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// Remorse 
// Story: Loss 
// by Hodd 
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Chapter 2; Remorse


Twilight found herself unable to sleep. The bed that once had been a fluffy source of comfort now felt like a prison for her emotions. She squirmed and writhed, her mind alive with thought, unable to keep her body still. She sat up in bed. She let out a long sigh and gazed out the circular window near her bed. “If you can hear me, Dash,” she whispered, her voice hardly audible, “I just want you to know that we all miss you.” It seemed such a blunt statement, she thought. She had always been able to think of witty mannerisms and remarks, but in her current mental state, that was all that Twilight could muster. She looked down at the covers, another sigh coming from her. A small sniffle came from beyond the bed. “Spike?” she said. Her inquiry was met with quiet sobbing. She let out a quiet sympathetic coo as she walked over and laid her head over Spike. “Why did she have to go?” Spike finally managed between sobs. “I don't know, Spike,” she breathed in response. “I don't know...” The two laid there the rest of the night, remembering their dear friend who had just days before been in near perfect health.


Twilight awoke when the sun shone on her face, giving her a feeling of short lived happiness. She allowed herself a tiny grin as she looked up at the sky that always reminded her of her dear friend. She felt herself well up a bit as she remembered all of the wonderful times they'd had. “Miss you Dash,” she said, looking at the sky, painting a mental image of the colorful pegasus showing off her latest trick, as she usually did. With a grieved sigh, she went about her morning chores. She dusted the bookshelves, checked her nearly endless stache of stationery supplies, and did a quick once over to make sure the books were alphabetized. “Ahhh ok, D... there,” she said as she completed the organization of the D section “Ummm.... ok E,” she murmured to herself. She looked down at the stack of books to put back in place. “Ok, Equestrian Cultures and Practices, Education and Magic, Elements of...” she felt herself trail off “Harmony,” she said in a saddened whisper. Her horn glowed a bright pink as she levitated the book in front of herself.  Her heart sink as it cracked open, and there, where they were left, were all 6 Elements of Harmony. “It's not the same," she said, her voice breaking with sorrow.


“I miss her so much,” Fluttershy managed. “I know, dear... we all do,” Rarity replied, welling up at the thought of their old friend. “I'm glad you came over,” Fluttershy said, “I really need someone right now.” Rarity found herself holding Fluttershy like a mother with her foal. Small sniffs escaped from the yellow pegasus as she recollected her favorite memories of their rainbow colored friend. “Why them? Why Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash?” The voice was that of a small filly. It was Sweetie Belle. “Why did they have to go?” She had been standing by the doorway for sometime. That was all that it took for Rarity to break down, sobbing and beckon Sweetie Belle to her. The three huddled together, sharing their sorrow. 


Pinkie Pie had never been without a smile for so long. Her tail dragged along the ground and her mane, usually fluffy and full of static was now straight, and long, like a pink waterfall atop her head and neck. Pinkie was going for a walk, an activity she hadn't done in a long, long time. She only ever took walks when there was something genuinely wrong. She hadn't been on a walk since she was just a filly, living on the rock farm. For the first time in a long time, her mind was clear. Usually it was filled with ideas, plans, fantasies, parties, friends, but today, it was filled with Dash. As she drudged down the path that led to Sweet Apple Acres, she noticed a shadow envelope her. She looked up and saw that familiar cloud adorned with white pillars and brilliant rainbows streaming down it. Her legs grew weak, and she felt herself unable to stand. Instead of fighting it, Pinkie simply collapsed into a puddle of tears directly under the rainbow pegasus' former residence. It wasn't loud crying, like when she had tried to get Poundcake and Pumpkincake to behave. It was silent, and constant, the kind of weeping brought not by sadness, but by anguish. The kind of anguish that no one, not even Pinkie Pie could bear. The kind of anguish that never fully heals.


Applejack found herself looking up at the stars, as she often does when the work is done and night has fallen. A strange expression fell upon her face. It was a mix of wonder, sadness, and regret. Her gaze switched between constellations, as if trying to spot her old friend. She regretted so much about what their relationship was. They were always in some sort of argument, and their final conversation was no different. Applejack sat there, staring up at the sky, full of remorse and regret, praying it was all just a big nightmare, and that she could go and hug her old friend. “You OK sis?” asked Applebloom, who had just walked outside. “The last thing I said to her,” she said in a tone that Applebloom hadn't recognized before, “was 'fine then, leave...' That was the last thing I ever said to her. Some things you just don't get to take back.” A steady stream of tears rolled down Applejack's face “I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash.”