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In the end, it all amounted to nothing.
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He remembers gently cradling the tiny Charmony dove in his palms, fearful of causing further injury. His golden eyes roamed the tiny dove's ailed wings, messy feathers and he resisted the urge to preen them the way he and Robin did to each other. The way their mother did with them. Beside him, Robin's eagerness to hold the poor thing in her own hands awakened a brief moment of amusement within him - she was so small, yet she was the grandest and brightest aspect in his life. He knew, much like himself, that she would be excited to care for this dove.
"But I don't want it to be caged!" She cried in response to their adoptive father's words.
She had always had great ideals, enough creativity and drive to last a lifetime. She had big dreams and as her older brother, he was determined to see her though to their full fruition. To see her on their little makeshift stage, singing her heart out and then bowing to their audience of plushies - it was the greatest gift he could ask for and he knew one day she would meet that success she deserved. He would make sure of it.
His mind was brought back by Mr. Wood's question being redirected at him, and before he knew it he blurted out, "I-I want it to live, no matter what."
But how could this little Charmony dove live without their complete protection? How could it survive within the confines of their home without bumping into another wall or falling from their shelf?
Would a cage not suffice?
Mr. Wood often helped Sunday with his dilemmas, he was their protector and guardian in this way. Could they be for this dove, what Mr. Wood is for them?
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Survival is not distributed equally. As flawed as humanity is, he wished for nothing more than to provide a safe haven for all people, regardless of the consequences. He could not stand by and do nothing as people suffered from below where he stood. He knew his security was only of circumstance, of his position within the Family and as head of the Oak family. Yet, this is also why he knew he had to be the one to make the difference.
It began with little things.
From a young age, Mr. Gopher Wood humored him when he would question their ways and their God. When he asked why their servants were not allowed to eat with them at the dinner table, the response he received was "They are not like us. They are only meant to serve us."
When they were attacked on a day out in the city, their security guards interfered but one was unfortunately fatally injured. When Sunday asked why his life was worth more than the guards, Mr. Gopher Wood said, "You are Sunday, future head of the Oak family. They were just a guard."
As time went by, he shaped Sunday's beliefs with lessons disguised as bonding time - one's Robin was never privy to. She would play a much simpler role, he learned later on, as their Chordmaster. Gopher Wood promised him her safety and happiness would be secure. Sunday had never questioned it much, he was their protector and he knew best. Plus, if Robin would be safe and able to achieve her dream, he didn't see much reason to put an end to it. In fact, he could no longer ignore the nagging voices in his mind. Whispering and crawling around whenever he witnessed injustices. Whenever he had to forgive awful injustices, and turn a blind eye because there was nothing more he could do.
It nagged at him, as Robin flew away to achieve her dreams and bring happiness to other worlds. It nagged at him, as he tried to fly and he realized he had never truly been free in the first place. But when he pushed and pulled against the railings of the cage he resided in, his wings were clawed at.
Reality was too cruel.
But for a while, he was okay with that. He played his part as a young, respectful yet diligent son. And head of the Oak family, a true representative. He gladly took up any issues or responsibilities all while pretending to be indifferent to the horrible things happening around him. It wasn't fair but it wasn't time yet, and he had been through far too much to risk any problems to the Dreammaster's plan.
When Robin disappeared - when she died, Sunday felt part of him die along with her. He had long had his wing clipped, a cruel punishment carried out by Mr. Wood for attempting to defy Ena's teachings. But a wing clipped was nothing more than a piercing compared to the freezing heartache of losing his dear sister.
In all his years of practicing and learning the Order's teachings, the Harmony's teachings, in pleasing the Dreammaster as his pawn, he had never felt such depraved fury. Had he followed through with the Dreammaster's plan sooner - no, their plan, then Robin would not have suffered. And so, he conducted his own investigation. Once he concluded she was safe, he felt it was time to enforce the paradise.
"If you are born weak, which God should you turn to for solace?"
Every single person under his dominion would live happy and free in a painless dream. No more need to suffering, for painful realities or struggles because everyone would be equal and no one would have less than they deserved. Robin would sing freely and she would never need to suffer again. And he did it. For a brief moment, he accomplished it and everyone was free. Until the trailblazer awoke.
Much like him, the Charmony dove was never able to fully fly. And then it died.