Blooming Hunter

by MagicTypingPony

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Apple Bloom, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Tragedy, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad
Length: 5385

It has been a year since Applejack's death and Apple Bloom has been feeling the worst of it, even though every pony is trying to help her, she keeps pushing them away. It's only till one venture into the Everfree changed everything for her.

"You said you’d be back before I knew it, that I had to be there to look after the farm, and look after Granny Smith. You said you’d be back before I knew it…you promised me…so…where are you? It’s been a year since I asked that."

It has been a year since Applejack's death, and only five months since Granny Smith passed away. Apple Bloom has been feeling the worst of it, even though every pony is trying to help her, she keeps pushing them away.

It's only till one venture into the Everfree changed everything for her and the rest of Ponyville.

Published 2014-11-14 04:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-11-14 04:20:02 UTC

How I Remember...

You said you’d be back before I knew it, that I had to be there to look after the farm, and look after Granny Smith. You said you’d be back before I knew it…you promised me…so…where are you? It’s been a year since I asked that.

--

“So this is where you were…you know Twilight was worried!” said a concerned voice. I parted my eyelids, trying to find whoever it was that woke me up. I was having a nice dream too...

Groaning, I sat up, wincing as strands of my mane got caught in cracks of the wooden floor and tried to pull head back down. A strong tug managed to rip the trapped hair from my scalp, as well as jolt me fully awake.

“Whenever you're ready...” the voice sad again, this time notably annoyed. Looking around the old club house, I finally saw the source of my awakening: A cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane flying just outside the window.

“Come on Rainbow Dash…you know ah wouldn’t run off that far.” I said, throwing off the old blanket that I'd been using.

“Apple Bloom…look. I understand you don’t like living at the farm…and I understand why you don’t want to work there either, but if you're going to sleep somewhere unsupervised, could you maybe tell somepony where it is.”

“Ah’m close enough to the-”

“I don't care how close you are to the farm.” Dash cut off, giving me a serious but also pleading look. “Just promise me you won’t do it again.”

“Fine…Ah promise…” I said, walking out of the old wore down clubhouse and down the rickety ramp.

“Pinkie Promise?” Dash asked raising an eyebrow at me.

“…Seriously?” I said looking over as Rainbow crossed her hoof over her chest and covered her eye.

“…Cross ma heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in ma eye.” I said mirroring her action. “Happy now?”

“…Yeah…come on let’s go.” Dash said, flying back to Ponyville.

“Doesn't she ever walk anywhere?” I whispered to myself as I followed her.

--

It was early dawn when she left. The sun was just peaking up over the horizon. How I was awake that hour was a mystery to me, but it proved fortunate as I heard talking from outside my window. Peeking through a crack in the curtain, I could see Applejack and Big Mac saddling themselves up to the pie carts. Without waiting to fix my mane, I charged down stairs and out the front door.

“Applejack!” I shouted as I ran towards her.

“Apple Bloom.” she scolded. “Not so loud. You might wake Granny.”

I rolled my eyes. “Granny could sleep through a buffalo stampede. Why are you leaving so early?”

“Well ya'll had a big night last night, so we thought we'd let you sleep in this morning.”

“Without sayin goodbye first?”

“Come on Apple Bloom. We'll be back before ya know it”

“Well...if ya say so.” My two siblings smiled and started walking towards the Everfree Forrest. “Have ya got everything ya need!?” I called after them.

“Flame proof boots! Lion tamers chair! Snake charming flute! Hunk of ricotta!” Applejack yelled back, a smile on her face visible through her tone.

She's right. I thought to myself happily. They'll be back before I even know it.

--

Twilight was looking at me with an annoyed stare that she often gave to Spike after he did something stupid. While I haven't been meaning to steal his thunder over the years, I suppose it's something that just comes naturally when you begin to disregard those who you no longer feel anything for.

“Are ya gonna lecture me, or not?” I asked after a short while. “Cuz if ya not, can I go now?”

Twilight let out a sigh of frustration. “Look Apple Bloom…I know you're still upset regarding the incident. A part of me still weeps over what happened that day. But I am able to let go of my feelings, and not let them bottle up.”

Wow. She's actually going try this again. I was certain she would have given up by the time she reached 8 failures, but I suppose Twilight is more stubborn than I thought.
“Everypony has tried their best to enliven your behaviour. Pinkie Pie wants to throw you a party every time she sees you. Yet all you do is spend all your time in that tree house. I know things haven’t been easy lately but could you at least try to let your friends help you.”

She waited for me to respond, but I had no response to give. I just sat there, staring at her with hollow eyes. After about a minute of this, Twilight could take no more. “Are you going to say anything?”

“Can Ah go now?” I asked.

Twilight looked defeated. “…Of course you can.”

I got up and walked towards the door. “Remember that you're always welcome here.” Twilight called. I didn't respond.

--

It had been four days since Applejack and Big Mac had left for Fire Geyer Swamp. Ponies were starting getting worried. All of AJ's friends had come around to the farm to express their concerns. Already now, the five friends had split up to search the path my siblings had taken.

Twilight was the first to return. Her sorrowful eyes told me her search was fruitless. She spoke softly to me, “I'm sorry Apple Bloom…we're yet to find her.”

My mind was completely blank. Her words cut me deeper than any insult from Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon ever could.

“Are you okay?”

I tried to respond to her. Whether I was going to lie or tell her the truth, I didn't know. Either way, it didn't matter. My lips refused to part, and instead remained a grim line where my mouth should have been. Hooves suddenly gripped my shoulders and pulled me into a hug. Tears tried escape my eyes, but something held them back. It was like my body had entered a sensory shutdown.

“It's ok.” I heard Twilight say in a smoothing tone. “We're going to find her. Everything will be ok.”

--

Sweet Apple Acres wasn't as large as it used to be. After the incident, the amount of stock we were able to produce was greatly diminished. Ponies were calling it “The Logging of Sweet Apple Acres”. Kind of an overly evident title for what happened. Now in order to keep the farm running, much of the land it occupied had to be sold. Where there used to be large fields littered with apple trees were now populated by construction sites, building new companies that'll do who knows what.

I heard from Fluttershy that Big Mac got a loan from Filthily Rich to try and keep the farm afloat. Rich wanted to hire ponies to keep up support, but Mac refused. He didn't want the farm to be taken over by what he called, ‘non-Apple family members’. Rich keeps telling him to keep up with the times, and to be honest, I’m starting to agree with him as I looked at the worn down and broken farm.

What remained of the farm was quiet, except for the occasional crack of big Mac's hind legs against a tree trunk. Following the sound, I eventually found the red stallion bucking some trees in the middle of an empty field.

“Eh, hey Big Mac.” I said sheepishly. Big Mac turned and gave me small nod before getting back to bucking.

Well this conversation was off to a great start. It was already going in the exact opposite direction that I was planning on it going. “Do you want any help?”

Big Mac sighed and stoped bucking. “What are you doing here Apple Bloom?” he asked wearily.

“Ah just wanted to check if ya'll were ok.”

“…Ah’m fine.”

“Do ya need any help?”

“Ah've kept this farm running for a year without your help, Apple Bloom. Ah don't believe there's any reason for you to suddenly want to lend a hoof now.”

“…all right…” That. Hurt. He was always blunt about the way he felt, but I didn't think he would be cold about as well. “But…before Ah go, Ah just want to say… take care of yourself.”

Big Mac looked me right in the, as if were trying to see what I was thinking. “Same to you.” He said before going to back to work. I gave the back of his head an irritated stare as I made my way towards the old farm house.

The place was covered in a layer of dust and dirt due to lack of cleaning. I sighed. It hurt to see Big Mac like this. All work and no play. I reached the door of my room and pushed it open. My room hadn't been touched since I abandoned it. Sighing again, I opened my closet to see that it was still filled with my old bows.

“I should really donate these to Rarity or something.” I said as I jumped back and lay spreadeagle on my old bed.

“This place hasn’t changed a bit…”

--

The sun was a semicircle on the horizon. Blowflies lazily buzzed around my face as a sat with my head resting on the windowsill. Waiting. Waiting for Twilight and the gang to bring back my brother and sister so everything could return to normal. Just as sun was a sliver on the horizon, the search emerged from the forest.

“They’re back, Granny!” I yelled as I ran down the stairs. “They’re back!”

“Errr, who’s back?” Granny mumbled, opening the door and seeing me run past.

“Applejack and the others! They’re back!” I shouted over my shoulder as I ran to meet to the search party halfway. The figures became distinguishable as I got closer. I could make out Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Big Mac. My running slowed to a walk. My smile became a frown.

Where was Applejack? Where was that splash of orange that completed their group? When Twilight saw me, she turned to the group and whispered something. They all nodded.

Twilight turned and slowly walked up to me, “Hey Apple Bloom…” she said with a slight squeak in her voice.

“Twilight...where's Applejack...?”

Twilight looked painfully. “….Apple Bloom…” The rest of the group looked uneasy. Rarity and Fluttershy's eyes were wet with tears. Pinkie's mane had deflated to dark pink curtain that was covering half of her face. Rainbow Dash was just looking down at her hooves.

“...Apple Bloom…” she said. “…please.” I looked over at Big Mac. He was leaning off Rainbow's shoulder, his cheeks stained with dry tear tracks. His torso and one of his hind legs were heavily bandaged. I walked over to him.

“Big Mac…” he looked away with a pained expression. This couldn't be real. This could not be real. They had to be joking. AJ couldn't be...

“Where's Applejack?” I turned back to Twilight.

“Apple Bloom...” Twilight said again sounding like one of Granny’s broken records.

“Where is she?” My voice started to crack. “Where's Applejack?!”

“I'm sorry Apple Bloom, but we…couldn't find her.”

“Then she's still out there! We have to go find her. We have to...” Twilight reached into her saddle bag and pulled a stetson. Or at least what was left of one. It was covered in mud and a clear, viscous substance that looked like saliva. Wide scratch marks had threatened to tear the hat in two. Tears started to run to down my cheeks.

“Apple Bloom...” Twilight's eyes were now brimming with tears as she offered the hat out towards me. “I'm so sorry…”

My hoof shot out and slapped the hat from Twilight's grasp.

“WHERE'S MA SISTER!?” I screamed, my words fuelled by anger. A torn hat proved nothing. It's not like they had brought back something that had been physically attached to her. For all they knew, she could still be out there. She was probably alone and scared. Maybe seriously injured. And they just left her.

“WHERE IS SHE!?”

“Apple Bloom...” Big Mac started.

“YA PROMISED YOU'D FIND HER. YA PROMISED YA BRING HER BACK? SO WHERE IS SHE? WHERE'S MA SISTER!?” Twilight grunted suddenly as my hoof slammed into her chest. I tried to throw another punch, but was enveloped in a purple aura. Twilight lifted me into the air, tears now freely flowing down her face as I struggled against her.

“ANSWER ME DAMMIT! I SAID ANSWER ME!!” My legs stopped flailing as my stamina began to fizzle out. My throat ached from my screams. “Please...” I whispered as Twilight began to lower me “Answer me...please...”

Twilight reached out and pulled me from the air into a hug. Her purple wings reached around me, providing additional warmth. “I'm sorry.” she kept whispering. “I'm so sorry.”

--

It was late afternoon by the time I woke up. I groaned as I sat up, flexing my limbs and enjoying the odd cracks and pops of my joints. Yawning, I made my way out of my room and down the stairs. Big Mac was asleep on the couch, clearly exhausted from all his work. Sneaking past him, I made my way outside.

“So what do I do for the rest of the day?” I thought to myself. Sweetie Belle had her magic tutoring classes around now. Scootaloo was probably having flying lesson with Rainbow Dash. Twilight would still be sour from this morning. I suppose I could see Zecora. She was always doing something that could pipe my interest.

With that, I started to make my way to the edge of the Everfree Forrest. Adults were always going on about how the forest was incredibly dangerous, especially at night, but I think it's just a bunch of horse apples. My friends and I had gone into the Everfree heaps of times, and we always came out without a scratch.

The Everfree was dark and cold, like it was every day of the year. Tree branches tried to scrape my face as I combed my way through shrubs and weeds. “The next time Ah decide to come in here.” I said to myself bitterly. “Ah'm bring some hedge clippers.”

Then I heard it. A monstrous growl. A familiar growl. The growl of a beast that I had heard once as a foal and had hoped to never hear again. A beast that was oddly enough, only known to live in Fire Geyser Swamp.

I would have turned to run, but it was too late, and a chimera burst out of the shrub ahead of me. The beast immediately saw me, and I froze. All of my childhood fears came flooding back into my mind, petrifying my body as the chimera's three intimidating heads stared into my eyes. Wait. Sorry, I meant two heads...

Upon closer inspection, the chimera had taken significant damage. The snake head had been completely severed from the body, leaving a green scaly stump sticking out from its backside. One of the tigers protruding fangs was missing, and the goat had lost one horn. The beast and I stood there, as if we were locked into a staring contest until a new voice echoed through the forest.

“There you are!” A mare’s voice shouted out as a pony burst out from behind a tree and slammed into the chimera's side like a wrecking ball, sending the beast sprawling. The mare was wearing some sort of armor that covered her torso and legs. She had a white coat and a blue and pink mane that was peeking out from under her helmet on her head. Her purple eyes were barely visible behind helmets visor.

She also had some kind of handle strapped to her back. It looked as if it should have had a blade of some sort protruding from it, but both sides were flat. A growl drew my attention away from her as the chimera recovered and lunged at the mare, swiping its claws at her face. The mare proved to be agile though, as she quickly dodged the attack by jumping over the tiger's head and onto the chimera's back. She grabbed onto the goat's head for support as the chimera started bucking like a bull at a rodeo, trying to shake her off.

Noticing that the mare wouldn't be shook off, the tiger took off into a sprint. Unfortunately, it was sprinting right at me. Fortunately though, I remembered how my legs worked at that moment and took off running, the chimera hot on my heels.

Branches from passing trees reached out and scratched my face and body. Jutted tree roots hit my hooves and tried to trip me over. It was like Celestia herself was determined to give me the worst day imaginable. Risking a glance over my shoulder, I noticed the chimera had thankfully slowed down slightly. I also noticed the mare still hanging onto the beasts back and seemed to have the goat's head in some kind of choke hold. The goat suddenly let out a loud shriek of pain that was swiftly silenced by a loud crack.

The tiger let out a roar of its own and planted its paws into the ground coming to an immediate stop. The mare on top of it had unfortunately let go of the goat and flew from its back straight into me, knocking us both to the ground. The mare was first to her hooves. Her helmet had been knocked off and she was grinning like a mad mare. Judging by her behavior, she probably was.

“Two down, one to go.” she almost laughed. Then she finally noticed me.

“Hey there.” she greeted as she scooped up her helmet. She looked at it for a few seconds before putting it on my head. “Hold onto this for me, will ya?” she asked.

“H-hi…ummm…what?” I managed to get out as a response, but the mare wasn't listening, and was instead walking towards the chimera. The tiger stared back coldly. The goat's head hung loosely from its shoulder, its unblinking eyes staring off into the shrubbery. The mare reached over her shoulder and took the handle shaped thing into her mouth. The chimera roared and began to charge.

The mare let loose a battle cry of her own, or at least a garbled shout with the handle in her teeth, and broke into a gallop. Just before they collided though, the mare broke off sideways, and two blades extended from the handle in her teeth. The blade pointing towards the chimera dug into its torso, making a giant slice from fore leg to hind leg.
The chimera didn't even flinch to the pain and turned around as fast as a snake, fitting as there used to be a snake attached to it. The tiger tried to bite the mare from behind, but she was ready.

Her hind legs raised into the air and she bucked tiger in the mouth, breaking its other protruding fang. I had to cover my ears as it let out a roar of pain, which was soon intensified as the mare turned and dug one of her blades into its shoulder just under where the goat's head was dangling.

Quick as a flash, the mare turned, pulling her weapon out of its shoulder while also impaling its neck with the other blade. The tiger let out a gurgled cough as its own blooded flowed through its pierced wind pipe and into its lungs.

When it collapsed, the mare released her blade, letting it stick out of the tiger’s neck, and trotted over to me. My head suddenly flashed with brief pain and I took a few steps back. My hoof hit a tree root, causing me to fall on my rump. The mare laughed.

“Don't worry.” she said. “I'm not going to hurt you. You just have something that belongs me.” She tapped the side of her head, making me realise that I was still wearing her helmet. I sheepishly took it off and handed it to her.

“Thanks kid.”

“You're...eh...you're welcome...”

“Got a name?”

“It's App-Ah. ” I winced as another flash racked my brain, more painful than the first “It's Apple Bloom.”

“You ok?” she asked in a serious tone.

“Yeah. I'm fine.”

“Well then, Apple Bloom.” she took a seat next to me. “Mind telling me what a nice mare like you it doing in a dangerous place like this.”

“I was just on my way to meet a fri- AHHH!!!” I gripped my head with both hooves as the pain returned with a vengeance. The mare quickly grabbed my fore hooves and forced then away from my head so she could look at them.

“Damn.” she cursed under her breath. A spine of some kind was sticking out of one of my legs. The mare reached and gripped the spine in her teeth, ripping it out. I'm the sure that would have caused me some kind of pain, but it was overshadowed by the pounding in my forehead.

The pain suddenly intensified and I rolled onto my back. Black splodges started to fill my vision as I felt myself get lifted. The mare rested me on what I assume was her back and started running.

“We better get you to a hospital.” she said as I started to black out. “Luckily, I'm pretty sure that there's a town near here...”

--

The atmosphere was sombre at best as I walked out of the house to a bleak and cloudily day. I guess Rainbow Dash wanted to set the mood…I wish she didn't. Big Mac was waiting for me at the gates of Sweet Apple Acres. He saw me approaching and fixed his tie on his suit. I wonder how long was he waiting for me.

“Mornin…” I said softly as I made my way over to him. He gave me a nod in response but didn’t say anything. I sighed. Today was the day. “You ready?” I mumbled as we started walking down the dirt path.

“Eeyup…”

“At least one of us is.”

Ponyville's cemetery is not a place you talk about every day. Due to its low publicity, most of Ponyville's residence don't even know that their town has a cemetery. But I suppose that's somewhat justified. Not many ponies expect a death other than old age. “Kicking the bucket early” is only an expression in Equestria. At least to the lucky ones anyway.

The dirt road was long and isolated. It went around the back of the town, the only path to the fabled Ponyville Cemetery. The cemetery itself was quite small. It had been around for few decades starting shortly after Granny founded Ponyville. And who would have guessed that one of Granny's children would beat her to the grave.

We were one of the last ones to arrive at the funeral. Half the town already appeared to be there. Everypony was wearing black. Rarity had even adorned a black umbrella despite the weather. Twilight was currently talking with Fiddlesticks, one of my various cousins. From what I've heard, while she doesn't do a lot of farm work, she could play a mean tune of the violin. Upon noticing us, Twilight quickly wrapped up whatever conversation they were engaged in and walked over to us.

“It’s good to see you both could make it. Granny Smith arrived earlier to help out with preparations.” Twilight said giving a brave smile. “You two ready?”

“Eeyup.”

“No.” I whispered in a tone nopony could hear.

“Good. If you two will just pick out your seats, we can let the ceremony begin.”

“Thank you, Miss Sparkle.” said Big Mac.

“Thanks…Twilight…” I said giving her a glace before planting my stare back to the ground.

“It's no problem at all. I know how hard this must be for both of you, and if there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask.” Big Mac nodded respectfully “We’ll begin as soon as the other princesses arrive.”

I walked down passed the rows of seats, and spotted an orange hoof waving me over from the corner of my eye. Looking over, I saw Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sitting next to each other in the back row. Our met eyes and Scootaloo motioned for me to go to her. I returned her gestures with a shake of my head. Upon seeing my refusal, Scootaloo lowered her head sadly, and Sweetie Belle turned to say something to her. I looked back to the ground and sat down at one of the seats at the front. Granny Smith soon sat down next to me.

“You’ve been hiding up in ya room for some time squirt.” she said in her old croaky voice.

“Ah didn’t feel like talkin to anypony…”

“Understandable…And Ahhh ain’t judging.”

“So why are you sittin next to me?”

“Because Ah noticed you weren’t with yer two filly friends over there.”

“…Ah don’t feel like takin to them…”

“Ya hide in yer room fer a month, and when ya finally come out, ya refuse to talk to yer best friends?”

“Ah just….don’t want them to worry about me.”

“Now that's the perfect attitude to have if ya want somepony to worry about you, Little Missy.”

I sighed “…Alright Granny…Ah suppose…Ah should speak to them.” I said giving her a small smile.

“Ya darn tootin you will! They're your friends, they're there to help you. Now get off ya heiney and get over there.” Granny Smith said slapping me on the back. I got out of my seat and made my way. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were still discussing something between them in hushed tones.

“Hey girls…” I said giving a small smile and wave.

“Apple Bloom!” They both exclaimed.

“That's my name.” I answered slightly wearily. The two of them were staring at me with wide eyes, like they were trying to determine if I was real or some kind of hallucination. “Err...are you two going to keep staring at me, or move over so Ah can sit down?”

Sweetie Belle immediately jumped off her seat and pulled me into a tight hug. Scootaloo quickly jumped off her chair too and awkwardly joined in by wrapping her arms around both of us. I would normally scold them for being embarrassing, but I deserved this. I hadn't seen since AJ's death.

“G-Girls p-please….Ah need air…” I squeaked. Scootaloo got off but Sweetie didn't budge.

“Sweetie Belle...do you think you could relax your hug a little...?” In response, Sweetie hugged me even tighter. And then I felt her tears. Warm, wet droplets of sadness flowed from Sweetie's eyes, staining my shoulder. When Sweetie leaned back, she noticed the damp spot and immediately started dapping it with a ribbon from her dress. “I...I'm sorry.” she sobbed as she tried in vain to dry my shoulder.

“Sweetie Belle. Stop it.” I said, pushing her away. Moving past, I sat down on one of the seats. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo took their places on either side, probably planning to provide me with as much emotional support that they could offer.

A white mare suddenly walked up to us. Her black dress shimmered in the filtered day light and her umbrella cast a shadow upon us.

“Hey Sis.” sniffled Sweetie Belle, her eyes still a bit teary.

“Sweetie Belle.” Rarity acknowledged. “Scootaloo.” She then turned to me. “Apple Bloom…” I looked up into her dark blue eyes. “I'm very sorry about what has happened.”

Great, that's just what I need right now. More reminders of an already unpleasant topic. Rarity suddenly reached into one of the folds of her dress and pulled out a stetson. The scratch marks that had destroyed its form the last time I'd seen it were gone. There was no indication that the fissures had been there at all. Just like the last time somepony held that hat, Rarity then offered it out to me.

“Ya fixed it...” I murmured as I reached out and took it from her

“It was the least I could do.”

“Th-thank you.”

Rarity gave me a sincere smile “You are most welcome.” she said before moving on to find her seat.

Celestia, Luna and Cadence flew down from the sky and landed on an elevated platform in front of the rows of chairs. Fiddlesticks took that as her cue and started to play her violin. The soft tune wafted through the air, causing everypony to realised ceremony was starting. The rest of the standing ponies shuffled to take their seats.

The remaining seats slowly started to get filled up with members of the Apple family. Fiddlesticks, noticing dissipating crowd of standing ponies, began to play a slow tune on her violin. It sounded familiar…Oh yeah. It was ‘Apple's to the Core’.

Sweetie Belle nudged my arm. She was offering me a tissue. “W-What?” I asked.

“You're...eh...crying.”

“I am?” I raised my hoof to eye, noticing the tear rolling down my face. “Oh. Thanks.”

All conversations fizzled out as Twilight stepped up onto a small podium looked out towards the rows of seats. She clearing her throat and began her speech, “I’d like to thank everypony who could make it here today to say goodbye…” Twilight paused as she choked on a sob but managed to compose herself. “When I first arrived in Ponyville, Applejack was the first pony I met. My first thoughts were that she was polite and sincere.

But she was so much more than that. She was understanding. She was compassionate. But most of all she was honest. And we will never forget the impacts she has left on Equestria.” Twilight started to tear up. “I-I'm s-sorry. I c-can't...” Twilight walked off the podium and took her place next the princesses. Celestia extended one of her wings around her the sobbing princess as Rainbow Dash stepped up to the podium.

“I’ll be the first to admit that me and Applejack were…a bit competitive...”

I snorted. Understatement of the century much? “We were always arguing over who was the best athlete…I used to think I was the best…and I guess I was in the end…” Rainbow took out a small silver medal and looked at it closely, biting her bottom lip. Spreading her wings, she flew up from the podium and landed next to the coffin. “You deserve this more than I do AJ…” she said putting down the silver medal on the lid. “…Goodbye…”

Rainbow walked off back to her seat, silently looking at the ground, probably pretending that she didn't exist. Rarity and Fluttershy were next. But on the way to the podium, Fluttershy broke down and hugged Rarity, crying into her shoulder until they were led off stage.

Listening to these speeches (and attempts at speeches) was progressively getting harder and harder. Every time somepony talked about how great or honest she was, it like a punch to the gut. Yeah, she was great and honest. That's why she was one of the Elements of bucking Harmony!

I felt a hoof on my shoulder and turned to see Scootaloo with a concerned look on her face. “You okay?” I gave her a small nod and a forced smile in response, grateful that she cared about my well-being enough to ask.

Pinkie Pie had just finished her speech by emptying her tear ducts onto the podium. She was continuously drying her eyes with what an endless supply of tissues, but her tears seemed to be just as endless. Twilight eventually came forward and ushered her off the podium.

“Thank you Pinkie…” Twilight said, “I would now like to everypony to join me in a moment of silence.” Twilight bowed her head along with everypony else. The seconds felt like hours. I could hear Sweetie trying to suppress her sobs on my left. On my right, Scootaloo was hardly breathing. Her breaths were slow and silent. I'd never seen Scootaloo acting so serious.

“Thank you…” Twilight finished. I looked to see several unicorns now standing around the coffin. The coffin glowed in a combined aura as the unicorns began to lower into the ground. It felt like a small piece of me was going down with it…I suppose everypony feels that way now.