Ch. 8: Despair

"Departing?! Dad, what are you talking about? You're strong and healthy! You can make it through this!" Luna's legs weakened, dropping down to her knees beside her father's bed.

"No, sweetie, my health has been failing me for a long time, but now it has finally caught up with me." Luna's father stared weakly at his daughter and felt his heart break at the sight of his sweet lil-star in tears.

"Dad, I don't understand! You always appeared vigorous and full of strength whenever I saw you!" cried Luna. None of this was making sense to her. Just a moment ago all was fine, so how come all of this was happening?! Seeing confusion laced within the princess's eyes as she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, the Royal Physician spoke up.

"Princess, a couple of years ago, your father was diagnosed with {Larkspur}, and as you know, {Larkspur} is still marked as incurable. Doctors across the Starry Galaxy have only found a way to slow it down. The pills I prescribed your father did just that, and as long he never overexerted himself, he should've been fine, but he overdid it, which sped up the disease. There's no hope left for him. I examined his body and estimated that he only has a few minutes left."

Such grave news shook Luna to her core. At a loss for why her father would keep such a huge secret from her, Luna felt her throat tighten, and her knees quivered. A hand clutched her chest. Pain gripped her heart.

"I didn't want to worry you, your brother, and especially your mother. Who will no doubt be upset with me by the time she comes here. Luckily, I don't want to be around to face her wrath." Luna's father tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but no one could find the humor to laugh.

Squeezing his daughter's hand, Luna's father knew he had reached the end of his journey, but before he departed, he wanted to leave his daughter with a few last encouraging words. "My lil-star, it seems your father will no longer be here to protect you from the world. It's time to grow up and face the harsh winds of reality, but remember, you'll never be on your own. You still have your mother and brother, and I will always live inside your heart, but you must go and live your life now. I know it's scary, sweetie. But I believe in you."

For the first time, except for the day Luna was born, the mighty and proud ruler of Lunaris felt his vision blur with tears. A part of him wasn't quite ready to part from this world; there was still so much he wanted to do and see. One of those things was seeing all of the greatness his daughter would one day achieve.

Yes, his lil-star was timid and had her own share of flaws, but he could sense a world of greatness resting deep inside of her. He called it instinct, but he knew she would one day be a star that shined brighter than all the stars in the Starry Galaxy. A star he could now only guide and protect from high above.

"Dad, I'm not ready to let go! I still need you! Please don't leave me alone!" Luna felt her heart breaking into pieces, salty tears constantly blurring her vision.

"I always ... will... be by your side, but the Holy-Mother is calling me home now... I see the foreshadows of my ancestors waiting for me to join their side, including my mother. Ah, it's been a long time since I last saw her."

Voice growing weak, his eyes pointed on someone beyond the distance of the Starry Galaxy realm. Luna's father's spirit left this plane of existence and joined his ancestors who had long awaited him to be by their side as his mother, Lunaris' last ruler before he took the throne, warmly welcomed her son into her arms.

"Welcome home, son," she softly whispered into his ear.

Seeing the light fade from her father's eyes, Luna instantly panicked. "Dad?! Daddy?! DAD! COME ON! PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES! I'll be good! I promise to do better. I'll do anything, but don't leave me! Don't go!!!!" begged and cried a hysterical Luna. She wasn't ready to lose her father! She still needed him! She wasn't prepared to face this cruel world without him yet!

The princess's sorrowful cries echoed past the door, entering the ears of Zain, who, for the first time in his life, wanted to reach out and comfort the tears of a woman who wasn't his mother. Despite how much his other side screamed to comfort that voice that held so much pain, he only stared at the door one last time before taking his leave.

"Come here, Luna." Forgetting her professional mask as Royal Advisor, Mika pulled the crying princess into her arms.

Though the Prime Minister did not consider the princess a worthy heir to the throne, his heart did go out for her. The love between father and daughter was strong. Everyone in the palace was aware of it as there was only one gem their deceased ruler held precious and that was the princess.

Checking the king's pulse one last time, the royal physician, with a grave nod of his head, signaled that the ruler of Lunaris had passed. Which wrenched a heartfelt wail from Luna. "NOO!!!" Luna screamed and almost fell to the ground, if not for Mika holding onto her as tears of anguish fell down her bronze cheeks.

Mika could only silently cry and tighten her arms around her younger cousin. She, too, felt deeply saddened by the loss of her uncle and monarch, watching with a heavy heart as the Royal Physician told them it was best to make funeral arrangements soon.

Later that night, Luna curled into a ball on her bed, clutching an old stuffed bear with stitches in many places. It was the first gift her father had given to her when she was a child. Luna continued to weep as despair plunged into her heart. She wanted to believe that everything that happened was nothing but a nightmare, that when she'd wake up, everything would be back to normal.

Her dad, the one who protected and loved her like no other, could not be gone. Why did creatures suddenly attack her realm? Why did her dad have to catch {Larkspur}? Why was all of this happening to her?! It was cruel, unfair, and Luna wanted none of it! The one thing she wanted was now gone forever!

Lost in her own thoughts, Luna didn't notice a ball of purple light enter her room and land on top of her head, disappearing into one of her large puffballs. Luna cracked open her eyes when she heard her door creak open. Walking through the door, the imposing figure of a woman strutted inside the room.

Her figure was practically glowing, giving others the proud and majestic impression of a lion. Golden blonde strands of hair were slicked back at the front and styled into a crinkling wild mane that extended down her back. The golden bracelets on her arm jangled as this person caught Luna's attention, immediately recognizing the woman as she leaped off her bed and ran into the woman's open arms.

"M-Mom? Mom!!!" Luna threw herself into her mother's arms as she began to break down for a second time that day.

The woman, who shared a similarity to Luna in height and appearance, sighed and tightened her arms around her daughter. "It's okay, sweetie. Everything will be okay. Momma is here. I got you," gently consoled the ruler of Solis, Luna's mother, holding her grieving daughter in her arms.