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// A funeral, a wedding and a long train ride 
// Story: An old timers tale 
// by Ecthelion_Yuda 
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I have often wondered what my life would have been like if I had not gotten my Cutie Mark. If none of us had. Would we have ever left home? Left each other? Or were we always fated to one day part ways? I just wish I knew the answers to some of these questions at least. But that’s why I’m back here, isn’t it? That’s why I’m here, on the train back to Ponyville. It’s strange to think about it really, having lived for almost a century and having left Ponyville when I was nineteen, I still call it my home. I suppose when you move around as much as I did in my life, you never really get the time to be attached to any one place in particular, so I guess Ponyville remained ‘Home’ by default. Either that, or Ponyville was the only place where I never lived because of business. Ponyville was the only place where I had friends rather than colleagues and chores rather than work and memories instead of memos. Regrettably, of those three all that remains is the memories.

So much has changed in Equestria since I headed out on my own to start my own clothing line. I know it’s a little cliché, but as I look out of the window at all of the towns and cities I can’t help but think of how this was all fields when I was growing up. Now the once bright and promising Equestrian skyline is a jagged mess of skyscrapers and tower blocks. I don’t really mind this modernisation - it’s just another sign of the times - but I would be lying if I said that I don’t miss the lush green fields where I used to run and the vast rolling hills of the Equestrian countryside that I rolled down as a little filly.

I smile at the thought and reposition the bright red bow on top of my head. It isn’t the bow I used to wear though. That thing died many many years ago. But it is the best imitation I could find, and being the owner of the largest fashion business in Equestria meant that I could find a damn good copy. Thinking back, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t wear a bow in my hair. I guess being an earth pony it sort of made me seem special, a bit like my sister's hat almost.

My sister.

How long has it been since I last spoke with Applejack? Or Big Macintosh? Or Granny Smith? How many opportunities did I forgo in my life? It’s pointless worrying about it now though. At my age you tend to try and avoid thinking about what-ifs and maybes. That doesn't stop me doing it though. Thankfully, I didn’t miss the ends of their stories.

Celestia wanted a way of commemorating their memories after all they had done for Equestria, so she had a new mausoleum built annexed by that of her own family. The magnificent tomb, crafted expertly by the best crafts-ponies in Canterlot is what is commonly known as the Royal Tomb of Equestrian Fallen Heroes. I remember it being quite a mouthful to say when it was first declared by her Highness Princess Celestia, but more than that it was a piece of artwork. The outside of the mausoleum depicted scenes from the lives of Applejack and her friends, like the time they defeated Discord, or when they saved Cadence and Shining Armour, or when they defeated Nightmare Moon, Rainbow Dash joining the Wonderbolts, Applejack becoming Mayor of Ponyville and various other things like that. Up until their dying days new scenes were being carved into the stonework until there was not a single area of blank stone.

Celestia really did want to give them the greatest possible honour, a royal Canterlot funeral when the time came for each of them.

Luckily, I was in Canterlot for Applejack and Big Mac’s funeral. Granny Smith had died the year before I finished high school, so she was laid to rest in Ponyville Cemetery. I feel glad that I was able to bid my family farewell properly. As I remember it, Applejack went quietly in her sleep just like Mom and Dad. But Big Mac was walking through town one day and suffered a heart attack. When you get to my age, little details about the past tend to be lost forever, but there are certain things that one remembers as clearly as though they had happened within hours of the recollection. For instance, I cannot remember at all where I was when I was told that my brother and sister were dead. I cannot remember what dress I was wearing and I can’t even remember who told me, but I remember my first reaction being disbelief. I remember distinctly believing that whoever it was must be wrong. Applejack was just too strong to die in so calm a way, and Big Mac had too much love in his heart to make a heart attack possible. When eventually I did accept the news that my family was dead, I remember thinking that I should be grateful that in both cases it was swift. I hope when my end comes, as I expect it shall soon, it is as swift as theirs.

They were buried at the same time, next to Shining Armour, Rarity and Fluttershy. The service was simple for a Canterlot affair, but everypony came. Or at least, everypony who was still around did. My brother and sister had affected so many ponies lives that it was unsurprising how many people had arrived to send them off. But the one pony whom I do remember feeling very sorry for was Rainbow Dash. She was inconsolable. When she had married my sister, everypony had been so happy for them and I don’t think I had ever seen Applejack happier than on that day. Rainbow Dash just couldn’t imagine life without Applejack and since she had been forced into it she simply couldn’t cope. I don’t think anyone was surprised when she died shortly afterwards, but by then I was half way to Fillydelphia, so I was unable to attend.

But without a doubt the thing I was most glad of at my siblings’ funeral was the chance I got to catch up with my fellow Crusaders once again. We hadn’t really been the Cutie Mark Crusaders for years, not since we were sixteen. Sweetie Bell was the first to get hers, but I think by then we all knew that her Cutie Mark would have something to do with a career in singing. In fact, I think by then we all knew what are Cutie Marks were probably going to be, we just wanted an excuse to hang out together. You’d never believe that I haven’t seen them in more than forty years.

Well, I couldn’t wait to congratulate Sweetie Bell on becoming the first ‘Voice of Equestria.’ She was even bigger than Sapphire Shores by the time she was twenty-five and by the age of thirty had become the best-selling artist in Equestria, selling out concert venues and selling millions of albums. It wasn’t too surprising when I learned that she had married Buck Dharma, the big shot movie producer. Even back then most celebrity marriages ended in disaster, but Sweetie Bell was different. There was no way that she was leaving Buck and he never gave her reason to. Looking back, I’m glad everything seemed to work out so well for her. She was married for a few years on the day of the funeral, and I was quite surprised to learn that she had a child.

There we were, the three of us discussing good times with Applejack and enquiring as to how we were all doing, congratulating each other on various accolades that we had achieved: Sweetie Bell having won so many awards and Scootaloo being crowned best ballroom dancer in Equestria for the third year in a row, when a small filly trotted over to Sweetie Bell. As I recall, I had to do a double take when I saw her. The foal looked exactly like Sweetie Bell had looked back when we first started the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Mommy, that colt over there called me a blank-flank.”

Sweetie Bell nuzzled her daughter lightly.

“Don’t mind him. Remember, I was a blank-flank until I was in high school, so you don’t need to worry my darling.”

I remember the mixture of emotions that I felt at that moment: betrayal, hurt, confusion. Why hadn’t she told me that she had a foal? Why didn’t she tell me when she was pregnant? The thought occurs to me now that perhaps at that time I was no longer on her list of contacts. I wasn’t important enough in her life for me to be somepony that she told things like that to. I suppose, eleven years apart will put a strain on even the strongest of friendships.

“Oh, girls! I hope you have children of your own one day. Without Secret Treasure, my life simply would not be complete.”

Scootaloo nodded, but said that she was still waiting for the right colt to come and sweep her off her hooves. The fact was that her Mr Right was there for her in the form of her dance partner. She married him the very next year, but I can’t even remember his name. I never met him. I never saw any of them after that in fact. Thinking about it, I never should have lost touch with the Crusaders, and after the funeral I should have recognised that they really were the only family I had left. But being relatively young and very foolish I managed to convince myself that once I had made a bigger name for myself I would meet up with them again, retire and we could just go back to the way things were.

When my Cutie Mark appeared I was taken almost completely by surprise. My skill with a sewing machine couldn’t be doubted, but I had just put that ability down to spending years of living on a farm where clothes were often so patched up there was nothing left of the original before we bought something new. But clearly my special talent was to be a fashion designer.

When I first got my Cutie Mark at seventeen, I begged Rarity for an apprenticeship so that I could learn the finer tricks of the trade. Given that my special talent was fashion, I wanted to learn from an expert, and there was only one fashion designer of any real credit in Ponyville and that was Rarity. Of course, after a little bit of persuasion, she agreed.

There is only one thing that I did in my life after high school that I can take any measure of pride in and that was my sister’s wedding dress. It was the last thing I ever did in Ponyville, and I have regretted almost every action I have taken in my life since then, but of that dress I can be proud. To this day I still consider it my best work.  I knew that both Applejack and Rainbow Dash hated formal attire, so I did what I could to make Applejack’s dress the perfect mix of elegance and casual. The idea came to me in a flash of inspiration: Make a summer dress.

The dress itself was smaller than the traditional concept of a wedding gown, but done in a sweet yellow tone that betrayed my sister’s true tenderness. The tassels down the flank whispered in the wind and of course, the whole ensemble worked perfectly with her hat.

On the day itself, Applejack was radiant. She had chosen me to be her Mare of Honour and I stood beside her on the altar with Celestia smiling down on all of us. Rainbow Dash walked into the town hall through the front door and for the first time I could see what a wonderful job Rarity had done. The dress was sleek and streamlined as per Rainbow Dash’s instructions, but it was delicate enough to show her hidden femininity. The crystal blue silk seemed to shine with its own brilliance and the lace at the hem of the dress danced like soft clouds drifting in a lazy sky.

The service itself was rather short, but it was very beautiful and very moving to witness. When I gave my sister the rings, I knew that I never wanted that day to end. 

“I, Princess Celestia, declare this union to be complete and legal in the eyes of Equestria and in those of its Princess. You may now kiss the bride.”

Applejack hesitated slightly, so Rainbow Dash took the initiative. Their kiss was soft, not too long, but the passion and love in it made everypony concerned that the place was about to burst into flame. I had never seen Applejack as happy as she did right at that moment. Truth be told, part of me is glad that I left when I did, so that I could always remember Applejack, beaming in her newlywed bliss.

But I made the mistake of leaving too soon. Fancy Pants had been invited to the wedding by Rarity so that she could showcase my talents. I think she only meant for me to take his name and number so that I could get a job with him when I was ready. My problem has always been impatience and when Fancy Pants offered me the chance to work with him as a full time designer, I leapt at the opportunity. I should have said no, or at least spoken to my friends and family about it. But I didn’t and I left that night for Canterlot.

And here I am, sitting in the incredibly impressive first class carriage of this train, heading back to Ponyville for the first time in seventy years.