The Joy that Kills [One-Shot-tober]
Author's Note
I feel bad for writing this.
Also, I think when ponies get married, they follow the tradition (like on Earth) where the mare gets the stallion's family name.
Just FYI...
The Joy that Kills [One-Shot-tober]
Home
by Redux
One.
The season was late autumn, a time of near constant rainfall and the beginnings of a colder set of months. In a small house on the outskirts of Manehatten, a fully was jumping up and down with excitement, barely containing her joy that she was going to see her father for the first time in what seemed like forever.
Her mother, on the other hoof, was re-reading a letter for the third or fourth time trying to comprehend its contents.
Aurora Vanguard
107 Rose Street
Maplebrook, NY
10.14.16
I wanted you to know how much we regret the loss of your husband, Dusk Vanguard The entire unit joins me in sending our deepest sympathies and understanding during this period of bereavement.
Dusk was one of the best soldiers in the 555th Battlemage Regiment. I am personally aware of the numerous professional jobs Dusk did to support his unit and the Regiment mission.
Please know that we have shared in your pain and sorrow and pay our final respects to one of our best friends and conrades. Duskwill certainly be missed by all of us.
Star Shot
Colonel, XO
Commander
"C'mon Mama! Let's go see Daddy!" the small filly cried, breaking the illusion of peace that surrounded her mother, who smiled weakly.
"Yes, let's go see Daddy." The mare replied in a slightly quivering voice, as tears started to well up in her eyes. The pair made their way out into the cobbled street, which was covered in slick yellow and orange leaves from ancient oak trees. The weak sunlight that filtered through the clouds offered an eerie illumination; just enough light for it to be noon, but not enough for shadows to form.
A few ponies bustled happily in the cool fall air, unaware of the tragedy that had befallen the family. On the central street of Maplebrook, there was a building. A building that Mellow's mother never wanted to see again. It was where she said goodbye to her husband for the last time.
For a few moments, Aurora stood there, on the corner, still not able to believe that her husband was gone. For over a decade he was there for her, and now...he was gone. Shaking her head, Aurora and her daughter trotted across the street to the enlistment office.
The silver doorbell tinkled merrily as the pair entered, as if mocking them.
Seated at a desk flanked by two crossed Equestrian flags, the local recruitment officer offered his condolences.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Vanguard...he was the best soldier I recruited from this area!"
Aurora sighed.
"It's okay, Jay, let's...just get this over with..."
Mellow was terribly confused.
"Mommy? When is daddy going to get here?"
A few hours earlier...
Dusk Vanguard boarded the plane with a sigh of relief, knowing that he was going to be with his family in a few hours.
Only a ten hour flight away! he though to himself.
Like Dusk, the rest of the regiment was overjoyed that they would be returning home after so long. As Dusk was settling in to sleep, his commanding officer (XO for future reference) shook him awake.
"Dusk...listen, I'm not sure how to say this...but the wrong letter was sent to your wife." A look of confusion passed across Dusk's face before his eyes widened in terror.
"Commander! Is there any way we can tell them that I'm not dead?"
"Sorry Dusk...but we can't send or receive any letters while in transit. But what I can do is tell the pilots to make this pile of metal reach Manehatten Air Base in five hours."
"Thank you, Commander..."
7h, 14m later...
Aurora laid in her bed, silently weeping, still mourning her husband. Her days would no longer be filled with anticipation in getting a letter than said her beloved was coming home, her days were filled with dark monotony of sympathy, and endless,"I'm sorry for your loss."
She wanted none of it. Aurora wanted to be left alone. Shut off from the world. Shut off from life.
Aurora's thoughts drifted as her mind fell into unconsciousness, only to be rudely awoken by a blinding flash of light and a pounding at the door.
Who in Celestia's mane would be knocking at this time of night?
Her question was answered a millisecond later.
"Aurora! Aurora! Answer the door!" A voice called.
It sounded so famil--
Aurora leapt out of her covers and nearly tripped down the stairs trying to get to the door. Finally reaching her target, Aurora threw the door open and tackle hugged her husband.
"Dusk! You're alive!" Aurora cried, tears in her eyes, similar to only a few hours prior, save these were tears of joy.
"Aurora...it's so nice to see you after so long!" Dusk smiled. Out of nowhere, a small form was added to the pile.
"Daddy!" was the only exclamation needed to further amplify the mood. Once the massive hugfest was over, Dusk remarked on how much Mellow had grown since he had last seen her. Aurora smiled, it'd been so long since she had felt so filled with joy. In fact, it seemed her heart was fit to burst.
It beat faster and faster, never slowing down.
"Aurora is ther-" was all the mare caught before black enveloped her vision, taking her from Dusk.
11:54pm, Manehattan General
Dusk sat in silence, his head clasped between his forelegs, wondering why everything had to go wrong. A small cough broke his reverie.
"Mr. Vanguard...I'm sorry to have to be pony to tell you this, but it has to said: Aurora had a fatal heart condition, which, in exciting circumstances can cause the organ to stop. There was nothing we could do, I'm sorry, sir." The doctor waited a few moments before walking out of the waiting room, leaving the war-torn stallion alone in his thoughts.
Why must fate be so cruel...