Roughly based off of Tanks for the Memories
Empire never got the chance to say goodbye to his cousins, who were lost in a battle against Changelings in the Everfree. His friends (the Mane 7, not Sunset but Starlight) caught on though and tried cheering him up but he rejected it. It wasn’t until Rainbow, AppleJack, Twilight, and Starlight were the only ones left offering him their concern.
The 4 walk in to find EJ curled up with his face hidden, silently sobbing.
AJ: Uh… knock knock, sugarcube?
EJ: What do you want?
TS: We wanted to…
RD: To…
SG: To cheer you up after the…
EJ: Whatever…
RD: I know that look. I had that same reaction a while back with Tank (there’s the reference).
AJ: I know I’m stubborn at times but, this is a different stubborn. I wouldn’t expect this kind from you.
EJ: Whatever…
SG: Please Empire. Just let us help you.
EJ: What did I say? Whatever. I don’t need you 4 to cheer me up.
RD: But… we’re your friends.
TS: That’s what we do for each other.
SG: It!s what the Colts (his diseased cousins) would’ve done.
Empire started slipping up with his sobbing and it became noticeable.
TS: Oh boy um…
AJ: I know. You miss them. I miss them too.
SG: They were some of the first pegasi to want to become my friends.
TS: They taught me some qualities of mentoring I never even knew existed.
RD: And they taught me stuff I never knew was possible to be taught. They broke the boundaries of the Wonderbolt Academy.
Eventually, Empire started to actually cry. The 4 friends gave him some sympathetic looks and exchanged some looks to each other before starting a group hug out of sadness and sympathy. After a while, Empire regained composure and the 4 gave him some room.
EJ: sighs and sniffs Thanks guys. sniff Really. Thanks. I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.