Diary of the Dead

It was terribly difficult to return to school. The hallways were the same, the classrooms were the same, but nobody felt the same. Fluttershy had made such a huge impact on everyone through her quiet kindness. Attending their beloved institution without her just didn’t feel right. It was especially hard on Sunset and her friends, who couldn’t take a step without crying over some memory of days long past. But, through their mutual support and love, they managed to make it to their first class. In irony’s ever mounting cruel streak, it just so happened to be biology with Ms. Cheerilee…Fluttershy’s favorite subject.

Will the pain ever leave me? Sunset asked herself as she sat at her desk. The previous few days had been a near impossibility for her. She’d hauled herself out of bed that morning, exhausted from another night filled with tears and terrible dreams. Her mind constantly replayed scenes from when she was a bully. Regrets tortured her soul, and she felt that the only way to make up for it was to do something drastic. Her body suffered the consequences, as she refused to eat very much. So, she arrived at her desk that morning cold, hungry, tired, and very lonely. She felt like she was the only person in the world going through this. Somewhere, she registered that her friends would never stop loving her. But unfortunately, these feelings were very easy to suppress.

“Good morning, class,” Cheerilee said solemnly as she took her spot at the front of the room, “I want to welcome you all this morning. I know we’re all going through such a trying time right now. But I want to assure you that the faculty and I are open to discussion. If any of you need someone to talk with, we’re all here. Also, if you need to take a moment out in the hallway, simply ask and I won’t stop you.”

“Ms. Cheerilee?” A voice asked as a blue hand shot up.

“Yes? What is it, Trixie?”

“The Great and Powerful Trrrrixie…is concerned,” Trixie said with a shocking sense of honesty, “I mean, Fluttershy was our friend…and now she’s suddenly gone. What happens if one of our other friends goes?”

“Oh, don’t even bring it up!” Bon-Bon suddenly exclaimed, inching closer to her best friend, Lyra.

Cheerilee sighed. In all her years molding young minds, this was the most difficult thing she’d ever had to do. She now had to try and explain death to these hurting, distraught teenagers. It would be easy to just pull out a science book and point to a chart. But that would be disingenuous…and even somewhat hurtful. She had to make them see that death was not something to be feared and that it was not going to take their friends away right then. But even so, people in grave mourning were apt to believe anything. She was worried that she might stumble and minimize the departed’s demise.

“Look, everyone,” she said, “I understand what you’re all going through. Fluttershy was an amazing student, with a sharp mind and a love for everything taught to her. That was especially true in my classes of science and nature. She brought a joy to the class that was unique to herself. Her personality shone through in every single project, and every last assignment. But more than that, she brightened my day when she walked through my door. The point is, death comes for everyone eventually. But we mustn’t remember Fluttershy for her death, we must remember her for her life. Think of all the amazing things you got to experience with her, the wonderful friendships you shared with her. That will get you through this, and all of the other sad times in life.”

Everyone realized the wisdom in the teacher’s words. Though a few tears were shed, they fell with a sense of purpose. Droplets carried kind, warm happiness from the eye down to the very heart itself. Fluttershy would not have wanted them to weep in hopelessness and despair. No, she’d want them to cry happy tears. She’d want them to remember the embraces, the laughs, and the smiles. Soon, everyone began chattering among themselves, relaying different times that the kindhearted girl helped them.

“There you go,” Cheerilee said when everything subsided.

“Thanks, Ms. Cheerilee,” Trixie said, wiping some tears away, “I needed that.”

“I think we all did,” the teacher responded in a voice thick with emotion, “now, Principal Celestia has asked us to observe a moment of silence in Fluttershy’s memory. We will do so, starting…now.”

It was the longest moment of anyone’s life. For Sunset Shimmer, the time was heavily weighted. It only gave her cause to think of the terrible things she did to Fluttershy. They whipped her brain, showing her a severely distorted picture of her relationship with the animal lover. She bent her head into her arms and began sobbing all over again, unable to take the terrifying pain any longer. Then, in a sudden fit of terrible emotion, she jumped up from her desk and raced from the classroom towards her locker. There was something hidden within that, she thought, might help erase the horrifying hurt forever.

But Twilight chased after her, and they ran right by Celestia’s office, and soon, the faculty member initiated pursuit. With her best friend and most trusted teacher hot on her heels, she knew she had to ramp up the speed. So, she put on a burst and managed to beat them back to her locker. She quickly put in the combination, yanking the lock off and frantically flying through the contents. Then, she found what she was looking for: a retractable knife. She flipped it open, admiring the silver gleam of its menacing blade. She turned and saw Twilight and Celestia approaching. The looks on their faces went from determined to desperately horrified when they saw the sharp tool.

Sunset held it to her neck. “I’m joining her!” She cried as tears flooded her cheeks, “I’M FUCKING JOINING HER!”

“SUNSET, NO!” Celestia barked sternly.

“There’s so much to live for!” Twilight pleaded, “please, don’t do this!”

“There’s nothing to live for,” Sunset said as Twilight and Celestia approached, “nothing at all!”

“Yes, there is!” Twilight said as tears burned at her eyes, “there’s all our friends, this school, your dreams!”

“My dreams mean NOTHING!” Sunset roared as she prepared to plunge the knife into her jugular, “not as long as I have so much to regret! I don’t deserve to live while Fluttershy rots in a box six feet beneath some God forsaken graveyard!”

“Sunset, stop this at once!” Celestia commanded, getting around behind the girl and grabbing her arm, “Twilight’s right! There’s so much more to live for!”

“BUT THERE ISN’T!”

“Damn it, Sunset, I’ve already lost one of my best students this week! I am NOT about to lose another! Now, for the love of God, drop the knife!”

To be continued…