griffons who could actually attest to the full extent of the horror were now represented by the quartet of headstones that stood at the peak of the hill. All were simple in bearing the names, ages, and positions in the family each Griffon served. Gared Terrence Griffon Beloved husband, father, brother, son, and friend May 30, 1970 - December 25, 2008 Galena Claire Griffon Beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend November 18, 1970 - December 25, 2008 While reading the first two gravestones was sad, reading the tombstones of the children had really brought everyone to tears. Gracie Petunia Griffon Beloved sister, daughter, granddaughter, and friend April 3, 1997 - December 25, 2008 Gwendolyn Victoria “Gwen” Griffon Beloved sister, daughter, granddaughter, and friend July 6, 2004 - December 25, 2008 Now, there stood a large, rectangular hole to the right of Gwen’s grave with a fifth gravestone marking the final resting place of her older brother. Gallus Gage Griffon Beloved brother, son, grandson, and friend October 21, 2001 - December 15, 2017 Just behind Gracie's grave, stood an object that was obscured by a white sheet. That would be revealed at the end of the tragic event. In front of the headstones and unknown object stood a podium made from cherry wood with a microphone. The crowd that had gathered for the funeral was larger than expected. In addition to all of Griffonstone turning out for the funeral, there was a sizable number of other creatures from other parts of Equestria who had come to say a final goodbye to a Griffon they barely, if at all, knew. In the front row sat Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, the Element Bearers, Starlight, Spike, Gallus’ friends and their families, and Grandpa Gruff. On a stand in front of them just behind the covered object stood a coffin as white as the snow with golden accents. As the last of the attendees took their seats, Twilight got up from her seat, stepped up to the podium, and turned to face the crowd. For a brief second, the Alicorn just stared at the sea of bright colors, taking in just how many creatures had arrived. A tinge of anger crept through her when she laid eyes upon the other Griffons. She wanted to know which specific Griffons were from Gallus' old town so she could ask them why they had decided to show up to express their support now instead of leaving him to fend for himself for two full years. That tinge of anger soon turned to guilt when she remembered how she wasn't any better. If she had just been honest with Gallus the first time he had been at her office, the others and she could have had the chance to get the truth about his past. It would've changed everything. Twilight pushed her internal emotions aside with a deep, shaken breath and began to slowly speak. “Thank all of you for attending today,” Twilight spoke into the microphone. “It really means a lot to all of us that you came here today to say a final goodbye to a Griffon who has touched so many lives by the age of sixteen. I first met Gallus when I had opened my School of Friendship just three short months ago. He was initially resistant to the idea of friendship until he got to know five creatures just as special as he was. A Hippogriff named Silverstream, a Dragon named Smolder, an Earth Pony named Sandbar, a Changeling named Ocellus, and a Yak named Yona. The six of them soon became inseparable and were an unbeatable team. Among the six of them, Gallus was always known as the prankster of the group. Whether it was putting non-toxic food coloring in the water system or filling up the hallways with balloons, we always couldn’t help but laugh at his antics, no matter how annoyed we seemed with him when we first found out about it.” Gallus’ friends and the other teachers couldn’t help but let out a few sad chuckles, remembering all the Griffon’s past mischief. While they always expressed their irritation at Gallus for his antics, they were all harmless and in good fun and they’d usually be over it by next morning. At the same time, however, it made everyone feel sadder, especially Gallus’ friends and the teachers. It was going to be different at the School of Friendship without its star trickster pulling his usual stunts. It was an especially hard topic for Smolder. Gallus and she had often pulled pranks on each other and some of the things they had done to each other were pretty funny. Once, they were memories that would’ve made her laugh. Now, they were memories that made her want to cry and she wanted nothing more than to forget about them.  “However, while he seemed like your typical, happy, mischievous teenager, Gallus had a side that none of us would’ve ever thought he possessed. The others and I ascertained that his family had been killed in a house fire on the day of the Blue Moon Festival, leaving him homeless and orphaned. Next Monday will mark the nine-year anniversary. He had spent two years living on the streets before being taken in by Grampa Gruff. He had lied to everyone about his past to avoid anyone finding out about it because he felt like he'd just be an issue for everyone to deal with if they did know. He was successful at keeping it a secret until a prank pulled by him six days earlier revealed that he had wanted to stay at school just long enough to miss out on helping Grampa Gruff set up for the Blue Moon Festival. Bad feelings eventually boiled over into an argument between his friends about who had done the prank, during which he chastised them for how they acted. The argument ultimately sparked a tearful confession from him saying that he had done the prank and how he didn’t have a family to go home to. Rainbow, Spike, and I all pitched in to help patch things up between him and the others.  Silverstream, Smolder, Ocellus, Yona, and Sandbar had embraced each other by this point and were crying tenderly. The teachers could only rub their backs and join the hug as Twilight continued on. “Unfortunately, we came to the realization too late that years of fighting his grief and demons had been slowly building up over time and the events of that fateful December day had finally pushed him past his breaking point. He had kept a diary in his nightstand, which revealed that he had been severely depressed. He said in his suicide note that he felt that he was worthless and had no place not only at school, but in the world in general. He viewed himself as a nuisance and felt like no one should have to fight his battles for him." Twilight paused for a second to wipe away tears that had begun to well up in her eyes. “As my friends and I were reeling from the events of both his suicide and finding out his true colors in his diary, I began to realize just how lucky I was to have a family and friends of my own. While Gallus’ story doesn’t have a happy ending, it does have a moral that is very important. It teaches us to really appreciate what we have in life. So, this holiday season, I implore you all to please hug your loved ones a little tighter and realize how lucky you are to have a family. There are so many more creatures in this world that are in the exact same situation he was in.” Twilight turned to face the casket and the top half of it was bathed in her purple aura. Everyone felt their guts drop as they prepared themselves for what they were about to see. The casket was opened to reveal Gallus wearing a tuxedo. His arms were folded over his chest, resembling an “X.” The small pillow that they had found in the Gallus’ nightstand now stood propped up in the top left corner of the casket. Just below the pillow was the Griffon’s diary. Twilight winced slightly as she heard the pained cries of Gallus' friends and Grampa Gruff as they lost control of their emotions at the sight of the deceased Griffon. However, she pushed it back for the time being as she walked to the casket and looked at her demised student. “Gallus,” she began. “I wish you could see how many creatures came here just for you. You were a great student, friend, Grandson, and creature through and through. You were never a problem, you were never a burden, you were never a screw-up, and you were most certainly never a failure. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were a troubled soul in this world, but now, you are free. Free from the grief you were forced to endure for almost nine years. Free to go home to the heavens above and be with your family. Free to finally experience peace. I hope you’re living every second of it to the fullest. You’ve more than earned it.” She spun around to face the crowd. “Anyone is now free to say their final goodbyes,” she announced. Without another word, the Alicorn trotted back to her seat to let the others speak. The first to speak was Smolder. She took a deep, shaken breath as she gazed down at Gallus’ still face. “Gallus, let me just begin this by saying you were the best friend a Dragon could ask for. You always brought out the best in everyone, including me. All those memories we made together, including our prank war, are all things that should put a smile on my face or make me laugh. Now, they just fill me with sadness and guilt. I was supposed to be your friend and I wasn’t there for you when you needed the others and me the most. For nine years, you sat in the dark with only your own demons for company, feeling sad, alone, and like you were better off dead,” she paused to wipe away tears. “Sometimes, I think about what would’ve changed if we had checked up on you more often. Would we have been able to stop you from going through with this? Would we have been able to help you find peace? All these questions race through my mind and each one hurts me more than the last.” Smolder teared up as she locked eyes with the small pillow located in the top-left corner of the casket, fighting the urge to break down as she remembered her friend’s final words. “I hope you and your family are putting together the best Blue Moon Festival in heaven, Gallus,” she whispered into his ear. “If you can hear us, please know that we don’t blame you for anything that’s happened over this past week. We just wish we could’ve helped you before your grief finally consumed you completely.” The orange Dragon wrapped her arms and wings around Gallus, hugging his corpse for a few seconds, before reluctantly breaking away. She wasn’t looking forward as she made her way back to her seat. She was looking over her shoulder the whole time, never peeling her eyes away from the open casket. After Smolder was Ocellus. “I-I guess this is goodbye, Gallus,” the Changeling stammered, tearing up as she looked at Gallus. “I don’t know what to think right now. It’s all so much to process. It feels like this is all some horrible nightmare, but every night I wake up to the sound of you crying and screaming at us about how easy we have it for the Holidays. I realize all over again that this isn’t a nightmare. It’s reality and I hate it. I absolutely hate it. I hate that your demons had been tormenting you day in and day out and you felt like you had no one to turn to. I hate that the others and I were unable to do anything to ease your anguish. I hate that we were unable to save you that day. I don’t know what to think or do now. You were always there for me. You always put a smile on my face, e-especially…” Ocellus’ words faltered in her throat, as she remembered every good memory that she had made with the Griffon hit her all at once. The tears that had welled up in her eyes were now leaving streaks down her cheeks. “E-Especially…*sniffle*...through your…*hic*...pranks.” Saying these four words made the young Changeling finally lose control of her emotions completely. She crossed her arms over the rim of the casket, buried her face into them, and began to sob hysterically. “It’s not fair!” she wailed. “You did nothing to deserve this! You were such a great creature!” After crying her eyes out for a solid minute, Ocellus got herself back together and looked back at her deceased friend. “I-In spite of how sad this is, the others and I know that you’re in a better place now, Gallus. While we’re all happy that you’re no longer suffering, we just wish we could be with you. Just for one more day. Just for one more adventure. Just for one more happy memory.” With that, Ocellus nuzzled Gallus’ still cheek before walking slowly back to her seat. Yona got up next. She trudged slowly through the fresh snow before coming to a stop in front of the Griffon’s coffin. “Yona will always treasure memories made with Gallus,” she spoke softly. “Gallus wasn’t worthless. Gallus wasn't problem. Gallus was great friend to many creatures. Gallus always made Yona laugh with pranks and jokes. Yona will carry Gallus inside here.” She pressed a hoof against her chest, just above her heart. "Yona sorry for Griffon’s situation. Yona sometimes wonder if she could've done more to prevent Gallus' death. Yona thinks about Gallus every day. Yona wish that Griffon and his family are reunited in heaven. Yona wish that Gallus find peace in afterlife." The Yak nuzzled her right cheek against Gallus’ right cheek before turning around and trudging back to her seat. After Yona was Sandbar. The green Earth Pony felt weak as he stood up and walked over to Gallus’ casket. “It’s hard to believe that today is the last day I'll spend with you, Gallus. Never in my life did I think that I’d have to say a final goodbye to you this fast. Things aren’t going to be the same around here without you. You helped make not just the School of Friendship, but all of Equestria, a better place for everyone, especially for me. I don’t think there was ever a time that I wasn’t smiling when I was around you. Your sarcastic remarks and your pranks always brightened my day. My favorite one was when you set up a rubber spider inside one of the drawers on Professor Applejack’s desk. With you gone, my life is going to be a lot blander. The worst part of it is because it wasn’t a sickness or a freak accident that called you away from this world. It was from years of living with a broken heart and feeling like you’d never amount to anything. Even though the prank was your doing, and you didn’t want it to go this far, I can’t help but feel like I went wrong somewhere. I replay every memory, trying to construct and deconstruct every moment to try and see where I made a mistake anywhere that may have made you feel sad or left out and it ultimately snowballed into this.” The green Earth Pony stared sadly at Gallus’ still face.  “If your soul can hear me, please know that I hope you’re well taken care of wherever you are now and I wish you nothing but the best for your journey in the afterlife,” he finished. With his speech finished, there was nothing more Sandbar could do except go back to his seat. The Earth Pony’s mind was still flooded with memories that he was deconstructing moment by moment all at once, desperately trying to find any possible screw-up he had made or any red flags relating to Gallus that he might have missed in the three months that he had known the Griffon. The last of Gallus’ friends to speak was Silverstream. While Gallus’ suicide was obviously sad for his friends, it seemed the Hippogriff was easily the most crushed out of all of them. Her fur, feathers, and mane were a matted mess, her eyes were bloodshot and had dark bags under them, and the bitter taste of vomit lingered inside of her mouth. “Y-You p-poor Griffon,” she choked out through sobs. “You deserved so much better in life. You were the best friend I could’ve ever asked for, Gallus. You always knew how to brighten a room. You always knew how to make a creature laugh. You were kind, you were faithful, and you were true to the bitter end. I can’t put into words the shame I feel toward myself or how much my world has changed for the worst in the span of less than a week. While my physical wounds will eventually heal, my emotional wounds won’t.” Silverstream paused for a brief moment, took a deep breath, and readied herself to finally confess how she really felt about the Griffon that now lay deceased right before her eyes. “If the truth be told, I thought of you as more than just my friend, Gallus. The moment I laid eyes on you, you stole my heart. It wasn't just some crush. I loved you, Gallus. I loved you beyond what I could ever put into words. You weren't an encumbrance to anyone in this world. You were a smart, funny, and beautiful creature inside and out. Unfortunately, every time I tried to tell you, my courage died at the last second. The worst part about it is that you loved me too, but you held off on telling me just because you felt like you would bring me down with what you thought were your issues.” With each word she spoke, Silverstream felt worse and worse. “If anything, I didn’t deserve you, Gallus. I was a blatant coward to my own feelings. If I had just sucked it up and came clean with you about how I felt, maybe it could have been something that ultimately helped you through that day. It could've changed everything, but I just kept putting it off all because I was so scared about being rejected. Now, I can never be with you, and you can never be with me. I failed you, Gallus, and this is what it's led to. I'm sorry. I’m so, so sorry. You didn’t need those extra friendship lessons over the break. We did.” Smolder, Sandbar, Yona. and Ocellus didn’t even bother defending themselves from Silverstream’s statement. As much as they hated to admit it, the Hippogriff was telling the cold, hard truth in their minds, and it was just another reminder of why they were here. The more they thought about Gallus, the more they blamed themselves for his suicide. A soft thud pulled them back to reality and they looked back in the direction of where Gallus' casket stood on its perch, before their eyes fell upon Silverstream, now sprawled on the ground and sobbing hysterically. She tried to get back up, but her knees buckled, and she fell right back onto the snow. She felt weak both physically and mentally. Her whole body ached from both her physical injuries and the sharp ache that surged through her insides with every beat of her broken heart. “Please, come back,” she croaked. “You're my best friend. I need you. Don’t leave me, please.” Seeing that Silverstream could go no further, her parents, Terramar, Smolder, Ocellus, Sandbar, and Yona immediately sprang from their seats and rushed over to the devastated Hippogriff. Carefully, they hoisted their daughter, sister, and friend back up onto her claw and hooves. They started to pull her back to her seat, but the Hippogriff resisted. "No," she said, taking deep breaths to steady herself. "I need to finish this. I-It's the least I can do." Silverstream's friends and family gave each other uneasy looks but, nevertheless, fulfilled her request and helped her back toward Gallus' coffin. It wasn't long before Silverstream soon found herself looking back down at her best friend's still face. For a few long seconds, the Hippogriff just stood there in dead silence, before she slowly craned her neck down and puckered her lips to leave a kiss right on Gallus' lips. "I-I've wanted to do that for so long," Silverstream's voice started to crack as tears streamed down her face like a river of sorrow, her unbandaged hand caressing Gallus' cheek. Then, she turned her attention toward the gravestones that served as the resting places for Gallus' family. "I-I also have something to say to the four of you as well," she continued. "Although, I've never met any of you, I know, from the behavior of your son and brother, that you were all amazing creatures. I want to extend my apologies to you all as well. For everything. From the terror you must've felt when you realized that you weren't going to make it out of your own house alive to the others and me being blind to your son's ordeal when he needed someone to be with him the most." All Smolder, Sandbar, Ocellus, and Yona could do was stare at the gravestones, then toward the ground. Before a loud, agonizing wail splitting the sky brought their attention back to Silverstream as she collapsed into the bitter cold snow once again. The Hippogriff's friends and family were at her side in a split-second. Knowing that she didn't have the strength to go back to her seat on her own, Ocean Flow carefully scraped her sobbing daughter off of the ground and placed her on Sky Beak's back for the short walk back. Terramar and Silverstream's friends followed close behind. With the students finished, Twilight, Spike, Starlight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy were up next. The eight creatures had all decided to go at once. “H-Hey, Gallus,” Rainbow started. "I can’t express how much the others and I are going to miss you. You were always there being sarcastic, but friendly, outgoing, and loveable to everyone you met. It’s not going to be the same without your pranks or antics. Even though they were rather annoying, I did always look back on them later and laugh. There were some instances where I almost didn't want to punish you for when we found out you did a prank because some of them were actually pretty funny, and no one was ever hurt. In a way, you and I shared a lot personality wise. Now, I feel like a piece of me is gone. Not only that, but I was partially responsible for what you did that night. Even though the others and I didn't know how you were struggling emotionally, I was still in on the plan to get you to crack, and it ultimately pushed you off the edge. I want to say sorry, but no apology I could give will ever make up for what happened. It won’t take back the fact that my actions had a hoof in driving you to this. It won’t take back the fact that I didn’t do enough as a teacher to reach out to you as a student. It won’t take back the fact that the others and I were unable to show you that we loved and appreciated you for who you were.“ A lump formed in Rainbow’s throat as she said her last sentence as tears began to well up in her eyes. “O-Or who we thought you were,” she finished, choking on her words as she fought the urge to break down. Rainbow stepped back so Applejack could speak next. "They say that every once in a while, an angel will come into your life and leave a mark on your heart that never goes away," the Apple farmer swallowed hard as she continued, a single tear escaping out of her eye and rolling down her cheek. "I never would've imagined that angel was one of my own students. Gallus, you were a stubborn, persistent, little spitfire. At the same time, however, you were also a hard-working, dedicated, and good-hearted Griffon. I've never admitted this to anyone, but you were always my favorite student because I, like Rainbow, thought that you and I connected a lot of ways in how we acted. Not only that, but I also know what it’s like to lose a loved one. I don't have parents to go home to back on the farm as well. Unfortunately, as sad as my family situation is, I've still got an older brother that looks after me, a younger sister that I look after, and a grandmother that all three of us look after. You didn't have any extended family to take you in and the only sibling you did have also died. Now, though, you no longer have to be forced to agonize over them. I know that the five of y'all are back together and are catching up on good times as we speak." The apple farmer took off her hat and pulled a fake spider out of it. She placed it inside the casket just under where his diary rested inside of it. "There you go, sugarcube," she spoke softly. "I figured you'd want that back." It took a few seconds of coaxing from Applejack, as well as the others, for Rarity to get her emotions together long enough to step up to the open casket. The alabaster Unicorn wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and took a deep breath as she prepared herself for the emotionally taxing task of saying goodbye to her student. "This isn't right!" wailed the fashionista. "You had so much in this world to look forward to and now you'll never get to experience it! You were among friends here, Gallus. You were never a nuisance. You were an exemplary creature to all who knew you. You were a devoted friend. You were the best student any teacher could ever ask for. It hurts me even more knowing, like Twilight said, that there are so more creatures out there who are just like you, feeling like they're in the dark and have no one to talk to because they'd feel like they were nothing more than a nuisance to everyone who knew them if they revealed their struggle." She turned around to face the crowd. "Th-This is a message I want to make clear to everyone," she choked through her tears. "If someone you know may be showing signs of feeling like they're alone or not wanted, take it upon yourself to show them that they are wanted and that you do care for them, and to anyone who may be feeling alone or unwanted, please know that there are people out there who do care about you. They just aren't always visible." At that point, Rarity began to completely break down and sob hysterically. She was wrapped into a hug by the other six ponies and Dragon, before Starlight reluctantly broke away from the hug and stepped up to the coffin to speak next. "Gallus, I just want to say that Applejack and Rainbow Dash aren’t the only ones who felt like they shared common personality traits with you. Your struggles with the holidays, relate to me as well. I'd say your situation about family also related to me as well, but I still have my dad here with me. You didn't have anyone to turn to. My mother had ended up passing away from a fatal illness right after I had graduated Kindergarten and my childhood was never the same since. My grief over losing my mother soon turned to bitterness, resentment, and anger and I often directed it toward my dad. My relationship with him grew more and more strained as the years progressed until I eventually ran away from home. When I was in charge of my village, Our Town, while Ponies there did still exchange gifts and spread cheer during Hearth's Warming, I was never really into it. While I did still participate and even host activities during that time, there was always a place in my heart that just didn't seem full. Looking back now, I realized that it was because I missed my Sunburst and my parents. I want to say that was probably what you felt when you spent all those years alone and in the dark, but I had the advantage of making amends with both my dad and Sunburst. It hurts me knowing that it wasn't the same case for you." She leaned down and whispered her last sentences in Gallus' ear. "I hope you, as well as the rest of your family, get to meet my mom one day on the other side, Gallus. She'd always crack the funniest jokes whenever anyone was down. I know that the two of you would make fast friends with your personality." After Starlight was Spike. “Next to Smolder, I connect with you now in a lot of ways too, Gallus. You're not the only one who doesn’t have a family to go home to either. To this day, I still don’t have my real parents or siblings beside me either, but, even then, I still have it easier than you,” the Dragon paused for a few seconds to cry before continuing. “While there’s still a possibility my family is out there, you literally had to witness them die in the worst way possible. I can’t even imagine how horrific that was for you.” The usually joyous, upbeat, positive Pinkie Pie looked beyond crestfallen as she stepped up to share what she had to say about the young Griffon. Her mane was deflated, and her usual, vibrant pink coat was now faded. “The world isn’t a better place without you, Gallus," sobbed Pinkie. "It’s a worse place. You always brightened other creatures’ days with your jokes and tricks. Some of them even rivaled the pranks that Dash and I pulled. I could never be mad at you for the shenanigans you pulled. If anything, every time we confronted you about them, it took a lot of my self-restraint not to just laugh. They were all harmless and in good fun. Now, we can’t share a good laugh over them anymore. You may have not realized it, but you’ve touched a lot more people in their hearts than you might have thought with your jokes, laughter, and joy.” She paused, almost breaking down in tears. “B-But all this time, we never bothered to think that maybe we should’ve given some of that light back to you, even just a little bit. E-Especially since all the jokes and pranks was all just because you just didn’t want others to see how you were truly feeling inside. Maybe it could’ve changed the outcome of all of this. We could’ve had a chance to put a real smile on your face.” The Pink party Pony began to cry silently as Fluttershy walked up to say her piece. "Gallus, I can't even begin to describe what I feel right now. You were always there for another creature in their time of need, and you always made everyone's troubles feel so small. Unfortunately, it seemed that all this time, despite all your kindness, you needed it far more. I know what it’s like to lose someone close to you, but for you to have to witness them being taken in the worst way possible honestly just makes my heart break over and over for you. I’ve always wondered if I could’ve changed the outcome of this if I had done something even slightly different.” The animal caretaker paused as she too began to replay past memories of her interactions with Gallus, wondering if he would still be here if she had just said, “hello,” to him one more time or asked how he was feeling. Then, she turned her attention back to finishing her speech. “However, despite the fact that we couldn’t prevent your despair from destroying you from the inside out, we are all comforted by the fact that you're at peace and having a great time in heaven as we speak. Fly high, Gallus. May you be eternally blessed in the safe, loving grasps of not just your family, but also the gods and goddesses above." finished the Pegasus, a small, sad, but warm smile, playing her lips. Fluttershy stepped back to let Twilight speak and finish off the speeches. “I find it truly ironic that, even though the girls, Spike, and I were supposed to teach you about friendship, you were ultimately the one who taught us all a lesson about friendship, as well as family, in more ways than one,” she wiped away her tears as she looked at Gallus’ still face. "You really did possess a lot more knowledge than I could've ever imagined. I just wish we didn't have to learn it due to the fact that your story ended so quickly and unhappily, but we cannot control when the Gods and Goddesses choose their next angel. You were truly a special creature and I promise that I'll always think of you and your family whenever possible. I have no doubt in my mind that you’re up in heaven making fast friends with everyone you meet.” Twilight used her magic to open a saddlebag that she had brought along with her and levitate a piece of paper out into view for the others and her to see. It was rolled up and secured with a bright red ribbon. The Alicorn held the scroll in place as she used her magic to untie the ribbon and unroll the paper, examining it thoroughly through blurred vision.  Certificate of Graduation Presented to: Gallus Griffon Dated: December 21, 2017 Signed: Twilight Sparkle A purple aura surrounded Gallus’ arms as Twilight lifted them just high enough to slide the diploma in between his claws and his chest. Once it was in the right spot, Twilight set Gallus’ arms back down and released her magical hold on them, looking tearfully at the finished product. It was a perfect fit. “The others and I have agreed that the only way to truly acknowledge just how much you’ve taught us all is to give you the honor of being the first official graduate of our school,“ Twilight whispered into his ear. "Consider it just the first of many steps we’re taking to ensure you’re never forgotten.” With the diploma now settled in place, the octet made their way back to their seats. After the teachers took their seats, all eyes turned to Grampa Gruff, the last one to speak. Next to Silverstream, he was easily the most devastated out of everyone there. “I-I don't even know how to start this,” he choked out. “N-No grandparent is expected to have to say goodbye to their only grandchild when they're still a teenager, much less because of their own mistakes. I can’t even put into words how sorry I am for what you’ve gone through or how my own failures led you to taking your own life. I created this mess. I was always cantankerous during the Blue Moon Festival even when I had nothing to complain about. If anyone had a right to complain during the holiday season, it was you. You spent more of your life feeling sad, scared, and alone than you did happy. I was completely blind to the fact that you were suffering in the dark for years. You put on a mask to please me for over six years, but there were numerous moments that you weren’t doing well, and what did I do? I ignored the signs. I went about my life when I should’ve stopped to think about you more often. I’ve failed you as a grandfather. I’ve failed you as a caretaker. I-I…” The old Griffon choked on his words as he fought back from breaking down. “I’ve failed you as a friend.” By this point, Grampa Gruff couldn’t keep his composure any longer. He began to do nothing but just sob and sob as he leaned against his grandson’s coffin. The other Griffons just looked at him with a mix of sympathy and shock. In all the years they had known Grampa Gruff, they had never seen him this emotionally distraught before. “I hope you’re living a happy life in Heaven with your family, the one I didn't give you,” Grampa Gruff finished. "I love with all my heart. Please forgive me for my mistakes." He wrapped his arms around Gallus' head, stroking the trio of feathers that stood up on top of it, before letting go and planting a kiss on his cheek. With that, the old Griffon ran back to his seat in a fit of choked sobs. With everyone having said their piece, the top half of the casket was enveloped in Twilight’s purple aura and closed once again. The quiet “click” that followed indicated that it had been locked. It was bathed in Twilight’s purple aura and lifted off of its stand. It was levitated over the rectangular hole and slowly lowered inside of it. As the casket sank from sight, the hearts of Gallus’ friends, Grampa Gruff, and his teachers sank inside their chests, following the casket into the dark, lifeless abyss. Once it touched the earth, the grim task of refilling the hole began. Little by little, the large clump of dirt became smaller and smaller. The hole that the casket now resided in became shallower and shallower. As the last clump of dirt was piled onto the mound of earth, Grampa Gruff wiped away his tears, got up from his seat, trudged slowly toward the object that was still obscured by the white sheet, and pulled it away, revealing the object to the audience. It was another headstone that towered two feet over the other four graves made of the same gray stone that the graves were made from. The only difference was that the top of the headstone was heart-shaped. The heart had black letters carved into it just like the tombstones. Its message stood out bold and proud against the gray color and it made over half the crowd cry as they read it. Grampa Gruff walked back around and stared sadly at the quartet of graves and the heart. Everyone else did the same. The last chapter of a tragic story and situation had reached its final page, and the book could now be closed for good, but the moral of the story would forever linger in everyone’s minds. With each second, he looked at the six headstones, Grampa Gruff’s guilt ate away inside of him more and more until, at last, it pushed him to make a drastic decision. He wasn’t the only one either. As Gallus’ friends read the words of the heart-shaped marker over and over again, memories from that night swarmed around in their minds like angry bees, until, one by one, they too came to a drastic conclusion of their own. Before they could say anything, however, Grampa Gruff spun around to face the crowd. “Attention, Griffons,” he announced. “I will not be joining you this year for the Blue Moon Festival.” The Griffons were rather shocked by this, but before they could ask why, Sandbar, Yona, Smolder, Ocellus, and Silverstream also spoke up. “I’ve also decided I’m not going to be celebrating the holidays this year as well,” Sandbar said to his parents. “Count me out of the Feast of Fire,” Smolder said to Garble. “Yona not participating in holidays either,” said Yona. “I’m not going to be celebrating Hearth’s Warming either,” said Ocellus. “I think I’ll sit the Three Days of Freedom out this year as well,” said Silverstream. The parents, Garble, and the teachers all gave each other alarmed looks.  “Are you sure?” asked Garble. “We’ve got a lot of great gifts for you, honey,” Carapace tried to persuade his daughter. “I don't want any gifts for the holidays,” Ocellus retorted, her eyes filled with tears. "I want my friend back." “What about us, though?” asked Garble. “What are mom and dad going to think when they find out you’re skipping out?” “I need some time to think, Garble,” said Smolder firmly. “I can’t enjoy the holidays with all this on my mind. I’ve thought this over for the past six days and I’ve made my decision.” The other four students agreed. Everyone just stared in shock at the five students before it turned into looks of sympathy and defeat. It seemed that, in the end, the kids needed some time to think and cope over the events over the past week. “Well, if you ever change your mind, we’ll be more than happy to welcome you back,” Ocean Flow told her daughter as Silverstream climbed onto Sky Beak’s back for the trip home. With the funeral over, there wasn’t much that anyone could do except go back home. Looking around at the heartbroken students leaving the cemetery with their families worse off than when they started, as well as watching Grampa Gruff fly back to Griffonstone while crying profusely, the Element Bearers, Spike, and Starlight all felt the same thing. Failure. Unbeknownst to anyone, however, Celestia and Luna weren’t about to let things end off on such a low note. The two Royal Sisters looked at each other. “You know what to do, right?” asked Celestia. “Indeed, I do, sister,” Luna replied. The two Princesses turned toward the Element Bearers, who were now whispering amongst each other. "What are we going to do now?" asked Twilight. "How are they going to move past this event?" "Not to worry, Twilight," announced Celestia. "Luna and I have a plan to help them." The Element Bearers listened intently as Celestia and Luna explained their plan. By the time they were finished, Twilight and her friends did feel more hopeful in getting their students out of their misery, but they were still uneasy. "I really hope this works," said Starlight. "What if this traumatizes them further?" "It won't, Starlight," Luna assured. "We're positive that it will help them, as well as Grampa Gruff, move past their guilt and grief." The Ponies and Spike nodded and headed back for home, praying that their students would be back to their old selves after tonight.