To the Dogs

Chapter 11: Echoes
The service was short on that damp and gloomy Sunday morning. Tears fell in great numbers from the yellow mare's crystal blue eyes, only to be lost in the freshly settled ocean of dew.

"Fluttershy, if you need somepony to talk to, you know where to find me.", said Rainbow Dash with a warm embrace.

"Th-thank you... R-Rainbow Dash.", choked the pegasus through her sobs.

It has been two weeks since the passing of Ebony Hack. His once happy, little estate sits abandoned, blanketed in a thin veil of emerald green moss.

Within this melancholy vessel lies a lonely, tormented soul, forever separated from all she had come to love. Her gaze was fixed upon the tattered, red chair, as it whispers sweet memories of an innocent era. Fluttershy's large eyes no longer carry their vibrant blue sheen. All of the life and joy had been consumed by an emotionless pane of glass, suffocating all of the hope she once had. Although no longer falling, the mare's tears had left their burning marks down her pale, yellow cheeks.

Engulfed by her losses, Fluttershy knew not what to do with herself. Her family was gone and she had just been terminated from her job as a mailmare. Her thoughts had grown dark over the past couple of weeks. No more did she care for the beauty of the world.

Her forlorn mind begins to think of a way out. She turns her head to the medicine cabinet, which hangs open ajar. Remembering her father's pain medication, the pegasus silently makes her way into the empty kitchen. After pulling the bottle from its shelf, Fluttershy poured herself a large glass of water. She knew what she had to do. Surely, she would get to see both of her parents before the night was through.

She takes a deep breath before swallowing two of the small, white pills with a mouthful of water. Closing her eyes, Fluttershy begins to sob softly to herself. As she prepares to consume two more of the tablets, there is a noise that grabs her attention. Walking into the living room, she discovers that her father's old diary had fallen upon the floor. Immediately, she picks it up in her hooves. Never having read past the first page, she figures she may as well take a look inside.

December 31, 1371

Hello, future self, my name is Ebony Hack. I have decided to begin writing down my experiences so that you may remember them. It has been five months since I left my home in Ponyville, and I am really starting to miss everybody. I hope that this wasn't a big mistake.

January 22, 1372

Today was a depressing one. I awoke from a terrible dream this morning. I have been trying to forget about it, but I just cannot get these images out of my head. The loneliness has been doing me no favors either. I pray my days soon grow brighter.

January 30, 1372

My heart is growing weaker as these days pass on. The stinging pain of this isolation is eating away at my body. I miss my mother and sister so much, and this weather is unfit for anypony to travel in. I am so alone out here.

February 4, 1372

This bitterness festering inside me is growing stronger. I fear that I will not have the strength to make it through this winter. All hope has fled me. It's been snowing for the past seven days, and it is showing no signs of stopping. I hope that this agony ends soon.

February 6, 1372

I feel so ashamed. Last night, I made the somber attempt to take my own life. I had taken all that I could bear. I was going to hang myself in my bedroom. Just as I had prepared the rope, memories of my family in Ponyville flooded my mind. I could not stand to think of what my death would do to them. I know in my heart that I have made the right choice, but I don't want to do this anymore. I just want to go home.

February 8, 1372

Today, I woke up with the most dreadful headache. Failing to recollect how I had gotten into bed, I remembered hitting my head on the tree the day before. That was just after I found this dog lying on my living room floor. Instead of devouring me ,the beast has been caring for me. Even after I chased him out of my house with an axe, he came to my rescue. I am quite perplexed by all of the events that have taken place over the past 24 hours, but I will find out everything soon enough.

Also, I have yet to leave my bed. My body feels so weak.

February 9, 1372

It seems that my luck has run out entirely. Today, I have discovered that both of my back legs are completely crippled. This is very overwhelming to me, as I can no longer walk outside to gather firewood. In fact, I cannot really do anything at all. I am hopeful that this will only be temporary, but in the back of my mind I have some serious doubts.

I have also befriended my furry savior. Scrape is his name.

February 18, 1372

I am beginning to get used to my condition. Although being paraplegic is very difficult at times, it has brought me very close to my new companion, Scrape. It feels so strange to have somebody watching out for me. Back in Ponyville, nopony ever wanted to be my friend. Now I've got a dog whom I'd met only a few days ago watching over me. It feels so wonderful to have a friend be here for me. It looks as though living through all of my pain has paid off. I'm glad it didn't end on that dark, sleeting night. I now have a friend to share my future with.

P.S. I am quite fond of his muscular body, but I am too afraid to tell him so. I can only assume he would be disgusted at such a thing.

Fluttershy looks at the pill bottle in disgust, dropping it upon the hardwood floor. Both guilty and drowsy she makes her way to her father's bedroom, climbing into his bed. Only partially conscious, the mare's troubled thoughts turn to her parents' faces. They are smiling down upon her. Before sinking into a deep slumber, she knows in her heart that she made the right choice.