A few days passed without further incident in Ponyville. A very touching and poignant funeral was held for the three victims of Sharpshooter's wicked blasts. The attendees were all dressed in various shades of black, and each one of them held something dear to them that reminded them of one of the three. There were many tears shed, but there were also many smiles shared over their beloved memories of their fallen sisters. They bonded over these memories, and Twilight was pleased to see some new friendships form.
As a matter of course and by complete coincidence, each of them had recently written a will. In fact, all of the seven ponies that comprised Twilight's group had written one. It was ordered to them by Celestia. She had stated in her letter to them that she wanted each of them to write one "just in case something terrible were to happen." Twilight couldn't help but get suspicious at the timing of everything, but she quickly tossed those thoughts aside. Celestia and the term "murder" would never be used in the same essay or story, let alone the same sentence.
In Pinkie's will, she had expressly stated that she wished to be buried in a pink dress that Rarity had made for her for one of the Grand Galloping Galas they had attended. In fact, it was the same one she had worn to their first Gala. She had also requested that "lively, polka party music" be played and she wanted the ponies there to remember her as a fun loving mare who always tried to bring laughter and smiles to the ponies around her. She also wanted her "Smile Song" to be sung.
So, they acquiesced to Pinkie's wishes and, in unison, belted out the lyrics to her song. It lightened the entire mood of the affair, and many ponies felt as if Pinkie were standing right there next to them, singing her heart out. However, even through the happiness of the song, some of the ponies sang through voices thickened with tears as they reminisced about their interactions with the hyperactive, happy-go-lucky pink mare.
After Pinkie was properly eulogized by Twilight, her older sister, Maude, and the Cakes, they closed the casket on her forever. When that lid shut, it felt as if their memories of her had been sealed away as well. Thus the tears began flowing once again, and different ponies tried their best to console their friends. The Cakes were taking it the hardest, because they had always thought of Pinkie as their own daughter. Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake, who were fully grown school foals by this point, also wept bitterly at the loss. They had thought of Pinkie as their older sister.
Oddly enough, Pinkie's own family, known for their toughness and rock hard personalities, were also inconsolable. Her mother cried rivers of tears and kept talking about her "poor little Pinkie who was taken so wickedly." Even Maude cried some. Limestone and Marble Pie didn't know what to do. They both loved their sister so much, even though it was difficult for them to show that love.
Next to be remembered was Applejack, the honest, hard working apple farmer that everypony had grown to love and appreciate. Her thick drawl seemed to hang in the air as a ghostly presence while Twilight gave her account of her friend's life. The poor purple princess could barely make it through Pinkie's eulogy, but on Applejack's, she completely broke down. She began crying so hard that Flash had to help her from the podium. Nopony cast judging eyes on Twilight for the outburst. They all understood what she was feeling.
In her will, Applejack had explicitly stated that she wanted Apple Bloom and Big Mac to eulogize her as well as Twilight. So her older brother got up and went to the podium and began his speech. "Um…y'all know I don't take kindly to talkin' in public, so…I'll keep it brief. My sister was the most amazin' pony ever and, even though we didn't always get along, I loved her with every fiber of my bein'. I don't take no stock in cryin' in public, neither, but today…might just be an exception to that rule. I remember when…" here he stopped and sniffed, "…she was born. I's so happy to have a younger siblin'. I remember when I first laid my eyes on her and saw just how special she was. My Ma and Pa were so happy to have a little filly, and, gosh darn it, I was thrilled to pieces, too! I remember havin' to help care for her after my parents were laid to rest. She and I developed a special bond, and we shared that bond right up until the moment of her passin'. Like I said, I'm gonna miss her a powerful lot. But…I take solace in the fact that she's not in pain no more. She ain't lyin' bleedin' in the middle of our apple orchards. I know she meant a lot to a lot of ponies here. I only hope we can carry on that legacy. Thank you."
With that, he moved from the stage on wobbly legs. His fiancée, Sugar Belle, quickly rose from her seat and helped him back to the audience. As soon as they sat down, he buried his face in her shoulder and sobbed. She put a comforting hoof around him and whispered loving words into his ear. He looked back at her and smiled. "Thanks, darlin'," he whispered, "I don't know what I'd do without you." She smiled back and gave him a small kiss.
Next came Apple Bloom. The young pony, no longer a filly, but not yet old enough to be considered a full grown adult, got to her hooves and made her way to the podium. She gave a speech that was nice, but after the heartwarming tribute her brother had given Applejack, she felt that it paled in comparison. She spoke about how her sister and she used to buck apples together, and how she always looked forward to it because it meant that they were able to bond that much more.
"Like my brother said," she finished, "I'll miss her somethin' terrible. But I'm happy that she was able to touch the lives of so many and I'm thankful that those ponies are here today. Y'all are a huge part of our lives, and Applejack would want y'all to know that. Thank you." With that, she went and sat down next to her friends, who did their best to console her.
Applejack had asked to be buried in her favorite cowboy hat and a simple dress. Nothing more. Everyone thought this was very appropriate and befitting of Applejack's honest and simple personality. She wanted to be completely transparent with everypony. No frills, even in death. She wouldn't have heard of it, and the ponies who executed her will were happy to help her with this endeavor.
Finally, Fluttershy was eulogized. She was to be buried in a dress that Rarity had designed for her. It represented her love of nature and animals and, as with Applejack, everyone agreed that this was the way it should be. She had also asked to be buried in the woods, where she might rest among her animal friends.
Twilight and her mother offered a dual eulogy. The purple princess spoke of Fluttershy's kindness, and her contributions to the animals of the forest and the School of Friendship. Her mother spoke of her early life and how she had completely come out of her shell since moving to Ponyville. They were both tender, sincere speeches that spoke of the love they both had for the yellow Pegasus.
After this, the third casket lid was closed and everypony moved towards the Ponyville Cemetery. The procession was silent, except for some sniffles from the grieving ones. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Starlight walked along in silence. Their tails drooped. Their manes, normally free and full of life, seemed to sag in the wind.
Rainbow looked up at the crystal blue sky. "I want to believe that they're up there, looking down on us," she said sadly, "but I know that's not true."
Rarity offered a hoof as they walked along. "I know, Rainbow Dash. But even though they're no longer among us or looking down on us, we must remember the good times we had with them. It's what they would want." Dash nodded as she wiped away a stray tear or two.
The grim procession reached the Cemetery where Applejack and Pinkie were to be buried. Twilight turned and stopped the entire group with a hoof. "My friends," she said, "I want to thank all of you for being here today. The three victims of this heinous crime would be proud to see you all standing here. I'm happy that everypony here had the chance to know these three, and to become just as good a friend of theirs as I was. Now, we say goodbye. But we must remember them with love and compassion in our hearts. As a princess of Equestria, I hereby assert my authority in proclaiming this day 'Friendship Day' throughout the land."
She turned to Celestia, Luna, and Cadance, who were visiting for the funeral. "My fellow princesses, I have made this proclamation within your hearing this day. Do you agree or shall we go a different route?"
Celestia rose and walked over to Twilight. She grasped her in a hug. This was followed by the other two royal mares. "Of course we agree, Twilight," she said, "I think it's a wonderful idea!" She turned to her subjects. "My fellow Equestrians, I hereby carry Twilight's proclamation."
"As do I," Luna said.
"As do I," Cadance added.
Twilight looked at Starlight, and Starlight realized that she could vote on this type of thing now as well. "Oh, sorry," she said, "as do I."
"It's unanimous," Twilight said, "from this day forth, 'Friendship Day' shall be a national holiday in Equestria. Everypony will have the day off from work and use it to better their own friendships. Because you don't really love or cherish what you have until you don't have it anymore." The ponies all murmured their agreement, and Twilight got supportive nods from her friends.
Suddenly, one of the cemetery guards came running up. He bowed low before the four princesses. "Your Majesties," he said, "I beg your indulgence and forgiveness for barging in like this, but…but…"
"But what?" Celestia asked. She didn't appear too happy to have the solemn event interrupted. The guard turned to Twilight. "Princess Twilight, the grave of your deceased daughter Midnight is empty! She's gone!"