In Death - Do Us Part
Written By Holy Macintosh
Pre-read by the Lunar Republic Gaming community
The morning light shines through my curtains, prompting me to open my eyes. I had a good dream, one of longing, but a good one nonetheless. My old joints creak as I sit up, slower and slower every day. Looking over at the empty space next to me that was filled not too long ago, the covers undisturbed while I slept. ‘Morning, dear. Sighing, I lift the covers and begin to steadily shift my hooves, one by one, over the edge of the bed. It's becoming a hassle to support my own weight.
Shuffling myself towards the bathroom, my hoof catches a knot in the wood floor, and I tumble onto my side with an omf. Thankfully, nothing felt broken. I look back, calling out, "Stitch, dear, I fell, could you help me up?" If only I were there for you. Then I remember where he was and with watery eyes, gave a dry chuckle, "Clumsy ol' me." Crawling over to the nearest structure in my room, a chair I keep next to the bathroom door, I struggle to my knees before getting my hocks under me and rising.
Once in the bathroom, I go about my daily routine in freshening myself up. While drawing a warm bath I clean my teeth and use the facilities. Once in the tub, I wash my grey-streaked shamrock coat and long silver hair that falls to my withers. The times we had in here, oh he knew how to use those hooves. After finishing, I lay in the tub a while longer, enjoying the warmth, before remembering something. Hoisting myself up and out of the tub, I see myself in the mirror, hair framing my face. He loved when my hair was wet. You look breathtaking Drying my coat and leaving my hair untouched, I left the bathroom, calling out for my husband. "The bathroom’s yours, and I left my hair wet for you, I know how you love it," . I called with a smile, before a pang in my heart turned it into a frown. It’s killing me to see you like this. Shuffling my way back into the bathroom, I dried my hair out before putting it up into a bun.
Exiting the bathroom, and walking to the hallway, I passed a table with my deep green beret Stitch got for me while we were both still in the service, picking it up, I put it on. We’d been dispatched to guard the Princesses, Luna and Celestia, respectively, during a political trip to Prance. They had finished their meeting and were strolling through the streets, sightseeing. At a café, he pulled out the beret, I’m not sure when he had gotten it, and put it on my head. “I can draw you like one of those Prench mares now,” he had said, while cheesy, even the Princesses laughed.
The hallway felt unwelcoming, where I'd normally hear the radio, or the Tele, I was only greeted by silence. Hold my hoof and walk with me, my dear. With a hoof on the wall, I made my way to our living room. From the entryway I saw our couch, and after tuning the radio to a nice, calming station, moved there with slow, deliberate movements, and laid down, longing for the presence of another. I would, but see, me and reality, we don’t really get along. I remember when when we first met, my first day as a solar guard. I had just finished training a week prior, and was scheduled to relieve the Lunar guard stationed at the West wall of the North perimeter. I did not know the castle, and needless to say, got lost, having to catch the attention of a maid to point me in the right direction. I arrived to relieve him a bit late, but he smiled and greeted me anyway. Man, was he hot, I was trying to hide my blush the entire time he was giving me the rundown of my shift. And you were sexy. I had started daydreaming by the time he was finished, but the last thing I’d caught was his name: Shadow Stitch.
We’d talk every day during our shift change, he stayed longer every morning, even when the other Lunar Guards would head to the barracks to change. One morning, before leaving he said, “I’ll pick you up after your shift for lunch,” with that he trotted away. I didn’t know what to say, I couldn’t say anything, he was gone. I’m right here. I couldn’t help but squeal and hop from hoof to hoof in a little dance. True to his word, he picked me up, and we had a lovely lunch at a nearby Neighpony cuisine.
I laid my head against the cushions, stitched by him, smiling and thinking back to when he finally popped the question. He had been out of the guard for almost a year, and I was serving my last week. What hectic years those had been. He’d taken me to a park, the one overlooked by the West wall of the North perimeter. The one we were both oh so familiar with. He’d asked me to sing for him, I found the perfect song, but he stopped me with a kiss before I’d hit the second chorus. Oh, but it was beautiful. He presented a beautiful purple lily to me, my favorite. I took it with a wing, looking down to sniff it, I finding myself very surprised to find a golden wing clasp in the center. My breath shallowed. I looked back up at him with a smile and tears in my eyes to see that he had dropped to his knees, “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I whispered with one final breath.
Author's Note
Alright, so first story that I have that's finished. I thought I should start with a one-shot and work my way up instead of trying to go with a full-blown story off the bat.
I got the idea for this after hearing Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men one night in the wee hours of the morning. I did not get much sleep that night.
No editor, no matter how many times I pestered my friend who was behind me looking up [redacted] the entire time.
Lastly, thank you for reading my story.
