The sun was setting over the Crystal Empire, the dying sunlight reflecting off the magnificent blue and purple architecture that complimented the pale orange sky. Two stallions stood several feet apart from each other on a patch of green grass.

"You never really told me exactly how these work," Flash said, turning over the carved boomerang in his hoof. The cool wind kissed his bare coat; he had left his armor back at the Crystal Palace when he had left Twilight in the care of her brother, sister-in-law, niece, and the Crystal House Guard.

"Inherent magic," Phillip explained. "A boomerang carved from the bark of a living tree carries the tree's magic in it. Through practice, the thrower eventually connects their magic with the boomerang's. Once you get that connection, it's much easier for the thrower to get the boomerang to do what they want." He held his right hoof in up in the air. "Now, c'mon, throw it."

Flash cocked his wrist, took aim, and threw the weapon out. It whistled softly as it spun through the crisp late fall evening air, arcing towards Phillip. He reached up and snatched it out of the air as it closed in.

"Good throw," he nodded approvingly with a small smile. "Now catch!" He easily threw the boomerang back, curving towards Flash. Flash set himself ready, holding his hoof up in the weapon's path. The carved wood flew directly into his grasp and he received its momentum by snapping his arm back.

"You're getting good," Phillip praised.

"I took down Cornerstone with this," Flash replied with a smirk. "I think I've gone beyond 'good.'" He tossed the weapon out again, but immediately saw to his dismay that it was banking too far to the left and too close to the ground, a result of his failure to take proper aim.

But as the boomerang was about to pass him, Phillip tossed himself to the side, snatching the boomerang as deftly as an eagle seizing a field mouse as he performed a full cartwheel and landed on his hooves.

"You haven't learned everything, ankle-biter," Phil smirked in response to Flash's look of surprise. Pulling his own boomerang out of his vest, he placed them both in his right hoof, paused for a moment to take aim, then threw. Both weapons separated in midair, forming two separate arcs as they flew over Flash's head.

At the last moment, Flash tossed himself up into the air, spreading his wings to the side to control his flight. He caught one boomerang in both hooves, performing a full backflip and easily landing on his hooves.

"I'm a fast student, old stallion," he shot back, grinning from ear to ear, already preparing to throw both of the boomerangs back.

The practice session quickly turned into a game, both stallions trying to outdo each other with the best and fastest throws and fanciest catches. By the time they became tired, the sun was already dipping beneath the horizon. They wandered over to one of the crystal benches that sat in the shade of an oak tree. Evening birds twittered and sang over their heads as they sat back. Phil tossed his hat onto the back of the bench as he placed himself down onto the smooth stone.

"I missed this place," Flash said, looking around. "I graduated the Guard Academy just after the Crystal Empire reappeared. I was there when Sombra was defeated."

Phil gave Flash a sideways look. "I can't imagine you as a crystal pony," he said.

Flash laughed. "Honestly, I always thought it looked kind of silly."

They were silent for a few moments, content to just watch the world go by. Phillip's head turned to follow a pair of crystal ponies, a unicorn mare and a pegasus stallion, walking side by side down the path. A small orange pegasus filly was riding astride the stallion's shoulders, looking like she was close to falling asleep.

"Dad?"

It took Phillip four seconds to realize that Flash had spoken, and that the statement was addressed to him, and another two seconds to generate a feeble, inadequate response. "...yes, Flash?"

Flash chuckled softly. "You took a while to respond."

"I'm...I'm still getting used to it," Phil said, shuffling his hooves. The decision to offer the papers had been an impulsive one on his part, a faint hope of filling in a hole that both of them had in their lives. He was still amazed that two signatures a scroll with a royal seal had the power to change so much.

"Do you not want me to call you that?" Flash asked, blinking in uncertainty.

"No, I..." Phil said slowly. "...I like it. I do. Wh-what did you want?"

"I love you," Flash said quietly.

The three simple words reverberated in Phillip's core, and he felt a warmth spread through his being emanating from his heart. "I love you too, son," he smiled, reaching out and placing his hoof on Flash's.

Flash smiled back and nestled up against his father with a contented hum. The comfortable silence embraced them both once more, and they sat together for several long, satisfying minutes, until the sun finally disappeared below the crystal hills and the stars appeared across the dome of night.

Flash's slow, heavy breathing and relaxed form alerted Phillip that he had fallen asleep. Carefully, so as not to wake his son, he slid off the bench and gently lifted Flash up onto his back. The pegasus murmured quietly and nuzzled him in his sleep. His warm breath tickled Phillip's ear.

Glancing around to make sure that nopony was watching, Phillip paused for a moment to ensure that Flash was truly asleep, then reached around and briefly, gently brushed his lips against Flash's cheek. His smile concealed by the darkness, he started carrying him back to the castle.

Author's Notes:

Last October, I commissioned this animated piece for myself. A vague idea for a story formed as soon as I saw it, and I eventually managed to mold that idea into this form.

Set some time after The Fillydelphia Solution. I hope you enjoyed!