The colt was indeed shocked by looking at her as he noticed that he inherited some of her parts in appearance. He could not believe that it was her after fours years to fend for himself. His search was over as the answer was now in front of him.
"You've grown, Eter, into a fine stallion like your father," Lucra smiled.
"I can't believe that I was right all along," Shard shook his head, "I had a feeling of you being alive somewhere."
"Yes, it's true as I'm right here and now you see me," Lucra declared.
"Should we give them a moment of privacy?" Neezra whispered.
"Yeah, he missed her so much," Venang nodded.
"Then let us go," the bull-griffon pointed.
The thestral and the hybrids left the room, giving the two the time to be alone.
"Is it true?" Shard asked.
"True of what?"
"That you're the 'Wretched Fiend that the enemies I fought said about?"
"Yes," Lucra admitted, "I'm one of the strongest hybrids and the first that betrayed the Master."
"I see, if you are an enemy to them, are you also my enemy?" Shard frowned.
"Of course not," Lucra assured, "I would never harm you, Eter."
"But you did," Shard pointed.
"How?"
"Back at Shimmering Dawn, when me and Venang first encountered, I had a thought that you were the one who attacked us because of your eyes," Shard explained.
"You had the same color of your eyes as mine, so I assumed that it was you because of that and your cloak, and I was right," Shard added.
Shard felt tears forming in his eyes as he looked down. Lucra felt speechless as she saw her own son about to cry.
"Are you still my mother?"
...
"Are we still the same?
...
"Papa said that we would overcome any hardships together as one family."
Lucra's eyes went wide by his comment. She heard that words 'overcome' and 'together' from somepony closed to her.
"Am I still y-"
His sentence was cut off as he felt hooves wrapped around him. He looked up to see his mother having tears rolling down from her eyes as she looked at him with guilt. The colt returned the hug tightly as he buried his face at her chest. They both missed each other dearly as not by strangers of difference, but as a family. Their own family.
After a few minutes of silence, they loosened the hug a little to get a moment of getting air.
"I'm very sorry, my baby," Lucra frowned.
"Mama.." Shard sniffed.
"I was a horrible mother for leaving you after four years, faking the report of my death, and failed to see you growing up to be who you are right now," Lucra shook her head.
"I want to have a happy family again, mama," Shard pleaded.
"We will, Eter, you, me, and your future wife," Lucra smiled.
"What about papa?" Shard frowned
"I'm sorry, but I didn't see him after I escaped. I have no idea of where he is right now," Lucra explained.
"I understand."
"By the way, when you said my future wife, you mean Venang?" Shard asked.
"You two have a great bond, so similar like me and your father that she would be a great member to our own family," Lucra nodded.
"I've been thinking of something for a while now," Shard blushed.
"Go on, tell me," Lucra nodded.
"I know that this is to early to ever think of, but I want to marry her," Shard explained.
"Really?" Lucra gaped, "You and that thestral had just been together for just a few weeks and you want to propose her in such a young age?"
"Well, if you don-"
"It's alright, baby," Lucra smirked as she ruffled his mane, "If it makes you happy, then I won't stop you, as long as you promise that you will love her with all your heart ."
"Yeah, I will," Shard nodded.
Suddenly, they heard and looked at the door creaked open slowly, revealing the thestral filly who was blushing really hard with a big smile, possibly heard of what they were talking about. Shard then turned back his gaze at his mother.
"I believed that she would be perfect since she stood beside me through the dangers that I had come across," Shard explained.
"And because she enjoyed being with you as her somepony?" Lucra asked.
The colt nodded proudly.
"Then you two are better for the best," Lucra smiled as she let him go.
Shard then turned around as walked towards to Venang. The filly was smiling at him with grace and somewhat like approval of possibly what he said about marrying her early.
"I was suprised by what you said about proposing me," Venang smirked.
"Well, we've been together for a short time, but it seems we've enjoyed sticking together as one," Shard admitted.
"That's so manly of you," Venang laughed, "I like it."
"I wish for us to live forever together so that our bond never ends," Shard sighed.
Then, the hybrids enter the room.
"You two do not have to worry about life," the bull-pony declared,
"What do you mean?" The duo asked in confusion.
"We gave you two something that are known to be quite unique gifts" Neezra smiled, "To put it simply, you two are just as immortal as us."
"Awesome!" Shard whooped.
"That's cool!" Venang beamed.
After a few hours, the duo were now back at their ship for departure.
"We'll see each other again kids, I promise," Lucra declared.
"What are you gonna do?" Shard asked.
"I'll just rally my other followers to assemble the army. You and you friend should return to rest and prepare for final adjustments of your abilities since this may be no return once the war will start," Lucra replied.
"Will do," Shard smiled.
At that, the ship was surrounded by a mist, until a few seconds later, it subsided, revealing to the duo that they were in a few miles away from the port of Equestria. They had to be ready as this would be the most unforgettable challenge in their life. This could be their end or their new beginning, whatever the conclusion would be after the war.