//------------------------------// // A parent of the past. // Story: My little Sirens // by CaioCoia //------------------------------// The darkness can mean many things, the beginning and the end... When the darkness is the beginning, just a little sparkle was enough to create the light, and when the light dies, the meaning of the darkness would be the end of things. That's how I Starswirll always viewed every one of my dreams. Something I learned as a way to learn my spells, it always starts with something, and it always ends up with something. Dreams of the imagination over my experience are always the reason of why I kept studying and developing my spells for the future. And that's how I see my dreamscape right now. Nothing like forms, colors, or feelings... Just darkness... "And yet, you still try to find the reason for being guilty." A sound echoed in my back, making me turn my head and see the pony who I've always respected, loved, and idolized... The same red fur that I've seen even in my past, but more solid than the actual holiday. "I'm glad your mind is at peace enough for me to appear." "Father." That was the only reply I could give to him, making him nod at me with a knowing smile and walk over the darkness like it was an easy path. "Starswirll, it's strange to know that this is the second time you summoned me into your dreams." Commander Hearts of the Dreams, plane walker, and the stallion who taught me the basics of how to be a warrior before his demise, and yet even after death he has been someone when I needed most in some kind of situations. "What happened to you for you make a such despaired call?" "Adagio had an Anaphylactic Shock." My words were sharp like knives, and from the smiling face freezing at the face of the powerful commander, he knew how serious it was. "Tell from the beginning." The commander who always was known for his bravery didn't show any kind of emotion than concern for them. And I needed someone who I really could trust. . . . After all the story I have explained to him, father remained quiet and listened to every single word I have to say about that... "I kept repeating the same events over and over again, it was supposed to be one satisfying afternoon, after such a perfect morning, and with just a minute, everything seemed to be upside down, I remember that there were times that even if I was scared of losing comrades at the biggest ambush of Neighboorsvillage... I didn't have nightmares over the event... But seeing Adagio so helpless... That moment kept playing, over, and over, and over again... Like mocking me the inability of being a father who couldn't protect their children." I confessed not just a second later taking off my hat and examining the dreams... The same feeling of despair happened in my mind, it was a shown of my own failures. "Because it doesn't matter how much we can try to change our minds, there is always a part inside of us saying the worst things inside of our minds." Father confirmed my inner thoughts, but seeing him distressed enough to sigh, he must know the perfect way to erase such feelings. "No Starswirll, there isn't a good spell or sorcery capable to erase our memories to prevent the lesson we learned..." "Sard..." He confirmed the worst outcome, and I couldn't help but curse... "I didn't finish Starty..." My father said as he walked near my side and looked deep into my eyes. "From the day you were born, I always thought I was going to be able to protect you from anything over the world, from the little creatures until the monstrous horrors of the dark era... I thought I was capable of doing it...But in the end, I couldn't manage to give you the childhood that I always wished you to have... We were soldiers, we were Faust's knights... And still, I failed into protecting you from the terrors of what you passed through." I remained quiet, and I could see from the deep of my mind, the darkness showing a moment of my past... The shadows of my own past... A little colt with a book on his hooves, mud on his face, tears on his eyes, and 2 unicorns with determined gazes but with tears to turn their backs to him and go ahead to a fight for the survival of their tribe... "Being a father is one of the most difficult jobs you will ever have... You must know what is best for your foals, even accepting that they want to learn that by themselves, we must use our experience to create a path for them, to make them not follow the same mistakes we did in the past." Father said as he raised his hoove and pointed at the memory of myself holding Adagio in my arms, the crying faces of Sonata, and Aria who struggled to remain strong. "We stallions, we aren't invincible, we aren't supreme beings... we are just ponies, we commit mistakes... But to be a dad is to recognize that we fail, but we will hold the mistakes of what we did in the past, and become wiser about what to do in the future... You said that this happened a week ago... Now tell me... how are you treating the lads right now?" "With ultimate care and vigil... I cannot make the same mistake again... I have asked potions from Meadowbrook just in case of the same problems happen with them..." I replied as I showed determination over my resolution of my own problems. "Yet... you still think you are a failure of a father." Commander Hearts shook his head, as he sighed in disappointment. "Starty... you must know that, it's not your fault, it happens to all of us, and yet, you showed amazing decisions and showed that you have both my and your mother's genes... You fought a clan of basilisks lions, barehooved... With a foal in your back, it's the same thing I did on the day of your birth... an Ursa was attacking your mother in her process of you giving you birth... I wouldn't accept that neither she nor you would be hurt by the freaking monster... So I did what a father would do at that moment... I chopped its head off..." "I know that story." I said as I could imagine how terrifying he must have been while he had to fight an Ursa to protect me. "Yet... you still blame yourself for a sickness... No father is that good Starty, not even Fausty was that good..." "BLASPHEMY." I shouted as I glared to my father. "Pfff... you still have feelings for her." Father rolled his eyes, already knowing the fact. "Yet my proof still stands... instead of worrying about the possible dangers over the future, why not focus on what is important to you, them... Your daughters, my granddaughters are your treasure, and yet you are not treasuring them. You are still too worried about the fact that they would break and you would lose them. But you need to accept Starswirl, what doesn't kill you... it makes you stronger. And I know that Adagio even after being in such a terrible state... She will overcome and make you proud... The same way you did to me." "So that's it? Are you going to leave?" I asked knowing full well that my magic wasn't as powerful as it should, and with him giving me a good chuckle. I knew the time was neigh. So I took something inside my hat. "Here." "A gift for me?" Father asked as he looked surprised by a single bag on his hooves... And his eyes sparkled after knowing such an item was inside... "He... obsidian stones. It seems Faust told you about them." "It was hard to find them around, but I think that was the great appreciation of how much you helped me in my times of weakness... Thank you, father... for making me born." I said, not the exact words I wish I could have said, but seeing the sparkle over his eyes, I knew he got the message. "Well, I think it's the time... Good night son." That were the only words he said before the darkness lit up in such a quick turn. GASP. My breath was unstable, my headache was killing me, the pressure over my head was too much for me... Forcing myself to sleep using magic was something terrifying and unpleasing to do... I hated to use such extremes to rest after a week of nightmares related to my children. "Daddy?" Suddenly a voice came beside my bed, which made my eyes go wide open, and see the same comforting smile from my little yellow bless, who seemed to carry a glass of water with her. "I thought you were thirsty, so I decided to bring a glass to you." "Daddy, I'm with a nightmare can I sleep with you?" Another voice came from the corridor, and from the door, a little purple siren walked inside and looked with black circles on her eye... I was almost going to reply until I felt on my other side... a touch of a hoof which brought me to my attention... My little blue siren was looking at me holding in her mouth a little draw... a draw of her family, me, Sonata, Aria, and Adagio... Faust... My fur gets wet... From all the tears that fell down over my face... Faust, thank you... Thank you so much... Even with the worried look on their faces, I gave them a simple smile, and using my horn I brought the trio around me... And by drinking a good glass of water, I laid down on the bed once again, with my daughters by my side... I will never let them down again... And for the first time in a week, I found out why my father told me he wished for the childhood I never had... Because being simple and pure like them, is what I wish for the rest of their lives... I think I may be overreacting... But I don't care... I finally can have a good night of sleep. Faust... please bless all the fathers over the world.