[Off-topic] hanisod:
Ya sure?

Here's my favorite part of the whole story, made me cry a bit yesterday night

“Hey…” I murmured softly as I tapped his shoulder. He didn’t move.

“I should have told her,” he said quietly.

Yes. *You should have. “Tell her now.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” he replied softly, reaching up to stroke her blue mane. Just like her daddy’s. “I thought… when I saw her in the pod… if I just touched her… maybe I’d be able to say it. Instead, I killed her.”

“Her heart is still beating,” I said just as delicately, as if the volume of my voice might finish her off. “It still matters. And in case you missed the chain of events, I’m the one who let her come. I’m the one who got her killed.” Call me greedy, but I’d take the blame and damnation on this one. I’d hoped it would give him peace, but instead he gave a low choking sob. “Tell her. Before she goes into the everafter.”

“I don’t know how any more.”

“Do it however you can,” I said as I stroked his tangled blue mane. Then I patted his shoulder and stepped back. “Come on, Boo. *Let’s give them some space.” The pale mare sat up, blinked, looked flatly at me, and lowered her head again. “Snack cake…” I said as I reached… okay, nevermind. Where’d Glory put my gear? Back in the operating room.

“She’s fine here,” P-21 said hoarsely. “Thank you, Blackjack.”

I smiled sadly and patted his shoulder one more time, then stepped out. As I started to close the door, I heard him take a deep breath. Maybe it was rude of me and wrong of me, but I didn’t shut the door all the way and didn’t leave. “I’m sorry. I know I don’t have any right to talk to you like this. I know… I know that you knew. I’m your father… Goddesses know I don’t deserve to be. I didn’t deserve your mother’s kindness; I was petty enough to resent it, actually. I never wanted to think of my time in 99 as having any consequence or meaning. That it was all horrible. *That it was all better left behind and destroyed.”

He sighed quietly. “But that’s not true. *There were good things. Things I never appreciated. Things worthwhile and… and good. There was good in 99. Your mother… was good. And so were you. Blackjack. Probably lots of mares. It was always easier just to pretend like you were all Overmares. But it was a lie… and it hurts to keep lying to myself that it was otherwise.

“Then you joined us and… and you were such a good girl. Braver than I was when I came outside. You followed us all over the place… even into places no filly was meant to go. And when BJ told you who I was… I couldn’t face it. Not because you were a lousy daughter, but because I didn’t deserve to be your father. I’m a coward, Scotch Tape. And you deserved better than a worthless pony like me.”

I sniffed as I poked my head in and saw him standing beside the bed, stroking her mane. Then he began to sing in soft, low tones.

Together forever…

With each other…

That is the way… I think it should be…

One.. with another…

A friend… just like a daughter…

That is the way… I think it should be…

I looked behind me as a sleepy and confused Glory approached, rubbing her tired eyes. I lifted a hoof to my lips, and she looked past me as her eyes widened.

And if along the way, we find ourselves apart

Know that it’s not so… you’re here in my heart…

And if as time passes, you find yourself alone and scared…

Remember my feelings and memories of home….

A place called home…

Any home...

His voice quavered and failed. I swallowed hard then stepped in. I couldn’t sing… not really… but I could try for him.

Together… forever…

With each other…

That is the way… I hope it will be…

One… with another….

A friend… just like a brother…

That is the way… I think it should be…

He looked at me, tears shimmering and threatening to spill as his eyes met mine. Somehow, our words aligned as we felt the same things and put them together. Behind me I heard Lacunae approaching with Psychoshy and an adolescent Rampage. If that yellow featherbrain so much as snickered, I’d buck her into next week.

And if along the way we come across some troubles

I know I’ll be able to face them with you beside me

And if as time passes, you find life painful and hard

Remember my friendship and know that I’m here with you.

Right beside you…

Always with you…

We looked down at her still form and sang the phrase over and over again, Glory and Lacunae joining in; even Rampage. Together Forever… With Each Other… as our voices grew softer and softer. And then silence save for the slow beeping of the monitor.

Then I saw a tear creeping down Scotch’s cheek. P-21 stared as tears of his own flowed freely. Slowly he reached out with a hoof and wiped it away. The little filly sniffed and whispered softly, “Daddy…”

With a sob he leaned over her and held her carefully in his hooves as he began to shake. The green filly pressed her face to his neck, crying beneath the bandages as she hugged him back. I sniffed, feeling tears spilling down my cheeks and feeling like a pony… a whole and intact pony for the first time in a very long time. And since there wasn’t any more room to hug Scotch, I hugged Glory and the very perplexed looking Boo instead.

I looked at Psychoshy, expecting disdain and disgust. Instead, there were tears in her eyes too, and I was shocked to see Rampage embrace her fellow Reaper.

Together forever... with each other…

Happy holidays Mr. Kittyh boss :beer:

"It gives me strength to have somebody to fight for; I can never fight for myself, but, for others, I can kill."

-Emilie Autumn