In October 25.1992, a war broke out in Equestria.
Kaboom! The sound of an explosion filled the entire of the land and cries of soldiers were heard. Gunshots was no stranger now. A stallion, Storm, was lying by his wife as she lay there, dying.
"Please, I do not want to lose you, especially after having a baby!"Storm cried, ignoring the bloodshed outside and only looking at his wife. His wife smiled. Her pink mane flowed beautifully and her cerulean eyes met his.
"Do.Not.Worry," she comforted in between gasps of breath."Hey, remember the time when we first met?" she said, trying to make her husband smile.
"I do. I met you while I was playing catching with my friends. I bumped into you and spilled orange juice all over your dress. I still remember that angry face of yours. How I wish I could show it to you. You would burst out laughing! Or you would try to kill me"He laughed. His wife did too, followed by a series of coughs. He frowned and offered her a cup of water. His wife accepted and drank the water.
The moment was silent when his wife told him,"When I die, take care of my child. Please. Do it for me."
'Do not speak of such things as of now,"Storm said sadly.
"Do not be afraid when I die. You will have to accept it. You must cherish the moments we had together. You can not turn back time."His wife stated."If you truly love me, take care of our child. Raise her well for me. Promise me, Storm. Promise me."
"I promise." Storm said.
"Good." His wife began gasping for breath. Storm's eyes widened. Eventually, his wife's gasping stopped. He checked for some breathing. There was none. She was gone. Storm began crying. He missed her already. He decided to raise his child like his wife would. Suddenly, a cry pierced through the air. He ran towards the baby fillies's room. He took her in his hooves and sang a lullaby.
'Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed."
The filly calmed down and slept. He smiled.
Ten years later.
After a long day of teaching his child how to fly, they settled down on a cloud. Watching the birds fly, they conversed with each other
"Your mother was a caring pony. How I wish she had not died. However and sadly, you can not turn back time. Besides that, remember that we will die. You must live your life to the fullest" Storm recounted the events to his child. His child nodded.
"Papa." The filly said.
"Yes?"Storm replied.
"I love you."
Storm smiled before hugging his child.
He knew he promised his wife but now he was going to promise himself that he will protect her. Raise her. Love her. For she was his only child. His wife's only but valuable. Ok scratch that beyond valuable gift to him. His daughter.
His Fluttershy.
In Fluttershy's mind, were the words that she will write:
The best father I could have ever ask for. He was caring and loving. No matter how many times I failed flying, he never let me fall. He was wise, having lost my mother. He told me stories to help me learn morals. He was funny, well most of the time. He punished me, of course but that was rare. He was the first pony I met that openly cared for me. I hope that he is happily dancing with my mother in heaven. I love you father. I am not lying. No matter how many ponies would tease me for saying this, I am not embarrassed. I will miss you. Until next time, father, I will miss you. Goodbye......
"Hey, Flutts, want to come to the Grand Galloping Gala?" Rainbow Dash invited.
"Sorry, but I have to go to the hospital." Fluttershy sighed sadly.
"Alright,"Rainbow Dash replied with frown.
Later that night, Fluttershy rushed to the hospital.
"Mr Storm, please," Fluttershy requested to the pony at the counter. The pony at the counter led her through a hall of white and the incandescent bulbs lit up the entire place. She heard cries of sadness and tears of joy. She could smell the scent of medicine. She also heard the beeping of machinery. After what seemed like eternity, she arrived at her father's room. She gingerly knocked on the door. It caught the attention of her father. He smiled and welcomed her in.
"How were the results, Papa?" Fluttershy asked.
Storm frowned and told her the bad news. It would be his last day on Equestria.
Silence. He tried to make her laugh by telling her jokes.
"Songs should rhyme, right? Then this will work:
'Derp Herp Lerp Qerp. Jerp. Merp. Am I right?"
Fluttershy laughed politely. She hesitated before asking.
"Papa, if we know that everypony will die one day, why do we still cry?"
"Because it hurts. No matter how many times we face it, it still hurts. It never gets less painful. Usually more painful. We are fragile to change. That is why it hurts." Storm answered.
Fluttershy nodded. Suddenly, Storm began breathing fast. She tried to help him. She could not. She buried her face in her hooves when her father reached out to her. All of a sudden, time seemed to slow down. Her father whispered into her ears these two words:
"Memento mori." He said in a raspy voice before taking his last breath. She began to cry. The nurses and doctors tried to revive him but could not. They took him away, leaving Flutterhy to cry alone.
The next day
A funeral was held behind Fluttershy's cottage. The place whee her father always brought her to when she was little. No pony except herself was there. She put a rose on her father's grave and went home with a heavy heart.
The rest of her family members died in the war. She was the only one remaining. Remembering what her father told her, she said,
"Memento mori. Remember that we will all die....."
