In Memoriam

Chapter 4A: Secret Love

The morning light of Celestia’s sun fell over three small graves on a hill. They had been there for years; hardly anypony paid them any mind now. By this time, the gray of the headstones was turning green from the moss and vines, the creeping plants slowly claiming the names engraved on the arched stone.

SURPRISE

SLIPSTREAM DASH

LIGHTNING RUNNER

Three names that, once, had been beloved parts of Ponyville, all reduced to a fading memory. The ponies that bore them were only remembered by those who thought about them often enough to recall the pain that surrounded the family. Few chose to dwell on that past, and those who did were slowly driven to either madness or total seclusion. There were few exceptions: ponies who, while not driven to insanity or suicide, seemed to relish in the agony of the loss. One of these scarce exceptions was now sleeping in front of the very graves that caused her such grief.

Rainbow Dash awoke with the sun washing over her coat, yawning while trying to avoid the sun. Opening her eyes, she noticed something strange: her bed was gone. Sure, the outside was beautiful, but waking up there is something else entirely. Looking right, Rainbow saw the headstone and remembered everything.

The funeral, the will, the letters and journal: it all came rushing back, along with the tears. For the first time in almost a week, the mare found herself able to cry, remembering how her brother had lived…and the secrets he had carried to his grave.

Nopony ever knew how much pain he was truly in. A therapist he had gone to once speculated that the issue might be bipolar disorder, but there was never a second meeting to confirm those suspicions. This is what bothered Rainbow Dash the most: not knowing how she could have helped him.

Standing up was a hard chore, taking almost ten minutes. Once done, it seemed that the only thing to do was sorting through the rest of the journals and letters found the previous night. Slowly, the rainbow-maned pegasus flew up to the gloomy cloud home. The once-white structure appeared to be turning grey in the absence of its owner. The walkway, at one time so welcoming and bright, was falling apart, portions of it evaporated. The door, at least, was intact and still looked inviting.

The doorway revealed a house reeling from a weeks-long effort to clean it before being abandoned; this further confused Rainbow Dash. Why go to all this trouble to make the house…well, a home just to leave it—and everypony else—behind? This was a question that had plagued the mare ever since the first time she had entered this place after…well, since the count rose to three.

Stumbling around a pile of boxes, Rainbow made her way to the stairway. This was probably the worst part of the house; everywhere, there were pictures of him and the girls. Now and then, she saw one of Surprise: the only mare he had ever seemed to care for other than Rainbow herself. Those pictures were always the worst to look at.

Eventually, the door to Lightning’s room opened to a small pile of letters and a stack of journals, all waiting to be read. Rainbow Dash walked over and picked out a journal labeled “LH.” Inside was a small arsenal of notes and letters, all addressed to LH. They all looked like love letters, so who was LH? This question was one of many that plagued Rainbow as she opened the journal and began reading.

Entry One:

Leaving Ponyville was hard, but it was worth it to come to Canterlot. I managed to see some old friends, including Shiner. He hasn’t changed at all: still devoted to his sister (Twilight’s doing great and still doesn’t know my name, somehow) and that ridiculous marefriend of his…what was her name again? Mi Amore Cadenza or something like that.

It’s weird not seeing Rain every day when I woke up, but so far, I’ve survived. Helping to coordinate the weather for the Summer Sun Celebration in Fillydelphia this year is a big job, and Ponyville has the best weather team in Equestria, which somepony said was my fault…not sure I like taking credit for other ponies’ work, but I’ll take it.

I met a mare about my age the other day and we had lunch. For the life of me, I can’t remember her name, but there you go. All I know is that I really like her and look forward to trying to stay in touch.

Entry Two:

It’s been two weeks, and I’m still stuck in Canterlot working on the weather for an event that happened three days ago! Apparently, we have to spread the rain that was held up around the suburbs of Fillydelphia so we don’t experience a drought like last year’s…I really can’t imagine what could prompt such a thorough revamping of rain duty; it’s always been a pretty common practice in Ponyville to be good about the rainfall even through the Celebration. I guess we really are the best in the country.

Entry Three:

The time I spent away from Rain was both rewarding and terrifying. I flew into our house half-expecting a starved filly to lunge at me. Instead, I found her sitting on the couch, reading with her friend. I smiled and announced my return. Fluttershy just about jumped through the roof; I swear that filly has anxiety issues, bless her poor, fragile heart.

Rain looked up, hiding the book quickly, and beamed at me. When I asked what they were reading, she reluctantly showed me. After a bout of laughing, I told her it was nothing to be ashamed of. After all, Mare Do-Well was really popular when I was her age, and it was nice for somepony like her to have a good role model.

Later that night, Rain and Flutters (she asked me to call her that for the time being) settled in for the night, and I stayed up listening to some classical music. Gusthoof Mahler may not have been the most popular of his day, but the stallion was still a genius. After about an hour the symphony ended as gloriously as it had begun, and I decided to turn in for the night.

Entry Four:

I got a letter from the mare I met in Canterlot asking me how I was. I responded, perhaps too quickly, that I was fine and inquired as to how she was feeling. I don’t really know how things will go, but I got enough teasing from Shiner about the lunch we had, and I wasn’t going to let that stand in my way.

What if it turned into a relationship? I know Surprise likes me—that much is painfully obvious to anypony with at least two of their sense intact—but she was persistent and damn, she was pretty. I don’t know how to kindly turn her down if she ever makes a move…better just tell her that there’s somepony else. That seems the nicest option right now.

There was a letter right behind that page. As Rainbow Dash read it, her face fell further than she thought possible.

Dear Lightning,

I really enjoyed the time we were able to spend together in Canterlot, even if you had to be away at that weather thingy (still sounds boring, by the way). It was just so nice to meet somepony with such an appreciation for classical music. You are the nicest stallion I’ve ever met, and I’d love to spend more time with you.

I know you went back to Ponyville, but is there any chance you can make it back up here for dinner sometime? Please let me know soon.

All Love,

Lyra Heartstrings

Author's Note: Well, there you go! Part One of what will be a two-or-three-part chapter 4. This was to introduce an object of deep affection and push the mystery along, so please forgive the atrocious length. Once I get the other parts typed out, I might condense them into one or two parts depending on how long it ends up being. Bear with me, by nine subscribers and fewer favs, it will get better (and the chapters longer).