//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Brothers To The End // Story: Starlight // by ThePrinceOfTheNorth //------------------------------// November 7, 2015, 0 AE 'I knew this day would come.' 'I knew, but was powerless to stop it; to do anything.' 'Why is fate so cruel?' 'What else must I loose? What more will I be forced to sacrifice? To relinquish? To let go?' Over the past few months, progress had been going rather well. Morning Star, despite not being a Pegasus herself, was doing a fantastic job teaching me the basic parts of my Pegasus magic, namely, weather manipulation. By now, I could make it rain, or snow, or do the opposite, stopping the rain and snow. I even had a bit of say over the very wind. The wind! Still, for all these things that were going so well, I was not blind to the one thing that only got worse, and neither did anypony else. Teacup's ailing health. None of us were doctors, so we had no idea what was happening. Before, he had be so full of life, but now, that life; that vibrance, was leaving, giving way to something sick and dark. Even I, who had not seen death before, knew what was happening. We didn't know why, nor did we want to accept it, me more than anypony else. Teacup was dying. After so many years, loyaly standing by my side, his time had finally come to leave. And, in the early hours before the sun rose, with me laying beside them, running my hoof over his darkening fur, making him as comfortable as I possibly could, under the clear sky, with the stars twinkling and sparkling above, and the moon shining down it's radiant light, he slowly closed his eyes, and his breathing slowed until it was no more. "Teacup?" No movement. "T-teacup?" No response. Looking down at him, a tear fell from my muzzle. Then another. And another, growing ever more rapid. "Teacup," I said in the tiniest voice imagineable. Nothing. I sniffled as my tears fell and slowly lowered my head to embace him, and wrapped my forehooves around him. And I sniffled. And I sobbed. And I cried, harder than I ever had before, my mental fortitude completely forgotten. For I had lost a faithful pet. A loyal companion. A true friend. A brother. In those hours before the dawn, I cried over him, and sang him a song; a lullaby. Into it I poured my sadness, my sorrow, and my regret, for the things I had done to him, things I should have done for him, and things I never did at all for him until now, when I was no more a human but something else. In that I was glad I had finally given him what he wanted. In time, the sun rose, and the others came out. They felt the heaviness of the air, and saw the darkness of the clouded skies. And they knew, even before they found me, still holding him, that he was gone.... forever. No more would he bark at them or play with them. Nor more would he protect them. He was gone. 10:00 AM Our little town was quiet as Morning Star and Eleanor, holding between them a coffin, passed through the town, lead onwards by myself. As we passed each pony, they fell in line behind us. Starless, who had bonded with Teacup in these last few months. Fenix, who never particularly liked Teacup. Wulfic, who had leared to play, and did so for Teacup, who seemed to enjoy the sound of his music as much as he had when I had played it from my computer through the open door before the Event. All three fell in line behind us as we moved onwards to the chosen spot: Blacklight's future Royal Gardens. Arriving at the hole I had dug myself, we placed the coffin over it, and they took positions on either side or behind it, while I took my own at the front. I cleared my voice. "Last night, not so very long ago, we bid farewell to one of our most loyal and devoted friends. I may have known him longer than anyone else here, but I know he left an impact on all of you, and you all loved him in your own way, and he you." Utter silence pervaded the group and forest. Not a birdsong was heard, nor that of a cricket's chirp. All was utterly quiet. "Teacup was as good and loyal a dog as any, but to me, he was so much more than a dog," I said, my voice cracking, "He was more than only a companion. He was a friend, as true and as loyal as any pony or man ever was, or may ever be. He stood by me before the Event, and stayed with me after. I loved him, and I know he loved me just as much." All remained still, save for the breathing of those gathered, and their misty breath fading in the cold fall air. "And, we commit him to the earth, just as we would one of our own," I said, putting strength into my words, "For he was not a pet; not our lesser, but our equal." The others all bowed their heads, nodding in strong agreement. "And so we say farewell, Teacup. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten, for you will be missed.... forever." As I spoke the words, the casket was lowered and the others threw flowers they'd collected down upon it. That done, they left for Solitude, for, as I had taken it upon myself to dig his grave, so had I taken it upon myself to fill it, and so see it done to it's very end, for he was my dog, and was my friend. But first, I produced something I had brought all this way, and placed it on his casket. His black dog-dish, and in it, the only unspoilt steak I could find, cooked and seasoned just like my mom used to. Then, I spread tobacco over it and the coffin, something of tradition. Then, and only the, did I start to fill in the grave, putting in a layer of rocks below the surface, and a large, flat stone on top to ensure that, without a doubt, no wild animal would ever disturb his rest. The last thing I did before leaving was create a large headstone from big rock I fourd nearby, and engraved his name upon it, when he came to me, and when he finally had to bid me farewell. "Goodbye, my old friend," I said, shedding one more tear for him before turning away, and heading back to Solitude.