Work Text:
How many times had Firefly woken up in this icy medical pod? She couldn’t tell.
By now she had even started to miss being locked up in her mechanical armor. At least she could leave the airship and go stargazing in the planets the Stellaron Hunters passed by. Or even just play some games with Silver Wolf.
But I don’t regret this.
After all, she knew it from the start: her mission in Penacony was not going to leave her unscathed. And she had accepted it. Keeping that promise was the most important thing in her little world after all.
It was worth it. I helped Stelle escape Nihility and made sure she’d be ready for the next step of her journey. If I could go back in time, I’d do everything all over again… even if I didn’t get all my wishes granted…?
With her eyes still closed, Firefly furrowed her brow.
What was that just now?
Her mind had inevitably gone back to her final moments in Penacony.
But what are these memories?
Had her illness worsened so much that she was now starting to lose her mind?
I never got to watch the fireworks with her… right?
No, of course not. Maybe this was just her brain trying to lesser her pain with wishful thinking.
Firefly opened her eyes. Greeting her was the same exact scene as always.
“Good morning, sleeping princess,” Silver Wolf greeted her, barely raising her eyes from her smartphone.
“S-Silver Wolf… is Stelle okay?”
“This again? Are you going to ask it every single day?”
“But… Amphoreus…”
“She’s finally back. See for yourself; I just got this from her. I swear that girl…”
“Uh?”
Firefly squinted when Silver Wolf brought her phone close to her eyes. It took her a second to put the photo she was showing her into focus.
“…this!?”
Stelle was smiling at her. In her hands were dozens of sparklers, all lit up and shining against the night sky.
Under the photo was a message.
A bouquet. Like the one we lit together in Penacony.
“See? She’s all fine! So you better go back to rest now! The sooner you get better, the sooner you’ll see her!”
Firefly nodded, a smile on her lips. She relaxed in the medical pod, which now felt strangely warm.
“Not protesting as usual?”
“…No. You see… I think I had a beautiful dream tonight.”