It took Comet several minutes to reach the hotel where his parents were. It wasn't a cozy looking place, but Comet had learned from them long ago that cozy was only as real as those next to you. Still in armor, Comet landed on the balcony outside their room and peered inside. His parents, Mangrove and Sun Storm, were busy doing various things. His mother was reading a book and his dad seemed to be cleaning up the room, particularly when he pulled up a blanket. Comet felt dread as he reached up and tapped on the door, getting their attention. His mother gave a huge gasp and ran over to the door, throwing it wide open.

"Comet, is that you?!" she asked in her usual gleeful tone. Comet managed a small smile and nodded before his mother wrapped him in a huge hug.

While she tried to make the armor fit even more snugly with some unimaginable amount of strength, Sun Storm walked up with a proud smile on his face.

"Hello Comet. I must say, that armor looks splendid on you," he said, happiness weaved into his voice. Comet offered another weak smile and when his mom let go, the smile instantly vanished.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" his mother asked, her mom sense going off. Something was clearly upsetting her pride and joy and she hoped it wasn't what she thought it was.

Comet gave a large sigh before starting. "Did you two tell Angel about Nova?" Comet asked, confirming his mother's fears. The proud smile on Sun's face dropped like a rock and his mother took an interest in the floor. Neither one responded and Comet knew why.

"I thought we'd agreed I would be the one to tell anypony about Nova when I was ready," he said, feeling like he had to control his emotions again, though he felt empty inside.

"Son, we were only doing what we thought necessary," Sun said with no hint of regret in his voice.

Comet wanted to be angry with them for betraying his trust, he really did. Instead, all he felt was the hurt of his actions and the sadness of making Angel cry. Comet dropped his gaze like his mother and somehow found the power to continue.

"I was going to tell her eventually," he said bleakly.

"We all know that's a lie, son," Sun Storm replied firmly.

It irked Comet that he said that, but he let it drop. He wasn't here to argue with his parents.

"Look, I came to say something to both of you," Comet said through gritted teeth, "I wanted to say..." Comet clenched his jaw, knowing this would bring up raw memories better left forgotten.

He took a deep breath and returned his gaze to his parents, who were both staring at him with slightly wide eyes. To both of them, they were hoping he would say he was finally letting Nova go. They had secretly hoped for years Comet would one day come and tell them he was ready to move on.

"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry," Comet forced out, "I'm sorry for what I've said to you in the past. I'm also sorry... about Nova."

His mother gasped and held a hoof up to her mouth while Sun felt he had just been punched in the stomach. The moment they've wanted to have happen for years was finally happening. The first thing Comet registered was the sudden impact of two bodies against his. The second was the pressure they were exerting on the armor he wore. Both Sun and Mangrove held Comet into a powerful hug, one that almost brought Comet back to tears. The three ponies stood in silence and hugged each other, Mangrove silently teared up and Sun felt more pride in his son than seeing him in his official armor.

"I'm really sorry about her. I'm sorry I was okay with her leaving," Comet gasped, trying to hold himself together.

The two ponies let him go and Comet hung his head.

"Sweetie, you had nothing to do with her death," Mangrove started before Sun chimed in.

"Comet, look at me," he said in his assertive voice. Comet weakly raised his head and Sun put a hoof on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault. Nothing was going to prevent her from dying."

Comet snorted and Sun narrowed his eyes and continued, "Son, listen to me. It wasn't your fault. She died of an irregular heartbeat, and nothing you could've done differently, no medicine you could've given her, no amount of care was going to prevent that."

"Sweetie, she died smiling," Mangrove chirped up, "Nova was happy to see you being yourself. She loved you as much as you loved her, and nothing made her happier than seeing you smile."

Comet grunted and was about to give a rebuttal, but the rehearsed words got stuck in his throat at what his father said next.

"What could you have done to keep her heart from stopping? You didn't know CPR then and there was no heart medication for her. Comet, the doctors looked me and your mother in the eye and told us even if she was in their care, she would've died regardless."

Comet grimaced and knew he was right. He was only a colt when she died and only knew what she and his parents had taught him about caring for her. Still, the memory stung.

"I know, but if she hadn't gone with me, if she hadn't exerted herself..." he spluttered, trying to stop himself from crying like a foal.

This time, it was Mangrove who put a hoof on his back and spoke.

"Comet... Nothing would have changed. Whether she had left the house or not, It was just her time. Please Comet, take solace in the fact that she passed on happy because her loving little brother was there, being himself, and having fun. She wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

Comet ground his teeth, almost unable to stop from bawling until his mother said, "Comet, it was painless for her. The doctors said that all it felt like to her was a nap. She wasn't in pain with you."

That struck deep into Comet's chest and he couldn't hold back anymore. He felt he had caused Nova pain before she died, that if she would've stayed home, she might still be here, but his parents were right. Nova did die with a smile and she didn't act any different when he was with her.

"Comet," his father spoke, "I know no matter what we say, we weren't there when it happened. It will always sting when you think of her, especially those final moments, but you need to move on. It will hurt, but Nova's been dead for years and she would be so upset if she saw you like this."

"I know..." Comet said weakly.

"Why don't you just try talking to Angel?" Mangrove offered, "You looked so happy with her and she told us about the date."

Comet's throat tightened and he said, "She... I exploded at her. When she mentioned Nova, I just, I couldn't stop myself."

Mangrove and Sun Storm looked at their broken down son as he grimaced, evidently remembering the terrible way he had reacted to his new marefriend. Sun drooped his ears and tried to think of something to say, but it was Mangrove who spoke up after the brief silence.

"Comet, dear, if she's anything like we think she is, she won't stay upset for long. Apologize to her tomorrow and I'm sure she'll understand," Mangrove said in her best motherly voice.

At the castle, two guard unicorns stood still, almost as rigid as statues. As soon as one yawned, two bolts of green magic struck the two and knocked them unconscious. A set of black shiny ponies quickly ran up to them and shimmered before becoming matching gray unicorns. Two other guards walked by and took the two unconscious ponies away, leaving the changed guards to stand post.

After taking a long and winding journey avoiding any and all ponies, the two carrying the knocked out guards reached the armory. They walked up to a large wooden door and knocked twice before the big burly armorer opened it. He looked down at the odd sight and nodded quickly, moving aside to let the ponies enter. The door hidden by the rack of tools rattled open and revealed several ponies sitting in a trance while two changelings walked around, inspecting them. The guards dumped the ponies and the changelings hissed.

"Why don't you two do this while we prance around in armor?" one complained.

A guard glared at it and said, "You lost at drawing straws. You know the ancient code of ours."

"You made that up!" one shouted angrily.

"No, Queen Chrysalis made that official," the pony remarked before the door closed.

"Did she really?" the other guard pony replied.

"If you act that thick, we might think you're a pony too," the first guard replied.