Celestia’s sun shined bright as the little woodland creatures chirped and scurried around ponyville. It seemed as though it was like any other day, however, that wasn't the case as within the Ponyville Church of Celestianity; erected by Twilight Sparkle to revive and give hope to Celestians during the war, these hopeless times; where the funeral of the honourable Rainbow A. Dash, a general in the Canterlot Military, was being held. Pews and pews were filled to the brim with ponies close to the general. Standing near the open casket was her right hand mare, Scootaloo, now an amputee wearing a scratched up prosthetic leg, with her chin up, chest out and stomach in she stood in silence to honour her fallen comrade. Scootaloo, who saw General Dash as a sister, mother even, held her tears back to represent the soldier’s bravery in her last moments.

Rainbow laid restful and stiff. She almost looked peaceful but the embalming left her almost puffy. Nevertheless, this is the calmest she had been seen since the war started. Within the pews of ponies you could see her war comrades, her friends, and her family. Windy Whistles, on first appearance seemed calm, almost denying that her daughter's corpse was in that casket. However Bow Hothoof, Rainbow’s father, was violently sobbing next to his dazed wife.

Near the front of the pews was the remaining of the mane six. Pinkie Pie, deflated, held the Cake's twins in her arms and her newborn foal in a stroller in front of her. She held the babies close as she tried not to cry, Rainbow wouldn't want that.

Rarity sat next to Pinkie, holding Sweetiebelle’s urn in her hoofs. Unlike Pinkie, Rarity was VIOLENTLY sobbing, mascara running down her white, pale face. First her sister, now Dashie? She wasn't sure she could handle it anymore.

Applejack had just arrived, grasping the handle of the wheelchair, pushing Applebloom next to the pew as she sat on the chair between her and Rarity. Being here was mind shattering, her wife's dead bullet shot corpse in the casket before her was too much. However she tried her best not to sob uncontrollably for Applebloom’s sake.

Fluttershy sat at the end closest to the aisle. This couldn't be reality. She knew Rainbow since she was a young filly, the mare who defended her honour from bullies in cloudsdale was now lying, lifeless AND bullet shot in a wooden box. She didn't want to believe her eyes but the proof was in the pudding, Rainbow? She was dead.

Finally, just before the ceremony started, Twilight Sparkle arrived. Late as usual. She sat near Fluttershy but did not speak as she reflected on what happened the day prior. Fluttershy noticed and she glanced in Twilight’s direction.

“Twilight…” Fluttershy greeted in a most stuffy manner. “I’m not going to make a scene. I am here for Rainbow Dash. Y’know one of my BEST friends.”

“So am i…” Twilight refuted. “It’s a shame that this happened to her.”

Fluttershy turned her nose to her and scoffed, “tsk, you say that but you didn't even get here on time.” Stunted by what Fluttershy said, she became quiet. The chattering in the church hall began to dim as the church father stood before them and began to speak.

“We gather you here today, to honor the passing of Rainbow A. Dash who fought honorably until her last moments.” Father Filthy Rich spoke as he began the funeral ceremony. He went into reminding everyone about who Rainbow was as a pony and how she would be missed, throwing in some disrespectful zingers here and there. He was working on that. Twilight gave him a dirty look.

Filthy Rich noticed the look and cleared his throat, “Moving on, Let us have a moment of silence before some of Rainbow’s close loved ones come up to speak about her.” And as the silence passed, Scootaloo approached the stand.

“Hello everypony, Rainbow Dash was my commanding officer but she was more like a sister, a mother even, too me. I'm incredibly sorry about your loss, so many are here today. Rainbow Dash taught me how to hold a gun and shoot, she taught me how to hide for cover. During the war I learned so much from her. It's an honor to stand by her side even in death… Why couldn't it have been me… if Rainbow had lived maybe we could win the wa-” Scootaloo was pushed off the stage abruptly.

After Scootaloo was hurried off the stage, other close attendees went up to speak. Applejack spoke about her memories and history with Rainbow that resulted in them falling in love. The wonderbolts performed a song in remembrance of their lost retired member. Even Gilda went up and presented a gut wrenching poem she had written about her old, life long friend. Many tears were shed and sobs wept until the ceremony was over and they had moved onto the reception.

As the ponies attending mingled, the mood in the room didn't change. In the corner near the cider was Applejack, downing pints of that sweet, sweet apple acre brew one by one, Rarity by her side as she comforted her, both crying and wailing tears of rivers as they went. Scootaloo accompanied Applebloom, the now crippled Apple family member, sharing her yarns of war tales. Applebloom didn't want to hear it but what could she do? She couldn't speak or move, all she could do is endure. Pinkie, now reunited with the soldier who saved her and the twin’s lives from the enemy’s attack and also the father of her new baby, embraces and Pinkie silently sobbed. Surely, it would be okay to shed just one tear for Dashie now.

Twilight looked around as she took another drink of water, she saw Rainbows parents and walked up to them. Windy was still calm but seemed much more down, as Twilight talked, she began reminiscing of Rainbow Dash's accomplishments.

“And when Rainbow Dash had to clear the sky, I helped her out,” Twilight proudly said. Windy smiled and seemed pleased to be talking about her precious daughter, Bow continued to cry. That's when Fluttershy overheard, and headed over to correct Twilight.

Fluttershy furiously but calmly said, “ Actually she cleared the sky herself…”. Her eyes squinted with attitude and Twilight scoffed.

“I thought you said you weren't going to make a scene.” Twilight spoke faintly aloof.

“And I thought today would be the one day that wouldn't be all about ‘Princess Twilight Sparkle’ but I guess we were both wrong.”

Twilight turnt her nose to Fluttershy, her face looked as though Fluttershy had just committed treason. “Unlike you, Fluttershy, I'm actually talking about our dear friend Rainbow Dash in a positive manner. It's not my fault she hung out with me more...“ She remarked snarkly.

Fluttershy’s face contorted and her eyes widened with pure confoundment, she was livid, she didn't understand how Twilight could say such a thing. “You say that but then brag about crap you didn't even do… at a funeral… of a celestian MILITARY SOLDIER… I MEAN COME ON, TWILIGHT, ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!?” the more Fluttershy would ramble, the more her head would fill with incandescent rage.

Everyone stopped. They turned their heads to the scene unfolding, shocked. Twilight felt bad, as this was the mare she loved and cherished but seeing as Fluttershy made her point and she had a reputation to hold up as a mature, almost godly royal, she forced a smirk and a small titter before she let the words fall through her lips. “Now now, Fluttershy. Calm down, you're making a scene.”

That was it. Fluttershy was beyond mad… Twilight has the audacity to say SHE'S making a scene. Twilight turned away and addressed the crowd of ponies who began to stare “alright everypony, who wants to hear more stories about my friend Dashie?” she proudly announced.

“Twilight, you stuck up, nerd horse, shut your damn mouth and respect our dead friend! Get your pointy, horned head out of your PLOT and stop thinking about yourself for once.” Fluttershy turning the attention back onto her, blurting. She was fuming. “Our friend is DEAD and you just keep making it about yourself!”

Twilight barely turns her head to Fluttershy and she scoffs, “like you’re one to speak, I mean, look at you now.”

Fluttershy could feel something inside of her snap. She had been pushed too far. She tossed a chair at Twilight and she dodged. Since Twilight was a royal princess she couldn't just fight back in front of such a grouping of ponies, she had a reputation. Twilight tried using reason, but it was useless on the enraged pegasus.
Fluttershy tossed forks and spoons at Twilight while she teleported to dodge all of them. They shuffled across the room, things getting tossed left and right, almost like a dance.

“Fluttershy this is USELESS” Twilight screamed.

“SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP” Fluttershy screamed. “YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN ATTENTION SEEKING, MAN STEALING SLUT!”

As twilight continued to dodge she let out a forced chuckle, “Oh for Celestia’s sake, GET OVER YOURSELF, FLUTTERSHY! You can't really think you're above me when all you are is a drug addicted, manic WHORSE!”

THAT was the FINAL straw. Fluttershy now nearing the casket, just wanted Twilight to shut the clop up. Fluttershy in her blind rage, and Twilight nearing, pushed the casket at her. A gasp filled the room, including screams as the body of Rainbow A. Dash lay limp out the box.

Her body contorted and her mane laid back revealing a bullet wound in the middle of her forehead. The crowd was HORRIFIED. As the ponies clambered to the body a creak from the door could be heard. A bright light was now emanating from the door. The radiance from the enormous door dwindled as the towering silhouette revealed itself. It was none other than Equestria’s ruler, Princess Celestia.

She looked around at the scene, as the ponies around her one by one began to stare, realising who was standing before them. They all began to bow except for the two fighting ponies and Applebloom of course since all she could do was sit in her wheelchair. She gleamed over them and stared before gently coughing to get their attention.

“What is the meaning of this?” Celestia demanded in a booming yet silky voice. Everypony shivered in fright and backed away from their Princess. Twilight soon noticed and bowed as she tried to explain herself.

“You see, Fluttershy has recently been having these episodes and this has got to be the WORST one yet,” she nervously told Celestia, sweat pouring from her face. An eerie silence now haunted the church halls.

This now put Fluttershy on the spot and she apprehensively started to speak, “That's wrong, Twilight started all of this. First she stole my love, Discord, away and slept with him on her floor,” Celestia looked at Twilight with disgust at the dirty remark Fluttershy made. “and now s-shes making lies about Rainbow Dash for power. Your student has been acting so… REPULSIVE RECENTLY!”

Celestia examined the scene, seeing her personally appointed royal general’s dead lifeless body slowly slipping out of the casket onto the oak paneled floor. Fluttershy’s hysterical appearance and the miscellaneous items scattered on the ground. She began to understand what had happened. Celestia whipped her wings open and stood up tall. “SILENCE.” Her voice traveled through the steeple. She used her magic to freeze the two ponies in their place.

“Guards, take Miss Shy into custody. We will prepare to send her off to the ward immediately, she is clearly not sane enough for the public.” As the guards arrested Fluttershy Celestia glared menacingly at Twilight. “As for you, my so called perfect student. I am GRAVELY disappointed in you.” with that the glowing dimmed as she left the church.

Fluttershy was taken to the Ponyville Psyche Ward and it did not look like she was being let out anytime soon. Celestia's guards soon took hold of Fluttershy, she screamed and thrashed about trying to be let go but it was no use. A slight murmur could be heard from the attendees as Fluttershy's screams from outside could not be heard. Twilight, now with a torn heart from losing her love and losing her teacher’s respect, began to weep. Now the purple alicorn was alone. She had nothing left.

TO BE CONTINUED...?

Author's Note

This has been one wild ride, the next chapter is the last one.
it's been fun writing this story for you.