//------------------------------// // The Funeral // Story: The Island // by Avagantam0s //------------------------------// The funeral had been planned for this afternoon. It took two months to complete the required paperwork. Two months of pure hell as you planned everything by yourself, made even worse without her here to help you. The only pony you felt comfortable talking to was Dinky, who somehow managed to keep a smile on her face at all times. Probably more for my sake then for hers, you think to yourself. The two of you had become increasingly closer after her mother’s surgery caused her to be put into your care, even to the point where she started referring to you as “Daddy”. You figured it was a basic foalhood need to be comforted, which only increased as the hole left by her mother’s absence grew bigger. Your thoughts are interrupted as you hear a small voice behind you. “It’s almost time to go Daddy.” “Alright Dinks, thanks for reminding me.” Looking towards the little filly, who reminds you so much of your precious pony, you realize that she isn’t even trying to put on her usual smile. Of course she isn’t, today’s the big day after all. Not even bothering to ask if she’s okay, you simply hold your forelegs open for her. She doesn’t hesitate as she quickly jumps into your embrace, trying her best to hide from the world. You allow her a few minutes of comfort before you speak. “Dinks, I know you don’t want to, but we have to go now.” “I know,” she says with her face buried in your shoulder. “I just wish Mommy was here with us.” You tear up at the impossibility of her statement. “Me too Dinks, but you know that Mommy can’t be here with us.” The words leave an acrid taste in your mouth after you speak them, knowing that they must sound even worse to Dinky. You feel her nod her head against you before she breaks away from you and heads to the door. Following after her, you stop as you stare at a picture of your beloved. Memories begin to flow through your brain, which you rush to stop. Remembering her now would only hurt more, you think as you stare at Dinky patiently waiting by the door, and I can’t make Dinky hurt anymore. Finally putting an end to the onslaught of thoughts, you leave the house with Dinky in tow, making your way to the funeral home. --------------- “We are gathered here today in remembrance of a pony known to all of us here today.” The stallion in charge of the ceremony begins his speech, which you quickly tune out. You’ve read and re-read it so many times looking for errors, that you know it by heart. No longer focusing on the stallion’s words, you allow your mind to wander. I can’t believe she’s really dead. I knew it would happen eventually, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon. I mean, who would expect her to die from- “And now, I would like to call on a very special pony to talk on behalf of the deceased,” your thought are interrupted as the stallion says something unexpected, “somepony who knew her better than anypony else in this room.” He motions for you to come forward and take his place in front of the crowd. This isn’t supposed to happen! I don’t know what to say! I…I… Your mind goes into overdrive as you try to figure out what to do, until you feel a gentle hoof press against yours. You look down and see Dinky smiling up at you, brighter than ever before. “Go on Daddy. I know you can do it.” Shocked that the little filly is somehow calmer then you in this situation, you can only stare back at her. You lean down and place a quick kiss on her forehead, whispering a small ‘thank you’ as you take your place in front of the other ponies. You’re not sure what to say, and your eyes begin to tear up. Through watery eyes, you think you see a familiar yellow-maned pegasus in the back of the crowd. You’re not sure since your vision is so blurry, but the sight fills you with confidence and you begin to speak. “My mother was a...a wonderful pony who always looked out for those who are unable to help themselves. It is both a great tragedy and a great blessing that she died saving somepony’s life…” You continue to give your speech, tears running down your face as you remember the smiling face of your mother. She was the only parent you had after your father died a few years after you were born, saving a young pegasus who was trapped in a burning building. You continue your speech before finally giving your last words, “If the pony my mother saved in is this room, I want you to know something. I don’t feel any anger towards you, and I know that she doesn’t either.” Feeling both physically and mentally drained, you take your seat next to Dinky, who has tears in her eyes. “You did wonderful Daddy. Just like I thought you would.” She hugs you tight as the stallion retakes his place and concludes the ceremony. He tells everypony to move outside, where your mother will be buried next you your father, allowing them to sleep next to each other in an eternal bliss. --------------- Long after everypony has left, you continue to stare at the two tombstones until Celeastia’s sun is kissing the horizon. Dinky’s curled up beside you sleeping, exhausted after the long ceremony. “Taken from this world while saving the life of another, you will never be forgotten.” The words stare back at you from your father’s tombstone, which is far older than your mothers. It still looks well cared for, thanks to your constant visiting. Switching your gaze over to your mother’s tombstone, you realize the writing on hers matches your father’s word for word. While you sit there reveling in memories of your parents, you don’t even hear another pony approach you until their voice shocks you out back to the present. “I never knew that I was dating the son of two heroes.” I know that voice, you think to yourself, but I shouldn’t be hearing it for another month. She should still be on vacation, recovering from her surgery. Whirling around, you only have time to see her beautiful, wall-eyed expression before she passionately latches onto your lips, muffling any questions you were about to ask. After being separated for so long, it doesn’t take you long to get caught up in the moment, meeting her tongue with yours. After several minutes, you both break the kiss as the need for oxygen overrides your will to continue the heated kiss. Several questions run through your head, but Ditzy obviously realize this and shakes her head before telling you, “I’ll explain later, just let me see my little Muffin.” Nodding in understanding, you lean down to wake the still sleeping unicorn. “Wake up Dinks,” you say as gently as possible, “I have a surprise for you.” “Five more minutes Daddy. Then I’ll get up.” Laughing at her innocent response, Ditzy looks up at you. “When did you start calling her Dinks?” She pauses before another question appears in her mind. “And when did she start calling you Daddy?” Before you answer, Dinky suddenly wakes up as she recognizes her mother’s voice. “MOMMY!” Using all the strength her little body can muster, she leaps into Ditzy’s awaiting hug, tackling her to the ground. As they cry tears of joy, Ditzy envelops both of them in her wings, holding her daughter as close to her body as possible. “I’ve missed you so much Mommy.” “I know Muffin, and I’m sorry I had to leave for a while. But now I’m back, and I’ll never leave you again.” They continue to cry together, slowly calming down. Relaxing further into her mother’s hug, you recognize the slow methodic breathing that tells you she fell asleep. Watching this peaceful display, you decide to ask the question that’s been on your mind since you saw her. “So why are you back so early? Not that I’m complaining of course. Before she answers, Ditzy repositions so that she’s in a more comfortable position. “I couldn’t wait any longer. It’s been three months after all, and I missed you and Dinky too much to wait another month. Also, a certain princess we happen to know sent me a letter, telling me that you needed me.” She looks at you with her good eye, letting the unanswered question hang in the air. You blush deeply as you realize what the letter meant. You move closer to her and Dinky before you continue talking. “I think I might know what the princess was getting at. But first, I have to apologize for not telling about the funeral. The incident happened about a month after you left. I was so distraught with grief; I immediately started to write you a letter telling you all about it. If it wasn’t for little Dinks here, you would have known right away.” At the mention of her name, Dinky stirs slightly before settling down. After making sure her daughter is comfortable, she looks back to you, waiting for you to finish your story. “After a month of living together, she finally got use to being around me and we actively talked. On the day it happened, she realized what I was doing and convinced me not to send the letter, saying something along the lines of, ‘More stress will only cause her to be gone longer.’ It wasn’t too long after that until she started calling me Daddy and I called her Dinks. From then on she did everything she could to keep me cheerful and distract me from planning the funeral. Honestly, I’d have gone crazy if she wasn’t there for me.” “And the letter from the princess? What was that about?” “I’m not positive, but I think I know what she means.” You recall the moment when you had to talk at the ceremony. “I wasn’t expecting to talk about my mother today, so I was more than a little shocked when it happened. I thought I saw you in the back of the crowd and it gave the courage to speak.” You end the story with a quick kiss, causing Ditzy to blush an adorable shade of red. After a while, you realize that you’re slowly starting to fall asleep while sitting next to Ditzy. You look over and realize Ditzy has already fallen asleep, completely curled around Dinky like a blanket. “Come on, Love,” you announce with some regret, not wanting to ruin this perfect moment. Giving her a quick kiss to wake her up, you reposition Dinky onto your back while she stretches. “Let’s head back home.” Smiling at each other, you walk off towards the sunset together. For the first time in three months, you get to sleep in the same bed as the pony of your dreams; the wall-eyed, clumsy as buck, mail mare that everypony knows, but few understand. And you couldn’t be happier.