Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity sat near a hole in the ground. Many other ponies sat further back from the four. A small, stone marker protruded from the dirt on the other side of the hole. Simple block letters were engraved into its surface.
SPIKE
Twilight Sparkle stood behind the headstone. The other ponies remained silent, with heads respectfully bowed, while Twilight orated. Tears twinkled in her eyes, but she held herself together well enough to deliver Spike’s eulogy.
“Spike was the best assistant I’ve ever had, but he was more than that. He was also a beloved friend. He gave his life trying to rescue Fluttershy, and I know he’d have done the same for anypony in danger. What he did was brave, and selfless. A true act of heroism. He will be sorely missed, but I have never been more proud of him.”
Twilight stepped around the grave and joined her friends. The gravediggers approached and began shoveling dirt into the hole. The sound of dirt hitting Spike’s coffin broke Twilight’s composure. She shut her eyes tight, and tears flowed freely down her cheeks. She opened her eyes when Rarity hugged her, and saw streams of mascara running down Rarity’s cheeks.
“He lived a good life,” said Rarity. “Not a long one, but a good one. He was always surrounded by friends and loved ones.”
“Yeah…” said Twilight.
“That was a beautiful eulogy,” said Rarity. “A fitting send-off for our dearly departed dragon.”
Rainbow Dash hugged Twilight from the other side. “I hear he died instantly. He probably didn’t feel a thing.”
“That doesn’t really make me feel better,” said Twilight.
“I’m sorry,” said Rainbow Dash. “That sounded better in my head.”
“It’s okay,” said Twilight. “Your heart’s in the right place.”
“Why isn’t Princess Celestia here?” said Rainbow Dash. “She knew Spike, too. She should come pay her respects.”
“That would be incredibly insensitive,” said Rarity. “Think about it. Princess Celestia is immortal. For an undying pony to come to a funeral would be an insult to the deceased.”
“H-hello, am I too late?”
Twilight looked up to see Fluttershy approaching. Bandages covered much of her left side, hiding the burns beneath. Her left leg and left wing had received particular care. She walked with a severe limp. Despite her attempts to hide it, she was clearly in a great deal of pain.
“Fluttershy, you shouldn’t be up so soon,” said Twilight. “Your wounds need time to heal.”
“My doctor told me the same thing,” said Fluttershy. “I’ll go back to the hospital, I promise. I just didn’t want to miss Spike’s funeral. Especially since this is all my fault.”
“Fluttershy!” said Rarity. “My goodness. What would make you say such a ridiculous thing?”
“If I had followed Spike when he came for me, he would still be alive.”
“Nopony blames you for what happened,” said Rainbow Dash. “You were scared!”
“But—“
“Fluttershy, you’re one of the closest friends Spike had,” said Twilight. “You were so important to him that he gave his life trying to save you. Do you think he’d want you to feel bad about that?”
“No…”
Twilight hugged Fluttershy, causing her to wince. “It hurts me deeply to know Spike is gone, but it would be even worse to lose two friends on the same day. You survived, and that’s nothing to feel guilty for.”
“O-okay…”
Fluttershy’s friends gathered around her for a group hug. The affectionate gesture put uncomfortable pressure on Fluttershy’s injuries. She grit her teeth and bore it, grateful to have such loving friends. After a few painful moments, the group hug ended.
“School’s lettin’ out soon,” said Applejack. “I still ain’t told Apple Bloom about Spike. I don’t even know what to say, but she’ll figure it out on her own if I don’t tell her.”
“I don’t think Sweetie Belle knows either,” said Rarity. “I think our parents should be the ones to talk to her about death, but I feel like I should tell her something.”
“I should get back to Sweet Apple Acres,” said Applejack. “Sorry to leave early.”
“No, it’s okay,” said Twilight. “I understand completely.”
“I must be going, as well,” said Rarity.
Applejack and Rarity each hugged Twilight, then went on their way. Pinkie Pie hugged Twilight next, but didn’t let go. She rest her head on Twilight’s shoulder. Her hair hung straight down, as it often did when she was in a poor mood. Her face was wet with tears. Most unusually, she hadn’t spoken a single word all day.
“Pinkie Pie, are you all right?” said Twilight.
Pinkie sniffled and shook her head. Twilight gave Pinkie a friendly squeeze. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy joined in, group hugging Pinkie. The four mares held each other and quietly cried, just a few feet away from Spike’s final resting place.
----------
Elsewhere, school let out. A crowd of colts and fillies dispersed and went their separate ways. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle headed towards Sweet Apple Acres. Suddenly, Scootaloo stopped.
“Hey, Sweetie Belle. Hang back for a minute. I need to ask you something,” said Scootaloo. “Go on ahead, Apple Bloom. We’ll meet you there.”
Apple Bloom resumed walking. “All right. See y’all soon!”
“What’s up, Scootaloo?” said Sweetie Belle.
“Could you, uh. How do I say this without being mean…”
“Say what? What’s going on?”
“Can you hang out somewhere else today?”
“But we’ve been hanging out every day since Apple Bloom got out of the hospital! And almost every day before that!”
“I want to be alone with Apple Bloom for a while.”
“What? Why?!”
“Because I think I’ve finally figured out what my cutie mark means.”
“Really? Don’t leave me in suspense!”
“My destiny is to spend the rest of my life with Apple Bloom. She and I were meant to be together! It’s what my cutie mark is telling me!”
“Are you sure? How do you know? What if it just means you really like apples?”
“Don’t question love, Sweetie Belle! You have no idea what kind of powers are at work, here!”
Scootaloo turned and ran away. Sweetie Belle sighed, then began a long and lonesome walk home. She passed by a small herd of unicorns. All of them bore artwork-related cutie marks. Palettes, chisels, pencils, and more.
“Hey, Sweetie Belle!”
Sweetie turned to face the crowd of unfamiliar faces. “Hi, do I know you?”
“No,” said a blue pony with a green mane. “We go to the same school, but we have not spoken. My name is Bebe. These are my friends; Marble, Clay, Sketch, and Florence.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you!”
“Why are you walking home alone?” said Clay. “Where are your friends?”
“They’re hanging out with each other,” said Sweetie Belle. “They want to be alone, they said.”
“Why not hang out with us, instead?” said Marble.
“Really? But I don’t know how to do any artsy stuff.”
“You could be a model,” said Florence.
“Yes, your mane is fabulous!” said Sketch. “You must let me draw it!”
“I’m flattered. You guys really want me to model for you?”
“Of course,” said Bebe. “Landscapes and abstraction have grown ever so boring. A live model would be a nice change of pace for all of us. If you want to, that is.”
“Sure! That sounds a lot better than sitting at home by myself!”
----------
Apple Bloom sat in the crusaders’ club house, alone. She idly traced her hoof along the ugly scar on her neck. It was still a bit tender, despite the months since the attack. After a few minutes of silent solitude, Scootaloo joined her.
“Howdy, Scootaloo!”
“Hey, Apple Bloom!”
“Where’s Sweetie Belle?”
“She had something important to do, so she won’t be joining us. It’s just you and me today.”
“Oh, all right.”
“I’ve been thinking about some stuff. I know what my cutie mark means, now. My destiny is to always be by your side.”
“How do you know It doesn’t just mean you like apples a whole bunch?”
“We were meant to be together. I didn’t get it at first, but now I know. It has to be true. Don’t you see? We’re soul mates!”
“I like you and all, but I don’t know about us bein’ each others’ special someponies. I need to think about this.”
“That’s okay! I can wait.” Scootaloo moved closer, until her nose was touching Apple Bloom’s. “I’d wait until the end of time for you.”
Applejack poked her head into the clubhouse to check on the fillies therein. The sight of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing nose-to-nose furrowed Applejack’s brow. “What are you two doin’?” The sudden boom of her voice made the fillies jump.
“N-nothing!” said Scootaloo. “Apple Bloom just had something in her eye, and I was helping her get it out!”
“We were just standin’ here, talkin’. She wasn’t tryin’ to kiss me.”
“Uh huh. New rule: you two ain’t allowed to spend time together unless there’s an adult present.”
“That’s not fair!” said Scootaloo.
“We didn’t do anything!” said Apple Bloom.
“There ain’t gonna be no hanky-panky on my watch!” said Applejack. “Y’all are too young!”
“What’s hanky-panky?” said Apple Bloom.
“It doesn’t matter what it is, because it ain’t happenin’.”
“I don’t think she knows, either,” said Scootaloo.
“Scootaloo, go home. Apple Bloom, it’s time to do chores. Tomorrow, you two can have some good, clean, supervised fun.”
“What chores? I don’t have anything for today!”
“I’m gonna find something for you, to keep your little mind out of the gutter.”
Scootaloo left, and Applejack put Apple Bloom to work. With only a break for dinner, Apple Bloom was made to perform various forms of busy work until bed time.