Carry That Friendship

Life, such a fragile thing, it can be gone in an instant, or it can last forever. Sadly, for Equestrias greatest heroines, they got the former. My name is Eclipse Sparkle, I am the only son of princess Twilight Sparkle. I never met my father, I don't even know his name, all I know is that he died in a battle, fighting for the protection of Equestria. I was told he was a stubborn fool, but that was why my mother had fallen for him.

Out of all of the mane six, only three had children. My mother, Fluttershy and Applejack. I was born an alicorn, I had dark blue fur and a long staring black mane with a purple stripe. Fluttershys daughter, Eris, had the same features as her father, Discord. When Fluttershy passed away Discord decided to join her in the afterlife, leaving Eris in charge of the chaos in Equestria.

We have no idea who Applejacks partner was, I was told it was a drunken one night stand gone wrong. As such, Apple Blossom was born, even though Applejack regretted her mistake with the stallion, she would never be happier than the day Blossom was born.

The sad thing was none of these mares died of age, they all had accidents that led to their downfall.

Once a month, Eris, Blossom and I would visit the graves together. We walked through the cemetery until we came across six graves and a statue. The statue was of the mares and Discord, each grave had their cutie marks engraved in them. We sat down in front of the graves and replaced the flowers by the tombstones. I looked at the graves one by one.

Pinkamena Diane Pie, loved by all, she would always bring a smile to your face no matter the cost, sadly, she lived up to that. She was the first to fall. All of that partying and sugar consumption caught up to her. Due to all the sugar in her bloodstream and built up cholesterol she suffered from a fatal heart attack. Everypony showed up to her funeral, even Cheese Sandwich showed up. He expressed how much he loved Pinkie and promised to keep everypony smiling in ponyville. The cake twins were devastated that their adopted aunt had passed, but made a vow to never stop having fun. Cranky Doodle seemed to be the most upset.

That day, everypony in the town threw one last party in honour of the pink pony. I was only seven at the time, but I knew what had happened, Eris was only a toddler when it happened so she had no clue what was going on.

I then turned to the next grave.

Rainbow Dash, she was an inspiration to young pegasui everywhere, she lived up to her dream of becoming a wonderbolt. She was always pushing herself to become faster, stronger and better. Alas, she suffered from a terrible accident at a show. While attempting a sharp turn her wings gave out, sending her plummeting to the ground. She died on impact, nopony was able to catch her in time. Scootaloo was the one who took it the hardest, the previous day they had went to Canterlot to sign a document that would officially make them sisters, so you can imagine how heartbroken she was.

Her funeral was a simple one, the wonderbolts attended and captain Spitfire said a few words and as the coffin was lowered the squad gave a salute and Scootaloo performed her own version of the sonic rainboom. At this point I was ten, I went to comfort Scootalo as she sat by the new gravestone.

"Thanks Eclipse."

"It's alright aunt Scootaloo, I know how much she meant to you, she meant a lot to me as well, she taught us both how to fly. But she wouldn't want us sulking around the place, she'd tell us to get going, to move on." She smiled and hugged me.

"You're right kid, let's go get some flying practice done." I nodded and we took flight. I'm pretty sure I saw Rainbow Dash looking up at us but vanished.

I sighed as I remembered the times I shared with Pinkie and Rainbow, they were times I would never forget. Cheese Sandwich runs sugarcube corner now and the wonderbolts have disbanded. Nopony will ever forget these two, or the others. I looked to the next grave.

Rarity, beautiful and generous to the bitter end. She had passed away during a diner party when a fellow jealous fashionista poisoned her drink. No one saw it coming, when the party guests informed the authorities the killer drank the poison. We all know that the killer is in Tartarus now. Sweetie Belle couldn't believe it, none of us could. We all knew of Raritys success and popularity but we didn't think it would reach this extent.

Fancy Pants and Fleur attended the funeral, as well as Coco. I've always been rather dark in my thoughts, I get it from my father. While the funeral took place I sat on a hill looking out at the group of ponies. "Yet another leaf falls of the tree, one by one they fall. The troubled souls set free, or damned for eternity all."

"That was both disturbing and beautiful." I looked to my right to see Eris and Blossom walking up to me.

"I think it's fitting for the situation, it used to be that this world was all sunshine and rainbows, aside from the occasional demon attack. Now look at all this is happening.

"You really need to stop thinking like that Eclipse, it's unhealthy."

"I don't have a choice, I was born this way, you of all ponies know this. The world we live in is not the one we grew up in, times have changed and so have the ponies."

"You're telling me." I looked to my left to see Sweetie Belle walking up to us.

"I'm sorry for your loss Sweets, even though my apologies won't fix anything."

"At least you're thinking realistically, most ponies are saying that she's in our hearts, I want to believe that, but it's not true, but she wouldn't want me to mope around the place, I've got my singing career to think about."

"Don't try to fight the sorrow with work aunt Sweetie Belle, you should take some time off to sort things out."

"But what about my f-" I placed a hoof to her mouth.

"They'll understand, well, most of them will. You need to put your health first auntie, now you are going to go home, get a tub of ice cream, sit on the drama couch, cry a little and then you will feel a lot better."

"You are Twilights son aren't you?"

"Pretty sure yeah." She smiled and hugged me.

Eris' POV

I looked upon the gravestone that bore the names of my mother and father, over time I've gotten used to controlling my chaotic tendencies, if it wasn't for Eclipse and Blossom I wouldn't have anything holding me back from taking over, but I knew that would be wrong, the urge was there, just not strong enough to make me do anything.

My mother was the kindest pony you could ever meet, a natural motherly aura emitted from her, that's why the animals like her so much. My father, king of chaos, now lay with my mother. He's lived for thousands of years, he deserves his rest. They had the choice of making mother immortal or father mortal, the chose the ladder. Mother didn't wish to outlive her friends and family, so father dispelled his immortality when mother passed away.

Father and I sat beside each other at the side of a hospital bed where mother lay. She was dying, and everypony knew it. It was a magical disease that couldn't be cured, Dad tried, he was unable to do it.

"Discord....come closer...." Father leaned towards her and she nuzzled him. "Before you dispell your immortality...make sure Twilight and Applejack...make sure they have passed..."

"Why dear?"

"You need to...look out for...the children...Eris, Blossom and...Eclipse..." He took her hoof in his claw and held it tightly.

"I promise my dear." He planted a kiss on her cheek and moved back to his seat.

"Eris..." I walked over to mother and hugged her. "Look after your friends...don't lose sight of what's important."

"I won't mother, I'll stay true to the world. For your sake and mine." She smiled and put a shaky hoof on my shoulder.

"I've watched you grow, seen you develop into a beautiful young mare....it's a shame I won't get to see the grandkids."

"Wh...what do you mean by that?"

"Oh, just that I know of your feelings towards a certain alicorn who's sitting on that hill." We looked out the window to see Eclipse with his back against a tree as he held a flower in his hoof that had three petals, one orange, one purple and the last yellow. "Confess to him, show him your feelings, he'll accept you, he likes you too." I was about to question her but she placed a hoof to my chest. "I think it's time for me to go..." Father sat up and took her hoof in his claw and I did the same.

"Goodbye my dear."

"Goodbye mother."

She smiled and hugged us. She lay back down and closed her eyes. "Here I come Angel..." With that, her soul left her body. I started crying and father hugged me.

Meanwhile Eclipse sat on the hill and watched at the yellow petal fell of the flower. "Four have passed and two remain, one day they shall all be together again. Even though the cause of their death is shallow, they will not follow Tirek into the hallows."

Blossoms POV

I stared at the grave of my mother, always stubborn, always caring, always working herself to the point of exhaustion. Her stubborn pride was the cause of her downfall. The doctors told her that she was in no shape to work on the farm anymore, she was getting old, she couldn't keep up with herself.

Applebloom, an elderly Big Mac, his wife Cheerilee and I sat around my mother as she breathed softly. "Ah should have listened..." We all rose our heads and looked at her, "Ah should have stopped mahself...but as usual, I was my stubborn self and ignored the help and advice that could have saved mah life..."

"I won't say yer wrong sis, but I think that maybe it is your time to go." We looked at Big Mac who was now talking in full sentences for the first time in years.

"Why do ya say that?"

"You've lived yer life, there isn't anything left for ya to do, you might as well join yer friends." I looked at my uncle with disbelief.

"Perhaps yer right..." I looked back to my mother who had a smile on her face. "I think it's time to hang up my seston and join mah friends in Asgard."

"Mom, what are ya saying, ya can't leave."

"I'm sorry sugarcube, this ol girl just can't buck like she used to." She took off her hat and placed it on my head. "You take care of yerself now, and look after that Eclipse boy. Applebloom?"

"Right here sis."

"Make sure the farm is keepin steady, ah don't wanna have to come back ta set ya straight." She chuckled before coughing. "Big Mac, Cheerilee?" They looked at her with tears in their eyes. "See ya soon." With she closed her eyes and let out her final breath.

Eclipse sat on the porch of the house as he looked at the flower, the Orange petal feel off, leaving the purple one alone. "As the sun sets so begins a new day, now another soul has gone away. Life is a blessing to be had, for you are lost if not once sad."

Eclipses POV

I shifted my gaze to the last tombstone, my mothers. I shed a tear and played the memory back in my head.

It was just like any other summit, my mother was called to the crystal empire and I tagged along, being given a lesson on how my royal duties would go. As the conference ended, the four princesses walked out to the balcony to wave to the public, neither mother or my aunts looked a day older than the day Tirek was defeated.

"Well, this has been wonderful seeing you three again, but I am afraid that Luna and I must depart. Please have a safe journey home." We hugged and they were gone in a flash of light. We began walking towards the door of the castle when a group of hooded figures burst through, one with a bow and arrow.

"DOWN WITH THE HIERARCHY!!!" Neither of us had time to react as the arrow shot into my mothers chest.

"MOTHER!!!" I turned towards the group with a burning rage, I was told this was the day my mane became like Lunas and Celestias, only black with a streak of purple, and it was short. I charged my horn and caught them in my magic. They screamed for help as I brought them up into the air , I was about to smash them into the ground when I heard my mothers shaky voice.

"Eclipse...put them down..." I calmed down a little and looked at her, I then lowered them to some guards and they were taken away.

"Twily!"

"Twilight!" Aunt Cadence and uncle Shining ran over to her and tried to heal her with some spells. "It's no use, it's a magical arrow."

"I'm not giving up!" Shining was about to charge his horn when I placed a hoof on his shoulder and shook my head. He looked at me then to mother, tears in his eyes. "Twily no..." A small puddle of blood stared to form underneath her.

"It's ok Shining...it's ok..." I walked over to her side and sat down, I took the arrow in my magic and pulled it out. She didn't flinch, I threw the arrow away and looked at her with saddened eyes. She lifted a hoof and caressed my cheek. "My darling boy, look at you...all grown up, I'm so proud to call myself your mother, I'm sure your father would say the same." I took her hoof in mine and held it tightly.

"You won't be going alone Twilight." We turned to see Discord there, he walked over and hugged my mother. "It's time I leave as well." His claw glowed and his body began to slowly turn to dust, he would die at the same time as my mother. "You were all my greatest enemies...and my very best friends." He turned to me. "You...you take care of my daughter now won't you?"

"I will sir." I turned back to my dying mother with teary eyes. I leaned down and nuzzled her cheek, she planted a kiss on my forehead and smiled. "I'm going to miss you mother."

"I'll miss you too sweetheart." Tears poured from her eyes and she smiled. "I am so proud of you, my sweet little colt." We all hugged as she closed her eyes. "Goodbye, everypony."

"Sayonara my friends." Discord closed his eyes. "Here I come Fluttershy..." With that, they were gone. I pulled out the flower and the last petal fell.

"The final heroine falls, as Mother Nature calls. Now their is only few to see the day, now the new light shines the way."

I closed my eyes and began to speak. "Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship, loving mother and sister. She defended this land along side her friends, all of theses extraordinary mares. Their mission has ended, ours is beginning. I promise to you my sweet mother..." I stood up and placed a small flower on top of her gravestone, "...I will carry on your mission, I will carry that friendship for you." We began to walk out of the cemetery. "I'll make you proud mom."

I didn't notice the ghost of my mother at the grave as I turned around. "You already have."

As I was walking towards the castle I took Eris' claw in my hoof. She smiled and looked down to her stomach, where a large bump had formed. We reached the doors of the castle and walked through to the new throne room. Spike flew down to meet us, he was now a teenage dragon and was as tall as Discord, we nodded and he grinned, he then guided us to the throne room where the steps led to three crystalic thrones. We sat down and watched as the ponies of the town walked in, formed a crowd and bowed. Spike walked up to the crowd and announced us.

"Presenting the new Prince and Princesses of Friendship, Prince Eclipse, Princess Eris and Princess Apple Blossom!" The crowd cheered and I held the two mares hooves, I closed my eyes and thought of one line....

I used to wonder what friendship could be...

Carry That Friendship