Fallen Kingdom

Rarity was the first to die. I knew she would eventually; her mortality had only been prolonged. So had my grief, then, I suppose. Celestia and Luna were devastated, though not for the right reason. Yes, they were sad to see me in such an upset state, and yes they we unhappy to see a student perish... but one of the means of protection they had used to keep the other empires at bay was gone. Rarity's element, Generosity, had not died with her, no, Celestia's spell made sure of that, but it was left unrepresented. The ponies of the Angelic Empire came to Canterlot, offering condolences. They didn't help at all. I was left alone with her body, and I refused to leave it. Celestia, Luna, and even Shining Armor thought that I was just having a mental breakdown, like Celestia when her one true love had died (Luna told me that dearest princess Tia wouldn't leave the body of her beloved for a year). In reality, I had to focus. I was performing an alteration spell on Rares, making her young again. I found that even though she was dead, the spell was hard to pull off because her skin was tight and stiff, not warm and soft as a regular old mare's skin. Rarity was still beautiful in her age, though. Her coat was silver, and her mane was blueish-purple now.

Nonetheless, when the spell was done, her mane was violet, her coat was white, and her lashes were long and luxurious. I dressed her in her favorite pink and gold dress that she had worn to the Grand Galloping Galla, the one that she had ruined because of the statue falling down. I had fixed it and when it was on her body, it looked so natural and she looked as pretty and elegant as the night she wore it. Then I encased her body in stone. I put it in a perfect position, one that she used quite often. She was flinging her mane back and her eyes were half-closed, letting her lashes look full-volume in a profile view. Everypony was surprised when I came out of my room with the stone Rarity. Spike, a full-grown dragon, sobbed and refused to let me carry the statue with my magic and instead took it all the way to the palace garden, where there was a large courtyard. I told Spike to put the statue on the pedestal that had Rarity's name carved in blue sapphire on the gold plaque, and he nodded deftly. I put her Element of Harmony necklace on her statue and cast a protective spell on it so nopony would steal it.

***

Fluttershy was the next to die. I did the same thing for her, dressing her in her green gown and putting her in a laying down pose. She was nuzzling a stone Angel the bunny.

Rainbow Dash died after that (I was surprised she didn't go first, the dare-devil). I didn't dress her in a gown, rather put her in her flying pose. I put a laurel wreath on her head and braided her mane, though, because that's how it was when she won the Equestria Games.

Pinkie was next. I posed her so that she was aiming her party cannon, with her hair fluffed up and her eyes glittering. She was wearing her Galla gown.

Apple Jack was the last. I was heart broken, because every time one of our friends died, she was the most supportive. Now she was gone, and there was nopony for me to lean on, nopony for me to cry on, even though I was much taller than all of my friends. AJ's statue stood simply tall and proud, a stubborn glint in her eyes. Winona was positioned next to her, and I gave a sad smile, looking around. The circle was complete. All of the Elements were arranged in a circle, all had their necklaces on, and all were in their signature positions. I was in the middle, like always. But I wasn't surrounded by my friends. I was surrounded by cold, hard statues encasing my friend's dead bodies.

This is not what pushed me into insanity.