As Celestia brought out the sun over Ponyville, Scootaloo opened her eyes. She was nestled in beside the great-but-snoring Rainbow Dash, hugged close. It took her a moment to recall why she had fallen asleep outside next to her cyan idol, but then the memories came flooding back in all at once.

She hugged Dash super, duper tight as a result. The sleeping Pegasus opened her eyes and smiled.

"Hey Sport." She brushed the filly's mane. "Sleep well?"

Scootaloo nodded.

Dash stretched:

"Breakfast?"

Scootaloo silently nodded again.

The filly remained silent until breakfast was in her stomach, her thoughts on the upcoming event. Rainbow knew it was going to be a long day, and just focused on cooking the food. She made the filly's pancake into the shape of a teddy bear, the filly giggling in surprise once it was presented to her. Dash still knew what she needed and told some awesome tales and jokes to keep the filly's mind occupied during breakfast, but with their full stomachs and the care-free morning behind them, they'd had their fun... now it was time for Scootaloo to do something she didn't want to, but knew she needed to.

Together they headed back to the library, both in a somber state. Twilight was there to welcome them, already dressed. Spike was too. Twenty minutes later the two Pegasus emerged in the appropriate attire and the three black ponies, along with one black dragon, took a reluctant trip.

Scootaloo felt funny concealed behind a veil in the black funeral dress, but at least Rainbow Dash matched. Noticing RD didn't have her veil down, Scootaloo pulled it back over her hat.

They took a silent walk to the cemetery. The only sounds in the air were birds chirping and hooves in the grass. Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash were waiting for Scootaloo to say something, but she didn't... so they just let her be.

Scootaloo and her party showed up early. The outdoor location resembled an auditorium, surrounded by pews and pillars -- a hill where in the middle stood a large pillar on which rested a small purple urn. That marble container was all that was left of Sweetie Belle.

They were welcomed to sit by a well-dressed mare to the left who got up from her pew and motioned for them to come closer once they entered. A veil obscured her face so Scootaloo had no idea who it was, but prayed it wasn't who she thought it might be. The little Pegasus followed Twilight and Rainbow, hoping maybe to find Fluttershy. It was, of course, Rarity.

The orange filly opened her mouth wide to say something as Rarity lifted her veil. She wore no make-up and her mane was unstyled for once, but she still winked all the same, placing her hoof on Scootaloo.

"Rarity! I'm so sorry," whimpered Scootaloo, beginning to cry. "I-"

Rarity cut her short:

"Thank you for coming, Scootaloo." Her voice sounded happy in spite of the very recent tragedy. "It means a lot to me, and would certainly mean a lot to Sweetie Belle to know she has a friend as good as you. It was an accident, darling. As you may recall, I saw it happen. We want this behind us."

The tears continued to flow all the same.

"You- you don't hate me?"

Rarity smiled again:

"Scootaloo, I'm beyond devastated. I miss her so very much... but there's nothing to forgive. Unless you did it on purpose."

Scootaloo shook her head.

"I thought so. Besides, I'm sure you've been torturing yourself enough. Please don't do that. Sweetie Belle wouldn't want you to."

Staring at the mare before her, Scootaloo fell speechless and continued to cry. Rarity got up and placed both her forelegs around the young filly, patting her back. They hugged tightly for more than a minute, until Scootaloo's little body finally started to relax.

As they hugged, the two mares in black sat down in front of Rarity, leaving a small section of pew between themselves for a tiny body to sit on. Spike was planned to sit there -- the idea was to subtly invite Scootaloo to sit alongside Rarity... which would be logical since there was very little space on the other side of Dash given how she chose to lean. She always could have chosen to sit by Twilight, but Rainbow had wagered Scootaloo would ask her where she wanted her to sit and she'd offer by Rarity as one of the suggestions. Scootaloo would then ask if that was alright, and boom.

The dragon saw out of the corner of his eye a few collapsible chairs near the alter which needed straightening... typical Spike. He tidied it up, doing what he does at the Library. He did it without thinking. By the time he got back the hug was over with and Scootaloo was diving in his seat, her wings buzzing and her face looking much perkier. Twilight gave him a look, motioning to the empty space and no pony said a thing. He was tempted to sit with Rarity himself, but he knew that Twilight would not be pleased. This was not the time for that.

Rarity understood why Scootaloo might not want to sit with her, and instead looked forward to having both her parents on either side of her for support. It was just too bad they could only be there a day.

30 more ponies gathered outside that day, maybe more. All dressed in black, the isles filled quick with a sea of darkness. The more Technicolor the pony, the drabbed he or she ended up looking in the suit. It was not the type of attire any sane pony would want to spend any length of time in, but a perfect contrast with the light ivory and purple picture set next to the urn by Rarity's mother.

Fluttershy ended up alongside Spike. Pinkie Pie sat more towards the middle of the circle with Big Mac and Cherilee, whereas Apple Jack and Apple Bloom sat even further away along the right side of the pillar with Granny Smith. Babs Seed had an express ticket to visit her cousin the moment she heard the news and was sitting beside her, supporting Apple Bloom with a reassuring hoof and a concerned look. AB kept her wet eyes on her dead friend's remains and picture -- not on her cousin, not on her sister, and not on her live friend. This made sense as it was still very hard to think about... Sweetie Belle was gone.

Before the service began and ponies were still speaking lively, Scootaloo looked up at her friend across the way, hoping to catch Apple Bloom's eye. It had been a couple days, after all. The Earth pony kept her head low, hidden behind her veil, her were eyes invisible. The little Pegasus tried to wave, but there was no response... so she tried again. Apple Bloom finally lifted her mask. The farm filly was scowling at her friend... with hatred. Scootaloo wasn't the only pony to notice this.

"Just give her some space, Scoots," Rainbow Dash said, patting the little filly's shoulder. "She'll come around."

"I hope so," said Scootaloo.

Scootaloo felt the weight of an adult pony's hoof on her other shoulder. She turned to Rarity and felt her still smiling down at her. It could barely be seen that beneath her veil... she was indeed.

"Would you like me to talk to her?"

"Nah, I'll see her afterwards."

Scootaloo turned back to face her dead friend and the silence of the live one. The service was soon to begin.

To Scootaloo, the funeral was a blur... to Apple Bloom it was, too. Babs remembered Sweetie Belle fondly and started crying, even though she'd only spent a handful of days around the young Unicorn at most. They were all too young for this, but they realized one thing -- it didn't matter what the big ponies had to say there. Whether uplifting or not, their friend was dead.

Rarity and Apple Jack both got up with words to say. They spoke last and their words were the only comfort to actually cut through the desolation:

Rarity spoke of innocence and the love she felt for Sweetie Belle and her friends, and how the little Unicorn still sung in their hearts if they kept her alive and remembered her fondly.

Apple Jack spoke right afterwards of compassion and understanding during these dark times, looking over at her silent sister and her Pegasus friend. All that did was cause Scootaloo to break down again, as Apple Bloom did not look up. It was starting to seem like it was more than just being sad, but Apple Jack's words still weighed on Scootaloo's mind.

Scootaloo hoped quietly to herself... better to try and fail than to never try at all.

The funeral was over with in what seemed like ages, but for the right reasons. All ponies who knew the late filly sat there reflecting on what the times with Sweetie Belle meant. It was now time to leave and find closure in their own way.

The little Pegasus again had ponies calling after her:

"Wait Scootaloo!"

She had a goal in mind. Wings buzzing loudly, she managed to gallop right up to Apple Bloom and Babs, stopping them both:

"Hey Apple Bloom! Hey Babs!" Scootaloo exclaimed, out of breath.

The little Earth Pony raised her veil and looked her friend directly in the eyes for the first time in days:

"What?"

Scootaloo took in a breath.

"You wanna hang out?"

Apple Bloom was silent at first. Babs looked over, ready to put a hoof on her shoulder and take her away. Scootaloo noticed a blank expression on her friend's face and that Apple Bloom didn't even seem to be blinking.

"My cousin just got here... I want to spend some time with her right now. Just the two of us."

"Okay! Um... maybe tomorrow?"

"Ah don't think so..."

"Next week?"

"I'll get back to you, Scootaloo."

Scootaloo's little heart deflated like a balloon when she heard that:

"Okay Apple Bloom..."

She began to walk off, looking back briefly at her friend walking away with her cousin. Apple Bloom did not look back. Babs did, but only a glance...

Rainbow finally found Scootaloo. Too late, again.