Kiyoi's promise

Hikary was surprised the weather was this nice- again. It had rained for a few days, but other than that the entire summer had been blessed by sunshine and a nice temperature. The morning dew still hung on the leaves of the garden plants when Hikary stepped outside for some fresh air to clear up her mind at the start of another day of work. As there was nothing she could do about the stones until Taira returned, she had helped her mother with boring paperwork for two days now.

Hikary was surprised to learn she was not the only one awake at this hour. As the sun slowly climbed higher into the sky, driving the dark empty night away, Fjaril sat in the circle his daughter loved so much. Had she ever told him that? Hikary couldn't even remember. He even sat in the same way. Ruki resembled her father more than either of them knew.

“Good morning, Fjaril.” Hikary greeted him.
“Good morning, Hikary.” Fjaril smiled, not at all surprised to see her here at this hour. Well, she was known to wake up early.
“You couldn't sleep well?” Hikary asked as she sat down next to him on the cold stones.
“Nah. I kept thinking, so I decided to just get out of bed.” Fjaril admitted. He looked tired, Hikary observed; this probably not the first night he had gone without sleep.
“Do you miss it? Batafurai?” She asked.
“Yes. Although that was not the reason I couldn't sleep tonight.” Fjaril admitted.
“Then what was it? If you don't mind me asking.” Hikary added, wondering if he thought she was being rude. He was not her husband, after all.
“Oh, not at all. To be honest, I'm glad I have someone to talk to.” Fjaril smiled.

“I was just thinking about Frika.” He admitted.
“Frika? What about her?” Hikary asked. She couldn't recall anything wrong with the girl.
“She's just so... beautiful. She's different from Ruki but she is still my daughter all the same. And I missed the first two years of her life. I just... wish I could turn it back. So that I could be here and see her grow.”

“But you're here now, right?” Hikary smiled.
“I am, but...”
“And you couldn't leave Batafurai sooner. You know that. And when she is older, she will understand too. Taira will be home soon, and then you can raise her together. You'll see.” Fjaril sighed deeply.
“I hope so, Hikary.”
She couldn't help but feel sorry for Fjaril. Things weren't easy for him, adjusting to his new life here in the midst of ponies he didn't even know. He missed Taira.

And his first meeting with Frika hadn't been very smooth, either. You couldn't exactly blame the girl- she was only two after all. But it had been hard on Fjaril when his youngest daughter stared at him and said “I don't know you.” They had tried to explain who he was, but all Frika had done was cry and ask for her mother. She was just a child- one who had lived far too long without her mother.

“Would you like to help me with the paperwork today? I'm almost drowning in work today.” It wasn't completely true- there wasn't that much, but she could use some help and Fjaril could use something to do.
“Yea, sure. Why not.” Fjaril smiled, grateful for the distraction. Hikary smiled back, hoping Taira and Ruki would come home soon. Fjaril needed them.

It was breakfast time for Meran when Câlin finally managed to fall asleep again. Of course, Twinkle Star hadn't had any sleep. How could she, with her child so upset? Câlin had cried and screamed for an hour, without saying anything else that made any sense. Twinkle Star just hadn't been able to figure out what on earth was wrong with her girl- before Câlin had gone to bed, nothing was amiss and she had acted completely normal.

After an hour, Câlin was so exhausted she finally calmed down. She kept repeating the same thing over and over; the daylight star is coming. She is coming. There is no more time. The daylight star is coming. Twinkle Star still didn't know what to make of it. The daylight star... that was what the stone had referred to. The day of the daylight star, on which she had to summon the guardians or all would be lost.

But the stone had said six years from now, which according to Taira still gave them some time. There was no need to be upset about it- unless something was wrong. Would the day come sooner than the stone had said? It was the most logical conclusion she could draw from Câlin's words, but then how did Câlin know? Twinkle Star was aware that Câlin sometimes knew things she by all means couldn't know, but this was something different. This wasn't about rushing home from school because her favourite flower had bloomed, or about Meran being up to something in another room. This was about saving the world.

Kiyoi was feeding Meran while Twinkle Star went upstairs to catch a few hours of sleep. Taira and Ruki were sleeping in the living room. They, too, had been up all night, unable to catch sleep. She peeked in on Câlin, but she was sleeping peacefully, so Twinkle Star continued to her own bedroom and let herself fall on the bed. Afterwards, she couldn't even remember if she fell asleep before or after she hit the bed.

When she woke up a few hours later, all Twinkle Star remembered of the dream was a deep darkness that was everywhere, that she had not been able to escape even in the lightest places on the planet. Twinkle Star didn't often remember her dreams, but she was happy to be awake and see the sunshine enter her bedroom through the small window. She could see it was already past noon- had she really slept this long?

Twinkle Star crawled out of bed and quickly brushed her hair. I look horrible, she realized when she looked in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and her eyes dark from sleeping too little. Well, it couldn't be helped. She left her bedroom and quickly checked Meran's room, and found the girl was taking her nap. At least someone still had her normal rhythm.

Câlin's room was still dark, so Twinkle Star assumed her daughter was still sleeping. The curtains were closed and the girl was still in her bed, so Twinkle Star was ready to go downstairs when Câlin asked her to wait.
“I'm awake.” Câlin whispered.
“Oh, I'm sorry dear. Did I wake you?” Twinkle Star apologized.
“No. I was already awake.”

Twinkle Star opened the curtains to lighten up the room and opened the window for some fresh air. Câlin looked even worse than she had, Twinkle Star realized, her eyes all puffy and red from crying so much.
“Are you feeling better?” Twinkle Star asked when she sat down on the bed and gave her daughter a hug.
“Yes, a little bit. I'm no longer upset. I understand now.”

“Do you think you can explain it? What happened tonight? You gave us quite a scare, but we don't really understand it. You were so very upset.”
Câlin sighed and sat up straight. It was still hard on her, even though she had calmed down. Her poor Câlin... Twinkle Star just couldn't understand what had frightened her so, but she felt like she had to understand if she wanted to help her daughter.

“I guess... I could try. It's difficult. That's because... last night, I was dreaming. Everything was fine first. There were flowers, and Meran was there... but then everything started fading. Everything became so dark, and I was all alone in the darkness. Even if I ran towards the light, all I found was black. I was so scared...

And then a voice called out to me. A voice I had never heard before but which was somehow so familiar. She said, 'I was wrong'. She kept repeating that over and over and over again, but I couldn't ask her what was wrong because she was so far away and everything was dark and I felt so very small.

But I guess I must have reached her somehow, because suddenly she fell silent and then she said 'The daylight star is coming'. She repeated that as well, but she became so weak and her voice faded away until it was little more than a whisper in the dark. And then I woke up, remembering the darkness and the daylight star. I heard what Taira told you... It's what they need you for, isn't it? To summon the guardians on the day of the daylight star?”

“Yes... yes it is. It's what they want me to do. But I haven't decided yet. I'm not too keen on going back to my mother. I can't forget what she did to you, Câlin.”
Twinkle Star sighed. A part of her wanted to see her mother, see how she was doing, and tell her about her beautiful daughters... but another part was still so angry and upset that she didn't dare face her mother because she might end up hurting her.

“You should go. Because the darkness will take us all if you don't.” Câlin urged.
The determined look in her eyes told Twinkle Star that Câlin was serious, something she did not take lightly.
“But what about you? And Meran? I will be gone for a few months, most likely. I won't be back before the snow comes.”

Câlin sighed, somewhat annoyed. “Mom, I'm not that small anymore. Dad will look after us, and I will help him as much as I can. You need to do this. You are the only one who can summon them.”
Twinkle Star remembered the story. The last winged one... but as she looked at her daughter, the thought did not escape her that her child also had wings. But Câlin was too small, as big as she thought she was. She was just a child, and banished forever from the Friendship Lands.

“Okay. I will go. I will start packing, because if your dream is to be believed, there is no time left to linger.” Twinkle Star admitted.
“I know.” Câlin yawned.
“You go sleep for a bit more. You need it. I will leave tomorrow, so don't worry, okay?” Twinkle Star assured her child, but Câlin was already almost asleep.

Twinkle Star closed the door of Câlin's room and walked downstairs, but the house was empty. The door was open, though, so someone had to be close by. She stepped out into the warm afternoon, the sun instantly warming her face. She heard water splashing by the river, so she walked towards it. Kiyoi was busy washing some blankets, but she didn't see Taira or Ruki.

“Good morning, my love.” Kiyoi greeted her when he saw her.
“Good morning.”
“Did you manage to get some rest?” He asked while he continued to wash.
“Yes, I think so. I feel a bit more refreshed. Where are Taira and Ruki?”
“They went to the village to deliver the order of herbs for me, so I could stay here and help you if you needed it. I figured I'd do the laundry.” Kiyoi admitted.

“That's very sweet of you.” Twinkle Star kissed her husband on the cheek.
“Listen... I talked to Câlin. She explained to me... she thinks the day of the daylight star is coming sooner than Taira and Ruki had anticipated. She was serious.”
Kiyoi knew what that meant, just like she had. “So... what are you going to do?” He asked.

“I'm going. I have to. Câlin said I have to. But it's not... I don't want to leave you. I don't want to miss a day here.” Kiyoi dropped the blanket and hugged her.
“I know you don't. But this is something you have to do. Do you remember what you told me when you left all those years ago? I won’t be happy if I stay, because I know all I would be doing is hiding from who I really am, for what I really have to do. I'll never forget those words, because to me, they were exactly the reason why I love you so much. You are who you are, and you're not running away from this. And you are now so much more than what you were back then. You're Câlin and Meran's mother. And they need you to do this. Not for the world, but for their future.”

Twinkle Star smiled, suddenly realizing she was crying. She didn't want to leave, but for the sake of her daughters' futures, she would.
“Okay. I know. You're right, of course. You always are. But I just... I'll be back soon. I promise. Once it's done, I'll rush back home. Just promise me one thing... promise me you'll take good care of the kids.”

“Of course I will.” Kiyoi smiled as he held her. He would, Twinkle Star knew. Her daughters were safe, and she would face her past one last time.
“I guess I better start packing then.” She smiled.
“Yea. I'll finish this and then I will help you.” Kiyoi said as he turned back to the laundry.
“See you inside then.”

Twinkle Star turned around and walked back to the little house. She'd be back here soon. This was her home. But maybe, after all, it was a good idea to go back. Not only because there was a world that needed saving, but also because she wanted to see her family once more, and say goodbye in a way she had not yet been able to do.