Rainbow Dash woke up early. Which was very unusual for her, she normally slept in very late. Something had disturbed her. She looked around drowsily for whatever had disturbed her, and she noticed something on her bed. Laying next to her, curled up in a little ball under the blanket, was her new daughter. She was snoring softly, and her mane was even more ruffled than usual. Rainbow smiled at how peaceful and cute she looked. Then she jumped out of the bed abruptly, knocking Scootaloo to the floor.

"WHOA!" Scootaloo woke up quckly and shouted as she fell to the floor.

"Wake up sleepyhead! It's time to get ready for school!" Scootaloo shook her head in suprise and glared at Rainbow Dash.

"Not cool Rainbow!" Rainbow Dash laughed and Scootaloo cracked a smile. "Ok, I guess you're right..." Scootaloo stood up and groggily trudged over to her school saddlebags. She started checking for all of her things while she ran a hoof over her mane to straighten it a little.

"I'm gonna go start breakfast, what do you want?"

"Oh, anything's fine with me!" Scootaloo said happily. "I'm just glad to get breakfast!" Rainbow Dash flinched.

"You... you really had it tough, didn't you Scoots?"

"Huh? I dunno... I don't really know what it's like to not live like I did. I can tell you that this is way better though!"

"Well... I'm glad you're so happy... I'm just sorry it took me so long to figure out you needed me..."

"Don't worry about it! We're together now! That's all I care about!"

"Heh, you're right Scoots... Breakfast'll be ready soon." Rainbow trotted out of the room. Gilda was awake and sitting on a cloud couch in the next room.

"She means a lot to ya, huh?" Gilda asked. Rainbow nodded.

"Yeah... Yeah she does. So, you gonna eat with us?" Gilda flinched.

"Uhh... actually, I think I'm gonna go see if I can find something somewhere else..."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me, I don't think I've ever eaten with you... Why do you always leave when you eat?"

"Uhh... I... like to eat alone. Stop bugging me about it, geez..."

"... You don't eat meat, do you?"

"... Heh, no! That... that's a dumb idea..."

"Ha, don't worry, Sharky did too, it doesn't bug me."

"... Really?"

"Really, now go find yourself some food."

"Hey! Don't tell me what to do!"

"Then don't. I don't really care, I gotta get to work on Scootaloo's breakfast..." Rainbow Dash trotted off to the kitchen.

"See you later." Gilda jumped out of the nearest window and started flying over the Everfree forest in search of food. It was winter, so pickings were pretty slim. Then she spotted a lone wolf walking slowly inbetween the trees. She let out a low hiss of hatred and joy at the same time. Gryffins, being half cat, hate all canines. Luckily, Gilda had the advantage over this wolf. She licked her beak in anticipation of her next meal, then went in for the killing dive.

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"Hi Applejack..." Fluttershy mumbled as she walked up to her friend. Applejack was busy bucking apples out of the enhanced trees.

"Howdy *BUCK* Fluttershy. Ah'm a bit busy right now... *BUCK*" Applejack continued her bucking as she talked.

"Oh... I don't mean to distract you... I just wanted to tell you about Sharky's upcoming funeral..." As soon as the word 'funeral' left Fluttershy's lips, Applejack was next to her, covering her mouth with her hoof.

"Hush Fluttershy! Ah still haven't had a chance ta tell--" Shadow ran out from behind a nearby tree.

"Did you just say Sharky's funeral?!" He shouted. Applejack flinched.

"Well... Ah guess it's about time Ah told ya anyway Shadow... Sharky died..." Shadow's eyes widened and his legs buckled beneath him.

"N-no... h... he can't be... No... I can't lose another... no... he can't be... NO!" He started sobbing, tears flowing freely from his eyes as he shouted and pounded the dirt.

"Ah'm sorry Shadow... See Fluttershy? Ah wanted to break it ta him easy-like..."

"Oh my... I'm so sorry Shadow..." Fluttershy started crying too. "I... I don't want him to be dead either!" She started bawling along with Shadow. The Ursa minor appeared out of the trees and started rubbing against Shadow in an effort to soothe him.

"Not Sharky... not now... It's not fair..." Shadow wailed. Applejack looked back and forth between the sobbing ponies, unsure what to do.

"Uhh... Now look y'all... Sharky.. he's in a better place now... Ya don't need ta be sad for him..."

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"CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!"

"There's the experiment! Get him!" The Shinra S.O.L.I.D.E.R.s had left the hidden lab, and were chasing me down across the wasteland. Luckily none of them seemed to be carrying guns, so I was safe as long as I could stay ahead of them. Which wouldn't be much longer seeing as how they were genetically enhanced super soliders. I had managed to make it about halfway to the little collection of hills and cliffs before they had come out of the lab. Then a lightning bolt hit the ground next to me and I looked behind me to see that one of the soliders had a materia (Stone that lets you cast magic) in his arm.

"CRAP!!!!!!!!!"

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Fluttershy managed to regain her composure after Applejack said he was in a better place. She stood back up off the ground and wiped her eyes clear of tears.

"Y-you're right Applejack... He's better off wherever he is..." Shadow's sobs had quieted down and he was holding the Ursa close to him.

"H-he may be better off... but I still don't w-want him to be gone!" Shadow wailed. "He's just gone! He can't just be gone! It's n-not fair!"

"Ah know it's sad Shadow... but there ain't much we can do. Layin' around cryin' won't help anypony." Applejack trotted over to him and draped a foreleg around his shoulders. "Sides, Ah'm sure Sharky wouldn't wanna see ya crying for him. It'd make him sad." Shadow sniffled and sobbed a few more times, but he eventually stood up and wiped his eyes.

"Y-you're right Applejack... I... I'll try to be strong..." Another tear trickled from his eye, but he wiped it away as it came. "I... I just need to be alone..."

"Of course sugarcube... You can go home early today if ya like..." Shadow shook his head.

"N-no... I'm just gonna head deeper into the orchards to work... I'll... I'll see you guys soon..." Shadow turned and left the girls. The Ursa followed closely behind him.

"Heh, he's such a hard worker..." Applejack mumbled. Fluttershy spoke up again.

"Well... I'm sorry I caused all that trouble with Shadow... I just wanted to tell you that Sharky's having a funeral... Rarity says she can have it ready by this coming tuesday... If that's not too soon for you..."

"Don't worry sugarcube, Ah'll be there. Ah'm sure Shadow'll come too..."

"Ok... Thank you Applejack... I'm gonna go tell the other girls now..."

"See ya later Fluttershy." Applejack turned and went back to bucking apple trees. Fluttershy turned and started trotting in the direction of Twilight's library.

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Fang continued his slow trot through the forest. His heart was in pieces, and he really didn't know where to go. When he lived with Fluttershy, he had always gone back to her for shelter. He had always stayed near Sharky when he could, and he felt bad that he couldn't have been around him more. He had thought about going back to Fluttershy, but his heart wasn't in it. It reminded him too much of his old master. So now he roamed the forest, only caring about his next meal and staying alive. Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow rush in his direction. His instincts ordered him to leap to the side, and as he leapt he heard an impact behind him. He whipped around to see a gryffin. She had gray feathers, gray legs, and gray eyes. She was very gray. Then again, so was everything else. She was crouching in his direction, obviously preparing to pounce. Fang assumed an attack stance.

"Heh, gonna fight huh? Good, I like it when my meals have a little bite..." The gryffin hissed. Fang growled in response.

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"Hello Twilight..." Fluttershy walked into the library. Twilight was sitting next to a few bookcases in the corner of the room. She was holding Unity in her forehooves, and holding a bottle of chocolate milk to his mouth magically.

"Oh... Hello Fluttershy..." Twilight muttered distantly. "Did you want something?"

"No... I just wanted to invite you to Sharky's funeral... Rarity says she can have it ready by next Tuesday..."

"Sharky's gone..." Twilight mumbled in response. Spike walked down the stairs.

"She'll be there Fluttershy..." Fluttershy nodded skeptically.

"Is... is she ok?"

"Oh, Twilight? Umm... no, no she is not... She was really hurt..."

"Oh... I'm sorry... can I help?"

"So far, I don't think anypony can help her... She'll have to work this out herself I suppose..."

"Sharky left me again..." Twilight interrupted.

"Wow... If... if you think she can do it..." Fluttershy said hesitantly.

"I know she can... She's strong..." Spike consoled.

"Ok Spike... Good luck Twilight..." Fluttershy turned and left the library.

"Fluttershy left too..." Twilight mumbled.

"Yes, yes she did Twilight..."

"You won't leave, right Spike?"

"No... I won't leave Twilight..."

"Good... You won't leave either... Right Unity?" In response, Unity finished his milk, not the bottle, and burped up a bunch of cocoa beans.

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"Hey Fluttershy!" Blaze came out of nowhere as Fluttershy trotted towards Rainbow Dash's favorite flight practice field.

"Oh! Blaze! You frightened me!" Fluttershy gasped.

"Oh, sorry Fluttershy. Just wondering what you were doin' so far away from home."

"I'm trying to find all of Sharky's friends... Rarity and I are arranging a funeral for him..."

"Huh, that's weird..."

"It's weird that we're having a funeral?"

"No, every time I think about Sharky being dead, I get this weird feeling..."

"... Sadness?"

"What's that?"

"Nevermind... Well, it'll be happening next Tuesday... will you be there?"

"Sure... what's Tuesday?"

"... How long were you in that forest?"

"13 years."

"When did you first get in it?"

"When I was 5."

"... Oh my... Well, just remember that Tuesday is in 5 days, not including today alright?"

"Ok, I'm sure I'll make it. Well... do you mind if I walk with you for awhile? I don't exactly have a ton of things to do..."

"Sure, I don't mind..." Together they continued towards the practice field.

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"Wow! She's really good!" Blaze exclaimed as he watched Rainbow Dash fly loops around the field. Fluttershy nodded.

"Yeah, she's the fastest pegasus in Equestria! Only one pony has ever beaten her..."

"Huh? If she's the fastest pegasus in Equestria, how did somepony beat her?"

"Well, she was beat by Sharky... Technically he's not a pegasus..."

"Ah, loopholes, fantastic!" Rainbow Dash spotted them watching her practice, and she flew down to them.

"Hey guys..." She sounded oddly sad.

"What's wrong Dash?" Fluttershy asked.

"It's... nothing... I just still miss Sharky... It's easy to not think about him when Scootaloo's around... but now that she's at school..." Fluttershy nodded slowly.

"I miss him too... Well, I came here to tell you about his funeral. It's next Tuesday, ok?"

"Yeah... I'll be there... Jus don't tell Scootaloo he's dead 'kay? She thinks he's on a trip..."

"Ok Dash, I won't tell her..."

"Oh, and it's cool if Gilda comes too right?" Rainbow Dash asked nonchalantly. Fluttershy's jaw dropped.

"... GILDA?!"

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"DEAR GOD I'M GOING TO DIE... AGAIN!!!" I was still running from the Shinra S.O.L.I.D.E.R.s, and dodging lightning bolts as I ran. One had caught me in my left shoulder, and I couldn't feel my arm at all. We had been running for quite some time, but I wasn't getting tired for some reason. Maybe the miasma was effecting me already.

Geez I hope that's not what's happening. I REALLY don't want to go through severe genetic mutations... I thought to myself. Another lightning bolt flashed right by my head and snapped me back to reality.

"Oh, right, running... CRAP!!!" I continued my sprint, but my pursuers had almost caught me. I knew I wasn't going to last much longer, but then I heard the roar of a motorcycle out of nowhere, and a black motorcycle with a rider dressed mostly in black flew off the nearest cliff and landed inbetween me and the S.O.L.I.D.E.R.s. The rider pulled a huge sword off of his back and stepped off his motorcycle towards me. The first things I noticed were his spikey blonde hair and his piercing blue eyes.

"They Shinra?" He asked lowly. I nodded with my mouth open in pure shock. "Huh, great. Stand back." He turned and faced the S.O.L.I.D.E.R.s, holding out his blade towards them. Cloud had come to my rescue.