//------------------------------// // #1 Death // Story: Ponyville Shorts Vol.1 // by SterlingCabin //------------------------------// Dreams, are a wonderful thing aren't they ? They can show visions of the future, or fragments of the past. You could control worlds, be rich as royalty, or go places you never dreamed were possible. You could fly over vast green hills and sail the mighty sea's, slay dragons and undead hordes , all with out taking a scratch. Dreams can also become twisted copy's of reality, sometimes they force you to witness heinous acts without your control. You be could a dealer of death, or watch your loved ones die before you, or see things you would not dare discuss even to your most closest friend. Yes, nightmares can be devastating, Imagine that because of you, because of a dumb accident somepony lost their life. Imagine the guilt, imagine the pain that your friends now bare. You tell yourself it wasn't your fault, that you couldn't stop the cable that broke your friends spine. But deep down you know, that because of your ineptitude, a body now rots in the ground. That is the reality Twilight Sparkle now faces, and every second she wishes that she was dreaming. As a crowd of black suits and dresses part, she was left alone next to a coffin. Tears well in her eyes and no words came to her mind. The red faces Of Dash, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack starring deep into her. She tastes vomit in the back of her throat and rests a trembling hoof on the auburn wood. The card with her parting words that she had spent hours writing sits crunched and tear-soaked in her pocket. The elder said the finale goodbye and the crowed got up to leave. Twilight wishes that her friends would just let her be, but then she would be selfish. They all laid a hoof on the rim of the open casket. Fluttershy never seemed so peaceful, she was dressed in the finest dress Rarity could sow, it was green with cream trimmings with white and pink tulips were gently placed around her body. It was strange seeing her friend like this, so still when she looked so alive. Her lips were placed into a gentle smile, but that's not what she looked like when she died. Each of her friends took a moment to say their goodbyes, each harder to watch than the last. When they were gone and before the workers placed her into the ground, Twilight laid a kiss upon Fluttershy's forehead. She stayed and watched them as they placed her into the ground and sealed her tomb. The trot home was difficult. Twilight could see the faces of the citizens of Ponyville take pity on her as she passed. This whole week had seemed like one long, gut wrenching nightmare. Twilight remembered the sound that Fluttershy made as the cable lashed out at her, it made her cringe even now. She lazily opened the door to her home and trotted in. Spike didn't look at her, he only starred at the wall. Twilight peeled off her dress and curled up in her bed. She debated to herself weather she was dreaming or this was really real. She didn't feel sadness exactly, it was more like a deep, twisting ocean of confusion. Twilight tried closing her eyes but found that she was too scared to do so. If she slept, would she wake ? And what about the nightmares ? She wasn't strong enough to tackle them right now, she would be consumed by fear. So she decided to stay awake, even if it means sleep withdrawal. She silently crept onto her roof and watched the moon as it hung in the sky. Despite her feelings she couldn't stop herself from thinking about when the cable that snapped Fluttershy's neck. It was a cool summer morning, she just ordered book shelve set and It was held high over her home and suspended the cables. Twilight had been cataloging what new books she was getting that morning. She soon became twisted around when she had mixed up the new shipment with the books she had. Fluttershy had been helping her put the books in alphabetical order when one of the cables became frayed. Twilight thought she could stop it before it snapped and lashed out , but she was too slow... Strange, that in one instant everything you knew suddenly became warped. Somepony who was trotting and talking just moments before suddenly stopping. She didn't even know it was coming, and just like that... Gone. Rage soon built inside herself as she thought of all the 'possible' ways she could of saved her. As she pondered a star streaked the sky and arched to where Fluttershy was. Twilight took a deep sigh and nuzzled her snout into her lap. What to do now... Wait ? She didn't know how the others would get over this, if they were even going to. Her heart pounded as she sat and her hooves begged to be stretched. Twilight wiped the hot tears from her eyes and proceeded back into her home. She quietly slide threw her home in a mute fashion, best not to wake Spike. The rhythm of her heart thumped in her mind as she searched around in her chest. Finally, a shovel... She didn't know what she was going to do with it, but better take it just to be safe. Twilight softly closed the door behind her and trotted towards the hill where her friend now lay. The feeling of loneliness really set in when she saw that the bustling streets of Ponyville were dead silent. Twilight neared the hill with her heart jumpy and her hooves trembling. Her eyes sagged for she had not slept well in the days past, all she could think of was Fluttershy. Now she stood alone on the hill, gnashing her teeth with hot unease. She stuck the tip of the shovel in the soft dirt and stood there. As she pushed it deeper in the soil, and stopped when she became aware of her actions. Overcome with grief and anger she threw the shovel away and saw it tumble down the hillside. She fell to the ground and crawled to Fluttershy's head stone. It was made of limestone and had fresh roses circled around it. Twilight curled herself around it and held it tight. If only this was a dream ! If only if she could rewind time. Only if she was killed... She sat there for what must of been hours of crying, and remembering the old times when her friends laughed together. She had talked to the head stone and she felt strangely better. If this was reality she could never forgive herself, but this dulled the pain just a bit. She didn't know if she'll ever get better, or that she'll ever forgive herself. But this was a start...