//------------------------------//
// Chapter 23 
// Story: After Discord 
// by Faindragon 
//------------------------------//

The wings of the spirit.
The wings of freedom.
Freedom that last.
Until the end of time.
Time of us.
Time of me.

My head ached. My legs ached. My mane itched. My wings ached.

My wings?

I opened my eyes wide at the realization. My wings ached. The wings that had been taken away from me. I looked back at my back.

And sure enough. There, in the embrace of Luna’s grace, were my wings. The feathers were soft, softer than I remembered. But, when I thought about it, I had not had any wings for years. 

It was then I remembered where I was. I rose from my position in the bed, looked down at the still sleeping Honey. She had stopped crying now, the tear stains had dried. I smiled gently at her sleeping body, before I gently stepped from the bed.

I had my wings again! I had to try them, I had to feel the cool air rush around me. I had to relive what was taken away from me so many years ago. 

I walked quietly through the sleeping mansion, it did not take a long time before I found a balcony I could use as a start point. I looked down, it was not high enough that I would get more than a broken bone if I fell, but that did not help to sooth the anxiety that spread through my body. I had not been in the air for a long time. What if I could not do it?

But then again, I could need them in a dire situation, so it was best to learn the fact now, was I able to fly or not. It did not help to soothe my anxiety either, but at least I had decided what to do now. I slowly trotted to the end of the balcony, stretched my wings and flapped them experimentally before I, without a look down, threw myself out into the air.

And I flew again. For the first time for years was air rushing around me. It felt as if Luna’s grace shone brighter than ever before, as if she was happy. I knew I was. 

I might not be the best flier, but at least I was one again.


*^*


I sore through the sky, higher than the clouds. I had soon forgotten my own words to not fly high, but my wings were stronger than they had ever been before, my body was rested; I had the energy needed. And it just felt so good to fly again. I looked down below me, Luna’s grace painted the landscape in its faint light, the entire part of Trotholm glowing in the light blue light. 

And dawn was soon coming again. I had not prayed for... a long time. What had it been? Six days? Two weeks? It did not matter. I had to pray this dawn, to show my appreciation to the goddesses. 

“They did this to bribe us. They fooled us!”

I froze in the middle of a wing flap. I had not heard that voice for the entire night, not since the nightmare at least.

I quickly started flapping again so I would not lose more attitude.

“What do you mean?”

“The wings. They gave them back to us on a wimp. They felt pity for us. They wanted us to be thankful to them.”

I did not listen. Whatever the goddesses wanted would I more than happily do, they gave me my wings back, they had watched over my daughter.

If the price for that was to do something I had already decided to do, then so would it be.

“We are fools... This will kill us.”

I ignored the voice, Celestia’s first grace had touched the horizon. It was time to pray.


*^*


Twin sister of the celestial eyes. I have been unfaithful in my belife. I have neglect my prayers. Firstly I want to thank you, goddesses, for helping my daughter and Carrotrose. They live, and that is the greatest gift I could ever get. Not only that, but you gave me my wings back, giving me power over the skies again, giving me an edge against my enemys. 

Celestia, watch over your sister. Luna, help your sister in need. Equestria fate lies in your hooves, but I trust you. In the same way that you trust me with Trotholm. I will not fail you, not after what you have done for me. 

My faith lies in you, now and forever.

I finished my prayer and just sat there, at the top part of the Carrot Mansion’s roof. Celestia’s grace warmed me, her eye illuminating the world. And then I smiled. It was time to awaken my daughter, it was time to start spend time with her. I also had to find a way to repay Carrotsword for letting me stay here.


*^*


“Daddy?” 

Honey stirred in her sleep before she finally opened her eyelids, revealing the jade green eyes underneath. I smiled at her.

“Daddy!” she shouted out and leaped into my open hooves. I could feel tears running down my face, but I could not care. I was happy.

I drew her into an embrace, hugged her tightly against me, putted my wings around us both.

“Is it really you daddy?” she cried onto my shoulder. “I was so scared that I would never see you again. I’m not dreaming am I?” 

“No, Honey, you are awake. It is really me. I’m home.” I could not say that I would not be here for very long, I could not take that away from her.

She looked up at me, smiling at me, tears still in her eyes. She did not say anything, just looked at me.

And then, she hugged me again. 


*^*


I have no idea how long we embraced each other in that hug. She had started crying again and I just sat there, whispering to her that everything was okay, tried to sooth her. After a while did I let her go again.

She hesitated a second before she moved away from me. It was first then she noticed the wings.

“Daddy, you have wings!” she shouted out. “Does that mean that you have died and came back to me as an angel?”

I just shook my head. How should I answer something like that?


*^*


It had not taken long to explain to Honey, she was a child after all. She also found it funny, for some strange reason. It had been two strange dream’s during the sleep. And strange things had happened. It was, however, time for me to talk to Carrotrose about all of this. I believe it was time for her to know the truth.

I would also have to find a good way to repay Carrotsword. I did not have a lot of money, not that I knew of at least. But I had a fair idea about what I could do for him before I left in some days. The mansion might have a huge garden, but it would not take to long time to fix it.

Or at least know what I was going to fight, and most likely die, for. I sighed. This would take some time. But after that would I spend some time with my daughter. It might be the last time I would ever spend with her.

So much to do, so little time to do it in.