"Master?" Luna asked, able to briefly spare her mind from the battle against the pure agony that was keeping her from the real world. Everything still hurt like hell and was pushing her away, trying to throw her back into the void, but the overall pain had begun to decrease. She didn't know if it meant she was winning or losing the battle, but at this point she wasn't all that sure she cared. If her Master hadn't been present to encourage her, Luna would have given up the fight long ago.
"I'm here," his voice said, sounding faint despite the fact she could still feel that he was with her....though it was more of an echo than a proper presence. Luna was rather sure that meant she was slipping. "Keep going."
"Master.... What if I don't make it?"
"You will. You're almost there."
Luna smiled despite herself. She didn't think he was lying, but she also didn't exactly believe him.... Though perhaps there were other reasons for the pain to feel like it was fading besides a disconnect from her body. Other reasons for her Master's presence to seem so suddenly distant. Luna just didn't know what they may be. But if she was dying, if she was never going to have another chance....
"....I'm sorry," she muttered.
"What?"
"I.... If I don't wake up, I just want you to know I'm sorry. For running away. For not coming back. For always arguing. For everything.... I've been such a horrible apprentice."
"Don't say that. You're the one who deserved a better master."
"I wouldn't have wanted anyone else."
"On that we agree. I have never wanted anyone else to take your place, no one."
"But Luke—"
"No one. I can't imagine anyone else as my Shadow and my apprentice, and I don't want to. Only you could have ever had that place, Luna. But I don't want you there anymore. I don't want you to be my Shadow or anyone else's."
"But that's what I'm good at."
"No, Luna, you have so many other talents—you just don't see them. Please don't assign yourself the role of protector ever again. Find a new path, a different one that's out of the shadows."
"Easier said than done."
"I have faith you can do it.... I love you. You know that, right?"
"Of course, Master," Luna answered. It was the truth—part of her had always known deep down that her Master did love her, even if she had elected to ignore that part of herself on more than one occasion. "I love you too. You will always be my Father."
Luna could feel his surprise and joy, echo-y as the emotions were. She wanted to hug him, though under present circumstances that seemed rather impossible. The girl was going to have to wait until she returned to reality, at which point they'd probably have the entire conversation over again considering it was possible she would forget it upon waking.
It'd still be worth it though.
"You'll be there when I wake up, right?" Luna asked.
"....I'll be right beside you. Promise."
YOU ARE READING
On the Wings of Valkyrie
FanfictionM̶y̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶L̶u̶n̶a̶ ̶S̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶R̶a̶m̶s̶e̶y̶.̶ No. M̶y̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶L̶u̶n̶a̶ ̶S̶n̶o̶w̶. Never has been. My name is Luna. I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶E̶c̶l̶i̶p̶s̶e̶.̶ No. Not anymore. My name is Luna. And I'm a Rebel. This is not a stand alone story, it...
