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 Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:22 pm
In the months that had passed far too quickly for her liking Draven's family had become her own, as she had known it would when he told her of Kochu'Akai's pregnancy. She had been happy for the stallion that had acted as the only stable father figure in her life even if, in seeing Kochu become a mother, she had found herself missing her own mother.
It was a cold, clear winter night that found her now standing outside in a clearing where she had once played with her brother, staring up at the sky while standing on a blanket of freshly fallen snow. The tracks left by her hooves as she'd moved through it seemed to be the only things marking pristine powder that glittered in the light of the moon like the thousands of diamonds glittering above. All in all, the night was beautiful... If not a bit lonely.
She had been told once that talking to the stars was often a way of getting things off of one's chest and, sometimes, if wishes were made on those same stars, dreams could come true. She couldn't recall dreaming much lately; the nights had been too cold to do much more than just sleep, but she could talk without wishing, couldn't she?
"It's been so quiet lately..." She said softly, not sure as to whether or not she would be heard... Or whether or not she really wanted to be heard. "The snow's here... It's winter... The season for celebration seems to have passed... And now it's quiet again. Spring will be here soon... Winter can't last forever, just like the rain can't. I'd thought..." Her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced down away from the stars. "... I thought the snow might bring her back..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:03 pm
The winds had brought her here and now Nostalgia stood, silently watching her firstborn as she spoke with the stars high above.
Guilt weighed heavily on her heart for practically abandoning the foals she had been so proud to have in the beginning. Torn apart by a thoughtless encounter of how they were created, the broken relationship had all but hurt Nostalgia to even look upon her three offspring, as much as she loved them and held them dear to her. She had wanted nothing more but children of her own, and the Spirits had granted her request, and opened her eyes to the situation she had doomed upon herself and her loved ones with her rushed hopes and dreams.
Now it was different. Now, she had had the time to think things through, spent some time alone with herself, discovered and figured out what she truly wanted. After all, she had all the time in the world to do so.
But time had turned against her, in a sense. She had failed to see her little ones grow up as much as they had, though she was and would forever be grateful to the stallion who HAD raised them as one of his own.
Especially Memory. Little, impressionable Memory. The one foal who had been forced through so much more than the others, who fell victim to the nastiest and most evil creature Nostalgia herself had ever laid eyes upon. Her little girl had been through so much, and the majority without her own mother there.
Hesitantly, the ageless mare stepped forward, overhearing her daughter's quiet words carried by the wind.
"It did, my darling," her own quiet whisper returned, the chains at her ankles overpowering her soft words as they drug through the snow, clinking against one another. How her daughter would react, Nostalgia honestly didn't know. But she yearned to once again be with the precious little girl who she loved so much, and nothing would stop her now from reuniting with her child.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:41 pm
"I..." The sound of a voice breaking the silence made her start, stepping backwards before shifting on her hooves with uncertainty. She hadn't thought that there was anyone else with her. She had thought that she was alone... And now?
"..." She looked up from the snow at the source of the voice, eyes wide for a moment as she debated on whether or not she should believe what was before her... Or if she had simply fallen asleep while standing still in the snow and this was, somehow, juts part of a dream.
"Mother?" She murmured softly, half expecting the word to simply disappear before it could make it past her mouth. The chains, her hair, the fabric hanging from her body... It looked like her mother, yes, but she had been told more than once that she had an overactive imagination. Was her mind playing tricks on her again?
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:12 pm
"Memory."
All she could muster was her name, the ghostly mare now choked up with the realization she was once again in the presence of her daughter. This moment had played into her mind now, ever since she was out of reach of the young mare, and now that they were finally together, she was speechless.
Her chain dragging increased in speed, as she moved forward to meet and nuzzle the young adult she failed to pay attention and affection to on so many levels as a foal. Her daughter needed her, and she hadn't been there. But all that would change, Nostalgia was sure of it, if her daughter was willing to give her another chance.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:25 pm
She closed her eyes as she returned the nuzzle, brushing her cheek against the mare that she had always held so high in esteem. Mothers were the mares that children were supposed to try and be like; the ones that children watched for guidance. She had tried so hard to become the sort of mare that she hoped her mother would be proud of.
She pulled back slowly, smiling as her eyes opened so that she could gaze up at her mother. "Is it... Is it really you?" Of course it was. It had to be. This didn't feel anything like a dream. "Oh, Mother!" Her smile brightened as she nuzzled the other mare once more. "I knew you would come back! I told Trev you would! I said that you would be back and you would have stories to tell us... And then we would have stories to tell you too!"
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:56 pm
She held back the tears threatening to stream down her cool cheeks as her daughter affectionately returned the embrace they shared. Memory would always be the little girl she loved so much, and it made her heart swell with joy to be accepted back into her life so easily. No hesitation, no questions, just acceptance and love. By no means did Nostalgia feel she deserved such a welcoming return.
"My darling," she cooed softly, careful not to jab or be jabbed by either mare's horns as they nuzzled. "I'm sorry I've been away for so long. I've missed you and your brother terribly."
Pulling back, she maternally looked over her child with her lavender eyes, inspecting for health, appearance, and general wellbeing. Draven had been more than a kind friend in keeping up with not only her two young ones, but doing so with three of his own to care for at the same time.
Her silver ears perked as she listened to every word her daughter had to say. "Stories, darling? What kind of stories?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:10 pm
"Oh, I don't know..." She hadn't thought of anything specific, really. "Maybe... Stories about everything that's happened; about summer and fall... And new friends and family." She closed her eyes, thinking or a moment longer. "So much has happened since you left... Have you been back to the cave to see Draven and Miss Kochu? Their three little ones are growing so quickly... Does time always move this quickly, Mother?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:46 pm
"Time is infinite, my love. It can go both fast and slow at the same time, so it's always best to enjoy each moment for what it is."
She smiled down at her ever-growing baby, who now nearly equaled her in height. Soon, she was certain, she wouldn't be able to look down to see her daughter.
And what a beauty she had become! With dark curls and glowing wings, Nostalgia couldn't help but see her father in her, as much as she could herself. But those were old memories, and it was far time to start creating new ones.
"No, I met Draven along the way, but since then parted ways with him in search of my own darlings to look for. After all, shouldn't I see how tall my own daughter has become before I go admiring someone else's children?" she teased softly, her face a constant smile at this point.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:08 pm
"Oh, I have! I've enjoyed many moments... But... I think that, so far, out of all of them... I've enjoyed this one the most." She closed her eyes, holding them closed for a moment before reopening them so that she could gaze up at her mother, smiling. It wasn't a dream.
"I am doing well and Naina..." Her brow furrowed slightly as her thoughts drifted to her sister. "She was troubled, but I am sure that the spirits have smiled on her again. Trev..." She had not seen her brother for a while but she was certain that, wherever he was, he was fine. "... Trev is himself. Oh, but you'll have to see Draven's little ones. They're so beautiful; with their little wings and their tiny hooves. He said that they were growing like flowers in the spring time even though it was winter... Did we grow up that quickly, Mother?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:38 pm
Memory had always been the quiet one of her three, and hearing her chatter and talk as much as she was gently tugged at the ageless mare's heart. As a foal, Memory had always been soft spoken, very quiet and timid in her own ways. She must have grown out of that stage, somewhat, as the young foal aged into a beautiful young mare.
Though her body and voice may have changed, her demeanor now more outgoing, her sweetness and gentleness was evident in every word she uttered. Always very loving at heart, Nostalgia could see the tenderness and affection Memory held as a foal had grown with her as she grew older, as she spoke of Draven's little ones, and of her own two siblings.
Naina. Nostalgia's eyes closed briefly as the image of a young mare, drastically similar to herself in facial appearance, came to mind. Naina had never been raised such as Memory and Trevelyn had been. Instead of being cared for partially by Nostalgia, and a majority by Draven, Naina had turned out much different than her older and younger sibling. The older mare felt herself at fault for how her middle child had turned out. Naina lacked the nuturing her siblings had been given, something that would affect her the rest of her days. Nostalgia could only hope that her daughter would find happiness, in whatever she did, wherever she was. Perhaps one day, she would see her again, and be able to tell her herself.
Trevelyn. Oh, her baby boy. He had been such the tough little colt when he was young, always eager to please and protect his mother, as well as defend his older sister, despite the fact he was quite shorter than the fluttercorn filly. As he grew, so did his strength, and so did his determination. A fine stallion, Trevelyn had only one fault, which would forever haunt his mother. While his sisters were blessed with Nostalgia's braids and fair silver skin, her youngest had be born almost a duplicate in appearance to his father, a stallion in which Nostalgia strove to keep away from, for however long she was to remain in this world. Her heart, her mind, her emotions... none of them were ready to reface Jean-Claude. She had Grim, she loved Grim, and she knew in her heart Grim would always be there for her. But the father of her firstborn foals would forever remain a chapter in her book of Life, the pages haunting her the rest of her days.
Opening her eyes once more, Nostalgia forced away the unpleasant thoughts and memories, and focused on her beautiful prodigy standing before her.
"Darling, you've been growing since the day you were born." She smiled, gently grooming one stray curl away from her daughter's face. "And you have yet to cease growing, long before I left."
Nodding her head, she pulled back, her lavender eyes meeting with her child's. "No longer do I see my sweet little Memory, but now a grown mare, beautiful and intelligent. Tell me, Memory, does this grown mare who stands before me still have use for an older nag like me in her life?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:59 am
"An old nag? No..." She shook her head slowly, brow furrowing slightly as she glanced down at the ground, that look changing into a soft smile as she shifted her gaze back towards the beautiful, ghostly mare. "... A mother, on the other hand? Yes... This grown mare will always need her mother, especially since there are times when she doesn't feel all that grown at all."
Yes, there were times when she still felt like little more than a foal; still learning and still exploring. The few friends that she'd made had helped, to an extent... And talking to her sister and that one encounter with her father... Well, those encounters had at least reassured her that she was going in the right direction, whatever that direction might be.
"You'll always have a place in my life, Mother."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:09 am
"And you will forever and always have a place in my heart, my darling," She said softly, stepping forward once more to give her eldest a nuzzle. There were times when Memory had seemed sure of herself, and there had been times when she seemed unsure of what to do next, what to say, what action to take.
But whatever path she chose to take from here on out, Nostalgia would remain by her side, offering any semblance of guidance or assistance that Memory would be willing to receive from the older mare's experience and knowledge.
Shaking her head, a few braids tossed back and forth with the small jerk. "So, my darling Memory... shall we go off and find your brother, or do you think it's time for me to meet Draven's own family, the family of youngesters you seem fond of?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:28 pm
"We'll go back to the cave first... Trev might be there and if he is we won't have to go hunting for him." She smiled brightly, her own wings shimmering in the night as she returned the light nuzzle before taking a step back. "I'm sure you'll like them... And that they'll like you. It's so good to have you home, Mother."
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