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 Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:36 am
 It was time.
The voices had been calling for her, telling her she was needed, telling her she must return. She had been created with one purpose, one duty, and it was time to return and fulfill her responsibilities. She had resisted long enough, but now there was not much time left to linger.
Her first thoughts went out to Draven and the children. How would they feel?
She smiled, visualising the small herd. The children no longer needed her for guidance. They had grown up into intelligent mares and stallions, and there was nothing more she could teach them. Draven as well, had found himself the beautiful and mysterious Kochu, so Nostalgia had no worry that any of them would grow lonely without her. Fate had made it so, and she was pleased. It would make the goodbye so much easier to handle.
Pale legs drug the metallic chains as they walked, and dark braids gently swayed with the wind as the ghostly mare continued her path towards Draven's typical dwelling. Nostalgia had wandered off to think for herself, but it was time to talk to him, one last time.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:05 am
Night found him where it often did; standing outside the small dwelling that he had come to think of as a home, gazing up at the stars as if soon one would come down to materialize beside him. Change was in the air though... He could feel it coming as summer neared its end.
"Good evening, Nostalgia." His smile that always appeared somewhat sad no matter how happy he was curved his lips. He had heard her approaching as he always did... He had grown so accustomed to the soft sounds of her chains clinking in the night, as if they had always been there.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:04 am
"Good evening, Draven," she responded, tilting her horn in greeting towards him. She had paused in her approach, now standing only a few feet from him. Had it been only months ago that she had wandered across him on that fateful morning, where they both watched the sun rise? It had seemed like an eternity, not that Nostalgia minded, for her conversations with Draven were dearly cherished. As different as they were, they had common grounds with one another. But she knew he would understand; he always did.
"And how are you, this quiet night?" she inquired, her lavender eyes slowly gazing about, searching to see if anyone was with him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:25 am
He was alone, as he often was on nights like this. Altair was either resting elsewhere or off causing someone else grief for the moment and the night had been his. He did not mind sharing it though... Not with his dear friend. She had always seemed to understand his need for time alone on nights when the stars sparkled brightly in the skies above.
"Whistful." He laughed as he shook his head. "How am I always? Fall is on its way. The storms will be here soon and then it is only a matter of time."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:31 am
She smiled, unable to hide the sorrow in her expression. Nostalgia had always loved the rain, and knowing she would be missing it saddened her. But she should be grateful she had been able to stay this long in the world, and she was. She knew she was blessed with what she had, and she would leave with happy memories impressed in her heart.
"Yes, the storms. I hope Altair has learned by now not to fly during them?"
She already knew the answer, but she was stalling. It had seem like such an easy thing to do, explain the situation to Draven, but she couldn't bring herself up to admitting it now that she was face to face with him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:42 am
He snorted softly as he shook his head. "Whether or not he has learned anything from the time he has spent with me has still yet to be proven." He was leaning more towards 'no' than 'yes', either way.
After a moment he turned towards the pale mare, eyeing her before speaking again. "... Is there something on your mind, friend?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:49 am
She chuckled softly. Poor Draven seemed to always have his hooves full with one foal or another. Perhaps one day he would be blessed with peace and quiet. But, having met Kochu, something in the back of Nostalgia's mind told her that he was destined to never have peace and quiet again.
Her chuckling stopped as his question was asked, though, and she looked at him uneasily. "Is it that obvious to tell, dear Draven?" she inquired quietly, her chains gently rustling as her legs shifted.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:55 am
"I have never known there to be a moment where there was not at least one thing on your mind, Nostalgia, if not more." He smiled softly, offering her the comfort of his friendship as he had that night that seemed so long ago. "It then becomes a question of whether or not you would like to talk about what is on your mind..."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:07 am
"It's true, isn't it?" She found it amusing. Yes, there was always something on her mind, but she supposed that's what made her partly who she was.
"I wanted to talk to you about my... departure from this world," she said more seriously, the small smile on her face quickly turning downwards. "It seems that I am needed once again in the Realm I have come from... but I wanted to talk to you before anything else was decided or done. It would be pretty cruel of me not to speak to the one friend who's given me months of his own life to help raise my children, to advice and befriend a stranger such as myself. I worry though, Draven, what will happen when I am gone..."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:57 am
He closed his eyes, tilting his head higher as if expecting the stars to speak to him at this very moment; to give him what he needed to say. "The world will move on and those who have known you will be left with memories as well as the impact that you've had upon their lives." He took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly as he turned to look at her. "Is this 'Good Bye' or 'Until We Meet Again'?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:38 pm
She knew it was going to be hard for him to take. It was hard for her to take, knowing she would be seperated from the ones she loved so dearly. But each of them had their past to cling to, and she knew that better than anyone else. The Past had and would always hold the fondest of memories, and that knowledge eased the pain in her heart somewhat.
"You have been a true and good friend to me, Draven," she said softly, finding her words, "I could never have asked for anything more. You dedicated so much to helping me, and I wish there was some way I could repay you for the kindness you have shown me since the day we first encountered one another. As long as you look to the Past, I shall always be with you in Spirit, and in memories."
Her head turned, her mind telling her that crying was senseless, but her heart betrayed her and one gentle tear found its way falling down her cheek.
"I can't say for certain, my friend, what exactly this is. I can only do what I am told to do, but I would very much like to think of this as....as a temporary situation. But, in all honesty, I am not certain of anything."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:11 pm
"There is nothing you could do to repay me, Nostalgia. You gave me a reason to live again; something else to think on other than what I had lost. You and your children have filled my heart with joy and a friendship that will forever effect my life." He took a step towards the pale mare, stretching out his neck so that he could gently brush his cheek against hers. "Something within me has changed since that night so long ago. Knowing you, my friend, has been a blessing."
Eyes closed he stepped back, refusing to give in to the thoughts that came to his mind. "We will meet again." He nodded slowly, trying to keep certainty in his voice. "Until then... I will continue to watch over the herd that we formed as friends. All will be well, Nos... Even though the rains may come they won't last forever."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:27 pm
She nodded, her heart feeling oddly relieved at his words. She knew he would care for her little ones, who had grown to be not so little anymore, but at the same time, hearing it from him gave her the reassurance she needed.
His touch was warm against her cool skin, and for the first time she felt weak, as if she couldn't carry on. He stepped away, and she could no longer bare to look at him. She forced herself to, however, and gazed upon the dark stallion who had meant so much to her. Her one true friend, the companion she would have to leave behind.
"Until then, Draven." she said softly, bowing her head for possibly the last time towards him. And, without another word, she turned and slowly made her way off into the distance. Her aura, her wings, even her horn grew brighter as she neared the edge of where the Earth met the Sky, her chains dragging behind noisely with each step.
Then, as quickly as she had appeared onto the land many moons ago, she was gone.
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