She smiles weakly and tightens the embrace slightly for a moment. It wasn't much, but she'd take anything she could get at this point. Starkey was the most devout pony she knew, if he said something on her behalf, that was all she could ask for. "Thank you, so much..."
She gives each pony in the room a final farewell, especially Kris. She holds her daughter for what feels like an eternity, but is only a minute at most. "Whatever happens, honey, know that what I said was true. I'll love you forever."
Kris hugs both of her parents a final time, holding them for at least as long as Falcata's initial hug. "I love you two too, no matter what happens." She gives her mother a sad smile and adds, "Don't worry mom. You've been the best mom I could have asked for. I know you'll be okay." She turns the smile to Estoc. "You too dad. I wish I could have gotten to know you better, but I know you'll be okay too."
Falcata wished she was so confident herself, but she accepts her daughter's soothing words as much as she can. This would happen either way, and there was no need to upset Kris if it was avoidable. She nuzzles Kris and says, "Thank you, honey. You've been the best daughter I could have asked for too."
Estoc nods in agreement and strokes Kris' mane. "I'm very proud of you Kris, you've grown to be a wonderful young mare." He squeezes her one last time before the family breaks their group hug. "And we'll be back to see you sometime. We'll have all of the time we need to get to know each other."
With the final goodbyes given and emotions let loose, Falcata and Estoc wearily make their way back down to the caverns where she lost her life. There, still where it had been at that fateful moment, was the shaft of moonlight extending up into the cavern ceiling. The light was growing dim, and Otik's was only slightly more visible than hers. Couth was nowhere to be seen, but she knew he'd be there at the worst possible moment.
With all of the determination she could muster, she forces herself to step into the light with her husband. The two hold hooves like teenagers as they ascend up the shaft of ethereal energy, and for a moment Falcata imagines she feels a moment of peace. The same calming sensation that engulfed her the moment she died, taking away all of her pain. The world vanishes in a flash of light as the two reach the ceiling of the cavern, and they find themselves standing in what appears to be an infinite wasteland, disrupted only by an equally massive looking walled city just ahead.
Her hooves feel heavy again as she steps forward, and the two nervously make their way toward the city. Their moment was at hoof.
Author
Topic: My Little Fortress. Glitterglen. (Read 287232 times)