The Stormgate Diaries

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter gets really sad. Like, really, really sad. Like, I cried when writing it. Twice. I warn you fairly.

Iron Coat slammed bodily into Full Sails, knocking the descending blade from its fatal arc and sending the pirate captain tumbling. Behind him, the rest of the townsponies that had followed him attacked the pirate mob. One particularly enthusiastic mare was actually spinning into battle, shouting “EQUESTRIAAAAA!” around the grip of the sword in her mouth. Shimmercoat watched her deal a dozen strokes in half as many seconds, all painful but ultimately non-lethal. The rag-tag pirates, spirit already shaken at the nigh-unbreakable colt that had confronted them earlier, panicked and ran off at this turn of events, leaving their unconscious brethren behind.

Shimmercoat looked up at his father and tried to stand, but now that the adrenalin of combat had faded, he couldn't bring himself to rise under the weight of his armor.

“Are you alright, son?” Iron Coat asked, looking down at Shimmercoat.

“I'm going to be bruised come morning, but I'll be fine.” Shimmer replied, his voice strained, “But they've taken Fizzle, dad. I have to get her back!”

“And how are you going to do that?” His father replied, looking out towards the pirate ship,
“You can't even stand, and-” Iron Coat was cut off by the sound of a blade hitting a shield. Full Sails, forgotten during the short exchange between father and son, had shaken off the elder stallion's impact and snuck his way back up behind them. Iron Coat sidestepped the sword as the shield faltered, then slammed his forehoof into the captain's jaw, eliciting a crack and sending the blade flying. It hit point down in the rocky dirt, where it stuck, quivering. The captain staggered away from Iron Coat, stunned by the power of the strike. The blacksmith glanced over at Shimmercoat, who was apparently unconscious due to the strain of that last shield spell.

“You come to my town.” Iron Coat said, advancing slowly on the captain, “You destroy the houses of my friends. You attack my children.” He slammed another hoof into the captain's face. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you now and save the Princesses the trouble of hanging you?”

Full Sails spat blood before replying. “Because yer not a killer. Yer lad might be quick t' say otherwise, but he's not, either. No, ye'll tie me up an' call down the Princesses, or ye'll wait t' see if th' Adamant comes back, but neither ye or yer kin will be th' ones t' tie th' noose.” He flashed a crimson grin up at Iron Coat, who sighed.

“You're right. I'll let you in on a little secret, though. Just something to remind you to thank your lucky stars. If I had been later by ten seconds, and you had killed my son? I wouldn't be tying a noose for you, 'captain', and I guarantee that not one of the townsponies would testify against me. Nor,” He added, after a pause, “Would the Princesses ever find your body.” He leaned down towards the captain a little bit, “I suggest that you find some way to tell your crew that they should release the pegasus.” Full Sails thought about his options for a moment, then nodded, “All right. Ye've beaten me, and I know me mates on th' ship aren't gonna be doin' very much without me to be givin' them orders. Pass me th' lantern over by me boat.” He said, pointing a hoof towards the lantern in question. One of the other townsponies brought it over, and set it down in front of the captain. The lantern had two small tabs on the side opposite the door. The tabs were connected to thin sheets of metal, each with an arrow on it, one pointing up, the other down. When both were pushed in, all that could be seen was light pouring through a small rectangle cut unto the metal where the shafts of the arrows overlapped each other. The captain gently pulled one of the tabs out, the one with the arrow pointing down, and turned it towards the sea.

“I told them before I left that if they see me be showin' the up arrow, that they should just cut th' ropes on th' little birdie. Now we just have t' wait 'til one o' them actually looks this way.” Full Sails said, squinting out at his ship.

“You're behaving quite well, for a cut-throat.” Iron Coat noted, keeping a wary eye on the captain, “Why are you cooperating so easily?”

“Just like I told yer lad earlier; ye've got t' have some honor. Without it, all ye have is a bunch of angry thugs at sea fer months on end. Sooner or later, somepony gets hisself gutted fer no reason than th' fact that one o' the other lads liked his boots. We be thieves and cut-throats and th' like, but I try t' keep them from going too far.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “And I really don't want ye t' hit me again. What are ye, th' blacksmith?”

“As a matter of fact, I am.” Iron Coat replied smugly.

“Ah. I figured that'd be th' case. That also explains where yer lad got that fine suit o' tin from.” The captain said.

“Actually, that was all him. I taught him all he knows, but he made that suit all on his own.” There was an undeniable note of pride in Iron Coat's voice.

Full Sails nodded. “He's a good lad. A bit reckless, and he's got a bit o' a temper when it comes t' his ladyfriend, but he's got a good heart.” He shook his head and stared intently at the ship, “Now, why in hell hasn't anyone o' them bilge-rats looked this way? Next time I see them, be it in this life or th' next, I'll-”

The captain was interrupted by the pirate ship firing again. Everypony on the beach ducked, but after a moment they realized that there were no accompanying explosions of cannonballs hitting the earth.

“Why are they firin' back out t' sea? Did that Navy ship really finish off me other vessels?” The captain asked no one in particular. Sure enough, seconds later they heard another cannon barrage, this one farther off, and they watched as a pair of explosions rocked the pirate ship. In the distance, revealed by the flashes of cannon fire, was the proud white form of the R.E.N Adamant. The ship had lost one of its two masts, and only about half of its cannons were firing, but the Equestrian flag still blew proudly in the night breeze. As the crowd of townsponies watched, the pirates cannons landed a couple of hits on the royal ship, ripping a great deal of the stern off and throwing it into the air. The Adamant gave just as good as it got, and Shimmercoat saw the pirates mast fall into the bay. Screams of pain and terror echoed out from the pirate vessel as the crew fought for their very lives.

Shimmercoat, who had just regained consciousness at the first barrage, watched the scene in horror. “DAD! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING! FIZZLE IS STILL ON THAT SHIP!” He yelled, trying to get his armor off with his magic. A few frustrating seconds and the sound of the ship's battling got him free of his steel casing and the leather jacket that lie underneath it. He staggered upright and started moving towards the water, his horn flickering as he tried to force his exhausted magic to teleport him to the ship. He had only gotten a few steps before his father tackled him. The blue colt struggled against his father, tears streaming down his face. He screamed as the Adamant fired again.

“LET ME GO! I CAN STILL SAVE HER! GET OFF ME! JUST LET ME-!” His words were drowned out by a roar and flash from the harbor that lit the world like Celestia's sun.
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Fizzle opened her eyes to a featureless plain that stretched endlessly in every direction. She looked towards the gray sky and tried to figure out where she was. She remembered being tied to the deck of the pirate ship after one of the pirates had managed to throw a net on her. There was shouting, and the sound of cannons firing, followed by the ship shuddering. There was an explosion, then all she could remember was light, brighter than the sun.

The yellow pegasus heard hoofsteps behind her and turned.

“Princess Luna? What are you doing here? Where is here?” She asked the princess of the night.

“This is the land between life and death. When ponies die, they come here and wait until either I or my sister come to take them to the next journey.” Luna replied gently.

“Y-you... You m-mean I-I...” Fizzle stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

“Yes, my child. Your time has come, and now I will take you to your fate. Come with me, little one.” Luna pointed a hoof at the horizon, and a light appeared in the distance. She took a step forward, but stopped when Fizzle spoke again.

“B-but I don't want to leave him behind,” Fizzle said sadly, tears streaming down her face, “I only just found him. Why do I have to leave him so soon?”

Luna turned back to her and hooked a hoof around the smaller mare, pulling the crying pegasus into a hug.

“I am sorry,” The princess said, “I am so sorry. I wish it didn't have to be this way, little one. But the choice is not mine to make. Your knight tried, but your fate was sealed. Here, let me show you.” Luna's horn lit and a section of the ground in front of the two mares changed into a shallow pool of water. In it, Shimmercoat was engaging the pirate crew. “He tried so hard to save you. Fighting against overwhelming odds,” The picture changed to the fight against the captain, “And finally battling against the pirate captain himself. He risked everything, and almost lost it all, to save you. In the end, though, it was not enough.”

Fizzle watched the fighting through the tears in her eyes. He had meant everything that he said. It was one thing for somepony to say that they would lay down their lives for another, but it was a completely different thing altogether to actually do it. She cried out when Full Sails' sword nearly ended her love, and cried even harder when the cannons ended her. Luna waved a hoof and the pool returned to a section of featureless land.

“C-can you g-give him a m-m-message for m-me?” Fizzle stammered out in between sobs, looking up at the princess.

“Under normal circumstances I could not. However, I believe I will make an exception in your case. Losing love so soon after discovering it is the greatest tragedy of this world. What would you like to tell him?” Luna said, looking down at the heartbroken mare. The princess of the night hated this task. It pained her to see her ponies like this.

“T-tell him I understand. That I-I don't blame him, a-and that it wasn't his fault,” Fizzle said, “But most of all, t-tell him I l-love him. So v-very m-much. Tell him I'm s-sorry.”

“I will.”

“You p-promise?”

“Yes. I swear to you, I will make sure he receives your message. Come now, let us go.”
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Shimmercoat lay frozen on the rocky beach, still in his fathers grasp, looking out at the water as bits of flaming wood and other detritus fell to the rocky shore around him.

“No.” Was all he could say. The word kept chasing itself around in his head, over and over again. This couldn't be happening. He had fallen unconscious, and this was all a bad dream.

“No. No No NO NO NO!” He yelled at the flaming carcass of the pirate ship. Tears were streaming down his face as he struggled free of his father's grip. Iron Coat let his son go and stood back several paces. Full Sails was staring in shock at the wreckage of his ship. The townsponies were frozen in place looking out at the water.

Shimmercoat screamed. An incoherent, bloodcurdling scream of rage and sorrow that was heard for miles. It echoed back from the wreckage, the buildings of the town and the ponies around him took several steps back. It snapped Full Sails out of his stupor, and he barely ducked Shimmercoat's first swing.

“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” The crazed colt yelled at the pirate captain as he attacked, “IF YOU NEVER SHOWED UP HERE, SHE WOULD STILL BE WITH ME!” He paused in his assault, and his voice was suddenly very quiet, “I'll kill you,” He stalked forward, his voice still lethally low, “I'll rip you apart. I just found her. I JUST found her. The world was perfect, then you have to come and TAKE. HER. AWAY!.” Shimmercoat leapt forward as he screamed the last few words.

Full Sails was an experienced fighter, but Shimmercoat attacked with primal ferocity and ignored the pirate's return strikes. There was no time for technique or thought. Shimmer's assault was brutal, and the captain, off-balance as he was by the destruction of his ship and recent hammering by Iron Coat, couldn't hold off the vengeful colt for long. Full Sails dodged too slowly and Shimmercoat slammed a hoof into the top of his head, knocking him to the ground. Shimmercoat reared up on his hind legs and slammed both hooves down into the captain's side. Without his armor, Shimmer's blows were relatively weak, but rage and adrenaline gave him strength, and the strike knocked the wind out of Full Sails. Shimmercoat stomped down on the stunned captain again, and again, and again until Iron Coat slammed into his son's side.

“LET ME GO! HE DESERVES TO DIE! IT'S HIS FAULT SHE'S DEAD!” He yelled, struggling to get out of his father's grip and back to the pirate captain, who lay still but was still breathing.

Iron Coat's voice was very quiet as he spoke into his son's ear. “Is that what she would want you to do? Would she like looking down at you and watching you slaughter somepony in her name? Would she want you to be a murderer?”

Shimmercoat's thrashing began to lessen as his father's words made their way past the red haze of his emotions. After a moment, he stopped struggling altogether.

“She's gone, dad. She's gone. What am I supposed to do now?” He asked in a small voice, looking up at his father.

Iron Coat hugged Shimmercoat and shook his head. “I don't know, son. I don't know.”

Shimmercoat wept as Celestia's sun appeared on the horizon.

“It hurts, dad.”
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Stormgate's cemetery was a large fenced-in section of earth on the edge of town. Through the work of several gardeners and a touch of magic, the grass was always green, and there were several flowerbeds that were always blooming. Even in the winter, when snow would fall and the rains would come, the grass and flowers never withered, nor were they ever touched by frost. Also due to the careful maintenance and enchantments, the gravestones were seemingly untouched by time. They sat in the ground, perfect as the day they were planted. marking those who had gone before. They lay either in small groups where close friends or relatives rested, or alone where they had some solitude for their last sleep. Before discovering the lake in the forest, Shimmercoat would come here to think, sitting on unused plots and wondering about those who were buried there. After discovering his paradise, he hoped he wouldn't return here for a long time. Fate, it seemed, had other plans: two days after the pirate attack, the town put to rest Fizzle Flare.

The townsponies were unable to find Fizzle's body, so they buried a coffin with some of her personal items instead. At the head of her grave was a simple wooden grave marker that had her birth and death dates on it. Shimmercoat hated it. He felt it was far too simple and bare to show what she represented to him. He quietly vowed to make one that was fitting of his love.

Most everypony in town turned out for Fizzle's funeral. Ponies dressed in black surrounded the cemetery and bowed their heads as the town priest said his piece. He spoke of Celestia and Luna, eternal happiness and paradise for the dearly departed. Shimmer didn't like this aspect of the funeral either. He didn't think that reading from a script was fitting for someone so dear, but he remained silent. He glanced around at the other ponies there, and noticed the Keys twins leaning against one another. Ivory was openly sobbing against her brother's neck, while Ebony stood completely still, tears streaming down his face.

After the priest had finished, the twins stepped up to speak.

“Now, we haven't been in town all that long,” Ivory began, “So we don't know how much Fizz meant t' y'all. But Ah know how much she meant to us. Y'all have been friendly, but she was th' first real friend we made here in Stormgate, and in th' few months we've been here she's been like a sister t' us. Ah don't know about y'all, but Ah know th' world is worse off with her gone.” Ivory's voice wavered and broke as she finished speaking, and she buried her face against her brother's neck.

Shimmercoat sat perfectly still, looking at the spot where they had lowered the casket, now covered in earth. Tears ran down his face and dripped to the ground as a few of the other townsfolk said little things about Fizzle and how she influenced their lives. He thought about speaking, but he couldn't trust himself to not break down if he moved from where he sat. So there he remained, sitting at the foot of a pile of disturbed earth, until long after the rest of the town had left. Slowly, one drop following another, it began to rain, the sky crying to match the heartbroken colt. Mirror walked up and sat next to him.

“C'mon, Shimmey. Let's go.” She said gently, putting a hoof on his shoulder. He turned his head and looked at her.

“I... I dunno what t-to do, Mirror. I... I just...” His voice broke and he buried his head into his sisters neck, soaking her already drenched coat with his tears. She didn't know how to reply, so instead she pulled him into a hug. They sat like that for a time, then she spoke again.

“I don't know either, but she's not gonna be happy if you catch something and die after fighting off pirates.” She said, trying to lighten the mood.

To her surprise, he chuckled, but the sound was dark, full of scorn instead of mirth. “Yes,” He said sarcastically into her neck, “Because I was so effective against the pirates. I was stupid. I never should have told her to go scouting like that. It didn't make any sense.” He leaned back and looked his sister in the eye, “She trusted me and I failed her. I killed her. It's my fault. It's all my damn fault.” In his eyes, Mirror saw something terrifying. The full wrath of her older brother, turned inward. He hated himself right then. She knew she had to do something. Shimmercoat's shield spells were extremely powerful, but they didn't work against himself.

So, she slapped him.

Hard.

“Don't you say that. Ever. It's bullshit and you know it. You didn't kill her. You did everything you could. You did more than anypony else could do. It is not your fault. She didn't have to follow your orders. You... Y-you... I-I don't want to lose you, Shimmey.” Her voice quavered, and tears started making their way down her face. Shimmer's rage deflated. One thing in the world he couldn't stand seeing was his sister crying. He pulled her back into the hug.

“I'm sorry, sis. I just... I don't know what to do. It hurts. I...” He sighed. “Let's go home, sis.”
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The next day, there was an award ceremony. It was held on a stage in front of the rubble that had been the town hall. Celestia and Luna had both come from Canterlot to award medals to “The brave sailors aboard the Adamant and the courageous townsponies whose valiant actions prevented unnecessary loss of life.” Everypony applauded politely for each pony called, and idly murmured about how amazing it was that only one member of the town and four sailors had been slain in the attack.

Shimmercoat sat at the back of the crowd, hating every second of it. Yes, 'only' one pony from the town was killed. Too bad she was 'only' the one that mattered most. Shimmercoat thought angrily.

“Afternoon, young stallion,” Came a deep voice from beside Shimmercoat. He looked and saw a green pony in a sailor's outfit standing next to him, “My name is Swiftwind, Captain of the R.E.N. Adamant. You seem a bit glum, lad. Was she a good friend of yours?” The sailor asked.

“More than that,” Shimmer replied, his gaze dropping to the dirt in front of him, “So much more...” His voice trailed off. He heard the captain move, and when he glanced back up he saw the captain sitting in front of him.

“I'm sorry, lad. I really am. I didn't know she was on the ship. We were charged with protecting the town and it's inhabitants, and we failed.” Swiftwind said, meeting Shimmercoat's gaze. The blue colt let out a bark of bitter laughter.

“Your charge? No. She was mine, and I failed. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have even been out there. They looked to me for direction, and I screwed up, and now she's gone.” He said

“It hurts, doesn't it.” The captain said sadly. It was a statement, not a question. “I lost four. I love those boys like they're my sons, but I know that no matter how well I do, I might have to order them to their deaths.”

“Does it ever stop?” Shimmercoat asked, fighting back tears.

“The pain? No.” Swiftwind replied. “It dulls a little, over time, but it never stops. In my career, I've lost thirty. I remember every single one of their names, their faces,” He paused for a moment, flickers of emotion crossing his face, “I even remember exactly what their families said to me when I told them that their husband, father, or son wouldn't be coming back. Some cried, some raged at me, some tried to attack me. They all blamed me, and in a way, they were right to. Every single one of the stallions under my command trust in me to keep them alive when the going gets rough. Thirty times, now, I've failed them.”

“How do you keep going?” The blue colt asked him.

Swiftwind's reply was cut off by the voice of Princess Celestia calling the captain's name. He looked at Shimmercoat.

“Looks like it's my turn. Goodbye, lad.” He said before working his way through the crowd towards the stage. Shimmercoat sat for a moment more, mulling over the conversation in his head, then turned and started walking home. He only got a few paces before heard something that stopped him cold in his tracks.

“And last, but not least, will Shimmercoat please come up here?” Said Princess Celestia. The blue colt turned around to find the entire crowd looking at him. He suddenly felt angry. He didn't think he deserved an award. He'd failed.

“Shimmercoat?” The Princess called again, scanning the crowd. Several of the townsponies beckoned him forward and he slowly made his way towards the stage, the sea of ponies parting as he approached. He stepped up the wooden stairs and stood in front of Celestia.

“Ah, here you are,” She began, “By throwing yourself in harms way, you valiantly drew the pirates' cannon fire away from the town, undoubtedly saving lives and preventing unnecessary damage to the town's buildings. Kneel.” She said, nodding her head to indicate the area in front of her. Shimmercoat didn't move, he simply glared at her.

“Why?” He asked. The question had an undertone that Celestia missed. Luna, on the other hoof, didn't.

“So that I may reward your bravery.” Celestia replied. Her sister glanced back and forth between the the two.

“Celestia...” She said warningly.

“Not now, dear sister.” Celestia replied quietly, never breaking eye contact with Shimmercoat.

“No, I mean why are you rewarding me at all?” The blue colt shot back angrily.

“I believe I just said why.” The Princess said patiently, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Don't play dumb with me, Princess. I may not have the ages of experience that you or your sister have, but I am not stupid. You know exactly what I mean. Tell me why you are doing this!” He said, glaring defiantly up at the ruler of the known universe. She chuckled, which only served to infuriate the colt more, while the crowd watched in silence.

“Because,” She said gently, “Heroes should be honored.”

“But I failed!” He cried, his voice full of anguish, “All I did was get her killed! Why should I be rewarded for that? I'm not a hero, I'm a fool! If anything, I should have been the one to die, not her.”

“Why? So that she could be the heartbroken one?” She asked him.

“Better heartbroken than dead.” He said flatly. Behind the goddess of the sun, Luna winced.

Celestia leaned in close to him so that they were the only ones that could hear what she said next. “Not necessarily.” She said quietly. Those two words had enough emotion in them to silence the angry colt. “Take it from somepony much, much older than you. When your heart is broken, it stays that way for a long time, where the dead have some measure of peace.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “This ceremony wont end until you have received your reward, so if you want to get this done and over with, kneel.” She said, drawing herself back up to her full height. Reluctantly, he dropped to his knees, head bowed. “In recognition of your bravery and selflessness,” She said, raising her voice and tapping his shoulders with her horn, “I dub thee Sir Shimmercoat, Knight of Equestria.” The crowd stomped, cheered, waved, whistled and generally made noise. Nopony from Stormgate had ever received such a prestigious title before. Shimmercoat rose as the sounds washed over him. He glared at the stage in front of him, hating every cheer, every whistle, and waited for the crowd to subside so that he could leave. After the noise died down a bit, Princess Luna came forward and spoke to him.

“Excuse me, Lord Shimmercoat, may I have a word?” She asked. Shimmercoat flinched at the title and fixed her with a glare so intense that she almost took a step back.

“With all the respect due to you by the station I now find myself in,” He said, his voice dripping with contempt, “No.” With a blue flash he was gone. The princess of the night stared at the spot where he had been standing and sighed. Delivering the message to him would be a much more challenging task than it first appeared.
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Shimmercoat sat in the graveyard again, staring at the pathetic little wooden grave marker that stood over his lost love. In the days that followed the ceremony, he found himself drawn to the little patch of earth that was all he had left of her. Every day he sat in the same spot at the foot of her grave and quietly apologized, time and again, until darkness fell and he returned home to sleep. He would occasionally see other ponies come and visit their loved ones, and the Keys had sat with him once for an hour or so, but he rarely saw ponies more than once, with the exception of one stallion.

Mister Blues was a dark blue pony with a shaggy gray mane who most ponies thought was crazy. This belief came from the fact that he would randomly break into song. Normally, this wouldn't be out of the ordinary, as lots of ponies could sing, but he only sang one part of the same song, over and over. When asked about it, he would just quietly stare at the pony asking until they left, and he'd go back to whatever it was he was doing. Shimmercoat saw him every day at the same group of gravestones. He would come in, stand there for an hour or two, then leave, all while occasionally singing his broken song.

One day, Shimmercoat's curiosity got the better of him and he walked up to the stallion.

“Excuse me,” He said quietly. He waited until the stallion looked at him before he continued, “I see you in here every day at the same time. I was just wondering, who were these ponies.?” He asked. Mister Blues stared silently at him, then looked back at the row of four gravestones. After a moment, Shimmercoat figured that Mister Blues wasn't going to answer him, so he quietly apologized and turned to go.

“Y'know, kid,” Mister Blues said, causing the blue colt to stop and turn back towards him, “They say that as you age, memory is the first thing to go. To be honest, I don't remember their names.” Shimmercoat peered at the gravestones, and noticed that the names had been worn away. “I don't think I ever knew their names. All I remember is the music,” The stallion went on, “We were all a part of a singing group. A quartet, y'know? We were amazing. We played in all the greats, Manehattan, Cloudsdayle, even Canterlot itself, for the princesses.” As he spoke, the stallion's gaze became unfocused as he looked into the past, reliving his fondest memories. Shimmercoat sat and listened, enraptured by his tale.

“It was all so simple, back then. We made enough to get food, somewhere to sleep, and to get to the next town. When we got there, we'd just open up the wagon, start singing and watch the ponies flock to us. Anywhere, anytime, we'd sing. Never needed instruments, the music was always playing. It never stopped, really. Played while we ate, while we slept, while we traveled, everywhere.”

“Do you mean you had a band traveling with you?” Shimmercoat asked.

“Nah, kid. Like I said, we didn't need instruments. The music was in us. All of us. There's music in everypony, lad. Even you, heartbroken warrior,” He raised a hoof as Shimmer tried to interrupt, “I can hear it, kid. The bittersweet notes of a love lost. What was her name, lad?” He asked gently.

“Fizzle Flare.” Shimmercoat said, lowering his gaze. Mister Blues put a hoof on his shoulder.

“You blame yourself.” He said. It wasn't a question. “But you know it wasn't really your fault. You can't help but blame yourself, though. I understand, kid. He,” He pointed to the fourth gravestone in the line, “Was our transportation. He insisted on pulling the wagon, no matter what. I don't remember how he ended up with us, just one day he was there. This little colt barely old enough for his cutie mark. And one day, a few years later,” Mister Blues paused for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice wavered slightly, “He was gone. We were halfway to Appleoosa when he just... Dropped. The last thing he said to us was 'It's been fun, guys. Sing me off, yeah?' We buried him on the side of the road. We didn't know if he left family behind or not when he joined us, but we were family. That night when I pulled us into town, we sang a song just for him. He told us once that our singing helped him sleep, so we sung as loud as we could, just to make sure that he heard us. Had everypony in town in tears. After we finished, we sat in the wagon and cried. We all blamed ourselves. We figured that if somepony else had pulled the wagon every once in a while he'd have not gone so early in his years.” He shook his head. “But it didn't matter anymore. He was gone, and we had to move on. So we did. We sung for him in every town we visited. That same song, as loud as we could, every time, at the end of every show. We promised each other that we'd make sure he slept peacefully from then on, in honor of the years he was with us. Years we carried on like that. Then...” He shrugged and swept a hoof at the rest of the stones, “The rest of them went. Right after another. I'm the only one left. An orphan from a family without names.” He finished sadly. Shimmercoat suddenly thought of something.

“That song you sing, the song where you only sing one part, it's the song you sung for your driver, isn't it?” He asked. Mister Blues nodded.

“Yep. We only sung our parts. We never learned each others piece.” He said.

“Why not?” Shimmer asked. Mister Blues shook his head.

“Each piece of the song was each of us singing to him. It's personal. It'd be like me mourning over your filly as if I was you. It's just not what you do, y'know?” Shimmercoat nodded.

“How about you, Mister Blues? Did you have any marefriends on your tour of Equestria?” The blue colt asked.

“Not exactly,” The stallion replied, “There were mares, yeah. More than you'd believe. Heck, I may even have a few foals of my own wandering around out there. Don't get me wrong, kid. I loved every single one of them, but I loved the music more. It called to us. Our group didn't come together as a planned thing, kid. We just started singing together one day. I don't think we ever actually introduced ourselves to each other. We just sang, and we knew each other by our songs.”

“How do you keep going? After losing your friends, being alone. How can you keep going?” Shimmercoat asked, staring at the gravestones.

“Simple, kid. You honor them in some way, make sure you never forget them. Me? I sing for them. All of them. And one day,” Mister Blues added after a moment, “We'll all sing together again. I keep hoping that one day I'll be standin' here, and suddenly it'll be like it used to be. All of the sudden I'll hear singing and go on down the road again. Chances are, though, that my time is done, and I'll die here. Wouldn't be so bad, in the end. I've lived a good life, no regrets and all that. That's another thing you can do for her, kid. At the end, when the reaper comes to call, make sure you lived your life so that you can walk up to her in the afterlife and she'll look proudly at you. Because you don't want to reach the end of the story and have her disappointed. Make her proud, kid. Even if you don't make something grand with your life, make her proud.”

Shimmercoat nodded, his vision blurring with tears. “I will.”

Mister Blues looked down at the blue colt and smiled. “I'm sure you will, lad. I'm sure you will.”

The two sat in silence for almost an hour before Mister Blues left. Shimmercoat walked back over to the Fizzle's grave and stared at the grave marker, thinking about what the elder colt had told him. As he stared at the flimsy wooden gravestone, he began to feel angry at it. It was bland. Just a piece of wood with a name and some numbers carved into it. Nothing compared to how he felt about her. Nothing compared to what she meant to him. After a few quiet words, he turned towards the forge and ran. He knew how to honor her. He knew the perfect way. He just needed some steel.