Canterlot National Cemetery
Canterlot National Cemetery:
Today I Bury My Best Friend
I can't help but let a tear pass my eye as I listen to our anthem yet again. Standing rigid and erect at attention, right hoof held up in a salute, I watch them lower another into Canterlot National Cemetery. With slow, meticulous precision, the casket bearers before me fold our nation's banner, the casket slowly disappearing as two unicorns lower the fallen into his final resting place. A teary-eyed widow beside me struggles to contain her emotions as the escort band continues with our beautiful anthem. Beside them, an entire platoon of pegasus guards render honors with their spears. It's as if Celestia herself stopped time for this solemn occasion as the Canterlot Honor Guard renders honors to yet another fallen.
Without the Elements of Harmony, only we can protect our boarders from those who would disrupt and destroy everything we hold dear. The Changeling Empire, Discord, King Sombra...we bravely fight immeasurable evil and seemingly insurmountable odds for Celestia and our fellow ponies. We do so because it is our duty as Royal Canterlot Guards. We do so because it is our higher calling. We do so that others may live. We defend Equestria with glory and honor...but at tremendous cost.
Valiant as we may be in the Guards, we Equestrians are still peaceful ponies; and we were utterly unprepared for the level of carnage that has been brought upon us by these attacks. Still, for Equestria, we fight on. During my last tour on the front lines, I sustained a terrible wound to my face. As a result I lost my left eye and was reassigned to the Honor Guard. I thought I saw all there was to see about war in my multiple deployments, but nothing prepared me for one of the hardest theaters I would serve in: the homefront. It wasn't until I performed my first funeral here at Canterlot National Cemetery that I really saw the effects of this war—the families, the spouses, the sheer number of the fallen—so many ponies affected. Then I had to bury my dear friend.
As the anthem comes to a close and the music drifts off into silence, I approach the toughest portion of my task—the very reason I am standing before this grave. The pony in charge of the casket bearers takes the now folded flag, and, upon inspecting the quality of the fold, hands it over to me with a salute. It brings me both great pride and sadness as I add the final decoration to the flag: a Royal Celestia Star of Valor—a medal only awarded to ponies who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of Equestria—for those who selflessly lay down their own lives so that others may live. I now must present this article to my dear friend's widow.
In recognition and honor of Corporal Goldwing's selfless service and dedication to Equestria in her great time of need, I present this flag and with it: the Royal Celestia Star of Valor. Corporal Goldwing's actions in defense of Equestria reflect the highest values and standards of what it means to be a Royal Canterlot Guard. Through Celestia's day and Luna's night, may he rest in peace.
With my short eulogy complete, I hand the decorated flag to the then sobbing widow and step back before saluting one last time. This one was particularly hard for me; active service funerals always are, but this one especially... Corporal Goldwing was my direct subordinate and dear, dear friend when I was deployed. We joined the Guards together; we trained together. We even were assigned the same unit together; it was fate. It was because of his actions on the front that I survived battle with only the loss of my eye. He disregarded my orders to retreat so that he could drag me from the fray. We both should have died that day, but as luck would have it we survived. I can see no pony finer to receive the Star of Valor from Princess Celestia.
It has been hours since Corporal Goldwing's funeral, but still I cannot leave his grave. The Honor Guard has long since departed. Even his family and friends have left for the day, but me, I cannot leave yet. How could it come to this? If anyone could survive this madness, it was him. There was nopony stronger or more capable.
More time passes as I just stare into the smooth marble where his name and that glorious star are etched. Before I know it, Luna's night is upon me. I wish to spend one more night in the field together. I remove my helmet and place it atop his headstone. “Glory and Honor,” I mutter as I walk around to sit with my back up against the backside of the stone. “I've got your back, my friend...like you had mine...”
End
