//------------------------------// // A Death in the Family Part 2 // Story: The New Timeline // by Jongoji245 //------------------------------// The following night was hard to sleep over. Back at the hotel, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer struggle to get to sleep. Rarity's mascara stained her white fur after a few hours of crying in her sleep. Rainbow Dash time and again flapped her wings and made a grabbing motion before going back to sleep. Sunset kept tossing and turning, trying to find comfort. In her head, the exact vision plays again. With the Circus circling around Cosgrove as he curled up around his mother weeping. Diver glared at Sunset, “You!” Sunset turned to the Merpony as she rammed Sunset to the dirt ground. Looking up, she saw the filly's scowl on their face as she began to tear up. “Why couldn’t you save her?! You had the power to save her!” Sunset tried to find to answer before Zipper came up to her face. “YoumustbelikethoseposhponiesinCanterlot," - Zipper added as an orange piebald mass came - "notgivingonegoodlookatuspoorcircusfolkastheytoilintheirwealth-!” With two great hooves, Chelsey grabbed their manes and bopped them together. “Now that’s enough!” - Chelsey yelled at her two best friends - “This Unicorn did what she could, but we stood in her way, so it’s our fault too! Go on, get back to your parents!!” The two foals ran away as Chelsey gave Sunset a hoof. After taking the hoof and standing back up, the Unicorn found Chelsey was replaced by a face she never saw before. Her proportions are like that of Celestia, but her body had a much darker coat and her mane and tail a series of blues. Her cutie mark was a crescent moon. "Are you... Princess Luna?" - Sunset asked, to which the Alicorn gave a nod. She turned to the still life of the mourning child - "Do you know about Cosgrove? How is he." Before Luna could answer, the dreamscape started to tear apart. Sunset watched Luna ascend to the moon. "Awake, Sunset Shimmer!" - Shouted Luna in her Canterlot Voice - "Awaken!" Sunset's eyes shot open to find Rarity and Rainbow Dash looking at her with concerned. Sunset rose up from the hotel bed and walked towards the door. "Where are you going?" Asked Rainbow Dash "I have to go back." Sunset answered. “Darling," - Rarity stopped her - "it’s their issue, not ours.” “I’ll just get the next train.” Rainbow Dash flew to her side, "Sunset we do not want to-" "Rainbow Dash..." - Sunset interrupted, before looking at the two Elements of Harmony with sad eyes - “Please…” Rainbow turned to see Rarity nod in approval, allowing her to leave. With the storm receded, for now, Sunset quickly made her way back to the Circus. Upon reaching the front gate, she stumbled upon a sign that read, "Remaining Show Times Cancelled." She walked inside as the circus ponies began packing up their stuff. Looking at the train they were walking to, Sunset found that there was a train car labeled: "Reserved for Night Dancer and Immediate Family". A worker Earth Pony walked up to her. "Sad really," - Said the worker - "the kid has now only himself." "Where will the train go?" Sunset asked. "Plan is for the funeral to be done at Ponyville, after that he would move in with his grandparents." the pony picked his workload and walked over to the next cart. As he walked away, Chelsey spotting Sunset from afar and ran to her. "Oh thank Celestia you're here!" Shouted Chelsey. "What is it?" - Sunset calmed the young Horse - "What's wrong?" "It's Cosgrove," - Chelsey caught her breath - "he's missing!" "Did he leave anything behind?" As if on cue, Zipper ran to the two mares. "I couldn'tfindanyclueastowhereheis!" - Zipper answered - "He couldbejustaboutanywhere!" As Diver joined the group, Sunset figured Cosgrove couldn't have gone far in stormy weather. She turned to Zipper and Diver. "You two, skim through every block as fast as you can." - Sunset turned to Chelsey - "You're with me, let's go!" Holding Diver in two of his hooves, Zipper sped out of the area of the Circus in one way while Sunset and Chelsey race out of the other. They talked to every passing citizen, every patrol guard regarding Cosgrove's current whereabouts, describing his age, height, fur and eye color, and features. At one point, Chelsey raced paced an alley that Sunset later looked into. "There he is!" Sunset raced inside, Chelsey quickly turning around. Cosgrove was standing on the railing of a bridge, one of his back legs shackled to a steel ball. With a deep breath, Cosgrove kicked the ball. As the ball fell, he made a quick glance at the sound of approaching hooves. "No no no no no!" Sunset pleaded him The weight of the ball broke through the frozen river and a few seconds later took the young pony with it. Seeing just a glimpse of the action, Chelsey immediately leaped into the icy water and swam to Cosgrove. The Horse tried to pull him up, but the weight was still too great under water. Diver joined in, motioning Chelsey to the chains. With repeated strokes of her mighty tail, Diver managed to pull Cosgrove high enough to have his snout jut out of the surface for air. Chelsey tugged on the chain as hard as she could, but soon she started to run out of air. Diver had to make a decision: save Chelsey or save Cosgrove. If she was quick enough, she could do both. Immediately Diver swam down, grabbed Chelsey, and swam to the surface. Taking in the cold air, the two children swam to the walkway just when Sunset Shimmer dove in. The passing citizens watched as the bubbles rose to the surface. In seconds, they did not rise often and a few seconds more there were none. As the audience talked to one another, Chelsey pounded the icy walkway in both anger and sadness. Diver and Zipper wrapped their hooves around her as they mourned the loss of another member of the family. Zipper's ear picked up a small hum as they looked at the frozen river again. A green light illuminated the ice hole as the water bubbled rapidly. In a few seconds, a large burst of energy burst out of the pocket and in a quick arc landed on the walkway. The magic dissipated, revealing Sunset holding a liberated, but unconscious Cosgrove. Using her magic to pinch his nose, the Unicorn breathed into the colt's mouth, raising his chest with each breath. After a few attempts, Cosgrove coughed out the icy water. The watching crowd clapped with acknowledgment of this great deed. But the cold air was hard to take in and Cosgrove quickly fainted. Sunset took her scarf and wrapped it around his snout and began carrying him to the direction of the Circus. Cosgrove slowly awoke in his tent. He slowly turned to his left. There were hoof prints all over the floor, some having deeper marks than others, a record player stopped playing music, and a casket containing Night Dancer’s body with the roses given yesterday. And sitting among him were his friends and Sunset Shimmer looking at his scrapbook. Chelsey gave him a soft hug. "Why did you save me?" Cosgrove said weakly. Chelsey stepped away from Cosgrove, a bemused look on her face. "Why did you try to kill yourself?" Diver asked. "I just want to be with Mom." - Cosgrove answered "We miss her too, Cosgrove." Said Zipper, not even speaking quickly. “I wish that I gave her more than those roses.” Cosgrove continued “Cos-” Zipper was interrupted “I would have been much more happy then.” “Cosgr-” Now Diver was interrupted “You shouldn't have stopped me!” “Cosgrove-” Now Chelsey was interrupted. "Or better yet" - Sunset began to cringe at Cosgrove's responses - "it should have been me who should have died yesterday!" Sunset immediately turned around and held Cosgrove's head in her hooves. “Damn it, Cosgrove!” - Sunset screamed, causing his friends to back away as tears flowed from her eyes - “They've just lost a good friend, they don’t need to lose you! What that solve?" - Sunset turned his head to the casket - "What would your mother say if you said that to her?” As the words she said sank into his mind, Cosgrove teared up as he embraced the Unicorn. "I feel so..." - Cosgrove choked - "so..." “Alone?" - Sunset answered as she rubbed him - "A friend of mine once told me that even if you leave home, you are never alone. But only if you are willing to accept it." Cosgrove looked at Night Dancer’s pillow. “I…” “You don’t have to decide now.” The colt laid his head on the pillow as Sunset wrapped the blanket on top of him. Back at Ponyville, two middle-aged Earth Ponies sat at the train station, their faces sad. “Daddy! I want the train to come over now!” The two ponies turned to a little filly, Diamond Tiara, next to her father and mother, shuffling her legs as she waited impatiently for the train to take them away to a holiday resort further south. They look forward, hearing the sound of a train whistle. “Finally!” Shouted Diamond Tiara as she ran out of the shared alcove. The train’s silhouette quickly became real as the engine slowed to a halt until the train car with signs placed over it was in her view. "What kind of joke is this daddy!?" - Diamond turned to her parents - "Trying to be cheap for your-" Diamond was interrupted as the train car doors slid open, revealing six adult Horses carrying the casket. A ramp jutted out as the group began their walk down. Diamond scooted out of the way as they walked to the main platform before stopping. The two middle-aged Ponies stood up and began walking towards the group of Horses before eyeballing Cosgrove stepping off the train. The three Ponies embraced each other, tears rolling down their eyes. The adult Rich family member's eyes widened as the horses began their journey across the cold Ponyville before being joined by Cosgrove and his grandparents, then his friends and their relatives, then by the other circus folk. Everypony, even the clowns wore black and white. Onward they marched through the main plaza of Ponyville. The citizens opened their windows to see the marching herd. Thinking of a dark army, a few timid ones closed their windows. At first glance, Pegasi in flight could view them as penguins. Twilight Sparkle opened the door to the library as the herd passed through the town square. The Cakes and Pinkie Pie saw with frowns despite being so close to a holiday. They reach their destination: a house on a hill next to a tree, a few yards in front of the Everfree Forest. The horses placed the casket down on the frozen ground before the Ponies that set up the big top began shoveling the ground. It took half an hour before reaching the necessary depth to begin the burial. The grandfather, Lion Tamer, walked to the hole as the casket became positioned. "Night Dancer... Has always been daring. I remember how she always wanted to ribbon dance." - Lion Tamer sniffled - "Wherever you are, my daughter, know that you will always be with our hearts. Night Dancer, dedicated circus performer, caring daughter," - the middle age stallion turned to his grandson - "and loving mother." At his nod, musicians began to play as the casket was lowered down and buried. Though they didn't want to, they had a schedule to keep. One by one, the members of the Barn and Bailey Circus gave their condolences to the family before leaving, with Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver gave Cosgrove a deep hug before moving on. The family of three continued to look at the burial site, now adorned with a stone that had the eulogy inscribed before Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop walked towards the house. Cosgrove began to turn around and walked with them before stopping and looked to his right. Sunset Shimmer was watching the funeral from a distance. She exited from the other side of the train before joining the funeral. They both look for a while before the Unicorn turned and walked towards the town, Cosgrove into his new home. A few hours later, a soft knock is heard at the door. Lion Tamer opened the door to find Carrot Cake holding a small box. "Hey," - Carrot Cake gave the box to the middle-aged pony - "we saw you pass by and, well, we wanted to give you this." "Thank you, Mr. Cake" - Lion Tamer turned around - "Honey, can you get my bag of-" "Oh no no" - Mr. Cake stopped him - "This one's on us. We are so sorry for your loss." Loopty Hoop was just at the top of the stairs with a cup in her hoof. "Thank you, Mr. Cake." Lifting his baker's hat with his tail, Mr. Cake said, "Have a nice day." Upstairs, Loopty Hoop gave her grandson a slice of lemon meringue pie before giving him a hug. After thinking deeply about what was said earlier, Cosgrove took a spoonful of the treat. The following evening, Twilight Sparkle was just reorganizing the bookshelves when he heard a knock on the door. "Spike! Can you get that?" She asked before resuming concentration. Spike got up from his cat bed and walked to the front door. Upon opening the door, he found nopony outside. "Hello?" The dragon asked before looking down. Sunset was laying down on a bed writing her past experience in her journal when the light violet dragon walked to her. "This is for you." He said, holding a white rose and a note. "Thank you, Spike." Said Sunset as she levitated the items from the dragon. She opened the note which read, Dear Sunset Shimmer, I have been thinking about what you said and you were right. If I am to live a new life here in Ponyville, I don't want to be alone. If you wouldn't mind... will you have the honor of being my first friend here? Cosgrove Sunset folded the note into the journal before looking out the window. Cosgrove was out there wearing a yellow scarf and green stockings. He drew down the part that concealed his snout and gave a smile. Sunset returned the smile as well before the colt ran into the darkness towards home. The orange unicorn returned to her journal. and since then I have made this promise: that I will make things rights. Your faithful student, Sunset Shimmer. After closing the journal, a magic light shined between the pages. With a deep breath, Sunset held the white rose in her hooves before levitating a flowerpot and a small bag of soil to her.