The tranquil ambiance of the Apple family orchard was broken as Sorain and Big Mac strolled down one of the many paths that stretched across the vast area of land. Soarin shook his head before turning to his brother in law. "You know you have to get all dressed up-"
"Ah' am dressed up," Big Mac interrupted. "You see mah' hair stickin' up anywhere?" he continued as he flicked his main back. They took a few more steps in silence before Big Mac spoke again. "Listen," He stopped walking before turning to face his friend. "There's one more thing ya' have t' do fer me."
Soarin sighed, "You can't keep me away from the pie."
Big Mac raised his hoof before pausing briefly. "Ya' have t' forgive yourself fer everything that went down the other day."
Soarin started to chuckle. "You are so annoying," he said as he shook his head, continuing to smile. Big Mac gave him a slight smirk and soft a shrug. Sorain stopped chuckling when he saw how serious Mac was. He gave him a firm nod before saying, "Alright."
Big Mac nodded. "Good," he said, giving him a toothy smile.
Soarin smiled back before asking, "Now where's your yoke? Aren't you going to give the little ones wagon rides?"
Behind him Rainbow Dash gently touched down onto the grass, her wings flapping several times making sure she was stable before folding in on themselves. "What about wagons?" She asked softly.
Soarin turned to her a big smile on his face. "You know, The wagon rides." He nodded his head over to where Big Mac was. "Everyone holding on for dear life as we take a ride through town celebrating my son's birthday? AJ's family all gushing over him like they knew him for years?"
She paused mid step. Slowly she tilted her head forward before asking, "Where do you think we are?"
Sorain turned back to Big Mac, expecting him to explain the plan to her, only to find that he wasn't there. Slowly his smile began to vanish as the dark reality of today started to take hold. He turned around to face Dash, his face struggling to maintain his broken smile. She gave him a concerned look as Soarin lowered his head before he walked off the path and into a clearing full of grave markers. She followed without a word spoken, looking at the back of his head as she searched for answers. Further in sat chairs, each one facing a single casket surrounded by hundreds of flowers. Silently, they took their seats in the front row.
As the two sat there in silence ponies of all walks of live began to gather. Applejack with her sister, Apple Bloom, took their seats next to Soarin, their pain known to all, no matter how they wished it wasn't. Fluttershy, A noticeable bump on her stomach, took her seat and instantly leaned against Rainbow Dash for support. Together they shed silent tears over the one who was no longer with them. Over time more and more ponies began to show,each one holding either entire arrangements of flowers or cards that would be placed with the casket. The last two to show, Pinkie Pie and Caramel, took their seats behind grief stricken stallion. Both giving whatever support they could give to their friends.
Soarin, however, didn't notice any of this. His focus was solely on a simple photo of the Red Stallion who was now lost to them. He didn't notice Twilight's eulogy, nor Celestia's royal guards firing their horns into the sky in a show of respect that only they can show. No, all Soarin saw where the kind green eyes of a friend he grew to love as a brother. Even as Applejack laid her head on top of his shoulder to help carry the burden and Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on his, his eyes never left those green orbs. He refused to look away; refused to allow his friend to enter the dark alone. And only when the casket was lowered did his walls start to break and his emotions start to seep out of him as tears. Soarin face clenched together as he desperately fought the urge to weep. Even as hundreds if not thousands of ponies bowed their heads in joined sorrow he refused to open up to his greef. He just stared into the green eyes of his brother, slowly becoming lost in them.
Fin
