Sparkler was silent the whole walk back. Her mind wasn't really paying attention to where she was going; Dasher could have walked into the ocean and her feet would have subconsciously followed. The sky was beginning to darken slightly and a few stars were becoming visible. The sun was steadily beginning it's descent over the hills of Canterlot. They came to Dasher's house; a small but cosy cottage near the outskirts of Ponyville. It was only once the chill of the evening air was lifted from her back did Sparkler snap back to reality. She was instantly met with Dasher's deep blue eyes looking into hers. Her bottom lip trembled and she threw herself at her coltfriend.
"I can't believe she's gone!" She wailed and buried her nose into Dasher's mane. He held her close, struggling to hold back tears of his own from seeing his marefriend so distraught. He'd only met Dinky a couple of times, but he could see how much Sparkler cared for her younger sister. He guided her over to the sofa and sat her down. She remained rested against him, her sobs barely audible from beneath his mane. He sat her upright and gazed into her now puffy red eyes.
"I'll be ok."
"I know you will Sparky, you're strong like that."
She sat up and glanced around the room. Gold lettering flickering from the light caught her eye. She brushed away a couple of leaflets with her hoof before picking up the object of her attention.
"Heavenly Hooves?"
"Oh, it's a funeral planning service, came through my door a couple of days ago." Dasher realised what would be coming into Sparkler's head. He met her glance and nodded.
"Are they good funeral planners?"
"Some of the best I hear, Heavenly Hooves plan a lot of funerals."
"Will you help me plan a funeral for her?"
"Of course I will sweetie."
They grabbed a piece of paper and started drawing out funeral plans for the lost filly. Sparkler decided she just wanted a small funeral, with some of her and Derpy's close friends. She wanted the coffin to contain some of Dinky's drawings as she loved to draw so much, as well as picture of herself and her mum, so that they would always be with her. Although tears were forming in her eyes, Sparkler pushed on, determined to see Dinky off the right way. Once they had finished, it was beyond sundown, so they'd have to wait till tomorrow to ring Heavenly Hooves.
"We should hit the hay; you look ever so exhausted darling."
Sparkler only weakly nodded before allowing Dasher to support her to the bedroom. Once she got there, she collapsed on the bed, her eyelids almost dropping instantly. The lights went out, pitching the room in darkness. She snuggled up to Dasher, his warmth calming her and fell swiftly asleep.
"Is this comfy enough?" Rainbow Dash hovered near a white fluffy cloud she had brought in for a bed for Derpy. She settled down in it, poking it with her hooves before nodding. "Great." Positioning it in her room, Rainbow flew back over to her own bed. Derpy hadn't said much since they went to Rainbow's house. Every now and again her eyes would flood up with tears but she looked like she'd cried all the water from her body.
"Do you want to sleep now? You've had a rough day."
Her bottom lip wobbled but she managed to nod. She flew up to the cloud and landed on it, tucking her wings in and cradling her back hooves underneath her. Rainbow nuzzled her. "Goodnight Derpy."
"Night Rainbow."
With a flick of the switch, the room was plummeted into darkness, except for the white light of the moon coming through. Derpy glanced over to Rainbow. She appeared to be asleep already. The moonlight danced of her mane, reflecting the tips of her multicoloured hair in the moonlight. She was glad that she had such a supportive friend there for her. She diverted her gaze back to the moon outside the window. It seemed large tonight, it's craters visible. It had a slight yellowish tinge to it, just like the sun. Sun. The hot flames dancing from it. Derpy frowned. The moon in front of her started to change. Its colour became orange; the outlines started dancing as solar flares emerged from it. The hot flames of the sun spat at the ground below them. Then she heard it.
'Derpy…'
That voice was unmistakeable.
'Mummy…'
A face was becoming visible in the sun. It was the smiling face of her daughter. But within seconds the sun morphed it. Her smile turned into a scream, her skin blackening as her eyes rolled backwards before being burnt from their sockets.
'Why did you let me die mummy?' The high pitched voice screeched at her. Derpy sat up with a jolt.
"I didn't!" Through hot heavy breaths, Derpy realised that worried crimson eyes were looking at her. The room was silent, the moon outside the window like it had always been. Sweat was dripping down the grey Pegasus's head. In an instant, Rainbow was by her side.
"It's ok Derpy, it was just a dream."
Derpy flung her arms around the cyan Pegasus. Tears and sweat drenching her coat. Catching sight of the moon, she shuddered again and held Rainbow closer. Rainbow caught on what she was looking at.
"It's just the moon Derpy."
"The…the moon doesn't have its own light…"
Rainbow cocked her head, wondering what she was on about. 'Well no…it's lit up by the sun. Wait…the sun. Heat and fire. Oh.'
"Do you want me to cover the window Derpy?"
"Yes please."
She watched as Rainbow flew from the window, returning swiftly with a small cloud. She positioned it near the window and kicked it into place.
"There we go, all gone. Nothing can get you when Auntie Rainbow is here." A small smile emerged on Derpy's lips. "Now settle back into bed, you need to sleep Derps."
"Yes Auntie Rainbow."
Rainbow tucked her in, before looking round to make sure the moon wasn't visible, before flying back to her own bed. She sat awake for a few minutes to make sure that Derpy would fall asleep. A quiet snoring noise confirmed it, and she rested her head on her pillow. She was getting very worried for Derpy. She had no children of her own, but she could imagine how distraught this must be for Derpy, especially considering the way that she went. With a heavy mind, she eventually dropped off to sleep.
Rainbow woke up to a still quite dimly lit room. She remembered the cloud that she used to cover the window last night. Rubbing her eyes, she stretched her wings and walked across the room. Removing the cloud, she saw that the sun was only just beginning to rise over the hills.
"Rise and shine Der-" Looking to the cloud she realised it was empty. Dread filled her instantly, until she heard a bump from down the hallway. She trotted towards the source of the sound.
"Derpy?"
Turning the corner, she found Derpy frozen in place. Her wings were stiff out at her sides in a defence-like position. Her legs were shaking every now and again, as though one would just give way underneath her.
"Derpy, what's wrong?"
She waved a hoof in front of her face. It seemed to work as her back legs gave way and she sat down, shaking her head.
"I…I'm sorry Dash it's just…" She shakily pointed a hoof towards the kitchen. Rainbow face hoofed when she realised the oven was visible from the corridor.
"It's ok Derpy…nothing is going to happen. My oven is fine."
"But mine wasn't!" She flailed her arms, sobs escaping again before she collapsed on the floor, burying her head in her hooves. "It was my oven wasn't faulty everything would have been fine!"
Rainbow sat down next to her, resting a wing over her. "Derpy, this isn't your fault. You didn't know, nobody did. Accidents happen."
Her sobs became a little bit gentler.
"Now we should get some breakfast, you're looking a little pale. Come this way, do you want to watch some TV?"
"Ok."
Rainbow led her to her large living room and sat her down. She flicked the TV on and tossed the remote to Derpy. "Feel free to choose what you want, I'll get breakfast started."
Derpy sat on the sofa and flicked on the TV. Her first instinct was to turn it to cartoons. She grimaced before turning something less upsetting on. Nothing seemed to comfort her. She couldn't watch the Ponyville news but Ponyville reminded her of the death. The weather wasn't no use since it was going to be 'hot' everywhere today. Even the Wonderbolts TV didn't help as Spitfire was nearly always on it. Eventually she settled for the Canterlot News. It was boring, but better.
Rainbow trotted round the kitchen. She decided she'd make a couple of apple fritters for them both. She set the frozen ones that Applejack had given her on a tray and opened the oven. Even she got a weird shudder when she opened it. She shook it from her mind and put them in. She had to stay strong, for Derpy. She stuck her head round the door.
'Canterlot News? Well whatever suits her fancy…'
A flashing light on her phone alerted her that she had a message. She wandered over to it.
"Unknown number?" She pressed play.
"Hey Rainbow Dash, it's Sparkler here, I'm calling from Dasher's house. Would it be ok if we could all meet up at Sugar Cube Corner today for lunch? I need to talk about some things with my mum. Thanks."
Rainbow picked up the phone and dialled the number. It rang on before reaching answer machine. Making a note to try again later, she set it down and checked on the apple fritters. Seeing that they had gone a nice golden brown, she switched the oven off and grabbed an oven glove. Picking up the tray, she set it down whilst she got two plates out. As she swung around, the tip of her wing touched the tray. She jumped, sticking her hoof in her mouth. 'Oh how ironic, to get a burn when Derpy is round.' She quickly ran it under the cold water, hoping Derpy wouldn't notice her slightly charred mark on the end of her feather. Tucking her wings in, she continued serving it up. She took the plates into the front room.
"Here you go Derpy. Careful, it might be a bit hot, it's just come straight out-" Rainbow stopped mid-sentence as she realised the terrible mistake she made with that sentence. Unfortunately Derpy picked it up and tears began to form again. "Derpy I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"
"No it's ok. It's just taking me a little while to get over it."
"Sparkler wants to meet up at Sugar Cube Corner today for lunch by the way. Says she needs to talk to you about something."
"Oh I hope she's doing alright."
"I'm sure she's more worried about you."
They sat eating breakfast in silence with the news of Canterlot blurring in the background.