"You need to take some carrots too," Acid sternly states to Midnight sitting across from him at the dining table. Moon sits next to him with Dox across from her.
"I don't like carrots," Midnight mumbles as she grabs a carrot from the plate in the center of the table.
"There good for keeping your eyes healthy," Acid explains. "Not that it's bad but do you want glasses?" Acid asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Didn't you say you have glasses at one point?" Moon asks before taking a bite of her sandwich.
"For a very short period of time I had to wear glasses do to an experiment literally blowing up in my face," Acid explains with hoof jesters to go along with it. "Note to self, don't put chemicals together with out safety glasses," Acid whispers before going back to his sandwich.
"Oh!" Dox says in realization. "I remember that," Dox says with a knowing smirk, casually pointing at Acid. "Weren't you messing around with potions?" Dox asks.
"Ya," Acid responds, nodding his head. "It was after I met Zacora on one of my visits to Ponyvill. I tried it out for a bit before scrapping it altogether due to that and many other unpredictable failures that happened," Acid explains. "I don't know how she does it," Acid says, shaking his head slowly. Acid goes to take a bite of his sandwich when there is frantic knocks on the door. Acid quickly puts down the sandwich before quickly making his way to the door.
"You two, stay here," Moon says, turning to them as she gets up. "You got that?" Moon says sternly, pointing a hoof at the two. Dox and Midnight nod before she walks after Acid.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Midnight whispers, sinking into her seat.
"I know what you mean," Dox says as his senses are overloaded with panic and worry. "Something's not right and it's not going to be good,"
Acid opens the door to see Bold sweating and panting at his doorstep. Bold looks down at Acid with horror written across his eyes. Acid doesn't even respond back, just stairs up at him with a knowing worry in the back of his head that the next few words that are going to come out of his mouth are going to be the worst possible thing imaginable.
"Film's dying!"
(Time Skip)
"This can't be happening," Acid says as he quickly walks down the hospital hallway with Bold right next to him. "Oh, I hope you spotted it in time," Acid worries as his heart pumps a thousand times a second.
"I hope so to," Bold responds as the two make it to the room they are keeping Film in.
"You two here to see Film?" The nurse at the door asks.
"Yes," Bold nods.
"Is he awake?" Acid asks, shiffting uncofrtable on his hooves.
"He's stable for now," The nurse sighs. "But his condition is worsening. The cancer has finally caught up with him. We have nothing that can save him,"
"Can we see him?" Acid asks.
"He can only see one at a time," The nurse responds.
"You can go first if you want," Acid says without hesitation, looking up at Bold.
"Oh no you don't!" Bold responds back sternly. "You are going in their first,"
"But he's your husband," Acid responds with a bit of spite in his voice.
"And he's your brother!" Bold yells back, causing the nurse and Acid to flinch. "I know your thing is to be helpful and kind to others. But for once in you life do something for yourself!" Bold yells at Acid as he looks down at the ground. "You have no idea what kind of time you have left with him. I would rather have you talk to him then to regret it for the rest of your life and mope about it," Bold takes a deep breath in, letting it sink into Acid's head as he slowly breaths out. Softly speaking just two words, "Go in,"
Acid looks up at Bold staring down at him before sighing and nodding. The nurse steps aside before Acid pushes the door slowly open into the room. He walks into the room before the door slowly closes behind him.
"Go wait in the waiting room. We'll call you when it's your turn," The nurse explains to Bold. Bold, holding back a few tears, nods before turning around and walking towards the waiting room.
"Film," Acid wispears. Laying in the bed ajasent to the door is the little blue pegasus. His chest stedaly rises and falls. A few machines are attached to him. One beeping at a high pitched constant rate that thumps against Acid's head. Acid slowly walks up to the bed to see Film asleep. "Film," Acid chocks on his own words as tears fill his eyes. Film's body had started to reflect his age. Wrinkles under his eyes. Gray hair in his main. The little blue pegasus had grown up enough to see old age.
Tears run down Acid's cheeks as memories flash in his mind. Film was always there for him. He was always there for Film. The two were insepabral since the day they were born. For once in Acid's life, he felt completely lost. No amount of memories or words could ever describe what Acid's heart was feeling at that moment. Acid closes his eyes, turning his head down.
"Please don't cry," a tired and crocking voice kindly wispears. Acid opens his eyes and looks to see Film weakly smiling up at him. "We both knew this day was coming," Film crocks out before flinching in pain.
"Please don't go," Acid says, his voice cracking. "I don't know how I'll go on with out you," Acid pleads as his ears flop against his head. "You were always there for me. I don't want you to leave me,"
"You don't need me anymore," Film responds. "You've grown so much sense we were kids. You became the head of science. You gave back my flight. You not only made my life better, but gave it meaning." Film says, gently placing a shaking hoof on his brother's cheek. Acid sits down and wraps his hooves gently around his brothers arm. "You made my life just a bit more bearable. You made the lives of so many others better," Film says with a warm smile. "You did more for me then I could ever do for you. I was only ever repaying the kindness,"
Acid looks into Film's sparkling orange eyes. Film smiles, causing Acid to smile a bit. The world around them fading away for just a moment. The two getting lost in memories of the past. Acid griping Film's arm as if it was slipping away as he tries to keep it against his cheek. But as all ponies know, it must one day come to an end. "I'm going to miss you," Acid crocks out.
"I know," Film replies.
"Dad would be proud of you," Acid says, gently giding Film's arm back to his side.
"Even though he hurt us?"
"Sometimes he did," Acid agrees. "But he really did try and help. You can't condem him for trying,"
"True," Film slowly nods. Acid stands up before he wips his tears away.
"Good bye hot shot," Acid says with a big smile.
"Good bye squirt," Film replies with a big smile. Acid turns around with pain in his heart, but comfurt in his head as he walks to the door. "Hey!" Film yells after him, causing him to cough a bit. Acid turns around to look at Film. "Take care of Bold for me,"
"I'll make sure he doesn't get into any trouble," Acid responds. "He'll be happy to see you one more time," Film's smile fads a bit as Acid grabs the door nob. Deep down, Film felt like he wouldn't get to say good bye.
The moment Acid goes to walk into the hallway the heart monenter starts to beat iradicly. Acid turns to see Film seizing on the bed. "Nurse!" Acid yells out. The nurse pops her head in before yelling for the other medical staff. Acid holds the door open as other rush into the room.
Four ponies hold down Film's limbs as two others grab the defibrillator. "One eighty over one twenty!" One of The Nurses reads off the erratic heartbeat.
"Clear!" The Doctor yells out after putting on paddle on opposite corners of Film's body. The ponies back away before an electric puls shoots threw Film, causing his body to jump up a bit. The beeping stops for a bit before resuming, still erratic. "Try again," The doctor says as the defibrillator charges.
Acid stands there by the door. His head cloudy as he watches his brothers body convulse on the bed. The Doctor yells clear again before an electric shock shoots up Film's body again. Tears run down Acid's cheeks as the heart monitor flat lines. The sounds barring itself deep into Acid's mind. One of the mares starts giving Film compressions as the defibrillator charges again.
"Clear!" The Doctor yells. The ponies get away before another shock is sent threw Film body. The heart monenter beeps a couple of times before flat lining again. Tears freely running down Acid's cheeks and to the ground. His eyes filled with tears as he stands in utter shock. "Time of death," The doctor says, looking up at the clock. "2:15 AM," The Doctor says as one of the nurses writes it down on the clip board next to Film's bed.
Acid's legs shake as he stares at Film's unmoveing, unblinking body. The life drawned from Film's eyes and his jaw relaxed. Acid quickly turns and walks out of the room before heading down the hall with tears falling down his cheeks.
(Time Skip)
Bold paces back and forth in front of Moon, Dox, and Midnight in the waiting room. Dox flinches as a wave of sadness washes over him. Tears fill his eyes as his body shakes in sorrow. Moon looks down at Dox with worry in her eyes. Dox looks up at her with shock on his face as a tear runs down his cheek. Moon covers her mouth in shock as her eyes tear up a bit.
Bold stops pacing when he sees Acid slowly walk into the room with his head hung low. Acid's lips quiver as he slowly looks up at him. Tear forms in Bold's eyes as they lock eyes. Tear flod Acid's eyes, blurring his eyes as much as his brain. Bold walks over to him and wraps an arm around his head, pulling him into a hug. Acid lets out his tears as he wraps his arms around Bold's neck, pushing his face into his chest. Bold gently places his head on top of Acid's head. Tears slowly running down his cheeks.
"Good Bye my blue angel," Bold thinks before closing his eyes and squeezing Acid a bit tighter to his chest.
"He's gone," Dox whispers to himself with tears running down his cheeks. Moon closes her eyes as she holds back tears, trying to be strong for Midnight.
"Thank you for everything Film," Moon thinks as memories of him flash threw her head. "I wouldn't be with Acid without you. I hope you are finally at rest my friend," Moon thinks as Midnight looks around at her family with great confusion.
"Why is everyone crying?" Midnight asks, looking up Dox. He wipes his tears away before looking down at her.
"You know how we told you Uncle Film was sick?" Dox asks. Midnight nods. "He didn't get better,"
"He'll get better later, right?" Midnight asks.
"He's gone Midnight,"
"Gone were?" Midnight asks.
"Eternal sleep," Dox replies.
(Time Skip)
"You two head to bed," Moon commands the two kids as they walk into the house. Acid mindlessly fallows them into the house. His head hung low with dried tears on his cheeks. His eye blood shot from all the tears. With nothing els but a nod from the two, Midnight and Dox head to their bedroom. Moon sighs before turning to Acid, who was staring off into the distance. "Acid, you ok?" Moon asks, gently nudging him.
"Hu?" Acid asks, looking up at her.
"You all right?" Moon asks, looking down at him in worry.
"I…" Acid's voice falters as he tries to decipher his feelings. "I don't know," Acid finally crocks out. "On one hoof, I got to say goodbye. On the other, he's really gone. No more hellos, no more hanging out, not more laghs, no more smiles, no more new memoirs of him," Acid says, his eyes slowly drifting back into the distance. "I feel so conflicted,"
"Do you need a sympathy cuddle?" Moon asks, gently wrapping her arm around Acid's neck.
"I think I'll need more than that," Acid replies as Moon gently pulls him towards the couch. Moon lays down on the couch before Acid climbs onto her body. Acid shifts a bit before laying his head down on her soft chest. Moon wraps her arms around his small body before gently combing her hoof through his spiky mane.
"Do you know how it feels to lose someone?" Acid asks. Moon sighs before nodding.
"Not by death, but I was legally torn from both you and my dad when I was younger," Moon says, remembering back to a darker time. A childhood she never had a chance to have. "Loseing you the frist time felt like death. Loseing my father felt like I would never get out of the cave, but I have yet to loss him." Moon says before looking down at Acid. "Or you,"
"I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," Acid responds.
"I hope not," Moon replies, squeezing him a bit. "I don't want to lose you for good,"
"I feel like I should be satisfied about his death," Acid says. "I said got to talk about our life. But in tha back of my mind the one thing that keeps shouting at me is I could have done something,"
"But you couldn't," Moon reponds back. "You knew that the day you two were diagnosed,"
"And yet that didn't stop me from trying to make his life the best it could be," Acid responds. "He was supposed to die when he was thirteen," Acid pauses before continuing. "He was then predicted to die at twenty-three before the final one was predicted,"
"Thirty-nine," Moon whispers. "Old enough to have seen the world, but young enough to feel like he was cut off too short,"
"He did so much with his life," Acid says as tears form again in his eyes. "He became the most successful movie producer out there,"
"And who created the film reel that helped him do it?" Moon asks.
"Me, but what does that have to do with anything?" Acid asks looking up at her.
"Two fraternal twins born without the use of what most would call their basic function," Moon says, ignoring the question for the moment. "And yet they persisted. The little pegasus got his wings back with the help of the genius of the unicorn with little to no magic," Moon says, looking deep into Acid's orange eyes. "For the short time he had in this world, you made his life just a bit better. You allowed him to fly, tell stories, and share them with the world. You picked him up when he fell. And when you fell, he did the same for you,"
"Now it feels like I'm falling with no one to grab me," Acid responds, turning and looking at the wall across from them.
"You have already been picked up," Moon says, gently squeezing his body. "You just need to hold on. Can you do that for me?"
"I make no promises I can't keep," Acid responds.
"Then let me make it for you," Moon says, gently guiding his muzzle with her hoof. She gently places a kiss on his nose before saying, "I don't want to lose you again my little Flask," Acid weakly smiles before nuzzling into her chest.
"I'll try,"
"That's all I ask of you," Moon replies, combing her hoof threw his mane.
(Place Skip)
"Will dad be all right?" Midnight asks as Dox flies up to the top bed in the bunk bed.
"He'll be ok," Dox responds back, pulling back the covers before sliding into bed and covering up.
"But he looked so sad," Midnight says, looking up at the bottom of the top bed.
"He's the strongest pony I know," Dox says more to comfort himself more than her. "He'll get threw it,"
"Are you all right big brother?" Midnight asks. Dox sighs as he closes his eyes. Waves of sadness radeating from his father in the living room fill his head. The grief was diffrent from before. It was way more personal somehow, like the grief was coming form him, but that's impossible, he's a changeling, unable to feel, just steal. But he would be lying to himself by saying that all the grief was Acid's. Dox opens his eyes as a tear rolls down his cheek. Dox had a lot of fun times with Film. They had even bonded over the love of flying.
"I think I'll be ok," Dox replies.
"You sure?" Midnight asks. "Because I know you can feel other ponies emotion and if it's to much you can always…"
"I said I'm fin Midnight!" Dox grits his teeth in a bit of annoyance. Midnight flinches a bit as Dox sighs. "Just, go to bed," Dox rolls over and stars at the wall.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you," Midnight pleads. Dox doesn't respond back. Tears form in Midnight's eyes as she turns toward the door to hear Acid and Moon walking into their bedroom across from them.
(Time Skip)
Chatter fills Acid's ears. None of it making it to his head. All of it just white noise as he stars down at Film's body, dressed in an orange tux coat with a green undershirt, laying in the wooden casket. Acid is dressed in a plain black tux.
"Acid?" Moon says, nudging Acid. Acid blinks before looking up at Moon. "You all right?"
"Ya," Acid nods.
"You sure?" Twilight asks, walking up to him.
"Still a little shanken, that's all," Acid responds, turning to face Twilight. The two mares look at eachother with concern in their eyes. "Really, I'm fine," Acid insists as he looks between the two.
"If you say so," Moon replies, still not convinced.
"Come on you guys," Dash says, flying over to the group. "You are missing out on the party," Dash says, looking down at the group.
"She's right," Acid replies with a smile. "Come on, Film wouldn't want us moping about," Acid says before following Dash to the buffet. Moon sighs as she watches Acid and Dash grab some food.
"He's not all right," Twilight says before turning to Moon. "He's gotten good at hiding his feelings,"
"I know what your talking about," Moon replies, looking down at her. "Even though I've gotten him to open up more, he still seems to not like tackling his emotions,"
"I know two ponies just like that," Twilight replies, looking between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. "Acid is almost just as stubborn as they are,"
"I just don't want to lose him again," Moon replies, looking over at Acid talking with Dash and Pinkie. "I lost him twice, I don't want to lose him for good,"
Dox walks up to Acid with Midnight trailing behind him like a dog. "Oh," Acid says with a bit of shock in his voice as he notices Dox and Midnight. "I don't think I've ever formally introduced you two to my kids," Acid says, pointing at Dox and Midnight. "Dash, Pinkie, Meet Dox and Midnight Flask." Dox nods while Midnight almost literally jumps for joy. Acid turns towrds the two before saying, "Dox, Midnight, meet Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie,"
"Hello," Dash replies with a little wave.
"Oh my goodness!" Pinkie says, squating down to Dox and Midnight's level. "Aren't you two the cuties thing ever," Pinkie says before pulling them into a bear hug. "I could just hug you to death,"
"Please don't" Dox replies before Pinkie pulls away and strightens up.
"Don't be silly, I would never do that," Pinkie responds with a big smile and a shrug.
"She wouldn't," Acid agrees.
"I see everyone is having fun over here," Moon says, walking up to the small group with Twilight right behind her.
"As best as I can," Acid responds back.
"Of course!" Pinkie shouts.
"Is she always like that?" Moon asks Twilight.
"Alwase," Twilight responds.
"I'll be back, got to use the restroom," Acid says before walking away.
(Time Skip)
"Have you seen Dad?" Dox asks, walking up to Moon while still looking around the party room for Acid.
"I thought he was with you?" Moon asks.
"I never saw him come back from the restroom," Twilight responds. "I'll ask one of the guys to cheeck the restoom for him," Twilight says before walking away.
"Where could he be?" Moon wispears to herself. Dox's eyes widen as tears form in his eyes.
"Oh no," Dox whispers as grief washes over him like a tidal wave. Moon looks down as Dox sorts out the wave of emotions. "Flap Jakes, I think Acid is heading to suicide cliff," Dox says as he tries his best to push the emotions out of his head.
"You sure?" Moon asks, looking down at him with worry in her eyes.
"I just felt a vary big wave of sadness wash over me, and no one has seen him yet, so I would bet to guess he is heading there first," Dox explains. "Mostly because the feeling is starting to feel further and further away," Dox trails off as he tries to feel it out. "I'll be honest, I don't know how this feelings thing works,"
"No one has seen him," Twilight says, walking up to the two as Dash flies over.
"I saw him leave a few minutes ago," Dash says.
"He didn't tell any of us," Moon replies.
"That can't be good," Dox responds back.
"We need to go get him," Moon replies, taking flight towrds the door with Dox fallowing her.
"What if he's just heading home?" Dox asks.
"I'll cut him off at home," Moon turns to look at Dox as the two leave the building, the night air hitting them in the face. "You go cheek the cliff," Dox knods before the two split off into seperat derections.
(Time Skip)
"Hello old friend," Acid whispers, looking down at the cliff below him. The wind rushes up the side of the cliff and into his face, brushing his hair a bit. Tears run down his eyes as the void thretens to consume his heart.
"You have no reson to live," The void wispears in his head. "He's gone, you can join him if you like," Acid closes his eyes tight as his heart echs.
"You won't jump," another voice responds, a kind, familiar voice. Acid's eyes snaps open and looks around him. "You have so much to live for. You wouldn't leave behind your son now will you?" Acid recognises the words, they came from when Film stopped him the first time. "He loves you and you love him. What about Midnight, how will I tell her that her father is dead?" Acid slowly backs away from the cliff with a smile on his face and a tear in his eye.
"Damn you Film and your encoraging words," Acid chukels. "You were alwase better at emotions then I was," Acid wispears before his ears turn at the shouting of his name.
"DAD! WAIT!" Dox yells out as he dive booms down before quickly pulling up and landing a few feet away from him. "Don't! Do…" He is inturpted when Acid hugs him tightly. "It…" Dox finishes before hugging him back.
"It's all right Dox," Acid says, looking down at him. "I'm alright,"
"You sure?" Dox asks, tilting his head to the side in worry.
"Marry Hearth Warming," The words of Film echo back into his head as a smile crosses his face and a tear runs down his cheek.
"For once in this evil chaotic year, yes," Acid responds. Dox smiles before barring his face into Acid's chest in a big warm hug.
"You had us worried," Dox replies. "Mom is waiting at home for us," Dox says, pulling away.
"What about Midnight?" Acid asks. Dox's eyes widen as his ears flop against his head.
"Fuck! We forgot about Midnight!" Dox yells, taking off into the air.
"Language!" Acid yells up at him.
"Sorry!" Dox yells back down as Acid slowly shakes his head with a small smile on his face.