Boulder's Grave

Maud climbed up the shaky latter onto an unstable platform. She was going to fix her windmill, which rusted over time and refused to move, no matter how strong the wind was. Maud brought her oil in one pocket, Boulder in the next. If Boulder was with her, the problem would always be fixed. There was no question to it.

Maud's hooves made the unstable floorboards creaked. The wind was really strong today. The windmill made squeaking noises but refused to budge.

Maud applied the oil to the rusted areas.

Still, the windmill cried but didn't move.

"This windmill won't move." Maud said.

She tried again, but this time it didn't work.

Then she brought out Boulder. Boulder would always help.

Suddenly, a bug flew into Maud's eye. Quickly, she covered it with her hooves, but Boulder was lost over the edge.

Maud quickly jumped off the ledge in attempt to save Boulder, and she swooped down towards it, but then...

Crash.

Boulder cracked the dry dirt and didn't move.

Maud landed on all four hooves, and didn't stop to get a breath. She looked at Boulder, but did not dare to touch him. He might be hurt. She looked at him for a while.

A minute ticked by.

Then two.

Then three.

Then Maud came to accept it.

Boulder was dead.

Maud's usually half-closed eyes widened and tears formed. Usually, she wasn't emotional, but now she was. This was sad.

"Boulder is dead. I'm sad. Boulder, I am sorry." she said, sounding bored-like, but was actually, very, very sad.

In Maud's mind, more complex thoughts and words formed than what came out of her mouth.

I am sorry Boulder, she thought, I did not mean to drop you. I tried to save you, but you fell too fast. I told you not to eat so much. If you were lighter I could have caught you. Maud shook her head, No, I did not mean to blame you, Boulder. You were my friend, and this is my fault. I should be the one feeling bad, not making you feel bad. I will put you in a cardboard box and bury you underground so you can be with your ancestors.

And so Maud did. She grabbed Boulder's corpse and went inside her old wooden home to find a cardboard box. Once she found one, she put Boulder in there, and taped it shut.

Maud stared at the box, I am sorry Boulder, I wish I could see you wonderful ridges and colors once more. But I cannot. Now that you are in that box, I will not open it again. I should have gotten one last good look at you. You were the most handsome rock I have ever had. I know Pebble went crazy for you, but you were too good for her.  You were too good for any rock or pony. You deserved a better pony than me, I wish I could have saved you. Dropping you was my fault. I raised you and kept good care of you, but I am also the one that ended up killing you. Please forgive me, Boulder, because I am so sorry, and I am sad. I am upset. You have to forgive me. You were my best friend ever, and even though I'm not half as amazing as you deserve, you still accepted me as a friend, and you were always there for me. You were a loyal rock. You were the best rock in all of Equestria. No, not all of Equestria, but of all of existence. No creature can deny your amazing features, you were the perfect rock. I am sad that you are gone, my friend, I wish I can have you to stay. But I deserve this for dropping you, it is my fault; I only have myself to blame. I cannot blame you. You have all rights to be mad at me. But I am sorry, and even though you're probably mad, I wish for you to forgive me.

Maud carried her friend's coffin outside, where she saw the windmill. She would never go up there again; she didn't care if it needed fix, the memories would be far too tragic and give her nightmares for many years to come. She would never sleep soundly again if she did. Then, Maud thought, I will never be happy again. Usually, Boulder on her nightstand comforted her, but now she would no longer have him. She would never sleep soundly either way, and would have nightmares either way. She knew the nightmares would be awful tonight, and it would show a very angry Boulder, not forgiving her, and instead, making her fall, putting her in his perspective. Then Maud thought, Boulder would never do that, right? but she was not sure.

Fresh tears ran down Maud's cheeks, the pain too much to handle, she cried, and she cried, and she sobbed loudly although nopony was near to hear her. She wasn't sure whether it was good or bad.

She let the tears flow, if she tried to hold them back ,they would just come stronger and the pain would be worse. Her friend, her companion, gone. Possibly never going to forgive her. That handsome, wonderful, perfect rock. Gone. His life, was no longer existing. A simple fall just washed it away. It was terrifyingly amazing how easily lives could be sucked out of a creature. It was, well, sad. Maud wondered if the same thing would apply to her. Would her life be sucked away just like that? So quickly, yet enough time to scare the mare so much she wished her death would just come faster, so she could no longer be frightened? Or would she die angry, wishing she had enough time to seek vengeance? Or would she, but unlikely, die happy? Be glad her life was fulfilled and her mark she left on this world was a good one, to keep others happy, causing her to have happiness herself? But how could she possibly be happy without Boulder; it seemed impossible. She couldn't die happy with a hole in her heart. One that could never be fixed.

Maud was thinking and crying so hard and quickly she didn't notice that she didn't bury Boulder yet. Hesitantly, she began to dig, trying to avoid the urge to open the box and give a good long stare at her dead friend, knowing that body once held a good rock's soul.

Finally, she finished digging, and placed the box in. She kicked the dirt in, and looked at it, with sad eyes.

She grabbed another boulder; this one never had a life. It was just an ordinary rock. It wasn't like the actual Boulder, who had a life and was special.

Using her powerful hooves, she engraved "Boulder" in the boulder. She placed the boulder on top of Boulder's grave, and looked at the resting place she made for Boulder.

"I hope you are happy." she said in a dull, but sad, voice. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she lay down next to the grave, staring at the windy sky, unable to look at the grave any longer.

Somewhere out there, Boulder was in Rock Heaven. And hopefully, he was happy.