Friends, Family, and Business
After the service, the attendees began to mingle, their hushed conversations filling the air. Occasional glances flickered in Flash’s direction—the news that had just dropped was already rippling through the crowd. Flash turned to walk away from the press line, where his father and grandfather were still acting as a shield against the cameras.
"Flash! Any comment on the news of your relation to Mrs. Page?" a reporter shouted, lunging forward. Flash ignored them, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground until he spotted Aerial making her way toward him.
Concern was etched across her face, but before she could reach him, a Pegasus mare with a rainbow mane stepped into her path.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Flash. My name is Rainbow Star—Rainbow for short," the mare said, her gaze glinting with confidence. "I wanted to say how beautiful the eulogy was. It truly tugged at my heart." She paused for effect. "Your mother was a major advocate for our youth charities. I was wondering: is there a chance her son would like to participate in those same events as a guest of honor?"
Flash recoiled slightly at the directness. "I… I’m not sure at this time," he said, choosing his words cautiously. Paper Trail’s warning echoed in his head: Don’t accept anything until you have an agent.
"I will assume that’s a ‘maybe.’ Here is my card; reach out when you’ve made your choice. I look forward to seeing you again," Rainbow said, trotting away before he could object.
Flash watched her go, feeling the weight of the interaction. He turned to find Aerial already at his side.
"Hey. Are you okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah… I’ll be fine. It’s just overwhelming. The unfamiliar faces, the press…" Flash offered a weak smile.
"I understand. Do you need anything? We can talk if you want," Aerial said, glancing back at the reporters who were finally being escorted out.
"I just need a friend," Flash muttered. "Someone who understands."
They spoke for a long while. Flash poured out everything—from the moment his mother requested him to her final breath. By the time they parted, the heavy knot in his chest had loosened slightly. The two decided to meet up another time to discuss more in less of a public space.
As Aerial left, Flash found his brother, Ember, standing before him. The silence between them felt heavier than usual.
"Flash… how long did you know?" Ember asked, his voice low.
Flash let out a long, ragged sigh. "I only found out Page was my mother a week before she passed away. For my whole life before that, I was just as clueless as you." He looked at his hooves, bracing for a complicated reaction. "I didn't mean to keep a secret, Ember. I barely had time to process it myself."
Ember’s expression softened, and a small, sad smile broke through. "A week... that's not long enough," he whispered, his eyes turning glassy. "I’m just so glad you found her in time, Flash. I'm glad you know where you came from."
"Look, Ember," Flash said, his ears pinning back earnestly. "Before you assume anything… I want you to know that even with my biological father here, you will always be my brother. Mom and Dad—the ones who raised me—will always be my parents. I was lucky to have them."
A single tear escaped Ember’s eye. "That’s great to hear, brother."
The two exchanged hugs as Ember returned to Crescent and Aerial's side, mingling with the two.
Finally, Flash’s gaze fell on an elderly mare standing frozen a few paces away. She studied him with an intensity that made him pause.
"I can’t believe it… my unoka… here in front of me," she whispered in a thick Hoofarian accent. She lunged forward, pulling him into a fierce embrace. Flash stiffened in surprise, but as the reality of who she was sank in, his wing unfurled, instinctively wrapping around his grandmother.
She pulled back after a moment, wiping her cheeks. "Your mother told us everything when she learned you were alive. Your grandfather and I were overjoyed. We loved seeing you when you were just a foal—so playful, always grinning."
"Grandfather?" Flash repeated.
She gestured toward the unicorn stallion standing near Blaze. "Yes, Arrow Strike. He has been just as eager to see you, though he’s preoccupied helping your father deal with the media."
Flash took a shaky breath. Every question he’d carried for a lifetime was being answered in the span of two weeks. It was a flood of closure, both exhausting and relieving. His eyes welled up again.
His grandmother used her magic to bring a cloth to his cheek, gently dabbing the tears away. "Page napsütése végre hazatért hozzánk," she said softly. Page’s sunshine has finally returned home to us.
For a moment, the world around them stilled. The mingling crowd and the grieving whispers faded into the background. After promising to visit his grandparents and meet the rest of the family, Flash finally began his goodbyes.
He hugged his father, his friends, and his "new" family one last time. Then, he turned toward the horizon, heading for the only place that felt like solid ground: his adoptive home at the Skyes residence.
The funeral was over. A new chapter had begun.
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And that's Lore Post #5!!
Feat Characters in the GIF and Story:
Rainbow Star @kazzmcsass
@aerialaim by @daintydoily
Ember Skyes @askcrescentshadow and @theskyesfamily
And Flash and Gauze Wrap (Sirra) (owned by me)
Additional characters in the story:
Arrow Strike, Paper Trail, Blaze Runner
This one took some time for me to draw and put together. I think this is my first GIF I made as well.
Here are the images by themselves.
This was fun ^^
