“Yes, we probably should…”
I looked over at Mom as she and Gramma approached my bed. “Everything okay, Ma?”
“Yes, everything’s alright.” She looked out the window at the darkening sky, then at Starry and Tess, who sat on the bed with me. “Starry, Tesla, I’d like to ask a big favor of you two, but I need to be certain of something first.”
“What’s up?” Starry asked her.
I saw Mom bite her lower lip as she asked, “Did your parents by any chance supply you with something to eat?”
Tesla nodded. “Oh yeah, we both stopped at home and stocked up before we came. We weren’t sure if it would be a long night.” She pointed to her swollen saddlebags, slung across one of the chairs.
Mom let out a quick breath. “Oh, thank goodness. I wouldn’t request this if there was a possibility you’d go hungry.”
“Request what?” Tess asked.
“Well, you see, with everything that’s happened, I haven’t left the hospital for days. I need to check on the house— you know, make sure it hasn’t burned down,” Mom said with a forced laugh. “I need to collect the mail, clean out the fridge, and tidy up a bit. Crimson’s grandmother was going to come and help me take care of everything. He seems to be feeling alright physically, but I still don’t want to leave Crimson alone. We would likely be back around… ten-ish. Would your parents be alright with you staying here that late? And more importantly, would you two be willing to stay?”
“Of course!” Tess answered instantly.
“Yes Ma’am!” Starry said with a salute. I couldn’t help but laugh at that— he’s such an army brat.
Mom gave a relieved sigh. “Oh Celestia, you two are life-savers. I can’t thank you enough.” Mom and Gramma both gave me a kiss on the cheek before they made their way to the door. “We’ll be back later, sweetie. I’m sorry to leave you right now, but I think you’re in good hooves. We’ll be back later tonight, I promise.” With that, she and Gramma went out the door.
“Yo, dude, is there anything you wanna do that you can’t when your mom’s around?” Starry asked as soon as the door closed.
I let out a huff. “No, this stupid tube will prevent me from doing any of it,” I answered with a frown.
“Blah. That sucks,” he replied.
“Yeah, no kidding,” I said.
Tess poked me and pointed out the window. “I think a couple of stars are coming out. You wanna use your telescope?” she asked.
I raised my eyebrows at that. “Well, that’s an idea.” I swung my legs around the side of my bed as Tess and Starry both hopped off. I planted my hooves on the floor, wobbling a bit before I steadied myself. Starry and Tess guided me as I slowly made my way to the window, just in case I fell. At least I still had enough strength to make it that far on my own.
I set myself up with my telescope, with the tube just barely tugging at my nose. It was pretty annoying, but I figured I’d deal with it. Tess was right— a few stars had already come out. I swiveled the telescope back and forth, trying to get a good view of some of them. Tess and Starry helped me guide it, but there was one problem.
“Geez, every time I get a good lock on one of them, a stupid cloud floats by,” I complained. “They’re so freakin’ annoying!”
“Indeed. Perhaps we should remove them from view.”
“How are you gonna—” All three of us stopped. Tess and I grinned at each other, then we both looked over at Starry; he’d turned white as a sheet. All of us spun around to find Princess Luna herself.
“I see another introduction is in order,” the Princess said, looking at Starry, then turning to me, “though I think I may know who this is.” She got a good look at Starry’s cutie mark as he bowed to her. “Would you by any chance be Knightfall’s son?”
Still bowing, Starry looked up at her and answered, “Y-Y-Yes, Your Highness.” Tess and I held in giggles as he stammered, “M-My name’s S-Starry Knight.” He turned to Tess and me and whispered, “Why aren’t you bowing?”
The Princess chuckled, “Because I have granted them the privilege not to— a privilege you may enjoy as well, as of this moment.”
Starry raised himself to standing height, with his eyes wide and his jaw hanging on the floor. “Princess, how do you know about me?”
Princess Luna smiled. “It is quite noticeable when one of my guards speaks of their child earning their cutie mark. ‘Tis a special occasion indeed. Your father was, and I can only assume still is, immensely proud of his son’s artistic ability. And while you may not wish to follow in your father’s hoofprints, you certainly act as though you could,” she said.
I laughed. “I just thought the same thing a few minutes ago.”
“Learning respect at a young age is an admirable quality, Starry Knight. Your father has taught you well,” Princess Luna said, “but you may drop the formalities with me. You have earned the right, as a dutiful friend to Crimson Star— who has consistently neglected to take advantage of said privilege.” She smiled again.
I blushed. “Sorry, Princess. It just doesn’t feel right.” Tess nodded in agreement.
“Very well, but the offer still stands if you wish,” Princess Luna said with a smirk.
It was great to see her again, but I realized I still had that important question to ask. I didn’t want to offend her, so I approached the Princess and spoke as respectfully as I could. “Um, Princess? Can I ask you something? I don’t want to forget.”
“Of course, Crimson. What is it you wish to know?” she responded.
“Well, it’s kind of… hard to ask,” I said, looking at the floor.
“Oh?” She cocked a brow. “In what way?”
I sighed and looked at Tess. “Well, maybe I should just ask.” The Princess tilted her head and waited for me to speak. I looked back at her and asked outright, “Princess, did you… did you know my dad was gonna die?”
Her eyes widened at the inquiry. “Why… would you ask such a question, Crimson?”
To my relief, Tess jumped in for me. “It was actually my idea, Princess. Crimson told me you had a conversation a while ago about what powers you do and don’t have. You said he needed to know that you don’t have power over life and death, and he would find out why soon.” Tess hesitated before she continued, “That sounded like more than a coincidence to me after Mr. Dasher… passed away.”
The Princess took a breath and let out a small hum. “I do indeed recall that conversation, and it was important that we had it, though not for the reason you are suggesting, Tesla.” When I arched my eyebrows, she turned to me and continued, “When you had the dream which cast me as the Angel of Death, I determined that you needed to understand where my powers do and do not lie. However, it had nothing to do with your father. And if you recall, I also told you that I cannot predict the future.”
“Oh… yeah…” I’d forgotten about that. “But if that’s true, then why did you say I ‘would know soon enough’ why we had to have that talk?” I asked.
“Well, it would not have surprised me if you had made friends here in the hospital. Considering your situation, as well as theirs, there was always the possibility that one of them might pass away. While I had hoped it would not be the case, the likelihood was high, and unfortunately, I was correct. That was the reason I determined that you needed the knowledge of my limitations. I had not considered your father, as he seemed perfectly healthy at the time.”
“Oh…” I nodded. “That makes sense. I didn’t think about that.”
“And if you recall, you did have a dream in which you asked me about your friends’ potential return… but then remembered my limits.” I nodded, remembering that game of Patan, and my first lucid dream. “Nonetheless,” the Princess sighed, “in hindsight, I should not have said such a thing either way. ‘Twas poor judgement on my part, and I apologize for that.”
“It’s okay, I think I understand why you did it,” I said.
“However…” She paused. “Tesla is not wrong in thinking that I knew of your father’s imminent passing. The timing is incorrect, though.”
“Huh? I don’t get it,” Tess said.
“Me either. What do you mean, ‘timing’?” I asked.
“Allow me to explain,” Princess Luna responded. “Do you recall when your father went into his first surgery, and I induced you to sleep?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “I’d just had this thing put in.” I crossed my eyes, looking at the tube. “You said I needed rest.”
She nodded. “While that was indeed true, I had an ulterior motive behind doing so. When you fell asleep, I linked you to your father’s dreamscape. You and your father were experiencing the same dream together.”
My jaw dropped. “Wait, so that’s why you had me go to sleep?”
She nodded. “Aside from the fact that you did indeed need rest, I induced your slumber because you both had to be dreaming for me to connect you. As I observed the two of you in your dream, I could tell that your father did not need a push to persevere, as can be the case with others. He fought as hard as he could for you on his own, and he succeeded. I kept you connected because you appeared to be enjoying yourself. However, the conversation he had with you in the later part of the dream gave me insight to his own knowledge of his impending mortality.”
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
“Do you not remember your father’s words?”
I thought for a moment before I frowned. “No… I don’t.”
She nodded. “As I recall, when he referred to the game you played together, he said, ‘I won’t always be here to play with you.’ He also worried about your future. As I said, the two of you were linked directly. Unlike in the dream that I poorly manipulated…” She put a hoof to her head and rolled her eyes. “…he was no projection to you, and you were no projection to him. I don’t believe either of you knew until the very end, when you saw my reflection.”
“So that was you!”
She nodded. “Indeed. When you discovered me, I had to break the link— ‘twas unnecessary anyway. However, had your father been speaking to you outside the dreamscape, he likely would have said similar words to you. His subconscious in the dreamscape wanted to warn you. Whether he knew it was a dream or not, he was able to pass you the message.”
My eyes widened. “Actually… he did say something like that to me when we were awake. So are you… you’re saying he knew, too?”
Princess Luna sighed. “I suspect he did. I believe he spoke those words to you because he knew there was a distinct possibility he would not survive, and was preparing for it, despite his successful battle. It was during that linked dream that I discovered your father was likely aware of his imminent passing. While it distressed him, he seemed to have accepted it.”
“What?” I asked. “Dad would never—”
The Princess held up a hoof and cut me off. “Wait, I’m not finished, Crimson. While I was not aware of your father’s second surgery, even if I knew, and attempted to intervene, I doubt it would have made a difference. Based on what I learned from my visit to your mother’s dreamscape, the likelihood of his survival was slim, no matter how strong his mental fortitude— and believe me, in that regard, your father was strong. Despite your father’s tribulations, you must know that he did not quit.” I sighed with relief at that comment. “I could tell from that first dream that he would have done anything he could to fight on for you. However, based on some of his other dreams I observed, he also thought realistically. Your father fought as hard as he could, but in the end, his passing was inevitable. I’m sorry.”
I sniffed as the Princess finished explaining herself, and let a tear drip down my cheek as I nodded. She wiped it away with her wing. “I still wish it hadn’t happened,” I choked out.
“Of course not. Nopony wishes for the passing of a loved one. Loss is always terribly painful, but you must fight on for your father— he has faith in you. As do I,” the Princess said.
She briefly wrapped me in her wing. When she released me, Tess and Starry both gave me a hug.
“You also have incredible friends who wish nothing but the best for you,” the Princess said, looking at Starry and Tess. “You must fight for them as well. All of this—” She turned around, gesturing at the machines. “—is clearly important to your battle, but another key to your success is your strength of will. If you allow your positive mentality to weaken, the same will happen to your body. You must stay strong emotionally, or all of this will be for nought.” She caught sight of the wall across from my bed. She stopped short for a moment before she spoke. “What… is this?”
Starry slunk back against the window as the Princess stared at his painting. “Umm… I, uh… I made that, Princess. I hope I got a good angle.”
Princess Luna approached the painting before she put a hoof to her mouth and took a breath. “This… this is remarkable! Never have I seen such a portrayal outside of stained glass.” She took in the entirety of the painting, looking at one particular spot for a few moments before she turned around to address Starry. “Starry Knight, you truly have a gift. ‘Tis no wonder your father brags about you.”
Starry’s eyes grew as wide as dinner plates before he responded, “Th-Thank you, Princess. I made that for Crimson. Actually, I got my cutie mark just after I gave it to him.”
The Princess took another breath. “‘Tis not surprising. This truly is a wonderful piece of work.” Starry blushed as the Princess looked back at the painting, then turned to me with a smirk. “Crimson, I believe you wanted to do a bit of stargazing, did you not?”
“Hey, yeah!” I answered.
“Then I must make one small adjustment.” She looked out the window, and with a glow of her horn, the clouds outside the window dissipated. “That should make things easier.”
“Awesome!” I said.
The Princess turned back to me and said, “Crimson, I am well aware that your father was quite the spiritual stallion. It would not surprise me if he still watches you from beyond the stars. Perhaps you could choose one to serve as your father’s representative; that way, you may keep watch on him in return.”
I thought about it for a moment. “You know, that does sound like something Dad would do.” I looked around the now clear sky, trying to find a good star to serve as Dad’s representative. “Hmmm… I need to find a good one…”
The Princess looked through the window for just a moment, then pointed up at a particularly bright star just over the top of Princess Twilight’s Castle. “How about that one?”
I took my telescope and turned it toward the star she’d pointed out, and right as I got it into focus, it sparkled, like it was winking at me. I lifted my eye from the lens and smiled. “It’s perfect! Dad, I’ll keep watch for you every night.” I looked at the Princess with that same smile. “Thank you, Princess. That might make everything a little easier for me to take in.” I looked straight out the window at the star, sparkling in the clear night sky.
“You are very welcome. I am glad I could be of help, but for now, I must depart.” She turned to all of us as she said her respective goodbyes. “Crimson, as always, it was wonderful to see you. Tesla, lovely to see you again. And Starry, it was a pleasure to meet you as well. I will tell your father that he certainly has every right to brag about his son. You do truly have a gift.”
Starry turned bright red. “Th-Thank you, Princess. I-It was an honor to meet you.”
“Great to see you again, Princess!” Tesla said.
“I’ll see you soon, right?” I asked.
“Perhaps,” she answered with a smile, before she vanished in a blinding flash of light.
After a few minutes, Starry’s jaw finally went back up into his mouth as Tess and I laughed at him.
“So, you still jealous?” Tess asked him. “She knew about you before she even met you!”
“I… I…” Starry stammered, before he promptly fell to the floor.