The strange machine beside the hospital bed went "Beep".
A dark blue alicorn stepped into the private room, slipping herself into a chair beside the bed, and it's contents, as she did most every evening.
The strange machine went "Beep".
She sighed softly, one surprisingly soft hoof stroking the thinned, straw colored mane.
A quiet, pained voice said, "...Why did you have to grow old? Why would you ever do something so....silly. "
The odd machine...what was it again? Ah..heart monitor. Such strange wonders, in this new age...
It went "beep".
"...My sister tried to warn, me I think." Said the dark alicorn quietly. "With her...stories. I thought her but bragging, speaking of her....lovers. Paramours. I think she was trying to warn me in her....own way. "
She smiled slightly, curling her neck to lightly nuzzle against a faded scarlet coat. "Or maybe she was...she sounded so happy, in those stories. Maybe...trying to tell me how...wonderful it would be. And it was...so so wonderful. " She giggled, softly. "I still remember the shocked faces when I had you escort me to the Gala...oh...so many nobles, with the monocles dangling. Their princess with...well. They didn't expect someone like you."
She shifted the chair, so she could lay her head against his chest, still smiling at the memories as her horn bobbed from his slow, steady breathing.
"Especially someone so...direct. Ahh...you bucked that officious little baron from...I forget. Manehatten? I think. Bucked him right off the balcony when he sneered, and called me "The Nightmare Princess". She sighed. "The gardeners kept getting the giggles before they could pull him out of that rosebush...."
The machine went beep.
One leg came up, draping over his stomach, as she resisted the urge to curl up next to him. Not enough room on the bed...she'd have to fix that, she thought. Get him a custom bed so she could at least lie next to him....
Her horn stopped bobbing.
"I love you..." She whispered softly, smiling. "I haven't loved anyone this much in...so long. I--" She paused, eyes widening for a fracture of a second.
The strange machine was silent. It had been for a short time. As if it had been waiting for her to notice, a long, flat, whining note filled the air.
Princess Luna curled up against him--face buried in his still warm coat as she began to sob softly.