I walked up through the last corridor to my home. Darcy stood by my side as I got ready to knock. "So...our house is kinda small. It's a tight fit for four, so I think five might be a bit--"

The door slowly swung open. My father was standing there before us, mane an absolute mess, eyes surrounded by deep dark circles. "Hey kid...."

"Holy shit." I coughed into my wrist. "Dad, you alright?"

He looked down then popped his eyes open. "One of my pictures is missing. So, no, not really."

I felt my stomach sink deep into my body. "The--"

He nodded and held the door open. "We can talk inside."

Things felt suddenly sluggish. Darcy took the first step and pulled me past the threshold into my old home. Paintings were missing, there was a long red stain on the pale blue walls, furniture was pushed to the side, and there was no noise. Darcy nudged me along. "So, hello Mr.--"

"She does look nice." My dad huffed, leading us down a small hall into the sitting area. "Sorry you have to see the place like this." He picked up a book from the floor and set it on a chair. "Things haven't been great recently." He looked back to us, his eyes still red and darkened. "There's a bed in one of these rooms. Should probably get some sleep." He nudged his head towards a door. "If you wouldn't mind...."

My skin creeped up and down my back as Darcy let go. "Okay. I'll just wait...." She slowly stepped to the side, then out into another room. I stood off with my father in our old den.

I pressed my tongue against the back of my teeth. "Where's Angle?"

My father looked to the one couch that was left. "Gone. Kiln too." He shook his head and turned to me. "You know, that picture wasn't supposed to be in there." He laughed softly and sat down on the floor. "It was supposed to be your uniform and some food." He stopped laughing and rubbed his face. "Kiln put the picture in and sealed it up without me. Dear Celestia."

"She took Angle?" I asked, walking over and sitting on the arm of the couch.

My dad tapped his hooves on the ground. "You know, she never liked you." He laughed and shook his head. "She was good at pretending."

"No she wasn't." I kept my voice calm. "Dad, she never talked to me, she never treated me like Angle. You think I didn't know?" I rubbed my eyes and stood up. "You know, I knew something was wrong. I just didn't know what!" I held my arms out. "Dad, why wouldn't you tell me!?"

"What was I going to say?" He stood up and waved his hoof around the room. "You were one when she died. I met Kiln two months after, and what was I supposed to do? You needed a mother and I couldn't raise you on my own!"

"You could have told me." I ducked down and sat on the floor before him. "You could have told me before I left."

My dad stayed standing for a bit, blustering and trying to speak. He eventually plopped down across from me and huffed. "I didn't know how you'd react."

"It wasn't well." I felt the knot in my stomach shift, sitting up against my kidney. My hooves scraped against the floor as I tried to sit properly. "But we could have talked."

Noteworthy took a huge breath and slumped forward. "Glass, they're not coming back. None of them. Kiln's moving to Canterlot, she's taking Angle--"

"Angle's almost an adult. If he wants to come back, he will." I ran my hand over the smooth wood floor, now left with scratches were furniture was dragged or pushed. "What happened?"

Noteworthy stood up and tossed a hoof up, his dark blue mane jostling heavily. "I got angry. I yelled! And she packed up and left me!" He stamped his hoof. "She shouldn't have sent you that picture! She did it to try and hurt you, Glass!"

I shoved off the floor. "I know, dad! I know! She never looked at me. She never talked to me, it was always through Angle! I know she hated me, I know she didn't want me around!" I patted my chest. "Everything I owned was in that box, dad! The clothes, the key--"

My father popped upright. "What key?" He ran up to me, sliding a few paces as he skidded to a halt. "What hey!?"

"Twelve-twelve North Lakeside." I reached into my pocket and pulled the key out. I grabbed his hoof and set it down gently. "You didn't even know, did you?"

Rage flashed across my father's face. "I thought I lost this. She had it.... The whole damn time she had it." He dropped the key, the janky sound high and piercing over the great nothing that drifted around us. He shook his head gently. "Glass, I didn't."

"I know." I felt my eyes sting. "I know."

My father reared up and rested against me with a hoof. "Glass, kid, I didn't know."

I slowly lifted my arm up. "I know...." I set it against his back. My stomach was shifting painfully. But he was here. Angle, my mother, Kiln, they were gone. But here I was, with father and mate. I slowly tightened my grip, my father doing the same. "Where is she?"

Noteworthy squeezed me against himself. "Gone. Passed." His clarification sent a chill down through my entire body. "I'm sorry Glass. I didn't know she sent you all that."

I squeezed my father against me, resting against the side of his head. "I'm an adult.... I'll be fine." I took a deep breath. "Can I see her?" I dug my fingers into his coat. "Can I see her?"

My father leaned his head against my cheek. "Glass, tomorrow." He let go, slowly sliding down off me and onto four legs again. "Tomorrow. We can talk, we can figure this out." He smiled at me. "I promise, we'll figure this out."

I looked down at him. "And? What about you?"

Noteworthy opened his mouth and looked around. "It's not much, I know, but I'll make it work." He smiled and looked towards the door Darcy had gone through. "Better acoustics here anyways."

I couldn't help but feel a nervous twinge run up and down my back. "You're not going to kill yourself...are you?"

Noteworthy yanked his head back. "Glass...."

I shrugged. "It's certainly a possibility given what just happened--"

Noteworthy shook his head, a scornful frown sitting heavy across his face. "Three days ago, and please, I survived losing May. And I promised her I'd raise you right."

I felt my eyes burn again. I blinked a few times and looked towards the door. "Is that her name?"

"Pretty, right?" He tapped the floor with his hoof. "You saw the picture--"

"I have it." I dug into my pocket, my bag sitting by the door. "She's beautiful." I handed the picture over.

My father took it in a flash and pressed it against his chest. "She is. She always will be." He laughed softly as he looked down at the picture. "You two have the same accent. I think you might remember if you think back far enough." He turned to look at me, his own eyes watering slightly. "She used to sing to you, even when she was sick."

I felt the wind leave my lungs. "Don't tell me that.... God, don't do that to me this late."

Noteworthy laughed softly. "Then go to sleep kid."

I ducked down and gave my father a quick hug. "Dad, I love you."

I felt him jerk under my touch. "I-- I uh-- I love you too kid." He leaned against me. "Never thought I'd hear you say that." He shoved me away with one hoof. "Seriously, go get some sleep."

I stumbled upright. My hooves slipping on the scratched up floor. "Fine, but--"

"I have the couch, and somehow I think you're going to need the bed." He smiled while he shook his head. "Now go on, get some rest."

I lingered in the room for a bit. I rubbed my hands across my leg, my tail wrapped itself around my hand. "Sure." I turned to the door, twirling my tail between my fingers. I slipped into my dad's old bedroom, now stripped bare and only left with my bags in the corner and Darcy standing half stripped before me. I looked up at her, green eyes bright in the pale lamp light. "Did you listen?"

She nodded slowly. "Are you going to be okay?"

I looked around the empty room and slapped my arms against my sides. "I don't know. I think so." I looked Darcy up and down. She was bare save a set of underwear. "I just--" I walked up to her slowly and threw my arms around her, pressing my face against her collar, forcing myself just a bit lower so I didn't bash her chin with my skull. I squeezed her tight, the layer of cloth encompassing me left only my face bare to touch her bare skin.

She was warm, her fingers finding home on the back of my head. I let out a short huff and started to go slack. "I'm really tired." I tried to hold on, slowly sliding down her chest until I was barely held up against her stomach. "Darcy, help."

Darcy yanked me upright, keeping her arms under my own. She pulled me over to the bed and helped me sit. "Just hold on and let me--" I watched her hands go for my coat. I stayed upright for a few seconds before I flopped onto my back and clocked out. I was barely holding myself together, and either emotional breakdown was going to take me, or sleep. I opted for the more manly approach. Next Chapter: Prophetic Goodbye Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes