In Memoriam R.D.by BulbasaurChaptersIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIPrologueIA messenger, demeanour meek, He knocks, exhausted from his run. I smile at him for all he's done For Dash and me these past few weeks. A messenger, from distant sands, Had brought me Dash's thoughts and words; He bridged me with my blue love-bird Through missives, from the Gryphon-lands; A messenger, who, dress'd in red, Does greet me in the early morn'; In grief I instantly am torn: He bears the message, "DASH IS DEAD" IIOld oak in which I used to live, A gnarled, old, but simple thing, To ashes quickly flames did bring -- Lord Tirek I can ne'er forgive. I walk along the empty road Whereon my former home did lie. I see the charr'd remains and sigh, Rememb'ring hearth and home of old; And as my life around me burns Again, I've not a solace blue, No featherbrain, no cockatoo, No one to hold me as I yearn Or claim this is a dream absurd, No one to comfort all my fears, No one to whisper in my ears, "This too shall pass; be reassur'd." IIIA Field Experiment on Grief I) Motivation: Rainbow Dash, A pegasus mare, bold and brash, Has left this world; her life was brief. Now I am left with this strange mood I've never had; so here shall I Observe and note my feelings; try And figure out what had ensued. II) Methods: For the past few days I've noted down my troubled thoughts, The feelings Dash's death had wrought Into a strange miasmic haze. Then, synthesizing all these things, I'd analyze and then conclude Exactly what from me elude; Besides a pair of downy wings. III) Observations: I can't seem To put down into words the way I feel today, or yesterday, Nor days to come, I dare to deem. I levitate the quill, and dip The apparatus into ink But all I write, and all I think, Are poems, and the arrow-tip. So, therefore, I shall deem this ill- Thought study inconclusive; I, Shall on this matter ne'ermore try To study; I have not the skill. IV'Tis late at night, or early morn; I'd slept tonight - the first in days, When, in my catatonic haze, An image from my mind was born: She lives! A zombie, hollow-eyed, Dull face, matte coat, mane like a nest. She tears the arrow through her chest; Internal organs flow outside. She turns to me with trademark smile; Says, "Come and join me, Egghead!" Then She laughs, turns back, walks into fen, Therein dissolves in substance vile -- And with a jolt I then return'd To consciousness. I guess I'll stay Awake tonight, or sleep at day, 'Til my mind clears its image burn'd. VInept and inexact are words, Which, all throughout my life have been My servant, I their master, when I needed something to be heard Or written. I have come to see That flaky are these treasured things. See, hollow sound around me rings: Though I speak words to them; they, me; I cannot process sounds, extract Their meaning, speak, or comprehend. Alas, my former stalwart friend Has broken down our precious pact. Through words my world was torn apart, However; yea, through words was I Inform'd my Rainbow Dash did die: O pow'rful, terr'ble, wretched art! At last, words can be wolves in sheep's Skin; power, surely they possess. Sometimes they help; sometimes, distress: For now, words fail me, and I weep. VII understand, my mentor dear, That you cannot bring Dashie back; That doing so'd to space-time wrack An instability, we fear. Oh you, who governs hill and lea, Control the Sun, yet cannot fend Off death, except the aether rend -- You too must share your grief with me. That I am join'd by friend and Lord In grief does not alleviate My suff'ring; nor do they abate, The laments I to her afford. VIIIn cleaning Dash's study-room, A clutter'd mess with few real books Within our cloud-house, in a nook, The corner where I thought to doom I'd fall -- I think to when I first Was crown'd and couldn't fly, and when I first set foot in Dashie's den Without my spell: the clouds did burst Beneath my hooves. 'Twas only in The nick of time that Dash did catch Me, save me from a fall through thatch. I vow'd to not set foot again On clouds without my safety spell. Yet Dash encouraged me to fly; She train'd my body, mind, and eye; Her confidence, my fears, did quell. Through patience and tough love did she Enable confidence to seep Into my mind; it went in deep, Much deeper than my fears could be. Though sometimes I her patience wore, Through Dash I gained the confidence To walk on clouds, fly continents, And, fin'lly, like an eagle soar. VIIIMy mind puts forth a memory Of when I did propose to Dash. 'Twas mid-flight -- oh! I thought I'd crash! -- My wings turned stiff as emery! 'Twas in the dale where I now fly, A shortcut straight to Canterlot. Two stones from Rarity I'd bought Were in my bags, hid from her eye. "Oh, Rainbow Dash!" I call'd, and swoop'd Ahead of her, look'd in her eyes. I pluck'd a primary of size; Behind her ear I placed it; loop'd Below her. From my bag I took A sapphire and an amethyst. Her answer, I already wist, But still, my voice and body shook. "Dash, will you marry me?" I asked. Time seem'd to, for a moment, stop. I fear'd that from the sky I'd drop. I couldn't keep emotions mask'd. As answer, she a gentle kiss Placed on my lips, and whisper'd soft, "Of course I will. Now fly aloft, And faster -- you'll your function miss!" Of course I'd planned some extra time, But full of energy was I: I climb'd and soar'd with Dash up high, And cared not on my feather rime Was forming. Straight aloft I flew, At fifty, forty centibars. We flew toward the fixèd stars; We reach'd them, then enjoy'd the view. Today, the sky is thick with clouds; I cannot soar up high like then. I fly through field and vale and fen To Canterlot, where clouds do shroud The landscape. On a ledge I land. I trot to where Celestia Would meet me to discuss ideas To end the war with Gryphons, and Have high tea at my fav'rite place, Where I took Dash to many dates -- I'd ramble on about the greats Of hist'ry over leeks and dace. I canter past a busy bar Where Dash and I would often go To drink 'til we'd forget our woes: That she and I were kept afar When oft I stayed in Canterlot To serve my duty to the land, 'Cause sometimes Cloudsdale would demand Dash take the place that they'd allot. Now, I approach our meeting-place. Oh, what I wouldn't give for Dash To be with me, just for a flash, That I could kiss her graceful face. PrologueDear Princess of the Sun and seas, Who kindly guided me throughout My youth; who told me all about The world and all its mysteries: Today I learn'd beloved Dash, A spectral wonder of the skies, A mare who's easy on the eyes A loyal friend; at times, though rash-- She always cared, she never fled, She comforted in times of doubt, She always loved, she did not flout -- today I learn'd that she is dead. I sit now in my study-place With Spike and Owl' by my side; I wish to curl up, sleep, and hide-- Instead, I write you, by your grace: Dear Princess of the Sun and earth, Whose reign does span all mortal planes: Will you please guide me through my pain, Be ever present by my hearth By reading, sharing misery, The endless drivel I will pen. I do not know where to begin Except by writing poetry.
IA messenger, demeanour meek, He knocks, exhausted from his run. I smile at him for all he's done For Dash and me these past few weeks. A messenger, from distant sands, Had brought me Dash's thoughts and words; He bridged me with my blue love-bird Through missives, from the Gryphon-lands; A messenger, who, dress'd in red, Does greet me in the early morn'; In grief I instantly am torn: He bears the message, "DASH IS DEAD"
IIOld oak in which I used to live, A gnarled, old, but simple thing, To ashes quickly flames did bring -- Lord Tirek I can ne'er forgive. I walk along the empty road Whereon my former home did lie. I see the charr'd remains and sigh, Rememb'ring hearth and home of old; And as my life around me burns Again, I've not a solace blue, No featherbrain, no cockatoo, No one to hold me as I yearn Or claim this is a dream absurd, No one to comfort all my fears, No one to whisper in my ears, "This too shall pass; be reassur'd."
IIIA Field Experiment on Grief I) Motivation: Rainbow Dash, A pegasus mare, bold and brash, Has left this world; her life was brief. Now I am left with this strange mood I've never had; so here shall I Observe and note my feelings; try And figure out what had ensued. II) Methods: For the past few days I've noted down my troubled thoughts, The feelings Dash's death had wrought Into a strange miasmic haze. Then, synthesizing all these things, I'd analyze and then conclude Exactly what from me elude; Besides a pair of downy wings. III) Observations: I can't seem To put down into words the way I feel today, or yesterday, Nor days to come, I dare to deem. I levitate the quill, and dip The apparatus into ink But all I write, and all I think, Are poems, and the arrow-tip. So, therefore, I shall deem this ill- Thought study inconclusive; I, Shall on this matter ne'ermore try To study; I have not the skill.
IV'Tis late at night, or early morn; I'd slept tonight - the first in days, When, in my catatonic haze, An image from my mind was born: She lives! A zombie, hollow-eyed, Dull face, matte coat, mane like a nest. She tears the arrow through her chest; Internal organs flow outside. She turns to me with trademark smile; Says, "Come and join me, Egghead!" Then She laughs, turns back, walks into fen, Therein dissolves in substance vile -- And with a jolt I then return'd To consciousness. I guess I'll stay Awake tonight, or sleep at day, 'Til my mind clears its image burn'd.
VInept and inexact are words, Which, all throughout my life have been My servant, I their master, when I needed something to be heard Or written. I have come to see That flaky are these treasured things. See, hollow sound around me rings: Though I speak words to them; they, me; I cannot process sounds, extract Their meaning, speak, or comprehend. Alas, my former stalwart friend Has broken down our precious pact. Through words my world was torn apart, However; yea, through words was I Inform'd my Rainbow Dash did die: O pow'rful, terr'ble, wretched art! At last, words can be wolves in sheep's Skin; power, surely they possess. Sometimes they help; sometimes, distress: For now, words fail me, and I weep.
VII understand, my mentor dear, That you cannot bring Dashie back; That doing so'd to space-time wrack An instability, we fear. Oh you, who governs hill and lea, Control the Sun, yet cannot fend Off death, except the aether rend -- You too must share your grief with me. That I am join'd by friend and Lord In grief does not alleviate My suff'ring; nor do they abate, The laments I to her afford.
VIIIn cleaning Dash's study-room, A clutter'd mess with few real books Within our cloud-house, in a nook, The corner where I thought to doom I'd fall -- I think to when I first Was crown'd and couldn't fly, and when I first set foot in Dashie's den Without my spell: the clouds did burst Beneath my hooves. 'Twas only in The nick of time that Dash did catch Me, save me from a fall through thatch. I vow'd to not set foot again On clouds without my safety spell. Yet Dash encouraged me to fly; She train'd my body, mind, and eye; Her confidence, my fears, did quell. Through patience and tough love did she Enable confidence to seep Into my mind; it went in deep, Much deeper than my fears could be. Though sometimes I her patience wore, Through Dash I gained the confidence To walk on clouds, fly continents, And, fin'lly, like an eagle soar.
VIIIMy mind puts forth a memory Of when I did propose to Dash. 'Twas mid-flight -- oh! I thought I'd crash! -- My wings turned stiff as emery! 'Twas in the dale where I now fly, A shortcut straight to Canterlot. Two stones from Rarity I'd bought Were in my bags, hid from her eye. "Oh, Rainbow Dash!" I call'd, and swoop'd Ahead of her, look'd in her eyes. I pluck'd a primary of size; Behind her ear I placed it; loop'd Below her. From my bag I took A sapphire and an amethyst. Her answer, I already wist, But still, my voice and body shook. "Dash, will you marry me?" I asked. Time seem'd to, for a moment, stop. I fear'd that from the sky I'd drop. I couldn't keep emotions mask'd. As answer, she a gentle kiss Placed on my lips, and whisper'd soft, "Of course I will. Now fly aloft, And faster -- you'll your function miss!" Of course I'd planned some extra time, But full of energy was I: I climb'd and soar'd with Dash up high, And cared not on my feather rime Was forming. Straight aloft I flew, At fifty, forty centibars. We flew toward the fixèd stars; We reach'd them, then enjoy'd the view. Today, the sky is thick with clouds; I cannot soar up high like then. I fly through field and vale and fen To Canterlot, where clouds do shroud The landscape. On a ledge I land. I trot to where Celestia Would meet me to discuss ideas To end the war with Gryphons, and Have high tea at my fav'rite place, Where I took Dash to many dates -- I'd ramble on about the greats Of hist'ry over leeks and dace. I canter past a busy bar Where Dash and I would often go To drink 'til we'd forget our woes: That she and I were kept afar When oft I stayed in Canterlot To serve my duty to the land, 'Cause sometimes Cloudsdale would demand Dash take the place that they'd allot. Now, I approach our meeting-place. Oh, what I wouldn't give for Dash To be with me, just for a flash, That I could kiss her graceful face.
PrologueDear Princess of the Sun and seas, Who kindly guided me throughout My youth; who told me all about The world and all its mysteries: Today I learn'd beloved Dash, A spectral wonder of the skies, A mare who's easy on the eyes A loyal friend; at times, though rash-- She always cared, she never fled, She comforted in times of doubt, She always loved, she did not flout -- today I learn'd that she is dead. I sit now in my study-place With Spike and Owl' by my side; I wish to curl up, sleep, and hide-- Instead, I write you, by your grace: Dear Princess of the Sun and earth, Whose reign does span all mortal planes: Will you please guide me through my pain, Be ever present by my hearth By reading, sharing misery, The endless drivel I will pen. I do not know where to begin Except by writing poetry.
