//------------------------------// // The Funeral of Twilight Sparkle // Story: Secrets of Balance // by Shadow Valkyrie //------------------------------// Chapter 2 "No, I can't be dead. It isn't possible! If I'm dead, then how do I see this?" If you're dead, then you know what these images are, yes? The first voice answered. It had been days since her death on the operating table, but it still felt like Twilight had just passed. It had left quite the impact on Ponyville, and Equestria as a whole. It seemed that she didn't have to prove a thing after all. Everyone in Ponyville was coping it their own way. Vinyl and Octavia played "taps" at the exact time of her battle with the crazed one: 3:42, every day, without fail. The flower ponies had replaced all their available flowers to ones colored purple. Nurse Readheart traveled to north to break the news to Twilight's family. Derpy lost her appetite for muffins. Pinkie Pie took some time to see her family back at the rock farm. Lyra pleaded to the humans in the internet to help her with know what happened. One of them had to have written a fanfiction detailing this. If she was thinking that, she really had gone mad. Rarity tailored a magnificent banner of her late best friend and had it hung on the Golden Oak Library, Twilight's home. Time Turner tinkered endlessly to find a way to turn back time and undo what had been done, secluding himself to all others, even Derpy. Fluttershy cried herself to sleep, multiple times. Rainbow Dash took extra care of Scootaloo. She would not lose another who was close to her if she could do something about it. Not again. Applejack did the same for her family. Guess AJ and RBD really did have something in common after all. Twilight's parents put up a memorial of their late daughter outside their house, and many participated in helping. Many more across Equestria grieved, countless in number, and they never even knew her personally. When Shining Armor got the news, he sent a table flying out his room in the Crystal Empire's ridiculously overdone castle. "No!" he yelled for hour upon hour, tearing up massive amounts of furniture in the process. By the time he was done, there was not a table to be seen in the castle. Later, Cadence came in to find Shining Armor sobbing on the bedroom floor. A pool of tears surrounded him. Cadence went to comfort him. "I feel your pain, Shining. I loved her too." "Everyone did. Hell, even Luna. She didn't have anything left to prove, but she tried anyway. And I couldn't protect her from what happened. If only... If only she lived." Alas, the cycle of life continues. Twilight understood that all things end. That didn't stop her from being in denial about her own death. "No! This can't be real! I'm in a nightmare. Luna, help me!" You are dead! All of your country and some beyond realize this! What more do we need to show you to make you understand? I believe a nicer way of putting it is that you are in denial. Allow me to show you some undeniable evidence to end this state of denial. The second voice showed Twilight a scene that confirmed her fears. A line of pones could be witnessed on the north side of Ponyville. It went south, snaking through the town, and ended at a hill shaded with a tree. In front of the line was an unfilled grave... and a casket. Behind the grave, a statue of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Shining armor was at the front of the line, holding a lavender rose. He laid it on the casket and said a few words to his late family member. "Well, I never expected for either of us to go out like this. I hope you understand... you had everything to prove to yourself, but to me... you had nothing left to prove. Goodbye, my LSBFF." He left the grave, tears streaming from his eyes. Next came Twilight's parents, then her sister-in-law, her best friends, Spike, the lunar and solar princesses, every resident of Ponyville, many residents of Canterlot, Appleoosa, Manehatten, Vanhoover, Las Pegasus, Fillydelphia, Baltimare, and so many others came to pay their respects. The line took around a baker's dozen hours to die out, but those that had grown closer with her over the past couple years stayed. Now will you believe us? We have shown you the ultimate proof of your demise. There is no denying it now. The first voice, the aggressive one said. "It's true. I'm actually dead." Yes, and we are sorry about that, but we haven't had any contact with anything but each other. Eventually we run out of stories to tell. We should talk with you in a less shocking way. Let us tell you about ourselves. At least the other voice is kind. Twilight thought to herself. Hey! What's that supposed to mean? It seemed that she had insulted it. Wait, insulted or pleased? This place is strange.