>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.