In the later afternoon. Zoom was home. No guard gear on, it was where she usually puts it, on top of the cupboards. Her short purple mane was ruffled. Her home was kinda special, not many royal guards got to live where she did. The palace was basically right outside her door. Thunder had his own room as well... That would possibly be emptied by his family and friends before maybe being given to somepony else. Or staying vacant.

The Queen wasn’t too far away from where she was. Basically a little area in the palace for the guards lucky enough to have their own place to stay in the huge palace. Like apartments! Each room was like a small apartment. The main room, where there was a TV and cupboards, another small room for anything, a bedroom and a small kitchen with a table, microwave,
small fridge, stove, oven, sink, and some cupboards. There was of course a bathroom too!

Her heart hurt as she laid on her couch. She just finished watching a movie. Only two hours since she got home from panicking near the lake. She had watched a comedy but felt nothing but empty inside. Zoom groaned, she was only home at this time on days off. Some days had her spend the whole night in the palace. While some days she didn’t get home till late at night. She never got sent home early. The pain of loosing Thunder was still in her heart, she felt her emotions start when she looked at a picture of him that she had on the wall. A painting her had made himself for a birthday gift.

She stared at it for a bit, admiring his work. But soon she felt a tear come and wiped it away. Since she was home, she decided to have a shower. She got in the shower, turning it on. Water soaked her fur and short purple mane, all she could think about was Thunder...

But she also felt angry. Why did Izzy put on that necklace!? Why did she have to use her horn!? Why did Zoom not stop Thunder from going with his plan!? If she stopped him, would he still be here?

She stomped the ground, feeling some tears come out of her eyes. But letting them, no one was gonna see. She wanted this to be all over!

Thunder was gone. We wasn’t coming back. But she had to remain strong!

Days had gone by...

Izzy was mostly quiet. Not saying much to her friends or doing much crafting. They tried everything, until they simply decided to give her some more alone time.

The news of Thunder’s death shook Equestria. Even those who don’t live in Zephyr Heights were shocked. Because they still knew who he was due to Pipp’s live streams and just him and Zoom being the guards that travel with Queen Haven when needed.

Zoom was quiet during her shifts. Despising Izzy and herself as time went on. The more she hid her grief and pain, the worse she felt afterwards. But she needed to hide them... She needed to be strong.

The night before the funeral. Zoom came home and put her guard gear on the ground. Then she went on her bed and just flumped down. Tears rolling down here face, and she thought of Thunder. The pain was more than she ever felt before.

“Why was I so stupid!?” She cried out.

“Why?” She sobbed, soon wiping her eyes, but the tears kept coming. Queen Haven told her to let it all out and not bottle it up. If she was right about it being easier to just let it all out, why didn’t she listen? Zoom just thought of herself as a weakling now. A filly crying over nothing.

But Thunder meant a lot to her. She wanted this pain to go.

Before she knew it, she was asleep. Dreaming. She found herself on a cliff, overlooking a valley. She didn’t know where she was, but she felt... Peaceful, a smile was on her face as she looked at the view. Soon, gasping as she heard a familiar voice. Once she thought she’d never hear again.

“Zoom!”

“Thunder?” Zoom responded, confused. Then she gasped, smiling as she saw Thunder standing nearby. Then she stopped smiling, realising this is a dream.

“It’s me, Thunder!” Thunder said happily. Zoom’s sad expression didn’t change.

Zoom looked down at the ground, sadly. “No... Y-you’re not Thunder. Y-You’re-Th-thunder is... is dead, not coming back... This is a dream. You’re just of my imagination...” She sniffled as a tear appeared. “He’s gone...”

Thunder stared at her in sorrow, a few tears appearing on his own face. Pain filled him as he looked at Zoom. Never seeing her like this. “I know... I-I died... But it’s really me, Zoom! R-remeber that ancient alicorn we were told about. That Pipp and Zipp spoke about? Two ancient royal sisters. The younger one entered dreams of those who needed help?” Thunder asked with a smile. “I... I met her...”

Zoom gasped slightly, remembering Zipp discuss it with Pipp. They were reading an old book that the late Argyle Starshine must have collected from old ruins or something. “Oh yeah!” She exclaimed, “What was her name again? Princess Luna?”

Thunder nodded and looked at her. “I know it’s been hard for you. It’s been hard for me too... I know you miss me so much, it pains me that we’re separated. But life has to go on, Zoom. You told me this yourself, back when I broke that vase Haven liked and I felt really bad. Zoom... You can’t mourn me forever... That isn’t gonna help you recover...”

“B-But.” Zoom wiped her face. “It’s my fault that you’re gone! I should have s-stopped you! Izzy murdered you b-because if me!”

Thunder softly put a hoof on Zoom’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. Or Izzy’s...” Thunder then sighed, “Being angry with her or yourself won’t bring me back. I don’t hold any grudges against any of you, because I was just doing what I felt was right,
. I-I was scared, but It’s a royal guard’s duty to protect and serve, so that’s what I did...” He looked at her sadly. “Even... E-even if I was killed.”

Zoom tried to wipe some tear. He then spoke again. “I think crying is tough. Nothing wrong with that, right? You’re one of the toughest pegasi I know. Maybe even the toughest guard, nothing's gonna change that. Especially not some tears. I don’t think they’re something to be afraid of...”

She looked at him, sniffling in sadness. “Thunder...”

“You’re gonna get through this, Zoom. I know you will.” He said with a slight smile. He was slowly disappearing.

“Thunder?” Zoom said in shock. Thunder gasped as he looked at himself.

“Guess my time is up... Luna said that I won’t have that long...” Thunder looked at himself and sighed. “Zoom... forgive Izzy for me, okay? And yourself. Remember, you are tough, some emotions aren’t gonna change that!” Then he sighed, tears flowing. “I miss you so much...”

“B-but... will we see each other again?” Zoom asked.

“I don’t think so... Princess Luna said this dream ability should only be used when necessary... It’s harder when a dead pony visits a living one in a dream...”

“No!” She shouted in horror. “Please don’t go!”

“Zoom... stay strong for me... Okay?”

“No... Thunder...” Zoom hugged Thunder, who was surprised as a result. He was crying, “Goodbye Zoom, enjoy the future of Zephyr Heights for me, okay?”

“Th-thank you, Thunder,” Zoom said softly as he started to vanish. “Farewell, Thunder...” She saluted to him as her vanished. A tear appearing in her eye.

The day of Thunder’s funeral came...

The royal family, friends and every royal guard attended. Zoom seemed the most hurt during the funeral. Her voice cracked in sadness when she went up to do her speech. A few tears appeared, she didn’t seem worried about them this time. Izzy’s heart ached as she saw the casket, this was her doing. If it weren’t for her, then no one would be here. Thunder would be alive.

Izzy was quiet the whole time. Feeling bad for Thunder, he didn’t deserve this at all. She knew that royal guards all accepted that one day they might need to fight to protect. There might be injury or death. But she still killed a pony, it wasn’t directly. But she felt like a monster.

After the funeral, Izzy sat at his resting place. Looking at the picture on his gravestone sadly. Tears came once again. “Thunder... I’m so sorry! I’m so, so sorry!” She cried, “I never meant this to happen, I-I never wanted to hurt anypony! Or kill them! This is all my fault, I never should have done what I did.” the tears were uncontrollable. “I’m so sorry. I don’t blame you if you won’t forgive me. I’m so sorry, Thunder...”

After what felt like minutes of sobbing. She heard someone land next to her and put a wing around her. She gasped as she looked at who it was. She made a slight surprised gasp. “Z-Zoom?” She questioned, wondering what she was doing here. Then she remembered, she must have been in the way, of course she’d want to see his grave. He was so close to her. “Zoom! I-I’m so sorry, I-“

”It wasn’t your fault...” Zoom said sadly as she looked at the gravestone. “Thunder also knows. He wouldn’t hold a grudge against you. Neither do I...”

Izzy was a bit surprised at what she said. “Y-you’re not mad at me?” She still felt like an absolute monster. But what Zoom said... It’s what everypony kept saying, but she still hurt. But is it true?

Zoom sighed a little. “I admit I was a bit at first... Thunder was my friend for a long time... But when both of us became royal guards, we accepted the fact there might be a day the two of us separate. He did his duty, he was so brave, but it’s just... What happened, we can’t change the past. I was upset at you at first, Izzy. But being angry at you won’t bring Thunder back, or help me with my future duties. It’s hard, it hurts and that will stay a while, but we still have to go on. It’s what he would have wanted...”

Izzy looked at Zoom, tears rolling down her eyes. Then suddenly, she gave her one big hug, sobbing loudly. Zoom wasn’t a fan of hugs, but she allowed her. The pain was still there, in them both. But she was right. We can’t dwell on the past forever, or we won’t heal. Things will hurt us in life, but it will hurt less over time. The pain is different for everyone, and that’s okay!

She then looked at the gravestone. If Thunder didn’t come up with that plan, then... Would the outcome have been worse? Maybe...

“Thank you, Thunder...” Izzy said quietly.