The funeral (10 years later)

The forest was dark, a storm starting to brew above them. The perfect weather for the funeral.

Shadow walked slowly at the head of the procession, long black dress and cloak dragging over the leaves. Her voice was lifted in song, slow and sorrowful.

Walking behind her, Star were quietly pulled a small cart with four coffins, each with a sword laid on them. Merlas limped along behind the cart, Vrael helping her. Archangel and Twilight finished the procession, heads bowed. The last Great War of Synairn, that had brought the dimension to its end, was over. Synairn existed no more, but it had taken the lives of three of them with it. A father, sister, , a brother, a daughter, and a niece lay in the coffins.

The few Synari that had survived stood on either side of the procession, joining on the end as it passed them. Even though most of them had hated the demons, their views had changed. Armen, Raven, Onyx and Eclipse had sacrificed themselves to save the dimension. Their screams had echoed through every city that day, and the lamentations of their fellow demons had struck the heart of everyone.

Shadow's song carried through the trees, every Synari hearing it.
"Listen to the swords clash,
listen to the silent screams of the dead,
listen to the cries of the living as they fall.."

Natalie entered, with Tomorrow and Harmony...both with their heads bowed.
Natalie was sobbing.
"Sweet...sweet Onyx..." she said, her tears spilling in streams of silver down her black blouse.
Tomorrow, who was now her mothers age (her mum couldn't age, being vampire) slipped her hand over her mothers shoulder and Harmony held her mum's hand.
Natalie looked at Shadow.
"I'm...so sorry," she said softly.

Shadow looked at Natalie and nodded slightly. They reached a clearing where three graves had been dug, and Star stopped just in front of him. He hadn't put a hoof out of line all day, sensing the sadness.

Vrael took the sword off the first coffin and two other Synari slowly lifted the coffin off the cart and laid it into one grave. Vrael stood next to Shadow and one of the Senators, the blade balanced in his palms. Shadow had stopped singing, and the Senator began to speak.
"Raven Rachel Roth, a sister, and a mother, died to protect us all, died to save us..."

Natalie sighed slightly, all cold feeling she had for Raven on at this moment in time.
She looked anywhere but the graves.
Harmony had green and pink hairbands on...this would never do at a funeral...
She reached out and tried to take them out of the girls hair, but Harmony turned and gave her a fierce look, holding them on her head.

The Senator finished his quiet speech, and looked to Vrael, who knelt down. He lifted the sword with both his hands, and drove it deep into the soil at the head of the grave. The sword glowed very slightly with magic, the hilt fashioned like a raven with a black jewel in the tail.

Natalie sobbed slightly, Harmony's eyes widened, and Tomorrow whimpered.
Natalie looked around.
"Not too many here," she muttered, "where is Holly?"

They moved onto the next coffin, Armen, and performed the same ceremony. His sword had a tiger hilt, and a light blue jewel.

From behind either side of a tree, Holly and Ash watched, both silent, both looking identically tired.

Shadow spotted Holly out of the corner of her eye as Eclipse's coffin was lowered into the ground.

Holly looked at the ground at this point, and Ash sighed and looked upwards. After a moment he muttered. "Shad sees you."

The Synari disbanded as the last sword, Onyx's was driven into the ground. Archangel, Vrael, Twilight and Shadow remained.

Ash bit his lip.
"You coming?" he asked Holly.
Holly apparently didn't hear him.
"You think she's okay?" she asked.
"Shad? ... I wouldn't imagine so ... "

Natalie, still sobbing, walked to stand next to Shadow.
"Why?..." she said, not able to say anything else.

Shadow didn't look up at her friends, drawing her hood over her face. No one else answered either, all looking at the swords. Shadow stood between Raven and Armen's, Archangel behind Onyx's, Vrael behind Shaemans, and Twilight behind Eclipse's.

"I reeeeally don't think so ... " Ash added, "Her sister .. her ... dad type thing ... her daughter ... her niece ... Sometimes I think I'm lucky."
"You bloody are!" Holly said outraged, "Now come on."
She made her way towards the group, and Ash followed.

Still, no one moved or spoke, lost in thoughts and memories.

"Hey." Ash said, looking concerned for Shadow.

Shadow looked up dully at Ash, and nodded in acknowledgement.

Natalie looked up at Holly, ugly sobs shaking her body.

"Would you like a hug?" Ash asked, trying to be helpful.

Shadow shook her head slowly, her eyes drifting back to Raven's grave.

Natalie looked at Shadow.
"We must remember her for the good she did," Natalie whispered to Holly, glancing at Raven's grave.

"Who?" Ash asked, for Holly was not speaking to Natalie at the minute.

"I was there." Shadow said quietly, her voice breaking slightly. "I should have stopped her."

Natalie put a hand of Shadow's shoulder.
"Raven," Natalie reminded Ashton.