Wrapping Up When It Isn’t Winter
A time must come when the basic energies of any explosive are dispersed and removed; when what little remains are nothing but memories and ashes. No matter how magnificent or touching it may be, it will eventually be left as a shared memory. It may, however, be remembered, for better or worse, by those who witnessed its glory. Those who are touched are often inspired and henceforth spread creativity, love, and friendship to others. This is the basic nature of a chain reaction. But, without that first spark, the fuze will never be lit. Some may say, “but I don't want to waste either the spark or the fuze.” But how then, will you see the wonder of the bomb? How then, will you be able to experience its sole purpose? How then will it inspire others? The answer is simple: it will not. The spark will catch, and the fuze burn bright, starting the reaction for others.
Epilogue
It was an average day. Buisness in the small town ran as usual as ponies went to and fro. What wasn’t average however, was the proceeding procession. Two wooden coffins lay closed in front of a small assembly of crying ponies. About eight stood in the crowd, all adorned with forlorn faces. As some pony on the stage gave a small talk about how the lives of those now dead were great, yet still young and filled with potential, the sobs quiet down. After closing with a prayer to the princesses, he finishes, and asks for the coffins to be opened. As that is happening, the mob of grievers pass by one by one talking and laying flowers with the one laid in the first coffin. Only two stopped at the second coffin.
One was a nurse, her white coat deeply contrasting with her black gown. She lays down a single black rose with a yellow stem by the corpses side, using her mouth delicately to perfect the placement. The second, wearing a suit of bandages rather than formal attire, approached the casket with deep remorse. The white gauze snuggly wrapped around his back with his red and orange hairs of his mane cover the majority of the padding.
Fuze looked down into the coffin of Spark, who laid there free from his mortal injuries, coat and horn fixed. The coroner did a good job with him, the stallion sadly thought. A tear would have been shed, if he had any more. After his death, the depressed earth pony had cried for Spark for hours on end, deeply hurt by the abandonment. He felt all alone; no happiness, no spontaneous joy or erratic euphoria. The lone stallion felt numb. Princess Luna had given him a break from his work after seeing him in his condition, so getting his mind off his miserable life with some mind clearing tasks was out of the question.
Spark looks so happy. But he is dead. Gone. Forever. Fuze had barely been able to eat for the days preceding today, unable to come to grips with reality. He still couldn’t believe it. The one he loved had loved him back. But then had died, and left him all alone in this world. A world that feels so cold without a spark of warmth. The normally excitable pony normally would have smiled at the pun which had incorporated his loves name, but seeing the Spark’s body lying there stiffly, it brought nothing but more pain.
With a grimace, Fuze whispered accusingly to Spark, “Why did you leave me?” then, to himself, he asked, “What is a fuze without its spark?”
Fuze’s hooves gave out and he knelt to the ground, finding a few more tears held behind his eyes.
A soft and hesitant hoof placed itself on his back, weary of his concealed dressings. As he looked around, he saw the nurse, looking with a sympathetic smile on her face.
“Fuze, you know that you are much more than a, well, fuze, right?”
“What do you mean?” he asked incredulously.
“A fuze burns, even after its spark cools off. It starts something great, but dies off in the process. You gave purpose to Spark, and not only did you start something great with him, you continued with it until his death. But I think you still have so much more to do, many more amazing things to start.”
“Why do you care so much now? You always seemed to hate me before, whenever I accidentally hurt him...”
“Well... I think that I was scared for you,” she responds slowly.
“What?” he asked, confused.
“I didn’t want you to lose him, I saw you care so much for him, that every time something happened, I... I just didn’t want you to be alone again.” Her care is evident in her tone as she speaks softly.
Fuze thought about all of this, and stood. As his composure returned, he began to truly realize how much those words meant to him. A small smile almost graced his lips. Almost. He gave the nurse a hug, and went back to his place at in funeral, passing by the first coffin which held the only foal that fell victim to the firework show mishap.
~~~~~~
Spark jumped playfully at Moonshine, who dodged gracefully with the help of her wings. Spark landed on the cloud surface and smiled up at her. She stuck out a tongue at him, eliciting a laugh. She landed and kissed him.
You pull away and say, “Wait... is it wrong to be doing this?” you asked uncertainly. “I mean I still love him...”
Moonshine laughs and responds, “I think that the combined powers of death and your love for me can separate the two of you. Besides, I think that a certain mare will catch his eye in the years to come.”
You ponderously ask “I wonder if that will be weird for us when they comes here. Will you, her, me and him all just fall in love with the other three? Or just me/him you/me him/her? Maybe me/you and -”
Another kiss silences you, and she answers before resuming the game you two had left off,
Only time will tell.
~~ and the fuze burned bright~~
After the funeral, Fuze left with renewed spirits. After all, he thought, I still have so much more to do, so many more amazing things to start. He sees the nurse walking away from him, and he waves for her to join him. She starts trotting beside him and soon they are talking about life and its various composures.
She asks, “...so how did you get your cutie mark any ways?”
“Well, that is kinda a long story.”
“I’ve got the time,” she says.
For the first time in a long while, he smiled.
The End
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Author's note: The end! (courtesy of my ever persistant editors, Mobius and Cosmic)
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