After Blowing Winds' funeral, Canvas didn't leave his bedroom at all during the reception. Even though he didn't want to see his son so depressed, Copper couldn't blame him for feeling so devastated, knowing how he loved his Mom dearly.

As he stood in his kitchen with his friends around him, Copper kept himself silent and tried to stay strong. After losing the love of his life, finding out about her death while he was still working, and then having to tell his son after pulling him out of school, the last thing the stallion wanted was any more heartache. Even with Cloud Thresher by his side, Copper Fields felt a throbbing pain in his very soul, which wasn't getting any easier after his fifth drink.

Although several of the neighbors were gracious enough to make some meals for him and his son, Copper barely responded to any of their gifts or kind words before they left. By the time Cloud Thresher finally left after the reception, Copper slowly walked back to his bedroom, seeing Canvas's door was still closed along the way. Not wanting to deal with anything else tonight, Copper just wanted to lie down as he let his wife's passing sink in. However, as soon as he looked at the empty bed, Copper's heart felt shattered as he realized it will always be like this now; even with his son still by him, Copper will be alone from now on.

Canvas's door slowly opened as the aqua-colored colt looked around to make sure nopony was left except his Dad. With his brand-new art bag hoisted over his shoulder--which was large enough to make it drag along the ground from his small body--Canvas slowly walked over to his Dad's bedroom, wiping off the tears from his matted face before he reached for the doorknob.

Opening the door, Canvas's eyes widened as he saw his father sitting on the bed, holding a picture of his wife before he noticed Canvas was there. Copper quickly looked away and put the frame back on the nightstand. Canvas still saw that his father was crying alone. Even though he expected his Dad to yell at him for not knocking, Copper just kept a saddened look on his face as he wiped his tears before turning to Canvas, breathing in before he attempted to speak somewhat confidently.

"C-Canvas, what… what is it?"

Clutching his art bag closely to his side, Canvas looked away from his Dad for a second before speaking, his young voice coming out shakily as he turned back to him.

"I… I can’t sleep, Dad."

Hearing this, Copper bit his lip as he realized what his son was going to ask him. Even though he usually would've said no, his heart couldn’t handle doing that tonight.

"Can… can I sleep in here with you tonight?"

Copper breathed in a for a moment, seeing how distressed Canvas looked as he asked that question. Without saying a word, Copper slowly nodded before his son rushed onto the bed, keeping his bag by his side as he crawled up to his father. Even though he wanted to say something about not having that bag in the bed with him, Copper stayed silent as the colt laid down next to him. Without hesitation, Copper pulled his forelegs out and held onto his son, clutching him tightly as they laid on the bed together.

Feeling his father holding him closely, Canvas pushed his face into his chest before he started to cry softly, not wanting to let go of the one parent he had left. Hearing his colt's muffled sobs, Copper hugged him tighter and used a hoof to stroke his mane, realizing how shaggy it was starting to get as he tried to calm down his son.

Even though he wanted Canvas to be strong about everything that happened, Copper stayed silent at that moment while he listened to his son's cries. Remembering how horrible losing a parent could be from when he was a teenager, Copper could only imagine how bad it must feel for Canvas, knowing it had to be even worse for a pony so young.

With his son still holding onto him, slowly matting the dark-green fur on his chest with tears, Copper reached out a hoof and turned off the lamp beside the bed. As the bedroom became shrouded in darkness, Copper was glad he still had Canvas, feeling grateful that he wasn't sleeping alone tonight.

Even with the warmth of his child helping to alleviate his pain, Copper knew this was going to be a really tough time for the both of them. Still stroking his son's chestnut mane, Copper spoke up in a faint voice as he spoke to him in the dark.

"Canvas, I want you to know that, whatever happens, no matter what, I'll always be there for you."

While the colt stayed silent, he still clutched to Copper tighter as he heard him continue .

"I know this is horrible, and… and I miss her too… but… You'll always have me. I promise."

As Copper clutched his son tighter, he began to realize that Canvas didn’t give much of a reaction to his statement. While the colt stayed silent against his chest, Copper realized his son was no longer really holding him, and was just lying limp against his body.

Though he wanted to think Canvas just fell asleep, he knew something was off as he felt his entire chest wet with something. Hoping it was just nothing, Copper slowly put out his hoof again and turned the lamp back on. As soon as the light reentered the room, Copper's eyes widened in terror as he looked down.

Canvas, now at his current age, was lying limp against his father's chest covered in blood, his face returned to the badly beaten and swollen state it was that Graduation night.

Screaming out, Copper shot back as Canvas's body fell to the ground, landing on top of a pile of his destroyed paintings as a pool of blood began to seep out from under him. Breathing rapidly in stunned terror, Copper realized he was back in his son's bedroom, completely destroyed from that night as his heart began to beat uncontrollably.

Looking down to his hooves and chest, Copper saw they were completely stained in his son's blood, making him shake, mortified, before he screamed.

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Halfway through the horrified scream, Copper's eyes shot wide open as he fell off the bench, falling onto the hard, wooden floor while the remaining rainfall matted his fur again. As the cold ground shot the stallion back awake, Copper could only groan in agony as he slowly lifted himself up, managing to get back onto his hooves before he looked around.

Even though the train station usually had at least a few ponies, there wasn't a single soul around the almost pitch-black space, all of which was completely soaked by the storm that passed by several hours ago.

Because of the storm scheduled earlier today, no trains were able to arrive at the station until morning. However, none of this phased the stallion as he slowly slumped back to his bench. After hearing everything his son said to him, Copper became completely numb to everything around him, letting any interaction or feeling just pass by him like a phantom.

By the time Rainbow Dash came back with the train ticket, Copper sat completely silent in the middle of the street, barely noticing her or Princess Twilight Sparkle standing there as he laid in the street, completely broken. Even though the alicorn was grateful enough to check his injuries, making sure nothing was broken after his interaction with that Gryphon, Twilight didn’t say a single word to him the entire time. It wasn't until she made sure no bones were broken--although he had a fairly nasty black eye from when he hit that wall--that she levitated his saddlebag to him, placing the ticket inside of one of the pockets before saying only one thing.

"I think it would be best for you to leave."

Copper didn’t remember getting up from his spot on the street, or walking all the way back to the train station while the storm began. As the rain poured down on him, Copper couldn’t care less as his faded fur became soaked to the core. Even though he was still freezing from his wet fur, Copper didn't seem to notice or care about anything around him as he sat, becoming almost completely still before he reached a hoof into his bag.

Looking inside one of the pockets, Copper pulled out an old photograph of him with Canvas and Blowing Winds, all of whom looked extremely happy as they stood in front of their home together.

And I tried to kill myself because of you.

Looking at his son in the photo, Copper felt his heart drop to his stomach like a cannonball as he saw how happy the colt looked, standing beside his Mom with the biggest grin on his little face as he wrapped a foreleg around her.

I wish you died instead of Mom.

At the bottom of the photograph was that art bag she got for him, lying next to the colt as he carried it with him proudly. While he didn’t like that his wife spent so much money on something like that, the look on Canvas's face when it was given to him was beyond priceless. Looking back, Copper was glad she was so supportive of her son's talent, knowing that was probably a huge reason Canvas was so great at it today.

You. Are. Dead. To. Me.

As his son's cruel words replayed in Copper's head, the stallion shoved the photo back in his bag, not wanting to think about anything as he realized how much he gave up for this. After all the things he sold and sacrificed, after all the countless hours of searching town to town, none of it mattered when he finally found Canvas. Despite how much he sacrificed, including his own dignity as he literally begged for him to stay, all Copper could think about were the last words his son said to him.

Stay out of my life. I never want to see you again.

Recalling how honestly and coldly Canvas said those words before he walked away, Copper could only close his eyes and bury his face in his hooves, realizing how badly things had gone since that terrible night. Even though he knew talking with him wouldn't be an easy task by any means, Copper at least hoped something positive would come of it.

Now, the stallion could now only sit alone as reality began to set in, realizing that, along with everything else in his life, Copper truly had lost his only child.

And, worst of all, Copper knew that, despite any objections he could try to make, nothing would change the bitter truth that nopony could be blamed but himself.

Copper really didn’t remember much from what he did that night; however, waking up in a trashed home with bloodied hooves was more than enough to make him realize he did something horribly, horribly wrong. As time passed on and his memories slowly began to come back to him, Copper only felt increasingly worse as he recalled every soul-shattering moment after Canvas came back home.

When he began to remember every punch he’d thrown against his child, and every piece of artwork he’d tore apart in front of him, Copper felt his entire world crash down and shatter as he realized how intolerable his actions really were. Remembering the promise he made to his son that night after his wife's funeral reception, Copper was fueled by nothing but pure adrenaline and shame as he constantly moved ahead, knowing he couldn’t possibly live with himself before finding him again.

But now he was alone once more, letting his isolation sink in as he realized he really had nothing left now. Without his job, his home, most of his possessions, or even a foreseeable plan for the future, Copper knew he was in a bad situation after his son told him off. However, Copper also knew he couldn’t complain about any of this, knowing that this was exactly what happened to his son several months ago.

Feeling his soaked fur mat against his skin, making him even colder as he sat in the dark, Copper realized this was probably close to how Canvas felt after being thrown out, having to be alone while wet and hurting. Even though he couldn't compare his own physical injuries to what he did to Canvas, Copper still winced as he put a hoof up to his left eye, feeling how sore it was from his interaction with the Gryphon.

Knowing how hurt and alone he was right now, Copper only felt worse as he realized that he not only did this to his own child, but that he did it much worse than Canvas did to him.

Before he could tear up and let his guilt take over again, Copper heard the faint sound of hoofsteps in the distance, stepping against the wet wood as they came closer towards him. Sitting upright on the bench, Copper looked over as he saw a dark figure appear from within the shadows, standing at the entrance of the train platforms before stopping in his sights.

As the skies hung over the station in a pitch black, growing even darker from a new set of clouds coming in for a second downpour, Copper's eyes widened as he adjusted to the light, realizing who it was as the figure's hooves moved closer.

Moving into the faint moonlight illuminating the train station, Canvas was in front of his father again, looking at him with a stern tone on his face as he stood silently. After a moment of silence between them, Copper began to open his mouth, hoping to say something before his son spoke up.

"Why?"

Seeing how distraught his son looked, Copper blinked a few times and tried to understand what Canvas meant. Even though he wanted to answer any question his son was willing to ask him, Copper wasn't sure what Canvas was referring to with just that one word. Before he could question Canvas's statement, Copper saw his son's hooves grind against the platform a little before he spoke in a more disheartened tone of voice.

"Why did you come here? Why did you have to come back to see me? What… what were you wanting to do?"

As Canvas looked at his father with an upset look in his blue eyes, Copper faltered a little as he tried to think of the reason. Even though he had a lot of reasons at first for why he wanted to find him, Copper eventually realized that looking for something like forgiveness was beyond his grasp, especially when he started to remember all the things he did to him.

Taking a deep breath, Copper felt his guilt build up as he began to speak, hoping his son could see how honest his words were as they came from his muzzle.

"I… I just had to make sure you were alright, Canvas. I… I couldn’t live with myself after realizing what I did to you. I… I just wanted to try and… try and set things right."

Canvas only stood silent after hearing Copper's response, making the green stallion realize how pointless his answer sounded. Before Canvas could reply, Copper spoke again as he tried to add more to his weak answer, hanging his head as his words came out desperately.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for what happened! As soon as I realized what I did, I… I knew I had to do something! I just couldn’t leave you alone and… and make you think I was that same pony… I… I never meant to hurt you…”

Before he could add more to his shame-filled statement, Copper heard his son begin to speak, asking the question he dreaded to hear as it came out as bluntly as possible.

"Then why did you do it?"

Copper looked back up to Canvas, noticing how his son was starting to look angrier as he repeated his question in a louder tone.

"Why did you hurt me like that?"

Copper squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip, knowing how terrible any answer he gave was going to be. Even with the million different excuses he could give, Copper knew none of them were good enough, making him resort to using the first one that came to his head.

"I… can barely remember anything after I got dru--”

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT!!!” shouted Canvas, making Copper flinch as he saw the sudden burst of anger from his son.

"I want to know why you acted like that to me!! I want to know that the buck was going through your skull while you were beating me!! Why?! Why did you do that to me?!?! What bucking reason could you have for almost murdering your own buckin--"

"I thought you were throwing your life away!!!"

Copper's eyes shot wide open as he realized what he just said, making Canvas stand speechless for what seemed like an eternity. As the train station grew silent once more, Copper knew he couldn’t just say something like that without explaining, making him look back to his son before he continued.

"I… I was so worried for you after your Mother died. I… I always knew you weren't like the other colts, but… but I always hoped that was just temporary. I… I wanted you to have a good life…”

Canvas only blinked as he looked at his father with a mix of confusion and disgust, his mind drawing a complete blank as he tried to contemplate what the buck Copper meant.

"I always thought I knew what your future was going to be like,” continued Copper as he looked down to the ground in guilt.

"I… I always pictured how your life would go. You would graduate, find a nice mare to settle down with, maybe have a few kids… I… always thought that was what was best for you."

Before Canvas could respond to his Dad's reasoning, unsure of how to feel about him thinking about his son's life like that, Copper kept going as his voice came out more upset.

"But then you… you made that bucking announcement. And I… I just didn't know what to think! After all the years raising you, seeing you grow and become stronger after she died… I… I never thought something like that was going to happen! I…”

Copper shut his eyes tighter and hung his head away from Canvas, not wanting to see his face as he spoke honestly.

"All I could think was how much harder your life was going to be after saying that! You… you already went through so much back in Gallop Creek, and I… I just thought you were wanting to make your life worse by saying something like that…”

Canvas started to look furious as he spoke out with a burst of anger. "And you thought beating me would HELP?!?!"

Copper cringed as he heard his son yell that to him. Feeling like he was going to start crying as he realized how horrible his excuse was, Copper's voice came out cracked as he finished his statement.

"I… I didn’t know what to do, Canvas! I… all I was thinking was that you were going to throw your life away, because you weren't going to live the life I thought you would… I… didn’t know what to do, so… so, I drank…”

Copper felt tears beginning to escape as he kept his head hung low, knowing how awful his reasoning was as he completed his words.

"I just kept drinking… and… and… and then, I lost control….”

Copper looked back up to his son, seeing Canvas glaring at him after hearing the reason for his actions. Even at seeing how shameful Copper looked at admitting that, Canvas just looked angrier as he spoke in a bitter tone.

"So… that's your bucking excuse?!"

"I don’t have an excuse!!” shouted Copper in a desperate tone. "Canvas, I can tell you a million different reasons why I did those things to you! I could blame it on the alcohol, or my confusion, or the shock at hearing you admit something like that to everypony, but none of that matters! I know that I can’t blame what I did on anything except myself!!!"

Despite wanting to tell him off again after hearing how asinine his father's reasoning was, Canvas kept silent as he saw several more tears come from Copper, hitting the ground before he spoke to his son in a sorrowful tone.

"I… I hurt you… and I know there's no apology or reason good enough for me to justify what I did. I…. I'm so sorry, Canvas."

As the looming silence hung in the air after that statement, amplifying the intensity of the space between the two, Canvas wasn't sure what to say as he looked at his father. While Copper closed his eyes and hung his head, Canvas thought that he wasn't going to say much more. The sounds of thunder in the distance began to break the silence between them.

However, before Canvas could try to reply, Copper's voice came out in a cold tone as he kept his gaze to the wooden planks below him.

"I know that you hate me."

As Copper said that, he didn’t need to look up to know his son wasn't going to argue with that.

As Canvas looked at his father, both upset and surprised that Copper would say something like that--even though it was true--the stallion continued to speak in a morose tone.

"And… and you have every right, Canvas. I was supposed to be there for you… I promised you that I would always be there after your Mother died… promised her that I would do that for you…”

Several teardrops hit the wood underneath Copper, not showing against the soaked platform as they blended in with the rainfall.

"But I failed,” said Copper as his voice became more faint, "I failed… failed you, and I failed your Mom… and… and I know… I know… that she would hate me too if she was here."

Canvas only stood silent in a stunned state, not expecting Copper to say something that raw. Even though he couldn't argue with any of what his Dad was saying, Canvas still wasn't sure how to respond as Copper kept speaking in a saddened state.

"I didn’t come back for forgiveness, Canvas. I… I know you have no reason to forgive me for what I did."

As the thunder began to roll in closer to the two, neither of them seemed to notice as Copper's voice became more sullen and defeated, knowing how honest his words were as they came from his tired muzzle.

"If you never want to see me again, I understand. After what I did to you, I… I don’t blame you. I'll leave… I'll leave, and I'll never try to contact you if that's what you want...

“I promise… I promise I'll stay out of your life forever."

When Copper said that last part, Canvas's eyes widened as he saw how sincere his Dad was. Even though it hurt Copper more than anything to say something like that, they both knew he truly meant it as the words came out of his mouth.

"But before I go,” said Copper in a slightly more determined tone of voice, not noticing the thunder growing louder as he went on, "I just want you to know that losing you was the worst moment of my life. Even more than your Mother… because… because hurting you was all my fault…”

As he spoke, Copper began to move his hooves forward, walking towards his son slowly as he looked at him. As Canvas stood still on the wooden platform, Copper looked at him with the purest look of sincerity and guilt as he spoke from the heart, wanting his son to know just how much he regretted everything from that night.

"Canvas, there hasn't been a single day since that night where I wasn't thinking about how horribly I treated you, and regretting every single second of it. I… I wish more than anything to undo everything that happened."

Canvas looked away for a moment, not noticing the storm clouds above growing thicker as Copper came closer.

"I was afraid of what you were doing with your life, but….” Copper said as he began to give a more optimistic look to his son.

"But I can say, without any hesitation, that I have never been happier to be proven wrong."

Canvas looked back to his Dad with a surprised look on his face, not expecting him to say that as he went on with a faint smile on his muzzle.

"Canvas, you… you managed to accomplish more with your life than I ever could've imagined! After only a few months, you… you were able to do more than anypony back home could do in a lifetime! You… you really pulled it off! And… and I know that's all a parent asks for… to know that their child is doing alright on their own…”

Canvas felt a weight in his chest as he let his Dad's words sink in, realizing he was feeling slightly better at hearing something like that. As the skies grew cloudier, Copper walked closer and spoke in a more caring tone to his son.

"Canvas, you… you really became an amazing stallion. You managed to move on after everything that happened, and do so much with your life without any help… I… I know your Mom couldn't be prouder of you for that."

Canvas only nodded as he felt tears run down his own face as well. As his father got within a few feet of him, Copper started to look saddened again before he spoke in a more guilty tone.

"I… I just wished I told you that sooner."

With that, Copper slowly bent in, raising a hoof as he held his son for the first time in months. As Canvas stood there, motionless, he felt his father's warmth as he held him in a tight hug, gripping him as he spoke in a sincere and painful tone.

"I'm so sorry, Canvas… I am so, so sorry. I always loved you, Canvas… and I always will…”

Copper's tears slowly ran down his face, hitting Canvas's shoulder as he continued to speak in a tender tone, knowing this may very well be the last time he ever will.

"No matter that you do with your life… no matter how you live your life… no… no matter who you love… I will always, always love you, from the bottom of my heart…"

Copper kept his grip on Canvas's still body as he clenched his eyes shut, hugging him as tight as he could as he finished his statement.

"You are an amazing son, Canvas. I never want you to forget that… and… and I'm so proud of you… after everything you accomplished… after seeing how strong you've become...

“... I truly am proud to call you my son."

Copper held Canvas for a another moment, squeezing him tightly as he savored every second. Knowing how this could be the last time they ever meet again, Copper felt hesitant to let go as he slowly pulled back.

However, Copper felt a slight resistance as he began to pull away, realizing that Canvas had lifted a hoof to hold him back. Keeping his head against Copper's shoulder, several tears escaped Canvas as he gripped his Dad tighter, struggling to hold himself together as he let his words sink in. Feeling beyond grateful to hear everything Copper told him, Canvas kept his grip on his father as he spoke in a faint voice.

"... Th… thank you…”

After a sudden burst of thunder, a large torrent of rain fell down across all of Ponyville. Neither Canvas or his father took notice, gripping each other as tightly as they could as they hugged within the morning storm. With tears escaping both of them as they cried, Copper began to bawl as he clutched onto his son, feeling his guilt pour out while he screamed out to him as loud as he could.

"I'm so sorry, Canvas! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorryyyyy!!!"

Canvas could only cry as he heard Copper's pleads, not saying a word as he hugged his Dad for the first time in over half a year. Feeling how much raw emotion and pain was coming from the stallion in front of him, Canvas couldn't hold back his tears either as he kept his hooves around Copper. Even though the past shattered their relationship beyond repair, neither father nor son thought about that as they stood alone in that station, only letting their warmth bond them together for that one sacred moment.

As Canvas put his forelegs back on the ground to regain his balance, Copper still held onto his son, wrapping his hooves around the back of his neck before he kissed him on the forehead. As he felt his Dad's tight grip on him, Canvas's focus slowly faltered as he looked down to the wooden planks underneath him, realizing something was off as he saw the lack of raindrops around them.

Realizing his body was still mostly dry--despite his wet father hugging him and matting his fur--Canvas looked up as he noticed there was no rain hitting either of them. Noticing the same thing, Copper slowly let go of his son as he looked around in confusion, before the two of them looked up to see a large hole in the clouds directly above them.

Even though his face was only visible for less than a second before shooting back behind the grey clouds, Canvas instantly recognized the Gryphon as he tried to stay hidden, making him realize he wasn't alone when he came to the station. Feeling worried as to what Canvas would say about him being here, Troy winced a little as he heard his coltfriend's voice call to him from the ground.

"Troy? Wha… what are you doing here?"

Knowing he was caught, the Gryphon moved head back out into view, giving a sheepishly guilty look to Canvas as Copper stepped back in worry. Remembering how furious Troy looked when he first met him, the green stallion started breathing heavily, hoping the Gryphon wasn't going to fulfill his promise by still being in town. However, Troy just kept a worried look on Canvas as he spoke to him.

"I… I found the letter, and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Canvas blinked a few times in confusion, trying to figure out what Troy meant, since he never wrote a letter. However, Canvas still kept himself silent as he watched Troy speak, rubbing the feathers on the back of his head as he tried to keep himself innocent.

"I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear! I… just wanted to make sure you… you wouldn't get wet…”

Embarrassed that he may have ruined the moment between his lover and his father, Troy pulled back behind the clouds to stay out of the way, making Canvas turn back to his Dad, who was looking at him slightly worried.

"Ummm…” Copper was unsure what to say to Canvas at that moment. Even though he already figured that Gryphon knew Canvas--especially after his first encounter with him--Copper stood confused as he tried to figure out why he was acting that way around his son. Copper looked back up to the hole in the sky for a second, ignoring the sound of thunderous rain around him as he looked back down and spoke to Canvas.

"Is… is that Gryphon… is he a friend of yours?"

Canvas bit his lip and started to blush. Even though he wasn't afraid to tell his Dad about Troy anymore, Canvas still felt a little embarrassed as he realized how odd his situation was. Remembering what Copper was saying about expecting how his son's life would go, Canvas felt like he was going to start laughing any moment, knowing his answer was probably going to really surprise his Dad.

"Actually,” said the aqua pony as a small smile crept up on his blushing muzzle, "Troy… he…

“... He's my boyfriend…”

Copper's eyes grew as wide as dinner plates as he looked at his son, realizing Canvas wasn't pulling his leg by saying that. The stallion alternated between looking up at the hole in the cloud and back to Canvas, wide-eyed, feeling extremely dumbfounded as he let that information sink in.

After looking at his son one more time and seeing how happy he looked at saying that, Copper looked down to the ground and lifted a hoof, touching his black eye as he recalled how murderous that Gryphon acted towards him. Even though finding out that his son was in a relationship with a huge Gryphon was much more than just a surprise to him, Copper felt a light chuckle escape his muzzle as he touched his bruised eye, remembering what happened to him as he spoke in a lightened tone.

"That… that actually explains a lot…”

Copper looked back at Canvas, feeling slightly worried as he realized that the Gryphon who almost slaughtered him was now with his son. However, at seeing how happy the stallion in front of him looked, Copper's hesitation faltered a bit as he recognized the look on his son's face, seeing that Canvas really did have strong feelings for the Gryphon above them.

After looking up to the hole in the sky one more time, Copper turned his attention back to Canvas as he spoke hesitantly.

"So… do… do you…”

Even though he'd gotten used to the fact that he had a gay son months ago, Copper still felt a huge resistance when he tried to ask his question, as he realized this was the very first time he actually talked with him about it. Even though this also gave him a slight wave of guilt from all the time that could've been spent talking about this, Copper cleared his throat before he tried to speak, trying not to sound too unnerved as he asked his son the question.

"Do… do you… love him?"

Even though he heard how uncomfortable those last two words sounded from his father's mouth, Canvas kept a smile on his muzzle as he nodded to him.

"Yeah, I… I do…”

Canvas looked up to the hole in the cloud, seeing Troy's head peek out slightly before he peered down at him. As Canvas gave a gracious smile to Troy, Copper looked up and saw the Gryphon give a warm smile back to his son, staying like that for a second before moving back behind the clouds. As Copper looked back to Canvas, he saw a warm blush growing on his son's face, making him grow a light smile himself as he realized how happy his son really looked with him.

"Well,” said Copper as his voice became more comfortable, "that's all that matters, then."

Canvas was quick to give his father one more hug, glad to see Copper like this as the rainfall began to die down around them. Since the downpour was only scheduled for a few minutes, no major schedules were changed at the train station, making the sound of a train whistle in the distance interrupt the two from their hug.

Copper looked over to see a train coming in from the distance, making his heart sink as he realized that was his ride out of Ponyville. Looking back to his son, Copper held onto him one last time, wanting to do one last thing before he left.

"Canvas,” said Copper as he slowly let go of his son, reaching for his saddlebag with a hoof, "I wanted to give you something while I was here."

Copper pulled out a large manila folder from the bag, which looked overstuffed with tons of papers as he gave it to his son. As he held the folder in his hooves, Canvas's eyes widened as he realized what it was, making him almost tear up again as he looked back to his Dad with wide eyes.

"When I was cleaning out the house,” said Copper in a more saddened tone, "I found all the paintings you did that… that were still alright."

Canvas started to breathe harder as he clutched the folder to his chest, feeling a faint smile creep up on his face as he looked at his father with the most grateful look in his eyes. Thinking that all his artwork from Gallop Creek was destroyed forever, holding onto his surviving works like this was more than gratifying for the stallion, making him start to cry as he spoke to his Dad in a gracious and whimpered tone.

"Th… thank you…”

Copper bent in and kissed his son on the forehead before holding him close, with their heads touching each other as he spoke tenderly.

"I'm really am proud of you, Canvas. And… and I'm really happy for you."

As the train began to pull into the station, making a large cloud of steam appear around the two against the now rising sun, Canvas kept his father close as he savored this moment. Even though he knew things would never be the same between him and his father, Canvas still felt grateful that he decided to talk to him like this, knowing that this kind of goodbye was far better than what happened the previous day.

While the engines died down and the doors to the train opened up, Copper pulled back and looked into his son's eyes, feeling himself tear up as held onto this moment for as long as he could.

As the green stallion began to pull back and walk onto the train alone, Copper looked back to his son standing on the platform, who was staring back at him in silence as he kept a disheartened look on his face. Copper smiled before he said one last thing to Canvas.

"You… you look a lot better with a short mane."

A quick smirk spread across Canvas’s muzzle as he tried not to laugh, looking better as he replied to his Dad.

"Th… thanks…”

With that, Copper sighed before he stepped inside the train, keeping his eyes on his son as long as he could before he went to his train car. Even after everything Copper did to him, Canvas didn’t leave from his spot as he looked at the train, looking at his father through the windows of the passenger car as he took his seat.

Even after the train doors closed and the engines fired up again, Canvas didn't move an inch as the clouds of steam blew around him, keeping his eyes on his Dad as he stared back at him. As the train began moving, Canvas didn’t try to follow the train down the platform, keeping his hooves planted at his spot on the wooden planks as we watched his father leave for the last time.

Looking back from his seat, Copper looked out the window as tears rolled down his face, feeling his heart grow heavy as he watched his son shrink in the distance. As the morning sun shone behind the aqua stallion, Copper smiled as he saw the Gryphon fly down from above the sky, landing beside his son and holding him close before the two of them disappeared from his sight.

For the first time since that unforgiveable night, Copper breathed in deeply and laid back in his seat, savoring the warmth of the morning light on his wet fur as he finally felt at ease. With the reassuring thought that his son was alright, and that nothing else needed to be done, Copper finally closed his eyes as he heard the train move along the tracks, smiling faintly as his mind finally began to rest.

While the train moved towards wherever the ticket said it was going, Copper no longer felt any pain in his heart as he slowly fell asleep, knowing everything was finally at peace as he left his child to grow.

Next Chapter: Chapter Forty-Eight: Moving Forward and Looking Back Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 25 Minutes