//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Funeral // Story: A Blooming Diamond: Even Diamonds Can be Broken // by PastelBacon //------------------------------// Before the Funeral ------------------------------------ Back at Sweet Apple Acres "Applejack, open up!" Applebloom shouted. "Ah'm coming sugarcube, hold on." Applejack said, before coming over and opening the door. "Ah see ya brought Diamond Tiara with y'all after all." Applejack continued. "Of Course! She was willing to come, she even said so herself!" Applebloom replied, smiling. "I couldn't just say no..." Diamond stated. "Well, maybe ah was wrong about ya'll, maybe ya'll aren't so bad after all... but ah got my eye on you...." Applejack finished, a bit menacingly. "Um... ok...." Diamond got out. "AJ stop it! Ya need to stop with that! You're bein overprotective!" Applebloom said, a bit angered. "Ah'm just looking out fer my little sister is all..." Applejack said. "Ah'm a big filly! Ah can take care of myself!" Applebloom replied, even angrier than before. "Ya'll say that, but trust me, ah know, ya'll aren't grown up enough to take on the world on yer own AB." Applejack said, picking apart Applebloom's statement. "Whatever..." Applebloom said, groaning. "I agree with both of you on two points." Diamond said. "Huh?" Applejack and Applebloom asked in Unison. "For Applejack, she is correct Applebloom. You aren't really old enough to take on the world on your own, you still need to grow up a bit more." Diamond said. "See, ah told ya'll ah wa-" Applejack got out, before being cut off by Diamond mid sentence. "I'm not done. For Applebloom, Applejack she's still right though. You are a bit overprotective, and should allow her to do a few more things on her own than you usually do." Diamond said to Applejack. "Ah see..." Applejack simply said. "Ah never thought of it that way." Applebloom said. "It's natural. Older and Younger sister always have some sort of internal combat." Diamond stated. "Ya'll need ta get ready, it's time to go." a stallion said, walking into the room. "Oh howdy Mac, ah suppose we should. Sorry ah was up here chatting with these two fillies, so ah didn't pay attention to the time." Applejack said to him. "It's fine, but we really need ta get going. We have about 30 minutes." Mac said. "30 MINUTES?!?" Applejack shouted. "Calm down sis...." Applebloom said. "CALM DOWN? WHY SHOULD I" Applejack was stating, before Mac put a hoof over her mouth. "With all due respect AJ, ya'll really need to stop yelling at yer sister like that." Mac said, removing his hoof from Applejack's mouth afterwards. "Fine, ah suppose." Applejack replied. "Not ah suppose. Ah know." Mac stated forwardly. "Jeez... ok ok Mac, ah know... sheesh..." Applejack replied. "Well you three certainly seem to have a fun time living together." Diamond said, getting a glare from the other 3 in the room. "What?" Diamond asked. "Just not the time fer that Diamond." Applebloom stated. "Sorry." Diamond apologized. "It's fine Diamond" Mac said. "How did..." Diamond started to ask, before she looked at Applebloom in a manner that said you?, before Applebloom nodded. "Thanks.. didn't mean to push anypony's buttons by saying something like that..." Diamond said a bit sadly. "Aww, it's alright sugarcube. We all forgive ya." Applejack said. "Really?" Diamond asked. "Eeyup." Mac said, chuckling a bit. "Thanks again..." Diamond said, a small smile forming. "No need to thank us Diamond." Applebloom said, giving Diamond a small hug. "Oh... thanks Applebloom..." Diamond said, hugging back, the smile now much bigger. "Ya'll sound like a broken record." Applejack said, chuckling. "Whatever." Diamond said, rolling her eyes before giggling a bit. "We need ta get going now." Mac said. "Okay." everypony said in unison. Mac and the others walked out, headed towards the funeral ceremony for Granny Smith. ------------------- The Funeral At the Funeral All the Apple Family was at the Funeral, not just from the Sweet Apple Acre's farm, but every Apple Family member still alive. The Princesses were also in attendance, as well as Discord and The Elements of Harmony, and pretty much all of Ponyville, as well as Shining Armor, who was with Princess Cadance, it was one of the largest funerals ever. Celestia took the first opportunity to speak about the late Granny Smith. "Today Citizens of Equestria.... we gather together here for the death of a friend of us all, Granny Smith of the Apple Family. This personally, is especially heartbreaking because all of her family from all parts of Equestria are in attendance with us, as well as the entire population of Ponyville, as well as Canterlot and places as far The Crystal Empire. Granny Smith... she was a great pony. I'd known her for 100 years. She was always in high spirit no matter how old she got... it sometimes would put a smile on my face, just to let her tell some of the tales of the Apple Family, no matter if I'd heard it before or not, I'd always listen to what she had to say. She just had that great aura about her. I learned many things that even I did not know from Mrs. Smith. If it weren't for her, today we might not even have such great ponies as we do. She truly... was an inspiration to many. Including myself, and Luna. As well, maybe surprisingly to you, this next individual who wishes to speak, so I end my segment here, and give the stand over to my old enemy, but good friend Discord." Celestia smiled, a tear in her eye as she stepped away from the main stand, and let Discord take it. "Ahem... I would like to first say, what an amazing pony Granny Smith was. I also don't care how big and tough you think you were, you do something wrong, she put you in your place. I know she did it to me before, and each time she did, I never did that particular thing again, that pony was SCARY when you didn't listen to her." Discord first said, a light smile, also drawing a small smile from almost everyone in attendance, including Applebloom, who was between Applejack and Big Macintosh, along with Diamond Tiara who had recently become close to her. "Granny Smith was truly a pony that I could respect, and without a shadow of a doubt I can say that she is one of the main reasons that we have such great success here where we stand, as if it weren't for her and some of her own elders, Ponyville wouldn't even be here. I say this because I absolutely cannot stand when somepony talks about her simply being a farmer who provided. She did much more than provide, she built these darn grounds we call Ponyville. She was more than a worker. She did more than work. She set examples and shined like a star whenever she was needed. She died doing what she loved, and she died successful. I highly doubt many ponies will ever achieve the kind of success that Granny Smith did. She was truly one who loved all, and was loved by all. Thank you for your time, and we are all glad so many came to attend this." Discord finished, giving it over to Luna. "In the 3 and a Half Years I knew Granny Smith, I did not learn much about her, but I do know that she was definitely an example for us all. I do not have much to say other that I am deeply saddened by her death, and I wish all well to the Apple Family whom all of are in attendance, as well as any close to her, which may or may not be all of us. Thank you for generosity in coming to this." Luna said, giving it over to Cadance "Hello Citizens of Ponyville, and Apple Family, many of you may not know me because I am mostly over at The Crystal Empire. I am Princess Cadance, and I to, am deeply saddened to hear of Mrs. Smith's passing, especially with knowing how loved she was by 2 members of the Apple Family, that I have personally met, that being Applejack and the young Applebloom, but Mrs. Smith was one of the greatest ponies to ever live, and I'm going to let my Husband speak on his thoughts about this, thank you all." Cadance finished, giving the stand over to her husband Shining Armor. "Hello Ponyville, I am Captain of the Royal Guard, married to The Crystal Princess, Princess Cadance, and older brother of Princess Twilight. I respect Granny Smith a great deal, despite never seeing her. Twilight told me enough about Granny Smith that I felt I knew her on a personal level. I really hate to hear that she has passed, but I hope that with my sisters announcement here after I'm done, that her memory can be immortalized." Shining finished, before finally giving the stand to Princess Twilight "Hello all of Ponyville, and the Apple Family. You all know me, and yes. Granny Smith was truly a great pony. She was very close to me, and I cried when I first learned of her passing. With that said, if you will all follow me, I have something that we have made to keep her memory known here in Ponyville." Twilight said, before walking off the stage, followed by all who were on it, and everypony followed them arriving at a large covered object on the outskirts of ponyville, the one that leads to Sweet Apple Acres. "Applejack, please come up. I would like you to have the honor for this." Applejack walked up and looked at the large cover before taking it off, revealing a large 20 foot statue of Granny Smith "O-O-O-oh my..." AJ said, tears quickly forming and she hugged Twilight tightly who hugged her back. "Thank you all, and may the memory of Granny Smith go on forever!" Discord yelled, in which cheers roared, knowing the once great mare who was once with them, will continue to be great, even after she had passed.