Diary of the Dead

Celestia wound her arm up Sunset’s, trying desperately to force the knife from her possession. The deranged girl had a wild look in her eyes, one born out of a pain much deeper than anything Celestia had ever known. While she understood and felt a lot of pity for her student, she also knew that suicide was not the answer. More than that, Sunset had so much she was throwing away all because of the immense pressure she put on herself. Memories of the goldfish experience flooded Celestia’s mind, and she moved with even more purpose. She was almost forced to shove Sunset up against a locker.

“Give me the knife, now!” She commanded.

“No!” Sunset barked back, “I’m joining Fluttershy!”

“Sunset, please,” came the heartachingly pleading voice of Twilight Sparkle, “we love you. Don’t do this!”

“It’s the only way I can pay the debt I owe her!” Sunset cried.

“No, it’s not!” Twilight wailed with tears streaming down her cheeks, “please, Sunset! We’ve already lost Fluttershy! We can’t lose you, too! This school needs you…your friends need you…damn it, I NEED YOU!”

Those words finally broke Sunset’s mind. She began sobbing and sank to a seated position, dropping the weapon in the process. Celestia, thankful for Twilight’s intervention, quickly scooped it up and put it in her pocket for safekeeping. Then, she helped Sunset back to her feet and embraced her. She wanted to reassure the girl that she wasn’t in any trouble for her pain. But, at the same time, she needed to show her that taking such a wild course of action wouldn’t satisfy anything. So, she allowed Sunset to cry on her shoulder as they made their way into her office. Twilight accompanied them, refusing to leave the side of someone she cared for so deeply.

Along the way, Sunset managed to tear herself away from the principal for a few minutes. She walked along with her face to the floor, trying to hide the mountain of hurt that towered over her visage. As she half-walked, half-stumbled towards Celestia’s office, something suddenly caught her eye. It was a book, beautifully coated in yellow with green and pink floral designs. The tome was certainly not something Rainbow Dash would enjoy, but it reminded Sunset so poignantly of the departed. Curious as to its origins, she bent over and picked it up. But by that point, Celestia was kindly urging her along, so she could not open it. But her mind began working on the mystery, feeling some kind of connection to the book. She silently placed it under her leather jacket, thus saving all her questions for later.

In time, they arrived at the office. “Please, have a seat, Sunset. You too, Twilight,” the principal gently ordered as they went inside. When the girls had seated themselves, she continued. “Sunset…I know how much you’re grieving right now. But doing something so drastic as suicide would only cause more pain and heartache.”

“But…it feels like the only way I can repay her,” Sunset said, “Fluttershy meant so much to me, and all I can think about are the methods that I used to torture her.”

“I know that can be difficult,” Celestia responded, “but you must know of her forgiveness and love for you.”

“How could she forgive a soul like mine?” Sunset asked hopelessly. “One so corrupt and full of hate.”

“One that USED to be that way,” Twilight chimed in, “Sunset, you changed. You’re a friend to everybody now, and we can’t lose you. I know Fluttershy’s death has been a massively sad shock to us all, but we must continue living. We all have dreams and plans, and the way to truly honor Fluttershy is to live those things out with kindness and compassion.”

Sunset saw the wisdom in her dear friend’s words and she wondered why she’d made such a drastic decision. All she’d been able to think of was her own selfish pain. She’d been unable to see what a suicidal choice would do to the rest of her friends. She suddenly envisioned them gathered again, only this time, they wept over her death. It scared her back to sensibility, causing more tears to roll. But this time, they were apologetic ones, and she immediately felt the warm embrace of Twilight’s arms, enveloping her in friendship and care. She’d always had a soft spot for her friend, but now, she needed her love more than ever.

Across the wooden desk, Celestia bent forward and smiled. “See, Sunset? Your friends love you and care for you.”

“I know,” Sunset said, sniffing and giving Twilight a thankful look, “I don’t know what I was thinking…or how I could’ve even begun to rip myself away from them. I’m so sorry, Twilight.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Twilight said kindly, “we’re all hurting so badly right now. I understand how it could boil over into an urge to harm one’s self. But that would only impact the pain. It wouldn’t erase it. So…I’m glad you came around, Sunset, because…I don’t know what my life would be like without you in it.”

“I don’t know what my life would be like without you in it,” Sunset said.

“I’m happy this was all straightened out without any further escalation,” Celestia remarked, “but all the same, Sunset, I am bound by school legislation to initiate a punishment for bringing a weapon on school grounds.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sunset responded, “I understand, and I’m ready for whatever you think is best.”

“A week’s suspension should be enough,” Celestia said, “but with that being said, I don’t want you to be alone during this time. So, Twilight, I’m asking you to act as her accountability partner during this time. Visit her regularly, and strengthen your bond. Okay?”

Twilight nodded. “You can count on me, Principal Celestia.”

“Good. Now, then, you’re free to go. Sunset, your suspension will begin starting tomorrow. I feel that you need to be with your friends today.”

Twilight and Sunset thanked the principal for her help before exiting the office. Sunset was embarrassed over her behavior. Her mind had been somewhat reassembled, and she looked to the purple girl walking next to her in thanks. She’d needed the deep warmth and friendliness that Twilight carried, and the intellectual was happy to give freely. Now, Sunset got close to her as they walked along, placing a friendly arm around her shoulder and loving the touch of the hand that met it.

“I…picked something up in the hallway,” she said.

“Really?” Twilight asked, “what?”

Sunset stopped, turned, and produced the book from under her jacket. “It reminds me…of her.”

“Yeah, it does carry a certain ‘Fluttershy’ aesthetic,” Twilight said, “but what do you think it is?”

“I don’t know,” Sunset said, “but there’s one way to find out.”

With that, she flipped open the cover, and the girls gasped at what was written there. In letters as plain as the nose on one’s face, it said: The Diary of Flutter Rose Shy…