Our Garden
Two weeks ago, Roseluck's world was shattered into a million pieces. The once playful florist shut herself in her home and remained alone with her misery. Nopony had really heard much from her since winter wrap up, and her friends Daisy and Lily Valley were going to check in on her.
Even though it was technically spring as of yesterday, the air still had a slight winter chill that continued to linger. It felt like fall if anything. Lily Valley shivered, “Daisy, do you think she'll be alright?”
Daisy took a deep breath of the cool air, allowing it to fill her lungs, “I hope so. I don't know exactly what else we can do to help her other than offer her our support.”
“As long as she doesn't get any worse.”
“Yea...” That put a scary thought into Daisy's head. Roseluck was always cheerful and loved being outside in the gardens. It just goes to show just how bad things had really become for her to lock herself in the dark.
The two flower ponies remained silent for the remainder of the walk. When they arrived at Roseluck's home, they could see the extent of her condition.
By now, most ponies would have gardens filled with lush green and colorful life, but the plot of land that covered the space in front of Roseluck's house was brown and ugly.
Daisy gave Lily an affirmative nod and knocked on the door, “Roseluck, are you there?”
Muffled sobs was the only response they received.
“Roseluck, it's Daisy and Lily Valley, can we come in?” Daisy stepped in front of the door and waited for a response.
After a few minutes of silence, the two ponies looked at each other with worry,
“We're coming in, Rose.” Lily Valley slowly opened the door to the house. There were no lights and from the doorway, she could make out a figure in shadows.
“Roseluck? Good morning, are you feeling any better?” Daisy entered the unkempt florists' house to see her friend still sitting in the center of the living room, cradling a flower pot.
Nopony could blame her. Winter wrap up didn't go as smoothly as it should have. It was a week late and the pegasi didn't clear the clouds in time for the ground to warm up and the majority of earth ponies struggled to clear the snow from the ground, further delaying the permafrost from thawing. Roseluck's roses were supposed to spring back to life but instead were frozen longer than they should have and died.
“My roses were my everything.” Roseluck whimpered softly.
Daisy sighed. Roseluck's emotional state hadn't changed since their last visit, “I know. I've watched you care for those flowers for years and years. I remember when you got your cutie mark that one day while you were pruning them.”
“We were all so happy that you found your cutie mark by doing what you loved.”
Roseluck brought the pot closer to her chest, “You know just as well as I do that in the end, they are still just plants. Plants that don't last forever.”
Daisy opened her mouth but couldn't manage to conjure words. She couldn't think of anything to say that could help explain Roseluck's uncharacteristic statement.
“Yea, but these plants are things that you care about. The flowers you nurture are ones that bring the most joy to ponies. Doesn't that mean anything to you?” Lily Valley spoke in a slightly rhetorical tone.
Roseluck's attention remained fixed on the flower pot, Lily Valley and Daisy could see how heavy with sorrow her eyes were. They were tired and bloodshot, the space around her eyes was swollen and raw from all the crying and tear-wiping she's done.
“Roseluck, please,” Daisy lowered herself so that her face was level with Rose's, “You can't let this keep you down like choking ivy. We're here to help you do the right thing.”
“The logical thing to do, and I know I should do it, is to let it go, but I-,” Roseluck tightened her grip on the ceramic pot, “-but I can't do it. The pain is worse when I try to think of them as just flowers. I can't ignore the fact that I put my life into growing them. They were as much a part of me as I was a part of them, and now that they're dead, that part of me died too.” Tears began to drip down onto the brown pot and create dark ovals where they landed.
Daisy approached the shaken pony from behind and softly wrapped her arms around her, “Roseluck, we miss your smile, please come outside and help us create a beautiful spring garden.”
“Daisy...” Roseluck clenched her teeth, choking back tears, “I don't think I can do it.”
“Yes, you can.” Lily Valley added.
“No, I can't.” Tears began falling from Roseluck's eyes, “I can't bring myself to see such beauty, knowing that it will not last forever.”
“Roseluck, you'll always be a part of our garden. Right now, your beatiful leaves and thorns are in need of being pruned. Me and Lily Valley want to see you climb to the top and grace the world with your beauty.”
Roseluck shifted her focus to the flower pot in her arms. She was naturally skeptical of Daisy's words. It's common for ponies who find themselves down to not want to listen to the encouragement of others. When something is lost, especially if it was something you love, all you want to do is grieve over it. Roseluck was well known by the residents of Ponyville for having amazing flowers that always came in first place at the various contests that were held each year.
“We'll be with you. We're going to help build you up big and strong so that you can share your beauty with the world. You're a flower. A tiny rosebud that wants to grow but can't without the assistance of sunlight, food, and water.”
Roseluck perked up, wiping the tears from her eyes and muzzle.
“Your beloved roses may be gone, but we're still here. You'll be our rose and me and Lily Valley will get you out of your struggles.”
“It'll never be the same though. Roses are what complete a garden and without them, I think I'll lose heart.”
“Roseluck...” Daisy spoke softly into her ear, “You'll be our rose for our garden of friendship. As long as you're there, the garden, our garden, will be whole. Our beautiful friendship will last forever as long as we have you.”
“That's right,” Lily said reassuringly, “The garden that we have created with you over the years was beautiful. We want it to stay that way and we need you to make it happen."
Roseluck put her hoof on Daisy's and softly smiled, “Thank you, both of you.” Both tears of joy and sadness streamed down her face and onto Daisy's pink coat.
"It's okay, Rose, I know the pain you feel. Remember my petunias last spring?"
"Yea." Roseluck nodded.
"You taught me, taught us, that there's a time for everything. When my flowers didn't make it, you told me that there's a time to mourn and grieve and there's a time to plant and start anew."
Lily Valley knelt down in front of Roseluck, "We've kept that close to us everyday of our lives since then, especially the starting anew part. Now, it's your time to start anew." Lily Valley gently pried the flower pot from Roseluck's grasp and softly set it on the floor. She took both of her hooves in her own and began to raise her up.
Roseluck's legs trembled, having been sitting for so long. When she finally felt balanced, she began heading for the door.
"Roseluck, wait, you forgot something." Daisy called.
Roseluck turned to see the flower pot in the place where she once was, she smiled and went back to retrieve it. Today is the day that our garden get's its beautiful shine for all to see.