//------------------------------// // 371. Victory by RedvsBlue327 // Story: The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab // by Fuzzyfurvert //------------------------------// by RedvsBlue327 *** Dread loomed upon Celestia as the ship captain relayed about the fate of the last boarding team. Sparks and warnings blew from the medbay console, and more alarms echoed everywhere else due to the beating the space frigate had taken in the fierce battle. The lead cruiser of the enemy fleet had proven a terrible opponent two times over, and just as victory was almost grasped in desperation, the enemy ship somehow jumped away. Again. And as Celestia was just now finding out, carrying those with the best combat experience among their crew. Twilight emerged into the Medbay sporting multiple gashes and burns across her once pristine coat. Celestia tried to focus on the repairs at hoof, but she had caught sight of Twilight's state upon her entrance. The brevity she had carried through the battle finally broke, and Celestia dropped the repair kit in favor of caring for her true... Well, there was no room for such in war. The two said nothing as Celestia cared to Twilight's wounds. Even as functionality was restored to the automated Medbay, still she continued to redundantly clean away excess blood and charred fur. Recent memories of missile barrages tearing away the engine room around her lingered. The captain announced their imminent departure, and Celestia was pulled out of her idle thoughts of what had happened, and would soon happen again. Her worries didn't matter. The enemy missile launcher had to be disabled if victory were to be seriously attempted. And without the main fighters, the next two combat capable was Andy... And ... Terror constricted her as she froze completely, sheer panic unlike earlier for just her lowly life, but for the one that held her everything. Her spirit, her will, her love. Twilight had joined at this crews tragic tale, and Celestia scrambled after her. Twilight had endured flame, gunfire, and vacuum for the promise of the future, and Celestia could not bring herself to separate. But this time she could not follow, and fear overwhelmed, tears threatening in desperation of an alternative where there was none. Twilight hugged her, and Celestia grasped back as hard as she could, as if it would somehow keep her there. Moments passed, and the vibrations of the jump engine alerted them to the impending pursuit. Twilight pulled out of the hug, to the reluctance of Celestia. The tears were wiped away, and when her eyes opened, they locked to not just Twilight's own, but a window to the unwavering passion and belief she carried about this cause. Celestia's shuddering sobs calmed to Twilight's resolve once again, just as any time before where it came down to the wire, her fire relighting Celestia's hope. The door behind them opened as the second boarding member came looking. There was no more time. They both got up and looked to each other, seeing all the heartwarming times in years long gone, the adventures of what seemed now trivial matters back home, and the most recent fights for survival on a galactic scale. She wished she could find the will to speak, to reveal her feelings far too late... but as the jump engine whirred to activation, Twilight leaned over and gave a kiss, not of family or friends, but of passionate lovers. The kind Celestia was forced to know she yearned for in their first ship bound skirmishes. As Celestia came out of her blissful shock, Twilight had already gone. The enemy monstrosity was in sight, and what would likely be the final battle began. Hull breaches scattered throughout the ship, and fires filled the rest. Celestia came to as oxygen became too thin and stumbled out the engine room. She stumbled from her injuries. But her next foggy glance was to the sight of the lead enemy warship... venting atmosphere at an exponential rate. Then flame and support structure, until it made a final flare, and catastrophically burst in a cacophony of explosions and debris. Tearful cheers rang throughout the destroyer, echoing in unwavering volume, but Celestia heard none of it. She felt not even joy, as the one important thing remained focused in her clearing mind. She clumsily made her way to the wrecked Medbay, tripping at the sight of no one... ... There was time, she had seen the final moments. She made to sprint to the teleporter and collapsed from bloodloss. She needed to get to that room and did whatever crawl would buy her movement. Buy her time to do the proper confession. She came close enough for the teleporter room doors to automatically open. Thanks to the valiant efforts of: The Kestrel And her successful crew: Jerry, Ug-Nur, Celestia and Mandon The rebel's flagship was destroyed, throwing their fleet into chaos and ensuring a federation victory.