Home (Pastejam 2023)


                                            >She set it ablaze.

                                            >In a moment, the quiet, pale and cold hospital room was lit a faint glow of colorful amber that rose and fell in intensity.

                                            >Twilight could feel the warmth of the candle fire already on her cheeks.

                                            >It was a subtle, yet welcoming contrast to the rather cold atmosphere around her.

                                            >Apart from the sound of falling snow outside, or the sound of clattering hooves just outside the door to the hallway, it was almost completely silent where she sat.

                                            >His breathing was the loudest of them all.

                                            >It was calm and deep, yet she could tell he was struggling, through it all.

                                            >For the last hour she'd been here, she said nothing—nothing to disturb his sleep.

                                            >He needed the rest; he earned it.

                                            >But still, there was a part of her that wanted to wake him up and just... talk to him.

                                            >Ask him anything, remind him of all the good times, promise him so much more was to come.

                                            >Maybe it was just nothing but false hope.

                                            >She knew it was coming.

                                            >She knew it for years, and she still kept pushing him away.

                                            >It wasn't his fault; she was a princess now.

                                            >But she should've known better.

                                            >A hum escaped his lips, and he stirred, catching Twilight's gaze.

                                            >He opened his eyes and saw the regal figure staring down at him.

                                            >All he could do was smile.

                                            >"There's my girl."

                                            >Twilight grinned back.

                                            "I didn't want to wake you."

                                            >"I know. But you know I hate keeping you waiting."

                                            "I don't... I don't mind."

                                            >He laughed quietly, doing his best not to exert too much.

                                            >"Here. Let me look at you."

                                            >Weakly, he raised his hoof, and pressed it delicately against her left cheek, angling her face perfectly towards his.

                                            >Her eyes were so sad, he noticed.

                                            >And yet, they were still so young.

                                            >"Don't cry, you hear me?"

                                            >It was another promise she broke.

                                            "I don't want you to go..."

                                            >"I know. I know."

                                            >No matter how hard she resisted, the tears still fell down her cheeks.

                                            >And he was there to wipe them away.

                                            "I don't want to be alone..."

                                            >It hurt him so much to see her like this.

                                            >Knowing there was nothing he could do.

                                            >Well... almost.

                                            >He used whatever strength he had to pull her in for a hug.

                                            >She had to slow herself down, afraid that she'd hurt him, so frail as he was.

                                            >It was funny: He thought the same thing.

                                            >Together, they sat there, holding each other for such a long time, that everything had drowned out, and it was nothing but just the two of them.

                                            >All that was left.

                                            >All she had left.

                                            >He snorted and smiled.

                                            >"Do you remember that time your mom dropped your birthday cake? When you were eight?"

                                            >She didn't react at first, but eventually she replied.

                                            "Y-Yeah."

                                            >"She was up all night baking that thing. I helped her put some sprinkles on top. I guess we wanted it to be a kind of "reach for the stars" kind of thing."

                                            >She laughed quietly through a sob.

                                            "That makes sense."

                                            >"When she dropped it, all I could see was just... the color in her face just disappear. Weak and tired, and just... broken."

                                            >He hugged her tighter.


                                            >"Then you just scooped it off the floor with your magic, took out all the dirty bits, and dug in."

                                            >She laughed again.

                                            "I didn't want it to go to waste. And I knew it was already gonna be good. She made it for me."

                                            >He smiled.

                                            >"Yeah. She did. I took a lot of pictures of that thing. I guess I figured it was gonna happen."

                                            "I could never find them."

                                            >"They're in the attic. Under the window sill."

                                            "... Really...?"

                                            >"Mm-hmm. A lot of photos in that box. I didn't wanna miss a thing, even if I wasn't there for it. Your mom always told me that never made sense, but..."

                                            >He didn't finish before Twilight started giggling, before it turned into a full-blown laugh.

                                            >The pair laughed in each other's grasp.

                                            >The tears were still coming fresh down her face, but he'd embraced it by now.

                                            >Once he wound down, he sighed and rested his cheek against her shoulder.

                                            >"I'm proud of you. You know that, right?"

                                            >She nodded shakily.

                                            >"I don't know what's coming next... but I'm gonna keep being proud of you no matter what."

                                            >Twilight felt another fit of sobs coming on, and she tried to suppress them as best as she could.

                                            >She held him tighter in her grasp, afraid to ever let go.

                                            >"And don't be getting into trouble... or I might just come back and ground you."

                                            >She didn't laugh this time.

                                            >She sniffled.

                                            "... I love you, Dad."

                                            >Through his own fresh set of tears, Night Light smiled and kissed her cheek.

                                            >"I love you too, baby girl."

                                            "I'm gonna make you proud."

                                            >He just laughed quietly again.

                                            >"You already have."

                                            >They held each other just a little while longer, until the tears finally ran dry.

                                            >Eventually, when the sun had gone down, and the wind began to howl outside, he had finally grown tired... and just wanted to rest.

                                            >Twilight knew it was coming.

                                            >She knew she'd never be ready for it.

                                            >As his eyelids grew heavy, and he found the world drowning itself out, there was only one thing that stuck out amongst the dark.

                                            >His daughter's touch, and her comforting voice.

                                            /I sat in the meadow and counted the roses/

                                            /You took me to the place where the sunflowers grow/

                                            /You sang me a lullaby along the way to/

                                            /the place only children and angels will know/

                                            /Home is more than a place/

                                            /Home is more than a place/

                                            /Home is more than a place/

                                            /Home is where you are/

                                            /Home is where you are/

                                            >He gave her one final smile.

                                            >He did her right.

                                            >Twilight sang to her father until it was over.

                                            >A final sigh, a steadiness of his body.

                                            >His face was so peaceful now.

                                            >His hoof fell to the side.

                                            >Tears welled in her eyes.

                                            >Her home was gone.

                                            >And so, she blew out the candle.