The sky was gray and rain fell from the sky as Big Mac walked down the dirt road to Ponyville Cemetery with a small filly at his side. A yellow rose was in his mouth, the same shade as Fluttershy and her daughter. Big Mac remembered the filly's birth. She had looked so tiny, so fragile, so much like her mother. She was a pegasus with Fluttershy's coat and Big Mac's mane. They named her Applelily, and she blossomed. But then came the Windigos two years later, and although the Element Bearers had defeated them, Fluttershy became sick. She died a few months later, on the first day of spring.
The funeral had been a quiet one. Fluttershy's friends were there, as well as the residents of Sweet Apple Acres. The animal residents of Flutter's cottage had come too, unusually quiet and subdued. Angel had refused to let any ponies bury her, so the animals were the ones to cover her coffin with dirt. Her headstone was engraved with her cutie mark and a message.
Fluttershy: Element of Kindness
A loving mother and a caring friend. May kindness
and compassion always be shown to those who need it.
Arriving at the grave, Big Mac gazed at the words sadly, remembering her. The sun on her coat, her silky mane, her beautiful teal eyes, her laugh when Applelily did something cute. Everything that made her perfect. Looking down at the filly crouched beside him, he felt compelled to say something. So he did. "Your mother was a wonderful pony, little Lily. She'll always be in our hearts."
"But I don't remember her," the small pegasus sniffled, tears running down her face. "How is she in my heart if I can't remember her?"
Big Mac paused, contemplating how to best answer the question. "She just is."
"How?"
"Magic," he responded, nuzzling the crying filly. "Magic."
"O-okay," Applelily responded, nuzzling her dad back. Silently, she placed something down on her mother's grave, just like Big Mac was doing with the rose.
As they walked off, she glanced back. For a moment, she thought she saw Fluttershy leaning over the grave, reading the words on the now-soggy paper heart. Then Fluttershy turned around with a sad smile on her face, and Applelily heard a whisper on the wind. I love you too, dear one.
