All that glitters is Gold~

//Chapter 16: Home Again//

Awakening once more, you find yourself in the embrace of Golden Cheese. You fell asleep mid flight again, which was slightly hilarious to her and Olive. Maybe go see Pure Vanilla about narcolepsy sometime? "Good morning, Sleepyhead. I must say you look cute when you sleep, it's like a little bundle of coins." Golden Cheese comments, which made you slightly flustered. Slowly but surely rising to your feet, you say "Well... It's not like I can do anything about it... Just ask Ollie, she's had to deal with me oversleeping several times." "More times than I have bothered to count. Y/N's definitely one to stay in bed for as long as time will let them. And I must say, it's definitely part of them whether I like it or not." Olive added on, quickly making everyone breakfast from food she had bought in town.

Nothing like some fluffy Omurice to start off the day, huh? By the end of it, everyone was a bit of a mess. You comment "Hard to make things shiny with food around, right?" Golden Cheese lightly chuckled at the jab, yes it was quite hard to keep things shiny with food around. After cleaning yourselves off, you take a moment to gaze at the town properly now. Last you saw your parents, you were only 16 as you took your grandpa's whip and left to stay with Olive and her family. Her father acted more like a dad to you than your actual father ever did. But you could say hello to Olive's people another day, you had come here for two reasons. First was to celebrate your birthday with your mother and whoever else would be interested in coming.

Second was to see your father for the last time. The hatred for that man, that thing, burned in your heart and mind so much it hurt. And you were gonna make his last moments alive hurt so much more. It wasn't right, the whip told you as much. But you didn't care, this was something you had to do if you ever wanted inner peace. But you kept all that business about your father to yourself. Golden Cheese and Olive didn't need to know about it, and neither did mother or anyone else. A personal quest against the one who ruined your childhood, we'll call it.

With nothing better to do, you grab your stuff and tell the girls "I'm... gonna head to my mom now. We'll catch up later, we can do introductions after she gets to see me again." Olive gave an understanding nod, and Golden Cheese states "Suit yourself. I want to see more of Parfaedia anyway, I've heard the institute has some of the best magic practices in the world." Looks like both of them had things they wanted to do today, so you set out yourself. You mentally prepare yourself for what to tell mom after all this time. It's gonna be an emotional conversation for sure.

Wandering the streets of this city, you recall some of the memories you hadn't tried to bury. Playing tag with Olive, drawing all kinds of things, and generally having a good time. What you wouldn't give to go back to those days again. Well, the days that didn't involve *him* at any rate. Eventually though, you make it to where it all began for you. The familiar blue-brick walls followed by the white door reminded you of your departure from here so long ago. It was definitely painful, but that's what you get for a trip down memory lane. With a heavy sigh, and knowing nod, you step up to the door and give a hearty 3 knocks.

After a brief moment, the door opens to reveal who you were expecting. Almost 9 you'd been gone, and she had barely changed at all. You and Your mother lock eyes for a moment, the silent adding to the tension of the situation. "Y/N... You're back!" Your mother proudly declares as she hugs you with a warm embrace. You enjoy the hug, quietly saying "Yeah... I guess I am... heh, where do I start making up for lost time?"

For the hours following this, your mother asked you various things. How your life's been since you disappeared. What interesting places have you traveled to. One stood out in particular though "Honey... Are you... into someone? It's alright if you don't wanna say, but as a mother I do want to know the kind of people my child is looking at." she asked you, which caused your conflicting feelings to flare up in full again. You didn't deserve golden cheese in truth. She was an ancient hero known for granting riches on those who may desire it, and you were just some adventurer from parfaedia. You were Silver, and she was gold. Then again, silver was mighty valuable in its own right, and had uses gold simply couldn't achieve. So you reply after a moment of consideration with "Yeah, actually. She's in town as it happens, I'll introduce you sometime soon." Your mother was nothing short of ecstatic, her little one finding love so fast made her all sorts of shades of happy.

||Later that evening||

You snuck into a nearby hospital. Apparently, they weren't accepting visitors at the time. Figures, just had to go and make things hard on you. It didn't matter, you got into the room you were after. Soon, you laid your eyes on *him*. He seemed to be a bit restless tonight, staring at a nearby wall. You leap in through the window, making enough noise for him to turn and look. "Y/N... You should've stayed gone. You brought nothing but pain onto this family. I'd still be married if it wasn't for you." he rasped out, coughing at the end. "Thanks for projecting, old man! You're the one that lashed out when the whip didn't choose you! Grandpa didn't do anything, he was just getting the thing where it needed to be!" You shouted in reply, not caring at all as what would happen next couldn't be stopped. "That's what he said. He just didn't want anyone other than his favorite to get that thing... You're just as blind as he was, before he choked to death anyway-" Your father tried to reply before you grabbed and threw him out of the bed.

He was powerless to stop you as you took out the whip and tried to strangle him with it. It's power was definitely not in use, so you had to rely on your own strength to achieve this. Your father struggled for a moment, making choking noises all the way. He kicks you in the shin, causing you to falter and loosen up for a moment. Before he can call for help, you tackle him and begin choking him again in a desperate struggle on the ground. He flailed around, trying to avoid the fate that was about to befall him. "Don't... you... ever... talk... about... grandpa... like that... again!" You sputter out as you deliver one last motion, snapping your father's neck in an instant.

That. Felt. Good. It was as if a huge burden was lifted off your shoulders. But you had no time to relish in it, it was time to leave. As quickly as you came, you left like a creek in the night. Despite all the shouting, no one seemed to notice anything. Returning to your family home once again, you step into your old room. It was like you never even left, everything was where it should be. You take your steps into sleep, ready to introduce Golden Cheese to your mother.

Tomorrow is a bright new day.