It was raining…
It was a hard rain…
The kind of rain of rain that washes the slime off the streets. Twilight looked out of the window at the streets beyond and felt hollow inside.
“You know, Spike, she told me that she liked the rain because it felt like it could refresh and restore everything”
“I didn’t know that” the small dragon replied. “Actually, there wasn’t a lot I knew about her”
“Not a lot of ponies did” Twilight spat bitterly and turned away from the window. “You’d think that the one that saved my life would be somepony I knew”
“You can’t know them all, Twilight”
“No, but I should” Twilight shook her head sadly. “I think I can count about a dozen times I had anything other than mail things to talk to her about”
“Rarity says that they used to be rivals when they were fillies – beat her in a competition once”
“Really? What in?” asked Twilight with a weak smile.
“Some sort of designing contest” Spike shrugged. “I’ve made some soup for you if you want it”
“Not really hungry”
“No, but she wouldn’t want you to starve on her account”
“Spike?” Twilight questioned as the dragon walked towards the kitchen, “When did you ever get so wise?”
“When I had you for a big sister and a…” he paused.
“A what?”
“A mom” and Twilight’s heart broke a little more.
“I haven’t been much of a mother to you, Spike – I keep making you do the chores and do stuff”
“Awww – that’s just your bratty big sister side showing” Spike smiled and put a claw on Twilight’s side. “You know, Twilight, she wouldn’t want you to starve and make yourself ill” and she let herself be led to the dining table where a bowl of soup waited for her. “She was a friend to me too, Twi”
“I didn’t know”
“Oh yeah… She is… was a great comic book fan. That is where I went every Wednesday afternoon”
“Should I tell Rarity you are cheating on her?” Twilight managed a weak joke.
“Nah, she already knows”
“Oh” Twilight ate in silence for a while before something started to nag her mind. “Did she have any relatives?”
“I don’t think she does – at least, she never mentioned anything to me about them” Spike scratched his head in thought. “No, I don’t think she had any. What are we going to do?”
“We’ll…” the words choked her up as if she was eating ashes, “We’ll have to bury her ourselves”
“Oh” Spike’s attempted cheerfulness evaporated. “Did she leave any money behind?” and Twilight was about to answer when there was a knock on her door. Spike walked over to open it and reveal a damp Rainbow Dash with a small bag in her mouth. Without a word, she trotted inside and placed it on the table and opened it up.
“What was in her locker” the cyan pony said as she sat unhappily down. “Its not much – just a few text books and flight manuals, a few bits and pieces and a couple of coins. Oh, there was a key there too… I found her flat – nothing much except for a settee, books, a bed and the stuff you find in most kitchens. There were a few pictures of much older family members, but I know they all died ages ago” Rainbow Dash sighed and lay her head on the table. “Why, Twilight? Why did she have to die?”
“I wish I knew. I wish I knew more about her” came the dull reply. “I just said to Spike that we will have to bury her ourselves”
“Kinda figured that… You know, for a pony that liked to help as much as she could and was involved with almost everypony here nopony knew that much about her. Say, didn’t she have a daughter or something?” Rainbow Dash looked up slightly.
“You mean Dinky Doo? She was a foal she was fostering before actual adoptive parents could be found” Twilight looked at her friend. “Do you know if she left a will behind or something?”
“Yeah, she did actually” and Twilight opened the bag more and pulled out various things until she found a roughly drawn letter saying what she wanted done with her remains and her property.
“She says she wants to be buried like an earth pony because Ponyville was her home more than Cloudsdale ever was. All of her possessions are to be sold and the money raised to be given over to the hospital for them to buy things for the foals that have to spend time there. We’ve failed her…” Twilight threw the paper away from her in anger.
“Here we go again” Spike muttered.
“Who is going to pay for it? I doubt she had life insurance”
“Well, her family would get a payout from the Post Office, but she doesn’t have one… I guess they could stretch the point if you use your eggheadness as a Princess” Rainbow Dash had a weak chuckle.
“I guess we better tell the others and find a nice spot for her. I’m sure Pinkie knows how to arrange everything” Twilight looked out of the window. “The rain has stopped – your doing?”
“Kinda”
“Oh” Twilight left it at that. “Come on then, we better get the others together and sort this out” but, as she slowly walked towards the door, Rainbow Dash stopped her.
“Twi, do you believe in the afterlife?”
“Wow… That is a tough one indeed. Well, scientifically of course, there is no reason to believe there is one and every book I have read says not. But” Twilight added, “Yes… I think that after all I have seen, I do think there is some sort of afterlife”
“What do you think its like?”
“I don’t know. Some ponies think they get to be reunited with all of their loved ones in vast fields to run and play, but others believe that the afterlife is whatever you want it to be” and Rainbow Dash pondered that for a moment.
“Do you think she got in there?” she said at last.
“Knowing her, I am positive about it” and then Twilight was curious about something. “What do you think its like?” she asked quietly as Spike came towards them with notepads and pens.
“I guess reunited with Tank, sunny skies with some clouds, racing against friends…” she blew air out of her muzzle in a sigh. “A place where the sun doesn’t come up until I am ready”
“Sounds a good place” Twilight assured her. Tank’s accidental death had been the cause of a lot of sobbing and sadness for the Pegasus pony, but she had come to terms with it and slowly and surely got better. “I just wonder why”
“Wonder what?”
“Why she did it”
“You are a Princess, you were in danger… She felt she had to do something to save you from harm” Rainbow Dash gave a half shrug. “You know, Twi, I think she was kind of happy at the end of the day – she died saving what she loved”
“A Princess of Equestria?”
“No…” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Twilight Sparkle”
The others had all agreed that if nopony was there for the deceased, they would bury her themselves and so went to take care of the body and were surprised to see two guards from Canterlot standing sentry over the door to the funeral parlour – one from the Solar Guard and one from the Night Guard. Both stallions were dressed in full battle armour with their weapons gleaming in the sunlight as they stood at attention.
“Princess” they both saluted.
“Is… Is there something wrong?” Twilight asked.
“No, Princess” said the Solar Guard. “We just both felt as if we should be here… We’re not on duty”
“She died protecting a Princess and saving Canterlot – we should guard her as she rests” the Night Guard added.
“I see” Twilight felt multiple emotions welling up inside her. “Very well. Guards, I thank the both of you” she tried to remember something formal for the occasion. “Your orders are to remain here until relieved or you get new orders”
“Yes, Ma’am” both guards saluted as the friends walked inside the small and sad building.
“Where did you learn that?” asked Pinkie Pie quietly.
“A book” Twilight said. They walked into the tiny reception area where the pony behind the desk looked up and almost fainted in surprise.
“Princess… I had no idea that you were coming”
“I wanted to keep this quiet” Twilight said. “Where is she?”
“Right through here, Princess. We’re not sure what to do as she has no friends or family to bury her. She might have to be put in a pauper’s grave” the receptionist said.
“That is why we are here. We have come to bury her ourselves” Rarity said.
“I’m not sure you are allowed” the receptionist replied.
“Look… What’s your name?” asked Twilight.
“Solar Wind”
“Look, Solar Wind, I’m not in a good mood right now” Twilight sighed, “So how about you move out of the way and let us deal with her or I’ll get one of the guards outside to come in and arrest you for treason”
“Just what is going on here?” asked a stallion as he slowly walked towards them.
“We’re trying to get past your receptionist and take care of business” Twilight replied flatly.
“And this silly filly wouldn’t let us past” Rainbow Dash added hotly.
“I am Eternal Rest and I apologise for my receptionist’s comments. However” the stallion said, “She is correct in that you may not deal with the body – the Mayor has decreed she will be placed in a pauper’s grave”
“You can either move out of the way now, I can get those two guards outside to come in and arrest you both or I can send a message to Celestia herself” Twilight had had enough after going through a literal hell over the last few days.
“Princess, you may not frighten me” Eternal Rest replied. “The law is the law”
“And laws may change” a powerful voice spoke as a flash of light filled the room.
“Princess Celestia…” both of the funeral home ponies gulped and bowed low in respect.
“Are you aware that stopping a Princess is an act of treason that carries, when I last looked, a very severe penalty?” Celestia asked.
“N-n-n No” Solar Wind stuttered.
“Hmm” Celestia stared hard at the pair. “I shall be merciful on this occasion, but do not try this again” and, without another word, she led the way into the back where the saviour of Equestria lay on a cold and impersonal metal table.
Derpy Hooves…
Nopony could tell why she had chosen to race in front of Twilight to take the blast for her, but she had and most likely was the single cause of them all being saved from a terrible evil. When the evil spells turning them all into stone had been lifted, they had thought that she was okay but, during her rounds the following day, she had collapsed outside Rarity’s shop and was dead before they could get her to the hospital. What angered Twilight and her friends about the incident was that nopony really seemed too bothered by it and, for the last two days at least, no pony seemed to care that one of their own needed to be laid to rest.
“She looks as if she’s sleeping” Fluttershy said.
“I wish that were the case” Rarity replied and then she frowned. “Fluttershy, I don’t wish to be rude, but… Why aren’t you upset by this?”
“I work with a lot of animals… I see death almost every day”
“Is it easier for you?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“No… Not really” Fluttershy said quietly as she trotted quietly up to where Derpy lay. “I think” she went on, “That I might have been one of the few ponies that ever got to know her deeply. Did you know she liked to sing?” and the others all shook their heads. “Um… Well… She did like to do it a lot, but only to the chickens because that was one of her favourite things to do apart from baking muffins – sit inside my chicken coop and sing to Elizabeak and the others. I don’t know why, but she never caused me any problems and never ever caused an accident”
“My little pony” Celestia spoke gently, “Would you care to say some words when we lay Miss Hooves to her final rest?”
“Oh” Fluttershy squeaked, “Um… Well… I don’t know… I mean, if you really wanted me to…”
“Ah thin’ ol’ Derpy would have appreciated it an’ all” Applejack said. She remembered this place from when she had been the pony that had to confirm her parents are dead and it still gave her the creeps.
“Hey, I know where we can place Derpy” Pinkie Pie perked up a small amount.
“Where?” asked Twilight.
“We can bury her next to Sugercube Corner so that she can make sure I am making muffins right”
“I am not sure that is possible” Celestia said, “But it is a good thought all the same”
“Oh” but, at that moment, Twilight had a great idea.
“Princess, can we bury her at Canterlot? I mean, that is where she sacrificed herself and if anypony deserves to be put in the Garden of Heroes, it’s her”
“No!” Fluttershy shouted loudly. “Ponyville was her home – she should stay here” and the rest were a little shaken by their friend’s outburst. “We should bury her in the centre of town with a huge statue so everypony knows what she did” she blushed. “If that is okay with you, I mean”
“Fluttershy” Rarity phrased her next words carefully, “Were you and Derpy… Special Someponies?”
“No! Yes!”
“Well, that ain’t confusin’” muttered Applejack
“Umm…” Fluttershy hid her face behind her mane. “We were friends who… Um… Er… Well, we helped each other” and Twilight’s face blushed heavily. The group looked amongst each other before Pinkie Pie slowly went over to Fluttershy and nuzzled her gently for a moment.
“I know you weren’t married or anything, but would you like to help me do something special for her? I think she might have liked that”
“Do you think so?” Fluttershy whispered.
“I believe she would, my little pony… Why don’t you and Pinkie Pie go and make a few plans whilst we prepare Derpy Hooves?” Celestia suggested.
“Okay” she whispered. “Um, Princess?”
“Yes”
“You will take care of her, right? I mean, if that’s alright with you”
“I will treat her like a hero” Celestia assured her but, to her surprise, Fluttershy shook her head.
“She wasn’t a hero, Princess – she was just plain and simple Derpy” and then, with Pinkie Pie, she gave a gentle nuzzle to the body and then a kiss before walking away.
“We’re going to need to take extra care of Flutters” Rainbow Dash said. “I didn’t know Derpy that well, but I think Fluttershy might have lost her reason to live”
“Y’all might be right there” Applejack put in, glancing over to where Rarity was talking quietly in a corner to Spike. From what she could tell of the baby dragon, he was a mixture of emotions and only Rarity seemed to be keeping him somewhat centred for the time being.
“Come on… We should get her ready” Twilight said.
“Say, Twilight, why do we prepare a pony all fancy like to bury?” Rainbow Dash questioned her friend. Twilight was about to reply when she realised that she had no answer to give and she looked at Celestia who shrugged puzzlement back.
“I… I don’t know” she admitted, “But I’m sure there’s a book on it somewhere”
“Well, ah think we’d better get Derpy ready” Applejack said shakily and so, after a while, they all moved in to prepare Derpy for her burial and had just finished when Rainbow Dash suddenly sped out at full speed and came back with a startled Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy along with Derpy’s postal sack.
“Dashie?” Rarity looked up from where she had been hugging Spike.
“I ain’t one for sentiment ya here, but I thought Derpy should do one last post round” Rainbow Dash kicked at the floor with her hoof.
“Damn right” Fluttershy said. “Derpy never got to finish that round she was on, so let’s make sure that she does… Um, if you don’t mind”
“We should all do it with her” Pinkie Pie said simply. “Lets get her safely tucked up and then we’ll take her on the last round up” and she pulled out a freshly baked bag of muffins and gave them to Fluttershy who placed them gently in Derpy’s hooves before giving her a last gentle nuzzle and closing the coffin lid.
“I’m ready” Fluttershy whispered.
“Uhhhhhhh Where did they come from?” questioned Rarity.
“I have no idea” replied Celestia.
“Guards! ATTENTION! SHOULDER ARMS! PRESENT ARMS!” one of the two guards that had been on the door shouted the orders in rapid fire as an entire regiment of guards from both divisions lined the sides of the little driveway leading to the funeral home.
“So much for a quiet funeral” Pinkie Pie whispered to herself.
“But how… I mean… You couldn’t have…” Fluttershy mumbled her words. Rarity blinked, processed a thought and then dismissed it as she had long ago learned never to question her friend.
“Thank you, Pinkamena” she said softly with a smile. Pinkie Pie gave a quick glance at her slightly older friend and shook her head with a small and sad smile – only Rarity used her full name outside of being formal and she doubted that any of the others had heard.
“It was the least I could do” she replied, letting her mane fall into straightness with a momentary thought, “For the Supreme Muffin Queen”
“Once all this is over, you are welcome to come back to my place and talk”
“I would say that I am okie dokie lokie… But I don’t feel it right now… Thanks, Te, I might take you up on that”
“Where are we going to put her to rest?” asked Rainbow Dash as the guards shouldered their arms and took up a protective detail around the cart.
“Sugercube Corner where she can protect the Muffins from the hereafter” Pinkie Pie said.
“I thought they wouldn’t let you do that” Twilight blinked.
“That’s what Mr and Mrs Cake thought” Pinkie Pie sighed. “We had a disagreement… Anyway, we need to get going” and she refused to say anything else.
The procession had, naturally, gained a lot of attention but the Solar and Lunar guards had kept them at a distance as the often called Mane 6 all did their part in carrying and lowering the coffin containing Derpy’s body into the grave with the upmost care before gently putting the soil into the space and finishing their sacred job. To mark the spot forever more, a large pure white marble headstone in the shape of a muffin with Derpy’s name and her dates of birth and death along with an inscription
Here lies
Derpy Hooves
21st January 1997 AOC – September 24th 2017 AOC
A Beloved Friend, Partner and Muffin Expert
She Saved Us All
Twilight looked closely at the marble which appeared to be somewhat freshly cut and only recently placed there before they had arrived with their precious cargo. None of the usual ponies could have done it in double quick time and Discord would never have tried to pull something like this.
“Anypony know who did this?” Fluttershy asked.
“I did it” Pinkie Pie said in a shaky voice.
“You did it?” Applejack blinked in surprise and Pinkie Pie turned her gaze on the marker.
“I… I um… I know rocks” and she suddenly burst into tears and was comforted by Rarity and Spike.
“Ah guess that ah didn’ think Pinkie Pie would tak’ it so hard, but all this sadness business be affecting her Element ah’d say” and then without another word, she moved off to talk to Rainbow Dash.
“I could have shielded against it” Twilight whispered. “What should I have done?”
“You know she loved you, right?” Fluttershy slowly walked up to her side.
“Rainbow told me earlier. I didn’t know until it was too late”
“Derpy tried to tell you a few times, but then her brain injuries kicked in and she got her words all mixed up so she wrote you a letter”
“That was her?” Twilight cast her mind back to a badly written piece of paper she had found on her doorstep and assumed it was a colt or filly trying to say how much they loved their Princess.
“We talked about it a few times and we were going to offer you a chance to join us in a herd” the yellow Pegasus glanced at Twilight, then at the grave and then put her head down as she turned and stretched her wings. “Maybe… Maybe some things were never meant to be” and she flew off to leave Twilight starting to get soaked by the scheduled but delayed rain that afternoon. As she stood there in the downpour that had started up, the alicorn knew just two things:
It was raining…
The hard rain…
The kind of rain that washes the slime off the streets
And Twilight Sparkle felt like the lowest scum on Equestria...
Author's Note
I watched the movie recently again and wondered what if Derpy getting hit was her own choice and that she died after the ending of the movie - how would it affect the others?
My first fic on here, so please be gentle!