//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: In the sky 
// Story: Sisters: Chasing a Happier Time 
// by lightfox lowell 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5: In the sky


By Lightfox Lowell


Sleep eludes Rainbow Dash. Normally when she gets this restless a midnight flight is in order, but tonight that cannot be done. Scootaloo, who is sleeping beside her, has her wing like a security blanket in her hooves. Rainbow Dash has no wish to wake the sleeping filly. Scootaloo needed her sleep after the day she had.

‘Poor filly,’ Rainbow thinks to herself. ‘I had no idea she saw Pin Puller die, and then there’s what he said to her...’

Scootaloo mumbles something and hugs Rainbow Dash’s wing.

‘Geez, Scoots, trying to kill me with cuteness in your sleep?’ Rainbow gives a soft smile and looks at Scootaloo sleeping. ‘What am I going to do next? Taking you in was the easy part. I guess the next thing would be to see if Pin Puller left a will, then we have to figure out his funeral. I don’t even know how earth ponies do that...’

Rainbow Dash tries to put her thoughts to rest, closes her eyes, and finally drifts into sleep.


In her dreams, Rainbow Dash is laying on a cloud, relaxing. She would stay here peacefully relaxing until she would have to wake up, but this night somepony had other things in mind.

Rainbow Dash’s relaxation is suddenly interrupted by a strong wind, so strong in fact that it forced Rainbow Dash’s eyes closed. When she opened them a familiar pony is sitting on the edge of the cloud.

“Pin Puller...?” Rainbow Dash asks softly.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash.” Pin Puller gives her a smile, then turns back to looking over Ponyville.

“H—how are you here? You died! Not to mention your sitting on a cloud!”

“Oh, don’t worry, Rainbow, I will be out of your mane in a few minutes.” Pin Puller says with a small smirk.

“Hey! I didn’t mean it like that at all. This is just a bit weird, okay!?”

“Hah, I guess it is. I have come to say thank you, Rainbow. Thank you for taking Scootaloo in. You could have washed your hooves of us, but I am happy to see we meant as much to you as you did us.”

“Washed my hooves—Pin Puller, did you get your brains messed up when that crate hit you!? I would never leave Scootaloo at that place.”

“That is true. You really are loyal, Rainbow, but I can tell you have a lot on your mind. As my last gift to you and Scootaloo, I want you to check my desk back at my home.”

“Why? What’s there?”

Pin Puller takes out his watch and gives Rainbow Dash a soft smile. “Sorry, Dash, but it’s time to go.”

Just then, the wind starts to kick up again and Rainbow Dash’s alarm shakes her and Scootaloo from their sleep.

Scootaloo covers her ears with her pillow. “Noo, cloud too comfy to wake up yet.”

Rainbow Dash would normally side with the filly, but they had things to do today. She reaches her hoof out and clicks off the alarm, and then leans over the pillow that Scootaloo is hiding from the morning under.

“Hey... if you get up, we can have waffles for breakfast.”

Rainbow gets her head away from the pillow before Scootaloo sits up and lunches it off the bed.

“Yeah!” Scootaloo exclaims.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo go to the kitchen. While walking, Rainbow casts a glance at her wing that Scootaloo had been holding onto. The feathers were all unlined and messy, but thankfully none are damaged. She lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes.

‘Well, it looks like I’ll have to preen before we leave, and check out if that dream was just messing with me.’

When they get to the kitchen, Scootaloo sits down at the table, and Rainbow Dash starts to make the waffles. It was a rare treat to have anything more complex than cereal made by Rainbow so Scootaloo was excited.

Once their waffles are done, they start to dig in.

“So, what are we going to do today, Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asks in between bites.

“Well, after I fix my wing from Somepony hugging on it all night,” Rainbow Dash winks at Scootaloo, “we should drop by Pin Puller’s house... Make sure you got everything you want. I need to check something as well.”

Scootaloo does not say anything, but her ears do fold back when Rainbow mentions going to Pin Puller’s house.

“I know it’s not what you want to be thinking about, but we’ve got to be strong. Anyways, after that we can go to Sugarcube Corner or something. I’ll let you pick okay?”

Scootaloo looks over at Rainbow. Cheering up a little bit, she gives a nod and turns back to her food.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo land in front of Pin Puller and Scootaloo’s old home. While Scootaloo looks for anything else she wants to take with her, Rainbow Dash makes her way to Pin Puller’s office. Once inside, it was not hard to find the letter she needed... it was just off to the side, sitting there. It said: ‘To Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.’ Rainbow Dash hesitates for second before getting it open to read.


Dear Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash,

Hey there, you two. I really wish that you were not reading this, but I guess not everything runs perfectly in life. Even my trains are late from time to time. I wanted to write this along with my will to make sure I get to say some things.

Scootaloo, I’m so sorry. I did not want to leave, but sometimes life is a bit unfair. I guess one good thing is that I can rest easy knowing you’re not alone. I am sure Rainbow Dash is reading this letter with you. She will take good care of you, I’m sure, and I am sure you will be the best little sister that somepony can ask for to her. I love you, Scootaloo, never forget that, and when you feel that wind in your mane as you’re flying or riding that scooter of yours, know that I am there watching you. I am sure you will go far, and that I am going to be proud of you. So don’t let me slow you down, okay? Just keep going forward, and be the most “Awesome” pegasus you can be.

Rainbow Dash, did you know I was going to kill you that first night? All I knew at that time was the most reckless pegasus I knew had my daughter. I have to say is that you really grew on me from that day on. So many dinners, getting to know you, and how you and Scootaloo got along. I just started to think of you as something of a second daughter, or at the very least like family. I do have to say that I’m a bit shocked you managed to outlive me. I was sure you were going to leave your brains on a wall somewhere, but I am happy that is not the case. Please, Rainbow Dash, take good care of Scootaloo. You are all she has now.

As for the house and everything? I am leaving the house in both of your names in my will, which you will find close to this letter, but I am sure you two should just sell the house. You pegasi have cloud homes after all. I am sure you two will get all that sorted out.

As for well, my... body... me and Swift Cloud, my wife, did talk about this. We never really came to a real answer, but we did have a joke: We will do it on who dies first. I do think she won that one, so, Rainbow, help me join her in the sky, please.

I love you both. Scootaloo, make sure Rainbow does not kill herself with her flying. Rainbow, make sure Scootaloo does not level half the town.

I guess this is goodbye. Good luck you two.

~Pin Puller


The letter is shaking in Rainbow Dash’s hooves, and small tears start to flow from her face. Once she regains some of her cool, Rainbow Dash calls Scootaloo and gives her the letter. As she starts to read it, her hooves tremble, and her eyes fill with tears. She then drops the letter and hug Rainbow Dash. Dash just holds the poor filly close.

The two sisters were silent for a while before Scootaloo speaks up.

“What did he mean ‘join her in the sky,’ Dash?”

Rainbow Dash lets out a sigh as she remembers what happened with her father.

“Well, normally when a pegasus dies they get cremated, and a loved one will scatter their ashes to the wind... That way they can fly with you forever.”

Scootaloo looks at Rainbow with wide eyes. “That sounds... really cool.”

Rainbow Dash nods. “I had to do it for my dad a long time ago. I guess Pin Puller wanted that... So he can fly with us and your mom.”

Scootaloo nods. “So are we going to the hospital? To get dad, that is...”

Rainbow thinks for a second, and then answers. “Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Let’s go do that...”

Rainbow Dash flies with Scootaloo on her back to the Ponyville Hospital. Nurse Redheart is at the front desk to greet them.

“Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. How may I help you both?”

“Uh, we are here to claim Pin Puller’s body...”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, Requiem already came by and picked him up...”

“Wait, who!?”

***

There is a mare with a dark gray-blue coat and a mane that was bluish black with bits of gray. Her cutie mark is a gravestone with a music note. She is watering an indoor garden. This mare is Requiem, a hard-working earth pony that tends to the dead in Ponyville.

As she is watering her garden a blue flame appears behind her. From the flame a scroll with the omega symbol appears and drops to the floor.

With a small sigh, Requiem fetches the scroll, opens it, and then reads.

Pin Puller - Earth Pony

Tomorrow, sunset

Ponyville Hospital

Cremate

Store for family to clam ~ Ω

“Pegasus family, maybe?” Requiem says to herself. Then she gives off a sigh. ‘Going to have to go into town...’


The next day at sunset, Requiem puts on a tan cloak, and attaches herself to her cart. Taking in a deep breath and putting up her hood, she sets off for Ponyville.

Requiem dislikes going into Ponyville in the day. It is not hard to find out why when listening to the ponies around her whisper to themselves.

“Oh no!”

“The horror! The horror!”

“What is she doing here?”

But some seem to know who she is here for by this point.

“I heard Pin Puller died saving his foal from a crate falling on her.”

“Yeah, I heard that too. I wonder what will happen to Scootaloo now.”

After a few more unkind words spoken about her, she finally manages to make it to the Ponyville Hospital. Nurse Redheart is the pony to greet her.

“Hello, Requiem. I guess you are here for Pin Puller, correct?”

Requiem only nods in response.

“Well, he is room 301. I guess you should be able to move him.”

Requiem nods once more and moves to that room. While walking down the hall she happens to overhear someone yelling.

“Now hold on a second! I’m sure you can make an exception! I’m Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty, performer of the Sonic Rainboom, and savior and future member of the Wonderbolts! You can not just take my little sister away!”

Still moving to the room, Requiem had to think to herself. ‘Rainbow Dash? I wonder what is going on with her...’

Requiem pushes that out of her mind once she gets to the room. She makes note that once again, none of the unicorns offer to help her as she pulls Pin Puller onto her back and quickly makes her way back to the cart. Once there, she places Pin Puller carefully inside and covers him up with a blanket.

That done, she gets the cart reattached and makes her back to the cemetery. She pulls the cart inside and unloads Pin Puller onto a small table. She takes his conductor uniform off and folds it to the side. She then takes his body over to the cremator and gently places it inside.

Then, true to her name... Requiem starts to sing.

There are loved ones in the glory,
Whose dear forms you often miss;
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss?

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, by and by?
Is a better home awaiting
In the sky, in the sky?

In the joyous days of childhood,
Oft they told of wondrous love,
Pointed to the dying Saviour;
Now they dwell with Him above.

You remember songs of heaven
Which you sang with childish voice,
Do you love the hymns they taught you,
Or are songs of earth your choice?

You can picture happy gath'rings
'Round the fireside long ago,
And you think of tearful partings,
When they left you here below.

One by one their seats were emptied,
And one by one they went away;
Now the family is parted,
Will it be complete one day?

Then, once the song was over, Requiem turns on the flames.

***

“Who the hay is Requiem!?” Rainbow Dash demands.

“She is the Ponyville gravekeeper. You can find her at the cemetery’s mortuary.”

Scootaloo thinks to herself for a second. “Apple Bloom has talked about her before. She said that Requiem is a good pony or something like that”

“Well, we have to go see her. Let’s fly Scoots,” and with that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo fly to the Ponyville Cemetery.


Soon they reach their destination and step up to the mortuary. It seems like a lonely place due to its location, and the barren tree standing next to it did not help matters.

Rainbow Dash lands next to the door and lets Scootaloo down. Before going to the door, Rainbow Dash takes a short look around. She really could not understand why a pony would choose to live out here alone.

Rainbow Dash goes up to the door and knocks. There is a long silence before the door slowly opens to show Requiem.

Requiem does not say anything at first, but she does give Rainbow Dash a confused stare while thinking to herself. ‘What would bring Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo here... Could they be the family of that earth pony?’

Rainbow Dash, starting to feel awkward just standing there, speaks up first. “Um, Requiem? Hi, me and Scootaloo are here to pick up Pin Puller...”

Requiem softly nods at Rainbow Dash. “...One moment...”

Requiem closes the door for a few moments. When she returns she has an urn along with the conductor uniform that he had on at the time of the accident. On top of the uniform rests Pin Puller’s pocket watch. Everything seems properly cleaned of the mud and small amounts of blood that would have gotten on it.

“Um, thank you...” Rainbow says.

Requiem quietly nods and closes the door, leaving Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash alone with the urn that held Pin Puller’s remains.

The two sisters walk away from the mortuary, looking at the urn.

Rainbow notices Scootaloo getting teary-eyed from the sight of the urn. “I know, Scootaloo, but we need to be strong for him. Here, I’ve got the uniform, you take the urn while I fly us up. When you're ready, we can fill his last request.”

Scootaloo wipes her eyes and nods. She hops onto Dash’s back, holding the urn tight as Dash takes off into the sky.

They go above the clouds. It’s sunset, and the clouds are that brilliant orange that looks a lot like Scootaloo’s coat. Scootaloo herself relaxes as Rainbow Dash starts to just glide on the winds. She holds the urn close while running a hoof over the lid.

“So, you’re going to be flying with me and Dash now? ...I guess that’s what you meant when you said mom was in the wind.” Scootaloo stares at the urn with tears once again building up in her eyes. She then takes a deep breath and whispers again. “I’m going to miss you, dad...”

Scootaloo slowly opens the urn and pores the ashes off to the side.

The ashes flutter softly in the breeze, swirling in the currents of air beneath them. Like a soft powder, eventually they disappear into the sunset sky.

Scootaloo, who is quietly watching the ashes disappear into the sunset, feels tears running down her face. She goes to wipe them, but she freezes as some thing beats her to it. Scootaloo feels something invisible in the wind take her tears away. She looks around, confused for a second, before she notices a few ashes fly by her vision in the wind. All she can do is give a soft smile.

Rainbow Dash lands on a cloud. The two sisters sit there, wordlessly,  watching the sunset. That is, until Scootaloo speaks up.

“So... What happens now, Rainbow Dash?”

“We do our best, Scootaloo. We make them proud! After all, they would not want us slowing down.” She wraps her wing around Scootaloo. “It may be a bit harder now, but we’ll make it work. Right, sis?”

Scootaloo grins and leans onto Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, definitely!”

Scootaloo smiles as she looks out into the sunset once more. She has a feeling things will not be as wonderful as before, but at least she still has a part of it, a part of that happiness that was almost completely stolen from her. After all, she still has Rainbow Dash, the pony that could have left her but didn’t—the pony that chased after her like her own happiness was on the line as well. But in the end, Scootaloo guesses that makes sense. That is what family does for each other, after all.


THE END