Diary of the Dead

The group of friends were determined to find out the truth behind what happened to Fluttershy. It all began at her memorial service which was devoid of a casket and a body. This didn’t strike anyone as being particularly odd, as some memorials are conducted in such a manner. For, after all, who wants to view their dead loved one? It would have been much too painful. Even so, Mrs. Shy was inconsolable, crying as if the very world were ending. In her case, it probably was. Though, with the odd journal entries, Fluttershy’s friends could no longer see any need to weep greatly. Sure, they shed a tear or two, but other than that, they were rather stoic.

The absence of any type of coffin did have an impact on one person. Sunset thought it strange to have absolutely nothing to remember Fluttershy by. Unless, of course, there was some type of sacred tradition in the Shy family. Perhaps some type of religious belief or personal choice kept them from having the funeral with the casket in sight. Either way, the front of the sanctuary looked rather empty…suspiciously empty. Sunset began to ask herself a lot of questions, but thought it wise to keep them secret until the time was right. She also planned to interrogate some members of Fluttershy’s family. She had no need to do so to the fallen’s close friends, as they were all just as curious as she was.

What secrets could you possibly be hiding? She asked herself.

When the service ended, a small organ piece was played as the family rose. Since there were no pallbearers, they walked out first. Everyone followed suit. They’d all been told that, while their presence was greatly appreciated, they would not be allowed to attend the burial. Once again, this didn’t strike anyone in particular. A lot of graveside services were just for the family and a few very close friends. But when Sunset and her group were among those left behind at the church, it drove her even further into suspicion. She began to think that, perhaps, Fluttershy’s family was keeping something from the rest of the group.

She eventually cornered one of Fluttershy’s cousins, Breezy Way. The poor girl was absolutely hysterical, crying to the point of being in pain. Her black dress was layered over with tears, a fashion choice not uncommon to the mourner. She sniffled a bit and tried to gather herself together to answer Sunset’s questions. But every time Sunset brought up the allegedly departed, Breezy burst into tears all over again. It seemed that she and Fluttershy had been inseparable in their love of flora and fauna. Sunset knew raw, pure emotion when she saw it, so she decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

Moving across the room, she found another of Flutter’s cousins. His name was Pine Forest and, much like his moniker’s inspiration, he was rather tall. But, Sunset was able to face him unflinchingly, despite his intimidating stature. She noted that he wasn’t in hysterics like Breezy had been, nor was he very stoic either. He just seemed rather indifferent to the whole affair. Losing a family member was difficult, and his nonchalance sparked yet another wave of suspicion in Sunset’s body.

“You’re Pine Forest, right?” She asked as she stood in front of him.

“Yeah, that’s my name. Don’t wear it out.”

“Mm-hmm,” Sunset said, “I’m Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy’s very close friend.”

“Oh, yeah, Sunset Shimmer,” Pine quipped, “Fluttershy used to talk a lot about you at our family reunions. At first, she would tell us how you’d bully her. But then, for some reason, you two became good friends. It’s almost like…magic!”

You have no idea, Sunset thought. Out loud, she chuckled awkwardly. “Right…magic, yeah. Look, I’m speaking with all of her family members and offering my moral support. I can imagine how much pain a tragedy like this must cause you.”

“You know, Sunset, it’s funny, but…I don’t feel pain,” Pine said.

“You don’t?”

He shook his head. “No, and…I feel guilty for not feeling any. I mean, Fluttershy and I were never very close, but we were still on good terms with each other. I just wonder…why I don’t feel any pain. I mean, she was my cousin…my friend. I…I should feel something, shouldn’t I?”

Like a bloodhound on the trail, Sunset felt she’d stumbled across something important. Her eyes moved up and down her subject’s face, trying to see any telltale signs of dishonesty. It was very suspicious for a close family member to feel nothing at a funeral. It also fell in line that he might have been trying to cover something up. But at the same time, Sunset also realized that his lack of interest could simply stem from a poor relationship with Fluttershy. Perhaps he was embarrassed by it, so he claimed friendship in an effort to shovel dirt over the problem.

“I guess not everyone cries at funerals,” she said in an awkward attempt to keep him in the dark about her true efforts. Thankfully, she spied Twilight softly waving her over. “Oh, there’s my friend. I really need to go, but it was nice talking with you!”

“It was nice talking with you too,” Pine said as she walked off.

After making her way to the purple girl, the two nonchalantly strutted out of the church doors and into the grass outside. “I noticed you were chatting up a number of her family members,” Twilight said.

“I was,” Sunset said.

“Good,” Twilight said, “so was I.”

“I guess great minds think alike,” Sunset said with a humorous gleam in her eye, “but tell me…what did you find?”

“I spoke with a cousin of hers, Sky Shine,” Twilight responded, “and she was behaving in a very odd manner.”

Sunset was just about to ask what kind of manner when their friends suddenly showed up. They all began talking at once, as if they were reporters in a very busy newsroom. It seemed that Sunset wasn’t the only one with a suspicion at the lack of a body. Rarity reported that two of Fluttershy’s family members were rather shifty during the whole proceedings. Rainbow Dash and Applejack said that they caught snickers coming from the booths behind them during the funeral itself. Finally, Pinkie Pie claimed that the cake on the dessert table was made from a fake cake mix!

“Um, Pinkie? We’re trying to solve Fluttershy’s disappearance, not the cake’s ingredients,” Sunset said, rolling her eyes.

“But the cake was a lie!” Pinkie whimpered, “I trusted it…and it betrayed me!”

“Somethin’ tells me the cake ain’t the only thing gallivantin’ around the truth here,” Applejack said.

“I think you’re right, AJ,” Sunset said, “we’ve gotta get back to the diary. Maybe Fluttershy’s entries are hiding clues we didn’t see before. Come on!”