Brushed Away

by TheVClaw


Chapter Forty-Nine: The Return (Part 1)

Over the next few weeks, both Troy and Canvas stayed quite busy working on their preparations for the Grand Galloping Gala. For Canvas, things had been hectic to say the least. Along with the big (and private) project that he wanted to get done beforehoof, he also had to deal with the onslaught of questions about his past as news circulated around town.

When he first moved to Ponyville, many ponies were polite enough to avoid asking him about it; but now with the recent fight he had with his father, almost everypony was curious. He managed to keep his visits to Ponyville limited, but when he did go into town, he had no choice but to explain the basic facts as clearly and simply as he could to anyone who asked.

When it came to his friends, however, Canvas told them not only about what happened in Gallop Creek, but what happened at the train station as well. Lyra seemed surprised Canvas would go and talk to Copper a second time. Twilight seemed especially happy that he did, for she knew just how important family bonds could really be. Afterward, word about his make-up spread just as quickly. Luckily, it didn’t take too long for all the questions to die down, allowing him to work on his project in peace.

Troy, on the other claw, was making preparations of his own. First, he had Rarity assist him and his coltfriend get fitted for tuxedos. Then, he had Rarity give a little extra assistance for the thing he truly wanted to make happen. He was being just as secretive as Canvas about everything, keeping his work to himself while the artist stayed holed up in his studio. Once everything was in place, Troy found himself surprised at how fast time passed before they had to leave.

The Grand Galloping Gala was a whole day away, but Canvas was adamant about what he wanted to do first. Thus, he found himself waiting at the train station early in the morning right beside him.

Before the train could arrive, the sound of galloping hooves caught their attention. Glancing over, they saw Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash approaching them, Lyra and Bon-Bon following behind. All of their faces held a mix of excitement and slight worry; they’d already been told of Canvas' plans prior to the Gala. Twilight cleared her throat.

"Well, Canvas, I just want you to know that I completely understand why you want to do this. Just know that you can contact me if anything happens."

Canvas gave her a light smile and a nod, although he was sure nothing would occur while he was there. Knowing that Celestia did a personal investigation in that town, Canvas figured that nopony in Gallop Creek would even dare try to bother him this time. 

"I think I'll be alright, Twilight,” said Canvas. "I don't think I'll be there for that long, and I'd hate to think of anypony dumb enough to mess with me with this guy around."

Troy grinned, happy to be the stallion's protector. 

"Just so you know, Troy,” said Rainbow. “Rarity wanted me to tell you the alterations to your tux are ready, and that she'll give it to you as soon as you're off the train to Canterlot."

Troy's grin grew even bigger, not even noticing how much his tail was wagging. That is, until he saw Canvas looking at him oddly with a skewed eyebrow. Troy looked away with a blush.

"Th-thanks for telling me that, Dash. Tell her I really appreciate it."

She nodded, and Lyra and Bon-Bon came up. They quickly hugged both Canvas and Troy, happy to wish them luck before their big night. Ever since they learned of Canvas' full past, the two mares had been insistent on becoming closer with them both, as a token of gratitude.

"You two have a great time in Canterlot!" said Bon-Bon. "And I hope things go well for the both of you."

"Thanks, Bon-Bon,” said Canvas. "It's a shame you two can't come with us."

"Oh, don’t sweat it, Canvas,” said Lyra. "We've been there before, so it's not like I'm missing anything big. I'm just glad you both are going together."

Troy pulled in Canvas with a wing. He felt especially excited for this Gala; so excited he couldn’t keep the grin out of his voice.

"I know it's going to be a great night, and we'll be sure to let you know of what happens as soon as we get back."

The sounds of an upcoming steam engine came closer. Canvas and Troy gave some last-minute hugs to their friends. Once the train boarded into the station, a large cloud of steam enveloped them all, and the speakers clicked on.

“Now boarding: All passengers for the train to Baltimare, Appleloosa, and Gallop Creek.”


The train was crowded when Canvas and Troy took their seats, and the gryphon felt cramped due to his height making his head almost touch the roof. Fortunately, having Canvas next to him made him feel a bit more comfortable. 

By the time the train departed from Appleloosa, though, the train car was nearly empty, and Troy found himself surprisingly comfortable in his small seat. However, the same could not be said for Canvas.

When the deserts slowly turned back into familiar large fields and farmland, Canvas started to look pale. He clutched his art bag and avoided looking out the window. Troy wrapped a foreleg around his coltfriend and held him close, nuzzling him and speaking gently.

"It's alright, Canvas. I'm going to be right next to you the whole time."

Canvas nodded and tried to force a faint smile to cover his obvious hesitance. The train speakers announced their stop approaching, and his cover-up cracked. Troy hugged him again.

"Canvas, remember in the hotel room when you first told me about what happened to you, and you were worried about it happening again in Ponyville?"

Canvas nodded.

"When I was with you then, what did I tell you?"

Canvas paused for a moment as he held himself against Troy, before his voice came out faintly in reply.

"You… you said that if anypony messed with me, that you’d take care of it."

"That's right.” Troy pulled back his head and looked straight into Canvas' eyes. "And I meant it then, just like I mean it right now."

Canvas felt lighter as he basked in the sincerity radiating from Troy’s golden eyes. Any worries he still carried had no power over him once they were within those windows of beauty. He leaned forward and kissed him on the beak, feeling a lot more at ease.

The train made its final stop in Gallop Creek just before noon. Troy was quick to get up from his seat before his coltfriend and wait for him at the exit. He made sure the stallion was right by him before he opened his wing, holding it up like a shield. Canvas moved in underneath, feeling grateful, and they walked out of the train side-by-side. 

Even with his lover covered, Troy knew he was still going to attract a lot of attention. Most ponies around these parts had probably never seen a gryphon before. He considered just putting his coltfriend on his back and flying him to his destination, but Canvas poked at his side to catch his attention. He motioned Troy toward a different direction away from the main road. Following his lead, Troy walked around the side of the first building.

At the back, Troy found a small alleyway that led along the side of town. Upon seeing how empty the alley was, Troy lifted his wing, to let Canvas step forward and lead the way.

As Troy walked alongside Canvas, he couldn’t help but observe how grey and lifeless Gallop Creek looked. "Man,” he muttered. "I can see why you left this place. This town is really depressing."

"I know, but it doesn’t matter. That's not why I'm here."

Eventually, the two made their way through town, managing to avoid anypony present. As the buildings behind them slowly shrank from view, the skies started to look brighter.

When they finally walked past the black iron gates, Troy was surprised at how much more colorful the graveyard looked compared to the town behind them. He couldn’t blame Canvas for spending so much time here after his mom’s passing, as the gryphon took in its clear blue skies above them and shining green grass underneath. Ironically, of all the places in this lousy town, the one part that seemed the most lively happened to be the cemetery.

Canvas slowed down when they reached a large oak tree, and stopped within its shade. He took a moment to remember the many hours he spent under there, and then looked up at Troy in worry.

"Troy… I really want to be alone for this, first.”

Troy nodded in understanding and hugged him tightly. He stayed underneath the tree while watching Canvas slowly walk forward again.

Reaching closer to the grave, Canvas felt his heart grow heavier. As soon as his mother's came within sight, a huge gust of wind blew against Canvas' back, making him move faster.

His emotions took over, and Canvas' walk quickly turned into an anxious gallop while the winds kept blowing. Eventually, he was running as fast as he could, his bag flopping against his side, until he stopped at the grave. The wind blew even harder around Canvas, and he could only give a gracious, teary smile as he sat down in front of the tombstone and read its text.

Blowing Winds

Caring Wife

Loving Mother

Dedicated Storm Worker

Before he left Gallop Creek, Canvas spent almost every day in this graveyard, either sitting beside her grave or underneath the tree nearby, working on his art. His father was insistent about him being anywhere else but here, but Canvas never listened to him.

Whenever he was here, no matter what the weather was, Canvas always felt a gentle breeze against him, especially when closer to her. Now that he was back for the first time in months, the longest time he’d ever spent away from his mom, Canvas felt the wind around him blowing harder than it ever had, brushing against him in every direction. He put his hoof to the grave and closed his eyes, and then waited until the winds settled into a light caress.

"H-hi, Mom."

He felt so glad to finally do this again after so long. Suddenly, a new gust of wind picked up, blowing hard around the top of Canvas' head and through his mane. Canvas' smile grew even bigger.

"Yeah, I know… I had it cut a few months ago.”

Canvas looked at the top corner. His heart grew heavy again at the sight of the slightly discolored spot. A bitter reminder of everything that happened.

Canvas reached out to the darkened spot, touching where both his and his father's blood laid before. So much pain happened at the place where his Mother was supposed to rest. Canvas' smile dropped and his head hung low.

"It… it's been way too long, Mom.”

Canvas sniffed and tried to keep his voice strong. He struggled to speak clearly, but he knew what he had to say.

"He… he found me. You can probably say a lot about him, but… he was a stallion of his word.”

More tears escaped Canvas, and he wondered whether Copper came back here before him to tell her how everything went.

"He tried to talk with me, and… and I didn't want to at first. I-I said horrible things to him. I thought it would help me, but… it just didn’t feel right.”

Canvas clenched his eyes shut.

"I-I talked with him later on, and… we said our goodbyes.”

The winds died down. Canvas pressed his head against the stone, his tears hitting the grass underneath him.

"I don't… I don't think things will ever be the same again, but I'm glad it ended the way it did. It’s just…”

Canvas could no longer hold himself together. He hugged the tombstone with two forelegs, and cried harder.

"I just wish you were here, Mom! I really wish you were here before any of that happened! I know th-that you would've made everything easier…”

The winds suddenly blew harder again against Canvas' back, pressing him against the stone. Canvas smiled as he felt it. After a moment, he slowly pulled back and spoke more optimistically.

"I'm doing a lot better, though. I'm in a great town, called Ponyville. I know you would've loved it there."

Canvas touched the stone again as he recalled all the things that had gone well for him recently.

"I have a great home, and I'm a successful artist… just like you said I’d be."

Canvas reached a hoof into his art bag, pulling out a copy of the Canterlot Press. He laid it out in front of the grave, so that the headline of him with Celestia was in clear view.

"I made history, Mom! I made a painting for Canterlot Castle."

A huge gust of wind quickly blew Canvas against the stone again, jarring him as his head bumped against the grave. When he pulled his head back, the winds were holding the thick newspaper against it until it fell back on the ground seconds later. 

"Also… I found someone."

The winds died down a little, worrying Canvas briefly. Then, he remembered what happened over a year ago. After several months of denial and self-loathing, he realized something about himself. He was terrified about what would happen to him if anypony found out, but one of the first things Canvas did was come here. He sat in front of the grave and whispered.

I'm… gay.

There was a long silence where nothing happened. No winds, no sounds, no indication of anything as he sat there, all by himself. However, before Canvas could think he truly was alone, a strong gust of wind brushed against his back, letting him know that he really was alright.

Now, in front of the first pony he ever came out to, Canvas felt his heart racing faster in anticipation of introducing someone so important to him to the one he cared about so much.

"His name is Troy. He's a Gryphon. He’s in the Weather Patrol, just like you… And… and I love him.”

The winds picked up against his back, and Canvas felt more at ease.

"He saved my life after I left here… and he became the greatest thing to ever happen to me.”

With that, Canvas looked over to the tree where Troy was still watching him. He motioned for his boyfriend to come over, and Canvas turned back to the tombstone. When he heard Troy's wings open up, Canvas became nervous while keeping an eager, yet worried look on his face.

"I-I really want you to meet him."

Troy landed several feet away, and then walked forward. Without making a sound, Troy sat down beside Canvas, seeing the grave for the first time.

As soon as he sat down, another gust of wind blew around him, brushing against his feathers. It almost felt like the winds were hugging him. This confused Troy, and he looked back at a smiling Canvas.

"I think she likes you, Troy."

He really didn’t want to think there was some supernatural stuff going on (he hated the idea of ghosts), but Troy smiled at Canvas' happiness regardless. He then looked back at the grave of Blowing Winds.

"You… don’t have to say anything if you don’t--"

"It's alright. I did this before with my grandparents. I understand completely."

Troy put a foreleg around Canvas, and the stallion rested his head on the gryphon’s shoulder. 

"I… I'm really glad to be here right now. You have an amazing son, and I really do love him."

The winds picked up around the two of them. Troy placed his head on top of Canvas’ and closed his eyes.

"I just want to say… that nothing makes me happier than being right here… right now… with you by my side."

Canvas held him closer and closed his eyes in return. Neither of them said a single word. They let the peace and beauty of the moment speak for itself while the gentle breeze held them closer.

Eventually, Canvas slowly let go of Troy and looked back at the grave.

"I… I have to go to Canterlot. They're premiering my painting there tomorrow night.”

Canvas then touched the stone one last time, feeling more tears coming down.

"I'll be back soon. I promise… I won’t be gone nearly as long as last time."

The couple pulled themselves back up. Canvas bent forward and gave the tombstone a quick kiss. He walked backwards for several feet, keeping his eyes on the grave, until he finally slowly turned around and began to walk toward the cemetery entrance. Troy walked by his side, but before they could reach the entrance, he suddenly stopped.

"Stay here,” said Troy. "I… I left my satchel there. I'll go get it."

Troy quickly flew back, picking up his bag and placing it over his shoulder. While Canvas looked on, Troy paused for a moment, and then slowly bent his head in toward the grave. He spoke to it with a smile on his beak. 

Canvas became suspicious, and decided to trot over closer. He couldn’t hear what he was saying. And though he couldn’t feel it, he could see a thunderous gust of wind blow around his lover before he kneeled down in front of it.

By the time Canvas got within hearing distance, Troy had his eyes closed, and he was moving his claws in an intricate manner across the stone while muttering something. Canvas wasn't sure what he was saying, but he did recognize that his boyfriend was speaking in traditional Gryphonian. He uttered several more words before lifting himself up.

As Troy began to walk back, his face grew slightly embarrassed when he saw Canvas staring at him confusedly.

"I… I just wanted to say something.”

Troy then tried to walk away, but Canvas held a hoof out to stop him, giving him a look of suspicion. 

"I was doing the Chant of Remembrances, okay?"

Canvas kept a skewed eyebrow.

"…It's a prayer that gryphons use in memory of those who passed. I wasn't sure what you would've thought if I did it with you next to me.”

While Canvas was surprised his boyfriend would do something like that, he was more curious as to why Troy would think that was something to be ashamed of. He placed a hoof on his feathered shoulder.

"So… what did you say?"

Troy hung his head.

"Well, it's kind of hard to translate from Gryphonian… but, in simple terms, I said:

“No matter how high,
No matter how low...

“No matter how far,
Wherever you go...

“You are never forgotten.
We will always know

“Of how bright you shone
To make us grow…”

Troy looked away in embarrassment, not noticing how big Canvas' eyes became. A large smile came up on his muzzle, and he lunged forward and hugged him.

"Oh, Troy… that's beautiful!"

Canvas tried to keep himself from crying. Troy felt a little better, and he hugged him back. 

Of course, he didn’t want to admit what else he said out of Canvas' earshot, so he kept his beak shut. Before Canvas could pull back, Troy looked around.

"I'm really glad you're cool with it. Most ponies get weirded out when I speak Gryphonian."

"Don’t worry about that. In fact, you sound pretty cute when you do it."

Troy's feathers ruffled out, making the pony giggle. He then realized they still had an hour until the next train to Canterlot would arrive.

"So… what do you want to do now? I mean, we still have a bit of time before the train comes."

Canvas signed and contemplated. He didn’t mind the idea just hanging around here until the train arrived, but he couldn’t help thinking of something else. 

"Maybe... I can see my old home again."