//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Visits. // Story: Memento Mori: The Last Days on Equestria // by Bronie312 //------------------------------// Whispers... That was all I could hear or perceive thanks to my ears, I could feel how my whole body ached and I didn't like that at all, but I was able to distract myself from that when I perceived the presence of someone else. While I was thinking about the presence next to me, my cough kept coming back, although at a lower level, compared to other days. The presence next to me seemed to notice this, then fell silent. "W-Who is-?" *Coff Coff*…Spike, is that you?” I asked tiredly, then I got my answer... "You woke up... *Ahem* ...how do you feel?" He said, his voice was muffled and I spoke... "Like shit- *Coff Coff* ...My body hurts and exhaustion overwhelms me..." I started talking, then slowly opened my eyes, looked at Spike, and said... "How long have I been here?" I asked, to which he replied with a sigh... "...About 13 hours. When you passed out at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie became very hysterical and rushed to bring you here; I was lucky to meet you halfway, so when Pinkie explained what happened, I accompanied both of you to the hospital... *Sigh* ...Since then, I have stayed with you all day; although Dr. Whooves and Derpy also came to visit you, as well as Twilight and the others.” Spike explained with a muffled tone in his voice. Now I remembered, I went to Sugercube Corner to eat there, but then, while I was talking with Pinkie, I felt so much pain that I collapsed on the ground and passed out. I looked at Spike, who gave a slight and sad smile and then looked at the ground, ignoring me completely; meanwhile, I chose to find a way to make him feel better, but the constant and growing cough and pain in my body prevented me to do it. It was then that we heard knocks coming from the door, it began to be opened until it revealed a nurse pony, who entered the room, looked at me for a moment, and spoke... "I hope I'm not bothering you, but the visiting hours ended a couple of hours ago... Princess Sparkle asked me to let you be with the patient a little longer, but it is time for him to have his well-deserved rest. Please." The nurse explained as she walked towards Spike, who turned to see her and sighed... "Sorry..." Spike said as he turned to see me, I nodded understanding what was happening and replied... "No problem, my friend- * Coff Coff * ... Although, I'd like a nice company to talk to at night." I joked, to which Spike gave a little muffled laugh and said... "Good night, Frank." "Likewise, Spike." I said, then Spike turned and walked to the door next to the nurse; when they reached the door, Spike turned to look at me and smiled again. I did the same and, in the end, they both left the room, closing the door behind them. From one moment to another, I was completely alone, suffering constant pain and the growing cough that invaded my body more and more. I was silent as I looked out the window to watch the moon rise in the middle of the cold, silent night. I smiled again; I adored the night, but I despised having to sleep just as the moon appeared in the beautiful sky and landscape of Equestria. I thought for a moment about what the night meant and, well... it meant everything to me. "Hey..." I heard a soft voice on my right side; I turned to that side and observed that it was Princess Luna. So, I said between coughs... "Hey Luna." I greeted. "How do you feel?" She asked, to which I replied... “To be honest, very bad- *Coff Coff* ...I no longer feel strong enough to carry out any activity that I adore; now, I'm just a-” I said, but Luna was ahead of me… "...A weak one?" She asked, to which I nodded in response. Then, Luna sighed... "Having a disease does not limit you as a living being, perhaps physically, but never mentally... You are a great person and you never let yourself down for anything or anypony. You've done as much as Twilight and her friends, and that's admirable... *Sigh* ...Also, you have brought happiness to my life.” She concluded with a very noticeable sad tone in her voice, when I realized this, I looked at her again and she was already with a tear running down her face. "You say it because of our relationship time ago... don't you?" I asked, looking at the floor as if this was going to give me the answer to my question... "Not entirely... *Sniff* ...I also say this because of the great friendship we had over time, during all these years-" Luna replied, at the same time that she slowly approached me. "...Because friendship is magic." I said, concluding what she was going to say. Then she added... "And... *Sniff* ...friends must be treasured for life." "You know, I would have loved to be in your dreams these last few days. But-” She said, looking at the moon while sitting on one side of the bed, which I complemented… "...You were occupied." I commented, but that didn't seem to be the wisest thing from me since Luna got a little upset and then said... "No... There was something else, something that p-prevented me from accessing your dreams, and only yours. I don't know why, but I wasn't able to enter your mind at night.” Luna ended up explaining, who was somewhat annoyed by my comment but still looked sad about my health condition at that time. I coughed again, my health was not going to improve, it never would and this was already devastating everypony I knew; it was there that I decided to explain what crossed my mind... "Listen, Luna... I know that you are worried about me and that you are afraid because of my current health condition- *Coff Coff* ...But that does not mean that you should act like everypony, be strong, Luna... *Sigh* ...After all, that's what you taught me years ago.” Finally, I said in a very serious and partly worrying tone. Luna looked at me after I said that, I left her speechless, which made me understand that what I said was perhaps too much. So, and with regret inside me, I said... "I-I'm sorry, Luna... I- *Sigh* ...I don't even know why I bother apologizing; I already know that you are not one of those who are sensitive and that you take things very seriously. *Coff Coff* ...But, on the other hand, I am sensitive and affectionate towards others; I'm not saying you are not, but- *Coff Coff* ...I do get very attached to feelings-" I tried to explain, but she stopped me… "Wait, are you saying I have no feelings?" Luna asked, surprising me, but then I understood what was happening... "No, Luna. I didn't mean that, what I'm trying to say is-” I started to explain, but she interrupted me again. "Yeah, sure! You think that I am an insensitive pony and that I do not care about feelings!... Well, I have news for you. I could feel since birth and the most painful feeling inside me is not being able to be with you, Frank!... Goodbye!” She exclaimed between grunts of anger and annoyance, but I tried to stop her... "Luna, wait. You don't understand-” I tried to explain the situation to her, but she just didn't want to listen… "Goodbye, Frank!" She exclaimed one last time before fading from the darkness of the room, only being illuminated by the moonlight. Understanding what had happened, I dropped my head on the pillow of the bed I was in and mumbled in regret and self-hatred... "I'm such an idiot." To Be Continued...