//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Wedding Day (Part Two) // Story: Brushed Away 3: Hearts Entwined // by TheVClaw //------------------------------// Outside Bon-Bon and Lyra’s sweet shop, things may have looked downright tranquil to the uninformed eye (unless they noticed anything from ponies passing by on the streets that would’ve hinted at the upcoming wedding that day). However, the tone that was residing inside the shop was as electrically tense and looming as the moment of calm before a violent, unrelenting storm. Rainbow Dash had a death-grip on Copper Fields, ensuring he wouldn’t take a single step closer towards Canvas or his friends. Tenor stopped barking, and was just looking at the new face with his head tilted to the side. Meanwhile, Canvas looked just as shocked and silent as the others did at the sight of him. After a few seconds, the silence was broken by Spike, who was still sitting on Twilight’s back. He leaned in towards the Alicorn’s ear and whispered, “Is that who I think it is?” Canvas barely heard the drake, nor cared if Twilight answered him or not. All his focus was on the shaken-up green stallion, who was staring back at him with a look of fear and desperation. It was almost half a year since the last time he saw his father, and he honestly thought that encounter would’ve been his very last time. In fact, Canvas hoped that would’ve been the last time he ever saw Copper again. But before he could even think of anything to say in response to seeing him, Canvas saw Rainbow Dash start to push Copper out of the shop. “Okay, come on!” Copper tried to resist, but it was clear that the Pegasus was much stronger as she dragged him to the door. While Tenor started barking again. Dash looked back at Canvas and said, “Don’t worry, I’m getting him out right now!” “Wait, p-please!” blurted Copper as his hooves tried to get traction on the hardwood floor. “I wasn’t gonna do anything! I just wanted to talk to my son!” Lyra jeered back at him, “I think you already said everything you needed to the last time you were here!” Canvas wanted to feel grateful that his friend was standing up for him; however, all he could feel was a pit of uncertainty in his gut from saying anything hurtful at that moment. After the last time he spoke to Copper, he honestly couldn’t think of anything nasty he could add this time around. Of course, the fact that their last talk ended on somewhat good terms (at least in regards to closure) made Canvas feel uncomfortable at seeing Copper being pushed out of the store so ungraciously. During his paused state, Canvas didn’t notice that Twilight was looking at him. Instead of the looks of rage or fear that the artist had when he last confronted Copper, now he just seemed confused and… something else that Twilight wasn’t able to pinpoint. Whatever it was, it made Canvas look much less angered or unwilling about Copper’s presence than the others. So despite her apprehension to intervene, Canvas’ expression was enough to make her shout out towards the pegasus, “Dash, wait!” Tenor stopped barking, and Rainbow stopped for a brief moment with a look of confusion pointed back at her friend. “What?!” After making one last glance towards Canvas to make sure she didn’t read his face wrong, she sighed when she saw his expression hasn’t changed much when he looked back at her. She then looked to Copper and asked, “Mister Fields… Can you at least explain why you decided to come here today?” Dash seemed befuddled that Twilight would stop her to ask a question like that. However, Copper just huffed and said in response, “What, so I can’t talk to my own son before his wedding?!” Dash retorted with a venomous, “After what you did, you should be grateful I stopped Troy the last time you were here!” Copper reeled away from Rainbow at that reminder, not wanting to think about any part of that day. Lyra had an equally bitter glare pointed at the stallion, and her horn was giving off a low glow in preparation. Bon-Bon placed a hoof on her wife’s shoulder and whispered, “Honey, come on. This doesn’t involve you.” Lyra was just about to stare back at her wife with a scowl before overhearing Canvas’ voice. “You…” When the others looked back at the stallion, his eyes were pointed straight at Copper with his lips pursed tightly shut. With the way Canvas’ face was scrunched in, it wasn’t clear how angry or upset he was at seeing his father like this again, especially on the day of his wedding. However, his tone came out faint and slightly choked when he finally made a statement towards Copper. “You… you remember what you said to me back at the train station, right?” Copper’s ears drooped low from that question, his saddened expression showing he didn’t need to be reminded. Nopony else in the room may have known his father’s exact words, but Canvas could still remember them clear as day in his head like they were just said: I promise… I promise I'll stay out of your life forever. Copper closed his eyes as he took a breath. “I… I know what I said,” he admitted meekly with his muzzle pointed away from his son, “but I… I heard you were getting married, and I…” After another brief pause, the stallion lifted his head back up and looked back at Canvas’ confused face. “I just wanted to talk with you about it. Like… one married stallion to another.” Copper didn’t seem confident with that excuse, especially when he saw his son just gawk at him with a confused stare. Nopony else in the room looked that touched by that statement either. “What?!” asked Canvas with a perplexed glare back at his dad. “So what, you… you promised me that you’d stay out of my life, but then you… you break that promise so you could come back and give me MARRIAGE ADVICE?!” Tenor whimpered and stepped back from Canvas worriedly after hearing that outburst. Copper exhaled pertly and said, “I know how it might sound, but--” “NO!!” Canvas pointed a hoof at Copper and yelled in an angry frenzy, “NO! Don’t you DARE! You have NO right to try and talk to me like you have any say in what I should do!” “I wasn’t saying that! I just wanted to talk with you about it!” “And what?! Try to give me pointers or something?! Do you REALLY think you’re one to talk like a mentor after all you’ve done to me?!” “This isn’t about what happened to US! This is about your marriage, Canvas!” “And what makes you think you have ANY input on me getting married, huh?! WHAT GIVES YOU THAT RIGHT?!” “BECAUSE BEING THERE FOR YOUR MOTHER WAS THE ONLY GOOD THING I DID!!!” Copper wasn’t planning to make an outburst like that, but it was more than enough to shut his son up. In fact, the entire shop was silent after that retort from the older stallion. After a few seconds, Spike threw his claws up in surrender and said, “You know what?” He then hopped off of Twilight’s back, and walked behind the counter to go into Bon-Bon and Lyra’s living space. “I’m keeping myself out of this one.” Nobody tried to stop Spike due to their frozen stances. Tenor followed with him, clearly uneasy about being in a room with so much yelling. While the drake and dog disappeared, Canvas’ jaw was open as he just blinked in response to his father’s statement. Copper took another breath to calm himself down before adding in a firm tone, “I know I wasn’t a good parent to you, Canvas. I’m not trying to say otherwise. But if there’s one thing I can say without a doubt in my mind, it’s that I was a damn good husband. And I got married young, just like you.” Despite the stern face that Copper tried to maintain, those last two sentences were enough to make him blink repeatedly to keep his eyes from tearing up. His voice also became shaky near the end of that statement. Canvas didn’t say anything in opposition, and his eyes averted away from Copper while keeping his muzzle shut. “I…” Copper had to close his eyes as he continued in a more somber-sounding tone. “I didn’t have my parents around when I got married either. Although I know they would’ve loved to be there if they could’ve. And… and even if I can’t be there for you during your wedding, I still want to at least give you something my own father couldn’t for mine.” When Copper finally reopened his eyes, a couple of faint tears began to roll down his cheeks for his son to see. “Canvas, I… being married to your mother was one of the greatest things to happen to me, and I… I want you to be as happy with your husband as I was with her…” Even though the shop itself felt a bit crowded, it seemed that both Canvas and Copper paid no attention to any of the other ponies still in the space around them. Lyra and Bon-Bon were looking between the father and son, clearly unsure what to think after everything was said between the two. Rainbow Dash wasn’t really in attack-mode anymore, and was just standing awkwardly next to Copper with an uneasy glance back at Twilight. The Princess looked like she was touched by what Copper said, but she was also trying her best to keep her expression neutral before looking towards Canvas. The artist had his bottom lip bit for a second as he exhaled through his nostrils. He finally opened his muzzle after taking his father’s words in to ask, “S-So… all you want to do is talk?” His son’s voice may have came out in almost a mutter from how weak it sounded, but it was enough to make Copper nod his head. “Y-Yeah,” he said while keeping his voice composed. “I just wanted to say a few things, and then I’ll leave for good. I promise.” Canvas blinked a couple times, and took a moment to stare Copper down like he was waiting for a bluff. After a few seconds of awkward silence, the stallion finally sighed and nodded in reluctant acceptance. “Alright,” said Canvas weakly. “Fine. We can talk in private.” Copper nodded back, and Canvas was the first to walk away to head towards the back exit from the shop. Before Copper could follow him, Canvas felt a hoof grab his foreleg to stop him. When the artist looked back, Lyra had a worried look on her face as she looked between him and his dad. “Canvas, are you sure this is a good idea?” “It’ll only be a couple minutes,” assured Canvas as he placed his hoof on her shoulder. He then added in a more sincere tone, “Believe me, if anything happens, you’ll be the first to know.” Lyra was happy enough with that promise to nod after a quick exhale. “O-Okay…” She then let go of his foreleg, allowing Canvas to take off his suit jacket and walk out of the back of the shop. Copper followed him, which the unicorn allowed despite how badly she wanted to at least hit him. As soon as the two stallions went out to the back of the shop, Rainbow Dash made a beeline to the front doors after hearing the exit door close. Twilight quickly took notice and called out to her. “Hey, wait! Dash, what are you doing?” Dash groaned with a hoof on the handle of the door. “Ugh, what do you think?! I’m gonna get a cloud so I can be above the alley in case anything happens!” Bon-Bon, despite wanting to stay out of this, shrugged with an understanding pout. “Eh, that’s not a bad idea.” “Actually, I think it is,” retorted Twilight back at the Earth pony. She then turned towards Dash before she could leave the shop. “Rainbow, I really don’t think you should intervene in a matter this personal.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” said the pegasus condescendingly with a tilted glance back at the Princess. “Do you rather I just let Canvas be alone with someone who put him in the hospital? On the day of his wedding?!” Twilight breathed out through her nostrils like a pent-up bull and responded with, “I know very well what happened in the past, but I don’t think that Copper would be stupid enough to repeat anything he did a year ago. Canvas said he wanted their talk to be private, so I am NOT going to let you ignore that!” “It's not like I’m not going to interfere, Twi! I’m just gonna take recon for safety reasons! I think YOU of all ponies should understand how important it is to take precautions if something bad happens!” “DASH! I’m--” Twilight quickly stopped herself before her tone became too brash in front of other ponies. She looked back at Lyra and Bon-Bon, who were both just watching from the side awkwardly. “Ummm, could you two mind if we were alone for a moment?” she asked the couple politely. Bon-Bon was the first to nod, and pulled Lyra with her towards the living space were Spike currently was. Of course, even after closing the door, they could still overhear Twilight’s and Rainbow Dash’s voices through the wood as the argument got more heated. “Rainbow, I can understand wanting to to make sure Canvas is safe, but he wanted his talk with his father to be PRIVATE!” “It WILL be private! It’s not like I’m gonna listen in on them!” “Being close enough to SEE the two is still disrespecting what he wants!” “And what if that guy hits him again, huh?! Whose fault will THAT be?!” “That isn’t going to happen!” “And how would YOU know that?!” “You are NOT going out to spy on them, Rainbow! And that is final!” “Final!? What, you think you can tell me what to do just like that?!” “Rainbow, I am warning you!” “Oh, you’re WARNING me now?! What are you gonna do, order me to not to not do it!?” “Dash! I--” “No, YOU listen! Just because you’re a Princess, doesn’t mean you always know what’s right! I’m going out there whether you like it or--” “RAINBOW, DO YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME YOU IGNORED ME BEFORE A WEDDING?!” Lyra and Bon-Bon may have been a few feet away from the closed door, but both of them still jolted back from hearing the Princess’ outburst. Spike was sitting at the kitchen table when he overheard his mentor, and instantly grew a saddened look with his head hung low. Meanwhile, the front of the shop turned deathly silent after Twilight’s unplanned statement. The Princess had both her hooves up to cover her muzzle, looking like she tried too late to keep those words from escaping her now mortified-looking expression. Dash’s eyes were equally as wide, her pained face making it look like her best friend just slapped her. The pegasus’ ears drooped low after a couple seconds, accompanying the disheartened look that was growing on Dash’s face before looking away from Twilight. "J-Jeeze, Twi," she muttered painfully. “I’m so sorry!” blurted the Princess in a remorseful voice as one of her hooves came back down. “Dash, I swear I didn’t mean to bring that u--” Dash raised a hoof towards her friend while looking elsewhere, quickly shutting her up. The mare’s saddened expression remained as she took a breath with her eyes closed, trying to block out the feelings of guilt she was clearly still carrying from that event. After another moment, Rainbow exhaled briefly and lowered her hoof. “O-Okay…You win.” Twilight felt terrible for bringing up such an old wound, and it wasn’t helped when she heard Rainbow add in clarification, “I won’t go near them, alright? I promise...” That caused the Princess’ ears to pull downward as well. “Rainbow, I really wasn’t going to use that against you. I swear, that just came out of nowher--” “I-It’s fine,” interrupted Dash before finally looking back at her. Even though her eyes were a little red, the Pegasus didn’t look like she was crying yet. She took another breath and clarified in a more assuring tone, “I get it, Twi. This is the first time you organized a wedding since… then. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it too.” Twilight immediately went in to hug her friend tightly. “I’m so sorry, Dash. I promise, I won’t--” Rainbow Dash used one hoof to press against Twi’s muzzle to keep her from saying anything else. The other hoof returned the hug to the Princess as she said, “Hey, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it. We’re cool, I swear.” After that assurance, Dash hugged her friend fully with both hooves, squeezing Twilight just as tightly as she was. On the other side of the door behind the counter, Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Tenor were leaned up against it listening in. Tenor was the first to pull away, followed by the mares who looked rather confused. “What was that about?” asked Bon-Bon as she looked towards her wife. Spike got out of his seat and walked over to the bathroom. “Please don’t ask,” he said in a tone just as shameful as Dash’s was. The back of Lyra and Bon-Bon’s sweet shop was just a basic alleyway, the only view being of the brick wall that was the back part of the postal office. Aside from a couple trash bins arranged along the walls on both sides, the alley itself was just as clean as it was empty. Because of that, Canvas felt an uneasy mix of both relief and worry that he was here for a private talk with the stallion who used to be his father. Of course, after learning what Copper wanted to do, the artist mostly felt angry with himself for agreeing to come out here. When Copper closed the exit door behind him, Canvas was able to get a decent look at the stallion for the first time. Despite his fur not being at the full dark-green it used to be back in Gallop Creek, Copper looked significantly better than the last time the two talked. His fur’s color was at a healthy tone, not looking faded or matted in the slightest. His brown mane was cut short, and he didn’t have any grungy scruff on his muzzle anymore. He still had his old saddlebag hanging on his back, but it wasn’t dirtied or packed to the brim like a hobo. And despite the large welt that was growing on the left side his his face from Rainbow Dash’s punch, Copper actually looked fairly healthy and clean-cut. Copper took a few seconds to look back at his son, his eyes peering up and down at his son and his outfit. He huffed with a smirk before saying in a casual, but still hesitant-sounding tone. “Heh… I have to admit, you... you look really good. Although I wouldn’t have expected you to get married so soon.” Canvas nodded faintly, and looked down to the ground while rubbing one of his forelegs with his hoof. Since it was officially only one year since he and Troy first met, Canvas couldn’t blame his father for making that point. “W-Well… gryphons usually get married fairly quick anyway. Plus, it wasn’t like I would ever say no.” “I suppose,” replied Copper while looking away awkwardly. He rubbed the back of his head while inhaling before looking back at his son with a smirk. “Honestly, I guess I should be glad it’s with him then.” When Canvas looked back up at his Dad with a puzzled look, Copper finished with a chuckle and said, “I mean, if you were with a woman, I’d be thinking the reason you’re getting married this quickly is because a baby is on the way.” The tone of the moment wasn’t exactly that light-hearted, so Canvas didn't chuckle back at him. “I guess I can’t blame you for that,” said Canvas as his eyes looked away from Copper. “We… We talked about when to have the wedding, and… today seemed like the best date.” “H-How so?” asked the stallion curiously. Canvas took a breath and answered reluctantly, “Well… Today is actually one year since… since he first found me…” Copper’s head hung low with a hurt expression on his face. “Oh,” he said in a low and remorseful tone. “Well… I guess that makes sense then…” Canvas nodded, but didn’t look toward his dad to see if he saw it. Instead, he just replied with, “Yeah. It does…” As the silence between them grew, so did the awkward tension that came from the two being just a few feet from one another. Canvas closed his eyes and huffed before blurting, “Okay, can… can you just tell me why you’re here?” When Copper looked back at his son, he saw that Canvas had a hoof over his eyes while rubbing them in growing anxiety. “I… I just don’t want to be out here any longer than I need to, okay? I really did not want to see you on my wedding day, and the fact that it’s been a year since that day doesn’t really help! So just… just say your piece, okay!?” Canvas’ voice was getting choked up near the end of that rant, and Copper could only stand helplessly as he kept himself from trying to hug him or something. Instead, Copper just sighed and nodded his head. “A-Alright then…” As he tried to gather his thoughts coherently enough to say what he came here for, Copper felt his muzzle twitch as he realized how unprepared he really was. He may have memorized his words a thousand times on the train to Ponyville, but they turned out to be practically fruitless now that he was standing here in front of his son. A faint and panicked exhale escaped him, which sounded like a mix between a sob and an attempt to chuckle. “You know, I… I always thought about what your wedding would be like, but… I never would’ve thought it would be like this…” Canvas’ hoof finally came back down, but Copper didn’t notice as he looked down at his own hooves and added in a more morose tone, “And… I never thought I’d be in this kind of position…” Copper exhaled again, but it was clear that sounded more like a sob than the first one. “I just… I always imagined I’d be there beside you, you know? Like… I’d walk you down the aisle, and… welcome whoever you were with as a member of the family. But… but now…” Copper wasn’t able to finish his statement, and his eyes clenched shut to keep himself from tearing up. Canvas looked away from his father and replied bitterly, “Yeah, I know.” As he breathed out shakily, Copper was able to open his eyes enough to not risk having anything come out, despite how they were already beginning to water up. He looked back at his son as he huffed with a smirk. “You know, I keep thinking about what your Mom would say about today. Like… how she would’ve reacted to you marrying someone like him…” Canvas nodded, but didn’t stare back at his Dad while continuing to rub his foreleg. “Y-Yeah… I’ve thought about that too…” Despite not wanting to think about her at a time like this, a smile crept at the corners of Canvas’ muzzle as he chuckled to himself. “I bet she really would’ve liked Troy. And the others…” “Yeah, I bet…” Even though he was trying his hardest to keep a smile on his face, the subject was painful enough to make Copper struggle not to cry at the memory of her. His head lowered as he sighed painfully, and he muttered under his breath, “Goddess I miss her…” Canvas nodded as he bit his bottom lip in shared grief. “M-Me too…” Even though he was looking down at the ground, Copper didn’t seem to notice when his tears finally started to fall and hit the dirt beneath his hooves. But despite the wave of emotions flowing through him, the older stallion still cracked a melancholy smile as he admitted, “You know, it’s a funny thing. I… I spent so long trying to forget things after she left. That why why I started drinking, to numb things and make myself function right. But… but after I stopped, I… I don’t regret all the memories that came back. Even though it hurts, I… I wouldn’t take back a second of it for the world…” When Copper lifted his head back up, he didn’t try to wipe away his tears as they kept rolling down his face. “Blowing Winds, she… she was one of my best friends back in high school, and… she was there for me after my parents passed. And ever since then, I… I never felt happier with someone as I was with her…” His eyes closed momentarily, his muzzle quivering as his emotions grew thicker. “There… there was so much more I wanted to do with her. Things I wanted to do with both of you. But… even with that, I can’t say I have a single regret when it came to being married to her. She… She was perfect…” Canvas couldn’t hold it in any longer, and tears ran down his face while looking away from his Dad. He was already in a sensitive moment by talking with the stallion who almost killed him just a year ago, and being reminded of his mother like this certainly wasn't helping. While looking elsewhere, the artist didn’t notice his father walking towards him while saying, “She… She was always there for me, and I always tried to be there for her. And I can tell you’re the same with him. So if there’s anything I can say to you, it’s this…” Canvas jolted a little when he falt Copper’s hoof touch his shoulder. When he glanced back at his dad, he saw that the green stallion had the strongest stare in his reddened eyes as he said as firmly as possible: “Don’t… EVER… take what you have for granted, Canvas. You cherish every moment you have with him, and you let him know how much he really means to you. If he makes you happy, don’t… don’t ever let him go, you understand?” Canvas was stunned in a frozen state, unable to move as he saw how intense Copper looked with his stare on him. He didn’t wait for his son to even nod his head to that last question, and just continued in a more hoarse tone. “I… I have so many regrets in my life, Canvas. Things that I know I can never take back. But when it came to her, I wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. I cherished every second I had with her, and I never stopped loving her…” Copper’s head hung down, but his hoof remained on Canvas’ shoulder. “And... if I had to do it all again… Even… even if I knew…” A strong shudder escaped as he struggled not to sob, but several tears came down his face. However, his voice came out more firmly after inhaling to say, “I know… I know that I would do it all over again. And… And I’d love her just as much then as I did before…” Canvas blinked a few times in bafflement, and the ony thing that could come from his muzzle was a brief and surprised-sounding, “R-Really?” When he lifted his head back up to stare back at his son, Copper saw that Canvas was still at a standstill, despite the tears rolling down his aqua cheeks. “Yes. I would,” continued Copper in an insistent and emotional voice. “Because that’s what love is, Canvas. It’s when you think things can go bad, or even when you know they will, but you still want to stick by that one who makes you feel whole inside. Because when you don’t have them, then… then you don’t feel complete. And you’d rather risk the pain of something happening while being with them, and not the lack of it while being without them.” As he stood still and took his father’s words in, all that Canvas could think about was how different the stallion in front of him sounded at that moment. For the longest time, all that the artist could remember about Copper was how distant and silent he usually was; and even though there were those brief moments of bonding or dedication back then, it was usually short-lived by the time the stallion picked up another bottle. Compared to the last time the two talked, Copper really appeared as a new pony to Canvas. Meanwhile, Copper put his hoof back down and looked away from his son with guilt. “There’s probably a lot of things that your mother would say about me right now. And most of them wouldn’t be good. But…” His tone grew determined as he looked back at Canvas and added, “I also know she’d say how I was somepony who always took care of her. Somepony who loved and cherished her every single day. Somepony who… who never took advantage of her as a wife, or as the wonderful mare she really was…” Copper took a second to look back at his saddle bag, and used a hoof to reach back into it. “And if she was here right now, I know she’d say how proud she was of you right now. Not just for finding someone like him to be your husband, but for doing so much much since leaving that town…” When he turned back around to face Canvas, Copper had a small silver chain wrapped around his hoof. Canvas’ eyes shot wide-open as he said in a befuddled mutter, “Is… is that…” The item at the end of the chain dropped down, hanging from the end of Copper’s hoof for his son to see. It was a small piece of silver that was shaped to resemble a pair of wings. One of Canvas’ hooves shot over his mouth in shock, unable to fathom seeing something like that again. He looked back up at Copper and asked, “W-Why do you still have that?! I thought you sold everything after I left!” Copper nodded his head, his voice becoming choked while looking between Canvas and the necklace. “I know what I said, but I only sold what was mine. I didn’t give up any of her things. Most of them are still in storage, but…” He tightened his grip around the chain for a brief moment, and then he exhaled shakily before presenting his hoof to Canvas. “I know your mother, Canvas. And she would’ve given this to you before your wedding. It might not be for a bride, but... Blowing Winds would want it to be passed on regardless. I really doubt she’d be against either of you having it.” Canvas stared down at the necklace in stunned silence while his father spoke, and it took him a moment before he could actually reach out to pick it up. He knew that the necklace was important, and that it was carried on through generations as an heirloom. However, like a lot of other things that wound up lost or forgotten after leaving Gallop Creek, Canvas always thought that his mom’s necklace would never be seen again. But now, for the first time in Celestia knows how long, the pony was holding one of the last precious items of his past in his hoof. The silver shone brightly when the sunlight hit it, and the exquisite sculpting on the wings looked just as skilled as anything a pony could make with today’s magic or technologies. Canvas couldn’t help staring at the piece for a few seconds, but his glance returned to Copper while blinking a few times in bafflement. “Wow. I… I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t have to say anything,” assured Copper with his hoof raised towards him. “Just… just remember what I told you, okay? As long as you love that gryphon like I loved your mother, I know you’ll be happy. And…”  Copper didn’t want to end his statement with a line so cheesy, but he still pointed to the necklace in Canvas’ hoof and said, “ And I know she’ll be happy too.” Canvas looked away with a scoff, trying not to show that he was smiling. “Really?” he asked judgingly while wiping his eyes with his foreleg. “Hey, she would’ve liked hearing that.” Canvas just sighed before putting his hoof back down. Of course, the pony still kept his smile as he looked back up at Copper and said sincerely, “Still, I… I really am glad you gave me this. Th-Thank you.” “It’s alright, Canvas,” said Copper with a smile of his own. After a couple seconds, that smile began to shaken before his head hung low with an involuntary sob. “It… It’s the least I could do after everything else…” Copper covered his face with one of his hooves as he sobbed a couple more times. Canvas turned sad as well, and couldn’t stand to see the stallion in this way again. Copper tried his hardest to regain his voice as he wiped his eyes and said in a croaked voice, “I… I know I apologized so much before, but… but it hurts when you know that’ll never be enough…” Canvas’ pout grew while his muzzle pointed away from him. The artist kept his eyes closed, but he still heard his father’s voice say in addition, “Losing her was the reason I drank, but… losing you was the reason I stayed sober. I haven't touched a drink since that night, and the withdrawal almost killed me. But... But even with that, I know nothing I say will change what I did, so I’m not going to try. I’m sure I already did enough damage just coming here is it is, so I’ll just go.” When Canvas finally reopened his eyes and glanced back at at Copper, the stallion carried a look of pure sincerity and devotion behind his tear-matted cheeks. “And I promise you this time, Canvas. I won’t try to come back. If you don’t want me in your life, then I won’t try to convince you otherwise. You have a lot of friends here, and… and I know they’ll do more for you than I ever could.” Copper struggled not to wince as he said that last part, his voice almost giving away like saying those words were physically hurting him. Regardless, the stallion continued while staring straight at his son. “You… You have your whole future ahead of you, and you’ve already done so much in just a year. I know you’ll do so much more, and… I just wish I could be there to see all of it.” He closed his eyes briefly as he sniffed, even though that just made his eyes even redder when he reopened them. While Canvas stood with an equally saddened look back at him, Copper took a breath and tried to keep going. “But I know I have to live with my mistakes. You were able to break past all the shit that was handed to you back home, and… and keeping me around would just be another anchor you don’t need. I just… I’m just glad you were able to find a family who’ll give you the love you deserve…” Despite how sad Copper’s words were, a trembling smile crept across Canvas’ muzzle after hearing that last sentence. Copper began to smile too, which made his last, shaken-sounding statements come out in a more loving voice. “All that your mother and I ever wanted was for you to be happy. And… and I wish more than anything that I remembered that a year ago. Just… just know that whatever happens, I will always love you. You and your mother were the best things I ever had in my life, and… I couldn’t have asked for a better son.” More tears stemmed from Canvas’ eyes, but he didn’t try to wipe them away as his shaky smile grew in response to Copper’s words. The stallion slowly stepped forward, raising his foreleg towards Canvas for a hug. With his heart becoming heavier in his chest, Canvas slowly accepted the request by stepping forward as well. The pony’s eyes clenched shut as he wrapped his hooves around Copper’s back, allowing Copper to hug him back tightly. As he held him, Canvas felt a familiar warmth growing inside of himself, making his eyes open in a confused wave of… something. Awareness? Clarity? “I love you so much, Canvas,” whimpered Copper as he hugged his son as tightly as he could. “Even if I never see you again, just know that I’m never gonna stop getting better. No matter what, just… just remember me like this. Please… Please don’t see me as I was before. Remember me as… as somepony who’s trying to better himself…” Canvas wasn’t sure what he felt inside of himself in that moment. The closest thing he could compare it to was a... snap of some kind; but instead of the kind of snap an angry pony would go through before completely losing it, this snap was something completely different. Canvas couldn’t describe it, but it made him feel like something heavy was still inside of his chest, but was floating upward like a balloon made of steel. His hooves trembled, and his eyes closed again while tightening his grip around his father. Copper gave him one last squeeze before saying in almost a whisper, “I love you Canvas…” After over a year since the resentment and pain that brought the two to this moment, Canvas knew what he wanted to say. The artist’s muzzle opened, and he hugged the stallion tightly as he said those five words he never thought he would say again: “... I love you too, Dad…” Copper’s eyes shot wide-open for only a second, but was then quickly followed by him completely losing it. With his emotions overflowed, the stallion clinged onto his son for dear life as he bawled loudly. Canvas cried too, but he couldn’t care in the slightest as he returned the hug to him. Even though both of them knew this would most likely be the last time they’ll ever meet again, it was clear that closure was finally upon them. After all the heartache both of them faced, both on their own and from each other, their parting words were finally said, allowing the two to finally make their peace. It was unclear how long the two held each other, but Copper was the first to break the hug and pull back slowly. After giving his son one last kiss on his forehead, Copper looked down at his son and said with a proud smile, “I wish you nothing but the best in your life, son. Never forget that.” Canvas nodded his head silently, his overwhelmed smile being the only answer that Copper needed. The stallion looked around, and didn’t say another word before heading out one of the alleyways exits, making sure not to go back inside the shop (or be seen any any other ponies in town). Canvas took a long moment to himself while alone in the alley, letting his cheeks dry up before he could walk back inside the sweet shop with a clearer conscience. As soon as he walked back inside, everyone was waiting by the front counter for him. Tenor was the first to run up to him, which made Canvas quickly smile as he went to pet at him lovingly. Lyra also came up to the stallion and asked, “So… is everything okay?” “Yeah,” said Canvas weakly as he paid more attention to Tenor than his friend’s question. “He… he came into town to drop off a gift for me. And… then we made our goodbyes before he left.” Spike, who was sitting on top of the counter, leaned in and asked, “So, what did he say? Because we heard a lot of crying even from in here--MMMPH!” Rainbow Dash promptly muffled the dragon by sticking a hoof inside of his mouth. Twilight sighed and tried to rectify the moment. “Sorry about that. We know it’s private, so you don’t need to tell us anything.” Canvas exhaled and looked up at the Princess with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Twilight.” Bon-Bon walked up towards Canvas as well, and stopped beside her wife to add in a supportive tone, “But just so you know, if you ever do want to talk about it, we’ll always be here for you.” Canvas nodded back at the couple thankfully. “I-I know,” replied the artist in a choked voice. “And believe me, I… I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.” The two mares went in to hug Canvas at the same time, which the stallion returned immediately. Rainbow Dash came up to him with his suit jacket, waiting until their hug was finished before handing it to him. “So, is there anything we should know? Like, anything worth punching him for again?” “Rainbow!” shouted Twilight. “What!? It’s just a question!” “No, Rainbow,” assured Canvas as he put his jacket back on. While speaking, he placed the necklace into one of his jacket’s inner pockets.“All he wanted was to wish me the best for my wedding. There isn’t much more to say than that.” Twilight was happy enough with that answer to ask while still by the counter, “So, do you think you’re ready, Canvas? It’s almost time for the ceremony.” Even though his heart was thundering in his chest, his hooves felt twitchy, and his emotions felt drained and overflowing at the same time, Canvas still looked over at the Princess and nodded his head strongly. “Yeah,” said the groom with a new wave of confidence in his voice. “I know I’m ready.”