The Vanishing Star
by NocturneD
"VAN!"
I turned around to see my mother sticking her head out of my old bedroom window. Her face in distress. Her calling me over and over again. I froze and wanted to shout back. I was expecting her to run down the stairs and burst through the door. But she did something I would have never imagined. She jumped out the window and landed onto one of the carriages parked outside. A very graceful jump. Swan and I stared amazed at my mother's desperate jump. My mother jumped again to land on the grass. I almost feared that she might sprain or break something. But to her age, she still was as flexible to my surprise.
"VAN!"
She split out of the yard and across the driveway.
"VAN!"
I could hear the sorrow in her shouts. The rain falling on us as I forgot my umbrella. The mood was at first depressing then suddenly turned heart warming.
"MOM!" I started to run into her direction. I opened my arms wide as I could.
"VAN!" She cried. She practically leap towards me. I caught her. Like she used to catch me when I was younger off of high places. Dressers. Stands. Jungle gyms. Cribs. Beds. You name it. The size different was to note. I was no longer that little eight year old colt she could easily lift up. No. I was fully grown and could pick her up easy. I lowered her back to the ground after such a collision hug.
"Van!" She kept crying into my chest as I wrapped my arms around her. Stroking her hair and patting her back. Letting her take twenty years worth of tears for all the taking. The gratitude was surprisingly there. More and more she cried my name and how she said she was sorry, "I'm so... so sorry." She shivered with every word, "I'm a terrible mother.. I'm sorry!" I just kept running my hoof through her wet hair as the rain drenched us. Swan just sat there, smiling at us. Feeling proud that she took charge. Last night I felt like I was eight again, crying from a dream that I longed for my mom. Betsy filled in that role and did wonders, but this was my original mom. There was some value to it that Betsy did not have. And things that mom did not have while Betsy did. But we will call it dead even somewhat.
She looked up at me. Her face, aged but still recognizable. Her hair clung to her face and neck, I tried to get most of it out of her eyes. With a lump in my throat, I was near tears myself. I apologized as well. "I'm sorry..." I squeezed harder, "I did not know it would get this bad for you..."
The rain finally stopped. Only a few shots of sunlight sprayed through the clouds down on us. Maybe it was a sign of redemption. Maybe to tell me that my worried thoughts of my own mother were finally healed. Or finally starting to look up. I looked over my mother's head to see my father up the street. Grocery bags in his magic grip and bewildered eyes equipped. Wondering why his wife for many years was hugging a random stallion out in the middle of the street. Our reunion went on for a little bit longer until mom finally let go, still sniffing but for twenty years worth of pain she must have needed it. She eased away and asked if I was willing to stay longer. I looked at Swan who looked happy, further down the street I saw Ghendi taking his brother for a walk around the block to do some sight seeing. They stopped to look at me. I just waved them over.
"Mom." I put my arm around Swan, "This is Swan Song. My lab assistant. And more importantly my fiance." Swan wasted no time saying a gentle hello with a nod. Holding each others hoofs and shaking them, mom giving us her congratulations.
"T. Velvet Sparkle?" Swan shook her hoof. "I am very honored to meet you. I just love your work on the Dark Rose series and Romancing the Phantasm."
"Oh my." My mom let out a small gasp of joy. "I did not know any pony still read my books."
"Oh no no. They still do. I read the Star Crescent Voyage when I was in High school. After that I was curious and read you other work and was hooked." She smiled, "I'm part of a book club back home and a few years ago the members and I were reading the Starlight Chronicles. We read all nine of them." Swan smiled wider. She entered total fan girl mode right now, usually she is always well kept and collective, but also makes sure I don't slack off. Yeah one of those types but I love her. My mom was over whelm-ed with praise for once for her hard work knowing that some ponies out there do love her work.
"No. No the honor is mine." My mother wiped her face. "It was not easy the past twenty years as my work took a huge hit because of my failures." She sighed, "I lost a lot of encouragement over the years..."
Finally Ghendi still with his front leg missing and Synn wandered over. I was prepared. I knew my mother was not going to fancy Ghendi that well for getting into a fight with Shining Armor at the castle of all places. But if I learned anything, first impressions always have a fifty fifty chance of redeeming later. My mom gave her full attention as the two brothers bowed in their cultural way of greeting one another. Well Ghendi did, Synn hid behind him as usual.
"Oh?" My mom said to herself. In no time they raised their heads to her. "These are the two that were at the ceremony?"
"Yes mom. They were. I'd like you to meet Ghendisousuke and Synnenchi. They're brothers and I took them off the streets. Practically brothers to me as well." I introduced them, "Ghendi here, was my first test model for the prosthetic arm and leg." I frowned, "I'm sure you and the rest of the family met him under bad circumstances because of the fight back at the banquet."
My mother nodded, "Yes I remember Mr. Ghendi alright." Her eyes narrowed a bit but not in an angry way, "The fight I really did not appreciate, but..." She sighed, "My son was not thinking rationally the other night and let his judgment get clouded because of a misunderstanding."
Ghendi straightened up in posture, "I apologize ma'am but Fade... I mean Vanishing Star is some pony I sworn to protect for his generosity. He gave me a second chance at life." He nodded slowly, "If it was not for him. I would still be on the streets with just two limbs asking for bits to feed my brother here." He turned his head to still see Synn hiding behind him.
My mother nodded, "I had no idea." Shaking her head with the enjoyment of my return, "I apologize. It's just that with Van finally coming back I don't quite have my head on straight right now." She noticed Synn peering out from underneath Ghendi's legs. Slowly my mother got down onto her knees. "Hello there." Synn just shivered and tried to hide himself better. But what can one leg hide?
I walked around Ghendi and lowered my head. "Hey Synn. This is my momma. Just like how Hinata was yours before you and your brother came to stay with me. And how Betsy is helping to take care of you?" I smiled. Synn poked his head out again. Hopefully using his mother's own name will coax him out.
"Your okasan?" Synn mumbled.
"That's right." I smiled.
While not forcing him to come out, I still thought it would be a nice gesture for him to come out. If he did not then, I would not hold it against him. He was a shy one anyway when it comes to meeting new ponies. As I was about to turn away to look at my father, he already made his way the porch and went inside. Felt a little hurt by that actually, but I was so used to hating him that I shook it off for now. I turned my head to see Synn finally got out from behind his brother's leg and walked up to my mother.
"Okasan?" Synn tilted his head.
"Uh that means mother in Japonies mom." I chuckled.
My mom giggled, "Yes I'm Van's mother."
Somehow, I could sense a little connection between the two already. Once you think about it. Synn is around the same age when I disappeared on my family, almost the same size. Unicorn. Blue mane. Hell he could probably pass off as a younger me if I had a white coat.
Though, I have to admit something. I mentioned a photograph was one of the things that Ghendi and Synn would never give up besides a family crest. The only few things they had in their possession they refused to part with. When I took them home for the first time I immediately gave them rooms and plenty of food to eat. Made doctors appointments to make sure they were healthy until... I discovered that Synn had a pretty weak immune system, poor little guy was traveling all over Equestria and could have caught something that he could have died from. But his brother being over protective, made sure he had the money to spend on medication. Until they hit rock bottom and I found them in an alleyway. It was a battle between eating or gathering enough money for pills. But sometimes they would never reach their goal as they would get mugged on a bad day.
Synn was in the hospital here and there for those reasons. Had to get shots. Not going to say where. I had my own little research and looked up the anatomy on Kirins, had to pull a lot of strings just to get this information. What boggles my mind is that it was said that Kirins were immune to poisons and diseases just like the Alicorns were. But seeing how Synn and Ghendi were only half, something might have not carried over in genetics. That or, Synn's body was still immature and was one of the unlucky ones. But over time, he was finally in the green. Poor thing was wasting away when I first saw him. Doctors said if he went on a few more months he could have died.
The little guy sat in his hospital bed finally sleeping. I visited him every time I got off, sometimes I would bring a guest or two. Like either Betsy or Swan. I would bring him toys or a balloon, Ghendi remained by his side as much as he could before and after I gave him his new limbs. On Synn's night stand, I did not pay attention to at first as all there was a simple crusty picture worn over time. Betsy framed it herself and I took notice.
A picture of a family. Two loving parents. The father; a Kirin pony with a horn, looked sharp almost like it was a samurai sword itself. Spiky blue hair that traveled along his back side. Very tall it looked like when sitting down even. A very long snake tail with hair flowing along side down to the tip. Had blue fur but orange scales, a weird combination I admit but hey I'm not judging. He was smiling as he held up is what I could guess was a younger Ghendi, same dark hair with blue tints and white coat. For once he looked happy. There were other pony children I figured must have been brothers and sisters.
The other parent is what I could say was the mother. Tall. Slender. White coat. Was a unicorn. Had the princess Hime hairstyle thing going on. Violet caring eyes. Black hair with violet streaks. My Celestia she was beautiful. Almost like she was a princess herself. She was holding something. A bundle. A small white unicorn with blue hair. Cradling the child with care. Just looking at that, it gave me a little deja vu of my original family. My mom holding me like that. Betsy cuddling me like that. Just seeing this picture saddened me. After what Ghendi finally opened up and explained what happened, they had nothing left. Home practically ravaged and scavenged. Entire town was the same. But just looking at their parents. They were the motivation these two had. If anything left...
Synn was finally back to good health. And I'm glad. I treated him like a brother but a bit in my heart I wanted to say father. Whenever he got scared he would come and try to find either his brother or me. Lightning storms were scary to him. Then again, what kid is not? There were times when he crawled in various beds, not caring who they belonged to but some pony just to snuggle up against. Ghendi did not mind. Betsy and Tex welcomed it at first but told him that he was going to have to cope. For me... It was a bit surprising. Have him shiver against my body. I had moments where I was going to pick him up and put him back in his own bed but... Remembering what my mom told me about lightning storms. She said it was the pegasus bowling up in the sky and sometimes their games can get pretty rough. Stupid but practical.
"Onii-chan." Synn would mumble over and over again. Rubbing his little face into my arm. Soothing. And he felt safe.
Though it got a bit awkward when he would try to crawl into bed when I had Swan with me. Birds and bees talk came way earlier than I intended. But regardless, he slept between me and Swan. My fiance kept glaring at me as Synn slept. Running her hoof through his mane. Sometimes, when he was still awake she would sing him a lullaby. More and more I loved Swan, proving she was better than most mares in all of Equestria.
*Sigh*
Everything is just perfect...
Much later. Synn I would find himself hanging out in the kitchen area where the chefs worked. I figured he wandered in because he wanted a snack but I was called down one day. To my surprise, the other chefs and assistants were happily letting him help them. Now, Chef Puff hates it when some pony screws up in his kitchen. Reason why we had to hire different assistants time and time again because he kept firing them. Finding Synn with a little chefs hat on. Making soup. He just loved cooking. He made an entire cake by himself, well he had supervision of course. We all had some and it was the sweetest thing I ever had in my life. Probably because he overloaded it with sugar. Still, it was great. Eventually he got the ingredients right.
In the words of a school girl...
Kawaii...
I was invited back into the house. Since I just made up with my mother and she previously ran into my old bedroom. It got me curious but right now. There was another pony I had to face. It was awkward between my brother and I but the guilt riddled his face once the cat got out of the bag. Whatever room I went into to talk to some of the aunts and uncles I have not seen in years. I heard Shining Armor and his wife speak among themselves. No surprise it was about me. Shining Armor giving himself a panic attack over what happened. How he was embarrassed. More so, frightened. His wife did her best to ease him.
My conscience says go over there myself but. It was just going to lead him to beat himself up for it. So, I gave him some breathing room. Something just irked me saying if I walked over to him now he would go crazy. Sure he seemed fine on the porch a few minutes ago but I was not looking at him the entire time while hugging mom.
I quickly got reintroduced with my long estranged relatives. Uncle Libra was still a lawyer. Uncle Aries was moved up to colonel of the royal army just last year. One of the Gemini twins was a chief advisor to a royal government branch. The other twin, still collecting workman's compensation for stubbing his hoof on something. I met up with my cousins again. Some of them successful, some still in school. Then the much younger cousins or children of my cousins. Surely I was asked a lot of questions by my family. I told my story, they sat there quietly and took it all in. And they were glad I made something of myself. Sure was an awkward reunion. Though I got a few questions about Ghendi being a kirin. But I shook them off and said for them to relax as he was my bodyguard and close friend. My fiance was easily accepted by the family, well mostly by Twilight who yanked her into the kitchen with some of the other female relatives still preparing food. I encouraged Synn to play with the other children but for some reason he would not budge. Still scared of new ponies.
While I was talking with some of my cousins for about ten minutes. Synn managed to sneak away into the kitchen with the others while I thought he was going to play. Brother instincts kicked in as I called out for him. My fiance called my name and said to come to kitchen. Oh good Celestia I hope nothing happened. I raced into the kitchen area and found Synn standing on his hind legs on a stool. Chopping onions, celery, peppers, lettuce with his magic. Pouring whatever he chopped into a frying pan onto the counter top stove. He pulled two bottles of vinegar into his proximity and read the labels and read them carefully. Silently he made up his mind and put one of the bottles down and poured whatever. I looked at the females and few males that just stood there watching. Swan just smiled and told me to wait. More and more Synn prepared. We must have watched him for a good ten minutes. Suddenly flames shot up from the stove. Many of the females screeched, including my mom. Swan just raised her arm to block my mother from running over there, assuring he was fine and knew what he was doing. I had not noticed earlier that Synn was multitasking as he prepared other little side dishes as well. Like he had his own little work station going on.
And within twenty minutes of us watching. Synn prepared three different dishes. Fried vegetables ca-bob, baked savory fillet tofu cut up into samples and what appeared to be some sort of soup. I just smiled as he placed the last dish on the serving table.
"Appears you have yourself a little iron chef." My mom giggled.
I chuckled, "Well Synn did like spending time in the kitchen watching our chef." But then I got curious, "You all just watched him and said nothing?"
My sister spoke up, "Actually cousin Bright just cut herself and went upstairs to get a bandage." She looked over at Synn being praised by the others, "So... Synn here just took her spot and started cooking where she last left off. My mom was going to say something but Swan just told her to watch. And then we all watched." She turned back to me, "You know. If he knows how to cook at a young age and make stuff like this without it looking sloppy, he could well in chemistry."
"Well look out Twilight. You might have some competition." I snickered.
She frowned, "Oh come on now. I'm sure he'll have a while until he gets to my level." You'd be surprised little sister.
My mother walked over to Synn and told him a job well done. And gave him the position of being her special little helper. "How did you learn to cook like that sweaty?"
Synn started rubbing his hoofs together, timidly, "My okasan... I mean... mommy. She always made stuff like this. Then our chef back home."
Mom smiled after she sampled some of the fish others joined in as well but then went back to work, "Ah. I bet she was a great cook." She nodded, "Say... how about we make a cake? Just you and me?" Synn put on the biggest kawaii smile he could. They started making a cake together bringing out more pots and pans. I looked over at Twilight who was rubbing her hoof into the kitchen tile. Watching mom carry Synn on her back.
"Jealous?" I asked my sister.
"Wha?" She turned to me. "Don't be ridiculous." She frowned, "It's just... I never seen mom so happy with a kid ever since... well..."
"Well... mom and dad never had any luck with having more kids. Sure I bet the little cousins in the other room she liked." I pointed out. "Don't you think Synn and mom look kind of cute together?" I asked. Really I was just trying to tick her off.
Twilight sighed, "Well... honestly they do. Kind of missed that with her."
The more I watched mom and Synn worked together. The more I remembered the good times she stopped drinking and started acting like a real mom. Having fun baking ourselves and spending time together. Swan and I watched longer, I found Ghendi further back sitting at one of the tables set up with his hoof supporting his cheek watching my mom as well. Admiring his little brother try to be a bit more assertive without me, Swan or his older brother trying to push him into things.
"But I'm glad for one thing." Twilight smiled, "You decided on your own to come out and make peace with the family."
"Yeah." I nodded, "But I knew she was hoping for a little colt to come back to her. What she got was a grown stallion that is about to start his own family." I pulled Swan closer to me. Swan kissed me on my cheek and then nuzzled her snout against mine. I was going to be a father myself. I still had much to learn.
"Twilight honey?" My mom asked.
"Yeah mom?" Replied.
"Can you go to the store and get some vanilla and some other things from the grocery store? I forgot to ask your father earlier before he left." My mom requested.
"Oh sure." Twilight frowned. My mom floated her over a list of other things they might have needed with money included. "I'll be back then." Again she smiled at me. Then looked at the silent Ghendi. "Would you like to come along?"
With an instant, Ghendi blushed. "I uh... Uh."
"He'll be happy to." Swan smirked.
"Great. I can show you some of the sights along the way." Twilight smiled, "Plus its on the way to the book store."
"Oh boy." I rolled my eyes.
Quickly my sister pulled on Ghendi's only arm and was almost out of the kitchen. Knowing Twilight she was going to spend longer in the book store than the grocery store. As the big brother I told them to wait a second. Pulled out my own wallet to pull out a few silver bits.
"Here's one hundred bits in case you two wind up short or want to do something." I poured the bits into my sisters hoof. At first she said she had it covered but I insisted. But knowing this. I had to deal with one more member of the family. I worked up my courage and asked my sister before she headed out with Ghendi.
"Say Twilight?" I asked.
"Yeah?" She replied.
"Where's dad at?" I frowned.
"Should be in his own study upstairs." Twilight pointed out.
"Alright." I sighed, "I'll see you all in a little awhile." I have to confront the bane of my existence, my own father.
And with that the door closed. Seeing my little sister with a boy had me thinking. She was not a little girl anymore. She grew into quite a mare, but due to hearing stories she still was a bit socially awkward and seemed big headed at times. But I have to admit, its adorable seeing her panic and blush whenever I mention Ghendi. Or the other way around. She's an adult for Pete sakes. I was not aware that Cadence and Shining Armor walked up behind me as I still watched Twilight and Ghendi walk up the street together.
"Kind of cute really." Cadence giggled.
"You two not upset?" I asked.
"Well... uh. Sort of." Shining rubbed his cheek a little. "But I got to know him a little more after the fight and he has his faults but... I like him."
"So you approve then?" I snickered. "After he kicked you square in the face?"
"Them holding hoofs is fine." Shining grunted a little. A little painful reminder of the other night.
I whistled and excused myself. Not even going to tell them about the other stuff. "Well. If you two excuse me I have to go talk to the old man." Shining and Cadence got out of my way. "Tell you what Shining... I'll call it even if we can play another game of Pony of the Dead Two sometime." With that, my brother chuckled. I already said I forgave him that night, but still inside his head was a whirlwind of confusion.
I climbed the stairs which seemed almost infinite because of my own fear. Remember falling down these stairs a bunch of times when I was just a kid and landing on the bottom crying. At the end of the hall was my father's study. Half way there the door opened with a pink unicorn with purple hair walking out with a bandage around her right hoof. She turned her head and thanked whoever was inside for helping patching her up. She walked a few more steps towards me and said hello, I just said hello back. We made short talk and I found out this was cousin Bright, one of Libra's daughters. Of course, she wanted to ask where I been the entire time but I kept it short. Sweet girl but I excused myself.
I stood in front of the door to my father's study. How many times I dreaded coming in here as a kid when it came to punishment. Hell half of the punishments did not even occur in this room. Now. The moment of truth. Do I storm in? Or do I just knock and wait?
Pfft... who am I kidding? I knocked.
"Door's unlocked." I heard my dad from the inside.
Slowly I opened the door and walked in. Closed it behind and walked further in and paused in front of his desk. Pretty much almost the same as my mom's study room except a bit darker in taste. He was a bit of the fan of the whole gothic look to some of his belongings. I just sat down in the chair in front of his desk as he sat on the other side. Occupied by documents. Go figure, does not even look up to see who I am. Then again, I did not say anything once I walked in. I wanted to get to the bottom of this, know exactly why he did the stuff he did back then. Why the Sparkle clan had to devote their lives to royalty. From what I saw, he looked a lot cleaner. More primp. He aged well, either that or he dyed his hair.
"Hey dad..." I sighed.
He looked up. Not imagining he was going to see an almost near identical reflection of his younger self from twenty years ago. Just sitting right there in front of him. Hated that fact about myself. I looked almost exactly like the jack ass, save for the style of hair and some facial hair, and no wrinkles under the eyes.
He looked at me for a long time. Speechless more likely. I can't imagine what was going on through his head. Probably thinking how could I be sitting here in front of him right now when back then he was convinced that I was dead.
His hoof rested on his cheek and kept gazing upon me. I mean what do you say to a son you have not seen in twenty years? He blinked. Then I blinked. I figured he was going to say good job on making something of myself. Pushing myself to my limits to achieve anything. Or how he would have made the Sparkle family proud. I had news for him. I wanted to tell him to shove it but...
With a half smile, he said, "Happy birthday..."