//------------------------------//
// From Death, Life 
// Story: Cross-Realm Raiding 
// by Bishibosh the Shaman 
//------------------------------//


Cross Realm Raiding
Chapter Thirteen

A light sprinkle of dew fell from an overhanging tree branch. It fell from a single leaf that floated down after it. The drop of dew landed square on Bishibosh's nose, as he snuffled and attempted to turn the leaf also floated down onto his nose, closing the gaps of air. He lay there for a second longer before leaning up to remove the leaf so he could breath. Groaning he looked down at the yellow coat and pink mane of Fluttershy who sat there asleep with him in her hooves. He remembere breaking down infront of her but he had no idea he actually passed out. Unfolding out of the mares tight grip he lay her down on the soft grass. She had sat there all night just to comfort him in his loss. He leaned in close to her face and whispered softly into her ear.
"Thank you"

Walking down the path towards the site he left his brother, thoughts ran across his mind. He remembered raising his brother after the Grimtotem infiltrated Bloodhoof Village and murdered their mother. He remembered the funeral, how she was place on a bed of sticks and stone. The fire that consumed her and left nothing but ash's on the stone bed, and finally the tree that still stands today, marking where her ashes were put back into the earth to create new life. The druids believed in death, no matter the cause, there would follow life. It is the idea of the green dragonflight. This is how his brother would be sent off, in his death he would give new life.

He found the stone alter he put up shortly upon returning to the village, and Applejack made sure to bring the wood he had asked for. The wood was wet, freshly cut. A reminder that death is unexpected, and a lesson to be prepared. Applejack was smart though, she laid the wood out in the sun to let it dry. Larger logs were already split were as the smaller twigs and branches which the bed would be made from were laid out individually in the clearing. He was about to dig the trench to contain the fire when Applejack showed up with a cart full of straw.

"You can't really get wet wood burning without some dry kindlin stuff you know." She said trying to lighten the mood. She shook off the reigns of the cart and walked over to Bishibosh and patted him on the back. "He died a hero ya know. Nobody could ask for a better way to go than defendin yer friends."
"I know... Apple, do you want to know something about his death that really shook me?" Bishibosh asked.
"You don't have to dwell on it for my sake, but if it makes you feel better I can sit through it."
"At first I thought he just ran in the way of the fire, tried to take it with his protection spells. But when I saw him laying there, he was clutching this..." Bishi pulled out the burnt scroll.
"What is it?
"It's a page in the paladins prayer book. Divine Intervention."
Applejac just stared at the half burnt scroll, unable to understand it's strange words.
"Divine Intervention is when the paladin creates a shield, indestructible by any means. But it costs him his own life force."
"Oh... he meant to... I'm so sorry"
"Don't be Apple, he found something he was willing to give his life for. I don't understand what he meant when he told me but it's not important."

Applejack sat silently and absorbed it all in. She thought what Bishibosh thought at first, Korin flew in and tried to survive the blow but it was too much for him, but the scroll means he planed to give his life from the very beginning... She never liked people making sacrifices for her, especially not like this.

"Do... do ya need any help with that?" She asked.
"No... actually... I wouldn't mind the distraction of company."

Applejack and Bishibosh spent the day working with the alter and the wood preparing it for tonight. They talked farm life and livestock and even family tied. Bishibosh amazed Applejack with his knowledge of the land, he had lived off of it from his youth, where as Applejack even showed him a few new tricks.

Across town in Raritys boutique she was slaving over making funeral attire. Keeping her mind distracted by adding different designs to match each wearer, but in the end just left them to traditional black. She didn't make one for Bishibosh as he refused to wear anything but his own armor to the event. His hopes of his brother recognizing him as he left the world.

Twilight notified Celestia and Luna to the event's and with the shamans permission invited them to attend. Both decided to make time to make an appearing.

As for everyone else, they just went on with their normal day to day duties awaiting the time...





It was an hour till nightfall, and Fluttershy still lay there thinking about the night before.Just hours after witnessing him level an entire mountain in a fit of rage, the shaman was then bawling like a child in her chest. Emotion is a powerful thing she thought, yet even in the brink of rage he had control enough to protect her and her friends from the destruction. Still she felt a certain warmth in helping him, and when he just fell into her and cried, it was almost as if he truely needed her, but she put such thoughts aside. It was an emotional response for sure. But she still treasured the thought.

Nightfall had come, Luna guided the moon across the sky and everypony who wished to see the hero off from this world gathered in the clearing. Even Celestia herself showed, concealing her shining brilliance in a veil fitting the occasion. Soon after the nightfall was complete Luna hovered down next to her sister. Everypony was silent in their black veils and gowns. The only light was held by Bishibosh as a torch to lite the pyre. Fayt kept his distance, he knew death well but his tears were already shed for those long gone. One by one each pony approached the alter and thanked the young Pegasus for his bravery. Rainbow Dash even placed a badge she kept from her academy days and gently thanked him, offering a few words for the deceased.

"You passed, now go show you're ancestors who a pegasus pony flies..."

Twilight was next, she knelt her head before the alter, then turned towards Bishi. Jumping up on her rear legs she hugged him and gave a short pout. Bishibosh patted her back with his free hoof, then she pulled off and went on her way to find a spot to sit. Applejack showed up next.

"I di'nt know him that well, but he made the biggest sacrifice you can make, that makes him ok with me" She stated hugging Bishibosh as well, then she made her way next to Twilight.

Pinkie Pie was shooting streams of tears from her eyes as she approached Bishibosh, he had to carefully avoid the water jets cries so as to keep the torch ignited. She was followed by Rarity who showed up in a mildly glorified black vestment. She made her way up to Bishibosh and also hugged him.

"Anytime you need to talk dear,My home is your home" The Element of Generosity offered.

Fluttershy meekly followed next and blushed as she hoped up to hug Bishibosh, but before she could hop down he wrapped his hooves around her and tightly hugged back.

"Thank you Flutter, you have been so kind to me in my time here, especially with the loss of Korin. I could not ask for a better friend."

Fluttershy turned six shades of re and this and smiled, meekly responding with a soft "You're welcome... my lo..." She trailed off.

After ten minutes of other ponies from town offering their condolences, the two princesses ended the line. Celestia first placed her hoof on Bishibosh's shoulder. "Be strong in this time of pain, I believe it was said some time ago that in weakness you may find strength."
"Thank you Princess"
Luna simply nodded at Bishibosh, and softly stated "I am indeed sorrowful at your loss. May your ancestors watch over him in the after."





Everypony was seated and awaiting the end of the ceremony. Bishibosh stood on a pedestal within range of the pyre. Before he lit the pyre, he gazed on the crowed. There in front of everypony were Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Apple, and Pinkie. Directly behind them were the citizens of Ponyville who wanted to honor Korin's death. Behind them yet were Celestia and Luna, side by side. And yet behind them, the stars and the moon shown in a magnificence greater than the princesses before them. It was as though his ancient ancestors traveled to think unknown world to honor the death of their distant son.

"Friends, both new and old. Tonight, under the silent moon and stars, our ancestors watch down upon us. To my people it is they that we honor, for they guide us every step of our lives. Tonight the ancestors accept another soul in their midst, the vigilant gaze of a holy warrior known as a sunwalker. Korin Creststrider, I release your spirit into the earth mothers warm embrace. Watch over us in our trials to come. Friend, Ally, Brother..."

Bishibosh fell silent as we knelt down, dipping the torch into the sun dried hay at the base of the alter. The villagers and him watched as Korin's body was burned to ash. Most the village left before the alter was completly burned. The only ones who remained were the princess Luna, the six elements of harmony, and Bishibosh himself. He pulled out an urn he had laying to the side and scooped up the ashes that remain. Trotting over to a pile of soil Applejack and he had prepared, he then dug a hole. Reaching into his vestments he pulled out an acorn. Placing it in the hole, he then sprinkled the ashes over top, then through the rest to the wind. Then he covered the hole with the seed, which had already began to sprout.

By this time the remaining ponies approached and noticed his ritual.

"If I may ask shaman, what is the purpose of the seed?" Luna inquired.
"The ashes hold the remaining life force of the deceased. The energy is dormant and useless. We bury a sprinkle of ashes in the ground with a seed so that the energy may then give life to the seed." Bishibosh answered. At this time the sprout had already grown to the size of a small bush.
"This is the way our people believe. In our death, life continues."
"A beautiful Sentiment..." Luna marveled