Only a few minutes after Starry and Tess had left, there was a knock at the door. I expected them back, so I just called out, “Come on in, guys!” The door opened, and Starry came in, backing himself into the hallway. A moment later, a large, wrapped box came through, surrounded by a copper aura.
“This way, Tess, you’re almost there,” Starry told her. “Riiiiiiiiight… here.” Tess gently laid the box on the floor and released her aura. Starry sighed, then said, “We weren’t sure how much longer you’d be in the hospital, but we put this together so it’d be here when you got back. We had a lot of help, though.”
“Yeah,” Tess added, panting a bit. “A lot of help.”
I turned to Mom and Gramma. “Did you know about this?”
“Actually, no,” Gramma said. “Like your mother said earlier, we intended to plan something bigger for you later.”
“You two little sneaks!” Mom said. “What did you pull behind our backs?”
“Actually, we weren’t sure if we’d be able to pull it off in the first place,” Tess said. “Like we said, we got a lot of help.”
“From whom?” Mom asked.
“You’ll see when he unwraps it,” Starry said with a smirk.
“So you’re telling me to open it now?” I asked.
“Duh,” Tess said with a laugh. “Just be careful. It’s… sensitive.”
“…Okay.” I tore gently at the paper, revealing a golden box with a latch. I looked at it for a moment, not quite sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me. “Is… Is this box actual gold?”
Tess and Starry glanced at each other and smirked.
“Maybe,” Tess answered.
“Take a closer look at the latch,” Starry said.
I did as he said; the latch was in the shape of a cre— a crescent moon! There was no way…
As I undid the latch, Tess came up beside me. “You said the doctors told you no heavy lifting, so I probably oughta help you with this.” The box’s lid became enveloped in her aura. When she flipped it open, I stared inside, completely dumbstruck.
It was a golden telescope, polished to a mirror shine. It looked well-maintained. I looked behind me at Mom and Gramma, and they both seemed just as awestruck as me. “How in Equestria did you two—”
“A lot of help,” Starry said. “Quite a bit from my dad, actually. When I asked him to give a message to Princess Luna, he was pretty taken aback. Even more so when she gave him a quick answer.”
A flash of light appeared by the window, and there stood Princess Luna herself, a big grin on her face. “‘Twas a message I was quite thrilled to respond to. I am most pleased I could be of assistance in this endeavor.”
“Your Highness!” Mom and Gramma both dipped into a bow immediately, but the Princess just chuckled.
“Please rise, my loyal subjects. ‘Tis I who should be bowing to you, as I have so rudely intruded in your homestead. ‘Tis wonderful to finally introduce myself. My apologies for restricting my presence to Crimson and his friends. However, seeing as I took part in this endeavor, I felt it was time to present myself and provide a more detailed explanation to this gift.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Starry and Tess both said, bowing their heads.
“However,” she said, nodding to them both, “perhaps you two ought to begin the tale.”
“Oh, um, okay,” Tess replied. She turned to me and started, “Well, Starry and I wanted to get you something together, so we tried to think of something we could both do. Considering how much you’ve been talking about your dreams with Princess Luna lately, we thought we’d ask her if she had any ideas— particularly involving dreams or stargazing.”
“Yeah,” Starry continued, “so I asked my dad to give Princess Luna a message, and she gave me an answer pretty quickly.”
“I believe my words were, ‘I have just the thing’,” Princess Luna said.
“Yep,” Starry continued. “My dad came home with this a few days ago. When I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was perfect. When I showed it to Tess, she almost fainted.”
“Did not!” Tess responded.
“You were pretty close,” Starry chuckled. “So, Tess and I wrapped this up, and here we are. So really, this is more of a present from Princess Luna than it is from us.”
“Not in the slightest,” Princess Luna said. “Had you not contacted me, I would not have thought of it. Your correspondence is what brought this about. This gift is as much from you two as it is from me.” Starry and Tess both blushed. “As you can see, Crimson, the latch on this box matches my cutie mark. You likely understand what that means.”
I nodded slowly. “This… this is yours, isn’t it, Princess?”
She smiled. “Indeed it is. This is the telescope I received shortly after I first earned my cutie mark and began my training as Princess of the Night. It has certain enchantments that allow one to see farther than a normal telescope. As my powers grew, I found that I did not need it anymore. While I no longer use it, I have kept it in an ideal condition. I have worried that over the years it would be forgotten, but your passion for the night sky is tremendous. I believe it would be in good hooves in your care, so I happily bequeath this to you as a token of congratulations.”
I was nearly in tears. “Princess, I… I don’t know what to say.”
“A simple ‘thank-you’ to your friends would suffice. ‘Twas their idea in the first place,” she said with a smile.
I looked over at Starry and Tess, and reached for them both, leaning forward to keep the button out of harm’s way. “Guys… thank you. This is amazing.”
“Well, make sure you thank the Princess, too. It’s her telescope, after all,” Tess said.
“Of course,” I mumbled. I could barely get any words out. I walked up to the Princess and hugged her leg. “Princess, thank you so much. This is incredible.” I looked around the room. “All these gifts…” Starry’s painting, Tesla’s lamp, the Princess’s telescope. Only one thing made my ears droop.
Mom caught my expression. “Crimson, what’s wrong? You just said how wonderful all of this is.”
“It is,” I sighed. “It’s just that…” I glanced at the small picture frame on the mantelpiece. “I just wish Dad could be here to celebrate, too.”
Princess Luna smiled. “Ah, but he is here.”
I glanced at the picture frame, then back to her with a sigh. “Princess, I don’t think Dad’s feather really counts.”
She simply kept smiling. “‘Tis not what I mean. Allow me.” She lit up her horn, and the golden telescope sprang to life. The mount, the optical tube, the eyepiece, and the lenses all came together into one fully assembled unit. Placing the telescope by the window, she pointed it up toward the night sky. “Despite their massive numbers, I know all of my stars, and that one,” she said, tilting the telescope slightly to the left and adjusting the focus, “is the one we picked out together. Have a look for yourself.”
I looked through the eyepiece at the star she’d focused the telescope on. There was a sense of familiarity about it. Despite the different angle, that was definitely Dad’s star.
“Thanks, Princess, but I still don’t understand. It’s great to see Dad’s star, but—”
“Ah yes, the connection. You see, Crimson, you have overcome a great trial over the past months. A rather rough phase, if you will. Stars go through phases as well. And if I’m right…” she said, looking back through the telescope, “…your father’s star is about to finish a phase of its own. Come— this is nothing short of serendipity.”
I looked back through the lens at the star. Like it had done many times before, it glimmered, almost like it was winking at me. But then I noticed something else— it began to change. It got slightly bigger, and changed color. It took on a hue that looked like… red. After it finished, it sparkled once more, only brighter. I was awestruck.
“How… what just— did it really?” The gears in my head seized.
Princess Luna smiled. “Crimson, everything in our world—our universe—is connected. The bond you share with your father has not ended. He has watched over you since the day you were born, and even in the afterlife, he continues to watch over you. Despite the lousy cards you were dealt, you played them well. You’ve overcome your trials, and are ready to move on to the next phase of your life, just like your father’s representative. For as long as you live, your father will be there to watch over you… as your very own crimson star.”
At the mention of my name, the gears in my head started turning again. The connections… They’d been true with Blackhawk. They’d been true with Starry and Tesla. And now they were true with me. Everything was connected somehow, just like Princess Luna had said. It all made sense. I wasn’t quite sure how or why, but things just… made sense.
I looked through the eyepiece of the telescope and smiled. The star sparkled once again, as if it knew I was watching. “Thanks, Dad,” I whispered to myself. “You really helped me make it through. I keep being told I already have, but I’ll make you proud. I promise.”
I heard a unanimous gasp behind me, but I was too engrossed in Dad’s star to pay attention. When I finally looked back at everypony, Mom, Gramma, Starry, and Tess all stared at me with their mouths agape, but Princess Luna just sat there with a smile.
“What?” I asked. “What’d— Wait, I’ve seen that look before!” I whipped my head around, and there it was, adorning my flank: my cutie mark. An eight-pointed star, a lighter shade of red than my coat. Looking back out the window, I said, “It looks just like Dad’s star when it sparkles…”
I looked back to Princess Luna, and found her patting Starry on the shoulder. “You truly do have a gift, Starry Knight.”
Starry cocked a brow at her. “Huh? What did I have to do with any of this?”
“Well,” Princess Luna began, “Why did Crimson start watching a star to represent his father?”
“Because you said he should,” Starry answered.
“And what had happened just before I suggested it?”
Tess looked up above my fireplace. “You saw Starry’s painting for the first time.”
“And what did Starry include in his painting?” Princess Luna asked.
Starry’s eyes widened as he turned around and looked in the upper right corner of the painting. “A… A crimson star…”
“Precisely. Call it an inspiration,” Princess Luna said with a smile.
“Wait…” I started. “Princess, did you cause me to get this cutie mark?”
“I did not,” she said plainly. “I simply gave you a nudge in the proper direction.”
“So you knew I would get this cutie mark? But I thought you couldn’t predict the future.”
“I cannot. That doesn’t mean I can’t influence it when it is appropriate. I normally refrain from such actions, but I had a strong hunch about you, Crimson Star.”
I smiled. “You’re right. I really can’t imagine anything else.”
“I’m glad you’re satisfied. You truly do have a bond with the stars. I can sense it in you.” She looked out the window. “Those bright and shining stars in the darkness will always be there to guide you.”
I thought to myself, Hey… Shining Stars… That’s pretty good.
“If you wish, we may remain in contact. Perhaps one day I can teach you a thing or two about astronomy. However, you have more pressing matters to attend to for now. You must finish healing first, and school to complete. After that, we can converse further.”
“That sounds great, Princess,” I said, unable to get much volume out of my throat.
“I have only one other thing I can offer you at the moment,” Princess Luna said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
She smiled and extended a hoof. “My friendship, young gentlecolt.”
My eyes dilated. “Of… Of course, Princess! I’d be honored!” I couldn’t help it— I dipped into a bow.
“The same goes for the rest of you,” the Princess said. Turning to Mom, she began, “You have raised a fine young colt. All of his hardships have also been yours. You are a fine parent, and should be proud of yourself. You as well,” she said, looking at Gramma. “You raised a fine son, who in turn raised a fine son, and you stepped in when you were needed most. You are a wonderful grandparent.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Mom and Gramma said, both bowing.
“You, Starry,” the Princess continued, “you truly do have a gift. Your inspiration allowed me to give Crimson the nudge he needed during his time of strife, and you are a true friend. Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you, Princess,” Starry replied. Looking back at his painting, he asked her, “Maybe… maybe I could make something for you sometime? After I’ve practiced a bit more?”
“I would be thrilled. You will only improve with time. When you feel you are ready, do not hesitate to make contact. And you, dear Tesla,” the Princess continued, approaching Tess, “your heart is true, as is your skill. You were able to give Crimson those final days with his father, and have since dedicated your own time to his comfort. You are a truly devoted companion. He is lucky to have a filly as wonderful as you by his side.”
Tess blushed as she gave me a hug. “Thank you, Princess. None of this would have been possible without you, though. Thank you for keeping him with us.” Everypony else nodded in agreement.
“Nay, ‘twas not my doing. The strength and love in this room was more than enough. May that ring true for many moons,” the Princess said, putting a hoof on my shoulder.
“Yeah,” I responded. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. Starry wandered over to Tess and me, and I whispered to him, “Well, looks like you did it right back to me. Your painting got me my cutie mark, too.”
“Heh. I guess you’re right. I never would’ve thought.”
I heard Mom ask, “Your Highness, I apologize if this is impolite, but may I impose upon you?” She held up a camera in her hoof. “That is just a wonderful visual.”
I looked up at Princess Luna standing above me, with Tess and Starry to my left and right. Figures Mom would want to take a picture. “T’would be a pleasure.”
Mom beamed. “Oh, wonderful! This is just amazing! Come, you three, get together!” I pulled Tess closer, and as I dragged Starry into the picture, I could feel my bandana slip again, but I didn’t bother with it. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, two cheeks against my own, a forearm hooked around my neck, and a hoof on top of my head as Mom said, “Smile!”