Hey there, it's me, Twilight.

It's been three days since we got back from that terrible world on the other side of that weird mirror portal. All that place had for my family and friends was nothing but pain and suffering. I hope that Sunset person and her friends can fix things up over there. Poor Princess Luna must be working overtime to keep all of our nightmares at bay.

Fenrir's death has been hard on me. I'm used to waking up in his warm embrace. Now, when I wake up, I don't have that anymore. Not only that, but just not having him around period isn't easy. I loved him more than anyone will ever realize.

It's been even harder for Kara, though. There's a special bond between a father and his daughter, and that was very true in our family. Now that he's gone, that bond is broken, and so is she. She hardly smiles right now, she doesn't laugh, she spends almost all day inside... she's just not taking it well. I want so bad to fix this, make her pain go away... but I can't.

Today was the funeral. We held it back at the hive. Everybody who went to that messed up human world attended, even all the princesses. They may not have really been friends yet, but they wanted to come for two reasons. They wanted to pay their respects for his sacrifice, and they also wanted to be there for my comfort. They still see me as they did seventeen years ago, and so none of them want me to go through this alone.

I had to explain how funerals at the hive were handled as they're handled differently in Equestria. Unlike ponies, changelings don't bury their dead. It all starts with a service where up to seven close hivemates get to speak for a fair bit about their best memories. After that is what's known as the "Guiding touch", where one hundred of us walk up, one at a time, and place our right hoof on the body, close our eyes, and offer up a short, silent prayer for safe passage into the afterlife. After that's done, the queen will walk up and recite a rehearsed speech while giving her own guiding touch. When all that is said and done, the body is then taken to the soul garden and placed upon a funeral pyre. The changeling who was closest to the deceased will take a torch and lay it against the bottom right corner of the pyre facing towards the garden entrance. The flames are supposedly strongest on the side facing the garden entrance (Don't ask me how this is, it's just said to be that way), and are supposed to deter the departing soul from going in the wrong direction. The last thing to be done is sing a tune after the flames reach the body. After the ceremony is over, the queen will sit through a silent vigil throughout the night until dawn. The ashes are spread across the garden grounds as the sun reaches its zenith the following day, and our queen will sit through a vigil to make sure the ashes are not disturbed until that time.

Anyway, as I entered the hall of memories, I couldn't help but notice that everyone from Equestria was already sat up near the front. Kara wanted to be the first one to speak at the service, so she was standing up near the podium. As much as she wanted to do this, I could tell by looking at her that it was going to be really difficult. Poor thing, I really hate it for her. Soon after I took my seat beside Princess Celestia (Kind of fitting, given our past), the service started. Kara was the first to speak, as she had requested.

"I want to start off by saying 'Thank you' for so many things," She said, "Thank you for always being there for me, for always believing in me, for helping me up when I fell in life, for guiding me when I was lost, and for just being the best dad in the world. No matter how sad I was, you could make me smile and laugh. While I was training with the Navy, you gave me all kinds of support. When I got scared, you were always there to hold me and keep me safe. You're the biggest reason I'm where I am today, and I won't ever be able to thank you enough for that".

She held it together surprisingly well for a short bit, but it was not to last. Before she could finish, she excused herself from the podium and then turned and walked out back. I then excused myself and went after her. I found her just outside the room, clutching tightly to a picture from her first birthday (Where she'd gotten that in such a short span of time, I will never know). I walked over and pulled her close. She was really hurting, and I wanted her to know I was there for her, to help ease that pain.

When we finally went back in, the others were getting ready to start the "Guiding touch". Kara and I were allowed to line up in front as we were Fenrir's family. When she went up, Kara did something none of us expected. She'd finished her silent prayer, then reared up, bent over, and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. She went and sat down afterwards. When I had finished my touch, I went and took my seat right beside her. She leaned up against my side as soon as I sat down. After about ten minutes, mother walked up and gave her speech.

"Fenrir, you were a great part of this hive, a friend to all, a beloved hivemate," She said, "As we lay you to rest this passing day, I pray that you find your way to the Heavens, guided by all those that love you. The legacy you have left behind will never be forgotten, forever immortalized in each and every one of us. Good bye, dear friend, may you find peace at last as you walk through the eternal gardens above".

After her speech, we all rose and followed mother out to the soul garden. After Fenrir's body was laid out on the pyre, a torch was lit and given to me. I then walked down and gently placed the torch in the right most corner. Within moments, the bottom log caught, and the flames started to rise up. As soon as the flames reached the top, mother started the song.

Ieyui
Nobomeno
Renmiri
Yojuyogo
Hasatekanae
Kutamae

We sang those lyrics over five times as the body was engulfed, and the soul released. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have tears running down my face by the end of it. After the flames finally died down, the ceremony was over. The vast majority of us went back inside to go about the rest of the day, but mother, Kara, the Equestrians, and I stayed outside in the garden for a short while. Mother was going to sit through her silent vigil until the rise of the sun tomorrow morning. After a short bit, Kara and I said our good byes to the Equestrians and then took our place by mother's side as they left. It's going to be a long night, but we're willing to sit through it all.

I wonder what Fenrir is doing right now. Knowing him, he's probably enjoying a nice time by some ethereal beach if there is one.

Author's Note

This'll be the last sad chapter for quite some time (Yes, there will be more).

Also, what's your opinion on my version of a changeling funeral? Do you like it? Do you hate it? I'd really love to see what you think of it.

And what's the tune they sang at the end of the ceremony? It's the "Hymn of the Fayth" from Final Fantasy X. The hymn by itself is beautiful, but watch the scene known as "The Sending", it's moving to be certain. Here's a video of it if you don't want to look it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PWC6vUext0