I Am Stretched On Your Grave
Shining Armor
Always Loyal, Dependable, and Loving
Husband, Brother, Son, Leader
Born December 4, 1462
Felled in Battle, June 8, 1496
"That's it?! That's all he gets?!" I wail into the night. It's been three months since his passing, and I still can't believe that's all my aunt saw fit to place on his headstone. "My husband deserves a statue in the Sculpture Gardens for what he did!" I scream to the cold night air.
It's become a routine for me. Every night at 7:00 I make my way to his modest headstone in the modest military cemetery where he rests. I set down a dozen beautiful roses, read the inscription, lay down, and weep. I weep for the stallion I still love more than anypony or anything in all of Equestria. I weep for his absence. I weep for his woeful under appreciation in death.
I weep because it's all I can do.
Shining Armor
Always Loyal, Dependable, and Loving
Husband, Brother, Son, Leader
Born December 4, 1462
Felled in Battle, June 8, 1496
"What about everypony he saved?! The ponies he sacrificed himself for?! Couldn't they have at least mentioned that?!" I wail to the stars. It doesn't bother me so much that his deeds aren't mentioned on his grave. Deep down I know that telling the world of all the amazing things my husband did in life won't bring him back. Nothing ever would. It doesn't matter anymore that he gave his own life so the rulers of Equestria could get to safety. It doesn't matter anymore that his actions almost singlehoofedly stopped a rebellion against Canterlot.
It doesn't matter because he's gone. He always will be gone. I can't change that. Twilight couldn't change that. Not even Princess Celestia and all of her magical might could bring him back. We all tried to bring him back. Once we found his body we spent days doing everything we could with our magic to bring him back. There was nothing we could do. So here I am, weeping. I weep because he gave his life to protect me, and I have no way to repay my debt to him. I weep because of his absence when I go to bed at night. I weep because I'm lost without him.
I weep because it's all I can do.
Shining Armor
Always Loyal, Dependable, and Loving
Husband, Brother, Son, Leader
Born December 4, 1462
Felled in Battle, June 8, 1496
I wipe the leaves away and rest my hoof on his headstone. I bury my head into the grass and sob. I've already lost my desire to scream into the air. I know it won't accomplish anything. I feel the strength leaving my body as the Moon begins to shine down on me. I collapse into the grass and continue to sob. My long mane is as frazzled as it was when I was held prisoner in the caves, but I don't care.
I don't care about anything right now. I don't care about anything that isn't my Shining Armor. I don't care about the ponies around that are staring. I don't care about the cold of the night leaving me numb. I don't care, so I weep. I weep because I miss him. I weep because he's not there when I need him. I weep because I'm angry, I weep because I'm broken.
I weep because it's all I can do.
Shining Armor
Always Loyal, Dependable, and Loving
Husband, Brother, Son, Leader
Born December 4, 1462
Felled in Battle, June 8, 1496
"Why did you go?!" I scream at the headstone. "Why did you have to stay behind?! Why did you have to be so selfish?! Did you even think about me?! Did it even cross your mind to say goodbye?!" I feel my ever so slight resolve fading as quickly as it came. "Did you think about me? Did I cross your mind?" My voice lowers to a ragged whisper as my sobs began to permeate the night sky again.
I know deep down all of my anger is irrational. I accept that. It just helps to replace the emptiness in me. Ever since he left there's been a dull weight in my stomach. A weight that would be lifted if he were still here to fill the void. But he isn't here anymore, so I weep. I weep because I can't think straight without him. I weep because I can't sleep without him. I weep because I know that I was the only thing he could think about when he made his final sacrifice. I weep because I know he saved my life too.
I weep because it's all I can do.
Shining Armor
Always Loyal, Dependable, and Loving
Husband, Brother, Son, Leader
Born December 4, 1462
Felled in Battle, June 8, 1496
I feel a hoof rest on my shoulder. When I look up, I see my aunt standing over me. Princess Celestia, Harbinger of the Sun, offering me her comfort. Even in my state of mourning, her presence humbles me. I lower my head in a meager attempt to bow, but she stops me.
"There's no need for that right now, Cadence. I'm here to offer any comfort I can, not to issue a decree."
Her gentleness warms my heart, but it's not enough. As soon as I turn my head back to where he rests, I weep. I weep because nothing can ever fill the void that he left in my life. I weep because I would do anything to spend one more night with him. I weep because I would do anything just to gaze into his eyes one last time. I weep because there isn't a single pony in all of Equestria that could ever replace him.
I weep because it's all I can do.
Shining Armor
Always Loyal, Dependable, and Loving
Husband, Brother, Son, Leader
Born December 4, 1462
Felled in Battle, June 8, 1496
I feel the warmth of a wing draped across my form. I feel Princess Celestia pull me tightly against her. I hear sniffle, and I can tell she's fighting back tears of her own. Princess Celestia, Harbinger of the Sun, mourning my husband. Neither of us speak again. She doesn't know what to say, and I've said everything I can. So we simply lay, stretched on his grave. I could lay here for all eternity. I could lay here and pretend he's not gone. When I'm here, we're only separated by six feet of dirt.
I lay here, just six feet away from him, but it might as well be light years. I'll never see him again. Not in this life. No matter how badly I want him back, I can't have him. It breaks my heart to know that, so I weep. I weep because I still crave his gentle touch. I weep because I still crave the warmth of his body against mine. I weep because I don't know how to live without him.
I weep because it's all I can do.
