Birds chirped quietly in the Canterlot gardens as the sun began its slow descent into evening. The clouds cast shadows along the ground more often than the light touched it. Autumn winds played at the mane of a young mare, sitting before a statue of the only human Equestria had ever known with tears threatening to fall unbidden down her face.
“Dex.” Her voice shook slightly as she tried to hide her pain. “Why?”
No answer would come to her, no matter how long she waited. The stone visage of Dex looked back at her, unmoving, for when the Elements of Harmony were used against Sinis, the darkness that embodied his form was removed. A rustling of leaves could be heard nearby.
“Panacea? Are you coming dear?” Celestia’s voice reached the mare’s ears and shook her out of her contemplation for a moment.
“Of course, Princess.” The mare stood and, with one final look towards the human, Panacea walked away, head down.
She turned a corner and found Celestia there, looking off in the direction they had placed Dex’s statue, with a small, reserved smile to hide her own sadness. When the princess caught Panacea’s eye, she turned towards her and nodded in silence. Together, the two mares headed towards a small congregation on the other side of the gardens.
A casket lay upon a table surrounded in flowers and draped in tapestries of the Solar Guard, a simple red cloth with a yellow sun crossed over with two spears emblazoned on the center. Cushions sat on the ground a few paces away, some occupied with friends and family of the recently deceased. Guards either stood along the edges of the gathering, or took a few seats of their own. As Celestia and Panacea drew close, a somber melody could be heard from a nearby grey mare playing the cello.
Panacea sat in the front row, normally reserved for family, while the princess of the sun strolled behind the casket to face the crowd. The loved ones of the departed, parents and two siblings, did not mind the peach colored mare’s presence and nodded sadly in greeting, they would talk after the service. Celestia allowed some time for stragglers to find a seat before beginning.
“I thank you all for coming here today, to lay to rest a fine stallion cut down before his time. I have seen many soldiers, both on the battlefield and off, losing their lives due to life’s hardships and old age, but not many have been cast down as this one has been. For Stone did not simply fight bravely in a battle, or fade away in his sleep, but continued to hold meaning behind his actions throughout his life.
“Stone upheld all the virtues of the Solar Guard and passed his experiences along to his fellows. His continued efforts in eradicating threats to his country, and his passion for helping all those in need, is all that we expect from a protector of Equestria, but he would expand upon these values to greater heights than any before.
“It is with these accomplishments and traits in mind, that I present him with an honorary increase in rank. Let it be known that Lieutenant Stone, from this day forth, be known as Captain Stone, and all recompense be sent to his surviving family in respect for this great stallion. Stone’s epitaph shall forever show his new rank and bravery. If anypony wishes to speak, they may do so now.”
With those words, Celestia stepped back and left it open for any to speak. In the silence that followed, Panacea stood and walked behind the casket as well. As she scanned the audience, she spotted fellow nurses and friends of her own. Emboldened by their presence, she spoke with as calm a voice as she could muster.
“I’ve had many travels with Stone, all because of a knight’s constant persistence. In those journeys, I have learned a lot from Stone and Dex, one of which is to never back down from something you feel is right. So, to everypony gathered here today, I just wanted to say, don’t hold back in what you believe in.
“I will miss Stone’s quick wit and jokes whenever the situation called for them, but I will carry on, just as he would have wanted me to, as Dex would have wanted me to...” Between the two losses, Panacea could continue no longer, and she walked back to her seat. Stone’s mother placed a hoof on Panacea’s shoulder as she sat down, grateful that someone had spoken for her son.
Celestia looked on, waiting for another to speak before approaching the casket once more. “Although you must grieve, do not let it consume you. All will fade from this mortal realm and meet again in the ever after. This concludes the ceremony and I wish you all well.”
Time passed as ponies approached Stone’s coffin and said a few quiet words before leaving or mingling with the others. Celestia had stayed nearby to speak with the family and friends of the departed, while Panacea only sent the family her sympathies before heading back to the statue garden.
Seasons changed and life moved on, but occasionally, a peach colored mare with a white mane and tail would continue to visit the stone prison of Dex, hoping, or maybe just praying, that he would return.
well this was a sad ending
FIRST!
EPIC FINISH!
...ok maybe a bit sad...didn't bring me to tears really. Would have wished Pan married Dex ya know?
...GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW NOT FIRST!
SECOND!
871892
The 'Tragedy' tag gets used to its full extent.
I think I shed man tears at this either because I was listening to this, or because of my grandfather's passing happening recently.
I smell a threequel!
872187
I was listening to a cello playing a lot of classical music in the minor scales while writing it. My grandfather passed recently as well. I've been to a few, so I hope I got the funeral feel right.
Anyway, you wanting a trilogy do ye?
872219
Yes. We do want a trilogy.
872219
If you want to write the threequel, go right ahead. I was just saying that I could feel this going into a third story.
dude i think they want another story...eeeehhh, obvious ain't it? sorry bugs bunny reference had to be done. anyway, how somber can you get man? this was a good finish to your story. now you can get started on those other stories.... skype me up bro if you need some ideas. i love doing that.
Wow... just wow... that hit me in the feels bro. Honestly though, I think that if you do make a sequel to this sequel your going to need to add a large amount of OC's as Dex more than likely won't be able to be freed before all of the current cast passes on save Spike. Though Spike/Celestia/Luna would more than likely try to inform him about their passing in a gentle manner.
And on that note I have a few OC's that I can offer.
Crimson Oath: Race: Unicorn / Talent: *Mana Weapon & Armor Construction and use (*Mana Weapons and Armor are made from pure magic and vanish when not in use much like the Keyblade except they can be bound to clothing and such so that they can be used by anyone.)
Edward 'Hi-Tech' Tech (Paired with Sister Victoria): Race: Earth Pony / Talent: Technical Maintenance and Development. "The younger of two siblings Hi-Tech's older sister Victoria is his idol a master of both magic and machine and able to blend the two flawlessly."
Victoria Tech: Race: Unicorn / Talent: Research and Development (This is not limited to any field she is able to think on the intellectual of Twilight Sparkle and find creative solutions for complex problems.)
& Finally...
Silver Shot: Race: Pegasus / Talent: Marksmanship
Eh. I think you ended it well enough to justify leaving it be.
A continuation on the story isn't necessary, but I guess it would be nice.
Anyway, bravo!
873032
Reasoning is difficult to do when you are grieving. If you've ever lost a loved one before it was time for them to go, you'd want to do anything to bring them back. He was so caught up in Stone's death being his fault that he couldn't reason himself away from doing the one thing that would bring him back.
872987
I appreciate the ideas, but I couldn't use them. One, because I have a 'thing' with using someone else's ideas for characters and two, they sound like they'd be a good fit for a Fallout: Equestria fiction, not what I have. Regardless, I thank you for attempting to assist.
874108
I completely understand. But remember that a wise man once said, "Know your options because to have something and not need it, is better than to need it and not have it."
I also have a couple of weapon refs if you'd like them. A pair of swords, a triple-barreled revolver, and some other stuff.
will there be a sequel because the way you ended this chapter it makes it sounds like there will be a sequel
875262
If there will be, I don't think it will be for some time. I think it ends pretty well though. I mean, Pan just continued to visit the statue, but it doesn't have to mean much more than that.
Manly tears have been shed.
well...........fuck...
871901 This ending is strangely like a duo of fics called "Monster" and "Ascended" by Blackwing.