Pascalo Beach [SIGN-UP]

[DawnsEmbrace]

Bygone stopped, and turned around.
He still held his new possession close to him, as if afraid to lose it.
"...Yes?"

[ChibiGrrl]

Sweet stepped forward, her eyes wet and her voice thick with emotion.
"Bygone...I know that you can't tell us what you're about to do.
And you said you weren't leaving, and I believe you. But please...
please be careful. Tise and I, we missed you so much, it would
break our hearts if something happened to you."
Sweet stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
"Bygone...you're my dearest friend. Please stay safe."
She then stepped away, tears fell from her eyes.

Sottises waited for Bygone's reaction before saying her piece...

[DawnsEmbrace]

Bygone said nothing.
In truth, he could not bring himself to.
His expression was a combination of elation, sorrow, and just a trace of guilt.

[Checkmate]

Check kept writing, keeping an ear cocked to try to hear what he could.

[ChibiGrrl]

Sottises stepped forward, her eyes full of tears as well. Her voice rang with sincerity as she spoke.
"Bygone, I cannot begin to express my gratitude for giving me this life...
I have experienced so much here, and look forward to many more years of it.
But, I wish to share my experiences with you. It pained me deeply when you went away,
and when I was in danger, whenever I was afraid...I thought of you. I--"
Sottises bit back a sob, throwing her arms around Bygone's neck and clinging to
him as a foal would.
"I love you, Father...I  missed you so much!"
Sottises began to cry softly onto Bygone's shoulder.

Sweet tried to wipe away her tears, sniffling as she watched the scene before her.

[Checkmate]

((Dawns...is this your last day here?  ))

[DawnsEmbrace]

[[...I...I don't know anymore...I need a rain-check on that, okay?]]

Bygone placed his hooves around Sottises, gently petting her mane to comfort her.
"Dearie...It's the things we love most, that destroy us...
Don't be like me.  Live, love, don't give up on the world.  No matter what it throws yer way..."

As they stood there together, hooves pushed softly on the snow beyond the porch.
They crunched down as orange eyes looked up at the scene.

Bygone opened his mouth to speak words he'd nearly forgotten how to pronounce.
"I love ye as well, So-"
"Why?"  The stallion in the snow interrupted, hurt in his voice.
Bygone froze, and couldn't bring himself to turn around.

[Checkmate]

((Alrighty...))

Check stood by the door, ready to intervene if things went bad.

[ChibiGrrl]

Sottises opened her eyes wide in shock at the voice, her breath catching.
"!!!" she gasped.

Sweet looked around the two to spot a familiar face.
"Umbral..." Sweet said, then trailed off.
What could she say to him?

[DawnsEmbrace]

Umbral Era spoke again.

"Why does she get to have that?"
Umbral's voice cracked and wavered, his eyes shining with jealousy and sadness. 
"When did father and I stop being enough for ye, uncle?
Why did ye even leave in the first place?  It's been so long, ye don't even remember do ye!"
His voice raised in a desperate show of his anger.

Bygone had still not turned around, or even spoken. 
His eyes were dim.  His face expressionless.
"Look at me!  Say something!  Hate me for all I care." 
His head lowered, and the anger in his face vanished. 

"At least that would be better than silence..."


Bygone had not moved, but he had a new emotion in his eyes.
First, fear.  Then anger, guilt, sadness - one by one he cycled through the emotions that had driven him before now, seeking solace where he would find none.

[Checkmate]

Check walked out slowly.  Bygone.  Be careful with that spell.  It's almost irreversible, and I know that it's not as good as it sounds...

[DawnsEmbrace]

At Checkmate's words, Bygone numbly raised the hoof that still held the crystal that contained the effects of Check's spell.
He looked at it, and wondered if such a small thing could really answer his problems.

[ChibiGrrl]

Sottises looked up at Bygone, her expression open.
"You need to talk to him...no more running.
No matter what, we are here to support you. Love is unconditional, after all."
Sottises said to him softly.

Sweet said nothing, but nodded at Bygone with a reassuring smile.
Umbral did deserve an answer...but the spell wouldn't fix it.

[Checkmate]

Don't make my mistake, Bygone...give it here, please.  It's not worth it.

[Maplewood]

Maple 're knocked on white door starting to feel nauseous and dizzy

((Sorry for not being on lately ))

[DawnsEmbrace]

Bygone levitated the item up, out of his hoof, and it remained just above him.
He stared at it there, thoughts racing.

Umbral watched with a hurt expression.
He spoke one more time.  "Why?...Tell me why..."

Bygone finally responded.
His voice broken, his will shattered.
"...Ye're right, nephew.  I don't remember anymore."
He turned to look at Umbral, the crystal floating off to land at Check's hooves.
"The only thing the years have left untouched is the guilt.  Ye were so...So small..."
Bygone's voice broke, and he stopped speaking again.  Emotions he'd kept underneath a facade of mischief and trickery were boiling inside him, rising to the surface.
The visage of a villain that Sottises and Sweet had cracked finally disintegrated in the presence of Umbral.

[[Which house, Maple?  We're on the porch of the diner one.  ^^]]

[Maplewood]

((Rightttt I knew that))

Realizing that no one was home maple headed up the beach seeing everypony  there

[Checkmate]

Check silently picked up the crystal, holding onto it.

[Rush of MLP]

((I seemed to have missed a bit in my few hours of absence. ))

Rush stood back from the diner watching and listening as best he could to what was going on.

Spook also made his way out and found his way to Rush's side, where he did the same.

[ChibiGrrl]

Sweet and Sottises watched as the mask that Bygone kept in place
was finally lifted away...

"Bygone, you can all start over, you know.
And Umbral, you can be with your uncle again."
Sweet said with a smile.

Sottises nodded in agreement, beaming.