To the moon and back

He walked into the locker room of the guard tower, he sighed and trudged towards his locker and began to take his armor off. He looked into the tiny mirror on his locker door, he saw a shell of a stallion till he realized it was just him. "Damn it, I'm sure Nec is gonna have an awkward night with Luna and then Luna is gonna whine about it when I come back...and yet again, she'll not notice me."

He placed his armor into the locker and began to take his undergarments off, he looked around a bit just to make sure he was alone. He looked down and spotted his stallionhood slowly coming out of his sheath, he blushed a bit and sighed, "Why must this always happen when I massage her, I don't even touch her seductively, rather, I try not to..." He grabbed his shower gear from within his locker and walked towards the showers, his member was full on display.

"I'll just rub one off while I shower," he said while he turned the knobs to turn on the water and activate the shower head. Warm water began to spray and the water began to coat his fur and skin, he smiled a bit as he felt the warm water encompass him. The warmth reminded him of Luna's hug, it was warm and it felt loving...her squeezing, her soft fur, her lovely chest pressing against his...he lightly grasped his member and started to stroke. The image of a naked Luna in the shower with him was all he focused on as he began to masturbate, he imagined her striking sexy poses, begging for him to take her and make her his.

"Mmm, L-luna..." he moaned a bit as he stroked a bit harder and faster, he could feel his heat and pleasure rising. He would often catch himself looking at her breasts, they weren't as large as Celestia's but they were enticing just the same, he would imagine her slowly licking her own nipples and her begging for him to suckle them. His thoughts pushed him more and he could feel himself getting closer.

"Gahh...I'm gonna cum...Aurora!" He realized what he said and stopped, his member began to shrink back into his sheath and he pounded his fist into the wall, "Goddess damnit! Why? Why did she leave me for that asshole!? I have a better job, I could have given her all she wanted...why did she have to cheat on me and leave us...leave our Autta." He could feel a few tears run down his cheeks, he wiped them and started to wash himself with a clear head for he didn't want to think of his ex-wife any longer.

After finishing his shower and clocking out, he started his walk from the gates of Canterlot castle and into the city of Canterlot. There were quite a few ponies around, it was a popular city and the capitol of the nation, he just never really thought about it that way. He walked down the street and began to plan out his day, "Gotta stop at Magic Mike's and get a stamina potion to keep me awake for the day, I want to spend as much time with my little sweetheart as I can. Then to the Lollipop's to pick up Autta, after that, she can decide what we do." He smiled and began to head to the potion shop named Magic Mike's.

"Hello sir, welcome to Magic Mike's! We got what you need and have plenty of it so feel free to buy in bulk," said the mare at the register. Shadow smiled and looked about a bit, he wasn't really interested in buying anything more than the stamina potion but it was nice to see if there was anything else that caught his interest. There were some minor health potions, some speed potions, something called mana, "Probably a unicorn thing" he said as he passed it. He saw the section called Stamina and Boosts, he grabbed a bottle of anti-sleep stamina and noticed some rather interesting blue potions beside it, "Anti-sleep stamina plus, for the stallion or mare that want to keep their partner up all night and happy." He chuckled and shook his head, he imagined that stuff was popular amongst teenagers and young couples.

He walked to the counter and placed the bottle of stamina down, "One bottle of anti-sleep stamina, will that be it?" asked the mare at the counter.

"Yes ma'am, just need a little something to keep me up for a while" he replied

"We have some new anti-sleep potion, I'm sure your lady friend would certainly enjoy it just as much as you will," she winked and gave a bit of a sultry smile. He blushed a bit and shook his head.

"Don't have one but I'll keep it in mind for next time," he handed her the bits and took the bottle as he walked out. He popped it open and took a sniff, it carried a grape like smell, "Mmm, grape!" He smiles and brings the bottle to his lips and drinks it down, he begins to feel the potion to take effect, he feels awake and good. "Time to pick up my sweetie and get this day going," he marched down the road with a bit of a pep in his step.

He smiled as he saw the familiar blue two story house with a picture of a lollipop on the mailbox, he walked onto the porch and knocked on the door. "Just a minute sonny!" said an old stallion from inside, the door knob glowed purple and the door opened and there stood an old stallion with a old timey dress suit, his coat was yellow and his mane and tail were purple. "Well if it ain't Shadow March, good to see you son, come on in, Autta is cooking with the misses right now."

"Thank you Blurpleberry," he walked in and saw from the living room that Autta was on a step stool, watching Mrs. Lollipop prepare some sort of pastry. He stepped in to the kitchen and smiled as Autta turned around and saw her daddy.

"Daddy!" She jumped off the stool and ran to her father, giving him a big and tight hug. She smiled and looked up at him, "Hi daddy! Mrs. Lollipop is showed me how to make cake batter! I can make some at home now!"

Shadow smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead, "Of course sweetie, I can't wait. Now grab your things, we have a big day today. Do you know why?"

She nodded quickly with a big smile, "It's my birthday! What are we gonna do daddy!? Go to the zoo, the waterpark, to the amusement park?!" She was so excited that she didn't notice that her tail was swishing about happily.

"Whatever you want sweetie, it's your special day." With that, Autta began to go to the spare guest room and gather her things, Mr. Lollipop walked over to Shadow and placed his hand on his shoulder

"It's been five years today sonny, I know this is her special day but...I wish it were just that. You holdin' up okay?" asked Mr. Lollipop with a concerned look.

"I...I think so, I try to force the memory out of my head for her sake. I know this is the anniversary of our abandonment, that won't change but I will just get past it so my little filly can be happy for that's what matters now...right?" He turned to look at Mr. Lollipop, unsure of what to think now that he was recalling the event that tore his life in two.

Mr. Lollipop patted his back and sat in his recliner, "I'd like ta say it's all that matters but sonny, I can see y'all be carrying a burden. Her happiness is important, don't get me wrong, but so is yours. I may be an old coot but even I see that you are starting to waste away due to your lonliness. How long until your little one sees it too?" He looked up at Shadow and saw him starting to sulk, "Now quit that look, you are a great stallion Shadow. I'm sure as sugar if you start lookin' for a lady friend, you'll find a gem like no other. Be sure to remember your own happiness sonny."

"Thank you Mr. Lollipop, hehehe, for an old coot you are quite the help," he said with a small smile

"I wish my wife would say the same but she just nags at me!" He laughed as Autta came out with a little backpack on. "See ya sweetheart, keep this dad of yours out of trouble alright?"

Autta nodded and took Shadow's hand, he opened the door and they both exited as they said their goodbyes to the nice old couple. They began to walk to the zoo, Autta always loved to see the animals there so it would naturally be their first stop. They walked around, rather, Shadow had to chase Autta while she ran about in excitement. There was a fiasco when they entered the primate den, the monkeys decided to toss bananas at Shadow and shortly after, Autta did too.

Next on their day was the amusement park, as much as Shadow wanted to ride the big roller coasters, he knew Autta would be too scared so he settled with joining her in the spinning teacups and miniature rides. She smiled and giggled as they rode the rides, it warmed Shadow's heart to know she was enjoying herself so much. The sun began to lower and Shadow took his daughter to her favorite restaurant, there she got her favorite dish, spaghetti and hayballs. She made a bit of a mess as she ate but all the sauce on her face made Shadow laugh.

Shadow decided to give his daughter a piggyback ride on their way home, she looked up at the night sky and started to point out the stars she knew. She liked that her dad worked for the princess who makes the night for she loved the night, it was cool, blue, and it reminded her of her dad. She yawned a bit as they reached their home so Shadow took her to her room and layed her on her bed, she covered herself with her blanket and Shadow kissed her forehead and said, "Goodnight sweetie, I'll see you in the morning."

Before Shadow could exit the room, Autta said something that made his heart sink, "Daddy, why did mommy leave?" Shadow slowly turned around and couldn't find the words to explain what did happen with him and his ex-wife.

"Um...well...honey, we just didn't...we didn't get along together a-and she found somepony else she loved so sh-she left." He hoped Autta would stop asking questions but his hopes went unfulfilled.

"Why won't she come see me? Did I do something wrong?" she sat up and looked at her father, she was about to cry.

"Of course not! Don't ever think that, you are sweeter than sugar and nicer than anypony I know. She is...is just mean, not like you. I'm sure you wouldn't like her...why am I telling you this..." he sat on her bedside and hugged her, "Sweetie, sometimes life is hard and bad things happen but know this, not matter what, I will always love you and be here for you. You are my sunshine and my moon pie, don't worry about her. We will be fine on our own, I promise."

"Really daddy?" she asked as she sniffled a bit, Shadow smiled and nodded. "Okay daddy, it's just that...I would like to have a mommy, like everypony else...but all I really need is you daddy." She hugged him and laid back down, Shadow got up and left her room, he gently closed her door and walked into his own.

He sat on his bed as his mind kept repeating her question over and over: Daddy, why did mommy leave? He shook his head and started to cry as he remembered the night she left them. "I-I don't know sweetie...I just don't know what I did...I'm so sorry," he said as he laid on his bed and covered himself. The potion's effect began to wear off and exhaustion took over him, his sobbing stopped and he fell to sleep.