Funerals in Ponyville were generally a relatively small affair. The unfortunate pony in question was typically only seen off by his or her family and perhaps one or two very close friends. Today, however, was not that kind of funeral. The pony to be lowered into the ground had been neither old nor sickly, and didn’t have a large, extended family. This did not change the fact that dozens of ponies, of all ages and races, had come out today to pay their respects to Cheerilee Punch, perhaps the most beloved mare in town. Ponies who had never attended her school, ponies who didn’t even have foals that had attended her school, all came, because they all knew how wonderful she had been.
Rainbow Dash had gotten special permission from weather control in Cloudsdale for a rainstorm today. It wasn’t a heavy, life-giving rain, or a torrential downpour that threatened flooding, nor even a slight misting. It was simply… raining, disguising the tears streaming down Rainbow Dash’s own face as much as anypony else’s. Pinkie Pie’s mane and tail had completely lost their trademark curliness, the party mare’s solemn mood reflected by it. Applejack and Rarity stood separated by their sisters, both mares’ faces completely obscured by their hats, though both the cowpony’s trademark Stetson and the fashionista’s black veil did little more than accentuate their tears. Fluttershy’s face was completely obscured by her mane, but her shuddering body and spasming wings revealed her to be crying just as hard as any foal present. Perhaps the only pony present not crying was Twilight Sparkle. The purple unicorn’s mouth was scrunched tight and her body shook with restrained sobs, but her eyes refused to let a tear fall.
The foals showed no such restraint or attempts at retaining some form of dignity as the adults. Scootaloo wept as Sweetie Belle wailed over her shoulder, while Applebloom lay down, pounding the ground with a hoof over and over, forming a small bowl in the dirt that filled with rain and tears.
Before them all was a hole – six feet deep and long enough on all sides to comfortably fit the beautiful, polished mahogany box none of them wanted to see. Suspended by a gray aura, with a second aura defending it from rain, the front half of the box was lifted to reveal its contents. Inside, surrounded by the white silk lining of the coffin, lay an inert figure. Cheerilee Punch, clad in the beautiful black dress given to her by Sweetie Belle, rested peacefully, eyes closed, with a light smile still on her face. Three flowers were clasped in her hooves – three beautiful, simple flowers, with yellow centers and white petals. She could have easily been mistaken for being asleep, or perhaps posing for some silly photo-shoot, if the context were different.
“If… if anypony would like to say anything…” Solemn Vow said weakly, the dull gray unicorn stepping away from the podium, offering it to whoever so desired.
The first figure to step forward came as a surprise to everyone – Big Macintosh, Applejack’s brother, a kindly, stoic pony who had the misfortune of being mixed up in a misguided attempt to introduce romance into Miss Cheerilee’s life, strode forward, standing behind the podium for a few moments before speaking. His face betrayed no hint of emotion, but the steady trickle of tears down his cheeks begged otherwise.
“I’m not a stallion of many words, as most of you know, so I’ll keep this simple. Miss Cheerilee was a kind pony, kinder than most, and was one of my closest friends, despite the shenanigans my sister got me involved in. I hope y’all believe me when I say that, if given the option,” he stopped for just a moment, looking away, bringing a hoof to his lips. When he began again, his voice trembled ever so slightly. “That if given the option… I would change places with her in a heartbeat,” he finished, hanging his head low as he began to move away from the podium, his stone-still expression faltering as his lower lip began to tremble. To his credit, he kept the tears back until he had returned to his place by his sister, the orange mare offering what little comfort she could to the hulking red apple farmer.
The next pony to walk forward was Berry Punch. She held her head high, but the pain was clear on her face.
“We gathered here today to mourn the passing of my sister,” Berry said suddenly, “but that’s not what she would have wanted. No, we shouldn’t mourn her being gone. We should celebrate the time she was here for, the time…” she trailed off, resting her head on her hooves on the podium, her shoulders heaving as she sobbed. She felt something touch one of her back legs, and opened one eye just enough to see what it was. Standing next to her was her daughter, the little unicorn filly’s eyes overflowing with tears. Berry bent over and hugged her daughter, squeezing the little filly tightly, before returning her attention to the crowd. “Cheerilee… was the pony who would be for you whenever you needed her, you know? When… when Pinchy’s father left, she was there, helping me every step of the way with my pregnancy. Beyond that, I… I was never the best mother. Whenever I wasn’t… available… she would watch Pinchy. In some ways, she was a better mother to Pinchy than I ever was, than I ever could be. Even through all that, though? When I told her it should be me, looking down on the last few days of my life, not her? You know what she told me? ‘If you were gone, who would take care of Pinchy?’ Who says that? What kind of… outrageously selfless, caring mare does that? I just… I’m sorry, I can’t…” Berry finished, her voice breaking, and ran off stage. Before following her mother, Pinchy stepped up and uttered one sentence.
“I loved Auntie Cheerilee so much, I wish she would come back.”
Several minutes of silence followed, interrupted only by the sniffles and sobs of those in attendance. After a time, Solemn Vow spoke again.
“If… if there is nopony else who wishes to speak, then we may commence with the… burial.” Nopony objected, but a small orange filly ran across the field, producing a note and thrusting it into the hooves of Twilight Sparkle. The mare telekinetically unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning down it. She gasped, a hoof flying to her mouth, as her carefully maintained composure shattered, her breath slowing, catching, becoming ragged as the tears began to fall rapidly and without end. Rainbow Dash trotted over and picked up the note, slowly hovering to the front of the crowd.
“For Miss Cheerilee,” Dash read, her voice quivering, “The sweetest, kindest, best teacher we could have ever hoped for, and the best teacher we will have ever had. For us, though, Miss Cheerilee was so much more than a teacher. She was a mentor. A tutor. A friend. A listener. A storyteller. A crying shoulder. A helping hoof. A confidant. A sister. A mother. She was so many things to so many different foals, but above all else, she was somepony we loved and somepony who loved us. Miss Cheerilee, we want you to know that, wherever you are, we miss you greatly, and without you here, a part of the heart of every little foal in town is missing, a part that can never be replaced. With love, Cheerilee’s Class.”
Silence reigned again as Dash trotted off the stage, heart too heavy for her to get off the ground. Berry Punch had made her way back to the front of the crowd, and was staring at her sister’s body. Solemn Vow gently began to close the lid.
“I love you, Cheers.”
The lid closed.
The box was lowered into the ground.
Solemn Vow replaced the dirt.
Here Lies Cheerilee Punch
Teacher, Mentor, Sister, Friend
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Many years had passed. Twilight Sparkle had long since passed out of the tutelage of Princess Celestia and completed her studies. By her own choice she had moved back to Ponyville, to be with her friends, and more importantly, to become the full-time teacher at Ponyville’s elementary school. The building was a solemn reminder of what had once been – a sign by the door read Cheerilee Punch Memorial Elementary School. Every now and then, a student would ask who Cheerilee was, or why there was a one week break for her, a little foal who had been born after she had died. The conversations were always the same, they’d ask who, Twilight would tell them she was the teacher before her, and they would ask if she was as good as Miss Twilight.
Twilight always gave them the same answer.
“No, my little pony, she was not as good as me. She was much better.”